Structure-Based Discovery and Development of Highly Potent Dihydroorotate Dehydrogenase Inhibitors for Malaria Chemoprevention.

Malaria remains a serious global health challenge, yet treatment and control programs are threatened by drug resistance. Dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) was clinically validated as a target for treatment and prevention of malaria through human studies with DSM265, but currently no drugs against this target are in clinical use. We used structure-based computational tools including free energy perturbation (FEP+) to discover highly ligand efficient, potent, and selective pyrazole-based DHODH inhibitors through a scaffold hop from a pyrrole-based series.

Tartrolon E, a secondary metabolite of a marine symbiotic bacterium, is a potent inhibitor of asexual and sexual .

Due to the spread of resistance to front-line artemisinin derivatives worldwide, there is a need for new antimalarials. Tartrolon E (TrtE), a secondary metabolite of a symbiotic bacterium of marine bivalve mollusks, is a promising antimalarial because it inhibits the growth of sexual and asexual blood stages of at sub-nanomolar levels. The potency of TrtE warrants further investigation into its mechanism of action, cytotoxicity, and ease with which parasites may evolve resistance to it.

Repurposed dihydroorotate dehydrogenase inhibitors with efficacy against drug-resistant .

New antimicrobials are needed for the treatment of extensively drug-resistant . The de novo pyrimidine biosynthetic enzyme dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) is a validated drug target for malaria and human autoimmune diseases. We provide genetic evidence that DHODH (DHODH) is essential for bacterial survival in rodent infection models.

Properties of Plasmodium falciparum with a Deleted Apicoplast DNA Gyrase.

Malaria parasites have three genomes: a nuclear genome, a mitochondrial genome, and an apicoplast genome. Since the apicoplast is a plastid organelle of prokaryotic origin and has no counterpart in the human host, it can be a source of novel targets for antimalarials. Plasmodium falciparum DNA gyrase (Gyr) A and B subunits both have apicoplast-targeting signals.

Potent Antimalarials with Development Potential Identified by Structure-Guided Computational Optimization of a Pyrrole-Based Dihydroorotate Dehydrogenase Inhibitor Series.

Dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) has been clinically validated as a target for the development of new antimalarials. Experience with clinical candidate triazolopyrimidine DSM265 () suggested that DHODH inhibitors have great potential for use in prophylaxis, which represents an unmet need in the malaria drug discovery portfolio for endemic countries, particularly in areas of high transmission in Africa. We describe a structure-based computationally driven lead optimization program of a pyrrole-based series of DHODH inhibitors, leading to the discovery of two candidates for potential advancement to preclinical development.

Lead Optimization of a Pyrrole-Based Dihydroorotate Dehydrogenase Inhibitor Series for the Treatment of Malaria.

Malaria puts at risk nearly half the world's population and causes high mortality in sub-Saharan Africa, while drug resistance threatens current therapies. The pyrimidine biosynthetic enzyme dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) is a validated target for malaria treatment based on our finding that triazolopyrimidine DSM265 () showed efficacy in clinical studies. Herein, we describe optimization of a pyrrole-based series identified using a target-based DHODH screen.

Isoxazolopyrimidine-Based Inhibitors of Dihydroorotate Dehydrogenase with Antimalarial Activity.

Malaria kills nearly 0.5 million people yearly and impacts the lives of those living in over 90 countries where it is endemic. The current treatment programs are threatened by increasing drug resistance.

A Triazolopyrimidine-Based Dihydroorotate Dehydrogenase Inhibitor with Improved Drug-like Properties for Treatment and Prevention of Malaria.

The emergence of drug-resistant malaria parasites continues to hamper efforts to control this lethal disease. Dihydroorotate dehydrogenase has recently been validated as a new target for the treatment of malaria, and a selective inhibitor (DSM265) of the Plasmodium enzyme is currently in clinical development. With the goal of identifying a backup compound to DSM265, we explored replacement of the SF-aniline moiety of DSM265 with a series of CF-pyridinyls while maintaining the core triazolopyrimidine scaffold.

Tetrahydro-2-naphthyl and 2-Indanyl Triazolopyrimidines Targeting Plasmodium falciparum Dihydroorotate Dehydrogenase Display Potent and Selective Antimalarial Activity.

Malaria persists as one of the most devastating global infectious diseases. The pyrimidine biosynthetic enzyme dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) has been identified as a new malaria drug target, and a triazolopyrimidine-based DHODH inhibitor 1 (DSM265) is in clinical development. We sought to identify compounds with higher potency against Plasmodium DHODH while showing greater selectivity toward animal DHODHs.

A long-duration dihydroorotate dehydrogenase inhibitor (DSM265) for prevention and treatment of malaria.

