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Nguyen W, Boulet C, Dans MG, Loi K, Jarman KE, Watson GM, Tham WH, Fairhurst KJ, Yeo T, Fidock DA, Wittlin S, Chowdury M, de Koning-Ward TF, Chen G, Yan D, Charman SA, Baud D, Brand S, Jackson PF, Cowman AF, Gilson PR, Sleebs BE. Activity refinement of aryl amino acetamides that target the P. falciparum STAR-related lipid transfer 1 protein. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 270:116354. [PMID: 38554474 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2024.116354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Revised: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/01/2024]
Abstract
Malaria is a devastating disease that causes significant morbidity worldwide. The development of new antimalarial chemotypes is urgently needed because of the emergence of resistance to frontline therapies. Independent phenotypic screening campaigns against the Plasmodium asexual parasite, including our own, identified the aryl amino acetamide hit scaffold. In a prior study, we identified the STAR-related lipid transfer protein (PfSTART1) as the molecular target of this antimalarial chemotype. In this study, we combined structural elements from the different aryl acetamide hit subtypes and explored the structure-activity relationship. It was shown that the inclusion of an endocyclic nitrogen, to generate the tool compound WJM-715, improved aqueous solubility and modestly improved metabolic stability in rat hepatocytes. Metabolic stability in human liver microsomes remains a challenge for future development of the aryl acetamide class, which was underscored by modest systemic exposure and a short half-life in mice. The optimized aryl acetamide analogs were cross resistant to parasites with mutations in PfSTART1, but not to other drug-resistant mutations, and showed potent binding to recombinant PfSTART1 by biophysical analysis, further supporting PfSTART1 as the likely molecular target. The optimized aryl acetamide analogue, WJM-715 will be a useful tool for further investigating the druggability of PfSTART1 across the lifecycle of the malaria parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Nguyen
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Australia
| | | | - Madeline G Dans
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Australia
| | - Katie Loi
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Australia
| | - Kate E Jarman
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Australia
| | - Gabrielle M Watson
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Australia
| | - Wai-Hong Tham
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Australia
| | - Kate J Fairhurst
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Columbia University, Irving Medical Center, New York, 10032, NY, USA
| | - Tomas Yeo
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Columbia University, Irving Medical Center, New York, 10032, NY, USA
| | - David A Fidock
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Columbia University, Irving Medical Center, New York, 10032, NY, USA; Center for Malaria Therapeutics and Antimicrobial Resistance, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University, Irving Medical Center, New York, 10032, NY, USA
| | - Sergio Wittlin
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Kreuzstrasse 2, 4123, Allschwi, Switzerland; University of Basel, 4003, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Mrittika Chowdury
- School of Medicine, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria, 3216, Australia; Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, 3216, Australia
| | - Tania F de Koning-Ward
- School of Medicine, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria, 3216, Australia; Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, 3216, Australia
| | - Gong Chen
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
| | - Dandan Yan
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
| | - Susan A Charman
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
| | - Delphine Baud
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, ICC, Route de Pré-Bois 20, 1215, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Stephen Brand
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, ICC, Route de Pré-Bois 20, 1215, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Paul F Jackson
- Global Public Health, Janssen R&D LLC, La Jolla, 92121, USA
| | - Alan F Cowman
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Australia
| | - Paul R Gilson
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004, Australia
| | - Brad E Sleebs
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Australia.
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2
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Shanley HT, Taki AC, Nguyen N, Wang T, Byrne JJ, Ang CS, Leeming MG, Nie S, Williamson N, Zheng Y, Young ND, Korhonen PK, Hofmann A, Chang BCH, Wells TNC, Häberli C, Keiser J, Jabbar A, Sleebs BE, Gasser RB. Structure-activity relationship and target investigation of 2-aryl quinolines with nematocidal activity. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist 2024; 24:100522. [PMID: 38295619 PMCID: PMC10845918 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2024.100522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/02/2024]
Abstract
Within the context of our anthelmintic discovery program, we recently identified and evaluated a quinoline derivative, called ABX464 or obefazimod, as a nematocidal candidate; synthesised a series of analogues which were assessed for activity against the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans; and predicted compound-target relationships by thermal proteome profiling (TPP) and in silico docking. Here, we logically extended this work and critically evaluated the anthelmintic activity of ABX464 analogues on Haemonchus contortus (barber's pole worm) - a highly pathogenic nematode of ruminant livestock. First, we tested a series of 44 analogues on H. contortus (larvae and adults) to investigate the nematocidal pharmacophore of ABX464, and identified one compound with greater potency than the parent compound and showed moderate activity against a select number of other parasitic nematodes (including Ancylostoma, Heligmosomoides and Strongyloides species). Using TPP and in silico modelling studies, we predicted protein HCON_00074590 (a predicted aldo-keto reductase) as a target candidate for ABX464 in H. contortus. Future work aims to optimise this compound as a nematocidal candidate and investigate its pharmacokinetic properties. Overall, this study presents a first step toward the development of a new nematocide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harrison T Shanley
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia; Chemical Biology Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
| | - Aya C Taki
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Nghi Nguyen
- Chemical Biology Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
| | - Tao Wang
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Joseph J Byrne
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Ching-Seng Ang
- Melbourne Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Facility, The Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Michael G Leeming
- Melbourne Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Facility, The Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Shuai Nie
- Melbourne Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Facility, The Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Nicholas Williamson
- Melbourne Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Facility, The Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Yuanting Zheng
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Neil D Young
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Pasi K Korhonen
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Andreas Hofmann
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia; National Reference Centre for Authentic Food, Max Rubner-Institut, 95326, Kulmbach, Germany
| | - Bill C H Chang
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Tim N C Wells
- Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV), 1215, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Cécile Häberli
- Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4123, Allschwil, Switzerland; University of Basel, 4001, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Jennifer Keiser
- Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4123, Allschwil, Switzerland; University of Basel, 4001, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Abdul Jabbar
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Brad E Sleebs
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia; Chemical Biology Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia.
| | - Robin B Gasser
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia.
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Shanley HT, Taki AC, Nguyen N, Wang T, Byrne JJ, Ang CS, Leeming MG, Williamson N, Chang BCH, Jabbar A, Sleebs BE, Gasser RB. Comparative structure activity and target exploration of 1,2-diphenylethynes in Haemonchus contortus and Caenorhabditis elegans. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist 2024; 25:100534. [PMID: 38554597 PMCID: PMC10992699 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2024.100534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2024] [Revised: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 03/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/01/2024]
Abstract
Infections and diseases caused by parasitic nematodes have a major adverse impact on the health and productivity of animals and humans worldwide. The control of these parasites often relies heavily on the treatment with commercially available chemical compounds (anthelmintics). However, the excessive or uncontrolled use of these compounds in livestock animals has led to major challenges linked to drug resistance in nematodes. Therefore, there is a need to develop new anthelmintics with novel mechanism(s) of action. Recently, we identified a small molecule, designated UMW-9729, with nematocidal activity against the free-living model organism Caenorhabditis elegans. Here, we evaluated UMW-9729's potential as an anthelmintic in a structure-activity relationship (SAR) study in C. elegans and the highly pathogenic, blood-feeding Haemonchus contortus (barber's pole worm), and explored the compound-target relationship using thermal proteome profiling (TPP). First, we synthesised and tested 25 analogues of UMW-9729 for their nematocidal activity in both H. contortus (larvae and adults) and C. elegans (young adults), establishing a preliminary nematocidal pharmacophore for both species. We identified several compounds with marked activity against either H. contortus or C. elegans which had greater efficacy than UMW-9729, and found a significant divergence in compound bioactivity between these two nematode species. We also identified a UMW-9729 analogue, designated 25, that moderately inhibited the motility of adult female H. contortus in vitro. Subsequently, we inferred three H. contortus proteins (HCON_00134350, HCON_00021470 and HCON_00099760) and five C. elegans proteins (F30A10.9, F15B9.8, B0361.6, DNC-4 and UNC-11) that interacted directly with UMW-9729; however, no conserved protein target was shared between the two nematode species. Future work aims to extend the SAR investigation in these and other parasitic nematode species, and validate individual proteins identified here as possible targets of UMW-9729. Overall, the present study evaluates this anthelmintic candidate and highlights some challenges associated with early anthelmintic investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harrison T Shanley
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia; Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
| | - Aya C Taki
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Nghi Nguyen
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
| | - Tao Wang
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Joseph J Byrne
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Ching-Seng Ang
- Melbourne Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Facility, The Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Michael G Leeming
- Melbourne Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Facility, The Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Nicholas Williamson
- Melbourne Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Facility, The Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Bill C H Chang
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Abdul Jabbar
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Brad E Sleebs
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia; Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia.
| | - Robin B Gasser
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia.
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4
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Varghese S, Srivastava A, Wong SW, Le T, Pitcher N, Mesnard M, Lallemand C, Rahmani R, Moawad SR, Huang F, He T, Sleebs BE, Barrett MP, Sykes ML, Avery VM, Creek DJ, Baell JB. Novel aroyl guanidine anti-trypanosomal compounds that exert opposing effects on parasite energy metabolism. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 268:116162. [PMID: 38394930 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2024.116162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 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: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), or sleeping sickness, is a neglected tropical disease with current treatments marred by severe side effects or delivery issues. To identify novel classes of compounds for the treatment of HAT, high throughput screening (HTS) had previously been conducted on bloodstream forms of T. b. brucei, a model organism closely related to the human pathogens T. b. gambiense and T. b. rhodesiense. This HTS had identified a number of structural classes with potent bioactivity against T. b. brucei (IC50 ≤ 10 μM) with selectivity over mammalian cell-lines (selectivity index of ≥10). One of the confirmed hits was an aroyl guanidine derivative. Deemed to be chemically tractable with attractive physicochemical properties, here we explore this class further to develop the SAR landscape. We also report the influence of the elucidated SAR on parasite metabolism, to gain insight into possible modes of action of this class. Of note, two sub-classes of analogues were identified that generated opposing metabolic responses involving disrupted energy metabolism. This knowledge may guide the future design of more potent inhibitors, while retaining the desirable physicochemical properties and an excellent selectivity profile of the current compound class.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swapna Varghese
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
| | - Anubhav Srivastava
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
| | - Siu Wai Wong
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
| | - Thuy Le
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
| | - Noel Pitcher
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
| | - Mathilda Mesnard
- Ensemble Scientifique des Cézeaux, 24 avenue des Landais, 63170, Aubière, France
| | - Camille Lallemand
- Ensemble Scientifique des Cézeaux, 24 avenue des Landais, 63170, Aubière, France
| | - Raphael Rahmani
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
| | - Sarah R Moawad
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, 1G Royal Parade, Parkville, 3052, Victoria, Australia
| | - Fei Huang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nanjing Tech University, No. 30 South Puzhu Road, Nanjing, 211816, China
| | - Tiantong He
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nanjing Tech University, No. 30 South Puzhu Road, Nanjing, 211816, China
| | - Brad E Sleebs
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, 1G Royal Parade, Parkville, 3052, Victoria, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Australia
| | - Michael P Barrett
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Melissa L Sykes
- Discovery Biology, Centre for Cellular Phenomics, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland, 4111, Australia
| | - Vicky M Avery
- Discovery Biology, Centre for Cellular Phenomics, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland, 4111, Australia; School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD, 4111, Australia
| | - Darren J Creek
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia.
| | - Jonathan B Baell
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nanjing Tech University, No. 30 South Puzhu Road, Nanjing, 211816, China.
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5
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O'Connor SM, Sleebs BE, Street IP, Flynn BL, Baell JB, Coles C, Quazi N, Paul D, Poiraud E, Huyard B, Wagner S, Andriambeloson E, de Souza EB. BNC210, a negative allosteric modulator of the alpha 7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, demonstrates anxiolytic- and antidepressant-like effects in rodents. Neuropharmacology 2024; 246:109836. [PMID: 38185416 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2024.109836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2023] [Revised: 12/31/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
This work describes the characterization of BNC210 (6-[(2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-2-yl)amino]-1-ethyl-3-(4-morpholinylcarbonyl)-1,8-naphthyridin-4(1H)-one), a selective, small molecule, negative allosteric modulator (NAM) of α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (α7 nAChR). With the aim to discover a non-sedating, anxiolytic compound, BNC210 was identified during phenotypic screening of a focused medicinal chemistry library using the mouse Light Dark (LD) box to evaluate anxiolytic-like activity and the mouse Open Field (OF) (dark) test to detect sedative and/or motor effects. BNC210 exhibited anxiolytic-like activity with no measurable sedative or motor effects. Electrophysiology showed that BNC210 did not induce α7 nAChR currents by itself but inhibited EC80 agonist-evoked currents in recombinant GH4C1 cell lines stably expressing the rat or human α7 nAChR. BNC210 was not active when tested on cell lines expressing other members of the cys-loop ligand-gated ion channel family. Screening over 400 other targets did not reveal any activity for BNC210 confirming its selectivity for α7 nAChR. Oral administration of BNC210 to male mice and rats in several tests of behavior related to anxiety- and stress- related disorders, demonstrated significant reduction of these behaviors over a broad therapeutic range up to 500 times the minimum effective dose. Further testing for potential adverse effects in suitable rat and mouse tests showed that BNC210 did not produce sedation, memory and motor impairment or physical dependence, symptoms associated with current anxiolytic therapeutics. These data suggest that allosteric inhibition of α7 nAChR function may represent a differentiated approach to treating anxiety- and stress- related disorders with an improved safety profile compared to current treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Brad E Sleebs
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Australia
| | - Ian P Street
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Australia; Children's Cancer Institute, School of Medicine and Health, UNSW, Randwick, Australia
| | - Bernard L Flynn
- Medicinal Chemistry, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Jonathan B Baell
- Medicinal Chemistry, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Melbourne, Australia; The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, 3052, Australia
| | | | - Nurul Quazi
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, 3052, Australia
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Shanley HT, Taki AC, Byrne JJ, Nguyen N, Wells TNC, Jabbar A, Sleebs BE, Gasser RB. A phenotypic screen of the Global Health Priority Box identifies an insecticide with anthelmintic activity. Parasit Vectors 2024; 17:131. [PMID: 38486232 PMCID: PMC10938758 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-024-06183-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Infection with parasitic nematodes (helminths), particularly those of the order Strongylida (such as Haemonchus contortus), can cause significant and burdensome diseases in humans and animals. Widespread drug (anthelmintic) resistance in livestock parasites, the absence of vaccines against most of these nematodes, and a lack of new and effective chemical entities on the commercial market demands the discovery of new anthelmintics. In the present study, we searched the Global Health Priority Box (Medicines for Malaria Venture) for new candidates for anthelmintic development. METHODS We employed a whole-organism, motility-based phenotypic screening assay to identify compounds from the Global Health Priority Box with activity against larvae of the model parasite H. contortus, and the free-living comparator nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Hit compounds were further validated via dose-response assays, with lead candidates then assessed for nematocidal activity against H. contortus adult worms, and additionally, for cytotoxic and mitotoxic effects on human hepatoma (HepG2) cells. RESULTS The primary screen against H. contortus and C. elegans revealed or reidentified 16 hit compounds; further validation established MMV1794206, otherwise known as 'flufenerim', as a significant inhibitor of H. contortus larval motility (half-maximal inhibitory concentration [IC50] = 18 μM) and development (IC50 = 1.2 μM), H. contortus adult female motility (100% after 12 h of incubation) and C. elegans larval motility (IC50 = 0.22 μM). Further testing on a mammalian cell line (human hepatoma HepG2 cells), however, identified flufenerim to be both cytotoxic (half-maximal cytotoxic concentration [CC50] < 0.7 μM) and mitotoxic (half-maximal mitotoxic concentration [MC50] < 0.7 μM). CONCLUSIONS The in vitro efficacy of MMV1794206 against the most pathogenic stages of H. contortus, as well as the free-living C. elegans, suggests the potential for development as a broad-spectrum anthelmintic compound; however, the high toxicity towards mammalian cells presents a significant hindrance. Further work should seek to establish the protein-drug interactions of MMV1794206 in a nematode model, to unravel the mechanism of action, in addition to an advanced structure-activity relationship investigation to optimise anthelmintic activity and eliminate mammalian cell toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harrison T Shanley
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Aya C Taki
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Joseph J Byrne
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Nghi Nguyen
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
| | - Tim N C Wells
- Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV), 1215, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Abdul Jabbar
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Brad E Sleebs
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia.
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia.
| | - Robin B Gasser
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia.
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7
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Shanley HT, Taki AC, Nguyen N, Wang T, Byrne JJ, Ang CS, Leeming MG, Nie S, Williamson N, Zheng Y, Young ND, Korhonen PK, Hofmann A, Wells TNC, Jabbar A, Sleebs BE, Gasser RB. Structure activity relationship and target prediction for ABX464 analogues in Caenorhabditis elegans. Bioorg Med Chem 2024; 98:117540. [PMID: 38134663 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2023.117540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
Global challenges with treatment failures and/or widespread resistance in parasitic worms against commercially available anthelmintics lend impetus to the development of new anthelmintics with novel mechanism(s) of action. The free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is an important model organism used for drug discovery, including the screening and structure-activity investigation of new compounds, and target deconvolution. Previously, we conducted a whole-organism phenotypic screen of the 'Pandemic Response Box' (from Medicines for Malaria Venture, MMV) and identified a hit compound, called ABX464, with activity against C. elegans and a related, parasitic nematode, Haemonchus contortus. Here, we tested a series of 44 synthesized analogues to explore the pharmacophore of activity on C. elegans and revealed five compounds whose potency was similar or greater than that of ABX464, but which were not toxic to human hepatoma (HepG2) cells. Subsequently, we employed thermal proteome profiling (TPP), protein structure prediction and an in silico-docking algorithm to predict ABX464-target candidates. Taken together, the findings from this study contribute significantly to the early-stage drug discovery of a new nematocide based on ABX464. Future work is aimed at validating the ABX464-protein interactions identified here, and at assessing ABX464 and associated analogues against a panel of parasitic nematodes, towards developing a new anthelmintic with a mechanism of action that is distinct from any of the compounds currently-available commercially.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harrison T Shanley
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia; Chemical Biology Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Aya C Taki
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Nghi Nguyen
- Chemical Biology Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Tao Wang
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Joseph J Byrne
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Ching-Seng Ang
- Melbourne Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Facility, The Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Michael G Leeming
- Melbourne Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Facility, The Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Shuai Nie
- Melbourne Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Facility, The Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Nicholas Williamson
- Melbourne Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Facility, The Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Yuanting Zheng
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Neil D Young
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Pasi K Korhonen
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Andreas Hofmann
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia; National Reference Centre for Authentic Food, Max Rubner-Institut, 95326 Kulmbach, Germany
| | - Tim N C Wells
- Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV), 1215 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Abdul Jabbar
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Brad E Sleebs
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia; Chemical Biology Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia.
| | - Robin B Gasser
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia.
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8
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Gabriela M, Barnes CBG, Leong D, Sleebs BE, Schneider MP, Littler DR, Crabb BS, de Koning‐Ward TF, Gilson PR. Sequence elements within the PEXEL motif and its downstream region modulate PTEX-dependent protein export in Plasmodium falciparum. Traffic 2024; 25:e12922. [PMID: 37926971 PMCID: PMC10952997 DOI: 10.1111/tra.12922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
The parasite Plasmodium falciparum causes the most severe form of malaria and to invade and replicate in red blood cells (RBCs), it exports hundreds of proteins across the encasing parasitophorous vacuole membrane (PVM) into this host cell. The exported proteins help modify the RBC to support rapid parasite growth and avoidance of the human immune system. Most exported proteins possess a conserved Plasmodium export element (PEXEL) motif with the consensus RxLxE/D/Q amino acid sequence, which acts as a proteolytic cleavage recognition site within the parasite's endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Cleavage occurs after the P1 L residue and is thought to help release the protein from the ER so it can be putatively escorted by the HSP101 chaperone to the parasitophorous vacuole space surrounding the intraerythrocytic parasite. HSP101 and its cargo are then thought to assemble with the rest of a Plasmodium translocon for exported proteins (PTEX) complex, that then recognises the xE/D/Q capped N-terminus of the exported protein and translocates it across the vacuole membrane into the RBC compartment. Here, we present evidence that supports a dual role for the PEXEL's conserved P2 ' position E/Q/D residue, first, for plasmepsin V cleavage in the ER, and second, for efficient PTEX mediated export across the PVM into the RBC. We also present evidence that the downstream 'spacer' region separating the PEXEL motif from the folded functional region of the exported protein controls cargo interaction with PTEX as well. The spacer must be of a sufficient length and permissive amino acid composition to engage the HSP101 unfoldase component of PTEX to be efficiently translocated into the RBC compartment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikha Gabriela
- Malaria Virulence and Drug Discovery GroupBurnet InstituteMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
- School of MedicineDeakin UniversityGeelongVictoriaAustralia
| | - Claudia B. G. Barnes
- Malaria Virulence and Drug Discovery GroupBurnet InstituteMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
| | - Dickson Leong
- Malaria Virulence and Drug Discovery GroupBurnet InstituteMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
| | - Brad E. Sleebs
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical ResearchParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
- Department of Medical BiologyThe University of MelbourneParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
| | | | - Dene R. Littler
- Infection and Immunity Program and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery InstituteMonash UniversityClaytonVictoriaAustralia
| | - Brendan S. Crabb
- Malaria Virulence and Drug Discovery GroupBurnet InstituteMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
- Department of Medical BiologyThe University of MelbourneParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
- Department of Microbiology and ImmunologyUniversity of MelbourneParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
- Department of ImmunologyMonash UniversityMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
| | - Tania F. de Koning‐Ward
- School of MedicineDeakin UniversityGeelongVictoriaAustralia
- Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT)Deakin UniversityGeelongVictoriaAustralia
| | - Paul R. Gilson
- Malaria Virulence and Drug Discovery GroupBurnet InstituteMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
- Department of Microbiology and ImmunologyUniversity of MelbourneParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
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9
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Bailey BL, Nguyen W, Cowman AF, Sleebs BE. Chemo-proteomics in antimalarial target identification and engagement. Med Res Rev 2023; 43:2303-2351. [PMID: 37232495 PMCID: PMC10947479 DOI: 10.1002/med.21975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Revised: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Humans have lived in tenuous battle with malaria over millennia. Today, while much of the world is free of the disease, areas of South America, Asia, and Africa still wage this war with substantial impacts on their social and economic development. The threat of widespread resistance to all currently available antimalarial therapies continues to raise concern. Therefore, it is imperative that novel antimalarial chemotypes be developed to populate the pipeline going forward. Phenotypic screening has been responsible for the majority of the new chemotypes emerging in the past few decades. However, this can result in limited information on the molecular target of these compounds which may serve as an unknown variable complicating their progression into clinical development. Target identification and validation is a process that incorporates techniques from a range of different disciplines. Chemical biology and more specifically chemo-proteomics have been heavily utilized for this purpose. This review provides an in-depth summary of the application of chemo-proteomics in antimalarial development. Here we focus particularly on the methodology, practicalities, merits, and limitations of designing these experiments. Together this provides learnings on the future use of chemo-proteomics in antimalarial development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brodie L. Bailey
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical ResearchMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
- Department of Medical BiologyThe University of MelbourneMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
| | - William Nguyen
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical ResearchMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
- Department of Medical BiologyThe University of MelbourneMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
| | - Alan F. Cowman
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical ResearchMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
- Department of Medical BiologyThe University of MelbourneMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
| | - Brad E. Sleebs
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical ResearchMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
- Department of Medical BiologyThe University of MelbourneMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
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10
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Ling DB, Nguyen W, Looker O, Razook Z, McCann K, Barry AE, Scheurer C, Wittlin S, Famodimu MT, Delves MJ, Bullen HE, Crabb BS, Sleebs BE, Gilson PR. A Pyridyl-Furan Series Developed from the Open Global Health Library Block Red Blood Cell Invasion and Protein Trafficking in Plasmodium falciparum through Potential Inhibition of the Parasite's PI4KIIIB Enzyme. ACS Infect Dis 2023; 9:1695-1710. [PMID: 37639221 PMCID: PMC10496428 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.3c00138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023]
Abstract
With the resistance increasing to current antimalarial medicines, there is an urgent need to discover new drug targets and to develop new medicines against these targets. We therefore screened the Open Global Health Library of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, of 250 compounds against the asexual blood stage of the deadliest malarial parasite Plasmodium falciparum, from which eight inhibitors with low micromolar potency were found. Due to its combined potencies against parasite growth and inhibition of red blood cell invasion, the pyridyl-furan compound OGHL250 was prioritized for further optimization. The potency of the series lead compound (WEHI-518) was improved 250-fold to low nanomolar levels against parasite blood-stage growth. Parasites selected for resistance to a related compound, MMV396797, were also resistant to WEHI-518 as well as KDU731, an inhibitor of the phosphatidylinositol kinase PfPI4KIIIB, suggesting that this kinase is the target of the pyridyl-furan series. Inhibition of PfPI4KIIIB blocks multiple stages of the parasite's life cycle and other potent inhibitors are currently under preclinical development. MMV396797-resistant parasites possess an E1316D mutation in PfPKI4IIIB that clusters with known resistance mutations of other inhibitors of the kinase. Building upon earlier studies that showed that PfPI4KIIIB inhibitors block the development of the invasive merozoite parasite stage, we show that members of the pyridyl-furan series also block invasion and/or the conversion of merozoites into ring-stage intracellular parasites through inhibition of protein secretion and export into red blood cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dawson B. Ling
- Burnet Institute,
Melbourne, Victoria3004, Australia
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology,
University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria3010,
Australia
| | - William Nguyen
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of
Medical Research, Melbourne, Victoria3052,
Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The
University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria3010,
Australia
| | - Oliver Looker
- Burnet Institute,
Melbourne, Victoria3004, Australia
| | - Zahra Razook
- Burnet Institute,
Melbourne, Victoria3004, Australia
- School of Medicine and Institute for Mental and
Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University,
Waurn Ponds, Victoria3216, Australia
| | - Kirsty McCann
- Burnet Institute,
Melbourne, Victoria3004, Australia
- School of Medicine and Institute for Mental and
Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University,
Waurn Ponds, Victoria3216, Australia
| | - Alyssa E. Barry
- Burnet Institute,
Melbourne, Victoria3004, Australia
- School of Medicine and Institute for Mental and
Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University,
Waurn Ponds, Victoria3216, Australia
| | - Christian Scheurer
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health
Institute, Allschwil, 4123Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel,
4001Switzerland
| | - Sergio Wittlin
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health
Institute, Allschwil, 4123Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel,
4001Switzerland
| | - Mufuliat Toyin Famodimu
- Department of Infection Biology, Faculty of Infectious
Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Kepel
Street, London, WC1E 7HT, U.K.
| | - Michael J Delves
- Department of Infection Biology, Faculty of Infectious
Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Kepel
Street, London, WC1E 7HT, U.K.
| | - Hayley E. Bullen
- Burnet Institute,
Melbourne, Victoria3004, Australia
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology,
University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria3010,
Australia
| | - Brendan S. Crabb
- Burnet Institute,
Melbourne, Victoria3004, Australia
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology,
University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria3010,
Australia
- Department of Immunology and Pathology,
Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria3800,
Australia
| | - Brad E. Sleebs
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of
Medical Research, Melbourne, Victoria3052,
Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The
University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria3010,
Australia
| | - Paul R. Gilson
- Burnet Institute,
Melbourne, Victoria3004, Australia
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology,
University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria3010,
Australia
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11
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Dans MG, Piirainen H, Nguyen W, Khurana S, Mehra S, Razook Z, Geoghegan ND, Dawson AT, Das S, Parkyn Schneider M, Jonsdottir TK, Gabriela M, Gancheva MR, Tonkin CJ, Mollard V, Goodman CD, McFadden GI, Wilson DW, Rogers KL, Barry AE, Crabb BS, de Koning-Ward TF, Sleebs BE, Kursula I, Gilson PR. Sulfonylpiperazine compounds prevent Plasmodium falciparum invasion of red blood cells through interference with actin-1/profilin dynamics. PLoS Biol 2023; 21:e3002066. [PMID: 37053271 PMCID: PMC10128974 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/15/2023] Open
Abstract
With emerging resistance to frontline treatments, it is vital that new antimalarial drugs are identified to target Plasmodium falciparum. We have recently described a compound, MMV020291, as a specific inhibitor of red blood cell (RBC) invasion, and have generated analogues with improved potency. Here, we generated resistance to MMV020291 and performed whole genome sequencing of 3 MMV020291-resistant populations. This revealed 3 nonsynonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms in 2 genes; 2 in profilin (N154Y, K124N) and a third one in actin-1 (M356L). Using CRISPR-Cas9, we engineered these mutations into wild-type parasites, which rendered them resistant to MMV020291. We demonstrate that MMV020291 reduces actin polymerisation that is required by the merozoite stage parasites to invade RBCs. Additionally, the series inhibits the actin-1-dependent process of apicoplast segregation, leading to a delayed death phenotype. In vitro cosedimentation experiments using recombinant P. falciparum proteins indicate that potent MMV020291 analogues disrupt the formation of filamentous actin in the presence of profilin. Altogether, this study identifies the first compound series interfering with the actin-1/profilin interaction in P. falciparum and paves the way for future antimalarial development against the highly dynamic process of actin polymerisation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madeline G Dans
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- School of Medicine and Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria, Australia
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Henni Piirainen
- Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - William Nguyen
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Sachin Khurana
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Somya Mehra
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Zahra Razook
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- School of Medicine and Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria, Australia
| | | | | | - Sujaan Das
- Ludwig Maximilian University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Munich, Germany
| | | | - Thorey K Jonsdottir
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Mikha Gabriela
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- School of Medicine and Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria, Australia
| | - Maria R Gancheva
- Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | | | - Vanessa Mollard
- School of Biosciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | | | - Geoffrey I McFadden
- School of Biosciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Danny W Wilson
- Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Kelly L Rogers
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Alyssa E Barry
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- School of Medicine and Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria, Australia
| | - Brendan S Crabb
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Tania F de Koning-Ward
- School of Medicine and Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria, Australia
| | - Brad E Sleebs
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Inari Kursula
- Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Paul R Gilson
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
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12
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Nguyen W, Dans MG, Currie I, Awalt JK, Bailey BL, Lumb C, Ngo A, Favuzza P, Palandri J, Ramesh S, Penington J, Jarman KE, Mukherjee P, Chakraborty A, Maier AG, van Dooren GG, Papenfuss T, Wittlin S, Churchyard A, Baum J, Winzeler EA, Baud D, Brand S, Jackson PF, Cowman AF, Sleebs BE. 7- N-Substituted-3-oxadiazole Quinolones with Potent Antimalarial Activity Target the Cytochrome bc1 Complex. ACS Infect Dis 2023; 9:668-691. [PMID: 36853190 PMCID: PMC10012268 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.2c00607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/01/2023]
Abstract
The development of new antimalarials is required because of the threat of resistance to current antimalarial therapies. To discover new antimalarial chemotypes, we screened the Janssen Jumpstarter library against the P. falciparum asexual parasite and identified the 7-N-substituted-3-oxadiazole quinolone hit class. We established the structure-activity relationship and optimized the antimalarial potency. The optimized analog WJM228 (17) showed robust metabolic stability in vitro, although the aqueous solubility was limited. Forward genetic resistance studies uncovered that WJM228 targets the Qo site of cytochrome b (cyt b), an important component of the mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) that is essential for pyrimidine biosynthesis and an established antimalarial target. Profiling against drug-resistant parasites confirmed that WJM228 confers resistance to the Qo site but not Qi site mutations, and in a biosensor assay, it was shown to impact the ETC via inhibition of cyt b. Consistent with other cyt b targeted antimalarials, WJM228 prevented pre-erythrocytic parasite and male gamete development and reduced asexual parasitemia in a P. berghei mouse model of malaria. Correcting the limited aqueous solubility and the high susceptibility to cyt b Qo site resistant parasites found in the clinic will be major obstacles in the future development of the 3-oxadiazole quinolone antimalarial class.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Nguyen
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
| | - Madeline G Dans
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
| | - Iain Currie
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
| | - Jon Kyle Awalt
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
| | - Brodie L Bailey
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
| | - Chris Lumb
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia
| | - Anna Ngo
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia
| | - Paola Favuzza
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
| | - Josephine Palandri
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
| | - Saishyam Ramesh
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra 2600, Australia
| | - Jocelyn Penington
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
| | - Kate E Jarman
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
| | | | | | - Alexander G Maier
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra 2600, Australia
| | - Giel G van Dooren
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra 2600, Australia
| | - Tony Papenfuss
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
| | - Sergio Wittlin
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Kreuzstrasse 2, 4123 Allschwil, Switzerland.,University of Basel, 4003 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Alisje Churchyard
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington, SW7 2AZ U.K
| | - Jake Baum
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington, SW7 2AZ U.K.,School of Biomedical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2031, Australia
| | - Elizabeth A Winzeler
- School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive 0760, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Delphine Baud
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, Geneva 1215, Switzerland
| | - Stephen Brand
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, Geneva 1215, Switzerland
| | - Paul F Jackson
- Global Public Health, Janssen R&D LLC, La Jolla, California 92121, United States
| | - Alan F Cowman
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
| | - Brad E Sleebs
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
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13
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Ashton TD, Dans MG, Favuzza P, Ngo A, Lehane AM, Zhang X, Qiu D, Chandra Maity B, De N, Schindler KA, Yeo T, Park H, Uhlemann AC, Churchyard A, Baum J, Fidock DA, Jarman KE, Lowes KN, Baud D, Brand S, Jackson PF, Cowman AF, Sleebs BE. Optimization of 2,3-Dihydroquinazolinone-3-carboxamides as Antimalarials Targeting PfATP4. J Med Chem 2023; 66:3540-3565. [PMID: 36812492 PMCID: PMC10009754 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c02092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
There is an urgent need to populate the antimalarial clinical portfolio with new candidates because of resistance against frontline antimalarials. To discover new antimalarial chemotypes, we performed a high-throughput screen of the Janssen Jumpstarter library against the Plasmodium falciparum asexual blood-stage parasite and identified the 2,3-dihydroquinazolinone-3-carboxamide scaffold. We defined the SAR and found that 8-substitution on the tricyclic ring system and 3-substitution of the exocyclic arene produced analogues with potent activity against asexual parasites equivalent to clinically used antimalarials. Resistance selection and profiling against drug-resistant parasite strains revealed that this antimalarial chemotype targets PfATP4. Dihydroquinazolinone analogues were shown to disrupt parasite Na+ homeostasis and affect parasite pH, exhibited a fast-to-moderate rate of asexual kill, and blocked gametogenesis, consistent with the phenotype of clinically used PfATP4 inhibitors. Finally, we observed that optimized frontrunner analogue WJM-921 demonstrates oral efficacy in a mouse model of malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trent D Ashton
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
| | - Madeline G Dans
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
| | - Paola Favuzza
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
| | - Anna Ngo
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
| | - Adele M Lehane
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra 2601, Australia
| | - Xinxin Zhang
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra 2601, Australia
| | - Deyun Qiu
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra 2601, Australia
| | | | - Nirupam De
- TCG Lifesciences Pvt. Ltd., Saltlake Sec-V, Kolkata 700091, West Bengal, India
| | - Kyra A Schindler
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Columbia University, Irving Medical Center, New York, New York 10032, United States
| | - Tomas Yeo
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Columbia University, Irving Medical Center, New York, New York 10032, United States
| | - Heekuk Park
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Columbia University, Irving Medical Center, New York, New York 10032, United States
| | - Anne-Catrin Uhlemann
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Columbia University, Irving Medical Center, New York, New York 10032, United States
| | - Alisje Churchyard
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington SW7 2AZ U.K
| | - Jake Baum
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington SW7 2AZ U.K.,School of Biomedical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2031, Australia
| | - David A Fidock
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Columbia University, Irving Medical Center, New York, New York 10032, United States.,Center for Malaria Therapeutics and Antimicrobial Resistance, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University, Irving Medical Center, New York, New York 10032, United States
| | - Kate E Jarman
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
| | - Kym N Lowes
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
| | - Delphine Baud
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, ICC, Route de Pré-Bois 20, 1215 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Stephen Brand
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, ICC, Route de Pré-Bois 20, 1215 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Paul F Jackson
- Global Public Health, Janssen R&D LLC, La Jolla, California 92121, United States
| | - Alan F Cowman
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
| | - Brad E Sleebs
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
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14
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Burns AL, Sleebs BE, Gancheva M, McLean KT, Siddiqui G, Venter H, Beeson JG, O’Handley R, Creek DJ, Ma S, Frölich S, Goodman CD, McFadden GI, Wilson DW. Targeting malaria parasites with novel derivatives of azithromycin. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:1063407. [PMID: 36530422 PMCID: PMC9748569 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.1063407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction The spread of artemisinin resistant Plasmodium falciparum parasites is of global concern and highlights the need to identify new antimalarials for future treatments. Azithromycin, a macrolide antibiotic used clinically against malaria, kills parasites via two mechanisms: 'delayed death' by inhibiting the bacterium-like ribosomes of the apicoplast, and 'quick-killing' that kills rapidly across the entire blood stage development. Methods Here, 22 azithromycin analogues were explored for delayed death and quick-killing activities against P. falciparum (the most virulent human malaria) and P. knowlesi (a monkey parasite that frequently infects humans). Results Seventeen analogues showed improved quick-killing against both Plasmodium species, with up to 38 to 20-fold higher potency over azithromycin after less than 48 or 28 hours of treatment for P. falciparum and P. knowlesi, respectively. Quick-killing analogues maintained activity throughout the blood stage lifecycle, including ring stages of P. falciparum parasites (<12 hrs treatment) and were >5-fold more selective against P. falciparum than human cells. Isopentenyl pyrophosphate supplemented parasites that lacked an apicoplast were equally sensitive to quick-killing analogues, confirming that the quick killing activity of these drugs was not directed at the apicoplast. Further, activity against the related apicoplast containing parasite Toxoplasma gondii and the gram-positive bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae did not show improvement over azithromycin, highlighting the specific improvement in antimalarial quick-killing activity. Metabolomic profiling of parasites subjected to the most potent compound showed a build-up of non-haemoglobin derived peptides that was similar to chloroquine, while also exhibiting accumulation of haemoglobin-derived peptides that was absent for chloroquine treatment. Discussion The azithromycin analogues characterised in this study expand the structural diversity over previously reported quick-killing compounds and provide new starting points to develop azithromycin analogues with quick-killing antimalarial activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy L. Burns
- Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, School of Biological Sciences, the University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia,School of Science and Technology, the University of New England, Armidale, NSW, Australia
| | - Brad E. Sleebs
- ACRF Chemical Biology Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, Australia,Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Maria Gancheva
- Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, School of Biological Sciences, the University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Kimberley T. McLean
- Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, School of Biological Sciences, the University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Ghizal Siddiqui
- Drug Delivery Disposition and Dynamics, Monash University, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Henrietta Venter
- Health and Biomedical Innovation, Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - James G. Beeson
- Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Program, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia,Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia,Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Vic, Australia,Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Melbourne, Vic, Australia
| | - Ryan O’Handley
- School of Animal and Veterinary Science, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia,Australian Centre for Antimicrobial Resistance Ecology, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Darren J. Creek
- Drug Delivery Disposition and Dynamics, Monash University, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Shutao Ma
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Sonja Frölich
- Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, School of Biological Sciences, the University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | | | | | - Danny W. Wilson
- Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, School of Biological Sciences, the University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia,Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Program, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia,Australian Centre for Antimicrobial Resistance Ecology, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia,*Correspondence: Danny W. Wilson,
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15
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de Lera Ruiz M, Favuzza P, Guo Z, Zhao L, Hu B, Lei Z, Zhan D, Murgolo N, Boyce CW, Vavrek M, Thompson J, Ngo A, Jarman KE, Robbins J, Boddey J, Sleebs BE, Lowes KN, Cowman AF, Olsen DB, McCauley JA. The Invention of WM382, a Highly Potent PMIX/X Dual Inhibitor toward the Treatment of Malaria. ACS Med Chem Lett 2022; 13:1745-1754. [PMID: 36385924 PMCID: PMC9661708 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.2c00355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Drug resistance to first-line antimalarials-including artemisinin-is increasing, resulting in a critical need for the discovery of new agents with novel mechanisms of action. In collaboration with the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute and with funding from the Wellcome Trust, a phenotypic screen of Merck's aspartyl protease inhibitor library identified a series of plasmepsin X (PMX) hits that were more potent than chloroquine. Inspired by a PMX homology model, efforts to optimize the potency resulted in the discovery of leads that, in addition to potently inhibiting PMX, also inhibit another essential aspartic protease, plasmepsin IX (PMIX). Further potency and pharmacokinetic profile optimization efforts culminated in the discovery of WM382, a very potent dual PMIX/X inhibitor with robust in vivo efficacy at multiple stages of the malaria parasite life cycle and an excellent resistance profile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel de Lera Ruiz
- Merck
& Co., Inc., 770 Sumneytown Pike, West Point, Pennsylvania 19486, United States
| | - Paola Favuzza
- The
Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC3052, Australia
- University
of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC3010, Australia
| | - Zhuyan Guo
- Merck
& Co., Inc., 770 Sumneytown Pike, West Point, Pennsylvania 19486, United States
| | - Lianyun Zhao
- Merck
& Co., Inc., 770 Sumneytown Pike, West Point, Pennsylvania 19486, United States
| | - Bin Hu
- WuXi
AppTec, 288 Fute Zhong Lu, Shanghai200131, China
| | - Zhiyu Lei
- WuXi
AppTec, 288 Fute Zhong Lu, Shanghai200131, China
| | - Dongmei Zhan
- WuXi
AppTec, 288 Fute Zhong Lu, Shanghai200131, China
| | - Nicholas Murgolo
- Merck
& Co., Inc., 770 Sumneytown Pike, West Point, Pennsylvania 19486, United States
| | - Christopher W. Boyce
- Merck
& Co., Inc., 770 Sumneytown Pike, West Point, Pennsylvania 19486, United States
| | - Marissa Vavrek
- Merck
& Co., Inc., 770 Sumneytown Pike, West Point, Pennsylvania 19486, United States
| | - Jennifer Thompson
- The
Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC3052, Australia
| | - Anna Ngo
- The
Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC3052, Australia
| | - Kate E. Jarman
- The
Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC3052, Australia
| | - Johnathan Robbins
- Merck
& Co., Inc., 770 Sumneytown Pike, West Point, Pennsylvania 19486, United States
| | - Justin Boddey
- The
Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC3052, Australia
- University
of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC3010, Australia
| | - Brad E. Sleebs
- The
Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC3052, Australia
- University
of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC3010, Australia
| | - Kym N. Lowes
- The
Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC3052, Australia
- University
of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC3010, Australia
| | - Alan F. Cowman
- The
Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC3052, Australia
- University
of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC3010, Australia
| | - David B. Olsen
- Merck
& Co., Inc., 770 Sumneytown Pike, West Point, Pennsylvania 19486, United States
| | - John A. McCauley
- Merck
& Co., Inc., 770 Sumneytown Pike, West Point, Pennsylvania 19486, United States
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16
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Taki AC, Wang T, Nguyen NN, Ang CS, Leeming MG, Nie S, Byrne JJ, Young ND, Zheng Y, Ma G, Korhonen PK, Koehler AV, Williamson NA, Hofmann A, Chang BCH, Häberli C, Keiser J, Jabbar A, Sleebs BE, Gasser RB. Thermal proteome profiling reveals Haemonchus orphan protein HCO_011565 as a target of the nematocidal small molecule UMW-868. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:1014804. [PMID: 36313370 PMCID: PMC9616048 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.1014804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Parasitic roundworms (nematodes) cause destructive diseases, and immense suffering in humans and other animals around the world. The control of these parasites relies heavily on anthelmintic therapy, but treatment failures and resistance to these drugs are widespread. As efforts to develop vaccines against parasitic nematodes have been largely unsuccessful, there is an increased focus on discovering new anthelmintic entities to combat drug resistant worms. Here, we employed thermal proteome profiling (TPP) to explore hit pharmacology and to support optimisation of a hit compound (UMW-868), identified in a high-throughput whole-worm, phenotypic screen. Using advanced structural prediction and docking tools, we inferred an entirely novel, parasite-specific target (HCO_011565) of this anthelmintic small molecule in the highly pathogenic, blood-feeding barber’s pole worm, and in other socioeconomically important parasitic nematodes. The “hit-to-target” workflow constructed here provides a unique prospect of accelerating the simultaneous discovery of novel anthelmintics and associated parasite-specific targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aya C. Taki
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Tao Wang
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Nghi N. Nguyen
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Ching-Seng Ang
- Melbourne Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Facility, The Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Michael G. Leeming
- Melbourne Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Facility, The Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Shuai Nie
- Melbourne Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Facility, The Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Joseph J. Byrne
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Neil D. Young
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Yuanting Zheng
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Guangxu Ma
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Sciences, Institute of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Pasi K. Korhonen
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Anson V. Koehler
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Nicholas A. Williamson
- Melbourne Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Facility, The Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Andreas Hofmann
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Bill C. H. Chang
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Cécile Häberli
- Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Jennifer Keiser
- Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Abdul Jabbar
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Brad E. Sleebs
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- *Correspondence: Brad E. Sleebs, ; Robin B. Gasser,
| | - Robin B. Gasser
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- *Correspondence: Brad E. Sleebs, ; Robin B. Gasser,
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17
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Richardson LW, Ashton TD, Dans MG, Nguyen N, Favuzza P, Triglia T, Hodder AN, Ngo A, Jarman KE, Cowman AF, Sleebs BE. Substrate Peptidomimetic Inhibitors of P. falciparum Plasmepsin X with Potent Antimalarial Activity. ChemMedChem 2022; 17:e202200306. [PMID: 35906744 PMCID: PMC9804387 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202200306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Revised: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Plasmepsin X (PMX) is an aspartyl protease that processes proteins essential for Plasmodium parasites to invade and egress from host erythrocytes during the symptomatic asexual stage of malaria. PMX substrates possess a conserved cleavage region denoted by the consensus motif, SFhE (h=hydrophobic amino acid). Peptidomimetics reflecting the P3 -P1 positions of the consensus motif were designed and showed potent and selective inhibition of PMX. It was established that PMX prefers Phe in the P1 position, di-substitution at the β-carbon of the P2 moiety and a hydrophobic P3 group which was supported by modelling of the peptidomimetics in complex with PMX. The peptidomimetics were shown to arrest asexual P. falciparum parasites at the schizont stage by impairing PMX substrate processing. Overall, the peptidomimetics described will assist in further understanding PMX substrate specificity and have the potential to act as a template for future antimalarial design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lachlan W. Richardson
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical ResearchParkville3052VictoriaAustralia,Department of Medical BiologyUniversity of MelbourneParkville3010VictoriaAustralia
| | - Trent D. Ashton
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical ResearchParkville3052VictoriaAustralia,Department of Medical BiologyUniversity of MelbourneParkville3010VictoriaAustralia
| | - Madeline G. Dans
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical ResearchParkville3052VictoriaAustralia,Department of Medical BiologyUniversity of MelbourneParkville3010VictoriaAustralia
| | - Nghi Nguyen
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical ResearchParkville3052VictoriaAustralia,Department of Medical BiologyUniversity of MelbourneParkville3010VictoriaAustralia
| | - Paola Favuzza
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical ResearchParkville3052VictoriaAustralia,Department of Medical BiologyUniversity of MelbourneParkville3010VictoriaAustralia
| | - Tony Triglia
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical ResearchParkville3052VictoriaAustralia
| | - Anthony N. Hodder
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical ResearchParkville3052VictoriaAustralia,Department of Medical BiologyUniversity of MelbourneParkville3010VictoriaAustralia
| | - Anna Ngo
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical ResearchParkville3052VictoriaAustralia
| | - Kate E. Jarman
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical ResearchParkville3052VictoriaAustralia,Department of Medical BiologyUniversity of MelbourneParkville3010VictoriaAustralia
| | - Alan F. Cowman
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical ResearchParkville3052VictoriaAustralia,Department of Medical BiologyUniversity of MelbourneParkville3010VictoriaAustralia
| | - Brad E. Sleebs
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical ResearchParkville3052VictoriaAustralia,Department of Medical BiologyUniversity of MelbourneParkville3010VictoriaAustralia
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18
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Looker O, Dans MG, Bullen HE, Sleebs BE, Crabb BS, Gilson PR. The Medicines for Malaria Venture Malaria Box contains inhibitors of protein secretion in
Plasmodium falciparum
blood stage parasites. Traffic 2022; 23:442-461. [PMID: 36040075 PMCID: PMC9543830 DOI: 10.1111/tra.12862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Revised: 07/17/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum parasites which cause malaria, traffic hundreds of proteins into the red blood cells (RBCs) they infect. These exported proteins remodel their RBCs enabling host immune evasion through processes such as cytoadherence that greatly assist parasite survival. As resistance to all current antimalarial compounds is rising new compounds need to be identified and those that could inhibit parasite protein secretion and export would both rapidly reduce parasite virulence and ultimately lead to parasite death. To identify compounds that inhibit protein export we used transgenic parasites expressing an exported nanoluciferase reporter to screen the Medicines for Malaria Venture Malaria Box of 400 antimalarial compounds with mostly unknown targets. The most potent inhibitor identified in this screen was MMV396797 whose application led to export inhibition of both the reporter and endogenous exported proteins. MMV396797 mediated blockage of protein export and slowed the rigidification and cytoadherence of infected RBCs—modifications which are both mediated by parasite‐derived exported proteins. Overall, we have identified a new protein export inhibitor in P. falciparum whose target though unknown, could be developed into a future antimalarial that rapidly inhibits parasite virulence before eliminating parasites from the host.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Madeline G. Dans
- Burnet Institute Melbourne Australia
- School of Medicine Deakin University Geelong Australia
| | - Hayley E. Bullen
- Burnet Institute Melbourne Australia
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology University of Melbourne Melbourne Australia
| | - Brad E. Sleebs
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research Parkville Victoria Australia
- Department of Medical Biology The University of Melbourne Parkville Victoria Australia
| | - Brendan S. Crabb
- Burnet Institute Melbourne Australia
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology University of Melbourne Melbourne Australia
- Department of Immunology and Pathology Monash University Melbourne Australia
| | - Paul R. Gilson
- Burnet Institute Melbourne Australia
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology University of Melbourne Melbourne Australia
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19
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Chen H, Wu Y, Li K, Currie I, Keating N, Dehkhoda F, Grohmann C, Babon JJ, Nicholson SE, Sleebs BE. Optimization of Phosphotyrosine Peptides that Target the SH2 Domain of SOCS1 and Block Substrate Ubiquitination. ACS Chem Biol 2022; 17:449-462. [PMID: 34989544 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.1c00884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 (SOCS1) has emerged as a potential therapeutic target in inflammatory and viral diseases. SOCS1 operates via its kinase inhibitory region, Src homology 2 (SH2) domain, and SOCS box to negatively regulate the Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription signaling pathway. In this study, we utilized native phosphotyrosine peptide substrates as a starting point to iteratively explore the requirement of each amino acid position to target the SH2 domain of SOCS1. We show that Met, Thr, Thr, Val, and Asp in the respective -1, +1, +2, +3, and +5 positions within the peptide substrate are favored for binding to the SOCS1-SH2 domain and identifying several phosphotyrosine peptides that have potent SOCS1 binding affinity with IC50 values ranging from 20 to 70 nM and greater than 100-fold selectivity against the closely related SOCS family proteins, CIS, SOCS2, and SOCS3. The optimized phosphotyrosine peptide was shown to stabilize SOCS1 in a thermal shift assay using cell lysates and inhibited SOCS1-mediated ubiquitination of a target substrate in a biochemical assay. Collectively, these data provide the framework to develop cell-permeable peptidomimetics that further investigate the potential of the SOCS1-SH2 domain as a therapeutic target in inflammatory and viral diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Chen
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
| | - Yuntong Wu
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
| | - Kunlun Li
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
| | - Iain Currie
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
| | - Narelle Keating
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
| | - Farhad Dehkhoda
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
| | - Christoph Grohmann
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
| | - Jeffrey J. Babon
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
| | - Sandra E. Nicholson
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
| | - Brad E. Sleebs
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
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20
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Gabriela M, Matthews KM, Boshoven C, Kouskousis B, Jonsdottir TK, Bullen HE, Modak J, Steer DL, Sleebs BE, Crabb BS, de Koning-Ward TF, Gilson PR. A revised mechanism for how Plasmodium falciparum recruits and exports proteins into its erythrocytic host cell. PLoS Pathog 2022; 18:e1009977. [PMID: 35192672 PMCID: PMC8896661 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Revised: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum exports ~10% of its proteome into its host erythrocyte to modify the host cell's physiology. The Plasmodium export element (PEXEL) motif contained within the N-terminus of most exported proteins directs the trafficking of those proteins into the erythrocyte. To reach the host cell, the PEXEL motif of exported proteins is processed by the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) resident aspartyl protease plasmepsin V. Then, following secretion into the parasite-encasing parasitophorous vacuole, the mature exported protein must be unfolded and translocated across the parasitophorous vacuole membrane by the Plasmodium translocon of exported proteins (PTEX). PTEX is a protein-conducting channel consisting of the pore-forming protein EXP2, the protein unfoldase HSP101, and structural component PTEX150. The mechanism of how exported proteins are specifically trafficked from the parasite's ER following PEXEL cleavage to PTEX complexes on the parasitophorous vacuole membrane is currently not understood. Here, we present evidence that EXP2 and PTEX150 form a stable subcomplex that facilitates HSP101 docking. We also demonstrate that HSP101 localises both within the parasitophorous vacuole and within the parasite's ER throughout the ring and trophozoite stage of the parasite, coinciding with the timeframe of protein export. Interestingly, we found that HSP101 can form specific interactions with model PEXEL proteins in the parasite's ER, irrespective of their PEXEL processing status. Collectively, our data suggest that HSP101 recognises and chaperones PEXEL proteins from the ER to the parasitophorous vacuole and given HSP101's specificity for the EXP2-PTEX150 subcomplex, this provides a mechanism for how exported proteins are specifically targeted to PTEX for translocation into the erythrocyte.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikha Gabriela
- Malaria Virulence and Drug Discovery Group, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia
- School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Kathryn M. Matthews
- School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
- Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT), Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Cas Boshoven
- Malaria Virulence and Drug Discovery Group, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Betty Kouskousis
- Malaria Virulence and Drug Discovery Group, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Thorey K. Jonsdottir
- Malaria Virulence and Drug Discovery Group, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Hayley E. Bullen
- Malaria Virulence and Drug Discovery Group, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Joyanta Modak
- School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
- Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT), Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - David L. Steer
- Monash Biomedical Proteomics and Metabolomics Facility, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Brad E. Sleebs
- ACRF Chemical Biology Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Brendan S. Crabb
- Malaria Virulence and Drug Discovery Group, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Immunology and Pathology, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Tania F. de Koning-Ward
- School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
- Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT), Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Paul R. Gilson
- Malaria Virulence and Drug Discovery Group, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- * E-mail:
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21
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Sleebs BE. Australian chemistry and drug discovery towards the development of antimalarials†. Aust J Chem 2022. [DOI: 10.1071/ch22141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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22
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Kim ML, Hardy MY, Edgington-Mitchell LE, Ramarathinam SH, Chung SZ, Russell AK, Currie I, Sleebs BE, Purcell AW, Tye-Din JA, Wicks IP. Hydroxychloroquine inhibits the mitochondrial antioxidant system in activated T cells. iScience 2021; 24:103509. [PMID: 34934928 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.103509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Revised: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Although hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) has long been used to treat autoimmune diseases, its mechanism of action remains poorly understood. In CD4 T-cells, we found that a clinically relevant concentration of HCQ inhibited the mitochondrial antioxidant system triggered by TCR crosslinking, leading to increased mitochondrial superoxide, impaired activation-induced autophagic flux, and reduced proliferation of CD4 T-cells. In antigen-presenting cells, HCQ also reduced constitutive activation of the endo-lysosomal protease legumain and toll-like receptor 9, thereby reducing cytokine production, but it had little apparent impact on constitutive antigen processing and peptide presentation. HCQ's effects did not require endo-lysosomal pH change, nor impaired autophagosome-lysosome fusion. We explored the clinical relevance of these findings in patients with celiac disease-a prototypic CD4 T-cell-mediated disease-and found that HCQ limits ex vivo antigen-specific T cell responses. We report a T-cell-intrinsic immunomodulatory effect from HCQ and suggest potential re-purposing of HCQ for celiac disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Man Lyang Kim
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Melinda Y Hardy
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Laura E Edgington-Mitchell
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia.,Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia.,Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, New York University College of Dentistry, Bluestone Center for Clinical Research, New York, NY 10010, USA
| | - Sri H Ramarathinam
- Infection and Immunity Program and The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Shan Zou Chung
- Infection and Immunity Program and The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Amy K Russell
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Iain Currie
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Brad E Sleebs
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Anthony W Purcell
- Infection and Immunity Program and The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Jason A Tye-Din
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia.,Gastroenterology Department, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Ian P Wicks
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia.,Rheumatology Unit, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
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23
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Bailey BL, Nguyen W, Ngo A, Goodman CD, Gancheva MR, Favuzza P, Sanz LM, Gamo FJ, Lowes KN, McFadden GI, Wilson DW, Laleu B, Brand S, Jackson PF, Cowman AF, Sleebs BE. Optimisation of 2-(N-phenyl carboxamide) triazolopyrimidine antimalarials with moderate to slow acting erythrocytic stage activity. Bioorg Chem 2021; 115:105244. [PMID: 34452759 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2021.105244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Revised: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Malaria is a devastating parasitic disease caused by parasites from the genus Plasmodium. Therapeutic resistance has been reported against all clinically available antimalarials, threatening our ability to control the disease and therefore there is an ongoing need for the development of novel antimalarials. Towards this goal, we identified the 2-(N-phenyl carboxamide) triazolopyrimidine class from a high throughput screen of the Janssen Jumpstarter library against the asexual stages of the P. falciparum parasite. Here we describe the structure activity relationship of the identified class and the optimisation of asexual stage activity while maintaining selectivity against the human HepG2 cell line. The most potent analogues from this study were shown to exhibit equipotent activity against P. falciparum multidrug resistant strains and P. knowlesi asexual parasites. Asexual stage phenotyping studies determined the triazolopyrimidine class arrests parasites at the trophozoite stage, but it is likely these parasites are still metabolically active until the second asexual cycle, and thus have a moderate to slow onset of action. Non-NADPH dependent degradation of the central carboxamide and low aqueous solubility was observed in in vitro ADME profiling. A significant challenge remains to correct these liabilities for further advancement of the 2-(N-phenyl carboxamide) triazolopyrimidine scaffold as a potential moderate to slow acting partner in a curative or prophylactic antimalarial treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brodie L Bailey
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
| | - William Nguyen
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
| | - Anna Ngo
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia
| | | | - Maria R Gancheva
- Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Paola Favuzza
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
| | - Laura M Sanz
- Global Health Pharma Research Unit, GlaxoSmithKline, Tres Cantos 28760, Spain
| | | | - Kym N Lowes
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
| | - Geoffrey I McFadden
- School of Biosciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Danny W Wilson
- Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia; Macfarlane Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health, Melbourne 3004, Australia
| | - Benoît Laleu
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, Geneva 1215, Switzerland
| | - Stephen Brand
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, Geneva 1215, Switzerland
| | - Paul F Jackson
- Global Public Health, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Alan F Cowman
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
| | - Brad E Sleebs
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia.
