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SMYD3 (SET- and MYND-domain containing protein 3) is an epigenetic enzyme with lysine methyl transferase activity and multiple protein binding partners. It is implicated in cancer development and active site inhibitors with antitumor activity have been developed. We have previously discovered that diperodon is an allosteric SMYD3 ligand and are interested in developing ligands that can interfere with non-catalytic functions of SMYD3, while avoiding conceivable draw-backs of targeting a conserved site in an enzyme with several close family members. Herein, the features of the diperodon site were explored via computational modelling and served as a basis for identifying analogues in commercial compound space, thus avoiding the need for in-house compound synthesis. Time-resolved grating coupled interferometry (GCI) biosensor analysis confirmed that two out of 21 acquired analogues interacted with SMYD3, with similar affinities as diperodon (KD ∼ 180 and 210 vs. ∼200 µM). As a second approach, fragmentation of diperodon followed by growing of fragments identified an additional 11 compounds in commercial compound space. GCI analysis confirmed that N-phenylformamide and three compounds evolved from this fragment interacted with SMYD3. These four ligands varied structurally from diperodon and had higher affinities (KD = 0.4–130 µM) and superior ligand efficiencies. However, all ligands interacted with rapid kinetics and weak affinities, indicating that the site had poor ligandability, possibly a result of its extremely flexible structure. Difficulties in protein production and the overall flexible structure of SMYD3, prevented NMR experiments and X-ray crystallography. Nevertheless, the combination of computational ligand design supported by biosensor-based analyses resulted in new allosteric ligands with minimal resources in a short time.

A 1056-membered fragment library has been screened against SMYD3 using a novel multiplexed experimental design implemented in a grating coupled interferometry (GCI)-based biosensor. SMYD3 is a prospective target for anticancer drugs and the focus has initially been on discovery of inhibitors of its lysine methyl transferase activity. However, it has multiple protein interaction partners and several potential roles in carcinogenesis. It therefore remains unclear what mode of action ligands targeting the protein should have. Our goal was therefore to identify new ligands and discriminate hits that interact with the active site and those that interact with other sites. In addition, we were interested in selecting hits based on kinetic features rather than affinity. Screening was done in parallel against SMYD3 alone or SMYD3 with the active site blocked by a tight binding inhibitor. Hit selection was primarily based on dissociation rates. In total, 20 fragments were selected as hits, of which half apparently targeted the active site and half targeted other sites. Twelve of the hits were selected for structural analysis using X-ray crystallography in order to identify binding sites and modes of binding. Four of the hits were successfully identified in crystal structures with SMYD3; the others did not show any electron densities for ligands in the crystals. Although it might be possible to optimize the crystallography approach for a better success rate, it was clear that the sensitivity and time resolution of the biosensor assay was exceptional and enabled kinetic rate constants to be estimated for fragments. Fragments are typically considered to interact too rapidly for such quantification to be possible. This approach consequently represents a paradigm shift. In addition, the multiplexed approach allows ligands targeting different sites to be rationally selected already in the fragment library screening stage.

Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensor methods are ideally suited for fragment-based lead discovery.  However, generally applicable experimental procedures and detailed protocols are lacking, especially for structurally or physico-chemically challenging targets or when tool compounds are not available. Success depends on accounting for the features of both the target and the chemical library, purposely designing screening experiments for identification and validation of hits with desired specificity and mode-of-action, and availability of orthogonal methods capable of confirming fragment hits. The range of targets and libraries amenable to an SPR biosensor-based approach for identifying hits is considerably expanded by adopting multiplexed strategies, using multiple complementary surfaces or experimental conditions. Here we illustrate principles and multiplexed approaches for using flow-based SPR biosensor systems for screening fragment libraries of different sizes (90 and 1056 compounds) against a selection of challenging targets. It shows strategies for the identification of fragments interacting with 1) large and structurally dynamic targets, represented by acetyl choline binding protein (AChBP), a Cys-loop receptor ligand gated ion channel homologue, 2) targets in multi protein complexes, represented by lysine demethylase 1 and a corepressor (LSD1/CoREST), 3) structurally variable or unstable targets, represented by farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase (FPPS), 4) targets containing intrinsically disordered regions, represented by protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B  (PTP1B), and 5) aggregation-prone proteins, represented by an engineered form of human tau  (tau K18M). Practical considerations and procedures accounting for the characteristics of the proteins and libraries, and that increase robustness, sensitivity, throughput and versatility are highlighted. The study shows that the challenges for addressing these types of targets is not identification of potentially useful fragments per se, but establishing methods for their validation and evolution into leads.

SMYD3 is a multifunctional epigenetic enzyme with lysine methyl transferase activity and various interaction partners. It is implicated in the pathophysiology of cancers but with an unclear mechanism. To discover tool compounds for clarifying its biochemistry and potential as a therapeutic target, a set of drug-like compounds was screened using a biosensor-based competition assay. Diperodon was identified as an allosteric ligand. The ( R )-and ( S )-enantiomers of the racemic drug were isolated and their affinities determined ( K D > = 42 and 84 ÎŒM). Co-crystallization revealed that both enantiomers bind to a previously unidentified allosteric site in the C-terminal protein binding domain, consistent with its weak inhibitory effect. No competition between diperodon and HSP90 (a known SMYD3 interaction partner) was observed although HSP90-SMYD3 binding was confirmed ( K D = 13 ÎŒM). The allosteric site appears to be druggable and suitable for exploration of non-catalytic SMYD3 functions and therapeutics with new mechanisms of action.

Biophysical screening of compound libraries for the identification of ligands that interact with a protein is efficient, but does typically not reveal if (or how) ligands may interfere with its functional properties. For this a biochemical/functional assay is required. But for proteins whose function is dependent on a conformational change, such assays are typically complex or have low throughput. Here we have explored a high-throughput second-harmonic generation (SHG) biosensor to detect fragments that induce conformational changes upon binding to a protein in real time and identify dynamic regions. Multiwell plate format SHG assays were developed for wild-type and six engineered single-cysteine mutants of acetyl choline binding protein (AChBP), a homologue to ligand gated ion channels (LGICs). They were conjugated with second harmonic-active labels via amine or maleimide coupling. To validate the assay, it was confirmed that the conformational changes induced in AChBP by nicotinic acetyl choline receptor (nAChR) agonists and antagonists were qualitatively different. A 1056 fragment library was subsequently screened against all variants and conformational modulators of AChBP were successfully identified, with hit rates from 9–22%, depending on the AChBP variant. A subset of four hits was selected for orthogonal validation and structural analysis. A time-resolved grating-coupled interferometry-based biosensor assay confirmed the interaction to be a reversible 1-step 1 : 1 interaction, and provided estimates of affinities and interaction kinetic rate constants (K_D = 0.28–63 μM, k_a = 0.1–6 μM⁻¹ s⁻¹, k_d = 1 s⁻¹). X-ray crystallography of two of the fragments confirmed their binding at a previously described conformationally dynamic site, corresponding to the regulatory site of LGICs. These results reveal that SHG has the sensitivity to identify fragments that induce conformational changes in a protein. A selection of fragment hits with a response profile different to known LGIC regulators was characterized and confirmed to bind to dynamic regions of the protein.