Faculty Bibliography

The insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) receptor is closely related to the insulin receptor. However, the unique biological functions of IGF1 receptor make it a target for therapeutic intervention in human cancer. Using its isolated tyrosine kinase domain, we show that the IGF1 receptor is regulated by intermolecular autophosphorylation at three sites within the kinase activation loop. Steady-state kinetic analyses of the isolated phosphorylated forms of the IGF1 receptor kinase (IGF1RK) reveal that each autophosphorylation event increases enzyme turnover number and decreases Km for ATP and peptide. We have determined the 2.1 A-resolution crystal structure of the tris-phosphorylated form of IGF1RK in complex with an ATP analog and a specific peptide substrate. The structure of IGF1RK reveals how the enzyme recognizes peptides containing hydrophobic residues at the P+1 and P+3 positions and how autophosphorylation stabilizes the activation loop in a conformation that facilitates catalysis. Although the nucleotide binding cleft is conserved between IGF1RK and the insulin receptor kinase, sequence differences in the nearby interlobe linker could potentially be exploited for anticancer drug design

The tyrosine kinase domain of the insulin receptor is subject to autoinhibition in the unphosphorylated basal state via steric interactions involving the activation loop. A mutation in the activation loop designed to relieve autoinhibition, Asp-1161 --> Ala, substantially increases the ability of the unphosphorylated kinase to bind ATP. The crystal structure of this mutant in complex with an ATP analog has been determined at 2.4-A resolution. The structure shows that the active site is unobstructed, but the end of the activation loop is disordered and therefore the binding site for peptide substrates is not fully formed. In addition, Phe-1151 of the protein kinase-conserved DFG motif, at the beginning of the activation loop, hinders closure of the catalytic cleft and proper positioning of alpha-helix C for catalysis. These results, together with viscometric kinetic measurements, suggest that peptide substrate binding induces a reconfiguration of the unphosphorylated activation loop prior to the catalytic step. The crystallographic and solution studies provide new insights into the mechanism by which the activation loop controls phosphoryl transfer as catalyzed by the insulin receptor

Huse et al. in this issue of Molecular Cell and Wybenga-Groot et al. in the September 21, 2001 issue of Cell present biochemical and structural studies that elucidate the roles of juxtamembrane phosphorylation in a receptor serine/threonine kinase, the type I receptor for transforming growth factor beta, and in a receptor tyrosine kinase, the ephrin receptor EphB2

A series of new 3-substituted indolin-2-ones containing a tetrahydroindole moiety was developed as specific inhibitors of receptor tyrosine kinases associated with VEGF-R, FGF-R, and PDGF-R growth factor receptors. These compounds were evaluated for their inhibitory properties toward VEGF-R2 (Flk-1/KDR), FGF-R1, PDGF-Rbeta, p60(c)()(-)()(Src)(), and EGF-R tyrosine kinases and their ability to inhibit growth factor-dependent cell proliferation. Structure-activity relationships of this new pharmacophore have been determined at the level of kinase inhibition. Compounds containing a propionic acid moiety at the C-3' position of the tetrahydroindole ring represented the most potent indolin-2-ones to inactivate the VEGF, FGF, and PDGF receptor kinases. The inhibitory activities of 9d against VEGF-R2 (Flk-1), 9h against FGF-R1, and 9b against PDGF-Rbeta were 4, 80, and 4 nM, respectively. However, all of these compounds were inactive when tested against the EGF-R tyrosine kinase. Compounds 9a and 9b represented the most potent inhibitors of these classes to inhibit both biochemical kinase and growth factor-dependent cell proliferation for these three targets. In addition, compound 9a was cocrystallized with the catalytic domain of FGF-R1 providing evidence to explain the structure-activity relationship results. This study has provided evidence to support the potential of these new tyrosine kinase inhibitors for the treatment of angiogenesis and other growth factor-related diseases including human cancers.

