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Mahanta PJ, Lhouvum K. Expression and biochemical characterization of the putative insulinase enzyme PF11_0189 found in the Plasmodium falciparum genome. Protein Expr Purif 2024; 222:106539. [PMID: 38960013 DOI: 10.1016/j.pep.2024.106539] [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: 05/14/2024] [Revised: 06/21/2024] [Accepted: 06/30/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024]
Abstract
PF11_0189 is a putative insulin degrading enzyme present in Plasmodium falciparum genome. The catalytic domain of PF11_0189 is about 27 kDa. Substrate specificity study shows PF11_0189 acts upon different types of proteins. The substrate specificity is found to be highest when insulin is used as a substrate. Metal dependency study shows highest dependency of PF11_0189 towards zinc metal for its proteolytic activity. Chelation of zinc metal with EDTA shows complete absence of PF11_0189 activity. Peptide inhibitors, P-70 and P-121 from combinatorial peptide library prepared against PF11_0189 show inhibition with an IC50 value of 4.8 μM and 7.5 μM respectively. A proven natural anti-malarial peptide cyclosporin A shows complete inhibition against PF11_0189 with an IC50 value of 0.75 μM suggesting PF11_0189 as a potential target for peptide inhibitors. The study implicates that PF11_0189 is a zinc metalloprotease involved in catalysis of insulin. The study gives a preliminary insight into the mechanism of complications arising from glucose abnormalities during severe malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prabhash Jyoti Mahanta
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Technology, Arunachal Pradesh, India.
| | - Kimjolly Lhouvum
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Technology, Arunachal Pradesh, India
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2
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Ayon NJ. High-Throughput Screening of Natural Product and Synthetic Molecule Libraries for Antibacterial Drug Discovery. Metabolites 2023; 13:625. [PMID: 37233666 PMCID: PMC10220967 DOI: 10.3390/metabo13050625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 04/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Due to the continued emergence of resistance and a lack of new and promising antibiotics, bacterial infection has become a major public threat. High-throughput screening (HTS) allows rapid screening of a large collection of molecules for bioactivity testing and holds promise in antibacterial drug discovery. More than 50% of the antibiotics that are currently available on the market are derived from natural products. However, with the easily discoverable antibiotics being found, finding new antibiotics from natural sources has seen limited success. Finding new natural sources for antibacterial activity testing has also proven to be challenging. In addition to exploring new sources of natural products and synthetic biology, omics technology helped to study the biosynthetic machinery of existing natural sources enabling the construction of unnatural synthesizers of bioactive molecules and the identification of molecular targets of antibacterial agents. On the other hand, newer and smarter strategies have been continuously pursued to screen synthetic molecule libraries for new antibiotics and new druggable targets. Biomimetic conditions are explored to mimic the real infection model to better study the ligand-target interaction to enable the designing of more effective antibacterial drugs. This narrative review describes various traditional and contemporaneous approaches of high-throughput screening of natural products and synthetic molecule libraries for antibacterial drug discovery. It further discusses critical factors for HTS assay design, makes a general recommendation, and discusses possible alternatives to traditional HTS of natural products and synthetic molecule libraries for antibacterial drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Navid J Ayon
- Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
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3
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Vega VF, Yang D, Jordán LO, Ye F, Conway L, Chen LY, Shumate J, Baillargeon P, Scampavia L, Parker C, Shen B, Spicer TP. Protocol for 3D screening of lung cancer spheroids using natural products. SLAS DISCOVERY : ADVANCING LIFE SCIENCES R & D 2023; 28:20-28. [PMID: 36681384 PMCID: PMC10291515 DOI: 10.1016/j.slasd.2023.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type of lung cancer and accounts for ∼84% of all lung cancer cases. NSCLC remains one of the leading causes of cancer-associated death, with a 5-year survival rate less than 25%. This type of cancer begins with healthy cells that change and start growing out of control, leading to the formation of lesions or tumors. Understanding the dynamics of how the tumor microenvironment promotes cancer initiation and progression that leads to cancer metastasis is crucial to help identify new molecular therapies. 3D primary cell tumor models have received renewed recognition due to their ability to better mimic the complexity of in vivo tumors and as a potential bridge between traditional 2D culture and in vivo studies. Vast improvements in 3D cell culture technologies make them much more cost effective and efficient largely because of the use of a cell-repellent surfaces and a novel angle plate adaptor technology. To exploit this technology, we accessed the Natural Products Library (NPL) at UF Scripps, which consists of crude extracts, partially purified fractions, and pure natural products (NPs). NPs generally are not very well represented in most drug discovery libraries and thus provide new insights to discover leads that could potentially emerge as novel molecular therapies. Herein we describe how we combined these technologies for 3D screening in 1536 well format using a panel of ten NSCLC cells lines (5 wild type and 5 mutant) against ∼1280 selected members of the NPL. After further evaluation, the selected active hits were prioritized to be screened against all 10 NSCLC cell lines as concentration response curves to determine the efficacy and selectivity of the compounds between wild type and mutant 3D cell models. Here, we demonstrate the methods needed for automated 3D screening using microbial NPs, exemplified by crude extracts, partially purified fractions, and pure NPs, that may lead to future use targeting human cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virneliz Fernández Vega
- Molecular Screening Center, Department of Molecular Medicine, UF Scripps Biomedical Research, Jupiter, FL, USA
| | - Dong Yang
- Department of Chemistry, UF Scripps Biomedical Research, Jupiter, FL, USA; Natural Products Discovery Center, UF Scripps Biomedical Research, Jupiter, FL, USA
| | - Luis Ortiz Jordán
- Molecular Screening Center, Department of Molecular Medicine, UF Scripps Biomedical Research, Jupiter, FL, USA
| | - Fei Ye
- Department of Chemistry, UF Scripps Biomedical Research, Jupiter, FL, USA
| | - Louis Conway
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Li Yun Chen
- Department of Chemistry, UF Scripps Biomedical Research, Jupiter, FL, USA
| | - Justin Shumate
- Molecular Screening Center, Department of Molecular Medicine, UF Scripps Biomedical Research, Jupiter, FL, USA
| | - Pierre Baillargeon
- Molecular Screening Center, Department of Molecular Medicine, UF Scripps Biomedical Research, Jupiter, FL, USA
| | - Louis Scampavia
- Molecular Screening Center, Department of Molecular Medicine, UF Scripps Biomedical Research, Jupiter, FL, USA
| | - Christopher Parker
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Ben Shen
- Department of Chemistry, UF Scripps Biomedical Research, Jupiter, FL, USA; Natural Products Discovery Center, UF Scripps Biomedical Research, Jupiter, FL, USA
| | - Timothy P Spicer
- Molecular Screening Center, Department of Molecular Medicine, UF Scripps Biomedical Research, Jupiter, FL, USA.
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4
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Structure- and ligand-based drug design methods for the modeling of antimalarial agents: a review of updates from 2012 onwards. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2022; 40:10481-10506. [PMID: 34129805 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2021.1932598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Malaria still persists as one of the deadliest infectious disease having a huge morbidity and mortality affecting the higher population of the world. Structure and ligand-based drug design methods like molecular docking and MD simulations, pharmacophore modeling, QSAR and virtual screening are widely used to perceive the accordant correlation between the antimalarial activity and property of the compounds to design novel dominant and discriminant molecules. These modeling methods will speed-up antimalarial drug discovery, selection of better drug candidates for synthesis and to achieve potent and safer drugs. In this work, we have extensively reviewed the literature pertaining to the use and applications of various ligand and structure-based computational methods for the design of antimalarial agents. Different classes of molecules are discussed along with their target interactions pattern, which is responsible for antimalarial activity. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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5
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Mills B, Isaac RE, Foster R. Metalloaminopeptidases of the Protozoan Parasite Plasmodium falciparum as Targets for the Discovery of Novel Antimalarial Drugs. J Med Chem 2021; 64:1763-1785. [PMID: 33534577 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c01721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Malaria poses a significant threat to approximately half of the world's population with an annual death toll close to half a million. The emergence of resistance to front-line antimalarials in the most lethal human parasite species, Plasmodium falciparum (Pf), threatens progress made in malaria control. The prospect of losing the efficacy of antimalarial drugs is driving the search for small molecules with new modes of action. Asexual reproduction of the parasite is critically dependent on the recycling of amino acids through catabolism of hemoglobin (Hb), which makes metalloaminopeptidases (MAPs) attractive targets for the development of new drugs. The Pf genome encodes eight MAPs, some of which have been found to be essential for parasite survival. In this article, we discuss the biological structure and function of each MAP within the Pf genome, along with the drug discovery efforts that have been undertaken to identify novel antimalarial candidates of therapeutic value.
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Affiliation(s)
- Belinda Mills
- School of Chemistry, University of Leeds, Leeds, U.K., LS2 9JT
| | - R Elwyn Isaac
- School of Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, U.K., LS2 9JT
| | - Richard Foster
- School of Chemistry, University of Leeds, Leeds, U.K., LS2 9JT
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6
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Rescue of mutant gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor function independent of cognate receptor activity. Sci Rep 2020; 10:10579. [PMID: 32601341 PMCID: PMC7324376 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-67473-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2019] [Accepted: 06/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Molecules that correct the folding of protein mutants, restoring their functional trafficking, are called pharmacoperones. Most are clinically irrelevant and possess intrinsic antagonist or agonist activity. Here, we identify compounds capable of rescuing the activity of mutant gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor or GnRHR which, is sequestered within the cell and if dysfunctional leads to Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism. To do this we screened the E90K GnRHR mutant vs. a library of 645,000 compounds using a cell-based calcium detection system. Ultimately, we identified 399 compounds with EC50 ≤ 5 µM with no effect in counterscreen assays. Medicinal chemistry efforts confirmed activity of 70 pure samples and mode of action studies, including radioligand binding, inositol phosphate, and toxicity assays, proved that we have a series of tractable compounds that can be categorized into structural clusters. These early lead molecules rescue mutant GnRHR function and are neither agonist nor antagonists of the GnRHR cognate receptor, a feature required for potential clinical utility.
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7
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Nieto A, Fernández-Vega V, Spicer TP, Sturchler E, Adhikari P, Kennedy N, Mandat S, Chase P, Scampavia L, Bannister T, Hodder P, McDonald PH. Identification of Novel, Structurally Diverse, Small Molecule Modulators of GPR119. Assay Drug Dev Technol 2019; 16:278-288. [PMID: 30019946 DOI: 10.1089/adt.2018.849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
GPR119 drug discovery efforts in the pharmaceutical industry for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and obesity, were initiated based on its restricted distribution in pancreas and GI tract, and its possible role in glucose homeostasis. While a number of lead series have emerged, the pharmacological endpoints they provide have not been clear. In particular, many lead series have demonstrated loss of efficacy and significant toxic side effects. Thus, we sought to identify novel, potent, positive modulators of GPR119. In this study, we have successfully developed and optimized a high-throughput screening strategy to identify GPR119 modulators using a live cell assay format that utilizes a cyclic nucleotide-gated channel as a biosensor for cAMP production. Our high-throughput screening (HTS) approach is unique to that of previous HTS approaches targeting this receptor, as changes in cAMP were measured both in the presence and absence of an EC10 of the endogenous ligand, oleoylethanolamide, enabling detection of both agonists and potential allosteric modulators in a single assay. From these efforts, we have identified positive modulators of GPR119 with similar as well as unique scaffolds compared to existing compounds and similar as well as unique signaling properties. Our compounds will not only serve as novel molecular probes to better understand GPR119 pleiotropic signaling and the underlying physiological consequences of receptor activation, but are also well-suited for translation as potential therapeutic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ainhoa Nieto
- 1 Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute , Jupiter, Florida
| | | | - Timothy P Spicer
- 1 Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute , Jupiter, Florida
| | - Emmanuel Sturchler
- 1 Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute , Jupiter, Florida
| | - Pramisha Adhikari
- 1 Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute , Jupiter, Florida
| | - Nicole Kennedy
- 2 Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute , Jupiter, Florida
| | - Sean Mandat
- 1 Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute , Jupiter, Florida
| | - Peter Chase
- 1 Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute , Jupiter, Florida
| | - Louis Scampavia
- 1 Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute , Jupiter, Florida
