Novel Dihydropteridinone Derivatives As Potent Inhibitors of the Understudied Human Kinases Vaccinia-Related Kinase 1 and Casein Kinase 1δ/ε

J Med Chem. 2024 Jun 13;67(11):8609-8629. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c02250. Epub 2024 May 23.

Abstract

Vaccinia-related kinase 1 (VRK1) and the δ and ε isoforms of casein kinase 1 (CK1) are linked to various disease-relevant pathways. However, the lack of tool compounds for these kinases has significantly hampered our understanding of their cellular functions and therapeutic potential. Here, we describe the structure-based development of potent inhibitors of VRK1, a kinase highly expressed in various tumor types and crucial for cell proliferation and genome integrity. Kinome-wide profiling revealed that our compounds also inhibit CK1δ and CK1ε. We demonstrate that dihydropteridinones 35 and 36 mimic the cellular outcomes of VRK1 depletion. Complementary studies with existing CK1δ and CK1ε inhibitors suggest that these kinases may play overlapping roles in cell proliferation and genome instability. Together, our findings highlight the potential of VRK1 inhibition in treating p53-deficient tumors and possibly enhancing the efficacy of existing cancer therapies that target DNA stability or cell division.

MeSH terms

  • Casein Kinase 1 epsilon / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Casein Kinase 1 epsilon / metabolism
  • Casein Kinase Idelta / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Casein Kinase Idelta / metabolism
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / metabolism
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors* / chemical synthesis
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors* / chemistry
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors* / pharmacology
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases* / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases* / metabolism
  • Pteridines* / chemical synthesis
  • Pteridines* / chemistry
  • Pteridines* / pharmacology
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • VRK1 protein, human
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Pteridines
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Casein Kinase Idelta
  • Casein Kinase 1 epsilon