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Phan IQ, Rice CA, Craig J, Noorai RE, McDonald JR, Subramanian S, Tillery L, Barrett LK, Shankar V, Morris JC, Van Voorhis WC, Kyle DE, Myler PJ. The transcriptome of Balamuthia mandrillaris trophozoites for structure-guided drug design. Sci Rep 2021; 11:21664. [PMID: 34737367 PMCID: PMC8569187 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-99903-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Balamuthia mandrillaris, a pathogenic free-living amoeba, causes cutaneous skin lesions as well as granulomatous amoebic encephalitis, a 'brain-eating' disease. As with the other known pathogenic free-living amoebas (Naegleria fowleri and Acanthamoeba species), drug discovery efforts to combat Balamuthia infections of the central nervous system are sparse; few targets have been validated or characterized at the molecular level, and little is known about the biochemical pathways necessary for parasite survival. Current treatments of encephalitis due to B. mandrillaris lack efficacy, leading to case fatality rates above 90%. Using our recently published methodology to discover potential drugs against pathogenic amoebas, we screened a collection of 85 compounds with known antiparasitic activity and identified 59 compounds that impacted the growth of Balamuthia trophozoites at concentrations below 220 µM. Since there is no fully annotated genome or proteome of B. mandrillaris, we sequenced and assembled its transcriptome from a high-throughput RNA-sequencing (RNA-Seq) experiment and located the coding sequences of the genes potentially targeted by the growth inhibitors from our compound screens. We determined the sequence of 17 of these target genes and obtained expression clones for 15 that we validated by direct sequencing. These will be used in the future in combination with the identified hits in structure guided drug discovery campaigns to develop new approaches for the treatment of Balamuthia infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabelle Q Phan
- Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease (SSGCID), Seattle, WA, USA.
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Christopher A Rice
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.
| | - Justin Craig
- Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease (SSGCID), Seattle, WA, USA
- Center for Emerging and Re-Emerging Infectious Diseases (CERID), Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Rooksana E Noorai
- Clemson University Genomics and Bioinformatics Facility, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA
| | - Jacquelyn R McDonald
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Sandhya Subramanian
- Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease (SSGCID), Seattle, WA, USA
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Logan Tillery
- Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease (SSGCID), Seattle, WA, USA
- Center for Emerging and Re-Emerging Infectious Diseases (CERID), Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Lynn K Barrett
- Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease (SSGCID), Seattle, WA, USA
- Center for Emerging and Re-Emerging Infectious Diseases (CERID), Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Vijay Shankar
- Center for Human Genetics, Clemson University, Greenwood, SC, USA
| | - James C Morris
- Eukaryotic Pathogens Innovation Center, Department of Genetics and Biochemistry, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA
| | - Wesley C Van Voorhis
- Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease (SSGCID), Seattle, WA, USA
- Center for Emerging and Re-Emerging Infectious Diseases (CERID), Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Microbiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Dennis E Kyle
- Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Peter J Myler
- Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease (SSGCID), Seattle, WA, USA.
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
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Reconstruction of Sugar Metabolic Pathways of Giardia lamblia. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PROTEOMICS 2012; 2012:980829. [PMID: 23119161 PMCID: PMC3483818 DOI: 10.1155/2012/980829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2012] [Revised: 09/18/2012] [Accepted: 09/23/2012] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Giardia lamblia is an “important” pathogen of humans, but as a diplomonad excavate it is evolutionarily distant from other eukaryotes and relatively little is known about its core metabolic pathways. KEGG, the widely referenced site for providing information of metabolism, does not yet include many enzymes from Giardia species. Here we identify Giardia's core sugar metabolism using standard bioinformatic approaches. By comparing Giardia proteomes with known enzymes from other species, we have identified enzymes in the glycolysis pathway, as well as some enzymes involved in the TCA cycle and oxidative phosphorylation. However, the majority of enzymes from the latter two pathways were not identifiable, indicating the likely absence of these functionalities. We have also found enzymes from the Giardia glycolysis pathway that appear more similar to those from bacteria. Because these enzymes are different from those found in mammals, the host organisms for Giardia, we raise the possibility that these bacteria-like enzymes could be novel drug targets for treating Giardia infections.
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Daminelli S, Haupt VJ, Reimann M, Schroeder M. Drug repositioning through incomplete bi-cliques in an integrated drug–target–disease network. Integr Biol (Camb) 2012; 4:778-88. [DOI: 10.1039/c2ib00154c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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López-Vallejo F, Castillo R, Yépez-Mulia L, Medina-Franco JL. Benzotriazoles and indazoles are scaffolds with biological activity against Entamoeba histolytica. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011; 16:862-8. [PMID: 21821786 DOI: 10.1177/1087057111414902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Parasitic infections caused by Entamoeba histolytica are still major threats against public health, especially in developing countries. Although current therapies exist, the problems associated with parasite resistance and negative side effects make it imperative to search for new therapeutic agents. A systematic scaffold analysis reported herein of a public database containing 474 antiamoebic compounds reveals that benzimidazole is the most active scaffold reported thus far. To gain insights into the antiamoebic activity of novel compounds, the authors report herein the biological activity of 12 compounds, including benzotriazole and indazole derivatives, scaffolds not previously tested against E. histolytica. Compounds with the benzotriazole and indazole scaffolds showed low micromolar activity (IC(50) = 0.304 and 0.339 µM) and are more active than metronidazole, which is the drug of choice used for the treatment of amebiosis. The novel compounds have similar properties to approved drugs. Compounds with novel scaffolds represent promising starting points of an optimization program against E. histolytica.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabian López-Vallejo
- Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies, 11350 SW Village Parkway, Port St. Lucie, FL 34987, USA.
