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Biosensor-based High Throughput Biopanning and Bioinformatics Analysis Strategy for the Global Validation of Drug-protein Interactions
Published on: December 1, 2020
Discovery of small-molecule enzyme activators by activity-based protein profiling
Bernard P Kok1, Srijana Ghimire2, Woojoo Kim1
1Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA.
Activity-based protein profiling (ABPP) now identifies enzyme activators, not just inhibitors. Researchers discovered a LYPLAL1 activator, demonstrating ABPP
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry and Chemical Biology
- Enzyme Activity Regulation
- Pharmacological Sciences
Background:
- Activity-based protein profiling (ABPP) is a powerful technique for enzyme inhibitor discovery.
- LYPLAL1, a serine hydrolase, is genetically linked to human metabolic traits but poorly characterized.
- Identifying enzyme activators presents a complementary pharmacological strategy to inhibitor-based approaches.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate the utility of ABPP for discovering small-molecule enzyme activators.
- To identify and characterize novel activators of the LYPLAL1 enzyme.
- To explore the therapeutic potential of LYPLAL1 activation in metabolic disease models.
Main Methods:
- Development and application of a kinetically controlled, fluorescence polarization-ABPP assay.
- ABPP-guided medicinal chemistry to optimize lead compounds.
- Biochemical, biophysical, and structural analyses to elucidate activation mechanisms.
- In vivo studies using a mouse model of diet-induced obesity.
Main Results:
- Identification of novel small-molecule activators of LYPLAL1.
- Optimization of a lead compound into a selective LYPLAL1 activator with in vivo potential.
- Elucidation of the activation mechanism, involving enhancement of the catalytic triad.
- Demonstration of beneficial effects of LYPLAL1 activation in a diet-induced obesity mouse model.
Conclusions:
- ABPP is a viable strategy for discovering enzyme activators, expanding its application beyond inhibitor identification.
- Pharmacological activation of LYPLAL1 offers a potential therapeutic avenue for metabolic disorders.
- This work establishes a new paradigm for enzyme modulation and highlights ABPP's versatility.
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