Chemoproteomic Study Uncovers HemK2/KMT9 As a New Target for NTMT1 Bisubstrate Inhibitors

ACS Chem Biol. 2021 Jul 16;16(7):1234-1242. doi: 10.1021/acschembio.1c00279. Epub 2021 Jun 30.

Abstract

Understanding the selectivity of methyltransferase inhibitors is important to dissecting the functions of each methyltransferase target. From this perspective, we report a chemoproteomic study to profile the selectivity of a potent protein N-terminal methyltransferase 1 (NTMT1) bisubstrate inhibitor NAH-C3-GPKK (Ki, app = 7 ± 1 nM) in endogenous proteomes. First, we describe the rational design, synthesis, and biochemical characterization of a new chemical probe 6, a biotinylated analogue of NAH-C3-GPKK. Next, we systematically analyze protein networks that may selectively interact with the biotinylated probe 6 in concert with the competitor NAH-C3-GPKK. Besides NTMT1, the designated NTMT1 bisubstrate inhibitor NAH-C3-GPKK was found to also potently inhibit a methyltransferase complex HemK2-Trm112 (also known as KMT9-Trm112), highlighting the importance of systematic selectivity profiling. Furthermore, this is the first potent inhibitor for HemK2/KMT9 reported until now. Thus, our studies lay the foundation for future efforts to develop selective inhibitors for either methyltransferase.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Adenosine / metabolism
  • Adenosine / pharmacology*
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Drug Design
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / chemical synthesis
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / metabolism
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Methyltransferases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Methyltransferases / metabolism
  • Oligopeptides / chemical synthesis
  • Oligopeptides / metabolism
  • Oligopeptides / pharmacology*
  • Protein Binding
  • Site-Specific DNA-Methyltransferase (Adenine-Specific) / antagonists & inhibitors*

Substances

  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Oligopeptides
  • Methyltransferases
  • NTMT1 protein, human
  • N6AMT1 protein, human
  • Site-Specific DNA-Methyltransferase (Adenine-Specific)
  • Adenosine