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Sheikh SY, Hassan F, Shukla D, Bala S, Faruqui T, Akhter Y, Khan AR, Nasibullah M. A review on potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of leishmaniasis. Parasitol Int 2024; 100:102863. [PMID: 38272301 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2024.102863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/21/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
Leishmania, a protozoan parasite, is responsible for the occurrence of leishmaniasis, a disease that is prevalent in tropical regions. Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL), also known as kala-azar in Asian countries, is one of the most significant forms of VL, along with Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) and Mucocutaneous Leishmaniasis (ML). Management of this condition typically entails the use of chemotherapy as the sole therapeutic option. The current treatments for leishmaniasis present several drawbacks, including a multitude of side effects, prolonged treatment duration, disparate efficacy across different regions, and the emergence of resistance. To address this urgent need, it is imperative to identify alternative treatments that are both safer and more effective. The identification of appropriate pharmacological targets in conjunction with biological pathways constitutes the initial stage of drug discovery. In this review, we have addressed the key metabolic pathways that represent potential pharmacological targets as well as prominent treatment options for leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabahat Yasmeen Sheikh
- Department of Chemistry, Integral University, Dasauli, Kursi road, Lucknow 226026, India
| | - Firoj Hassan
- Department of Chemistry, Integral University, Dasauli, Kursi road, Lucknow 226026, India
| | - Deepanjali Shukla
- Department of Chemistry, Integral University, Dasauli, Kursi road, Lucknow 226026, India
| | - Shashi Bala
- Department of Chemistry, Lucknow University, Lucknow 226026, India
| | - Tabrez Faruqui
- Department of Biosciences, Integral University, Lucknow 226026, India
| | - Yusuf Akhter
- Department of Biotechnology, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Vidya Vihar, Raebareli Road, Lucknow 226025, India
| | - Abdul Rahman Khan
- Department of Chemistry, Integral University, Dasauli, Kursi road, Lucknow 226026, India
| | - Malik Nasibullah
- Department of Chemistry, Integral University, Dasauli, Kursi road, Lucknow 226026, India.
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Pérez-Pertejo Y, García-Estrada C, Martínez-Valladares M, Murugesan S, Reguera RM, Balaña-Fouce R. Polyamine Metabolism for Drug Intervention in Trypanosomatids. Pathogens 2024; 13:79. [PMID: 38251386 PMCID: PMC10820115 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens13010079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Neglected tropical diseases transmitted by trypanosomatids include three major human scourges that globally affect the world's poorest people: African trypanosomiasis or sleeping sickness, American trypanosomiasis or Chagas disease and different types of leishmaniasis. Different metabolic pathways have been targeted to find antitrypanosomatid drugs, including polyamine metabolism. Since their discovery, the naturally occurring polyamines, putrescine, spermidine and spermine, have been considered important metabolites involved in cell growth. With a complex metabolism involving biosynthesis, catabolism and interconversion, the synthesis of putrescine and spermidine was targeted by thousands of compounds in an effort to produce cell growth blockade in tumor and infectious processes with limited success. However, the discovery of eflornithine (DFMO) as a curative drug against sleeping sickness encouraged researchers to develop new molecules against these diseases. Polyamine synthesis inhibitors have also provided insight into the peculiarities of this pathway between the host and the parasite, and also among different trypanosomatid species, thus allowing the search for new specific chemical entities aimed to treat these diseases and leading to the investigation of target-based scaffolds. The main molecular targets include the enzymes involved in polyamine biosynthesis (ornithine decarboxylase, S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase and spermidine synthase), enzymes participating in their uptake from the environment, and the enzymes involved in the redox balance of the parasite. In this review, we summarize the research behind polyamine-based treatments, the current trends, and the main challenges in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yolanda Pérez-Pertejo
- Departamento de Ciencias Biomédicas, Campus de Vegazana s/n, Universidad de León, 24071 León, Spain; (Y.P.-P.); (C.G.-E.); (R.M.R.)
- Instituto de Biomedicina (IBIOMED), Campus de Vegazana s/n, Universidad de León, 24071 León, Spain
| | - Carlos García-Estrada
- Departamento de Ciencias Biomédicas, Campus de Vegazana s/n, Universidad de León, 24071 León, Spain; (Y.P.-P.); (C.G.-E.); (R.M.R.)
- Instituto de Biomedicina (IBIOMED), Campus de Vegazana s/n, Universidad de León, 24071 León, Spain
| | | | - Sankaranarayanan Murugesan
- Medicinal Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy, Birla Institute of Technology and Science-Pilani, Pilani 333031, India;
| | - Rosa M. Reguera
- Departamento de Ciencias Biomédicas, Campus de Vegazana s/n, Universidad de León, 24071 León, Spain; (Y.P.-P.); (C.G.-E.); (R.M.R.)
- Instituto de Biomedicina (IBIOMED), Campus de Vegazana s/n, Universidad de León, 24071 León, Spain
| | - Rafael Balaña-Fouce
- Departamento de Ciencias Biomédicas, Campus de Vegazana s/n, Universidad de León, 24071 León, Spain; (Y.P.-P.); (C.G.-E.); (R.M.R.)
- Instituto de Biomedicina (IBIOMED), Campus de Vegazana s/n, Universidad de León, 24071 León, Spain
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Park MG, Kim SY, Lee CJ. DMSO-tolerant ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) tandem assay optimised for high-throughput screening. J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem 2023; 38:309-318. [DOI: 10.1080/14756366.2022.2150186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Mingu Gordon Park
- KU-KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea
- Center for Cognition and Sociality, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Suyeon Yellena Kim
- Center for Cognition and Sociality, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Daejeon, South Korea
| | - C. Justin Lee
- KU-KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea
- Center for Cognition and Sociality, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Daejeon, South Korea
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4
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Jamabo M, Mahlalela M, Edkins AL, Boshoff A. Tackling Sleeping Sickness: Current and Promising Therapeutics and Treatment Strategies. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:12529. [PMID: 37569903 PMCID: PMC10420020 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241512529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Human African trypanosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by the extracellular protozoan parasite Trypanosoma brucei, and targeted for eradication by 2030. The COVID-19 pandemic contributed to the lengthening of the proposed time frame for eliminating human African trypanosomiasis as control programs were interrupted. Armed with extensive antigenic variation and the depletion of the B cell population during an infectious cycle, attempts to develop a vaccine have remained unachievable. With the absence of a vaccine, control of the disease has relied heavily on intensive screening measures and the use of drugs. The chemotherapeutics previously available for disease management were plagued by issues such as toxicity, resistance, and difficulty in administration. The approval of the latest and first oral drug, fexinidazole, is a major chemotherapeutic achievement for the treatment of human African trypanosomiasis in the past few decades. Timely and accurate diagnosis is essential for effective treatment, while poor compliance and resistance remain outstanding challenges. Drug discovery is on-going, and herein we review the recent advances in anti-trypanosomal drug discovery, including novel potential drug targets. The numerous challenges associated with disease eradication will also be addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miebaka Jamabo
- Biotechnology Innovation Centre, Rhodes University, Makhanda 6139, South Africa; (M.J.); (M.M.)
| | - Maduma Mahlalela
- Biotechnology Innovation Centre, Rhodes University, Makhanda 6139, South Africa; (M.J.); (M.M.)
| | - Adrienne L. Edkins
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Biomedical Biotechnology Research Centre (BioBRU), Rhodes University, Makhanda 6139, South Africa;
| | - Aileen Boshoff
- Biotechnology Innovation Centre, Rhodes University, Makhanda 6139, South Africa; (M.J.); (M.M.)
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Abirami M, Karan Kumar B, Dey S, Johri S, Reguera RM, Balaña-Fouce R, Gowri Chandra Sekhar KV, Sankaranarayanan M. Molecular-level strategic goals and repressors in Leishmaniasis - Integrated data to accelerate target-based heterocyclic scaffolds. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 257:115471. [PMID: 37257213 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Revised: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a complex of neglected tropical diseases caused by various species of leishmanial parasites that primarily affect the world's poorest people. A limited number of standard medications are available for this disease that has been used for several decades, these drugs have many drawbacks such as resistance, higher cost, and patient compliance, making it difficult to reach the poor. The search for novel chemical entities to treat leishmaniasis has led to target-based scaffold research. Among several identified potential molecular targets, enzymes involved in the purine salvage pathway include polyamine biosynthetic process, such as arginase, ornithine decarboxylase, S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase, spermidine synthase, trypanothione reductase as well as enzymes in the DNA cell cycle, such as DNA topoisomerases I and II plays vital role in the life cycle survival of leishmanial parasite. This review mainly focuses on various heterocyclic scaffolds, and their specific inhibitory targets against leishmaniasis, particularly those from the polyamine biosynthesis pathway and DNA topoisomerases with estimated activity studies of various heterocyclic analogs in terms of their IC50 or EC50 value, reported molecular docking analysis from available published literatures.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Abirami
- Medicinal Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy, Birla Institute of Technology and Science Pilani, Pilani Campus, Pilani, 333031, India
| | - Banoth Karan Kumar
- Medicinal Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy, Birla Institute of Technology and Science Pilani, Pilani Campus, Pilani, 333031, India; Department of Pharmacy, Koneru Lakshmaiah Education Foundation, Vaddeswaram, AP, India
| | - Sanchita Dey
- Medicinal Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy, Birla Institute of Technology and Science Pilani, Pilani Campus, Pilani, 333031, India
| | - Samridhi Johri
- Medicinal Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy, Birla Institute of Technology and Science Pilani, Pilani Campus, Pilani, 333031, India
| | - Rosa M Reguera
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of León, 24071, León, Spain
| | | | - Kondapalli Venkata Gowri Chandra Sekhar
- Department of Chemistry, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, Hyderabad Campus, Jawahar Nagar, Kapra Mandal, Hyderabad, 500078, Telangana, India
| | - Murugesan Sankaranarayanan
- Medicinal Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Pharmacy, Birla Institute of Technology and Science Pilani, Pilani Campus, Pilani, 333031, India.
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Melfi F, Carradori S, Campestre C, Haloci E, Ammazzalorso A, Grande R, D'Agostino I. Emerging compounds and therapeutic strategies to treat infections from Trypanosoma brucei: an overhaul of the last 5-years patents. Expert Opin Ther Pat 2023; 33:247-263. [PMID: 36933190 DOI: 10.1080/13543776.2023.2193328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/19/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Human African Trypanosomiasis is a neglected disease caused by infection from parasites belonging to the Trypanosoma brucei species. Only six drugs are currently available and employed depending on the stage of the infection: pentamidine, suramin, melarsoprol, eflornithine, nifurtimox, and fexinidazole. Joint research projects were launched in an attempt to find new therapeutic options for this severe and often lethal disease. AREAS COVERED After a brief description of the recent literature on the parasite and the disease, we searched for patents dealing with the proposal of new anti-trypanosomiasis agents and, following the PRISMA guidelines, we filtered the results to those published from 2018onwards returning suitable entries, which represent the contemporary landscape of compounds/strategies against Trypanosoma brucei. In addition, some relevant publications from the overall scientific literature were also discussed. EXPERT OPINION This review comprehensively covers and analyzes the most recent advances not only in the discovery of new inhibitors and their structure-activity relationships but also in the assessment of innovative biological targets opening new scenarios in the MedChem field. Lastly, also new vaccines and formulations recently patented were described. However, natural and synthetic compounds were analyzed in terms of inhibitory activity and selective toxicity against human cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Melfi
- Department of Pharmacy, "G. d'Annunzio" University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Simone Carradori
- Department of Pharmacy, "G. d'Annunzio" University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Cristina Campestre
- Department of Pharmacy, "G. d'Annunzio" University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Entela Haloci
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Medicine, Tirana, Albania
| | | | - Rossella Grande
- Department of Pharmacy, "G. d'Annunzio" University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Ilaria D'Agostino
- Department of Pharmacy, "G. d'Annunzio" University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
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Structure-Activity Relationship Studies of 9-Alkylamino-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroacridines against Leishmania ( Leishmania) infantum Promastigotes. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:pharmaceutics15020669. [PMID: 36839991 PMCID: PMC9965875 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15020669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/11/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is one of the most neglected diseases in modern times, mainly affecting people from developing countries of the tropics, subtropics and the Mediterranean basin, with approximately 350 million people considered at risk of developing this disease. The incidence of human leishmaniasis has increased over the past decades due to failing prevention and therapeutic measures-there are no vaccines and chemotherapy, which is problematic. Acridine derivatives constitute an interesting group of nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds associated with numerous bioactivities, with emphasis to their antileishmanial potential. The present work builds on computational studies focusing on a specific enzyme of the parasite, S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (AdoMet DC), with several 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-acridines emerging as potential inhibitors, evidencing this scaffold as a promising building block for novel antileishmanial pharmaceuticals. Thus, several 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroacridine derivatives have been synthesized, their activity against Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum promastigotes evaluated and a structure-activity relationship (SAR) study was developed based on the results obtained. Even though the majority of the 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroacridines evaluated presented high levels of toxicity, the structural information gathered in this work allowed its application with another scaffold (quinoline), leading to the obtention of N1,N12-bis(7-chloroquinolin-4-yl)dodecane-1,12-diamine (12) as a promising novel antileishmanial agent (IC50 = 0.60 ± 0.11 μM, EC50 = 11.69 ± 3.96 μM and TI = 19.48).
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Mitochondrial Spermidine Synthase is Essential for Blood-stage growth of the Malaria Parasite. Microbiol Res 2022; 265:127181. [PMID: 36162149 DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2022.127181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Revised: 08/14/2022] [Accepted: 08/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Positively-charged polyamines are essential molecules for the replication of eukaryotic cells and are particularly important for the rapid proliferation of parasitic protozoa and cancer cells. Unlike in Trypanosoma brucei, the inhibition of the synthesis of intermediate polyamine Putrescine caused only partial defect in malaria parasite blood-stage growth. In contrast, reducing the intracellular concentrations of Spermidine and Spermine by polyamine analogs caused significant defects in blood-stage growth in Plasmodium yoelii and P. falciparum. However, little is known about the synthesizing enzyme of Spermidine and Spermine in the malaria parasite. Herein, malaria parasite conserved Spermidine Synthase (SpdS) gene was targeted for deletion/complementation analyses by knockout/knock-in constructs in P. yoelii. SpdS was found to be essential for blood-stage growth. Live fluorescence imaging in blood-stages and sporozoites confirmed a specific mitochondrial localization, which is not known for any polyamine-synthesizing enzyme so far. This study identifies SpdS as an excellent drug targeting candidate against the malaria parasite, which is localized to the parasite mitochondrion.
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Ali V, Behera S, Nawaz A, Equbal A, Pandey K. Unique thiol metabolism in trypanosomatids: Redox homeostasis and drug resistance. ADVANCES IN PARASITOLOGY 2022; 117:75-155. [PMID: 35878950 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apar.2022.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Trypanosomatids are mainly responsible for heterogeneous parasitic diseases: Leishmaniasis, Sleeping sickness, and Chagas disease and control of these diseases implicates serious challenges due to the emergence of drug resistance. Redox-active biomolecules are the endogenous substances in organisms, which play important role in the regulation of redox homeostasis. The redox-active substances like glutathione, trypanothione, cysteine, cysteine persulfides, etc., and other inorganic intermediates (hydrogen peroxide, nitric oxide) are very useful as defence mechanism. In the present review, the suitability of trypanothione and other essential thiol molecules of trypanosomatids as drug targets are described in Leishmania and Trypanosoma. We have explored the role of tryparedoxin, tryparedoxin peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and glutaredoxins in the anti-oxidant mechanism and drug resistance. Up-regulation of some proteins in trypanothione metabolism helps the parasites in survival against drug pressure (sodium stibogluconate, Amphotericin B, etc.) and oxidative stress. These molecules accept electrons from the reduced trypanothione and donate their electrons to other proteins, and these proteins reduce toxic molecules, neutralize reactive oxygen, or nitrogen species; and help parasites to cope with oxidative stress. Thus, a better understanding of the role of these molecules in drug resistance and redox homeostasis will help to target metabolic pathway proteins to combat Leishmaniasis and trypanosomiases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vahab Ali
- Laboratory of Molecular Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Department of Biochemistry, ICMR-Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences (RMRIMS), Patna, Bihar, India.
| | - Sachidananda Behera
- Laboratory of Molecular Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Department of Biochemistry, ICMR-Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences (RMRIMS), Patna, Bihar, India
| | - Afreen Nawaz
- Laboratory of Molecular Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Department of Biochemistry, ICMR-Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences (RMRIMS), Patna, Bihar, India
| | - Asif Equbal
- Laboratory of Molecular Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Department of Biochemistry, ICMR-Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences (RMRIMS), Patna, Bihar, India; Department of Botany, Araria College, Purnea University, Purnia, Bihar, India
| | - Krishna Pandey
- Department of Clinical Medicine, ICMR-Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences (RMRIMS), Patna, Bihar, India
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Carter NS, Kawasaki Y, Nahata SS, Elikaee S, Rajab S, Salam L, Alabdulal MY, Broessel KK, Foroghi F, Abbas A, Poormohamadian R, Roberts SC. Polyamine Metabolism in Leishmania Parasites: A Promising Therapeutic Target. Med Sci (Basel) 2022; 10:24. [PMID: 35645240 PMCID: PMC9149861 DOI: 10.3390/medsci10020024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Revised: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Parasites of the genus Leishmania cause a variety of devastating and often fatal diseases in humans and domestic animals worldwide. The need for new therapeutic strategies is urgent because no vaccine is available, and treatment options are limited due to a lack of specificity and the emergence of drug resistance. Polyamines are metabolites that play a central role in rapidly proliferating cells, and recent studies have highlighted their critical nature in Leishmania. Numerous studies using a variety of inhibitors as well as gene deletion mutants have elucidated the pathway and routes of transport, revealing unique aspects of polyamine metabolism in Leishmania parasites. These studies have also shed light on the significance of polyamines for parasite proliferation, infectivity, and host-parasite interactions. This comprehensive review article focuses on the main polyamine biosynthetic enzymes: ornithine decarboxylase, S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase, and spermidine synthase, and it emphasizes recent discoveries that advance these enzymes as potential therapeutic targets against Leishmania parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Sigrid C. Roberts
- School of Pharmacy, Pacific University Oregon, Hillsboro, OR 97123, USA; (N.S.C.); (Y.K.); (S.S.N.); (S.E.); (S.R.); (L.S.); (M.Y.A.); (K.K.B.); (F.F.); (A.A.); (R.P.)
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Fall F, Mamede L, Schioppa L, Ledoux A, De Tullio P, Michels P, Frédérich M, Quetin-Leclercq J. Trypanosoma brucei: Metabolomics for analysis of cellular metabolism and drug discovery. Metabolomics 2022; 18:20. [PMID: 35305174 DOI: 10.1007/s11306-022-01880-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Trypanosoma brucei is the causative agent of Human African Trypanosomiasis (also known as sleeping sickness), a disease causing serious neurological disorders and fatal if left untreated. Due to its lethal pathogenicity, a variety of treatments have been developed over the years, but which have some important limitations such as acute toxicity and parasite resistance. Metabolomics is an innovative tool used to better understand the parasite's cellular metabolism, and identify new potential targets, modes of action and resistance mechanisms. The metabolomic approach is mainly associated with robust analytical techniques, such as NMR and Mass Spectrometry. Applying these tools to the trypanosome parasite is, thus, useful for providing new insights into the sleeping sickness pathology and guidance towards innovative treatments. AIM OF REVIEW The present review aims to comprehensively describe the T. brucei biology and identify targets for new or commercialized antitrypanosomal drugs. Recent metabolomic applications to provide a deeper knowledge about the mechanisms of action of drugs or potential drugs against T. brucei are highlighted. Additionally, the advantages of metabolomics, alone or combined with other methods, are discussed. KEY SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS OF REVIEW Compared to other parasites, only few studies employing metabolomics have to date been reported on Trypanosoma brucei. Published metabolic studies, treatments and modes of action are discussed. The main interest is to evaluate the metabolomics contribution to the understanding of T. brucei's metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fanta Fall
- Pharmacognosy Research Group, Louvain Drug Research Institute (LDRI), UCLouvain, Avenue E. Mounier B1 72.03, B-1200, Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Lucia Mamede
- Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Center of Interdisciplinary Research On Medicines (CIRM), University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Laura Schioppa
- Pharmacognosy Research Group, Louvain Drug Research Institute (LDRI), UCLouvain, Avenue E. Mounier B1 72.03, B-1200, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Allison Ledoux
- Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Center of Interdisciplinary Research On Medicines (CIRM), University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Pascal De Tullio
- Metabolomics Group, Center of Interdisciplinary Research On Medicines (CIRM), University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Paul Michels
- Centre for Immunity, Infection and Evolution (CIIE) and Centre for Translational and Chemical Biology (CTCB), School of Biological Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland
| | - Michel Frédérich
- Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Center of Interdisciplinary Research On Medicines (CIRM), University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Joëlle Quetin-Leclercq
- Pharmacognosy Research Group, Louvain Drug Research Institute (LDRI), UCLouvain, Avenue E. Mounier B1 72.03, B-1200, Brussels, Belgium
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Vicente-Barrueco A, Román ÁC, Ruiz-Téllez T, Centeno F. In Silico Research of New Therapeutics Rotenoids Derivatives against Leishmania amazonensis Infection. BIOLOGY 2022; 11:biology11010133. [PMID: 35053132 PMCID: PMC8772715 DOI: 10.3390/biology11010133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Revised: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Yearly, 1,500,000 cases of leishmaniasis are diagnosed, causing thousands of deaths. To advance in its therapy, we present an interdisciplinary protocol that unifies ethnobotanical knowledge of natural compounds and the latest bioinformatics advances to respond to an orphan disease such as leishmaniasis and specifically the one caused by Leishmania amazonensis. The use of ethnobotanical information serves as a basis for the development of new drugs, a field in which computer-aided drug design (CADD) has been a revolution. Taking this information from Amazonian communities, located in the area with a high prevalence of this disease, a protocol has been designed to verify new leads. Moreover, a method has been developed that allows the evaluation of lead molecules, and the improvement of their affinity and specificity against therapeutic targets. Through this approach, deguelin has been identified as a good lead to treat the infection due to its potential as an ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) inhibitor, a key enzyme in Leishmania development. Using an in silico-generated combinatorial library followed by docking approaches, we have found deguelin derivatives with better affinity and specificity against ODC than the original compound, suggesting that this approach could be adapted for developing new drugs against leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrián Vicente-Barrueco
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Genética, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Extremadura, 06071 Badajoz, Spain;
| | - Ángel Carlos Román
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Genética, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Extremadura, 06071 Badajoz, Spain;
- Correspondence: (Á.C.R.); (F.C.)
| | - Trinidad Ruiz-Téllez
- Departamento de Biología Vegetal, Ecología y Ciencias de la Tierra, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Extremadura, 06071 Badajoz, Spain;
| | - Francisco Centeno
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Genética, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Extremadura, 06071 Badajoz, Spain;
- Correspondence: (Á.C.R.); (F.C.)
