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Publication Abstract from PubMed

Macromolecular function is rooted in energy landscapes, where sequence determines not a single structure but an ensemble of conformations. Hence, evolution modifies a protein's function by altering its energy landscape. Here, we recreate the evolutionary pathway between two modern human oncogenes, Src and Abl, by reconstructing their common ancestors. Our evolutionary reconstruction combined with x-ray structures of the common ancestor and pre-steady-state kinetics reveals a detailed atomistic mechanism for selectivity of the successful cancer drug Gleevec. Gleevec affinity is gained during the evolutionary trajectory toward Abl and lost toward Src, primarily by shifting an induced-fit equilibrium that is also disrupted in the clinical T315I resistance mutation. This work reveals the mechanism of Gleevec specificity while offering insights into how energy landscapes evolve.

Kinase dynamics. Using ancient protein kinases to unravel a modern cancer drug's mechanism.,Wilson C, Agafonov RV, Hoemberger M, Kutter S, Zorba A, Halpin J, Buosi V, Otten R, Waterman D, Theobald DL, Kern D Science. 2015 Feb 20;347(6224):882-6. doi: 10.1126/science.aaa1823. PMID:25700521^[1]

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.