Cloning, expression and purification of the α-carbonic anhydrase from the mantle of the Mediterranean mussel, Mytilus galloprovincialis

New 1H-indole-2,3-dione 3-thiosemicarbazones with 3-sulfamoylphenyl moiety as selective carbonic anhydrase inhibitors

1-Methyl/ethyl/benzyl-5-(un)substituted 1H-indole-2,3-diones (2, 3, and 4) were synthesized by reaction of 5-(un)substituted 1H-indole-2,3-diones (1) with methyl iodide, ethyl chloride, and benzyl bromide. (3-Sulfamoylphenyl)isothiocyanate (6) was obtained by the treatment of 3-aminobenzenesulfonamide (5) with thiophosgene. Compound 6 was reacted with hydrazine to yield 4-(3-sulfamoylphenyl)thiosemicarbazide (7). Novel 1-(un)substituted/methyl/ethyl/benzyl-5-(un)substituted 1H-indole-2,3-dione 3-[4-(3-sulfamoylphenyl)thiosemicarbazone] derivatives (8-11) were prepared by condensation of 7 and 1-4. The structures of the synthesized compounds were confirmed by elemental analysis and spectral data. Inhibition of the widely distributed cytosolic off-targets human carbonic anhydrases (hCAs) I and II, and two tumor-associated membrane-bound isoforms (hCAs IX and XII), by 8-11 was investigated. The hCA II inhibitory effects of all tested compounds were in the subnanomolar to low nanomolar levels (K_i  = 0.32-83.3 nM), and generally high selectivity for hCA II isoenzyme over hCA I, IX, and XII isoenzymes was observed. The strongest inhibitors of hCA II, 1-benzyl-5-(trifluoromethoxy)-substituted 11c (K_i  = 0.32 nM) and 1-ethyl-5-chloro-substituted 10e (K_i  = 0.35 nM), were docked within the enzyme active site. Molecular modeling studies with the most effective hCA IX and XII inhibitors were also carried out.

Microbiota, Bacterial Carbonic Anhydrases, and Modulators of Their Activity: Links to Human Diseases?

The involvement of the human microbiome is crucial for different host functions such as protection, metabolism, reproduction, and especially immunity. However, both endogenous and exogenous factors can affect the balance of the microbiota, creating a state of dysbiosis, which can start various gastrointestinal or systemic diseases. The challenge of future medicine is to remodel the intestinal microbiota to bring it back to healthy equilibrium (eubiosis) and, thus, counteract its negative role in the diseases' onset. The shaping of the microbiota is currently practiced in different ways ranging from diet (or use of prebiotics, probiotics, and synbiotics) to phage therapy and antibiotics, including microbiota fecal transplantation. Furthermore, because microbiota modulation is a capillary process, and because many microbiota bacteria (both beneficial and pathogenic) have carbonic anhydrases (specifically the four classes α, β, γ, and ι), we believe that the use of CA inhibitors and activators can open up new therapeutic strategies for many diseases associated with microbial dysbiosis, such as the various gastrointestinal disorders and the same colorectal cancer.

Molecular Characterization of Carbonic Anhydrase II (CA II) and Its Potential Involvement in Regulating Shell Formation in the Pacific Abalone, Haliotis discus hannai

Carbonic anhydrases (CAs) are a family of metalloenzymes that can catalyze the reversible interconversion of CO₂/HCO₃^–, ubiquitously present in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes. In the present study, a CA II (designated as HdhCA II) was sequenced and characterized from the mantle tissue of the Pacific abalone. The complete sequence of HdhCA II was 1,169 bp, encoding a polypeptide of 349 amino acids with a NH₂-terminal signal peptide and a CA architectural domain. The predicted protein shared 98.57% and 68.59% sequence identities with CA II of Haliotis gigantea and Haliotis tuberculata, respectively. Two putative N-linked glycosylation motifs and two cysteine residues could potentially form intramolecular disulfide bond present in HdhCA II. The phylogenetic analysis indicated that HdhCA II was placed in a gastropod clade and robustly clustered with CA II of H. gigantea and H. tuberculata. The highest level of HdhCA II mRNA expression was detected in the shell forming mantle tissue. During ontogenesis, the mRNA of HdhCA II was detected in all stages, with larval shell formation stage showing the highest expression level. The in situ hybridization results detected the HdhCA II mRNA expression in the epithelial cells of the dorsal mantle pallial, an area known to express genes involved in the formation of a nacreous layer in the shell. This is the first report of HdhCA II in the Pacific abalone, and the results of this study indicate that this gene might play a role in the shell formation of abalone.

Carbonic Anhydrase in Pacific Abalone Haliotis discus hannai: Characterization, Expression, and Role in Biomineralization

Carbonic anhydrases (CAs) are universal zinc ion containing metalloenzymes that play a pivotal role in various physiological processes. In this study, a CA I (designated as Hdh CA I) was isolated and characterized from the mantle tissue of Pacific abalone, Haliotis discus hannai. The full-length cDNA sequence of Hdh CA I was 1,417-bp in length, encoding a protein of 337 amino acids with molecular weight of 37.58 kDa. Hdh CA I sequence possessed a putative signal peptide of 22 amino acids and a CA catalytic function domain. The predicted protein shared 94 and 78% sequence identities with Haliotis gigantea and Haliotis tuberculata CA I, respectively. Results of phylogenetic analysis indicated that Hdh CA I was evolutionarily close to CA I of H. gigantea and H. tuberculata with high bootstrap values. Significantly higher levels of Hdh CA I mRNA transcript were found in mantle than other examined tissues. In situ hybridization results showed strong hybridization signals in epithelial cells of the dorsal mantle pallial, an area known to synthesize and secrete proteins responsible for the nacreous layer formation of shell. This is the first study on Hdh CA I in H. discus hannai and the results may contribute to further study its physiological functions in shell biomineralization of abalone.

The first activation study of the β-carbonic anhydrases from the pathogenic bacteria Brucella suis and Francisella tularensis with amines and amino acids

The activation of the β-class carbonic anhydrases (CAs, EC 4.2.1.1) from the bacteria Brucella suis and Francisella tularensis with amine and amino acids was investigated. BsuCA 1 was sensitive to activation with amino acids and amines, whereas FtuCA was not. The most effective BsuCA 1 activators were L-adrenaline and D-Tyr (K_As of 0.70–0.95 µM). L-His, L-/D-Phe, L-/D-DOPA, L-Trp, L-Tyr, 4-amino-L-Phe, dopamine, 2-pyridyl-methylamine, D-Glu and L-Gln showed activation constants in the range of 0.70–3.21 µM. FtuCA was sensitive to activation with L-Glu (K_A of 9.13 µM). Most of the investigated compounds showed a weak activating effect against FtuCA (K_As of 30.5–78.3 µM). Many of the investigated amino acid and amines are present in high concentrations in many tissues in vertebrates, and their role in the pathogenicity of the two bacteria is poorly understood. Our study may bring insights in processes connected with invasion and pathogenic effects of intracellular bacteria.

Activation studies with amines and amino acids of the β-carbonic anhydrase encoded by the Rv3273 gene from the pathogenic bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis

The activation of a β-class carbonic anhydrase (CAs, EC 4.2.1.1) from Mycobacterium tuberculosis, encoded by the gene Rv3273 (mtCA 3), was investigated using a panel of natural and non-natural amino acids and amines. mtCA 3 was effectively activated by D-DOPA, L-Trp, dopamine and serotonin, with KAs ranging between 8.98 and 12.1 µM. L-His and D-Tyr showed medium potency activating effects, with KAs in the range of 17.6-18.2 µM, whereas other amines and amino acids were relatively ineffective activators, with KAs in the range of 28.9-52.2 µM. As the physiological roles of the three mtCAs present in this pathogen are currently poorly understood and considering that inhibition of these enzymes has strong antibacterial effects, discovering molecules that modulate their enzymatic activity may lead to a better understanding of the factors related to the invasion and colonisation of the host during Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.

Activation studies of the α- and β-carbonic anhydrases from the pathogenic bacterium Vibrio cholerae with amines and amino acids

The α- and β-class carbonic anhydrases (CAs, EC 4.2.1.1) from the pathogenic bacterium Vibrio cholerae, VchCAα, and VchCAβ, were investigated for their activation with natural and non-natural amino acids and amines. The most effective VchCAα activators were L-tyrosine, histamine, serotonin, and 4-aminoethyl-morpholine, which had KAs in the range of 8.21-12.0 µM. The most effective VchCAβ activators were D-tyrosine, dopamine, serotonin, 2-pyridyl-methylamine, 2-aminoethylpyridine, and 2-aminoethylpiperazine, which had KAs in the submicromolar - low micromolar range (0.18-1.37 µM). The two bacterial enzymes had very different activation profiles with these compounds, between each other, and in comparison to the human isoforms hCA I and II. Some amines were selective activators of VchCAβ, including 2-pyridylmethylamine (KA of 180 nm for VchCAβ, and more than 20 µM for VchCAα and hCA I/II). The activation of CAs from bacteria, such as VchCAα/β has not been considered previously for possible biomedical applications. It would be of interest to study in more detail the extent that CA activators are implicated in the virulence and colonisation of the host by such pathogenic bacteria, which for Vibrio cholerae, is highly dependent on the bicarbonate concentration and pH in the surrounding tissue.

