PMID: 24432870

Authors:

Staben ST, Feng JA, Lyle K, Belvin M, Boggs J, Burch JD, Chua CC, Cui H, Dipasquale AG, Friedman LS, Heise C, Koeppen H, Kotey A, Mintzer R, Oh A, Roberts DA, Rouge L, Rudolph J, Tam C, Wang W, Xiao Y, Young A, Zhang Y, Hoeflich KP

Title:

Back Pocket Flexibility Provides Group II p21-Activated Kinase (PAK) Selectivity for Type I 1/2 Kinase Inhibitors.

Journal:

J Med Chem. 2014 Feb 4.

Abstract:

Structure-based methods were used to design a potent and highly selective group II p21-activated kinase (PAK) inhibitor with a novel binding mode, compound 17. Hydrophobic interactions within a lipophilic pocket past the methionine gatekeeper of group II PAKs approached by these type I 1/2 binders were found to be important for improving potency. A structure-based hypothesis and strategy for achieving selectivity over group I PAKs, and the broad kinome, based on unique flexibility of this lipophilic pocket, is presented. A concentration-dependent decrease in tumor cell migration and invasion in two triple-negative breast cancer cell lines was observed with compound 17.