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Title: An Allosteric Inhibitor of the Human Cdc34 Ubiquitin-Conjugating Enzyme

Journal Article · · Cell

In the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS), E2 enzymes mediate the conjugation of ubiquitin to substrates and thereby control protein stability and interactions. The E2 enzyme hCdc34 catalyzes the ubiquitination of hundreds of proteins in conjunction with the cullin-RING (CRL) superfamily of E3 enzymes. We identified a small molecule termed CC0651 that selectively inhibits hCdc34. Structure determination revealed that CC0651 inserts into a cryptic binding pocket on hCdc34 distant from the catalytic site, causing subtle but wholesale displacement of E2 secondary structural elements. CC0651 analogs inhibited proliferation of human cancer cell lines and caused accumulation of the SCF{sup Skp2} substrate p27{sup Kip1}. CC0651 does not affect hCdc34 interactions with E1 or E3 enzymes or the formation of the ubiquitin thioester but instead interferes with the discharge of ubiquitin to acceptor lysine residues. E2 enzymes are thus susceptible to noncatalytic site inhibition and may represent a viable class of drug target in the UPS.

Research Organization:
Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States). Advanced Photon Source (APS)
Sponsoring Organization:
FOREIGNNIHDOE - BASIC ENERGY SCIENCES
OSTI ID:
1019128
Journal Information:
Cell, Vol. 145, Issue (7) ; 06, 2011; ISSN 0092-8674
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
ENGLISH