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13
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Betancourt-Conde I, Avitia-Domínguez C, Hernández-Campos A, Castillo R, Yépez-Mulia L, Oria-Hernández J, Méndez ST, Sierra-Campos E, Valdez-Solana M, Martínez-Caballero S, Hermoso JA, Romo-Mancillas A, Téllez-Valencia A. Benzimidazole Derivatives as New and Selective Inhibitors of Arginase from Leishmania mexicana with Biological Activity against Promastigotes and Amastigotes. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222413613. [PMID: 34948408 PMCID: PMC8705706 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222413613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Revised: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a disease caused by parasites of the Leishmania genus that affects 98 countries worldwide, 2 million of new cases occur each year and more than 350 million people are at risk. The use of the actual treatments is limited due to toxicity concerns and the apparition of resistance strains. Therefore, there is an urgent necessity to find new drugs for the treatment of this disease. In this context, enzymes from the polyamine biosynthesis pathway, such as arginase, have been considered a good target. In the present work, a chemical library of benzimidazole derivatives was studied performing computational, enzyme kinetics, biological activity, and cytotoxic effect characterization, as well as in silico ADME-Tox predictions, to find new inhibitors for arginase from Leishmania mexicana (LmARG). The results show that the two most potent inhibitors (compounds 1 and 2) have an I50 values of 52 μM and 82 μM, respectively. Moreover, assays with human arginase 1 (HsARG) show that both compounds are selective for LmARG. According to molecular dynamics simulation studies these inhibitors interact with important residues for enzyme catalysis. Biological activity assays demonstrate that both compounds have activity against promastigote and amastigote, and low cytotoxic effect in murine macrophages. Finally, in silico prediction of their ADME-Tox properties suggest that these inhibitors support the characteristics to be considered drug candidates. Altogether, the results reported in our study suggest that the benzimidazole derivatives are an excellent starting point for design new drugs against leishmanisis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Betancourt-Conde
- Facultad de Medicina y Nutrición, Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango, Av. Universidad y Fanny Anitúa S/N, Durango 34000, Mexico;
| | - Claudia Avitia-Domínguez
- Facultad de Medicina y Nutrición, Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango, Av. Universidad y Fanny Anitúa S/N, Durango 34000, Mexico;
- Correspondence: (C.A.-D.); (A.T.-V.); Tel.: +52-618-812-1687 (A.T.-V.)
| | - Alicia Hernández-Campos
- Departamento de Farmacia, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico; (A.H.-C.); (R.C.)
| | - Rafael Castillo
- Departamento de Farmacia, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico; (A.H.-C.); (R.C.)
| | - Lilián Yépez-Mulia
- Unidad de Investigación Médica en Enfermedades Infecciosas y Parasitarias, Unidad Médica de Alta Especialidad-Hospital de Pediatría, Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Mexico City 06720, Mexico;
| | - Jesús Oria-Hernández
- Laboratorio de Bioquímica-Genética, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Secretaría de Salud, Mexico City 04530, Mexico; (J.O.-H.); (S.T.M.)
| | - Sara T. Méndez
- Laboratorio de Bioquímica-Genética, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Secretaría de Salud, Mexico City 04530, Mexico; (J.O.-H.); (S.T.M.)
| | - Erick Sierra-Campos
- Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango, Av. Artículo 123 S/N Fracc. Filadelfia, Gómez Palacio 35010, Mexico; (E.S.-C.); (M.V.-S.)
| | - Mónica Valdez-Solana
- Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango, Av. Artículo 123 S/N Fracc. Filadelfia, Gómez Palacio 35010, Mexico; (E.S.-C.); (M.V.-S.)
| | - Siseth Martínez-Caballero
- Departamento de Cristalografía y Biología Estructural, Instituto Química-Física Rocasolano, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 28006 Madrid, Spain; (S.M.-C.); (J.A.H.)
| | - Juan A. Hermoso
- Departamento de Cristalografía y Biología Estructural, Instituto Química-Física Rocasolano, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 28006 Madrid, Spain; (S.M.-C.); (J.A.H.)
| | - Antonio Romo-Mancillas
- Laboratorio de Diseño Asistido por Computadora y Síntesis de Fármacos, Facultad de Química, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Querétaro 76010, Mexico;
| | - Alfredo Téllez-Valencia
- Facultad de Medicina y Nutrición, Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango, Av. Universidad y Fanny Anitúa S/N, Durango 34000, Mexico;
- Correspondence: (C.A.-D.); (A.T.-V.); Tel.: +52-618-812-1687 (A.T.-V.)
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14
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Schultz CR, Swanson MA, Dowling TC, Bachmann AS. Probenecid increases renal retention and antitumor activity of DFMO in neuroblastoma. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 2021; 88:607-617. [PMID: 34129075 DOI: 10.1007/s00280-021-04309-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Accepted: 05/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neuroblastoma (NB) is the most common extracranial solid tumor in children. Interference with the polyamine biosynthesis pathway by inhibition of MYCN-activated ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) is a validated approach. The ODC inhibitor α-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO, or Eflornithine) has been FDA-approved for the treatment of trypanosomiasis and hirsutism and has advanced to clinical cancer trials including NB as well as cancer-unrelated human diseases. One key challenge of DFMO is its rapid renal clearance and the need for high and frequent drug dosing during treatment. METHODS We performed in vivo pharmacokinetic (PK), antitumorigenic, and molecular studies with DFMO/probenecid using NB patient-derived xenografts (PDX) in mice. We used LC-MS/MS, HPLC, and immunoblotting to analyze blood, brain tissue, and PDX tumor tissue samples collected from mice. RESULTS The organic anion transport 1/3 (OAT 1/3) inhibitor probenecid reduces the renal clearance of DFMO and significantly increases the antitumor activity of DFMO in PDX of NB (P < 0.02). Excised tumors revealed that DFMO/probenecid treatment decreases polyamines putrescine and spermidine, reduces MYCN protein levels and dephosphorylates retinoblastoma (Rb) protein (p-RbSer795), suggesting DFMO/probenecid-induced cell cycle arrest. CONCLUSION Addition of probenecid as an adjuvant to DFMO therapy may be suitable to decrease overall dose and improve drug efficacy in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chad R Schultz
- Department of Pediatrics and Human Development, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, 400 Monroe Ave, NW, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, USA
| | - Matthew A Swanson
- Shimadzu Core Laboratory for Academic and Research Excellence, Ferris State University, Big Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Thomas C Dowling
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Ferris State University, Big Rapids, MI, USA
| | - André S Bachmann
- Department of Pediatrics and Human Development, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, 400 Monroe Ave, NW, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, USA.
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15
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Ouyang Y, Wu Q, Li J, Sun S, Sun S. S-adenosylmethionine: A metabolite critical to the regulation of autophagy. Cell Prolif 2020; 53:e12891. [PMID: 33030764 PMCID: PMC7653241 DOI: 10.1111/cpr.12891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2020] [Revised: 07/21/2020] [Accepted: 08/04/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Autophagy is a mechanism that enables cells to maintain cellular homeostasis by removing damaged materials and mobilizing energy reserves in conditions of starvation. Although nutrient availability strongly impacts the process of autophagy, the specific metabolites that regulate autophagic responses have not yet been determined. Recent results indicate that S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) represents a critical inhibitor of methionine starvation-induced autophagy. SAM is primarily involved in four key metabolic pathways: transmethylation, transsulphuration, polyamine synthesis and 5'-deoxyadenosyl 5'-radical-mediated biochemical transformations. SAM is the sole methyl group donor involved in the methylation of DNA, RNA and histones, modulating the autophagic process by mediating epigenetic effects. Moreover, the metabolites of SAM, such as homocysteine, glutathione, decarboxylated SAM and spermidine, also exert important influences on the regulation of autophagy. From our perspective, nuclear-cytosolic SAM is a conserved metabolic inhibitor that connects cellular metabolic status and the regulation of autophagy. In the future, SAM might be a new target of autophagy regulators and be widely used in the treatment of various diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Ouyang
- Department of Breast and Thyroid SurgeryRenmin Hospital of Wuhan UniversityWuhanChina
| | - Qi Wu
- Department of Breast and Thyroid SurgeryRenmin Hospital of Wuhan UniversityWuhanChina
| | - Juanjuan Li
- Department of Breast and Thyroid SurgeryRenmin Hospital of Wuhan UniversityWuhanChina
| | - Si Sun
- Department of Clinical LaboratoryRenmin Hospital of Wuhan UniversityWuhanChina
| | - Shengrong Sun
- Department of Breast and Thyroid SurgeryRenmin Hospital of Wuhan UniversityWuhanChina
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16
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Pardali V, Giannakopoulou E, Balourdas DI, Myrianthopoulos V, Taylor MC, Šekutor M, Mlinarić-Majerski K, Kelly JM, Zoidis G. Lipophilic Guanylhydrazone Analogues as Promising Trypanocidal Agents: An Extended SAR Study. Curr Pharm Des 2020; 26:838-866. [DOI: 10.2174/1381612826666200210150127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2019] [Accepted: 11/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
In this report, we extend the SAR analysis of a number of lipophilic guanylhydrazone analogues with
respect to in vitro growth inhibition of Trypanosoma brucei and Trypanosoma cruzi. Sleeping sickness and Chagas
disease, caused by the tropical parasites T. brucei and T. cruzi, constitute a significant socioeconomic burden
in low-income countries of sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America, respectively. Drug development is underfunded.