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Ramos MA, Mares RE, Magaña PD, Rivas ID, Meléndez-López SG. Entamoeba histolytica: Biochemical characterization of a protein disulfide isomerase. Exp Parasitol 2011; 128:76-81. [DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2011.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2010] [Revised: 02/05/2011] [Accepted: 02/08/2011] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Stephen P, Vijayan R, Bhat A, Subbarao N, Bamezai RNK. Molecular modeling on pyruvate phosphate dikinase of Entamoeba histolytica and in silico virtual screening for novel inhibitors. J Comput Aided Mol Des 2007; 22:647-60. [PMID: 17710553 DOI: 10.1007/s10822-007-9130-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2007] [Accepted: 07/23/2007] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Pyruvate phosphate dikinase (PPDK) is the key enzyme essential for the glycolytic pathway in most common and perilous parasite Entamoeba histolytica. Inhibiting the function of this enzyme could control the wide spread of intestinal infections caused by Entamoeba histolytica in humans. With this objective, we modeled the three dimensional structure of the PPDK protein. We used templates with 51% identity and 67% similarity to employ homology-modeling approach. Stereo chemical quality of protein structure was validated by protein structure validation program PROCHECK and VERIFY3D. Experimental proof available in literature along with the in silico studies indicated Lys21, Arg91, Asp323, Glu325 and Gln337 to be the probable active sites in the target protein. Virtual screening was carried out using the genetic docking algorithm GOLD and a consensus scoring function X-Score to substantiate the prediction. The small molecule libraries (ChemDivision database, Diversity dataset, Kinase inhibitor database) were used for screening process. Along with the high scoring results, the interaction studies provided promising ligands for future experimental screening to inhibit the function of PPDK in Entamoeba histolytica. Further, the phylogeny study was carried out to assess the possibility of using the proposed ligands as inhibitors in related pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Preyesh Stephen
- National Centre of Applied Human Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, 110067, India
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López-Vallejo F, Medina-Franco JL, Hernández-Campos A, Rodríguez-Morales S, Yépez L, Cedillo R, Castillo R. Molecular modeling of some 1H-benzimidazole derivatives with biological activity against Entamoeba histolytica: a comparative molecular field analysis study. Bioorg Med Chem 2006; 15:1117-26. [PMID: 17074492 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2006.10.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2006] [Revised: 09/23/2006] [Accepted: 10/11/2006] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) was performed on a set of 1H-benzimidazole derivatives. Molecular modeling and 3D-QSAR were employed to determine the tautomeric form that would probably fit a target receptor in Entamoeba histolytica. CoMFA results suggest that the antiamoebic activity is favored with steric bulk at position 5 of the benzimidazole ring and low electron density on the group at position 2. To the best of our knowledge this is the first 3D-QSAR study performed for benzimidazoles as antiamoebic agents. The CoMFA models derived will be very valuable to design new and more potent compounds against E. histolytica.
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Bontems F, le Floch P, Duffieux F, Biderre C, Peyret P, Lallemand JY. Homology modeling and calculation of the cobalt cluster charges of the Encephazlitozoon cuniculi methionine aminopeptidase, a potential target for drug design. Biophys Chem 2003; 105:29-43. [PMID: 12932577 DOI: 10.1016/s0301-4622(03)00056-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Fumagillin is a potent anti-angiogenic drug used in cancer treatments. It is also one of the few molecules active against the Enterocytozoon and Encephalitozoon parasites responsible for various clinical syndromes in HIV-infected or immunosuppressive treated patients. Its toxicity, however, makes desirable the design of more specific molecules. The fumagillin target, as anti-angiogenic agent, is the methionine aminopeptidase, an ubiquitous metallo-enzyme responsible for the removing of the N-terminal methionine in nascent proteins. By analogy, it has been proposed that this enzyme could also be the target in the parasites. As a first approach to verify this and to determine if it would be possible to design a more specific derivative, we have built a homology model of the E. cuniculi aminopeptidase. The charges of the two cobalt ions present in the active site and of the side-chains involved in their binding were computed using ab-initio methods. A preliminary comparison of the interactions of the fumagillin and of a related compound, the TNP-470, with both the human and the parasitic enzymes strongly support the hypothesis that the parasitic aminopeptidase is indeed the target of the fumagillin. It also suggests that the TNP-470 interact identically with both enzymes while there could be small differences in case of the fumagillin.
