Prija Ponnan

4-Aminoquinoline-Pyrimidine hybrids: Synthesis, antimalarial activity, heme binding and docking studies

A series of novel 4-aminoquinoline-pyrimidine hybrids has been synthesized and evaluated for their antimalarial activity. Several compounds showed promising in vitro antimalarial activity against both CQ-sensitive and CQ-resistant strains with high selectivity index. All the compounds were found to be non-toxic to the mammalian cell lines. Selected compound 7g exhibited significant suppression of parasitemia in the in vivo assay. The heme binding studies were conducted to determine the mode of action of these hybrid molecules. These compounds form a stable 1:1 complex with hematin suggesting that heme may be one of the possible targets of these hybrids. The interaction of these conjugate hybrids was also investigated by the molecular docking studies in the binding site of PfDHFR. The pharmacokinetic property analysis of best active compounds was also studied using ADMET prediction.

Characterization of 7-amino-4-methylcoumarin as an effective antitubercular agent: structure–activity relationships

OBJECTIVES The objective of the present study was to evaluate the antitubercular activity of amino and acyl amino derivatives of coumarins when used alone and in combination with isoniazid, rifampicin, streptomycin or ethambutol, and to decipher the mode of action of the most effective agent. METHODS A series of amino and acyl amino coumarins were synthesized and screened for activity against the Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv strain. These compounds were further evaluated by standard assay procedures to determine their MBCs, fractional inhibitory concentration index values and cytotoxicities. The MICs for a susceptible and a multidrug-resistant clinical isolate of M. tuberculosis were also determined. Electron and fluorescence microscopy of the test compound-treated mycobacterial samples were also carried out in an attempt to find out the target of action. RESULTS 7-Amino-4-methylcoumarin (7-amino-4-methyl-2H-chromen-2-one; NA5) displayed the lowest MIC of 1 mg/L against not only H37Rv but also the susceptible as well as the multidrug-resistant clinical isolates. Certain acyl amino coumarins were also found to inhibit the aforementioned strains and isolates with MICs in the range of 1.0-3.5 mg/L. They were also found to act in synergy with isoniazid/rifampicin. Electron microscopy revealed the cell-wall-attacking characteristic of these compounds, while fluorescence microscopy indicated that mycolic acid might be the target of action. CONCLUSIONS The present study clearly demonstrated the in vitro antitubercular potential of the novel drug candidate NA5. Further studies are warranted to establish the in vivo efficacy and therapeutic potential of NA5.

Autoacetylation of Purified Calreticulin Transacetylase Utilizing Acetoxycoumarin as the Acetyl Group Donor

Our earlier reports documented that calreticulin, a multifunctional Ca2+-binding protein in endoplasmic reticulum lumen, possessed protein acetyltransferase function termed Calreticulin Transacetylase (CRTAase). The autoacetylation of purified human placental CRTAase concomitant with the acetylation of receptor proteins by a model acetoxycoumarin, 7,8-Diacetoxy-4-methylcoumarin, was observed. Here, we have examined the autoacetylation property of CRTAase by immunoblotting and mass spectrometry. Ca2+ was found to inhibit CRTAase activity. The inhibition of both autoacetylation of CRTAase as well as acetylation of the receptor protein was apparent when Ca2+ was included in the reaction mixture as visualized by interaction with anti-acetyl lysine antibody. The acetylation of lysines residues: −48, −62, −64, −153, and −159 in N-domain and −206, −207, −209, and −238 in P-domain of CRTAase were located by high-performance liquid chromatography-electronspray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. Further, computer assisted protein structure modeling studies were undertaken to probe the effect of autoacetylation of CRTAase. Accordingly, the predicted CRTAase 3D model showed that all the loop regions of both N- and P-domain bear the acetylated lysines. Energy minimization of the acetylated residues revealed charge neutralization of lysines due to the N-ε-acetylation which may facilitate the interaction of CRTAase with the protein substrate and the subsequent transacetylase action.

