Structure Defines Function: Clinically Relevant Mutations in ErbB Kinases

J Med Chem. 2020 Jan 9;63(1):40-51. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.9b00964. Epub 2019 Aug 28.

Abstract

The ErbB receptor tyrosine kinase family members EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) and Her2 are among the prominent mutated oncogenic drivers of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Their importance in proliferation, apoptosis, and cell death ultimately renders them hot targets in cancer therapy. Small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors seem well suited to be tailor-made therapeutics for EGFR mutant NSCLC; however, drug resistance mutations limit their success. Against this background, the elucidation and visualization of the three-dimensional structure of cancer-related kinases provide valuable insights into their molecular functions. This field has undergone a revolution because X-ray crystal structure determinations aided structure-based drug design approaches and clarified the effect of activating and resistance-conferring mutations. Here, we present an overview of important mutations affecting EGFR and Her2 and highlight their influence on the kinase domain conformations and active site accessibility.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / genetics
  • Catalytic Domain / genetics
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / genetics
  • ErbB Receptors / chemistry*
  • ErbB Receptors / genetics
  • ErbB Receptors / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Lung Neoplasms / genetics
  • Point Mutation
  • Protein Conformation, alpha-Helical / genetics
  • Protein Domains
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / metabolism
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / chemistry*
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / genetics
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / metabolism

Substances

  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • ErbB Receptors
  • Receptor, ErbB-2