Carbonic Anhydrases inhibitory effects of new benzenesulfonamides synthesized by using superacid chemistry

Unveiling sultam in drug discovery: spotlight on the underexplored scaffold

Decades ago, the application of cyclic sulfonamide (sultam) and its derivatives primarily focused on their antibacterial properties. However, recent years have seen a shift in research attention towards exploring their potential as anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, and antiviral agents. Despite this broadening scope, only a few sultam drugs have made it to the commercial market, as much of the research on sultams remains in the discovery phase. This class of compounds holds significant promise and remains pertinent in pharmaceutical research. Due to sultam's relevance and growing importance in drug discovery, this review paper aims to consolidate and examine the biological activities of sultam derivatives ranging from 4 to 8-membered ring structures.

Tetrahydroquinazole-based secondary sulphonamides as carbonic anhydrase inhibitors: synthesis, biological evaluation against isoforms I, II, IV, and IX, and computational studies

A library of variously decorated N-phenyl secondary sulphonamides featuring the bicyclic tetrahydroquinazole scaffold was synthesised and biologically evaluated for their inhibitory activity against human carbonic anhydrase (hCA) I, II, IV, and IX. Of note, several compounds were identified showing submicromolar potency and excellent selectivity for the tumour-related hCA IX isoform. Structure-activity relationship data attained for various substitutions were rationalised by molecular modelling studies in terms of both inhibitory activity and selectivity.

Access to Optically Pure Benzosultams by Superelectrophilic Activation

Through superacid activation, N-(arenesulfonyl)-aminoalcohols derived from readily available ephedrines or amino acids undergo an intramolecular Friedel-Crafts reaction to afford enantiopure benzosultams bearing two adjacent stereocenters in high yields with fully controlled diastereoselectivity. Low-temperature NMR spectroscopy demonstrated the crucial role played by the conformationally restricted chiral dicationic intermediates.

Inhibition of carbonic anhydrase IX targets primary tumors, metastases, and cancer stem cells: Three for the price of one

Human carbonic anhydrase (CA) IX is a tumor-associated protein, since it is scarcely present in normal tissues, but highly overexpressed in a large number of solid tumors, where it actively contributes to survival and metastatic spread of tumor cells. Due to these features, the characterization of its biochemical, structural, and functional features for drug design purposes has been extensively carried out, with consequent development of several highly selective small molecule inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies to be used for different purposes. Aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive state-of-the-art of studies performed on this enzyme, regarding structural, functional, and biomedical aspects, as well as the development of molecules with diagnostic and therapeutic applications for cancer treatment. A brief description of additional pharmacologic applications for CA IX inhibition in other diseases, such as arthritis and ischemia, is also provided.

Advances in structure-based drug discovery of carbonic anhydrase inhibitors

INTRODUCTION

The enzyme carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) is found in numerous organisms across the tree of life, with seven distinct classes known to date. CA inhibition can be exploited for the treatment of edema, glaucoma, seizures, obesity, cancer and infectious diseases. A myriad of CA inhibitor (CAI) classes and inhibition mechanisms have been identified over the past decade, mainly through structure-based drug design approaches. Five different CA inhibition mechanisms are presently known. Areas covered: Recent advances in structure-based CAI design are reviewed, with periodic table-based organization of inhibitor classes. Expert opinion: Various structure-based drug design studies have led to deep understanding of factors governing tight binding and selectivity for the various isoforms. Carboxylic acids, phenols, polyamines, diols, borols, boronic acids, coumarins and sulfonamides represent successful stories which led to an anti-tumor sulfonamide in Phase I clinical trials (SLC-0111). For many inhibitor classes, no detailed crystallographic data are available. Detailed structural characterization of all CAI classes may lead to further advances in the field with potential therapeutic implications in the management of indications including neuropathic pain, cerebral ischemia, arthritis and tumor imaging.

Open saccharin-based secondary sulfonamides as potent and selective inhibitors of cancer-related carbonic anhydrase IX and XII isoforms

A large number of novel secondary sulfonamides based on the open saccharin scaffold were synthesized and evaluated as selective inhibitors of four different isoforms of human carbonic anhydrase (hCA I, II, IX and XII, EC 4.2.1.1). They were obtained by reductive ring opening of the newly synthesized N-alkylated saccharin derivatives and were shown to be inactive against the two cytosolic off-target hCA I and II (K_is > 10 µM). Interestingly, these compounds inhibited hCA IX in the low nanomolar range with K_is ranging between 20 and 298 nM and were extremely potent inhibitors of hCA XII isoenzyme (K_is ranging between 4.3 and 432 nM). Since hCA IX and XII are the cancer-related isoforms recently validated as drug targets, these results represent an important goal in the development of new anticancer candidates. Finally, a computational approach has been performed to better correlate the biological data to the binding mode of these inhibitors.

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of N-(5-methyl-isoxazol-3-yl/1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)-4-(3-substitutedphenylureido) benzenesulfonamides as human carbonic anhydrase isoenzymes I, II, VII and XII inhibitors

A series of N-(5-methyl-isoxazol-3-yl/1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)-4-(3-substitutedphenylureido) benzenesulfonamide derivatives has been designed, synthesized and screened for their in vitro human carbonic anhydrase (hCA; EC 4.2.1.1) inhibition potential. These newly synthesized sulfonamide compounds were assessed against isoforms hCA I, II, VII and XII, with acetazolamide (AAZ) as a reference compound. The majority of these compounds were found quite weak inhibitor against all tested isoforms. Compound 15 showed a modest inhibition potency against hCA I (Ki = 73.7 μM) and hCA VII (Ki = 85.8 μM). Compounds 19 and 25 exhibited hCA II inhibition with Ki values of 96.0 μM and 87.8 μM, respectively. The results of the present study suggest that, although the synthesized derivatives have weak inhibitory potential towards all investigated isoforms, some of them may serve as lead molecules for the further development of selective inhibitors incorporating secondary sulfonamide functionalities, a class of inhibitors for which the inhibition mechanism is poorly understood.

Sulfonamide inhibition studies of the α-carbonic anhydrase from the gammaproteobacterium Thiomicrospira crunogena XCL-2, TcruCA

We report a sulfonamide/sulfamate inhibition study of the α-carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) present in the gammaproteobacterium Thiomicrospira crunogena XCL-2, a mesophilic hydrothermal vent-isolate organism, TcruCA. As Thiomicrospira crunogena is one of thousands of marine organisms that uses CA for metabolic regulation, the effect of sulfonamide inhibition has been considered. Sulfonamide-based drugs have been widely used in a variety of antibiotics, and bioelimination of these compounds results in exposure of these compounds to marine life. The enzyme was highly inhibited, with Ki values ranging from 2.5 to 40.7nM by a variety of sulfonamides including acetazolamide, methazolamide, ethoxzolamide, dichlorophenamide, dorzolamide, brinzolamide, benzolamide and benzenesulfonamides incorporating 4-hydroxyalkyl moieties. Less effective inhibitors were topiramate, zonisamide, celecoxib, saccharin and hydrochlorothiazide as well as simple benzenesulfonamides incorporating amino, halogeno, alkyl, aminoalkyl and other moieties in the ortho- or para-positions of the aromatic ring (Kis of 202-933nM). The active site interactions between TcruCA and three clinically-used CA inhibitors, acetazolamide (Diamox®), dorzolamide (Trusopt®), and brinzolamide (Azopt®) are studied using molecular docking to provide insight into the reported Ki values. Comparison between various enzymes belonging to this family may also bring interesting hints in these fascinating phenomena.

Synthesis of 4-sulfamoylphenyl-benzylamine derivatives with inhibitory activity against human carbonic anhydrase isoforms I, II, IX and XII

Imine derivatives were obtained by condensation of sulfanilamide with substituted aromatic aldehydes. The Schiff bases were thereafter reduced with sodium borohydride, leading to the corresponding amines, derivatives of 4-sulfamoylphenyl-benzylamine. These sulfonamides were investigated as inhibitors of the human carbonic anhydrase (hCA, EC 4.2.1.1) isoforms hCA I and II (cytosolic isozymes), as well as hCA IX and XII (transmembrane, tumor-associated enzymes). We noted that the compounds incorporating secondary amine moieties showed a better inhibitory activity against all CA isozymes compared to the corresponding Schiff bases. Low nanomolar CA II, IX and XII inhibitors were detected, whereas the activity against hCA I was less potent. The secondary amines incorporating sulfonamide or similar zinc-binding groups, poorly investigated chemotypes for designing metalloenzyme inhibitors, may offer interesting opportunities in the field due to the facile preparation and possibility to explore a vast chemical space.

Benzenesulfonamides incorporating bulky aromatic/heterocyclic tails with potent carbonic anhydrase inhibitory activity

Three series of sulfonamides incorporating long, bulky tails were obtained by applying synthetic strategies in which substituted anthranilic acids, quinazolines and aromatic sulfonamides have been used as starting materials. They incorporate long, bulky diamide-, 4-oxoquinazoline-3-yl- or quinazoline-4-yl moieties in their molecules, and were investigated for the inhibition of four physiologically relevant carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) isoforms, the cytosolic human (h) hCA I and II, as well as the transmembrane hCA IX and XII. Most of the new sulfonamides showed excellent inhibitory effects against the four isoforms, with KIs of 7.6-322nM against hCA I, of 0.06-85.4nM against hCA II; of 6.7-152nM against hCA IX and of 0.49-237nM against hCA XII; respectively. However no relevant isoform-selective behavior has been observed for any of them, although hCA II and XII, isoforms involved in glaucoma-genesis were the most inhibited ones. The structure-activity relationship for inhibiting the four CAs with these derivatives is discussed in detail.

How many carbonic anhydrase inhibition mechanisms exist?

Six genetic families of the enzyme carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) were described to date. Inhibition of CAs has pharmacologic applications in the field of antiglaucoma, anticonvulsant, anticancer, and anti-infective agents. New classes of CA inhibitors (CAIs) were described in the last decade with enzyme inhibition mechanisms differing considerably from the classical inhibitors of the sulfonamide or anion type. Five different CA inhibition mechanisms are known: (i) the zinc binders coordinate to the catalytically crucial Zn(II) ion from the enzyme active site, with the metal in tetrahedral or trigonal bipyramidal geometries. Sulfonamides and their isosters, most anions, dithiocarbamates and their isosters, carboxylates, and hydroxamates bind in this way; (ii) inhibitors that anchor to the zinc-coordinated water molecule/hydroxide ion (phenols, carboxylates, polyamines, 2-thioxocoumarins, sulfocoumarins); (iii) inhibitors which occlude the entrance to the active site cavity (coumarins and their isosters), this binding site coinciding with that where CA activators bind; (iv) compounds which bind out of the active site cavity (a carboxylic acid derivative was seen to inhibit CA in this manner), and (v) compounds for which the inhibition mechanism is not known, among which the secondary/tertiary sulfonamides as well as imatinib/nilotinib are the most investigated examples. As CAIs are used clinically in many pathologies, with a sulfonamide inhibitor (SLC-0111) in Phase I clinical trials for the management of metastatic solid tumors, this review updates the recent findings in the field which may be useful for a structure-based drug design approach of more selective/potent modulators of the activity of these enzymes.

