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Jiang Y, Cai Y, Teng T, Wang X, Yin B, Li X, Yu Y, Liu X, Wang J, Wu H, He Y, Zhu ZJ, Zhou X. Dysregulations of amino acid metabolism and lipid metabolism in urine of children and adolescents with major depressive disorder: a case-control study. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2024:10.1007/s00213-024-06590-0. [PMID: 38605232 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-024-06590-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
RATIONALE The mechanisms underlying major depressive disorder (MDD) in children and adolescents are unclear. Metabolomics has been utilized to capture metabolic signatures of various psychiatric disorders; however, urinary metabolic profile of MDD in children and adolescents has not been studied. OBJECTIVES We analyzed urinary metabolites in children and adolescents with MDD to identify potential biomarkers and metabolic signatures. METHODS Here, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to profile metabolites in urine samples from 192 subjects, comprising 80 individuals with antidepressant-naïve MDD (AN-MDD), 37 with antidepressant-treated MDD (AT-MDD) and 75 healthy controls (HC). We performed orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis to identify differential metabolites and employed logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic analysis to establish a diagnostic panel. RESULTS In total, 143 and 71 differential metabolites were identified in AN-MDD and AT-MDD, respectively. These were primarily linked to lipid metabolism, molecular transport, and small molecule biochemistry. AN-MDD additionally exhibited dysregulated amino acid metabolism. Compared to HC, a diagnostic panel of seven metabolites displayed area under the receiver operating characteristic curves of 0.792 for AN-MDD, 0.828 for AT-MDD, and 0.799 for all MDD. Furthermore, the urinary metabolic profiles of children and adolescents with MDD significantly differed from those of adult MDD. CONCLUSIONS Our research suggests dysregulated amino acid metabolism and lipid metabolism in the urine of children and adolescents with MDD, similar to results in plasma metabolomics studies. This contributes to the comprehension of mechanisms underlying children and adolescents with MDD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanliang Jiang
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yuping Cai
- Interdisciplinary Research Center on Biology and Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Teng Teng
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiaolin Wang
- Health Management Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Bangmin Yin
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xuemei Li
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Ying Yu
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xueer Liu
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jie Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Hongyan Wu
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yuqian He
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Zheng-Jiang Zhu
- Interdisciplinary Research Center on Biology and Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Aging Studies, Shanghai, China.
| | - Xinyu Zhou
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
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2
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Khairnar P, Aleshire SL, Kumar Ongolu R, Jin L, Laidlaw MG, Donsbach KO, Gupton BF, Nelson RC, Shanahan CS. Highly Regioselective Protecting-Group-Free Synthesis of the Antimalarial Drug MMV693183. Org Process Res Dev 2024; 28:273-280. [PMID: 38268773 PMCID: PMC10804412 DOI: 10.1021/acs.oprd.3c00353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
MMV693183 is a promising antimalarial drug candidate that works for uncomplicated malaria treatment and resistance management. Herein, we report an efficient and highly regioselective synthesis of MMV693183. This novel synthetic method highlights a three-step route with an overall yield of 46% from readily available starting materials. The key to the success lies in (1) utilizing the subtle difference of the two amino groups in the starting material (S)-propane-1,2-diamine dihydrochloride without amino protection and (2) identifying the L-(+)-tartaric acid as the counter acid for the organic salt formation, yielding the desired regioisomer up to 100:0. The efficient and scalable three-step protocol operates under mild conditions with a high chemo/regioselectivity, providing effective access to MMV693183.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pankaj
V. Khairnar
- Medicines for All Institute, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia 23219, United States
| | - Sarah L. Aleshire
- Medicines for All Institute, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia 23219, United States
| | - Ravi Kumar Ongolu
- Medicines for All Institute, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia 23219, United States
| | - Limei Jin
- Medicines for All Institute, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia 23219, United States
| | - Michael G. Laidlaw
- Medicines for All Institute, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia 23219, United States
| | - Kai O. Donsbach
- Medicines for All Institute, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia 23219, United States
| | - B. Frank Gupton
- Medicines for All Institute, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia 23219, United States
| | - Ryan C. Nelson
- Medicines for All Institute, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia 23219, United States
| | - Charles S. Shanahan
- Medicines for All Institute, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia 23219, United States
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3
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Riske BF, Luckhart S, Riehle MA. Starving the Beast: Limiting Coenzyme A Biosynthesis to Prevent Disease and Transmission in Malaria. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13915. [PMID: 37762222 PMCID: PMC10530615 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241813915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2023] [Revised: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Malaria parasites must acquire all necessary nutrients from the vertebrate and mosquito hosts to successfully complete their life cycle. Failure to acquire these nutrients can limit or even block parasite development and presents a novel target for malaria control. One such essential nutrient is pantothenate, also known as vitamin B5, which the parasite cannot synthesize de novo and is required for the synthesis of coenzyme A (CoA) in the parasite. This review examines pantothenate and the CoA biosynthesis pathway in the human-mosquito-malaria parasite triad and explores possible approaches to leverage the CoA biosynthesis pathway to limit malaria parasite development in both human and mosquito hosts. This includes a discussion of sources for pantothenate for the mosquito, human, and parasite, examining the diverse strategies used by the parasite to acquire substrates for CoA synthesis across life stages and host resource pools and a discussion of drugs and alternative approaches being studied to disrupt CoA biosynthesis in the parasite. The latter includes antimalarial pantothenate analogs, known as pantothenamides, that have been developed to target this pathway during the human erythrocytic stages. In addition to these parasite-targeted drugs, we review studies of mosquito-targeted allosteric enzymatic regulators known as pantazines as an approach to limit pantothenate availability in the mosquito and subsequently deprive the parasite of this essential nutrient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brendan F. Riske
- Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA;
| | - Shirley Luckhart
- Department of Entomology, Plant Pathology and Nematology, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83843, USA;
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83843, USA
| | - Michael A. Riehle
- Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA;
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4
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Hayward JA, Makota FV, Cihalova D, Leonard RA, Rajendran E, Zwahlen SM, Shuttleworth L, Wiedemann U, Spry C, Saliba KJ, Maier AG, van Dooren GG. A screen of drug-like molecules identifies chemically diverse electron transport chain inhibitors in apicomplexan parasites. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011517. [PMID: 37471441 PMCID: PMC10403144 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011517] [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: 05/18/2022] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Apicomplexans are widespread parasites of humans and other animals, and include the causative agents of malaria (Plasmodium species) and toxoplasmosis (Toxoplasma gondii). Existing anti-apicomplexan therapies are beset with issues around drug resistance and toxicity, and new treatment options are needed. The mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) is one of the few processes that has been validated as a drug target in apicomplexans. To identify new inhibitors of the apicomplexan ETC, we developed a Seahorse XFe96 flux analyzer approach to screen the 400 compounds contained within the Medicines for Malaria Venture 'Pathogen Box' for ETC inhibition. We identified six chemically diverse, on-target inhibitors of the ETC in T. gondii, at least four of which also target the ETC of Plasmodium falciparum. Two of the identified compounds (MMV024937 and MMV688853) represent novel ETC inhibitor chemotypes. MMV688853 belongs to a compound class, the aminopyrazole carboxamides, that were shown previously to target a kinase with a key role in parasite invasion of host cells. Our data therefore reveal that MMV688853 has dual targets in apicomplexans. We further developed our approach to pinpoint the molecular targets of these inhibitors, demonstrating that all target Complex III of the ETC, with MMV688853 targeting the ubiquinone reduction (Qi) site of the complex. Most of the compounds we identified remain effective inhibitors of parasites that are resistant to Complex III inhibitors that are in clinical use or development, indicating that they could be used in treating drug resistant parasites. In sum, we have developed a versatile, scalable approach to screen for compounds that target the ETC in apicomplexan parasites, and used this to identify and characterize novel inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenni A. Hayward
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - F. Victor Makota
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Daniela Cihalova
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Rachel A. Leonard
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Esther Rajendran
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Soraya M. Zwahlen
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Laura Shuttleworth
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Ursula Wiedemann
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Christina Spry
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Kevin J. Saliba
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Alexander G. Maier
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Giel G. van Dooren
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
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5
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Bai J, Xiong T, Wang X, Cheng Y, Luo R, Yang X, Fu C. Potential mechanisms of Lian-Zhi-Fan solution for TNBS-induced ulcerative colitis in rats via a metabolomics approach. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:1014117. [DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.1014117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Lian-Zhi-Fan (LZF) decoction is a hospital-prescribed traditional Chinese medicine botanical drug prepared by the fermentation of decocted Coptidis Rhizome (Huanglian), Gardeniae Fructus (Zhizi), and alum (Baifan). It has been used clinically in China for the treatment of anal fistula, perianal abscess, ulcerative colitis (UC), and other anorectal diseases for hundreds of years. However, due to the complexity of traditional Chinese medicine, the potential mechanisms of LZF in the treatment of UC have remained unknown. This study primarily investigated the remarkable pharmacological effects of LZF on TNBS-induced UC rats. To explore the complex targets and regulatory mechanisms of metabolic networks under LZF intervention, a metabolomics approach mediated by HPLC/Q-TOF-MS analysis was used to screen the different metabolites and their metabolic pathways in the serum in order to characterize the possible anti-UC mechanisms of LZF. After rectal administration of LZF for seven consecutive days, significant amelioration effects on body weight loss, DAI score, and colon inflammation were found in UC rats. Based on this, further metabolomics identified 14 potential biomarkers in the treatment of UC with LZF, of which five possessed diagnostic significance: L-alanine, taurocholic acid, niacinamide, cholic acid, and L-valine. These metabolites are mainly involved in 12 metabolic pathways, including nicotate and nicotinamide metabolism, glycospholipid metabolism, arginine and proline metabolism, primary bile acid biosynthesis, and pantothenate and CoA biosynthesis. These metabolic pathways suggest that LZF ameliorates UC by regulating amino acid metabolism, fat metabolism, and energy production. This study provides a useful approach for exploring the potential mechanisms of herbal prescription in UC treatment mediated by metabolomics.
