Selective CRAF Inhibition Elicits Transactivation

J Am Chem Soc. 2021 Mar 31;143(12):4600-4606. doi: 10.1021/jacs.0c11958. Epub 2021 Mar 22.

Abstract

Discovering molecules that regulate closely related protein isoforms is challenging, and in many cases the consequences of isoform-specific pharmacological regulation remains unknown. RAF isoforms are commonly mutated oncogenes that serve as effector kinases in MAP kinase signaling. BRAF/CRAF heterodimers are believed to be the primary RAF signaling species, and many RAF inhibitors lead to a "paradoxical activation" of RAF kinase activity through transactivation of the CRAF protomer; this leads to resistance mechanisms and secondary tumors. It has been hypothesized that CRAF-selective inhibition might bypass paradoxical activation, but no CRAF-selective inhibitor has been reported and the consequences of pharmacologically inhibiting CRAF have remained unknown. Here, we use bio-orthogonal ligand tethering (BOLT) to selectively target inhibitors to CRAF. Our results suggest that selective CRAF inhibition promotes paradoxical activation and exemplify how BOLT may be used to triage potential targets for drug discovery before any target-selective small molecules are known.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Humans
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Structure
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects

Substances

  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf