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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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Basagni F, Marotta G, Rosini M, Minarini A. Polyamine-Drug Conjugates: Do They Boost Drug Activity? Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28114518. [PMID: 37298993 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28114518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the past two decades, the strategy of conjugating polyamine tails with bioactive molecules such as anticancer and antimicrobial agents, as well as antioxidant and neuroprotective scaffolds, has been widely exploited to enhance their pharmacological profile. Polyamine transport is elevated in many pathological conditions, suggesting that the polyamine portion could improve cellular and subcellular uptake of the conjugate via the polyamine transporter system. In this review, we have presented a glimpse on the polyamine conjugate scenario, classified by therapeutic area, of the last decade with the aim of highlighting achievements and fostering future developments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filippo Basagni
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 6, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Giambattista Marotta
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 6, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Michela Rosini
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 6, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Anna Minarini
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 6, 40126 Bologna, Italy
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Llanos MA, Alberca LN, Ruiz MD, Sbaraglini ML, Miranda C, Pino-Martinez A, Fraccaroli L, Carrillo C, Alba Soto CD, Gavernet L, Talevi A. A combined ligand and target-based virtual screening strategy to repurpose drugs as putrescine uptake inhibitors with trypanocidal activity. J Comput Aided Mol Des 2023; 37:75-90. [PMID: 36494599 DOI: 10.1007/s10822-022-00491-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Chagas disease, also known as American trypanosomiasis, is a neglected tropical disease caused by the protozoa Trypanosoma cruzi, affecting nearly 7 million people only in the Americas. Polyamines are essential compounds for parasite growth, survival, and differentiation. However, because trypanosomatids are auxotrophic for polyamines, they must be obtained from the host by specific transporters. In this investigation, an ensemble of QSAR classifiers able to identify polyamine analogs with trypanocidal activity was developed. Then, a multi-template homology model of the dimeric polyamine transporter of T. cruzi, TcPAT12, was created with Rosetta, and then refined by enhanced sampling molecular dynamics simulations. Using representative snapshots extracted from the trajectory, a docking model able to discriminate between active and inactive compounds was developed and validated. Both models were applied in a parallel virtual screening campaign to repurpose known drugs as anti-trypanosomal compounds inhibiting polyamine transport in T. cruzi. Montelukast, Quinestrol, Danazol, and Dutasteride were selected for in vitro testing, and all of them inhibited putrescine uptake in biochemical assays, confirming the predictive ability of the computational models. Furthermore, all the confirmed hits proved to inhibit epimastigote proliferation, and Quinestrol and Danazol were able to inhibit, in the low micromolar range, the viability of trypomastigotes and the intracellular growth of amastigotes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel A Llanos
- Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas and Laboratorio de Investigación y Desarrollo de Bioactivos (LIDeB), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata. La Plata (B1900ADU), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Lucas N Alberca
- Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas and Laboratorio de Investigación y Desarrollo de Bioactivos (LIDeB), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata. La Plata (B1900ADU), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María D Ruiz
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular y Bioquímica en Trypanosoma cruzi y otros agentes infecciosos, Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología (ICT) Milstein - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María L Sbaraglini
- Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas and Laboratorio de Investigación y Desarrollo de Bioactivos (LIDeB), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata. La Plata (B1900ADU), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Cristian Miranda
- Departamento de Microbiología, Parasitología e Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM, UBA-CONICET), Universidad de Buenos Aires., Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Agustina Pino-Martinez
- Departamento de Microbiología, Parasitología e Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM, UBA-CONICET), Universidad de Buenos Aires., Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Laura Fraccaroli
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular y Bioquímica en Trypanosoma cruzi y otros agentes infecciosos, Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología (ICT) Milstein - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Carolina Carrillo
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular y Bioquímica en Trypanosoma cruzi y otros agentes infecciosos, Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología (ICT) Milstein - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Catalina D Alba Soto
- Departamento de Microbiología, Parasitología e Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM, UBA-CONICET), Universidad de Buenos Aires., Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Luciana Gavernet
- Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas and Laboratorio de Investigación y Desarrollo de Bioactivos (LIDeB), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata. La Plata (B1900ADU), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Alan Talevi
- Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas and Laboratorio de Investigación y Desarrollo de Bioactivos (LIDeB), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata. La Plata (B1900ADU), Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Dobrovolskaite A, Moots H, Tantak MP, Shah K, Thomas J, Dinara S, Massaro C, Hershberger PM, Maloney PR, Peddibhotla S, Sugarman E, Litherland S, Arnoletti JP, Jha RK, Levens D, Phanstiel O. Discovery of Anthranilic Acid Derivatives as Difluoromethylornithine Adjunct Agents That Inhibit Far Upstream Element Binding Protein 1 (FUBP1) Function. J Med Chem 2022; 65:15391-15415. [PMID: 36382923 PMCID: PMC10512781 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c01350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Polyamine biosynthesis is regulated by ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), which is transcriptionally activated by c-Myc. A large library was screened to find molecules that potentiate the ODC inhibitor, difluoromethylornithine (DFMO). Anthranilic acid derivatives were identified as DFMO adjunct agents. Further studies identified the far upstream binding protein 1 (FUBP1) as the target of lead compound 9. FUBP1 is a single-stranded DNA/RNA binding protein and a master controller of specific genes including c-Myc and p21. We showed that 9 does not inhibit 3H-spermidine uptake yet works synergistically with DFMO to limit cell growth in the presence of exogenous spermidine. Compound 9 was also shown to inhibit the KH4 FUBP1-FUSE interaction in a gel shift assay, bind to FUBP1 in a ChIP assay, reduce both c-Myc mRNA and protein expression, increase p21 mRNA and protein expression, and deplete intracellular polyamines. This promising hit opens the door to new FUBP1 inhibitors with increased potency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aiste Dobrovolskaite
- University of Central Florida, Biomolecular Research Annex, 12722 Research Parkway, Orlando, Florida 32826, United States
| | - Holly Moots
- University of Central Florida, Biomolecular Research Annex, 12722 Research Parkway, Orlando, Florida 32826, United States
| | - Mukund P Tantak
- University of Central Florida, Biomolecular Research Annex, 12722 Research Parkway, Orlando, Florida 32826, United States
| | - Kunal Shah
- University of Central Florida, Biomolecular Research Annex, 12722 Research Parkway, Orlando, Florida 32826, United States
| | - Jenna Thomas
- University of Central Florida, Biomolecular Research Annex, 12722 Research Parkway, Orlando, Florida 32826, United States
| | - Sharifa Dinara
- University of Central Florida, Biomolecular Research Annex, 12722 Research Parkway, Orlando, Florida 32826, United States
| | - Chelsea Massaro
- University of Central Florida, Biomolecular Research Annex, 12722 Research Parkway, Orlando, Florida 32826, United States
| | - Paul M Hershberger
- Sanford Burnham Medical Research Institute, 6400 Sanger Road, Orlando, Florida 32827, United States
| | - Patrick R Maloney
- Sanford Burnham Medical Research Institute, 6400 Sanger Road, Orlando, Florida 32827, United States
| | | | - Eliot Sugarman
- Sanford Burnham Medical Research Institute, 6400 Sanger Road, Orlando, Florida 32827, United States
| | - Sally Litherland
- Advent Health Cancer Institute, 2520 North Orange Ave, Suite 104, Orlando, Florida 32804, United States
| | - Juan Pablo Arnoletti
- Advent Health Cancer Institute, 2520 North Orange Ave, Suite 104, Orlando, Florida 32804, United States
| | - Rajiv Kumar Jha
- Laboratory of Pathology, Center for Cancer Research, 10 Center Drive, Building 10, Room 2N106, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-1500, United States
| | - David Levens
- Laboratory of Pathology, Center for Cancer Research, 10 Center Drive, Building 10, Room 2N106, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-1500, United States
| | - Otto Phanstiel
- University of Central Florida, Biomolecular Research Annex, 12722 Research Parkway, Orlando, Florida 32826, United States
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5
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Ros-Lucas A, Martinez-Peinado N, Bastida J, Gascón J, Alonso-Padilla J. The Use of AlphaFold for In Silico Exploration of Drug Targets in the Parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:944748. [PMID: 35909956 PMCID: PMC9329570 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.944748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease is a devastating neglected disease caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, which affects millions of people worldwide. The two anti-parasitic drugs available, nifurtimox and benznidazole, have a good efficacy against the acute stage of the infection. But this is short, usually asymptomatic and often goes undiagnosed. Access to treatment is mostly achieved during the chronic stage, when the cardiac and/or digestive life-threatening symptoms manifest. Then, the efficacy of both drugs is diminished, and their long administration regimens involve frequently associated adverse effects that compromise treatment compliance. Therefore, the discovery of safer and more effective drugs is an urgent need. Despite its advantages over lately used phenotypic screening, target-based identification of new anti-parasitic molecules has been hampered by incomplete annotation and lack of structures of the parasite protein space. Presently, the AlphaFold Protein Structure Database is home to 19,036 protein models from T. cruzi, which could hold the key to not only describe new therapeutic approaches, but also shed light on molecular mechanisms of action for known compounds. In this proof-of-concept study, we screened the AlphaFold T. cruzi set of predicted protein models to find prospective targets for a pre-selected list of compounds with known anti-trypanosomal activity using docking-based inverse virtual screening. The best receptors (targets) for the most promising ligands were analyzed in detail to address molecular interactions and potential drugs’ mode of action. The results provide insight into the mechanisms of action of the compounds and their targets, and pave the way for new strategies to finding novel compounds or optimize already existing ones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albert Ros-Lucas
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clinic - University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- *Correspondence: Albert Ros-Lucas, ; Nieves Martinez-Peinado, ; Julio Alonso-Padilla,
| | - Nieves Martinez-Peinado
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clinic - University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- *Correspondence: Albert Ros-Lucas, ; Nieves Martinez-Peinado, ; Julio Alonso-Padilla,
| | - Jaume Bastida
- Departament de Biologia, Sanitat i Medi Ambient, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l´Alimentació, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Joaquim Gascón
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clinic - University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- CIBERINFEC, ISCIII—CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Julio Alonso-Padilla
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clinic - University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- CIBERINFEC, ISCIII—CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- *Correspondence: Albert Ros-Lucas, ; Nieves Martinez-Peinado, ; Julio Alonso-Padilla,
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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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Proietti E, Rossini S, Grohmann U, Mondanelli G. Polyamines and Kynurenines at the Intersection of Immune Modulation. Trends Immunol 2020; 41:1037-1050. [PMID: 33055013 DOI: 10.1016/j.it.2020.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2020] [Revised: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Polyamines (i.e., putrescine, spermidine, and spermine) are bioactive polycations capable of binding nucleic acids and proteins and modulating signaling pathways. Polyamine functions have been studied most extensively in tumors, where they can promote cell transformation and proliferation. Recently, spermidine was found to exert protective effects in an experimental model of multiple sclerosis (MS) and to confer immunoregulatory properties on dendritic cells (DCs), via the indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) enzyme. IDO1 converts l-tryptophan into metabolites, collectively known as kynurenines, endowed with several immunoregulatory effects via activation of the arylhydrocarbon receptor (AhR). Because AhR activation increases polyamine production, the emerging scenario has identified polyamines and kynurenines as actors of an immunoregulatory circuitry with potential implications for immunotherapy in autoimmune diseases and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Proietti
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, 06132 Perugia, Italy
| | - Sofia Rossini
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, 06132 Perugia, Italy
| | - Ursula Grohmann
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, 06132 Perugia, Italy.
| | - Giada Mondanelli
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, 06132 Perugia, Italy.
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Abstract
AbstractDuring three decades, only about 20 new drugs have been developed for malaria, tuberculosis and all neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). This critical situation was reached because NTDs represent only 10% of health research investments; however, they comprise about 90% of the global disease burden. Computational simulations applied in virtual screening (VS) strategies are very efficient tools to identify pharmacologically active compounds or new indications for drugs already administered for other diseases. One of the advantages of this approach is the low time-consuming and low-budget first stage, which filters for testing experimentally a group of candidate compounds with high chances of binding to the target and present trypanocidal activity. In this work, we review the most common VS strategies that have been used for the identification of new drugs with special emphasis on those applied to trypanosomiasis and leishmaniasis. Computational simulations based on the selected protein targets or their ligands are explained, including the method selection criteria, examples of successful VS campaigns applied to NTDs, a list of validated molecular targets for drug development and repositioned drugs for trypanosomatid-caused diseases. Thereby, here we present the state-of-the-art of VS and drug repurposing to conclude pointing out the future perspectives in the field.
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Khomutov M, Hyvönen MT, Simonian A, Formanovsky AA, Mikhura IV, Chizhov AO, Kochetkov SN, Alhonen L, Vepsäläinen J, Keinänen TA, Khomutov AR. Unforeseen Possibilities To Investigate the Regulation of Polyamine Metabolism Revealed by Novel C-Methylated Spermine Derivatives. J Med Chem 2019; 62:11335-11347. [PMID: 31765147 PMCID: PMC7076719 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.9b01666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
The biogenic polyamines, spermine (Spm) and spermidine, are organic polycations present in millimolar concentrations in all eukaryotic cells participating in the regulation of vital cellular functions including proliferation and differentiation. The design and biochemical evaluation of polyamine analogues are cornerstones of polyamine research. Here we synthesized and studied novel C-methylated Spm analogues: 2,11-dimethylspermine (2,11-Me2Spm), 3,10-dimethylspermine (3,10-Me2Spm), 2-methylspermine, and 2,2-dimethylspermine. The tested analogues overcame growth arrest induced by a 72 h treatment with α-difluoromethylornithine, an ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) inhibitor, and entered into DU145 cells via the polyamine transporter. 3,10-Me2Spm was a poor substrate of spermine oxidase and spermidine/spermine-N1-acetyltransferase (SSAT) when compared with 2,11-Me2Spm, thus resembling 1,12-dimethylspermine, which lacks the substrate properties required for the SSAT reaction. The antizyme (OAZ1)-mediated downregulation of ODC and inhibition of polyamine transport are crucial in the maintenance of polyamine homeostasis. Interestingly, 3,10-Me2Spm was found to be the first Spm analogue that did not induce OAZ1 and, consequently, was a weak downregulator of ODC activity in DU145 cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxim Khomutov
- Engelhardt
Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Vavilov Street 32, Moscow 119991, Russia
| | - Mervi T. Hyvönen
- School
of Pharmacy, Biocenter Kuopio, University
of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, Kuopio 70211, Finland
| | - Alina Simonian
- Engelhardt
Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Vavilov Street 32, Moscow 119991, Russia
| | | | - Irina V. Mikhura
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov
Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 117997, Russia
| | - Alexander O. Chizhov
- N.D.
Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119991, Russia
| | - Sergey N. Kochetkov
- Engelhardt
Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Vavilov Street 32, Moscow 119991, Russia
| | - Leena Alhonen
- School
of Pharmacy, Biocenter Kuopio, University
of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, Kuopio 70211, Finland
| | - Jouko Vepsäläinen
- School
of Pharmacy, Biocenter Kuopio, University
of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, Kuopio 70211, Finland
| | - Tuomo A. Keinänen
- School
of Pharmacy, Biocenter Kuopio, University
of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, Kuopio 70211, Finland
| | - Alex R. Khomutov
- Engelhardt
Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Vavilov Street 32, Moscow 119991, Russia
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10
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Trypanocidal Mechanism of Action and in silico Studies of p-Coumaric Acid Derivatives. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20235916. [PMID: 31775321 PMCID: PMC6928761 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20235916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2019] [Revised: 11/16/2019] [Accepted: 11/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma species are responsible for chronic and systemic infections in millions of people around the world, compromising life quality, and family and government budgets. This group of diseases is classified as neglected and causes thousands of deaths each year. In the present study, the trypanocidal effect of a set of 12 ester derivatives of the p-coumaric acid was tested. Of the test derivatives, pentyl p-coumarate (7) (5.16 ± 1.28 μM; 61.63 ± 28.59 μM) presented the best respective trypanocidal activities against both epimastigote and trypomastigote forms. Flow cytometry analysis revealed an increase in the percentage of 7-AAD labeled cells, an increase in reactive oxygen species, and a loss of mitochondrial membrane potential; indicating cell death by necrosis. This mechanism was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy, noting the loss of cellular integrity. Molecular docking data indicated that of the chemical compounds tested, compound 7 potentially acts through two mechanisms of action, whether by links with aldo-keto reductases (AKR) or by comprising cruzain (CZ) which is one of the key Trypanosoma cruzi development enzymes. The results indicate that for both enzymes, van der Waals interactions between ligand and receptors favor binding and hydrophobic interactions with the phenolic and aliphatic parts of the ligand. The study demonstrates that p-coumarate derivatives are promising molecules for developing new prototypes with antiprotozoal activity.
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Reigada C, Sayé M, Phanstiel O, Valera-Vera E, Miranda MR, Pereira CA. Identification of Trypanosoma cruzi Polyamine Transport Inhibitors by Computational Drug Repurposing. Front Med (Lausanne) 2019; 6:256. [PMID: 31781568 PMCID: PMC6857147 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2019.00256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2019] [Accepted: 10/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi is the causative agent of Chagas disease, a parasitic infection endemic in Latin America. In T. cruzi the transport of polyamines is essential because this organism is unable to synthesize these compounds de novo. Therefore, the uptake of polyamines from the extracellular medium is critical for survival of the parasite. The anthracene-putrescine conjugate Ant4 was first designed as a polyamine transport probe in cancer cells. Ant4 was also found to inhibit the polyamine transport system and produced a strong trypanocidal effect in T. cruzi. Considering that Ant4 is not currently approved by the FDA, in this work we performed computer simulations to find trypanocidal drugs approved for use in humans that have structures and activities similar to Ant4. Through a similarity ligand-based virtual screening using Ant4 as reference molecule, four possible inhibitors of polyamine transport were found. Three of them, promazine, chlorpromazine, and clomipramine, showed to be effective inhibitors of putrescine uptake, and also revealed a high trypanocidal activity against T. cruzi amastigotes (IC50 values of 3.8, 1.9, and 2.9 μM, respectively) and trypomastigotes (IC50 values of 3.4, 2.7, and 1.3 μM, respectively) while in epimastigotes the IC50 were significantly higher (34.7, 41.4, and 39.7 μM, respectively). Finally, molecular docking simulations suggest that the interactions between the T. cruzi polyamine transporter TcPAT12 and all the identified inhibitors occur in the same region of the protein. However, this location is different from the site occupied by the natural substrates. The value of this effort is that repurposing known drugs in the treatment of other pathologies, especially neglected diseases such as Chagas disease, significantly decreases the time and economic cost of implementation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chantal Reigada
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas A. Lanari, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Laboratorio de Parasitología Molecular, Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas (IDIM), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Melisa Sayé
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas A. Lanari, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Laboratorio de Parasitología Molecular, Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas (IDIM), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Otto Phanstiel
- Department of Medical Education, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, United States
| | - Edward Valera-Vera
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas A. Lanari, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Laboratorio de Parasitología Molecular, Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas (IDIM), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Mariana R Miranda
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas A. Lanari, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Laboratorio de Parasitología Molecular, Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas (IDIM), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Claudio A Pereira
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas A. Lanari, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Laboratorio de Parasitología Molecular, Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas (IDIM), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Sayé M, Reigada C, Gauna L, Valera-Vera EA, Pereira CA, Miranda MR. Amino Acid and Polyamine Membrane Transporters in Trypanosoma cruzi: Biological Function and Evaluation as Drug Targets. Curr Med Chem 2019; 26:6636-6651. [PMID: 31218951 DOI: 10.2174/0929867326666190620094710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2018] [Revised: 12/12/2018] [Accepted: 02/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Amino acids and polyamines are involved in relevant processes for the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, like protein synthesis, stress resistance, life cycle progression, infection establishment and redox balance, among others. In addition to the biosynthetic routes of amino acids, T. cruzi possesses transport systems that allow the active uptake from the extracellular medium; and in the case of polyamines, the uptake is the unique way to obtain these compounds. The TcAAAP protein family is absent in mammals and its members are responsible for amino acid and derivative uptake, thus the TcAAAP permeases are not only interesting and promising therapeutic targets but could also be used to direct the entry of toxic compounds into the parasite. Although there is a treatment available for Chagas disease, its limited efficacy in the chronic stage of the disease, as well as the side effects reported, highlight the urgent need to develop new therapies. Discovery of new drugs is a slow and cost-consuming process, and even during clinical trials the drugs can fail. In this context, drug repositioning is an interesting and recommended strategy by the World Health Organization since costs and time are significantly reduced. In this article, amino acids and polyamines transport and their potential as therapeutic targets will be revised, including examples of synthetic drugs and drug repurposing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melisa Sayé
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Investigaciones Medicas A. Lanari, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas (IDIM), Laboratorio de Parasitología Molecular, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Chantal Reigada
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Investigaciones Medicas A. Lanari, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas (IDIM), Laboratorio de Parasitología Molecular, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Lucrecia Gauna
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Investigaciones Medicas A. Lanari, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas (IDIM), Laboratorio de Parasitología Molecular, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Edward A Valera-Vera
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Investigaciones Medicas A. Lanari, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas (IDIM), Laboratorio de Parasitología Molecular, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Claudio A Pereira
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Investigaciones Medicas A. Lanari, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas (IDIM), Laboratorio de Parasitología Molecular, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Mariana R Miranda
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Investigaciones Medicas A. Lanari, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas (IDIM), Laboratorio de Parasitología Molecular, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Alberca LN, Sbaraglini ML, Morales JF, Dietrich R, Ruiz MD, Pino Martínez AM, Miranda CG, Fraccaroli L, Alba Soto CD, Carrillo C, Palestro PH, Talevi A. Cascade Ligand- and Structure-Based Virtual Screening to Identify New Trypanocidal Compounds Inhibiting Putrescine Uptake. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2018; 8:173. [PMID: 29888213 PMCID: PMC5981162 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2018.00173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2017] [Accepted: 05/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease is a neglected tropical disease endemic to Latin America, though migratory movements have recently spread it to other regions. Here, we have applied a cascade virtual screening campaign combining ligand- and structure-based methods. In order to find novel inhibitors of putrescine uptake in Trypanosoma cruzi, an ensemble of linear ligand-based classifiers obtained by has been applied as initial screening filter, followed by docking into a homology model of the putrescine permease TcPAT12. 1,000 individual linear classifiers were inferred from a balanced dataset. Subsequently, different schemes were tested to combine the individual classifiers: MIN operator, average ranking, average score, average voting, with MIN operator leading to the best performance. The homology model was based on the arginine/agmatine antiporter (AdiC) from Escherichia coli as template. It showed 64% coverage of the entire query sequence and it was selected based on the normalized Discrete Optimized Protein Energy parameter and the GA341 score. The modeled structure had 96% in the allowed area of Ramachandran's plot, and none of the residues located in non-allowed regions were involved in the active site of the transporter. Positivity Predictive Value surfaces were applied to optimize the score thresholds to be used in the ligand-based virtual screening step: for that purpose Positivity Predictive Value was charted as a function of putative yields of active in the range 0.001-0.010 and the Se/Sp ratio. With a focus on drug repositioning opportunities, DrugBank and Sweetlead databases were subjected to screening. Among 8 hits, cinnarizine, a drug frequently prescribed for motion sickness and balance disorder, was tested against T. cruzi epimastigotes and amastigotes, confirming its trypanocidal effects and its inhibitory effects on putrescine uptake. Furthermore, clofazimine, an antibiotic with already proven trypanocidal effects, also displayed inhibitory effects on putrescine uptake. Two other hits, meclizine and butoconazole, also displayed trypanocidal effects (in the case of meclizine, against both epimastigotes and amastigotes), without inhibiting putrescine uptake.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas N. Alberca
- Laboratory of Bioactive Compounds Research and Development (LIDeB), Medicinal Chemistry, Department of Biological Science, Exact Sciences College, National University of La PlataBuenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María L. Sbaraglini
- Laboratory of Bioactive Compounds Research and Development (LIDeB), Medicinal Chemistry, Department of Biological Science, Exact Sciences College, National University of La PlataBuenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Juan F. Morales
- Laboratory of Bioactive Compounds Research and Development (LIDeB), Medicinal Chemistry, Department of Biological Science, Exact Sciences College, National University of La PlataBuenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Roque Dietrich
- Laboratory of Bioactive Compounds Research and Development (LIDeB), Medicinal Chemistry, Department of Biological Science, Exact Sciences College, National University of La PlataBuenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María D. Ruiz
- Institute of Sciences and Technology Dr César Milstein (ICT Milstein), Argentinean National Council of Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET)Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Agustina M. Pino Martínez
- Department of Microbiology, Parasitology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Institute of Microbiology and Medical Parasitology (CONICET), University of Buenos AiresBuenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Cristian G. Miranda
- Department of Microbiology, Parasitology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Institute of Microbiology and Medical Parasitology (CONICET), University of Buenos AiresBuenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Laura Fraccaroli
- Institute of Sciences and Technology Dr César Milstein (ICT Milstein), Argentinean National Council of Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET)Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Catalina D. Alba Soto
- Department of Microbiology, Parasitology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Institute of Microbiology and Medical Parasitology (CONICET), University of Buenos AiresBuenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Carolina Carrillo
- Institute of Sciences and Technology Dr César Milstein (ICT Milstein), Argentinean National Council of Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET)Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Pablo H. Palestro
- Laboratory of Bioactive Compounds Research and Development (LIDeB), Medicinal Chemistry, Department of Biological Science, Exact Sciences College, National University of La PlataBuenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Alan Talevi
- Laboratory of Bioactive Compounds Research and Development (LIDeB), Medicinal Chemistry, Department of Biological Science, Exact Sciences College, National University of La PlataBuenos Aires, Argentina
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