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Chepngetich J, Muriithi B, Gachie B, Thiong'o K, Jepkorir M, Gathirwa J, Kimani F, Mwitari P, Kiboi D. Amodiaquine drug pressure selects nonsynonymous mutations in pantothenate kinase 1, diacylglycerol kinase, and phosphatidylinositol-4 kinase in Plasmodium berghei ANKA. OPEN RESEARCH AFRICA 2022; 5:28. [PMID: 38915420 PMCID: PMC11195610 DOI: 10.12688/openresafrica.13436.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/26/2024]
Abstract
Background: Lumefantrine (LM), piperaquine (PQ), and amodiaquine (AQ), the long-acting components of the artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs), are a cornerstone of malaria treatment in Africa. Studies have shown that PQ, AQ, and LM resistance may arise independently of predicted modes of action. Protein kinases have emerged as mediators of drug action and efficacy in malaria parasites; however, the link between top druggable Plasmodium kinases with LM, PQ, and AQ resistance remains unclear. Using LM, PQ, or AQ-resistant Plasmodium berghei parasites, we have evaluated the association of choline kinase (CK), pantothenate kinase 1 (PANK1), diacylglycerol kinase (DAGK), and phosphatidylinositol-4 kinase (PI4Kβ), and calcium-dependent protein kinase 1 (CDPK1) with LM, PQ, and AQ resistance in Plasmodium berghei ANKA. Methods: We used in silico bioinformatics tools to identify ligand-binding motifs, active sites, and sequence conservation across the different parasites. We then used PCR and sequencing analysis to probe for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the predicted functional motifs in the CK, PANK1, DAGK, PI4Kβ, and CDPK1. Using qPCR analysis, we finally measured the mRNA amount of PANK1, DAGK, and PI4Kβ at trophozoites and schizonts stages. Results: We reveal sequence conservation and unique ligand-binding motifs in the CK, PANK1, DAGK, PI4Kβ, and CDPK1 across malaria species. DAGK, PANK1, and PI4Kβ possessed nonsynonymous mutations; surprisingly, the mutations only occurred in the AQr parasites. PANK1 acquired Asn394His while DAGK contained K270R and K292R mutations. PI4Kβ had Asp366Asn, Ser1367Arg, Tyr1394Asn and Asp1423Asn. We show downregulation of PANK1, DAGK, and PI4Kβ in the trophozoites but upregulation at the schizonts stages in the AQr parasites. Conclusions: The selective acquisition of the mutations and the differential gene expression in AQ-resistant parasites may signify proteins under AQ pressure. The role of the mutations in the resistant parasites and the impact on drug responses require further investigations in malaria parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean Chepngetich
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Pan African University Institute for Basic Sciences, Technology and Innovation, Nairobi, 62000, 00200, Kenya
- Centre for Traditional Medicine and Drug Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, 54840, 00200, Kenya
- Centre for Biotechnology Research and Development, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, 54840, 00200, Kenya
| | - Brenda Muriithi
- Centre for Traditional Medicine and Drug Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, 54840, 00200, Kenya
- Centre for Biotechnology Research and Development, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, 54840, 00200, Kenya
- Department of Biochemistry, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Nairobi, 62000, 00200, Kenya
| | - Beatrice Gachie
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Pan African University Institute for Basic Sciences, Technology and Innovation, Nairobi, 62000, 00200, Kenya
- Centre for Traditional Medicine and Drug Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, 54840, 00200, Kenya
- Centre for Biotechnology Research and Development, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, 54840, 00200, Kenya
| | - Kevin Thiong'o
- Centre for Biotechnology Research and Development, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, 54840, 00200, Kenya
| | - Mercy Jepkorir
- Centre for Traditional Medicine and Drug Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, 54840, 00200, Kenya
| | - Jeremiah Gathirwa
- Centre for Traditional Medicine and Drug Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, 54840, 00200, Kenya
| | - Francis Kimani
- Centre for Biotechnology Research and Development, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, 54840, 00200, Kenya
| | - Peter Mwitari
- Centre for Traditional Medicine and Drug Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, 54840, 00200, Kenya
| | - Daniel Kiboi
- Department of Biochemistry, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Nairobi, 62000, 00200, Kenya
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7
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Yoneyama H, Hosohata K, Jin D, Yoshida I, Toyoda M, Kitamura I, Takai S, Usami Y. Design, synthesis, and evaluation of new vanin-1 inhibitors based on RR6. Bioorg Med Chem 2022; 65:116791. [PMID: 35537325 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2022.116791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Fourteen novel vanin-1 inhibitors coded OMP-# were designed from RR6 and successfully synthesized by a nucleophilic addition-elimination reaction of the pantetheinic acid-derived Weinreb amide as a key step under Barbier conditions. The synthesized OMP compounds exhibited inhibitory activity against human serum vanin-1 in vitro. Among the synthesized compounds, OMP-7, which possesses a trifluoromethoxy group at the para-position on the phenyl ring, exhibited the most potent activity, approximately 20 times that of the mother compound RR6. OMP-7 was further subjected to an in vivo assay using a normal hamster. More potent activity was observed than that of RR6 against both serum and renal vanin-1. The activity lasted for 4 h after injection against serum vanin-1 and 1 h after injection against renal vanin-1, whereas RR6 did not show the desired activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroki Yoneyama
- Department of Pharmaceutical Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University, 4-20-1Nasahara, Takatsuki City, Osaka 569-1094, Japan
| | - Keiko Hosohata
- Education and Research Center of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University, 4-20-1Nasahara, Takatsuki City, Osaka 569-1094, Japan
| | - Denan Jin
- Department of Innovative Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University, 2-7 Daigaku-machi, Takatsuki City, Osaka 569-8686, Japan
| | - Iroha Yoshida
- Department of Pharmaceutical Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University, 4-20-1Nasahara, Takatsuki City, Osaka 569-1094, Japan
| | - Miyui Toyoda
- Department of Pharmaceutical Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University, 4-20-1Nasahara, Takatsuki City, Osaka 569-1094, Japan
| | - Ikuko Kitamura
- Department of Pharmaceutical Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University, 4-20-1Nasahara, Takatsuki City, Osaka 569-1094, Japan
| | - Shinji Takai
- Department of Innovative Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University, 2-7 Daigaku-machi, Takatsuki City, Osaka 569-8686, Japan
| | - Yoshihide Usami
- Department of Pharmaceutical Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University, 4-20-1Nasahara, Takatsuki City, Osaka 569-1094, Japan.
