Design and physicochemical properties of new fluorescent ligands of protein kinase C isozymes focused on CH/pi interaction

Phorbol ester-type tumor promoters such as indolactam-V (IL-V, 1) bind to the C1 domains of protein kinase C (PKC) isozymes. A more convenient method to investigate the interaction between each tumor promoter and PKC C1 domain is needed. Focusing on our recent finding that the indole ring of IL-V is involved in the CH/pi interaction with Pro-11 of the PKCdelta-C1B domain, we developed new fluorescent probes (2-4) from IL-V by forming a pyrroloindazole ring. Compound 2 without a substituent at the pyrroloindazole ring bound most strongly to PKC C1 domains with a potency similar to IL-V, but its fluorescent intensity was the weakest of any of the probes. Although the binding affinity of 3 with a methyl group was significantly weaker than that of IL-V, 4 with a trifluoromethyl group showed moderate affinity and the most potent fluorescence intensity. The fluorescence intensity and emission maxima of 4 changed significantly when bound to the PKCdelta-C1B peptide in both the presence and absence of phosphatidylserine. These results suggest that 4 could be a useful probe for analyzing the interaction of tumor promoters with PKC C1 domains.