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Buskes MJ, Harvey KL, Richards BJ, Kalhor R, Christoff RM, Gardhi CK, Littler DR, Cope ED, Prinz B, Weiss GE, O'Brien NJ, Crabb BS, Deady LW, Gilson PR, Abbott BM. Antimalarial activity of novel 4-cyano-3-methylisoquinoline inhibitors against Plasmodium falciparum: design, synthesis and biological evaluation. Org Biomol Chem 2018; 14:4617-39. [PMID: 27105169 DOI: 10.1039/c5ob02517f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Central to malaria pathogenesis is the invasion of human red blood cells by Plasmodium falciparum parasites. Following each cycle of intracellular development and replication, parasites activate a cellular program to egress from their current host cell and invade a new one. The orchestration of this process critically relies upon numerous organised phospho-signaling cascades, which are mediated by a number of central kinases. Parasite kinases are emerging as novel antimalarial targets as they have diverged sufficiently from their mammalian counterparts to allow selectable therapeutic action. Parasite protein kinase A (PfPKA) is highly expressed late in the cell cycle of the parasite blood stage and has been shown to phosphorylate a critical invasion protein, Apical Membrane Antigen 1. This enzyme could therefore be a valuable drug target so we have repurposed a substituted 4-cyano-3-methylisoquinoline that has been shown to inhibit rat PKA with the goal of targeting PfPKA. We synthesised a novel series of compounds and, although many potently inhibit the growth of chloroquine sensitive and resistant strains of P. falciparum, they were found to have minimal activity against PfPKA, indicating that they likely have another target important to parasite cytokinesis and invasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa J Buskes
- Department of Chemistry and Physics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria 3086, Australia.
| | - Katherine L Harvey
- Centre for Biomedical Research, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Benjamin J Richards
- Department of Chemistry and Physics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria 3086, Australia.
| | - Robabeh Kalhor
- Department of Chemistry and Physics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria 3086, Australia.
| | - Rebecca M Christoff
- Department of Chemistry and Physics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria 3086, Australia.
| | - Chamodi K Gardhi
- Department of Chemistry and Physics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria 3086, Australia.
| | | | - Elliott D Cope
- Centre for Biomedical Research, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia
| | - Boris Prinz
- Centre for Biomedical Research, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia
| | - Greta E Weiss
- Centre for Biomedical Research, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia
| | - Nathan J O'Brien
- Department of Chemistry and Physics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria 3086, Australia.
| | - Brendan S Crabb
- Centre for Biomedical Research, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia and Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Leslie W Deady
- Department of Chemistry and Physics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria 3086, Australia.
| | - Paul R Gilson
- Centre for Biomedical Research, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia and Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Belinda M Abbott
- Department of Chemistry and Physics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria 3086, Australia.
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Abstract
The cAMP-dependent protein kinase PKA is a well-characterized member of the serine-threonine protein AGC kinase family and is the effector kinase of cAMP signaling. As such, PKA is involved in the control of a wide variety of cellular processes including metabolism, cell growth, gene expression and apoptosis. cAMP-dependent PKA signaling pathways play important roles during infection and virulence of various pathogens. Since fluxes in cAMP are involved in multiple intracellular functions, a variety of different pathological infectious processes can be affected by PKA signaling pathways. Here, we highlight some features of cAMP-PKA signaling that are relevant to Plasmodium falciparum-infection of erythrocytes and present an update on AKAP targeting of PKA in PGE2 signaling via EP4 in Theileria annulata-infection of leukocytes and discuss cAMP-PKA signling in Toxoplasma.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. Haidar
- Cochin Institute, Inserm U1016, CNRS UMR8104, Paris, France
- Laboratoire de Biologie Cellulaire Comparative des Apicomplexes, Faculté de Médecine, Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, France
| | - G. Ramdani
- Cochin Institute, Inserm U1016, CNRS UMR8104, Paris, France
- Laboratoire de Biologie Cellulaire Comparative des Apicomplexes, Faculté de Médecine, Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, France
- Departments of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - E. J. Kennedy
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - G. Langsley
- Cochin Institute, Inserm U1016, CNRS UMR8104, Paris, France
- Laboratoire de Biologie Cellulaire Comparative des Apicomplexes, Faculté de Médecine, Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, France