Inhibition of carbonic anhydrase isoforms I, II, IV, VII and XII with carboxylates and sulfonamides incorporating phthalimide/phthalic anhydride scaffolds

We report a panel of carboxylates and sulfonamides incorporating phthalic anhydride and phthalimide moieties in their structure and their interaction with the metalloenzyme carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1). They were synthesized from substituted anthranilic acids and trimellitic anhydride chloride, followed by reaction with primary amines and were tested for the inhibition of five physiologically relevant CA isoforms, the human (h) hCA I, II, IV, VII and XII, some of which are involved in serious pathologies (CA II, IV and XII in glaucoma; CA VII in epilepsy; CA XII in some solid tumors). The carboxylic acids were generally poor inhibitors of isoforms hCA I, II and IV but were highly effective, low nanomolar inhibitors of hCA VII and XII. The sulfonamides inhibited all isoforms significantly, and some of them were sub-nanomolar hCA VII inhibitors, although their isoform selectivity was lower compared to the carboxylates. This study proves that carboxylic acids incorporating a phthalic anhydride/phthalimide based scaffold may lead to isoform-selective inhibitors by applying the tail approach, mostly used up until now for obtaining sulfonamide, sulfamide and sulfamate CA inhibitors.

Inhibition of mammalian carbonic anhydrase isoforms I-XIV with a series of phenolic acid esters

A series of phenolic acid esters incorporating caffeic, ferulic, and p-coumaric acid, and benzyl, m/p-hydroxyphenethyl- as well as p-hydroxy-phenethoxy-phenethyl moieties were investigated for their inhibitory effects against the metalloenzyme carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1). Many of the mammalian isozymes of human (h) or murine (m) origin, hCA I-hCA XII, mCA XIII and hCA XIV, were inhibited in the submicromolar range by these derivatives (with KIs of 0.31-1.03 μM against hCA VA, VB, VI, VII, IX and XIV). The off-target, highly abundant isoforms hCA I and II, as well as hCA III, IV and XII were poorly inhibited by many of these esters, although the original phenolic acids were micromolar inhibitors. These phenols, like others investigated earlier, possess a CA inhibition mechanism distinct of the sulfonamides/sulfamates, clinically used drugs for the treatment of a multitude of pathologies, but with severe side effects due to hCA I/II inhibition. Unlike the sulfonamides, which bind to the catalytic zinc ion, phenols are anchored at the Zn(II)-coordinated water molecule, binding more externally within the active site cavity, and making contacts with amino acid residues at the entrance of the active site. As this is the region with the highest variability between the many CA isozymes found in mammals, this class of compounds shows isoform-selective inhibitory profiles, which may be exploited for obtaining pharmacological agents with less side effects compared to other classes of inhibitors.

Anion inhibition studies of the dandruff-producing fungus Malassezia globosa β-carbonic anhydrase MgCA

The genome of the fungal parasite Malassezia globosa, the causative agent of dandruff, contains a single gene annotated as encoding a carbonic anhydrase (CAs, EC 4.2.1.1) belonging to the β-class (MgCA). In an earlier work (J. Med. Chem. 2012, 55, 3513) we have validated this enzyme as an anti-dandruff drug target, reporting that sulfonamide inhibitors show in vitro and in vivo effects, in an animal model of Malassezia infection. However, few classes of compounds apart the sulfonamides, were investigated for their activity against MgCA. Here we present an anion inhibition study of this enzyme, reporting that metal complexing anions such as cyanate, thiocyanate, cyanide, azide are weak MgCA inhibitors (KIs ranging between 6.81 and 45.2 mM) whereas bicarbonate (KI of 0.59 mM) and diethyldithiocarbamate (KI of 0.30 mM) together with sulfamide, sulfamate, phenylboronic acid and phenylarsonic acid were the most effective inhibitors detected so far, with KIs ranging between 83 and 94 μM. This study may help a better understanding of the inhibition profile of this enzyme and may offer the possibility to design new such modulators of activity belonging to different chemical classes.

