Structure-Guided Design of a Domain-Selective Bromodomain and Extra Terminal N-Terminal Bromodomain Chemical Probe

J Med Chem. 2023 Dec 14;66(23):15728-15749. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c00906. Epub 2023 Nov 15.

Abstract

Small-molecule-mediated disruption of the protein-protein interactions between acetylated histone tails and the tandem bromodomains of the bromodomain and extra-terminal (BET) family of proteins is an important mechanism of action for the potential modulation of immuno-inflammatory and oncology disease. High-quality chemical probes have proven invaluable in elucidating profound BET bromodomain biology, with seminal publications of both pan- and domain-selective BET family bromodomain inhibitors enabling academic and industrial research. To enrich the toolbox of structurally differentiated N-terminal bromodomain (BD1) BET family chemical probes, this work describes an analysis of the GSK BRD4 bromodomain data set through a lipophilic efficiency lens, which enabled identification of a BD1 domain-biased benzimidazole series. Structure-guided growth targeting a key Asp/His BD1/BD2 switch enabled delivery of GSK023, a high-quality chemical probe with 300-1000-fold BET BD1 domain selectivity and a phenotypic cellular fingerprint consistent with BET bromodomain inhibition.

MeSH terms

  • Cell Cycle Proteins / metabolism
  • Histones / metabolism
  • Nuclear Proteins* / metabolism
  • Protein Domains
  • Transcription Factors* / metabolism

Substances

  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Transcription Factors
  • Histones
  • Cell Cycle Proteins