Crystal structure and inhibitor identifications reveal targeting opportunity for the atypical MAPK kinase ERK3

  • Extracellular signal-regulated kinase 3 (ERK3), known also as mitogen-activated protein kinase 6 (MAPK6), is an atypical member of MAPK kinase family, which has been poorly studied. Little is known regarding its function in biological processes, yet this atypical kinase has been suggested to play important roles in the migration and invasiveness of certain cancers. The lack of tools, such as a selective inhibitor, hampers the study of ERK3 biology. Here, we report the crystal structure of the kinase domain of this atypical MAPK kinase, providing molecular insights into its distinct ATP binding pocket compared to the classical MAPK ERK2, explaining differences in their inhibitor binding properties. Medium-scale small molecule screening identified a number of inhibitors, several of which unexpectedly exhibited remarkably high inhibitory potencies. The crystal structure of CLK1 in complex with CAF052, one of the most potent inhibitors identified for ERK3, revealed typical type-I binding mode of the inhibitor, which by structural comparison could likely be maintained in ERK3. Together with the presented structural insights, these diverse chemical scaffolds displaying both reversible and irreversible modes of action, will serve as a starting point for the development of selective inhibitors for ERK3, which will be beneficial for elucidating the important functions of this understudied kinase.

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Author:Martin SchröderORCiDGND, Panagis FilippakopoulosORCiD, Martin P. SchwalmORCiD, Carla A. Ferrer, David H. DrewryORCiD, Stefan KnappORCiDGND, Apirat ChaikuadORCiD
URN:urn:nbn:de:hebis:30:3-624261
DOI:https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21217953
ISSN:1422-0067
Parent Title (English):International journal of molecular sciences
Publisher:Molecular Diversity Preservation International
Place of publication:Basel
Document Type:Article
Language:English
Date of Publication (online):2020/10/26
Date of first Publication:2020/10/26
Publishing Institution:Universitätsbibliothek Johann Christian Senckenberg
Release Date:2021/08/23
Tag:ERK3; MAPK6; atypical MAPK kinase; covalent inhibitors; kinase inhibitors
Volume:21
Issue:21, art. 7953
Page Number:14
First Page:1
Last Page:14
HeBIS-PPN:487213068
Institutes:Biochemie, Chemie und Pharmazie
Dewey Decimal Classification:5 Naturwissenschaften und Mathematik / 57 Biowissenschaften; Biologie / 570 Biowissenschaften; Biologie
6 Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften / 61 Medizin und Gesundheit / 610 Medizin und Gesundheit
Sammlungen:Universitätspublikationen
Licence (German):License LogoCreative Commons - Namensnennung 4.0