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Di Chio C, Starvaggi J, Totaro N, Previti S, Natale B, Cosconati S, Bogacz M, Schirmeister T, Legac J, Rosenthal PJ, Zappalà M, Ettari R. Development of Novel Peptidyl Nitriles Targeting Rhodesain and Falcipain-2 for the Treatment of Sleeping Sickness and Malaria. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4410. [PMID: 38673995 PMCID: PMC11050014 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25084410] [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: 03/22/2024] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
In recent decades, neglected tropical diseases and poverty-related diseases have become a serious health problem worldwide. Among these pathologies, human African trypanosomiasis, and malaria present therapeutic problems due to the onset of resistance, toxicity problems and the limited spectrum of action. In this drug discovery process, rhodesain and falcipain-2, of Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense and Plasmodium falciparum, are currently considered the most promising targets for the development of novel antitrypanosomal and antiplasmodial agents, respectively. Therefore, in our study we identified a novel lead-like compound, i.e., inhibitor 2b, which we proved to be active against both targets, with a Ki = 5.06 µM towards rhodesain and an IC50 = 40.43 µM against falcipain-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Di Chio
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno d’Alcontres, 98166 Messina, Italy; (C.D.C.); (J.S.); (N.T.); (S.P.); (M.Z.)
| | - Josè Starvaggi
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno d’Alcontres, 98166 Messina, Italy; (C.D.C.); (J.S.); (N.T.); (S.P.); (M.Z.)
| | - Noemi Totaro
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno d’Alcontres, 98166 Messina, Italy; (C.D.C.); (J.S.); (N.T.); (S.P.); (M.Z.)
| | - Santo Previti
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno d’Alcontres, 98166 Messina, Italy; (C.D.C.); (J.S.); (N.T.); (S.P.); (M.Z.)
| | - Benito Natale
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy; (B.N.); (S.C.)
| | - Sandro Cosconati
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy; (B.N.); (S.C.)
| | - Marta Bogacz
- Institute of Organic Chemistry & Macromolecular Chemistry, Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, Humboldtstraße, 10, DE 07743 Jena, Germany;
| | - Tanja Schirmeister
- Institute of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Mainz, Staudingerweg 5, DE 55128 Mainz, Germany;
| | - Jenny Legac
- Department of Medicine, San Francisco General Hospital, University of California, 1001 Potrero Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94110, USA; (J.L.); (P.J.R.)
| | - Philip J. Rosenthal
- Department of Medicine, San Francisco General Hospital, University of California, 1001 Potrero Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94110, USA; (J.L.); (P.J.R.)
| | - Maria Zappalà
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno d’Alcontres, 98166 Messina, Italy; (C.D.C.); (J.S.); (N.T.); (S.P.); (M.Z.)
| | - Roberta Ettari
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno d’Alcontres, 98166 Messina, Italy; (C.D.C.); (J.S.); (N.T.); (S.P.); (M.Z.)
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El Saftawy E, Farag MF, Gebreil HH, Abdelfatah M, Aboulhoda BE, Alghamdi M, Albadawi EA, Abd Elkhalek MA. Malaria: biochemical, physiological, diagnostic, and therapeutic updates. PeerJ 2024; 12:e17084. [PMID: 38529311 PMCID: PMC10962339 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Malaria has been appraised as a significant vector-borne parasitic disease with grave morbidity and high-rate mortality. Several challenges have been confronting the efficient diagnosis and treatment of malaria. Method Google Scholar, PubMed, Web of Science, and the Egyptian Knowledge Bank (EKB) were all used to gather articles. Results Diverse biochemical and physiological indices can mirror complicated malaria e.g., hypoglycemia, dyslipidemia, elevated renal and hepatic functions in addition to the lower antioxidant capacity that does not only destroy the parasite but also induces endothelial damage. Multiple trials have been conducted to improve recent points of care in malaria involving biosensors, lap on-chip, and microdevices technology. Regarding recent therapeutic trials, chemical falcipain inhibitors and plant extracts with anti-plasmodial activities are presented. Moreover, antimalaria nano-medicine and the emergence of nanocarrier (either active or passive) in drug transportation are promising. The combination therapeutic trials e.g., amodiaquine + artemether + lumefantrine are presented to safely counterbalance the emerging drug resistance in addition to the Tafenoquine as a new anti-relapse therapy. Conclusion Recognizing the pathophysiology indices potentiate diagnosis of malaria. The new points of care can smartly manipulate the biochemical and hematological alterations for a more sensitive and specific diagnosis of malaria. Nano-medicine appeared promising. Chemical and plant extracts remain points of research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enas El Saftawy
- Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Giza, Egypt
- Department of Medical Parasitology, Armed Forces College of Medicine, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Mohamed F. Farag
- Department of Medical Physiology, Armed Forces College of Medicine, Cairo, Giza, Egypt
| | - Hossam H. Gebreil
- Department of Medical Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Armed Forces College of Medicine, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Mohamed Abdelfatah
- Department of Medical Physiology, Armed Forces College of Medicine, Cairo, Giza, Egypt
| | - Basma Emad Aboulhoda
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Giza, Egypt
| | - Mansour Alghamdi
- Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia
- Genomics and Personalized Medicine Unit, College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia
| | - Emad A. Albadawi
- Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, Taibah University, Madinah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Marwa Ali Abd Elkhalek
- Department of Medical Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Armed Forces College of Medicine, Cairo, Egypt
- Medical Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
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3
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Uddin A, Gupta S, Shoaib R, Aneja B, Irfan I, Gupta K, Rawat N, Combrinck J, Kumar B, Aleem M, Hasan P, Joshi MC, Chhonker YS, Zahid M, Hussain A, Pandey K, Alajmi MF, Murry DJ, Egan TJ, Singh S, Abid M. Blood-stage antimalarial activity, favourable metabolic stability and in vivo toxicity of novel piperazine linked 7-chloroquinoline-triazole conjugates. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 264:115969. [PMID: 38039787 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115969] [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: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023]
Abstract
The persistence of drug resistance poses a significant obstacle to the advancement of efficacious malaria treatments. The remarkable efficacy displayed by 1,2,3-triazole-based compounds against Plasmodium falciparum highlights the potential of triazole conjugates, with diverse pharmacologically active structures, as potential antimalarial agents. We aimed to synthesize 7-dichloroquinoline-triazole conjugates and their structure-activity relationship (SAR) derivatives to investigate their anti-plasmodial activity. Among them, QP11, featuring a m-NO2 substitution, demonstrated efficacy against both chloroquine-sensitive and -resistant parasite strains. QP11 selectively inhibited FP2, a cysteine protease involved in hemoglobin degradation, and showed synergistic effects when combined with chloroquine. Additionally, QP11 hindered hemoglobin degradation and hemozoin formation within the parasite. Metabolic stability studies indicated high stability of QP11, making it a promising antimalarial candidate. In vivo evaluation using a murine malaria model demonstrated QP11's efficacy in eradicating parasite growth without neurotoxicity, presenting it as a promising compound for novel antimalarial development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amad Uddin
- Medicinal Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Biosciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, Jamia Nagar, New Delhi, 110025, India; Special Centre for Molecular Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, 110067, India
| | - Sonal Gupta
- Special Centre for Molecular Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, 110067, India
| | - Rumaisha Shoaib
- Medicinal Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Biosciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, Jamia Nagar, New Delhi, 110025, India; Special Centre for Molecular Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, 110067, India
| | - Babita Aneja
- Medicinal Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Biosciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, Jamia Nagar, New Delhi, 110025, India
| | - Iram Irfan
- Medicinal Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Biosciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, Jamia Nagar, New Delhi, 110025, India
| | - Kanika Gupta
- Special Centre for Molecular Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, 110067, India
| | - Neha Rawat
- Special Centre for Molecular Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, 110067, India
| | - Jill Combrinck
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Private Bag, Rondebosch, Cape Town, 7701, South Africa
| | - Bhumika Kumar
- Medicinal Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Biosciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, Jamia Nagar, New Delhi, 110025, India; National Institute of Malaria Research, New Delhi, 110077, India
| | - Mohd Aleem
- Division of Behavioral Neuroscience, Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences, Delhi, 110054, India
| | - Phool Hasan
- Medicinal Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Biosciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, Jamia Nagar, New Delhi, 110025, India
| | - Mukesh C Joshi
- Department of Chemistry, Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110007, India
| | - Yashpal S Chhonker
- Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science College of Pharmacy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 986145, Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198-6145, USA
| | - Muhammad Zahid
- Department of Environmental, Agricultural and Occupational Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 986145, Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198-6145, USA
| | - Afzal Hussain
- Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Kailash Pandey
- National Institute of Malaria Research, New Delhi, 110077, India
| | - Mohamed F Alajmi
- Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Daryl J Murry
- Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science College of Pharmacy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 986145, Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198-6145, USA
| | - Timothy J Egan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Private Bag, Rondebosch, Cape Town, 7701, South Africa
| | - Shailja Singh
- Special Centre for Molecular Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, 110067, India.
