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Benassi A, Peñalver P, Pérez-Soto M, Pirota V, Freccero M, Morales JC, Doria F. Structure-Activity Study on Substituted, Core-Extended, and Dyad Naphthalene Diimide G-Quadruplex Ligands Leading to Potent Antitrypanosomal Agents. J Med Chem 2024; 67:10643-10654. [PMID: 38924701 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c00135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Several G-quadruplex nucleic acid (G4s) ligands have been developed seeking target selectivity in the past decade. Naphthalene diimide (NDI)-based compounds are particularly promising due to their biological activity and red-fluorescence emission. Previously, we demonstrated the existence of G4s in the promoter region of parasite genomes, assessing the effectiveness of NDI-derivatives against them. Here, we explored the biological activity of a small library of G4-DNA ligands, exploiting the NDI pharmacophore, against both Trypanosoma brucei and Leishmania major parasites. Biophysical and biological assays were conducted. Among the various families analyzed, core-extended NDIs exhibited the most promising results concerning the selectivity and antiparasitic effects. NDI 16 emerged as the most potent, with an IC50 of 0.011 nM against T. brucei and remarkable selectivity vs MRC-5 cells (3454-fold). Fascinating, 16 is 480-fold more potent than the standard drug pentamidine (IC50 = 5.3 nM). Cellular uptake and parasite localization were verified by exploiting core-extended NDI red-fluorescent emission.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Pablo Peñalver
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina López Neyra, CSIC, PTS Granada, Avenida del Conocimiento, 17, 18016 Armilla, Granada, Spain
| | - Manuel Pérez-Soto
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina López Neyra, CSIC, PTS Granada, Avenida del Conocimiento, 17, 18016 Armilla, Granada, Spain
| | - Valentina Pirota
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Mauro Freccero
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Juan Carlos Morales
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina López Neyra, CSIC, PTS Granada, Avenida del Conocimiento, 17, 18016 Armilla, Granada, Spain
| | - Filippo Doria
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
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Jamabo M, Mahlalela M, Edkins AL, Boshoff A. Tackling Sleeping Sickness: Current and Promising Therapeutics and Treatment Strategies. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:12529. [PMID: 37569903 PMCID: PMC10420020 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241512529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Human African trypanosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by the extracellular protozoan parasite Trypanosoma brucei, and targeted for eradication by 2030. The COVID-19 pandemic contributed to the lengthening of the proposed time frame for eliminating human African trypanosomiasis as control programs were interrupted. Armed with extensive antigenic variation and the depletion of the B cell population during an infectious cycle, attempts to develop a vaccine have remained unachievable. With the absence of a vaccine, control of the disease has relied heavily on intensive screening measures and the use of drugs. The chemotherapeutics previously available for disease management were plagued by issues such as toxicity, resistance, and difficulty in administration. The approval of the latest and first oral drug, fexinidazole, is a major chemotherapeutic achievement for the treatment of human African trypanosomiasis in the past few decades. Timely and accurate diagnosis is essential for effective treatment, while poor compliance and resistance remain outstanding challenges. Drug discovery is on-going, and herein we review the recent advances in anti-trypanosomal drug discovery, including novel potential drug targets. The numerous challenges associated with disease eradication will also be addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miebaka Jamabo
- Biotechnology Innovation Centre, Rhodes University, Makhanda 6139, South Africa; (M.J.); (M.M.)
| | - Maduma Mahlalela
- Biotechnology Innovation Centre, Rhodes University, Makhanda 6139, South Africa; (M.J.); (M.M.)
| | - Adrienne L. Edkins
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Biomedical Biotechnology Research Centre (BioBRU), Rhodes University, Makhanda 6139, South Africa;
| | - Aileen Boshoff
- Biotechnology Innovation Centre, Rhodes University, Makhanda 6139, South Africa; (M.J.); (M.M.)
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Ng JH, Tiekink ERT, Dolzhenko AV. Three-component microwave-assisted synthesis of 3,5-disubstituted pyrazolo[3,4- d]pyrimidin-4-ones. RSC Adv 2022; 12:8323-8332. [PMID: 35424837 PMCID: PMC8984946 DOI: 10.1039/d2ra00980c] [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: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
A practical three-component method for the synthesis of pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidin-4-ones was developed. The reaction was performed in a one-pot manner under controlled microwave irradiation using easily accessible methyl 5-aminopyrazole-4-carboxylates, trimethyl orthoformate, and primary amines. Under the optimized conditions, challenging substrates, such as N-1 unsubstituted 5-aminopyrazole-4-carboxylates with another substituted amino group in position 3, reacted selectively affording 5-substituted 3-arylamino-1,5-dihydro-4H-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidin-4-ones. The reaction tolerated a range of primary amines, including anilines. The advantages of the developed protocol include short reaction time, pot- and step-economy, and convenient chromatography-free product isolation. The structural features of representative products were explored by X-ray crystallography.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Hui Ng
- School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia Jalan Lagoon Selatan, Bandar Sunway Selangor Darul Ehsan 47500 Malaysia
| | - Edward R T Tiekink
- Research Centre for Crystalline Materials, School of Medical and Life Sciences, Sunway University 5 Jalan Universiti, Bandar Sunway Selangor Darul Ehsan 47500 Malaysia
| | - Anton V Dolzhenko
