1
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Guengerich FP. Cytochrome P450 Enzymes as Drug Targets in Human Disease. Drug Metab Dispos 2024; 52:493-497. [PMID: 37793784 PMCID: PMC11114603 DOI: 10.1124/dmd.123.001431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Although the mention of cytochrome P450 (P450) inhibition usually brings to mind unwanted variability in pharmacokinetics, in several cases P450s are good targets for inhibition. These P450s are essential, but in certain disease states, it is desirable to reduce the concentrations of their products. Most of the attention to date has been with human P450s 5A1, 11A1, 11B1, 11B2, 17A1, 19A1, and 51A1. In some of those cases, there are multiple drugs in use, e.g., exemestane, letrozole, and anastrozole with P450 19A1, the steroid aromatase target in breast cancer. There are also several targets that are less developed, e.g., P450s 2A6, 8B1, 4A11, 24A1, 26A1, and 26B1. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: The selective inhibition of certain cytochrome P450s that have major physiological functions has been shown to be very efficacious in certain human diseases. In several cases, the search for better drugs continues.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Peter Guengerich
- Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee
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2
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Hargrove T, Lamb DC, Wawrzak Z, Hull M, Kelly SL, Guengerich FP, Lepesheva GI. Identification of Potent and Selective Inhibitors of Acanthamoeba: Structural Insights into Sterol 14α-Demethylase as a Key Drug Target. J Med Chem 2024; 67:7443-7457. [PMID: 38683753 PMCID: PMC11089504 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c00303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2024] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
Acanthamoeba are free-living pathogenic protozoa that cause blinding keratitis, disseminated infection, and granulomatous amebic encephalitis, which is generally fatal. The development of efficient and safe drugs is a critical unmet need. Acanthamoeba sterol 14α-demethylase (CYP51) is an essential enzyme of the sterol biosynthetic pathway. Repurposing antifungal azoles for amoebic infections has been reported, but their inhibitory effects on Acanthamoeba CYP51 enzymatic activity have not been studied. Here, we report catalytic properties, inhibition, and structural characterization of CYP51 from Acanthamoeba castellanii. The enzyme displays a 100-fold substrate preference for obtusifoliol over lanosterol, supporting the plant-like cycloartenol-based pathway in the pathogen. The strongest inhibition was observed with voriconazole (1 h IC50 0.45 μM), VT1598 (0.25 μM), and VT1161 (0.20 μM). The crystal structures of A. castellanii CYP51 with bound VT1161 (2.24 Å) and without an inhibitor (1.95 Å), presented here, can be used in the development of azole-based scaffolds to achieve optimal amoebicidal effectiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana
Y. Hargrove
- Department
of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University School
of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
| | - David C. Lamb
- Faculty
of Medicine, Health and Life Science, Swansea
University, Swansea SA2 8PP, U.K.
| | - Zdzislaw Wawrzak
- Synchrotron
Research Center, Life Science Collaborative Access Team, Northwestern University, Argonne, Illinois 60439, United States
| | - Marcus Hull
- Faculty
of Medicine, Health and Life Science, Swansea
University, Swansea SA2 8PP, U.K.
| | - Steven L. Kelly
- Faculty
of Medicine, Health and Life Science, Swansea
University, Swansea SA2 8PP, U.K.
| | - F. Peter Guengerich
- Department
of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University School
of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
| | - Galina I. Lepesheva
- Department
of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University School
of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
- Vanderbilt
Institute of Chemical Biology, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
- Center
for Structural Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
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3
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Sharma V, Madia VN, Tudino V, Nguyen JV, Debnath A, Messore A, Ialongo D, Patacchini E, Palenca I, Basili Franzin S, Seguella L, Esposito G, Petrucci R, Di Matteo P, Bortolami M, Saccoliti F, Di Santo R, Scipione L, Costi R, Podust LM. Miconazole-like Scaffold is a Promising Lead for Naegleria fowleri-Specific CYP51 Inhibitors. J Med Chem 2023; 66:17059-17073. [PMID: 38085955 PMCID: PMC10758121 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c01898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
Developing drugs for brain infection by Naegleria fowleri is an unmet medical need. We used a combination of cheminformatics, target-, and phenotypic-based drug discovery methods to identify inhibitors that target an essential N. fowleri enzyme, sterol 14-demethylase (NfCYP51). A total of 124 compounds preselected in silico were tested against N. fowleri. Nine primary hits with EC50 ≤ 10 μM were phenotypically identified. Cocrystallization with NfCYP51 focused attention on one primary hit, miconazole-like compound 2a. The S-enantiomer of 2a produced a 1.74 Å cocrystal structure. A set of analogues was then synthesized and evaluated to confirm the superiority of the S-configuration over the R-configuration and the advantage of an ether linkage over an ester linkage. The two compounds, S-8b and S-9b, had an improved EC50 and KD compared to 2a. Importantly, both were readily taken up into the brain. The brain-to-plasma distribution coefficient of S-9b was 1.02 ± 0.12, suggesting further evaluation as a lead for primary amoebic meningoencephalitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vandna Sharma
- Skaggs
School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Center for Discovery
and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, University
of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Valentina Noemi Madia
- Dipartimento
di Chimica e Tecnologie del Farmaco, Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci
Bolognetti, “Sapienza” Università
di Roma, p.le Aldo Moro 5, Rome I-00185, Italy
| | - Valeria Tudino
- Dipartimento
di Biotecnologie, Università degli
Studi di Siena, Chimica e Farmacia via Aldo Moro 2, Siena 53100, Italy
| | - Jennifer V. Nguyen
- Skaggs
School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Center for Discovery
and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, University
of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Anjan Debnath
- Skaggs
School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Center for Discovery
and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, University
of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Antonella Messore
- Dipartimento
di Chimica e Tecnologie del Farmaco, Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci
Bolognetti, “Sapienza” Università
di Roma, p.le Aldo Moro 5, Rome I-00185, Italy
| | - Davide Ialongo
- Dipartimento
di Chimica e Tecnologie del Farmaco, Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci
Bolognetti, “Sapienza” Università
di Roma, p.le Aldo Moro 5, Rome I-00185, Italy
| | - Elisa Patacchini
- Dipartimento
di Chimica e Tecnologie del Farmaco, Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci
Bolognetti, “Sapienza” Università
di Roma, p.le Aldo Moro 5, Rome I-00185, Italy
| | - Irene Palenca
- Department
of Physiology and Pharmacology “V. Erspamer”, “Sapienza″ Università di Roma, p.le Aldo Moro 5, Rome I-00185, Italy
| | - Silvia Basili Franzin
- Department
of Physiology and Pharmacology “V. Erspamer”, “Sapienza″ Università di Roma, p.le Aldo Moro 5, Rome I-00185, Italy
| | - Luisa Seguella
- Department
of Physiology and Pharmacology “V. Erspamer”, “Sapienza″ Università di Roma, p.le Aldo Moro 5, Rome I-00185, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Esposito
- Department
of Physiology and Pharmacology “V. Erspamer”, “Sapienza″ Università di Roma, p.le Aldo Moro 5, Rome I-00185, Italy
| | - Rita Petrucci
- Dipartimento
di Scienze di Base e Applicate per l’Ingegneria, “Sapienza” Università di Roma, Via Castro Laurenziano 7, Rome 00161, Italy
| | - Paola Di Matteo
- Dipartimento
di Scienze di Base e Applicate per l’Ingegneria, “Sapienza” Università di Roma, Via Castro Laurenziano 7, Rome 00161, Italy
| | - Martina Bortolami
- Dipartimento
di Scienze di Base e Applicate per l’Ingegneria, “Sapienza” Università di Roma, Via Castro Laurenziano 7, Rome 00161, Italy
| | - Francesco Saccoliti
- D3 PharmaChemistry, Italian
Institute of Technology, Via Morego 30, Genova 16163, Italy
| | - Roberto Di Santo
- Dipartimento
di Chimica e Tecnologie del Farmaco, Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci
Bolognetti, “Sapienza” Università
di Roma, p.le Aldo Moro 5, Rome I-00185, Italy
| | - Luigi Scipione
- Dipartimento
di Chimica e Tecnologie del Farmaco, Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci
Bolognetti, “Sapienza” Università
di Roma, p.le Aldo Moro 5, Rome I-00185, Italy
| | - Roberta Costi
- Dipartimento
di Chimica e Tecnologie del Farmaco, Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci
Bolognetti, “Sapienza” Università
di Roma, p.le Aldo Moro 5, Rome I-00185, Italy
| | - Larissa M. Podust
- Skaggs
School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Center for Discovery
and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, University
of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
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4
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Guengerich FP. Drug Metabolism: A Half-Century Plus of Progress, Continued Needs, and New Opportunities. Drug Metab Dispos 2023; 51:99-104. [PMID: 35868640 PMCID: PMC11024512 DOI: 10.1124/dmd.121.000739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Revised: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The systematic study of drug metabolism began in the 19th Century, but most of what we know now has been learned in the last 50 years. Drug metabolism continues to play a critical role in pharmaceutical development and clinical practice, as well as contributing to toxicology, chemical carcinogenesis, endocrinology, and drug abuse. The importance of the field will continue, but its nature will continue to develop with changes in analytical chemistry, structural biology, and artificial intelligence. Challenges and opportunities include toxicology, defining roles of genetic variations, and application to clinical issues. Although the focus of this Minireview is cytochrome P450, the same principles apply to other enzymes and transporters involved in drug metabolism. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Progress in the field of drug metabolism over the past 50 years has helped make the pharmaceutical enterprise what it is today. Drug metabolism will continue to be important. Challenges and opportunities for the future are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Peter Guengerich
- Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee
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5
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Guengerich FP. Inhibition of Cytochrome P450 Enzymes by Drugs-Molecular Basis and Practical Applications. Biomol Ther (Seoul) 2022; 30:1-18. [PMID: 34475272 PMCID: PMC8724836 DOI: 10.4062/biomolther.2021.102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Drug-drug interactions are a major cause of hospitalization and deaths related to drug use. A large fraction of these is due to inhibition of enzymes involved in drug metabolism and transport, particularly cytochrome P450 (P450) enzymes. Understanding basic mechanisms of enzyme inhibition is important, particularly in terms of reversibility and the use of the appropriate parameters. In addition to drug-drug interactions, issues have involved interactions of drugs with foods and natural products related to P450 enzymes. Predicting drug-drug interactions is a major effort in drug development in the pharmaceutical industry and regulatory agencies. With appropriate in vitro experiments, it is possible to stratify clinical drug-drug interaction studies. A better understanding of drug interactions and training of physicians and pharmacists has developed. Finally, some P450s have been the targets of drugs in some cancers and other disease states.
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Affiliation(s)
- F. Peter Guengerich
- Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232-0146, USA
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6
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Hargrove TY, Wawrzak Z, Rachakonda G, Nes WD, Villalta F, Guengerich FP, Lepesheva GI. Relaxed Substrate Requirements of Sterol 14α-Demethylase from Naegleria fowleri Are Accompanied by Resistance to Inhibition. J Med Chem 2021; 64:17511-17522. [PMID: 34842434 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c01710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Naegleria fowleri is the protozoan pathogen that causes primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), with the death rate exceeding 97%. The amoeba makes sterols and can be targeted by sterol biosynthesis inhibitors. Here, we characterized N. fowleri sterol 14-demethylase, including catalytic properties and inhibition by clinical antifungal drugs and experimental substituted azoles with favorable pharmacokinetics and low toxicity. None of them inhibited the enzyme stoichiometrically. The highest potencies were displayed by posaconazole (IC50 = 0.69 μM) and two of our compounds (IC50 = 1.3 and 0.35 μM). Because both these compounds penetrate the brain with concentrations reaching minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values in an N. fowleri cellular assay, we report them as potential drug candidates for PAM. The 2.1 Å crystal structure, in complex with the strongest inhibitor, provides an explanation connecting the enzyme weaker substrate specificity with lower sensitivity to inhibition. It also provides insight into the enzyme/ligand molecular recognition process and suggests directions for the design of more potent inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana Y Hargrove
- Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
| | - Zdzislaw Wawrzak
- Synchrotron Research Center, Life Science Collaborative Access Team, Northwestern University, Argonne, Illinois 60439, United States
| | - Girish Rachakonda
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Physiology, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, Tennessee 37208, United States
| | - W David Nes
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas 79409, United States
| | - Fernando Villalta
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Physiology, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, Tennessee 37208, United States
| | - F Peter Guengerich
- Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
| | - Galina I Lepesheva
- Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States.,Center for Structural Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
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7
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de Oliveira PIC, de Santana Miranda PH, Lourenço EMG, de Santana Nogueira Silverio PS, Barbosa EG. Planning new Trypanosoma cruzi CYP51 inhibitors using QSAR studies. Mol Divers 2021; 25:2219-2235. [PMID: 32557280 DOI: 10.1007/s11030-020-10113-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 05/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Chagas disease kills over 10,000 people per year, and approximately 8 million people are infected by Trypanosoma cruzi. The reference drug for treatment of the disease, benznidazole, is the same since the 70s. In recent years, many CYP51 inhibitors were tested against this parasite's target. One of them, posaconazole, was even tested in clinical trials that unfortunately were not successful. Nevertheless, there are still many evidences that CYP51 is a great potential target to treat T. cruzi infection. The research for new effective molecules that can cure the chronic phase of the disease is essential. 2D and 3D-quantitative structure activity relationship (QSAR) studies were conducted in this work to create three QSAR models using the chemical structures of 197 published compounds that already went through either in vivo or in vitro tests. After the analysis of the models, new analogues not yet synthesized were suggested here and had their biological activity and synthetic availability assessed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Igor Camara de Oliveira
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Bioinformática, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, UFRN, Rua Gen. Gustavo Cordeiro de Faria, S/N - Petrópolis, Natal, RN, 59012-570, Brazil
| | - Paulo Henrique de Santana Miranda
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, UFRN, Rua Gen. Gustavo Cordeiro de Faria, S/N - Petrópolis, Natal, RN, 59012-570, Brazil
| | - Estela Mariana Guimaraes Lourenço
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, UFRN, Rua Gen. Gustavo Cordeiro de Faria, S/N - Petrópolis, Natal, RN, 59012-570, Brazil
| | - Priscilla Suene de Santana Nogueira Silverio
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, UFRN, Rua Gen. Gustavo Cordeiro de Faria, S/N - Petrópolis, Natal, RN, 59012-570, Brazil
| | - Euzebio Guimaraes Barbosa
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Bioinformática, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, UFRN, Rua Gen. Gustavo Cordeiro de Faria, S/N - Petrópolis, Natal, RN, 59012-570, Brazil.
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, UFRN, Rua Gen. Gustavo Cordeiro de Faria, S/N - Petrópolis, Natal, RN, 59012-570, Brazil.
