Sequence-Selective Covalent CaaX-Box Receptors Prevent Farnesylation of Oncogenic Ras Proteins and Impact MAPK/PI3 K Signaling

Abstract

Oncogenic Ras proteins are implicated in the most common life-threatening cancers. Despite intense research over the past two decades, the progress towards small-molecule inhibitors has been limited. One reason for this failure is that Ras proteins interact with their effectors only via protein-protein interactions, which are notoriously difficult to address with small organic molecules. Herein we describe an alternative strategy, which prevents farnesylation and subsequent membrane insertion, a prerequisite for the activation of Ras proteins. Our approach is based on sequence-selective supramolecular receptors which bind to the C-terminal farnesyl transferase recognition unit of Ras and Rheb proteins and covalently modify the essential cysteine in the so-called CaaX-box.

Keywords: CaaX-box; K-Ras4B; Ras protein; covalent inhibitor; molecular recognition.