| | - Mohammad Abid
- Medicinal Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Biosciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, Jamia Nagar, New Delhi, 110025, India.
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Ettari R. Cysteine Proteases as Validated Targets for the Treatment of Neglected and Poverty-Related Parasitic Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:10097. [PMID: 37373243 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241210097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) include 20 diverse infections mainly prevalent in tropical areas that mostly affect disadvantaged communities and women and children [...].
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Ettari
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno d'Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy
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5
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Previti S, Ettari R, Di Chio C, Legac J, Bogacz M, Zimmer C, Schirmeister T, Rosenthal PJ, Zappalà M. Influence of amino acid size at the P3 position of N-Cbz-tripeptide Michael acceptors targeting falcipain-2 and rhodesain for the treatment of malaria and human african trypanosomiasis. Bioorg Chem 2023; 137:106587. [PMID: 37163812 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2023.106587] [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: 01/20/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
In recent decades, several structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies provided potent inhibitors of the cysteine proteases falcipain-2 (FP-2) and rhodesain (RD) from Plasmodium falciparum and Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, respectively. Whilst the roles of the warhead and residues targeting the P1 and P2 pockets of the proteases were extensively investigated, the roles of the amino acids occupying the S3 pocket were not widely assessed. Herein we report the synthesis and biological evaluation of a set of novel Michael acceptors bearing amino acids of increasing size at the P3 site (1a-g/2a-g, SPR20-SPR33) against FP-2, RD, P. falciparum, and T. brucei. Overall, the Michael acceptors bearing small amino acids at the P3 site exhibited the most potent inhibitory properties towards FP-2. In contrast, analogues with bulky residues at the P3 position were very potent rhodesain inhibitors. In cell based assays, single-digit micromolar EC50 values against the two protozoa were observed. These findings can be a starting point for the development of peptide-based FP-2 and RD inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santo Previti
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical, and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Stagno d'Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy.
