1
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Spiwoková P, Horn M, Fanfrlík J, Jílková A, Fajtová P, Leontovyč A, Houštecká R, Bieliková L, Brynda J, Chanová M, Mertlíková-Kaiserová H, Caro-Diaz EJE, Almaliti J, El-Sakkary N, Gerwick WH, Caffrey CR, Mareš M. Nature-Inspired Gallinamides Are Potent Antischistosomal Agents: Inhibition of the Cathepsin B1 Protease Target and Binding Mode Analysis. ACS Infect Dis 2024; 10:1935-1948. [PMID: 38757505 PMCID: PMC11184554 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.3c00589] [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: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
Schistosomiasis, caused by a parasitic blood fluke of the genus Schistosoma, is a global health problem for which new chemotherapeutic options are needed. We explored the scaffold of gallinamide A, a natural peptidic metabolite of marine cyanobacteria that has previously been shown to inhibit cathepsin L-type proteases. We screened a library of 19 synthetic gallinamide A analogs and identified nanomolar inhibitors of the cathepsin B-type protease SmCB1, which is a drug target for the treatment of schistosomiasis mansoni. Against cultured S. mansoni schistosomula and adult worms, many of the gallinamides generated a range of deleterious phenotypic responses. Imaging with a fluorescent-activity-based probe derived from gallinamide A demonstrated that SmCB1 is the primary target for gallinamides in the parasite. Furthermore, we solved the high-resolution crystal structures of SmCB1 in complex with gallinamide A and its two analogs and describe the acrylamide covalent warhead and binding mode in the active site. Quantum chemical calculations evaluated the contribution of individual positions in the peptidomimetic scaffold to the inhibition of the target and demonstrated the importance of the P1' and P2 positions. Our study introduces gallinamides as a powerful chemotype that can be exploited for the development of novel antischistosomal chemotherapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petra Spiwoková
- Institute
of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, Prague 6 16610, Czech Republic
- Department
of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University
of Chemistry and Technology, Technická 5, Prague 6 16628, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Horn
- Institute
of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, Prague 6 16610, Czech Republic
| | - Jindřich Fanfrlík
- Institute
of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, Prague 6 16610, Czech Republic
| | - Adéla Jílková
- Institute
of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, Prague 6 16610, Czech Republic
| | - Pavla Fajtová
- Institute
of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, Prague 6 16610, Czech Republic
- Center
for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School
of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego, California 92093, United States
| | - Adrian Leontovyč
- Institute
of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, Prague 6 16610, Czech Republic
| | - Radka Houštecká
- Institute
of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, Prague 6 16610, Czech Republic
- First
Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Kateřinská 32, Praha 2 12108, Czech Republic
| | - Lucia Bieliková
- Institute
of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, Prague 6 16610, Czech Republic
- First
Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Kateřinská 32, Praha 2 12108, Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Brynda
- Institute
of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, Prague 6 16610, Czech Republic
| | - Marta Chanová
- Institute
of Immunology and Microbiology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital
in Prague, Studničkova
2028/7, Prague 2 12800, Czech Republic
| | - Helena Mertlíková-Kaiserová
- Institute
of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, Prague 6 16610, Czech Republic
| | - Eduardo J. E. Caro-Diaz
- Scripps Institution
of Oceanography, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego, California 92093, United States
| | - Jehad Almaliti
- Center
for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School
of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego, California 92093, United States
- Scripps Institution
of Oceanography, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego, California 92093, United States
| | - Nelly El-Sakkary
- Center
for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School
of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego, California 92093, United States
| | - William H. Gerwick
- Center
for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School
of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego, California 92093, United States
- Scripps Institution
of Oceanography, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego, California 92093, United States
| | - Conor R. Caffrey
- Center
for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School
of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego, California 92093, United States
| | - Michael Mareš
- Institute
of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, Prague 6 16610, Czech Republic
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2
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Cogo RM, Pavani TFA, Mengarda ACA, Cajas RA, Teixeira TR, Fukui-Silva L, Sun YU, Liu LJ, Amarasinghe DK, Yoon MC, Santos-Filho OA, de Moraes J, Caffrey CR, G G Rando D. Pharmacophore Virtual Screening Identifies Riboflavin as an Inhibitor of the Schistosome Cathepsin B1 Protease with Antiparasitic Activity. ACS OMEGA 2024; 9:25356-25369. [PMID: 38882094 PMCID: PMC11170711 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.4c03376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2024] [Revised: 05/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
Schistosomiasis is a neglected disease of poverty that affects over 200 million people worldwide and relies on a single drug for therapy. The cathepsin B1 cysteine protease (SmCB1) of Schistosoma mansoni has been investigated as a potential target. Here, a structure-based pharmacophore virtual screening (VS) approach was used on a data set of approved drugs to identify potential antischistosomal agents targeting SmCB1. Pharmacophore (PHP) models underwent validation through receiver operating characteristics curves achieving values >0.8. The data highlighted riboflavin (RBF) as a compound of particular interest. A 1 μs molecular dynamics simulation demonstrated that RBF altered the conformation of SmCB1, causing the protease's binding site to close around RBF while maintaining the protease's overall integrity. RBF inhibited the activity of SmCB1 at low micromolar values and killed the parasite in vitro. Finally, in a murine model of S. mansoni infection, oral administration of 100 mg/kg RBF for 7 days significantly decreased worm burdens by ∼20% and had a major impact on intestinal and fecal egg burdens, which were decreased by ∼80%.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramon M Cogo
- Universidade Federal de São Paulo-Campus Diadema, Curso de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Química da Unifesp, Rua São Nicolau 210, 2o andar, Centro, Diadema, São Paulo 09972-270, Brazil
| | - Thaís F A Pavani
- Universidade Federal de São Paulo-Campus Diadema, Curso de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Química da Unifesp, Rua São Nicolau 210, 2o andar, Centro, Diadema, São Paulo 09972-270, Brazil
| | - Ana C A Mengarda
- Universidade Guarulhos, Núcleo de Pesquisa em Doenças Negligenciadas-NPDN, Praça Tereza Cristina 88, Guarulhos 09972-270, Brazil
| | - Rayssa A Cajas
- Universidade Guarulhos, Núcleo de Pesquisa em Doenças Negligenciadas-NPDN, Praça Tereza Cristina 88, Guarulhos 09972-270, Brazil
| | - Thainá R Teixeira
- Universidade Guarulhos, Núcleo de Pesquisa em Doenças Negligenciadas-NPDN, Praça Tereza Cristina 88, Guarulhos 09972-270, Brazil
| | - Lucas Fukui-Silva
- Universidade Guarulhos, Núcleo de Pesquisa em Doenças Negligenciadas-NPDN, Praça Tereza Cristina 88, Guarulhos 09972-270, Brazil
| | - Yujie Uli Sun
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093-0021, United States
| | - Lawrence J Liu
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093-0021, United States
| | - Dilini K Amarasinghe
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093-0021, United States
| | - Michael C Yoon
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093-0021, United States
| | - Osvaldo A Santos-Filho
- Instituto de Pesquisas de Produtos Naturais Walter Mors, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Av. Carlos Chagas Filho, 373, Bloco H, Rio de Janeiro 21941-853, Brazil
| | - Josué de Moraes
- Universidade Guarulhos, Núcleo de Pesquisa em Doenças Negligenciadas-NPDN, Praça Tereza Cristina 88, Guarulhos 09972-270, Brazil
| | - Conor R Caffrey
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093-0021, United States
| | - Daniela G G Rando
- Grupo de Pesquisas Químico-Farmacêuticas da Unifesp, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences Rua São Nicolau, Universidade Federal de São Paulo-Campus Diadema, 210, 2o andar, Centro, Diadema, São Paulo 09972-270, Brazil
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Matoušková Z, Orsághová K, Srb P, Pytelková J, Kukačka Z, Buša M, Hajdušek O, Šíma R, Fábry M, Novák P, Horn M, Kopáček P, Mareš M. An Unusual Two-Domain Thyropin from Tick Saliva: NMR Solution Structure and Highly Selective Inhibition of Cysteine Cathepsins Modulated by Glycosaminoglycans. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2240. [PMID: 38396918 PMCID: PMC10889554 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25042240] [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: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The structure and biochemical properties of protease inhibitors from the thyropin family are poorly understood in parasites and pathogens. Here, we introduce a novel family member, Ir-thyropin (IrThy), which is secreted in the saliva of Ixodes ricinus ticks, vectors of Lyme borreliosis and tick-borne encephalitis. The IrThy molecule consists of two consecutive thyroglobulin type-1 (Tg1) domains with an unusual disulfide pattern. Recombinant IrThy was found to inhibit human host-derived cathepsin proteases with a high specificity for cathepsins V, K, and L among a wide range of screened cathepsins exhibiting diverse endo- and exopeptidase activities. Both Tg1 domains displayed inhibitory activities, but with distinct specificity profiles. We determined the spatial structure of one of the Tg1 domains by solution NMR spectroscopy and described its reactive center to elucidate the unique inhibitory specificity. Furthermore, we found that the inhibitory potency of IrThy was modulated in a complex manner by various glycosaminoglycans from host tissues. IrThy was additionally regulated by pH and proteolytic degradation. This study provides a comprehensive structure-function characterization of IrThy-the first investigated thyropin of parasite origin-and suggests its potential role in host-parasite interactions at the tick bite site.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zuzana Matoušková
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, 16610 Praha, Czech Republic; (Z.M.); (K.O.); (M.B.); (M.F.); (M.H.)