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8
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de Vries LE, Jansen PAM, Barcelo C, Munro J, Verhoef JMJ, Pasaje CFA, Rubiano K, Striepen J, Abla N, Berning L, Bolscher JM, Demarta-Gatsi C, Henderson RWM, Huijs T, Koolen KMJ, Tumwebaze PK, Yeo T, Aguiar ACC, Angulo-Barturen I, Churchyard A, Baum J, Fernández BC, Fuchs A, Gamo FJ, Guido RVC, Jiménez-Diaz MB, Pereira DB, Rochford R, Roesch C, Sanz LM, Trevitt G, Witkowski B, Wittlin S, Cooper RA, Rosenthal PJ, Sauerwein RW, Schalkwijk J, Hermkens PHH, Bonnert RV, Campo B, Fidock DA, Llinás M, Niles JC, Kooij TWA, Dechering KJ. Preclinical characterization and target validation of the antimalarial pantothenamide MMV693183. Nat Commun 2022; 13:2158. [PMID: 35444200 PMCID: PMC9021288 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29688-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Drug resistance and a dire lack of transmission-blocking antimalarials hamper malaria elimination. Here, we present the pantothenamide MMV693183 as a first-in-class acetyl-CoA synthetase (AcAS) inhibitor to enter preclinical development. Our studies demonstrate attractive drug-like properties and in vivo efficacy in a humanized mouse model of Plasmodium falciparum infection. The compound shows single digit nanomolar in vitro activity against P. falciparum and P. vivax clinical isolates, and potently blocks P. falciparum transmission to Anopheles mosquitoes. Genetic and biochemical studies identify AcAS as the target of the MMV693183-derived antimetabolite, CoA-MMV693183. Pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic modelling predict that a single 30 mg oral dose is sufficient to cure a malaria infection in humans. Toxicology studies in rats indicate a > 30-fold safety margin in relation to the predicted human efficacious exposure. In conclusion, MMV693183 represents a promising candidate for further (pre)clinical development with a novel mode of action for treatment of malaria and blocking transmission. Here, de Vries et al. perform a pre-clinical characterization of the antimalarial compound MMV693183: the compound targets acetyl-CoA synthetase, has efficacy in humanized mice against Plasmodium falciparum infection, blocks transmission to mosquito vectors, is safe in rats, and pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic modeling informs about a potential oral human dosing regimen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura E de Vries
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboudumc Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Patrick A M Jansen
- Department of Dermatology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Justin Munro
- Department of Chemistry and Huck Center for Malaria Research, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Julie M J Verhoef
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboudumc Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Kelly Rubiano
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Josefine Striepen
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Nada Abla
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Luuk Berning
- TropIQ Health Sciences, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | | | | | | | - Tonnie Huijs
- TropIQ Health Sciences, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | | | | | - Tomas Yeo
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Anna C C Aguiar
- Sao Carlos Institute of Physics, University of São Paulo, São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil, São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Alisje Churchyard
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jake Baum
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Aline Fuchs
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | - Rafael V C Guido
- Sao Carlos Institute of Physics, University of São Paulo, São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil, São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Dhelio B Pereira
- Research Center for Tropical Medicine of Rondonia, Porto Velho, Brazil
| | - Rosemary Rochford
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado Anschutz School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Camille Roesch
- Malaria Molecular Epidemiology Unit, Institut Pasteur du Cambodge, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.,Malaria Translational Research Unit, Institut Pasteur, Paris & Institut Pasteur du Cambodge, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Laura M Sanz
- Global Health, GlaxoSmithKline, Tres Cantos, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Benoit Witkowski
- Malaria Molecular Epidemiology Unit, Institut Pasteur du Cambodge, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.,Malaria Translational Research Unit, Institut Pasteur, Paris & Institut Pasteur du Cambodge, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Sergio Wittlin
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.,University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Roland A Cooper
- Department of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Dominican University of California, San Rafael, CA, USA
| | - Philip J Rosenthal
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Robert W Sauerwein
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboudumc Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,TropIQ Health Sciences, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Joost Schalkwijk
- Department of Dermatology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | | | | | - Brice Campo
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - David A Fidock
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.,Center for Malaria Therapeutics and Antimicrobial Resistance, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Manuel Llinás
- Department of Chemistry and Huck Center for Malaria Research, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.,Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Jacquin C Niles
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Taco W A Kooij
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboudumc Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
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9
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de Vries LE, Lunghi M, Krishnan A, Kooij TWA, Soldati-Favre D. Pantothenate and CoA biosynthesis in Apicomplexa and their promise as antiparasitic drug targets. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1010124. [PMID: 34969059 PMCID: PMC8717973 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The Apicomplexa phylum comprises thousands of distinct intracellular parasite species, including coccidians, haemosporidians, piroplasms, and cryptosporidia. These parasites are characterized by complex and divergent life cycles occupying a variety of host niches. Consequently, they exhibit distinct adaptations to the differences in nutritional availabilities, either relying on biosynthetic pathways or by salvaging metabolites from their host. Pantothenate (Pan, vitamin B5) is the precursor for the synthesis of an essential cofactor, coenzyme A (CoA), but among the apicomplexans, only the coccidian subgroup has the ability to synthesize Pan. While the pathway to synthesize CoA from Pan is largely conserved across all branches of life, there are differences in the redundancy of enzymes and possible alternative pathways to generate CoA from Pan. Impeding the scavenge of Pan and synthesis of Pan and CoA have been long recognized as potential targets for antimicrobial drug development, but in order to fully exploit these critical pathways, it is important to understand such differences. Recently, a potent class of pantothenamides (PanAms), Pan analogs, which target CoA-utilizing enzymes, has entered antimalarial preclinical development. The potential of PanAms to target multiple downstream pathways make them a promising compound class as broad antiparasitic drugs against other apicomplexans. In this review, we summarize the recent advances in understanding the Pan and CoA biosynthesis pathways, and the suitability of these pathways as drug targets in Apicomplexa, with a particular focus on the cyst-forming coccidian, Toxoplasma gondii, and the haemosporidian, Plasmodium falciparum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura E. de Vries
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboudumc Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Matteo Lunghi
- Department of Microbiology & Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Aarti Krishnan
- Department of Microbiology & Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Taco W. A. Kooij
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboudumc Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Dominique Soldati-Favre
- Department of Microbiology & Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
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10
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Simão-Gurge RM, Thakre N, Strickland J, Isoe J, Delacruz LR, Torrevillas BK, Rodriguez AM, Riehle MA, Luckhart S. Activation of Anopheles stephensi Pantothenate Kinase and Coenzyme A Biosynthesis Reduces Infection with Diverse Plasmodium Species in the Mosquito Host. Biomolecules 2021; 11:807. [PMID: 34072373 PMCID: PMC8228300 DOI: 10.3390/biom11060807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Revised: 05/23/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria parasites require pantothenate from both human and mosquito hosts to synthesize coenzyme A (CoA). Specifically, mosquito-stage parasites cannot synthesize pantothenate de novo or take up preformed CoA from the mosquito host, making it essential for the parasite to obtain pantothenate from mosquito stores. This makes pantothenate utilization an attractive target for controlling sexual stage malaria parasites in the mosquito. CoA is synthesized from pantothenate in a multi-step pathway initiated by the enzyme pantothenate kinase (PanK). In this work, we manipulated A. stephensi PanK activity and assessed the impact of mosquito PanK activity on the development of two malaria parasite species with distinct genetics and life cycles: the human parasite Plasmodium falciparum and the mouse parasite Plasmodium yoelii yoelii 17XNL. We identified two putative A. stephensi PanK isoforms encoded by a single gene and expressed in the mosquito midgut. Using both RNAi and small molecules with reported activity against human PanK, we confirmed that A. stephensi PanK manipulation was associated with corresponding changes in midgut CoA levels. Based on these findings, we used two small molecule modulators of human PanK activity (PZ-2891, compound 7) at reported and ten-fold EC50 doses to examine the effects of manipulating A. stephensi PanK on malaria parasite infection success. Our data showed that oral provisioning of 1.3 nM and 13 nM PZ-2891 increased midgut CoA levels and significantly decreased infection success for both Plasmodium species. In contrast, oral provisioning of 62 nM and 620 nM compound 7 decreased CoA levels and significantly increased infection success for both Plasmodium species. This work establishes the A. stephensi CoA biosynthesis pathway as a potential target for broadly blocking malaria parasite development in anopheline hosts. We envision this strategy, with small molecule PanK modulators delivered to mosquitoes via attractive bait stations, working in concert with deployment of parasite-directed novel pantothenamide drugs to block parasite infection in the human host. In mosquitoes, depletion of pantothenate through manipulation to increase CoA biosynthesis is expected to negatively impact Plasmodium survival by starving the parasite of this essential nutrient. This has the potential to kill both wild type parasites and pantothenamide-resistant parasites that could develop under pantothenamide drug pressure if these compounds are used as future therapeutics for human malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raquel M. Simão-Gurge
- Department of Entomology, Plant Pathology and Nematology, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83843, USA; (R.M.S.-G.); (J.S.); (B.K.T.); (A.M.R.)
| | - Neha Thakre
- Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA; (N.T.); (J.I.); (L.R.D.); (M.A.R.)
| | - Jessica Strickland
- Department of Entomology, Plant Pathology and Nematology, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83843, USA; (R.M.S.-G.); (J.S.); (B.K.T.); (A.M.R.)
| | - Jun Isoe
- Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA; (N.T.); (J.I.); (L.R.D.); (M.A.R.)
| | - Lillian R. Delacruz
- Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA; (N.T.); (J.I.); (L.R.D.); (M.A.R.)
| | - Brandi K. Torrevillas
- Department of Entomology, Plant Pathology and Nematology, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83843, USA; (R.M.S.-G.); (J.S.); (B.K.T.); (A.M.R.)
| | - Anna M. Rodriguez
- Department of Entomology, Plant Pathology and Nematology, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83843, USA; (R.M.S.-G.); (J.S.); (B.K.T.); (A.M.R.)
| | - Michael A. Riehle
- Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA; (N.T.); (J.I.); (L.R.D.); (M.A.R.)
| | - Shirley Luckhart
- Department of Entomology, Plant Pathology and Nematology, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83843, USA; (R.M.S.-G.); (J.S.); (B.K.T.); (A.M.R.)