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Buskes MJ, Harvey KL, Prinz B, Crabb BS, Gilson PR, Wilson DJD, Abbott BM. Exploration of 3-methylisoquinoline-4-carbonitriles as protein kinase A inhibitors of Plasmodium falciparum. Bioorg Med Chem 2016; 24:2389-2396. [PMID: 27112453 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2016.03.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2016] [Revised: 03/16/2016] [Accepted: 03/27/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
A series of isoquinolines have been evaluated in a homology model of Plasmodium falciparum Protein Kinase A (PfPKA) using molecular dynamics. Synthesis of these compounds was then undertaken to investigate their structure-activity relationships. One compound was found to inhibit parasite growth in an in vitro assay and provides a lead to further develop 3-methylisoquinoline-4-carbonitriles as antimalarial compounds. Development of a potent and selective PfPKA inhibitor would provide a useful tool to shed further insight into the mechanisms enabling malaria parasites to establish infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa J Buskes
- Department of Chemistry and Physics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria 3086, Australia
| | - Katherine L Harvey
- Centre for Biomedical Research, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia
| | - Boris Prinz
- Centre for Biomedical Research, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia
| | - Brendan S Crabb
- Centre for Biomedical Research, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia; Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria 3800, Australia; University of Melbourne, Melbourne 3010, Australia
| | - Paul R Gilson
- Centre for Biomedical Research, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia; Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - David J D Wilson
- Department of Chemistry and Physics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria 3086, Australia
| | - Belinda M Abbott
- Department of Chemistry and Physics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria 3086, Australia.
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Inhibition of Plasmodium falciparum proliferation in vitro by double-stranded RNA nanoparticle against malaria topoisomerase II. Exp Parasitol 2016; 164:84-90. [DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2016.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2015] [Revised: 03/02/2016] [Accepted: 03/04/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Huang L, Lv X, Huang Y, Hu Y, Yan H, Zheng M, Zeng H, Li X, Liang C, Wu Z, Yu X. Identification, sequence analysis, and characterization of serine/threonine protein kinase 17A from Clonorchis sinensis. Parasitol Res 2014; 113:1713-23. [PMID: 24578258 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-014-3816-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2014] [Accepted: 02/07/2014] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
This is the first report of a novel protein from Clonorchis sinensis (C. sinensis), serine/threonine protein kinase 17A (CsSTK17A), which belongs to a member of the death-associated protein kinase (DAPK) family known to regulate diverse biological processes. The full-length sequence encoding CsSTK17A was isolated from C. sinensis adult cDNA plasmid library. Two transcribed isoforms of the gene were identified from the genome of C. sinensis. CsSTK17A contains a kinase domain at the N-terminus that shares a degree of conservation with the DAPK families. Besides, the catalytic domain contains 11 subdomains conserved among STKs and shares the highest identity with STK from Schistosoma mansoni (55.9%). Three-dimensional structure of CsSTK17A displays the canonical STK fold, including the helix C, P-loop, and the activation loop. We obtained recombinant CsSTK17A (rCsSTK17A) and anti-rCsSTK17A IgG. The rCsSTK17A could be probed by anti-rCsSTK17A rat serum, C. sinensis-infected rat serum and the sera from rats immunized with C. sinensis excretory-secretory products, indicating that it is a circulating antigen possessing a strong immunocompetence. Moreover, quantitative RT-PCR and western blotting analyses revealed that CsSTK17A exhibited the highest mRNA and protein expression level in eggs, followed by metacercariae and adult worms. Intriguingly, in the immunolocalization assay, CsSTK17A was intensively localized to the operculum region of eggs in uterus, as well as the vitelline gland of both adult worm and metacercaria, implying that the protein was associated with the reproduction and development of C. sinensis. Overall, these fundamental studies might contribute to further researches on signaling systems of the parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisi Huang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, People's Republic of China
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Cai H, Zhou Z, Gu J, Wang Y. Comparative Genomics and Systems Biology of Malaria Parasites Plasmodium.. Curr Bioinform 2012; 7. [PMID: 24298232 DOI: 10.2174/157489312803900965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Malaria is a serious infectious disease that causes over one million deaths yearly. It is caused by a group of protozoan parasites in the genus Plasmodium. No effective vaccine is currently available and the elevated levels of resistance to drugs in use underscore the pressing need for novel antimalarial targets. In this review, we survey omics centered developments in Plasmodium biology, which have set the stage for a quantum leap in our understanding of the fundamental processes of the parasite life cycle and mechanisms of drug resistance and immune evasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Cai
