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Yu H, Cui Y, Guo F, Zhu Y, Zhang X, Shang D, Dong D, Xiang H. Vanin1 (VNN1) in chronic diseases: Future directions for targeted therapy. Eur J Pharmacol 2024; 962:176220. [PMID: 38042463 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2023.176220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2023] [Revised: 11/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/04/2023]
Abstract
Vanin1 (VNN1) is an exogenous enzyme with pantetheinase activity that mainly exerts physiological functions through enzyme catalysis products, including pantothenic acid and cysteamine. In recent years, the crosstalk between VNN1 and metabolism and oxidative stress has attracted much attention. As a result of the ability of VNN1 to affect multiple metabolic pathways and oxidative stress to exacerbate or alleviate pathological processes, it has become a key component of disease progression. This review discusses the functions of VNN1 in glucolipid metabolism, cysteamine metabolism, and glutathione metabolism to provide perspectives on VNN1-targeted therapy for chronic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Yu
- Department of Pharmacy, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, 116011, China; College of Pharmacy, Dalian Medical University, 116044, China
| | - Yuying Cui
- Laboratory of Integrative Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116011, China; Institute (College) of Integrative Medicine, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China
| | - Fangyue Guo
- Laboratory of Integrative Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116011, China; Institute (College) of Integrative Medicine, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China
| | - YuTong Zhu
- Laboratory of Integrative Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116011, China; Institute (College) of Integrative Medicine, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China
| | - Xiaonan Zhang
- Laboratory of Integrative Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116011, China; Institute (College) of Integrative Medicine, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China
| | - Dong Shang
- Laboratory of Integrative Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116011, China; Institute (College) of Integrative Medicine, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, China; Department of General Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116011, China
| | - Deshi Dong
- Department of Pharmacy, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, 116011, China.
| | - Hong Xiang
- Laboratory of Integrative Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116011, China.
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2
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Miallot R, Millet V, Galland F, Naquet P. The vitamin B5/coenzyme A axis: A target for immunomodulation? Eur J Immunol 2023; 53:e2350435. [PMID: 37482959 DOI: 10.1002/eji.202350435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023]
Abstract
Coenzyme A (CoA) serves as a vital cofactor in numerous enzymatic reactions involved in energy production, lipid metabolism, and synthesis of essential molecules. Dysregulation of CoA-dependent metabolic pathways can contribute to chronic diseases, such as inflammatory diseases, obesity, diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular disorders. Additionally, CoA influences immune cell activation by modulating the metabolism of these cells, thereby affecting their proliferation, differentiation, and effector functions. Targeting CoA metabolism presents a promising avenue for therapeutic intervention, as it can potentially restore metabolic balance, mitigate chronic inflammation, and enhance immune cell function. This might ultimately improve the management and outcomes for these diseases. This review will more specifically focus on the contribution of pathways regulating the availability of the CoA precursor Vitamin B5/pantothenate in vivo and modulating the development of Th17-mediated inflammation, CD8-dependent anti-tumor immunity but also tissue repair processes in chronic inflammatory or degenerative diseases.
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3
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Sady H, Chaima D, Hallamaa L, Kortekangas E, Ashorn U, Banda J, Mangani C, Maleta K, Ashorn P, Fan YM. Effect of dietary intervention on the prevalence of asymptomatic malaria among 6-18-month-old children in rural Malawi. Malar J 2023; 22:266. [PMID: 37697296 PMCID: PMC10496296 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-023-04701-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The complex interaction between malaria and undernutrition leads to increased mortality and morbidity rate among young children in malaria-endemic regions. Results from previous interventions suggest that improving nutritional status of young children may reduce the burden of malaria. This study tested a hypothesis that provision of lipid-based nutrient supplements (LNS) or corn-soy blend (CSB) supplementation to 6-18-month-old children in Malawi would reduce the prevalence of asymptomatic malaria among them. METHODS A total of 840 6-month-old children were enrolled in a randomized trial. The participants received 12-month supplementation with three different daily dietary supplementations: CSB, soy-LNS, or milk-LNS, and one control group without supplementation. The prevalence rate of asymptomatic Plasmodium falciparum was determined by real-time PCR from the participant's dried blood spots (DBS) collected at the baseline and every 3 months. The global null hypothesis was tested using modified Poisson regression to estimate the prevalence ratio (PR) between the control group and three intervention groups at all ages combined. All the models were adjusted for malaria at baseline, season of DBS sample collection, site of enrolment, and household asset Z-score. RESULTS All children combined, the prevalence of P. falciparum was 14.1% at enrollment, 8.7% at 9 months, 11.2% at 12 months, 13.0% at 15 months and 22.4% at 18 months of age. Among all samples that were taken after enrolment, the prevalence was 12.1% in control group, 12.2% in milk-LNS, 14.0% in soy-LNS, and 17.2% in CSB group. Compared to children in the control group the prevalence ratio of positive malaria tests was 1.19 (95% CI 0.81-1.74; P = 0.372) in the milk-LNS group, 1.32 (95% CI 0.88-1.96; P = 0.177) in the soy-LNS group and 1.72 (95% CI 1.19-2.49; P = 0.004) in the CSB group. CONCLUSION The study findings do not support a hypothesis that LNS or CSB supplementation would reduce the prevalence of asymptomatic malaria among Malawian children. In contrast, there was a signal of a possible increase in malaria prevalence among children supplemented with CSB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hany Sady
- Center for Child, Adolescent and Maternal Health Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Arvo Ylpön Katu 34, 33014, Tampere, Finland.
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Hodeidah University, Hodeidah, Yemen.
| | - David Chaima
- Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Lotta Hallamaa
- Center for Child, Adolescent and Maternal Health Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Arvo Ylpön Katu 34, 33014, Tampere, Finland
| | - Emma Kortekangas
- Center for Child, Adolescent and Maternal Health Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Arvo Ylpön Katu 34, 33014, Tampere, Finland
| | - Ulla Ashorn
- Center for Child, Adolescent and Maternal Health Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Arvo Ylpön Katu 34, 33014, Tampere, Finland
| | - Jomo Banda
- Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre, Malawi
| | | | | | - Per Ashorn
- Center for Child, Adolescent and Maternal Health Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Arvo Ylpön Katu 34, 33014, Tampere, Finland
- Department of Paediatrics, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland
| | - Yue-Mei Fan
- Center for Child, Adolescent and Maternal Health Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Arvo Ylpön Katu 34, 33014, Tampere, Finland
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4
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Tripathi H, Bhalerao P, Singh S, Arya H, Alotaibi BS, Rashid S, Hasan MR, Bhatt TK. Malaria therapeutics: are we close enough? Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:130. [PMID: 37060004 PMCID: PMC10103679 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05755-8] [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: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 04/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Malaria is a vector-borne parasitic disease caused by the apicomplexan protozoan parasite Plasmodium. Malaria is a significant health problem and the leading cause of socioeconomic losses in developing countries. WHO approved several antimalarials in the last 2 decades, but the growing resistance against the available drugs has worsened the scenario. Drug resistance and diversity among Plasmodium strains hinder the path of eradicating malaria leading to the use of new technologies and strategies to develop effective vaccines and drugs. A timely and accurate diagnosis is crucial for any disease, including malaria. The available diagnostic methods for malaria include microscopy, RDT, PCR, and non-invasive diagnosis. Recently, there have been several developments in detecting malaria, with improvements leading to achieving an accurate, quick, cost-effective, and non-invasive diagnostic tool for malaria. Several vaccine candidates with new methods and antigens are under investigation and moving forward to be considered for clinical trials. This article concisely reviews basic malaria biology, the parasite's life cycle, approved drugs, vaccine candidates, and available diagnostic approaches. It emphasizes new avenues of therapeutics for malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Himani Tripathi
- Department of Biotechnology, Central University of Rajasthan, NH-8, Bandarsindri, 305817, Rajasthan, India
| | - Preshita Bhalerao
- Department of Biotechnology, Central University of Rajasthan, NH-8, Bandarsindri, 305817, Rajasthan, India
| | - Sujeet Singh
- Department of Biotechnology, Central University of Rajasthan, NH-8, Bandarsindri, 305817, Rajasthan, India
| | - Hemant Arya
- Department of Biotechnology, Central University of Rajasthan, NH-8, Bandarsindri, 305817, Rajasthan, India.
| | - Bader Saud Alotaibi
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Science, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Alquwayiyah, Shaqra University, Riyadh, 11971, Saudi Arabia
| | - Summya Rashid
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 173, Al-Kharj, 11942, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammad Raghibul Hasan
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Science, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Alquwayiyah, Shaqra University, Riyadh, 11971, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Tarun Kumar Bhatt
- Department of Biotechnology, Central University of Rajasthan, NH-8, Bandarsindri, 305817, Rajasthan, India.
