Correlations of inhibitor kinetics for Pneumocystis jirovecii and human dihydrofolate reductase with structural data for human active site mutant enzyme complexes

Screening of indole derivatives as the potent anticancer agents on dihydrofolate reductase: pharmaco-informatics and molecular dynamics simulation

Dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) is a ubiquitous cellular enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of nucleotide and protein precursors, thus, the inhibition of human DHFR can be a promising strategy in cancer treatment. The design of effective anticancer drugs is an urgent need today according to the high spread of cancer. The indole molecule with diverse mechanisms of action and anticancer properties is one of the efficient pharmacophores in drug design. Hence, a virtual library of indole derivatives as a scaffold was selected for designing safer and more effective anticancer drugs against DHFR in this work. All indole derivatives utilized in the library design were selected regarding appreciable tumor growth inhibition. Structure-activity relationship (SAR), docking energy, ADMET (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity) parameters, and effective non-covalent interactions were used to identify potential anticancer with indole scaffold. Results showed a higher number of indole moieties provide a strong attachment to the DHFR binding pocket and therefore more effective anticancer activity. The indole scaffold in combination with dichlorobenzene improves DHFR inhibition whereas barbituric acid weakens inhibition activity. In the following to validate the docking results, Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation and molecular mechanics generalized-Born surface area (MM-GBSA) indicated the permanent stability of the selected ligands into the DHFR binding pocket and the key amino acids. Therefore, promising pharmacophores based on indole-DHFR interactions were discovered, and the outcome could be useful in guiding future in vitro and in vivo drug discovery in cancer medicine.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Targeting species specific amino acid residues: Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of 6-substituted pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidines as dihydrofolate reductase inhibitors and potential anti-opportunistic infection agents

To combine the potency of trimetrexate (TMQ) or piritrexim (PTX) with the species selectivity of trimethoprim (TMP), target based design was carried out with the X-ray crystal structure of human dihydrofolate reductase (hDHFR) and the homology model of Pneumocystis jirovecii DHFR (pjDHFR). Using variation of amino acids such as Met33/Phe31 (in pjDHFR/hDHFR) that affect the binding of inhibitors due to their distinct positive or negative steric effect at the active binding site of the inhibitor, we designed a series of substituted-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidines. The best analogs displayed better potency (IC₅₀) than PTX and high selectivity for pjDHFR versus hDHFR, with 4 exhibiting a selectivity for pjDHFR of 24-fold.

A Quantitative Model to Estimate Drug Resistance in Pathogens

Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) is an opportunistic infection that occurs in humans and other mammals with debilitated immune systems. These infections are caused by fungi in the genus Pneumocystis, which are not susceptible to standard antifungal agents. Despite decades of research and drug development, the primary treatment and prophylaxis for PCP remains a combination of trimethoprim (TMP) and sulfamethoxazole (SMX) that targets two enzymes in folic acid biosynthesis, dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) and dihydropteroate synthase (DHPS), respectively. There is growing evidence of emerging resistance by Pneumocystis jirovecii (the species that infects humans) to TMP-SMX associated with mutations in the targeted enzymes. In the present study, we report the development of an accurate quantitative model to predict changes in the binding affinity of inhibitors (K_i, IC₅₀) to the mutated proteins. The model is based on evolutionary information and amino acid covariance analysis. Predicted changes in binding affinity upon mutations highly correlate with the experimentally measured data. While trained on Pneumocystis jirovecii DHFR/TMP data, the model shows similar or better performance when evaluated on the resistance data for a different inhibitor of PjDFHR, another drug/target pair (PjDHPS/SMX) and another organism (Staphylococcus aureus DHFR/TMP). Therefore, we anticipate that the developed prediction model will be useful in the evaluation of possible resistance of the newly sequenced variants of the pathogen and can be extended to other drug targets and organisms.

Structural analysis of dihydrofolate reductases enables rationalization of antifolate binding affinities and suggests repurposing possibilities

Antifolates are competitive inhibitors of dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), a conserved enzyme that is central to metabolism and widely targeted in pathogenic diseases, cancer and autoimmune disorders. Although most clinically used antifolates are known to be target specific, some display a fair degree of cross-reactivity with DHFRs from other species. A method that enables identification of determinants of affinity and specificity in target DHFRs from different species and provides guidelines for the design of antifolates is currently lacking. To address this, we first captured the potential druggable space of a DHFR in a substructure called the 'supersite' and classified supersites of DHFRs from 56 species into 16 'site-types' based on pairwise structural similarity. Analysis of supersites across these site-types revealed that DHFRs exhibit varying extents of dissimilarity at structurally equivalent positions in and around the binding site. We were able to explain the pattern of affinities towards chemically diverse antifolates exhibited by DHFRs of different site-types based on these structural differences. We then generated an antifolate-DHFR network by mapping known high-affinity antifolates to their respective supersites and used this to identify antifolates that can be repurposed based on similarity between supersites or antifolates. Thus, we identified 177 human-specific and 458 pathogen-specific antifolates, a large number of which are supported by available experimental data. Thus, in the light of the clinical importance of DHFR, we present a novel approach to identifying differences in the druggable space of DHFRs that can be utilized for rational design of antifolates.

Pneumocystis jirovecii Rtt109, a novel drug target for Pneumocystis pneumonia in immunosuppressed humans

Pneumocystis pneumonia (PcP) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients. In humans, PcP is caused by the opportunistic fungal species Pneumocystis jirovecii. Progress in Pneumocystis research has been hampered by a lack of viable in vitro culture methods, which limits laboratory access to human-derived organisms for drug testing. Consequently, most basic drug discovery research for P. jirovecii is performed using related surrogate organisms such as Pneumocystis carinii, which is derived from immunosuppressed rodents. While these studies provide useful insights, important questions arise about interspecies variations and the relative utility of identified anti-Pneumocystis agents against human P. jirovecii. Our recent work has identified the histone acetyltransferase (HAT) Rtt109 in P. carinii (i.e., PcRtt109) as a potential therapeutic target for PcP, since Rtt109 HATs are widely conserved in fungi but are absent in humans. To further address the potential utility of this target in human disease, we now demonstrate the presence of a functional Rtt109 orthologue in the clinically relevant fungal pathogen P. jirovecii (i.e., PjRtt109). In a fashion similar to that of Pcrtt109, Pjrtt109 restores H3K56 acetylation and genotoxic resistance in rtt109-null yeast. Recombinant PjRtt109 is an active HAT in vitro, with activity comparable to that of PcRtt109 and yeast Rtt109. PjRtt109 HAT activity is also enhanced by the histone chaperone Asf1 in vitro. PjRtt109 and PcRtt109 showed similar low micromolar sensitivities to two reported small-molecule HAT inhibitors in vitro. Together, these results demonstrate that PjRtt109 is a functional Rtt109 HAT, and they support the development of anti-Pneumocystis agents directed at Rtt109-catalyzed histone acetylation as a novel therapeutic target for human PcP.

Elucidating features that drive the design of selective antifolates using crystal structures of human dihydrofolate reductase

The pursuit of antimicrobial drugs that target dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) exploits differences in sequence and dynamics between the pathogenic and human enzymes. Here, we present five crystal structures of human DHFR bound to a new class of antimicrobial agents, the propargyl-linked antifolates (PLAs), with a range of potency (IC50 values of 0.045-1.07 μM) for human DHFR. These structures reveal that interactions between the ligands and Asn 64, Phe 31, and Phe 34 are important for increased affinity for human DHFR and that loop residues 58-64 undergo ligand-induced conformational changes. The utility of these structural studies was demonstrated through the design of three new ligands that reduce the number of contacts with Asn 64, Phe 31, and Phe 34. Synthesis and evaluation show that one of the designed inhibitors exhibits the lowest affinity for human DHFR of any of the PLAs (2.64 μM). Comparisons of structures of human and Staphylococcus aureus DHFR bound to the same PLA reveal a conformational change in the ligand that enhances interactions with residues Phe 92 (Val 115 in huDHFR) and Ile 50 (Ile 60 in huDHFR) in S. aureus DHFR, yielding selectivity. Likewise, comparisons of human and Candida glabrata DHFR bound to the same ligand show that hydrophobic interactions with residues Ile 121 and Phe 66 (Val 115 and Asn 64 in human DHFR) yield selective inhibitors. The identification of residue substitutions that are important for selectivity and the observation of active site flexibility will help guide antimicrobial antifolate development for the inhibition of pathogenic species.

Trimethoprim resistance of dihydrofolate reductase variants from clinical isolates of Pneumocystis jirovecii

Pneumocystis jirovecii is an opportunistic pathogen that causes serious pneumonia in immunosuppressed patients. Standard therapy and prophylaxis include trimethoprim (TMP)-sulfamethoxazole; trimethoprim in this combination targets dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR). Fourteen clinically observed variants of P. jirovecii DHFR were produced recombinantly to allow exploration of the causes of clinically observed failure of therapy and prophylaxis that includes trimethoprim. Six DHFR variants (S31F, F36C, L65P, A67V, V79I, and I158V) showed resistance to inhibition by trimethoprim, with Ki values for trimethoprim 4-fold to 100-fold higher than those for the wild-type P. jirovecii DHFR. An experimental antifolate with more conformational flexibility than trimethoprim showed strong activity against one trimethoprim-resistant variant. The two variants that were most resistant to trimethoprim (F36C and L65P) also had increased Km values for dihydrofolic acid (DHFA). The catalytic rate constant (kcat) was unchanged for most variant forms of P. jirovecii DHFR but was significantly lowered in F36C protein; one naturally occurring variant with two amino acid substitutions (S106P and E127G) showed a doubling of kcat, as well as a Km for NADPH half that of the wild type. The strongest resistance to trimethoprim occurred with amino acid changes in the binding pocket for DHFA or trimethoprim, and the strongest effect on binding of NADPH was linked to a mutation involved in binding the phosphate group of the cofactor. This study marks the first confirmation that naturally occurring mutations in the gene for DHFR from P. jirovecii produce variant forms of DHFR that are resistant to trimethoprim and may contribute to clinically observed failures of standard therapy or prophylaxis.

Design, synthesis, and molecular modeling of novel pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine analogues as antifolates; application of Buchwald-Hartwig aminations of heterocycles

Opportunistic infections caused by Pneumocystis jirovecii (P. jirovecii, pj), Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii, tg), and Mycobacterium avium (M. avium, ma) are the principal causes of morbidity and mortality in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The absence of any animal models for human Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia and the lack of crystal structures of pjDHFR and tgDHFR make the design of inhibitors challenging. A novel series of pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidines as selective and potent DHFR inhibitors against these opportunistic infections are presented. Buchwald-Hartwig coupling reaction of substituted anilines with pivaloyl protected 2,4-diamino-6-bromo-pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine was successfully explored to synthesize these analogues. Compound 26 was the most selective inhibitor with excellent potency against pjDHFR. Molecular modeling studies with a pjDHFR homology model explained the potency and selectivity of 26. Structural data are also reported for 26 with pcDHFR and 16 and 22 with variants of pcDHFR.

Kinetic and structural analysis for potent antifolate inhibition of Pneumocystis jirovecii, Pneumocystis carinii, and human dihydrofolate reductases and their active-site variants

