CK2 is a constitutively active protein kinase overexpressed in numerous malignancies. Interaction between CK2α and CK2β subunits is essential for substrate selectivity. The CK2α/CK2β interface has been previously targeted by peptides to achieve functional effects; however, no small molecules modulators were identified due to pocket flexibility and open shape. Here we generated numerous plausible conformations of the interface using the fumigation modeling protocol, and virtually screened a compound library to discover compound 1 that suppressed CK2α/CK2β interaction in vitro and inhibited CK2 in a substrate-selective manner. Orthogonal SPR, crystallography, and NMR experiments demonstrated that 4 and 6, improved analogs of 1, bind to CK2α as predicted. Both inhibitors alter CK2 activity in cells through inhibition of CK2 holoenzyme formation. Treatment with 6 suppressed MDA-MB231 triple negative breast cancer cell growth and induced apoptosis. Altogether, our findings exemplify an innovative computational-experimental approach and identify novel non-peptidic inhibitors of CK2 subunit interface disclosing substrate-selective functional effects.
Two electronic push-pull fluorophores consisting of a benzothiadiazole core and a terminal N,N-dimethylamino electron donating group were prepared. The effect of the terminal electron withdrawing group (-NO 2 and -CN) on the spectroscopic, electrochemical, and spectroelectrochemical properties were examined. The fluorophores were solvatochromic with Stokes shifts upward of 9000 cm −1 being observed in aprotic solvents of varying polarity. It was found that the fluorophores fluoresced appreciably (86 % > Φ fl > 18 %) in hexane, toluene, diethyl ether, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, and THF. The fluorescence was quenched in acetonitrile, acetone, and DMSO. The fluorophores also fluoresced appreciably in thin films when embedded in poly(methyl methacrylate) and poly(dimethylsiloxane) matrices. Protonating the terminal amine with trifluoroacetic acid quenched the intramolecular charge transfer band, although the fluorophores remained fluorescent. The fluorophores could also be reversibly oxidized electrochemically. The resulting oxidized state was visually different than the neutral form. Electrochemical oxidation also led to reversible changes in both the fluorescence wavelength and intensity.
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