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Kovada V, Withers-Martinez C, Bobrovs R, Ce̅rule H, Liepins E, Grinberga S, Hackett F, Collins CR, Kreicberga A, Jiménez-Díaz MB, Angulo-Barturen I, Rasina D, Suna E, Jaudzems K, Blackman MJ, Jirgensons A. Macrocyclic Peptidomimetic Plasmepsin X Inhibitors with Potent In Vitro and In Vivo Antimalarial Activity. J Med Chem 2023; 66:10658-10680. [PMID: 37505188 PMCID: PMC10424242 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c00812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
The Plasmodium falciparum aspartic protease plasmepsin X (PMX) is essential for the egress of invasive merozoite forms of the parasite. PMX has therefore emerged as a new potential antimalarial target. Building on peptidic amino alcohols originating from a phenotypic screening hit, we have here developed a series of macrocyclic analogues as PMX inhibitors. Incorporation of an extended linker between the S1 phenyl group and S3 amide led to a lead compound that displayed a 10-fold improved PMX inhibitory potency and a 3-fold improved half-life in microsomal stability assays compared to the acyclic analogue. The lead compound was also the most potent of the new macrocyclic compounds in in vitro parasite growth inhibition. Inhibitor 7k cleared blood-stage P. falciparum in a dose-dependent manner when administered orally to infected humanized mice. Consequently, lead compound 7k represents a promising orally bioavailable molecule for further development as a PMX-targeting antimalarial drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vadims Kovada
- Latvian
Institute of Organic Synthesis, Riga LV-1006, Latvia
| | | | - Raitis Bobrovs
- Latvian
Institute of Organic Synthesis, Riga LV-1006, Latvia
| | - Hele̅na Ce̅rule
- Latvian
Institute of Organic Synthesis, Riga LV-1006, Latvia
| | - Edgars Liepins
- Latvian
Institute of Organic Synthesis, Riga LV-1006, Latvia
| | | | - Fiona Hackett
- Malaria
Biochemistry Laboratory, The Francis Crick
Institute, London NW1 1AT, United
Kingdom
| | - Christine R. Collins
- Malaria
Biochemistry Laboratory, The Francis Crick
Institute, London NW1 1AT, United
Kingdom
| | | | - María Belén Jiménez-Díaz
- The
Art of Discovery SL, Biscay Science and Technology Park, Derio, 48160 Bizkaia, Basque Country, Spain
| | - Iñigo Angulo-Barturen
- The
Art of Discovery SL, Biscay Science and Technology Park, Derio, 48160 Bizkaia, Basque Country, Spain
| | - Dace Rasina
- Latvian
Institute of Organic Synthesis, Riga LV-1006, Latvia
| | - Edgars Suna
- Latvian
Institute of Organic Synthesis, Riga LV-1006, Latvia
| | | | - Michael J. Blackman
- Malaria
Biochemistry Laboratory, The Francis Crick
Institute, London NW1 1AT, United
Kingdom
- Faculty
of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London
School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom
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