Publications by authors named "Anamarija Zega"

This study presents the discovery of a new series of -phenylpyrrolamide inhibitors of bacterial DNA gyrase with improved antibacterial activity. The most potent inhibitors had low nanomolar IC values against DNA gyrase (IC; 2-20 nM) and topoisomerase IV (22i, IC = 143 nM). Importantly, none of the compounds showed activity against human DNA topoisomerase IIα, indicating selectivity for bacterial targets.

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In this work, we describe an improved series of N-phenylpyrrolamide inhibitors that exhibit potent activity against DNA gyrase and are highly effective against high-priority gram-positive bacteria. The most potent compounds show low nanomolar IC values against Escherichia coli DNA gyrase, and in addition, compound 7c also inhibits E. coli topoisomerase IV in the nanomolar concentration range, making it a promising candidate for the development of potent dual inhibitors for these enzymes.

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Article Synopsis
  • * Compound 51 is a powerful DNA gyrase inhibitor with a very low inhibitory concentration (IC) for M. tuberculosis, showing selectivity for bacterial topoisomerases and minimal toxicity.
  • * Compound 49 has strong antimycobacterial activity and good solubility, indicating the potential to develop targeted treatments for mycobacterial infections while reducing resistance risks and preserving healthy microbiomes.
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N-(Benzothiazole-2-yl)pyrrolamide DNA gyrase inhibitors with benzyl or phenethyl substituents attached to position 3 of the benzothiazole ring or to the carboxamide nitrogen atom were prepared and studied for their inhibition of Escherichia coli DNA gyrase by supercoiling assay. Compared to inhibitors bearing the substituents at position 4 of the benzothiazole ring, the inhibition was attenuated by moving the substituent to position 3 and further to the carboxamide nitrogen atom. A co-crystal structure of (Z)-3-benzyl-2-((4,5-dibromo-1H-pyrrole-2-carbonyl)imino)-2,3-dihydrobenzo[d]-thiazole-6-carboxylic acid (I) in complex with E.

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We present a new series of 2-aminobenzothiazole-based DNA gyrase B inhibitors with promising activity against ESKAPE bacterial pathogens. Based on the binding information extracted from the cocrystal structure of DNA gyrase B inhibitor , in complex with GyrB24, we expanded the chemical space of the benzothiazole-based series to the C5 position of the benzothiazole ring. In particular, compound showed low nanomolar inhibition of DNA gyrase (IC < 10 nM) and broad-spectrum antibacterial activity against pathogens belonging to the ESKAPE group, with the minimum inhibitory concentration < 0.

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Stereopure CF-substituted -1,2-diols were prepared via the reductive dynamic kinetic resolution of the corresponding racemic α-hydroxyketones in HCOH/EtN. (Het)aryl, benzyl, vinyl, and alkyl ketones are tolerated, delivering products with ≥95% ee and ≥87:13 /. This methodology offers rapid access to stereopure bioactive molecules.

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Article Synopsis
  • A new series of benzothiazole inhibitors targeting bacterial DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV were created, displaying strong antibacterial effects against various Gram-positive and multi-drug resistant strains.
  • The best compounds exhibited minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) between <0.03125-0.25 μg/mL for Gram-positive bacteria and 1-4 μg/mL for Gram-negative bacteria.
  • One lead compound was found to have favorable properties, including good solubility, metabolic stability, and selectivity for bacterial topoisomerases, and showed effective in vivo results against vancomycin-intermediate thigh infections in a mouse model.
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ATP-competitive inhibitors of human DNA topoisomerase II show potential for becoming the successors of topoisomerase II poisons, the clinically successful anticancer drugs. Based on our recent screening hits, we designed, synthesized and biologically evaluated new, improved series of N-phenylpyrrolamide DNA topoisomerase II inhibitors. Six structural classes were prepared to systematically explore the chemical space of N-phenylpyrrolamide based inhibitors.

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We have developed compounds with a promising activity against and , which are both on the WHO priority list of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Starting from DNA gyrase inhibitor , we identified compound , featuring a 10-fold improved aqueous solubility, a 10-fold improved inhibition of topoisomerase IV from and , a 10-fold decreased inhibition of human topoisomerase IIα, and no cross-resistance to novobiocin. Cocrystal structures of in complex with GyrB24 and ()- in complex with GyrB23 and GyrB24 revealed their binding to the ATP-binding pocket of the GyrB subunit.

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We describe an efficient catalytic strategy for enantio- and diastereoselective synthesis of homochiral β-CF, β-SCF, and β-OCF benzylic alcohols. The approach is based on dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) with Noyori-Ikariya asymmetric transfer hydrogenation leading to simultaneous construction of two contiguous stereogenic centers with up to 99.9% ee, up to 99.

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The K 1.3 voltage-gated potassium ion channel is involved in many physiological processes both at the plasma membrane and in the mitochondria, chiefly in the immune and nervous systems. Therapeutic targeting K 1.

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A practical access to four new halogen-substituted pyrrole building blocks was realized in two to five synthetic steps from commercially available starting materials. The target compounds were prepared on a 50 mg to 1 g scale, and their conversion to nanomolar inhibitors of bacterial DNA gyrase B was demonstrated for three of the prepared building blocks to showcase the usefulness of such chemical motifs in medicinal chemistry.

