Design of Leucine-Rich Repeat Kinase 2 (LRRK2) Inhibitors Using a Crystallographic Surrogate Derived from Checkpoint Kinase 1 (CHK1).
Williamson, D.S., Smith, G.P., Acheson-Dossang, P., Bedford, S.T., Chell, V., Chen, I.J., Daechsel, J.C.A., Daniels, Z., David, L., Dokurno, P., Hentzer, M., Herzig, M.C., Hubbard, R.E., Moore, J.D., Murray, J.B., Newland, S., Ray, S.C., Shaw, T., Surgenor, A.E., Terry, L., Thirstrup, K., Wang, Y., Christensen, K.V.(2017) J Med Chem 60: 8945-8962
- PubMed: 29023112 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jmedchem.7b01186
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
5OOP, 5OOR, 5OOT, 5OP2, 5OP4, 5OP5, 5OP7, 5OPB, 5OPR, 5OPS, 5OPU, 5OPV, 5OQ5, 5OQ6, 5OQ7, 5OQ8 - PubMed Abstract: 
Mutations in leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2), such as G2019S, are associated with an increased risk of developing Parkinson's disease. Surrogates for the LRRK2 kinase domain based on checkpoint kinase 1 (CHK1) mutants were designed, expressed in insect cells infected with baculovirus, purified, and crystallized. X-ray structures of the surrogates complexed with known LRRK2 inhibitors rationalized compound potency and selectivity. The CHK1 10-point mutant was preferred, following assessment of surrogate binding affinity with LRRK2 inhibitors. Fragment hit-derived arylpyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine LRRK2 inhibitors underwent structure-guided optimization using this crystallographic surrogate. LRRK2-pSer935 HEK293 IC 50 data for 22 were consistent with binding to Ala2016 in LRRK2 (equivalent to Ala147 in CHK1 10-point mutant structure). Compound 22 was shown to be potent, moderately selective, orally available, and brain-penetrant in wild-type mice, and confirmation of target engagement was demonstrated, with LRRK2-pSer935 IC 50 values for 22 in mouse brain and kidney being 1.3 and 5 nM, respectively.
Organizational Affiliation: 
Vernalis (R&D) Ltd. , Granta Park, Great Abington, Cambridge, CB21 6GB, United Kingdom.