Structural biology contributions to tyrosine kinase drug discovery

Curr Opin Cell Biol. 2009 Apr;21(2):280-7. doi: 10.1016/j.ceb.2009.01.012. Epub 2009 Feb 7.

Abstract

Successful kinase inhibitor drug discovery relies heavily on the structural knowledge of the interaction of inhibitors with the target. Structural biology of kinases and in particular of tyrosine kinases has given detailed insights into the intrinsic flexibility of the catalytic domain and has provided a rational basis for obtaining selective inhibitors. Important progress has been made recently, both in academia and in the pharmaceutical industry, with respect to solving structures of inactive, multidomain or protein-protein complexes of kinases, which helps our understanding of the dynamics of regulation of kinase activity. This leads to a better understanding of how mutations lead to activation of kinases and resistance, in addition to providing opportunities for novel modes of targeting kinases.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Binding Sites
  • Drug Design
  • Drug Discovery*
  • Humans
  • Molecular Structure
  • Mutation
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Protein Conformation*
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / chemistry*
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / chemistry*
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / genetics
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / metabolism
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Substrate Specificity

Substances

  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases