Substrate-selective inhibition of protein kinase PDK1 by small compounds that bind to the PIF-pocket allosteric docking site

Chem Biol. 2012 Sep 21;19(9):1152-63. doi: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2012.07.017.

Abstract

The PIF-pocket of AGC protein kinases participates in the physiologic mechanism of regulation by acting as a docking site for substrates and as a switch for the transduction of the conformational changes needed for activation or inhibition. We describe the effects of compounds that bind to the PIF-pocket of PDK1. In vitro, PS210 is a potent activator of PDK1, and the crystal structure of the PDK1-ATP-PS210 complex shows that PS210 stimulates the closure of the kinase domain. However, in cells, the prodrug of PS210 (PS423) acts as a substrate-selective inhibitor of PDK1, inhibiting the phosphorylation and activation of S6K, which requires docking to the PIF-pocket, but not affecting PKB/Akt. This work describes a tool to study the dynamics of PDK1 activity and a potential approach for drug discovery.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Allosteric Site / drug effects*
  • Animals
  • Cell Line
  • Chalcones / chemistry
  • Chalcones / pharmacology*
  • Dicarboxylic Acids / chemistry
  • Dicarboxylic Acids / pharmacology*
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Models, Biological
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Structure
  • Molecular Weight
  • Prodrugs / chemistry
  • Prodrugs / pharmacology*
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism
  • Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Acetyl-Transferring Kinase
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Substrate Specificity

Substances

  • Chalcones
  • Dicarboxylic Acids
  • PDK1 protein, human
  • PS210
  • Pdk1 protein, mouse
  • Prodrugs
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Acetyl-Transferring Kinase
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases

Associated data

  • PDB/4AW0
  • PDB/4AW1