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Updated: Jun 4, 2025

Identification of Novel CK2 Kinase Substrates Using a Versatile Biochemical Approach
Published on: February 21, 2019
Phenomics-Based Discovery of Novel Orthosteric Choline Kinase Inhibitors.
Ludwig G Bauer1,2, Jennifer A Ward1,2, Laura Díaz-Sáez1,2
1Centre for Medicines Discovery, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7FZ, UK.
Histone methyltransferase inhibitors unexpectedly target choline kinase alpha (CHKA), a key regulator of cell metabolism. This discovery offers new avenues for developing CHKA inhibitors for cancer and immune research.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Immunology
Background:
- Choline kinase alpha (CHKA) is crucial for cell metabolism, cancer, and immune regulation.
- Developing effective CHKA inhibitors for research has been challenging.
- Existing studies on G9a/GLP inhibitors show discrepancies in cellular assays.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify novel targets of histone methyltransferase inhibitors.
- To investigate the role of CHKA in immune signaling.
- To develop chemical tools for CHKA research.
Main Methods:
- Integrated phenomic screening to identify off-targets.
- Chemoproteomic, biochemical, cellular, and metabolic profiling.
- Co-crystal structure determination of inhibitors with CHKA.
Main Results:
- CHKA identified as an off-target of aminoquinazoline histone methyltransferase inhibitors (UNC0638, UNC0737).
- CHKA inhibition impairs IgG secretion and B-cell maturation in human cells.
- Unexpected binding mode of UNC0638 and UNC0737 to CHKA revealed.
Conclusions:
- Aminoquinazolines are direct inhibitors of CHKA, explaining previous assay discrepancies.
- CHKA plays a significant role in immune signaling, particularly in B-cell function.
- UNC0638 and UNC0737 are valuable starting points for developing selective CHKA chemical probes.
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