| | - Thomas Bannister
- 2 Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute , Jupiter, Florida
| | - Peter Hodder
- 1 Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute , Jupiter, Florida
| | - Patricia H McDonald
- 1 Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute , Jupiter, Florida
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8
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Rout S, Mahapatra RK. In silico study of M18 aspartyl amino peptidase (M18AAP) of Plasmodium vivax as an antimalarial drug target. Bioorg Med Chem 2019; 27:2553-2571. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2019.03.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2019] [Revised: 03/16/2019] [Accepted: 03/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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9
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Spicer TP, Gardiner DL, Schoenen FJ, Roy S, Griffin PR, Chase P, Scampavia L, Hodder P, Trenholme KR. Identification of Antimalarial Inhibitors Using Late-Stage Gametocytes in a Phenotypic Live/Dead Assay. SLAS DISCOVERY 2018; 24:38-46. [PMID: 30142014 DOI: 10.1177/2472555218796410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Malaria remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide with ~3.3 billion people at risk of contracting malaria and an estimated 450,000 deaths each year. While tools to reduce the infection prevalence to low levels are currently under development, additional efforts will be required to interrupt transmission. Transmission between human host and vector by the malaria parasite involves gametogenesis in the host and uptake of gametocytes by the mosquito vector. This stage is a bottleneck for reproduction of the parasite, making it a target for small-molecule drug discovery. Targeting this stage, we used whole Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes from in vitro culture and implemented them into 1536-well plates to create a live/dead phenotypic antigametocyte assay. Using specialized equipment and upon further validation, we screened ~150,000 compounds from the NIH repository currently housed at Scripps Florida. We identified 100 primary screening hits that were tested for concentration response. Additional follow-up studies to determine specificity, potency, and increased efficacy of the antigametocyte candidate compounds resulted in a starting point for initial medicinal chemistry intervention. From this, 13 chemical analogs were subsequently tested as de novo powders, which confirmed original activity from the initial analysis and now provide a point of future engagement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy P Spicer
- 1 Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, Scripps Florida, Jupiter, FL, USA.,2 School of Medicine, University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland, Australia
| | - Donald L Gardiner
- 2 School of Medicine, University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland, Australia
| | - Frank J Schoenen
- 3 The University of Kansas Specialized Chemistry Center, Lawrence, KS,USA
| | - Sudeshna Roy
- 3 The University of Kansas Specialized Chemistry Center, Lawrence, KS,USA.,4 The University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS
| | - Patrick R Griffin
- 1 Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, Scripps Florida, Jupiter, FL, USA
| | - Peter Chase
- 1 Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, Scripps Florida, Jupiter, FL, USA.,5 BMS, Hopewell, NJ
| | - Louis Scampavia
- 1 Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, Scripps Florida, Jupiter, FL, USA
| | - Peter Hodder
- 1 Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, Scripps Florida, Jupiter, FL, USA.,6 Amgen, Inc., Thousand Oaks, CA, USA
| | - Katharine R Trenholme
- 2 School of Medicine, University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland, Australia.,7 Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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10
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Escotte-Binet S, Huguenin A, Aubert D, Martin AP, Kaltenbach M, Florent I, Villena I. Metallopeptidases of Toxoplasma gondii: in silico identification and gene expression. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018; 25:26. [PMID: 29737275 PMCID: PMC5939537 DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2018025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2017] [Accepted: 04/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Metallopeptidases are a family of proteins with domains that remain highly conserved throughout evolution. These hydrolases require divalent metal cation(s) to activate the water molecule in order to carry out their catalytic action on peptide bonds by nucleophilic attack. Metallopeptidases from parasitic protozoa, including Toxoplasma, are investigated because of their crucial role in parasite biology. In the present study, we screened the T. gondii database using PFAM motifs specific for metallopeptidases in association with the MEROPS peptidase Database (release 10.0). In all, 49 genes encoding proteins with metallopeptidase signatures were identified in the Toxoplasma genome. An Interpro Search enabled us to uncover their domain/motif organization, and orthologs with the highest similarity by BLAST were used for annotation. These 49 Toxoplasma metallopeptidases clustered into 15 families described in the MEROPS database. Experimental expression analysis of their genes in the tachyzoite stage revealed transcription for all genes studied. Further research on the role of these peptidases should increase our knowledge of basic Toxoplasma biology and provide opportunities to identify novel therapeutic targets. This type of study would also open a path towards the comparative biology of apicomplexans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandie Escotte-Binet
- EA 7510, ESCAPE, Laboratory of Parasitology-Mycology, University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne, 51100 Reims, France - Laboratory of Parasitology-Mycology, Toxoplasmosis National Reference Center, Toxoplasma Biological Resource Center, Maison Blanche Hospital, 51100 Reims, France
| | - Antoine Huguenin
- EA 7510, ESCAPE, Laboratory of Parasitology-Mycology, University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne, 51100 Reims, France - Laboratory of Parasitology-Mycology, Toxoplasmosis National Reference Center, Toxoplasma Biological Resource Center, Maison Blanche Hospital, 51100 Reims, France
| | - Dominique Aubert
- EA 7510, ESCAPE, Laboratory of Parasitology-Mycology, University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne, 51100 Reims, France - Laboratory of Parasitology-Mycology, Toxoplasmosis National Reference Center, Toxoplasma Biological Resource Center, Maison Blanche Hospital, 51100 Reims, France
| | - Anne-Pascaline Martin
- EA 7510, ESCAPE, Laboratory of Parasitology-Mycology, University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne, 51100 Reims, France
| | - Matthieu Kaltenbach
- EA 7510, ESCAPE, Laboratory of Parasitology-Mycology, University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne, 51100 Reims, France
| | - Isabelle Florent
- UMR7245 CNRS-MNHN, National Museum of Natural History, Department Adaptations of the Living, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Isabelle Villena
- EA 7510, ESCAPE, Laboratory of Parasitology-Mycology, University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne, 51100 Reims, France - Laboratory of Parasitology-Mycology, Toxoplasmosis National Reference Center, Toxoplasma Biological Resource Center, Maison Blanche Hospital, 51100 Reims, France
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11
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Madoux F, Tanner A, Vessels M, Willetts L, Hou S, Scampavia L, Spicer TP. A 1536-Well 3D Viability Assay to Assess the Cytotoxic Effect of Drugs on Spheroids. SLAS DISCOVERY 2017; 22:516-524. [PMID: 28346088 DOI: 10.1177/2472555216686308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Evaluation of drug cytotoxicity traditionally relies on use of cell monolayers, which are easily miniaturized to the 1536-well plate format. Three-dimensional (3D) cell culture models have recently gained popularity thanks to their ability to better mimic the complexity of in vivo systems. Despite growing interest in these more physiologically relevant and highly predictive cell-based models for compound profiling and drug discovery, 3D assays are currently performed in a medium- to low-throughput format, either in 96-well or 384-well plates. Here, we describe the design and implementation of a novel high-throughput screening (HTS)-compatible 1536-well plate assay that enables the parallel formation, size monitoring and viability assessment of 3D spheroids in a highly consistent manner. Custom-made plates featuring an ultra-low-attachment surface and round-bottom wells were evaluated for their compatibility with HTS requirements through a luminescence-based cytotoxicity pilot screen of ~3300 drugs from approved drug and National Cancer Institute (NCI) collections. As anticipated, results from this screen were significantly different from a parallel screen performed on cell monolayers. With the ability to achieve an average Z' factor greater than 0.5, this automation-friendly assay can be implemented to either profile lead compounds in a more economical plate format or to interrogate large compound libraries by ultra-HTS (uHTS).
