An aminopyridazine-based inhibitor of a pro-apoptotic protein kinase attenuates hypoxia-ischemia induced acute brain injury.
Velentza, A.V., Wainwright, M.S., Zasadzki, M., Mirzoeva, S., Schumacher, A.M., Haiech, J., Focia, P.J., Egli, M., Watterson, D.M.(2003) Bioorg Med Chem Lett 13: 3465-3470
- PubMed: 14505650 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/s0960-894x(03)00733-9
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
1P4F - PubMed Abstract: 
Death associated protein kinase (DAPK) is a calcium and calmodulin regulated enzyme that functions early in eukaryotic programmed cell death, or apoptosis. To validate DAPK as a potential drug discovery target for acute brain injury, the first small molecule DAPK inhibitor was synthesized and tested in vivo. A single injection of the aminopyridazine-based inhibitor administered 6 h after injury attenuated brain tissue or neuronal biomarker loss measured, respectively, 1 week and 3 days later. Because aminopyridazine is a privileged structure in neuropharmacology, we determined the high-resolution crystal structure of a binary complex between the kinase domain and a molecular fragment of the DAPK inhibitor. The co-crystal structure describes a structural basis for interaction and provides a firm foundation for structure-assisted design of lead compounds with appropriate molecular properties for future drug development.
Organizational Affiliation: 
Drug Discovery Program, Northwestern University, 303 E. Chicago Avenue, Ward 8-196, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.