Biological and Structural Evaluation of 10R- and 10S-Methylthio-DDACTHF Reveals a New Role for Sulfur in Inhibition of Glycinamide Ribonucleotide Transformylase

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• 作者：Stephen Connelly ; Jessica K. DeMartino ; Dale L. Boger ; Ian A. Wilson
• 刊名：Biochemistry
• 出版年：2013
• 出版时间：July 30, 2013
• 年：2013
• 卷：52
• 期：30
• 页码：5133-5144
• 全文大小：573K
• 年卷期：v.52,no.30(July 30, 2013)
• ISSN：1520-4995

文摘

Glycinamide ribonucleotide transformylase (GAR Tfase) is a folate-dependent enzyme in the de novo purine biosynthesis pathway, which has long been considered a potential target for development of anti-neoplastic therapeutics. Here we report the biological and X-ray crystallographic evaluations of both independent C10 diastereomers, 10S- and 10R-methylthio-DDACTHF, bound to human GAR Tfase, including the highest-resolution apo GAR Tfase structure to date (1.52 脜). Both diastereomers are potent inhibitors (K_i = 210 nM for 10R, and K_i = 180 nM for 10S) of GAR Tfase and exhibit effective inhibition of human leukemia cell growth (IC₅₀ = 80 and 50 nM, respectively). Their inhibitory activity was surprisingly high, and these lipophilic C10-substituted analogues show distinct advantages over their hydrophilic counterparts, most strikingly in retaining potency in mutant human leukemia cell lines that lack reduced folate carrier protein activity (IC₅₀ = 70 and 60 nM, respectively). Structural characterization reveals a new binding mode for these diastereoisomers, in which the lipophilic thiomethyl groups penetrate deeper into a hydrophobic pocket within the folate-binding site. In silico docking simulations of three other sulfur-containing folate analogues also indicate that this hydrophobic cleft represents a favorable region for binding lipophilic substituents. Overall, these results suggest sulfur and its substitutions play an important role in not only the binding of anti-folates to GAR Tfase but also the selectivity and cellular activity (growth inhibition), thereby presenting new possibilities for the future design of potent and selective anti-folate drugs that target GAR Tfase.