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5
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Zhou H, Zhang H, Ye R, Yan C, Lin J, Huang Y, Jiang X, Yuan S, Chen L, Jiang R, Zheng K, Cheng Z, Zhang Z, Dong M, Jin W. Pantothenate protects against obesity via brown adipose tissue activation. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2022; 323:E69-E79. [PMID: 35575231 DOI: 10.1152/ajpendo.00293.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is the primary site of adaptive thermogenesis, which is involved in energy expenditure and has received much attention in the field of obesity treatment. By screening a small-molecule compound library of drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration, pantothenic acid was identified as being able to significantly upregulate the expression of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1), a key thermogenic protein found in BAT. Pantothenate (PA) treatment decreased adiposity, reversed hepatic steatosis, and improved glucose homeostasis by increasing energy expenditure in C57BL/6J mice fed a high-fat diet. PA also significantly increased BAT activity and induced beige adipocytes formation. Mechanistically, the beneficial effects were mediated by UCP1 because PA treatment was unable to ameliorate obesity in UCP1 knockout mice. In conclusion, we identified PA as an effective BAT activator that can prevent obesity and may represent a promising strategy for the clinical treatment of obesity and related metabolic diseases.NEW & NOTEWORTHY PA treatment effectively and safely protected against obesity via the BAT-UCP1 axis. PA has therapeutic potential for treating obesity and type II diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huiqiao Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Hanlin Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Rongcai Ye
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Chunlong Yan
- College of Agriculture, Yanbian University, Yanji, China
| | - Jun Lin
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yuanyuan Huang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoxiao Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Shouli Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Li Chen
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Rui Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Kexin Zheng
- Institutes of Infectious Diseases, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Ziyu Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Meng Dong
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Wanzhu Jin
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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6
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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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7
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Tjhin ET, Howieson VM, Spry C, van Dooren GG, Saliba KJ. A novel heteromeric pantothenate kinase complex in apicomplexan parasites. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1009797. [PMID: 34324601 PMCID: PMC8366970 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Revised: 08/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Coenzyme A is synthesised from pantothenate via five enzyme-mediated steps. The first step is catalysed by pantothenate kinase (PanK). All PanKs characterised to date form homodimers. Many organisms express multiple PanKs. In some cases, these PanKs are not functionally redundant, and some appear to be non-functional. Here, we investigate the PanKs in two pathogenic apicomplexan parasites, Plasmodium falciparum and Toxoplasma gondii. Each of these organisms express two PanK homologues (PanK1 and PanK2). We demonstrate that PfPanK1 and PfPanK2 associate, forming a single, functional PanK complex that includes the multi-functional protein, Pf14-3-3I. Similarly, we demonstrate that TgPanK1 and TgPanK2 form a single complex that possesses PanK activity. Both TgPanK1 and TgPanK2 are essential for T. gondii proliferation, specifically due to their PanK activity. Our study constitutes the first examples of heteromeric PanK complexes in nature and provides an explanation for the presence of multiple PanKs within certain organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erick T. Tjhin
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Vanessa M. Howieson
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Christina Spry
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Giel G. van Dooren
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - 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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8
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Yang T, Ottilie S, Istvan ES, Godinez-Macias KP, Lukens AK, Baragaña B, Campo B, Walpole C, Niles JC, Chibale K, Dechering KJ, Llinás M, Lee MCS, Kato N, Wyllie S, McNamara CW, Gamo FJ, Burrows J, Fidock DA, Goldberg DE, Gilbert IH, Wirth DF, Winzeler EA. MalDA, Accelerating Malaria Drug Discovery. Trends Parasitol 2021; 37:493-507. [PMID: 33648890 PMCID: PMC8261838 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2021.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2020] [Revised: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The Malaria Drug Accelerator (MalDA) is a consortium of 15 leading scientific laboratories. The aim of MalDA is to improve and accelerate the early antimalarial drug discovery process by identifying new, essential, druggable targets. In addition, it seeks to produce early lead inhibitors that may be advanced into drug candidates suitable for preclinical development and subsequent clinical testing in humans. By sharing resources, including expertise, knowledge, materials, and reagents, the consortium strives to eliminate the structural barriers often encountered in the drug discovery process. Here we discuss the mission of the consortium and its scientific achievements, including the identification of new chemically and biologically validated targets, as well as future scientific directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tuo Yang
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego (UCSD), La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Sabine Ottilie
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego (UCSD), La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Eva S Istvan
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63130, USA; Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63130, USA
| | - Karla P Godinez-Macias
- Bioinformatics and Systems Biology Graduate Program, University of California, San Diego (UCSD), La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Amanda K Lukens
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Infectious Disease and Microbiome Program, Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Beatriz Baragaña
- Wellcome Center for Anti-Infectives Research, Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK
| | - Brice Campo
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, 1215 Geneva 15, Switzerland
| | - Chris Walpole
- Structural Genomics Consortium, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada
| | - Jacquin C Niles
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Building 56-341, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge MA 02139-4307, USA
| | - Kelly Chibale
- Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D), University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa; South African Medical Research Council Drug Discovery and Development Research Unit, Department of Chemistry and Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | | | - Manuel Llinás
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Department of Chemistry, Huck Center for Malaria Research, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16082, USA
| | - Marcus C S Lee
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, UK
| | - Nobutaka Kato
- Global Health Drug Discovery Institute, Zhongguancun Dongsheng International Science Park, 1 North Yongtaizhuang Road, Beijing 100192, China
| | - Susan Wyllie
- Wellcome Center for Anti-Infectives Research, Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK
| | - Case W McNamara
- Calibr, a division of The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Francisco Javier Gamo
- Tres Cantos Medicines Development Campus, Diseases of the Developing World, GlaxoSmithKline, Tres Cantos, 28760, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jeremy Burrows
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, 1215 Geneva 15, Switzerland
| | - David A Fidock
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Daniel E Goldberg
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63130, USA; Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63130, USA
| | - Ian H Gilbert
- Wellcome Center for Anti-Infectives Research, Division of Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK
| | - Dyann F Wirth
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Infectious Disease and Microbiome Program, Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Winzeler
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego (UCSD), La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
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9
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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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10
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Nurkanto A, Jeelani G, Santos HJ, Rahmawati Y, Mori M, Nakamura Y, Goto K, Saikawa Y, Annoura T, Tozawa Y, Sakura T, Inaoka DK, Shiomi K, Nozaki T. Characterization of Plasmodium falciparum Pantothenate Kinase and Identification of Its Inhibitors From Natural Products. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:639065. [PMID: 33768012 PMCID: PMC7985445 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.639065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Accepted: 01/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Coenzyme A (CoA) is a well-known cofactor that plays an essential role in many metabolic reactions in all organisms. In Plasmodium falciparum, the most deadly among Plasmodium species that cause malaria, CoA and its biosynthetic pathway have been proven to be indispensable. The first and rate-limiting reaction in the CoA biosynthetic pathway is catalyzed by two putative pantothenate kinases (PfPanK1 and 2) in this parasite. Here we produced, purified, and biochemically characterized recombinant PfPanK1 for the first time. PfPanK1 showed activity using pantetheine besides pantothenate, as the primary substrate, indicating that CoA biosynthesis in the blood stage of P. falciparum can bypass pantothenate. We further developed a robust and reliable screening system to identify inhibitors using recombinant PfPanK1 and identified four PfPanK inhibitors from natural compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arif Nurkanto
- Research Center for Biology, Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), Cibinong, Indonesia.,Department of Biomedical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ghulam Jeelani
- Department of Biomedical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Herbert J Santos
- Department of Biomedical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yulia Rahmawati
- Department of Biomedical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mihoko Mori
- Kitasato Institute for Life Sciences, Kitasato University, Tokyo, Japan.,Biological Resource Center, National Institute of Technology and Evaluation (NITE), Chiba, Japan
| | - Yumi Nakamura
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Kana Goto
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Yoko Saikawa
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Takeshi Annoura
- Department of Parasitology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID), Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yuzuru Tozawa
- Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, Saitama, Japan
| | - Takaya Sakura
- Department of Molecular Infection Dynamics, School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Daniel Ken Inaoka
- Department of Molecular Infection Dynamics, School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Kazuro Shiomi
- Kitasato Institute for Life Sciences, Kitasato University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tomoyoshi Nozaki
- Department of Biomedical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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11
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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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12
