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Sundararaman SA, Miller JJ, Daley EC, O'Brien KA, Kasak P, Daniels AM, Edwards RL, Heidel KM, Bague DA, Wilson MA, Koelper AJ, Kourtoglou EC, White AD, August SA, Apple GA, Rouamba RW, Durand AJ, Esteb JJ, Muller FL, Johnson RJ, Hoops GC, Dowd CS, Odom John AR. Prodrug activation in malaria parasites mediated by an imported erythrocyte esterase, acylpeptide hydrolase (APEH). BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.08.30.610542. [PMID: 39257815 PMCID: PMC11383709 DOI: 10.1101/2024.08.30.610542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/12/2024]
Abstract
The continued emergence of antimalarial drug resistance highlights the need to develop new antimalarial therapies. Unfortunately, new drug development is often hampered by poor drug-like properties of lead compounds. Prodrugging temporarily masks undesirable compound features, improving bioavailability and target penetration. We have found that lipophilic diester prodrugs of phosphonic acid antibiotics, such as fosmidomycin, exhibit significantly higher antimalarial potency than their parent compounds (1). However, the activating enzymes for these prodrugs were unknown. Here, we show that an erythrocyte enzyme, acylpeptide hydrolase (APEH) is the major activating enzyme of multiple lipophilic ester prodrugs. Surprisingly, this enzyme is taken up by the malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum , where it localizes to the parasite cytoplasm and retains enzymatic activity. Using a novel fluorogenic ester library, we characterize the structure activity relationship of APEH, and compare it to that of P. falciparum esterases. We show that parasite-internalized APEH plays an important role in the activation of substrates with branching at the alpha carbon, in keeping with its exopeptidase activity. Our findings highlight a novel mechanism for antimicrobial prodrug activation, relying on a host-derived enzyme to yield activation at a microbial target. Mutations in prodrug activating enzymes are a common mechanism for antimicrobial drug resistance (2-4). Leveraging an internalized host enzyme would circumvent this, enabling the design of prodrugs with higher barriers to drug resistance. Significance Rising antimalarial drug resistance threatens current gains in malaria control. New antimalarial drugs are urgently needed. Unfortunately, many drug candidates have poor drug-like properties, such as poor absorbability in the gastrointestinal tract, or poor accumulation at the site of action. This can be overcome by prodrugging, the addition of prodrug groups which mask poor drug features until they are removed by an activating enzyme. Here, we show that a red blood cell enzyme, acylpeptide hydrolase, is taken up by malaria parasites and serves as the activating enzyme for multiple lipophilic ester prodrugs. Our findings highlight a novel mechanism for prodrug activation, which could be leveraged to design novel prodrugs with high barriers to drug resistance.
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Mayorquín-Torres MC, Simoens A, Bonneure E, Stevens CV. Synthetic Methods for Azaheterocyclic Phosphonates and Their Biological Activity: An Update 2004-2024. Chem Rev 2024; 124:7907-7975. [PMID: 38809666 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.4c00090] [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: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
The increasing importance of azaheterocyclic phosphonates in the agrochemical, synthetic, and medicinal field has provoked an intense search in the development of synthetic routes for obtaining novel members of this family of compounds. This updated review covers methodologies established since 2004, focusing on the synthesis of azaheterocyclic phosphonates, of which the phosphonate moiety is directly substituted onto to the azaheterocyclic structure. Emphasizing recent advances, this review classifies newly developed synthetic approaches according to the ring size and providing information on biological activities whenever available. Furthermore, this review summarizes information on various methods for the formation of C-P bonds, examining sustainable approaches such as the Michaelis-Arbuzov reaction, the Michaelis-Becker reaction, the Pudovik reaction, the Hirao coupling, and the Kabachnik-Fields reaction. After analyzing the biological activities and applications of azaheterocyclic phosphonates investigated in recent years, a predominant focus on the evaluation of these compounds as anticancer agents is evident. Furthermore, emerging applications underline the versatility and potential of these compounds, highlighting the need for continued research on synthetic methods to expand this interesting family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martha C Mayorquín-Torres
- SynBioC Research Group, Green Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Andreas Simoens
- SynBioC Research Group, Green Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Eli Bonneure
- SynBioC Research Group, Green Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Christian V Stevens
- SynBioC Research Group, Green Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
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Bremner JB. An Update Review of Approaches to Multiple Action-Based Antibacterials. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023; 12:antibiotics12050865. [PMID: 37237768 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics12050865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Revised: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Many approaches are being pursued to address the major global health challenge posed by the increasing resistance of pathogenic bacteria to antibacterial agents. One of the promising approaches being investigated includes the design and development of multiple action-based small-molecule antibacterials. Aspects of this broad area have been reviewed previously, and recent developments are addressed in this update review covering the literature mainly over the past three years. Considerations encompassing drug combinations, single-molecule hybrids and prodrugs are summarised in regard to the intentional design and development of multiple-action agents with a focus on potential triple or greater activities in bacteria. The hope for such single agents or combinations of single agents is that resistance development will be significantly hindered, and they may be useful in tackling bacterial disease caused by both resistant and non-resistant bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- John B Bremner
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
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Barekatain Y, Khadka S, Harris K, Delacerda J, Yan VC, Chen KC, Pham CD, Uddin MN, Avritcher R, Eisenberg EJ, Kalluri R, Millward SW, Muller FL. Quantification of Phosphonate Drugs by 1H– 31P HSQC Shows That Rats Are Better Models of Primate Drug Exposure than Mice. Anal Chem 2022; 94:10045-10053. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.2c00553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yasaman Barekatain
- Department of Cancer Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77054, United States
- Department of Cancer Systems Imaging, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77054, United States
- MD Anderson UT Health Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, Texas 77054, United States
| | - Sunada Khadka
- Department of Cancer Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77054, United States
- Department of Cancer Systems Imaging, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77054, United States
- MD Anderson UT Health Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, Texas 77054, United States
| | - Kristen Harris
- Department of Cancer Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77054, United States
| | - Jorge Delacerda
- Department of Cancer Systems Imaging, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77054, United States
| | - Victoria C. Yan
- Department of Cancer Systems Imaging, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77054, United States
- MD Anderson UT Health Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, Texas 77054, United States
| | - Ko-Chien Chen
- Department of Cancer Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77054, United States
- MD Anderson UT Health Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, Texas 77054, United States
| | - Cong-Dat Pham
- Department of Cancer Systems Imaging, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77054, United States
| | - Md. Nasir Uddin
- Department of Cancer Systems Imaging, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77054, United States
| | - Rony Avritcher
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77054, United States
| | | | - Raghu Kalluri
- Department of Cancer Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77054, United States
| | - Steven W. Millward
- Department of Cancer Systems Imaging, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77054, United States
| | - Florian L. Muller
- Department of Cancer Systems Imaging, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77054, United States
- SPOROS Bioventures, Houston, Texas 77054, United States
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Fellner M. Newly discovered Staphylococcus aureus serine hydrolase probe and drug targets. ADMET AND DMPK 2022; 10:107-114. [PMID: 35350120 PMCID: PMC8957240 DOI: 10.5599/admet.1137] [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: 10/10/2021] [Revised: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
There is an urgent need for new diagnosis and treatment options for the bacterial pathogen Staphylococcus aureus. This review will summarize data on ten recently discovered biofilm-associated serine hydrolases called fluorophosphonate-binding hydrolases (FphA-J). Based on the summarized findings, many of these proteins represent intriguing new targets for probe and drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Fellner
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. ; Tel.: +64 34797897
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