Molecular features crucial to the activity of pyrimidine benzamide-based thrombopoietin receptor agonists

The identification of small molecule modulators of biological processes mediated via protein–protein interactions has generally proved to be a challenging endeavor. In the case of the thrombopoietin receptor (TPOr), however, a number of small molecule types have been reported to display biological activity similar to that of the agonist protein TPO. Through a detailed analysis of structure–activity relationships, X-ray crystal structures, NMR coupling constants, nuclear Overhauser effects, and computational data, we have determined the agonism-inducing conformation of one series of small molecule TPOr agonists. The relationship of this agonism-inducing conformation to that of other series of TPO receptor agonists is discussed.