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Domingo R, van der Westhuyzen R, Hamann AR, Mostert KJ, Barnard L, Paquet T, Tjhin ET, Saliba KJ, van Otterlo WAL, Strauss E. Overcoming synthetic challenges in targeting coenzyme A biosynthesis with the antimicrobial natural product CJ-15,801. MEDCHEMCOMM 2019; 10:2118-2125. [PMID: 32206243 DOI: 10.1039/c9md00312f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2019] [Accepted: 10/16/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The biosynthesis of the essential metabolic cofactor coenzyme A (CoA) has been receiving increasing attention as a new target that shows potential to counter the rising resistance to established antimicrobials. In particular, phosphopantothenoylcysteine synthetase (PPCS)-the second CoA biosynthesis enzyme that is found as part of the bifunctional CoaBC protein in bacteria, but is monofunctional in eukaryotes-has been validated as a target through extensive genetic knockdown studies in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Moreover, it has been identified as the molecular target of the fungal natural product CJ-15,801 that shows selective activity against Staphylococcus aureus and the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. As such, CJ-15,801 and 4'-phospho-CJ-15,801 (its metabolically active form) are excellent tool compounds for use in the development of new antimicrobial PPCS inhibitors. Unfortunately, further study and analysis of CJ-15,801 is currently being hampered by several unique challenges posed by its synthesis. In this study we describe how these challenges were overcome by using a robust palladium-catalyzed coupling to form the key N-acyl vinylogous carbamate moiety with retention of stereochemistry, and by extensive investigation of protecting groups suited to the labile functional group combinations contained in this molecule. We also demonstrate that using TBAF for deprotection causes undesired off-target effects related to the presence of residual tertiary ammonium salts. Finally, we provide a new method for the chemoenzymatic preparation of 4'-phospho-CJ-15,801 on multi-milligram scale, after showing that chemical synthesis of the molecule is not practical. Taken together, the results of this study advances our pursuit to discover new antimicrobials that specifically target CoA biosynthesis and/or utilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riyad Domingo
- Department of Biochemistry , Stellenbosch University , Private Bag X1 , Matieland 7602 , South Africa .
| | - Renier van der Westhuyzen
- Department of Biochemistry , Stellenbosch University , Private Bag X1 , Matieland 7602 , South Africa .
| | - Anton R Hamann
- 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 .
| | - Leanne Barnard
- Department of Biochemistry , Stellenbosch University , Private Bag X1 , Matieland 7602 , South Africa .
| | - Tanya Paquet
- Department of Biochemistry , Stellenbosch University , Private Bag X1 , Matieland 7602 , South Africa .
| | - Erick T Tjhin
- Research School of Biology , The Australian National University , Canberra , ACT , Australia
| | - Kevin J Saliba
- Research School of Biology , The Australian National University , Canberra , ACT , Australia.,Medical School , The Australian National University , Canberra , ACT , Australia
| | - 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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13
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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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14
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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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15
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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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16
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Abstract
Malaria is caused in humans by five species of single-celled eukaryotic Plasmodium parasites (mainly Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax) that are transmitted by the bite of Anopheles spp. mosquitoes. Malaria remains one of the most serious infectious diseases; it threatens nearly half of the world's population and led to hundreds of thousands of deaths in 2015, predominantly among children in Africa. Malaria is managed through a combination of vector control approaches (such as insecticide spraying and the use of insecticide-treated bed nets) and drugs for both treatment and prevention. The widespread use of artemisinin-based combination therapies has contributed to substantial declines in the number of malaria-related deaths; however, the emergence of drug resistance threatens to reverse this progress. Advances in our understanding of the underlying molecular basis of pathogenesis have fuelled the development of new diagnostics, drugs and insecticides. Several new combination therapies are in clinical development that have efficacy against drug-resistant parasites and the potential to be used in single-dose regimens to improve compliance. This ambitious programme to eliminate malaria also includes new approaches that could yield malaria vaccines or novel vector control strategies. However, despite these achievements, a well-coordinated global effort on multiple fronts is needed if malaria elimination is to be achieved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret A Phillips
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, Texas 75390-9038, USA
| | | | | | | | - Wesley C Van Voorhis
- University of Washington, Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Center for Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases, Seattle, Washington, USA
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17
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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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18
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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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19
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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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