Moreover, current treatments are outdated and difficult to administer, while drug resistance is an emerging
concern. The synthesis of adamantane-based compounds that have potential as antitrypanosomal agents is
extensively reviewed. The critical role of the adamantane ring was further investigated by synthesizing and testing
a number of novel lipophilic guanylhydrazones. The introduction of hydrophobic bulky substituents onto the
adamantane ring generated the most active analogues, illustrating the synergistic effect of the lipophilic character
of the C1 side chain and guanylhydrazone moiety on trypanocidal activity. The n-decyl C1-substituted compound
G8 proved to be the most potent adamantane derivative against T. brucei with activity in the nanomolar range
(EC50=90 nM). Molecular simulations were also performed to better understand the structure-activity relationships
between the studied guanylhydrazone analogues and their potential enzyme target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vasiliki Pardali
- School of Health Sciences, Department of Pharmacy, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis-Zografou, GR-15771 Athens, Greece
| | - Erofili Giannakopoulou
- School of Health Sciences, Department of Pharmacy, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis-Zografou, GR-15771 Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitrios-Ilias Balourdas
- School of Health Sciences, Department of Pharmacy, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis-Zografou, GR-15771 Athens, Greece
| | - Vassilios Myrianthopoulos
- School of Health Sciences, Department of Pharmacy, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis-Zografou, GR-15771 Athens, Greece
| | - Martin C. Taylor
- Department of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom
| | - Marina Šekutor
- Department of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ruder Boskovic Institute, Bijenicka cesta 54, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Kata Mlinarić-Majerski
- Department of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ruder Boskovic Institute, Bijenicka cesta 54, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - John M. Kelly
- Department of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom
| | - Grigoris Zoidis
- School of Health Sciences, Department of Pharmacy, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis-Zografou, GR-15771 Athens, Greece
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17
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Yunta MJR, Dietrich RC. Tropical and Subtropical Parasitic Diseases: Targets for a New Approach to Virtual Screening. Mol Inform 2019; 38:e1900052. [PMID: 31490642 DOI: 10.1002/minf.201900052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2019] [Accepted: 08/26/2019] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Computational techniques are widely used to reduce costs associated with new drug development with the ability to bind a specific molecular target. These studies need a Brookhaven protein data bank structure sample of the enzyme interaction with an inhibitor of adequate size. In this context, a new computational methodology is postulated to be used when there are no published samples fulfilling this requirements. In this study, 7 compounds, which showed anti-T. cruzi, L. donovani and L. infantum properties, and proved to be inhibitors of their Fe-SOD enzymes, have been theoretically evaluated against related parasites Fe-SOD enzymes, which have been proposed as targets for antiparasitic drugs. This methodology may be applied to similar cases and also to generate starting structures to be used with different CADD methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria J R Yunta
- Organic Chemistry Department, Universidad Complutense, E-28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Roque Carlos Dietrich
- Laboratorio de Investigación y Desarrollo de Bioactivos (LIDeB), Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP). La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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18
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Malik A, Dalal V, Ankri S, Tomar S. Structural insights into
Entamoeba histolytica
arginase and structure‐based identification of novel non‐amino acid based inhibitors as potential antiamoebic molecules. FEBS J 2019; 286:4135-4155. [DOI: 10.1111/febs.14960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2019] [Revised: 04/27/2019] [Accepted: 06/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Anjali Malik
- Department of Biotechnology Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee India
| | - Vikram Dalal
- Department of Biotechnology Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee India
| | - Serge Ankri
- Department of Molecular Microbiology Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine Technion‐Israel Institute of Technology Haifa Israel
| | - Shailly Tomar
- Department of Biotechnology Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee India
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19
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Travers M, Brown SM, Dunworth M, Holbert CE, Wiehagen KR, Bachman KE, Foley JR, Stone ML, Baylin SB, Casero RA, Zahnow CA. DFMO and 5-Azacytidine Increase M1 Macrophages in the Tumor Microenvironment of Murine Ovarian Cancer. Cancer Res 2019; 79:3445-3454. [PMID: 31088836 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-18-4018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2018] [Revised: 03/25/2019] [Accepted: 05/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Although ovarian cancer has a low incidence rate, it remains the most deadly gynecologic malignancy. Previous work has demonstrated that the DNMTi 5-Azacytidine (5AZA-C) activates type I interferon signaling to increase IFNγ+ T cells and natural killer (NK) cells and reduce the percentage of macrophages in the tumor microenvironment. To improve the efficacy of epigenetic therapy, we hypothesized that the addition of α-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), an ornithine decarboxylase inhibitor, may further decrease immunosuppressive cell populations improving outcome. We tested this hypothesis in an immunocompetent mouse model for ovarian cancer and found that in vivo, 5AZA-C and DFMO, either alone or in combination, significantly increased survival, decreased tumor burden, and caused recruitment of activated (IFNγ+) CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, and NK cells. The combination therapy had a striking increase in survival when compared with single-agent treatment, despite a smaller difference in recruited lymphocytes. Instead, combination therapy led to a significant decrease in immunosuppressive cells such as M2 polarized macrophages and an increase in tumor-killing M1 macrophages. In this model, depletion of macrophages with a CSF1R-blocking antibody reduced the efficacy of 5AZA-C + DFMO treatment and resulted in fewer M1 macrophages in the tumor microenvironment. These observations suggest our novel combination therapy modifies macrophage polarization in the tumor microenvironment, recruiting M1 macrophages and prolonging survival. SIGNIFICANCE: Combined epigenetic and polyamine-reducing therapy stimulates M1 macrophage polarization in the tumor microenvironment of an ovarian cancer mouse model, resulting in decreased tumor burden and prolonged survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meghan Travers
- Department of Oncology, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Stephen M Brown
- Department of Oncology, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Matthew Dunworth
- Department of Oncology, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Cassandra E Holbert
- Department of Oncology, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, Maryland
| | | | | | - Jackson R Foley
- Department of Oncology, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Meredith L Stone
- Department of Oncology, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, Maryland.,Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Stephen B Baylin
- Department of Oncology, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Robert A Casero
- Department of Oncology, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, Maryland.
| | - Cynthia A Zahnow
- Department of Oncology, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, Maryland.
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20
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Perdeh J, Berioso B, Love Q, LoGiudice N, Le TL, Harrelson JP, Roberts SC. Critical functions of the polyamine putrescine for proliferation and viability of Leishmania donovani parasites. Amino Acids 2019; 52:261-274. [PMID: 30993465 DOI: 10.1007/s00726-019-02736-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2019] [Accepted: 04/10/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Polyamines are metabolites that play important roles in rapidly proliferating cells, and recent studies have highlighted their critical nature in Leishmania parasites. However, little is known about the function of polyamines in parasites. To address this question, we assessed the effect of polyamine depletion in Leishmania donovani mutants lacking ornithine decarboxylase (Δodc) or spermidine synthase (Δspdsyn). Intracellular putrescine levels depleted rapidly in Δodc mutants and accumulated in Δspdsyn mutants, while spermidine levels were maintained at low but stable levels in both cell lines. Putrescine depletion in the Δodc mutants led to cell rounding, immediate cessation of proliferation, and loss of viability, while putrescine-rich Δspdsyn mutants displayed an intermediate proliferation phenotype and were able to arrest in a quiescent-like state for 6 weeks. Supplementation of Δodc mutants with spermidine had little effect on cell proliferation and morphology but enabled parasites to persist for 14 weeks. Thus, putrescine is not only essential as precursor for spermidine formation but also critical for parasite proliferation, morphology, and viability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmine Perdeh
- Pacific University School of Pharmacy, Hillsboro, OR, 97123, USA
| | - Brandon Berioso
- Pacific University School of Pharmacy, Hillsboro, OR, 97123, USA
| | - Quintin Love
- Pacific University School of Pharmacy, Hillsboro, OR, 97123, USA
| | - Nicole LoGiudice
- Pacific University School of Pharmacy, Hillsboro, OR, 97123, USA.,McKenzie Willamette Medical Center, Springfield, OR, 97477, USA
| | - Thao Linh Le
- Pacific University School of Pharmacy, Hillsboro, OR, 97123, USA.,Washington State University College of Pharmacy, Spokane, WA, 99202, USA
| | - John P Harrelson
- Pacific University School of Pharmacy, Hillsboro, OR, 97123, USA
| | - Sigrid C Roberts
- Pacific University School of Pharmacy, Hillsboro, OR, 97123, USA.
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21
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Ohren J, Parungao GG, Viola RE. Structure of a critical metabolic enzyme: S-adenosylmethionine synthetase from Cryptosporidium parvum. Acta Crystallogr F Struct Biol Commun 2019; 75:290-298. [PMID: 30950830 PMCID: PMC6450524 DOI: 10.1107/s2053230x19002772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2018] [Accepted: 02/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
S-Adenosyl-L-methionine (AdoMet), the primary methyl donor in most biological methylation reactions, is produced from ATP and methionine in a multistep reaction catalyzed by AdoMet synthetase. The diversity of group-transfer reactions that involve AdoMet places this compound at a key crossroads in amino-acid, nucleic acid and lipid metabolism, and disruption of its synthesis has adverse consequences for all forms of life. The family of AdoMet synthetases is highly conserved, and structures of this enzyme have been determined from organisms ranging from bacteria to humans. Here, the structure of an AdoMet synthetase from the infectious parasite Cryptosporidium parvum has been determined as part of an effort to identify structural differences in this enzyme family that can guide the development of species-selective inhibitors. This enzyme form has a less extensive subunit interface than some previously determined structures, and contains some key structural differences from the human enzyme in an allosteric site, presenting an opportunity for the design of selective inhibitors against the AdoMet synthetase from this organism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey Ohren
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43606, USA
| | - Gwenn G. Parungao
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43606, USA
| | - Ronald E. Viola
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43606, USA
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22
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Crystal structure of dimeric Synechococcus spermidine synthase with bound polyamine substrate and product. Biochem J 2019; 476:1009-1020. [DOI: 10.1042/bcj20180811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2018] [Revised: 03/05/2019] [Accepted: 03/14/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
AbstractSpermidine is a ubiquitous polyamine synthesized by spermidine synthase (SPDS) from the substrates, putrescine and decarboxylated S-adenosylmethionine (dcAdoMet). SPDS is generally active as homodimer, but higher oligomerization states have been reported in SPDS from thermophiles, which are less specific to putrescine as the aminoacceptor substrate. Several crystal structures of SPDS have been solved with and without bound substrates and/or products as well as inhibitors. Here, we determined the crystal structure of SPDS from the cyanobacterium Synechococcus (SySPDS) that is a homodimer, which we also observed in solution. Unlike crystal structures reported for bacterial and eukaryotic SPDS with bound ligands, SySPDS structure has not only bound putrescine substrate taken from the expression host, but also spermidine product most probably as a result of an enzymatic reaction. Hence, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first structure reported with both amino ligands in the same structure. Interestingly, the gate-keeping loop is disordered in the putrescine-bound monomer while it is stabilized in the spermidine-bound monomer of the SySPDS dimer. This confirms the gate-keeping loop as the key structural element that prepares the active site upon binding of dcAdoMet for the catalytic reaction of the amine donor and putrescine.
