Prodrug activation in malaria parasites mediated by an imported erythrocyte esterase, acylpeptide hydrolase (APEH).

The continued emergence of antimalarial drug resistance highlights the need to develop new antimalarial therapies. Unfortunately, new drug development is often hampered by poor drug-like properties of lead compounds. Prodrugging temporarily masks undesirable compound features, improving bioavailability and target penetration. We have found that lipophilic diester prodrugs of phosphonic acid antibiotics, such as fosmidomycin, exhibit significantly higher antimalarial potency than their parent compounds (1). However, the activating enzymes for these prodrugs were unknown. Here, we show that an erythrocyte enzyme, acylpeptide hydrolase (APEH) is the major activating enzyme of multiple lipophilic ester prodrugs. Surprisingly, this enzyme is taken up by the malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum , where it localizes to the parasite cytoplasm and retains enzymatic activity. Using a novel fluorogenic ester library, we characterize the structure activity relationship of APEH, and compare it to that of P. falciparum esterases. We show that parasite-internalized APEH plays an important role in the activation of substrates with branching at the alpha carbon, in keeping with its exopeptidase activity. Our findings highlight a novel mechanism for antimicrobial prodrug activation, relying on a host-derived enzyme to yield activation at a microbial target. Mutations in prodrug activating enzymes are a common mechanism for antimicrobial drug resistance (2-4). Leveraging an internalized host enzyme would circumvent this, enabling the design of prodrugs with higher barriers to drug resistance. Significance: Rising antimalarial drug resistance threatens current gains in malaria control. New antimalarial drugs are urgently needed. Unfortunately, many drug candidates have poor drug-like properties, such as poor absorbability in the gastrointestinal tract, or poor accumulation at the site of action. This can be overcome by prodrugging, the addition of prodrug groups which mask poor drug features until they are removed by an activating enzyme. Here, we show that a red blood cell enzyme, acylpeptide hydrolase, is taken up by malaria parasites and serves as the activating enzyme for multiple lipophilic ester prodrugs. Our findings highlight a novel mechanism for prodrug activation, which could be leveraged to design novel prodrugs with high barriers to drug resistance.

Exploratory studies on azole carboxamides as nucleobase analogs: thermal denaturation studies on oligodeoxyribonucleotide duplexes containing pyrrole-3-carboxamide.

In order to study base pairing properties of the amide group in DNA duplexes, a nucleoside analog, 1-(2'-deoxy-beta-D-ribofuranosyl)pyrrole-3-carboxamide, was synthesized by a new route from the ester, methyl 1-(2'-deoxy-3',5'-di-O-p -toluoyl-beta-D-erythro-pentofuranosyl)pyrrole-3-carboxylate, obtained from the coupling reaction between 1-chloro-2-deoxy-3,5-di-O -toluoyl-d-erythropentofuranose and methyl pyrrole-3-carboxylate by treatment with dimethylaluminum amide. 1-(2'-Deoxy-beta-D-ribofuranosyl)pyrrole-3-carboxamide was incorporated into a series of oligodeoxyribonucleotides by solid-phase phosphoramidite technology. The corresponding oligodeoxyribonucleotides with 3-nitropyrrole in the same position in the sequence were synthesized for UV comparison of helix-coil transitions. The thermal melting studies indicate that pyrrole-3-carboxamide, which could conceptually adopt either a dA-like or a dI-like hydrogen bond conformation, pairs with significantly higher affinity to T than to dC. Pyrrole-3-carboxamide further resembles dA in the relative order of its base pairing preferences (T >dG >dA >dC). Theoretical calculations on the model compound N-methylpyrrole-3-carboxamide using density functional theory show little difference in the preference for a syntau versus anti conformation about the bond from pyrrole C3 to the amide carbonyl. The amide groups in both the minimized antitau and syntau conformations are twisted out of the plane of the pyrrole ring by 6-14 degrees. This twist may be one source of destabilization when the amide group is placed in the helix. Another contribution to the difference in stability between the base pairs of pyrrole-3-carboxamide with T and pyrrole-3-carboxamide with C may be the presence of a hydrogen bond in the former involving an acidic proton (N3-H of T).

Template directed incorporation of nucleotide mixtures using azole-nucleobase analogs.

DNA that encodes elements for degenerate replication events by use of artificial nucleobases offers a versatile approach to manipulating sequences for applications in biotechnology. We have designed a family of artificial nucleobases that are capable of assuming multiple hydrogen bonding orientations through internal bond rotations to provide a means for degenerate molecular recognition. Incorporation of these analogs into a single position of a PCR primer allowed for analysis of their template effects on DNA amplification catalyzed by Thermus aquaticus (Taq) DNA polymerase. All of the nucleobase surrogates have similar shapes but differ by structural alterations that influence their electronic character. These subtle distinctions were able to influence the Taq DNA polymerase dependent incorporation of the four natural deoxyribonucleotides and thus, significantly expand the molecular design possibilities for biochemically functional nucleic acid analogs.

tRNA-guanine transglycosylase from Escherichia coli: structure-activity studies investigating the role of the aminomethyl substituent of the heterocyclic substrate PreQ1.

