Discovery of a Highly Selective BET BD2 Inhibitor from a DNA-Encoded Library Technology Screening Hit

J Med Chem. 2021 Aug 12;64(15):10806-10833. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c00412. Epub 2021 Jul 12.

Abstract

Second-generation bromodomain and extra terminal (BET) inhibitors, which selectively target one of the two bromodomains in the BET proteins, have begun to emerge in the literature. These inhibitors aim to help determine the roles and functions of each domain and assess whether they can demonstrate an improved safety profile in clinical settings compared to pan-BET inhibitors. Herein, we describe the discovery of a novel BET BD2-selective chemotype using a structure-based drug design from a hit identified by DNA-encoded library technologies, showing a structural differentiation from key previously reported greater than 100-fold BD2-selective chemotypes GSK620, GSK046, and ABBV-744. Following a structure-based hypothesis for the selectivity and optimization of the physicochemical properties of the series, we identified 60 (GSK040), an in vitro ready and in vivo capable BET BD2-inhibitor of unprecedented selectivity (5000-fold) against BET BD1, excellent selectivity against other bromodomains, and good physicochemical properties. This novel chemical probe can be added to the toolbox used in the advancement of epigenetics research.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • DNA / chemistry*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Discovery*
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
  • Humans
  • Molecular Structure
  • Protein Domains / drug effects
  • Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Proteins / metabolism
  • Small Molecule Libraries / chemical synthesis
  • Small Molecule Libraries / chemistry
  • Small Molecule Libraries / pharmacology*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Proteins
  • Small Molecule Libraries
  • bromodomain and extra-terminal domain protein, human
  • DNA