Synthesis and structure-activity relationships of analogs of 2'-deoxy-2'-(3-methoxybenzamido)adenosine, a selective inhibitor of trypanosomal glycosomal glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase

Inhibitors of Glyceraldehyde 3-Phosphate Dehydrogenase and Unexpected Effects of Its Reduced Activity

The review describes the use of glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) inhibitors to study the enzyme and to suppress its activity in various cell types. The main problem of selective GAPDH inhibition is a highly conserved nature of the enzyme active site and, especially, Cys150 environment important for the catalytic action of cysteine sulfhydryl group. Numerous attempts to find specific inhibitors of sperm GAPDH and enzymes from Trypanosoma sp. and Mycobacterium tuberculosis that would not inhibit GAPDH of somatic mammalian cells have failed, which has pushed researchers to search for new ways to solve this problem. The sections of the review are devoted to the studies of GAPDH inactivation by reactive oxygen species, glutathione, and glycating agents. The final section discusses possible effects of GAPDH inhibition and inactivation on glycolysis and related metabolic pathways (pentose phosphate pathway, uncoupling of the glycolytic oxidation and phosphorylation, etc.).

Novel concept of enzyme selective nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD)-modified inhibitors based on enzyme taxonomy from the diphosphate conformation of NAD

The dihedral angle θ of the diphosphate part of NAD(P) were investigated to distinguish the differences in the binding-conformation of NAD(P) to enzymes and to create an enzyme taxonomy. Furthermore, new inhibitors with fixed dihedral angles showed that enzymes could recognize the differences in the dihedral angle θ. We suggest the taxonomy and the dihedral angle θ are important values for chemists to consider when designing inhibitors and drugs that target enzymes.

Pattern recognition techniques applied to the study of leishmanial glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase inhibition

Chemometric pattern recognition techniques were employed in order to obtain Structure-Activity Relationship (SAR) models relating the structures of a series of adenosine compounds to the affinity for glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase of Leishmania mexicana (LmGAPDH). A training set of 49 compounds was used to build the models and the best ones were obtained with one geometrical and four electronic descriptors. Classification models were externally validated by predictions for a test set of 14 compounds not used in the model building process. Results of good quality were obtained, as verified by the correct classifications achieved. Moreover, the results are in good agreement with previous SAR studies on these molecules, to such an extent that we can suggest that these findings may help in further investigations on ligands of LmGAPDH capable of improving treatment of leishmaniasis.

Identification of electronic and structural descriptors of adenosine analogues related to inhibition of leishmanial glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase

Quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) studies were performed in order to identify molecular features responsible for the antileishmanial activity of 61 adenosine analogues acting as inhibitors of the enzyme glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase of Leishmania mexicana (LmGAPDH). Density functional theory (DFT) was employed to calculate quantum-chemical descriptors, while several structural descriptors were generated with Dragon 5.4. Variable selection was undertaken with the ordered predictor selection (OPS) algorithm, which provided a set with the most relevant descriptors to perform PLS, PCR and MLR regressions. Reliable and predictive models were obtained, as attested by their high correlation coefficients, as well as the agreement between predicted and experimental values for an external test set. Additional validation procedures were carried out, demonstrating that robust models were developed, providing helpful tools for the optimization of the antileishmanial activity of adenosine compounds.

Structure of insoluble rat sperm glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) via heterotetramer formation with Escherichia coli GAPDH reveals target for contraceptive design

