Mixture-Based Screening of Focused Combinatorial Libraries by NMR: Application to the Antiapoptotic Protein hMcl-1

We report on an innovative ligand discovery strategy based on protein NMR-based screening of a combinatorial library of ∼125,000 compounds that was arranged in 96 distinct mixtures. Using sensitive solution protein NMR spectroscopy and chemical perturbation-based screening followed by an iterative synthesis, deconvolutions, and optimization strategy, we demonstrate that the approach could be useful in the identification of initial binding molecules for difficult drug targets, such as those involved in protein-protein interactions. As an application, we will report novel agents targeting the Bcl-2 family protein hMcl-1. The approach is of general applicability and could be deployed as an effective screening strategy for de novo identification of ligands, particularly when tackling targets involved in protein-protein interactions.