Synthesis of sulfonamides incorporating piperazinyl-ureido moieties and their carbonic anhydrase I, II, IX and XII inhibitory activity

By using SLC-0111 (4-fluorophenylureido-benzenesulfonamide), a sulfonamide carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) inhibitor in Phase I clinical trials as an antitumor agent as lead molecule, a series of benzenesulfonamide derivatives incorporating ureido moieties was synthesized. The new compounds contain a 4-N-substituted piperazine fragment in which the ureido linker has been included, and were tested as inhibitors of the cytosolic human (h) hCA I and II isoforms, as well as the transmembrane, tumor-associated enzymes hCA IX and XII. Depending on the substitution pattern at the piperazine ring, low nanomolar inhibitors were detected against all four isoforms, making the new class of sulfonamides of interest for various pharmacologic applications.

Acetazolamide for the treatment of idiopathic intracranial hypertension

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is characterized by an increase of intracranial pressure in the absence of neurologic tumors. The sulfonamide carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) inhibitor (CAI) acetazolamide (AAZ), a compound developed in the 1950s as a diuretic drug and presently used as an antiglaucoma, antiepileptic and diuretic agent, is effective in the treatment of IIH. AAZ is a low nanomolar inhibitor of CA isoforms involved in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) secretion. Inhibition of brain/choroid plexus CA II, IV, VA and XII leads to a decreased CSF fluid secretion and control of the intracranial pressure. Although many sulfonamide/sulfamate CAIs are in clinical use for decades, apparently only AAZ is being currently used clinically for IIH. We speculate that more lipophilic CAIs such as methazolamide, zonisamide or topiramate should lead to a more effective control of increased intracranial pressure, thus having the opportunity to become useful in the management of IIH.

Discovery of novel isatin-based sulfonamides with potent and selective inhibition of the tumor-associated carbonic anhydrase isoforms IX and XII

A series of 2/3/4-[(2-oxo-1,2-dihydro-3H-indol-3-ylidene)amino]benzenesulfonamides, obtained from substituted isatins and 2-, 3- or 4-aminobenzenesulfonamide, showed low nanomolar inhibitory activity against the tumor associated carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) isoforms IX and XII - recently validated antitumor drug targets, being much less effective as inhibitors of the off-target cytosolic isoforms CA I and II.

Design and synthesis of benzothiazole-6-sulfonamides acting as highly potent inhibitors of carbonic anhydrase isoforms I, II, IX and XII

A series of novel 2-aminobenzothiazole derivatives bearing sulfonamide at position 6 was designed, synthesized and investigated as inhibitors of four isoforms of the metalloenzyme carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1), the cytosolic CA I and II, and the tumor-associated isozymes CA IX and XII. Docking and binding energy studies were carried out to reveal details regarding the favorable interactions between the scaffolds of these new inhibitors and the active sites of the investigated CA isoforms. Most of the novel compounds were acting as highly potent inhibitors of the tumor-associated hCA IX and hCA XII with KIs in the nanomolar range. The ubiquitous and dominant rapid cytosolic isozyme hCA II was also inhibited with KIs ranging from 3.5 to 45.4 nM. The favorable interactions between some of the new compounds and the active site of different CA isoforms were delineated by using molecular docking which may be useful for designing compounds with high affinity and selectivity for some CAs with biomedical applications.

Cloning, characterization and anion inhibition study of a β-class carbonic anhydrase from the caries producing pathogen Streptococcus mutans

The oral pathogenic bacterium involved in human dental caries formation Streptococcus mutans, encodes for two carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) one belonging to the α- and the other one to the β-class. This last enzyme (SmuCA) has been cloned, characterized and investigated for its inhibition profile with a major class of CA inhibitors, the inorganic anions. Here we show that SmuCA has a good catalytic activity for the CO2 hydration reaction, with kcat 4.2×10(5)s(-1) and kcat/Km of 5.8×10(7)M(-1)×s(-1), being inhibited by cyanate, carbonate, stannate, divannadate and diethyldithiocarbamate in the submillimolar range (KIs of 0.30-0.64mM) and more efficiently by sulfamide, sulfamate, phenylboronic acid and phenylarsonic acid (KIs of 15-46μM). The anion inhibition profile of the S. mutans enzyme is very different from other α- and β-CAs investigated earlier. Identification of effective inhibitors of this new enzyme may lead to pharmacological tools useful for understanding the role of S. mutans CAs in dental caries formation, and eventually the development of pharmacological agents with a new mechanism of antibacterial action.

