Multiple and Single Binding Modes of Fragment-Like Kinase Inhibitors Revealed by Molecular Modeling, Residue Type-Selective Protonation, and Nuclear Overhauser Effects

Fragment-like inhibitors of mitogen-activated protein kinase-activated protein kinase 2 (MK2) include 5-hydroxyisoquinoline (IC50 ∼ 85 μM). Modeling studies identified four possible binding modes for this compound. Two-dimensional 1H−1H NOESY data obtained with selectively protonated samples of MK2 in complex with 5-hydroxyisoquinoline demonstrated that two of the four predicted binding modes are well populated. A second small isoquinoline was subsequently shown to bind in a single mode. NMR and modeling studies using this general approach are expected to facilitate “scaffold hopping” and structure-guided elaborations of fragment-like kinase inhibitor cores.