Inhibitory Properties of ATP-Competitive Coumestrol and Boldine Are Correlated to Different Modulations of CK2 Flexibility

J Nat Prod. 2019 Apr 26;82(4):1014-1018. doi: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.8b00889. Epub 2019 Mar 6.

Abstract

Casein kinase 2 (CK2) is an anti-apoptotic cancer-sustaining protein kinase. Its crystallographic structures with the natural compounds coumestrol, a phytoestrogen, and boldine, an alkaloid, are reported. Coumestrol shows different inhibitory activity against the isolated catalytic α-subunit and the α2β2 holoenzyme and is able to discriminate between two conformations of the hinge/αD region, whose intrinsic flexibility is a relevant selectivity determinant among kinases. Boldine explores a small cavity at the bottom of the ATP-binding pocket through a local deviation from planarity, a unique case among CK2 inhibitors. The two compounds have different impacts on protein flexibility, which correlate with their different properties.

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine Triphosphate / metabolism*
  • Aporphines / metabolism*
  • Casein Kinase II / metabolism*
  • Coumestrol / metabolism*
  • Molecular Structure

Substances

  • Aporphines
  • boldine
  • Adenosine Triphosphate
  • Casein Kinase II
  • Coumestrol