A major concern of immunocompromised patients, in particular those with AIDS, is susceptibility to infection caused by opportunistic pathogens such as Pneumocystis jirovecii, which is a leading cause of pneumonia in immunocompromised patients. We report the first kinetic and structural data for 2,4-diamino-6-[(2',5'-dichloro anilino)methyl]pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine (OAAG324), a potent inhibitor of dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) from P. jirovecii (pjDHFR), and also for trimethoprim (TMP) and methotrexate (MTX) with pjDHFR, Pneumocystis carinii DHFR (pcDHFR), and human DHFR (hDHFR). OAAG324 shows a 9.0-fold selectivity for pjDHFR (Ki, 2.7 nM) compared to its selectivity for hDHFR (Ki, 24.4 nM), whereas there is only a 2.3-fold selectivity for pcDHFR (Ki, 6.3 nM). In order to understand the determinants of inhibitory potency, active-site mutations of pj-, pc-, and hDHFR were explored to make these enzymes more like each other. The most unexpected observations were that the variant pcDHFR forms with K37Q and K37Q/F69N mutations, which made the enzyme more like the human form, also made these enzymes more sensitive to the inhibitory activity of OAAG324, with Ki values of 0.26 and 0.71 nM, respectively. A similar gain in sensitivity was also observed for the hDHFR N64F variant, which showed a lower Ki value (0.58 nM) than native hDHFR, pcDHFR, or pjDHFR. Structural data are reported for complexes of OAAG324 with hDHFR and its Q35K and Q35S/N64F variants and for the complex of the K37S/F69N variant of pcDHFR with TMP. These results provide useful insight into the role of these residues in the optimization of highly selective inhibitors of DHFR against the opportunistic pathogen P. jirovecii.

Structural analysis of Pneumocystis carinii dihydrofolate reductase complexed with NADPH and 2,4-diamino-6-[2-(5-carboxypent-1-yn-1-yl)-5-methoxybenzyl]-5-methylpyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine

Structural data are reported for 2,4-diamino-6-[2-(5-carboxypent-1-yn-1-yl)-5-methoxybenzyl]-5-methylpyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine (PY1014) complexed with Pneumocystis carinii dihydrofolate reductase (pcDHFR) refined to 1.8 Å resolution. These data reveal that the carboxylate of the ω-carboxyalkynyl side chain of PY1014, the most pcDHFR-selective analog in this series, forms ionic interactions with the conserved Arg75 in the substrate-binding pocket of pcDHFR. The reversal of the 2',5'-substitution pattern of this analog compared with the highly selective diaminopyrimidine analog PY1011 (i.e. the 5'-pentynylcarboxy-5'-methoxy pattern of PY1014 versus the 3',4'-dimethoxy-5'-pentynylcarboxy pattern of PY1011) is necessary to achieve optimal interaction with Arg75 as observed in other structures. The larger diaminopyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine ring of PY1014 places the 5'-methoxy group closer to Leu25 and Ser64 than does the diaminopyrimidine ring of PY1011. The 5'-methoxy O atom forms a hydrogen bond to the amide of Leu25 (O···N, 2.7 Å) and the 5'-methoxy methyl group makes a hydrophobic contact of 3.1 Å with C(β) of Ser64. Although the IC(50) values of PY1014 and PY1011 are similar, inhibition data show that the selectivity of PY1011 for pcDHFR is significantly greater. The greater selectivity for pcDHFR compared with mammalian DHFR of these inhibitors is also influenced by the enhanced hydrophobic interactions of the side-chain methylene atoms with Phe69 of pcDHFR compared with Asn64 of mammalian DHFR.

Structural analysis of human dihydrofolate reductase as a binary complex with the potent and selective inhibitor 2,4-diamino-6-{2'-O-(3-carboxypropyl)oxydibenz[b,f]-azepin-5-yl}methylpteridine reveals an unusual binding mode