Activation of β- and γ-carbonic anhydrases from pathogenic bacteria with tripeptides

Six tripeptides incorporating acidic amino acid residues were prepared for investigation as activators of β- and γ-carbonic anhydrases (CAs, EC 4.2.1.1) from the pathogenic bacteria Vibrio cholerae, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and Burkholderia pseudomallei. The primary amino acid residues that are involved in the catalytic mechanisms of these CA classes are poorly understood, although glutamic acid residues near the active site appear to be involved. The tripeptides that contain Glu or Asp residues can effectively activate VchCAβ and VchCAγ (enzymes from V. cholerae), Rv3273 CA (mtCA3, a β-CA from M. tuberculosis) and BpsCAγ (γ-CA from B. pseudomallei) at 0.21-18.1 µM levels. The position of the acidic residues in the peptide sequences can significantly affect bioactivity. For three of the enzymes, tripeptides were identified that are more effective activators than both l-Glu and l-Asp. The tripeptides are also relatively selective because they do not activate prototypical α-CAs (human carbonic anhydrases I and II). Because the role of CA activators in the pathogenicity and life cycles of these infectious bacteria are poorly understood, this study provides new molecular probes to explore such processes.

The first activation study of a δ-carbonic anhydrase: TweCAδ from the diatom Thalassiosira weissflogii is effectively activated by amines and amino acids

The activation of the δ-class carbonic anhydrase (CAs, EC 4.2.1.1) from the diatom Thalassiosira weissflogii (TweCAδ) was investigated using a panel of natural and non-natural amino acids and amines. The most effective activator of TweCAδ was d-Tyr (K_A of 51 nM), whereas several other amino acids and amines, such as L-His, L-Trp, d-Trp, dopamine and serotonin were submicromolar activators (K_As from 0.51 to 0.93 µM). The most ineffective activator of TweCAδ was 4-amino-l-Phe (18.9 µM), whereas d-His, l-/d-Phe, l-/d-DOPA, l-Tyr, histamine, some pyridyl-alkylamines, l-adrenaline and aminoethyl-piperazine/morpholine were moderately potent activators (K_As from 1.34 to 8.16 µM). For any δ-CA, there are no data on the crystal structure, homology modelling and the amino acid residues that are responsible for proton transfer to the active site are currently unknown making it challenging to provide a detailed rational for these findings. However, these data provide further evidence that this class of underexplored CA deserves more attention.

Carbonic anhydrases from Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania donovani chagasi are inhibited by benzoxaboroles

A series of 6-substituted ureido- and thioureido-benzoxaboroles were investigated as inhibitors of carbonic anhydrases from Trypanosoma cruzi (TcCA), and Leishmania donovani chagasi (LdcCA). Both enzymes were inhibited by benzoxaboroles in the micromolar range. Preferential inhibitory potency against the β-CA LdcCA versus the α-CA TcCA was observed with submicromolar inhibitory activities. Some derivatives displayed excellent inhibitory and selectivity profile over the ubiquitous and physiological relevant human off-target hCA II. This study provides a convincing opportunity to study benzoxaborole scaffold for the design of antiprotozoan potential drugs targeting the pathogen's carbonic anhydrases.

Activation Profile Analysis of CruCA4, an α-Carbonic Anhydrase Involved in Skeleton Formation of the Mediterranean Red Coral, Corallium rubrum

CruCA4, a coral α-carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) involved in the biomineralization process of the Mediterranean red coral, Corallium rubrum, was investigated for its activation with a panel of amino acids and amines. Most compounds showed considerable activating properties, with a rather well defined structure-activity relationship. The most effective CruCA4 activators were d-His, 4-H₂N-l-Phe, Histamine, Dopamine, Serotonin, 1-(2-Aminoethyl)-piperazine, and l-Adrenaline, with activation constants in the range of 8-98 nM. Other amines and amino acids, such as d-DOPA, l-Tyr, 2-Pyridyl-methylamine, 2-(2-Aminoethyl) pyridine and 4-(2-Aminoethyl)-morpholine, were submicromolar CruCA4 activators, with K_A ranging between 0.15 and 0.93 µM. Since it has been shown that CA activators may facilitate the initial phases of in-bone mineralization, our study may be relevant for finding modulators of enzyme activity, which can enhance the formation of the red coral skeleton.