ABSTRACT
A novel HIV protease inhibitor was designed using a morpholine core as the aspartate binding group. Analysis of the crystal structure of the initial lead bound to HIV protease enabled optimization of enzyme potency and antiviral activity. This afforded a series of potent orally bioavailable inhibitors of which MK-8718 was identified as a compound with a favorable overall profile.
ABSTRACT
PCSK9 plays a significant role in regulating low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels and has become an important drug target for treating hypercholesterolemia. Although a member of the serine protease family, PCSK9 only catalyzes a single reaction, the autocleavage of its prodomain. The maturation of the proprotein is an essential prerequisite for the secretion of PCSK9 to the extracellular space where it binds the LDL receptor and targets it for degradation. We have found that a construct of proPCSK9 where the C-terminal domain has been truncated has sufficient stability to be expressed and purified from Escherichia coli for the in vitro study of autoprocessing. Using automated Western analysis, we demonstrate that autoprocessing exhibits the anticipated first-order kinetics. A high-throughput time-resolved fluorescence resonance energy transfer assay for autocleavage has been developed using a PCSK9 monoclonal antibody that is sensitive to the conformational changes that occur upon maturation of the proprotein. Kinetic theory has been developed that describes the behavior of both reversible and irreversible inhibitors of autocleavage. The analysis of an irreversible lactone inhibitor validates the expected relationship between potency and the reaction end point. An orthogonal liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry assay has also been implemented for the confirmation of hits from the antibody-based assays.
Subject(s)
Drug Delivery Systems/methods , High-Throughput Screening Assays/methods , Hypercholesterolemia/drug therapy , Proprotein Convertase 9/chemistry , Escherichia coli/genetics , Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer/methods , Hep G2 Cells , Humans , Hypercholesterolemia/genetics , Kinetics , Lactones/antagonists & inhibitors , Mass Spectrometry/methods , PCSK9 Inhibitors , Proprotein Convertase 9/genetics , Protein Conformation/drug effects , Receptors, LDL/geneticsSubject(s)
Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases/chemistry , Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy/methods , Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases , Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases/metabolism , Catalytic Domain , Endopeptidases , Escherichia coli/metabolism , Humans , Protein Conformation , Protein Folding , Protein Structure, TertiaryABSTRACT
The stabilization of p53 against Mdm2-mediated degradation is an important event in DNA damage response. Initial models of p53 stabilization focused on posttranslational modification of p53 that would disrupt the p53-Mdm2 interaction. The N-terminal regions of both p53 and Mdm2 are modified in vivo in response to cellular stress, suggesting that modifications to Mdm2 also may affect the p53-Mdm2 interaction. Our NMR studies of apo-Mdm2 have found that, in addition to Mdm2 residues 25-109 that form the well ordered p53-binding domain that was observed in the p52-Mdm2 complex, Mdm2 residues 16-24 form a lid that closes over the p53-binding site. The Mdm2 lid, which is strictly conserved in mammals, may help to stabilize apo-Mdm2. It also competes weakly with peptidic and nonpeptidic antagonists. Modifications to the Mdm2 lid may disrupt p53-Mdm2 binding leading to p53 stabilization. Mdm2 and Mdm4 possess nearly identical p53-binding domains but different lids suggesting that lid modifications may select for p53 binding.