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Affiliation(s)
- Franck Madoux
- 1 Department of Molecular Medicine, Scripps Florida, Jupiter, FL, USA.,3 Amgen, One Amgen Center Drive, Thousand Oaks, CA, USA
| | - Allison Tanner
- 2 Corning Incorporated, Life Sciences, Tewksbury, MA, USA
| | | | | | - Shurong Hou
- 1 Department of Molecular Medicine, Scripps Florida, Jupiter, FL, USA
| | - Louis Scampavia
- 1 Department of Molecular Medicine, Scripps Florida, Jupiter, FL, USA
| | - Timothy P Spicer
- 1 Department of Molecular Medicine, Scripps Florida, Jupiter, FL, USA
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12
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Characterization of aspartyl aminopeptidase from Toxoplasma gondii. Sci Rep 2016; 6:34448. [PMID: 27678060 PMCID: PMC5039622 DOI: 10.1038/srep34448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2016] [Accepted: 09/13/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Aminopeptidases have emerged as new promising drug targets for the development of novel anti-parasitic drugs. An aspartyl aminopeptidase-like gene has been identified in the Toxoplasma gondii genome (TgAAP), although its function remains unknown. In this study, we characterized TgAAP and performed functional analysis of the gene product. Firstly, we expressed a functional recombinant TgAAP (rTgAAP) protein in Escherichia coli, and found that it required metal ions for activity and showed a substrate preference for N-terminal acidic amino acids Glu and Asp. Then, we evaluated the function and drug target potential of TgAAP using the CRISPR/Cas9 knockout system. Western blotting demonstrated the deletion of TgAAP in the knockout strain. Indirect immunofluorescence analysis showed that TgAAP was localized in the cytoplasm of the wild-type parasite, but was not expressed in the knockout strain. Phenotype analysis revealed that TgAAP knockout inhibited the attachment/invasion, replication, and substrate-specific activity in T. gondii. Finally, the activity of drug CID 23724194, previously described as targeting Plasmodium and malarial parasite AAP, was tested against rTgAAP and the parasite. Overall, TgAAP knockout affected the growth of T. gondii but did not completely abolish parasite replication and growth. Therefore, TgAAP may comprise a useful adjunct drug target of T. gondii.
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13
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Smith E, Janovick JA, Bannister TD, Shumate J, Scampavia L, Conn PM, Spicer TP. Identification of Potential Pharmacoperones Capable of Rescuing the Functionality of Misfolded Vasopressin 2 Receptor Involved in Nephrogenic Diabetes Insipidus. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016; 21:824-31. [PMID: 27280550 DOI: 10.1177/1087057116653925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2016] [Accepted: 05/18/2016] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Pharmacoperones correct the folding of otherwise misfolded protein mutants, restoring function (i.e., providing "rescue") by correcting their trafficking. Currently, most pharmacoperones possess intrinsic antagonist activity because they were identified using methods initially aimed at discovering such functions. Here, we describe an ultra-high-throughput homogeneous cell-based assay with a cAMP detection system, a method specifically designed to identify pharmacoperones of the vasopressin type 2 receptor (V2R), a GPCR that, when mutated, is associated with nephrogenic diabetes insipidus. Previously developed methods to identify compounds capable of altering cellular trafficking of V2R were modified and used to screen a 645,000 compound collection by measuring the ability of library compounds to rescue a mutant hV2R [L83Q], using a cell-based luminescent detection system. The campaign initially identified 3734 positive modulators of cAMP. The confirmation and counterscreen identified only 147 of the active compounds with an EC50 of ≤5 µM. Of these, 83 were reconfirmed as active through independently obtained pure samples and were also inactive in a relevant counterscreen. Active and tractable compounds within this set can be categorized into three predominant structural clusters, described here, in the first report detailing the results of a large-scale pharmacoperone high-throughput screening campaign.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emery Smith
