Structure of the human autophagy initiating kinase ULK1 in complex with potent inhibitors

MB Lazarus, CJ Novotny, KM Shokat - ACS chemical biology, 2015 - ACS Publications
MB Lazarus, CJ Novotny, KM Shokat
ACS chemical biology, 2015ACS Publications
Autophagy is a conserved cellular process that involves the degradation of cellular
components for energy maintenance and cytoplasmic quality control that has recently
gained interest as a novel target for a variety of human diseases, including cancer. A prime
candidate to determine the potential therapeutic benefit of targeting autophagy is the kinase
ULK1, whose activation initiates autophagy. Here, we report the first structures of ULK1, in
complex with multiple potent inhibitors. These structures show features unique to the …
Autophagy is a conserved cellular process that involves the degradation of cellular components for energy maintenance and cytoplasmic quality control that has recently gained interest as a novel target for a variety of human diseases, including cancer. A prime candidate to determine the potential therapeutic benefit of targeting autophagy is the kinase ULK1, whose activation initiates autophagy. Here, we report the first structures of ULK1, in complex with multiple potent inhibitors. These structures show features unique to the enzyme and will provide a path for the rational design of selective compounds as cellular probes and potential therapeutics.
ACS Publications