The interaction of human CK2α (hCK2α) with nine halogenated benzotriazoles, TBBt and its analogues representing all possible patterns of halogenation on the benzene ring of benzotriazole, was studied by biophysical methods. Thermal stability of protein-ligand complexes, monitored by calorimetric (DSC) and optical (DSF) methods, showed that the increase in the mid-point temperature for unfolding of protein-ligand complexes (i.e. potency of ligand binding to hCK2α) follow the inhibitory activities determined by biochemical assays. The dissociation constant for the ATP-hCK2α complex was estimated with the aid of microscale thermophoresis (MST) as 4.3±1.8 μM, and MST-derived dissociation constants determined for halogenated benzotriazoles, when converted according to known ATP concentrations, perfectly reconstruct IC50 values determined by the biochemical assays. Ligand-dependent quenching of tyrosine fluorescence, together with molecular modeling and DSC-derived heats of unfolding, support the hypothesis that halogenated benzotriazoles bind in at least two alternative orientations, and those that are efficient hCK2α inhibitors bind in the orientation which TBBt adopts in its complex with maize CK2α. DSC-derived apparent heat for ligand binding (ΔΔHbind) is driven by intermolecular electrostatic interactions between Lys68 and the triazole ring of the ligand, as indicated by a good correlation between ΔΔHbind and ligand pKa. Overall results, additionally supported by molecular modeling, confirm that a balance of hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions contribute predominantly (~40 kJ/mol), relative to possible intermolecular halogen/hydrogen bonding (less than 10 kJ/mol), in binding of halogenated benzotriazoles to the ATP-binding site of hCK2α. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Inhibitors of Protein Kinases.

The interaction of human CK2α with a series of tetrabromobenzotriazole (TBBt) and tetrabromobenzimidazole (TBBz) analogs, in which one of the bromine atoms proximal to the triazole/imidazole ring is replaced by a methyl group, was studied by biochemical (IC50) and biophysical methods (thermal stability of protein-ligand complex monitored by DSC and fluorescence). Two newly synthesized tri-bromo derivatives display inhibitory activity comparable to that of the reference compounds, TBBt and TBBz, respectively. DSC analysis of the stability of protein-ligand complexes shows that the heat of ligand binding (Hbind) is driven by intermolecular electrostatic interactions involving the triazole/imidazole ring, as indicated by a strong correlation between Hbind and ligand pKa. Screening, based on fluorescence-monitored thermal unfolding of protein-ligand complexes, gave comparable results, clearly identifying ligands that most strongly bind to the protein. Overall results, additionally supported by molecular modeling, confirm that a balance of hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions contribute predominantly, relative to possible intermolecular halogen bonding, in binding of the ligands to the CK2α ATP-binding site.

A series of new polybrominated benzimidazoles and benzotriazoles has been synthesized and their influence on the activity of protein kinase CK2 was evaluated. It was revealed that the most active inhibitors are those with methyl or ethyl substituent at benzene ring, namely 5,6,7-tribromo-4-methyl-1H-benzotriazole (38, IC(50) 0.51 μM) and 5,6,7-tribromo-4-ethyl-1H-benzotriazole (40, IC(50) 0.16 μM). The derivatives with large aromatic or heterocyclic substituents connected to benzimidazole or benzotriazole scaffold appeared to be less potent inhibitors.

A series of nine hitherto unknown bicyclic pyrimidine nucleoside analogues (BCNAs) bearing bicyclic furo[2,3-d]pyrimidin-2(3H)one, 3H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidin-2(7H)-one and 5,6-dihydropyrimido[4,5-c]pyridazin-7(8H)-one bases were prepared in a straightforward approach. Each of the synthesized compounds possesses a β-D-ribofuranose, β-D-2-deoxyribofuranose or β-D-arabinofuranose moiety attached to the heterocyclic ring system. This is one of few examples of the synthesis of pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidin-2(7H)-one and dihydropyrimido[4,5-c]pyridazin-7(8H)-one nucleosides, and the first example of such nucleosides possessing an arabinose moiety. A key synthetic step involved a Sonogashira coupling reaction. For the coupling with 4-phenyl-1-butyne, deprotected 5-iodouridine, 5-iodo-2′-deoxyuridine and 5-iodoarabinouridine were used, and this reaction was followed by cycloisomerization and subsequent conversion of the furan ring into a pyrrole or a pyridazine ring. This approach resulted in the creation of a small library of compounds, which were evaluated for their antiproliferative properties against HL-60 and Jurkat E6.1 cell lines. Of all tested compounds, only 6-(2-phenylethyl)-3-(β-D-ribofuranosyl)furo[2,3-d]pyrimidin-2(3H)-one exhibited weak antiproliferative activity, with IC 50 values of 54 and 81 μM for HL-60 and Jurkat E6.1 cells, respectively.

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