- The Scripps Research Institute Molecular Screening Center, Department of Molecular Therapeutics, Scripps Florida, Jupiter, FL, USA
| | - Jo Ann Janovick
- Texas Tech University Health and Sciences Center, El Paso, TX, USA
| | | | - Justin Shumate
- The Scripps Research Institute Molecular Screening Center, Department of Molecular Therapeutics, Scripps Florida, Jupiter, FL, USA
| | - Louis Scampavia
- The Scripps Research Institute Molecular Screening Center, Department of Molecular Therapeutics, Scripps Florida, Jupiter, FL, USA
| | - P Michael Conn
- Texas Tech University Health and Sciences Center, El Paso, TX, USA
| | - Timothy P Spicer
- The Scripps Research Institute Molecular Screening Center, Department of Molecular Therapeutics, Scripps Florida, Jupiter, FL, USA
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14
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Ewing H, Fernández-Vega V, Spicer TP, Chase P, Brown S, Scampavia L, Roush WR, Riley S, Rosen H, Hodder P, Lambeau G, Gelb MH. Fluorometric High-Throughput Screening Assay for Secreted Phospholipases A2 Using Phospholipid Vesicles. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016; 21:713-21. [PMID: 27146384 DOI: 10.1177/1087057116646742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2015] [Accepted: 04/06/2016] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
There is interest in developing inhibitors of human group III secreted phospholipase A2 (hGIII-sPLA2) because this enzyme plays a role in mast cell maturation. There are no potent inhibitors for hGIII-sPLA2 reported to date, so we adapted a fluorescence-based enzyme activity monitoring method to a high-throughput screening format. We opted to use an assay based on phospholipid substrate present in phospholipid vesicles since this matrix more closely resembles the natural substrate of hGIII-sPLA2, as opposed to phospholipid/detergent mixed micelles. The substrate is a phospholipid analogue containing BODIPY fluorophores dispersed as a minor component in vesicles of nonfluorescent phospholipids. Action of hGIII-sPLA2 liberates a free fatty acid from the phospholipid, leading to a reduction in quenching of the fluorophore and hence an increase in fluorescence. The assay uses optical detection in a 1536-well plate format with an excitation wavelength far away from the UV range so as to minimize false-positive library hits that result from quenching of the fluorescence. The high-throughput screen was successfully carried out on a library of 370,276 small molecules. Several hits were discovered, and data have been uploaded to PubChem. This study describes the first high-throughput optical screening assay for secreted phospholipase A2 inhibitors based on a phospholipid vesicle substrate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather Ewing
- Department of Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Virneliz Fernández-Vega
- The Scripps Research Institute Molecular Screening Center, Scripps Florida, Jupiter, FL, USA
| | - Timothy P Spicer
- The Scripps Research Institute Molecular Screening Center, Scripps Florida, Jupiter, FL, USA
| | - Peter Chase
- The Scripps Research Institute Molecular Screening Center, Scripps Florida, Jupiter, FL, USA
| | - Steven Brown
- The Scripps Research Institute, Department of Chemical Physiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Louis Scampavia
- The Scripps Research Institute Molecular Screening Center, Scripps Florida, Jupiter, FL, USA
| | - William R Roush
- The Scripps Research Institute, Dept. of Chemistry, Scripps Florida, Jupiter, FL, USA
| | - Sean Riley
- The Scripps Research Institute, Department of Chemical Physiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Hugh Rosen
- The Scripps Research Institute, Department of Chemical Physiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Peter Hodder
- The Scripps Research Institute Molecular Screening Center, Scripps Florida, Jupiter, FL, USA
| | - Gerard Lambeau
- Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, UMR7275, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique et Université de Nice-Sophia-Antipolis, Valbonne, France
| | - Michael H Gelb
- Department of Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
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15