| | - Roberta Ettari
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical, and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Stagno d'Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy
| | - Carla Di Chio
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical, and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Stagno d'Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy
| | - Jenny Legac
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, United States
| | - Marta Bogacz
- Institute of Organic Chemistry & Macromolecular Chemistry, Friedrich-Schiller-University of Jena, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Collin Zimmer
- Institute of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Mainz, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Tanja Schirmeister
- Institute of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Mainz, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Philip J Rosenthal
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, United States
| | - Maria Zappalà
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical, and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Stagno d'Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy
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Danazumi AU, Balogun EO. Microsecond-long simulation reveals the molecular mechanism for the dual inhibition of falcipain-2 and falcipain-3 by antimalarial lead compounds. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:1070080. [PMID: 36601587 PMCID: PMC9806354 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.1070080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The latest world malaria report revealed that human deaths caused by malaria are currently on the rise and presently stood at over 627,000 per year. In addition, more than 240 million people have the infection at any given time. These figures make malaria the topmost infectious disease and reiterate the need for continuous efforts for the development of novel chemotherapies. Malaria is an infectious disease caused majorly by the protozoan intracellular parasite Plasmodium falciparum and transmitted by mosquitoes. Reports abound on the central role of falcipains (cysteine protease enzymes) in the catabolism of hemoglobin for furnishing the plasmodium cells with amino acids that they require for development and survival in the hosts. Even though falcipains (FPs) have been validated as drug target molecules for the development of new antimalarial drugs, none of its inhibitory compounds have advanced beyond the early discovery stage. Therefore, there are renewed efforts to expand the collection of falcipain inhibitors. As a result, an interesting finding reported the discovery of a quinolinyl oxamide derivative (QOD) and an indole carboxamide derivative (ICD), with each compound demonstrating good potencies against the two essential FP subtypes 2 (FP-2) and 3 (FP-3). In this study, we utilized microsecond-scale molecular dynamics simulation computational method to investigate the interactions between FP-2 and FP-3 with the quinolinyl oxamide derivative and indole carboxamide derivative. The results revealed that quinolinyl oxamide derivative and indole carboxamide derivative bound tightly at the active site of both enzymes. Interestingly, despite belonging to different chemical scaffolds, they are coordinated by almost identical amino acid residues via extensive hydrogen bond interactions in both FP-2 and FP-3. Our report provided molecular insights into the interactions between FP-2 and FP-3 with quinolinyl oxamide derivative and indole carboxamide derivative, which we hope will pave the way towards the design of more potent and druglike inhibitors of these enzymes and will pave the way for their development to new antimalarial drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ammar Usman Danazumi
- Faculty of Chemistry, Warsaw University of Technology, Warsaw, Poland,Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Emmanuel Oluwadare Balogun
- Department of Biochemistry, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria,Africa Centre of Excellence for Neglected Tropical Diseases and Forensic Biotechnology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria,Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States,Department of Biomedical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan,*Correspondence: Emmanuel Oluwadare Balogun, ,
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Structure determinants defining the specificity of papain-like cysteine proteases. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2022; 20:6552-6569. [DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2022.11.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Revised: 11/19/2022] [Accepted: 11/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
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Ibezim A, Ofokansi MN, Ndukwe X, Chiama CS, Obi BC, Isiogugu ON, Ikechukwu PE, Onwuka AM, Ihim SA, Asegbeloyin JN, Nwodo NJ. Evaluation of anti-malarial potency of new pyrazole-hydrazine coupled to Schiff base derivatives. Malar J 2022; 21:243. [PMID: 35996135 PMCID: PMC9396901 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-022-04266-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The search for pharmacologically effective agents among molecules bearing multiple functionalities is commonly practiced. In continuation of the search for new anti-malarial agents, new pyrazole-hydrazine coupled Schiff-base derivatives previously synthesized were screened for anti-malarial property. Methods Here, in vivo prophylactic and curative activities of the compounds were assessed while their binding affinity for falcipain-2, a crucial enzyme in Plasmodium survival, was done using computational techniques. Results The two derivatives (BepINH and BepBeH) respectively led to a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in parasitaemia count (0.76 ± 1.11 and 0.79 ± 1.19) at day 3 post-treatment relative to the negative control (16.37 ± 1.25). For the prophylactic study, it was observed that the highest parasitaemia suppression level of 95.35% and 95.17% for BepINH and BepBeH at 15 mg/kg was slightly comparable to that obtained for ACT-Lonart (99.38%). In addition, their haematological profiles indicate that they are potentially beneficial in suppressing haemolytic damage to RBC, thereby protecting the body against infection-induced anaemia. Docking calculations on the derivatives toward the Plasmodium falciparum falcipain-2 revealed that they favourably interacted with a binding affinity higher than that of a known cocrystallized inhibitor. Conclusion This study confirms the relevance of multi-functional molecules in the search for new and effective anti-plasmodial agent and lay the foundation for further development of these compound series to potent anti-plasmodial agent that interacts with falcipain-2. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12936-022-04266-8.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akachukwu Ibezim
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.