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Hlavova 8, 12800 Praha, Czech Republic
| | - Katarína Orsághová
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, 16610 Praha, Czech Republic; (Z.M.); (K.O.); (M.B.); (M.F.); (M.H.)
- First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Katerinska 32, 12108 Praha, Czech Republic
| | - Pavel Srb
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, 16610 Praha, Czech Republic; (Z.M.); (K.O.); (M.B.); (M.F.); (M.H.)
| | - Jana Pytelková
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, 16610 Praha, Czech Republic; (Z.M.); (K.O.); (M.B.); (M.F.); (M.H.)
| | - Zdeněk Kukačka
- Institute of Microbiology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prumyslova 595, 25250 Vestec, Czech Republic
| | - Michal Buša
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, 16610 Praha, Czech Republic; (Z.M.); (K.O.); (M.B.); (M.F.); (M.H.)
| | - Ondřej Hajdušek
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Branisovska 31, 37005 Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Radek Šíma
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Branisovska 31, 37005 Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
- Biopticka Laborator, Mikulasske Namesti 4, 32600 Plzen, Czech Republic
| | - Milan Fábry
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, 16610 Praha, Czech Republic; (Z.M.); (K.O.); (M.B.); (M.F.); (M.H.)
| | - Petr Novák
- Institute of Microbiology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prumyslova 595, 25250 Vestec, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Horn
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, 16610 Praha, Czech Republic; (Z.M.); (K.O.); (M.B.); (M.F.); (M.H.)
| | - Petr Kopáček
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Branisovska 31, 37005 Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Michael Mareš
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, 16610 Praha, Czech Republic; (Z.M.); (K.O.); (M.B.); (M.F.); (M.H.)
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4
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Giroud M, Kuhn B, Haap W. Drug Discovery Efforts to Identify Novel Treatments for Neglected Tropical Diseases - Cysteine Protease Inhibitors. Curr Med Chem 2024; 31:2170-2194. [PMID: 37916489 DOI: 10.2174/0109298673249097231017051733] [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: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neglected tropical diseases are a severe burden for mankind, affecting an increasing number of people around the globe. Many of those diseases are caused by protozoan parasites in which cysteine proteases play a key role in the parasite's pathogenesis. OBJECTIVE In this review article, we summarize the drug discovery efforts of the research community from 2017 - 2022 with a special focus on the optimization of small molecule cysteine protease inhibitors in terms of selectivity profiles or drug-like properties as well as in vivo studies. The cysteine proteases evaluated by this methodology include Cathepsin B1 from Schistosoma mansoni, papain, cruzain, falcipain, and rhodesain. METHODS Exhaustive literature searches were performed using the keywords "Cysteine Proteases" and "Neglected Tropical Diseases" including the years 2017 - 2022. Overall, approximately 3'000 scientific papers were retrieved, which were filtered using specific keywords enabling the focus on drug discovery efforts. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION Potent and selective cysteine protease inhibitors to treat neglected tropical diseases were identified, which progressed to pharmacokinetic and in vivo efficacy studies. As far as the authors are aware of, none of those inhibitors reached the stage of active clinical development. Either the inhibitor's potency or pharmacokinetic properties or safety profile or a combination thereof prevented further development of the compounds. More efforts with particular emphasis on optimizing pharmacokinetic and safety properties are needed, potentially by collaborations of academic and industrial research groups with complementary expertise. Furthermore, new warheads reacting with the catalytic cysteine should be exploited to advance the research field in order to make a meaningful impact on society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maude Giroud
- Pharma Research and Early Development pRED, Roche Innovation Center Basel, Medicinal Chemistry, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Grenzacherstrasse 124, Basel, CH-4070, Switzerland
| | - Bernd Kuhn
- Pharma Research and Early Development pRED, Roche Innovation Center Basel, Medicinal Chemistry, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Grenzacherstrasse 124, Basel, CH-4070, Switzerland
| | - Wolfgang Haap
- Pharma Research and Early Development pRED, Roche Innovation Center Basel, Medicinal Chemistry, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Grenzacherstrasse 124, Basel, CH-4070, Switzerland
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Dos Santos Nascimento IJ, Albino SL, da Silva Menezes KJ, de Azevedo Teotônio Cavalcanti M, de Oliveira MS, Mali SN, de Moura RO. Targeting SmCB1: Perspectives and Insights to Design Antischistosomal Drugs. Curr Med Chem 2024; 31:2264-2284. [PMID: 37921174 DOI: 10.2174/0109298673255826231011114249] [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: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are prevalent in tropical and subtropical countries, and schistosomiasis is among the most relevant diseases worldwide. In addition, one of the two biggest problems in developing drugs against this disease is related to drug resistance, which promotes the demand to develop new drug candidates for this purpose. Thus, one of the drug targets most explored, Schistosoma mansoni Cathepsin B1 (SmCB1 or Sm31), provides new opportunities in drug development due to its essential functions for the parasite's survival. In this way, here, the latest developments in drug design studies targeting SmCB1 were approached, focusing on the most promising analogs of nitrile, vinyl sulphones, and peptidomimetics. Thus, it was shown that despite being a disease known since ancient times, it remains prevalent throughout the world, with high mortality rates. The therapeutic arsenal of antischistosomal drugs (ASD) consists only of praziquantel, which is widely used for this purpose and has several advantages, such as efficacy and safety. However, it has limitations, such as the impossibility of acting on the immature worm and exploring new targets to overcome these limitations. SmCB1 shows its potential as a cysteine protease with a catalytic triad consisting of Cys100, His270, and Asn290. Thus, design studies of new inhibitors focus on their catalytic mechanism for designing new analogs. In fact, nitrile and sulfonamide analogs show the most significant potential in drug development, showing that these chemical groups can be better exploited in drug discovery against schistosomiasis. We hope this manuscript guides the authors in searching for promising new antischistosomal drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Igor José Dos Santos Nascimento
- Pharmacy Department, Cesmac University Center, Maceió, 57051-160, Brazil
- Laboratório de Desenvolvimento e Síntese de Fármacos, Departamento de Farmácia, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Campina Grande 58429-500, Brazil
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Campina Grande, 58429-500, Brazil
| | - Sonaly Lima Albino
- Laboratório de Desenvolvimento e Síntese de Fármacos, Departamento de Farmácia, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Campina Grande 58429-500, Brazil
| | - Karla Joane da Silva Menezes
- Laboratório de Desenvolvimento e Síntese de Fármacos, Departamento de Farmácia, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Campina Grande 58429-500, Brazil
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Campina Grande, 58429-500, Brazil
| | - Misael de Azevedo Teotônio Cavalcanti
- Laboratório de Desenvolvimento e Síntese de Fármacos, Departamento de Farmácia, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Campina Grande 58429-500, Brazil
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Campina Grande, 58429-500, Brazil
| | - Mozaniel Santana de Oliveira
- Coordination of Botany-Laboratory Adolpho Ducke, Avenida Perimetral, Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi, 1901, Belém, 66077-530, PA Brazil
| | - Suraj N Mali
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technology, Institute of Chemical Technology, Matunga East, Mumbai, 400019, India
| | - Ricardo Olimpio de Moura
- Laboratório de Desenvolvimento e Síntese de Fármacos, Departamento de Farmácia, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Campina Grande 58429-500, Brazil
- Programa de Pós Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Campina Grande, 58429-500, Brazil
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6
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Benýšek J, Buša M, Rubešová P, Fanfrlík J, Lepšík M, Brynda J, Matoušková Z, Bartz U, Horn M, Gütschow M, Mareš M. Highly potent inhibitors of cathepsin K with a differently positioned cyanohydrazide warhead: structural analysis of binding mode to mature and zymogen-like enzymes. J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem 2022; 37:515-526. [PMID: 35144520 PMCID: PMC8843313 DOI: 10.1080/14756366.2021.2024527] [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: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Cathepsin K (CatK) is a target for the treatment of osteoporosis, arthritis, and bone metastasis. Peptidomimetics with a cyanohydrazide warhead represent a new class of highly potent CatK inhibitors; however, their binding mechanism is unknown. We investigated two model cyanohydrazide inhibitors with differently positioned warheads: an azadipeptide nitrile Gü1303 and a 3-cyano-3-aza-β-amino acid Gü2602. Crystal structures of their covalent complexes were determined with mature CatK as well as a zymogen-like activation intermediate of CatK. Binding mode analysis, together with quantum chemical calculations, revealed that the extraordinary picomolar potency of Gü2602 is entropically favoured by its conformational flexibility at the nonprimed-primed subsites boundary. Furthermore, we demonstrated by live cell imaging that cyanohydrazides effectively target mature CatK in osteosarcoma cells. Cyanohydrazides also suppressed the maturation of CatK by inhibiting the autoactivation of the CatK zymogen. Our results provide structural insights for the rational design of cyanohydrazide inhibitors of CatK as potential drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakub Benýšek