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8
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Tratrat C. Novel Thiazole-Based Thiazolidinones as Potent Anti-infective Agents: In silico PASS and Toxicity Prediction, Synthesis, Biological Evaluation and Molecular Modelling. Comb Chem High Throughput Screen 2021; 23:126-140. [PMID: 31985370 DOI: 10.2174/1386207323666200127115238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2019] [Revised: 12/01/2019] [Accepted: 12/13/2019] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
AIMS AND OBJECTIVE The infectious disease treatment remains a challenging concern owing to the increasing number of pathogenic microorganisms associated with resistance to multiple drugs. A promising approach for combating microbial infection is to combine two or more known bioactive heterocyclic pharmacophores in one molecular platform. Herein, the synthesis and biological evaluation of novel thiazole-thiazolidinone hybrids as potential antimicrobial agents were dissimilated. MATERIALS AND METHODS The preparation of the substituted 5-benzylidene-2-thiazolyimino-4- thiazolidinones was achieved in three steps from 2-amino-5-methylthiazoline. All the compounds have been screened in PASS antibacterial activity prediction and in a panel of bacteria and fungi strains. Minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bacterial concentration were both determined by microdilution assays. Molecular modeling was conducted using Accelrys Discovery Studio 4.0 client. ToxPredict (OPEN TOX) and ProTox were used to estimate the toxicity of the title compounds. RESULTS PASS prediction revealed the potentiality antibacterial property of the designed thiazolethiazolidinone hybrids. All tested compounds were found to kill and to inhibit the growth of a vast variety of bacteria and fungi, and were more potent than the commercial drugs, streptomycin, ampicillin, bifomazole and ketoconazole. Further, in silico study was carried out for prospective molecular target identification and revealed favorable interaction with the target enzymes E. coli MurB and CYP51B of Aspergillus fumigatus. Toxicity prediction revealed that none of the active compounds was found toxic. CONCLUSION Substituted 5-benzylidene-2-thiazolyimino-4-thiazolidinones, endowing remarkable antibacterial and antifungal properties, were identified as a novel class of antimicrobial agents and may find a potential therapeutic use to eradicate infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christophe Tratrat
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Clinical Pharmacy, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia
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9
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Ogris I, Zelenko U, Sosič I, Gobec M, Skubic C, Ivanov M, Soković M, Kocjan D, Rozman D, Golič Grdadolnik S. Pyridylethanol(phenylethyl)amines are non-azole, highly selective Candida albicans sterol 14α-demethylase inhibitors. Bioorg Chem 2020; 106:104472. [PMID: 33261849 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2020.104472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2020] [Accepted: 11/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Sterol 14α-demethylase (CYP51) is the main drug target for the treatment of fungal infections. The worldwide increase in the incidence of opportunistic fungal infections and the emerging resistance to available azole-based antifungal drugs, raise the need to develop structurally distinct and selective fungal CYP51 inhibitors. In this work we have, for the first time, investigated the binding of pyridylethanol(phenylethyl)amines to any fungal CYP51. The comparison of the binding to Candida albicans and human CYP51 studied by spectroscopic and modeling methods revealed moieties decisive for selectivity and potency and resulted in the development of highly selective derivatives with significantly increased inhibitory potency. The structure-based insight into the selectivity requirements of this new chemical class of fungal CYP51 inhibitors, their unique binding properties and the low molecular weight of lead derivatives offer novel directions for the targeted development of antifungal clinical candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iza Ogris
- Laboratory for Molecular Structural Dynamics, Theory Department, National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova 19, 1001 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Urška Zelenko
- Laboratory for Molecular Structural Dynamics, Theory Department, National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova 19, 1001 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Izidor Sosič
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Aškerčeva 7, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Martina Gobec
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Aškerčeva 7, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Cene Skubic
- Center for Functional Genomics and Bio-Chips, Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Marija Ivanov
- Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković"- National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Bulevar Despota Stefana 142, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Marina Soković
- Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković"- National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Bulevar Despota Stefana 142, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Darko Kocjan
- Laboratory for Molecular Structural Dynamics, Theory Department, National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova 19, 1001 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Damjana Rozman
- Center for Functional Genomics and Bio-Chips, Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Simona Golič Grdadolnik
- Laboratory for Molecular Structural Dynamics, Theory Department, National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova 19, 1001 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
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10
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Pereira PML, Camargo PG, Fernandes BT, Flores-Junior LAP, Dias LRS, Lima CHS, Pinge-Filho P, Lioni LMY, Yamada-Ogatta SF, Bispo MLF, Macedo F. In vitro evaluation of antitrypanosomal activity and molecular docking of benzoylthioureas. Parasitol Int 2020; 80:102225. [PMID: 33160050 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2020.102225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
A series of sixteen benzoylthioureas derivatives were initially evaluated in vitro against the epimastigote form of Trypanosoma cruzi. All of the tested compounds inhibited the growth of this form of the parasite, and due to the promising anti-epimastigote activity from three of these compounds, they were also assayed against the trypomastigote and amastigote forms. ADMET-Tox in silico predictions and molecular docking studies with two main enzymatic targets (cruzain and CYP-51) were performed for the three compounds with the highest activity. The docking studies showed that these compounds can interact with the active site of cruzain by hydrogen bonds and can be coordinated with Fe-heme through the carbonyl oxygen atom of the CYP51. These findings can be considered an important starting point for the proposal of the benzoylthioureas as potent, selective, and multi-target antitrypanosomal agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia M L Pereira
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Microrganismos, Departamento de Microbiologia, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Priscila G Camargo
- Departamento de Química, Centro de Ciências Exatas, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Bruna T Fernandes
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Microrganismos, Departamento de Microbiologia, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Luiz A P Flores-Junior
- Laboratório de Química Medicinal, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Luiza R S Dias
- Laboratório de Química Medicinal, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Camilo H S Lima
- Laboratório de Química Medicinal, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Departamento de Química Orgânica, Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Phileno Pinge-Filho
- Laboratório de Imunopatologia Experimental, Departamento de Ciências Patológicas, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Brazil
| | - Lucy M Y Lioni
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Microrganismos, Departamento de Microbiologia, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Sueli F Yamada-Ogatta
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Microrganismos, Departamento de Microbiologia, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Marcelle L F Bispo
- Departamento de Química, Centro de Ciências Exatas, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil.
| | - Fernando Macedo
- Departamento de Química, Centro de Ciências Exatas, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
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11
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History of the development of antifungal azoles: A review on structures, SAR, and mechanism of action. Bioorg Chem 2020; 104:104240. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2020.104240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Revised: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
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12
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Tafelska-Kaczmarek A, Kołodziejska R, Kwit M, Stasiak B, Wypij M, Golińska P. Synthesis, Absolute Configuration, Antibacterial, and Antifungal Activities of Novel Benzofuryl β-Amino Alcohols. MATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2020; 13:E4080. [PMID: 32937873 PMCID: PMC7560283 DOI: 10.3390/ma13184080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2020] [Revised: 09/07/2020] [Accepted: 09/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
A series of new benzofuryl α-azole ketones was synthesized and reduced by asymmetric transfer hydrogenation (ATH). Novel benzofuryl β-amino alcohols bearing an imidazolyl and triazolyl substituents were obtained with excellent enantioselectivity (96-99%). The absolute configuration (R) of the products was confirmed by means of electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectroscopy supported by theoretical calculations. Selected benzofuryl α-azole ketones were also successfully asymmetrically bioreduced by fungi of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Aureobasidium pullulans species. Racemic and chiral β-amino alcohols, as well as benzofuryl α-amino and α-bromo ketones were evaluated for their antibacterial and antifungal activities. From among the synthesized β-amino alcohols, the highest antimicrobial activity was found for (R)-1-(3,5-dimethylbenzofuran-2-yl)-2-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)ethan-1-ol against S. aureus ATCC 25923 (MIC = 64, MBC = 96 μg mL-1) and (R)-1-(3,5-dimethylbenzofuran-2-yl)-2-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)ethan-1-ol against yeasts of M. furfur DSM 6170 (MIC = MBC = 64 μg mL-1). In turn, from among the tested ketones, 1-(benzofuran-2-yl)-2-bromoethanones (1-4) were found to be the most active against M. furfur DSM 6170 (MIC = MBC = 1.5 μg mL-1) (MIC-minimal inhibitory concentration, MBC-minimal biocidal concentration).
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka Tafelska-Kaczmarek
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, 7 Gagarin Street, 87-100 Toruń, Poland
| | - Renata Kołodziejska
- Department of Medical Biology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, 24 Karłowicz Street, 85-092 Bydgoszcz, Poland;
| | - Marcin Kwit
- Faculty of Chemistry, Adam Mickiewicz University, 8 Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego Street, 61-614 Poznań, Poland; (M.K.); (B.S.)
| | - Bartosz Stasiak
- Faculty of Chemistry, Adam Mickiewicz University, 8 Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego Street, 61-614 Poznań, Poland; (M.K.); (B.S.)
| | - Magdalena Wypij
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology and Veterinary Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, 1 Lwowska Street, 87-100 Toruń, Poland; (M.W.); (P.G.)
| | - Patrycja Golińska
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology and Veterinary Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, 1 Lwowska Street, 87-100 Toruń, Poland; (M.W.); (P.G.)
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13
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The role of imidazole and benzimidazole heterocycles in Chagas disease: A review. Eur J Med Chem 2020; 206:112692. [PMID: 32818869 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2020.112692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2020] [Revised: 07/21/2020] [Accepted: 07/24/2020] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
The haemoflagellate protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi) is the causative agent of Chagas disease (CD), a potentially life-threatening disease. Little by little, remarkable progress has been achieved against CD, although it is still not enough. In the absence of effective chemotherapy, many research groups, organizations and pharmaceutical companies have focused their efforts on the search for compounds that could become viable drugs against CD. Within the wide variety of reported derivatives, this review summarizes and provides a global vision of the situation of those compounds that include broadly studied heterocycles in their structures due to their applications in medicinal chemistry: imidazole and benzimidazole rings. Therefore, the intention of this work is to present a compilation, as much as possible, of all the reported information, regarding these imidazole and benzimidazole derivatives against T. cruzi, as a starting point for future researchers in this field.
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14
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da Silva Lima CH, de Araujo Vanelis Soares JC, de Sousa Ribeiro JL, Muri EMF, de Albuquerque S, Dias LRS. Anti-Trypanosoma cruzi Activity and Molecular Docking Studies of 1Hpyrazolo[ 3, 4-b]pyridine Derivatives. LETT DRUG DES DISCOV 2020. [DOI: 10.2174/1570180816666190305141733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Background:
Untargeted studies led to the development of some pyrazolopyridine
derivatives for the antiparasitic profile, particularly the derivatives containing the structural
carbohydrazide subunit. In this work, we proceeded in the biological screening of 27 N’- (substitutedphenylmethylene)-
4-carbohydrazide-3-methyl-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazolo[3, 4-b]pyridine derivatives against
T. cruzi as well as the cytotoxic evaluation. To obtain more information about the trypanocidal
activity of this class of compounds, we carried out molecular docking simulations to get an insight
into putative targets in T. cruzi.
Methods:
The assays were evaluated against both trypomastigote and amastigote forms of T. cruzi
and cytotoxicity assays on LLCMK2 cells. The predominant conformational compounds were
analyzed and molecular docking simulations performed.
Results:
The results from trypanocidal activity screening of this series showed that just the
compounds with phenyl group at C-6 position exhibited activity and the N’-4-hydroxyphenylmethylene
derivative presented the best profile against both trypomastigote and amastigote
forms of T. cruzi. Docking simulation results showed that this compound has a binding affinity with
both CYP51 and cruzain targets of T. cruzi.
Conclusion:
Our results indicate that the hydroxyl substituent at the N’-substituted-phenylmethylene
moiety and the phenyl ring at C-6 of 1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine system are relevant for the
trypanocidal activity of this class of compounds. Also, docking simulations showed that activity
presented can be related to more than one target of the parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camilo Henrique da Silva Lima
- Laboratório de Quimica Medicinal, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Faculdade de Farmacia, Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Joana Lucius de Sousa Ribeiro
- Laboratório de Quimica Medicinal, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Faculdade de Farmacia, Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Estela Maris Freitas Muri
- Laboratório de Quimica Medicinal, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Faculdade de Farmacia, Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Sérgio de Albuquerque
- Universidade de Sao Paulo, Departamento de Analises Clinicas, Toxicologicas e Bromatologicas, Av. do Cafe s/n, Ribeirao Preto, SP, 14040-903, Brazil
| | - Luiza Rosaria Sousa Dias
- Laboratório de Quimica Medicinal, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Faculdade de Farmacia, Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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15
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Friggeri L, Hargrove TY, Wawrzak Z, Guengerich FP, Lepesheva GI. Validation of Human Sterol 14α-Demethylase (CYP51) Druggability: Structure-Guided Design, Synthesis, and Evaluation of Stoichiometric, Functionally Irreversible Inhibitors. J Med Chem 2019; 62:10391-10401. [PMID: 31663733 PMCID: PMC6881533 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.9b01485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Sterol 14α-demethylases (CYP51) are the cytochrome P450 enzymes required for biosynthesis of sterols in eukaryotes, the major targets for antifungal agents and prospective targets for treatment of protozoan infections. Human CYP51 could be and, for a while, was considered as a potential target for cholesterol-lowering drugs (the role that is now played by statins, which are also in clinical trials for cancer) but revealed high intrinsic resistance to inhibition. While microbial CYP51 enzymes are often inhibited stoichiometrically and functionally irreversibly, no strong inhibitors have been identified for human CYP51. In this study, we used comparative structure/functional analysis of CYP51 orthologs from different biological kingdoms and employed site-directed mutagenesis to elucidate the molecular basis for the resistance of the human enzyme to inhibition and also designed, synthesized, and characterized new compounds. Two of them inhibit human CYP51 functionally irreversibly with their potency approaching the potencies of azole drugs currently used to inhibit microbial CYP51.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Friggeri
- Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
| | - Tatiana Y. Hargrove
- Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
| | - Zdzislaw Wawrzak
- Synchrotron Research Center, Life Science Collaborative Access Team, Northwestern University, Argonne, Illinois 60439, United States
| | - F. Peter Guengerich
- Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
| | - Galina I. Lepesheva
- Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
- Center for Structural Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
- Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
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16
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Villalta F, Rachakonda G. Advances in preclinical approaches to Chagas disease drug discovery. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2019; 14:1161-1174. [PMID: 31411084 PMCID: PMC6779130 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2019.1652593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2019] [Accepted: 08/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: Chagas disease affects 8-10 million people worldwide, mainly in Latin America. The current therapy for Chagas disease is limited to nifurtimox and benznidazole, which are effective in treating only the acute phase of the disease but with severe side effects. Therefore, there is an unmet need for new drugs and for the exploration of innovative approaches which may lead to the discovery of new effective and safe drugs for its treatment. Areas covered: The authors report and discuss recent approaches including structure-based design that have led to the discovery of new promising small molecule candidates for Chagas disease which affect prime targets that intervene in the sterol pathway of T. cruzi. Other trypanosome targets, phenotypic screening, the use of artificial intelligence and the challenges with Chagas disease drug discovery are also discussed. Expert opinion: The application of recent scientific innovations to the field of Chagas disease have led to the discovery of new promising drug candidates for Chagas disease. Phenotypic screening brought new hits and opportunities for drug discovery. Artificial intelligence also has the potential to accelerate drug discovery in Chagas disease and further research into this is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando Villalta
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Physiology, School of Medicine, Meharry Medical College , Nashville , TN , USA
| | - Girish Rachakonda
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Physiology, School of Medicine, Meharry Medical College , Nashville , TN , USA
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17
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In vitro evaluation of arylsubstituted imidazoles derivatives as antiprotozoal agents and docking studies on sterol 14α-demethylase (CYP51) from Trypanosoma cruzi, Leishmania infantum, and Trypanosoma brucei. Parasitol Res 2019; 118:1533-1548. [PMID: 30903349 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-019-06206-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2018] [Accepted: 01/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
There is an urgent need to discover and develop new drugs to combat parasitic diseases as Chagas disease (Trypanosoma cruzi), sleeping sickness (Trypanosoma brucei), and leishmaniasis (Leishmania ssp.). These diseases are considered among the 13 most unattended diseases worldwide according to the WHO. In the present work, the synthesis of 14 arylsubstituted imidazoles and its molecular docking onto sterol 14α-demethylase (CYP51) was executed. In addition, the compounds, antiprotozoal activity against T. brucei, T. cruzi, Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, and Leishmania infantum was evaluated. In vitro antiparasitic results of the arylsubstituted imidazoles against T. brucei, T. cruzi, T.b. rhodesiense, and L. infantum indicated that all samples from arylsubstituted imidazole compounds presented interesting antiparasitic activity to various extent. The ligands 5a, 5c, 5e, 5f, 5g, 5i, and 5j exhibited strong activity against T. brucei, T. cruzi, T.b. rhodesiense, and L. infantum with IC50 values ranging from 0.86 to 10.23 μM. Most samples were cytotoxic against MRC-5 cell lines (1.12 < CC50 < 51.09 μM) and only ligand 5c showed a good selectivity against all tested parasites. According to the results of the molecular docking, the aromatic substituents in positions 1, 4, and 5 have mainly stabilizing hydrophobic interactions with the enzyme matrix, while the oxygen from NO2, SO3H, and OH groups interacts with the Fe2+ ion of the Heme group.
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18
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Saccoliti F, Madia VN, Tudino V, De Leo A, Pescatori L, Messore A, De Vita D, Scipione L, Brun R, Kaiser M, Mäser P, Calvet CM, Jennings GK, Podust LM, Pepe G, Cirilli R, Faggi C, Di Marco A, Battista MR, Summa V, Costi R, Di Santo R. Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of New 1-(Aryl-1 H-pyrrolyl)(phenyl)methyl-1 H-imidazole Derivatives as Antiprotozoal Agents. J Med Chem 2019; 62:1330-1347. [PMID: 30615444 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.8b01464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
We have designed and synthesized a series of new imidazole-based compounds structurally related to an antiprotozoal agent with nanomolar activity which we identified recently. The new analogues possess micromolar activities against Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense and Leishmania donovani and nanomolar potency against Plasmodium falciparum. Most of the analogues displayed IC50 within the low nanomolar range against Trypanosoma cruzi, with very high selectivity toward the parasite. Discussion of structure-activity relationships and in vitro biological data for the new compounds are provided against a number of different protozoa. The mechanism of action for the most potent derivatives (5i, 6a-c, and 8b) was assessed by a target-based assay using recombinant T. cruzi CYP51. Bioavailability and efficacy of selected hits were assessed in a T. cruzi mouse model, where 6a and 6b reduced parasitemia in animals >99% following intraperitoneal administration of 25 mg/kg/day dose for 4 consecutive days.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Saccoliti
- Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti , Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie del Farmaco, "Sapienza" Università di Roma , p. le Aldo Moro 5 , I-00185 Rome , Italy
| | - Valentina Noemi Madia
- Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti , Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie del Farmaco, "Sapienza" Università di Roma , p. le Aldo Moro 5 , I-00185 Rome , Italy
| | - Valeria Tudino
- Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti , Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie del Farmaco, "Sapienza" Università di Roma , p. le Aldo Moro 5 , I-00185 Rome , Italy
| | - Alessandro De Leo
- Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti , Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie del Farmaco, "Sapienza" Università di Roma , p. le Aldo Moro 5 , I-00185 Rome , Italy
| | - Luca Pescatori
- Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti , Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie del Farmaco, "Sapienza" Università di Roma , p. le Aldo Moro 5 , I-00185 Rome , Italy
| | - Antonella Messore
- Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti , Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie del Farmaco, "Sapienza" Università di Roma , p. le Aldo Moro 5 , I-00185 Rome , Italy
| | - Daniela De Vita
- Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti , Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie del Farmaco, "Sapienza" Università di Roma , p. le Aldo Moro 5 , I-00185 Rome , Italy
| | - Luigi Scipione
- Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti , Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie del Farmaco, "Sapienza" Università di Roma , p. le Aldo Moro 5 , I-00185 Rome , Italy
| | - Reto Brun
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute , Socinstrasse 57 , CH-4002 Basel , Switzerland
| | - Marcel Kaiser
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute , Socinstrasse 57 , CH-4002 Basel , Switzerland
| | - Pascal Mäser
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute , Socinstrasse 57 , CH-4002 Basel , Switzerland
| | - Claudia M Calvet
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences , University of California San Diego , La Jolla , California 92093 , United States.,Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular , Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro , Rio de Janeiro 21040-360 , Brazil
| | - Gareth K Jennings
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences , University of California San Diego , La Jolla , California 92093 , United States
| | - Larissa M Podust
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences , University of California San Diego , La Jolla , California 92093 , United States
| | - Giacomo Pepe
- Dipartimento di Farmacia , Università di Salerno , Via Giovanni Paolo II 132 , I-84084 Fisciano , Salerno , Italy
| | - Roberto Cirilli
- Centro Nazionale per il Controllo e la Valutazione dei Farmaci , Istituto Superiore di Sanita , Viale Regina Elena 299 , I-00161 Rome , Italy
| | - Cristina Faggi
- Dipartimento di Chimica , Università degli studi di Firenze , Via della Lastruccia 13 , I-50019 , Sesto Fiorentino , Florence , Italy
| | - Annalise Di Marco
- Drug Discovery , IRBM Science Park , Via Pontina km 30,600 , Pomezia, Rome 00071 , Italy
| | - Maria Rosaria Battista
- Drug Discovery , IRBM Science Park , Via Pontina km 30,600 , Pomezia, Rome 00071 , Italy
| | - Vincenzo Summa
- Drug Discovery , IRBM Science Park , Via Pontina km 30,600 , Pomezia, Rome 00071 , Italy
| | - Roberta Costi
- Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti , Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie del Farmaco, "Sapienza" Università di Roma , p. le Aldo Moro 5 , I-00185 Rome , Italy
| | - Roberto Di Santo
- Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti , Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie del Farmaco, "Sapienza" Università di Roma , p. le Aldo Moro 5 , I-00185 Rome , Italy
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19
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Lepesheva GI, Friggeri L, Waterman MR. CYP51 as drug targets for fungi and protozoan parasites: past, present and future. Parasitology 2018; 145:1820-1836. [PMID: 29642960 PMCID: PMC6185833 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182018000562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
The efficiency of treatment of human infections with the unicellular eukaryotic pathogens such as fungi and protozoa remains deeply unsatisfactory. For example, the mortality rates from nosocomial fungemia in critically ill, immunosuppressed or post-cancer patients often exceed 50%. A set of six systemic clinical azoles [sterol 14α-demethylase (CYP51) inhibitors] represents the first-line antifungal treatment. All these drugs were discovered empirically, by monitoring their effects on fungal cell growth, though it had been proven that they kill fungal cells by blocking the biosynthesis of ergosterol in fungi at the stage of 14α-demethylation of the sterol nucleus. This review briefs the history of antifungal azoles, outlines the situation with the current clinical azole-based drugs, describes the attempts of their repurposing for treatment of human infections with the protozoan parasites that, similar to fungi, also produce endogenous sterols, and discusses the most recently acquired knowledge on the CYP51 structure/function and inhibition. It is our belief that this information should be helpful in shifting from the traditional phenotypic screening to the actual target-driven drug discovery paradigm, which will rationalize and substantially accelerate the development of new, more efficient and pathogen-oriented CYP51 inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Galina I. Lepesheva
- Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, USA
| | - Laura Friggeri
- Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, USA
| | - Michael R. Waterman
- Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, USA
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20
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Current Screening Methodologies in Drug Discovery for Selected Human Diseases. Mar Drugs 2018; 16:md16080279. [PMID: 30110923 PMCID: PMC6117650 DOI: 10.3390/md16080279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2018] [Accepted: 08/11/2018] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
The increase of many deadly diseases like infections by multidrug-resistant bacteria implies re-inventing the wheel on drug discovery. A better comprehension of the metabolisms and regulation of diseases, the increase in knowledge based on the study of disease-born microorganisms’ genomes, the development of more representative disease models and improvement of techniques, technologies, and computation applied to biology are advances that will foster drug discovery in upcoming years. In this paper, several aspects of current methodologies for drug discovery of antibacterial and antifungals, anti-tropical diseases, antibiofilm and antiquorum sensing, anticancer and neuroprotectors are considered. For drug discovery, two different complementary approaches can be applied: classical pharmacology, also known as phenotypic drug discovery, which is the historical basis of drug discovery, and reverse pharmacology, also designated target-based drug discovery. Screening methods based on phenotypic drug discovery have been used to discover new natural products mainly from terrestrial origin. Examples of the discovery of marine natural products are provided. A section on future trends provides a comprehensive overview on recent advances that will foster the pharmaceutical industry.
