β-Branched acyclic nucleoside analogues as inhibitors of Plasmodium falciparum dUTPase.

We report a series of β-branched acyclic tritylated deoxyuridine analogues as inhibitors of Plasmodium falciparum deoxyuridine-5'-triphosphate nucleotidohydrolase (PfdUTPase), an enzyme involved in nucleotide metabolism that acts as first line of defence against uracil incorporation into DNA. Compounds were assayed against both PfdUTPase and intact parasites showing a correlation between enzyme inhibition and cellular assays. β-Branched acyclic uridine analogues described here showed equal or slightly better potency and selectivity compared with previously reported analogues.

Design, synthesis and evaluation of novel uracil acetamide derivatives as potential inhibitors of Plasmodium falciparum dUTP nucleotidohydrolase.

The ubiquitous enzyme dUTP nucleotidohydrolase (dUTPase) catalyses the hydrolysis of dUTP to dUMP and can be considered as the first line of defence against incorporation of uracil into DNA. Inhibition of this enzyme results in over-incorporation of uracil into DNA, leading to DNA fragmentation and cell death and is therefore lethal. By taking advantage of structural differences between the human and Plasmodium dUTPase, selective inhibitors of the enzyme can be designed and synthesised with the aim of being developed into novel anti-parasitic drugs.