| | - Martha N Ofokansi
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.
| | - Xavier Ndukwe
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
| | - Chidera S Chiama
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
| | - Bonaventure C Obi
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
| | - Ogechukwu N Isiogugu
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
| | - Peter E Ikechukwu
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
| | - Akachukwu M Onwuka
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
| | - Stella A Ihim
- Department of Science Laboratory, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
| | - Jonnie N Asegbeloyin
- Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
| | - Ngozi J Nwodo
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
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Inhibitor of Cysteine Protease of Plasmodium malariae Regulates Malapains, Endogenous Cysteine Proteases of the Parasite. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11050605. [PMID: 35631126 PMCID: PMC9142985 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11050605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Revised: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Cysteine proteases of malaria parasites have been recognized as potential targets in antimalarial drug development as they play pivotal roles in the biology of these parasites. However, strict regulation of their activities is also necessary to minimize or prevent deleterious damage to the parasite and the host. Previously, we have characterized falcipain family cysteine proteases of Plasmodium malariae, named as malapains (MPs). MPs are active hemoglobinases. They also may participate in the release of merozoites from mature schizonts by facilitating remodeling of erythrocyte skeleton proteins. In this study, we identified and characterized an endogenous inhibitor of cysteine protease of P. malariae (PmICP). PmICP shared similar structural and biochemical properties with ICPs from other Plasmodium species. Recombinant PmICP showed a broad range of inhibitory activities against diverse cysteine proteases such as falcipain family enzymes (MP-2, MP-4, VX-3, VX-4, and FP-3), papain, and human cathepsins B and L, with stronger inhibitory activities against falcipain family enzymes. The inhibitory activity of PmICP was not affected by pH. PmICP was thermo-labile, resulting in rapid loss of its inhibitory activity at a high temperature. PmICP effectively inhibited hemoglobin hydrolysis by MPs and regulated maturation of MPs, suggesting its role as a functional regulator of MPs.
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Brogi S, Ibba R, Rossi S, Butini S, Calderone V, Gemma S, Campiani G. Covalent Reversible Inhibitors of Cysteine Proteases Containing the Nitrile Warhead: Recent Advancement in the Field of Viral and Parasitic Diseases. MOLECULES (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 27:molecules27082561. [PMID: 35458759 PMCID: PMC9029279 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27082561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Revised: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
In the field of drug discovery, the nitrile group is well represented among drugs and biologically active compounds. It can form both non-covalent and covalent interactions with diverse biological targets, and it is amenable as an electrophilic warhead for covalent inhibition. The main advantage of the nitrile group as a warhead is mainly due to its milder electrophilic character relative to other more reactive groups (e.g., -CHO), reducing the possibility of unwanted reactions that would hinder the development of safe drugs, coupled to the ease of installation through different synthetic approaches. The covalent inhibition is a well-assessed design approach for serine, threonine, and cysteine protease inhibitors. The mechanism of hydrolysis of these enzymes involves the formation of a covalent acyl intermediate, and this mechanism can be exploited by introducing electrophilic warheads in order to mimic this covalent intermediate. Due to the relevant role played by the cysteine protease in the survival and replication of infective agents, spanning from viruses to protozoan parasites, we will review the most relevant and recent examples of protease inhibitors presenting a nitrile group that have been introduced to form or to facilitate the formation of a covalent bond with the catalytic cysteine active site residue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Brogi
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (S.B.); (V.C.)
| | - Roberta Ibba
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, DoE Department of Excellence 2018-2022, University of Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy; (R.I.); (S.R.); (S.B.); (G.C.)
| | - Sara Rossi
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, DoE Department of Excellence 2018-2022, University of Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy; (R.I.); (S.R.); (S.B.); (G.C.)
| | - Stefania Butini
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, DoE Department of Excellence 2018-2022, University of Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy; (R.I.); (S.R.); (S.B.); (G.C.)
| | - Vincenzo Calderone
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (S.B.); (V.C.)
| | - Sandra Gemma
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, DoE Department of Excellence 2018-2022, University of Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy; (R.I.); (S.R.); (S.B.); (G.C.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Giuseppe Campiani
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, DoE Department of Excellence 2018-2022, University of Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy; (R.I.); (S.R.); (S.B.); (G.C.)
