Tripeptides as Integrin-Linked Kinase Modulating Agents Based on a Protein–Protein Interaction with α‑Parvin

• Published in: ACS medicinal chemistry letters 2021-11, Vol.12 (11), p.1656-1662
• Main Authors: Garcia-Marin, Javier, Griera-Merino, Mercedes, Matamoros-Recio, Alejandra, de Frutos, Sergio, Rodríguez-Puyol, Manuel, Alajarín, Ramón, Vaquero, Juan J, Rodríguez-Puyol, Diego
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Letter
• ISSN: 1948-5875; 1948-5875
• DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.1c00183

Integrin-linked kinase (ILK) has emerged as a controversial pseudokinase protein that plays a crucial role in the signaling process initiated by integrin-mediated signaling. However, ILK also exhibits a scaffolding protein function inside cells, controlling cytoskeletal dynamics, and has been related to non-neoplastic diseases such as chronic kidney disease (CKD). Although this protein always acts as a heterotrimeric complex bound to PINCH and parvin adaptor proteins, the role of parvin proteins is currently not well understood. Using in silico approaches for the design, we have generated and prepared a set of new tripeptides mimicking an α-parvin segment. These derivatives exhibit activity in phenotypic assays in an ILK-dependent manner without altering kinase activity, thus allowing the generation of new chemical probes and drug candidates with interesting ILK-modulating activities.