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78249, USA
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Cruz LN, Wu Y, Craig AG, Garcia CRS. Signal transduction in Plasmodium-Red Blood Cells interactions and in cytoadherence. AN ACAD BRAS CIENC 2012; 84:555-72. [PMID: 22634746 DOI: 10.1590/s0001-37652012005000036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2011] [Accepted: 03/09/2012] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria is responsible for more than 1.5 million deaths each year, especially among children (Snow et al. 2005). Despite of the severity of malaria situation and great effort to the development of new drug targets (Yuan et al. 2011) there is still a relative low investment toward antimalarial drugs. Briefly there are targets classes of antimalarial drugs currently being tested including: kinases, proteases, ion channel of GPCR, nuclear receptor, among others (Gamo et al. 2010). Here we review malaria signal transduction pathways in Red Blood Cells (RBC) as well as infected RBCs and endothelial cells interactions, namely cytoadherence. The last process is thought to play an important role in the pathogenesis of severe malaria. The molecules displayed on the surface of both infected erythrocytes (IE) and vascular endothelial cells (EC) exert themselves as important mediators in cytoadherence, in that they not only induce structural and metabolic changes on both sides, but also trigger multiple signal transduction processes, leading to alteration of gene expression, with the balance between positive and negative regulation determining endothelial pathology during a malaria infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura N Cruz
- Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, Brasil
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Abstract
Compared with the impressive progress in understanding signal transduction pathways and mechanisms in mammalian systems, advances in protozoan signalling processes, including cyclic nucleotide metabolism, have been very slow. This is in large part connected to the fact that the components of these pathways are very different in the protozoan parasites, as confirmed by the recently completed genome. For instance, kinetoplastids have no equivalents to the mammalian Class I adenylyl cyclases (ACs) in their genomes nor any of the subunits of the associated G-proteins. The cyclases in kinetoplastid parasites contain a single transmembrane domain, a conserved intracellular catalytic domain and a highly variable extracellular domain - consistent with the expression of multiple receptor-activated cyclases - but no receptor ligands, agonists or antagonists have been identified. Apicomplexan AC and guanylyl cyclase (GC) are even more unusual, potentially being bifunctional, harbouring either a putative ion channel (AC) or a P-type ATPase-like domain (GC) alongside the catalytic region. Phosphodiesterases (PDEs) and cyclic-nucleotide-activated protein kinases are essentially conserved in protozoa, although mostly insensitive to inhibitors of the mammalian proteins. Some of the PDEs have now been validated as promising drug targets. In the following manuscript, we will summarize the existing literature on cAMP and cGMP in protozoa: cyclases, PDEs and cyclic-nucleotide-dependent kinases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew K Gould
- Biomedical Research Centre, Institute of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
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Gazarini ML, Beraldo FH, Almeida FM, Bootman M, Da Silva AM, Garcia CRS. Melatonin triggers PKA activation in the rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium chabaudi. J Pineal Res 2011; 50:64-70. [PMID: 20964707 DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-079x.2010.00810.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Calcium (Ca(2+) ) is a critical regulator of many aspects of the Plasmodium reproductive cycle. In particular, intra-erythrocyte Plasmodium parasites respond to circulating levels of the melatonin in a process mediated partly by intracellular Ca(2+) . Melatonin promotes the development and synchronicity of parasites, thereby enhancing their spread and worsening the clinical implications. The signalling mechanisms underlying the effects of melatonin are not fully established, although both Ca(2+) and cyclic AMP (cAMP) have been implicated. Furthermore, it is not clear whether different strains of Plasmodium use the same, or divergent, signals to control their development. The aim of this study was to explore the signalling mechanisms engaged by melatonin in P. chabaudi, a virulent rodent parasite. Using parasites at the throphozoite stage acutely isolated from mice erythrocytes, we demonstrate that melatonin triggers cAMP production and protein kinase A (PKA) activation. Interestingly, the stimulation of cAMP/PKA signalling by melatonin was dependent on elevation of Ca(2+) within the parasite, because buffering Ca(2+) changes using the chelator BAPTA prevented cAMP production in response to melatonin. Incubation with melatonin evoked robust Ca(2+) signals within the parasite, as did the application of a membrane-permeant analogue of cAMP. Our data suggest that P. chabaudi engages both Ca(2+) and cAMP signalling systems when stimulated by melatonin. Furthermore, there is positive feedback between these messengers, because Ca(2+) evokes cAMP elevation and vice versa. Melatonin more than doubled the observed extent of parasitemia, and the increase in cAMP concentration and PKA activation was essential for this effect. These data support the possibility to use melatonin antagonists or derivates in therapeutic approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcos L Gazarini