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24
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Taki AC, Byrne JJ, Wang T, Sleebs BE, Nguyen N, Hall RS, Korhonen PK, Chang BC, Jackson P, Jabbar A, Gasser RB. High-Throughput Phenotypic Assay to Screen for Anthelmintic Activity on Haemonchus contortus. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:ph14070616. [PMID: 34206910 PMCID: PMC8308562 DOI: 10.3390/ph14070616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Revised: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Parasitic worms cause very significant diseases in animals and humans worldwide, and their control is critical to enhance health, well-being and productivity. Due to widespread drug resistance in many parasitic worms of animals globally, there is a major, continuing demand for the discovery and development of anthelmintic drugs for use to control these worms. Here, we established a practical, cost-effective and semi-automated high throughput screening (HTS) assay, which relies on the measurement of motility of larvae of the barber’s pole worm (Haemonchus contortus) using infrared light-interference. Using this assay, we screened 80,500 small molecules and achieved a hit rate of 0.05%. We identified three small molecules that reproducibly inhibited larval motility and/or development (IC50 values of ~4 to 41 µM). Future work will critically assess the potential of selected hits as candidates for subsequent optimisation or repurposing against parasitic nematodes. This HTS assay has a major advantage over most previous assays in that it achieves a ≥ 10-times higher throughput (i.e., 10,000 compounds per week), and is thus suited to the screening of libraries of tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of compounds for subsequent hit-to-lead optimisation or effective repurposing and development. The current assay should be adaptable to many socioeconomically important parasitic nematodes, including those that cause neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). This aspect is of relevance, given the goals of the World Health Organization (WHO) Roadmap for NTDs 2021–2030, to develop more effective drugs and drug combinations to improve patient outcomes and circumvent the ineffectiveness of some current anthelmintic drugs and possible drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aya C. Taki
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia; (A.C.T.); (J.J.B.); (T.W.); (B.E.S.); (R.S.H.); (P.K.K.); (B.C.H.C.); (A.J.)
| | - Joseph J. Byrne
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia; (A.C.T.); (J.J.B.); (T.W.); (B.E.S.); (R.S.H.); (P.K.K.); (B.C.H.C.); (A.J.)
| | - Tao Wang
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia; (A.C.T.); (J.J.B.); (T.W.); (B.E.S.); (R.S.H.); (P.K.K.); (B.C.H.C.); (A.J.)
| | - Brad E. Sleebs
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia; (A.C.T.); (J.J.B.); (T.W.); (B.E.S.); (R.S.H.); (P.K.K.); (B.C.H.C.); (A.J.)
- Chemical Biology Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia;
- Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Nghi Nguyen
- Chemical Biology Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia;
- Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Ross S. Hall
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia; (A.C.T.); (J.J.B.); (T.W.); (B.E.S.); (R.S.H.); (P.K.K.); (B.C.H.C.); (A.J.)
| | - Pasi K. Korhonen
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia; (A.C.T.); (J.J.B.); (T.W.); (B.E.S.); (R.S.H.); (P.K.K.); (B.C.H.C.); (A.J.)
| | - Bill C.H. Chang
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia; (A.C.T.); (J.J.B.); (T.W.); (B.E.S.); (R.S.H.); (P.K.K.); (B.C.H.C.); (A.J.)
| | - Paul Jackson
- Johnson & Johnson, Global Public Health, Janssen Research and Development, San Diego, CA 92121, USA;
| | - Abdul Jabbar
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia; (A.C.T.); (J.J.B.); (T.W.); (B.E.S.); (R.S.H.); (P.K.K.); (B.C.H.C.); (A.J.)
| | - Robin B. Gasser
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia; (A.C.T.); (J.J.B.); (T.W.); (B.E.S.); (R.S.H.); (P.K.K.); (B.C.H.C.); (A.J.)
- Correspondence:
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25
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Chen H, Mao R, Brzozowski M, Nguyen NH, Sleebs BE. Late Stage Phosphotyrosine Mimetic Functionalization of Peptides Employing Metallaphotoredox Catalysis. Org Lett 2021; 23:4244-4249. [PMID: 34029466 DOI: 10.1021/acs.orglett.1c01200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Access to phosphotyrosine (pTyr) mimetics requires multistep syntheses, and therefore late stage incorporation of these mimetics into peptides is not feasible. Here, we develop and employ metallaphotoredox catalysis using 4-halogenated phenylalanine to afford a variety of protected pTyr mimetics in one step. This methodology was shown to be tolerant of common protecting groups and applicable to the late stage pTyr mimetic modification of protected and unprotected peptides, and peptides of biological relevance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Chen
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Runyu Mao
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Martin Brzozowski
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Nghi H Nguyen
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Brad E Sleebs
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
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26
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Nguyen W, Lee EF, Evangelista M, Lee M, Harris TJ, Colman PM, Smith NA, Williams LB, Jarman KE, Lowes KN, Haeberli C, Keiser J, Smith BJ, Fairlie WD, Sleebs BE. Optimization of Benzothiazole and Thiazole Hydrazones as Inhibitors of Schistosome BCL-2. ACS Infect Dis 2021; 7:1143-1163. [PMID: 33523649 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.0c00700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Limited therapeutic options are available for the treatment of human schistosomiasis caused by the parasitic Schistosoma flatworm. The B cell lymphoma-2 (BCL-2)-regulated apoptotic cell death pathway in schistosomes was recently characterized and shown to share similarities with the intrinsic apoptosis pathway in humans. Here, we exploit structural differences in the human and schistosome BCL-2 (sBCL-2) pro-survival proteins toward a novel treatment strategy for schistosomiasis. The benzothiazole hydrazone scaffold previously employed to target human BCL-XL was repurposed as a starting point to target sBCL-2. We utilized X-ray structural data to inform optimization and then applied a scaffold-hop strategy to identify the 5-carboxamide thiazole hydrazone scaffold (43) with potent sBCL-2 activity (IC50 30 nM). Human BCL-XL potency (IC50 13 nM) was inadvertently preserved during the optimization process. The lead analogues from this study exhibit on-target activity in model fibroblast cell lines dependent on either sBCL-2 or human BCL-XL for survival. Further optimization of the thiazole hydrazone class is required to exhibit activity in schistosomes and enhance the potential of this strategy for treating schistosomiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Nguyen
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
| | - Erinna F. Lee
- La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne 3086, Australia
- Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, Heidelberg 3084, Australia
- School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Melbourne 3086, Australia
| | - Marco Evangelista
- Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, Heidelberg 3084, Australia
| | - Mihwa Lee
- La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne 3086, Australia
| | - Tiffany J. Harris
- Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, Heidelberg 3084, Australia
| | - Peter M. Colman
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
| | - Nicholas A. Smith
- La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne 3086, Australia
| | - Luke B. Williams
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia
| | - Kate E. Jarman
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
| | - Kym N. Lowes
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
| | - Cécile Haeberli
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel 4002, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel 4001, Switzerland
| | - Jennifer Keiser
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel 4002, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel 4001, Switzerland
| | - Brian J. Smith
- La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne 3086, Australia
| | - W. Douglas Fairlie
- La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne 3086, Australia
- Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, Heidelberg 3084, Australia
- School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Melbourne 3086, Australia
| | - Brad E. Sleebs
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Australia
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27
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Medan J, Sleebs BE, Lackovic K, Watson KG, Evison BJ, Phillips DR, Cutts SM. Development of an automated assay for accelerated in vitro detection of DNA adduct-inducing and crosslinking agents. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2021; 35:127813. [PMID: 33486050 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2021.127813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2020] [Revised: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 01/17/2021] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Current techniques for the identification of DNA adduct-inducing and DNA interstrand crosslinking agents include electrophoretic crosslinking assays, electrophoretic gel shift assays, DNA and RNA stop assays, mass spectrometry-based methods and 32P-post-labelling. While these assays provide considerable insight into the site and stability of the interaction, they are relatively expensive, time-consuming and sometimes rely on the use of radioactively-labelled components, and thus are ill-suited to screening large numbers of compounds. A novel medium throughput assay was developed to overcome these limitations and was based on the attachment of a biotin-tagged double stranded (ds) oligonucleotide to Corning DNA-Bind plates. We aimed to detect anthracycline and anthracenedione DNA adducts which form by initial non-covalent intercalation with duplex DNA, and subsequent covalent adduct formation which is mediated by formaldehyde. Following drug treatment, DNA samples were subjected to a denaturation step, washing and then measurement by fluorescence to detect remaining drug-DNA species using streptavidin-europium. This dissociation-enhanced lanthanide fluorescent immunoassay (DELFIA) is a time-resolved fluorescence intensity assay where the fluorescence signal arises only from stabilised drug-DNA complexes. We applied this new methodology to the identification of anthracycline-like compounds with the ability to functionally crosslink double-strand oligonucleotides. The entire procedure can be performed by robotics, requiring low volumes of compounds and reagents, thereby reducing costs and enabling multiple compounds to be assessed on a single microtitre plate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jelena Medan
- La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Victoria 3086, Australia; Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Brad E Sleebs
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Kurt Lackovic
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia; Cancer Trials Australia, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia
| | - Keith G Watson
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Benny J Evison
- La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Victoria 3086, Australia; Nyrada Inc, 828 Pacific Highway, Gordon, NSW 2072, Australia
| | - Don R Phillips
- La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Victoria 3086, Australia
| | - Suzanne M Cutts
- La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Victoria 3086, Australia.
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28
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Nguyen W, Dans MG, Ngo A, Gancheva MR, Romeo O, Duffy S, de Koning-Ward TF, Lowes KN, Sabroux HJ, Avery VM, Wilson DW, Gilson PR, Sleebs BE. Structure activity refinement of phenylsulfonyl piperazines as antimalarials that block erythrocytic invasion. Eur J Med Chem 2021; 214:113253. [PMID: 33610028 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The emerging resistance to combination therapies comprised of artemisinin derivatives has driven a need to identify new antimalarials with novel mechanisms of action. Central to the survival and proliferation of the malaria parasite is the invasion of red blood cells by Plasmodium merozoites, providing an attractive target for novel therapeutics. A screen of the Medicines for Malaria Venture Pathogen Box employing transgenic P. falciparum parasites expressing the nanoluciferase bioluminescent reporter identified the phenylsulfonyl piperazine class as a specific inhibitor of erythrocyte invasion. Here, we describe the optimization and further characterization of the phenylsulfonyl piperazine class. During the optimization process we defined the functionality required for P. falciparum asexual stage activity and determined the alpha-carbonyl S-methyl isomer was important for antimalarial potency. The optimized compounds also possessed comparable activity against multidrug resistant strains of P. falciparum and displayed weak activity against sexual stage gametocytes. We determined that the optimized compounds blocked erythrocyte invasion consistent with the asexual activity observed and therefore the phenylsulfonyl piperazine analogues described could serve as useful tools for studying Plasmodium erythrocyte invasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Nguyen
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Australia
| | - Madeline G Dans
- Macfarlane Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health, Melbourne, 3004, Australia; School of Medicine, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, 3216, Australia
| | - Anna Ngo
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Australia
| | - Maria R Gancheva
- Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Ornella Romeo
- Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Sandra Duffy
- Discovery Biology, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland, 4111, Australia
| | | | - Kym N Lowes
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Australia
| | - Helene Jousset Sabroux
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Australia
| | - Vicky M Avery
- Discovery Biology, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland, 4111, Australia
| | - Danny W Wilson
- Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia; Macfarlane Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health, Melbourne, 3004, Australia
| | - Paul R Gilson
- Macfarlane Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health, Melbourne, 3004, Australia
| | - Brad E Sleebs
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Australia.