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21
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Friggeri L, Hargrove TY, Wawrzak Z, Blobaum AL, Rachakonda G, Lindsley CW, Villalta F, Nes WD, Botta M, Guengerich FP, Lepesheva GI. Sterol 14α-Demethylase Structure-Based Design of VNI (( R)- N-(1-(2,4-Dichlorophenyl)-2-(1 H-imidazol-1-yl)ethyl)-4-(5-phenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl)benzamide)) Derivatives To Target Fungal Infections: Synthesis, Biological Evaluation, and Crystallographic Analysis. J Med Chem 2018; 61:5679-5691. [PMID: 29894182 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.8b00641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Because of the increase in the number of immunocompromised patients, the incidence of invasive fungal infections is growing, but the treatment efficiency remains unacceptably low. The most potent clinical systemic antifungals (azoles) are the derivatives of two scaffolds: ketoconazole and fluconazole. Being the safest antifungal drugs, they still have shortcomings, mainly because of pharmacokinetics and resistance. Here, we report the successful use of the target fungal enzyme, sterol 14α-demethylase (CYP51), for structure-based design of novel antifungal drug candidates by minor modifications of VNI [( R)- N-(1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-2-(1 H-imidazol-1-yl)ethyl)-4-(5-phenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl)benzamide)], an inhibitor of protozoan CYP51 that cures Chagas disease. The synthesis of fungi-oriented VNI derivatives, analysis of their potencies to inhibit CYP51s from two major fungal pathogens ( Aspergillus fumigatus and Candida albicans), microsomal stability, effects in fungal cells, and structural characterization of A. fumigatus CYP51 in complexes with the most potent compound are described, offering a new antifungal drug scaffold and outlining directions for its further optimization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Friggeri
- Department of Biochemistry , Vanderbilt University School of Medicine , Nashville , Tennessee 37232 , United States
| | - Tatiana Y Hargrove
- Department of Biochemistry , Vanderbilt University School of Medicine , Nashville , Tennessee 37232 , United States
| | - Zdzislaw Wawrzak
- Synchrotron Research Center, Life Science Collaborative Access Team , Northwestern University , Argonne , Illinois 60439 , United States
| | - Anna L Blobaum
- Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery , Franklin , Tennessee 37067 , United States
| | - Girish Rachakonda
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Physiology , Meharry Medical College , Nashville , Tennessee 37208 , United States
| | - Craig W Lindsley
- Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery , Franklin , Tennessee 37067 , United States
| | - Fernando Villalta
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Physiology , Meharry Medical College , Nashville , Tennessee 37208 , United States
| | - W David Nes
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry , Texas Tech University , Lubbock , Texas 79409 , United States
| | - Maurizio Botta
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy , University of Siena , Siena 53100 , Italy
| | - F Peter Guengerich
- Department of Biochemistry , Vanderbilt University School of Medicine , Nashville , Tennessee 37232 , United States
| | - Galina I Lepesheva
- Department of Biochemistry , Vanderbilt University School of Medicine , Nashville , Tennessee 37232 , United States.,Center for Structural Biology , Vanderbilt University , Nashville , Tennessee 37232 , United States
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22
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Lepesheva G, Christov P, Sulikowski GA, Kim K. A convergent, scalable and stereoselective synthesis of azole CYP51 inhibitors. Tetrahedron Lett 2017; 58:4248-4250. [PMID: 29371747 DOI: 10.1016/j.tetlet.2017.09.070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The study and development of azole-based CYP51 inhibitors is an active area of research across disciplines of biochemistry, pharmacology and infectious disease. Support of in vitro and in vivo studies require the development of robust asymmetric routes to single enantiomer products of this class of compounds. Herein, we describe a scalable and enantioselective synthesis to VNI and VFV, the two potent inhibitors of protozoan sterol 14α-demethylase (CYP51) that are currently under consideration for clinical trials for Chagas disease. A key transformation is the Jacobsen Hydrolytic Kinetic Resolution (HKR) reaction. The utility of the synthetic route is illustrated by the preparation of >25 g quantities of single enantiomers of VNI and VFV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Galina Lepesheva
- Departments of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Institute of Chemical Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 77842-3012, USA
| | - Plamen Christov
- Departments of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Institute of Chemical Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 77842-3012, USA
| | - Gary A Sulikowski
- Departments of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Institute of Chemical Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 77842-3012, USA
| | - Kwangho Kim
- Departments of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Institute of Chemical Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 77842-3012, USA
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Hargrove TY, Friggeri L, Wawrzak Z, Qi A, Hoekstra WJ, Schotzinger RJ, York JD, Guengerich FP, Lepesheva GI. Structural analyses of Candida albicans sterol 14α-demethylase complexed with azole drugs address the molecular basis of azole-mediated inhibition of fungal sterol biosynthesis. J Biol Chem 2017; 292:6728-6743. [PMID: 28258218 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m117.778308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 212] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2017] [Revised: 02/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
With some advances in modern medicine (such as cancer chemotherapy, broad exposure to antibiotics, and immunosuppression), the incidence of opportunistic fungal pathogens such as Candida albicans has increased. Cases of drug resistance among these pathogens have become more frequent, requiring the development of new drugs and a better understanding of the targeted enzymes. Sterol 14α-demethylase (CYP51) is a cytochrome P450 enzyme required for biosynthesis of sterols in eukaryotic cells and is the major target of clinical drugs for managing fungal pathogens, but some of the CYP51 key features important for rational drug design have remained obscure. We report the catalytic properties, ligand-binding profiles, and inhibition of enzymatic activity of C. albicans CYP51 by clinical antifungal drugs that are used systemically (fluconazole, voriconazole, ketoconazole, itraconazole, and posaconazole) and topically (miconazole and clotrimazole) and by a tetrazole-based drug candidate, VT-1161 (oteseconazole: (R)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1,1-difluoro-3-(1H-tetrazol-1-yl)-1-(5-(4-(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)phenyl)pyridin-2-yl)propan-2-ol). Among the compounds tested, the first-line drug fluconazole was the weakest inhibitor, whereas posaconazole and VT-1161 were the strongest CYP51 inhibitors. We determined the X-ray structures of C. albicans CYP51 complexes with posaconazole and VT-1161, providing a molecular mechanism for the potencies of these drugs, including the activity of VT-1161 against Candida krusei and Candida glabrata, pathogens that are intrinsically resistant to fluconazole. Our comparative structural analysis outlines phylum-specific CYP51 features that could direct future rational development of more efficient broad-spectrum antifungals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana Y Hargrove
- From the Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee 37232
| | - Laura Friggeri
- From the Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee 37232
| | - Zdzislaw Wawrzak
- the Synchrotron Research Center, Life Science Collaborative Access Team, Northwestern University, Argonne, Illinois 60439
| | - Aidong Qi
- From the Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee 37232
| | | | | | - John D York
- From the Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee 37232
| | - F Peter Guengerich
- From the Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee 37232
| | - Galina I Lepesheva
- From the Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, .,the Center for Structural Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232
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24
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Guengerich FP, Waterman MR, Egli M. Recent Structural Insights into Cytochrome P450 Function. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2016; 37:625-640. [PMID: 27267697 PMCID: PMC4961565 DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2016.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 208] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2016] [Revised: 05/07/2016] [Accepted: 05/11/2016] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Cytochrome P450 (P450) enzymes are important in the metabolism of drugs, steroids, fat-soluble vitamins, carcinogens, pesticides, and many other types of chemicals. Their catalytic activities are important issues in areas such as drug-drug interactions and endocrine function. During the past 30 years, structures of P450s have been very helpful in understanding function, particularly the mammalian P450 structures available in the past 15 years. We review recent activity in this area, focusing on the past 2 years (2014-2015). Structural work with microbial P450s includes studies related to the biosynthesis of natural products and the use of parasitic and fungal P450 structures as targets for drug discovery. Studies on mammalian P450s include the utilization of information about 'drug-metabolizing' P450s to improve drug development and also to understand the molecular bases of endocrine dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Peter Guengerich
- Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232-0146, USA.
| | - Michael R Waterman
- Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232-0146, USA
| | - Martin Egli
- Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232-0146, USA.
