Download MendeleyA molecular stabiliser of an inhibitory eIF2B-eIF2( alpha P) complex activates the Integrated Stress Response.
Shilliday, F., Gancedo-Rodrigo, M., George, G., Aibara, S., Adhikari, S., Ashraf, S.N., Barrey, E.J., Centrella, P.A., Crowther, D., Dickson, P., Gikunju, D., Guie, M.A., Guilinger, J.P., Gunnarsson, A., Harding, H.P., Hupp, C.D., Jetson, R., Keefe, A.D., Kim, J.M., Lewis, R.J., Maia de Oliveira, T., Le-Marshall, J., Narayanan, U., Nugai, K.A., Petrovic, D., Rivers, E., Ron, D., Stringfellow, D., Syson, K., Ward, L., Yeoman, J.T.S., Yu, Y., Zhang, Y., Zyryanova, A., Baker, D.J., Breccia, P., Linley, J.E.(2026) Nat Commun
- PubMed: 42091608 Search on PubMed
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-72688-y
- Primary Citation Related Structures:
9QC6 - PubMed Abstract:
Eukaryotic initiation factor 2B (eIF2B), a guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF), promotes protein synthesis by charging translation initiation factor 2 (eIF2) with GTP. Stress-induced phosphorylation of eIF2 on its α-subunit [eIF2(αP)] inhibits this reaction triggering a protective Integrated Stress Response (ISR). A DNA-encoded chemical library (DEL) screen for modulators of eIF2B, led to the identification of a chemical series that stabilises the inactive state of eIF2B, stimulating the ISR. Cryo-EM of compound-bound eIF2B reveals a conformational switch to the inactive state engaged by eIF2(αP). In cells, compound activity is sensitive to eIF2's phosphorylation state and to a competing eIF2B ligand (ISRIB) that activates the GEF allosterically. These findings establish the feasibility of targeting eIF2B with a drug-like allosteric inhibitor, that serves as an ISR activator (ISRAC), paving the way to explore the therapeutic potential of eIF2B-directed ISR activation.
- Discovery Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK. fiona.shilliday@astrazeneca.com.
Organizational Affiliation:
