Eva Zborníková

One-pot build-up procedure for the synthesis of variously substituted purine derivatives

In this article, we report a one-pot build-up procedure leading to 6-chloro- or 2-amino-6-chloropurines bearing various alkyl or aryl substituents in position N-9. This reaction is simple, fast and effective with up to 96% yields depending on the starting amine. This reaction may be easily combined with further nucleophilic displacement of the C-6 chlorine atom using various reagents, making this procedure very attractive in the field of medicinal chemistry pertaining to compounds based on a purine scaffold.

Lipophosphonoxins: New Modular Molecular Structures with Significant Antibacterial Properties

Novel compounds termed lipophosphonoxins were prepared using a simple and efficient synthetic approach. The general structure of lipophosphonoxins consists of four modules: (i) a nucleoside module, (ii) an iminosugar module, (iii) a hydrophobic module (lipophilic alkyl chain), and (iv) a phosphonate linker module that holds together modules i-iii. Lipophosphonoxins displayed significant antibacterial properties against a panel of Gram-positive species, including multiresistant strains. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of the best inhibitors were in the 1-12 μg/mL range, while their cytotoxic concentrations against human cell lines were significantly above this range. The modular nature of this artificial scaffold offers a large number of possibilities for further modifications/exploitation of these compounds.

Insights into the Mechanism of Action of Bactericidal Lipophosphonoxins.

The advantages offered by established antibiotics in the treatment of infectious diseases are endangered due to the increase in the number of antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains. This leads to a need for new antibacterial compounds. Recently, we discovered a series of compounds termed lipophosphonoxins (LPPOs) that exhibit selective cytotoxicity towards Gram-positive bacteria that include pathogens and resistant strains. For further development of these compounds, it was necessary to identify the mechanism of their action and characterize their interaction with eukaryotic cells/organisms in more detail. Here, we show that at their bactericidal concentrations LPPOs localize to the plasmatic membrane in bacteria but not in eukaryotes. In an in vitro system we demonstrate that LPPOs create pores in the membrane. This provides an explanation of their action in vivo where they cause serious damage of the cellular membrane, efflux of the cytosol, and cell disintegration. Further, we show that (i) LPPOs are not genotoxic as determined by the Ames test, (ii) do not cross a monolayer of Caco-2 cells, suggesting they are unable of transepithelial transport, (iii) are well tolerated by living mice when administered orally but not peritoneally, and (iv) are stable at low pH, indicating they could survive the acidic environment in the stomach. Finally, using one of the most potent LPPOs, we attempted and failed to select resistant strains against this compound while we were able to readily select resistant strains against a known antibiotic, rifampicin. In summary, LPPOs represent a new class of compounds with a potential for development as antibacterial agents for topical applications and perhaps also for treatment of gastrointestinal infections.

Lipophosphonoxins II: Design, Synthesis, and Properties of Novel Broad Spectrum Antibacterial Agents

The increase in the number of bacterial strains resistant to known antibiotics is alarming. In this study we report the synthesis of novel compounds termed Lipophosphonoxins II (LPPO II). We show that LPPO II display excellent activities against Gram-positive and -negative bacteria, including pathogens and multiresistant strains. We describe their mechanism of action-plasmatic membrane pore-forming activity selective for bacteria. Importantly, LPPO II neither damage nor cross the eukaryotic plasmatic membrane at their bactericidal concentrations. Further, we demonstrate LPPO II have low propensity for resistance development, likely due to their rapid membrane-targeting mode of action. Finally, we reveal that LPPO II are not toxic to either eukaryotic cells or model animals when administered orally or topically. Collectively, these results suggest that LPPO II are highly promising compounds for development into pharmaceuticals.