Sperm glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase has been shown to be a successful target for a non-hormonal contraceptive approach, but the agents tested to date have had unacceptable side effects. Obtaining the structure of the sperm-specific isoform to allow rational inhibitor design has therefore been a goal for a number of years but has proved intractable because of the insoluble nature of both native and recombinant protein. We have obtained soluble recombinant sperm glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase as a heterotetramer with the Escherichia coli glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase in a ratio of 1:3 and have solved the structure of the heterotetramer which we believe represents a novel strategy for structure determination of an insoluble protein. A structure was also obtained where glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate binds in the P(s) pocket in the active site of the sperm enzyme subunit in the presence of NAD. Modeling and comparison of the structures of human somatic and sperm-specific glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase revealed few differences at the active site and hence rebut the long presumed structural specificity of 3-chlorolactaldehyde for the sperm isoform. The contraceptive activity of alpha-chlorohydrin and its apparent specificity for the sperm isoform in vivo are likely to be due to differences in metabolism to 3-chlorolactaldehyde in spermatozoa and somatic cells. However, further detailed analysis of the sperm glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase structure revealed sites in the enzyme that do show significant difference compared with published somatic glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase structures that could be exploited by structure-based drug design to identify leads for novel male contraceptives.

Synthesis of 2'-([1,2,3]triazol-1-yl)-2'-deoxyadenosines

A reliable and efficient protocol for the synthesis of 2 '-([1,2,3]triazol-1-yl)-2 '-deoxyadenosine derivatives from vidarabine is presented. Vidarabine was converted to 2'-azido-2'-deoxy-3',5-O-(tetraisopropyldisiloxane-1,3-diyl)-adenosine. This azide was used as the starting material for the Cu(I)-catalyzed parallel synthesis of 1,2,3-triazoles using a variety of alkynes. The reactions proceeded in good yield and gave almost exclusively the 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazoles.

Crystal structure of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase from Plasmodium falciparum at 2.25 A resolution reveals intriguing extra electron density in the active site

The crystal structure of D-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (PfGAPDH) from the major malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum is solved at 2.25 A resolution. The structure of PfGAPDH is of interest due to the dependence of the malaria parasite in infected human erythrocytes on the glycolytic pathway for its energy generation. Recent evidence suggests that PfGAPDH may also be required for other critical activities such as apical complex formation. The cofactor NAD(+) is bound to all four subunits of the tetrameric enzyme displaying excellent electron densities. In addition, in all four subunits a completely unexpected large island of extra electron density in the active site is observed, approaching closely the nicotinamide ribose of the NAD(+). This density is most likely the protease inhibitor AEBSF, found in maps from two different crystals. This putative AEBSF molecule is positioned in a crucial location and hence our structure, with expected and unexpected ligands bound, can be of assistance in lead development and design of novel antimalarials.

A structurally conserved water molecule in Rossmann dinucleotide-binding domains

A computational comparison of 102 high-resolution (</=1.90 A) enzyme-dinucleotide (NAD, NADP, FAD) complexes was performed to investigate the role of solvent in dinucleotide recognition by Rossmann fold domains. The typical binding site contains about 9-12 water molecules, and about 30% of the hydrogen bonds between the protein and the dinucleotide are water mediated. Detailed inspection of the structures reveals a structurally conserved water molecule bridging dinucleotides with the well-known glycine-rich phosphate-binding loop. This water molecule displays a conserved hydrogen-bonding pattern. It forms hydrogen bonds to the dinucleotide pyrophosphate, two of the three conserved glycine residues of the phosphate-binding loop, and a residue at the C-terminus of strand four of the Rossmann fold. The conserved water molecule is also present in high-resolution structures of apo enzymes. However, the water molecule is not present in structures displaying significant deviations from the classic Rossmann fold motif, such as having nonstandard topology, containing a very short phosphate-binding loop, or having alpha-helix "A" oriented perpendicular to the beta-sheet. Thus, the conserved water molecule appears to be an inherent structural feature of the classic Rossmann dinucleotide-binding domain.

Improving an antitrypanosomal lead applying nucleophilic substitution on a safety catch linker

In a joint effort with various laboratories we have been aiming at the structure-based design of glycolysis inhibitors as anti-trypanosomal drugs. 2'-Deoxy-2'-(3-methoxybenzamido)-N(6)-(1-naphtylmethyl)adenosine (1a) was thus revealed as a promising lead structure for the development of selective agents against protozoan parasites. Here we describe the polymer-assisted synthesis of novel amido derivatives of the scaffold 2'-amino-2'-deoxy-N(6)-(1-naphtylmethyl)adenosine (5a) we reported recently. This building block synthesized in solution was treated with an excess of polymer-supported carboxylic acids leading to chemoselective, practically quantitative conversion of the amine to the desired analogous amides. The best compound (1h) from this series was obtained after on-bead nucleophilic substitution of the carboxylic acid equivalent attached to the Kenner safety catch linker and exhibited an improved inhibitory effect on T. b. brucei blood stream forms with an IC(50) of 0.85 microM in vitro

