1
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Suigo L, Margolin W, Ulzurrun E, Hrast Rambaher M, Zanotto C, Sebastián-Pérez V, Campillo NE, Straniero V, Valoti E. Benzodioxane-Benzamides as FtsZ Inhibitors: Effects of Linker's Functionalization on Gram-Positive Antimicrobial Activity. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023; 12:1712. [PMID: 38136746 PMCID: PMC10740499 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics12121712] [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: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
FtsZ is an essential bacterial protein abundantly studied as a novel and promising target for antimicrobials. FtsZ is highly conserved among bacteria and mycobacteria, and it is crucial for the correct outcome of the cell division process, as it is responsible for the division of the parent bacterial cell into two daughter cells. In recent years, the benzodioxane-benzamide class has emerged as very promising and capable of targeting both Gram-positive and Gram-negative FtsZs. In this study, we explored the effect of including a substituent on the ethylenic linker between the two main moieties on the antimicrobial activity and pharmacokinetic properties. This substitution, in turn, led to the generation of a second stereogenic center, with both erythro and threo isomers isolated, characterized, and evaluated. With this work, we discovered how the hydroxy group slightly affects the antimicrobial activity, while being an important anchor for the exploitation and development of prodrugs, probes, and further derivatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Suigo
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Luigi Mangiagalli, 25, 20133 Milano, Italy; (L.S.); (E.V.)
| | - William Margolin
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas, Houston, TX 77030, USA;
| | - Eugenia Ulzurrun
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Ramiro de Maeztu 9, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (E.U.); (V.S.-P.); (N.E.C.)
- Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Darwin 3, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Martina Hrast Rambaher
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Aškerčeva Cesta, 7, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;
| | - Carlo Zanotto
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Mediche e Medicina Traslazionale, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Vanvitelli, 32, 20129 Milano, Italy;
| | - Victor Sebastián-Pérez
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Ramiro de Maeztu 9, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (E.U.); (V.S.-P.); (N.E.C.)
- Exscientia, The Schrödinger Building, Oxford Science Park, Oxford OX4 4GE, UK
| | - Nuria E. Campillo
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Ramiro de Maeztu 9, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (E.U.); (V.S.-P.); (N.E.C.)
- Instituto de Ciencias Matemáticas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), C. Nicolás Cabrera, 13-15, 28049 Madrid, Italy
| | - Valentina Straniero
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Luigi Mangiagalli, 25, 20133 Milano, Italy; (L.S.); (E.V.)
| | - Ermanno Valoti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Luigi Mangiagalli, 25, 20133 Milano, Italy; (L.S.); (E.V.)
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2
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Sharma AK, Poddar SM, Chakraborty J, Nayak BS, Kalathil S, Mitra N, Gayathri P, Srinivasan R. A mechanism of salt bridge-mediated resistance to FtsZ inhibitor PC190723 revealed by a cell-based screen. Mol Biol Cell 2023; 34:ar16. [PMID: 36652338 PMCID: PMC10011733 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e22-12-0538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacterial cell division proteins, especially the tubulin homologue FtsZ, have emerged as strong targets for developing new antibiotics. Here, we have utilized the fission yeast heterologous expression system to develop a cell-based assay to screen for small molecules that directly and specifically target the bacterial cell division protein FtsZ. The strategy also allows for simultaneous assessment of the toxicity of the drugs to eukaryotic yeast cells. As a proof-of-concept of the utility of this assay, we demonstrate the effect of the inhibitors sanguinarine, berberine, and PC190723 on FtsZ. Though sanguinarine and berberine affect FtsZ polymerization, they exert a toxic effect on the cells. Further, using this assay system, we show that PC190723 affects Helicobacter pylori FtsZ function and gain new insights into the molecular determinants of resistance to PC190723. On the basis of sequence and structural analysis and site-specific mutations, we demonstrate that the presence of salt bridge interactions between the central H7 helix and β-strands S9 and S10 mediates resistance to PC190723 in FtsZ. The single-step in vivo cell-based assay using fission yeast enabled us to dissect the contribution of sequence-specific features of FtsZ and cell permeability effects associated with bacterial cell envelopes. Thus, our assay serves as a potent tool to rapidly identify novel compounds targeting polymeric bacterial cytoskeletal proteins like FtsZ to understand how they alter polymerization dynamics and address resistance determinants in targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ajay Kumar Sharma
- School of Biological Sciences, National Institute of Science Education and Research, Bhubaneswar 752050, India.,Centre for Interdisciplinary Sciences, National Institute of Science Education and Research, Bhubaneswar 752050, India.,Homi Bhabha National Institutes, Anushakti Nagar, Mumbai 400094, India
| | - Sakshi Mahesh Poddar
- School of Biological Sciences, National Institute of Science Education and Research, Bhubaneswar 752050, India.,Centre for Interdisciplinary Sciences, National Institute of Science Education and Research, Bhubaneswar 752050, India.,Homi Bhabha National Institutes, Anushakti Nagar, Mumbai 400094, India
| | - Joyeeta Chakraborty
- Biology, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune 411008, India
| | - Bhagyashri Soumya Nayak
- School of Biological Sciences, National Institute of Science Education and Research, Bhubaneswar 752050, India.,Centre for Interdisciplinary Sciences, National Institute of Science Education and Research, Bhubaneswar 752050, India.,Homi Bhabha National Institutes, Anushakti Nagar, Mumbai 400094, India
| | - Srilakshmi Kalathil
- School of Biological Sciences, National Institute of Science Education and Research, Bhubaneswar 752050, India.,Centre for Interdisciplinary Sciences, National Institute of Science Education and Research, Bhubaneswar 752050, India.,Homi Bhabha National Institutes, Anushakti Nagar, Mumbai 400094, India
| | - Nivedita Mitra
- School of Biological Sciences, National Institute of Science Education and Research, Bhubaneswar 752050, India.,Centre for Interdisciplinary Sciences, National Institute of Science Education and Research, Bhubaneswar 752050, India.,Homi Bhabha National Institutes, Anushakti Nagar, Mumbai 400094, India
| | - Pananghat Gayathri
- Biology, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune 411008, India
| | - Ramanujam Srinivasan
- School of Biological Sciences, National Institute of Science Education and Research, Bhubaneswar 752050, India.,Centre for Interdisciplinary Sciences, National Institute of Science Education and Research, Bhubaneswar 752050, India.,Homi Bhabha National Institutes, Anushakti Nagar, Mumbai 400094, India
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3
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Obtainment of Threo and Erythro Isomers of the 6-Fluoro-3-(2,3,6,7,8,9-hexahydronaphtho[2,3-b][1,4]dioxin-2-yl)-2,3-dihydrobenzo[b][1,4]dioxine-5-carboxamide. MOLBANK 2023. [DOI: 10.3390/m1559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
2,6-difluorobenzamides have been deeply investigated as antibacterial drugs in the last few decades. Several 3-substituted-2,6-difluorobenzamides have proved their ability to interfere with the bacterial cell division cycle by inhibiting the protein FtsZ, the key player of the whole process. Recently, we developed a novel family of 1,4-tetrahydronaphthodioxane benzamides, having an ethoxy linker, which reached sub-micromolar MICs towards Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis. A further investigation of their mechanism of action should require the development of a fluorescent probe, and the consequent definition of a synthetic pathway for its obtainment. In the present work, we report the obtainment of an unexpected bicyclic side product, 6-fluoro-3-(2,3,6,7,8,9-hexahydronaphtho[2,3-b][1,4]dioxin-2-yl)-2,3-dihydrobenzo[b][1,4]dioxine-5-carboxamide, coming from the substitution of one aromatic fluorine by the in situ formed alkoxy group, in the final opening of an epoxide intermediate. This side product was similarly achieved, in good yields, by opening the ring of both erythro and threo epoxides, and the two compounds were fully characterized using HRMS, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, HPLC and DSC.