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25
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Rodriguez JB, Falcone BN, Szajnman SH. Detection and treatment ofTrypanosoma cruzi: a patent review (2011-2015). Expert Opin Ther Pat 2016; 26:993-1015. [DOI: 10.1080/13543776.2016.1209487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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26
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Hargrove TY, Friggeri L, Wawrzak Z, Sivakumaran S, Yazlovitskaya EM, Hiebert SW, Guengerich FP, Waterman MR, Lepesheva GI. Human sterol 14α-demethylase as a target for anticancer chemotherapy: towards structure-aided drug design. J Lipid Res 2016; 57:1552-63. [PMID: 27313059 DOI: 10.1194/jlr.m069229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Rapidly multiplying cancer cells synthesize greater amounts of cholesterol to build their membranes. Cholesterol-lowering drugs (statins) are currently in clinical trials for anticancer chemotherapy. However, given at higher doses, statins cause serious side effects by inhibiting the formation of other biologically important molecules derived from mevalonate. Sterol 14α-demethylase (CYP51), which acts 10 steps downstream, is potentially a more specific drug target because this portion of the pathway is fully committed to cholesterol production. However, screening a variety of commercial and experimental inhibitors of microbial CYP51 orthologs revealed that most of them (including all clinical antifungals) weakly inhibit human CYP51 activity, even if they display high apparent spectral binding affinity. Only one relatively potent compound, (R)-N-(1-(3,4'-difluorobiphenyl-4-yl)-2-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)ethyl)-4-(5-phenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl)benzamide (VFV), was identified. VFV has been further tested in cellular experiments and found to decrease proliferation of different cancer cell types. The crystal structures of human CYP51-VFV complexes (2.0 and 2.5 Å) both display a 2:1 inhibitor/enzyme stoichiometry, provide molecular insights regarding a broader substrate profile, faster catalysis, and weaker susceptibility of human CYP51 to inhibition, and outline directions for the development of more potent inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana Y Hargrove
- Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232
| | - Laura Friggeri
- Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232
| | - Zdzislaw Wawrzak
- Synchrotron Research Center, Life Science Collaborative Access Team, Northwestern University, Argonne, IL
| | - Suneethi Sivakumaran
- Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232
| | | | - Scott W Hiebert
- Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232
| | - F Peter Guengerich
- Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232
| | - Michael R Waterman
- Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232
| | - Galina I Lepesheva
- Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232
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De Vita D, Pandolfi F, Cirilli R, Scipione L, Di Santo R, Friggeri L, Mori M, Fiorucci D, Maccari G, Arul Christopher RS, Zamperini C, Pau V, De Logu A, Tortorella S, Botta M. Discovery of in vitro antitubercular agents through in silico ligand-based approaches. Eur J Med Chem 2016; 121:169-180. [PMID: 27240272 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2016.05.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2016] [Revised: 05/12/2016] [Accepted: 05/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The development of new anti-tubercular agents represents a constant challenge mostly due to the insurgency of resistance to the currently available drugs. In this study, a set of 60 molecules were selected by screening the Asinex and the ZINC collections and an in house library by means of in silico ligand-based approaches. Biological assays in Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Ra ATCC 25177 strain highlighted (±)-1-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)ethyl-4-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)piperazine-1-carboxylate (5i) and 3-(4-chlorophenyl)-5-(2,4-dimethylpyrimidin-5-yl)-2-methylpyrazolo[1.5-a]pyrimidin-7(4H)-one (42) as the most potent compounds, having a Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of 4 and 2 μg/mL respectively. These molecules represent a good starting point for further optimization of effective anti-TB agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela De Vita
- Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie del Farmaco, Sapienza Università di Roma, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Roma, Italy
| | - Fabiana Pandolfi
- Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie del Farmaco, Sapienza Università di Roma, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Roma, Italy
| | - Roberto Cirilli
- Dipartimento del Farmaco, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Roma, Italy
| | - Luigi Scipione
- Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie del Farmaco, Sapienza Università di Roma, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Roma, Italy
| | - Roberto Di Santo
- Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie del Farmaco, Sapienza Università di Roma, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Roma, Italy; Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie del Farmaco, Sapienza Università di Roma, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Roma, Italy
| | - Laura Friggeri
- Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie del Farmaco, Sapienza Università di Roma, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Roma, Italy
| | - Mattia Mori
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53019 Siena, Italy; Center for Life Nano Science@Sapienza, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Roma, Italy
| | - Diego Fiorucci
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53019 Siena, Italy
| | - Giorgio Maccari
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53019 Siena, Italy
| | | | - Claudio Zamperini
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53019 Siena, Italy
| | - Valentina Pau
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Via Porcell 4, 09124 Cagliari, Italy
| | - Alessandro De Logu
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Via Porcell 4, 09124 Cagliari, Italy
| | - Silvano Tortorella
- Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie del Farmaco, Sapienza Università di Roma, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Roma, Italy.
| | - Maurizio Botta
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53019 Siena, Italy; Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research & Molecular Medicine, Center for Biotechnology, College of Science & Technology, Temple University, BioLife Science Building, Suite 333, 1900 N 12th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA.
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28
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De Vita D, Moraca F, Zamperini C, Pandolfi F, Di Santo R, Matheeussen A, Maes L, Tortorella S, Scipione L. In vitro screening of 2-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)-1-phenylethanol derivatives as antiprotozoal agents and docking studies on Trypanosoma cruzi CYP51. Eur J Med Chem 2016; 113:28-33. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2016.02.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2015] [Revised: 01/18/2016] [Accepted: 02/10/2016] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
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Clinical Candidate VT-1161's Antiparasitic Effect In Vitro, Activity in a Murine Model of Chagas Disease, and Structural Characterization in Complex with the Target Enzyme CYP51 from Trypanosoma cruzi. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2015; 60:1058-66. [PMID: 26643331 DOI: 10.1128/aac.02287-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2015] [Accepted: 11/23/2015] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
A novel antifungal drug candidate, the 1-tetrazole-based agent VT-1161 [(R)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-1,1-difluoro-3-(1H-tetrazol-1-yl)-1-{5-[4-(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)phenyl]pyridin-2-yl}propan-2-ol], which is currently in two phase 2b antifungal clinical trials, was found to be a tight-binding ligand (apparent dissociation constant [Kd], 24 nM) and a potent inhibitor of cytochrome P450 sterol 14α-demethylase (CYP51) from the protozoan pathogen Trypanosoma cruzi. Moreover, VT-1161 revealed a high level of antiparasitic activity against amastigotes of the Tulahuen strain of T. cruzi in cellular experiments (50% effective concentration, 2.5 nM) and was active in vivo, causing >99.8% suppression of peak parasitemia in a mouse model of infection with the naturally drug-resistant Y strain of the parasite. The data strongly support the potential utility of VT-1161 in the treatment of Chagas disease. The structural characterization of T. cruzi CYP51 in complex with VT-1161 provides insights into the molecular basis for the compound's inhibitory potency and paves the way for the further rational development of this novel, tetrazole-based inhibitory chemotype both for antiprotozoan chemotherapy and for antifungal chemotherapy.
