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Harnessing fluorine-sulfur contacts and multipolar interactions for the design of p53 mutant Y220C rescue drugs
Version 2 2023-06-13, 14:26
Version 1 2023-06-09, 01:45
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-13, 14:26 authored by Matthias R Bauer, Rhiannon N Jones, Matthias G J Baud, Rainer Wilcken, Frank M Boeckler, Alan Fersht, Andreas C Joerger, John SpencerJohn SpencerMany oncogenic mutants of the tumor suppressor p53 are conformationally unstable, including the frequently occurring Y220C mutant. We have previously developed several small-molecule stabilizers of this mutant. One of these molecules, PhiKan083, 1-(9-ethyl-9H-carbazole-3-yl)-N-methylmethanamine, binds to a mutationinduced surface crevice with a KD = 150 µM, thereby increasing the melting temperature of the protein and slowing its rate of aggregation. Incorporation of fluorine atoms into small molecule ligands can substantially improve binding affinity to their protein targets. We have, therefore, harnessed fluorine-protein interactions to improve the affinity of this ligand. Step-wise introduction of fluorines at the carbazole ethyl anchor, which is deeply buried within the binding site in the Y220C-PhiKan083 complex, led to a 5-fold increase in affinity for a 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl anchor (ligand efficiency of 0.3 kcal mol-1 atom-1). High-resolution crystal structures of the Y220C-ligand complexes combined with quantum chemical calculations revealed favorable interactions of the fluorines with protein backbone carbonyl groups (Leu145 and Trp146) and the sulfur of Cys220 at the mutation site. Affinity gains were, however, only achieved upon trifluorination, despite favorable interactions of the mono- and difluorinated anchors with the binding pocket, indicating a trade-off between energetically favorable protein-fluorine interactions and increased desolvation penalties. Taken together, the optimized carbazole scaffold provides a promising starting point for the development of high-affinity ligands to reactivate the tumor suppressor function of the p53 mutant Y220C in cancer cells.
Funding
Rescuing Thermally Unstable p53 Mutants with Small Molecules; New Targeted Cancer Therapies.; G1388; ASSOCIATION FOR INTERNATIONAL CANCER RESEARCH; 14-1002
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- Published
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- Published version
Journal
ACS Chemical BiologyISSN
1554-8929Publisher
American Chemical SocietyExternal DOI
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8Volume
11Page range
2265-2274Department affiliated with
- Chemistry Publications
Full text available
- Yes
Peer reviewed?
- Yes
Legacy Posted Date
2016-06-20First Open Access (FOA) Date
2016-08-25First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date
2016-06-18Usage metrics
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