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Van Den Hauwe R, Elsocht M, Ballet S, Hollanders C. Efficient Synthesis of Polysubstituted 1,5-Benzodiazepinone Dipeptide Mimetics via an Ugi-4CR-Ullmann Condensation Sequence. Synlett 2021. [DOI: 10.1055/a-1545-2860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
AbstractAn efficient three-step synthesis towards 3-amino-1,4-benzodiazepin-2-one derivatives is presented. The versatile Ugi-4-component reaction (Ugi-4CR) and Boc deprotection is followed by a ligand-free Ullmann condensation. This protocol allows the rapid construction of a diverse array of substituted 1,5-benzodiazepinones. Since Ugi-based products are typically limited by their ‘inert’ C-terminal amides, the use of a convertible (‘cleavable’) isocyanide was envisaged and resulted in building blocks that can be made SPPS compatible. To demonstrate the potential of this novel synthetic route, the design and preparation of novel phenylurea-1,5-benzodiazepin-4(5H)-one dipeptide mimetics with potential CCK2-antagonist properties is reported.
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Ettari R, Previti S, Di Chio C, Zappalà M. Falcipain-2 and Falcipain-3 Inhibitors as Promising Antimalarial Agents. Curr Med Chem 2021; 28:3010-3031. [PMID: 32744954 DOI: 10.2174/0929867327666200730215316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2020] [Revised: 07/01/2020] [Accepted: 07/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Malaria remains a serious problem in global public health, particularly widespread in South America and in tropical regions of Africa and Asia. Chemotherapy is actually the only way to treat this poverty-related disease, since an effective vaccine is not currently available. However, the onset of resistance to the most common antimalarial drugs sometimes makes the current therapeutic regimen problematic. Therefore, the identification of new targets for a new drug discovery process is an urgent priority. In this context, falcipain-2 and falcipain- 3 of P. falciparum represent the key enzymes in the life-cycle of the parasite. Both falcipain- 2 and falcipain-3 are involved in hemoglobin hydrolysis, an essential pathway to provide free amino acids for the parasite metabolic needs. In addition, falcipain-2 is involved in cleaving ankirin and band 4.1 protein, which are cytoskeletal elements essential for the stability of the red cell membrane. This review article is focused on the most recent and effective inhibitors of falcipain-2 and falcipain-3, with particular attention to peptide, peptidomimetic or nonpeptide inhibitors, which targeted one or both the malarial cysteine proteases, endowed with a consistent activity against P. falciparum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Ettari
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Annunziata, 98168 Messina, Italy
| | - Santo Previti
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Annunziata, 98168 Messina, Italy
| | - Carla Di Chio
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Annunziata, 98168 Messina, Italy
| | - Maria Zappalà
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Annunziata, 98168 Messina, Italy
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3
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Amendola G, Ettari R, Previti S, Di Chio C, Messere A, Di Maro S, Hammerschmidt SJ, Zimmer C, Zimmermann RA, Schirmeister T, Zappalà M, Cosconati S. Lead Discovery of SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease Inhibitors through Covalent Docking-Based Virtual Screening. J Chem Inf Model 2021; 61:2062-2073. [PMID: 33784094 PMCID: PMC8029447 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.1c00184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
During almost all 2020, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has constituted the major risk for the worldwide health and economy, propelling unprecedented efforts to discover drugs for its prevention and cure. At the end of the year, these efforts have culminated with the approval of vaccines by the American Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) giving new hope for the future. On the other hand, clinical data underscore the urgent need for effective drugs to treat COVID-19 patients. In this work, we embarked on a virtual screening campaign against the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Mpro chymotrypsin-like cysteine protease employing our in-house database of peptide and non-peptide ligands characterized by different types of warheads acting as Michael acceptors. To this end, we employed the AutoDock4 docking software customized to predict the formation of a covalent adduct with the target protein. In vitro verification of the inhibition properties of the most promising candidates allowed us to identify two new lead inhibitors that will deserve further optimization. From the computational point of view, this work demonstrates the predictive power of AutoDock4 and suggests its application for the in silico screening of large chemical libraries of potential covalent binders against the SARS-CoV-2 Mpro enzyme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgio Amendola
- DiSTABiF, University of Campania Luigi
Vanvitelli, Via Vivaldi 43, Caserta 81100, Italy
| | - Roberta Ettari
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical,
and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale
Annunziata, Messina 98168, Italy
| | - Santo Previti
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical,