Sulfonamide inhibition study of the β-class carbonic anhydrase from the caries producing pathogen Streptococcus mutans

Streptococcus mutans, the oral pathogenic bacterium provoking dental caries formation, encodes for a β-class carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1), SmuCA. This enzyme was cloned, characterized and investigated for its inhibition profile with the major class of CA inhibitors, the primary sulfonamides. SmuCA has a good catalytic activity for the CO2 hydration reaction, with a kcat of 4.2×10(5) s(-1) and kcat/Km of 5.8×10(7) M(-1)×s(-1), and is efficiently inhibited by most sulfonamides (KIs of 246 nM-13.5 μM). The best SmuCA inhibitors were bromosulfanilamide, deacetylated acetazolamide, 4-hydroxymethylbenzenesulfonamide, a pyrimidine-substituted sulfanilamide derivative, aminobenzolamide and compounds structurally similar to it, as well as acetazolamide, methazolamide, indisulam and valdecoxib. These compounds showed inhibition constants ranging between 246 and 468 nM. Identification of effective inhibitors of this enzyme may lead to pharmacological tools useful for understanding the role of S. mutans CAs in dental caries formation, and eventually the development of pharmacological agents with a new mechanism of antibacterial action.

Synthesis, carbonic anhydrase inhibition and cytotoxic activity of novel chromone-based sulfonamide derivatives

Four series of sulfonamides incorporating chromone moieties were synthesized and assessed for their cytotoxic activity against MCF-7 and A-549 cell lines, considering the fact that some of these tumors overexpress isoforms of carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) which is inhibited by sulfonamides. Most new sulfonamides showed weak inhibitory activity against the offtarget, cytosolic isoforms hCA I, II but effectively inhibited the tumor-associated hCA IX and XII. The most active compounds featured a primary SO2NH2 group and were active in the low micromolar range against MCF-7 and A-549 cell lines. Compound 4a showed IC50 of 0.72 and 0.50 μM against MCF-7 and A-549 cell lines, respectively, and was further evaluated for its proapoptotic activity which proved enhanced in both tumor types.

Synthesis of Schiff base derivatives of 4-(2-aminoethyl)-benzenesulfonamide with inhibitory activity against carbonic anhydrase isoforms I, II, IX and XII

Schiff base derivatives were obtained by reaction of 4-(2-aminoethyl)benzenesulfonamide with aromatic aldehydes. The corresponding secondary amine derivatives were also prepared by reduction of the imine compounds with NaBH4. These derivatives were investigated as inhibitors of four human carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) isoforms, the cytosolic isozymes hCA I and II, as well as, the transmembrane, tumor-associated hCA IX and XII. Some of the newly synthesised compounds showed effective inhibitory activities against these CA isozymes. Many low nanomolar inhibitors were detected against all isoforms among the secondary amines whereas the Schiff bases were by far less active compared to the corresponding reduced derivatives among all investigated isoforms.

X-ray crystallographic and kinetic investigations of 6-sulfamoyl-saccharin as a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor

Sulfamoylated saccharin binds to human carbonic anhydrase II through the SO₂NH₂and not CONHSO₂moiety.

Sulfonamide inhibition studies of the η-class carbonic anhydrase from the malaria pathogen Plasmodium falciparum