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The rise in multidrug-resistant bacteria defines the need for identification of new antibacterial agents that are less prone to resistance acquisition. Compounds that simultaneously inhibit multiple bacterial targets are more likely to suppress the evolution of target-based resistance than monotargeting compounds. The structurally similar ATP binding sites of DNA gyrase and topoisomerase Ⅳ offer an opportunity to accomplish this goal.

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The discovery of multi-targeting ligands of bacterial enzymes is an important strategy to combat rapidly spreading antimicrobial resistance. Bacterial DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV are validated targets for the development of antibiotics. They can be inhibited at their catalytic sites or at their ATP binding sites.

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Article Synopsis
  • Researchers created a series of new inhibitors targeting bacterial enzymes DNA gyrase and DNA topoisomerase IV, inspired by an earlier benzothiazole-based compound with an oxalyl group.
  • They systematically modified different parts of the compound, including enhancing the pyrrole carboxamide moiety and changing the core structure to boost antibacterial effectiveness.
  • One notable compound showed promising results, with a low molecular weight and strong inhibition of gyrase (IC = 9.5 nM), as well as significant antibacterial activity against resistant strains (MIC = 0.78 μM), marking a step forward in developing treatments for Gram-negative bacteria.
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Antibiotics that inhibit multiple bacterial targets offer a promising therapeutic strategy against resistance evolution, but developing such antibiotics is challenging. Here we demonstrate that a rational design of balanced multitargeting antibiotics is feasible by using a medicinal chemistry workflow. The resultant lead compounds, ULD1 and ULD2, belonging to a novel chemical class, almost equipotently inhibit bacterial DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV complexes and interact with multiple evolutionary conserved amino acids in the ATP-binding pockets of their target proteins.

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Human DNA topoisomerase II is one of the major targets in anticancer therapy, however ATP-competitive inhibitors of this target have not yet reached their full potential. ATPase domain of human DNA topoisomerase II belongs to the GHKL ATPase superfamily and shares a very high 3D structural similarity with other superfamily members, including bacterial topoisomerases. In this work we report the discovery of a new chemotype of ATP-competitive inhibitors of human DNA topoisomerase IIα that were discovered through screening of in-house library of ATP-competitive inhibitors of bacterial DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV.

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Article Synopsis
  • Benzo[]thiazole is important in synthetic and medicinal chemistry and features in various bioactive compounds and drugs.
  • The text outlines a sophisticated method for synthesizing methyl 4- and 5-hydroxy-2-amino-benzo[]thiazole-6-carboxylates, which can be modified at four different positions for extensive chemical exploration.
  • A total of 12 new compounds were successfully created using this synthesis method, including techniques like Williamson ether synthesis.
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DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV are essential bacterial enzymes, and in the fight against bacterial resistance, they are important targets for the development of novel antibacterial drugs. Building from our first generation of 4,5,6,7-tetrahydrobenzo[]thiazole-based DNA gyrase inhibitors, we designed and prepared an optimized series of analogs that show improved inhibition of DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV from and , with IC values in the nanomolar range. Importantly, these inhibitors also show improved antibacterial activity against Gram-positive strains.

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Bacterial DNA gyrase is an important target for the development of novel antibacterial drugs, which are urgently needed because of high level of antibiotic resistance worldwide. We designed and synthesized new 4,5,6,7-tetrahydrobenzo[d]thiazole-based DNA gyrase B inhibitors and their conjugates with siderophore mimics, which were introduced to increase the uptake of inhibitors into the bacterial cytoplasm. The most potent conjugate 34 had an IC of 58 nM against Escherichia coli DNA gyrase and displayed MIC of 14 µg/mL against E.

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The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)-validated transactivation assay using the human estrogen receptor alpha (hERα) Hela9903 cell line is used for activity evaluation of hERα agonists and antagonists. Due to many advantages, this assay is broadly used as an initial screening process. However, response significantly higher from that of 17-β estradiol (E2) was observed with phytoestrogens for concentrations commonly above 1 μM in previous studies.

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The emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria is a global health threat necessitating the discovery of new antibacterials and novel strategies for fighting bacterial infections. We report first-in-class DNA gyrase B (GyrB) inhibitor/ciprofloxacin hybrids that display antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli. Whereas DNA gyrase ATPase inhibition experiments, DNA gyrase supercoiling assays, and in vitro antibacterial assays suggest binding of the hybrids to the E.

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Due to the rapid development of antimicrobial resistance, the discovery of new antibacterials is essential in the fight against potentially lethal infections. The DNA gyrase B (GyrB) subunit of bacterial DNA gyrase is an excellent target for the design of antibacterials, as it has been clinically validated by novobiocin. However, there are currently no drugs in clinical use that target GyrB.

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The Mur ligases form a series of consecutive enzymes that participate in the intracellular steps of bacterial peptidoglycan biosynthesis. They therefore represent interesting targets for antibacterial drug discovery. MurC, D, E and F are all ATP-dependent ligases.

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ATP competitive inhibitors of DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV have great therapeutic potential, but none of the described synthetic compounds has so far reached the market. To optimise the activities and physicochemical properties of our previously reported N-phenylpyrrolamide inhibitors, we have synthesized an improved, chemically variegated selection of compounds and evaluated them against DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV enzymes, and against selected Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The most potent compound displayed IC values of 6.

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