and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale
Annunziata, Messina 98168, Italy
| | - Carla Di Chio
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical,
and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale
Annunziata, Messina 98168, Italy
| | - Anna Messere
- DiSTABiF, University of Campania Luigi
Vanvitelli, Via Vivaldi 43, Caserta 81100, Italy
| | - Salvatore Di Maro
- DiSTABiF, University of Campania Luigi
Vanvitelli, Via Vivaldi 43, Caserta 81100, Italy
| | - Stefan J. Hammerschmidt
- Institute of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences,
University of Mainz, Staudingerweg 5, Mainz 55128,
Germany
| | - Collin Zimmer
- Institute of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences,
University of Mainz, Staudingerweg 5, Mainz 55128,
Germany
| | - Robert A. Zimmermann
- Institute of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences,
University of Mainz, Staudingerweg 5, Mainz 55128,
Germany
| | - Tanja Schirmeister
- Institute of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences,
University of Mainz, Staudingerweg 5, Mainz 55128,
Germany
| | - Maria Zappalà
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical,
and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale
Annunziata, Messina 98168, Italy
| | - Sandro Cosconati
- DiSTABiF, University of Campania Luigi
Vanvitelli, Via Vivaldi 43, Caserta 81100, Italy
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4
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Royo S, Schirmeister T, Kaiser M, Jung S, Rodríguez S, Bautista JM, González FV. Antiprotozoal and cysteine proteases inhibitory activity of dipeptidyl enoates. Bioorg Med Chem 2018; 26:4624-4634. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2018.07.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2018] [Revised: 07/02/2018] [Accepted: 07/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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5
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Previti S, Ettari R, Cosconati S, Amendola G, Chouchene K, Wagner A, Hellmich UA, Ulrich K, Krauth-Siegel RL, Wich PR, Schmid I, Schirmeister T, Gut J, Rosenthal PJ, Grasso S, Zappalà M. Development of Novel Peptide-Based Michael Acceptors Targeting Rhodesain and Falcipain-2 for the Treatment of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs). J Med Chem 2017; 60:6911-6923. [PMID: 28763614 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.7b00405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
This paper describes the development of a class of peptide-based inhibitors as novel antitrypanosomal and antimalarial agents. The inhibitors are based on a characteristic peptide sequence for the inhibition of the cysteine proteases rhodesain of Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense and falcipain-2 of Plasmodium falciparum. We exploited the reactivity of novel unsaturated electrophilic functions such as vinyl-sulfones, -ketones, -esters, and -nitriles. The Michael acceptors inhibited both rhodesain and falcipain-2, at nanomolar and micromolar levels, respectively. In particular, the vinyl ketone 3b has emerged as a potent rhodesain inhibitor (k2nd = 67 × 106 M-1 min-1), endowed with a picomolar binding affinity (Ki = 38 pM), coupled with a single-digit micromolar activity against Trypanosoma brucei brucei (EC50 = 2.97 μM), thus being considered as a novel lead compound for the discovery of novel effective antitrypanosomal agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santo Previti
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina , Viale Annunziata, 98168 Messina, Italy
| | - Roberta Ettari
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina , Viale Annunziata, 98168 Messina, Italy
| | - Sandro Cosconati
- DiSTABiF, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli , Via Vivaldi 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Giorgio Amendola
- DiSTABiF, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli , Via Vivaldi 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Khawla Chouchene
- Laboratoire de Chimie des Substances Naturelles UR/11-ES-74, Faculté des Sciences de Sfax, Université de Sfax , Route de l'aeroport, 3000 Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Annika Wagner
- Institute of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Mainz , Johann-Joachim-Becherweg 30, DE 55128 Mainz, Germany.,Centre for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Goethe-University Frankfurt , Max-von-Laue-Strasse 9, DE 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Ute A Hellmich
- Institute of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Mainz , Johann-Joachim-Becherweg 30, DE 55128 Mainz, Germany.,Centre for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Goethe-University Frankfurt , Max-von-Laue-Strasse 9, DE 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Kathrin Ulrich
- Biochemistry Center, Heidelberg University , Im Neuenheimer Feld 328, DE 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - R Luise Krauth-Siegel
- Biochemistry Center, Heidelberg University , Im Neuenheimer Feld 328, DE 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Peter R Wich
- Institute of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Mainz , Staudingerweg 5, DE 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Ira Schmid
- Institute of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Mainz , Staudingerweg 5, DE 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Tanja Schirmeister