The η-carbonic anhydrases (CAs, EC 4.2.1.1) were recently discovered as the sixth genetic class of this metalloenzyme superfamily, and are so far known only in protozoa, including various Plasmodium species, the causative agents of malaria. We report here an inhibition study of the η-CA from Plasmodium falciparum (PfCA) against a panel of sulfonamides and one sulfamate compound, some of which are clinically used. The strongest inhibitors identified were ethoxzolamide and sulthiame, with KIs of 131-132 nM, followed by acetazolamide, methazolamide and hydrochlorothiazide (KIs of 153-198 nM). Brinzolamide, topiramate, zonisamide, indisulam, valdecoxib and celecoxib also showed significant inhibitory action against PfCA, with KIs ranging from 217 to 308 nM. An interesting observation was that the more efficient PfCA inhibitors are representative of several scaffolds and chemical classes, including benzene sulfonamides, monocyclic/bicyclic heterocyclic sulfonamides and compounds with a more complex scaffold (i.e., the sugar sulfamate derivative, topiramate, and the coxibs, celecoxib and valdecoxib). A comprehensive inhibition study of small molecules for η-CAs is needed as a first step towards assessing PfCA as a druggable target. The present work identifies the first known η-CA inhibitors and provides a platform for the development of next generation novel PfCA inhibitors.

A new class of quinazoline-sulfonamides acting as efficient inhibitors against the α-carbonic anhydrase from Trypanosoma cruzi

The protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi is the agent responsible for trypanosomiasis (Chagas disease) in humans and other animals. It has been recently reported that this pathogen encodes for an α-class carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1), denominated TcCA, which was shown to be crucial for its life cycle. Inhibition studies of a class of 4-oxoquinazoline containing a benzensulfonamide moiety and their 4-thioxo bioisosteres against the protozoan enzyme TcCA are described here. Most of 4-oxoquinazoline sulfonamides showed nanomolar TcCA inhibition activity with K(I)s in the same order of magnitude of acetazolamide (AAZ), whereas their thioxo bioisosters showed moderate anti-Trypanosoma CA potency with K(I)s in the micromolar range. The discovery of compounds incorporating a 4-oxoquinazoline ring as a low-nanomolar TcCA inhibitor is quite promising and it may be useful for developing anti-Trypanosoma agents with a novel mechanism of action compared to the clinically used drugs (such as benznidazole, nifurtimox) for which significant resistance and serious adverse effects due to their high-toxicity appeared.

Quinazoline-sulfonamides with potent inhibitory activity against the α-carbonic anhydrase from Vibrio cholerae

Thirteen novel sulfonamide derivatives incorporating the quinazoline scaffold were synthesized by simple, eco-friendly procedures. These compounds were tested for their ability to inhibit the α-carbonic anhydrases (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) from Vibrio cholerae (VchCA) as well as the human α-CA isoforms, hCA I and hCA II. Nine compounds were highly effective, nanomolar inhibitors of the pathogenic enzyme VchCA. Three of them were also highly effective sub-nanomolar inhibitors of the cytosolic isoform II. The best VchCA inhibitor had a KI of 2.7 nM. Many of these developed compounds showed high selectivity for inhibition of the bacterial over the mammalian CA isoforms, with one compound possessing selectivity ratios as high as 97.9 against hCA I and 9.7 against hCA II. Compound 9d was another highly effective VchCA inhibitor presenting a selectivity ratio of 99.1 and 8.1 against hCA I and hCA II, respectively. These results suggest that sulfonamides with quinazoline backbone could be considered suitable tools to better understand the role of bacterial CAs in pathogenesis.

Discovery of a new family of carbonic anhydrases in the malaria pathogen Plasmodium falciparum--the η-carbonic anhydrases

The genome of the protozoan parasite Plasmodium falciparum, the causative agent of the most lethal type of human malaria, contains a single gene annotated as encoding a carbonic anhydrase (CAs, EC 4.2.1.1) thought to belong to the α-class, PfCA. Here we demonstrate the kinetic properties of PfCA for the CO2 hydration reaction, as well as an inhibition study of this enzyme with inorganic and complex anions and other molecules known to interact with zinc proteins, including sulfamide, sulfamic acid, and phenylboronic/arsonic acids, detecting several low micromolar inhibitors. A closer examination of the sequence of this and the CAs from other Plasmodium spp., as well as a phylogenetic analysis, revealed that these protozoa encode for a yet undisclosed, new genetic family of CAs termed the η-CA class. The main features of the η-CAs are described in this report.