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23
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Abstract
A total of 44 bis-aryl-monocyclic polyamines, monoaryl-monocyclic polyamines and their transition metal complexes were prepared, chemically characterized, and screened in vitro against the Leishmania donovani promastigotes, axenic amastigotes and intracellular amastigotes in THP1 cells. The IC50 and/or IC90 values showed that 10 compounds were similarly active at about 2-fold less potent than known drug pentamidine against promastigotes. The most potent compound had an IC50 of 2.82 μM (compared to 2.93 μM for pentamidine). Nine compounds were 1.1-13.6-fold more potent than pentamidine against axenic amastigotes, the most potent one being about 2-fold less potent than amphotericin B. Fourteen compounds were about 2-10 fold more potent than pentamidine, the most potent one is about 2-fold less potent than amphotericin B against intracellular amastigotes in THP1 cells. The 2 most promising compounds (FeL7Cl2 and MnL7Cl2), with strong activity against both promastigotes and amastigotes and no observable toxicity against the THP1 cells are the Fe2+- and Mn2+- complexes of a dibenzyl cyclen derivative. Only 2 of the 44 compounds showed observable cytotoxicity against THP1 cells. Tetraazamacrocyclic monocyclic polyamines represent a new class of antileishmanial lead structures that warrant follow up studies.
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24
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Deng L, Jin WT, Weng WZ, Zhou ZH. Interactions of vanadium with amino acids—Monodentate coordination of vanadyl proline, lysine and histidine and catalytic degradations of methyl orange. Polyhedron 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.poly.2018.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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25
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Casero RA. Targeting the aryl hydrocarbon receptor/polyamine biosynthesis axis of evil for cancer therapy. J Clin Invest 2018; 128:4254-4256. [PMID: 30198903 DOI: 10.1172/jci123266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The polyamine metabolic pathway has been considered a rational target for antineoplastic therapy since it was discovered that polyamines are absolute requirements for tumor initiation, growth, and, in some instances, survival. Although several promising preclinical studies have demonstrated the critical nature of polyamines for tumor growth, the clinical success of agents targeting polyamine metabolism have been lacking. In the accompanying article, Bianchi-Smiraglia et al. identify both a new target and new drug that inhibits polyamine biosynthesis, reduces intracellular polyamines, and inhibits the growth of several models of human multiple myeloma. These results are both intriguing and provide promise for moving such a strategy to the clinic.
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Guo X, Chen Y, Seto CT. Rational design of novel irreversible inhibitors for human arginase. Bioorg Med Chem 2018; 26:3939-3946. [PMID: 29914772 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2018.06.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2018] [Revised: 06/05/2018] [Accepted: 06/13/2018] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Parasites have developed a variety of strategies for invading hosts and escaping their immune response. A common mechanism by which parasites escape nitric oxide (NO) toxicity is the activation of host arginase. This activation leads to a depletion of l-arginine, which is the substrate for NO synthase, resulting in lower levels of NO and increased production of polyamines that are necessary for parasite growth and differentiation. For this reason, small molecule inhibitors for arginase show promise as new anti-parasitic chemotherapeutics. However, few arginase inhibitors have been reported. Here, we describe the discovery of novel irreversible arginase inhibitors, and their characterization using biochemical, kinetic, and structural studies. Importantly, we determined the site on human arginase that is labeled by one of the small molecule inhibitors. The tandem mass spectra data show that the inhibitor occupies the enzyme active site and forms a covalent bond with Thr135 of arginase. These findings pave the way for the development of more potent and selective irreversible arginase inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuefeng Guo
- Department of Chemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States
| | - Yiming Chen
- Department of Chemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States
| | - Christopher T Seto
- Department of Chemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States.
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Alpha-Difluoromethylornithine, an Irreversible Inhibitor of Polyamine Biosynthesis, as a Therapeutic Strategy against Hyperproliferative and Infectious Diseases. Med Sci (Basel) 2018; 6:medsci6010012. [PMID: 29419804 PMCID: PMC5872169 DOI: 10.3390/medsci6010012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2018] [Revised: 02/02/2018] [Accepted: 02/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The fluorinated ornithine analog α-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO, eflornithine, ornidyl) is an irreversible suicide inhibitor of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), the first and rate-limiting enzyme of polyamine biosynthesis. The ubiquitous and essential polyamines have many functions, but are primarily important for rapidly proliferating cells. Thus, ODC is potentially a drug target for any disease state where rapid growth is a key process leading to pathology. The compound was originally discovered as an anticancer drug, but its effectiveness was disappointing. However, DFMO was successfully developed to treat African sleeping sickness and is currently one of few clinically used drugs to combat this neglected tropical disease. The other Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved application for DFMO is as an active ingredient in the hair removal cream Vaniqa. In recent years, renewed interest in DFMO for hyperproliferative diseases has led to increased research and promising preclinical and clinical trials. This review explores the use of DFMO for the treatment of African sleeping sickness and hirsutism, as well as its potential as a chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic agent against colorectal cancer and neuroblastoma.
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Franco J, Scarone L, Comini MA. Drugs and Drug Resistance in African and American Trypanosomiasis. ANNUAL REPORTS IN MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.armc.2018.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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Abid H, Harigua-Souiai E, Mejri T, Barhoumi M, Guizani I. Leishmania infantum 5'-Methylthioadenosine Phosphorylase presents relevant structural divergence to constitute a potential drug target. BMC STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY 2017; 17:9. [PMID: 29258562 PMCID: PMC5738077 DOI: 10.1186/s12900-017-0079-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2017] [Accepted: 11/21/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The 5'-methylthioadenosine phosphorylase (MTAP), an enzyme involved in purine and polyamine metabolism and in the methionine salvage pathway, is considered as a potential drug target against cancer and trypanosomiasis. In fact, Trypanosoma and Leishmania parasites lack de novo purine pathways and rely on purine salvage pathways to meet their requirements. Herein, we propose the first comprehensive bioinformatic and structural characterization of the putative Leishmania infantum MTAP (LiMTAP), using a comparative computational approach. RESULTS Sequence analysis showed that LiMTAP shared higher identity rates with the Trypanosoma brucei (TbMTAP) and the human (huMTAP) homologs as compared to the human purine nucleoside phosphorylase (huPNP). Motifs search using MEME identified more common patterns and higher relatedness of the parasite proteins to the huMTAP than to the huPNP. The 3D structures of LiMTAP and TbMTAP were predicted by homology modeling and compared to the crystal structure of the huMTAP. These models presented conserved secondary structures compared to the huMTAP, with a similar topology corresponding to the Rossmann fold. This confirmed that both LiMTAP and TbMTAP are members of the NP-I family. In comparison to the huMTAP, the 3D model of LiMTAP showed an additional α-helix, at the C terminal extremity. One peptide located in this specific region was used to generate a specific antibody to LiMTAP. In comparison with the active site (AS) of huMTAP, the parasite ASs presented significant differences in the shape and the electrostatic potentials (EPs). Molecular docking of 5'-methylthioadenosine (MTA) and 5'-hydroxyethylthio-adenosine (HETA) on the ASs on the three proteins predicted differential binding modes and interactions when comparing the parasite proteins to the human orthologue. CONCLUSIONS This study highlighted significant structural peculiarities, corresponding to functionally relevant sequence divergence in LiMTAP, making of it a potential drug target against Leishmania.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hela Abid
- Laboratory of Molecular Epidemiology and Experimental Pathology (LR11IPT04/ LR16IPT04), Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Université de Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia.,Faculté des Sciences de Bizerte, Université de Carthage, Tunis, Tunisie
| | - Emna Harigua-Souiai
- Laboratory of Molecular Epidemiology and Experimental Pathology (LR11IPT04/ LR16IPT04), Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Université de Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Thouraya Mejri
- Laboratory of Molecular Epidemiology and Experimental Pathology (LR11IPT04/ LR16IPT04), Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Université de Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Mourad Barhoumi
- Laboratory of Molecular Epidemiology and Experimental Pathology (LR11IPT04/ LR16IPT04), Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Université de Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Ikram Guizani
- Laboratory of Molecular Epidemiology and Experimental Pathology (LR11IPT04/ LR16IPT04), Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Université de Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia.
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30
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Polyamine-based analogs and conjugates as antikinetoplastid agents. Eur J Med Chem 2017; 139:982-1015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2017.08.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2017] [Revised: 07/24/2017] [Accepted: 08/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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31
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Hossain A, Roy S, Dolui BK. Effects of thermodynamics on the solvation of amino acids in the pure and binary mixtures of solutions: A review. J Mol Liq 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molliq.2017.02.080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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32
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Unique substrate specificity of ornithine aminotransferase from Toxoplasma gondii. Biochem J 2017; 474:939-955. [DOI: 10.1042/bcj20161021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2016] [Revised: 01/25/2017] [Accepted: 01/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite of medical and veterinary relevance responsible for toxoplasmosis in humans. As an efficacious vaccine remains a challenge, chemotherapy is still the most effective way to combat the disease. In search of novel druggable targets, we performed a thorough characterization of the putative pyridoxal 5′-phosphate (PLP)-dependent enzyme ornithine aminotransferase from T. gondii ME49 (TgOAT). We overexpressed the protein in Escherichia coli and analysed its molecular and kinetic properties by UV-visible absorbance, fluorescence and CD spectroscopy, in addition to kinetic studies of both the steady state and pre-steady state. TgOAT is largely similar to OATs from other species regarding its general transamination mechanism and spectral properties of PLP; however, it does not show a specific ornithine aminotransferase activity like its human homologue, but exhibits both N-acetylornithine and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) transaminase activity in vitro, suggesting a role in both arginine and GABA metabolism in vivo. The presence of Val79 in the active site of TgOAT in place of Tyr, as in its human counterpart, provides the necessary room to accommodate N-acetylornithine and GABA, resembling the active site arrangement of GABA transaminases. Moreover, mutation of Val79 to Tyr results in a change of substrate preference between GABA, N-acetylornithine and L-ornithine, suggesting a key role of Val79 in defining substrate specificity. The findings that TgOAT possesses parasite-specific structural features as well as differing substrate specificity from its human homologue make it an attractive target for anti-toxoplasmosis inhibitor design that can be exploited for chemotherapeutic intervention.
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Sueth-Santiago V, Decote-Ricardo D, Morrot A, Freire-de-Lima CG, Lima MEF. Challenges in the chemotherapy of Chagas disease: Looking for possibilities related to the differences and similarities between the parasite and host. World J Biol Chem 2017; 8:57-80. [PMID: 28289519 PMCID: PMC5329715 DOI: 10.4331/wjbc.v8.i1.57] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2016] [Revised: 12/30/2016] [Accepted: 01/14/2017] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Almost 110 years after the first studies by Dr. Carlos Chagas describing an infectious disease that was named for him, Chagas disease remains a neglected illness and a death sentence for infected people in poor countries. This short review highlights the enormous need for new studies aimed at the development of novel and more specific drugs to treat chagasic patients. The primary tool for facing this challenge is deep knowledge about the similarities and differences between the parasite and its human host.