- Institute of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Mainz , Staudingerweg 5, DE 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Jiri Gut
- Department of Medicine, San Francisco General Hospital, University of California , 1001 Potrero Avenue, San Francisco, California 94110, United States
| | - Philip J Rosenthal
- Department of Medicine, San Francisco General Hospital, University of California , 1001 Potrero Avenue, San Francisco, California 94110, United States
| | - Silvana Grasso
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina , Viale Annunziata, 98168 Messina, Italy
| | - Maria Zappalà
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina , Viale Annunziata, 98168 Messina, Italy
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6
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Ettari R, Previti S, Cosconati S, Maiorana S, Schirmeister T, Grasso S, Zappalà M. Development of novel 1,4-benzodiazepine-based Michael acceptors as antitrypanosomal agents. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2016; 26:3453-6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2016.06.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2016] [Revised: 06/15/2016] [Accepted: 06/16/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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7
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Adeniyi AA, Muthusamy R, Soliman MES. New drug design with covalent modifiers. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2016; 11:79-90. [DOI: 10.1517/17460441.2016.1115478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Adebayo A Adeniyi
- School of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4001, South Africa
| | - Ramesh Muthusamy
- School of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4001, South Africa
| | - Mahmoud ES Soliman
- School of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4001, South Africa
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8
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Ettari R, Pinto A, Previti S, Tamborini L, Angelo IC, La Pietra V, Marinelli L, Novellino E, Schirmeister T, Zappalà M, Grasso S, De Micheli C, Conti P. Development of novel dipeptide-like rhodesain inhibitors containing the 3-bromoisoxazoline warhead in a constrained conformation. Bioorg Med Chem 2015; 23:7053-60. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2015.09.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2015] [Revised: 09/11/2015] [Accepted: 09/17/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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9
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Rotondo A, Ettari R, Grasso S, Zappalà M. NMR conformational analysis in solution of a potent class of cysteine proteases inhibitors. Struct Chem 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/s11224-015-0597-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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10
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NMR characterization and conformational analysis of a potent papain-family cathepsin L-like cysteine protease inhibitor with different behaviour in polar and apolar media. J Mol Struct 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molstruc.2014.07.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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11
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Optimization of peptidomimetic boronates bearing a P3 bicyclic scaffold as proteasome inhibitors. Eur J Med Chem 2014; 83:1-14. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2014.06.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2014] [Revised: 06/05/2014] [Accepted: 06/09/2014] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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12
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Ettari R, Pinto A, Tamborini L, Angelo IC, Grasso S, Zappalà M, Capodicasa N, Yzeiraj L, Gruber E, Aminake MN, Pradel G, Schirmeister T, De Micheli C, Conti P. Synthesis and biological evaluation of papain-family cathepsin L-like cysteine protease inhibitors containing a 1,4-benzodiazepine scaffold as antiprotozoal agents. ChemMedChem 2014; 9:1817-25. [PMID: 24919925 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.201402079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Novel papain-family cathepsin L-like cysteine protease inhibitors endowed with antitrypanosomal and antimalarial activity were developed, through an optimization study of previously developed inhibitors. In the present work, we studied the structure-activity relationships of these derivatives, with the aim to develop new analogues with a simplified and more synthetically accessible structure and with improved antiparasitic activity. The structure of the model compounds was significantly simplified by modifying or even eliminating the side chain appended at the C3 atom of the benzodiazepine scaffold. In addition, a simple methylene spacer of appropriate length was inserted between the benzodiazepine ring and the 3-bromoisoxazoline moiety. Several rhodesain and falcipain-2 inhibitors displaying single-digit micromolar or sub-micromolar antiparasitic activity against one or both parasites were identified, with activities that were one order of magnitude more potent than the model compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Ettari
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Mangiagalli, 25, 20133 Milano (Italy).
