Virtual Screening Identifies Irreversible FMS-like Tyrosine Kinase 3 Inhibitors with Activity toward Resistance-Conferring Mutations

J Med Chem. 2019 Mar 14;62(5):2428-2446. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.8b01714. Epub 2019 Feb 25.

Abstract

The use of covalent irreversible binding inhibitors is an established concept for drug development. Usually, the discovery of new irreversible kinase inhibitors occurs serendipitously, showing that efficient rational approaches for the rapid discovery of new drugs are needed. Herein, we report a virtual screening strategy that led to the discovery of irreversible inhibitors of FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) involved in the pathogenesis of acute myeloid leukemia. A virtual screening library was designed to target the highly conserved Cys828 residue preceding the DFG motif by modification of reported reversible inhibitors with chemically reactive groups. Prospective covalent docking allowed the identification of two lead series, resulting in a massive increase in inhibition of kinase activity and cell viability by irreversible inhibitors compared to the corresponding reversible scaffolds. Lead compound 4b (BSc5371) displays superior cytotoxicity in FLT3-dependent cell lines to compounds in recent clinical trials and overcomes drug-resistant mutations.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine Triphosphate / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Embryo, Nonmammalian / drug effects
  • High-Throughput Screening Assays / methods*
  • Humans
  • Molecular Docking Simulation
  • Mutation*
  • Prospective Studies
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / toxicity
  • Zebrafish / embryology
  • fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase 3 / antagonists & inhibitors*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Adenosine Triphosphate
  • fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase 3