Download MendeleyPromising antimalarials targeting apicoplast DNA polymerase from Plasmodium falciparum.
Chheda, P.R., Nieto, N., Kaur, S., Beck, J.M., Beck, J.R., Honzatko, R., Kerns, R.J., Nelson, S.W.(2022) Eur J Med Chem 243: 114751-114751
- PubMed: 36191407
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejmech.2022.114751
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:
7SXL, 7SXQ - PubMed Abstract:
Malaria is caused by the parasite Plasmodium falciparum, which contains an essential non-photosynthetic plastid called the apicoplast. A single DNA polymerase, apPOL, is targeted to the apicoplast, where it replicates and repairs the genome. apPOL has no direct orthologs in mammals and is considered a promising drug target for the treatment and/or prevention of malaria. We previously reported screening the Malaria Box to identify MMV666123 as an inhibitor of apPOL. Herein we extend our studies and report structure-activity relationships for MMV666123 and identify key structural motifs necessary for inhibition. Although attempts to crystallize apPOL with the inhibitor were not fruitful, kinetic analysis and crystal structure determinations of WT and mutant apo-enzymes, facilitated model building and provided insights into the putative inhibitor binding site. Our results validate apPOL as an antimalarial target and provide an avenue for the design of high potency, specific inhibitors of apPOL and other A-family DNA polymerases.
Organizational Affiliation:
Division of Medicinal and Natural Products Chemistry, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Iowa, 115 S Grand Ave, S321 Pharmacy Building, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA.