2D-QSAR, Docking Studies, and In Silico ADMET Prediction of Polyphenolic Acetates as Substrates for Protein Acetyltransferase Function of Glutamine Synthetase of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

A novel transacetylase (TAase) function of glutamine synthetase (GS) in bacterial species such as Mycobacterium smegmatis and Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv was established by us, termed as mycobacterial TAase (MTAase). Several polyphenolic acetates (PAs) were found to be substrates for MTAase by inhibiting certain receptor proteins such as glutathione S-transferase by way of acetylation. The present work describes the descriptor-based 2D-QSAR studies developed for a series of PA synthesized by us and evaluated for MTAase and antimycobacterial activity using stepwise multiple linear regression method with the kinetic constants and the minimum inhibitory constant (MIC) as the dependent variables, to address the fact that TAase activity was leading to the antimycobacterial activity. Further, blind docking methods using AutoDock were carried out to study the interaction of potent PA with the crystal structure of M. tuberculosis GS. PAs were predicted to bind M. tuberculosis GS on the protein surface away from the known active site of GS. Subsequent focussed/refined docking of potent PA with GS showed that the -amino group of Lys4 of GS formed a cation- interaction with the benzene ring of PA. Also, ADMET-related descriptors were calculated to predict the pharmacokinetic properties for the selection of the effective and bioavailable compounds.

Protein acyltransferase function of purified calreticulin. Part 1: characterization of propionylation of protein utilizing propoxycoumarin as the propionyl group donor

We have earlier reported that an endoplasmic reticulum luminal protein calreticulin (CR) mediated the acetylation of certain receptor proteins such as glutathione S-transferase (GST) by polyphenolic acetates, leading to irreversible inhibition. This function of calreticulin was termed calreticulin transacetylase. In this communication, we have demonstrated for the first time the ability of the purified recombinant calreticulin of a parasitic nematode Haemonchus contortus to transfer propionyl group from 7,8-Dipropoxy-4-methylcoumarin (DPMC) to recombinant Schistosoma japonicum glutathione S-transferase (rGST). Calreticulin transacetylase exhibited hyperbolic kinetics and yielded K(m) (140 microM) and V(max) (105 units) when the concentration of DPMC was varied keeping the concentration of rGST constant. rGST thus propionylated was found to positively interact with anti-acetyl lysine antibody. Also, the nanoscale LC-MS/MS analysis identified the propionylation sites on three lysine residues: Lys-11, -180 and -181 of rGST. These results highlight the transacylase function of calreticulin (CRTAase).

Triazine–pyrimidine based molecular hybrids: synthesis, docking studies and evaluation of antimalarial activity

A series of novel triazine–pyrimidine hybrids have been synthesized and evaluated for their in vitro antimalarial activity. Some of the compounds showed promising antimalarial activity against both CQ-sensitive and CQ-resistant strains at micromolar level with a high selectivity index. All the compounds displayed better activity (IC50 = 1.32–10.70 μM) than the standard drug pyrimethamine (>19 μM) against the chloroquine-resistant strain W2. All the tested compounds were nontoxic against mammalian cell lines. Further, docking studies of the most active compounds were performed on both wild type and quadruple mutant (N51I, C59R, S108N, I164L) PfDHFR-TS using Glide to analyse the interaction of the compounds with the binding site of the protein. The binding poses of compounds 14 and 19, having a high Glide XP score and the lowest Glide energies, show an efficient binding pattern similar to that of the DHFR substrate (dihydrofolate) in the wild type and mutant DHFR active site. The analysis of the pharmacokinetic properties of the most active compounds using ADMET prediction attests to the possibility of developing compound 14 as a potent antimalarial lead.

Moonlighting protein in Starkeyomyces koorchalomoides: characterization of dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase as a protein acetyltransferase utilizing acetoxycoumarin as the acetyl group donor.