Adenosine analogues as selective inhibitors of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase of Trypanosomatidae via structure-based drug design

In our continuation of the structure-based design of anti-trypanosomatid drugs, parasite-selective adenosine analogues were identified as low micromolar inhibitors of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH). Crystal structures of Trypanosoma brucei, Trypanosoma cruzi, Leishmania mexicana, and human GAPDH's provided details of how the adenosyl moiety of NAD(+) interacts with the proteins, and this facilitated the understanding of the relative affinities of a series of adenosine analogues for the various GAPDH's. From exploration of modifications of the naphthalenemethyl and benzamide substituents of a lead compound, N(6)-(1-naphthalenemethyl)-2'-deoxy-2'-(3-methoxybenzamido)adenosine (6e), N(6)-(substituted-naphthalenemethyl)-2'-deoxy-2'-(substituted-benzamido)adenosine analogues were investigated. N(6)-(1-Naphthalenemethyl)-2'-deoxy-2'-(3,5-dimethoxybenzamido)adenosine (6m), N(6)-[1-(3-hydroxynaphthalene)methyl]-2'-deoxy-2'-(3,5-dimethoxybenzamido)adenosine (7m), N(6)-[1-(3-methoxynaphthalene)methyl]-2'-deoxy-2'-(3,5-dimethoxybenzamido)adenosine (9m), N(6)-(2-naphthalenemethyl)-2'-deoxy-2'-(3-methoxybenzamido)adenosine (11e), and N(6)-(2-naphthalenemethyl)-2'-deoxy-2'-(3,5-dimethoxybenzamido)adenosine (11m) demonstrated a 2- to 3-fold improvement over 6e and a 7100- to 25000-fold improvement over the adenosine template. IC(50)'s of these compounds were in the range 2-12 microM for T. brucei, T. cruzi, and L. mexicana GAPDH's, and these compounds did not inhibit mammalian GAPDH when tested at their solubility limit. To explore more thoroughly the structure-activity relationships of this class of compounds, a library of 240 N(6)-(substituted)-2'-deoxy-2'-(amido)adenosine analogues was generated using parallel solution-phase synthesis with N(6) and C2' substituents chosen on the basis of computational docking scores. This resulted in the identification of 40 additional compounds that inhibit parasite GAPDH's in the low micromolar range. We also explored adenosine analogues containing 5'-amido substituents and found that 2',5'-dideoxy-2'-(3,5-dimethoxybenzamido)-5'-(diphenylacetamido)adenosine (49) displays an IC(50) of 60-100 microM against the three parasite GAPDH's.

Conformational changes in Leishmania mexicana glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase induced by designed inhibitors

The glycolytic enzymes of trypanosomes are attractive drug targets, since the blood-stream form of Trypanosoma brucei lacks a functional citric acid cycle and is dependent solely on glycolysis for its energy requirements. Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenases (GAPDH) from the pathogenic trypanosomatids T. brucei, Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania mexicana are quite similar to each other, and yet have sufficient structural differences compared to the human enzyme to enable the structure-based design of compounds that selectively inhibit all three trypanosomatid enzymes but not the human homologue. Adenosine analogs with substitutions on N-6 of the adenine ring and on the 2' position of the ribose moiety were designed, synthesized and tested for inhibition. Two crystal structures of L. mexicana glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase in complex with high-affinity inhibitors that also block parasite growth were solved at a resolution of 2.6 A and 3.0 A. The complexes crystallized in the same crystal form, with one and a half tetramers in the crystallographic asymmetric unit. There is clear electron density for the inhibitor in all six copies of the binding site in each of the two structures. The L. mexicana GAPDH subunit exhibits substantial structural plasticity upon binding the inhibitor. Movements of the protein backbone, in response to inhibitor binding, enlarge a cavity at the binding site to accommodate the inhibitor in a classic example of induced fit. The extensive hydrophobic interactions between the protein and the two substituents on the adenine scaffold of the inhibitor provide a plausible explanation for the high affinity of these inhibitors for trypanosomatid GAPDHs.

Enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism as potential drug targets

The potential for chemotherapeutic exploitation of carbohydrate metabolism in the Trypanosomatidae is reviewed. This review is based largely on discussions held at a meeting of the COST B9 Action, entitled 'Bioenergetics of Protozoan Parasites'. The major questions posed were: which enzymes are the best to target; what further information is required to allow their use for rational drug development; what compounds would constitute the best inhibitors and which of the enzymes of the pentose-phosphate pathway are present inside the glycosomes, as well? Only partial answers could be obtained in many cases, but the interactive discussion between the multidisciplinary group of participants, comprising chemists, biochemists and molecular biologists, provided thought-provoking ideas and will help direct future research.

Glycolysis as a target for the design of new anti-trypanosome drugs

Glycolysis is perceived as a promising target for new drugs against parasitic trypanosomatid protozoa because this pathway plays an essential role in their ATP supply. Trypanosomatid glycolysis is unique in that it is compartmentalized, and many of its enzymes display unique structural and kinetic features. Structure- and catalytic mechanism-based approaches are applied to design compounds that inhibit the glycolytic enzymes of the parasites without affecting the corresponding proteins of the human host. For some trypanosomatid enzymes, potent and selective inhibitors have already been developed that affect only the growth of cultured trypanosomatids, and not mammalian cells.

Adenosine analogues as inhibitors of Trypanosoma brucei phosphoglycerate kinase: elucidation of a novel binding mode for a 2-amino-N(6)-substituted adenosine

As part of a project aimed at structure-based design of adenosine analogues as drugs against African trypanosomiasis, N(6)-, 2-amino-N(6)-, and N(2)-substituted adenosine analogues were synthesized and tested to establish structure-activity relationships for inhibiting Trypanosoma brucei glycosomal phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK), glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), and glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH). Evaluation of X-ray structures of parasite PGK, GAPDH, and GPDH complexed with their adenosyl-bearing substrates led us to generate a series of adenosine analogues which would target all three enzymes simultaneously. There was a modest preference by PGK for N(6)-substituted analogues bearing the 2-amino group. The best compound in this series, 2-amino-N(6)- [2''(p-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl]adenosine (46b), displayed a 23-fold improvement over adenosine with an IC(50) of 130 microM. 2-[[2''-(p-Hydroxyphenyl)ethyl]amino]adenosine (46c) was a weak inhibitor of T. brucei PGK with an IC(50) of 500 microM. To explore the potential of an additive effect that having the N(6) and N(2) substitutions in one molecule might provide, the best ligands from the two series were incorporated into N(6),N(2)-disubstituted adenosine analogues to yield N(6)-(2''-phenylethyl)-2-[(2'' -phenylethyl)amino]adenosine (69) as a 30 microM inhibitor of T. brucei PGK which is 100-fold more potent than the adenosine template. In contrast, these series gave no compounds that inhibited parasitic GAPDH or GPDH more than 10-20% when tested at 1.0 mM. A 3.0 A X-ray structure of a T. brucei PGK/46b complex revealed a binding mode in which the nucleoside analogue was flipped and the ribosyl moiety adopted a syn conformation as compared with the previously determined binding mode of ADP. Molecular docking experiments using QXP and SAS program suites reproduced this "flipped and rotated" binding mode.