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Ornithine decarboxylase regulates M1 macrophage activation and mucosal inflammation via histone modifications. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2017; 114:E751-E760. [PMID: 28096401 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1614958114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 132] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Macrophage activation is a critical step in host responses during bacterial infections. Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), the rate-limiting enzyme in polyamine metabolism, has been well studied in epithelial cells and is known to have essential roles in many different cellular functions. However, its role in regulating macrophage function during bacterial infections is not well characterized. We demonstrate that macrophage-derived ODC is a critical regulator of M1 macrophage activation during both Helicobacter pylori and Citrobacter rodentium infection. Myeloid-specific Odc deletion significantly increased gastric and colonic inflammation, respectively, and enhanced M1 activation. Add-back of putrescine, the product of ODC, reversed the increased macrophage activation, indicating that ODC and putrescine are regulators of macrophage function. Odc-deficient macrophages had increased histone 3, lysine 4 (H3K4) monomethylation, and H3K9 acetylation, accompanied by decreased H3K9 di/trimethylation both in vivo and ex vivo in primary macrophages. These alterations in chromatin structure directly resulted in up-regulated gene transcription, especially M1 gene expression. Thus, ODC in macrophages tempers antimicrobial, M1 macrophage responses during bacterial infections through histone modifications and altered euchromatin formation, leading to the persistence and pathogenesis of these organisms.
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35
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Arginase Is Essential for Survival of Leishmania donovani Promastigotes but Not Intracellular Amastigotes. Infect Immun 2016; 85:IAI.00554-16. [PMID: 27795357 PMCID: PMC5203656 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00554-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2016] [Accepted: 10/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies of Leishmania donovani have shown that both ornithine decarboxylase and spermidine synthase, two enzymes of the polyamine biosynthetic pathway, are critical for promastigote proliferation and required for maximum infection in mice. However, the importance of arginase (ARG), the first enzyme of the polyamine pathway in Leishmania, has not been analyzed in L. donovani. To test ARG function in intact parasites, we generated Δarg null mutants in L. donovani and evaluated their ability to proliferate in vitro and trigger infections in mice. The Δarg knockout was incapable of growth in the absence of polyamine supplementation, but the auxotrophic phenotype could be bypassed by addition of either millimolar concentrations of ornithine or micromolar concentrations of putrescine or by complementation with either glycosomal or cytosolic versions of ARG. Spermidine supplementation of the medium did not circumvent the polyamine auxotrophy of the Δarg line. Although ARG was found to be essential for ornithine and polyamine synthesis, ornithine decarboxylase appeared to be the rate-limiting enzyme for polyamine production. Mouse infectivity studies revealed that the Δarg lesion reduced parasite burdens in livers by an order of magnitude but had little impact on the numbers of parasites recovered from spleens. Thus, ARG is essential for proliferation of promastigotes but not intracellular amastigotes. Coupled with previous studies, these data support a model in which L. donovani amastigotes readily salvage ornithine and have some access to host spermidine pools, while host putrescine appears to be unavailable for salvage by the parasite.
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36
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Moreno-Viguri E, Jiménez-Montes C, Martín-Escolano R, Santivañez-Veliz M, Martin-Montes A, Azqueta A, Jimenez-Lopez M, Zamora Ledesma S, Cirauqui N, López de Ceráin A, Marín C, Sánchez-Moreno M, Pérez-Silanes S. In Vitro and in Vivo Anti-Trypanosoma cruzi Activity of New Arylamine Mannich Base-Type Derivatives. J Med Chem 2016; 59:10929-10945. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.6b00784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Elsa Moreno-Viguri
- Department
of Organic and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Institute of Tropical Health, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona 31008, Spain
| | - Carmen Jiménez-Montes
- Departamento
de Parasitología, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria
(ibs.GRANADA), Hospitales Universitarios de Granada/Universidad de Granada, Granada 18014, Spain
| | - Rubén Martín-Escolano
- Departamento
de Parasitología, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria
(ibs.GRANADA), Hospitales Universitarios de Granada/Universidad de Granada, Granada 18014, Spain
| | - Mery Santivañez-Veliz
- Department
of Organic and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Institute of Tropical Health, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona 31008, Spain
| | - Alvaro Martin-Montes
- Departamento
de Parasitología, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria
(ibs.GRANADA), Hospitales Universitarios de Granada/Universidad de Granada, Granada 18014, Spain
| | - Amaya Azqueta
- Department
of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona 31008, Spain
- IdiSNA, Navarra
Institute for Health Research, Recinto de Complejo Hospitalario de
Navarra, Pamplona 31008, Spain
| | - Marina Jimenez-Lopez
- Departamento
de Parasitología, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria
(ibs.GRANADA), Hospitales Universitarios de Granada/Universidad de Granada, Granada 18014, Spain
| | - Salvador Zamora Ledesma
- Departamento
de Parasitología, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria
(ibs.GRANADA), Hospitales Universitarios de Granada/Universidad de Granada, Granada 18014, Spain
| | - Nuria Cirauqui
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de
Janeiro 21949-900, Brazil
| | - Adela López de Ceráin
- Department
of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona 31008, Spain
- IdiSNA, Navarra
Institute for Health Research, Recinto de Complejo Hospitalario de
Navarra, Pamplona 31008, Spain
| | - Clotilde Marín
- Departamento
de Parasitología, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria
(ibs.GRANADA), Hospitales Universitarios de Granada/Universidad de Granada, Granada 18014, Spain
| | - Manuel Sánchez-Moreno
- Departamento
de Parasitología, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria
(ibs.GRANADA), Hospitales Universitarios de Granada/Universidad de Granada, Granada 18014, Spain
| | - Silvia Pérez-Silanes
- Department
of Organic and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Institute of Tropical Health, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona 31008, Spain
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Beltrame-Botelho IT, Talavera-López C, Andersson B, Grisard EC, Stoco PH. A Comparative In Silico Study of the Antioxidant Defense Gene Repertoire of Distinct Lifestyle Trypanosomatid Species. Evol Bioinform Online 2016; 12:263-275. [PMID: 27840574 PMCID: PMC5100842 DOI: 10.4137/ebo.s40648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2016] [Revised: 10/05/2016] [Accepted: 10/11/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Kinetoplastids are an ancestral group of protists that contains free-living species and parasites with distinct mechanisms in response to stress. Here, we compared genes involved in antioxidant defense (AD), proposing an evolution model among trypanosomatids. All genes were identified in Bodo saltans, suggesting that AD mechanisms have evolved prior to adaptation for parasitic lifestyles. While most of the monoxenous and dixenous parasites revealed minor differences from B. saltans, the endosymbiont-bearing species have an increased number of genes. The absence of these genes was mainly observed in the extracellular parasites of the genera Phytomonas and Trypanosoma. In trypanosomes, a distinction was observed between stercorarian and salivarian parasites, except for Trypanosoma rangeli. Our analyses indicate that the variability of AD among trypanosomatids at the genomic level is not solely due to the geographical isolation, being mainly related to specific adaptations of their distinct biological cycles within insect vectors and to a parasitism of a wide range of hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingrid Thaís Beltrame-Botelho
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil
- Universidade do Sul de Santa Catarina, Palhoça, SC, Brazil
| | | | - Björn Andersson
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Edmundo Carlos Grisard
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil
| | - Patricia Hermes Stoco
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil
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Hart RJ, Ghaffar A, Abdalal S, Perrin B, Aly ASI. Plasmodium AdoMetDC/ODC bifunctional enzyme is essential for male sexual stage development and mosquito transmission. Biol Open 2016; 5:1022-9. [PMID: 27387533 PMCID: PMC5004602 DOI: 10.1242/bio.016352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Polyamines are positively-charged organic molecules that are important for cellular growth and division. Polyamines and their synthesizing enzymes are particularly abundant in rapidly proliferating eukaryotic cells such as parasitic protozoa and cancer cells. Polyamine biosynthesis inhibitors, such as Elfornithine, are now being considered for cancer prevention and have been used effectively against Trypanosoma brucei. Inhibitors of polyamine biosynthesis have caused growth arrest of Plasmodium falciparum blood stages in vitro, but in P. berghei only partial inhibition has been observed. While polyamine biosynthesis enzymes are characterized and conserved in Plasmodium spp., little is known on the biological roles of these enzymes inside malaria parasite hosts. The bifunctional polyamine biosynthesis enzyme S-adenosyl methionine decarboxylase/ornithine decarboxylase (AdoMetDC/ODC) was targeted for deletion in P. yoelii. Deletion of AdoMetDC/ODC significantly reduced blood stage parasitemia but Anopheles transmission was completely blocked. We showed that male gametocytogenesis and male gamete exflagellation were abolished and consequently no ookinetes or oocyst sporozoites could be generated from adometdc/odc(–) parasites. Supplementation of putrescine and spermidine did not rescue the defective phenotypes of male gametocytes and gametes of the knockout parasites. These results highlight the crucial role of polyamine homeostasis in the development and functions of Plasmodium erythrocytic stages in the blood and in the mosquito vector and validate polyamine biosynthesis pathway enzymes as drug targeting candidates for malaria parasite transmission blocking. Summary: We provide the first genetic evidence for the crucial roles of de novo polyamine biosynthesis in the development of Plasmodium male sexual stages and in the transmission of malaria parasite to mosquito.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert J Hart
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Atif Ghaffar
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Shaymaa Abdalal
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Benjamin Perrin
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Ahmed S I Aly
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
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Khomutov MA, Simonian AR, Weisell J, Vepsalainen J, Kochetkov SN, Khomutov AR. Novel hydroxylamine-containing analogues of 1-guanidino-7-aminoheptane (GC7), an effective inhibitor of deoxyhypusine synthase. RUSSIAN JOURNAL OF BIOORGANIC CHEMISTRY 2016. [DOI: 10.1134/s1068162016040099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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40
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Khomutov MA, Keinanen TA, Hyvonen MT, Weisell J, Vepsalainen J, Alhonen L, Kochetkov SN, Khomutov AR. [Enantioselective Synthesis of (R)- and (S)-3-Methylspermidines]. RUSSIAN JOURNAL OF BIOORGANIC CHEMISTRY 2016; 41:612-8. [PMID: 26762100 DOI: 10.1134/s1068162015050064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Earlier unknown enantiomerically pure (R)- and (S)-1,8-diamino-3-methyl-4-azaoctane's (3-MeSpd's) were synthesized with high overall yields and optical purity starting from commercially available R- and S-isomers of N-Boc-2-aminopropanol-1. Application of R- and S-isomers of 3-MeSpd for the investigation of the stereospecificity of spermidine transporter and peculiarities of deoxyhypusine synthase reaction are discussed.