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic.,First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Michal Buša
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic.,Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Petra Rubešová
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jindřich Fanfrlík
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Lepšík
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Brynda
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Zuzana Matoušková
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Ulrike Bartz
- Department of Natural Sciences, University of Applied Sciences Bonn-Rhein-Sieg, Rheinbach, Germany
| | - Martin Horn
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Michael Gütschow
- Pharmaceutical Institute, Pharmaceutical & Medicinal Chemistry, University of Bonn, Germany
| | - Michael Mareš
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
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7
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Moreira-Filho JT, Silva AC, Dantas RF, Gomes BF, Souza Neto LR, Brandao-Neto J, Owens RJ, Furnham N, Neves BJ, Silva-Junior FP, Andrade CH. Schistosomiasis Drug Discovery in the Era of Automation and Artificial Intelligence. Front Immunol 2021; 12:642383. [PMID: 34135888 PMCID: PMC8203334 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.642383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease caused by trematode worms of the genus Schistosoma and affects over 200 million people worldwide. The control and treatment of this neglected tropical disease is based on a single drug, praziquantel, which raises concerns about the development of drug resistance. This, and the lack of efficacy of praziquantel against juvenile worms, highlights the urgency for new antischistosomal therapies. In this review we focus on innovative approaches to the identification of antischistosomal drug candidates, including the use of automated assays, fragment-based screening, computer-aided and artificial intelligence-based computational methods. We highlight the current developments that may contribute to optimizing research outputs and lead to more effective drugs for this highly prevalent disease, in a more cost-effective drug discovery endeavor.
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Affiliation(s)
- José T. Moreira-Filho
- LabMol – Laboratory for Molecular Modeling and Drug Design, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Goiás – UFG, Goiânia, Brazil
| | - Arthur C. Silva
- LabMol – Laboratory for Molecular Modeling and Drug Design, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Goiás – UFG, Goiânia, Brazil
| | - Rafael F. Dantas
- LaBECFar – Laboratório de Bioquímica Experimental e Computacional de Fármacos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Barbara F. Gomes
- LaBECFar – Laboratório de Bioquímica Experimental e Computacional de Fármacos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Lauro R. Souza Neto
- LaBECFar – Laboratório de Bioquímica Experimental e Computacional de Fármacos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Jose Brandao-Neto
- Diamond Light Source Ltd., Didcot, United Kingdom
- Research Complex at Harwell, Didcot, United Kingdom
| | - Raymond J. Owens
- The Rosalind Franklin Institute, Harwell, United Kingdom
- Division of Structural Biology, The Wellcome Centre for Human Genetic, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Nicholas Furnham
- Department of Infection Biology, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Bruno J. Neves
- LabMol – Laboratory for Molecular Modeling and Drug Design, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Goiás – UFG, Goiânia, Brazil
| | - Floriano P. Silva-Junior
- LaBECFar – Laboratório de Bioquímica Experimental e Computacional de Fármacos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Carolina H. Andrade
- LabMol – Laboratory for Molecular Modeling and Drug Design, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Goiás – UFG, Goiânia, Brazil
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8
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Ulrychová L, Ostašov P, Chanová M, Mareš M, Horn M, Dvořák J. Spatial expression pattern of serine proteases in the blood fluke Schistosoma mansoni determined by fluorescence RNA in situ hybridization. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:274. [PMID: 34022917 PMCID: PMC8140508 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-04773-8] [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: 01/28/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The blood flukes of genus Schistosoma are the causative agent of schistosomiasis, a parasitic disease that infects more than 200 million people worldwide. Proteases of schistosomes are involved in critical steps of host–parasite interactions and are promising therapeutic targets. We recently identified and characterized a group of S1 family Schistosoma mansoni serine proteases, including SmSP1 to SmSP5. Expression levels of some SmSPs in S. mansoni are low, and by standard genome sequencing technologies they are marginally detectable at the method threshold levels. Here, we report their spatial gene expression patterns in adult S. mansoni by the high-sensitivity localization assay. Methodology Highly sensitive fluorescence in situ RNA hybridization (FISH) was modified and used for the localization of mRNAs encoding individual SmSP proteases (including low-expressed SmSPs) in tissues of adult worms. High sensitivity was obtained due to specifically prepared tissue and probes in combination with the employment of a signal amplification approach. The assay method was validated by detecting the expression patterns of a set of relevant reference genes including SmCB1, SmPOP, SmTSP-2, and Sm29 with localization formerly determined by other techniques. Results FISH analysis revealed interesting expression patterns of SmSPs distributed in multiple tissues of S. mansoni adults. The expression patterns of individual SmSPs were distinct but in part overlapping and were consistent with existing transcriptome sequencing data. The exception were genes with significantly low expression, which were also localized in tissues where they had not previously been detected by RNA sequencing methods. In general, SmSPs were found in various tissues including reproductive organs, parenchymal cells, esophagus, and the tegumental surface. Conclusions The FISH-based assay provided spatial information about the expression of five SmSPs in adult S. mansoni females and males. This highly sensitive method allowed visualization of low-abundantly expressed genes that are below the detection limits of standard in situ hybridization or by RNA sequencing. Thus, this technical approach turned out to be suitable for sensitive localization studies and may also be applicable for other trematodes. The results suggest that SmSPs may play roles in diverse processes of the parasite. Certain SmSPs expressed at the surface may be involved in host–parasite interactions. Graphic abstract ![]()
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13071-021-04773-8.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lenka Ulrychová
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, 16610, Prague, Czech Republic.,Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, 12844, Prague 2, Czech Republic
| | - Pavel Ostašov
- Biomedical Center, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University, Alej Svobody 1655/76, 32300, Pilsen, Czech Republic
| | - Marta Chanová
- Institute of Immunology and Microbiology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague, Studničkova 2028/7, 12800, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Michael Mareš
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, 16610, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Horn
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, 16610, Prague, Czech Republic.
| | - Jan Dvořák
- Department of Zoology and Fisheries, Centre of Infectious Animal Diseases, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague, Kamýcká 129, 16500, Prague 6, Czech Republic.
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9
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Jílková A, Rubešová P, Fanfrlík J, Fajtová P, Řezáčová P, Brynda J, Lepšík M, Mertlíková-Kaiserová H, Emal CD, Renslo AR, Roush WR, Horn M, Caffrey CR, Mareš M. Druggable Hot Spots in the Schistosomiasis Cathepsin B1 Target Identified by Functional and Binding Mode Analysis of Potent Vinyl Sulfone Inhibitors. ACS Infect Dis 2021; 7:1077-1088. [PMID: 33175511 PMCID: PMC8154419 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.0c00501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
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Schistosomiasis, a parasitic disease
caused by blood flukes of
the genus Schistosoma, is a global health problem
with over 200 million people infected. Treatment relies on just one
drug, and new chemotherapies are needed. Schistosoma mansoni cathepsin B1 (SmCB1) is a critical peptidase for the digestion of
host blood proteins and a validated drug target. We screened a library
of peptidomimetic vinyl sulfones against SmCB1 and identified the
most potent SmCB1 inhibitors reported to date that are active in the
subnanomolar range with second order rate constants (k2nd) of ∼2 × 105 M–1 s–1. High resolution crystal structures of the
two best inhibitors in complex with SmCB1 were determined. Quantum
chemical calculations of their respective binding modes identified
critical hot spot interactions in the S1′ and S2 subsites.