Pyrano chalcones and a flavone from Neoraputia magnifica and their Trypanosoma cruzi glycosomal glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase-inhibitory activities

The fruits of Neoraptua magnifica var. magnifica afforded three new flavonoids: 2'-hydroxy-4,4',-dimethoxy-5',6'-(2'',2''-dimethylpyrano)chalcone, 2'-hydroxy-3,4,4'-trimethoxy-5',6'-(2'',2''-dimethylpyrano)chalcone, and 3',4'-methylenedioxy-5,7-dimethoxyflavone which were identified on the basis of spectroscopic methods. The known flavonoids 2'-hydroxy-3,4,4',5-tetramethoxy-5',6'-(2'',2''-dimethylpyrano)chalcone, 2'-hydroxy-3,4,4',5,6'-pentamethoxychalcone, 3',4'-methylenedioxy-5,6,7-trimethoxyflavone, 3',4'-methylenedioxy-5',5,6,7-tetramethoxyflavone, 3',4',5',5,7-pentamethoxyflavanone and 3',4',5'5,7-pentamethoxyflavone were also identified. The latter flavone was the most active as glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase-inhibitor.

Polymer-assisted solution-phase synthesis of 2'-amido-2'-deoxyadenosine derivatives targeted at the NAD(+)-binding sites of parasite enzymes

A polymer-assisted solution-phase (PASP) synthesis of lead structure analogues ready for biological testing without the demand for chromatographic purification is described. Carboxylic acids are coupled to the Kenner or Ellman safety catch linker, respectively, activated by methylation or cyanomethylation and subsequently transferred to the 2'-amino group of the 2'-amino-2'-deoxyadenosine scaffold (5). The chemoselective attack of weakly nucleophilic amino groups on the N-alkylated N-acyl sulfonamide linker allows for the synthesis of amides 6 in high yields without the need for protection of primary and secondary hydroxyl functions. Thus, the use of 4-sulfamylbenzoylaminomethyl polystyrene is reported for the construction of chemoselective polymer-supported acylating reagents instead of its known use as linker in solid-phase peptide or organic synthesis. This approach is demonstrated to be well suited to obtain 2'-amido-2'-deoxyadenosine derivatives 6 in parallel format. Biological evaluation of all compounds reported revealed no improvement over known lead structures.

Comparative study of Leishmania mexicana and Trypanosoma brucei NAD-dependent glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase

The NAD-dependent glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenases (G3PDH, EC 1.1.1.8) of Trypanosoma brucei and Leishmania mexicana are thought to have different roles in carbohydrate metabolism. Here the physicochemical and kinetic properties of natural G3PDH from T. brucei with the recombinant homologue of L. mexicana which share 63% positional identity are compared. Despite their supposed different functions in energy metabolism of the parasites the two G3PDHs have remarkably similar properties, including pH optima and K(m) value for dihydroxyacetone phosphate (DHAP) and NADH in the formation of glycerol 3-phosphate (G3P) and for NAD+ and G3P in the reverse reaction. Both enzymes are subject inhibition by dihydroxyacetone phosphate at concentrations above 0.2 mM and are inhibited by the trypanocidal drugs suramin and melarsen oxide at sub-micromolar concentrations.

Conformations of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD(+)) in various environments

Enzymes bind NAD(+) in extended conformations and yet NAD(+) exists in aqueous solution as a compact, folded molecule. Thus, NAD(+) conformation is environment dependent. In an attempt to investigate the effects of environmental changes on the conformation of NAD(+), a series of molecular dynamics simulations in different solvents was performed. The solvents investigated (water, DMSO, methanol and chloroform) represented changes in relative permittivity and hydrophobic character. The simulations predicted folded conformations of NAD(+) to be more stable in water, DMSO and methanol. In contrast, extended conformations of NAD(+) were observed to be more stable in chloroform. Furthermore, the extended conformations observed in chloroform were similar to conformations of NAD(+) bound to enzymes. In particular, a large separation between the aromatic rings and a strong interaction between the pyrophosphate and nicotinamide groups were observed. The implications of these observations for the recognition of NAD(+) by enzymes is discussed. It is argued that a hydrophobic environment is important for stabilizing unfolded conformations of NAD(+).

What controls glycolysis in bloodstream form Trypanosoma brucei?