In order to understand the structure-activity profile observed for a series of substituted dibenz[b,f]azepine antifolates, the crystal structure of the binary complex of human dihydrofolate reductase (hDHFR) with the potent and selective inhibitor 2,4-diamino-6-{2'-O-(3-carboxypropyl)oxydibenz[b,f]-azepin-5-yl}methylpteridine (PT684) was determined to 1.8 Å resolution. These data revealed that the carboxylate side chain of PT684 occupies two alternate positions, neither of which interacts with the conserved Arg70 in the active-site pocket, which in turn hydrogen bonds to water. These observations are in contrast to those reported for the ternary complex of mouse DHFR (mDHFR) with NADPH [Cody et al. (2008), Acta Cryst. D64, 977-984], in which the 3-carboxypropyl side chain of PT684 was hydrolyzed to its hydroxyl derivative, PT684a. The crystallization conditions differed for the human and mouse DHFR crystals (100 mM K2HPO4 pH 6.9, 30% ammonium sulfate for hDHFR; 15 mM Tris pH 8.3, 75 mM sodium cacodylate, PEG 4K for mDHFR). Additionally, the side chains of Phe31 and Gln35 in the hDHFR complex have a single conformation, whereas in the mDHFR complex they occupied two alternative conformations. These data show that the hDHFR complex has a decreased active-site volume compared with the mDHFR complex, as reflected in a relative shift of helix C (residues 59-64) of 1.2 Å, and a shift of 1.5 Å compared with the ternary complex of Pneumocystis carinii DHFR (pcDHFR) with the parent dibenz[b,f]azepine PT653. These data suggest that the greater inhibitory potency of PT684 against pcDHFR is consistent with the larger active-site volume of pcDHFR and the predicted interactions of the carboxylate side chain with Arg75.

Crystallographic analysis reveals a novel second binding site for trimethoprim in active site double mutants of human dihydrofolate reductase

In order to produce a more potent replacement for trimethoprim (TMP) used as a therapy for Pneumocystis pneumonia and targets dihydrofolate reductase from Pneumocystis jirovecii (pjDHFR), it is necessary to understand the determinants of potency and selectivity against DHFR from the mammalian host and fungal pathogen cells. To this end, active site residues in human (h) DHFR were replaced with those from pjDHFR. Structural data are reported for two complexes of TMP with the double mutants Gln35Ser/Asn64Phe (Q35S/N64F) and Gln35Lys/Asn64Phe (Q35K/N64F) of hDHFR that unexpectedly show evidence for the binding of two molecules of TMP: one molecule that binds in the normal folate binding site and the second molecule that binds in a novel subpocket site such that the mutated residue Phe64 is involved in van der Waals contacts to the trimethoxyphenyl ring of the second TMP molecule. Kinetic data for the binding of TMP to hDHFR and pjDHFR reveal an 84-fold selectivity of TMP against pjDHFR (K(i) 49 nM) compared to hDHFR (K(i) 4093 nM). Two mutants that contain one substitution from pj--and one from the closely related Pneumocystis carinii DHFR (pcDHFR) (Q35K/N64F and Q35S/N64F) show K(i) values of 593 and 617 nM, respectively; these K(i) values are well above both the K(i) for pjDHFR and are similar to pcDHFR (Q35K/N64F and Q35S/N64F) (305nM). These results suggest that active site residues 35 and 64 play key roles in determining selectivity for pneumocystis DHFR, but that other residues contribute to the unique binding of inhibitors to these enzymes.

Structural analysis of Pneumocystis carinii and human DHFR complexes with NADPH and a series of five potent 6-[5'-(ω-carboxyalkoxy)benzyl]pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine derivatives

Structural data are reported for five antifolates, namely 2,4-diamino-6-[5'-(5-carboxypentyloxy)-2'-methoxybenzyl]-5-methylpyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine, (1), and the 5'-[3-(ethoxycarbonyl)propoxy]-, (2), 5'-[3-(ethoxycarbonyl)butoxy]-, (3), 5'-[3-(ethoxycarbonyl)pentyloxy]-, (4), and 5'-benzyloxy-, (5), derivatives, which are potent and selective for Pneumocystis carinii dihydrofolate reductase (pcDHFR). Crystal structures are reported for their ternary complexes with NADPH and pcDHFR refined to between 1.4 and 2.0 Å resolution and for that of 3 with human DHFR (hDHFR) to 1.8 Å resolution. These data reveal that the carboxylate of the ω-carboxyalkoxy side chain of 1, the most potent inhibitor in this series, forms ionic interactions with the conserved Arg75 in the substrate-binding pocket of pcDHFR, whereas the less potent ethyl esters of 2-4 bind with variable side-chain conformations. The benzyloxy side chain of 5 makes no contact with Arg75 and is the least active inhibitor in this series. These structural results suggest that the weaker binding of this series compared with that of their pyrimidine homologs in part arises from the flexibility observed in their side-chain conformations, which do not optimize intermolecular contact to Arg75. Structural data for the binding of 3 to both hDHFR and pcDHFR reveals that the inhibitor binds in two different conformations, one similar to each of the two conformations observed for the parent pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine, piritrexim (PTX), bound to hDHFR. The structure of the pcDHFR complex of 4 reveals disorder in the side-chain orientation; one orientation has the ω-carboxyalkoxy side chain positioned in the folate-binding pocket similar to the others in this series, while the second orientation occupies a new site near the nicotinamide ring of NADPH. This alternate binding site has not been observed in other DHFR structures. Structural data for the pcDHFR complex of 5 show that its benzyl side chain forms intermolecular van der Waals interactions with Phe69 in the binding pocket that could account for its enhanced binding selectivity compared with the other analogs in this series.