A series of 5-substituted 2-aminopyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4(3H)-ones have been synthesized in order to study the substrate specificity of the tRNA-guanine transglycosylase (TGT) from Escherichia coli. A number of these compounds were initially examined as inhibitors of radiolabeled guanine incorporation into tRNA catalyzed by TGT [Hoops, G. C., Garcia, G. A., & Townsend, L. B. (1992) 204th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Washington, DC, August 23-28, 1992, Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Abstract 113]. The kinetic parameters of these analogues as substrates in the TGT reaction have been determined by monitoring the loss of radiolabeled guanine from 8-[14C]G34-tRNA. This study reveals that the tRNA-guanine transglycosylase from E. coli will tolerate a wide variety of substituents at the 5-position. The role of the 5-substituent appears to be entirely in binding/recognition with no apparent effects upon catalysis. A correlation between N7 pKa and Vmax suggests the deprotonation of N7 during the reaction, which must occur prior to subsequent glycosidic bond formation, appears to be partially rate-determining for the natural substrate. Comparison of the Kis of 7-methyl-substituted competitive inhibitors to the Kms of their corresponding substrates suggests that some substrates (including preQ1) are kinetically "sticky" (i.e., Km is equivalent to Kd) and other substrates have Kms that reflect catalytic rates as well as binding.

Mechanism-based inactivation of tRNA-guanine transglycosylase from Escherichia coli by 2-amino-5-(fluoromethyl)pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4 (3H)-one.

In Escherichia coli, tRNA-guanine transglycosylase (TGT) catalyzes the incorporation of the queuine precursor preQ1 [2-amino-5-(aminomethyl)pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4(3H)-one] into tRNA. This precursor is further elaborated to queuine by two subsequent enzymic reactions [Slany, R. K., & Kersten, H. (1994) Biochimie 76, 1178-1182]. Our previous studies [Hoops, G. C., Townsend, L. B., & Garcia, G. A., (1995) Biochemistry (in press)] on a series of synthetic 5- and 6-substituted 2-aminopyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4(3H) -ones have revealed that the E. coli TGT tolerates a wide diversity of substituents (isosteric, or nearly so, to the aminomethyl group of preQ1) at the 5 position. We report here that 2-amino-5-(fluoromethyl)pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4 (3H)-one (FMPP) inactivates TGT in a time- and concentration-dependent manner with k(inact) = 0.074 min-1 and KI = 136 microM. A competitive inhibitor (7-methyl-preQ1), with respect to preQ1, of TGT [Hoops, G.C., Townsend, L.B., & Garcia, G.A. (1995) Biochemistry (in press)] protects the enzyme from inactivation by FMPP. FMPP also acts as a competitive inhibitor (KI = 114 microM) of TGT under initial velocity conditions. The rate of fluoride release from FMPP is slightly faster (0.064 min-1) than the k(inact) (0.053 min-1) at 300 microM FMPP, consistent with fluoride release preceding inactivation. FMPP appears to partition between "normal" turnover (kcat = 0.461 min-1 and Km = 152 microM), inactivation, and an alternative processing to an unidentified, fluoride-released product.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

A comparison of proteins and peptides as substrates for microsomal and solubilized oligosaccharyltransferase.

A chemoenzymatic synthesis of homogeneous neoglycoproteins and glycopeptides was explored using oligosaccharyltransferase isolated from yeast. Neither the microsomal form nor the solubilized form of the enzyme catalyzed the transfer of the core Glc3Man9(GlcNAc)2 oligosaccharide to chemically modified ribonuclease A or alpha-lactalbumin. Similarly, no transfer was observed to the 32-amino acid peptide hormone, calcitonin, by either the membrane-bound or soluble form of oligosaccharyltransferase. However, a 17-amino acid fragment of yeast invertase with the unusual sequence containing two overlapping glycosylation sequons proved to be a good substrate, slightly less effective than the well studied tripeptide, Bz-Asn-Leu-Thr-NH2. Product analysis using gel permeation chromatography showed that the expected glycopeptides were formed and endo H-catalyzed cleavage of the oligosaccharide portion from the glycopeptides demonstrated that the glycopeptides contained the same carbohydrate moiety.

[Results of pyeloplasty in children (author's transl)]. / Ergebnisse der Nierenbeckenplastik beim Kind.

The results of 47 surgically corrected cases of stenosis of the pyelo-ureteral junction in children are presented. The method of Anderson-Hynes is preferred because of the removal of the functionally and morphologically damaged ureter-segment. In 80% of the cases the postoperative x-ray demonstrated a good result. Some of the other patients required a secondary nephrectomy. In 10 patients the technique of Culp-de Weerd was used. Six patients showed good results. Postoperatively the urine was sterile in 2/3 of the examined children. In some of the patients the postoperative follow-up was insufficient Etiology. Diagnostic procedure and indication for surgery are discussed.

[Operative correction of primary megaureter in children (author's transl)]. / Operative Korrektur des primären Megaureters beim Kind.

Sixty-seven children with congenital megaureter were treated by surgically. Nephroureterectomy was performed in 12 cases (17.9%). Fifty-five children were selected for surgical correction. In 23 patients, a bilateral ureteroneocystostomy with submucosal tunneling was performed. These latter patients were examined in the postoperative period for the following criteria: unobstructed flow urine, improved or stable renal function and absence of infection, 69.23% of these patients met these criteria. Because the primary goal is conservation of the kidney the indication for surgical correction is quite liberal. Thirty percent were failures partially due to previous surgery. The need for detailed preoperative study and long-term follow-up is stressed.