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Keller JG, Petersen KV, Mizielinski K, Thiesen C, Bjergbæk L, Reguera RM, Pérez-Pertejo Y, Balaña-Fouce R, Trejo A, Masdeu C, Alonso C, Knudsen BR, Tesauro C. Gel-Free Tools for Quick and Simple Screening of Anti-Topoisomerase 1 Compounds. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:ph16050657. [PMID: 37242440 DOI: 10.3390/ph16050657] [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: 02/21/2023] [Revised: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
With the increasing need for effective compounds against cancer or pathogen-borne diseases, the development of new tools to investigate the enzymatic activity of biomarkers is necessary. Among these biomarkers are DNA topoisomerases, which are key enzymes that modify DNA and regulate DNA topology during cellular processes. Over the years, libraries of natural and synthetic small-molecule compounds have been extensively investigated as potential anti-cancer, anti-bacterial, or anti-parasitic drugs targeting topoisomerases. However, the current tools for measuring the potential inhibition of topoisomerase activity are time consuming and not easily adaptable outside specialized laboratories. Here, we present rolling circle amplification-based methods that provide fast and easy readouts for screening of compounds against type 1 topoisomerases. Specific assays for the investigation of the potential inhibition of eukaryotic, viral, or bacterial type 1 topoisomerase activity were developed, using human topoisomerase 1, Leishmania donovani topoisomerase 1, monkeypox virus topoisomerase 1, and Mycobacterium smegmatis topoisomerase 1 as model enzymes. The presented tools proved to be sensitive and directly quantitative, paving the way for new diagnostic and drug screening protocols in research and clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Celine Thiesen
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Lotte Bjergbæk
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Rosa M Reguera
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of León, 24071 León, Spain
| | - Yolanda Pérez-Pertejo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of León, 24071 León, Spain
| | - Rafael Balaña-Fouce
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of León, 24071 León, Spain
| | - Angela Trejo
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Basque Country (UPV/EHU), 01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
| | - Carme Masdeu
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Basque Country (UPV/EHU), 01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
| | - Concepcion Alonso
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Basque Country (UPV/EHU), 01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
| | - Birgitta R Knudsen
- VPCIR Biosciences ApS, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
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Lamba S, Roy A. Demystifying the potential of inhibitors targeting DNA topoisomerases in unicellular protozoan parasites. Drug Discov Today 2023; 28:103574. [PMID: 37003515 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2023.103574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2023] [Indexed: 04/01/2023]
Abstract
DNA topoisomerases are a group of enzymes omnipresent in all organisms. They maintain the DNA topology during replication, repair, recombination, and transcription. However, the structure of topoisomerase in protozoan parasites differs significantly from that of human topoisomerases; thus, this enzyme acts as a crucial target in drug development against parasitic diseases. Although the therapeutic potential of drugs targeting the parasitic topoisomerase is well known, to manage the shortcomings of currently available therapeutics and the emergence of drug resistance, the discovery of novel antiparasitic molecules is an urgent need. In this review, we describe various investigational and repurposed topoisomerase inhibitors developed against protozoan parasites over the past few years. Teaser: Fatal parasitic diseases are an increasing cause for concern; here, we provide a compilation of different inhibitors targeting DNA topoisomerases, enzymes that are essential for, and unique to, protozoan parasites; therefore, inhibitors are efficient and have few adverse effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swati Lamba
- Department of Biotechnology, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Ganeshkhind Road, Pune 411007, India
| | - Amit Roy
- Department of Biotechnology, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Ganeshkhind Road, Pune 411007, India.
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Miltefosine and Nifuratel Combination: A Promising Therapy for the Treatment of Leishmania donovani Visceral Leishmaniasis. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24021635. [PMID: 36675150 PMCID: PMC9865052 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24021635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Visceral leishmaniasis is a neglected vector-borne tropical disease caused by Leishmania donovani and Leishmania infantum that is endemic not only in East African countries, but also in Asia, regions of South America and the Mediterranean Basin. For the pharmacological control of this disease, there is a limited number of old and, in general, poorly adherent drugs, with a multitude of adverse effects and low oral bioavailability, which favor the emergence of resistant pathogens. Pentavalent antimonials are the first-line drugs, but due to their misuse, resistant Leishmania strains have emerged worldwide. Although these drugs have saved many lives, it is recommended to reduce their use as much as possible and replace them with novel and more friendly drugs. From a commercial collection of anti-infective drugs, we have recently identified nifuratel-a nitrofurantoin used against vaginal infections-as a promising repurposing drug against a mouse model of visceral leishmaniasis. In the present work, we have tested combinations of miltefosine-the only oral drug currently used against leishmaniasis-with nifuratel in different proportions, both in axenic amastigotes from bone marrow and in intracellular amastigotes from infected Balb/c mouse spleen macrophages, finding a potent synergy in both cases. In vivo evaluation of oral miltefosine/nifuratel combinations using a bioimaging platform has revealed the potential of these combinations for the treatment of this disease.
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Trejo A, Masdeu C, Serrano-Pérez I, Pedrola M, Juanola N, Ghashghaei O, Jiménez-Galisteo G, Lavilla R, Palacios F, Alonso C, Viñas M. Efficient AntiMycolata Agents by Increasing the Lipophilicity of Known Antibiotics through Multicomponent Reactions. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023; 12:83. [PMID: 36671284 PMCID: PMC9854905 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics12010083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Revised: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
New antibiotic agents were prepared using Povarov and Ugi multicomponent reactions upon the known drugs sulfadoxine and dapsone. The prepared derivatives, with increased lipophilicity, showed improved efficiency against Mycolata bacteria. Microbiological guidance for medicinal chemistry is a powerful tool to design new and effective antimicrobials. In this case, the readily synthesized compounds open new possibilities in the search for antimicrobials active on mycolic acid-containing bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Trejo
- Departamento de Química Orgánica I, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad del País Vasco/Euskal Herriko, Unibertsitatea (UPV/EHU), Paseo de la Universidad 7, 01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
| | - Carme Masdeu
- Departamento de Química Orgánica I, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad del País Vasco/Euskal Herriko, Unibertsitatea (UPV/EHU), Paseo de la Universidad 7, 01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
| | - Irene Serrano-Pérez
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology & Antimicrobials, Department of Pathology & Experimental Therapeutics, Medical School, University of Barcelona and IDIBELL, Feixa Llarga, s/n, 08907 Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
| | - Marina Pedrola
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences and Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), University of Barcelona, Av. de Joan XXIII, 27-31, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Narcís Juanola
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences and Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), University of Barcelona, Av. de Joan XXIII, 27-31, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ouldouz Ghashghaei
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences and Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), University of Barcelona, Av. de Joan XXIII, 27-31, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Guadalupe Jiménez-Galisteo
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology & Antimicrobials, Department of Pathology & Experimental Therapeutics, Medical School, University of Barcelona and IDIBELL, Feixa Llarga, s/n, 08907 Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
| | - Rodolfo Lavilla
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences and Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), University of Barcelona, Av. de Joan XXIII, 27-31, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Francisco Palacios
- Departamento de Química Orgánica I, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad del País Vasco/Euskal Herriko, Unibertsitatea (UPV/EHU), Paseo de la Universidad 7, 01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
| | - Concepción Alonso
- Departamento de Química Orgánica I, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad del País Vasco/Euskal Herriko, Unibertsitatea (UPV/EHU), Paseo de la Universidad 7, 01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