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83843, USA
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11
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Guan J, Spry C, Tjhin ET, Yang P, Kittikool T, Howieson VM, Ling H, Starrs L, Duncan D, Burgio G, Saliba KJ, Auclair K. Exploring Heteroaromatic Rings as a Replacement for the Labile Amide of Antiplasmodial Pantothenamides. J Med Chem 2021; 64:4478-4497. [PMID: 33792339 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c01755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Malaria-causing Plasmodium parasites are developing resistance to antimalarial drugs, providing the impetus for new antiplasmodials. Although pantothenamides show potent antiplasmodial activity, hydrolysis by pantetheinases/vanins present in blood rapidly inactivates them. We herein report the facile synthesis and biological activity of a small library of pantothenamide analogues in which the labile amide group is replaced with a heteroaromatic ring. Several of these analogues display nanomolar antiplasmodial activity against Plasmodium falciparum and/or Plasmodium knowlesi, and are stable in the presence of pantetheinase. Both a known triazole and a novel isoxazole derivative were further characterized and found to possess high selectivity indices, medium or high Caco-2 permeability, and medium or low microsomal clearance in vitro. Although they fail to suppress Plasmodium berghei proliferation in vivo, the pharmacokinetic and contact time data presented provide a benchmark for the compound profile likely required to achieve antiplasmodial activity in mice and should facilitate lead optimization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinming Guan
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 0B8, Canada
| | - Christina Spry
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Erick T Tjhin
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Penghui Yang
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 0B8, Canada.,College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xi'an Shiyou University, Xi'an 710065, China
| | - Tanakorn Kittikool
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 0B8, Canada
| | - Vanessa M Howieson
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Harriet Ling
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Lora Starrs
- John Curtin School of Medical Research, The Australian National University, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Dustin Duncan
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 0B8, Canada
| | - Gaetan Burgio
- John Curtin School of Medical Research, The Australian National University, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Kevin J Saliba
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia.,Medical School, The Australian National University, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia
| | - Karine Auclair
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 0B8, Canada
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12
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Chen N, Wang C. Chemical Labeling of Protein 4'-Phosphopantetheinylation. Chembiochem 2021; 22:1357-1367. [PMID: 33289264 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202000747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Revised: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Nature uses a diverse array of protein post-translational modifications (PTMs) to regulate protein structure, activity, localization, and function. Among them, protein 4'-phosphopantetheinylation derived from coenzyme A (CoA) is an essential PTM for the biosynthesis of fatty acids, polyketides, and nonribosomal peptides in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. To explore its functions, various chemical probes mimicking the natural structure of 4'-phosphopantetheinylation have been developed. In this minireview, we summarize these chemical probes and describe their applications in direct and metabolic labeling of proteins in bacterial and mammalian cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Chen
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Synthetic and Functional Biomolecules Center, Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Ministry of Education, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, P. R. China
| | - Chu Wang
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Synthetic and Functional Biomolecules Center, Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Ministry of Education, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, P. R. China.,Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, P. R. China
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13
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Schalkwijk J, Allman EL, Jansen PAM, de Vries LE, Verhoef JMJ, Jackowski S, Botman PNM, Beuckens-Schortinghuis CA, Koolen KMJ, Bolscher JM, Vos MW, Miller K, Reeves SA, Pett H, Trevitt G, Wittlin S, Scheurer C, Sax S, Fischli C, Angulo-Barturen I, Jiménez-Diaz MB, Josling G, Kooij TWA, Bonnert R, Campo B, Blaauw RH, Rutjes FPJT, Sauerwein RW, Llinás M, Hermkens PHH, Dechering KJ. Antimalarial pantothenamide metabolites target acetyl-coenzyme A biosynthesis in Plasmodium falciparum. Sci Transl Med 2020; 11:11/510/eaas9917. [PMID: 31534021 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aas9917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2018] [Revised: 09/07/2018] [Accepted: 03/28/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Malaria eradication is critically dependent on new therapeutics that target resistant Plasmodium parasites and block transmission of the disease. Here, we report that pantothenamide bioisosteres were active against blood-stage Plasmodium falciparum parasites and also blocked transmission of sexual stages to the mosquito vector. These compounds were resistant to degradation by serum pantetheinases, showed favorable pharmacokinetic properties, and cleared parasites in a humanized mouse model of P. falciparum infection. Metabolomics revealed that coenzyme A biosynthetic enzymes converted pantothenamides into coenzyme A analogs that interfered with parasite acetyl-coenzyme A anabolism. Resistant parasites generated in vitro showed mutations in acetyl-coenzyme A synthetase and acyl-coenzyme A synthetase 11. Introduction and reversion of these mutations in P. falciparum using CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing confirmed the roles of these enzymes in the sensitivity of the malaria parasites to pantothenamides. These pantothenamide compounds with a new mode of action may have potential as drugs against malaria parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joost Schalkwijk
- Department of Dermatology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands.
| | - Erik L Allman
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Huck Center for Malaria Research, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802 USA
| | - Patrick A M Jansen
- Department of Dermatology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Laura E de Vries
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Julie M J Verhoef
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Karen Miller
- St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Stacy A Reeves
- St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Helmi Pett
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | | | - Sergio Wittlin
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.,University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Christian Scheurer
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.,University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Sibylle Sax
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.,University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Christoph Fischli
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.,University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Gabrielle Josling
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Huck Center for Malaria Research, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802 USA
| | - Taco W A Kooij
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | | | - Brice Campo
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Robert W Sauerwein
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands.,TropIQ Health Sciences, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Manuel Llinás
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Huck Center for Malaria Research, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802 USA.,Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802 USA
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14
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Chen N, Liu Y, Li Y, Wang C. Chemical Proteomic Profiling of Protein 4′‐Phosphopantetheinylation in Mammalian Cells. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202004105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Nan Chen
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering Synthetic and Functional Biomolecules Center Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education Peking University Beijing 100871 China
| | - Yuan Liu
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering Synthetic and Functional Biomolecules Center Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education Peking University Beijing 100871 China
| | - Yuanpei Li
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering Synthetic and Functional Biomolecules Center Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education Peking University Beijing 100871 China
| | - Chu Wang
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering Synthetic and Functional Biomolecules Center Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education Peking University Beijing 100871 China
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences Peking University China
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15
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Chen N, Liu Y, Li Y, Wang C. Chemical Proteomic Profiling of Protein 4′‐Phosphopantetheinylation in Mammalian Cells. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2020; 59:16069-16075. [DOI: 10.1002/anie.202004105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2020] [Revised: 05/08/2020] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Nan Chen
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering Synthetic and Functional Biomolecules Center Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education Peking University Beijing 100871 China
| | - Yuan Liu
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering Synthetic and Functional Biomolecules Center Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education Peking University Beijing 100871 China
| | - Yuanpei Li
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering Synthetic and Functional Biomolecules Center Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education Peking University Beijing 100871 China
| | - Chu Wang
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering Synthetic and Functional Biomolecules Center Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education Peking University Beijing 100871 China
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences Peking University China
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16
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Spry C, Barnard L, Kok M, Powell AK, Mahesh D, Tjhin ET, Saliba KJ, Strauss E, de Villiers M. Toward a Stable and Potent Coenzyme A-Targeting Antiplasmodial Agent: Structure-Activity Relationship Studies of N-Phenethyl-α-methyl-pantothenamide. ACS Infect Dis 2020; 6:1844-1854. [PMID: 32375471 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.0c00075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Pantothenamides (PanAms) are potent antiplasmodials with low human toxicity currently being investigated as antimalarials with a novel mode of action. These structural analogues of pantothenate, the vitamin precursor of the essential cofactor coenzyme A, are susceptible to degradation by pantetheinase enzymes present in serum. We previously discovered that α-methylation of the β-alanine moiety of PanAms increases their stability in serum and identified N-phenethyl-α-methyl-pantothenamide as a pantetheinase-resistant PanAm with potent, on-target, and selective antiplasmodial activity. In this study, we performed structure-activity relationship investigations to establish whether stability and potency can be improved further through alternative modification of the scissile amide bond and through substitution/modification of the phenyl ring. Additionally, for the first time, the importance of the stereochemistry of the α-methyl group was evaluated in terms of stability versus potency. Our results demonstrate that α-methylation remains the superior choice for amide modification, and that while monofluoro-substitution of the phenyl ring (that often improves ADME properties) was tolerated, N-phenethyl-α-methyl-pantothenamide remains the most potent analogue. We show that the 2S,2'R-diastereomer is far more potent than the 2R,2'R-diastereomer and that this cannot be attributed to preferential metabolic activation by pantothenate kinase, the first enzyme of the coenzyme A biosynthesis pathway. Unexpectedly, the more potent 2S,2'R-diastereomer is also more prone to pantetheinase-mediated degradation. Finally, the results of in vitro studies to assess permeability and metabolic stability of the 2S,2'R-diastereomer suggested species-dependent degradation via amide hydrolysis. Our study provides important information for the continued development of PanAm-based antimalarials.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Leanne Barnard
- Department of Biochemistry, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa
| | - Michélle Kok
- Department of Biochemistry, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa
| | - Andrew K. Powell
- Centre for Drug Candidate Optimisation, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | | | | | | | - Erick Strauss
- Department of Biochemistry, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa
| | - Marianne de Villiers
- Department of Biochemistry, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa
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17
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Veale CGL, Müller R. Recent Highlights in Anti-infective Medicinal Chemistry from South Africa. ChemMedChem 2020; 15:809-826. [PMID: 32149446 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202000086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Global advancements in biological technologies have vastly increased the variety of and accessibility to bioassay platforms, while simultaneously improving our understanding of druggable chemical space. In the South African context, this has resulted in a rapid expansion in the number of medicinal chemistry programmes currently operating, particularly on university campuses. Furthermore, the modern medicinal chemist has the advantage of being able to incorporate data from numerous related disciplines into the medicinal chemistry process, allowing for informed molecular design to play a far greater role than previously possible. Accordingly, this review focusses on recent highlights in drug-discovery programmes, in which South African medicinal chemistry groups have played a substantive role in the design and optimisation of biologically active compounds which contribute to the search for promising agents for infectious disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clinton G L Veale
- School of Chemistry and Physics, Pietermaritzburg Campus, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209, South Africa
| | - Ronel Müller
- School of Chemistry and Physics, Pietermaritzburg Campus, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209, South Africa
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18
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Duncan D, Auclair K. The coenzyme A biosynthetic pathway: A new tool for prodrug bioactivation. Arch Biochem Biophys 2019; 672:108069. [PMID: 31404525 DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2019.108069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2019] [Revised: 08/05/2019] [Accepted: 08/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Prodrugs account for more than 5% of pharmaceuticals approved worldwide. Over the past decades several prodrug design strategies have been firmly established; however, only a few functional groups remain amenable to this approach. The aim of this overview is to highlight the use of coenzyme A (CoA) biosynthetic enzymes as a recently explored bioactivation scheme and provide information about its scope of utility. This emerging tool is likely to have a strong impact on future medicinal and biological studies as it offers promiscuity, orthogonal selectivity, and the capability of assembling exceptionally large molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dustin Duncan
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, Quebec, H3A 0B8, Canada
| | - Karine Auclair
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, Quebec, H3A 0B8, Canada.