Design of Plasmodium vivax Hypoxanthine-Guanine Phosphoribosyltransferase Inhibitors as Potential Antimalarial Therapeutics

Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) and Plasmodium vivax (Pv) are the foremost causative agents of malaria. Due to the development of resistance to current antimalarial medications, new drugs for this parasitic disease need to be discovered. The activity of hypoxanthine-guanine-[xanthine]-phosphoribosyltransferase, HG[X]PRT, is reported to be essential for the growth of both of these parasites, making it an excellent target for antimalarial drug discovery. Here, we have used rational structure-based methods to design an inhibitor, [3R,4R]-4-guanin-9-yl-3-((S)-2-hydroxy-2-phosphonoethyl)oxy-1-N-(phosphonopropionyl)pyrrolidine, of PvHGPRT and PfHGXPRT that has Ki values of 8 and 7 nM, respectively, for these two enzymes. The crystal structure of PvHGPRT in complex with this compound has been determined to 2.85 Å resolution. The corresponding complex with human HGPRT was also obtained to allow a direct comparison of the binding modes of this compound with the two enzymes. The tetra-(ethyl l-phenylalanine) tetraamide prodrug of this compound was synthesized, and it has an IC50 of 11.7 ± 3.2 μM against Pf lines grown in culture and a CC50 in human A549 cell lines of 102 ± 11 μM, thus giving it a ∼10-fold selectivity index.

Novel (p)ppGpp Binding and Metabolizing Proteins of Escherichia coli

ABSTRACT The alarmone (p)ppGpp plays pivotal roles in basic bacterial stress responses by increasing tolerance of various nutritional limitations and chemical insults, including antibiotics. Despite intensive studies since (p)ppGpp was discovered over 4 decades ago, (p)ppGpp binding proteins have not been systematically identified in Escherichia coli. We applied DRaCALA (differential radial capillary action of ligand assay) to identify (p)ppGpp-protein interactions. We discovered 12 new (p)ppGpp targets in E. coli that, based on their physiological functions, could be classified into four major groups, involved in (i) purine nucleotide homeostasis (YgdH), (ii) ribosome biogenesis and translation (RsgA, Era, HflX, and LepA), (iii) maturation of dehydrogenases (HypB), and (iv) metabolism of (p)ppGpp (MutT, NudG, TrmE, NadR, PhoA, and UshA). We present a comprehensive and comparative biochemical and physiological characterization of these novel (p)ppGpp targets together with a comparative analysis of relevant, known (p)ppGpp binding proteins. Via this, primary targets of (p)ppGpp in E. coli are identified. The GTP salvage biosynthesis pathway and ribosome biogenesis and translation are confirmed as targets of (p)ppGpp that are highly conserved between E. coli and Firmicutes. In addition, an alternative (p)ppGpp degradative pathway, involving NudG and MutT, was uncovered. This report thus significantly expands the known cohort of (p)ppGpp targets in E. coli. IMPORTANCE Antibiotic resistance and tolerance exhibited by pathogenic bacteria have resulted in a global public health crisis. Remarkably, almost all bacterial pathogens require the alarmone (p)ppGpp to be virulent. Thus, (p)ppGpp not only induces tolerance of nutritional limitations and chemical insults, including antibiotics, but is also often required for induction of virulence genes. However, understanding of the molecular targets of (p)ppGpp and the mechanisms by which (p)ppGpp influences bacterial physiology is incomplete. In this study, a systematic approach was used to uncover novel targets of (p)ppGpp in E. coli, the best-studied model bacterium. Comprehensive comparative studies of the targets revealed conserved target pathways of (p)ppGpp in both Gram-positive and -negative bacteria and novel targets of (p)ppGpp, including an alternative degradative pathway of (p)ppGpp. Thus, our discoveries may help in understanding of how (p)ppGpp increases the stress resilience and multidrug tolerance not only of the model organism E. coli but also of the pathogenic organisms in which these targets are conserved. IMPORTANCE Antibiotic resistance and tolerance exhibited by pathogenic bacteria have resulted in a global public health crisis. Remarkably, almost all bacterial pathogens require the alarmone (p)ppGpp to be virulent. Thus, (p)ppGpp not only induces tolerance of nutritional limitations and chemical insults, including antibiotics, but is also often required for induction of virulence genes. However, understanding of the molecular targets of (p)ppGpp and the mechanisms by which (p)ppGpp influences bacterial physiology is incomplete. In this study, a systematic approach was used to uncover novel targets of (p)ppGpp in E. coli, the best-studied model bacterium. Comprehensive comparative studies of the targets revealed conserved target pathways of (p)ppGpp in both Gram-positive and -negative bacteria and novel targets of (p)ppGpp, including an alternative degradative pathway of (p)ppGpp. Thus, our discoveries may help in understanding of how (p)ppGpp increases the stress resilience and multidrug tolerance not only of the model organism E. coli but also of the pathogenic organisms in which these targets are conserved.