A novel inhibitory effect of oxazol-5-one compounds on ROCKII signaling in human coronary artery vascular smooth muscle cells

Sci Rep. 2016 Aug 30:6:32118. doi: 10.1038/srep32118.

Abstract

The selectivity of (4Z)-2-(4-chloro-3-nitrophenyl)-4-(pyridin-3-ylmethylidene)-1,3-oxazol-5-one (DI) for zipper-interacting protein kinase (ZIPK) was previously described by in silico computational modeling, screening a large panel of kinases, and determining the inhibition efficacy. Our assessment of DI revealed another target, the Rho-associated coiled-coil-containing protein kinase 2 (ROCKII). In vitro studies showed DI to be a competitive inhibitor of ROCKII (Ki, 132 nM with respect to ATP). This finding was supported by in silico molecular surface docking of DI with the ROCKII ATP-binding pocket. Time course analysis of myosin regulatory light chain (LC20) phosphorylation catalyzed by ROCKII in vitro revealed a significant decrease upon treatment with DI. ROCKII signaling was investigated in situ in human coronary artery vascular smooth muscle cells (CASMCs). ROCKII down-regulation using siRNA revealed several potential substrates involved in smooth muscle contraction (e.g., LC20, Par-4, MYPT1) and actin cytoskeletal dynamics (cofilin). The application of DI to CASMCs attenuated LC20, Par-4, LIMK, and cofilin phosphorylations. Notably, cofilin phosphorylation was not significantly decreased with a novel ZIPK selective inhibitor (HS-38). In addition, CASMCs treated with DI underwent cytoskeletal changes that were associated with diminution of cofilin phosphorylation. We conclude that DI is not selective for ZIPK and is a potent inhibitor of ROCKII.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Coronary Vessels / cytology
  • Coronary Vessels / enzymology*
  • Humans
  • Molecular Docking Simulation
  • Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / cytology
  • Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / enzymology*
  • Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / cytology
  • Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / enzymology*
  • Oxazoles / chemistry
  • Oxazoles / pharmacology*
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects*
  • rho-Associated Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • rho-Associated Kinases / chemistry
  • rho-Associated Kinases / metabolism

Substances

  • Oxazoles
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • ROCK2 protein, human
  • rho-Associated Kinases