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29
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Abstract
A one-step synthesis of acyl phosphoramidates from a variety of functionalized acyl azides has been developed employing trimethylsilyl chloride as an activating agent in a modified Staudinger reaction. The methodology was further adapted to include the in situ generation of the acyl azides from a diverse selection of carboxylic acids and hydrazide starting synthons. The reaction scope was extended to include the synthesis of imidodiphosphates and the natural product Microcin C.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iain Currie
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Brad E Sleebs
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
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30
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Herath HMPD, Taki AC, Sleebs BE, Hofmann A, Nguyen N, Preston S, Davis RA, Jabbar A, Gasser RB. Advances in the discovery and development of anthelmintics by harnessing natural product scaffolds. Adv Parasitol 2021; 111:203-251. [PMID: 33482975 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apar.2020.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Widespread resistance to currently-used anthelmintics represents a major obstacle to controlling parasitic nematodes of livestock animals. Given the reliance on anthelmintics in many control regimens, there is a need for the continued discovery and development of new nematocides. Enabling such a focus are: (i) the major chemical diversity of natural products; (ii) the availability of curated, drug-like extract-, fraction- and/or compound-libraries from natural sources; (iii) the utility and practicality of well-established whole-worm bioassays for Haemonchus contortus-an important parasitic nematodes of livestock-to screen natural product libraries; and (iv) the availability of advanced chromatographic (HPLC), spectroscopic (NMR) and spectrometric (MS) techniques for bioassay-guided fractionation and structural elucidation. This context provides a sound basis for the identification and characterisation of anthelmintic candidates from natural sources. This chapter provides a background on the importance and impact of helminth infections/diseases, parasite control and aspects of drug discovery, and reviews recent work focused on (i) screening well-defined compound libraries to establish the methods needed for large-scale screening of natural extract libraries; (ii) discovering plant and marine extracts with nematocidal or nematostatic activity, and purifying bioactive compounds and assessing their potential for further development; and (iii) synthesising analogues of selected purified natural compounds for the identification of possible 'lead' candidates. The chapter describes some lessons learned from this work and proposes future areas of focus for drug discovery. Collectively, the findings from this recent work show potential for selected natural product scaffolds as candidates for future development. Developing such candidates via future chemical optimisation, efficacy and safety evaluations, broad spectrum activity assessments, and target identification represents an exciting prospect and, if successful, could pave the way to subsequent pre-clinical and clinical evaluations.
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Affiliation(s)
- H M P Dilrukshi Herath
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Aya C Taki
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Brad E Sleebs
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Andreas Hofmann
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Nghi Nguyen
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Sarah Preston
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Faculty of Science and Technology, Federation University, Ballarat, Victoria, Australia
| | - Rohan A Davis
- Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Abdul Jabbar
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Robin B Gasser
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
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Sleebs BE, Jarman KE, Frolich S, Wong W, Healer J, Dai W, Lucet IS, Wilson DW, Cowman AF. Development and application of a high-throughput screening assay for identification of small molecule inhibitors of the P. falciparum reticulocyte binding-like homologue 5 protein. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist 2020; 14:188-200. [PMID: 33152623 PMCID: PMC7645381 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2020.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2019] [Revised: 10/21/2020] [Accepted: 10/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The P. falciparum parasite, responsible for the disease in humans known as malaria, must invade erythrocytes to provide an environment for self-replication and survival. For invasion to occur, the parasite must engage several ligands on the host erythrocyte surface to enable adhesion, tight junction formation and entry. Critical interactions include binding of erythrocyte binding-like ligands and reticulocyte binding-like homologues (Rhs) to the surface of the host erythrocyte. The reticulocyte binding-like homologue 5 (Rh5) is the only member of this family that is essential for invasion and it binds to the basigin host receptor. The essential nature of Rh5 makes it an important vaccine target, however to date, Rh5 has not been targeted by small molecule intervention. Here, we describe the development of a high-throughput screening assay to identify small molecules which interfere with the Rh5-basigin interaction. To validate the utility of this assay we screened a known drug library and the Medicines for Malaria Box and demonstrated the reproducibility and robustness of the assay for high-throughput screening purposes. The screen of the known drug library identified the known leukotriene antagonist, pranlukast. We used pranlukast as a model inhibitor in a post screening evaluation cascade. We procured and synthesised analogues of pranlukast to assist in the hit confirmation process and show which structural moieties of pranlukast attenuate the Rh5 – basigin interaction. Evaluation of pranlukast analogues against P. falciparum in a viability assay and a schizont rupture assay show the parasite activity was not consistent with the biochemical inhibition of Rh5, questioning the developability of pranlukast as an antimalarial. The high-throughput assay developed from this work has the capacity to screen large collections of small molecules to discover inhibitors of P. falciparum Rh5 for future development of invasion inhibitory antimalarials. A high-throughput screening assay was developed to identify inhibitors of Rh5. The assay was applied in a screen of the MMV Malaria Box and a known drug library. Pranlukast was identified as a hit, but could not be conclusively validated. Assay enables future screens of large compound libraries to discover Rh5 inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brad E Sleebs
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia.
| | - Kate E Jarman
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
| | - Sonja Frolich
- Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, 5005, Australia
| | - Wilson Wong
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
| | - Julie Healer
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
| | - Weiwen Dai
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
| | - Isabelle S Lucet
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
| | - Danny W Wilson
- Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, 5005, Australia
| | - Alan F Cowman
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
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Burns AL, Sleebs BE, Siddiqui G, De Paoli AE, Anderson D, Liffner B, Harvey R, Beeson JG, Creek DJ, Goodman CD, McFadden GI, Wilson DW. Retargeting azithromycin analogues to have dual-modality antimalarial activity. BMC Biol 2020; 18:133. [PMID: 32993629 PMCID: PMC7526119 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-020-00859-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2020] [Accepted: 08/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Resistance to front-line antimalarials (artemisinin combination therapies) is spreading, and development of new drug treatment strategies to rapidly kill Plasmodium spp. malaria parasites is urgently needed. Azithromycin is a clinically used macrolide antibiotic proposed as a partner drug for combination therapy in malaria, which has also been tested as monotherapy. However, its slow-killing 'delayed-death' activity against the parasite's apicoplast organelle and suboptimal activity as monotherapy limit its application as a potential malaria treatment. Here, we explore a panel of azithromycin analogues and demonstrate that chemical modifications can be used to greatly improve the speed and potency of antimalarial action. RESULTS Investigation of 84 azithromycin analogues revealed nanomolar quick-killing potency directed against the very earliest stage of parasite development within red blood cells. Indeed, the best analogue exhibited 1600-fold higher potency than azithromycin with less than 48 hrs treatment in vitro. Analogues were effective against zoonotic Plasmodium knowlesi malaria parasites and against both multi-drug and artemisinin-resistant Plasmodium falciparum lines. Metabolomic profiles of azithromycin analogue-treated parasites suggested activity in the parasite food vacuole and mitochondria were disrupted. Moreover, unlike the food vacuole-targeting drug chloroquine, azithromycin and analogues were active across blood-stage development, including merozoite invasion, suggesting that these macrolides have a multi-factorial mechanism of quick-killing activity. The positioning of functional groups added to azithromycin and its quick-killing analogues altered their activity against bacterial-like ribosomes but had minimal change on 'quick-killing' activity. Apicoplast minus parasites remained susceptible to both azithromycin and its analogues, further demonstrating that quick-killing is independent of apicoplast-targeting, delayed-death activity. CONCLUSION We show that azithromycin and analogues can rapidly kill malaria parasite asexual blood stages via a fast action mechanism. Development of azithromycin and analogues as antimalarials offers the possibility of targeting parasites through both a quick-killing and delayed-death mechanism of action in a single, multifactorial chemotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy L Burns
- Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, 5005, Australia
| | - Brad E Sleebs
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Victoria, 3050, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, 3050, Australia
| | - Ghizal Siddiqui
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, 3052, Australia
| | - Amanda E De Paoli
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, 3052, Australia
| | - Dovile Anderson
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, 3052, Australia
| | - Benjamin Liffner
- Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, 5005, Australia
| | - Richard Harvey
- Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, 5005, Australia
| | - James G Beeson
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004, Australia
- Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- Central Clinical School and Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Darren J Creek
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, 3052, Australia
| | - Christopher D Goodman
- School of Biosciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Geoffrey I McFadden
- School of Biosciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Danny W Wilson
- Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, 5005, Australia.
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004, Australia.
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Jennison C, Lucantoni L, O'Neill MT, McConville R, Erickson SM, Cowman AF, Sleebs BE, Avery VM, Boddey JA. Inhibition of Plasmepsin V Activity Blocks Plasmodium falciparum Gametocytogenesis and Transmission to Mosquitoes. Cell Rep 2020; 29:3796-3806.e4. [PMID: 31851913 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2019.11.073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2019] [Revised: 10/14/2019] [Accepted: 11/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes infect mosquitoes and are responsible for malaria transmission. New interventions that block transmission could accelerate malaria elimination. Gametocytes develop within erythrocytes and activate protein export pathways that remodel the host cell. Plasmepsin V (PMV) is an aspartyl protease that is required for protein export in asexual parasites, but its function and essentiality in gametocytes has not been definitively proven, nor has PMV been assessed as a transmission-blocking drug target. Here, we show that PMV is expressed and can be inhibited specifically in P. falciparum stage I-II gametocytes. PMV inhibitors block processing and export of gametocyte effector proteins and inhibit development of stage II-V gametocytes. Gametocytogenesis in the presence of sublethal inhibitor concentrations results in stage V gametocytes that fail to infect mosquitoes. Therefore, PMV primes gametocyte effectors for export, which is essential for the development and fitness of gametocytes for transmission to mosquitoes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlie Jennison
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, VIC, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, VIC, Australia
| | - Leonardo Lucantoni
- Discovery Biology, Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Nathan 4111, QLD, Australia
| | - Matthew T O'Neill
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, VIC, Australia
| | - Robyn McConville
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, VIC, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, VIC, Australia
| | - Sara M Erickson
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, VIC, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, VIC, Australia
| | - Alan F Cowman
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, VIC, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, VIC, Australia
| | - Brad E Sleebs
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, VIC, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, VIC, Australia
| | - Vicky M Avery
- Discovery Biology, Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Nathan 4111, QLD, Australia
| | - Justin A Boddey
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville 3052, VIC, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, VIC, Australia.
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Favuzza P, de Lera Ruiz M, Thompson JK, Triglia T, Ngo A, Steel RWJ, Vavrek M, Christensen J, Healer J, Boyce C, Guo Z, Hu M, Khan T, Murgolo N, Zhao L, Penington JS, Reaksudsan K, Jarman K, Dietrich MH, Richardson L, Guo KY, Lopaticki S, Tham WH, Rottmann M, Papenfuss T, Robbins JA, Boddey JA, Sleebs BE, Sabroux HJ, McCauley JA, Olsen DB, Cowman AF. Dual Plasmepsin-Targeting Antimalarial Agents Disrupt Multiple Stages of the Malaria Parasite Life Cycle. Cell Host Microbe 2020; 27:642-658.e12. [PMID: 32109369 PMCID: PMC7146544 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2020.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2019] [Revised: 12/22/2019] [Accepted: 02/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Artemisin combination therapy (ACT) is the main treatment option for malaria, which is caused by the intracellular parasite Plasmodium. However, increased resistance to ACT highlights the importance of finding new drugs. Recently, the aspartic proteases Plasmepsin IX and X (PMIX and PMX) were identified as promising drug targets. In this study, we describe dual inhibitors of PMIX and PMX, including WM382, that block multiple stages of the Plasmodium life cycle. We demonstrate that PMX is a master modulator of merozoite invasion and direct maturation of proteins required for invasion, parasite development, and egress. Oral administration of WM382 cured mice of P. berghei and prevented blood infection from the liver. In addition, WM382 was efficacious against P. falciparum asexual infection in humanized mice and prevented transmission to mosquitoes. Selection of resistant P. falciparum in vitro was not achievable. Together, these show that dual PMIX and PMX inhibitors are promising candidates for malaria treatment and prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Favuzza
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | | | - Jennifer K Thompson
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Tony Triglia
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Anna Ngo
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Ryan W J Steel
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Marissa Vavrek
- Merck & Co., Inc., 770 Sumneytown Pike, West Point, PA 19486, USA
| | - Janni Christensen
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Julie Healer
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | | | - Zhuyan Guo
- Merck & Co., Inc., 770 Sumneytown Pike, West Point, PA 19486, USA
| | - Mengwei Hu
- Merck & Co., Inc., 770 Sumneytown Pike, West Point, PA 19486, USA
| | - Tanweer Khan
- Merck & Co., Inc., 770 Sumneytown Pike, West Point, PA 19486, USA
| | - Nicholas Murgolo
- Merck & Co., Inc., 770 Sumneytown Pike, West Point, PA 19486, USA
| | - Lianyun Zhao
- Merck & Co., Inc., 770 Sumneytown Pike, West Point, PA 19486, USA
| | | | - Kitsanapong Reaksudsan
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Kate Jarman
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Melanie H Dietrich
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Lachlan Richardson
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Kai-Yuan Guo
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Sash Lopaticki
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Wai-Hong Tham
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | | | - Tony Papenfuss
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | | | - Justin A Boddey
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Brad E Sleebs
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Hélène Jousset Sabroux
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - John A McCauley
- Merck & Co., Inc., 770 Sumneytown Pike, West Point, PA 19486, USA
| | - David B Olsen
- Merck & Co., Inc., 770 Sumneytown Pike, West Point, PA 19486, USA.
| | - Alan F Cowman
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia.
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Nguyen W, Jacobson J, Jarman KE, Blackmore TR, Sabroux HJ, Lewin SR, Purcell DF, Sleebs BE. Optimization of 5-substituted thiazolyl ureas and 6-substituted imidazopyridines as potential HIV-1 latency reversing agents. Eur J Med Chem 2020; 195:112254. [PMID: 32251744 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2020.112254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2019] [Revised: 02/13/2020] [Accepted: 03/17/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
A persistent latent reservoir of virus in CD4+ T cells is a major barrier to cure HIV. Activating viral transcription in latently infected cells using small molecules is one strategy being explored to eliminate latency. We previously described the use of a FlpIn.FM HEK293 cellular assay to identify and then optimize the 2-acylaminothiazole class to exhibit modest activation of HIV gene expression. Here, we implement two strategies to further improve the activation of viral gene expression and physicochemical properties of this class. Firstly, we explored rigidification of the central oxy-carbon linker with a variety of saturated heterocycles, and secondly, investigated bioisosteric replacement of the 2-acylaminothiazole moiety. The optimization process afforded lead compounds (74 and 91) from the 2-piperazinyl thiazolyl urea and the imidazopyridine class. The lead compounds from each class demonstrate potent activation of HIV gene expression in the FlpIn.FM HEK293 cellular assay (both with LTR EC50s of 80 nM) and in the Jurkat Latency 10.6 cell model (LTR EC50 220 and 320 nM respectively), but consequently activate gene expression non-specifically in the FlpIn.FM HEK293 cellular assay (CMV EC50 70 and 270 nM respectively) manifesting in cellular cytotoxicity. The lead compounds have potential for further development as novel latency reversing agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Nguyen
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute for Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
| | - Jonathan Jacobson
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute of Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3000, Australia
| | - Kate E Jarman
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute for Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
| | - Timothy R Blackmore
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute for Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
| | - Helene Jousset Sabroux
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute for Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
| | - Sharon R Lewin
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute of Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3000, Australia; The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne and Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, 3000, Australia; Department of Infectious Diseases, Alfred Health and Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004, Australia
| | - Damian F Purcell
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute of Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3000, Australia
| | - Brad E Sleebs
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute for Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia.
