News & Events
Preclinical Efficacy of Covalent-Allosteric AKT Inhibitor Borussertib in Combination with Trametinib in KRAS-mutant Pancreatic and Colorectal Cancer
Aberrations within the PI3K/AKT signaling axis are frequently observed in numerous cancer types, highlighting the relevance of these pathways in cancer physiology and pathology. However, therapeutic interventions employing AKT inhibitors often suffer from limitations associated with target selectivity, efficacy, or dose-limiting effects. Here we present the first crystal structure of auto-inhibited AKT1 in complex with the covalent-allosteric inhibitor borussertib, providing critical insights into the structural basis of AKT1 inhibition by this unique class of compounds.
Targeting the MKK7–JNK Pathway with Covalent Inhibitors
The protein kinase MKK7 (Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinase 7) is linked to neuronal development and the onset of cancer. The field, however, lacks high-quality functional probes that would allow for the dissection of its detailed functions. Against this background, we describe an effective covalent inhibitor of MKK7 based on the pyrazolopyrimidine scaffold.
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Structural and Chemical Insights into the Covalent-allosteric Inhibition of the Protein Kinase Akt
The Ser/Thr Kinase Akt (Protein Kinase B/PKB) is a master switch in cellular signal transduction pathways. Ist downstream signaling influences cell proliferation, cell growth, and apoptosis, rendering Akt a prominent drug target. The unique activation mechanism of Akt involves a change of the relative orientation of its N-terminal pleckstrin homology (PH) and the kinase domain and makes this kinase suitable for highly specific allosteric modulation. Here we present...