Identification of labile Zn sites in drug-target proteins.

Labile Zn fingers (Zfs) in proteins contain Zn-bound thiolates that can react with electrophilic agents, causing Zn2+ ejection and protein unfolding. Such labile Zfs have been shown to be Cys4 or Cys3His cores whose Zn-bound Cys have no hydrogen bonds. Our aim here is to identify labile Zfs in proteins that are promising drug targets using these features. To prove the strategy used, we showed that five proteins with predicted labile Zfs reacted with Zn-ejecting agents, whereas five proteins with no or inert Zfs did not. The comprehensive set of labile Zfs provides new drug targets and guidelines to redesign Zn-ejecting compounds with improved specificity.