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Dans MG, Weiss GE, Wilson DW, Sleebs BE, Crabb BS, de Koning-Ward TF, Gilson PR. Screening the Medicines for Malaria Venture Pathogen Box for invasion and egress inhibitors of the blood stage of Plasmodium falciparum reveals several inhibitory compounds. Int J Parasitol 2020; 50:235-252. [PMID: 32135179 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2020.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2019] [Revised: 12/30/2019] [Accepted: 01/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
With emerging resistance to frontline treatments, it is vital that new drugs are identified to target Plasmodium falciparum. One of the most critical processes during parasites asexual lifecycle is the invasion and subsequent egress of red blood cells (RBCs). Many unique parasite ligands, receptors and enzymes are employed during egress and invasion that are essential for parasite proliferation and survival, therefore making these processes druggable targets. To identify potential inhibitors of egress and invasion, we screened the Medicines for Malaria Venture Pathogen Box, a 400 compound library against neglected tropical diseases, including 125 with antimalarial activity. For this screen, we utilised transgenic parasites expressing a bioluminescent reporter, nanoluciferase (Nluc), to measure inhibition of parasite egress and invasion in the presence of the Pathogen Box compounds. At a concentration of 2 µM, we found 15 compounds that inhibited parasite egress by >40% and 24 invasion-specific compounds that inhibited invasion by >90%. We further characterised 11 of these inhibitors through cell-based assays and live cell microscopy, and found two compounds that inhibited merozoite maturation in schizonts, one compound that inhibited merozoite egress, one compound that directly inhibited parasite invasion and one compound that slowed down invasion and arrested ring formation. The remaining compounds were general growth inhibitors that acted during the egress and invasion phase of the cell cycle. We found the sulfonylpiperazine, MMV020291, to be the most invasion-specific inhibitor, blocking successful merozoite internalisation within human RBCs and having no substantial effect on other stages of the cell cycle. This has significant implications for the possible development of an invasion-specific inhibitor as an antimalarial in a combination based therapy, in addition to being a useful tool for studying the biology of the invading parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madeline G Dans
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia; School of Medicine, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria 3216, Australia.
| | - Greta E Weiss
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia
| | - Danny W Wilson
- Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia; Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia
| | - Brad E Sleebs
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia; The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Brendan S Crabb
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia; The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | | | - Paul R Gilson
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia.
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Pumuye PP, Evison BJ, Konda SK, Collins JG, Kelso C, Medan J, Sleebs BE, Watson K, Phillips DR, Cutts SM. Formaldehyde-activated WEHI-150 induces DNA interstrand crosslinks with unique structural features. Bioorg Med Chem 2020; 28:115260. [PMID: 31870833 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2019.115260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2019] [Revised: 12/05/2019] [Accepted: 12/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Mitoxantrone is an anticancer anthracenedione that can be activated by formaldehyde to generate covalent drug-DNA adducts. Despite their covalent nature, these DNA lesions are relatively labile. It was recently established that analogues of mitoxantrone featuring extended side-chains terminating in primary amino groups typically yielded high levels of stable DNA adducts following their activation by formaldehyde. In this study we describe the DNA sequence-specific binding properties of the mitoxantrone analogue WEHI-150 which is the first anthracenedione to form apparent DNA crosslinks mediated by formaldehyde. The utility of this compound lies in the versatility of the covalent binding modes displayed. Unlike other anthracenediones described to date, WEHI-150 can mediate covalent adducts that are independent of interactions with the N-2 of guanine and is capable of adduct formation at novel DNA sequences. Moreover, these covalent adducts incorporate more than one formaldehyde-mediated bond with DNA, thus facilitating the formation of highly lethal DNA crosslinks. The versatility of binding observed is anticipated to allow the next generation of anthracenediones to interact with a broader spectrum of nucleic acid species than previously demonstrated by the parent compounds, thus allowing for more diverse biological activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul P Pumuye
- La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Victoria 3086, Australia
| | - Benny J Evison
- La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Victoria 3086, Australia
| | - Shyam K Konda
- School of Science, University of New South Wales, Canberra 2610, Australia
| | - J Grant Collins
- School of Science, University of New South Wales, Canberra 2610, Australia
| | - Celine Kelso
- School of Chemistry, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
| | - Jelena Medan
- La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Victoria 3086, Australia; Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Brad E Sleebs
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Keith Watson
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Don R Phillips
- La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Victoria 3086, Australia
| | - Suzanne M Cutts
- La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Victoria 3086, Australia.
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38
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Ashton TD, Devine SM, Möhrle JJ, Laleu B, Burrows JN, Charman SA, Creek DJ, Sleebs BE. The Development Process for Discovery and Clinical Advancement of Modern Antimalarials. J Med Chem 2019; 62:10526-10562. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.9b00761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Trent D. Ashton
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Shane M. Devine
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Jörg J. Möhrle
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, ICC, Route de Pré-Bois 20, 1215 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Benoît Laleu
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, ICC, Route de Pré-Bois 20, 1215 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Jeremy N. Burrows
- Medicines for Malaria Venture, ICC, Route de Pré-Bois 20, 1215 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Susan A. Charman
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Darren J. Creek
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Brad E. Sleebs
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
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39
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Nguyen W, Jacobson J, Jarman KE, Jousset Sabroux H, Harty L, McMahon J, Lewin SR, Purcell DF, Sleebs BE. Identification of 5-Substituted 2-Acylaminothiazoles That Activate Tat-Mediated Transcription in HIV-1 Latency Models. J Med Chem 2019; 62:5148-5175. [PMID: 30973727 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.9b00462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
The persistent reservoir of cells latently infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-integrated proviral DNA necessitates lifelong suppressive antiretroviral therapy (ART). Epigenetic targeted compounds have shown promise as potential latency-reversing agents; however, these drugs have undesirable toxicity and lack specificity for HIV. We utilized a novel HEK293-derived FlpIn dual-reporter cell line, which quantifies specific HIV provirus reactivation (LTR promoter) relative to nonspecific host cell gene expression (CMV promoter), to identify the 5-substituted 2-acylaminothiazole hit class. Here, we describe the optimization of the hit class, defining the functionality necessary for HIV gene activation and for improving in vitro metabolism and solubility. The optimized compounds displayed enhanced HIV gene expression in HEK293 and Jurkat 10.6 latency cellular models and increased unspliced HIV RNA in resting CD4+ T cells isolated from HIV-infected individuals on ART, demonstrating the potential of the 2-acylaminothiazole class as latency-reversing agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Nguyen
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute for Medical Research , Parkville , Victoria 3052 , Australia.,Department of Medical Biology , University of Melbourne , Parkville , Victoria 3052 , Australia
| | - Jonathan Jacobson
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute of Infection and Immunity , University of Melbourne , Parkville , Victoria 3000 , Australia
| | - Kate E Jarman
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute for Medical Research , Parkville , Victoria 3052 , Australia.,Department of Medical Biology , University of Melbourne , Parkville , Victoria 3052 , Australia
| | - Helene Jousset Sabroux
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute for Medical Research , Parkville , Victoria 3052 , Australia.,Department of Medical Biology , University of Melbourne , Parkville , Victoria 3052 , Australia
| | - Leigh Harty
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute of Infection and Immunity , University of Melbourne , Parkville , Victoria 3000 , Australia
| | - James McMahon
- Department of Infectious Diseases , Alfred Health and Monash University , Melbourne , Victoria 3004 Australia
| | - Sharon R Lewin
- Department of Infectious Diseases , Alfred Health and Monash University , Melbourne , Victoria 3004 Australia.,The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity , The University of Melbourne and Royal Melbourne Hospital , Parkville , Victoria 3000 , Australia
| | - Damian F Purcell
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute of Infection and Immunity , University of Melbourne , Parkville , Victoria 3000 , Australia
| | - Brad E Sleebs
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute for Medical Research , Parkville , Victoria 3052 , Australia.,Department of Medical Biology , University of Melbourne , Parkville , Victoria 3052 , Australia
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40
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Nguyen W, Hodder AN, de Lezongard RB, Czabotar PE, Jarman KE, O'Neill MT, Thompson JK, Jousset Sabroux H, Cowman AF, Boddey JA, Sleebs BE. Enhanced antimalarial activity of plasmepsin V inhibitors by modification of the P 2 position of PEXEL peptidomimetics. Eur J Med Chem 2018; 154:182-198. [PMID: 29800827 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2018.05.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2018] [Revised: 05/14/2018] [Accepted: 05/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Plasmepsin V is an aspartyl protease that plays a critical role in the export of proteins bearing the Plasmodium export element (PEXEL) motif (RxLxQ/E/D) to the infected host erythrocyte, and thus the survival of the malaria parasite. Previously, development of transition state PEXEL mimetic inhibitors of plasmepsin V have primarily focused on demonstrating the importance of the P3 Arg and P1 Leu in binding affinity and selectivity. Here, we investigate the importance of the P2 position by incorporating both natural and non-natural amino acids into this position and show disubstituted beta-carbon amino acids convey the greatest potency. Consequently, we show analogues with either cyclohexylglycine or phenylglycine in the P2 position are the most potent inhibitors of plasmepsin V that impair processing of the PEXEL motif in exported proteins resulting in death of P. falciparum asexual stage parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Nguyen
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Australia
| | - Anthony N Hodder
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Australia
| | - Richard Bestel de Lezongard
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Australia
| | - Peter E Czabotar
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Australia
| | - Kate E Jarman
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Australia
| | - Matthew T O'Neill
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, 3052, Australia
| | - Jennifer K Thompson
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, 3052, Australia
| | - Helene Jousset Sabroux
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Australia
| | - Alan F Cowman
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Australia
| | - Justin A Boddey
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Australia
| | - Brad E Sleebs
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Australia.
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41
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Konda SK, Kelso C, Medan J, Sleebs BE, Phillips DR, Cutts SM, Collins JG. Isolation and structural analysis of the covalent adduct formed between a bis-amino mitoxantrone analogue and DNA: a pathway to major-minor groove cross-linked adducts. Org Biomol Chem 2018; 14:10217-10221. [PMID: 27735959 DOI: 10.1039/c6ob02100j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The major covalent adduct formed between a 13C-labelled formaldehyde activated bis-amino mitoxantrone analogue (WEHI-150) and the hexanucleotide d(CG5MeCGCG)2 has been isolated by HPLC chromatography and the structure determined by NMR spectroscopy. The results indicate that WEHI-150 forms one covalent bond through a primary amine to the N-2 of the G2 residue, with the polycyclic ring structure intercalated at the 5MeC3pG4/G10p5MeC9 site. Furthermore, the WEHI-150 aromatic ring system is oriented approximately parallel to the long axis of the base pairs, with one aliphatic side-chain in the major groove and the other side-chain in the minor groove. This study indicates that mitoxantrone derivatives like WEHI-150 should be capable of forming major-minor groove cross-linked adducts that will likely produce considerably different intracellular biological properties compared to known anthracycline and anthracenedione anticancer drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shyam K Konda
- School of Physical, Environmental and Mathematical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Australian Defence Force Academy, ACT, 2600 Australia.
| | - Celine Kelso
- School of Chemistry, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
| | - Jelena Medan
- Chemical Biology Division The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, 3052 Australia and Department of Biochemistry and Genetics La Trobe University, VIC 3083, Australia.
| | - Brad E Sleebs
- Chemical Biology Division The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, 3052 Australia and Department of Medical Biology The University of Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Don R Phillips
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics La Trobe University, VIC 3083, Australia.
| | - Suzanne M Cutts
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics La Trobe University, VIC 3083, Australia.
| | - J Grant Collins
- School of Physical, Environmental and Mathematical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Australian Defence Force Academy, ACT, 2600 Australia.