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19
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Jansen PAM, van der Krieken DA, Botman PNM, Blaauw RH, Cavina L, Raaijmakers EM, de Heuvel E, Sandrock J, Pennings LJ, Hermkens PHH, Zeeuwen PLJM, Rutjes FPJT, Schalkwijk J. Stable pantothenamide bioisosteres: novel antibiotics for Gram-positive bacteria. J Antibiot (Tokyo) 2019; 72:682-692. [PMID: 31171848 PMCID: PMC6760626 DOI: 10.1038/s41429-019-0196-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2019] [Revised: 05/06/2019] [Accepted: 05/10/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
The emergence of multidrug resistant bacteria has prioritized the development of new antibiotics. N-substituted pantothenamides, analogs of the natural compound pantetheine, were reported to target bacterial coenzyme A biosynthesis, but these compounds have never reached the clinic due to their instability in biological fluids. Plasma-stable pantothenamide analogs could overcome these issues. We first synthesized a number of bioisosteres of the prototypic pantothenamide N7-Pan. A compound with an inverted amide bond (CXP18.6-012) was found to provide plasma-stability with minimal loss of activity compared to the parent compound N7-Pan. Next, we synthesized inverted pantothenamides with a large variety of side chains. Among these we identified a number of novel stable inverted pantothenamides with selective activity against Gram-positive bacteria such as staphylococci and streptococci, at low micromolar concentrations. These data provide future direction for the development of pantothenamides with clinical potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick A M Jansen
- Department of Dermatology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Lian J Pennings
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Patrick L J M Zeeuwen
- Department of Dermatology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Floris P J T Rutjes
- Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Joost Schalkwijk
- Department of Dermatology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
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20
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Guan J, Tjhin ET, Howieson VM, Kittikool T, Spry C, Saliba KJ, Auclair K. Structure-Activity Relationships of Antiplasmodial Pantothenamide Analogues Reveal a New Way by Which Triazoles Mimic Amide Bonds. ChemMedChem 2018; 13:2677-2683. [PMID: 30370998 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.201800327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2018] [Revised: 10/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Pantothenamides are potent growth inhibitors of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. Their clinical use is, however, hindered due to the ubiquitous presence of pantetheinases in human serum, which rapidly degrade pantothenamides into pantothenate and the corresponding amine. We previously reported that replacement of the labile amide bond with a triazole ring not only imparts stability toward pantetheinases, but also improves activity against P. falciparum. A small library of new triazole derivatives was synthesized, and their use in establishing structure-activity relationships relevant to antiplasmodial activity of this family of compounds is discussed herein. Overall it was observed that 1,4-substitution on the triazole ring and use of an unbranched, one-carbon linker between the pantoyl group and the triazole are optimal for inhibition of intraerythrocytic P. falciparum growth. Our results imply that the triazole ring may mimic the amide bond with an orientation different from what was previously suggested for this amide bioisostere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinming Guan
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, 801 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, QC, H3A 0B8, Canada
| | - Erick T Tjhin
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, 134 Linnaeus Way, Acton, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - Vanessa M Howieson
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, 134 Linnaeus Way, Acton, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - Tanakorn Kittikool
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, 801 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, QC, H3A 0B8, Canada
| | - Christina Spry
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, 134 Linnaeus Way, Acton, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - Kevin J Saliba
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, 134 Linnaeus Way, Acton, ACT, 2601, Australia.,Medical School, The Australian National University, 134 Linnaeus Way, Acton, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - Karine Auclair
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, 801 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, QC, H3A 0B8, Canada
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21
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Abidin MZ, Saravanan T, Zhang J, Tepper PG, Strauss E, Poelarends GJ. Modular Enzymatic Cascade Synthesis of Vitamin B 5 and Its Derivatives. Chemistry 2018; 24:17434-17438. [PMID: 30192043 PMCID: PMC6471175 DOI: 10.1002/chem.201804151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Access to vitamin B5 [(R)‐pantothenic acid] and both diastereoisomers of α‐methyl‐substituted vitamin B5 [(R)‐ and (S)‐3‐((R)‐2,4‐dihydroxy‐3,3‐dimethylbutanamido)‐2‐methylpropanoic acid] was achieved using a modular three‐step biocatalytic cascade involving 3‐methylaspartate ammonia lyase (MAL), aspartate‐α‐decarboxylase (ADC), β‐methylaspartate‐α‐decarboxylase (CrpG) or glutamate decarboxylase (GAD), and pantothenate synthetase (PS) enzymes. Starting from simple non‐chiral dicarboxylic acids (either fumaric acid or mesaconic acid), vitamin B5 and both diastereoisomers of α‐methyl‐substituted vitamin B5, which are valuable precursors for promising antimicrobials against Plasmodium falciparum and multidrug‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus, can be generated in good yields (up to 70 %) and excellent enantiopurity (>99 % ee). This newly developed cascade process may be tailored and used for the biocatalytic production of various vitamin B5 derivatives by modifying the pantoyl or β‐alanine moiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Z Abidin
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Biology, Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713, AV, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Thangavelu Saravanan
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Biology, Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713, AV, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jielin Zhang
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Biology, Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713, AV, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Pieter G Tepper
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Biology, Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713, AV, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Erick Strauss
- Department of Biochemistry, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa
| | - Gerrit J Poelarends
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Biology, Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713, AV, Groningen, The Netherlands
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22
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Barnard L, Mostert KJ, van Otterlo WAL, Strauss E. Developing Pantetheinase-Resistant Pantothenamide Antibacterials: Structural Modification Impacts on PanK Interaction and Mode of Action. ACS Infect Dis 2018; 4:736-743. [PMID: 29332383 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.7b00240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Pantothenamides (PanAms) are analogues of pantothenate, the biosynthetic precursor of coenzyme A (CoA), and show potent antimicrobial activity against several bacteria and the malaria parasite in vitro. However, pantetheinase enzymes that normally degrade pantetheine in human serum also act on the PanAms, thereby reducing their potency. In this study, we designed analogues of the known antibacterial PanAm N-heptylpantothenamide (N7-Pan) to be resistant to pantetheinase by using three complementary structural modification strategies. We show that, while two of these are effective in imparting resistance, the introduced modifications have an impact on the analogues' interaction with pantothenate kinase (PanK, the first CoA biosynthetic enzyme), which acts as a metabolic activator and/or target of the PanAms. This, in turn, directly affects their mode of action. Importantly, we discover that the phosphorylated version of N7-Pan shows pantetheinase resistance and antistaphylococcal activity, providing a lead for future studies in the ongoing search of PanAm analogues that show in vivo efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leanne Barnard
- Department of Biochemistry, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa
| | - Konrad J. Mostert
- Department of Biochemistry, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa
| | - Willem A. L. van Otterlo
- Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa
| | - Erick Strauss
- Department of Biochemistry, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa
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23
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Tjhin ET, Spry C, Sewell AL, Hoegl A, Barnard L, Sexton AE, Siddiqui G, Howieson VM, Maier AG, Creek DJ, Strauss E, Marquez R, Auclair K, Saliba KJ. Mutations in the pantothenate kinase of Plasmodium falciparum confer diverse sensitivity profiles to antiplasmodial pantothenate analogues. PLoS Pathog 2018; 14:e1006918. [PMID: 29614109 PMCID: PMC5882169 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1006918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2017] [Accepted: 02/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The malaria-causing blood stage of Plasmodium falciparum requires extracellular pantothenate for proliferation. The parasite converts pantothenate into coenzyme A (CoA) via five enzymes, the first being a pantothenate kinase (PfPanK). Multiple antiplasmodial pantothenate analogues, including pantothenol and CJ-15,801, kill the parasite by targeting CoA biosynthesis/utilisation. Their mechanism of action, however, remains unknown. Here, we show that parasites pressured with pantothenol or CJ-15,801 become resistant to these analogues. Whole-genome sequencing revealed mutations in one of two putative PanK genes (Pfpank1) in each resistant line. These mutations significantly alter PfPanK activity, with two conferring a fitness cost, consistent with Pfpank1 coding for a functional PanK that is essential for normal growth. The mutants exhibit a different sensitivity profile to recently-described, potent, antiplasmodial pantothenate analogues, with one line being hypersensitive. We provide evidence consistent with different pantothenate analogue classes having different mechanisms of action: some inhibit CoA biosynthesis while others inhibit CoA-utilising enzymes. The coenzyme A (CoA) biosynthetic pathway is under investigation as a target for the development of drugs aimed at several infectious agents, including malaria parasites. To synthesise CoA, the parasite scavenges the essential precursor pantothenate (vitamin B5). Several pantothenate analogues possess potent (nM) activity against the parasite, but their exact mechanism of action is unknown. We have generated mutant parasites that are resistant or hypersensitive to various pantothenate analogues. These parasites harbour mutations in a gene we now show codes for the first enzyme in the CoA biosynthesis pathway. This enzyme is not the target of the analogues, but instead converts them into antimetabolites that, depending on the analogue, either inhibit a CoA biosynthesis enzyme or downstream CoA-utilising enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erick T. Tjhin
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Christina Spry
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Alan L. Sewell
- Department of Chemistry, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Annabelle Hoegl
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Leanne Barnard
- Department of Biochemistry, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, South Africa
| | - Anna E. Sexton
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Ghizal Siddiqui
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Vanessa M. Howieson
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Alexander G. Maier
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Darren J. Creek
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Erick Strauss