The most potent inhibitor targets the S1′ subsite with an N-hydroxysulfonic amide moiety and displays favorable functional
properties, including bioactivity against the pathogen, selectivity
for SmCB1 over human cathepsin B, and reasonable metabolic stability.
Our results provide structural insights for the rational design of
next-generation SmCB1 inhibitors as potential drugs to treat schistosomiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adéla Jílková
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, 16610 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Petra Rubešová
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, 16610 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jindřich Fanfrlík
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, 16610 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Pavla Fajtová
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, 16610 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Pavlína Řezáčová
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, 16610 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Brynda
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, 16610 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Lepšík
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, 16610 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Helena Mertlíková-Kaiserová
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, 16610 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Cory D. Emal
- Eastern Michigan University, 541 Mark Jefferson, Ypsilanti, Michigan 48197, United States
| | - Adam R. Renslo
- University of California San Francisco, 600 16th Street, San Francisco, California 94143, United States
| | - William R. Roush
- The Scripps Research Institute, 130 Scripps Way, Jupiter, Florida 33458, United States
| | - Martin Horn
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, 16610 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Conor R. Caffrey
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Michael Mareš
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, 16610 Prague, Czech Republic
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10
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Jílková A, Horn M, Fanfrlík J, Küppers J, Pachl P, Řezáčová P, Lepšík M, Fajtová P, Rubešová P, Chanová M, Caffrey CR, Gütschow M, Mareš M. Azanitrile Inhibitors of the SmCB1 Protease Target Are Lethal to Schistosoma mansoni: Structural and Mechanistic Insights into Chemotype Reactivity. ACS Infect Dis 2021; 7:189-201. [PMID: 33301315 PMCID: PMC7802074 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.0c00644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
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Azapeptide
nitriles are postulated to reversibly covalently react
with the active-site cysteine residue of cysteine proteases and form
isothiosemicarbazide adducts. We investigated the interaction of azadipeptide
nitriles with the cathepsin B1 drug target (SmCB1) from Schistosoma
mansoni, a pathogen that causes the global neglected disease
schistosomiasis. Azadipeptide nitriles were superior inhibitors of
SmCB1 over their parent carba analogs. We determined the crystal structure
of SmCB1 in complex with an azadipeptide nitrile and analyzed the
reaction mechanism using quantum chemical calculations. The data demonstrate
that azadipeptide nitriles, in contrast to their carba counterparts,
undergo a change from E- to Z-configuration
upon binding, which gives rise to a highly favorable energy profile
of noncovalent and covalent complex formation. Finally, azadipeptide
nitriles were considerably more lethal than their carba analogs against
the schistosome pathogen in culture, supporting the further development
of this chemotype as a treatment for schistosomiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adéla Jílková
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, 16610 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Horn
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, 16610 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Jindřich Fanfrlík
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, 16610 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Jim Küppers
- Pharmaceutical Institute, Pharmaceutical & Medicinal Chemistry, University of Bonn, An der Immenburg 4, 53121 Bonn, Germany
| | - Petr Pachl
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, 16610 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Pavlína Řezáčová
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, 16610 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Lepšík
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, 16610 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Pavla Fajtová
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, 16610 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Petra Rubešová
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, 16610 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Marta Chanová
- Institute of Immunology and Microbiology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague, Studničkova 2028/7, 12800 Prague 2, Czech Republic
| | - Conor R. Caffrey
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases (CDIPD), Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Michael Gütschow
- Pharmaceutical Institute, Pharmaceutical & Medicinal Chemistry, University of Bonn, An der Immenburg 4, 53121 Bonn, Germany
| | - Michael Mareš
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, 16610 Prague 6, Czech Republic
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11
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Zhu B, Luo F, Shen Y, Yang W, Sun C, Wang J, Li J, Mo X, Xu B, Zhang X, Li Y, Hu W. Schistosoma japonicum cathepsin B2 (SjCB2) facilitates parasite invasion through the skin. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0008810. [PMID: 33104723 PMCID: PMC7644097 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2020] [Revised: 11/05/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Cercariae invasion of the human skin is the first step in schistosome infection. Proteases play key roles in this process. However, little is known about the related hydrolytic enzymes in Schistosoma japonicum. Here, we investigated the biochemical features, tissue distribution and biological roles of a cathepsin B cysteine protease, SjCB2, in the invasion process of S. japonicum cercariae. Enzyme activity analysis revealed that recombinant SjCB2 is a typical cysteine protease with optimum temperature and pH for activity at 37°C and 4.0, respectively, and can be totally inhibited by the cysteine protease inhibitor E-64. Immunoblotting showed that both the zymogen (50 kDa) and mature enzyme (30.5 kDa) forms of SjCB2 are expressed in the cercariae. It was observed that SjCB2 localized predominantly in the acetabular glands and their ducts of cercariae, suggesting that the protease could be released during the invasion process. The protease degraded collagen, elastin, keratin, fibronectin, immunoglobulin (A, G and M) and complement C3, protein components of the dermis and immune system. In addition, proteomic analysis demonstrated that SjCB2 can degrade the human epidermis. Furthermore, it was showed that anti-rSjCB2 IgG significantly reduced (22.94%) the ability of the cercariae to invade the skin. The cysteine protease, SjCB2, located in the acetabular glands and their ducts of S. japonicum cercariae. We propose that SjCB2 facilitates skin invasion by degrading the major proteins of the epidermis and dermis. However, this cysteine protease may play additional roles in host-parasite interaction by degrading immunoglobins and complement protein. Schistosomiasis is one of the most prevalent parasitic diseases in the world, with about 200 million humans infected in 74 tropical countries. The infection of schistosome is initiated when the larvae, cercariae, penetrate the human skin. Proteolytic enzymes are likely involved in the invasion process, but these have yet to be characterized for S. japonicum. Here, we have functionally expressed a recombinant form of the cathepsin B cysteine protease SjCB2 in the yeast Pichia pastoris. Our study showed that SjCB2 degraded a number of proteins associated with the skin and immune systems, and disrupted the structure of the human epidermis. The enzyme was located in the acetabular glands and their ducts in the cercariae, where it would be stored before released into the skin. Antibody-blocking studies revealed that SjCB2 had a 22.94% contribution during the cercariae invasion process. Taken together, our findings suggest that SjCB2 helped cercariae penetrating the skin barrier and evading the immune attack to allow successful infection in the mammalian host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bingkuan Zhu
- Department of infectious diseases, Huashan Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, School of Life Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Fang Luo
- Department of infectious diseases, Huashan Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, School of Life Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yi Shen
- Department of infectious diseases, Huashan Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, School of Life Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wenbin Yang
- Department of infectious diseases, Huashan Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, School of Life Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Chengsong Sun
- Department of infectious diseases, Huashan Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, School of Life Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jipeng Wang
- Department of infectious diseases, Huashan Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, School of Life Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jian Li
- Dermatology Department, Huashan Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaojin Mo
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology of China Ministry of Health, WHO Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases, Joint Research Laboratory of Genetics and Ecology on Parasite-host Interaction, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention & Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Bin Xu
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology of China Ministry of Health, WHO Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases, Joint Research Laboratory of Genetics and Ecology on Parasite-host Interaction, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention & Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xumin Zhang
- Department of infectious diseases, Huashan Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, School of Life Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yongdong Li
- Key Laboratory of Organo-Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Gannan Normal University, Ganzhou, China
- * E-mail: (YL); (WH)
| | - Wei Hu