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41
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Hasne MP, Soysa R, Ullman B. The Trypanosoma cruzi Diamine Transporter Is Essential for Robust Infection of Mammalian Cells. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0152715. [PMID: 27050410 PMCID: PMC4822861 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0152715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2016] [Accepted: 03/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi is incapable of synthesizing putrescine or cadaverine de novo, and, therefore, salvage of polyamines from the host milieu is an obligatory nutritional function for the parasite. A high-affinity diamine transporter (TcPOT1) from T. cruzi has been identified previously that recognizes both putrescine and cadaverine as ligands. In order to assess the functional role of TcPOT1 in intact parasites, a Δtcpot1 null mutant was constructed by targeted gene replacement and characterized. The Δtcpot1 mutant lacked high-affinity putrescine-cadaverine transport capability but retained the capacity to transport diamines via a non-saturable, low-affinity mechanism. Transport of spermidine and arginine was not impacted by the Δtcpot1 lesion. The Δtcpot1 cell line exhibited a significant but not total defect in its ability to subsist in Vero cells, although initial infection rates were not affected by the lesion. These findings reveal that TcPOT1 is the sole high-affinity diamine permease in T. cruzi, that genetic obliteration of TcPOT1 impairs the ability of the parasite to maintain a robust infection in mammalian cells, and that a secondary low-affinity uptake mechanism for this key parasite nutrient is operative but insufficient for optimal infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Pierre Hasne
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Radika Soysa
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Buddy Ullman
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States of America
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Hai Y, Christianson DW. Crystal structures of Leishmania mexicana arginase complexed with α,α-disubstituted boronic amino-acid inhibitors. Acta Crystallogr F Struct Biol Commun 2016; 72:300-6. [PMID: 27050264 PMCID: PMC4822987 DOI: 10.1107/s2053230x16003630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2016] [Accepted: 03/01/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Leishmania arginase is a potential drug target for the treatment of leishmaniasis because this binuclear manganese metalloenzyme initiates de novo polyamine biosynthesis by catalyzing the hydrolysis of L-arginine to generate L-ornithine and urea. The product L-ornithine subsequently undergoes decarboxylation to yield putrescine, which in turn is utilized for spermidine biosynthesis. Polyamines such as spermidine are essential for the growth and survival of the parasite, so inhibition of enzymes in the polyamine-biosynthetic pathway comprises an effective strategy for treating parasitic infections. To this end, two X-ray crystal structures of L. mexicana arginase complexed with α,α-disubstituted boronic amino-acid inhibitors based on the molecular scaffold of 2-(S)-amino-6-boronohexanoic acid are now reported. Structural comparisons with human and parasitic arginase complexes reveal interesting differences in the binding modes of the additional α-substituents, i.e. the D side chains, of these inhibitors. Subtle differences in the three-dimensional contours of the outer active-site rims among arginases from different species lead to different conformations of the D side chains and thus different inhibitor-affinity trends. The structures suggest that it is possible to maintain affinity while fine-tuning intermolecular interactions of the D side chain of α,α-disubstituted boronic amino-acid inhibitors in the search for isozyme-specific and species-specific arginase inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Hai
- Roy and Diana Vagelos Laboratories, Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - David W. Christianson
- Roy and Diana Vagelos Laboratories, Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study and Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
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Qvit N, Schechtman D, Pena DA, Berti DA, Soares CO, Miao Q, Liang LA, Baron LA, Teh-Poot C, Martínez-Vega P, Ramirez-Sierra MJ, Churchill E, Cunningham AD, Malkovskiy AV, Federspiel NA, Gozzo FC, Torrecilhas AC, Manso Alves MJ, Jardim A, Momar N, Dumonteil E, Mochly-Rosen D. Scaffold proteins LACK and TRACK as potential drug targets in kinetoplastid parasites: Development of inhibitors. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-DRUGS AND DRUG RESISTANCE 2016; 6:74-84. [PMID: 27054066 PMCID: PMC4805777 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2016.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2016] [Revised: 02/04/2016] [Accepted: 02/08/2016] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Parasitic diseases cause ∼500,000 deaths annually and remain a major challenge for therapeutic development. Using a rational design based approach, we developed peptide inhibitors with anti-parasitic activity that were derived from the sequences of parasite scaffold proteins LACK (Leishmania's receptor for activated C-kinase) and TRACK (Trypanosomareceptor for activated C-kinase). We hypothesized that sequences in LACK and TRACK that are conserved in the parasites, but not in the mammalian ortholog, RACK (Receptor for activated C-kinase), may be interaction sites for signaling proteins that are critical for the parasites' viability. One of these peptides exhibited leishmanicidal and trypanocidal activity in culture. Moreover, in infected mice, this peptide was also effective in reducing parasitemia and increasing survival without toxic effects. The identified peptide is a promising new anti-parasitic drug lead, as its unique features may limit toxicity and drug-resistance, thus overcoming central limitations of most anti-parasitic drugs. Identified unique short sequences conserved in parasite but not in host orthologue. Peptides corresponding to these sequences are active anti-parasitic drug lead. Cyclization of the peptides generates drug leads for in vivo proof of concept.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nir Qvit
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University, School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
| | - Deborah Schechtman
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University, School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Qianqian Miao
- National Reference Centre for Parasitology, Research Institute of the McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Liying Annie Liang
- National Reference Centre for Parasitology, Research Institute of the McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Lauren A Baron
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Dr. Hideyo Noguchi", Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
| | - Christian Teh-Poot
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Dr. Hideyo Noguchi", Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
| | - Pedro Martínez-Vega
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Dr. Hideyo Noguchi", Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
| | - Maria Jesus Ramirez-Sierra
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Dr. Hideyo Noguchi", Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
| | - Eric Churchill
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University, School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Anna D Cunningham
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University, School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Andrey V Malkovskiy
- Biomaterials and Advanced Drug Delivery Laboratory, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Nancy A Federspiel
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University, School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Fabio Cesar Gozzo
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | | | | | - Armando Jardim
- Institute of Parasitology and Centre for Host-Parasite Interactions, McGill University, Québec, Canada
| | - Ndao Momar
- National Reference Centre for Parasitology, Research Institute of the McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Eric Dumonteil
- Laboratorio de Parasitología, Centro de Investigaciones Regionales "Dr. Hideyo Noguchi", Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico
| | - Daria Mochly-Rosen
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University, School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
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Machado-Silva A, Cerqueira PG, Grazielle-Silva V, Gadelha FR, Peloso EDF, Teixeira SMR, Machado CR. How Trypanosoma cruzi deals with oxidative stress: Antioxidant defence and DNA repair pathways. MUTATION RESEARCH-REVIEWS IN MUTATION RESEARCH 2016; 767:8-22. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mrrev.2015.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2015] [Revised: 12/22/2015] [Accepted: 12/23/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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Ekins S, Lage de Siqueira-Neto J, McCall LI, Sarker M, Yadav M, Ponder EL, Kallel EA, Kellar D, Chen S, Arkin M, Bunin BA, McKerrow JH, Talcott C. Machine Learning Models and Pathway Genome Data Base for Trypanosoma cruzi Drug Discovery. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2015; 9:e0003878. [PMID: 26114876 PMCID: PMC4482694 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2015] [Accepted: 06/05/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Chagas disease is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) caused by the eukaryotic parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. The current clinical and preclinical pipeline for T. cruzi is extremely sparse and lacks drug target diversity. Methodology/Principal Findings In the present study we developed a computational approach that utilized data from several public whole-cell, phenotypic high throughput screens that have been completed for T. cruzi by the Broad Institute, including a single screen of over 300,000 molecules in the search for chemical probes as part of the NIH Molecular Libraries program. We have also compiled and curated relevant biological and chemical compound screening data including (i) compounds and biological activity data from the literature, (ii) high throughput screening datasets, and (iii) predicted metabolites of T. cruzi metabolic pathways. This information was used to help us identify compounds and their potential targets. We have constructed a Pathway Genome Data Base for T. cruzi. In addition, we have developed Bayesian machine learning models that were used to virtually screen libraries of compounds. Ninety-seven compounds were selected for in vitro testing, and 11 of these were found to have EC50 < 10μM. We progressed five compounds to an in vivo mouse efficacy model of Chagas disease and validated that the machine learning model could identify in vitro active compounds not in the training set, as well as known positive controls. The antimalarial pyronaridine possessed 85.2% efficacy in the acute Chagas mouse model. We have also proposed potential targets (for future verification) for this compound based on structural similarity to known compounds with targets in T. cruzi. Conclusions/ Significance We have demonstrated how combining chemoinformatics and bioinformatics for T. cruzi drug discovery can bring interesting in vivo active molecules to light that may have been overlooked. The approach we have taken is broadly applicable to other NTDs. Chagas disease is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) caused by the eukaryotic parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. The disease is endemic to Latin America but is increasingly found in North America and Europe, primarily through immigration, and the spread of this disease is bringing new attention to the need for novel, safe, and effective therapeutics to treat T. cruzi infection. We have used data from a phenotypic screen to build Bayesian models to predict anti-parasitic activity against T. cruzi in vitro. These models were used to score various small libraries of molecules. We selected less than 100 compounds for testing and found in vitro actives, some of which were tested in an in vivo efficacy model. We identified the antimalarial pyronaridine as having in vivo efficacy and provides us with a new starting point for further investigation and optimization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean Ekins
- Collaborative Drug Discovery, Burlingame, California, United States of America
- Collaborations in Chemistry, Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Jair Lage de Siqueira-Neto
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Laura-Isobel McCall
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Malabika Sarker
- SRI International, Menlo Park, California, United States of America
| | - Maneesh Yadav
- SRI International, Menlo Park, California, United States of America
| | - Elizabeth L. Ponder
- Chemistry, Engineering & Medicine for Human Health (ChEM-H), Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - E. Adam Kallel
- Collaborative Drug Discovery, Burlingame, California, United States of America
| | - Danielle Kellar
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Steven Chen
- Small Molecule Discovery Center and Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Michelle Arkin
- Small Molecule Discovery Center and Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Barry A. Bunin
- Collaborative Drug Discovery, Burlingame, California, United States of America
| | - James H. McKerrow
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Carolyn Talcott
- SRI International, Menlo Park, California, United States of America