- Department of Biochemistry, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, South Africa
| | - Rodolfo Marquez
- Department of Chemistry, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
- Department of Chemistry, Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou, China
| | - Karine Auclair
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Kevin J. Saliba
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
- Medical School, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
- * E-mail:
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24
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Spry C, Sewell AL, Hering Y, Villa MV, Weber J, Hobson SJ, Harnor SJ, Gul S, Marquez R, Saliba KJ. Structure-activity analysis of CJ-15,801 analogues that interact with Plasmodium falciparum pantothenate kinase and inhibit parasite proliferation. Eur J Med Chem 2018; 143:1139-1147. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2017.08.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2017] [Revised: 08/22/2017] [Accepted: 08/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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25
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Kabir A, Dunlop MJ, Acharya B, Bissessur R, Ahmed M. Water recycling efficacies of extremely hygroscopic, antifouling hydrogels. RSC Adv 2018; 8:38100-38107. [PMID: 35558634 PMCID: PMC9089850 DOI: 10.1039/c8ra07915c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2018] [Accepted: 11/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Water harvesting, reusable, and antifouling hydrogels have found various applications in the fields of nanotechnology, biomedicine, food production and agriculture. These water-releasing materials are generally comprised of hygroscopic natural polymers, such as alginate blended with ionic salts or thermo-responsive moieties, to aid the release of water from a network of hydrogels. In this report, we propose a simple strategy to develop novel, synthetic, hygroscopic hydrogels (in the absence of ionic salts or thermo-responsive moieties), capable of absorbing copious amount of water and allow the facile release of water at ambient temperatures, as a function of crosslinking density of the polymer chains. The first step in the development of hygroscopic hydrogels is the development of hygroscopic vitamin B5 analogous or pantothenic acid analogous monomer (B5AMA), by ring opening chemistry. The hygroscopic hydrogels are then prepared from B5AMA monomer at different cross-linker densities by free radical polymerization approach and are evaluated for their antifouling properties and for their water absorbing and release efficacies, as a function of temperature. The release of significant amount of water by B5AMA hydrogels at physiological temperature (37 °C), their repeated water absorption and desorption behavior and excellent antifouling properties, suggest their potential usage as water harvesting materials in arid regions. Water recycling efficacies of B5AMA hydrogels at ambient temperature.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Anayet Kabir
- Department of Chemistry
- University of Prince Edward Island
- Charlottetown
- Canada
| | - Matthew J. Dunlop
- Department of Chemistry
- University of Prince Edward Island
- Charlottetown
- Canada
- Faculty of Sustainable Design & Engineering
| | - Bishnu Acharya
- Faculty of Sustainable Design & Engineering
- University of Prince Edward Island
- Charlottetown
- Canada
| | - Rabin Bissessur
- Department of Chemistry
- University of Prince Edward Island
- Charlottetown
- Canada
| | - Marya Ahmed
- Department of Chemistry
- University of Prince Edward Island
- Charlottetown
- Canada
- Faculty of Sustainable Design & Engineering
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26
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Di Meo I, Colombelli C, Srinivasan B, de Villiers M, Hamada J, Jeong SY, Fox R, Woltjer RL, Tepper PG, Lahaye LL, Rizzetto E, Harrs CH, de Boer T, van der Zwaag M, Jenko B, Čusak A, Pahor J, Kosec G, Grzeschik NA, Hayflick SJ, Tiranti V, Sibon OCM. Acetyl-4'-phosphopantetheine is stable in serum and prevents phenotypes induced by pantothenate kinase deficiency. Sci Rep 2017; 7:11260. [PMID: 28900161 PMCID: PMC5595861 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-11564-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2017] [Accepted: 08/09/2017] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Coenzyme A is an essential metabolite known for its central role in over one hundred cellular metabolic reactions. In cells, Coenzyme A is synthesized de novo in five enzymatic steps with vitamin B5 as the starting metabolite, phosphorylated by pantothenate kinase. Mutations in the pantothenate kinase 2 gene cause a severe form of neurodegeneration for which no treatment is available. One therapeutic strategy is to generate Coenzyme A precursors downstream of the defective step in the pathway. Here we describe the synthesis, characteristics and in vivo rescue potential of the acetyl-Coenzyme A precursor S-acetyl-4′-phosphopantetheine as a possible treatment for neurodegeneration associated with pantothenate kinase deficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivano Di Meo
- Division of Molecular Neurogenetics, IRCCS Foundation Neurological Institute "C.Besta" Via Temolo 4, 20126, Milano, Italy
| | - Cristina Colombelli
- Division of Molecular Neurogenetics, IRCCS Foundation Neurological Institute "C.Besta" Via Temolo 4, 20126, Milano, Italy
| | - Balaji Srinivasan
- Department of Cell Biology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Ant. Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Marianne de Villiers
- Department of Biochemistry, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, 7600, South Africa
| | - Jeffrey Hamada
- Departments of Molecular & Medical Genetics and Pathology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
| | - Suh Y Jeong
- Departments of Molecular & Medical Genetics and Pathology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
| | - Rachel Fox
- Departments of Molecular & Medical Genetics and Pathology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
| | - Randall L Woltjer
- Departments of Molecular & Medical Genetics and Pathology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
| | - Pieter G Tepper
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Biology, University of Groningen, Ant. Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Liza L Lahaye
- Department of Cell Biology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Ant. Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Emanuela Rizzetto
- Clinical Pathology and Medical Genetics Unit, Foundation IRCCS-Neurological Institute "Carlo Besta", Milano, Italy
| | - Clara H Harrs
- Department of Cell Biology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Ant. Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Theo de Boer
- Analytical Biochemical Laboratory (ABL), WA Scholtenstraat 7, 9403 AJ, Assen, The Netherlands
| | - Marianne van der Zwaag
- Department of Cell Biology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Ant. Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Branko Jenko
- Acies Bio d.o.o., Tehnološki park 21, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Alen Čusak
- Acies Bio d.o.o., Tehnološki park 21, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Jerca Pahor
- Acies Bio d.o.o., Tehnološki park 21, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia.,Laboratory of Organic and Bioorganic Chemistry, Department of Physical and Organic Chemistry, Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Gregor Kosec
- Acies Bio d.o.o., Tehnološki park 21, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Nicola A Grzeschik
- Department of Cell Biology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Ant. Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Susan J Hayflick
- Departments of Molecular & Medical Genetics and Pathology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
| | - Valeria Tiranti
- Division of Molecular Neurogenetics, IRCCS Foundation Neurological Institute "C.Besta" Via Temolo 4, 20126, Milano, Italy
| | - Ody C M Sibon
- Department of Cell Biology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Ant. Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV, Groningen, The Netherlands.
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27
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de Villiers M, Spry C, Macuamule CJ, Barnard L, Wells G, Saliba KJ, Strauss E. Antiplasmodial Mode of Action of Pantothenamides: Pantothenate Kinase Serves as a Metabolic Activator Not as a Target. ACS Infect Dis 2017; 3:527-541. [PMID: 28437604 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.7b00024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
N-Substituted pantothenamides (PanAms) are pantothenate analogues with up to nanomolar potency against blood-stage Plasmodium falciparum (the most virulent species responsible for malaria). Although these compounds are known to target coenzyme A (CoA) biosynthesis and/or utilization, their exact mode of action (MoA) is still unknown. Importantly, PanAms that retain the natural β-alanine moiety are more potent than other variants, consistent with the involvement of processes that are selective for pantothenate (the precursor of CoA) or its derivatives. The transport of pantothenate and its phosphorylation by P. falciparum pantothenate kinase (PfPanK, the first enzyme of CoA biosynthesis) are two such processes previously highlighted as potential targets for the PanAms' antiplasmodial action. In this study, we investigated the effect of PanAms on these processes using their radiolabeled versions (synthesized here for the first time), which made possible the direct measurement of PanAm uptake by isolated blood-stage parasites and PanAm phosphorylation by PfPanK present in parasite lysates. We found that the MoA of PanAms does not involve interference with pantothenate transport and that inhibition of PfPanK-mediated pantothenate phosphorylation does not correlate with PanAm antiplasmodial activity. Instead, PanAms that retain the β-alanine moiety were found to be metabolically activated by PfPanK in a selective manner, forming phosphorylated products that likely inhibit other steps in CoA biosynthesis or are transformed into CoA antimetabolites that can interfere with CoA utilization. These findings provide direction for the ongoing development of CoA-targeted inhibitors as antiplasmodial agents with clinical potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianne de Villiers
- Department of Biochemistry, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa
| | | | | | - Leanne Barnard
- Department of Biochemistry, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa
| | - Gordon Wells
- Department of Biochemistry, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa
| | | | - Erick Strauss
- Department of Biochemistry, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa
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28
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Triazole Substitution of a Labile Amide Bond Stabilizes Pantothenamides and Improves Their Antiplasmodial Potency. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2016; 60:7146-7152. [PMID: 27645235 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01436-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2016] [Accepted: 09/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The biosynthesis of coenzyme A (CoA) from pantothenate and the utilization of CoA in essential biochemical pathways represent promising antimalarial drug targets. Pantothenamides, amide derivatives of pantothenate, have potential as antimalarials, but a serum enzyme called pantetheinase degrades pantothenamides, rendering them inactive in vivo In this study, we characterize a series of 19 compounds that mimic pantothenamides with a stable triazole group instead of the labile amide. Two of these pantothenamides are active against the intraerythrocytic stage parasite with 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50s) of ∼50 nM, and three others have submicromolar IC50s. We show that the compounds target CoA biosynthesis and/or utilization. We investigated one of the compounds for its ability to interact with the Plasmodium falciparum pantothenate kinase, the first enzyme involved in the conversion of pantothenate to CoA, and show that the compound inhibits the phosphorylation of [14C]pantothenate by the P. falciparum pantothenate kinase, but the inhibition does not correlate with antiplasmodial activity. Furthermore, the compounds are not toxic to human cells and, importantly, are not degraded by pantetheinase.
