Plasmodium falciparum dihydroorotate dehydrogenase DHODH in complex with 3,6-dimethyl-N-(4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-(1,2)oxazolo(5,4-d)pyrimidin-4-amine
Primary Citation of Related Structures:   6GJG
PubMed Abstract: 
Malaria kills nearly 0.5 million people yearly and impacts the lives of those living in over 90 countries where it is endemic. The current treatment programs are threatened by increasing drug resistance. Dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) is now clinically validated as a target for antimalarial drug discovery as a triazolopyrimidine class inhibitor ( DSM265 ) is currently undergoing clinical development ...
Malaria kills nearly 0.5 million people yearly and impacts the lives of those living in over 90 countries where it is endemic. The current treatment programs are threatened by increasing drug resistance. Dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) is now clinically validated as a target for antimalarial drug discovery as a triazolopyrimidine class inhibitor ( DSM265 ) is currently undergoing clinical development. We discovered a related isoxazolopyrimidine series in a phenotypic screen, later determining that it targeted DHODH. To determine if the isoxazolopyrimidines could yield a drug candidate, we initiated hit-to-lead medicinal chemistry. Several potent analogues were identified, including a compound that showed in vivo antimalarial activity. The isoxazolopyrimidines were more rapidly metabolized than their triazolopyrimidine counterparts, and the pharmacokinetic data were not consistent with the goal of a single-dose treatment for malaria.
Organizational Affiliation: 
Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, Texas 75390-9038, United States.