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13
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Scarbaci K, Troiano V, Ettari R, Pinto A, Micale N, Di Giovanni C, Cerchia C, Schirmeister T, Novellino E, Lavecchia A, Zappalà M, Grasso S. Development of novel selective peptidomimetics containing a boronic acid moiety, targeting the 20S proteasome as anticancer agents. ChemMedChem 2014; 9:1801-16. [PMID: 24891205 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.201402075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2014] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
This paper describes the design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of peptidomimetic boronates as inhibitors of the 20S proteasome, a validated target in the treatment of multiple myeloma. The synthesized compounds showed a good inhibitory profile against the ChT-L activity of 20S proteasome. Compounds bearing a β-alanine residue at the P2 position were the most active, that is, 3-ethylphenylamino and 4-methoxyphenylamino (R)-1-{3-[4-(substituted)-2-oxopyridin-1(2H)-yl]propanamido}-3-methylbutylboronic acids (3 c and 3 d, respectively), and these derivatives showed inhibition constants (Ki ) of 17 and 20 nM, respectively. In addition, they co-inhibited post glutamyl peptide hydrolase activity (3 c, Ki=2.57 μM; 3 d, Ki=3.81 μM). No inhibition was recorded against the bovine pancreatic α-chymotrypsin, which thus confirms the selectivity towards the target enzyme. Docking studies of 3 c and related inhibitors into the yeast proteasome revealed the structural basis for specificity. The evaluation of growth inhibitory effects against 60 human tumor cell lines was performed at the US National Cancer Institute. Among the selected compounds, 3 c showed 50% growth inhibition (GI50) values at the sub-micromolar level on all cell lines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kety Scarbaci
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Mangiagalli, 25, 20133 Milano (Italy)
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14
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Arafet K, Ferrer S, Martí S, Moliner V. Quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics studies of the mechanism of falcipain-2 inhibition by the epoxysuccinate E64. Biochemistry 2014; 53:3336-46. [PMID: 24811524 DOI: 10.1021/bi500060h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Because of the increasing resistance of malaria parasites to antimalarial drugs, the lack of highly effective vaccines, and an inadequate control of mosquito vectors, the problem is growing, especially in the developing world. New approaches to drug development are consequently required. One of the proteases involved in the degradation of human hemoglobin is named falcipain-2 (FP2), which has emerged as a promising target for the development of novel antimalarial drugs. However, very little is known about the inhibition of FP2. In this paper, the inhibition of FP2 by the epoxysuccinate E64 has been studied by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations using hybrid AM1d/MM and M06-2X/MM potentials to obtain a complete picture of the possible free energy reaction paths. A thorough analysis of the reaction mechanism has been conducted to understand the inhibition of FP2 by E64. According to our results, the irreversible attack of Cys42 on E64 can take place on both carbon atoms of the epoxy ring because both processes present similar barriers. While the attack on the C2 atom presents a slightly smaller barrier (12.3 vs 13.6 kcal mol(-1)), the inhibitor-protein complex derived from the attack on C3 appears to be much more stabilized. In contrast to previous hypotheses, our results suggest that residues such as Gln171, Asp170, Gln36, Trp43, Asn81, and even His174 would be anchoring the inhibitor in a proper orientation for the reaction to take place. These results may be useful for the rational design of new compounds with higher inhibitory activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kemel Arafet
- Departament de Química Física i Analítica, Universitat Jaume I , 12071 Castelló, Spain