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29
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Fletcher S, Lucantoni L, Sykes ML, Jones AJ, Holleran JP, Saliba KJ, Avery VM. Biological characterization of chemically diverse compounds targeting the Plasmodium falciparum coenzyme A synthesis pathway. Parasit Vectors 2016; 9:589. [PMID: 27855724 PMCID: PMC5114727 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-016-1860-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2016] [Accepted: 10/27/2016] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Background In the fight against malaria, the discovery of chemical compounds with a novel mode of action and/or chemistry distinct from currently used drugs is vital to counteract the parasite’s known ability to develop drug resistance. Another desirable aspect is efficacy against gametocytes, the sexual developmental stage of the parasite which enables the transmission through Anopheles vectors. Using a chemical rescue approach, we previously identified compounds targeting Plasmodium falciparum coenzyme A (CoA) synthesis or utilization, a promising target that has not yet been exploited in anti-malarial drug development. Results We report on the outcomes of a series of biological tests that help to define the species- and stage-specificity, as well as the potential targets of these chemically diverse compounds. Compound activity against P. falciparum gametocytes was determined to assess stage-specificity and transmission-reducing potential. Against early stage gametocytes IC50 values ranging between 60 nM and 7.5 μM were obtained. With the exception of two compounds with sub-micromolar potencies across all intra-erythrocytic stages, activity against late stage gametocytes was lower. None of the compounds were specific pantothenate kinase inhibitors. Chemical rescue profiling with CoA pathway intermediates demonstrated that most compounds acted on either of the two final P. falciparum CoA synthesis enzymes, phosphopantetheine adenylyltransferase (PPAT) or dephospho CoA kinase (DPCK). The most active compound targeted either phosphopantothenoylcysteine synthetase (PPCS) or phosphopantothenoylcysteine decarboxylase (PPCDC). Species-specificity was evaluated against Trypanosoma cruzi and Trypanosoma brucei brucei. No specific activity against T. cruzi amastigotes was observed; however three compounds inhibited the viability of trypomastigotes with sub-micromolar potencies and were confirmed to act on T. b. brucei CoA synthesis. Conclusions Utilizing the compounds we previously identified as effective against asexual P. falciparum, we demonstrate for the first time that gametocytes, like the asexual stages, depend on CoA, with two compounds exhibiting sub-micromolar potencies across asexual forms and all gametocytes stages tested. Furthermore, three compounds inhibited the viability of T. cruzi and T. b. brucei trypomastigotes with sub-micromolar potencies and were confirmed to act on T. b. brucei CoA synthesis, indicating that the CoA synthesis pathway might represent a valuable new drug target in these parasite species. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13071-016-1860-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabine Fletcher
- Discovery Biology, Eskitis Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD, Australia
| | - Leonardo Lucantoni
- Discovery Biology, Eskitis Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD, Australia
| | - Melissa L Sykes
- Discovery Biology, Eskitis Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD, Australia
| | - Amy J Jones
- Discovery Biology, Eskitis Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD, Australia
| | - John P Holleran
- Discovery Biology, Eskitis Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD, Australia
| | - Kevin J Saliba
- Medical School and Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Vicky M Avery
- Discovery Biology, Eskitis Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD, Australia.
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30
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Hughes SJ, Barnard L, Mottaghi K, Tempel W, Antoshchenko T, Hong BS, Allali-Hassani A, Smil D, Vedadi M, Strauss E, Park HW. Discovery of Potent Pantothenamide Inhibitors of Staphylococcus aureus Pantothenate Kinase through a Minimal SAR Study: Inhibition Is Due to Trapping of the Product. ACS Infect Dis 2016; 2:627-641. [PMID: 27759386 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.6b00090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The potent antistaphylococcal activity of N-substituted pantothenamides (PanAms) has been shown to at least partially be due to the inhibition of Staphylococcus aureus's atypical type II pantothenate kinase (SaPanKII), the first enzyme of coenzyme A biosynthesis. This mechanism of action follows from SaPanKII having a binding mode for PanAms that is distinct from those of other PanKs. To dissect the molecular interactions responsible for PanAm inhibitory activity, we conducted a mini SAR study in tandem with the cocrystallization of SaPanKII with two classic PanAms (N5-Pan and N7-Pan), culminating in the synthesis and characterization of two new PanAms, N-Pip-PanAm and MeO-N5-PanAm. The cocrystal structures showed that all of the PanAms are phosphorylated by SaPanKII but remain bound at the active site; this occurs primarily through interactions with Tyr240' and Thr172'. Kinetic analysis showed a strong correlation between kcat (slow PanAm turnover) and IC50 (inhibition of pantothenate phosphorylation) values, suggesting that SaPanKII inhibition occurs via a delay in product release. In-depth analysis of the PanAm-bound structures showed that the capacity for accepting a hydrogen bond from the amide of Thr172' was a stronger determinant for PanAm potency than the capacity to π-stack with Tyr240'. The two new PanAms, N-Pip-PanAm and MeO-N5-PanAm, effectively combine both hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions, resulting in the most potent SaPanKII inhibition described to date. Taken together, our results are consistent with an inhibition mechanism wherein PanAms act as SaPanKII substrates that remain bound upon phosphorylation. The phospho-PanAm-SaPanKII interactions described herein may help future antistaphylococcal drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Leanne Barnard
- Department of Biochemistry, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa
| | | | | | - Tetyana Antoshchenko
- Department
of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Tulane School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, United States
| | | | | | | | | | - Erick Strauss
- Department of Biochemistry, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa
| | - Hee-Won Park
- Department
of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Tulane School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, United States
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31
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Guan J, Hachey M, Puri L, Howieson V, Saliba KJ, Auclair K. A cross-metathesis approach to novel pantothenamide derivatives. Beilstein J Org Chem 2016; 12:963-8. [PMID: 27340487 PMCID: PMC4902030 DOI: 10.3762/bjoc.12.95] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2016] [Accepted: 04/18/2016] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Pantothenamides are known for their in vitro antimicrobial activity. Our group has previously reported a new stereoselective route to access derivatives modified at the geminal dimethyl moiety. This route however fails in the addition of large substituents. Here we report a new synthetic route that exploits the known allyl derivative, allowing for the installation of larger groups via cross-metathesis. The method was applied in the synthesis of a new pantothenamide with improved stability in human blood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinming Guan
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, 801 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, H3A 0B8, Canada
| | - Matthew Hachey
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, 801 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, H3A 0B8, Canada
| | - Lekha Puri
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, 801 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, H3A 0B8, Canada
| | - Vanessa Howieson
- Research School of Biology, College of Medicine, Biology and Environment, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, 2601, Australia
| | - Kevin J Saliba
- Research School of Biology, College of Medicine, Biology and Environment, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, 2601, Australia; Medical School, College of Medicine, Biology and Environment, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, 2601, Australia
| | - Karine Auclair
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, 801 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, H3A 0B8, Canada
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Maršavelski A. A novel antimicrobial target—expanded and revisited mode of action of pantothenamides. RSC Adv 2016. [DOI: 10.1039/c6ra07430h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
A schematic representation showing the proposed stuffed pepper-like inhibition of the chain-flipping mechanism in fatty-acid biosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Maršavelski
- Ruđer Bošković Institute
- Computational Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry Group
- Zagreb
- Croatia
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Recent advances in targeting coenzyme A biosynthesis and utilization for antimicrobial drug development. Biochem Soc Trans 2015; 42:1080-6. [PMID: 25110006 DOI: 10.1042/bst20140131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The biosynthesis and utilization of CoA (coenzyme A), the ubiquitous and essential acyl carrier in all organisms, have long been regarded as excellent targets for the development of new antimicrobial drugs. Moreover, bioinformatics and biochemical studies have highlighted significant differences between several of the bacterial enzyme targets and their human counterparts, indicating that selective inhibition of the former should be possible. Over the past decade, a large amount of structural and mechanistic data has been gathered on CoA metabolism and the CoA biosynthetic enzymes, and this has facilitated the discovery and development of several promising candidate antimicrobial agents. These compounds include both target-specific inhibitors, as well as CoA antimetabolite precursors that can reduce CoA levels and interfere with processes that are dependent on this cofactor. In the present mini-review we provide an overview of the most recent of these studies that, taken together, have also provided chemical validation of CoA biosynthesis and utilization as viable targets for antimicrobial drug development.