- Department of infectious diseases, Huashan Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, School of Life Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology of China Ministry of Health, WHO Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases, Joint Research Laboratory of Genetics and Ecology on Parasite-host Interaction, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention & Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- * E-mail: (YL); (WH)
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12
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Dvořáková H, Leontovyč R, Macháček T, O'Donoghue AJ, Šedo O, Zdráhal Z, Craik CS, Caffrey CR, Horák P, Mikeš L. Isoforms of Cathepsin B1 in Neurotropic Schistosomula of Trichobilharzia regenti Differ in Substrate Preferences and a Highly Expressed Catalytically Inactive Paralog Binds Cystatin. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020; 10:66. [PMID: 32175287 PMCID: PMC7054455 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.00066] [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: 09/30/2019] [Accepted: 02/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Schistosomula (the post-infective stages) of the neurotropic schistosome Trichobilharzia regenti possess multiple isoforms of cathepsin B1 peptidase (TrCB1.1-TrCB1.6) with involvement in nutrient digestion. The comparison of substrate preferences of TrCB1.1 and TrCB1.4 showed that TrCB1.4 had a very narrow substrate specificity and after processing it was less effective toward protein substrates when compared to TrCB1.1. Self-processing of both isoforms could be facilitated by sulfated polysaccharides due to a specific binding motif in the pro-sequence. Trans-activation by heterologous enzymes was also successfully employed. Expression profiling revealed a high level of transcription of genes encoding the enzymatically inactive paralogs TrCB1.5 and TrCB1.6. The transcription level of TrCB1.6 was comparable with that of TrCB1.1 and TrCB1.2, the most abundant active isoforms. Recombinant TrCB1.6wt, a wild type paralog with a Cys29-to-Gly substitution in the active site that renders the enzyme inactive, was processed by the active TrCB1 forms and by an asparaginyl endopeptidase. Although TrCB1.6wt lacked hydrolytic activity, endopeptidase, but not dipeptidase, activity could be restored by mutating Gly29 to Cys29. The lack of exopeptidase activity may be due to other mutations, such as His110-to-Asn in the occluding loop and Asp224-to-Gly in the main body of the mature TrCB1.6, which do not occur in the active isoforms TrCB1.1 and TrCB1.4 with exopeptidase activity. The catalytically active enzymes and the inactive TrCB1.6 paralog formed complexes with chicken cystatin, thus supporting experimentally the hypothesis that inactive paralogs could potentially regulate the activity of the active forms or protect them from being inhibited by host inhibitors. The effect on cell viability and nitric oxide production by selected immune cells observed for TrCB1.1 was not confirmed for TrCB1.6. We show here that the active isoforms of TrCB1 have different affinities for peptide substrates thereby facilitating diversity in protein-derived nutrition for the parasite. The inactive paralogs are unexpectedly highly expressed and one of them retains the ability to bind cystatins, likely due to specific mutations in the occluding loop and the enzyme body. This suggests a role in sequestration of inhibitors and protection of active cysteine peptidases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hana Dvořáková
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Roman Leontovyč
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Tomáš Macháček
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Anthony J. O'Donoghue
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Ondřej Šedo
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Zbyněk Zdráhal
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Charles S. Craik
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Conor R. Caffrey
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Department of Pathology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Petr Horák
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Libor Mikeš
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
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13
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Abstract
Schistosomiasis caused by parasitic blood flukes of the genus Schistosoma is a global health problem with over 200 million people infected. Schistosoma mansoni cathepsin B1 (SmCB1) is a gut-associated protease critical for digestion of host blood proteins as a source of nutrients. SmCB1 is a validated drug target, and inhibitors of SmCB1 represent promising anti-schistosomals. A comprehensive structural and functional characterization of SmCB1 provides a starting point for the rational design of selective and potent SmCB1 inhibitors. Here, we report optimized protocols for (1) the production of recombinant SmCB1 in the Pichia pastoris expression system and its purification, (2) the measurement of SmCB1 activity and inhibition in a kinetic fluorescence assay, and (3) the preparation and crystallization of SmCB1 in complex with a model vinyl sulfone inhibitor, and the determination of its crystal structure.
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14
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Biswal DK, Roychowdhury T, Pandey P, Tandon V. De novo genome and transcriptome analyses provide insights into the biology of the trematode human parasite Fasciolopsis buski. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0205570. [PMID: 30325945 PMCID: PMC6191129 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0205570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2018] [Accepted: 09/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Many trematode parasites cause infection in humans and are thought to be a major public health problem. Their ecological diversity in different regions provides challenging questions on evolution of these organisms. In this report, we perform transcriptome analysis of the giant intestinal fluke, Fasciolopsis buski, using next generation sequencing technology. Short read sequences derived from polyA containing RNA of this organism were assembled into 30,677 unigenes that led to the annotation of 12,380 genes. Annotation of the assembled transcripts enabled insight into processes and pathways in the intestinal fluke, such as RNAi pathway and energy metabolism. The expressed kinome of the organism was characterized by identifying all protein kinases. A rough draft genome assembly for Fasciolopsis buski is also reported herewith with SRA accessions for crosschecking the findings in the analyzed transcriptome data. Transcriptome data also helped us to identify some of the expressed transposable elements. Though many Long Interspersed elements (LINEs) were identified, only two Short Interspersed Elements (SINEs) were visible. Overall transcriptome and draft genome analysis of F. buski helped us to characterize some of its important biological characteristics and provided enormous resources for development of a suitable diagnostic system and anti-parasitic therapeutic molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tanmoy Roychowdhury
- School of Computational and Integrative Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | - Priyatama Pandey
- School of Computational and Integrative Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | - Veena Tandon
- Department of Zoology, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong, Meghalaya, India
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15
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Caffrey CR, Goupil L, Rebello KM, Dalton JP, Smith D. Cysteine proteases as digestive enzymes in parasitic helminths. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2018; 12:e0005840. [PMID: 30138310 PMCID: PMC6107103 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
We briefly review cysteine proteases (orthologs of mammalian cathepsins B, L, F, and C) that are expressed in flatworm and nematode parasites. Emphasis is placed on enzyme activities that have been functionally characterized, are associated with the parasite gut, and putatively contribute to degrading host proteins to absorbable nutrients [1–4]. Often, gut proteases are expressed as multigene families, as is the case with Fasciola [5] and Haemonchus [6], presumably expanding the range of substrates that can be degraded, not least during parasite migration through host tissues [5]. The application of the free-living planarian and Caenorhabditis elegans as investigative models for parasite cysteine proteases is discussed. Finally, because of their central nutritive contribution, targeting the component gut proteases with small-molecule chemical inhibitors and understanding their utility as vaccine candidates are active areas of research [7].
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Affiliation(s)
- Conor R. Caffrey
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Louise Goupil
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
- Department of Biology, University of San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Karina M. Rebello
- Laboratório de Toxinologia and Laboratório de Estudos Integrados em Protozoologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - John P. Dalton
- School of Biological Sciences, Medical Biology Centre, Queen´s University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - David Smith
- School of Biological Sciences, Medical Biology Centre, Queen´s University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
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16
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Marine glycosaminoglycan-like carbohydrates as potential drug candidates for infectious disease. Biochem Soc Trans 2018; 46:919-929. [PMID: 30026370 DOI: 10.1042/bst20170404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2018] [Revised: 04/27/2018] [Accepted: 05/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), present in the extracellular matrix, are exploited by numerous, distinct microbes for cellular attachment, adhesion, invasion and evasion of the host immune system. Glycosaminoglycans, including the widely used, clinical anticoagulant heparin and semi-synthetic analogues thereof, have been reported to inhibit and disrupt interactions between microbial proteins and carbohydrates present on the surface of host cells. However, the anticoagulant properties of unmodified, pharmaceutical heparin preparations preclude their capabilities as therapeutics for infectious disease states. Here, unique Glycosaminoglycan-like saccharides from various, distinct marine species are reported for their potential use as therapeutics against infectious diseases; many of which possess highly attenuated anticoagulant activities, while retaining significant antimicrobial properties.