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Ribeiro TG, Nascimento AM, Henriques BO, Chávez-Fumagalli MA, Franca JR, Duarte MC, Lage PS, Andrade PHR, Lage DP, Rodrigues LB, Costa LE, Martins VT, Faraco AAG, Coelho EAF, Castilho RO. Antileishmanial activity of standardized fractions of Stryphnodendron obovatum (Barbatimão) extract and constituent compounds. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2015; 165:238-242. [PMID: 25732835 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2015.02.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2014] [Revised: 12/18/2014] [Accepted: 02/21/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Stryphnodendron obovatum Benth. is a Brazilian tree used to treat skin ulceration, promote wound healing, and inhibit the growth of protozoa, including Trypanosoma and Leishmania species. Bioguided fractionation of the ethanol extract of S. obovatum stem bark was performed, and antileishmanial and antioxidant activities of the standardized fractions were analyzed. MATERIALS AND METHODS Stationary-phase Leishmania amazonensis promastigotes, murine macrophages, and human red blood cells (RBCs) were exposed to plant extract, standardized fractions or isolated compounds for 48 h at 37 °C to evaluate their antiparasitic activity and cytotoxicity. The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hidrazyl assay was used to evaluate antioxidant activity. RESULTS The S. obovatum extract and fractions showed antileishmanial and antioxidant activity; however, the organic fraction (OF) showed the best efficacy. We identified gallic acid, gallocatechin, epigallocatechin, catechin, and epigallocatechin gallate in the OF fraction. These compounds effectively inhibited L. amazonensis activity, with gallic acid, gallocatechin, and epigallocatechin gallate showing the highest selectivity. Furthermore, the evaluated compounds had no significant effect on murine macrophages and human RBCs. CONCLUSIONS The compounds present in the S. obovatum plant bark ethanol extract may provide an alternative therapeutic approach for L. amazonensis treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana G Ribeiro
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - André M Nascimento
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Bárbara O Henriques
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Miguel A Chávez-Fumagalli
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde: Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Juçara R Franca
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Mariana C Duarte
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde: Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Paula S Lage
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde: Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Pedro H R Andrade
- Departamento de Patologia Clínica, COLTEC, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Daniela P Lage
- Departamento de Patologia Clínica, COLTEC, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Lívia B Rodrigues
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Lourena E Costa
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde: Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Vivian T Martins
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - André A G Faraco
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil; Departamento de Produtos Farmacêuticos, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Eduardo A F Coelho
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde: Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil; Departamento de Patologia Clínica, COLTEC, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Rachel O Castilho
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil; Departamento de Produtos Farmacêuticos, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
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Sprenger J, Svensson B, Hålander J, Carey J, Persson L, Al-Karadaghi S. Three-dimensional structures of Plasmodium falciparum spermidine synthase with bound inhibitors suggest new strategies for drug design. ACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA. SECTION D, BIOLOGICAL CRYSTALLOGRAPHY 2015; 71:484-93. [PMID: 25760598 PMCID: PMC4356361 DOI: 10.1107/s1399004714027011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2014] [Accepted: 12/09/2014] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
The enzymes of the polyamine-biosynthesis pathway have been proposed to be promising drug targets in the treatment of malaria. Spermidine synthase (SpdS; putrescine aminopropyltransferase) catalyzes the transfer of the aminopropyl moiety from decarboxylated S-adenosylmethionine to putrescine, leading to the formation of spermidine and 5'-methylthioadenosine (MTA). In this work, X-ray crystallography was used to examine ligand complexes of SpdS from the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum (PfSpdS). Five crystal structures were determined of PfSpdS in complex with MTA and the substrate putrescine, with MTA and spermidine, which was obtained as a result of the enzymatic reaction taking place within the crystals, with dcAdoMet and the inhibitor 4-methylaniline, with MTA and 4-aminomethylaniline, and with a compound predicted in earlier in silico screening to bind to the active site of the enzyme, benzimidazol-(2-yl)pentan-1-amine (BIPA). In contrast to the other inhibitors tested, the complex with BIPA was obtained without any ligand bound to the dcAdoMet-binding site of the enzyme. The complexes with the aniline compounds and BIPA revealed a new mode of ligand binding to PfSpdS. The observed binding mode of the ligands, and the interplay between the two substrate-binding sites and the flexible gatekeeper loop, can be used in the design of new approaches in the search for new inhibitors of SpdS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janina Sprenger
- Center for Molecular Protein Science, Lund University, SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden
- Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, SE-221 84 Lund, Sweden
| | - Bo Svensson
- Center for Molecular Protein Science, Lund University, SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden
- SARomics Biostructures AB, Box 724, SE-220 07 Lund, Sweden
| | - Jenny Hålander
- Center for Molecular Protein Science, Lund University, SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden
| | - Jannette Carey
- Chemistry Department, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
| | - Lo Persson
- Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, SE-221 84 Lund, Sweden
| | - Salam Al-Karadaghi
- Center for Molecular Protein Science, Lund University, SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden
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A novel inhibitor of Plasmodium falciparum spermidine synthase: a twist in the tail. Malar J 2015; 14:54. [PMID: 25651815 PMCID: PMC4342090 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-015-0572-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2014] [Accepted: 01/18/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Plasmodium falciparum is the most pathogenic of the human malaria parasite species and a major cause of death in Africa. It's resistance to most of the current drugs accentuates the pressing need for new chemotherapies. Polyamine metabolism of the parasite is distinct from the human pathway making it an attractive target for chemotherapeutic development. Plasmodium falciparum spermidine synthase (PfSpdS) catalyzes the synthesis of spermidine and spermine. It is a major polyamine flux-determining enzyme and spermidine is a prerequisite for the post-translational activation of P. falciparum eukaryotic translation initiation factor 5A (elF5A). The most potent inhibitors of eukaryotic SpdS's are not specific for PfSpdS. METHODS 'Dynamic' receptor-based pharmacophore models were generated from published crystal structures of SpdS with different ligands. This approach takes into account the inherent flexibility of the active site, which reduces the entropic penalties associated with ligand binding. Four dynamic pharmacophore models were developed and two inhibitors, (1R,4R)-(N1-(3-aminopropyl)-trans-cyclohexane-1,4-diamine (compound 8) and an analogue, N-(3-aminopropyl)-cyclohexylamine (compound 9), were identified. RESULTS A crystal structure containing compound 8 was solved and confirmed the in silico prediction that its aminopropyl chain traverses the catalytic centre in the presence of the byproduct of catalysis, 5'-methylthioadenosine. The IC50 value of compound 9 is in the same range as that of the most potent inhibitors of PfSpdS, S-adenosyl-1,8-diamino-3-thio-octane (AdoDATO) and 4MCHA and 100-fold lower than that of compound 8. Compound 9 was originally identified as a mammalian spermine synthase inhibitor and does not inhibit mammalian SpdS. This implied that these two compounds bind in an orientation where their aminopropyl chains face the putrescine binding site in the presence of the substrate, decarboxylated S-adenosylmethionine. The higher binding affinity and lower receptor strain energy of compound 9 compared to compound 8 in the reversed orientation explained their different IC50 values. CONCLUSION The specific inhibition of PfSpdS by compound 9 is enabled by its binding in the additional cavity normally occupied by spermidine when spermine is synthesized. This is the first time that a spermine synthase inhibitor is shown to inhibit PfSpdS, which provides new avenues to explore for the development of novel inhibitors of PfSpdS.
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Alonso-Padilla J, Cotillo I, Presa JL, Cantizani J, Peña I, Bardera AI, Martín JJ, Rodriguez A. Automated high-content assay for compounds selectively toxic to Trypanosoma cruzi in a myoblastic cell line. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2015; 9:e0003493. [PMID: 25615687 PMCID: PMC4304841 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2014] [Accepted: 12/23/2014] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Chagas disease, caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, represents a very important public health problem in Latin America where it is endemic. Although mostly asymptomatic at its initial stage, after the disease becomes chronic, about a third of the infected patients progress to a potentially fatal outcome due to severe damage of heart and gut tissues. There is an urgent need for new drugs against Chagas disease since there are only two drugs available, benznidazole and nifurtimox, and both show toxic side effects and variable efficacy against the chronic stage of the disease. Methodology/Principal Findings Genetically engineered parasitic strains are used for high throughput screening (HTS) of large chemical collections in the search for new anti-parasitic compounds. These assays, although successful, are limited to reporter transgenic parasites and do not cover the wide T. cruzi genetic background. With the aim to contribute to the early drug discovery process against Chagas disease we have developed an automated image-based 384-well plate HTS assay for T. cruzi amastigote replication in a rat myoblast host cell line. An image analysis script was designed to inform on three outputs: total number of host cells, ratio of T. cruzi amastigotes per cell and percentage of infected cells, which respectively provides one host cell toxicity and two T. cruzi toxicity readouts. The assay was statistically robust (Z´ values >0.6) and was validated against a series of known anti-trypanosomatid drugs. Conclusions/Significance We have established a highly reproducible, high content HTS assay for screening of chemical compounds against T. cruzi infection of myoblasts that is amenable for use with any T. cruzi strain capable of in vitro infection. Our visual assay informs on both anti-parasitic and host cell toxicity readouts in a single experiment, allowing the direct identification of compounds selectively targeted to the parasite. Chagas disease is a zoonosis caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. Endemic to Central and South America, it affects over 10 million people and many more live in risk transmission areas. Although mostly asymptomatic at its initial acute stage in humans, damages can occur over the years in many tissues such as T. cruzi-hosting heart and digestive track. For over 40 years the chemotherapy of Chagas disease has relied on the use of two drugs, benznidazole and nifurtimox, though both are known to lead to severe side effects which often prompt to the discontinuation of the treatments. Despite having good efficacy against the acute stage of infection, its efficacy against the chronic stage is under question. Therefore, there is an urgent unmet need of new anti-T. cruzi drugs. Several efforts have been made in the last years to establish reliable high throughput cell based in vitro assays to be used for drug discovery against Chagas. With the aim to contribute to this field here we describe the development of a new automated image-based assay to identify new compounds against T. cruzi that has been set up using the myoblastic rat cell line H9c2 as cell-cycling amastigotes hosting cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julio Alonso-Padilla
- Parasitology Division, Department of Microbiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Ignacio Cotillo
- Diseases of the Developing World, GlaxoSmithKline, Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jesús L. Presa
- Molecular Discovery Research, GlaxoSmithKline, Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan Cantizani
- Diseases of the Developing World, GlaxoSmithKline, Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Imanol Peña
- Molecular Discovery Research, GlaxoSmithKline, Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana I. Bardera
- Molecular Discovery Research, GlaxoSmithKline, Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jose J. Martín
- Molecular Discovery Research, GlaxoSmithKline, Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana Rodriguez
- Parasitology Division, Department of Microbiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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50
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Sangshetti JN, Kalam Khan FA, Kulkarni AA, Arote R, Patil RH. Antileishmanial drug discovery: comprehensive review of the last 10 years. RSC Adv 2015. [DOI: 10.1039/c5ra02669e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
This review covers the current aspects of leishmaniasis including marketed drugs, new antileishmanial agents, and possible drug targets of antileishmanial agents.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Rohidas Arote
- Department of Molecular Genetics
- School of Dentistry
- Seoul National University
- Seoul
- Republic of Korea
| | - Rajendra H. Patil
- Department of Biotechnology
- Savitribai Phule Pune University
- Pune 411007
- India
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