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Hernández González JE, Alberca LN, Masforrol González Y, Reyes Acosta O, Talevi A, Salas-Sarduy E. Tetracycline Derivatives Inhibit Plasmodial Cysteine Protease Falcipain-2 through Binding to a Distal Allosteric Site. J Chem Inf Model 2021; 62:159-175. [PMID: 34962803 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.1c01189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Allosteric inhibitors regulate enzyme activity from remote and usually specific pockets. As they promise an avenue for less toxic and safer drugs, the identification and characterization of allosteric inhibitors has gained great academic and biomedical interest in recent years. Research on falcipain-2 (FP-2), the major papain-like cysteine hemoglobinase of Plasmodium falciparum, might benefit from this strategy to overcome the low selectivity against human cathepsins shown by active site-directed inhibitors. Encouraged by our previous finding that methacycline inhibits FP-2 noncompetitively, here we assessed other five tetracycline derivatives against this target and characterized their inhibition mechanism. As previously shown for methacycline, tetracycline derivatives inhibited FP-2 in a noncompetitive fashion, with Ki values ranging from 121 to 190 μM. A possible binding to the S' side of the FP-2 active site, similar to that described by X-ray crystallography (PDB: 6SSZ) for the noncompetitive inhibitor E-chalcone 48 (EC48), was experimentally discarded by kinetic analysis using a large peptidyl substrate spanning the whole active site. By combining lengthy molecular dynamics (MD) simulations that allowed methacycline to diffuse from solution to different FP-2 surface regions and free energy calculations, we predicted the most likely binding mode of the ligand. Of note, the proposed binding pose explains the low differences in Ki values observed for the tested tetracycline derivatives and the calculated binding free energies match the experimental values. Overall, this study has implications for the design of novel allosteric inhibitors against FP-2 and sets the basis for further optimization of the tetracycline scaffold to produce more potent and selective inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Enrique Hernández González
- Departamento de Física, Instituto de Biociências, Letras e Ciências Exatas, Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho, Rua Cristóvão Colombo, 2265, Jardim Nazareth, São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo CEP 15054-000, Brazil
| | - Lucas N Alberca
- Laboratory of Bioactive Compounds Research and Development (LIDeB), Department of Biological Sciences, Exact Sciences College, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata B1900ADU, Argentina
| | | | - Osvaldo Reyes Acosta
- Chemistry and Physics Department, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana 10600, Cuba
| | - Alan Talevi
- Laboratory of Bioactive Compounds Research and Development (LIDeB), Department of Biological Sciences, Exact Sciences College, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata B1900ADU, Argentina
| | - Emir Salas-Sarduy
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas "Dr. Rodolfo Ugalde"─Universidad Nacional de San Martín─CONICET, San Martín B1650HMP, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Florin-Christensen M, Wieser SN, Suarez CE, Schnittger L. In Silico Survey and Characterization of Babesia microti Functional and Non-Functional Proteases. Pathogens 2021; 10:1457. [PMID: 34832610 PMCID: PMC8621943 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10111457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2021] [Revised: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Human babesiosis caused by the intraerythrocytic apicomplexan Babesia microti is an expanding tick-borne zoonotic disease that may cause severe symptoms and death in elderly or immunocompromised individuals. In light of an increasing resistance of B. microti to drugs, there is a lack of therapeutic alternatives. Species-specific proteases are essential for parasite survival and possible chemotherapeutic targets. However, the repertoire of proteases in B. microti remains poorly investigated. Herein, we employed several combined bioinformatics tools and strategies to organize and identify genes encoding for the full repertoire of proteases in the B. microti genome. We identified 64 active proteases and 25 nonactive protease homologs. These proteases can be classified into cysteine (n = 28), serine (n = 21), threonine (n = 14), asparagine (n = 7), and metallopeptidases (n = 19), which, in turn, are assigned to a total of 38 peptidase families. Comparative studies between the repertoire of B. bovis and B. microti proteases revealed differences among sensu stricto and sensu lato Babesia parasites that reflect their distinct evolutionary history. Overall, this data may help direct future research towards our understanding of the biology and pathogenicity of Babesia parasites and to explore proteases as targets for developing novel therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica Florin-Christensen
- Instituto de Patobiologia Veterinaria (IPVET), Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronomicas, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Hurlingham C1033AAE, Argentina; (S.N.W.); (L.S.)