Kinetic and structural characterization of dihydrofolate reductase from Streptococcus pneumoniae

Drug resistance associated with dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) has emerged as a critical issue in the treatment of bacterial infections. In our efforts to understand the mechanism of a drug-resistant dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) from a pathogenic bacterial source, we report the first kinetic characterization of Streptococcus pneumoniae DHFR (spDHFR) along with its X-ray structure. This study revealed that the kinetic properties of spDHFR were significantly different from those of Escherichia coli DHFR. The product (tetrahydrofolate) dissociation step that is the rate-limiting step in E. coli DHFR is significantly accelerated in spDHFR so that hydride transfer or a preceding step is rate-limiting. Comparison of the binding parameters of this enzyme to those of a mutant spDHFR (Sp9) confirmed that the Leu100 residue in spDHFR is the critical element for the trimethoprim (TMP) resistance. Steady-state kinetics exhibited a pH dependence in k(cat), which prompted us to elucidate the role of the new catalytic residue (His33) in the active site of spDHFR. Structural data of the Sp9 mutant in complex with NADPH and methotrexate confirmed the participation of His33 in a hydrogen bonding network involving a water molecule, the hydroxyl group of Thr119, and the carboxylate ion of Glu30. Sequence analysis of the DHFR superfamily revealed that the His residue is the major amino acid component at this position and is found mostly in pathogenic bacterial DHFRs. A mutation of Val100 to Leu demonstrated a steric clash of the leucine side chain with the side chains of Ile8 and Phe34, rationalizing weaker binding of trimethoprim to Leu100 DHFR. Understanding the role of specific amino acids in the active site coupled with detailed structural analysis will inform us on how to better design inhibitors targeting drug-resistant pathogenic bacterial DHFRs.

The Z isomer of 2,4-diaminofuro[2,3-d]pyrimidine antifolate promotes unusual crystal packing in a human dihydrofolate reductase ternary complex

The crystal structure of the ternary complex of human dihydrofolate reductase (hDHFR) with NADPH and the Z isomer of 2,4-diamino-5-[2-(2'-methoxyphenyl)propenyl]-furo[2,3-d]pyrimidine (Z1) shows that the Z isomer binds in the normal antifolate orientation in which the furo oxygen occupies the 8-amino position observed in the binding of 2,4-diaminopteridine antifolates such as methotrexate and with the methoxyphenyl moiety cis to and coplanar with the furo[2,3-d]pyrimidine ring. The hDHFR ternary complex crystallized in the orthorhombic space group P2(1)2(1)2(1) and its structure was refined to 1.7 A resolution. Although other hDHFR complexes crystallize in this space group, these data provide only the second example of an unusual packing arrangement in which the conserved active-site Arg70 forms a salt bridge to the side chain of Glu44 from a symmetry-related molecule. As a result, the conformations of Phe31 and Gln35 shift with respect to those observed in the structure of mouse DHFR bound to Z1, which crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2(1) and shows that Gln35 interacts with Arg70.