On the basis of the experimentally determined kinetic properties of the trypanosomal enzymes, the question is addressed of which step limits the glycolytic flux in bloodstream form Trypanosoma brucei. There appeared to be no single answer; in the physiological range, control shifted between the glucose transporter on the one hand and aldolase (ALD), glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK), and glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GDH) on the other hand. The other kinases, which are often thought to control glycolysis, exerted little control; so did the utilization of ATP. We identified potential targets for anti-trypanosomal drugs by calculating which steps need the least inhibition to achieve a certain inhibition of the glycolytic flux in these parasites. The glucose transporter appeared to be the most promising target, followed by ALD, GDH, GAPDH, and PGK. By contrast, in erythrocytes more than 95% deficiencies of PGK, GAPDH, or ALD did not cause any clinical symptoms (Schuster, R. and Holzhütter, H.-G. (1995) Eur. J. Biochem. 229, 403-418). Therefore, the selectivity of drugs inhibiting these enzymes may be much higher than expected from their molecular effects alone. Quite unexpectedly, trypanosomes seem to possess a substantial overcapacity of hexokinase, phosphofructokinase, and pyruvate kinase, making these "irreversible" enzymes mediocre drug targets.

Structure-based design of submicromolar, biologically active inhibitors of trypanosomatid glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase

The bloodstream stage of Trypanosoma brucei and probably the intracellular (amastigote) stage of Trypanosoma cruzi derive all of their energy from glycolysis. Inhibiting glycolytic enzymes may be a novel approach for the development of antitrypanosomatid drugs provided that sufficient parasite versus host selectivity can be obtained. Guided by the crystal structures of human, T. brucei, and Leishmania mexicana glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, we designed adenosine analogs as tight binding inhibitors that occupy the pocket on the enzyme that accommodates the adenosyl moiety of the NAD+ cosubstrate. Although adenosine is a very poor inhibitor, IC50 approximately 50 mM, addition of substituents to the 2' position of ribose and the N6-position of adenosine led to disubstituted nucleosides with micromolar to submicromolar potency in glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase assays, an improvement of 5 orders of magnitude over the lead. The designed compounds do not inhibit the human glycolytic enzyme when tested up to their solubility limit (approximately 40 microM). When tested against cultured bloodstream T. brucei and intracellular T. cruzi, N6-(1-naphthalenemethyl)-2'-(3-chlorobenzamido)adenosine inhibited growth in the low micromolar range. Within minutes after adding this compound to bloodstream T. brucei, production of glucose-derived pyruvate ceased, parasite motility was lost, and a mixture of grossly deformed and lysed parasites was observed. These studies underscore the feasibility of using structure-based drug design to transform a mediocre lead compound into a potent enzyme inhibitor. They also suggest that energy production can be blocked in trypanosomatids with a tight binding competitive inhibitor of an enzyme in the glycolytic pathway.

Structure-based discovery of a pore-binding ligand: towards assembly inhibitors for cholera and related AB5 toxins

Cholera toxin (CT) and Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin (LT) are two closely related multi-subunit AB5 proteins responsible for significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. An attractive strategy to prevent disease by these organisms is to interfere with the assembly process of these toxins, since prevention of toxin formation is better than preventing the effects of a toxin which is already formed. The B subunits form a ring with a central pore which surrounds the C-terminal residues of the A subunit. Low molecular mass compounds which would bind in the pore are likely to inhibit proper assembly of the AB5 toxins. In a pharmacophore search based on two side-chains of the A subunit, 3-methylthio-1,4-diphenyl-1H-1, 3,4-triazolium (MDT) was identified as a candidate ligand which might "plug" the pore. A 2.0 A co-crystal structure revealed that a triplet of MDTs indeed bound to the targeted region in two independent LT B pentamers in a remarkably similar manner. Clearly, MDT is a lead for developing assembly antagonists of CT and LT.

Synthesis and structure-activity relationships of adenosine analogs as inhibitors of trypanosomal glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase. Modifications at positions 5' and 8

A number of 5', N6- and C8, N6-disubstituted adenosine analogs was synthesized and tested for inhibition of trypanosomal glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase. The most active compound, N6-(3-methyl-2-butenyl)-8-(2-thienyl)adenosine, had Kl of 9 microM and was marginally selective for the parasite enzyme.

