Functional evaluation of an electrophilic focused library to identify a covalent inhibitor against intrinsically disordered circadian clock transcription factors

Bioorg Med Chem Lett. 2024 Jan 15:98:129588. doi: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2023.129588. Epub 2023 Dec 10.

Abstract

In vitro screening of a focused library of compounds containing an electrophilic warhead identified N-chloroacetyl-bis(trifluoromethyl)aniline derivative 15 as a potent inhibitor of BMAL1-CLOCK heterodimer binding to an E-box DNA fragment. Kinetic analysis of thiol-reactivity demonstrated that iodoacetamide and structurally related 20 are significantly more reactive than or equally reactive as 15, respectively, whereas none inhibited BMAL1-CLOCK interaction with the E-box DNA fragment. These results suggest that 15 binds and reacts with a specific nucleophilic residue. This low-molecular-weight compound may serve as a useful lead for further development of BMAL1-CLOCK inhibitors.

Keywords: Circadian clock transcription factors; Covalent inhibitors; Electrophilic warheads; Intrinsically disordered protein; Protein-protein interaction.

MeSH terms

  • ARNTL Transcription Factors / antagonists & inhibitors
  • ARNTL Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Aniline Compounds* / chemistry
  • Circadian Clocks* / drug effects
  • Circadian Clocks* / genetics
  • Circadian Rhythm / drug effects
  • DNA / metabolism
  • Kinetics

Substances

  • ARNTL Transcription Factors
  • DNA
  • Aniline Compounds