| | - Miguel Viñas
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology & Antimicrobials, Department of Pathology & Experimental Therapeutics, Medical School, University of Barcelona and IDIBELL, Feixa Llarga, s/n, 08907 Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
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Lamba S, Roy A. DNA Topoisomerases in the Unicellular Protozoan Parasites: Unwinding the Mystery. Biochem Pharmacol 2022; 203:115158. [PMID: 35780829 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2022.115158] [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: 05/19/2022] [Revised: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
DNA topoisomerases are a group of enzymes present ubiquitously in all organisms from unicellular protozoan parasites to humans. These enzymes control the topological problems caused by DNA double helix in the cell during nucleic acid metabolism. Certain types of topoisomerases present in unicellular parasites are quite different from human topoisomerases (hTop) concerning structure, expression, and function. Many protozoan parasites causing fatal diseases have DNA topoisomerases, which play vital roles in their survival. Given the fact that the structures of the protozoan parasite topoisomerases are different from humans, DNA topoisomerase acts as an essential target for potent drug development for parasitic diseases. Moreover, various studies revealed the therapeutic potential of these drugs targeting the parasitic topoisomerases. Therefore, the characterization of parasitic topoisomerases is pivotal for the development of future potential drug targets. Considering the importance of this ubiquitous enzyme as a potential drug target, we describe in detail all the reported protozoan topoisomerases in an organized manner including Leishmania, Trypanosoma, Plasmodium, Giardia, Entamoeba, Babesia, Theileria, Crithidia, Cryptosporidium, Toxoplasma, etc. This review highlights the unique attributes associated with the structure and function of different types of DNA topoisomerases from the unicellular protozoan parasites. So, it would be beneficial for researchers to obtain awareness about the currently characterized topoisomerases and the ones that need better characterization, understand the structure-function relationship of parasitic topoisomerases, to develop the potent anti-parasitic drugs, and also provides a future platform for therapeutic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swati Lamba
- Department of Biotechnology, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Ganeshkhind Road, Pune-411007, India
| | - Amit Roy
- Department of Biotechnology, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Ganeshkhind Road, Pune-411007, India.
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Martín-Encinas E, Selas A, Palacios F, Alonso C. The design and discovery of topoisomerase I inhibitors as anticancer therapies. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2022; 17:581-601. [PMID: 35321631 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2022.2055545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Cancer has been identified as one of the leading causes of death worldwide. The biological target of some anticancer agents is topoisomerase I, an enzyme involved in the relaxation of supercoiled DNA. The synthesis of new compounds with antiproliferative effect and behaving as topoisomerase I inhibitors has become an active field of research. Depending on their mechanism of inhibition, they can be classified as catalytic inhibitors or poisons. AREAS COVERED This review article summarizes the state of the art for the development of selective topoisomerase I inhibitors. Collected compounds showed inhibition of the enzyme, highlighting those approved for clinical use, the combination therapies developed, as well as related drawbacks and future focus. EXPERT OPINION Research related to topoisomerase I inhibitors in cancer therapy started with camptothecin (CPT). This compound was first selected as a good anticancer agent and then topoisomerase I was identified as its therapeutic target. Derivatives of CPT irinotecan, topotecan, and belotecan are the only clinically approved inhibitors. Currently, their limitations are being addressed by different stretegies. Future studies should focus not only on developing other active molecules but also on improving the bioavailability and pharmacokinetics of potent synthetic derivatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Endika Martín-Encinas
- Departamento de Química Orgánica I - Centro de Investigación Lascaray, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad del País Vasco, Paseo de la Universidad 7, 01006 Vitoria, Spain
| | - Asier Selas
- Departamento de Química Orgánica I - Centro de Investigación Lascaray, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad del País Vasco, Paseo de la Universidad 7, 01006 Vitoria, Spain
| | - Francisco Palacios
- Departamento de Química Orgánica I - Centro de Investigación Lascaray, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad del País Vasco, Paseo de la Universidad 7, 01006 Vitoria, Spain
| | - Concepción Alonso
- Departamento de Química Orgánica I - Centro de Investigación Lascaray, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad del País Vasco, Paseo de la Universidad 7, 01006 Vitoria, Spain
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