Selective tight binding inhibitors of trypanosomal glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase via structure-based drug design

Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) from the sleeping sickness parasite Trypanosoma brucei is a rational target for anti-trypanosomatid drug design because glycolysis provides virtually all of the energy for the bloodstream form of this parasite. Glycolysis is also an important source of energy for other pathogenic parasites including Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania mexicana. The current study is a continuation of our efforts to use the X-ray structures of T. brucei and L. mexicana GAPDHs containing bound NAD+ to design adenosine analogues that bind tightly to the enzyme pocket that accommodates the adenosyl moiety of NAD+. The goal was to improve the affinity, selectivity, and solubility of previously reported 2'-deoxy-2'-(3-methoxybenzamido)adenosine (1). It was found that introduction of hydroxyl functions on the benzamido ring increases solubility without significantly affecting enzyme inhibition. Modifications at the previously unexploited N6-position of the purine not only lead to a substantial increase in inhibitor potency but are also compatible with the 2'-benzamido moiety of the sugar. For N6-substituted adenosines, two successive rounds of modeling and screening provided a 330-fold gain in affinity versus that of adenosine. The combination of N6- and 2'-substitutions produced significantly improved inhibitors. N6-Benzyl (9a) and N6-2-methylbenzyl (9b) derivatives of 1 display IC50 values against L. mexicana GAPDH of 16 and 4 microM, respectively (3100- and 12500-fold more potent than adenosine). The adenosine analogues did not inhibit human GAPDH. These studies underscore the usefulness of structure-based drug design for generating potent and species-selective enzyme inhibitors of medicinal importance starting from a weakly binding lead compound.

N6-cyclopentyl-3'-substituted-xylofuranosyladenosines: a new class of non-xanthine adenosine A1 receptor antagonists

The present study explores the C-3' site of the 3-deoxy-3-xylofuranosyl ring of nucleoside analogues with an adenine or N6-cyclopentyladenine (CPA) base moiety and evaluates the effect on adenosine receptor affinity. Two series of sugar-modified adenosines, i.e., 3'-amido-3'-deoxyadenosines and 3'-amidated 3'-deoxyxylofuranosyladenines, were synthesized and tested for their affinity at A1 and A2a receptors in rat brain cortex and rat striatum, respectively. The modest affinity found in the "xylo series" prompted us to synthesize the corresponding N6-cyclopentyl derivatives, which proved to be well accommodated by the A1 receptors with potencies in the lower nanomolar range. This represents a new perspective in the purinergic field. The absence of a GTP-induced shift, i.e., the ratio between the affinities measured in the presence and absence of 1 mM GTP indicates an antagonistic behavior of this new class of CPA analogues.

Screening a random pentapeptide library, composed of 14 D-amino acids, against the COOH-terminal sequence of fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase from Trypanosoma brucei

A random pentapeptide library composed of 14 D-amino acids, including two unusual amino acids, thus representing 537,824 different peptide sequences anchored on polystyrene beads was created with each bead bearing a single pentapeptide sequence. This library was used for affinity screening against the fructose-1, 6-bisphosphate aldolase of Trypanosoma brucei labeled with biotin as well as versus the COOH-terminal labeled with fluorescein isothiocyanate. The thus selected peptide beads were identified and the appropriate sequences synthesized as peptide amides and evaluated for enzyme activity inhibition. Screening against the whole enzyme did not result in selection of an enzyme inhibitor. However, we demonstrate here that screening against a part of the enzyme involved in the catalytic activity may lead to the discovery of an enzyme inhibitor as well as an enzyme activator. Two low affinity inhibitors, RRVKF-NH2 and KThiKAR-NH2, with an IC50 of approximately 1 mM and approximately 0.2 mM, respectively, were identified. Two other pentapeptides with the sequence SWChaKK-NH2 and SKChaKM-NH2 are able to activate the enzyme fructose-1, 6-bisphosphate aldolase. Thus, successful screening of solid phase libraries can be accomplished using selected sequences of the target enzyme.