Trong Duc Tran

Towards Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors as New Antimalarial Drugs

Histone deacetylases (HDACs) are important enzymes that effect post-translational modifications of proteins by altering the acetylation state of lysine residues. HDACs control epigenetic changes that trigger cell transformation and proliferation of transformed cells associated with many diseases. These enzymes are validated drug targets for some types of cancer and are promising therapeutic targets for a range of other diseases, including malaria. Annually, there are ~500 million clinical cases of malaria and ~0.8-1.2 million deaths. There is no licensed vaccine for preventing malaria, and parasites that cause malaria are becoming resistant to current drugs, necessitating the search for new therapies. HDAC inhibitors are emerging as a promising new class of antimalarial drugs with potent and selective action against Plasmodium parasites in vitro. Recent studies on the effects of HDAC inhibitors on the growth and development of P. falciparum have provided important new information on transcriptional regulation in malaria parasites and have validated the potential of this class of inhibitors for malaria therapy. To realise effective HDAC inhibitors for clinical trials, next generation inhibitors must not inhibit other human HDACs or proteins required for normal human physiology, be highly selective in killing parasites in vivo without killing normal host cells, and have improved bioavailability and pharmacokinetic profiles. This review summarizes current knowledge about malaria parasite HDACs and HDAC inhibitors with antimalarial properties, and provides insights for their development into new drugs for treatment of malaria.

Psammaplysin H, a new antimalarial bromotyrosine alkaloid from a marine sponge of the genus Pseudoceratina

Mass-directed isolation of the CH(2)Cl(2)/CH(3)OH extract from a marine sponge of the genus Pseudoceratina resulted in the purification of a new antimalarial bromotyrosine alkaloid, psammaplysin H (1), along with the previously isolated analogs psammaplysins G (2) and F (3). The structure of 1 was elucidated following 1D and 2D NMR, and MS data analysis. All compounds were tested in vitro against the 3D7 line of Plasmodium falciparum and mammalian cell lines (HEK293 and HepG2), with 1 having the most potent (IC(50) 0.41μM) and selective (>97-fold) antimalarial activity.

Cytotoxic Cyclic Depsipeptides from the Australian Marine Sponge Neamphius huxleyi

Three new cyclic depsipeptides, neamphamides B (2), C (3), and D (4), were isolated from the Australian sponge Neamphius huxleyi. The planar structural characterization of these molecules was elucidated using 2D NMR experiments and ESI-FTICR-MS(n). Their configurations were determined by Marfeys method and J-based NMR analysis. These new metabolites inhibited the growth of human cell lines (A549, HeLa, LNCaP, PC3, and NFF) with IC(50) values ranging from 88 to 370 nM. However, neamphamide D causes A549 cell proliferation at subcytotoxic doses and should be treated cautiously as a cytotoxic compound.

Bromotyrosine alkaloids from the Australian marine sponge Pseudoceratina verrucosa.

Two new bromotyrosine alkaloids, pseudoceralidinone A (1) and aplysamine 7 (2), along with three known compounds were isolated from the Australian sponge Pseudoceratina verrucosa. Their structures were characterized by NMR and MS data and the synthetic route. Their cytotoxicity was evaluated against cancer cell lines (HeLa and PC3) and a noncancer cell line (NFF).

Isolation and Total Synthesis of Stolonines A–C, Unique Taurine Amides from the Australian Marine Tunicate Cnemidocarpa stolonifera

Cnemidocarpa stolonifera is an underexplored marine tunicate that only occurs on the tropical to subtropical East Coast of Australia, with only two pyridoacridine compounds reported previously. Qualitative analysis of the lead-like enhanced fractions of C. stolonifera by LC-MS dual electrospray ionization coupled with PDA and ELSD detectors led to the identification of three new natural products, stolonines A–C (1–3), belonging to the taurine amide structure class. Structures of the new compounds were determined by NMR and MS analyses and later verified by total synthesis. This is the first time that the conjugates of taurine with 3-indoleglyoxylic acid, quinoline-2-carboxylic acid and β-carboline-3-carboxylic acid present in stolonines A–C (1–3), respectively, have been reported. An immunofluorescence assay on PC3 cells indicated that compounds 1 and 3 increased cell size, induced mitochondrial texture elongation, and caused apoptosis in PC3 cells.

Potent cytotoxic peptides from the Australian marine sponge Pipestela candelabra

Two consecutive prefractionated fractions of the Australian marine sponge extract, Pipestela candelabra, were identified to be selectively active on the human prostate cancer cells (PC3) compared to the human neonatal foreskin fibroblast non-cancer cells (NFF). Twelve secondary metabolites were isolated in which four compounds are new small peptides. Their structures were characterized by spectroscopic and chemical analysis. These compounds inhibited selectively the growth of prostate cancer cells with IC50 values in the picomolar to sub-micromolar range. Structure-activity relationship of these compounds is discussed.

Tyrosyl-DNA Phosphodiesterase I Inhibitors from the Australian Plant Macropteranthes leichhardtii

Mass-directed isolation of the CH2Cl2/MeOH extract from the bark of an Australian plant, Macropteranthes leichhardtii, resulted in the purification of a new phenylpropanoid glucoside, macropteranthol (1), together with four known analogues (2-5). The structure of compound 1 was elucidated by NMR and MS data analyses and quantum chemical calculations. Compounds 3 and 5 showed inhibitory activity against tyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase I with IC50 values of ∼1.0 μM.

Achyrodimer F, a tyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase I inhibitor from an Australian fungus of the family Cortinariaceae

Mass-guided isolation of the dichloromethane/methanol extracts from a specimen of teleomorphic fungus of the family Cortinariaceae resulted in the identification of a new dimeric cyclobutane metabolite, achyrodimer F (1), along with the monomers hispidin (2) and bisnoryangonin (3). Their structures were determined by NMR and MS data analyses. Density Function Theory (DFT) NMR calculations was employed to confirm the chemical structure of achyrodimer F. Compound 1 inhibited tyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase I with an IC50 value of 1μM.

Lignans from the Australian Endemic Plant Austrobaileya scandens.

The sole species of the vascular plant family Austrobaileyaceae, Austrobaileya scandens, is endemic to the tropical rainforest of northeastern Queensland, Australia. A single lead-like enhanced fraction of A. scandens showed potent inhibition against human prostate cancer PC3 cells. Chemical investigation of this plant resulted in the isolation of two new aryltetralin lignans, austrobailignans 8 and 9 (1 and 2), and the synthetic compound nicotlactone B (3), newly identified as a natural product together with nine known lignans (4-12). Their structures were established on the basis of spectroscopic analyses. Absolute configurations of the new compounds were determined by quantum chemical electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations employing time-dependent density functional theory. The ECD calculations were also used to assign the absolute configuration of marphenol K (4) and revise the absolute configuration of kadsurindutin C (20). Ten out of the 12 isolated compounds inhibited the growth of PC3 cells with IC50 values ranging from micromolar to nanomolar. Marphenol A (5) was found for the first time to induce apoptosis and arrest the S cell cycle phase of PC3 cells.

Unique Polybrominated Hydrocarbons from the Australian Endemic Red Alga Ptilonia australasica

The red alga Ptilonia australasica is endemic to Australian temperate waters. Chemical investigation of P. australasica led to the identification of four new polybrominated compounds, ptilones A-C (1-3) and australasol A (4). Their planar structures were established by extensive NMR and MS analyses. The low H/C ratio and the presence of a large number of heteroatoms made the structure elucidation challenging. The absolute configurations of 1, 2, and 4 were determined by quantum chemical ECD calculations employing time-dependent density functional theory. Ptilones A-C (1-3) show unique 4-ethyl-5-methylenecyclopent-2-enone (1 and 2) and 2-methyl-6-vinyl-4H-pyran-4-one (3) skeletons not previously reported in algal metabolites. Ptilone A displayed the most potent cytotoxicity against the human prostate cancer PC3 cells with an IC50 value of 0.44 μM and induced the PC3 cell cycle arrest in the G0/G1 phase.