N-myristoyltransferase inhibitors as new leads to treat sleeping sickness.
Nature
; 464(7289): 728-32, 2010 Apr 01.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-20360736
ABSTRACT
African sleeping sickness or human African trypanosomiasis, caused by Trypanosoma brucei spp., is responsible for approximately 30,000 deaths each year. Available treatments for this disease are poor, with unacceptable efficacy and safety profiles, particularly in the late stage of the disease when the parasite has infected the central nervous system. Here we report the validation of a molecular target and the discovery of associated lead compounds with the potential to address this lack of suitable treatments. Inhibition of this target-T. brucei N-myristoyltransferase-leads to rapid killing of trypanosomes both in vitro and in vivo and cures trypanosomiasis in mice. These high-affinity inhibitors bind into the peptide substrate pocket of the enzyme and inhibit protein N-myristoylation in trypanosomes. The compounds identified have promising pharmaceutical properties and represent an opportunity to develop oral drugs to treat this devastating disease. Our studies validate T. brucei N-myristoyltransferase as a promising therapeutic target for human African trypanosomiasis.
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Trypanosoma brucei brucei
/
Tripanosomiasis Africana
/
Aciltransferasas
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Antiparasitarios
Tipo de estudio:
Prognostic_studies
Límite:
Animals
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Female
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Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Nature
Año:
2010
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Reino Unido