Theoretical and Experimental Design of Atypical Kinase Inhibitors: Application to p38 MAP Kinase.
McClure, K.F., Abramov, Y.A., Laird, E.R., Barberia, J.T., Cai, W., Carty, T.J., Cortina, S.R., Danley, D.E., Dipesa, A.J., Donahue, K.M., Dombroski, M.A., Elliott, N.C., Gabel, C.A., Han, S., Hynes, T.R., Lemotte, P.K., Mansour, M.N., Marr, E.S., Letavic, M.A., Pandit, J., Ripin, D.B., Sweeney, F.J., Tan, D., Tao, Y.(2005) J Med Chem 48: 5728-5737
- PubMed: 16134941 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/jm050346q
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
1ZZL - PubMed Abstract: 
Mimics of the benzimidazolone nucleus found in inhibitors of p38 kinase are proposed, and their theoretical potential as bioisosteres is described. A set of calculated descriptors relevant to the anticipated binding interaction for the fragments 1-methyl-1H-benzotriazole 5, 3-methyl-benzo[d]isoxazole 3, and 3-methyl-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]pyridine 4, pyridine 1, and 1,3-dimethyl-1,3-dihydro-benzoimidazol-2-one 2 are reported. The design considerations and synthesis of p38 inhibitors based on these H-bond acceptor fragments is detailed. Comparative evaluation of the pyridine-, benzimidazolone-, benzotriazole-, and triazolopyridine-based inhibitors shows the triazoles 20 and 25 to be significantly more potent experimentally than the benzimidazolone after which they were modeled. An X-ray crystal structure of 25 bound to the active site shows that the triazole group serves as the H-bond acceptor but unexpectedly as a dual acceptor, inducing movement of the crossover connection of p38alpha. The computed descriptors for the hydrophobic and pi-pi interaction capacities were the most useful in ranking potency.
Organizational Affiliation: 
Pfizer Global Research and Development, Groton Laboratories, Eastern Point Road, Groton, Connecticut 06340, USA. kim.f.mcclure@pfizer.com