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42
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Wong W, Bai XC, Sleebs BE, Triglia T, Brown A, Thompson JK, Jackson KE, Hanssen E, Marapana DS, Fernandez IS, Ralph SA, Cowman AF, Scheres SH, Baum J. Mefloquine targets the Plasmodium falciparum 80S ribosome to inhibit protein synthesis. Nat Microbiol 2017; 2:17031. [PMID: 28288098 PMCID: PMC5439513 DOI: 10.1038/nmicrobiol.2017.31] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.9] [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: 06/21/2016] [Accepted: 02/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Malaria control is heavily dependent on chemotherapeutic agents for disease prevention and drug treatment. Defining the mechanism of action for licensed drugs, for which no target is characterized, is critical to the development of their second-generation derivatives to improve drug potency towards inhibition of their molecular targets. Mefloquine is a widely used antimalarial without a known mode of action. Here, we demonstrate that mefloquine is a protein synthesis inhibitor. We solved a 3.2 Å cryo-electron microscopy structure of the Plasmodium falciparum 80S ribosome with the (+)-mefloquine enantiomer bound to the ribosome GTPase-associated centre. Mutagenesis of mefloquine-binding residues generates parasites with increased resistance, confirming the parasite-killing mechanism. Furthermore, structure-guided derivatives with an altered piperidine group, predicted to improve binding, show enhanced parasiticidal effect. These data reveal one possible mode of action for mefloquine and demonstrate the vast potential of cryo-electron microscopy to guide the development of mefloquine derivatives to inhibit parasite protein synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wilson Wong
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
| | - Xiao-Chen Bai
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0QH, UK
| | - Brad E. Sleebs
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
| | - Tony Triglia
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
| | - Alan Brown
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0QH, UK
| | - Jennifer K. Thompson
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
| | - Katherine E. Jackson
- Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Eric Hanssen
- Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Danushka S. Marapana
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
| | - Israel S. Fernandez
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0QH, UK
| | - Stuart A. Ralph
- Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Alan F. Cowman
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Sjors H.W. Scheres
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0QH, UK
| | - Jake Baum
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
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43
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Gilson PR, Tan C, Jarman KE, Lowes KN, Curtis JM, Nguyen W, Di Rago AE, Bullen HE, Prinz B, Duffy S, Baell JB, Hutton CA, Jousset Subroux H, Crabb BS, Avery VM, Cowman AF, Sleebs BE. Optimization of 2-Anilino 4-Amino Substituted Quinazolines into Potent Antimalarial Agents with Oral in Vivo Activity. J Med Chem 2017; 60:1171-1188. [PMID: 28080063 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.6b01673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Novel antimalarial therapeutics that target multiple stages of the parasite lifecycle are urgently required to tackle the emerging problem of resistance with current drugs. Here, we describe the optimization of the 2-anilino quinazoline class as antimalarial agents. The class, identified from publicly available antimalarial screening data, was optimized to generate lead compounds that possess potent antimalarial activity against P. falciparum parasites comparable to the known antimalarials, chloroquine and mefloquine. During the optimization process, we defined the functionality necessary for activity and improved in vitro metabolism and solubility. The resultant lead compounds possess potent activity against a multidrug resistant strain of P. falciparum and arrest parasites at the ring phase of the asexual stage and also gametocytogensis. Finally, we show that the lead compounds are orally efficacious in a 4 day murine model of malaria disease burden.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul R Gilson
- Macfarlane Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health , Melbourne, 3004, Australia.,Monash University , Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Cyrus Tan
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research , Parkville 3052, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne , Parkville 3010, Australia
| | - Kate E Jarman
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research , Parkville 3052, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne , Parkville 3010, Australia
| | - Kym N Lowes
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research , Parkville 3052, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne , Parkville 3010, Australia
| | - Joan M Curtis
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research , Parkville 3052, Australia
| | - William Nguyen
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research , Parkville 3052, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne , Parkville 3010, Australia
| | - Adrian E Di Rago
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research , Parkville 3052, Australia
| | - Hayley E Bullen
- Macfarlane Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health , Melbourne, 3004, Australia
| | - Boris Prinz
- Macfarlane Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health , Melbourne, 3004, Australia
| | - Sandra Duffy
- Discovery Biology, Eskitis Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University , Nathan, Queensland 4111, Australia
| | - Jonathan B Baell
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University , Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Craig A Hutton
- School of Chemistry and Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, University of Melbourne , Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Helene Jousset Subroux
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research , Parkville 3052, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne , Parkville 3010, Australia
| | - Brendan S Crabb
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne , Parkville 3010, Australia.,Macfarlane Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health , Melbourne, 3004, Australia.,Monash University , Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Vicky M Avery
- Discovery Biology, Eskitis Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University , Nathan, Queensland 4111, Australia
| | - Alan F Cowman
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research , Parkville 3052, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne , Parkville 3010, Australia
| | - Brad E Sleebs
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research , Parkville 3052, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne , Parkville 3010, Australia
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44
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Stewart RJ, Whitehead L, Nijagal B, Sleebs BE, Lessene G, McConville MJ, Rogers KL, Tonkin CJ. Analysis of Ca 2+ mediated signaling regulating Toxoplasma infectivity reveals complex relationships between key molecules. Cell Microbiol 2017; 19. [PMID: 27781359 DOI: 10.1111/cmi.12685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2016] [Accepted: 10/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Host cell invasion, exit and parasite dissemination is critical to the pathogenesis of apicomplexan parasites such as Toxoplasma gondii and Plasmodium spp. These processes are regulated by intracellular Ca2+ signaling although the temporal dynamics of Ca2+ fluxes and down-stream second messenger pathways are poorly understood. Here, we use a genetically encoded biosensor, GFP-Calmodulin-M13-6 (GCaMP6), to capture Ca2+ flux in live Toxoplasma and investigate the role of Ca2+ signaling in egress and motility. Our analysis determines how environmental cues and signal activation influence intracellular Ca2+ flux, allowing placement of effector molecules within this pathway. Importantly, we have identified key interrelationships between cGMP and Ca2+ signaling that are required for activation of egress and motility. Furthermore, we extend this analysis to show that the Ca2+ Dependent Protein Kinases-TgCDPK1 and TgCDPK3-play a role in signal quenching before egress. This work highlights the interrelationships of second messenger pathways of Toxoplasma in space and time, which is likely required for pathogenesis of all apicomplexan species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca J Stewart
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Lachlan Whitehead
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Brunda Nijagal
- Metabolomics Australia, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Brad E Sleebs
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Guillaume Lessene
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Malcolm J McConville
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Kelly L Rogers
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Christopher J Tonkin
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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45
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Gazdik M, Jarman KE, O'Neill MT, Hodder AN, Lowes KN, Jousset Sabroux H, Cowman AF, Boddey JA, Sleebs BE. Exploration of the P3 region of PEXEL peptidomimetics leads to a potent inhibitor of the Plasmodium protease, plasmepsin V. Bioorg Med Chem 2016; 24:1993-2010. [PMID: 27021426 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2016.03.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2016] [Revised: 03/06/2016] [Accepted: 03/15/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The use of arginine isosteres is a known strategy to overcome poor membrane permeability commonly associated with peptides or peptidomimetics that possess this highly polar amino acid. Here, we apply this strategy to peptidomimetics that are potent inhibitors of the malarial protease, plasmepsin V, with the aim of enhancing their activity against Plasmodium parasites, and exploring the structure-activity relationship of the P3 arginine within the S3 pocket of plasmepsin V. Of the arginine isosteres trialled in the P3 position, we discovered that canavanine was the ideal and that this peptidomimetic potently inhibits plasmepsin V, efficiently blocks protein export and inhibits parasite growth. Structure studies of the peptidomimetics bound to plasmepsin V provided insight into the structural basis for the enzyme activity observed in vitro and provides further evidence why plasmepsin V is highly sensitive to substrate modification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Gazdik
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, 1G Royal Parade, Parkville, 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Australia
| | - Kate E Jarman
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, 1G Royal Parade, Parkville, 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Australia
| | - Matthew T O'Neill
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, 1G Royal Parade, Parkville, 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Australia
| | - Anthony N Hodder
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, 1G Royal Parade, Parkville, 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Australia
| | - Kym N Lowes
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, 1G Royal Parade, Parkville, 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Australia
| | - Helene Jousset Sabroux
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, 1G Royal Parade, Parkville, 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Australia
| | - Alan F Cowman
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, 1G Royal Parade, Parkville, 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Australia
| | - Justin A Boddey
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, 1G Royal Parade, Parkville, 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Australia
| | - Brad E Sleebs
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, 1G Royal Parade, Parkville, 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Australia.
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46
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Abstract
Synthetic strategies to access 2-amino heterocycle head groups that inhibit aspartyl proteases, are reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel K. Chambers
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute for Medical Research
- Parkville
- Australia
| | | | | | - Brad E. Sleebs
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute for Medical Research
- Parkville
- Australia
- The University of Melbourne
- Parkville
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47
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Konda SK, Kelso C, Pumuye PP, Medan J, Sleebs BE, Cutts SM, Phillips DR, Collins JG. Reversible and formaldehyde-mediated covalent binding of a bis-amino mitoxantrone analogue to DNA. Org Biomol Chem 2016; 14:4728-38. [DOI: 10.1039/c6ob00561f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The ability of the anthracenedione anticancer drug WEHI-150 to form covalent adducts with DNA, after activation by formaldehyde, has been studied by mass spectrometry, HPLC and NMR spectroscopy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shyam K. Konda
- School of Physical
- Environmental and Mathematical Sciences
- University of New South Wales
- Australian Defence Force Academy
- Campbell
| | - Celine Kelso
- School of Chemistry
- University of Wollongong
- Wollongong
- Australia
| | - Paul P. Pumuye
- Biochemistry Department
- La Trobe University
- Bundoora
- Australia
| | - Jelena Medan
- Biochemistry Department
- La Trobe University
- Bundoora
- Australia
- Chemical Biology Division and Infection and Immunity Division
| | - Brad E. Sleebs
- Chemical Biology Division and Infection and Immunity Division
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
- Parkville
- Australia
- Department of Medical Biology
| | | | | | - J. Grant Collins
- School of Physical
- Environmental and Mathematical Sciences
- University of New South Wales
- Australian Defence Force Academy
- Campbell
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48
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Coffey MJ, Sleebs BE, Uboldi AD, Garnham A, Franco M, Marino ND, Panas MW, Ferguson DJ, Enciso M, O'Neill MT, Lopaticki S, Stewart RJ, Dewson G, Smyth GK, Smith BJ, Masters SL, Boothroyd JC, Boddey JA, Tonkin CJ. An aspartyl protease defines a novel pathway for export of Toxoplasma proteins into the host cell. eLife 2015; 4. [PMID: 26576949 PMCID: PMC4764566 DOI: 10.7554/elife.10809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2015] [Accepted: 11/18/2015] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Infection by Toxoplasma gondii leads to massive changes to the host cell. Here, we identify a novel host cell effector export pathway that requires the Golgi-resident aspartyl protease 5 (ASP5). We demonstrate that ASP5 cleaves a highly constrained amino acid motif that has similarity to the PEXEL-motif of Plasmodium parasites. We show that ASP5 matures substrates at both the N- and C-terminal ends of proteins and also controls trafficking of effectors without this motif. Furthermore, ASP5 controls establishment of the nanotubular network and is required for the efficient recruitment of host mitochondria to the vacuole. Assessment of host gene expression reveals that the ASP5-dependent pathway influences thousands of the transcriptional changes that Toxoplasma imparts on its host cell. All these changes result in attenuation of virulence of Δasp5 tachyzoites in vivo. This work characterizes the first identified machinery required for export of Toxoplasma effectors into the infected host cell. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.10809.001 Toxoplasma gondii is a parasite that is thought to infect over two billion people worldwide. Often these infections cause no noticeable symptoms, but can cause serious illness in people with weakened immune systems. Toxoplasma parasites must enter human cells in order to survive. To dramatically increase their chances of survival, the parasites then deliver specialized proteins into the host cell that disarm the host’s immune defenses. Understanding how these specialized proteins are transported from inside the parasite into the host cell, and how this process can be blocked, may lead to new treatments for these and related parasitic infections. By genetically modifying Toxoplasma parasites to lack a parasite enzyme, Coffey et al. have now discovered that this molecule is required for correctly transporting parasite proteins. This enzyme is called aspartyl protease 5 (ASP5) and is found in the parasite in a structure called the Golgi apparatus, which acts as a main hub for protein transport. ASP5 cuts proteins at a ‘barcode’ that is found in many different types of proteins, priming them for transport out of the parasite and for export into the host cell in some cases. Coffey et al. show that in parasites that lack ASP5, these proteins are no longer cleaved and are not transported correctly, blocking the activities that parasites normally perform to ensure their survival. Therefore, ASP5 plays an important role in transporting a wide range of proteins associated with disease, including transporting certain proteins directly into the host cell. Future studies that compare parasites that lack ASP5 to normal parasites will aim to identify new proteins used by the parasites to defeat the host’s immune defenses. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.10809.002
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Coffey
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Brad E Sleebs
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Alessandro D Uboldi
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Alexandra Garnham
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Magdalena Franco
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, United States
| | - Nicole D Marino
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, United States
| | - Michael W Panas
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, United States
| | - David Jp Ferguson
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Laboratory Science, Oxford University, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Marta Enciso
- La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Matthew T O'Neill
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Sash Lopaticki
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Rebecca J Stewart
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Grant Dewson
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Gordon K Smyth
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Brian J Smith
- La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Seth L Masters
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - John C Boothroyd
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, United States
| | - Justin A Boddey
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Christopher J Tonkin
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
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49
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Cardno TS, Shimaki Y, Sleebs BE, Lackovic K, Parisot JP, Moss RM, Crowe-McAuliffe C, Mathew SF, Edgar CD, Kleffmann T, Tate WP. HIV-1 and Human PEG10 Frameshift Elements Are Functionally Distinct and Distinguished by Novel Small Molecule Modulators. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0139036. [PMID: 26447468 PMCID: PMC4598141 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0139036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2015] [Accepted: 09/07/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Frameshifting during translation of viral or in rare cases cellular mRNA results in the synthesis of proteins from two overlapping reading frames within the same mRNA. In HIV-1 the protease, reverse transcriptase, and integrase enzymes are in a second reading frame relative to the structural group-specific antigen (gag), and their synthesis is dependent upon frameshifting. This ensures that a strictly regulated ratio of structural proteins and enzymes, which is critical for HIV-1 replication and viral infectivity, is maintained during protein synthesis. The frameshift element in HIV-1 RNA is an attractive target for the development of a new class of anti HIV-1 drugs. However, a number of examples are now emerging of human genes using −1 frameshifting, such as PEG10 and CCR5. In this study we have compared the HIV-1 and PEG10 frameshift elements and shown they have distinct functional characteristics. Frameshifting occurs at several points within each element. Moreover, frameshift modulators that were isolated by high-throughput screening of a library of 114,000 lead-like compounds behaved differently with the PEG10 frameshift element. The most effective compounds affecting the HIV-1 element enhanced frameshifting by 2.5-fold at 10 μM in two different frameshift reporter assay systems. HIV-1 protease:gag protein ratio was affected by a similar amount in a specific assay of virally-infected cultured cell, but the modulation of frameshifting of the first-iteration compounds was not sufficient to show significant effects on viral infectivity. Importantly, two compounds did not affect frameshifting with the human PEG10 element, while one modestly inhibited rather than enhanced frameshifting at the human element. These studies indicate that frameshift elements have unique characteristics that may allow targeting of HIV-1 and of other viruses specifically for development of antiviral therapeutic molecules without effect on human genes like PEG10 that use the same generic mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tony S. Cardno
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Australia
| | - Yosuke Shimaki
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Brad E. Sleebs
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Kurt Lackovic
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - John P. Parisot
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Rebecca M. Moss
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | | | - Suneeth F. Mathew
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | | | - Torsten Kleffmann
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Centre for Protein Research, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Warren P. Tate
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- * E-mail:
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50
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Evison BJ, Sleebs BE, Watson KG, Phillips DR, Cutts SM. Mitoxantrone, More than Just Another Topoisomerase II Poison. Med Res Rev 2015; 36:248-99. [PMID: 26286294 DOI: 10.1002/med.21364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2014] [Revised: 07/13/2015] [Accepted: 07/14/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Mitoxantrone is a synthetic anthracenedione originally developed to improve the therapeutic profile of the anthracyclines and is commonly applied in the treatment of breast and prostate cancers, lymphomas, and leukemias. A comprehensive overview of the drug's molecular, biochemical, and cellular pharmacology is presented here, beginning with the cardiotoxic nature of its predecessor doxorubicin and how these properties shaped the pharmacology of mitoxantrone itself. Although mitoxantrone is firmly established as a DNA topoisomerase II poison within mammalian cells, it is now clear that the drug interacts with a much broader range of biological macromolecules both covalently and noncovalently. Here, we consider each of these interactions in the context of their wider biological relevance to cancer therapy and highlight how they may be exploited to further enhance the therapeutic value of mitoxantrone. In doing so, it is now clear that mitoxantrone is more than just another topoisomerase II poison.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benny J Evison
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Victoria, 3086, Australia
| | - Brad E Sleebs
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Keith G Watson
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, 3052, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Don R Phillips
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Victoria, 3086, Australia
| | - Suzanne M Cutts
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Victoria, 3086, Australia
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