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4
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Moreno-Fuquen R, García-Torres E, Arango-Daraviña K, Ellena J. Structural, Theoretical Analysis, and Molecular Docking of Two Benzamide Isomers. Halogen Bonding and Its Role in the Diverse Ways of Coupling with Protein Residues. Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo) 2022; 70:782-790. [DOI: 10.1248/cpb.c22-00307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Javier Ellena
- Instituto de Física de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, USP
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5
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Chai WC, Whittall JJ, Polyak SW, Foo K, Li X, Dutschke CJ, Ogunniyi AD, Ma S, Sykes MJ, Semple SJ, Venter H. Cinnamaldehyde derivatives act as antimicrobial agents against Acinetobacter baumannii through the inhibition of cell division. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:967949. [PMID: 36106080 PMCID: PMC9465178 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.967949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Acinetobacter baumannii is a pathogen with high intrinsic antimicrobial resistance while multidrug resistant (MDR) and extensively drug resistant (XDR) strains of this pathogen are emerging. Treatment options for infections by these strains are very limited, hence new therapies are urgently needed. The bacterial cell division protein, FtsZ, is a promising drug target for the development of novel antimicrobial agents. We have previously reported limited activity of cinnamaldehyde analogs against Escherichia coli. In this study, we have determined the antimicrobial activity of six cinnamaldehyde analogs for antimicrobial activity against A. baumannii. Microscopic analysis was performed to determine if the compounds inhibit cell division. The on-target effect of the compounds was assessed by analyzing their effect on polymerization and on the GTPase activity of purified FtsZ from A. baumannii. In silico docking was used to assess the binding of cinnamaldehyde analogs. Finally, in vivo and in vitro safety assays were performed. All six compounds displayed antibacterial activity against the critical priority pathogen A. baumannii, with 4-bromophenyl-substituted 4 displaying the most potent antimicrobial activity (MIC 32 μg/mL). Bioactivity was significantly increased in the presence of an efflux pump inhibitor for A. baumannii ATCC 19606 (up to 32-fold) and significantly, for extensively drug resistant UW 5075 (greater than 4-fold), suggesting that efflux contributes to the intrinsic resistance of A. baumannii against these agents. The compounds inhibited cell division in A. baumannii as observed by the elongated phenotype and targeted the FtsZ protein as seen from the inhibition of polymerization and GTPase activity. In silico docking predicted that the compounds bind in the interdomain cleft adjacent to the H7 core helix. Di-chlorinated 6 was devoid of hemolytic activity and cytotoxicity against mammalian cells in vitro, as well as adverse activity in a Caenorhabditis elegans nematode model in vivo. Together, these findings present halogenated analogs 4 and 6 as promising candidates for further development as antimicrobial agents aimed at combating A. baumannii. This is also the first report of FtsZ-targeting compounds with activity against an XDR A. baumannii strain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wern Chern Chai
- Health and Biomedical Innovation, Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Jonathan J. Whittall
- Health and Biomedical Innovation, Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Steven W. Polyak
- Health and Biomedical Innovation, Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Klyie Foo
- Health and Biomedical Innovation, Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Xin Li
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Cameron J. Dutschke
- Health and Biomedical Innovation, Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Abiodun D. Ogunniyi
- Australian Centre for Antimicrobial Resistance Ecology, School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Shutao Ma
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Matthew J. Sykes
- Health and Biomedical Innovation, Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Susan J. Semple
- Health and Biomedical Innovation, Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
- Quality Use of Medicines and Pharmacy Research Centre, Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Henrietta Venter
- Health and Biomedical Innovation, Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
- *Correspondence: Henrietta Venter,
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6
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Straniero V, Lodigiani G, Suigo L, Valoti E. Resolution via diastereomeric amides of enantiopure 1,4-benzoxathian-2- and 3-carboxylic acids and determination of their configuration. Chirality 2022; 34:1053-1064. [PMID: 35596548 PMCID: PMC9541051 DOI: 10.1002/chir.23474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
1,4-Benzoxathiane, 2- or 3-substituted, is an important scaffold, and despite its presence in several therapeutic agents, it is chemically unexploited. Furthermore, only a few examples in literature report this moiety in its enantiopure form. Here, taking advantage to the formation of diastereomeric amides by using (S)-phenylethylamine, which show significant differences in terms of 1 H-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra and other physical chemical properties, we defined for the first time the absolute configuration of each amide, both 2- or 3-substituted. Moreover, the diastereomeric amides were further hydrolyzed in acid conditions, letting to the achievement of the corresponding 1,4-benzoxathian carboxylic acids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Straniero
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Giulia Lodigiani
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Suigo
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Ermanno Valoti
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
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7
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Koca M, Bilginer S. New benzamide derivatives and their nicotinamide/cinnamamide analogs as cholinesterase inhibitors. Mol Divers 2021; 26:1201-1212. [PMID: 34165688 DOI: 10.1007/s11030-021-10249-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
In this study, a total of 18 new benzamide/ nicotinamide/ cinnamamide derivative compounds were designed and synthesized for the first time (except B1 and B5) by conventional and microwave irradiation methods. The chemical structures of the synthesized compounds were characterized by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and HRMS spectra. In vitro acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) inhibition effects of the compounds were evaluated to find out new possible drug candidate molecule/s. According to the inhibition results, the IC50 values of the compounds synthesized were in the range of 10.66-83.03 nM towards AChE, while they were in the range of 32.74-66.68 nM towards BuChE. Tacrine was used as the reference drug and its IC50 values were 20.85 nM and 15.66 nM towards AChE and BuChE, respectively. The most active compounds B4 (IC50: 15.42 nM), N4 (IC50: 12.14 nM), and C4 (IC50: 10.67 nM) in each series towards AChE were docked at the binding site of AChE enzyme to explain the inhibitory activities of each series. On the other hand, the compounds B4, N4, and C4 showed satisfactory pharmacokinetic properties via the prediction of ADME profiles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehmet Koca
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ataturk University, TR-25240, Erzurum, Turkey.
| | - Sinan Bilginer
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ataturk University, TR-25240, Erzurum, Turkey
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8
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Huecas S, Araújo-Bazán L, Ruiz FM, Ruiz-Ávila LB, Martínez RF, Escobar-Peña A, Artola M, Vázquez-Villa H, Martín-Fontecha M, Fernández-Tornero C, López-Rodríguez ML, Andreu JM. Targeting the FtsZ Allosteric Binding Site with a Novel Fluorescence Polarization Screen, Cytological and Structural Approaches for Antibacterial Discovery. J Med Chem 2021; 64:5730-5745. [PMID: 33908781 PMCID: PMC8478281 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c02207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Bacterial resistance to antibiotics makes previously manageable infections again disabling and lethal, highlighting the need for new antibacterial strategies. In this regard, inhibition of the bacterial division process by targeting key protein FtsZ has been recognized as an attractive approach for discovering new antibiotics. Binding of small molecules to the cleft between the N-terminal guanosine triphosphate (GTP)-binding and the C-terminal subdomains allosterically impairs the FtsZ function, eventually inhibiting bacterial division. Nonetheless, the lack of appropriate chemical tools to develop a binding screen against this site has hampered the discovery of FtsZ antibacterial inhibitors. Herein, we describe the first competitive binding assay to identify FtsZ allosteric ligands interacting with the interdomain cleft, based on the use of specific high-affinity fluorescent probes. This novel assay, together with phenotypic profiling and X-ray crystallographic insights, enables the identification and characterization of FtsZ inhibitors of bacterial division aiming at the discovery of more effective antibacterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Huecas
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas, CSIC, Ramiro de Maeztu 9, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Lidia Araújo-Bazán
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas, CSIC, Ramiro de Maeztu 9, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Federico M Ruiz
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas, CSIC, Ramiro de Maeztu 9, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Laura B Ruiz-Ávila
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas, CSIC, Ramiro de Maeztu 9, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - R Fernando Martínez
- Dept. Química Orgánica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, UCM, Avda. Complutense s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Andrea Escobar-Peña
- Dept. Química Orgánica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, UCM, Avda. Complutense s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Marta Artola
- Dept. Química Orgánica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, UCM, Avda. Complutense s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Henar Vázquez-Villa
- Dept. Química Orgánica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, UCM, Avda. Complutense s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Mar Martín-Fontecha
- Dept. Química Orgánica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, UCM, Avda. Complutense s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Carlos Fernández-Tornero
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas, CSIC, Ramiro de Maeztu 9, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - María L López-Rodríguez
- Dept. Química Orgánica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, UCM, Avda. Complutense s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - José M Andreu
