Design and Evaluation of Bivalent K-Ras Inhibitors that Target the CAAX Binding Site and the Acidic Surface of Farnesyltransferase and Geranylgeranyltransferase I.

Abstract

Mutant K-Ras drives cancer through its membrane localization, which requires post-translational modification by farnesyltransferase (FTase). FTase attaches farnesyl to the K-Ras C-terminal CVIM tetrapeptide, enabling membrane binding. However, K-Ras can also undergo compensatory geranylgeranylation by geranylgeranyltransferase I (GGTase I), making FTase inhibition alone ineffective. Dual inhibition of FTase and GGTase I is necessary to fully block K-Ras localization and its cancer activity. We developed bivalent inhibitors targeting both FTase and GGTase I by binding to the CVIM site and an adjacent acidic surface. A non-thiol CVIM peptidomimetic based on a piperidine scaffold showed potent FTase inhibition (Ki = 2.1 nM) with less effect on GGTase I (Ki = 210 nM). Adding cationic modules to this compound produced dual inhibitors with enhanced potency (Ki = 2-5 nM), significantly improving upon previous agents. These bivalent inhibitors effectively reduced mutant K-Ras cancer cell viability and inhibited K-Ras farnesylation and geranylgeranylation in cells. This dual-targeting approach shows promise for treating K-Ras-driven cancers.