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Quadros HC, Herrmann L, Manaranche J, Paloque L, Borges-Silva MC, Dziwornu GA, D'Alessandro S, Chibale K, Basilico N, Benoit-Vical F, Tsogoeva SB, Moreira DRM. Characterization of antimalarial activity of artemisinin-based hybrid drugs. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2024:e0014324. [PMID: 38899927 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00143-24] [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: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 06/01/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
In response to the spread of artemisinin (ART) resistance, ART-based hybrid drugs were developed, and their activity profile was characterized against drug-sensitive and drug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum parasites. Two hybrids were found to display parasite growth reduction, stage-specificity, speed of activity, additivity of activity in drug combinations, and stability in hepatic microsomes of similar levels to those displayed by dihydroartemisinin (DHA). Conversely, the rate of chemical homolysis of the peroxide bonds is slower in hybrids than in DHA. From a mechanistic perspective, heme plays a central role in the chemical homolysis of peroxide, inhibiting heme detoxification and disrupting parasite heme redox homeostasis. The hybrid exhibiting slow homolysis of peroxide bonds was more potent in reducing the viability of ART-resistant parasites in a ring-stage survival assay than the hybrid exhibiting fast homolysis. However, both hybrids showed limited activity against ART-induced quiescent parasites in the quiescent-stage survival assay. Our findings are consistent with previous results showing that slow homolysis of peroxide-containing drugs may retain activity against proliferating ART-resistant parasites. However, our data suggest that this property does not overcome the limited activity of peroxides in killing non-proliferating parasites in a quiescent state.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lars Herrmann
- Organic Chemistry Chair I and Interdisciplinary Center for Molecular Materials (ICMM), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Jeanne Manaranche
- LCC-CNRS, Laboratoire de Chimie de Coordination, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, Toulouse, France
- MAAP, New Antimalarial Molecules and Pharmacological Approaches, Inserm ERL 1289, Toulouse, France
- Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale (IPBS), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (UPS), Toulouse, France
| | - Lucie Paloque
- LCC-CNRS, Laboratoire de Chimie de Coordination, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, Toulouse, France
- MAAP, New Antimalarial Molecules and Pharmacological Approaches, Inserm ERL 1289, Toulouse, France
- Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale (IPBS), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (UPS), Toulouse, France
| | | | - Godwin Akpeko Dziwornu
- Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D), Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa
| | - Sarah D'Alessandro
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Kelly Chibale
- Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D), Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa
- South African Medical Research Council Drug Discovery and Development Research Unit, Department of Chemistry and Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa
| | - Nicoletta Basilico
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Chirurgiche e Odontoiatriche, Chirurgiche e Odontoiatriche, Universitá degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Françoise Benoit-Vical
- LCC-CNRS, Laboratoire de Chimie de Coordination, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, Toulouse, France
- MAAP, New Antimalarial Molecules and Pharmacological Approaches, Inserm ERL 1289, Toulouse, France
- Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale (IPBS), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (UPS), Toulouse, France
| | - Svetlana B Tsogoeva
- Organic Chemistry Chair I and Interdisciplinary Center for Molecular Materials (ICMM), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
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Zhan W, Liu YJ, Kirkman LA, Lin G. Protocol for analysis of intracellular conversion of artezomib molecules into new proteasome inhibitors in Plasmodium falciparum parasites. STAR Protoc 2024; 5:102896. [PMID: 38363687 PMCID: PMC10877166 DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2024.102896] [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: 07/20/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Artezomibs (ATZs), dual-pharmacophore molecules comprising of artemisinin and a parasite proteasome inhibitor, hijack parasite ubiquitin proteasome system to transform into new proteasome inhibitors following the activation of artemisinin by heme.1 Here, we present a protocol for using a fluorescent activity-based broad-spectrum proteasome inhibitor probe to study intracellular conversion of ATZ molecules into new proteasome inhibitors in malaria parasites. We describe steps for drug treatment and washout, parasite lysis, proteasome labeling, and visualization. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Zhan et al.1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenhu Zhan
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Yi Jing Liu
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Laura A Kirkman
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA; Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA.
| | - Gang Lin
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA.
