1
|
Kumari P, Agrawal P, Umarao P, Ramachandran V, Gourinath S. Identification of Small Molecule Inhibitors Targeting Phosphoserine Phosphatase: A Novel Target for the Development of Antiamoebic Drugs. ACS OMEGA 2024; 9:27906-27918. [PMID: 38973836 PMCID: PMC11223228 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c09439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 07/09/2024]
Abstract
Amoebiasis, a widespread disease caused by the protozoan parasite Entamoeba histolytica, poses challenges due to the adverse effects of existing antiamoebic drugs and rising drug resistance. Novel targeted drugs are in need of the hour to combat the prevalence of this disease. Given the significance of cysteine for Entamoeba survival, the rate-determining step in the serine (the sole substrate of cysteine synthesis) biosynthetic pathway, i.e., the conversion of 3-phosphoserine to l-serine catalyzed by phosphoserine phosphatase (PSP), emerges as a promising drug target. Our previous study unveils the essential role of EhPSP in amoebas' survival, particularly under oxidative stress, by increasing cysteine production. The study also revealed that EhPSP differs significantly from its human counterpart, both structurally and biochemically, highlighting its potential as a viable target for developing new antiamoebic drugs. In the present study, employing in silico screening of vast natural and synthetic small chemical compound libraries, we identified 21 potential EhPSP inhibitor molecules. Out of the 21 compounds examined, only five could inhibit the catalytic activity of EhPSP. The inhibition capability of these five compounds was subsequently validated by in silico binding free energy calculations, SPR-based real-time binding studies, and molecular simulations to assess the stability of the EhPSP-inhibitor complexes. By identifying the five potential inhibitors that can target cysteine synthesis via EhPSP, our findings establish EhPSP as a drug candidate that can serve as a foundation for antiamoebic drug research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Poonam Kumari
- International
Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi 110067, India
- Structural
Biology Lab, School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal
Nehru University, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Prakhar Agrawal
- International
Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Preeti Umarao
- Structural
Biology Lab, School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal
Nehru University, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Vijayan Ramachandran
- The
Centre for Innovation in Brain Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson 85721, Arizona, United States
| | - Samudrala Gourinath
- Structural
Biology Lab, School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal
Nehru University, New Delhi 110067, India
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Masoori L, Khalaf AK, Ezzatkhah F, Balaña-Fouce R, Mahmoudvand H. Promising effects of 1,8 Cineole to control Giardia lamblia infection: Targeting the inflammation, oxidative stress, and infectivity. Acta Trop 2024; 255:107201. [PMID: 38604329 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2024.107201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2024] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
Reportedly, synthetic drugs such as metronidazole, furazolidone, tinidazole, and quinacrine are used for the treatment of giardiasis but are associated with adverse effects. In this study, we aimed to investigate the in vitro and in vivo effects of eucalyptol (ECT, 1,8 cineole) alone and in combination with metronidazole (MNZ) on Giardia lamblia. The effects of ECT on cell viability, plasma membrane permeability, and gene expression levels of adenylate cyclase (AK) and extracellular signal kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1 and ERK2) in trophozoites of G. lamblia were assessed. In vivo, the effects of ECT alone and in combination with MNZ were assessed on mice infected with G. lamblia. In addition, the gene expression of inflammatory genes (e.g., TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-10) and antioxidant genes (catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), glutathione peroxidase 2 (GPX2)) was determined by real-time PCR. The IC50 values of ECT, MNZ, and ECT+MNZ on trophozoites were 30.2 µg/mL, 21.6 µg/mL, and 8.5 µg/mL, respectively. The estimated Fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI) values for ECT and MNZ were 0.28 and 0.39, respectively. The application of ECT on G. lamblia trophozoites resulted in a dose-dependent increase in plasma membrane permeability, particularly at concentrations of ½ IC50 and IC50 (P < 0.05). The treatment of infected mice with various doses of ECT, mainly in combination with MNZ for 7 days, resulted in a significant decrease (P < 0.001) in the average number and viability of cysts. ECT, especially when combined with MNZ, caused a significant (P < 0.001) reduction in the expression of TNF-α and IL-6 genes, and an increase (P < 0.05) in the expression of IL-10 genes. ECT alone and mainly in combination with MNZ leads to a significant (P < 0.001) increase in the gene expression of CAT, SOD, and GPX genes. These findings demonstrate that the use of ECT in these doses, even for 14 days, does not have any toxic effects on the function of vital liver and kidney tissues. The study findings confirmed the promising effects of ECT against G. lamblia infection both in vitro and in vivo. Considering the possible mechanisms, ECT increases plasma membrane permeability and reduces the expression levels of infectivity-related genes. In addition, ECT suppresses inflammation and oxidative stress, controlling giardiasis in mice. More studies are needed to clarify these findings.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Leila Masoori
- Razi Herbal Medicines Research Center, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran
| | - Amal Khudair Khalaf
- Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Thiqar, Thiqar, Iraq
| | - Fatemeh Ezzatkhah
- Department of Laboratory Sciences, Sirjan School of Medical Sciences, Sirjan, Iran
| | - Rafael Balaña-Fouce
- Departamento de Ciencias Biomédicas, Instituto de Biomedicina (IBIOMED), Campus de Vegazana s/n, Universidad de León 24071 León, Spain
| | - Hossein Mahmoudvand
- Nutritional Health Research Center, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Morales-Luna L, Vázquez-Bautista M, Martínez-Rosas V, Rojas-Alarcón MA, Ortega-Cuellar D, González-Valdez A, Pérez de la Cruz V, Arreguin-Espinosa R, Rodríguez-Bustamante E, Rodríguez-Flores E, Hernández-Ochoa B, Gómez-Manzo S. Fused Enzyme Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase::6-Phosphogluconolactonase (G6PD::6PGL) as a Potential Drug Target in Giardia lamblia, Trichomonas vaginalis, and Plasmodium falciparum. Microorganisms 2024; 12:112. [PMID: 38257939 PMCID: PMC10819308 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12010112] [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: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 01/01/2024] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Several microaerophilic parasites such as Giardia lamblia, Trichomonas vaginalis, and Plasmodium falciparum are major disease-causing organisms and are responsible for spreading infections worldwide. Despite significant progress made in understanding the metabolism and molecular biology of microaerophilic parasites, chemotherapeutic treatment to control it has seen limited progress. A current proposed strategy for drug discovery against parasitic diseases is the identification of essential key enzymes of metabolic pathways associated with the parasite's survival. In these organisms, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase::6-phosphogluconolactonase (G6PD:: 6PGL), the first enzyme of the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP), is essential for its metabolism. Since G6PD:: 6PGL provides substrates for nucleotides synthesis and NADPH as a source of reducing equivalents, it could be considered an anti-parasite drug target. This review analyzes the anaerobic energy metabolism of G. lamblia, T. vaginalis, and P. falciparum, with a focus on glucose metabolism through the pentose phosphate pathway and the significance of the fused G6PD:: 6PGL enzyme as a therapeutic target in the search for new drugs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura Morales-Luna
- Laboratorio de Bioquímica Genética, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Secretaría de Salud, Mexico City 04530, Mexico; (L.M.-L.); (M.V.-B.); (V.M.-R.); (M.A.R.-A.)
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
| | - Montserrat Vázquez-Bautista
- Laboratorio de Bioquímica Genética, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Secretaría de Salud, Mexico City 04530, Mexico; (L.M.-L.); (M.V.-B.); (V.M.-R.); (M.A.R.-A.)
- Programa de Posgrado en Biomedicina y Biotecnología Molecular, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City 11340, Mexico
| | - Víctor Martínez-Rosas
- Laboratorio de Bioquímica Genética, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Secretaría de Salud, Mexico City 04530, Mexico; (L.M.-L.); (M.V.-B.); (V.M.-R.); (M.A.R.-A.)
- Programa de Posgrado en Biomedicina y Biotecnología Molecular, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City 11340, Mexico
| | - Miriam Abigail Rojas-Alarcón
- Laboratorio de Bioquímica Genética, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Secretaría de Salud, Mexico City 04530, Mexico; (L.M.-L.); (M.V.-B.); (V.M.-R.); (M.A.R.-A.)
- Programa de Posgrado en Biomedicina y Biotecnología Molecular, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City 11340, Mexico
| | - Daniel Ortega-Cuellar
- Laboratorio de Nutrición Experimental, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Secretaría de Salud, Mexico City 04530, Mexico;
| | - Abigail González-Valdez
- Departamento de Biología Molecular y Biotecnología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico;
| | - Verónica Pérez de la Cruz
- Neurobiochemistry and Behavior Laboratory, National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery “Manuel Velasco Suárez”, Mexico City 14269, Mexico;
| | - Roberto Arreguin-Espinosa
- Departamento de Química de Biomacromoléculas, Instituto de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico; (R.A.-E.); (E.R.-B.); (E.R.-F.)
| | - Eduardo Rodríguez-Bustamante
- Departamento de Química de Biomacromoléculas, Instituto de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico; (R.A.-E.); (E.R.-B.); (E.R.-F.)
- Departamento de Bioingeniería, Escuela de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Tecnológico de Monterrey, Monterrey 64849, Mexico
| | - Eden Rodríguez-Flores
- Departamento de Química de Biomacromoléculas, Instituto de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico; (R.A.-E.); (E.R.-B.); (E.R.-F.)
| | - Beatriz Hernández-Ochoa
- Laboratorio de Inmunoquímica, Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez, Secretaría de Salud, Mexico City 06720, Mexico
| | - Saúl Gómez-Manzo
- Laboratorio de Bioquímica Genética, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, Secretaría de Salud, Mexico City 04530, Mexico; (L.M.-L.); (M.V.-B.); (V.M.-R.); (M.A.R.-A.)
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Dos Santos ALS. Tropical Infectious Diseases of Global Significance: Insights and Perspectives. Trop Med Infect Dis 2023; 8:462. [PMID: 37888590 PMCID: PMC10611159 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed8100462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are indeed a group of illnesses (Table 1) affecting hundreds of millions of individuals living in tropical and sub-tropical geographical regions of the globe, particularly in socioeconomic vulnerability areas where access to adequate sanitation, a clean water supply, and healthcare is limited [...].
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- André Luis Souza Dos Santos
- Laboratório de Estudos Avançados de Microrganismos Emergentes e Resistentes (LEAMER), Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes (IMPG), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, RJ, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|