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas, CSIC, Ramiro de Maeztu 9, 28040 Madrid, Spain
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9
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Straniero V, Sebastián-Pérez V, Suigo L, Margolin W, Casiraghi A, Hrast M, Zanotto C, Zdovc I, Radaelli A, Valoti E. Computational Design and Development of Benzodioxane-Benzamides as Potent Inhibitors of FtsZ by Exploring the Hydrophobic Subpocket. Antibiotics (Basel) 2021; 10:antibiotics10040442. [PMID: 33920895 PMCID: PMC8071314 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics10040442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2021] [Revised: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Multidrug resistant Staphylococcus aureus is a severe threat, responsible for most of the nosocomial infections globally. This resistant strain is associated with a 64% increase in death compared to the antibiotic-susceptible strain. The prokaryotic protein FtsZ and the cell division cycle have been validated as potential targets to exploit in the general battle against antibiotic resistance. Despite the discovery and development of several anti-FtsZ compounds, no FtsZ inhibitors are currently used in therapy. This work further develops benzodioxane-benzamide FtsZ inhibitors. We seek to find more potent compounds using computational studies, with encouraging predicted drug-like profiles. We report the synthesis and the characterization of novel promising derivatives that exhibit very low MICs towards both methicillin-susceptible and -resistant S. aureus, as well as another Gram positive species, Bacillus subtilis, while possessing good predicted physical-chemical properties in terms of solubility, permeability, and chemical and physical stability. In addition, we demonstrate by fluorescence microscopy that Z ring formation and FtsZ localization are strongly perturbed by our derivatives, thus validating the target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Straniero
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Luigi Mangiagalli, 25, 20133 Milano, Italy; (L.S.); (A.C.); (E.V.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-0250319361
| | - Victor Sebastián-Pérez
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas (CSIC), Ramiro de Maeztu 9, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
- Exscientia, The Schrödinger Building, Oxford Science Park, Oxford OX4 4GE, UK
| | - Lorenzo Suigo
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Luigi Mangiagalli, 25, 20133 Milano, Italy; (L.S.); (A.C.); (E.V.)
| | - William Margolin
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas, Houston, TX 77030, USA;
| | - Andrea Casiraghi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Luigi Mangiagalli, 25, 20133 Milano, Italy; (L.S.); (A.C.); (E.V.)
| | - Martina Hrast
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Aškerčeva cesta, 7, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;
| | - Carlo Zanotto
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Mediche e Medicina Traslazionale, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Vanvitelli, 32, 20129 Milano, Italy; (C.Z.); (A.R.)
| | - Irena Zdovc
- Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Gerbičeva, 60, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;
| | - Antonia Radaelli
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Mediche e Medicina Traslazionale, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Vanvitelli, 32, 20129 Milano, Italy; (C.Z.); (A.R.)
| | - Ermanno Valoti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Luigi Mangiagalli, 25, 20133 Milano, Italy; (L.S.); (A.C.); (E.V.)
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10
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Suigo L, Chojnacki M, Zanotto C, Sebastián-Pérez V, Morghen CDG, Casiraghi A, Dunman PM, Valoti E, Straniero V. Staphylococcus aureus RnpA Inhibitors: Computational-Guided Design, Synthesis and Initial Biological Evaluation. Antibiotics (Basel) 2021; 10:antibiotics10040438. [PMID: 33920000 PMCID: PMC8071009 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics10040438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Revised: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance is spreading worldwide and it has become one of the most important issues in modern medicine. In this context, the bacterial RNA degradation and processing machinery are essential processes for bacterial viability that may be exploited for antimicrobial therapy. In Staphylococcus aureus, RnpA has been hypothesized to be one of the main players in these mechanisms. S. aureus RnpA is able to modulate mRNA degradation and complex with a ribozyme (rnpB), facilitating ptRNA maturation. Corresponding small molecule screening campaigns have recently identified a few classes of RnpA inhibitors, and their structure activity relationship (SAR) has only been partially explored. Accordingly, in the present work, using computational modeling of S. aureus RnpA we identified putative crucial interactions of known RnpA inhibitors, and we used this information to design, synthesize, and biologically assess new potential RnpA inhibitors. The present results may be beneficial for the overall knowledge about RnpA inhibitors belonging to both RNPA2000-like thiosemicarbazides and JC-like piperidine carboxamides molecular classes. We evaluated the importance of the different key moieties, such as the dichlorophenyl and the piperidine of JC2, and the semithiocarbazide, the furan, and the i-propylphenyl ring of RNPA2000. Our efforts could provide a foundation for further computational-guided investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Suigo
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Luigi Mangiagalli 25, 20133 Milano, Italy; (L.S.); (A.C.); (E.V.)