- School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia Jalan Lagoon Selatan, Bandar Sunway Selangor Darul Ehsan 47500 Malaysia .,School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University GPO Box U1987 Perth Western Australia 6845 Australia
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Abstract
Covering: 2020This review covers the literature published in 2020 for marine natural products (MNPs), with 757 citations (747 for the period January to December 2020) referring to compounds isolated from marine microorganisms and phytoplankton, green, brown and red algae, sponges, cnidarians, bryozoans, molluscs, tunicates, echinoderms, mangroves and other intertidal plants and microorganisms. The emphasis is on new compounds (1407 in 420 papers for 2020), together with the relevant biological activities, source organisms and country of origin. Pertinent reviews, biosynthetic studies, first syntheses, and syntheses that led to the revision of structures or stereochemistries, have been included. A meta analysis of bioactivity data relating to new MNPs reported over the last five years is also presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony R Carroll
- School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia. .,Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Brent R Copp
- School of Chemical Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Rohan A Davis
- Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia.,School of Enivironment and Science, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Robert A Keyzers
- Centre for Biodiscovery, School of Chemical and Physical Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
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Burger A, Macucule-Tinga P, Bentley SJ, Ludewig MH, Mhlongo NN, Shonhai A, Boshoff A. Characterization of an Atypical Trypanosoma brucei Hsp70 Demonstrates Its Cytosolic-Nuclear Localization and Modulation by Quercetin and Methylene Blue. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22136776. [PMID: 34202520 PMCID: PMC8269394 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22136776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Revised: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Trypanosoma brucei (Tb) harbours twelve Hsp70 chaperones. Of these, four are predicted to reside in the parasite cytosol. TbHsp70.c is predicted to be cytosolic and upregulated upon heat stress and is an ATPase that exhibits holdase chaperone function. Cytosol-localized Tbj2 stimulates the ATPase activity of TbHsp70.c. In the current study, immunofluorescence confirmed that TbHsp70.c is both a cytosolic and a nuclear protein. Furthermore, in silico analysis was used to elucidate an atypical linker and hydrophobic pocket. Tellingly, TbHsp70.c lacks the EEVD and GGMP motifs, both of which are implicated in substrate selectivity and co-chaperone binding in canonical Hsp70s. Far western analysis revealed that TbSTi1 interacts directly with TbHsp70 and TbHsp70.4, but does not bind TbHsp70.c. We further investigated the effect of quercetin and methylene blue on the Tbj2-driven ATPase activity of TbHsp70.c. We established that quercetin inhibited, whilst methylene blue enhanced, the Tbj2-stimulated ATPase activity of TbHsp70.c. Furthermore, these inhibitors were lethal to parasites. Lastly, we used molecular docking to show that quercetin and methylene blue may bind the nucleotide binding pocket of TbHsp70.c. Our findings suggest that small molecule inhibitors that target TbHsp70.c could be developed to serve as possible drug candidates against T. brucei.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adélle Burger
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Venda, Private Bag X5050, Thohoyandou 0950, South Africa;
- Correspondence: (A.B.); (A.B.); Tel.: +27-(0)-15-962-8620 (A.B.); +27-(0)-46-603-8630 (A.B.)
| | - Paula Macucule-Tinga
- Biotechnology Innovation Centre, Faculty of Science, Rhodes University, PO Box 94, Makhanda/Grahamstown 6140, South Africa; (P.M.-T.); (S.J.B.); (M.H.L.)
| | - Stephen John Bentley
- Biotechnology Innovation Centre, Faculty of Science, Rhodes University, PO Box 94, Makhanda/Grahamstown 6140, South Africa; (P.M.-T.); (S.J.B.); (M.H.L.)
| | - Michael Hans Ludewig
- Biotechnology Innovation Centre, Faculty of Science, Rhodes University, PO Box 94, Makhanda/Grahamstown 6140, South Africa; (P.M.-T.); (S.J.B.); (M.H.L.)
| | - Ndumiso Nhlakanipho Mhlongo
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X54001, Durban 4000, South Africa;
| | - Addmore Shonhai
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Venda, Private Bag X5050, Thohoyandou 0950, South Africa;
| | - Aileen Boshoff
- Biotechnology Innovation Centre, Faculty of Science, Rhodes University, PO Box 94, Makhanda/Grahamstown 6140, South Africa; (P.M.-T.); (S.J.B.); (M.H.L.)
- Correspondence: (A.B.); (A.B.); Tel.: +27-(0)-15-962-8620 (A.B.); +27-(0)-46-603-8630 (A.B.)
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Design, synthesis, antitrypanosomal activity, DNA/RNA binding and in vitro ADME profiling of novel imidazoline-substituted 2-arylbenzimidazoles. Eur J Med Chem 2020; 207:112802. [PMID: 32927230 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2020.112802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2020] [Revised: 08/28/2020] [Accepted: 08/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Novel imidazoline benzimidazole derivatives containing diversely substituted phenoxy moieties were synthesized with the aim of evaluating their antitrypanosomal activity, DNA/RNA binding affinity and in vitro ADME properties. The presence of the diethylaminoethyl subunit in 18a-18c led to enhanced antitrypanosomal potency, particularly for 18a and 18c, which contain unsubstituted and methoxy-substituted phenoxy moieties. They were found to be > 2-fold more potent against African trypanosomes than nifurtimox. Fluorescence and CD spectroscopy, thermal denaturation assays and computational analysis indicated a preference of 18a-18c toward AT-rich DNA and their minor groove binding mode. Replacement of the amidine group with less basic and ionisable nitrogen-containing moieties failed to improve membrane permeability of the investigated compounds. Due to structural diversification, the compounds displayed a range of physico-chemical features resulting in variable in vitro ADME properties, leaving space for further optimization of the biological profiles.
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