Highly selective inhibition of histone demethylases by de novo macrocyclic peptides

DOI: 10.1038/ncomms14773

Authors: Akane Kawamura (University of Oxford; Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics) , Martin Münzel (University of Oxford) , Tatsuya Kojima (The University of Tokyo) , Clarence Yapp (University of Oxford) , Bhaskar Bhushan (University of Oxford; Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics) , Yuki Goto (The University of Tokyo) , Anthony Tumber (University of Oxford) , Takayuki Katoh (The University of Tokyo) , Oliver N. F. King (University of Oxford) , Toby Passioura (The University of Tokyo) , Louise J. Walport (‡University of Oxford) , Stephanie B. Hatch (University of Oxford) , Sarah Madden (University of Oxford) , Susanne Müller (University of Oxford) , Paul E. Brennan (University of Oxford) , Rasheduzzaman Chowdhury (University of Oxford) , Richard J. Hopkinson (University of Oxford) , Hiroaki Suga (The University of Tokyo) , Christopher J. Schofield (University of Oxford)
Co-authored by industrial partner: No

Type: Journal Paper
Journal: Nature Communications , VOL 8

State: Published (Approved)
Published: April 2017
Diamond Proposal Number(s): 1230 , 9306

Abstract: The JmjC histone demethylases (KDMs) are linked to tumour cell proliferation and are current cancer targets; however, very few highly selective inhibitors for these are available. Here we report cyclic peptide inhibitors of the KDM4A-C with selectivity over other KDMs/2OG oxygenases, including closely related KDM4D/E isoforms. Crystal structures and biochemical analyses of one of the inhibitors (CP2) with KDM4A reveals that CP2 binds differently to, but competes with, histone substrates in the active site. Substitution of the active site binding arginine of CP2 to N-ɛ-trimethyl-lysine or methylated arginine results in cyclic peptide substrates, indicating that KDM4s may act on non-histone substrates. Targeted modifications to CP2 based on crystallographic and mass spectrometry analyses results in variants with greater proteolytic robustness. Peptide dosing in cells manifests KDM4A target stabilization. Although further development is required to optimize cellular activity, the results reveal the feasibility of highly selective non-metal chelating, substrate-competitive inhibitors of the JmjC KDMs.

Journal Keywords: Chemical tools; Methylation; Peptides

Subject Areas: Biology and Bio-materials, Chemistry, Medicine


Instruments: I04-1-Macromolecular Crystallography (fixed wavelength)

Added On: 12/04/2017 10:20

Documents:
ncomms14773.pdf

Discipline Tags:

Non-Communicable Diseases Health & Wellbeing Cancer Biochemistry Chemistry Structural biology Drug Discovery Life Sciences & Biotech

Technical Tags:

Diffraction Macromolecular Crystallography (MX)