Allosteric Inhibition of Anti-Apoptotic MCL-1

MCL-1 is an anti-apoptotic BCL-2 family protein that has emerged as a major pathogenic factor in human cancer. Like BCL-2, MCL-1 bears a surface groove whose function is to sequester the BH3 killer domains of pro-apoptotic BCL-2 family members, a mechanism harnessed by cancer cells to establish formidable apoptotic blockades. Whereas drugging the BH3-binding groove has been achieved for BCL-2, translating this approach to MCL-1 has been challenging. Here, we report an alternative mechanism for MCL-1 inhibition by small molecule covalent modification of C286 at a novel interaction site distant from the BH3-binding groove. Our structure-function analyses revealed that the BH3-binding capacity of MCL-1 and its suppression of BAX are impaired by molecular engagement, a phenomenon recapitulated by C286W mutagenic mimicry in vitro and in cells. Thus, we characterize an allosteric mechanism for disrupting the anti-apoptotic, BH3-binding activity of MCL-1, informing a new strategy for disarming MCL-1 in cancer.