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Schäfer TM, Pessanha de Carvalho L, Inoue J, Kreidenweiss A, Held J. The problem of antimalarial resistance and its implications for drug discovery. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2024; 19:209-224. [PMID: 38108082 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2023.2284820] [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: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Malaria remains a devastating infectious disease with hundreds of thousands of casualties each year. Antimalarial drug resistance has been a threat to malaria control and elimination for many decades and is still of concern today. Despite the continued effectiveness of current first-line treatments, namely artemisinin-based combination therapies, the emergence of drug-resistant parasites in Southeast Asia and even more alarmingly the occurrence of resistance mutations in Africa is of great concern and requires immediate attention. AREAS COVERED A comprehensive overview of the mechanisms underlying the acquisition of drug resistance in Plasmodium falciparum is given. Understanding these processes provides valuable insights that can be harnessed for the development and selection of novel antimalarials with reduced resistance potential. Additionally, strategies to mitigate resistance to antimalarial compounds on the short term by using approved drugs are discussed. EXPERT OPINION While employing strategies that utilize already approved drugs may offer a prompt and cost-effective approach to counter antimalarial drug resistance, it is crucial to recognize that only continuous efforts into the development of novel antimalarial drugs can ensure the successful treatment of malaria in the future. Incorporating resistance propensity assessment during this developmental process will increase the likelihood of effective and enduring malaria treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Juliana Inoue
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Andrea Kreidenweiss
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné, Lambaréné, Gabon
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Tübingen, Germany
| | - Jana Held
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné, Lambaréné, Gabon
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Tübingen, Germany
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Hsu HC, Li D, Zhan W, Ye J, Liu YJ, Leung A, Qin J, Crespo B, Gamo FJ, Zhang H, Cui L, Roth A, Kirkman LA, Li H, Lin G. Structures revealing mechanisms of resistance and collateral sensitivity of Plasmodium falciparum to proteasome inhibitors. Nat Commun 2023; 14:8302. [PMID: 38097652 PMCID: PMC10721928 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44077-2] [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: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The proteasome of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum (Pf20S) is an advantageous drug target because its inhibition kills P. falciparum in multiple stages of its life cycle and synergizes with artemisinins. We recently developed a macrocyclic peptide, TDI-8304, that is highly selective for Pf20S over human proteasomes and is potent in vitro and in vivo against P. falciparum. A mutation in the Pf20S β6 subunit, A117D, confers resistance to TDI-8304, yet enhances both enzyme inhibition and anti-parasite activity of a tripeptide vinyl sulfone β2 inhibitor, WLW-vs. Here we present the high-resolution cryo-EM structures of Pf20S with TDI-8304, of human constitutive proteasome with TDI-8304, and of Pf20Sβ6A117D with WLW-vs that give insights into the species selectivity of TDI-8304, resistance to it, and the collateral sensitivity associated with resistance, including that TDI-8304 binds β2 and β5 in wild type Pf20S as well as WLW-vs binds β2 and β5 in Pf20Sβ6A117D. We further show that TDI-8304 kills P. falciparum as quickly as chloroquine and artemisinin and is active against P. cynomolgi at the liver stage. This increases interest in using these structures to facilitate the development of Pf20S inhibitors that target multiple proteasome subunits and limit the emergence of resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao-Chi Hsu
- Department of Structural Biology, Van Andel Institute, 333 Bostwick Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, USA
| | - Daqiang Li
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Wenhu Zhan
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Jianxiang Ye
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Yi Jing Liu
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Annie Leung
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Junling Qin
- Department of Internal Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - Benigno Crespo
- Global Health Medicines R&D, GlaxoSmithKline, Severo Ochoa 2, 28760, Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco-Javier Gamo
- Global Health Medicines R&D, GlaxoSmithKline, Severo Ochoa 2, 28760, Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Hao Zhang
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Liwang Cui
- Department of Internal Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
- Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Alison Roth
- Department of Drug Discovery, Experimental Therapeutics Branch, The Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 503 Robert Grant Ave., Silver Spring, 20910, MD, USA
| | - Laura A Kirkman
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Huilin Li
- Department of Structural Biology, Van Andel Institute, 333 Bostwick Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI, 49503, USA.
| | - Gang Lin
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA.
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Gehlot P, Vyas VK. Recent advances on patents of Plasmodium falciparum dihydroorotate dehydrogenase ( PfDHODH) inhibitors as antimalarial agents. Expert Opin Ther Pat 2023; 33:579-596. [PMID: 37942637 DOI: 10.1080/13543776.2023.2280596] [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: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Pyrimidine nucleotides are essential for the parasite's growth and replication. Parasites have only a de novo pathway for the biosynthesis of pyrimidine nucleotides. Dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) enzyme is involved in the rate-limiting step of the pyrimidine biosynthesis pathway. DHODH is a biochemical target for the discovery of new antimalarial agents. AREA COVERED This review discussed the development of patented PfDHODH inhibitors published between 2007 and 2023 along with their chemical structures and activities. EXPERT OPINION PfDHODH enzyme is involved in the rate-limiting fourth step of the pyrimidine biosynthesis pathway. Thus, inhibition of PfDHODH using species-selective inhibitors has drawn much attention for treating malaria because they inhibit parasite growth without affecting normal human functions. Looking at the current scenario of antimalarial drug resistance with most of the available antimalarial drugs, there is a huge need for targeted newer agents. Newer agents with unique mechanisms of action may be devoid of drug toxicity, adverse effects, and the ability of parasites to quickly gain resistance, and PfDHODH inhibitors can be those newer agents. Many PfDHODH inhibitors were patented in the past, and the dependency of Plasmodium on de novo pyrimidine provided a new approach for the development of novel antimalarial agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pinky Gehlot
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Institute of Pharmacy, Nirma University, Ahmedabad, India
| | - Vivek K Vyas
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Institute of Pharmacy, Nirma University, Ahmedabad, India
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Xiao Z, Gray JL, Tate EW. Weaponizing the proteasome to overcome antimalarial drug resistance. Cell Chem Biol 2023; 30:415-417. [PMID: 37207629 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2023.04.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
In this issue of Cell Chemical Biology, Zhan et al. report dual-pharmacophore molecules ("artezomibs"), combining an artemisinin and proteasome inhibitor that exhibit potent activity against both wild-type and drug-resistant malarial parasites.1 This study indicates that artezomibs offer a promising approach to combat drug resistance encountered by current antimalarial therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhangping Xiao
- Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, White City Campus, Wood Lane, London W12 0BZ, UK
| | - Janine L Gray
- Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, White City Campus, Wood Lane, London W12 0BZ, UK
| | - Edward W Tate
- Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, White City Campus, Wood Lane, London W12 0BZ, UK.
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