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires C1033AAJ, Argentina
| | - Sarah N. Wieser
- Instituto de Patobiologia Veterinaria (IPVET), Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronomicas, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Hurlingham C1033AAE, Argentina; (S.N.W.); (L.S.)
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires C1033AAJ, Argentina
| | - Carlos E. Suarez
- Animal Disease Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Pullman, WA 99163, USA;
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99163, USA
| | - Leonhard Schnittger
- Instituto de Patobiologia Veterinaria (IPVET), Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronomicas, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Hurlingham C1033AAE, Argentina; (S.N.W.); (L.S.)
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires C1033AAJ, Argentina
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Jílková A, Horn M, Fanfrlík J, Küppers J, Pachl P, Řezáčová P, Lepšík M, Fajtová P, Rubešová P, Chanová M, Caffrey CR, Gütschow M, Mareš M. Azanitrile Inhibitors of the SmCB1 Protease Target Are Lethal to Schistosoma mansoni: Structural and Mechanistic Insights into Chemotype Reactivity. ACS Infect Dis 2021; 7:189-201. [PMID: 33301315 PMCID: PMC7802074 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.0c00644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
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Azapeptide
nitriles are postulated to reversibly covalently react
with the active-site cysteine residue of cysteine proteases and form
isothiosemicarbazide adducts. We investigated the interaction of azadipeptide
nitriles with the cathepsin B1 drug target (SmCB1) from Schistosoma
mansoni, a pathogen that causes the global neglected disease
schistosomiasis. Azadipeptide nitriles were superior inhibitors of
SmCB1 over their parent carba analogs. We determined the crystal structure
of SmCB1 in complex with an azadipeptide nitrile and analyzed the
reaction mechanism using quantum chemical calculations. The data demonstrate
that azadipeptide nitriles, in contrast to their carba counterparts,
undergo a change from E- to Z-configuration
upon binding, which gives rise to a highly favorable energy profile
of noncovalent and covalent complex formation. Finally, azadipeptide
nitriles were considerably more lethal than their carba analogs against
the schistosome pathogen in culture, supporting the further development
of this chemotype as a treatment for schistosomiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adéla Jílková
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, 16610 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Horn
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, 16610 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Jindřich Fanfrlík
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, 16610 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Jim Küppers
- Pharmaceutical Institute, Pharmaceutical & Medicinal Chemistry, University of Bonn, An der Immenburg 4, 53121 Bonn, Germany
| | - Petr Pachl
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, 16610 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Pavlína Řezáčová
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, 16610 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Lepšík
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, 16610 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Pavla Fajtová
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, 16610 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Petra Rubešová
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, 16610 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Marta Chanová
- Institute of Immunology and Microbiology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague, Studničkova 2028/7, 12800 Prague 2, Czech Republic
| | - Conor R. Caffrey
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases (CDIPD), Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Michael Gütschow
- Pharmaceutical Institute, Pharmaceutical & Medicinal Chemistry, University of Bonn, An der Immenburg 4, 53121 Bonn, Germany
| | - Michael Mareš
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo n. 2, 16610 Prague 6, Czech Republic
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