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Valdez J, Cedillo R, Hernández-Campos A, Yépez L, Hernández-Luis F, Navarrete-Vázquez G, Tapia A, Cortés R, Hernández M, Castillo R. Synthesis and antiparasitic activity of 1H-benzimidazole derivatives. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2002; 12:2221-4. [PMID: 12127542 DOI: 10.1016/s0960-894x(02)00346-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 200] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Compounds 1-18 have been synthesized and tested in vitro against the protozoa Giardia lamblia, Entamoeba histolytica and the helminth Trichinella spiralis. Inhibition of rat brain tubulin polymerization was also measured and compared for each compound. Results indicate that most of the compounds tested were more active as antiprotozoal agents than Metronidazole and Albendazole. None of the compounds was as active as Albendazole against T. spiralis. Although only compounds 3, 9 and 15 (2-methoxycarbonylamino derivatives) inhibited tubulin polymerization, these were not the most potent antiparasitic compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Valdez
- Departamento de Farmacia, Facultad de Química, UNAM, CU. 04510, México D.F., Mexico
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Moore SA, Ronimus RS, Roberson RS, Morgan HW. The structure of a pyrophosphate-dependent phosphofructokinase from the Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi. Structure 2002; 10:659-71. [PMID: 12015149 DOI: 10.1016/s0969-2126(02)00760-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The structure of the 60 kDa pyrophosphate (PP(i))-dependent phosphofructokinase (PFK) from Borrelia burgdorferi has been solved and refined (R(free) = 0.243) at 2.55 A resolution. The domain structure of eubacterial ATP-dependent PFKs is conserved in B. burgdorferi PFK, and there are three large insertions relative to E. coli PFK, including a helical domain containing a hairpin structure that interacts with the active site. Asp177, conserved in all PP(i) PFKs, negates the binding of the alpha-phosphate group of ATP and likely contacts the essential Mg(2+) cation via a water molecule. Asn181 blocks the binding of the adenine moiety of ATP. Lys203 hydrogen bonds to a sulfate anion that likely mimics PP(i) substrate binding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stanley A Moore
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences and Allan Wilson Centre for Molecular Ecology and Evolution, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
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11
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Deng Z, Wang X, Kemp RG. Site-directed mutagenesis of the fructose 6-phosphate binding site of the pyrophosphate-dependent phosphofructokinase of Entamoeba histolytica. Arch Biochem Biophys 2000; 380:56-62. [PMID: 10900132 DOI: 10.1006/abbi.2000.1881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Attempts to define the active site of pyrophosphate-dependent phosphofructokinase (PPi-PFK) using homology modeling based on the three-dimensional structure of the ATP-dependent PFKs from bacteria have been frustrated by low sequence identity between PPi- and ATP-PFKs in their carboxyl terminal halves. In the current study, alanine scanning mutagenesis of residues in the carboxyl terminal half of the PPi-PFK of Entamoeba histolytica coupled with comparative sequence analysis and computational modeling is used to identify residues that contribute to fructose 6-phosphate (fructose 6-P) binding. Of seven alanine mutants that were generated by site-directed mutagenesis, Arg377, Ser392, Arg405, Lys408, His415, His416, and Arg423, only the last mutant, Arg423Ala, was found to have dramatically lower affinity for fructose 6-P. Mutation of Arg 423 decreased k(cat) by 10,000-fold and decreased apparent affinity for fructose 6-P by 126-fold, while the K(m) for PPi increased only 4-fold. The second greatest effect was seen with Arg377Ala, which had a nearly 10-fold decrease in apparent affinity and an approximate 60-fold decrease in maximal activity. Another residue, Tyr420, was chosen for mutagenesis by its complete identity in all other PPi-PFK. This residue and its homologue in Escherichia coli ATP-PFK, His249, were mutated and shown to be very important for substrate binding in both enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Z Deng
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Chicago Medical School, North Chicago, Illinois 60064, USA
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Deng Z, Roberts D, Wang X, Kemp RG. Expression, characterization, and crystallization of the pyrophosphate-dependent phosphofructo-1-kinase of Borrelia burgdorferi. Arch Biochem Biophys 1999; 371:326-31. [PMID: 10545221 DOI: 10.1006/abbi.1999.1446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The two genes for the putative pyrophosphate-dependent phosphofructokinases (PPi-PFKs) of Borrelia burgdorferi were cloned by PCR and expressed in Escherichia coli, and their protein products were purified to near homogeneity. The larger of the two gene products, a 62-kDa protein, is an active PPi-PFK and exists in solution as a dimer. It has apparent K(m) values for fructose 6-P and PPi of 109 and 15 microM, respectively, and a pH optimum of 6.4 to 7.2. The 62-kDa protein was crystallized and subjected to preliminary diffraction analysis. The smaller gene product, a 48-kDa protein, exists in solution as a higher polymer and shows no ATP- or PPi-dependent activity, despite having a secondary structure as estimated by circular dichroism that is not significantly different from that of other PFKs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Z Deng
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Chicago Medical School, North Chicago, Illinois 60064, USA
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