Identification and optimization of inhibitors of Trypanosomal cysteine proteases: cruzain, rhodesain, and TbCatB

J Med Chem. 2010 Jan 14;53(1):52-60. doi: 10.1021/jm901069a.

Abstract

Trypanosoma cruzi and Trypanosoma brucei are parasites that cause Chagas' disease and African sleeping sickness, respectively. Both parasites rely on essential cysteine proteases for survival: cruzain for T. cruzi and TbCatB/rhodesain for T. brucei. A recent quantitative high-throughput screen of cruzain identified triazine nitriles, which are known inhibitors of other cysteine proteases, as reversible inhibitors of the enzyme. Structural modifications detailed herein, including core scaffold modification from triazine to purine, improved the in vitro potency against both cruzain and rhodesain by 350-fold, while also gaining activity against T. brucei parasites. Selected compounds were screened against a panel of human cysteine and serine proteases to determine selectivity, and a cocrystal was obtained of our most potent analogue bound to cruzain.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cysteine Endopeptidases / metabolism*
  • Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors / chemical synthesis
  • Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • High-Throughput Screening Assays
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Protozoan Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Purines / chemical synthesis
  • Purines / chemistry
  • Purines / pharmacology*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Triazines / chemical synthesis
  • Triazines / chemistry
  • Triazines / pharmacology*
  • Trypanosoma / drug effects
  • Trypanosoma / enzymology*
  • Trypanosoma brucei brucei / drug effects
  • Trypanosoma brucei brucei / enzymology
  • Trypanosoma cruzi / drug effects
  • Trypanosoma cruzi / enzymology

Substances

  • Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors
  • Protozoan Proteins
  • Purines
  • Triazines
  • Cysteine Endopeptidases
  • TbcatB protein, Trypanosoma brucei
  • cruzain, Trypanosoma cruzi
  • rhodesain
  • purine