In this report we have identified for the first time a transacetylase (TAase) in a mesophilic fungi Starkeyomyces koorchalomoides catalyzing the transfer of acetyl group from polyphenolic acetate (PA) to a receptor protein glutathione S-transferase (GST). An elegant assay procedure was established for TAase based on its ability to mediate inhibition of GST by 7,8-diacetoxy-4-methylcoumarin (DAMC), a model PA. Utilizing this assay procedure, S. koorchalomoides TAase was purified to homogeneity. TAase was found to have MW of 50 kDa. The purified enzyme exhibited maximum activity at 45 degrees C at pH 6.8. The N-terminal sequence of purified fungal TAase (ANDASTVED) showed identity with corresponding N-terminal sequence of dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase (LADH), a mitochondrial matrix enzyme and an E3 component of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDHC). TAase was found to have all the properties of LADH and avidly interacted with the anti-LADH antibody. TAase catalyzed acetylation of GST by DAMC was identified by LC-MS/MS and a single lysine residue (Lys-113) was found to be acetylated. Further, recombinant LADH from Streptococcus pneumoniae lacking lipoyl domain was found to exhibit little TAase activity, suggesting the role of lipoyl domain in the TAase activity of LADH. These observations bear evidence for the protein acetyltransferase activity of LADH. Such an activity of LADH can be attributed as a moonlighting function of the enzyme.

4-Aminoquinoline-pyrimidine-aminoalkanols: synthesis, in vitro antimalarial activity, docking studies and ADME predictions

Twenty-four new 4-aminoquinoline-pyrimidine hybrids containing a terminal aliphatic amino-alcohol chain were synthesized and assessed for their antimalarial activity against chloroquine-sensitive (D6) and chloroquine-resistant (W2) strains of Plasmodium falciparum. All of the compounds displayed potent antiplasmodial activities (IC50 values in the range of 0.05–10.47 μM) with no appreciable cytotoxicity towards mammalian cells, up to the highest tested concentration of 12 μM. Molecular docking studies of the most active compounds (8b–8f, 8u and 8v) with both wild type and quadruple mutant Pf-DHFR-TS were performed, which exhibited interactions comparable to conventional folate inhibitors. ADME predictions also revealed favourable pharmacokinetic parameters for the synthesized hybrids, which warrants their suitability for development as potent antimalarials.

Ellagic acid peracetate is superior to ellagic acid in the prevention of genotoxicity due to aflatoxin B1 in bone marrow and lung cells.

Earlier observations carried out in our laboratory highlighted the mode of action of acetoxy 4‐meth‐ylcoumarins and quercetin pentaacetate in preventing the genotoxicity of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). We have extended the observation to an acetoxy biscoumarin i.e. ellagic acid peracetate (EAPA), which unlike ellagic acid (EA) has demonstrated time‐dependent inhibition of liver microsomes catalysed AFB1‐epoxidation as measured by AFB1 binding to DNA. EAPA was more potent than EA in preventing bone marrow and lung cells from AFB1‐induced genotoxicity. EAPA was acted upon by microsomal acetoxy drug:protein transacetylase (TAase) leading to modulation of the catalytic activity of certain functional proteins (cytochrome P450, NADPH cytochrome c reductase and glutathione S‐transferase), possibly by way of protein acetylation.

Synthesis, antimalarial activity, heme binding and docking studies of 4-aminoquinoline–pyrimidine based molecular hybrids

A series of novel 4-aminoquinoline–pyrimidine hybrids was synthesized and evaluated for their antimalarial activity. Several compounds showed potent antimalarial activity against both CQ-sensitive and CQ-resistant strains of P. falciparum with no cytotoxicity against Vero cell lines. The selected compound 7f, when evaluated for in vivo activity showed mild suppression of parasites in the P. berghei-mouse malaria model. The heme binding studies were conducted to determine the probable mode of action of these hybrids. Compound 8d formed a stable 1 : 1 complex with hematin suggesting that these hybrids act on a heme polymerization target. The binding of most active hybrids was studied by molecular docking analysis in the active site of Pf-DHFR-TS. The top scoring compounds with low binding energy, interact in the active site of Pf-DHFR-TS in a similar way to the natural protein substrate dihydrofolate. The pharmacokinetic properties of the most active compounds were also assessed using ADMET prediction.