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17
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Rocha JA, Rego NCS, Carvalho BTS, Silva FI, Sousa JA, Ramos RM, Passos ING, de Moraes J, Leite JRSA, Lima FCA. Computational quantum chemistry, molecular docking, and ADMET predictions of imidazole alkaloids of Pilocarpus microphyllus with schistosomicidal properties. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0198476. [PMID: 29944674 PMCID: PMC6019389 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0198476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2018] [Accepted: 05/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Schistosomiasis affects million people and its control is widely dependent on a single drug, praziquantel. Computational chemistry has led to the development of new tools that predict molecular properties related to pharmacological potential. We conducted a theoretical study of the imizadole alkaloids of Pilocarpus microphyllus (Rutaceae) with schistosomicidal properties. The molecules of epiisopiloturine, epiisopilosine, isopilosine, pilosine, and macaubine were evaluated using theory models (B3lyp/SDD, B3lyp/6-31+G(d,p), B3lyp/6-311++G(d,p)). Absorption, distribution, metabolization, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) predictions were used to determine the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of the alkaloids. After optimization, the molecules were submitted to molecular docking calculations with the purine nucleoside phosphorylase, thioredoxin glutathione reductase, methylthioadenosine phosphorylase, arginase, uridine phosphorylase, Cathepsin B1 and histone deacetylase 8 enzymes, which are possible targets of Schistosoma mansoni. The results showed that B3lyp/6-311++G(d,p) was the optimal model to describe the properties studied. Thermodynamic analysis showed that epiisopiloturine and epiisopilosine were the most stable isomers; however, the epiisopilosine ligand achieved a superior interaction with the enzymes studied in the molecular docking experiments, which corroborated the results of previous experimental studies on schistosomiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jefferson A. Rocha
- The Postgraduate Program of the Northeast Network of Biotechnology, RENORBIO, Focal Point UFPI, Teresina, Piauí, Brazil
- Research Group in Natural Sciences and Biotechnology, Federal University of Maranhão, CIENATEC / UFMA, Grajaú, MA, Brazil
- Research Group in Computational Quantum Chemistry & Pharmaceutical Planning, State University of Piauí, GPQQ&PF / UESPI, Teresina, PI, Brazil
| | - Nayra C. S. Rego
- The Postgraduate Program of the Northeast Network of Biotechnology, RENORBIO, Focal Point UFPI, Teresina, Piauí, Brazil
- Research Group in Computational Quantum Chemistry & Pharmaceutical Planning, State University of Piauí, GPQQ&PF / UESPI, Teresina, PI, Brazil
| | - Bruna T. S. Carvalho
- Research Group in Computational Quantum Chemistry & Pharmaceutical Planning, State University of Piauí, GPQQ&PF / UESPI, Teresina, PI, Brazil
| | - Francisco I. Silva
- Research Group in Computational Quantum Chemistry & Pharmaceutical Planning, State University of Piauí, GPQQ&PF / UESPI, Teresina, PI, Brazil
| | - Jose A. Sousa
- Research Group in Computational Quantum Chemistry & Pharmaceutical Planning, State University of Piauí, GPQQ&PF / UESPI, Teresina, PI, Brazil
| | - Ricardo M. Ramos
- Research Laboratory in Information Systems, Department of Information, Environment, Health and Food Production, Federal Institute of Piauí, LAPESI / IFPI, Teresina, PI, Brazil
| | - Ionara N. G. Passos
- Research Group in Natural Sciences and Biotechnology, Federal University of Maranhão, CIENATEC / UFMA, Grajaú, MA, Brazil
| | - Josué de Moraes
- Research Center for Neglected Diseases, Guarulhos University, NPDN / UNG, Guarulhos, SP, Brazil
| | - Jose R. S. A. Leite
- Area Morphology, Faculty of Medicine, Campus Darcy Ribeiro, University of Brasília, UnB, Brasília, DF, Brazil
| | - Francisco C. A. Lima
- The Postgraduate Program of the Northeast Network of Biotechnology, RENORBIO, Focal Point UFPI, Teresina, Piauí, Brazil
- Research Group in Computational Quantum Chemistry & Pharmaceutical Planning, State University of Piauí, GPQQ&PF / UESPI, Teresina, PI, Brazil
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18
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Leontovyč A, Ulrychová L, O’Donoghue AJ, Vondrášek J, Marešová L, Hubálek M, Fajtová P, Chanová M, Jiang Z, Craik CS, Caffrey CR, Mareš M, Dvořák J, Horn M. SmSP2: A serine protease secreted by the blood fluke pathogen Schistosoma mansoni with anti-hemostatic properties. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2018; 12:e0006446. [PMID: 29677188 PMCID: PMC5931690 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2017] [Revised: 05/02/2018] [Accepted: 04/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Serine proteases are important virulence factors for many pathogens. Recently, we discovered a group of trypsin-like serine proteases with domain organization unique to flatworm parasites and containing a thrombospondin type 1 repeat (TSR-1). These proteases are recognized as antigens during host infection and may prove useful as anthelminthic vaccines, however their molecular characteristics are under-studied. Here, we characterize the structural and proteolytic attributes of serine protease 2 (SmSP2) from Schistosoma mansoni, one of the major species responsible for the tropical infectious disease, schistosomiasis. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS SmSP2 comprises three domains: a histidine stretch, TSR-1 and a serine protease domain. The cleavage specificity of recombinant SmSP2 was determined using positional scanning and multiplex combinatorial libraries and the determinants of specificity were identified with 3D homology models, demonstrating a trypsin-like endopeptidase mode of action. SmSP2 displayed restricted proteolysis on protein substrates. It activated tissue plasminogen activator and plasminogen as key components of the fibrinolytic system, and released the vasoregulatory peptide, kinin, from kininogen. SmSP2 was detected in the surface tegument, esophageal glands and reproductive organs of the adult parasite by immunofluorescence microscopy, and in the excretory/secretory products by immunoblotting. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE The data suggest that SmSP2 is secreted, functions at the host-parasite interface and contributes to the survival of the parasite by manipulating host vasodilatation and fibrinolysis. SmSP2 may be, therefore, a potential target for anti-schistosomal therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian Leontovyč
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
- First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Lenka Ulrychová
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Anthony J. O’Donoghue
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States of America
| | - Jiří Vondrášek
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Lucie Marešová
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Hubálek
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Pavla Fajtová
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
- First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Marta Chanová
- Institute of Immunology and Microbiology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Zhenze Jiang
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States of America
| | - Charles S. Craik
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States of America
| | - Conor R. Caffrey
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States of America
| | - Michael Mareš
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Dvořák
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
- Department of Zoology and Fisheries, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
- * E-mail: (MH); (JD)
| | - Martin Horn
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
- * E-mail: (MH); (JD)
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19
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Hánová I, Brynda J, Houštecká R, Alam N, Sojka D, Kopáček P, Marešová L, Vondrášek J, Horn M, Schueler-Furman O, Mareš M. Novel Structural Mechanism of Allosteric Regulation of Aspartic Peptidases via an Evolutionarily Conserved Exosite. Cell Chem Biol 2018; 25:318-329.e4. [PMID: 29396291 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2018.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2017] [Revised: 12/04/2017] [Accepted: 12/28/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Pepsin-family aspartic peptidases are biosynthesized as inactive zymogens in which the propeptide blocks the active site until its proteolytic removal upon enzyme activation. Here, we describe a novel dual regulatory function for the propeptide using a set of crystal structures of the parasite cathepsin D IrCD1. In the IrCD1 zymogen, intramolecular autoinhibition by the intact propeptide is mediated by an evolutionarily conserved exosite on the enzyme core. After activation, the mature enzyme employs the same exosite to rebind a small fragment derived from the cleaved propeptide. This fragment functions as an effective natural inhibitor of mature IrCD1 that operates in a pH-dependent manner through a unique allosteric inhibition mechanism. The study uncovers the propeptide-binding exosite as a target for the regulation of pepsin-family aspartic peptidases and defines the structural requirements for exosite inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iva Hánová
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, 16610 Prague, Czech Republic; Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Charles University, 12840 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Brynda
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, 16610 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Radka Houštecká
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, 16610 Prague, Czech Republic; First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, 12108 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Nawsad Alam
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Institute for Biomedical Research IMRIC, Hebrew University, Hadassah Medical School, 91120 Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Daniel Sojka
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 37005 Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Kopáček
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 37005 Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Lucie Marešová
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, 16610 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Vondrášek
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, 16610 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Horn
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, 16610 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Ora Schueler-Furman
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Institute for Biomedical Research IMRIC, Hebrew University, Hadassah Medical School, 91120 Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Michael Mareš
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, 16610 Prague, Czech Republic.
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20
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Siricoon S, Vichasri Grams S, Lertwongvisarn K, Abdullohfakeeyah M, Smooker PM, Grams R. Fasciola gigantica cathepsin B5 is an acidic endo- and exopeptidase of the immature and mature parasite. Biochimie 2015; 119:6-15. [PMID: 26453811 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2015.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2015] [Accepted: 10/05/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Cysteine proteases of the liver fluke Fasciola have been described as essential molecules in the infection process of the mammalian host. Destinct cathepsin Bs, which are already expressed in the metacercarial stage and released by the newly excysted juvenile are major actors in this process. Following infection their expression is stopped and the proteins will not be detectable any longer after the first month of development. On the contrary, the novel cathepsin B5 of Fasciola gigantica (FgCB5) described in this work was also found expressed in later juvenile stages and the mature worm. Like all previously described Fasciola family members it was located in the cecal epithelium of the parasite. Western blot analysis of adult antigen preparations detected procathepsin B5 in crude worm extract and in small amounts in the ES product. In support of these data, the sera of infected rabbits and mice were reactive with recombinant FgCB5 in Western blot and ELISA. Biochemical analysis of yeast-expressed FgCB5 revealed that it has properties of a lysosomal hydrolase optimized for activity at acid pH and that it is able to efficiently digest a broad spectrum of host proteins. Unlike previously characterized Fasciola family members FgCB5 carries a histidine doublet in the occluding loop equivalent to residues His110 and His111 of human mature cathepsin B and consequently showed substantial carboxydipeptidyl activity which depends on these two residues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sinee Siricoon
- Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Thammasat University, Pathumthani, Thailand
| | | | | | | | - Peter M Smooker
- School of Applied Sciences, RMIT University, Bundoora, Victoria 3083, Australia
| | - Rudi Grams
- Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Thammasat University, Pathumthani, Thailand.
