Serine/threonine-protein kinase Pim-2 is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the PIM2 . [5] [6]
PIM2 or Proviral Integrations of Moloney virus 2 is serine/threonine kinase that has roles in cell growth, proliferation, apoptosis, and regulation of signal transduction cascades. [7]
Thus far, most of the structural information pertaining to the PIM kinase family has been limited to PIM1. As a result, most of inhibitor development efforts has also been towards PIM1. PIM2 shares 55% sequence identity with PIM1, and the structure of PIM2 is quite closely related to PIM1. [8] Like PIM1, PIM2 shows a bi-lobal kinase architecture with a constitutively active closed conformation. The main chain of both molecules is identical with the exception of two flexible regions in the N-terminal lobe.
The most significant structural difference between PIM1 and PIM2 is the absence of the terminal αJ helix in PIM2. The last 23 residues of PIM2 are quite different from PIM1, as PIM2 contains 6 proline residues in this region and is not believed to form the same tertiary structures. As a result, the absence of the interactions present in this region may increase flexibility in PIM2 within the N-terminal kinase lobe and contribute to the disordered regions of the PIM2 structure. [9]
PIM2 is expressed with high levels in the brain and lymphoid cells. PIM1-3 compound knockout mice that survived the perinatal period showed a large reduction in body size. This suggests that the PIM enzymes are important for body growth. [10] Experiments have implicated that PIM1 and PIM2 are necessary for cytokine-dependent proliferation and survival of lymphocytes. [11] Experiments with transgenic mice with induced lymphomas revealed elevated levels of PIM2 as a frequent but late event in tumorigenesis. [12]
Experiments done on nuclear factor κB (NFκB) nuclear translocation in human perineural invasion (PNI) revealed that an up-regulation of NFκB and its downstream target, PIM2, were components of an antiapoptosis signaling cascade, which is associated with cancer cells in PNI. This cascade may regulate the inhibition of apoptosis. The study also showed that elevated levels of PIM2 have been associated with PNI. [13] The PIM2 kinase has therefore emerged as a key drug target to restore apoptosis in drug resistant human cancers. [14] [15] [16]
In reported crystal structures, PIM1 and PIM2 assume an active conformation. Typically, kinases’ active state is characterized by the presence of the conserved lysine, a closed lobe conformation, and a well-structured activation segment. The activation segment often necessitates phosphorylation in order for there to be catalytic activity. Once phosphorylated, the active segment folds onto the lower lobe and reorganizes the peptide-binding site, which consequently leads to enzymatic activation. However, PIM kinases are catalytically active without phosphorylation. The crystal structures show that the unphosphorylated activation segment forms many polar interactions with the lower kinase lobe, which stabilizes the active conformation. While PIM kinase do autophosphorylate, the functional consequences are not known. [17]
PIM2 (along with PIM1) has a unique binding pocket for ATP with a hinged region, making it an attractive target for potent small-molecule PIM kinase inhibitors. [18]
Many inhibitors are often more selective for PIM1 and PIM3 over PIM2. In other words, PIM2 is usually inhibited with much lower potency. Thus far, structural models are unable to explain this phenomenon. However, it could be related to the differences in the dynamic properties of the different PIM isoforms.
In a series of organoruthenium compounds [19] based on a Staurosporine scaffold [20] compound 12 gave almost complete inhibition at a concentration of 10 nM. However, it was marginally less effective against PIM1.
The SAR suggests that the addition of potential hydrogen bonding groups at the R1 and R2 positions dramatically increases potency against both kinases. Similar substitution of the R3 position was less effective and halogen substitution was even more disruptive.
In a study with 48 patients who had non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and lymphocytic leukemia, hPim-2 expression was analyzed using in-situ hybridization, quantitative RT-PCR and FACS analysis. The studies showed higher levels of expression in NHL over normal lymphocytes as well as in chronic lymphocytic leukemia over normal B-Cells. [21]
Elevated PIM2 levels have also been found in primary blasts from acute myeloid leukemia patients. PIM2 may be an important kinase in the phosphorylation of 4E-BP1. Constitutive phosphorylation of 4E-BP1 is commonly found in cancers and contributes to the sustained translation of malignancy related transcripts, among which are c-Myc and Cyclin D. Knockdown of PIM2 by iRNA strongly reduced the accumulation of oncogenic proteins. [22] As a result, PIM2 may be an attractive target for acute myeloid leukemia.
Protein kinase B (PKB), also known as Akt, is the collective name of a set of three serine/threonine-specific protein kinases that play key roles in multiple cellular processes such as glucose metabolism, apoptosis, cell proliferation, transcription, and cell migration.
Bruton's tyrosine kinase, also known as tyrosine-protein kinase BTK, is a tyrosine kinase that is encoded by the BTK gene in humans. BTK plays a crucial role in B cell development.