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Chemical biology tools to study pantetheinases of the vanin family. Biochem Soc Trans 2015; 42:1052-5. [PMID: 25110001 DOI: 10.1042/bst20140074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
VNNs (vanins) are pantetheinases that hydrolyse pantetheine to pantothenic acid and cysteamine. Studies with Vnn1-knockout mice have indicated a role of VNN-1 in inflammation and stress responses. VNN-1 is highly expressed in liver and is under transcriptional control of PPAR (peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor)-α and nutritional status, suggesting a role in energy metabolism. Recently, the specific substrates and inhibitors of VNNs were obtained as tools to study VNN biology and to investigate whether VNNs are potential drug targets. Oral administration of RR6, a pantothenone with nanomolar anti-VNN potency, completely inhibited plasma VNN activity in rats and showed favourable pharmacokinetics. Prolonged RR6 administration caused alterations of hepatic and plasma lipid concentrations upon fasting. VNN inhibitors were found to protect pantothenamides (pantetheine analogues with antibiotic activity) against breakdown by plasma VNN, thereby preserving their antibiotic activity. Combination of pantothenamides with a VNN inhibitor showed a strong activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus pneumoniae when assayed in the presence of 10% serum. Recent studies have reported plasma stable pantothenamides that were active against the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. We conclude that VNN inhibitors and pantothenate derivatives that target enzymes in the CoA (coenzyme A) biosynthetic pathway may have potential use as novel drugs in infection, inflammation and metabolism.
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Exploiting the coenzyme A biosynthesis pathway for the identification of new antimalarial agents: the case for pantothenamides. Biochem Soc Trans 2015; 42:1087-93. [PMID: 25110007 DOI: 10.1042/bst20140158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Malaria kills more than half a million people each year. There is no vaccine, and recent reports suggest that resistance is developing to the antimalarial regimes currently recommended by the World Health Organization. New drugs are therefore needed to ensure malaria treatment options continue to be available. The intra-erythrocytic stage of the malaria parasite's life cycle is dependent on an extracellular supply of pantothenate (vitamin B5), the precursor of CoA (coenzyme A). It has been known for many years that proliferation of the parasite during this stage of its life cycle can be inhibited with pantothenate analogues. We have shown recently that pantothenamides, a class of pantothenate analogues with antibacterial activity, inhibit parasite proliferation at submicromolar concentrations and do so competitively with pantothenate. These compounds, however, are degraded, and therefore rendered inactive, by the enzyme pantetheinase (vanin), which is present in serum. In the present mini-review, we discuss the two strategies that have been put forward to overcome pantetheinase-mediated degradation of pantothenamides. The strategies effectively provide an opportunity for pantothenamides to be tested in vivo. We also put forward our 'blueprint' for the further development of pantothenamides (and other pantothenate analogues) as potential antimalarials.
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Pett HE, Jansen PAM, Hermkens PHH, Botman PNM, Beuckens-Schortinghuis CA, Blaauw RH, Graumans W, van de Vegte-Bolmer M, Koolen KMJ, Rutjes FPJT, Dechering KJ, Sauerwein RW, Schalkwijk J. Novel pantothenate derivatives for anti-malarial chemotherapy. Malar J 2015; 14:169. [PMID: 25927675 PMCID: PMC4425855 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-015-0673-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2014] [Accepted: 04/04/2015] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Background A number of synthetic pantothenate derivatives, such as pantothenamides, are known to inhibit the growth of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum, by interfering with the parasite Coenzyme A (CoA) biosynthetic pathway. The clinical use of pantothenamides is limited by their sensitivity to breakdown by ubiquitous human pantetheinases of the vanin family. Methods A number of pantothenate derivatives (pantothenones) with potent and specific inhibitory activity against mammalian vanins were tested in a proliferation assay of asexual P. falciparum blood stages alone, and in combination with pantothenamides. Results The vanin inhibitors were found to protect pantothenamides against breakdown by plasma vanins, thereby preserving the in vitro anti-malarial activity. Moreover, some of the vanin inhibitors showed in vitro anti-malarial activity in the low micromolar range. The most potent antimalarial in this series of compounds (RR8), was found to compete with pantothenate in a combination proliferation assay. No correlation, however, was found between anti-vanin and anti-malarial activity, nor was pantetheinase activity detected in P. falciparum extracts. Conclusions Growth inhibition is most likely due to competition with pantothenate, rather than pantetheinase inhibition. As vanin inhibitors of the pantothenone class are stable in biological fluids and are non-toxic to mammalian cells, they may represent novel pantothenate-based anti-malarials, either on their own or in combination with pantothenamides. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12936-015-0673-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helmi E Pett
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - Patrick A M Jansen
- Department of Dermatology and Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | | | | | | | | | - Wouter Graumans
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - Marga van de Vegte-Bolmer
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | | | - Floris P J T Rutjes
- Radboud University Nijmegen, Institute for Molecules and Materials, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. .,Pansynt B V, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | | | - Robert W Sauerwein
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. .,TropIQ Health Sciences, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - Joost Schalkwijk
- Department of Dermatology and Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. .,Pansynt B V, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
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A pantetheinase-resistant pantothenamide with potent, on-target, and selective antiplasmodial activity. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2015; 59:3666-8. [PMID: 25845876 DOI: 10.1128/aac.04970-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2014] [Accepted: 04/02/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Pantothenamides inhibit blood-stage Plasmodium falciparum with potencies (50% inhibitory concentration [IC50], ∼20 nM) similar to that of chloroquine. They target processes dependent on pantothenate, a precursor of the essential metabolic cofactor coenzyme A. However, their antiplasmodial activity is reduced due to degradation by serum pantetheinase. Minor modification of the pantothenamide structure led to the identification of α-methyl-N-phenethyl-pantothenamide, a pantothenamide resistant to degradation, with excellent antiplasmodial activity (IC50, 52 ± 6 nM), target specificity, and low toxicity.
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de Villiers M, Barnard L, Koekemoer L, Snoep JL, Strauss E. Variation in pantothenate kinase type determines the pantothenamide mode of action and impacts on coenzyme A salvage biosynthesis. FEBS J 2014; 281:4731-53. [PMID: 25156889 DOI: 10.1111/febs.13013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2014] [Revised: 07/18/2014] [Accepted: 08/18/2014] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
N-substituted pantothenamides are analogues of pantothenic acid, the vitamin precursor of CoA, and constitute a class of well-studied bacterial growth inhibitors that show potential as new antibacterial agents. Previous studies have highlighted the importance of pantothenate kinase (PanK; EC 2.7.1.33) (the first enzyme of CoA biosynthesis) in mediating pantothenamide-induced growth inhibition by one of two proposed mechanisms: first, by acting on the pantothenamides as alternate substrates (allowing their conversion into CoA antimetabolites, with subsequent effects on CoA- and acyl carrier protein-dependent processes) or, second, by being directly inhibited by them (causing a reduction in CoA biosynthesis). In the present study we used structurally modified pantothenamides to probe whether PanKs interact with these compounds in the same manner. We show that the three distinct types of eubacterial PanKs that are known to exist (PanKI , PanKII and PanKIII ) respond very differently and, consequently, are responsible for determining the pantothenamide mode of action in each case: although the promiscuous PanKI enzymes accept them as substrates, the highly selective PanKIII s are resistant to their inhibitory effects. Most unexpectedly, Staphylococcus aureus PanK (the only known example of a bacterial PanKII ) experiences uncompetitive inhibition in a manner that is described for the first time. In addition, we show that pantetheine, a CoA degradation product that closely resembles the pantothenamides, causes the same effect. This suggests that, in S. aureus, pantothenamides may act by usurping a previously unknown role of pantetheine in the regulation of CoA biosynthesis, and validates its PanK as a target for the development of new antistaphylococcal agents.
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Hoegl A, Darabi H, Tran E, Awuah E, Kerdo ESC, Habib E, Saliba KJ, Auclair K. Stereochemical modification of geminal dialkyl substituents on pantothenamides alters antimicrobial activity. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2014; 24:3274-7. [PMID: 24986662 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2014.06.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2014] [Revised: 06/02/2014] [Accepted: 06/05/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Pantothenamides are N-substituted pantothenate derivatives which are known to exert antimicrobial activity through interference with coenzyme A (CoA) biosynthesis or downstream CoA-utilizing proteins. A previous report has shown that replacement of the ProR methyl group of the benchmark N-pentylpantothenamide with an allyl group (R-anti configuration) yielded one of the most potent antibacterial pantothenamides reported so far (MIC of 3.2 μM for both sensitive and resistant Staphylococcus aureus). We describe herein a synthetic route for accessing the corresponding R-syn diastereomer using a key diastereoselective reduction with Baker's yeast, and report on the scope of this reaction for modified systems. Interestingly, whilst the R-anti diastereomer is the only one to show antibacterial activity, the R-syn isomer proved to be significantly more potent against the malaria parasite (IC50 of 2.4±0.2 μM). Our research underlines the striking influence that stereochemistry has on the biological activity of pantothenamides, and may find utility in the study of various CoA-utilizing systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annabelle Hoegl
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, 801 Sherbrooke Street West, Montréal, Québec H3A 0B8, Canada
| | - Hamed Darabi
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, 801 Sherbrooke Street West, Montréal, Québec H3A 0B8, Canada
| | - Elisa Tran
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, 801 Sherbrooke Street West, Montréal, Québec H3A 0B8, Canada
| | - Emelia Awuah
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, 801 Sherbrooke Street West, Montréal, Québec H3A 0B8, Canada
| | - Eleanor S C Kerdo
- Research School of Biology, College of Medicine, Biology and Environment, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 0200, Australia
| | - Eric Habib
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, 801 Sherbrooke Street West, Montréal, Québec H3A 0B8, Canada
| | - Kevin J Saliba
- Research School of Biology, College of Medicine, Biology and Environment, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 0200, Australia; Medical School, College of Medicine, Biology and Environment, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 0200, Australia
| | - Karine Auclair
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, 801 Sherbrooke Street West, Montréal, Québec H3A 0B8, Canada.
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