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21
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Fajtová P, Štefanić S, Hradilek M, Dvořák J, Vondrášek J, Jílková A, Ulrychová L, McKerrow JH, Caffrey CR, Mareš M, Horn M. Prolyl Oligopeptidase from the Blood Fluke Schistosoma mansoni: From Functional Analysis to Anti-schistosomal Inhibitors. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2015; 9:e0003827. [PMID: 26039195 PMCID: PMC4454677 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2015] [Accepted: 05/12/2015] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Blood flukes of the genus Schistosoma cause schistosomiasis, a parasitic disease that infects over 240 million people worldwide, and for which there is a need to identify new targets for chemotherapeutic interventions. Our research is focused on Schistosoma mansoni prolyl oligopeptidase (SmPOP) from the serine peptidase family S9, which has not been investigated in detail in trematodes. Methodology/Principal Findings We demonstrate that SmPOP is expressed in adult worms and schistosomula in an enzymatically active form. By immunofluorescence microscopy, SmPOP is localized in the tegument and parenchyma of both developmental stages. Recombinant SmPOP was produced in Escherichia coli and its active site specificity investigated using synthetic substrate and inhibitor libraries, and by homology modeling. SmPOP is a true oligopeptidase that hydrolyzes peptide (but not protein) substrates with a strict specificity for Pro at P1. The inhibition profile is analogous to those for mammalian POPs. Both the recombinant enzyme and live worms cleave host vasoregulatory, proline-containing hormones such as angiotensin I and bradykinin. Finally, we designed nanomolar inhibitors of SmPOP that induce deleterious phenotypes in cultured schistosomes. Conclusions/Significance We provide the first localization and functional analysis of SmPOP together with chemical tools for measuring its activity. We briefly discuss the notion that SmPOP, operating at the host-parasite interface to cleave host bioactive peptides, may contribute to the survival of the parasite. If substantiated, SmPOP could be a new target for the development of anti-schistosomal drugs. Schistosomiasis (bilharzia) is a major global health problem caused by the schistosome flatworm which lives in the bloodstream. Treatment and control of the disease relies on a single drug, and should resistance emerge, there would be increased pressure to discover new drug targets. Proteolytic enzymes are fundamental to the survival of parasites, and, hence, are attractive targets for drug intervention. Oligopeptidases from the S9 family are known virulence factors for protozoan trypanosomatids but have yet to be studied in parasitic flukes. We, therefore, investigated prolyl oligopeptidase in Schistosoma mansoni (SmPOP) and found that it is expressed in those developmental stages that infect humans. We provide a comprehensive analysis of the peptidase’s expression, localization and functional biochemical properties. Interestingly, SmPOP, which is found in the tegument and parenchyma of the parasite, can cleave blood peptides involved in vasoregulation and we discuss how this ability may aid the parasite’s survival. Finally, we designed potent inhibitors of SmPOP that cause deleterious changes in cultured parasites. We conclude that SmPOP is important for parasite survival and may be a potential target for the development of anti-schistosomal drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pavla Fajtová
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic
- First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Saša Štefanić
- Institute of Parasitology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Martin Hradilek
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Dvořák
- Institute of Molecular Genetics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Vondrášek
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Adéla Jílková
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Lenka Ulrychová
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - James H. McKerrow
- Center for Innovation and Discovery in Parasitic Diseases, Department of Pathology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Conor R. Caffrey
- Center for Innovation and Discovery in Parasitic Diseases, Department of Pathology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Michael Mareš
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Horn
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic
- * E-mail:
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22
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Jílková A, Horn M, Řezáčová P, Marešová L, Fajtová P, Brynda J, Vondrášek J, McKerrow JH, Caffrey CR, Mareš M. Activation route of the Schistosoma mansoni cathepsin B1 drug target: structural map with a glycosaminoglycan switch. Structure 2014; 22:1786-1798. [PMID: 25456815 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2014.09.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2014] [Revised: 09/22/2014] [Accepted: 09/23/2014] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Cathepsin B1 (SmCB1) is a digestive protease of the parasitic blood fluke Schistosoma mansoni and a drug target for the treatment of schistosomiasis, a disease that afflicts over 200 million people. SmCB1 is synthesized as an inactive zymogen in which the N-terminal propeptide blocks the active site. We investigated the activation of the zymogen by which the propeptide is proteolytically removed and its regulation by sulfated polysaccharides (SPs). We determined crystal structures of three molecular forms of SmCB1 along the activation pathway: the zymogen, an activation intermediate with a partially cleaved propeptide, and the mature enzyme. We demonstrate that SPs are essential for the autocatalytic activation of SmCB1, as they interact with a specific heparin-binding domain in the propeptide. An alternative activation route is mediated by an S. mansoni asparaginyl endopeptidase (legumain) which is downregulated by SPs, indicating that SPs act as a molecular switch between both activation mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adéla Jílková
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, 16610 Prague, Czech Republic; Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, 12843 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Horn
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, 16610 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Pavlína Řezáčová
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, 16610 Prague, Czech Republic; Department of Structural Biology, Institute of Molecular Genetics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, 14220 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Lucie Marešová
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, 16610 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Pavla Fajtová
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, 16610 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Brynda
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, 16610 Prague, Czech Republic; Department of Structural Biology, Institute of Molecular Genetics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, 14220 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Vondrášek
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, 16610 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - James H McKerrow
- Department of Pathology, Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Conor R Caffrey
- Department of Pathology, Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Michael Mareš
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, 16610 Prague, Czech Republic.
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23
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Liu S, Cai P, Piao X, Hou N, Zhou X, Wu C, Wang H, Chen Q. Expression profile of the Schistosoma japonicum degradome reveals differential protease expression patterns and potential anti-schistosomal intervention targets. PLoS Comput Biol 2014; 10:e1003856. [PMID: 25275570 PMCID: PMC4183426 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1003856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2014] [Accepted: 08/12/2014] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Blood fluke proteases play pivotal roles in the processes of invasion, nutrition acquisition, immune evasion, and other host-parasite interactions. Hundreds of genes encoding putative proteases have been identified in the recently published schistosome genomes. However, the expression profiles of these proteases in Schistosoma species have not yet been systematically analyzed. We retrieved and culled the redundant protease sequences of Schistosoma japonicum, Schistosoma mansoni, Echinococcus multilocularis, and Clonorchis sinensis from public databases utilizing bioinformatic approaches. The degradomes of the four parasitic organisms and Homo sapiens were then comparatively analyzed. A total of 262 S. japonicum protease sequences were obtained and the expression profiles generated using whole-genome microarray. Four main clusters of protease genes with different expression patterns were identified: proteases up-regulated in hepatic schistosomula and adult worms, egg-specific or predominantly expressed proteases, cercaria-specific or predominantly expressed proteases, and constantly expressed proteases. A subset of protease genes with different expression patterns were further validated using real-time quantitative PCR. The present study represents the most comprehensive analysis of a degradome in Schistosoma species to date. These results provide a firm foundation for future research on the specific function(s) of individual proteases and may help to refine anti-proteolytic strategies in blood flukes. Parasite proteases play critical roles in host-parasite interactions and thus are considered to be potential anti-schistosomal targets. Although numerous schistosome proteases have been predicted based on recently published genomes, no systematic analysis of their expression in Schistosoma species has been performed. Thus, we comparatively analyzed the degradomes of four parasitic organisms and human host, and performed whole-genome microarray analysis to analyze the expression profile of the Schistosoma japonicum degradome at four developmental stages. The expression profile generated for the S. japonicum degradome was divided into four main clusters with different expression patterns, and a subset of selected proteases were further validated using real-time quantitative PCR. Our work is the most comprehensive analysis of a degradome in Schistosoma species to date. Many protease genes were first characterized in blood flukes, and some could be treated as potential anti-schistosomal targets for intensive research in the future. The results provide a firm foundation for deep study on the specific function(s) of individual proteases or protease families in schistosomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuai Liu
- MOH Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Pengfei Cai
- MOH Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Xianyu Piao
- MOH Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Nan Hou
- MOH Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaosu Zhou
- MOH Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Chuang Wu
- MOH Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Heng Wang
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Institute of Basic Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Qijun Chen