Inhibition of human carbonic anhydrase isozymes I, II, IX and XII with a new series of sulfonamides incorporating aroylhydrazone-, [1,2,4]triazolo[3,4-b][1,3,4]thiadiazinyl- or 2-(cyanophenylmethylene)-1,3,4-thiadiazol-3(2H)-yl moieties

A series of benzenesulfonamides incorporating aroylhydrazone, piperidinyl, sulfone, [1,2,4]triazolo[3,4-b][1,3,4]thiadiazinyl- or 2-(cyanophenyl-methylene)-1,3,4-thiadiazol-3(2H)-yl moieties was investigated as inhibitors of four α-carbonic anhydrases (CAs, EC 4.2.1.1), the human (h) isoforms hCA I, II (cytosolic, offtarget enzymes) and hCA IX and XII (transmembrane, tumor-associated isoforms). Low nanomolar activity was observed against hCA II (KIs of 0.56-17.1 nM) with these sulfonamides, whereas the slow cytosolic isoform hCA I was less inhibited by these compounds (KIs of 86.4 nM-32.8 µM). Most of these sulfonamides significantly inhibited CA IX, with KIs in the range of 4.5-47.0 nM, although some of the derivatives incorporating bulkier bicyclic moieties, as well as 2-thienyl fragments, showed a weaker activity against this isoform (KIs in the range 50.1-553 nM). All the investigated compounds also inhibited CA XII with KIs in the range 0.85-376 nM. The best inhibitors were those incorporating bulky [1,2,4]triazolo[3,4-b][1,3,4]thiadiazinyl moieties and 1,3,4-thiadiazol-3(2H)-yl groups.

Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors: synthesis and inhibition of the human carbonic anhydrase isoforms I, II, IX and XII with benzene sulfonamides incorporating 4- and 3-nitrophthalimide moieties

A series of 4 and 5 nitro-1,3-dioxoisoindolin-2-yl benzenesulfonamide derivatives (compounds 1-8) was synthesized by reaction of benzenesulfonamide derivatives with 4 and 3-nitrophthalic anhydrides. These new sulfonamides were investigated as inhibitors of the zinc metalloenzyme carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) and more specifically against the human (h) cytosolic isoforms hCA I and II and the transmembrane, tumor-associated hCA IX and XII. Most of the novel compounds were medium potency-weak hCA I inhibitors (Kis in the range of 295-10,000 nM), but were more effective hCA II inhibitors (Kis of 1.7-887 nM). The tumor-associated hCA IX was also inhibited, with Kis in the micromolar range, whereas against hCA XII the inhibition constants were in the range of 90-3,746 nM. The structure-activity relationship (SAR) with this series of sulfonamides is straightforward, with the main features leading to good activity for each isoforms being established. The high sequence hCA alignment homology and molecular docking studies was performed in order to rationalize the activities reported and binding mode to different hCA as inhibitors.

Sulfonamide inhibition studies of the γ-carbonic anhydrase from the oral pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis

A carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) denominated PgiCA, belonging to the γ-class, from the oral pathogenic bacteria Porphyromonas gingivalis, the main causative agent of periodontitis, was investigated for its inhibition profile with sulfonamides and one sulfamate. Dichlorophenamide, topiramate and many simple aromatic/heterocyclic sulfonamides were ineffective as PgiCA inhibitors whereas the best inhibition was observed with halogenosulfanilamides incorporating heavy halogens, 4-hydroxy- and 4-hydroxyalkyl-benzenesulfonamides, acetazolamide, methazolamide, zonisamide, indisulam, celecoxib, saccharin and hydrochlorothiazide (KIs in the range of 131-380nM). The inhibition profile of PgiCA was very different from that of CAM, hCA I and II or the β-CA from a protozoan parasite (Leishmania donovani chagasii). Identification of potent and possibly selective inhibitors of PgiCA may lead to pharmacological tools useful for understanding the physiological role(s) of this enzyme.