The interaction of a synthetic tetrafluorotyrosyl peptide substrate with the activated tyrosine kinase domain of the insulin receptor was studied by steady-state kinetics and x-ray crystallography. The pH-rate profiles indicate that the neutral phenol, rather than the chemically more reactive phenoxide ion, is required for enzyme-catalyzed phosphorylation. The pK(a) of the tetrafluorotyrosyl hydroxyl is elevated 2 pH units on the enzyme compared with solution, whereas the phenoxide anion species behaves as a weak competitive inhibitor of the tyrosine kinase. A structure of the binary enzyme-substrate complex shows the tetrafluorotyrosyl OH group at hydrogen bonding distances from the side chains of Asp(1132) and Arg(1136), consistent with elevation of the pK(a). These findings strongly support a reaction mechanism favoring a dissociative transition state.

Vascular endothelial growth factor, fibroblast growth factor (FGF), and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and their cognate receptor tyrosine kinases are strongly implicated in angiogenesis associated with solid tumors. Using rational drug design coupled with traditional screening technologies, we have discovered SU6668, a novel inhibitor of these receptors. Biochemical kinetic studies using isolated Flk-1, FGF receptor 1, and PDGF receptor beta kinases revealed that SU6668 has competitive inhibitory properties with respect to ATP. Cocrystallographic studies of SU6668 in the catalytic domain of FGF receptor 1 substantiated the adenine mimetic properties of its oxindole core. Molecular modeling of SU6668 in the ATP binding pockets of the FIk-1/KDR and PDGF receptor kinases provided insight to explain the relative potency and selectivity of SU6668 for these receptors. In cellular systems, SU6668 inhibited receptor tyrosine phosphorylation and mitogenesis after stimulation of cells by appropriate ligands. Oral or i.p. administration of SU6668 in athymic mice resulted in significant growth inhibition of a diverse panel of human tumor xenografts of glioma, melanoma, lung, colon, ovarian, and epidermoid origin. Furthermore, intravital multifluorescence videomicroscopy of C6 glioma xenografts in the dorsal skinfold chamber model revealed that SU6668 treatment suppressed tumor angiogenesis. Finally, SU6668 treatment induced striking regression of large established human tumor xenografts. Investigations of SU6668 activity in cancer patients are ongoing in Phase I clinical trials

To elucidate the structural determinants governing specificity in fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling, we have determined the crystal structures of FGF1 and FGF2 complexed with the ligand binding domains (immunoglobulin-like domains 2 [D2] and 3 [D3]) of FGF receptor 1 (FGFR1) and FGFR2, respectively. Highly conserved FGF-D2 and FGF-linker (between D2-D3) interfaces define a general binding site for all FGF-FGFR complexes. Specificity is achieved through interactions between the N-terminal and central regions of FGFs and two loop regions in D3 that are subject to alternative splicing. These structures provide a molecular basis for FGF1 as a universal FGFR ligand and for modulation of FGF-FGFR specificity through primary sequence variations and alternative splicing

The SH2-B protein is an SH2-domain-containing molecule that interacts with a number of phosphorylated kinase and receptor molecules including the insulin receptor. Two isoforms of the SH2-B have been identified and have been proposed to arise through alternate splicing. Here we have identified a third isoform of the SH2-B protein, SH2-Bgamma, that interacts specifically with the insulin receptor. This interaction required phosphorylation of residue Y1146 in the triple tyrosine motif within the activation loop of the IR kinase and is one of only two signaling molecules shown to interact directly with this residue of the insulin receptor kinase domain. The intron/exon structure of the SH2-B gene was determined. Alternate splice sites utilized to generate the different isoforms of the SH2-B protein were identified in the 3' end of the SH2-B gene immediately downstream of the exon encoding the core of the SH2 domain. Additionally, the chromosomal location of the SH2-B gene was determined to be the distal arm of mouse Chromosome (Chr) 7 in a region linked to obesity in mice.

The crystal structure of FGF2 bound to a naturally occurring variant of FGF receptor 1 (FGFR1) consisting of immunoglobulin-like domains 2 (D2) and 3 (D3) has been determined at 2.8 A resolution. Two FGF2:FGFR1 complexes form a 2-fold symmetric dimer. Within each complex, FGF2 interacts extensively with D2 and D3 as well as with the linker between the two domains. The dimer is stabilized by interactions between FGF2 and D2 of the adjoining complex and by a direct interaction between D2 of each receptor. A positively charged canyon formed by a cluster of exposed basic residues likely represents the heparin-binding site. A general model for FGF- and heparin-induced FGFR dimerization is inferred from the crystal structure, unifying a wealth of biochemical data