| | - Michaelle Chojnacki
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Ave., Rochester, NY 14642, USA; (M.C.); (P.M.D.)
| | - Carlo Zanotto
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Mediche e Medicina Traslazionale, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Vanvitelli 32, 20129 Milano, Italy;
| | | | - Carlo De Giuli Morghen
- Department of Chemical—Pharmaceutical and Biomolecular Technologies, Catholic University “Our Lady of Good Counsel”, Rr. Dritan Hoxha, 1025 Tirana, Albania;
| | - Andrea Casiraghi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Luigi Mangiagalli 25, 20133 Milano, Italy; (L.S.); (A.C.); (E.V.)
| | - Paul M. Dunman
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Ave., Rochester, NY 14642, USA; (M.C.); (P.M.D.)
| | - Ermanno Valoti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Luigi Mangiagalli 25, 20133 Milano, Italy; (L.S.); (A.C.); (E.V.)
| | - Valentina Straniero
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Luigi Mangiagalli 25, 20133 Milano, Italy; (L.S.); (A.C.); (E.V.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-0250319361
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11
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Fisher JF, Mobashery S. β-Lactams against the Fortress of the Gram-Positive Staphylococcus aureus Bacterium. Chem Rev 2021; 121:3412-3463. [PMID: 33373523 PMCID: PMC8653850 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.0c01010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The biological diversity of the unicellular bacteria-whether assessed by shape, food, metabolism, or ecological niche-surely rivals (if not exceeds) that of the multicellular eukaryotes. The relationship between bacteria whose ecological niche is the eukaryote, and the eukaryote, is often symbiosis or stasis. Some bacteria, however, seek advantage in this relationship. One of the most successful-to the disadvantage of the eukaryote-is the small (less than 1 μm diameter) and nearly spherical Staphylococcus aureus bacterium. For decades, successful clinical control of its infection has been accomplished using β-lactam antibiotics such as the penicillins and the cephalosporins. Over these same decades S. aureus has perfected resistance mechanisms against these antibiotics, which are then countered by new generations of β-lactam structure. This review addresses the current breadth of biochemical and microbiological efforts to preserve the future of the β-lactam antibiotics through a better understanding of how S. aureus protects the enzyme targets of the β-lactams, the penicillin-binding proteins. The penicillin-binding proteins are essential enzyme catalysts for the biosynthesis of the cell wall, and understanding how this cell wall is integrated into the protective cell envelope of the bacterium may identify new antibacterials and new adjuvants that preserve the efficacy of the β-lactams.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jed F Fisher
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, McCourtney Hall, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame Indiana 46556, United States
| | - Shahriar Mobashery
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, McCourtney Hall, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame Indiana 46556, United States
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12
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Chai WC, Whittall JJ, Song D, Polyak SW, Ogunniyi AD, Wang Y, Bi F, Ma S, Semple SJ, Venter H. Antimicrobial Action and Reversal of Resistance in MRSA by Difluorobenzamide Derivatives Targeted at FtsZ. Antibiotics (Basel) 2020; 9:E873. [PMID: 33291418 PMCID: PMC7762090 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics9120873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2020] [Revised: 11/26/2020] [Accepted: 11/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The bacterial cell division protein, FtsZ, has been identified as a target for antimicrobial development. Derivatives of 3-methoxybenzamide have shown promising activities as FtsZ inhibitors in Gram-positive bacteria. We sought to characterise the activity of five difluorobenzamide derivatives with non-heterocyclic substituents attached through the 3-oxygen. These compounds exhibited antimicrobial activity against methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), with an isopentyloxy-substituted compound showing modest activity against vancomycin resistant Enterococcus faecium (VRE). The compounds were able to reverse resistance to oxacillin in highly resistant clinical MRSA strains at concentrations far below their MICs. Three of the compounds inhibited an Escherichia coli strain lacking the AcrAB components of a drug efflux pump, which suggests the lack of Gram-negative activity can partly be attributed to efflux. The compounds inhibited cell division by targeting S. aureus FtsZ, producing a dose-dependent increase in GTPase rate which increased the rate of FtsZ polymerization and stabilized the FtsZ polymers. These compounds did not affect the polymerization of mammalian tubulin and did not display haemolytic activity or cytotoxicity. These derivatives are therefore promising compounds for further development as antimicrobial agents or as resistance breakers to re-sensitive MRSA to beta-lactam antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wern Chern Chai
- Health and Biomedical Innovation, Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, SA 5000 Adelaide, Australia; (W.C.C.); (J.J.W.); (S.W.P.); (S.J.S.)