Malaria is one of the most significant causes of childhood mortality, but disease control efforts are threatened by resistance of the Plasmodium parasite to current therapies. Continued progress in combating malaria requires development of new, easy to administer drug combinations with broad-ranging activity against all manifestations of the disease. DSM265, a triazolopyrimidine-based inhibitor of the pyrimidine biosynthetic enzyme dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH), is the first DHODH inhibitor to reach clinical development for treatment of malaria.

Topoisomerase II from Human Malaria Parasites: EXPRESSION, PURIFICATION, AND SELECTIVE INHIBITION.

Historically, type II topoisomerases have yielded clinically useful drugs for the treatment of bacterial infections and cancer, but the corresponding enzymes from malaria parasites remain understudied. This is due to the general challenges of producing malaria proteins in functional forms in heterologous expression systems. Here, we express full-length Plasmodium falciparum topoisomerase II (PfTopoII) in a wheat germ cell-free transcription-translation system.

Dithiocarbamate/piperazine bridged pyrrolobenzodiazepines as DNA-minor groove binders: synthesis, DNA-binding affinity and cytotoxic activity.

A new series of C8-linked dithiocarbamate/piperazine bridged pyrrolo[2,1-c][1,4]benzodiazepine conjugates (5a-c, 6a,b) have been synthesized and evaluated for their cytotoxic potential and DNA-binding ability. The representative conjugates 5a and 5b have been screened for their cytotoxicity against a panel of 60 human cancer cell lines. Compound 5a has shown promising cytotoxic activity on selected cancer cell lines that display melanoma, leukemia, CNS, ovarian, breast and renal cancer phenotypes.

Fluorine modulates species selectivity in the triazolopyrimidine class of Plasmodium falciparum dihydroorotate dehydrogenase inhibitors.

Malaria is one of the most serious global infectious diseases. The pyrimidine biosynthetic enzyme Plasmodium falciparum dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (PfDHODH) is an important target for antimalarial chemotherapy. We describe a detailed analysis of protein-ligand interactions between DHODH and a triazolopyrimidine-based inhibitor series to explore the effects of fluorine on affinity and species selectivity.

Synthesis, DNA binding ability and anticancer activity of 2-heteroaryl substituted benzimidazoles linked pyrrolo[2,1-c][1,4]benzodiazepine conjugates.

As a continuation of our efforts to develop the benzimidazole-PBD conjugates as potential anticancer agents, a series of heteroaryl substituted benzimidazole linked PBD conjugates has been synthesized and evaluated for their anticancer potential in 60 human cancer cell lines. Most of the compounds exhibited promising anticancer activity and interestingly, compounds 4c and 4d displayed significant activity in most of the cell lines tested. Whereas, compound 4e showed selectivity in renal cancer cells with GI50 values of <10 and 70 nM against RXF 393 and UO-31 cell lines, respectively.

A one-pot azido reductive tandem mono-N-alkylation employing dialkylboron triflates: online ESI-MS mechanistic investigation.

An efficient one-pot reductive tandem mono-N-alkylation of both aromatic and aliphatic azides using dialkylboron triflates as alkylating agents has been examined under standardized reaction conditions. This methodology after optimization has been employed toward the syntheses of various secondary alkyl as well as aryl amines, including the synthesis of N10-butylated pyrrolo[2,1-c][1,4]benzodiazepine-5,11-diones via in situ azido reductive-cyclization process. This protocol is particularly attractive to provide an environmentally benign and practical method for mono-N-alkylation from organic azides without the use of toxic catalysts or corrosive alkylating agents.

Structure-guided lead optimization of triazolopyrimidine-ring substituents identifies potent Plasmodium falciparum dihydroorotate dehydrogenase inhibitors with clinical candidate potential.

Drug therapy is the mainstay of antimalarial therapy, yet current drugs are threatened by the development of resistance. In an effort to identify new potential antimalarials, we have undertaken a lead optimization program around our previously identified triazolopyrimidine-based series of Plasmodium falciparum dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (PfDHODH) inhibitors. The X-ray structure of PfDHODH was used to inform the medicinal chemistry program allowing the identification of a potent and selective inhibitor (DSM265) that acts through DHODH inhibition to kill both sensitive and drug resistant strains of the parasite.

Synthesis and potential cytotoxic activity of new phenanthrylphenol-pyrrolobenzodiazepines.

New phenanthrylphenol-pyrrolobenzodiazepine (PP-PBD) conjugates have been synthesized and evaluated for their biological activity. One of the compounds 4a has been evaluated for its antiproliferative activity on 57 human tumour cell lines. The growth inhibition of 4a-c has been determined by MTT viability assay on MCF-7 cell line.