- Departamento de Biociências, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Santos, SP, Brasil
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Goodwin DG, Strobl JS, Lindsay DS. Evaluation of five antischizophrenic agents against Toxoplasma gondii in human cell cultures. J Parasitol 2010; 97:148-51. [PMID: 21348624 DOI: 10.1645/ge-2536.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
An increasing interest in the association of the presence of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii and the development of schizophrenia in patients has been generated over the last several years. Some antischizophrenia agents have been shown to have activity against T. gondii in cell culture assays and to ameliorate behavioral changes associated with chronic T. gondii infection in rats. In the present study, we examined the effects of commonly used antipsychotic and mood stabilizing agents (haloperidol, clozapine, fluphenazine, trifluoperazine, and thioridazine) for activity against developing tachyzoites of the RH strain of T. gondii in human fibroblast cell cultures. Neither haloperidol nor clozapine had a measurable effect. Fluphenazine had an IC(50) of 1.7 µM, thioridazine had an IC(50) of 1.2 µM, and trifluoperazine had an IC(50) of 3.8 µM. Our study demonstrates that some agents used to treat schizophrenia have the ability to inhibit T. gondii proliferation in cell culture.
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Affiliation(s)
- David G Goodwin
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061-0342, USA
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Abstract
One of the most important public health problems in the world today is the emergence and dissemination of drug-resistant malaria parasites. Plasmodium falciparum is the causative agent of the most lethal form of human malaria. New anti-malarial strategies are urgently required, and their design and development require the identification of potential therapeutic targets. However, the molecular mechanisms controlling the life cycle of the malaria parasite are still poorly understood. The published genome sequence of P. falciparum and previous studies have revealed that several homologues of eukaryotic signalling proteins, such as protein kinases, are relatively conserved. Protein kinases are now widely recognized as important drug targets in protozoan parasites. Cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) is implicated in numerous processes in mammalian cells, and the regulatory mechanisms of the cAMP pathway have been characterized. P. falciparum cAMP-dependent protein kinase plays an important role in the parasite's life cycle and thus represents an attractive target for the development of anti-malarial drugs. In this review, we focus on the P. falciparum cAMP/PKA pathway to provide new insights and an improved understanding of this signalling cascade.
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Plasmodium falciparum proteome changes in response to doxycycline treatment. Malar J 2010; 9:141. [PMID: 20500856 PMCID: PMC2890676 DOI: 10.1186/1475-2875-9-141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2010] [Accepted: 05/25/2010] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The emergence of Plasmodium falciparum resistance to most anti-malarial compounds has highlighted the urgency to develop new drugs and to clarify the mechanisms of anti-malarial drugs currently used. Among them, doxycycline is used alone for malaria chemoprophylaxis or in combination with quinine or artemisinin derivatives for malaria treatment. The molecular mechanisms of doxycycline action in P. falciparum have not yet been clearly defined, particularly at the protein level. Methods A proteomic approach was used to analyse protein expression changes in the schizont stage of the malarial parasite P. falciparum following doxycycline treatment. A comparison of protein expression between treated and untreated protein samples was performed using two complementary proteomic approaches: two-dimensional fluorescence difference gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE) and isobaric tagging reagents for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ). Results After doxycycline treatment, 32 and 40 P. falciparum proteins were found to have significantly deregulated expression levels by 2D-DIGE and iTRAQ methods, respectively. Although some of these proteins have been already described as being deregulated by other drug treatments, numerous changes in protein levels seem to be specific to doxycycline treatment, which could perturb apicoplast metabolism. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed to confirm this hypothesis. Conclusions In this study, a specific response to doxycycline treatment was distinguished and seems to involve mitochondrion and apicoplast organelles. These data provide a starting point for the elucidation of drug targets and the discovery of mechanisms of resistance to anti-malarial compounds.
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