| | - Jonathan J. Whittall
- Health and Biomedical Innovation, Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, SA 5000 Adelaide, Australia; (W.C.C.); (J.J.W.); (S.W.P.); (S.J.S.)
| | - Di Song
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China; (D.S.); (Y.W.); (F.B.); (S.M.)
| | - Steven W. Polyak
- Health and Biomedical Innovation, Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, SA 5000 Adelaide, Australia; (W.C.C.); (J.J.W.); (S.W.P.); (S.J.S.)
| | - Abiodun D. Ogunniyi
- Australia Centre for Antimicrobial Resistance Ecology, School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Adelaide, Roseworthy Campus, SA 5371 Roseworthy, Australia;
| | - Yinhu Wang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China; (D.S.); (Y.W.); (F.B.); (S.M.)
- School of Pharmacy, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252000, China
| | - Fangchao Bi
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China; (D.S.); (Y.W.); (F.B.); (S.M.)
| | - Shutao Ma
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China; (D.S.); (Y.W.); (F.B.); (S.M.)
| | - Susan J. Semple
- Health and Biomedical Innovation, Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, SA 5000 Adelaide, Australia; (W.C.C.); (J.J.W.); (S.W.P.); (S.J.S.)
- Quality Use of Medicines and Pharmacy Research Centre, Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, SA 5000 Adelaide, Australia
| | - Henrietta Venter
- Health and Biomedical Innovation, Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, SA 5000 Adelaide, Australia; (W.C.C.); (J.J.W.); (S.W.P.); (S.J.S.)
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13
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Ouf SA, Gomha SM, Eweis M, Ouf AS, Sharawy IAA, Alharbi SA. Antidermatophytic activity of some newly synthesized arylhydrazonothiazoles conjugated with monoclonal antibody. Sci Rep 2020; 10:20863. [PMID: 33257724 PMCID: PMC7704675 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-77829-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2020] [Accepted: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
A new series of 5-arylhydrazonothiazole derivatives 5a–d has been synthesized, elucidated, and evaluated for their antidermatophytic activity. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) of the newly synthesized products were investigated against 18 dermatophyte fungal isolates related to Epidermophyton floccosum, Microsporum canis, and Trichophyton rubrum. The morphological alterations induced by the synthesized derivatives singly or conjugated with the monoclonal antibody were examined on spores of T. rubrum using a scanning electron microscope. The efficacy of synthesized derivative 5a applied at its respective MFC alone or conjugated with anti-dermatophyte monoclonal antibody 0014 in skin infection treatment of guinea pigs due to inoculation with one of the examined dermatophytes, in comparison with fluconazole as standard reference drug was evaluated. In an in vivo experiment, the efficiency of 5a derivative conjugated with the antibody induced 100% healing after 45 days in the case of T. rubrum and M. canis-infected guinea pigs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salama A Ouf
- Botany & Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza, 12613, Egypt.
| | - Sobhi M Gomha
- Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza, 12613, Egypt.,Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Islamic University in Almadinah Almonawara, Medina, 42351, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohamed Eweis
- Botany & Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza, 12613, Egypt
| | - Ahmed S Ouf
- Kasr Al Ainy Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Ihab A A Sharawy
- Botany & Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza, 12613, Egypt
| | - Sulaiman A Alharbi
- Department of Botany & Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O Box 2455, Riyadh, 1145, Saudi Arabia
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