Approach for targeting Ras with small molecules that activate SOS-mediated nucleotide exchange
Open accessAbstract
Significance: Ras is one of the most highly validated targets in cancer; however, the discovery of potent inhibitors of Ras has been difficult to achieve. We report the discovery of small molecules that bind to a pocket on the Ras:Son of Sevenless:Ras complex and alter Ras activity in biochemical and cell-based experiments. High-resolution cocrystal structures define the protein–ligand interactions, and the lead compounds provide a starting point for the discovery of potent inhibitors of Ras signaling.
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In KRAS mutant colorectal cancer, SOS1 inhibition is a significant therapeutic approach.
“In KRAS mutant CRC, where the KRAS protein toggles between its GDP-bound inactive and GTP-bound active states, acting as a molecular switch, SOS1 inhibition emerges as a significant therapeutic approach [65].”
From RAS Mutations in Advanced Colorectal Cancer: Mechanisms, Clinical Implications, and Novel Therapeutic Approaches (2025) · cites this paper as [65]
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- Authors
- Burns, M. C., Sun, Q., Daniels, R. N., Camper, D., Kennedy, J. P., Phan, J., Olejniczak, E. T., Lee, T., Waterson, A. G., Rossanese, O. W., & Fesik, S. W.
- Affiliations
- Vanderbilt University (US)
- Departments of aBiochemistry,
- ORCID
- Venue
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
- Publisher
- National Academy of Sciences
- Published
- 2014-02-18
- Volume
- 111
- Issue
- 9
- Pages
- 3401-3406
- ISSN
- 0027-8424 (ISSN-L)
- 1091-6490
- PMC
- PMC3948241
- OpenAlex
- W2024839004
- Cited by
- 199
- References
- 32
- Citations by year
- 2026: 8 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 18 · 2023: 24 · 2022: 17 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 17 · 2019: 16 · 2018: 21 · 2017: 15 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 16 · 2014: 11
- FWCI
- 7.10
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institutes of Health (DP1OD006933)
- U.S. Public Health Service (5P50A095103-09)
- National Cancer Institute (DP1CA174419, P50CA095103, T32CA009582)
- National Institute of General Medical Sciences (T32-GM 07347, T32GM007347)
- National Center for Research Resources (S10RR025677)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Protein Kinase Regulation and GTPase Signaling
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Biochemical and Molecular Research
- Keywords
- Ras activation, small molecule activators, SOS1, nucleotide exchange, switch II region, structure-activity relationship, Ras-GTP, MAPK signaling, PI3K signaling, oncogenic Ras, receptor tyrosine kinase signaling
- MeSH terms
- Chromatography, Liquid, Chromatography, Thin Layer, Fluorescence Polarization, HeLa Cells, Humans, Indoles, Ligands, Models, Molecular, Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy, Piperidines, Protein Conformation, Mass Spectrometry, Molecular Structure, Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras), Crystallography, X-Ray, SOS1 Protein, Multiprotein Complexes
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