Cited by 1,065Computational Drug Discovery MethodsChemical Synthesis and AnalysisProtein Degradation and Inhibitors

Small-Molecule Inhibitors of Protein-Protein Interactions: Progressing toward the Reality

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Arkin, Michelle R., Tang, Yinyan, Wells, James A.·2014·Chemistry & Biology

Abstract

The past 20 years have seen many advances in our understanding of protein-protein interactions (PPIs) and how to target them with small-molecule therapeutics. In 2004, we reviewed some early successes; since then, potent inhibitors have been developed for diverse protein complexes, and compounds are now in clinical trials for six targets. Surprisingly, many of these PPI clinical candidates have efficiency metrics typical of "lead-like" or "drug-like" molecules and are orally available. Successful discovery efforts have integrated multiple disciplines and make use of all the modern tools of target-based discovery-structure, computation, screening, and biomarkers. PPIs become progressively more challenging as the interfaces become more complex, i.e., as binding epitopes are displayed on primary, secondary, or tertiary structures. Here, we review the last 10 years of progress, focusing on the properties of PPI inhibitors that have advanced to clinical trials and prospects for the future of PPI drug discovery.

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  1. Tolcher AW Papadopoulos KP Patnaik A Fairbrother WJ Wong H Budha NR Darbonne WC Peale FV Mamounas MJ Royer-Joo S Phase I study of safety and pharmacokinetics (PK) of GDC-0917, an antagonist of inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) proteins in patients (Pts) with refractory solid tumors or lymphoma Journal of clinical oncology: official journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology 2013 31

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Authors
Arkin, M. R., Tang, Y., & Wells, J. A.
Affiliations
University of California, San Francisco (US)
Corresponding author
Arkin, Michelle R.
Venue
Chemistry & Biology
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2014-09
Volume
21
Issue
9
Pages
1102-1114
ISSN
1074-5521 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2041755933
Cited by
1,065
References
116
Citations by year
2026: 80 · 2025: 62 · 2024: 57 · 2023: 55 · 2022: 80 · 2021: 108 · 2020: 106 · 2019: 103 · 2018: 111 · 2017: 106 · 2016: 109 · 2015: 86 · 2013: 1
FWCI
8.07
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Chemistry & Biology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health
  • National Institute on Aging (R21AG046526, AG046526)
  • National Cancer Institute (CA136779, R01CA136779)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Computational Theory and Mathematics › Computational Drug Discovery Methods
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Chemical Synthesis and Analysis
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Protein Degradation and Inhibitors
Keywords
protein-protein interaction, small molecule inhibitors, PPI inhibitors, drug discovery, clinical trials, target-based drug discovery, binding epitope, oral bioavailability, structure-based drug design, computational screening, biomarkers
MeSH terms
Allosteric Regulation, Binding Sites, Humans, Peptides, Proteins, Protein Structure, Secondary, Protein Structure, Tertiary, HIV Integrase, Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins, Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs, Small Molecule Libraries, Protein Interaction Maps

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