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Oli S, Abdelmohsen UR, Hentschel U, Schirmeister T. Identification of plakortide E from the Caribbean sponge Plakortis halichondroides as a trypanocidal protease inhibitor using bioactivity-guided fractionation. Mar Drugs 2014; 12:2614-22. [PMID: 24798927 PMCID: PMC4052307 DOI: 10.3390/md12052614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2014] [Revised: 03/07/2014] [Accepted: 03/19/2014] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In this paper, we report new protease inhibitory activity of plakortide E towards cathepsins and cathepsin-like parasitic proteases. We further report on its anti-parasitic activity against Trypanosoma brucei with an IC50 value of 5 μM and without cytotoxic effects against J774.1 macrophages at 100 μM concentration. Plakortide E was isolated from the sponge Plakortis halichondroides using enzyme assay-guided fractionation and identified by NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. Furthermore, enzyme kinetic studies confirmed plakortide E as a non-competitive, slowly-binding, reversible inhibitor of rhodesain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swarna Oli
- Institute of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, Johannes Gutenberg-University of Mainz, Staudinger Weg 5, Mainz 55128, Germany.
| | - Usama Ramadan Abdelmohsen
- Department of Botany II, Julius-von-Sachs-Institute for Biological Sciences, University of Würzburg, Julius-von-Sachs Platz 3, Würzburg 97082, Germany.
| | - Ute Hentschel
- Department of Botany II, Julius-von-Sachs-Institute for Biological Sciences, University of Würzburg, Julius-von-Sachs Platz 3, Würzburg 97082, Germany.
| | - Tanja Schirmeister
- Institute of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, Johannes Gutenberg-University of Mainz, Staudinger Weg 5, Mainz 55128, Germany.
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16
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Scarbaci K, Troiano V, Micale N, Ettari R, Tamborini L, Di Giovanni C, Cerchia C, Grasso S, Novellino E, Schirmeister T, Lavecchia A, Zappalà M. Identification of a new series of amides as non-covalent proteasome inhibitors. Eur J Med Chem 2014; 76:1-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2014.01.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2013] [Revised: 01/14/2014] [Accepted: 01/16/2014] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
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17
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Ettari R, Tamborini L, Angelo IC, Grasso S, Schirmeister T, Lo Presti L, De Micheli C, Pinto A, Conti P. Development of Rhodesain Inhibitors with a 3-Bromoisoxazoline Warhead. ChemMedChem 2013; 8:2070-6. [DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.201300390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2013] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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18
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Herndon JW. The chemistry of the carbon-transition metal double and triple bond: Annual survey covering the year 2011. Coord Chem Rev 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ccr.2013.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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19
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Mugumbate G, Newton AS, Rosenthal PJ, Gut J, Moreira R, Chibale K, Guedes RC. Novel anti-plasmodial hits identified by virtual screening of the ZINC database. J Comput Aided Mol Des 2013; 27:859-71. [PMID: 24158745 DOI: 10.1007/s10822-013-9685-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2013] [Accepted: 10/12/2013] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Increased resistance of Plasmodium falciparum to most available drugs challenges the control of malaria. Studies with protease inhibitors have suggested important roles for the falcipain family of cysteine proteases. These enzymes act in concert with other proteases to hydrolyze host erythrocyte hemoglobin in the parasite food vacuole. In order to find potential new antimalarial drugs, we screened in silico the ZINC database using two different protocols involving structure- and ligand-based methodologies. Our search identified 19 novel low micromolar inhibitors of cultured chloroquine resistant P. falciparum. The most active compound presented an IC50 value of 0.5 μM against cultured parasites and it also inhibited the cysteine protease falcipain-2 (IC50 = 25.5 μM). These results identify novel classes of antimalarials that are structurally different from those currently in use and which can be further derivatized to deliver leads suitable for optimisation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace Mugumbate
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa
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20
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Mechanism of falcipain-2 inhibition by α,β-unsaturated benzo[1,4]diazepin-2-one methyl ester. J Comput Aided Mol Des 2012; 26:1035-43. [PMID: 22965332 PMCID: PMC7088093 DOI: 10.1007/s10822-012-9596-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2012] [Accepted: 08/27/2012] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Falcipain-2 (FP-2) is a papain-family cysteine protease of Plasmodium falciparum whose primary function is to degrade the host red cell hemoglobin, within the food vacuole, in order to provide free amino acids for parasite protein synthesis. Additionally it promotes host cell rupture by cleaving the skeletal proteins of the erythrocyte membrane. Therefore, the inhibition of FP-2 represents a promising target in the search of novel anti-malarial drugs. A potent FP-2 inhibitor, characterized by the presence in its structure of the 1,4-benzodiazepine scaffold and an α,β-unsaturated methyl ester moiety capable to react with the Cys42 thiol group located in the active site of FP-2, has been recently reported in literature. In order to study in depth the inhibition mechanism triggered by this interesting compound, we carried out, through ONIOM hybrid calculations, a computational investigation of the processes occurring when the inhibitor targets the enzyme and eventually leads to an irreversible covalent Michael adduct. Each step of the reaction mechanism has been accurately characterized and a detailed description of each possible intermediate and transition state along the pathway has been reported.
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Ettari R, Micale N, Grazioso G, Bova F, Schirmeister T, Grasso S, Zappalà M. Synthesis and Molecular Modeling Studies of Derivatives of a Highly Potent Peptidomimetic Vinyl Ester as Falcipain-2 Inhibitors. ChemMedChem 2012; 7:1594-600. [DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.201200274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2012] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
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Centenary celebrations article: Cysteine proteases of human malaria parasites. J Parasit Dis 2011; 35:94-103. [PMID: 23024488 DOI: 10.1007/s12639-011-0084-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2011] [Accepted: 11/09/2011] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
There is an urgent need for new drugs against malaria, which takes millions of lives annually. Cysteine proteases are potential new drug targets, especially when current drugs are showing resistance. Falcipains and vivapains are well characterized cysteine proteases of P. falciparum and P. vivax, respectively. Studies with cysteine protease inhibitors and manipulating cysteine proteases specific genes have suggested their roles in hemoglobin hydrolysis. In P. falciparum, falcipain-2 and falcipain-3 are major hemoglobinases that hydrolyze host erythrocyte hemoglobin in the parasite food vacuole. It is confirmed that disruption of the falcipain-2 gene led to a transient block in hemoglobin hydrolysis, and disruption of falcipain-3 gene was not possible, suggesting that protease is essential for erythrocytic parasites. On the other hand, vivapain-2, vivapain-3 and vivapain-4 are important cysteine proteases of P. vivax, which shared a number of features with falcipain-2 and falcipain-3. A recent study indicates that vivapains and aspartic protease of P. vivax works collaboratively to enhance the parasites' ability to hydrolyze host erythrocyte hemoglobin. Studies also indicate that falcipains and vivapains also hydrolyse the erythrocyte cytoskeleton proteins and involved in rupture of red blood cell. Structural and biochemical analysis of falcipains and vivapains showed that they have unique domains for specific functions. Overall, the complexes of cysteine proteases with small and macromolecular inhibitors provide structural insight to facilitate the drug design. Therefore, giving due importance to the cysteine proteases, this review will briefly focus the recent advancement in the field of cysteine proteases of human malaria parasites.
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