Gaining Insights into Key Structural Hotspots within the Allosteric Binding Pockets of Protein Kinases

Abstract

Protein kinases are essential regulators of cell function and represent one of the largest and most diverse protein families. They are particularly influential in signal transduction and coordinating complex processes like the cell cycle. Out of the 518 human protein kinases identified, 478 are part of a single superfamily sharing catalytic domains that are related in sequence. The dysregulation of protein kinases due to certain mutations has been associated with various diseases, including cancer. Although most of the protein kinase inhibitors identified as type I or type II primarily target the ATP-binding pockets of kinases, the structural and sequential resemblances among these pockets pose a significant challenge for selective inhibition. Therefore, targeting allosteric pockets that are beside highly conserved ATP pockets has emerged as a promising strategy to prevail current limitations, such as poor selectivity and drug resistance. In this article, we compared the binding pockets of various protein kinases for which allosteric (type III) inhibitors have already been developed. Additionally, understanding the structure and shape of existing ligands could aid in identifying key interaction sites within the allosteric pockets of kinases. This comprehensive review aims to facilitate the design of more effective and selective allosteric inhibitors. © 2024 by the authors.