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30
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Hargrove TY, Wawrzak Z, Lamb DC, Guengerich FP, Lepesheva GI. Structure-Functional Characterization of Cytochrome P450 Sterol 14α-Demethylase (CYP51B) from Aspergillus fumigatus and Molecular Basis for the Development of Antifungal Drugs. J Biol Chem 2015; 290:23916-34. [PMID: 26269599 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m115.677310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2015] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus is the opportunistic fungal pathogen that predominantly affects the immunocompromised population and causes 600,000 deaths/year. The cytochrome P450 51 (CYP51) inhibitor voriconazole is currently the drug of choice, yet the treatment efficiency remains low, calling for rational development of more efficient agents. A. fumigatus has two CYP51 genes, CYP51A and CYP51B, which share 59% amino acid sequence identity. CYP51B is expressed constitutively, whereas gene CYP51A is reported to be inducible. We expressed, purified, and characterized A. fumigatus CYP51B, including determination of its substrate preferences, catalytic parameters, inhibition, and x-ray structure in complexes with voriconazole and the experimental inhibitor (R)-N-(1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-2-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)ethyl)-4-(5-phenyl-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl)benzamide (VNI). The enzyme demethylated its natural substrate eburicol and the plant CYP51 substrate obtusifoliol at steady-state rates of 17 and 16 min(-1), respectively, but did not metabolize lanosterol, and the topical antifungal drug miconazole was the strongest inhibitor that we identified. The x-ray crystal structures displayed high overall similarity of A. fumigatus CYP51B to CYP51 orthologs from other biological kingdoms but revealed phylum-specific differences relevant to enzyme catalysis and inhibition. The complex with voriconazole provides an explanation for the potency of this relatively small molecule, whereas the complex with VNI outlines a direction for further enhancement of the efficiency of this new inhibitory scaffold to treat humans afflicted with filamentous fungal infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana Y Hargrove
- From the Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee 37232
| | - Zdzislaw Wawrzak
- the Synchrotron Research Center, Life Science Collaborative Access Team, Northwestern University, Argonne, Illinois 60439
| | - David C Lamb
- Swansea University, Swansea, Wales SA2 8PP, United Kingdom, and
| | - F Peter Guengerich
- From the Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee 37232
| | - Galina I Lepesheva
- From the Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, the Center for Structural Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232
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Antitrypanosomal Treatment with Benznidazole Is Superior to Posaconazole Regimens in Mouse Models of Chagas Disease. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2015; 59:6385-94. [PMID: 26239982 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00689-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2015] [Accepted: 07/19/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Two CYP51 inhibitors, posaconazole and the ravuconazole prodrug E1224, were recently tested in clinical trials for efficacy in indeterminate Chagas disease. The results from these studies show that both drugs cleared parasites from the blood of infected patients at the end of the treatment but that parasitemia rebounded over the following months. In the current study, we sought to identify a dosing regimen of posaconazole that could permanently clear Trypanosoma cruzi from mice with experimental Chagas disease. Infected mice were treated with posaconazole or benznidazole, an established Chagas disease drug, and parasitological cure was defined as an absence of parasitemia recrudescence after immunosuppression. Twenty-day therapy with benznidazole (10 to 100 mg/kg of body weight/day) resulted in a dose-dependent increase in antiparasitic activity, and the 100-mg/kg regimen effected parasitological cure in all treated mice. In contrast, all mice remained infected after a 25-day treatment with posaconazole at all tested doses (10 to 100 mg/kg/day). Further extension of posaconazole therapy to 40 days resulted in only a marginal improvement of treatment outcome. We also observed similar differences in antiparasitic activity between benznidazole and posaconazole in acute T. cruzi heart infections. While benznidazole induced rapid, dose-dependent reductions in heart parasite burdens, the antiparasitic activity of posaconazole plateaued at low doses (3 to 10 mg/kg/day) despite increasing drug exposure in plasma. These observations are in good agreement with the outcomes of recent phase 2 trials with posaconazole and suggest that the efficacy models combined with the pharmacokinetic analysis employed here will be useful in predicting clinical outcomes of new drug candidates.
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32
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Khare S, Roach SL, Barnes SW, Hoepfner D, Walker JR, Chatterjee AK, Neitz RJ, Arkin MR, McNamara CW, Ballard J, Lai Y, Fu Y, Molteni V, Yeh V, McKerrow JH, Glynne RJ, Supek F. Utilizing Chemical Genomics to Identify Cytochrome b as a Novel Drug Target for Chagas Disease. PLoS Pathog 2015; 11:e1005058. [PMID: 26186534 PMCID: PMC4506092 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1005058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2015] [Accepted: 06/30/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Unbiased phenotypic screens enable identification of small molecules that inhibit pathogen growth by unanticipated mechanisms. These small molecules can be used as starting points for drug discovery programs that target such mechanisms. A major challenge of the approach is the identification of the cellular targets. Here we report GNF7686, a small molecule inhibitor of Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease, and identification of cytochrome b as its target. Following discovery of GNF7686 in a parasite growth inhibition high throughput screen, we were able to evolve a GNF7686-resistant culture of T. cruzi epimastigotes. Clones from this culture bore a mutation coding for a substitution of leucine by phenylalanine at amino acid position 197 in cytochrome b. Cytochrome b is a component of complex III (cytochrome bc1) in the mitochondrial electron transport chain and catalyzes the transfer of electrons from ubiquinol to cytochrome c by a mechanism that utilizes two distinct catalytic sites, QN and QP. The L197F mutation is located in the QN site and confers resistance to GNF7686 in both parasite cell growth and biochemical cytochrome b assays. Additionally, the mutant cytochrome b confers resistance to antimycin A, another QN site inhibitor, but not to strobilurin or myxothiazol, which target the QP site. GNF7686 represents a promising starting point for Chagas disease drug discovery as it potently inhibits growth of intracellular T. cruzi amastigotes with a half maximal effective concentration (EC50) of 0.15 µM, and is highly specific for T. cruzi cytochrome b. No effect on the mammalian respiratory chain or mammalian cell proliferation was observed with up to 25 µM of GNF7686. Our approach, which combines T. cruzi chemical genetics with biochemical target validation, can be broadly applied to the discovery of additional novel drug targets and drug leads for Chagas disease. Chagas Disease, or American trypanosomiasis, is caused by the kinetoplastid protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi and is primarily transmitted to a mammalian host via a triatomine insect vector (the “kissing bug”) infected with T. cruzi parasites. Although discovered in 1909 by the physician Dr. Carlos Chagas, the disease gained recognition by the public health community only following a major outbreak in Brazil during the 1960s. Approximately eight million people (primarily in Central and South America) are infected with T. cruzi and cases are becoming more widespread due to migration out of the endemic regions. Current treatment options have severe problems with toxicity, limited efficacy, and long administration. Hence, discovery of new drugs for treatment of Chagas disease has become of prime interest to the biomedical research community. In this study, we report identification of a potent inhibitor of T. cruzi growth and use a chemical genetics-based approach to elucidate the associated mechanism of action. We found that this compound, GNF7686, targets cytochrome b, a component of the mitochondrial electron transport chain crucial for ATP generation. Our study provides new insights into the use of phenotypic screening to identify novel targets for kinetoplastid drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shilpi Khare
- Department of Genetics and Neglected Diseases, Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Steven L. Roach
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - S. Whitney Barnes
- Department of Genetics and Neglected Diseases, Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Dominic Hoepfner
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Novartis Campus, Basel, Switzerland
| | - John R. Walker
- Department of Genetics and Neglected Diseases, Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Arnab K. Chatterjee
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - R. Jeffrey Neitz
- Small Molecule Discovery Center and Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Michelle R. Arkin
- Small Molecule Discovery Center and Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Case W. McNamara
- Department of Genetics and Neglected Diseases, Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Jaime Ballard
- Department of Genetics and Neglected Diseases, Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Yin Lai
- Department of Genetics and Neglected Diseases, Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Yue Fu
- Department of Genetics and Neglected Diseases, Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Valentina Molteni
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Vince Yeh
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - James H. McKerrow
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Richard J. Glynne
- Department of Genetics and Neglected Diseases, Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Frantisek Supek
- Department of Genetics and Neglected Diseases, Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, San Diego, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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