Download MendeleyMiconazole-like Scaffold is a Promising Lead for Naegleria fowleri -Specific CYP51 Inhibitors.
Sharma, V., Madia, V.N., Tudino, V., Nguyen, J.V., Debnath, A., Messore, A., Ialongo, D., Patacchini, E., Palenca, I., Basili Franzin, S., Seguella, L., Esposito, G., Petrucci, R., Di Matteo, P., Bortolami, M., Saccoliti, F., Di Santo, R., Scipione, L., Costi, R., Podust, L.M.(2023) J Med Chem
- PubMed: 38085955
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c01898
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:
7RKR, 7RKT, 7RKW - PubMed Abstract:
Developing drugs for brain infection by Naegleria fowleri is an unmet medical need. We used a combination of cheminformatics, target-, and phenotypic-based drug discovery methods to identify inhibitors that target an essential N. fowleri enzyme, sterol 14-demethylase (NfCYP51). A total of 124 compounds preselected in silico were tested against N. fowleri . Nine primary hits with EC 50 ≤ 10 μM were phenotypically identified. Cocrystallization with NfCYP51 focused attention on one primary hit, miconazole-like compound 2a . The S -enantiomer of 2a produced a 1.74 Å cocrystal structure. A set of analogues was then synthesized and evaluated to confirm the superiority of the S -configuration over the R -configuration and the advantage of an ether linkage over an ester linkage. The two compounds, S - 8b and S - 9b , had an improved EC 50 and K D compared to 2a . Importantly, both were readily taken up into the brain. The brain-to-plasma distribution coefficient of S - 9b was 1.02 ± 0.12, suggesting further evaluation as a lead for primary amoebic meningoencephalitis.
Organizational Affiliation:
Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States.