- MOH Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Jilin University, Changchun, China
- * E-mail:
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24
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Fanfrlík J, Brahmkshatriya PS, Řezáč J, Jílková A, Horn M, Mareš M, Hobza P, Lepšík M. Quantum mechanics-based scoring rationalizes the irreversible inactivation of parasitic Schistosoma mansoni cysteine peptidase by vinyl sulfone inhibitors. J Phys Chem B 2013; 117:14973-82. [PMID: 24195769 DOI: 10.1021/jp409604n] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The quantum mechanics (QM)-based scoring function that we previously developed for the description of noncovalent binding in protein-ligand complexes has been modified and extended to treat covalent binding of inhibitory ligands. The enhancements are (i) the description of the covalent bond breakage and formation using hybrid QM/semiempirical QM (QM/SQM) restrained optimizations and (ii) the addition of the new ΔG(cov)' term to the noncovalent score, describing the "free" energy difference between the covalent and noncovalent complexes. This enhanced QM-based scoring function is applied to a series of 20 vinyl sulfone-based inhibitory compounds inactivating the cysteine peptidase cathepsin B1 of the Schistosoma mansoni parasite (SmCB1). The available X-ray structure of the SmCB1 in complex with a potent vinyl sulfone inhibitor K11017 is used as a template to build the other covalently bound complexes and to model the derived noncovalent complexes. We present the correlation of the covalent score and its constituents with the experimental binding data. Four outliers are identified. They contain bulky R1' substituents structurally divergent from the template, which might induce larger protein rearrangements than could be accurately modeled. In summary, we propose a new computational approach and an optimal protocol for the rapid evaluation and prospective design of covalent inhibitors with a conserved binding mode.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jindřich Fanfrlík
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, v.v.i., and Gilead Sciences and IOCB Research Center, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic , Flemingovo nám. 2, 166 10 Prague 6, Czech Republic
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25
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Heparin modulates the endopeptidase activity of Leishmania mexicana cysteine protease cathepsin L-Like rCPB2.8. PLoS One 2013; 8:e80153. [PMID: 24278253 PMCID: PMC3836952 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0080153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2013] [Accepted: 09/28/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Cysteine protease B is considered crucial for the survival and infectivity of the Leishmania in its human host. Several microorganism pathogens bind to the heparin-like glycosaminoglycans chains of proteoglycans at host-cell surface to promote their attachment and internalization. Here, we have investigated the influence of heparin upon Leishmania mexicana cysteine protease rCPB2.8 activity. Methodology/Principal Findings The data analysis revealed that the presence of heparin affects all steps of the enzyme reaction: (i) it decreases 3.5-fold the k1 and 4.0-fold the k−1, (ii) it affects the acyl-enzyme accumulation with pronounced decrease in k2 (2.7-fold), and also decrease in k3 (3.5-fold). The large values of ΔG = 12 kJ/mol for the association and dissociation steps indicate substantial structural strains linked to the formation/dissociation of the ES complex in the presence of heparin, which underscore a conformational change that prevents the diffusion of substrate in the rCPB2.8 active site. Binding to heparin also significantly decreases the α-helix content of the rCPB2.8 and perturbs the intrinsic fluorescence emission of the enzyme. The data strongly suggest that heparin is altering the ionization of catalytic (Cys25)-S−/(His163)-Im+ H ion pair of the rCPB2.8. Moreover, the interaction of heparin with the N-terminal pro-region of rCPB2.8 significantly decreased its inhibitory activity against the mature enzyme. Conclusions/Significance Taken together, depending on their concentration, heparin-like glycosaminoglycans can either stimulate or antagonize the activity of cysteine protease B enzymes during parasite infection, suggesting that this glycoconjugate can anchor parasite cysteine protease at host cell surface.
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Kamhi E, Joo EJ, Dordick JS, Linhardt RJ. Glycosaminoglycans in infectious disease. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2013; 88:928-43. [DOI: 10.1111/brv.12034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 126] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2012] [Revised: 02/07/2013] [Accepted: 02/27/2013] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Eyal Kamhi
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; Troy New York 12180-3590 U.S.A
- Drughoming Ltd; Rehovot Israel
| | - Eun Ji Joo
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; Troy New York 12180-3590 U.S.A
| | - Jonathan S. Dordick
- Department of Biology; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; Troy New York 12180-3590 U.S.A
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; Troy New York 12180-3590 U.S.A
- Department of Biomedical Engineering; Center for Biotechnology & Interdisciplinary Studies; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; Troy New York 12180-3590 U.S.A
| | - Robert J. Linhardt
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; Troy New York 12180-3590 U.S.A
- Department of Biology; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; Troy New York 12180-3590 U.S.A
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; Troy New York 12180-3590 U.S.A
- Department of Biomedical Engineering; Center for Biotechnology & Interdisciplinary Studies; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; Troy New York 12180-3590 U.S.A
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Current drug targets for helminthic diseases. Parasitol Res 2013; 112:1819-31. [PMID: 23529336 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-013-3383-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2013] [Accepted: 03/05/2013] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
More than 2 billion people are infected with helminth parasites across the globe. The burgeoning drug resistance against current anthelmintics in parasitic worms of humans and livestock requires urgent attention to tackle these recalcitrant worms. This review focuses on the advancements made in the area of helminth drug target discovery especially from the last few couple of decades. It highlights various approaches made in this field and enlists the potential drug targets currently being pursued to target economically important helminth species both from human as well as livestock to combat disease pathology of schistosomiasis, onchocerciasis, lymphatic filariasis, and other important macroparasitic diseases. Research in the helminths study is trending to identify potential and druggable targets through genomic, proteomic, biochemical, biophysical, in vitro experiments, and in vivo experiments in animal models. The availability of major helminths genome sequences and the subsequent availability of genome-scale functional datasets through in silico search and prioritization are expected to guide the experimental work necessary for target-based drug discovery. Organized and documented list of drug targets from various helminths of economic importance have been systematically covered in this review for further exploring their use and applications, which can give physicians and veterinarians effective drugs in hand to enable them control worm infections.
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Jílková A, Řezáčová P, Lepšík M, Horn M, Váchová J, Fanfrlík J, Brynda J, McKerrow JH, Caffrey CR, Mareš M. Structural basis for inhibition of cathepsin B drug target from the human blood fluke, Schistosoma mansoni. J Biol Chem 2011; 286:35770-35781. [PMID: 21832058 PMCID: PMC3195637 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m111.271304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2011] [Revised: 07/19/2011] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Schistosomiasis caused by a parasitic blood fluke of the genus Schistosoma afflicts over 200 million people worldwide. Schistosoma mansoni cathepsin B1 (SmCB1) is a gut-associated peptidase that digests host blood proteins as a source of nutrients. It is under investigation as a drug target. To further this goal, we report three crystal structures of SmCB1 complexed with peptidomimetic inhibitors as follows: the epoxide CA074 at 1.3 Å resolution and the vinyl sulfones K11017 and K11777 at 1.8 and 2.5 Å resolutions, respectively. Interactions of the inhibitors with the subsites of the active-site cleft were evaluated by quantum chemical calculations. These data and inhibition profiling with a panel of vinyl sulfone derivatives identify key binding interactions and provide insight into the specificity of SmCB1 inhibition. Furthermore, hydrolysis profiling of SmCB1 using synthetic peptides and the natural substrate hemoglobin revealed that carboxydipeptidase activity predominates over endopeptidolysis, thereby demonstrating the contribution of the occluding loop that restricts access to the active-site cleft. Critically, the severity of phenotypes induced in the parasite by vinyl sulfone inhibitors correlated with enzyme inhibition, providing support that SmCB1 is a valuable drug target. The present structure and inhibitor interaction data provide a footing for the rational design of anti-schistosomal inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adéla Jílková
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, 16610 Prague, Czech Republic; Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Charles University, 12843 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Pavlína Řezáčová
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, 16610 Prague, Czech Republic; Department of Structural Biology, Institute of Molecular Genetics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, 16610 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Lepšík
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, 16610 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Horn
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, 16610 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jana Váchová
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, 16610 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jindřich Fanfrlík
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, 16610 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Brynda
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, 16610 Prague, Czech Republic; Department of Structural Biology, Institute of Molecular Genetics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, 16610 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - James H McKerrow
- Sandler Center for Drug Discovery, California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences and Department of Pathology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94158
| | - Conor R Caffrey
- Sandler Center for Drug Discovery, California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences and Department of Pathology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94158
| | - Michael Mareš
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, 16610 Prague, Czech Republic.
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