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Aneja B, Kumar B, Jairajpuri MA, Abid M. A structure guided drug-discovery approach towards identification of Plasmodium inhibitors. RSC Adv 2016. [DOI: 10.1039/c5ra19673f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
This article provides a comprehensive review of inhibitors from natural, semisynthetic or synthetic sources against key targets ofPlasmodium falciparum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Babita Aneja
- Medicinal Chemistry Lab
- Department of Biosciences
- Jamia Millia Islamia (A Central University)
- New Delhi 110025
- India
| | - Bhumika Kumar
- Medicinal Chemistry Lab
- Department of Biosciences
- Jamia Millia Islamia (A Central University)
- New Delhi 110025
- India
| | - Mohamad Aman Jairajpuri
- Protein Conformation and Enzymology Lab
- Department of Biosciences
- Jamia Millia Islamia (A Central University)
- New Delhi 110025
- India
| | - Mohammad Abid
- Medicinal Chemistry Lab
- Department of Biosciences
- Jamia Millia Islamia (A Central University)
- New Delhi 110025
- India
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16
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Smith E, Chase P, Niswender CM, Utley TJ, Sheffler DJ, Noetzel MJ, Lamsal A, Wood MR, Conn PJ, Lindsley CW, Madoux F, Acosta M, Scampavia L, Spicer T, Hodder P. Application of Parallel Multiparametric Cell-Based FLIPR Detection Assays for the Identification of Modulators of the Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptor 4 (M4). JOURNAL OF BIOMOLECULAR SCREENING 2015; 20:858-68. [PMID: 25877150 PMCID: PMC4659430 DOI: 10.1177/1087057115581770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2015] [Accepted: 03/22/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs) have long been viewed as viable targets for novel therapeutic agents for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and other disorders involving impaired cognitive function. In an attempt to identify orthosteric and allosteric modulators of the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor M(4) (M(4)), we developed a homogenous, multiparametric, 1536-well assay to measure M(4) receptor agonism, positive allosteric modulation (PAM), and antagonism in a single well. This assay yielded a Z' of 0.85 ± 0.05 in the agonist, 0.72 ± 0.07 in PAM, and 0.80 ± 0.06 in the antagonist mode. Parallel screening of the M(1) and M(5) subtypes using the same multiparametric assay format revealed chemotypes that demonstrate selectivity and/or promiscuity between assays and modalities. This identified 503 M(4) selective primary agonists, 1450 PAMs, and 2389 antagonist hits. Concentration-response analysis identified 25 selective agonists, 4 PAMs, and 41 antagonists. This demonstrates the advantages of this approach to rapidly identify selective receptor modulators while efficiently removing assay artifacts and undesirable compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emery Smith
- The Scripps Research Institute Molecular Screening Center, Scripps Florida, Jupiter, FL, USA
| | - Peter Chase
- The Scripps Research Institute Molecular Screening Center, Scripps Florida, Jupiter, FL, USA
| | - Colleen M Niswender
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Thomas J Utley
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Douglas J Sheffler
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA Cell Death and Survival Networks Research Program, Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Meredith J Noetzel
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Atin Lamsal
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Michael R Wood
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - P Jeffrey Conn
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Craig W Lindsley
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Franck Madoux
- The Scripps Research Institute Molecular Screening Center, Scripps Florida, Jupiter, FL, USA
| | - Mary Acosta
- The Scripps Research Institute Molecular Screening Center, Scripps Florida, Jupiter, FL, USA
| | - Louis Scampavia
- The Scripps Research Institute Molecular Screening Center, Scripps Florida, Jupiter, FL, USA
| | - Timothy Spicer
- The Scripps Research Institute Molecular Screening Center, Scripps Florida, Jupiter, FL, USA
| | - Peter Hodder
- The Scripps Research Institute Molecular Screening Center, Scripps Florida, Jupiter, FL, USA Amgen Inc., Thousand Oaks, CA, USA
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