A serine/threonine protein kinase is a kinase enzyme, in particular a protein kinase, that phosphorylates the OH group of the amino-acid residues serine or threonine, which have similar side chains. At least 350 of the 500+ human protein kinases are serine/threonine kinases (STK).
Cyclin-dependent kinase 2, also known as cell division protein kinase 2, or Cdk2, is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the CDK2 gene. The protein encoded by this gene is a member of the cyclin-dependent kinase family of Ser/Thr protein kinases. This protein kinase is highly similar to the gene products of S. cerevisiae cdc28, and S. pombe cdc2, also known as Cdk1 in humans. It is a catalytic subunit of the cyclin-dependent kinase complex, whose activity is restricted to the G1-S phase of the cell cycle, where cells make proteins necessary for mitosis and replicate their DNA. This protein associates with and is regulated by the regulatory subunits of the complex including cyclin E or A. Cyclin E binds G1 phase Cdk2, which is required for the transition from G1 to S phase while binding with Cyclin A is required to progress through the S phase. Its activity is also regulated by phosphorylation. Multiple alternatively spliced variants and multiple transcription initiation sites of this gene have been reported. The role of this protein in G1-S transition has been recently questioned as cells lacking Cdk2 are reported to have no problem during this transition.
Aurora kinase inhibitors are a putative drug class for treating cancer. The Aurora kinase enzymes could be potential targets for novel small-molecule enzyme inhibitors.
The IκB kinase is an enzyme complex that is involved in propagating the cellular response to inflammation, specifically the regulation of lymphocytes.
BRAF is a human gene that encodes a protein called B-Raf. The gene is also referred to as proto-oncogene B-Raf and v-Raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B, while the protein is more formally known as serine/threonine-protein kinase B-Raf.
Serine/threonine-protein kinase PLK1, also known as polo-like kinase 1 (PLK-1) or serine/threonine-protein kinase 13 (STPK13), is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the PLK1 gene.
M-phase inducer phosphatase 1 also known as dual specificity phosphatase Cdc25A is a protein that in humans is encoded by the cell division cycle 25 homolog A (CDC25A) gene.
Death-associated protein kinase 1 is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the DAPK1 gene.
Proto-oncogene serine/threonine-protein kinase Pim-1 is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the PIM1 gene.
MAP kinase-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase 1 is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the MKNK1 gene.
Microtubule-associated serine/threonine-protein kinase 2 is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the MAST2 gene. The protein encoded by this gene controls TRAF6 and NF-kappaB activity.
Serine/threonine-protein kinase D2 or PKD2 is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the PRKD2 gene.
Serine/threonine-protein kinase PLK4 also known as polo-like kinase 4 is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the PLK4 gene. The Drosophila homolog is SAK, the C elegans homolog is zyg-1, and the Xenopus homolog is Plx4.
Serine/threonine-protein kinase LMTK2 also known as Lemur tyrosine kinase 2 (LMTK2) is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the LMTK2 gene.
The PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway is an intracellular signaling pathway important in regulating the cell cycle. Therefore, it is directly related to cellular quiescence, proliferation, cancer, and longevity. PI3K activation phosphorylates and activates AKT, localizing it in the plasma membrane. AKT can have a number of downstream effects such as activating CREB, inhibiting p27, localizing FOXO in the cytoplasm, activating PtdIns-3ps, and activating mTOR which can affect transcription of p70 or 4EBP1. There are many known factors that enhance the PI3K/AKT pathway including EGF, shh, IGF-1, insulin, and CaM. Both leptin and insulin recruit PI3K signalling for metabolic regulation. The pathway is antagonized by various factors including PTEN, GSK3B, and HB9.
BIM-1 and the related compounds BIM-2, BIM-3, and BIM-8 are bisindolylmaleimide-based protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors. These inhibitors also inhibit PDK1 explaining the higher inhibitory potential of LY33331 compared to the other BIM compounds a bisindolylmaleimide inhibitor toward PDK1.
Volasertib is an experimental small molecule inhibitor of the PLK1 protein being developed by Boehringer Ingelheim for use as an anti-cancer agent. Volasertib is the second in a novel class of drugs called dihydropteridinone derivatives.
Ibrutinib, sold under the brand name Imbruvica among others, is a small molecule drug that inhibits B-cell proliferation and survival by irreversibly binding the protein Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK). Blocking BTK inhibits the B-cell receptor pathway, which is often aberrantly active in B cell cancers. Ibrutinib is therefore used to treat such cancers, including mantle cell lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and Waldenström's macroglobulinemia. Ibrutinib also binds to C-terminal Src Kinases. These are off-target receptors for the BTK inhibitor. Ibrutinib binds to these receptors and inhibits the kinase from promoting cell differentiation and growth. This leads to many different side effects like left atrial enlargement and atrial fibrillation during the treatment of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia.