1
|
Aldfer MM, Hulpia F, van Calenbergh S, De Koning HP. Mapping the transporter-substrate interactions of the Trypanosoma cruzi NB1 nucleobase transporter reveals the basis for its high affinity and selectivity for hypoxanthine and guanine and lack of nucleoside uptake. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2024; 258:111616. [PMID: 38401850 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2024.111616] [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: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 02/26/2024]
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi is a protozoan parasite and the etiological agent of Chagas disease, a debilitating and sometimes fatal disease that continues to spread to new areas. Yet, Chagas disease is still only treated with two related nitro compounds that are insufficiently effective and cause severe side effects. Nucleotide metabolism is one of the known vulnerabilities of T. cruzi, as they are auxotrophic for purines, and nucleoside analogues have been shown to have genuine promise against this parasite in vitro and in vivo. Since purine antimetabolites require efficient uptake through transporters, we here report a detailed characterisation of the T. cruzi NB1 nucleobase transporter with the aim of elucidating the interactions between TcrNB1 and its substrates and finding the positions that can be altered in the design of novel antimetabolites without losing transportability. Systematically determining the inhibition constants (Ki) of purine analogues for TcrNB1 yielded their Gibbs free energy of interaction, ΔG0. Pairwise comparisons of substrate (hypoxanthine, guanine, adenine) and analogues allowed us to determine that optimal binding affinity by TcrNB1 requires interactions with all four nitrogen residues of the purine ring, with N1 and N9, in protonation state, functioning as presumed hydrogen bond donors and unprotonated N3 and N7 as hydrogen bond acceptors. This is the same interaction pattern as we previously described for the main nucleobase transporters of Trypanosoma brucei spp. and Leishmania major and makes it the first of the ENT-family genes that is functionally as well as genetically conserved between the three main kinetoplast pathogens.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mustafa M Aldfer
- School of Infection and Immunity, Sir Graeme Davies Building, 120 University Place, University of Glasgow, GlasgowG12 8TA, UK
| | - Fabian Hulpia
- Laboratory for Medicinal Chemistry (Campus Heymans), Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, 9000 Gent, Belgium
| | - Serge van Calenbergh
- Laboratory for Medicinal Chemistry (Campus Heymans), Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, 9000 Gent, Belgium
| | - Harry P De Koning
- School of Infection and Immunity, Sir Graeme Davies Building, 120 University Place, University of Glasgow, GlasgowG12 8TA, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Sheikh SY, Hassan F, Shukla D, Bala S, Faruqui T, Akhter Y, Khan AR, Nasibullah M. A review on potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of leishmaniasis. Parasitol Int 2024; 100:102863. [PMID: 38272301 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2024.102863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/21/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
Leishmania, a protozoan parasite, is responsible for the occurrence of leishmaniasis, a disease that is prevalent in tropical regions. Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL), also known as kala-azar in Asian countries, is one of the most significant forms of VL, along with Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) and Mucocutaneous Leishmaniasis (ML). Management of this condition typically entails the use of chemotherapy as the sole therapeutic option. The current treatments for leishmaniasis present several drawbacks, including a multitude of side effects, prolonged treatment duration, disparate efficacy across different regions, and the emergence of resistance. To address this urgent need, it is imperative to identify alternative treatments that are both safer and more effective. The identification of appropriate pharmacological targets in conjunction with biological pathways constitutes the initial stage of drug discovery. In this review, we have addressed the key metabolic pathways that represent potential pharmacological targets as well as prominent treatment options for leishmaniasis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sabahat Yasmeen Sheikh
- Department of Chemistry, Integral University, Dasauli, Kursi road, Lucknow 226026, India
| | - Firoj Hassan
- Department of Chemistry, Integral University, Dasauli, Kursi road, Lucknow 226026, India
| | - Deepanjali Shukla
- Department of Chemistry, Integral University, Dasauli, Kursi road, Lucknow 226026, India
| | - Shashi Bala
- Department of Chemistry, Lucknow University, Lucknow 226026, India
| | - Tabrez Faruqui
- Department of Biosciences, Integral University, Lucknow 226026, India
| | - Yusuf Akhter
- Department of Biotechnology, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Vidya Vihar, Raebareli Road, Lucknow 226025, India
| | - Abdul Rahman Khan
- Department of Chemistry, Integral University, Dasauli, Kursi road, Lucknow 226026, India
| | - Malik Nasibullah
- Department of Chemistry, Integral University, Dasauli, Kursi road, Lucknow 226026, India.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Present C, Girão RD, Lin C, Caljon G, Van Calenbergh S, Moreira O, Ruivo LADS, Batista MM, Azevedo R, Batista DDGJ, Soeiro MDNC. N 6-methyltubercidin gives sterile cure in a cutaneous Leishmania amazonensis mouse model. Parasitology 2024; 151:506-513. [PMID: 38533610 PMCID: PMC11106500 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182024000362] [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: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
Leishmania is a trypanosomatid parasite that causes skin lesions in its cutaneous form. Current therapies rely on old and expensive drugs, against which the parasites have acquired considerable resistance. Trypanosomatids are unable to synthesize purines relying on salvaging from the host, and nucleoside analogues have emerged as attractive antiparasitic drug candidates. 4-Methyl-7-β-D-ribofuranosyl-7H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine (CL5564), an analogue of tubercidin in which the amine has been replaced by a methyl group, demonstrates activity against Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania infantum. Herein, we investigated its in vitro and in vivo activity against L. amazonensis. CL5564 was 6.5-fold (P = 0.0002) more potent than milteforan™ (ML) against intracellular forms in peritoneal mouse macrophages, and highly selective, while combination with ML gave an additive effect. These results stimulated us to study the activity of CL5564 in mouse model of cutaneous Leishmania infection. BALB/c female and male mice infected by L. amazonensis treated with CL5564 (10 mg kg−1, intralesional route for five days) presented a >93% reduction of paw lesion size likely ML given orally at 40 mg kg−1, while the combination (10 + 40 mg kg−1 of CL5564 and ML, respectively) caused >96% reduction. The qPCR confirmed the suppression of parasite load, but only the combination approach reached 66% of parasitological cure. These results support additional studies with nucleoside derivatives.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cassandra Present
- Laboratorio de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Avenida Brasil 4365, Manguinhos, 21040-360 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Roberson Donola Girão
- Laboratorio de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Avenida Brasil 4365, Manguinhos, 21040-360 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Cai Lin
- Laboratory for Medicinal Chemistry (Campus Heymans), Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, B-9000 Gent, Belgium
| | - Guy Caljon
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Serge Van Calenbergh
- Laboratory for Medicinal Chemistry (Campus Heymans), Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, B-9000 Gent, Belgium
| | - Otacilio Moreira
- Laboratório de Virologia e Parasitologia Molecular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Avenida Brasil 4365, Manguinhos, 21040-360 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Leonardo Alexandre de Souza Ruivo
- Laboratório de Virologia e Parasitologia Molecular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Avenida Brasil 4365, Manguinhos, 21040-360 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Marcos Meuser Batista
- Laboratorio de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Avenida Brasil 4365, Manguinhos, 21040-360 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Raquel Azevedo
- Laboratorio de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Avenida Brasil 4365, Manguinhos, 21040-360 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Denise da Gama Jaen Batista
- Laboratorio de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Avenida Brasil 4365, Manguinhos, 21040-360 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Maria de Nazaré Correia Soeiro
- Laboratorio de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Avenida Brasil 4365, Manguinhos, 21040-360 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Xu Y, Zhu Z, Zhang M, Chen L, Tian K, Li X. Tubercidin inhibits PRRSV replication via RIG-I/NF-κB pathways and interrupting viral nsp2 synthesis. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0347923. [PMID: 38299833 PMCID: PMC10913529 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03479-23] [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: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is an RNA virus with constantly emerging recombinant and mutant strains. Because of the high genetic diversity of PRRSV, current vaccines only provide partial protection against the infection of heterologous strains, which makes it a challenge for PRRSV prevention and control. Tubercidin is a naturally extracted compound with potential antiviral properties. However, whether tubercidin has anti-PRRSV ability is unknown. Our study found that tubercidin showed effective antiviral effects on PRRSV replication. In terms of mechanism, tubercidin suppressed PRRSV at the entry, replication, and release steps of the viral life cycle. Additionally, we demonstrated that tubercidin treatment promoted the activation of retinoic acid-inducible gene I and nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cell signaling pathway, thus increasing the type I interferon and inflammatory cytokine expression. Furthermore, tubercidin restrained the viral non-structural protein 2 expression and viral dsRNA synthesis and ultimately inhibited PRRSV replication. Hence, our data showed that tubercidin is promising and has potential antiviral ability against PRRSV replication in vitro. IMPORTANCE Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is one of the most important swine diseases, which causes huge economic loss worldwide. However, there is no effective therapeutic method for PRRS prevention and control. Here, we found that tubercidin, a naturally extracted adenosine analog, exhibited strong anti-porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) activity. Mechanically, tubercidin inhibited viral binding, replication, and release. Tubercidin suppressed PRRSV non-structural protein 2 expression, which is important for the formation of replication and transcription complex, leading to the block of viral RNA synthesis and PRRSV replication. Moreover, tubercidin could activate retinoic acid-inducible gene I/nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cell innate immune signaling pathway and increased the expression of interferons and proinflammatory cytokines, which was the other way to inhibit PRRSV replication. Our work evaluated the potential value of tubercidin as an antiviral agent on PRRSV replication and provided a new way to prevent PRRSV replication in vitro.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuqian Xu
- Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Zhenbang Zhu
- Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Meng Zhang
- Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Lulu Chen
- Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Kegong Tian
- National Research Center for Veterinary Medicine, Luoyang, China
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Xiangdong Li
- Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, the Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Zhang L, Kiruba GSM, Lee JK. Gas-Phase Studies of Hypoxanthine-Guanine-(Xanthine) Phosphoribosyltransferase (HG(X)PRT) Substrates. J Org Chem 2023. [PMID: 37220241 DOI: 10.1021/acs.joc.3c00115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
The gas-phase acidity and proton affinity of nucleobases that are substrates for the enzyme Plasmodium falciparum hypoxanthine-guanine-(xanthine) phosphoribosyltransferase (Pf HG(X)PRT) have been examined using both computational and experimental methods. These thermochemical values have not heretofore been measured and provide experimental data to benchmark the theoretical results. Pf HG(X)PRT is a target of interest in the development of antimalarials. We use our gas-phase results to lend insight into the Pf HG(X)PRT mechanism, and also propose kinetic isotope studies that could potentially differentiate between possible mechanisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lanxin Zhang
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901, United States
| | - G S M Kiruba
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901, United States
| | - Jeehiun K Lee
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901, United States
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Overview of Apoptosis, Autophagy, and Inflammatory Processes in Toxoplasma gondii Infected Cells. Pathogens 2023; 12:pathogens12020253. [PMID: 36839525 PMCID: PMC9966443 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12020253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is an obligate intracellular parasite. During the parasitic invasion, T. gondii creates a parasitophorous vacuole, which enables the modulation of cell functions, allowing its replication and host infection. It has effective strategies to escape the immune response and reach privileged immune sites and remain inactive in a controlled environment in tissue cysts. This current review presents the factors that affect host cells and the parasite, as well as changes in the immune system during host cell infection. The secretory organelles of T. gondii (dense granules, micronemes, and rhoptries) are responsible for these processes. They are involved with proteins secreted by micronemes and rhoptries (MIC, AMA, and RONs) that mediate the recognition and entry into host cells. Effector proteins (ROP and GRA) that modify the STAT signal or GTPases in immune cells determine their toxicity. Interference byhost autonomous cells during parasitic infection, gene expression, and production of microbicidal molecules such as reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO), result in the regulation of cell death. The high level of complexity in host cell mechanisms prevents cell death in its various pathways. Many of these abilities play an important role in escaping host immune responses, particularly by manipulating the expression of genes involved in apoptosis, necrosis, autophagy, and inflammation. Here we present recent works that define the mechanisms by which T. gondii interacts with these processes in infected host cells.
Collapse
|
8
|
An insight into differential protein abundance throughout Leishmania donovani promastigote growth and differentiation. Int Microbiol 2023; 26:25-42. [PMID: 35930160 PMCID: PMC9362617 DOI: 10.1007/s10123-022-00259-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2022] [Revised: 05/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Leishmania donovani causes anthroponotic visceral leishmaniasis, responsible for about 50,000 annual deaths worldwide. Current therapies have considerable side effects. Drug resistance has been reported and no vaccine is available nowadays. The development of undifferentiated promastigotes in the sand fly vector's gut leads to the promastigote form that is highly infective to the mammalian host. Fully differentiated promastigotes play a crucial role in the initial stages of mammalian host infection before internalization in the host phagocytic cell. Therefore, the study of protein levels in the promastigote stage is relevant for disease control, and proteomics analysis is an ideal source of vaccine candidate discovery. This study aims to get insight into the protein levels during the differentiation process of promastigotes by 2DE-MALDI-TOF/TOF. This partial proteome analysis has led to the identification of 75 proteins increased in at least one of the L. donovani promastigote differentiation and growth phases. This study has revealed the differential abundance of said proteins during growth and differentiation. According to previous studies, some are directly involved in parasite survival or are immunostimulatory. The parasite survival-related proteins are ascorbate peroxidase; cystathionine β synthase; an elongation factor 1β paralog; elongation factor 2; endoribonuclease L-PSP; an iron superoxide dismutase paralog; GDP-mannose pyrophosphorylase; several heat shock proteins-HSP70, HSP83-17, mHSP70-rel, HSP110; methylthioadenosine phosphorylase; two thiol-dependent reductase 1 paralogs; transitional endoplasmic reticulum ATPase; and the AhpC thioredoxin paralog. The confirmed immunostimulatory proteins are the heat shock proteins, enolase, and protein kinase C receptor analog. The potential immunostimulatory molecules according to findings in patogenic bacteria are fructose-1,6-diphophate aldolase, dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase, isocitrate dehydrogenase, pyruvate dehydrogenase E1α and E1β subunits, and triosephosphate isomerase. These proteins may become disease control candidates through future intra-vector control methods or vaccines.
Collapse
|
9
|
Desiatkina O, Mösching M, Anghel N, Boubaker G, Amdouni Y, Hemphill A, Furrer J, Păunescu E. New Nucleic Base-Tethered Trithiolato-Bridged Dinuclear Ruthenium(II)-Arene Compounds: Synthesis and Antiparasitic Activity. MOLECULES (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 27:molecules27238173. [PMID: 36500266 PMCID: PMC9738179 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27238173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Aiming toward compounds with improved anti-Toxoplasma activity by exploiting the parasite auxotrophies, a library of nucleobase-tethered trithiolato-bridged dinuclear ruthenium(II)-arene conjugates was synthesized and evaluated. Structural features such as the type of nucleobase and linking unit were progressively modified. For comparison, diruthenium hybrids with other type of molecules were also synthesized and assessed. A total of 37 compounds (diruthenium conjugates and intermediates) were evaluated in a primary screening for in vitro activity against transgenic Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites constitutively expressing β-galactosidase (T. gondii β-gal) at 0.1 and 1 µM. In parallel, the cytotoxicity in non-infected host cells (human foreskin fibroblasts, HFF) was determined by alamarBlue assay. Twenty compounds strongly impairing parasite proliferation with little effect on HFF viability were subjected to T. gondii β-gal half maximal inhibitory concentration determination (IC50) and their toxicity for HFF was assessed at 2.5 µM. Two promising compounds were identified: 14, ester conjugate with 9-(2-oxyethyl)adenine, and 36, a click conjugate bearing a 2-(4-(hydroxymethyl)-1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)methyl substituent, with IC50 values of 0.059 and 0.111 µM respectively, significantly lower compared to pyrimethamine standard (IC50 = 0.326 µM). Both 14 and 36 exhibited low toxicity against HFF when applied at 2.5 µM and are candidates for potential treatment options in a suitable in vivo model.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Oksana Desiatkina
- Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Martin Mösching
- Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Nicoleta Anghel
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Länggass-Strasse 122, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Ghalia Boubaker
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Länggass-Strasse 122, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Yosra Amdouni
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Länggass-Strasse 122, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
- Laboratoire de Parasitologie, Institution de la Recherche et de l'Enseignement Supérieur Agricoles, Université de la Manouba, École Nationale de Médecine Vétérinaire de Sidi Thabet, Sidi Thabet 2020, Tunisia
| | - Andrew Hemphill
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Länggass-Strasse 122, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Julien Furrer
- Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Emilia Păunescu
- Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Novel Antibacterial Activity of Febuxostat, an FDA-Approved Antigout Drug against Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2022; 66:e0076222. [PMID: 36040172 PMCID: PMC9487535 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00762-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Accumulating evidence suggests that drug repurposing has drawn attention as an anticipative strategy for controlling tuberculosis (TB), considering the dwindling drug discovery and development pipeline. In this study, we explored the antigout drug febuxostat and evaluated its antibacterial activity against Mycobacterium species. Based on MIC evaluation, we found that febuxostat treatment significantly inhibited mycobacterial growth, especially that of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) and its phylogenetically close neighbors, M. bovis, M. kansasii, and M. shinjukuense, but these microorganisms were not affected by allopurinol and topiroxostat, which belong to a similar category of antigout drugs. Febuxostat concentration-dependently affected Mtb and durably mediated inhibitory functions (duration, 10 weeks maximum), as evidenced by resazurin microtiter assay, time-kill curve analysis, phenotypic susceptibility test, and the Bactec MGIT 960 system. Based on these results, we determined whether the drug shows antimycobacterial activity against Mtb inside murine bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs). Notably, febuxostat markedly suppressed the intracellular growth of Mtb in a dose-dependent manner without affecting the viability of BMDMs. Moreover, orally administered febuxostat was efficacious in a murine model of TB with reduced bacterial loads in both the lung and spleen without the exacerbation of lung inflammation, which highlights the drug potency. Taken together, unexpectedly, our data demonstrated that febuxostat has the potential for treating TB.
Collapse
|
11
|
Knejzlík Z, Doležal M, Herkommerová K, Clarova K, Klíma M, Dedola M, Zborníková E, Rejman D, Pichová I. The mycobacterial guaB1 gene encodes a guanosine 5'-monophosphate reductase with a cystathionine-β-synthase domain. FEBS J 2022; 289:5571-5598. [PMID: 35338694 PMCID: PMC9790621 DOI: 10.1111/febs.16448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Revised: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Mycobacteria express enzymes from both the de novo and purine-salvage pathways. However, the regulation of these processes and the roles of individual metabolic enzymes have not been sufficiently detailed. Both Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) and Mycobacterium smegmatis (Msm) possess three guaB genes, but information is only available on guaB2, which encodes an essential inosine 5'-monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH) involved in de novo purine biosynthesis. This study shows that guaB1, annotated in databases as a putative IMPDH, encodes a guanosine 5'-monophosphate reductase (GMPR), which recycles guanosine monophosphate to inosine monophosphate within the purine-salvage pathway and contains a cystathionine-β-synthase domain (CBS), which is essential for enzyme activity. GMPR activity is allosterically regulated by the ATP/GTP ratio in a pH-dependent manner. Bioinformatic analysis has indicated the presence of GMPRs containing CBS domains across the entire Actinobacteria phylum.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zdeněk Knejzlík
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of SciencesPragueCzech Republic
| | - Michal Doležal
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of SciencesPragueCzech Republic
| | - Klára Herkommerová
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of SciencesPragueCzech Republic
| | - Kamila Clarova
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of SciencesPragueCzech Republic
| | - Martin Klíma
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of SciencesPragueCzech Republic
| | - Matteo Dedola
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of SciencesPragueCzech Republic
| | - Eva Zborníková
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of SciencesPragueCzech Republic
| | - Dominik Rejman
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of SciencesPragueCzech Republic
| | - Iva Pichová
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of SciencesPragueCzech Republic
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Narczyk M, Wojtyś MI, Leščić Ašler I, Žinić B, Luić M, Jagusztyn-Krynicka EK, Štefanić Z, Bzowska A. Interactions of 2,6-substituted purines with purine nucleoside phosphorylase from Helicobacter pylori in solution and in the crystal, and the effects of these compounds on cell cultures of this bacterium. J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem 2022; 37:1083-1097. [PMID: 35437103 PMCID: PMC9037209 DOI: 10.1080/14756366.2022.2061965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Helicobacter pylori represents a global health threat with around 50% of the world population infected. Due to the increasing number of antibiotic-resistant strains, new strategies for eradication of H. pylori are needed. In this study, we suggest purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) as a possible new drug target, by characterising its interactions with 2- and/or 6-substituted purines as well as the effect of these compounds on bacterial growth. Inhibition constants are in the micromolar range, the lowest being that of 6-benzylthio-2-chloropurine. This compound also inhibits H. pylori 26695 growth at the lowest concentration. X-ray structures of the complexes of PNP with the investigated compounds allowed the identification of interactions of inhibitors in the enzyme’s base-binding site and the suggestion of structures that could bind to the enzyme more tightly. Our findings prove the potential of PNP inhibitors in the design of drugs against H. pylori.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marta Narczyk
- Division of Biophysics, Institute of Experimental Physics, Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Marta Ilona Wojtyś
- Division of Biophysics, Institute of Experimental Physics, Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.,Department of Bacterial Genetics, Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Ivana Leščić Ašler
- Division of Physical Chemistry, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Biserka Žinić
- Division of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Marija Luić
- Division of Physical Chemistry, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
| | | | - Zoran Štefanić
- Division of Physical Chemistry, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Agnieszka Bzowska
- Division of Biophysics, Institute of Experimental Physics, Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Zhang L, Hinz DJ, Kiruba GSM, Ding X, Lee JK. Gas‐phase experimental and computational studies of human hypoxanthine‐guanine phosphoribosyltransferase substrates: Intrinsic properties and biological implications. J PHYS ORG CHEM 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/poc.4343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lanxin Zhang
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey New Brunswick NJ USA
| | - Damon J. Hinz
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey New Brunswick NJ USA
| | | | - Xiao Ding
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey New Brunswick NJ USA
| | - Jeehiun K. Lee
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey New Brunswick NJ USA
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Li M, Gaussmann S, Tippler B, Ott J, Popowicz GM, Schliebs W, Sattler M, Erdmann R, Kalel VC. Novel Trypanocidal Inhibitors that Block Glycosome Biogenesis by Targeting PEX3-PEX19 Interaction. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 9:737159. [PMID: 34988071 PMCID: PMC8721105 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.737159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Human pathogenic trypanosomatid parasites harbor a unique form of peroxisomes termed glycosomes that are essential for parasite viability. We and others previously identified and characterized the essential Trypanosoma brucei ortholog TbPEX3, which is the membrane-docking factor for the cytosolic receptor PEX19 bound to the glycosomal membrane proteins. Knockdown of TbPEX3 expression leads to mislocalization of glycosomal membrane and matrix proteins, and subsequent cell death. As an early step in glycosome biogenesis, the PEX3–PEX19 interaction is an attractive drug target. We established a high-throughput assay for TbPEX3–TbPEX19 interaction and screened a compound library for small-molecule inhibitors. Hits from the screen were further validated using an in vitro ELISA assay. We identified three compounds, which exhibit significant trypanocidal activity but show no apparent toxicity to human cells. Furthermore, we show that these compounds lead to mislocalization of glycosomal proteins, which is toxic to the trypanosomes. Moreover, NMR-based experiments indicate that the inhibitors bind to PEX3. The inhibitors interfering with glycosomal biogenesis by targeting the TbPEX3–TbPEX19 interaction serve as starting points for further optimization and anti-trypanosomal drug development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mengqiao Li
- Department of Systems Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Biochemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Stefan Gaussmann
- Institute of Structural Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany.,Department of Chemistry, Bavarian NMR Center, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany
| | - Bettina Tippler
- Department of Systems Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Biochemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Julia Ott
- Department of Systems Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Biochemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Grzegorz M Popowicz
- Institute of Structural Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany.,Department of Chemistry, Bavarian NMR Center, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Schliebs
- Department of Systems Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Biochemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Michael Sattler
- Institute of Structural Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany.,Department of Chemistry, Bavarian NMR Center, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany
| | - Ralf Erdmann
- Department of Systems Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Biochemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Vishal C Kalel
- Department of Systems Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Biochemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Wojtyś MI, Jaźwiec R, Kazazić S, Leščić Ašler I, Knežević P, Aleksić Sabo V, Luić M, Jagusztyn-Krynicka EK, Bzowska A. A comprehensive method for determining cellular uptake of purine nucleoside phosphorylase and adenylosuccinate synthetase inhibitors by H. pylori. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2021; 105:7949-7967. [PMID: 34562116 PMCID: PMC8502122 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-021-11510-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Revised: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Abstract Due to the growing number of Helicobacter pylori strains resistant to currently available antibiotics, there is an urgent need to design new drugs utilizing different molecular mechanisms than those that have been used up to now. Enzymes of the purine salvage pathway are possible targets of such new antibiotics because H. pylori is not able to synthetize purine nucleotides de novo. The bacterium’s recovery of purines and purine nucleotides from the environment is the only source of these essential DNA and RNA building blocks. We have identified formycins and hadacidin as potent inhibitors of purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) and adenylosuccinate synthetase (AdSS) from H. pylori — two key enzymes of the purine salvage pathway. However, we have found that these compounds are not effective in H. pylori cell cultures. To address this issue, we have developed a universal comprehensive method for assessing H. pylori cell penetration by drug candidates, with three alternative detection assays. These include liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry, UV absorption, and inhibition of the target enzyme by the tested compound. Using this approach, we have shown that cellular uptake by H. pylori of formycins and hadacidin is very poor, which reveals why their in vitro inhibition of PNP and AdSS and their effect on H. pylori cell cultures are so different. The cell penetration assessment method developed here will be extremely useful for validating the cellular uptake of other drug candidates, facilitating the design of new potent therapeutic agents against H. pylori. Key points • A method for assessing H. pylori cells penetration by drug candidates is described. • Three alternative detection assays that complement each other can be used. • The method may be adapted for other bacteria as well.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marta Ilona Wojtyś
- Division of Biophysics, Institute of Experimental Physics, Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw, Pasteura 5, 02-093, Warsaw, Poland
- Department of Bacterial Genetics, Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Miecznikowa 1, 02-096, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Radosław Jaźwiec
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawińskiego 5A, 02-106, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Saša Kazazić
- Division of Physical Chemistry, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička cesta 54, POB 180, 10002, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Ivana Leščić Ašler
- Division of Physical Chemistry, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička cesta 54, POB 180, 10002, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Petar Knežević
- Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 2, IV-14, 21000, Novi Sad, Republic of Serbia
| | - Verica Aleksić Sabo
- Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 2, IV-14, 21000, Novi Sad, Republic of Serbia
| | - Marija Luić
- Division of Physical Chemistry, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička cesta 54, POB 180, 10002, Zagreb, Croatia
| | | | - Agnieszka Bzowska
- Division of Biophysics, Institute of Experimental Physics, Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw, Pasteura 5, 02-093, Warsaw, Poland.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
García-Huertas P, Cardona-Castro N. Advances in the treatment of Chagas disease: Promising new drugs, plants and targets. Biomed Pharmacother 2021; 142:112020. [PMID: 34392087 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2021.112020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Revised: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/07/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, is treated with only two drugs; benznidazole and nifurtimox. These drugs have some disadvantages, including their efficacy only in the acute or early infection phases, adverse effects during their use, and the resistance that the parasite has developed to their activity. Therefore, it is necessary to identify new, safe and effective therapeutic alternatives to treat Chagas disease, though governments and the pharmaceutical industry have shown a lack of interest in contributing to this solution. Institutions and research groups on the other hand have worked on some strategies that can help to address the problem. Some of these include the modification of conventional drug dosages, drug repurposing, and combined therapy. Plants and derived compounds with antiparasitic effects have also been studied, taking advantage of traditional medicinal knowledge. Others have studied the parasite to identify essential genes that can be used as therapeutic targets to design new, targeted drugs. Some of these studies have generated promising results, but few reach clinical phase studies. Institutions and research groups should be encouraged to unify efforts and cover all aspects of drug development according to resources and knowledge availability. In the end, this exchange of knowledge would lead to the development of new therapeutic alternatives to treat Chagas disease and benefit the populations it affects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Nora Cardona-Castro
- Instituto Colombiano de Medicina Tropical, Universidad CES, Sabaneta, Colombia.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Biotechnological and Biomedical Applications of Enzymes Involved in the Synthesis of Nucleosides and Nucleotides. Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11081147. [PMID: 34439813 PMCID: PMC8393877 DOI: 10.3390/biom11081147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
|
18
|
Ferla M, Tasca T. The Role of Purinergic Signaling in Trichomonas vaginalis Infection. Curr Top Med Chem 2021; 21:181-192. [PMID: 32888270 DOI: 10.2174/1568026620999200904122212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Revised: 07/25/2020] [Accepted: 08/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Trichomoniasis, one of the most common non-viral sexually transmitted infections worldwide, is caused by the parasite Trichomonas vaginalis. The pathogen colonizes the human urogenital tract, and the infection is associated with complications such as adverse pregnancy outcomes, cervical cancer, and an increase in HIV transmission. The mechanisms of pathogenicity are multifactorial, and controlling immune responses is essential for infection maintenance. Extracellular purine nucleotides are released by cells in physiological and pathological conditions, and they are hydrolyzed by enzymes called ecto-nucleotidases. The cellular effects of nucleotides and nucleosides occur via binding to purinoceptors, or through the uptake by nucleoside transporters. Altogether, enzymes, receptors and transporters constitute the purinergic signaling, a cellular network that regulates several effects in practically all systems including mammals, helminths, protozoa, bacteria, and fungi. In this context, this review updates the data on purinergic signaling involved in T. vaginalis biology and interaction with host cells, focusing on the characterization of ecto-nucleotidases and on purine salvage pathways. The implications of the final products, the nucleosides adenosine and guanosine, for human neutrophil response and vaginal epithelial cell damage reveal the purinergic signaling as a potential new mechanism for alternative drug targets.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Micheli Ferla
- Research Team on Trichomonas, Pharmaceutical Sciences Graduation Program, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Tiana Tasca
- Research Team on Trichomonas, Pharmaceutical Sciences Graduation Program, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Martinez-Peinado N, Lorente-Macías Á, García-Salguero A, Cortes-Serra N, Fenollar-Collado Á, Ros-Lucas A, Gascon J, Pinazo MJ, Molina IJ, Unciti-Broceta A, Díaz-Mochón JJ, Pineda de las Infantas y Villatoro MJ, Izquierdo L, Alonso-Padilla J. Novel Purine Chemotypes with Activity against Plasmodium falciparum and Trypanosoma cruzi. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:ph14070638. [PMID: 34358064 PMCID: PMC8308784 DOI: 10.3390/ph14070638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Revised: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria and Chagas disease, caused by Plasmodium spp. and Trypanosoma cruzi parasites, remain important global health problems. Available treatments for those diseases present several limitations, such as lack of efficacy, toxic side effects, and drug resistance. Thus, new drugs are urgently needed. The discovery of new drugs may be benefited by considering the significant biological differences between hosts and parasites. One of the most striking differences is found in the purine metabolism, because most of the parasites are incapable of de novo purine biosynthesis. Herein, we have analyzed the in vitro anti-P. falciparum and anti-T. cruzi activity of a collection of 81 purine derivatives and pyrimidine analogs. We firstly used a primary screening at three fixed concentrations (100, 10, and 1 µM) and progressed those compounds that kept the growth of the parasites < 30% at 100 µM to dose–response assays. Then, we performed two different cytotoxicity assays on Vero cells and human HepG2 cells. Finally, compounds specifically active against T. cruzi were tested against intracellular amastigote forms. Purines 33 (IC50 = 19.19 µM) and 76 (IC50 = 18.27 µM) were the most potent against P. falciparum. On the other hand, 6D (IC50 = 3.78 µM) and 34 (IC50 = 4.24 µM) were identified as hit purines against T. cruzi amastigotes. Moreover, an in silico docking study revealed that P. falciparum and T. cruzi hypoxanthine guanine phosphoribosyltransferase enzymes could be the potential targets of those compounds. Our study identified two novel, purine-based chemotypes that could be further optimized to generate potent and diversified anti-parasitic drugs against both parasites.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nieves Martinez-Peinado
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic—University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (N.M.-P.); (A.G.-S.); (N.C.-S.); (Á.F.-C.); (A.R.-L.); (J.G.); (M.-J.P.)
| | - Álvaro Lorente-Macías
- Department of Medicinal & Organic Chemistry and Excellence Research Unit of “Chemistry Applied to Biomedicine and the Environment”, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada, Campus de Cartuja s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain; (Á.L.-M.); (J.J.D.-M.)
- Institute of Biopathology and Regenerative Medicine, Centre for Biomedical Research, University of Granada, Avda. del Conocimiento s/n, 18100 Granada, Spain;
- Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre, Institute of Genetics & Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road South, Edinburgh EH4 2XR, UK;
| | - Alejandro García-Salguero
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic—University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (N.M.-P.); (A.G.-S.); (N.C.-S.); (Á.F.-C.); (A.R.-L.); (J.G.); (M.-J.P.)
| | - Nuria Cortes-Serra
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic—University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (N.M.-P.); (A.G.-S.); (N.C.-S.); (Á.F.-C.); (A.R.-L.); (J.G.); (M.-J.P.)
| | - Ángel Fenollar-Collado
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic—University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (N.M.-P.); (A.G.-S.); (N.C.-S.); (Á.F.-C.); (A.R.-L.); (J.G.); (M.-J.P.)
| | - Albert Ros-Lucas
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic—University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (N.M.-P.); (A.G.-S.); (N.C.-S.); (Á.F.-C.); (A.R.-L.); (J.G.); (M.-J.P.)
| | - Joaquim Gascon
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic—University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (N.M.-P.); (A.G.-S.); (N.C.-S.); (Á.F.-C.); (A.R.-L.); (J.G.); (M.-J.P.)
| | - Maria-Jesus Pinazo
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic—University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (N.M.-P.); (A.G.-S.); (N.C.-S.); (Á.F.-C.); (A.R.-L.); (J.G.); (M.-J.P.)
| | - Ignacio J. Molina
- Institute of Biopathology and Regenerative Medicine, Centre for Biomedical Research, University of Granada, Avda. del Conocimiento s/n, 18100 Granada, Spain;
| | - Asier Unciti-Broceta
- Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre, Institute of Genetics & Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road South, Edinburgh EH4 2XR, UK;
| | - Juan J. Díaz-Mochón
- Department of Medicinal & Organic Chemistry and Excellence Research Unit of “Chemistry Applied to Biomedicine and the Environment”, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada, Campus de Cartuja s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain; (Á.L.-M.); (J.J.D.-M.)
| | - María J. Pineda de las Infantas y Villatoro
- Department of Medicinal & Organic Chemistry and Excellence Research Unit of “Chemistry Applied to Biomedicine and the Environment”, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada, Campus de Cartuja s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain; (Á.L.-M.); (J.J.D.-M.)
- Correspondence: (M.J.P.d.l.I.y.V.); (L.I.); (J.A.-P.); Tel.: +34-958249360 (M.J.P.d.l.I.y.V.); +34-932275400 (ext. 4569) (L.I.); +34-932275400 (ext. 4569) (J.A.-P.)
| | - Luis Izquierdo
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic—University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (N.M.-P.); (A.G.-S.); (N.C.-S.); (Á.F.-C.); (A.R.-L.); (J.G.); (M.-J.P.)
- Correspondence: (M.J.P.d.l.I.y.V.); (L.I.); (J.A.-P.); Tel.: +34-958249360 (M.J.P.d.l.I.y.V.); +34-932275400 (ext. 4569) (L.I.); +34-932275400 (ext. 4569) (J.A.-P.)
| | - Julio Alonso-Padilla
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic—University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (N.M.-P.); (A.G.-S.); (N.C.-S.); (Á.F.-C.); (A.R.-L.); (J.G.); (M.-J.P.)
- Correspondence: (M.J.P.d.l.I.y.V.); (L.I.); (J.A.-P.); Tel.: +34-958249360 (M.J.P.d.l.I.y.V.); +34-932275400 (ext. 4569) (L.I.); +34-932275400 (ext. 4569) (J.A.-P.)
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Bouton J, Ferreira de Almeida Fiuza L, Cardoso Santos C, Mazzarella MA, Soeiro MDNC, Maes L, Karalic I, Caljon G, Van Calenbergh S. Revisiting Pyrazolo[3,4- d]pyrimidine Nucleosides as Anti- Trypanosoma cruzi and Antileishmanial Agents. J Med Chem 2021; 64:4206-4238. [PMID: 33784107 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c00135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Chagas disease and visceral leishmaniasis are two neglected tropical diseases responsible for numerous deaths around the world. For both, current treatments are largely inadequate, resulting in a continued need for new drug discovery. As both kinetoplastid parasites are incapable of de novo purine synthesis, they depend on purine salvage pathways that allow them to acquire and process purines from the host to meet their demands. Purine nucleoside analogues therefore constitute a logical source of potential antiparasitic agents. Earlier optimization efforts of the natural product tubercidin (7-deazaadenosine) involving modifications to the nucleobase 7-position and the ribofuranose 3'-position led to analogues with potent anti-Trypanosoma brucei and anti-Trypanosoma cruzi activities. In this work, we report the design and synthesis of pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine nucleosides with 3'- and 7-modifications and assess their potential as anti-Trypanosoma cruzi and antileishmanial agents. One compound was selected for in vivo evaluation in an acute Chagas disease mouse model.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jakob Bouton
- Laboratory for Medicinal Chemistry (Campus Heymans), Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, B-9000 Gent, Belgium
| | - Ludmila Ferreira de Almeida Fiuza
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Avenida Brasil 4365, Manguinhos, 21040-360 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Camila Cardoso Santos
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Avenida Brasil 4365, Manguinhos, 21040-360 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Maria Angela Mazzarella
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, Via del Liceo 1, Perugia 06100, Italy
| | - Maria de Nazaré Correia Soeiro
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Avenida Brasil 4365, Manguinhos, 21040-360 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Louis Maes
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Izet Karalic
- Laboratory for Medicinal Chemistry (Campus Heymans), Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, B-9000 Gent, Belgium
| | - Guy Caljon
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene (LMPH), University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Serge Van Calenbergh
- Laboratory for Medicinal Chemistry (Campus Heymans), Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, B-9000 Gent, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Bouton J, Furquim d'Almeida A, Maes L, Caljon G, Van Calenbergh S, Hulpia F. Synthesis and evaluation of 3'-fluorinated 7-deazapurine nucleosides as antikinetoplastid agents. Eur J Med Chem 2021; 216:113290. [PMID: 33667845 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Revised: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Kinetoplastid parasites are the causative agents of neglected tropical diseases with an unmet medical need. These parasites are unable to synthesize the purine ring de novo, and therefore rely on purine salvage to meet their purine demand. Evaluating purine nucleoside analogs is therefore an attractive strategy to identify antikinetoplastid agents. Several anti-Trypanosoma cruzi and anti-Trypanosoma brucei 7-deazapurine nucleosides were previously discovered, with the removal of the 3'-hydroxyl group resulting in a significant boost in activity. In this work we therefore decided to assess the effect of the introduction of a 3'-fluoro substituent in 7-deazapurine nucleosides on the anti-kinetoplastid activities. Hence, we synthesized two series of 3'-deoxy-3'-fluororibofuranosyl and 3'-deoxy-3'-fluoroxylofuranosyl nucleosides comprising 7-deazaadenine and -hypoxanthine bases and assayed these for antiparasitic activity. Several analogs with potent activity against T. cruzi and T. brucei were discovered, indicating that a fluorine atom in the 3'-position is a promising modification for the discovery of antiparasitic nucleosides.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jakob Bouton
- Laboratory for Medicinal Chemistry (Campus Heymans), Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, B-9000, Gent, Belgium
| | - Arno Furquim d'Almeida
- Laboratory for Medicinal Chemistry (Campus Heymans), Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, B-9000, Gent, Belgium
| | - Louis Maes
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1 (S7), B-2610, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Guy Caljon
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Parasitology and Hygiene, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1 (S7), B-2610, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Serge Van Calenbergh
- Laboratory for Medicinal Chemistry (Campus Heymans), Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, B-9000, Gent, Belgium.
| | - Fabian Hulpia
- Laboratory for Medicinal Chemistry (Campus Heymans), Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, B-9000, Gent, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Synthesis and evaluation of a collection of purine-like C-nucleosides as antikinetoplastid agents. Eur J Med Chem 2020; 212:113101. [PMID: 33385837 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2020.113101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2020] [Revised: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The kinetoplastid parasites Trypanosoma brucei, Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania spp. are the causative agents of neglected tropical diseases with a serious burden in several parts of the world. These parasites are incapable of synthesizing purines de novo, and therefore rely on ingenious purine salvage pathways to acquire and process purines from their host. Purine nucleoside analogs that may interfere with these pathways therefore constitute a privileged source of new antikinetoplastid agents. In this study, we synthetized a collection of C-nucleosides employing five different heterocyclic nucleobase surrogates. C-nucleosides are chemically and enzymatically stable and allow for extensive structural modification. Inspired by earlier 7-deazaadenosine nucleosides and known antileishmanial C-nucleosides, we introduced different modifications tailored towards antikinetoplastid activity. Both adenosine and inosine analogs were synthesized with the aim of discovering new antikinetoplastid hits and expanding knowledge of structure-activity relationships. Several promising hits with potent activity against Trypanosoma brucei, Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania infantum were discovered, and the nature of the nucleobase surrogate was found to have a profound influence on the selectivity profile of the compounds.
Collapse
|
23
|
Stachelska-Wierzchowska A, Wierzchowski J. Non-typical nucleoside analogs as fluorescent and fluorogenic indicators of purine-nucleoside phosphorylase activity in biological samples. Anal Chim Acta 2020; 1139:119-128. [PMID: 33190694 DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2020.09.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2020] [Revised: 09/07/2020] [Accepted: 09/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- A Stachelska-Wierzchowska
- Department of Physics and Biophysics, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 4 Oczapowskiego St., PL-10-710, Olsztyn, Poland.
| | - J Wierzchowski
- Department of Physics and Biophysics, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 4 Oczapowskiego St., PL-10-710, Olsztyn, Poland.
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Sun Y, Liu C, Tang W, Zhang D. Manipulation of Purine Metabolic Networks for Riboflavin Production in Bacillus subtilis. ACS OMEGA 2020; 5:29140-29146. [PMID: 33225145 PMCID: PMC7675574 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.0c03867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Guanosine monophosphate, the precursor for riboflavin biosynthesis, can be converted to or generated from other purine compounds in purine metabolic networks. In this study, genes in these networks were manipulated in a riboflavin producer, Bacillus subtilis R, to test their contribution to riboflavin biosynthesis. Knocking out adenine phosphoribosyltransferase (apt), xanthine phosphoribosyltransferase (xpt), and adenine deaminase (adeC) increased the riboflavin production by 14.02, 6.78, and 41.50%, respectively, while other deletions in the salvage pathway, interconversion pathway, and nucleoside decomposition genes have no positive effects. The enhancement of riboflavin production in apt and adeC deletion mutants is dependent on the purine biosynthesis regulator PurR. Repression of ribonucleotide reductases (RNRs) led to a 13.12% increase of riboflavin production, which also increased in two RNR regulator mutants PerR and NrdR by 37.52 and 8.09%, respectively. The generation of deoxyribonucleoside competed for precursors with riboflavin biosynthesis, while other pathways do not contribute to the supply of precursors; nevertheless, they have regulatory effects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yiwen Sun
- Department
of Biological Sciences, School of Biological Engineering, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian 116034, People’s Republic of China
- Tianjin
Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese
Academy of Sciences, Tianjin 300308, People’s Republic
of China
| | - Chuan Liu
- Tianjin
Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese
Academy of Sciences, Tianjin 300308, People’s Republic
of China
- Key
Laboratory of Systems Microbial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin 300308, People’s Republic
of China
- University
of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, People’s
Republic of China
| | - Wenzhu Tang
- Department
of Biological Sciences, School of Biological Engineering, Dalian Polytechnic University, Dalian 116034, People’s Republic of China
| | - Dawei Zhang
- Tianjin
Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese
Academy of Sciences, Tianjin 300308, People’s Republic
of China
- Key
Laboratory of Systems Microbial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin 300308, People’s Republic
of China
- University
of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, People’s
Republic of China
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Batiha GES, Beshbishy AM, Alkazmi LM, Nadwa EH, Rashwan EK, Yokoyama N, Igarashi I. In vitro and in vivo growth inhibitory activities of cryptolepine hydrate against several Babesia species and Theileria equi. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0008489. [PMID: 32853247 PMCID: PMC7451656 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2019] [Accepted: 06/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Piroplasmosis treatment has been based on the use of imidocarb dipropionate or diminazene aceturate (DA), however, their toxic effects. Therefore, the discovery of new drug molecules and targets is urgently needed. Cryptolepine (CRY) is a pharmacologically active plant alkaloid; it has significant potential as an antiprotozoal and antibacterial under different in vitro and in vivo conditions. The fluorescence assay was used for evaluating the inhibitory effect of CRY on four Babesia species and Theileria equi in vitro, and on the multiplication of B. microti in mice. The toxicity assay was evaluated on Madin–Darby bovine kidney (MDBK), mouse embryonic fibroblast (NIH/3T3), and human foreskin fibroblast (HFF) cell lines. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of CRY on Babesia bovis, B. bigemina, B. divergens, B. caballi, and T. equi were 1740 ± 0.377, 1400 ± 0.6, 790 ± 0.32, 600 ± 0.53, and 730 ± 0.025 nM, respectively. The toxicity assay on MDBK, NIH/3T3, and HFF cell lines showed that CRY affected the viability of cells with a half-maximum effective concentration (EC50) of 86.67 ± 4.43, 95.29 ± 2.7, and higher than 100 μM, respectively. In mice experiments, CRY at a concentration of 5 mg/kg effectively inhibited the growth of B. microti, while CRY–atovaquone (AQ) and CRY–DA combinations showed higher chemotherapeutic effects than CRY alone. Our results showed that CRY has the potential to be an alternative remedy for treating piroplasmosis. The development and evaluation of new treatment strategies against Babesia and Theileria parasites have become increasingly urgent due to the emergence of parasite resistance and unwanted toxicity side effects by current chemotherapies. On the other hand, vaccination is a cheaper, reliable and sustainable option. Unfortunately, it has not worked well for the protozoan diseases because they possess ingenious mechanisms to evade the host immune system, rendering treatment the most suitable approach for their control. Sadly, only diminazene aceturate (DA) and imidocarb dipropionate have passed clinical trials for the treatment of piroplasmosis. However, these drugs cause many adverse effects and not approved yet for human medicine. Cryptolepine (CRY) is a pharmacologically active indoloquinoline alkaloid isolated from the roots of the shrub Cryptolepis sanguinolenta. CRY is reported to possess various pharmacological activities, including antifungal, anti-mycobacterial, and potent antiplasmodial activities. In the present study we evaluated the effects of CRY against the growth of Babesia bovis, B. bigemina, B. divergens, B. caballi and Theileria equi in vitro and its chemotherapeutic potential on Babesia microti in mice. Furthermore, we investigated the effect of combination between CRY with the current babesiocidal drugs such as DA, atovaquone (AQ) and clofazimine (CF) in vitro and in vivo.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gaber El-Saber Batiha
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Damanhour University, Damanhour, Albeheira, Egypt
| | - Amany Magdy Beshbishy
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Luay M. Alkazmi
- Biology department, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Eman H. Nadwa
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine, Jouf University, Sakaka, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Medical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
| | - Eman K. Rashwan
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Assuit, Egypt
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Jouf University, Sakaka, Saudi Arabia
| | - Naoaki Yokoyama
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Ikuo Igarashi
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Arias MH, Quiliano M, Bourgeade-Delmas S, Fabing I, Chantal I, Berthier D, Minet C, Eparvier V, Sorres J, Stien D, Galiano S, Aldana I, Valentin A, Garavito G, Deharo E. Alsinol, an arylamino alcohol derivative active against Plasmodium, Babesia, Trypanosoma, and Leishmania: past and new outcomes. Parasitol Res 2020; 119:3503-3515. [PMID: 32772176 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-020-06832-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2019] [Accepted: 07/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Malaria, babesiosis, trypanosomosis, and leishmaniasis are some of the most life-threatening parasites, but the range of drugs to treat them is limited. An effective, safe, and low-cost drug with a large activity spectrum is urgently needed. For this purpose, an aryl amino alcohol derivative called Alsinol was resynthesized, screened in silico, and tested against Plasmodium, Babesia, Trypanosoma, and Leishmania. In silico Alsinol follows the Lipinski and Ghose rules. In vitro it had schizontocidal activity against Plasmodium falciparum and was able to inhibit gametocytogenesis; it was particularly active against late gametocytes. In malaria-infected mice, it showed a dose-dependent activity similar to chloroquine. It demonstrated a similar level of activity to reference compounds against Babesia divergens, and against promastigotes, and amastigotes stages of Leishmania in vitro. It inhibited the in vitro growth of two African animal strains of Trypanosoma but was ineffective in vivo in our experimental conditions. It showed moderate toxicity in J774A1 and Vero cell models. The study demonstrated that Alsinol has a large spectrum of activity and is potentially affordable to produce. Nevertheless, challenges remain in the process of scaling up synthesis, creating a suitable clinical formulation, and determining the safety margin in preclinical models.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria H Arias
- Facultad de Ciencias, Departamento de Farmacia, Grupo de Investigación FaMeTra (Farmacología de la Medicina Tradicional y Popular), Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Sede Bogotá, Carrera 30 45-03, Bogotá D.C., 111321, Colombia
| | - Miguel Quiliano
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Centre for Research and Innovation, Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas (UPC), 15023, Lima, Peru
| | - Sandra Bourgeade-Delmas
- UMR 152 PHARMA-DEV, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement IRD, Université de Toulouse UPS, Toulouse, France
| | - Isabelle Fabing
- Laboratoire de Synthèse et Physicochimie de Molécules d'Intérêt Biologique (SPCMIB), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), 31062, Cedex 09, Toulouse, France
| | - Isabelle Chantal
- UMR INTERTRYP, CIRAD, F-34398, Montpellier, France.,INTERTRYP, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - David Berthier
- UMR INTERTRYP, CIRAD, F-34398, Montpellier, France.,INTERTRYP, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Cécile Minet
- UMR INTERTRYP, CIRAD, F-34398, Montpellier, France.,INTERTRYP, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Veronique Eparvier
- ICSN-CNRS UPR 2301 Équipe "Métabolites de végétaux et micro-organismes associés: isolement, synthèse et bioactivité", 91198 cedex, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Jonathan Sorres
- ICSN-CNRS UPR 2301 Équipe "Métabolites de végétaux et micro-organismes associés: isolement, synthèse et bioactivité", 91198 cedex, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Didier Stien
- Laboratoire de Biodiversité et Biotechnologie Microbienne, LBBM, Observatoire Océanologique, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, 66650, Banyuls-sur-mer, France
| | - Silvia Galiano
- Facultad de Farmacia y Nutrición, Departamento de Química Orgánica y Farmacéutica, Universidad de Navarra, Campus Universitario, 31008, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Ignacio Aldana
- Facultad de Farmacia y Nutrición, Departamento de Química Orgánica y Farmacéutica, Universidad de Navarra, Campus Universitario, 31008, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Alexis Valentin
- UMR 152 PHARMA-DEV, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement IRD, Université de Toulouse UPS, Toulouse, France
| | - Giovanny Garavito
- Facultad de Ciencias, Departamento de Farmacia, Grupo de Investigación FaMeTra (Farmacología de la Medicina Tradicional y Popular), Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Sede Bogotá, Carrera 30 45-03, Bogotá D.C., 111321, Colombia.
| | - Eric Deharo
- UMR 152 PHARMA-DEV, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement IRD, Université de Toulouse UPS, Toulouse, France.,Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Représentation IRD Ban Nasay, Saysettha District, P.O. Box 5992, Vientiane, Lao People's Democratic Republic
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Acosta J, Del Arco J, Del Pozo ML, Herrera-Tapias B, Clemente-Suárez VJ, Berenguer J, Hidalgo A, Fernández-Lucas J. Hypoxanthine-Guanine Phosphoribosyltransferase/adenylate Kinase From Zobellia galactanivorans: A Bifunctional Catalyst for the Synthesis of Nucleoside-5'-Mono-, Di- and Triphosphates. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020; 8:677. [PMID: 32671046 PMCID: PMC7326950 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.00677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/01/2020] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
In our search for novel biocatalysts for the synthesis of nucleic acid derivatives, we found a good candidate in a putative dual-domain hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HGPRT)/adenylate kinase (AMPK) from Zobellia galactanivorans (ZgHGPRT/AMPK). In this respect, we report for the first time the recombinant expression, production, and characterization of a bifunctional HGPRT/AMPK. Biochemical characterization of the recombinant protein indicates that the enzyme is a homodimer, with high activity in the pH range 6-7 and in a temperature interval from 30 to 80°C. Thermal denaturation experiments revealed that ZgHGPRT/AMPK exhibits an apparent unfolding temperature (Tm) of 45°C and a retained activity of around 80% when incubated at 40°C for 240 min. This bifunctional enzyme shows a dependence on divalent cations, with a remarkable preference for Mg2+ and Co2+ as cofactors. More interestingly, substrate specificity studies revealed ZgHGPRT/AMPK as a bifunctional enzyme, which acts as phosphoribosyltransferase or adenylate kinase depending upon the nature of the substrate. Finally, to assess the potential of ZgHGPRT/AMPK as biocatalyst for the synthesis of nucleoside-5′-mono, di- and triphosphates, the kinetic analysis of both activities (phosphoribosyltransferase and adenylate kinase) and the effect of water-miscible solvents on enzyme activity were studied.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Javier Acosta
- Applied Biotechnology Group, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Urbanización El Bosque, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jon Del Arco
- Applied Biotechnology Group, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Urbanización El Bosque, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Beliña Herrera-Tapias
- Grupo de Investigación en Ciencias Naturales y Exactas, GICNEX, Universidad de la Costa, CUC, Barranquilla, Colombia
| | - Vicente Javier Clemente-Suárez
- Grupo de Investigación en Ciencias Naturales y Exactas, GICNEX, Universidad de la Costa, CUC, Barranquilla, Colombia.,Faculty of Sport Sciences, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Urbanización El Bosque, Madrid, Spain
| | - José Berenguer
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CSIC-UAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Aurelio Hidalgo
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CSIC-UAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Jesús Fernández-Lucas
- Applied Biotechnology Group, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Urbanización El Bosque, Madrid, Spain.,Grupo de Investigación en Ciencias Naturales y Exactas, GICNEX, Universidad de la Costa, CUC, Barranquilla, Colombia
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Wierzchowski J, Smyk B. Excited-State Proton Transfer in 8-Azapurines I: A Kinetic Analysis of 8-Azaxanthine Fluorescence. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25122740. [PMID: 32545696 PMCID: PMC7356501 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25122740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Revised: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 06/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
A super-continuum white laser with a half-pulse width of ~75 ps was used to observe the kinetics of a postulated excited-state proton transfer in 8-azaxanthine and its 8-methyl derivative. Both compounds exhibited dual emissions in weakly acidified alcoholic media, but only one band was present in aqueous solutions, exhibiting an abnormal Stokes shift (>12,000 cm−1). It was shown that long-wavelength emissions were delayed relative to the excitation pulse within alcoholic media. The rise time was calculated to be 0.4–0.5 ns in both methanol and deuterated methanol. This is equal to the main component of the fluorescence decay in the short-wavelength band (340 nm). Time-resolved emission spectra (TRES) indicated a two-state photo-transformation model in both compounds. Global analysis of the time dependence revealed three exponential components in each compound, one of which had an identical rise-time, with the second attributed to a long-wavelength band decay (6.4 ns for aza-xanthine and 8.3 ns for its 8-methyl derivative). The origin of the third, intermediate decay time (1.41 ns for aza-xanthine and 0.87 ns for 8-methyl-azaxanthine) is uncertain, but decay-associated spectra (DAS) containing both bands suggest the participation of a contact ion pair. These results confirm the model of phototautomerism proposed earlier, but the question of the anomalous isotope effect remains unsolved.
Collapse
|
29
|
Bora N, Jha AN. In silico Metabolic Pathway Analysis Identifying Target Against Leishmaniasis - A Kinetic Modeling Approach. Front Genet 2020; 11:179. [PMID: 32211028 PMCID: PMC7068213 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2020.00179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2019] [Accepted: 02/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The protozoan Leishmania donovani, from trypanosomatids family is a deadly human pathogen responsible for causing Visceral Leishmaniasis. Unavailability of proper treatment in the developing countries has served as a major threat to the people. The absence of vaccines has made treatment possibilities to rely solely over chemotherapy. Also, reduced drug efficacy due to emerging resistant strains magnifies the threat. Despite years of formulations for an effective drug therapy, complexity of the disease is also unfortunately increasing. Absence of potential drug targets has worsened the scenario. Therefore exploring new therapeutic approach is a priority for the scientific community to combat the disease. One of the most reliable ways to alter the adversities of the infection is finding new biological targets for designing potential drugs. An era of computational biology allows identifying targets, assisting experimental studies. It includes sorting the parasite’s metabolic pathways that pins out proteins essential for its survival. We have directed our study towards a computational methodology for determining targets against L. donovani from the “purine salvage” pathway. This is a mainstay pathway towards the maintenance of purine amounts in the parasitic pool of nutrients proving to be mandatory for its survival. This study represents an integration of metabolic pathway and Protein-Protein Interactions analysis. It consists of incorporating the available experimental data to the theoretical methods with a prospective to develop a kinetic model of Purine salvage pathway. Simulation data revealed the time course mechanism of the enzymes involved in the synthesis of the metabolites. Modeling of the metabolic pathway helped in marking of crucial enzymes. Additionally, the PPI analysis of the pathway assisted in building a static interaction network for the proteins. Topological analysis of the PPI network through centrality measures (MCC and Closeness) detected targets found common with Dynamic Modeling. Therefore our analysis reveals the enzymes ADSL (Adenylosuccinate lyase) and IMPDH (Inosine-5′-monophosphate dehydrogenase) to be important having a central role in the modeled network based on PPI and kinetic modeling techniques. Further the available three dimensional structure of the enzyme “ADSL” aided towards the search for potential inhibitors against the protein. Hence, the study presented the significance of integrating methods to identify key proteins which might be putative targets against the treatment of Visceral Leishmaniasis and their potential inhibitors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nikita Bora
- Computational Biophysics Laboratory, Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Tezpur University, Tezpur, India
| | - Anupam Nath Jha
- Computational Biophysics Laboratory, Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Tezpur University, Tezpur, India
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Stachelska-Wierzchowska A, Wierzchowski J, Górka M, Bzowska A, Stolarski R, Wielgus-Kutrowska B. Tricyclic Nucleobase Analogs and Their Ribosides as Substrates and Inhibitors of Purine-Nucleoside Phosphorylases III. Aminopurine Derivatives. Molecules 2020; 25:E681. [PMID: 32033464 PMCID: PMC7037862 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25030681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2019] [Revised: 01/24/2020] [Accepted: 01/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Etheno-derivatives of 2-aminopurine, 2-aminopurine riboside, and 7-deazaadenosine (tubercidine) were prepared and purified using standard methods. 2-Aminopurine reacted with aqueous chloroacetaldehyde to give two products, both exhibiting substrate activity towards bacterial (E. coli) purine-nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) in the reverse (synthetic) pathway. The major product of the chemical synthesis, identified as 1,N2-etheno-2-aminopurine, reacted slowly, while the second, minor, but highly fluorescent product, reacted rapidly. NMR analysis allowed identification of the minor product as N2,3-etheno-2-aminopurine, and its ribosylation product as N2,3-etheno-2-aminopurine-N2--D-riboside. Ribosylation of 1,N2-etheno-2-aminopurine led to analogous N2--d-riboside of this base. Both enzymatically produced ribosides were readily phosphorolysed by bacterial PNP to the respective bases. The reaction of 2-aminopurine-N9- -D-riboside with chloroacetaldehyde gave one major product, clearly distinct from that obtained from the enzymatic synthesis, which was not a substrate for PNP. A tri-cyclic 7-deazaadenosine (tubercidine) derivative was prepared in an analogous way and shown to be an effective inhibitor of the E. coli, but not of the mammalian enzyme. Fluorescent complexes of amino-purine analogs with E. coli PNP were observed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Jacek Wierzchowski
- Department of Physics and Biophysics, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland;
| | - Michał Górka
- Division of Biophysics, Institute of Experimental Physics, Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw, 5 Pasteura St., 02-093 Warsaw, Poland; (M.G.); (A.B.); (R.S.)
- Biological and Chemical Research Centre, University of Warsaw, 101 Zwirki i Wigury St., 02-089 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Bzowska
- Division of Biophysics, Institute of Experimental Physics, Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw, 5 Pasteura St., 02-093 Warsaw, Poland; (M.G.); (A.B.); (R.S.)
| | - Ryszard Stolarski
- Division of Biophysics, Institute of Experimental Physics, Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw, 5 Pasteura St., 02-093 Warsaw, Poland; (M.G.); (A.B.); (R.S.)
| | - Beata Wielgus-Kutrowska
- Division of Biophysics, Institute of Experimental Physics, Faculty of Physics, University of Warsaw, 5 Pasteura St., 02-093 Warsaw, Poland; (M.G.); (A.B.); (R.S.)
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Chen C, Liu Z, Liu L, Wang J, Jin Q. Structural characterization of glycinamide-RNase-transformylase T from Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Emerg Microbes Infect 2020; 9:58-66. [PMID: 31894729 PMCID: PMC6968694 DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2019.1707716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Enzymes from the purine salvage pathway in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) have been regarded as an attractive target for the development of anti-bacterial drugs. Although this pathway has not been extensively studied in Mtb, it has been identified as essential for growth and survival. Glycinamide-RNase-transformylase T (PurT) is found only in some specific bacteria including Mtb and utilizes ATP-dependent ligation to catalyze the formylation of 5′-phosphoribosyl-glycinamide (GAR) in the third reaction of the de novo purine salvage pathway. In the study, we determined the crystal structure of MtbPurT at a resolution of 2.79 Å. In contrast to Pyrococcus horikoshii OT3 PurT (phBCCPPurT), MtbPurT exhibits an “open” conformation, which results in a broader ATP-binding pocket and thus might facilitate the entry and exit of the cofactor. Additionally, active site superposition with E.coli PurT (EcPurT) showed that residues involved in the ATP-binding site in MtbPurT exhibited structural similarity but had notable difference in the GAR-binding site. The loop 383-389 in MtbPurT was much shorter and shifted 5.7 Å away from the phosphate of the GAR substrate. The different GAR-binding mode might result in a large conformational change in MtbPurT, and would provide a possible opportunity for anti-TB drug development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cong Chen
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, and Center for Tuberculosis Research, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, P. R. People's Republic of China
| | - Zuliang Liu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, and Center for Tuberculosis Research, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, P. R. People's Republic of China
| | - Liguo Liu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, and Center for Tuberculosis Research, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, P. R. People's Republic of China
| | - Jianmin Wang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, and Center for Tuberculosis Research, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, P. R. People's Republic of China
| | - Qi Jin
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, and Center for Tuberculosis Research, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, P. R. People's Republic of China.,Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Hangzhou, PR People's Republic of China
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Kokina A, Ozolina Z, Liepins J. Purine auxotrophy: Possible applications beyond genetic marker. Yeast 2019; 36:649-656. [PMID: 31334866 DOI: 10.1002/yea.3434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2019] [Revised: 07/12/2019] [Accepted: 07/16/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Exploring new drug candidates or drug targets against many illnesses is necessary as "traditional" treatments lose their effectivity. Cancer and sicknesses caused by protozoan parasites are among these diseases. Cell purine metabolism is an important drug target. Theoretically, inhibiting purine metabolism could stop the proliferation of unwanted cells. Purine metabolism is similar across all eukaryotes. However, some medically important organisms or cell lines rely on their host purine metabolism. Protozoans causing malaria, leishmaniasis, or toxoplasmosis are purine auxotrophs. Some cancer forms have also lost the ability to synthesize purines de novo. Budding yeast can serve as an effective model for eukaryotic purine metabolism, and thus, purine auxotrophic strains could be an important tool. In this review, we present the common principles of purine metabolism in eukaryotes, effects of purine starvation in eukaryotic cells, and purine-starved Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a model for purine depletion-elicited metabolic states with applications in evolution studies and pharmacology. Purine auxotrophic yeast strains behave differently when growing in media with sufficient supplementation with adenine or in media depleted of adenine (starvation). In the latter, they undergo cell cycle arrest at G1/G0 and become stress resistant. Importantly, similar effects have also been observed among parasitic protozoans or cancer cells. We consider that studies on metabolic changes caused by purine auxotrophy could reveal new options for parasite or cancer therapy. Further, knowledge on phenotypic changes will improve the use of auxotrophic strains in high-throughput screening for primary drug candidates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Agnese Kokina
- Institute of Microbiology and Biotechnology, University of Latvia, Riga, Latvia
| | - Zane Ozolina
- Institute of Microbiology and Biotechnology, University of Latvia, Riga, Latvia
| | - Janis Liepins
- Institute of Microbiology and Biotechnology, University of Latvia, Riga, Latvia
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
The effects of trans-chalcone and chalcone 4 hydrate on the growth of Babesia and Theileria. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019; 13:e0007030. [PMID: 31125333 PMCID: PMC6534319 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2018] [Accepted: 04/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chemotherapy is a principle tool for the control and prevention of piroplasmosis. The search for a new chemotherapy against Babesia and Theileria parasites has become increasingly urgent due to the toxic side effects of and developed resistance to the current drugs. Chalcones have attracted much attention due to their diverse biological activities. With the aim to discover new drugs and drug targets, in vitro and in vivo antibabesial activity of trans-chalcone (TC) and chalcone 4 hydrate (CH) alone and combined with diminazene aceturate (DA), clofazimine (CF) and atovaquone (AQ) were investigated. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS The fluorescence-based assay was used for evaluating the inhibitory effect of TC and CH on four Babesia species, including B. bovis, B. bigemina, B. divergens, B. caballi, and T. equi, the combination with DA, CF, and AQ on in vitro cultures, and on the multiplication of a B. microti-infected mouse model. The cytotoxicity of compounds was tested on Madin-Darby bovine kidney (MDBK), mouse embryonic fibroblast (NIH/3T3), and human foreskin fibroblast (HFF) cell lines. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of TC and CH against B. bovis, B. bigemina, B. divergens, B. caballi, and T. equi were 69.6 ± 2.3, 33.3 ± 1.2, 64.8 ± 2.5, 18.9 ± 1.7, and 14.3 ± 1.6 μM and 138.4 ± 4.4, 60.9 ± 1.1, 82.3 ± 2.3, 27.9 ± 1.2, and 19.2 ± 1.5 μM, respectively. In toxicity assays, TC and CH affected the viability of MDBK, NIH/3T3, and HFF cell lines the with half maximum effective concentration (EC50) values of 293.9 ± 2.9, 434.4 ± 2.7, and 498 ± 3.1 μM and 252.7 ± 1.7, 406.3 ± 9.7, and 466 ± 5.7 μM, respectively. In the mouse experiment, TC reduced the peak parasitemia of B. microti by 71.8% when administered intraperitoneally at 25 mg/kg. Combination therapies of TC-DA and TC-CF were more potent against B. microti infection in mice than their monotherapies. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE In conclusion, both TC and CH inhibited the growth of Babesia and Theileria in vitro, and TC inhibited the growth of B. microti in vivo. Therefore, TC and CH could be candidates for the treatment of piroplasmosis after further studies.
Collapse
|
34
|
Cheviet T, Lefebvre-Tournier I, Wein S, Peyrottes S. Plasmodium Purine Metabolism and Its Inhibition by Nucleoside and Nucleotide Analogues. J Med Chem 2019; 62:8365-8391. [PMID: 30964283 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.9b00182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Malaria still affects around 200 million people and is responsible for more than 400,000 deaths per year, mostly children in subequatorial areas. This disease is caused by parasites of the Plasmodium genus. Only a few WHO-recommended treatments are available to prevent or cure plasmodial infections, but genetic mutations in the causal parasites have led to onset of resistance against all commercial antimalarial drugs. New drugs and targets are being investigated to cope with this emerging problem, including enzymes belonging to the main metabolic pathways, while nucleoside and nucleotide analogues are also a promising class of potential drugs. This review highlights the main metabolic pathways targeted for the development of potential antiplasmodial therapies based on nucleos(t)ide analogues, as well as the different series of purine-containing nucleoside and nucleotide derivatives designed to inhibit Plasmodium falciparum purine metabolism.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Cheviet
- Institut des Biomolécules Max Mousseron (IBMM), UMR 5247 UM-CNRS-ENSCM , Université Montpellier, Equipe Nucléosides & Effecteurs Phosphorylés , Place E. Bataillon, cc 1704 , 34095 Montpellier , France
| | - Isabelle Lefebvre-Tournier
- Institut des Biomolécules Max Mousseron (IBMM), UMR 5247 UM-CNRS-ENSCM , Université Montpellier, Equipe Nucléosides & Effecteurs Phosphorylés , Place E. Bataillon, cc 1704 , 34095 Montpellier , France
| | - Sharon Wein
- Dynamique des Interactions Membranaires Normales et Pathologiques (DIMNP), UMR 5235 UM-CNRS , Université Montpellier , Place E. Bataillon , 34095 Montpellier , France
| | - Suzanne Peyrottes
- Institut des Biomolécules Max Mousseron (IBMM), UMR 5247 UM-CNRS-ENSCM , Université Montpellier, Equipe Nucléosides & Effecteurs Phosphorylés , Place E. Bataillon, cc 1704 , 34095 Montpellier , France
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Lenz SAP, Wetmore SD. Structural explanation for the tunable substrate specificity of an E. coli nucleoside hydrolase: insights from molecular dynamics simulations. J Comput Aided Mol Des 2018; 32:1375-1388. [PMID: 30478756 DOI: 10.1007/s10822-018-0178-y] [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: 07/20/2018] [Accepted: 11/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Parasitic protozoa rely on nucleoside hydrolases that play key roles in the purine salvage pathway by catalyzing the hydrolytic cleavage of the N-glycosidic bond that connects nucleobases to ribose sugars. Cytidine-uridine nucleoside hydrolase (CU-NH) is generally specific toward pyrimidine nucleosides; however, previous work has shown that replacing two active site residues with Tyr, specifically the Thr223Tyr and Gln227Tyr mutations, allows CU-NH to process inosine. The current study uses molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to gain atomic-level insight into the activity of wild-type and mutant E. coli CU-NH toward inosine. By examining systems that differ in the identity and protonation states of active site catalytic residues, key enzyme-substrate interactions that dictate the substrate specificity of CU-NH are identified. Regardless of the wild-type or mutant CU-NH considered, our calculations suggest that inosine binding is facilitated by interactions of the ribose moiety with active site residues and Ca2+, and π-interactions between two His residues (His82 and His239) and the nucleobase. However, the lack of observed activity toward inosine for wild-type CU-NH is explained by no residue being correctly aligned to stabilize the departing nucleobase. In contrast, a hydrogen-bonding network between hypoxanthine and a newly identified general acid (Asp15) is present when the two Tyr mutations are engineered into the active site. Investigation of the single CU-NH mutants reveals that this hydrogen-bonding network is only maintained when both Tyr mutations are present due to a π-interaction between the residues. These results rationalize previous experiments that show the single Tyr mutants are unable to efficiently hydrolyze inosine and explain how the Tyr residues work synergistically in the double mutant to stabilize the nucleobase leaving group during hydrolysis. Overall, our simulations provide a structural explanation for the substrate specificity of nucleoside hydrolases, which may be used to rationally develop new treatments for kinetoplastid diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stefan A P Lenz
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Lethbridge, 4401 University Drive West, Lethbridge, AB, T1K 3M4, Canada
| | - Stacey D Wetmore
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Lethbridge, 4401 University Drive West, Lethbridge, AB, T1K 3M4, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Bubić A, Mrnjavac N, Stuparević I, Łyczek M, Wielgus-Kutrowska B, Bzowska A, Luić M, Leščić Ašler I. In the quest for new targets for pathogen eradication: the adenylosuccinate synthetase from the bacterium Helicobacter pylori. J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem 2018; 33:1405-1414. [PMID: 30191734 PMCID: PMC6136348 DOI: 10.1080/14756366.2018.1506773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Adenylosuccinate synthetase (AdSS) is an enzyme at regulatory point of purine metabolism. In pathogenic organisms which utilise only the purine salvage pathway, AdSS asserts itself as a promising drug target. One of these organisms is Helicobacter pylori, a wide-spread human pathogen involved in the development of many diseases. The rate of H. pylori antibiotic resistance is on the increase, making the quest for new drugs against this pathogen more important than ever. In this context, we describe here the properties of H. pylori AdSS. This enzyme exists in a dimeric active form independently of the presence of its ligands. Its narrow stability range and pH-neutral optimal working conditions reflect the bacterium’s high level of adaptation to its living environment. Efficient inhibition of H. pylori AdSS with hadacidin and adenylosuccinate gives hope of finding novel drugs that aim at eradicating this dangerous pathogen.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ante Bubić
- a Division of Physical Chemistry , Ruđer Bošković Institute , Zagreb , Croatia
| | - Natalia Mrnjavac
- a Division of Physical Chemistry , Ruđer Bošković Institute , Zagreb , Croatia
| | - Igor Stuparević
- b Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology , University of Zagreb , Zagreb , Croatia
| | - Marta Łyczek
- c Division of Biophysics, Institute of Experimental Physics, Faculty of Physics , University of Warsaw , Warsaw , Poland.,d Department of Bacterial Genetics, Faculty of Biology, Institute of Microbiology , University of Warsaw , Warsaw , Poland
| | - Beata Wielgus-Kutrowska
- c Division of Biophysics, Institute of Experimental Physics, Faculty of Physics , University of Warsaw , Warsaw , Poland
| | - Agnieszka Bzowska
- c Division of Biophysics, Institute of Experimental Physics, Faculty of Physics , University of Warsaw , Warsaw , Poland
| | - Marija Luić
- a Division of Physical Chemistry , Ruđer Bošković Institute , Zagreb , Croatia
| | - Ivana Leščić Ašler
- a Division of Physical Chemistry , Ruđer Bošković Institute , Zagreb , Croatia
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Del Arco J, Fernández-Lucas J. Purine and pyrimidine salvage pathway in thermophiles: a valuable source of biocatalysts for the industrial production of nucleic acid derivatives. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2018; 102:7805-7820. [PMID: 30027492 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-018-9242-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2018] [Revised: 07/11/2018] [Accepted: 07/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Due to their similarity to natural counterparts, nucleic acid derivatives (nucleobases, nucleosides, and nucleotides, among others) are interesting molecules for pharmaceutical, biomedical, or food industries. For this reason, there is increasing worldwide demand for the development of efficient synthetic processes for these compounds. Chemical synthetic methodologies require numerous protection-deprotection steps and often lead to the presence of undesirable by-products or enantiomeric mixtures. These methods also require harsh operating conditions, such as the use of organic solvents and hazard reagents. Conversely, enzymatic production by whole cells or enzymes improves regio-, stereo-, and enantioselectivity and provides an eco-friendly alternative. Because of their essential role in purine and pyrimidine scavenging, enzymes from purine and pyrimidine salvage pathways are valuable candidates for the synthesis of many different nucleic acid components. In recent years, many different enzymes from these routes, such as nucleoside phosphorylases, nucleoside kinases, 2'-deoxyribosyltransferases, phosphoribosyl transferases, or deaminases, have been successfully employed as biocatalysts in the production of nucleobase, nucleoside, or nucleotide analogs. Due to their great activity and stability at extremely high temperatures, the use of enzymes from thermophiles in industrial biocatalysis is gaining momentum. Thermophilic enzymes not only display unique characteristics such as temperature, chemical, and pH stability but also provide many different advantages from an industrial perspective. This mini-review aims to cover the most representative enzymatic approaches for the synthesis of nucleic acid derivatives. In this regard, we provide detailed comments about enzymes involved in crucial steps of purine and pyrimidine salvage pathways in thermophiles, as well as their biological role, biochemical characterization, active site mechanism, and substrate specificity. In addition, the most interesting synthetic examples reported in the literature are also included.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jon Del Arco
- Applied Biotechnology Group, Faculty of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Urbanización El Bosque, c/ Tajo, s/n, E-28670, Villaviciosa de Odón, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jesús Fernández-Lucas
- Applied Biotechnology Group, Faculty of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Urbanización El Bosque, c/ Tajo, s/n, E-28670, Villaviciosa de Odón, Madrid, Spain. .,Grupo de Investigación en Desarrollo Agroindustrial Sostenible, Universidad de la Costa, CUC, Calle 58 #55-66, Barranquilla, Colombia.
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Stachelska-Wierzchowska A, Wierzchowski J, Bzowska A, Wielgus-Kutrowska B. Tricyclic nitrogen base 1,N 6-ethenoadenine and its ribosides as substrates for purine-nucleoside phosphorylases: Spectroscopic and kinetic studies. NUCLEOSIDES NUCLEOTIDES & NUCLEIC ACIDS 2018; 37:89-101. [PMID: 29376769 DOI: 10.1080/15257770.2017.1419255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
The title compound is an excellent substrate for E. coli PNP, as well as for its D204N mutant. The main product of the synthetic reaction is N9-riboside, but some amount of N7-riboside is also present. Surprisingly, 1,N6-ethenoadenine is also ribosylated by both wild-type and mutated (N243D) forms of calf PNP, which catalyze the synthesis of a different riboside, tentatively identified as N6-β-D-ribosyl-1,N6-ethenoadenine. All ribosides are susceptible to phosphorolysis by the E. coli PNP (wild type). All the ribosides are fluorescent and can be utilized as analytical probes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Jacek Wierzchowski
- a Department of Biophysics , University of Varmia & Masuria in Olsztyn , 4 Oczapowskiego St, Olsztyn , Poland
| | - Agnieszka Bzowska
- b Division of Biophysics, Institute of Experimental Physics, Faculty of Physics , University of Warsaw , 5 Pasteura St., Warsaw , Poland
| | - Beata Wielgus-Kutrowska
- b Division of Biophysics, Institute of Experimental Physics, Faculty of Physics , University of Warsaw , 5 Pasteura St., Warsaw , Poland
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Gazanion E, Vergnes B. Protozoan Parasite Auxotrophies and Metabolic Dependencies. EXPERIENTIA SUPPLEMENTUM (2012) 2018; 109:351-375. [PMID: 30535605 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-74932-7_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Diseases caused by protozoan parasites have a major impact on world health. These early branching eukaryotes cause significant morbidity and mortality in humans and livestock. During evolution, protozoan parasites have evolved toward complex life cycles in multiple host organisms with different nutritional resources. The conservation of functional metabolic pathways required for these successive environments is therefore a prerequisite for parasitic lifestyle. Nevertheless, parasitism drives genome evolution toward gene loss and metabolic dependencies (including strict auxotrophy), especially for obligatory intracellular parasites. In this chapter, we will compare and contrast how protozoan parasites have perfected this metabolic adaptation by focusing on specific auxotrophic pathways and scavenging strategies used by clinically relevant apicomplexan and trypanosomatid parasites to access host's nutritional resources. We will further see how these metabolic dependencies have in turn been exploited for therapeutic purposes against these human pathogens.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elodie Gazanion
- MIVEGEC, IRD, CNRS, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Baptiste Vergnes
- MIVEGEC, IRD, CNRS, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France.
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Abid H, Harigua-Souiai E, Mejri T, Barhoumi M, Guizani I. Leishmania infantum 5'-Methylthioadenosine Phosphorylase presents relevant structural divergence to constitute a potential drug target. BMC STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY 2017; 17:9. [PMID: 29258562 PMCID: PMC5738077 DOI: 10.1186/s12900-017-0079-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2017] [Accepted: 11/21/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The 5'-methylthioadenosine phosphorylase (MTAP), an enzyme involved in purine and polyamine metabolism and in the methionine salvage pathway, is considered as a potential drug target against cancer and trypanosomiasis. In fact, Trypanosoma and Leishmania parasites lack de novo purine pathways and rely on purine salvage pathways to meet their requirements. Herein, we propose the first comprehensive bioinformatic and structural characterization of the putative Leishmania infantum MTAP (LiMTAP), using a comparative computational approach. RESULTS Sequence analysis showed that LiMTAP shared higher identity rates with the Trypanosoma brucei (TbMTAP) and the human (huMTAP) homologs as compared to the human purine nucleoside phosphorylase (huPNP). Motifs search using MEME identified more common patterns and higher relatedness of the parasite proteins to the huMTAP than to the huPNP. The 3D structures of LiMTAP and TbMTAP were predicted by homology modeling and compared to the crystal structure of the huMTAP. These models presented conserved secondary structures compared to the huMTAP, with a similar topology corresponding to the Rossmann fold. This confirmed that both LiMTAP and TbMTAP are members of the NP-I family. In comparison to the huMTAP, the 3D model of LiMTAP showed an additional α-helix, at the C terminal extremity. One peptide located in this specific region was used to generate a specific antibody to LiMTAP. In comparison with the active site (AS) of huMTAP, the parasite ASs presented significant differences in the shape and the electrostatic potentials (EPs). Molecular docking of 5'-methylthioadenosine (MTA) and 5'-hydroxyethylthio-adenosine (HETA) on the ASs on the three proteins predicted differential binding modes and interactions when comparing the parasite proteins to the human orthologue. CONCLUSIONS This study highlighted significant structural peculiarities, corresponding to functionally relevant sequence divergence in LiMTAP, making of it a potential drug target against Leishmania.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hela Abid
- Laboratory of Molecular Epidemiology and Experimental Pathology (LR11IPT04/ LR16IPT04), Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Université de Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia.,Faculté des Sciences de Bizerte, Université de Carthage, Tunis, Tunisie
| | - Emna Harigua-Souiai
- Laboratory of Molecular Epidemiology and Experimental Pathology (LR11IPT04/ LR16IPT04), Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Université de Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Thouraya Mejri
- Laboratory of Molecular Epidemiology and Experimental Pathology (LR11IPT04/ LR16IPT04), Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Université de Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Mourad Barhoumi
- Laboratory of Molecular Epidemiology and Experimental Pathology (LR11IPT04/ LR16IPT04), Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Université de Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Ikram Guizani
- Laboratory of Molecular Epidemiology and Experimental Pathology (LR11IPT04/ LR16IPT04), Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Université de Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia.
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Khan MOF. Trypanothione Reductase: A Viable Chemotherapeutic Target for Antitrypanosomal and Antileishmanial Drug Design. Drug Target Insights 2017. [DOI: 10.1177/117739280700200007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- M. Omar F. Khan
- College of Pharmacy, Southwestern Oklahoma State University, 100 Campus Drive, Weatherford, OK 73096, U.S.A
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
El Kouni MH. Pyrimidine metabolism in schistosomes: A comparison with other parasites and the search for potential chemotherapeutic targets. Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol 2017; 213:55-80. [PMID: 28735972 PMCID: PMC5593796 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpb.2017.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2017] [Revised: 06/29/2017] [Accepted: 07/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Schistosomes are responsible for the parasitic disease schistosomiasis, an acute and chronic parasitic ailment that affects >240 million people in 70 countries worldwide. It is the second most devastating parasitic disease after malaria. At least 200,000 deaths per year are associated with the disease. In the absence of the availability of vaccines, chemotherapy is the main stay for combating schistosomiasis. The antischistosomal arsenal is currently limited to a single drug, Praziquantel, which is quite effective with a single-day treatment and virtually no host-toxicity. Recently, however, the question of reduced activity of Praziquantel has been raised. Therefore, the search for alternative antischistosomal drugs merits the study of new approaches of chemotherapy. The rational design of a drug is usually based on biochemical and physiological differences between pathogens and host. Pyrimidine metabolism is an excellent target for such studies. Schistosomes, unlike most of the host tissues, require a very active pyrimidine metabolism for the synthesis of DNA and RNA. This is essential for the production of the enormous numbers of eggs deposited daily by the parasite to which the granulomas response precipitates the pathogenesis of schistosomiasis. Furthermore, there are sufficient differences between corresponding enzymes of pyrimidine metabolism from the host and the parasite that can be exploited to design specific inhibitors or "subversive substrates" for the parasitic enzymes. Specificities of pyrimidine transport also diverge significantly between parasites and their mammalian host. This review deals with studies on pyrimidine metabolism in schistosomes and highlights the unique characteristic of this metabolism that could constitute excellent potential targets for the design of safe and effective antischistosomal drugs. In addition, pyrimidine metabolism in schistosomes is compared with that in other parasites where studies on pyrimidine metabolism have been more elaborate, in the hope of providing leads on how to identify likely chemotherapeutic targets which have not been looked at in schistosomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mahmoud H El Kouni
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Center for AIDS Research, Comprehensive Cancer Center, General Clinical Research Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Crespo N, Sánchez-Murcia PA, Gago F, Cejudo-Sanches J, Galmes MA, Fernández-Lucas J, Mancheño JM. 2'-Deoxyribosyltransferase from Leishmania mexicana, an efficient biocatalyst for one-pot, one-step synthesis of nucleosides from poorly soluble purine bases. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2017; 101:7187-7200. [PMID: 28785897 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-017-8450-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2017] [Revised: 07/19/2017] [Accepted: 07/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Processes catalyzed by enzymes offer numerous advantages over chemical methods although in many occasions the stability of the biocatalysts becomes a serious concern. Traditionally, synthesis of nucleosides using poorly water-soluble purine bases, such as guanine, xanthine, or hypoxanthine, requires alkaline pH and/or high temperatures in order to solubilize the substrate. In this work, we demonstrate that the 2'-deoxyribosyltransferase from Leishmania mexicana (LmPDT) exhibits an unusually high activity and stability under alkaline conditions (pH 8-10) across a broad range of temperatures (30-70 °C) and ionic strengths (0-500 mM NaCl). Conversely, analysis of the crystal structure of LmPDT together with comparisons with hexameric, bacterial homologues revealed the importance of the relationships between the oligomeric state and the active site architecture within this family of enzymes. Moreover, molecular dynamics and docking approaches provided structural insights into the substrate-binding mode. Biochemical characterization of LmPDT identifies the enzyme as a type I NDT (PDT), exhibiting excellent activity, with specific activity values 100- and 4000-fold higher than the ones reported for other PDTs. Interestingly, LmPDT remained stable during 36 h at different pH values at 40 °C. In order to explore the potential of LmPDT as an industrial biocatalyst, enzymatic production of several natural and non-natural therapeutic nucleosides, such as vidarabine (ara A), didanosine (ddI), ddG, or 2'-fluoro-2'-deoxyguanosine, was carried out using poorly water-soluble purines. Noteworthy, this is the first time that the enzymatic synthesis of 2'-fluoro-2'-deoxyguanosine, ara G, and ara H by a 2'-deoxyribosyltransferase is reported.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- N Crespo
- Department of Crystallography and Structural Biology, Institute Rocasolano (CSIC), Serrano 119, E-28006, Madrid, Spain.,Applied Biotechnology Group, European University of Madrid, E-28670, Villaviciosa de Odón, Madrid, Spain
| | - P A Sánchez-Murcia
- Institute of Theoretical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria.,Department of Biomedical Sciences and "Unidad Asociada IQM-CSIC", School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcalá, E-28871, Alcalá de Henares, Spain
| | - F Gago
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and "Unidad Asociada IQM-CSIC", School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcalá, E-28871, Alcalá de Henares, Spain
| | - J Cejudo-Sanches
- Applied Biotechnology Group, European University of Madrid, E-28670, Villaviciosa de Odón, Madrid, Spain
| | - M A Galmes
- Applied Biotechnology Group, European University of Madrid, E-28670, Villaviciosa de Odón, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jesús Fernández-Lucas
- Applied Biotechnology Group, European University of Madrid, E-28670, Villaviciosa de Odón, Madrid, Spain. .,Grupo de Investigación en Desarrollo Agroindustrial Sostenible, Department of Agroindustrial Engineering, School of Environmental Sciences, Universidad de la Costa, Cra. 55 #58-66, Barranquilla, Colombia.
| | - José Miguel Mancheño
- Department of Crystallography and Structural Biology, Institute Rocasolano (CSIC), Serrano 119, E-28006, Madrid, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Synthesis and evaluation of symmetric acyclic nucleoside bisphosphonates as inhibitors of the Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax and human 6-oxopurine phosphoribosyltransferases and the antimalarial activity of their prodrugs. Bioorg Med Chem 2017; 25:4008-4030. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2017.05.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2017] [Revised: 05/15/2017] [Accepted: 05/21/2017] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
|
45
|
Del Arco J, Cejudo-Sanches J, Esteban I, Clemente-Suárez VJ, Hormigo D, Perona A, Fernández-Lucas J. Enzymatic production of dietary nucleotides from low-soluble purine bases by an efficient, thermostable and alkali-tolerant biocatalyst. Food Chem 2017; 237:605-611. [PMID: 28764042 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2017.05.136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2016] [Revised: 05/16/2017] [Accepted: 05/28/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Traditionally, enzymatic synthesis of nucleoside-5'-monophosphates (5'-NMPs) using low water-soluble purine bases has been described as less efficient due to their low solubility in aqueous media. The use of enzymes from extremophiles, such as thermophiles or alkaliphiles, offers the potential to increase solubilisation of these bases by employing high temperatures or alkaline pH. This study describes the cloning, expression and purification of hypoxanthine-guanine-xanthine phosphoribosyltransferase from Thermus thermophilus (TtHGXPRT). Biochemical characterization indicates TtHGXPRT as a homotetramer with excellent activity and stability across a broad range of temperatures (50-90°C) and ionic strengths (0-500mMNaCl), but it also reveals an unusually high activity and stability under alkaline conditions (pH range 8-11). In order to explore the potential of TtHGXPRT as an industrial biocatalyst, enzymatic production of several dietary 5'-NMPs, such as 5'-GMP and 5'-IMP, was carried out at high concentrations of guanine and hypoxanthine.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J Del Arco
- Applied Biotechnology Group, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Urbanización El Bosque, Calle Tajo, s/n, 28670 Villaviciosa de Odón, Madrid, Spain
| | - J Cejudo-Sanches
- Applied Biotechnology Group, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Urbanización El Bosque, Calle Tajo, s/n, 28670 Villaviciosa de Odón, Madrid, Spain
| | - I Esteban
- Applied Biotechnology Group, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Urbanización El Bosque, Calle Tajo, s/n, 28670 Villaviciosa de Odón, Madrid, Spain
| | - V J Clemente-Suárez
- Applied Biotechnology Group, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Urbanización El Bosque, Calle Tajo, s/n, 28670 Villaviciosa de Odón, Madrid, Spain
| | - D Hormigo
- Applied Biotechnology Group, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Urbanización El Bosque, Calle Tajo, s/n, 28670 Villaviciosa de Odón, Madrid, Spain
| | - A Perona
- Applied Biotechnology Group, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Urbanización El Bosque, Calle Tajo, s/n, 28670 Villaviciosa de Odón, Madrid, Spain
| | - J Fernández-Lucas
- Applied Biotechnology Group, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Urbanización El Bosque, Calle Tajo, s/n, 28670 Villaviciosa de Odón, Madrid, Spain; Grupo de Investigación en Desarrollo Agroindustrial Sostenible, Universidad de la Costa, CUC, Calle 58 # 55-66, Barranquilla, Colombia.
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
9-(2'-Deoxy-2'-Fluoro-β-d-Arabinofuranosyl) Adenine Is a Potent Antitrypanosomal Adenosine Analogue That Circumvents Transport-Related Drug Resistance. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2017; 61:AAC.02719-16. [PMID: 28373184 PMCID: PMC5444181 DOI: 10.1128/aac.02719-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2016] [Accepted: 03/27/2017] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Current chemotherapy against African sleeping sickness, a disease caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma brucei, is limited by toxicity, inefficacy, and drug resistance. Nucleoside analogues have been successfully used to cure T. brucei-infected mice, but they have the limitation of mainly being taken up by the P2 nucleoside transporter, which, when mutated, is a common cause of multidrug resistance in T. brucei We report here that adenine arabinoside (Ara-A) and the newly tested drug 9-(2'-deoxy-2'-fluoro-β-d-arabinofuranosyl) adenine (FANA-A) are instead taken up by the P1 nucleoside transporter, which is not associated with drug resistance. Like Ara-A, FANA-A was found to be resistant to cleavage by methylthioadenosine phosphorylase, an enzyme that protects T. brucei against the antitrypanosomal effects of deoxyadenosine. Another important factor behind the selectivity of nucleoside analogues is how well they are phosphorylated within the cell. We found that the T. brucei adenosine kinase had a higher catalytic efficiency with FANA-A than the mammalian enzyme, and T. brucei cells treated with FANA-A accumulated high levels of FANA-A triphosphate, which even surpassed the level of ATP and led to cell cycle arrest, inhibition of DNA synthesis, and the accumulation of DNA breaks. FANA-A inhibited nucleic acid biosynthesis and parasite proliferation with 50% effective concentrations (EC50s) in the low nanomolar range, whereas mammalian cell proliferation was inhibited in the micromolar range. Both Ara-A and FANA-A, in combination with deoxycoformycin, cured T. brucei-infected mice, but FANA-A did so at a dose 100 times lower than that of Ara-A.
Collapse
|
47
|
Del Arco J, Martinez M, Donday M, Clemente-Suarez VJ, Fernández-Lucas J. Cloning, expression and biochemical characterization of xanthine and adenine phosphoribosyltransferases from Thermus thermophilus HB8. BIOCATAL BIOTRANSFOR 2017. [DOI: 10.1080/10242422.2017.1313837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jon Del Arco
- Applied Biotechnology Group, Research and Doctoral School, European University of Madrid, Urbanización El Bosque, Madrid, Spain
| | - María Martinez
- Applied Biotechnology Group, Research and Doctoral School, European University of Madrid, Urbanización El Bosque, Madrid, Spain
| | - Manuel Donday
- Applied Biotechnology Group, Research and Doctoral School, European University of Madrid, Urbanización El Bosque, Madrid, Spain
| | - Vicente Javier Clemente-Suarez
- Applied Biotechnology Group, Research and Doctoral School, European University of Madrid, Urbanización El Bosque, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jesús Fernández-Lucas
- Applied Biotechnology Group, Research and Doctoral School, European University of Madrid, Urbanización El Bosque, Madrid, Spain
- Grupo de Investigación en Desarrollo Agroindustrial Sostenible, Ingenieróa Agroindustrial, Universidad de la Costa, CUC, Barranquilla, Colombia
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Zeraik AE, Balasco Serrão VH, Romanello L, Torini JR, Cassago A, DeMarco R, Pereira HD. Schistosoma mansoni displays an adenine phosphoribosyltransferase preferentially expressed in mature female gonads and vitelaria. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2017; 214:82-86. [PMID: 28392476 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2017.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2016] [Revised: 04/04/2017] [Accepted: 04/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Schistosoma mansoni depends upon the purine salvage pathway to obtain purine nucleotides; therefore, enzymes from this pathway are essential for parasite survival. Here, we focused on the adenine phosphoribosyltransferase (APRT) enzyme, which catalyzes the condensation reaction between adenine and PRPP (5-phosphoribosylpyrophosphate) to produce AMP and PPi. Kinetic experiments using the heterologously expressed protein of one APRT isoform from S. mansoni indicate that it is catalytically active, and whole-mount in situ hybridization studies indicate that the transcripts of this protein are concentrated in the posterior region of the ovary and vitellaria of female adult worms. Moreover, a phylogenetic analysis has shown that APRT exists in multiple copies originating from gene duplications at the base of the Schistosoma genus. Other enzymes from the purine and pyrimidine salvage pathways have also been found to present multiple copies in schistosomes, suggesting that evolutionary pressure to diversify these genes' families may be related to a specialized role in parasite reproduction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ana Eliza Zeraik
- São Carlos Institute of Physics, São Paulo University, São Carlos, SP 13563-120, Brazil.
| | | | - Larissa Romanello
- São Carlos Institute of Physics, São Paulo University, São Carlos, SP 13563-120, Brazil
| | | | - Alexandre Cassago
- Brazilian Nanotechnology National Laboratory, LNNano/CNPEM, Campinas, SP 13083-970, Brazil
| | - Ricardo DeMarco
- São Carlos Institute of Physics, São Paulo University, São Carlos, SP 13563-120, Brazil
| | | |
Collapse
|
49
|
Tran HA, Zheng Z, Wen X, Manivannan S, Pastor A, Kaiser M, Brun R, Snyder FF, Back TG. Synthesis and activity of nucleoside-based antiprotozoan compounds. Bioorg Med Chem 2017; 25:2091-2104. [PMID: 28284860 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2017.02.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2016] [Revised: 01/25/2017] [Accepted: 02/08/2017] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Parasitic protozoa employ a salvage pathway to synthesize purines and generate essential active nucleotides, whereas mammals are capable of their de novo biosynthesis. This difference provides opportunity for the design of potential new antiprotozoan compounds. A series of 47 adenosine analogues was prepared with modifications at the 2-, 6- and 5'-positions, based on the hypothesis that such compounds would serve as substrates for protozoan nucleoside salvage enzymes, while remaining refractory in mammalian cells. The nucleosides were designed to produce toxic metabolites upon cleavage to the corresponding purine base by the parasite. Three 7-deazaguanosine derivatives were prepared with similar objectives. All of these compounds were tested in vitro against T. brucei (African sleeping sickness), T. cruzi (Chagas' disease), L. donovani (leishmaniasis) and P. falciparum (malaria). In order to determine the therapeutic selectivity indices (SI) of the antiprotozoan nucleosides, their cytotoxicities toward a rat myoblast cell line were also determined. One adenosine derivative proved highly effective against P. falciparum (IC50=110nM and SI=1010, while a modified guanosine displayed potent activities against L. donovani (IC50=60nM, SI=2720) and T. brucei (IC50=130nM, SI=1250), as well as moderate activity against T. cruzi (IC50=3.4µM, SI=48). These results provide proof of concept for the nucleoside-based antiprotozoan strategy, as well as potential lead compounds for further optimization and validation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Huu-Anh Tran
- Department of Chemistry, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Zhaoyan Zheng
- Department of Chemistry, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Xianghui Wen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Srinivasan Manivannan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Arnaud Pastor
- Department of Chemistry, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Marcel Kaiser
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, P.O. Box, 4002 Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Petersplatz 1, 4003 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Reto Brun
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, P.O. Box, 4002 Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Petersplatz 1, 4003 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Floyd F Snyder
- Departments of Medical Genetics & Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Calgary, Calgary T2N 4N1, Canada.
| | - Thomas G Back
- Department of Chemistry, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Lenz SAP, Kohout JD, Wetmore SD. Hydrolytic Glycosidic Bond Cleavage in RNA Nucleosides: Effects of the 2'-Hydroxy Group and Acid-Base Catalysis. J Phys Chem B 2016; 120:12795-12806. [PMID: 27933981 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.6b09620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Despite the inherent stability of glycosidic linkages in nucleic acids that connect the nucleobases to sugar-phosphate backbones, cleavage of these bonds is often essential for organism survival. The current study uses DFT (B3LYP) to provide a fundamental understanding of the hydrolytic deglycosylation of the natural RNA nucleosides (A, C, G, and U), offers a comparison to DNA hydrolysis, and examines the effects of acid, base, or simultaneous acid-base catalysis on RNA deglycosylation. By initially examining HCOO-···H2O mediated deglycosylation, the barriers for RNA hydrolysis were determined to be 30-38 kJ mol-1 higher than the corresponding DNA barriers, indicating that the 2'-OH group stabilizes the glycosidic bond. Although the presence of HCOO- as the base (i.e., to activate the water nucleophile) reduces the barrier for uncatalyzed RNA hydrolysis (i.e., unactivated H2O nucleophile) by ∼15-20 kJ mol-1, the extreme of base catalysis as modeled using a fully deprotonated water molecule (i.e., OH- nucleophile) decreases the uncatalyzed barriers by up to 65 kJ mol-1. Acid catalysis was subsequently examined by selectively protonating the hydrogen-bond acceptor sites of the RNA nucleobases, which results in an up to ∼80 kJ mol-1 barrier reduction relative to the corresponding uncatalyzed pathway. Interestingly, the nucleobase proton acceptor sites that result in the greatest barrier reductions match sites typically targeted in enzyme-catalyzed reactions. Nevertheless, simultaneous acid and base catalysis is the most beneficial way to enhance the reactivity of the glycosidic bonds in RNA, with the individual effects of each catalytic approach being weakened, additive, or synergistic depending on the strength of the base (i.e., degree of water nucleophile activation), the nucleobase, and the hydrogen-bonding acceptor site on the nucleobase. Together, the current contribution provides a greater understanding of the reactivity of the glycosidic bond in natural RNA nucleosides, and has fundamental implications for the function of RNA-targeting enzymes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stefan A P Lenz
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Lethbridge , 4401 University Drive West, Lethbridge, Alberta T1K 3M4, Canada
| | - Johnathan D Kohout
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Lethbridge , 4401 University Drive West, Lethbridge, Alberta T1K 3M4, Canada
| | - Stacey D Wetmore
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Lethbridge , 4401 University Drive West, Lethbridge, Alberta T1K 3M4, Canada
| |
Collapse
|