2'-Deoxyuridine 5'-monophosphate substrate displacement in thymidylate synthase through 6-hydroxy-2H-naphtho[1,8-bc]furan-2-one derivatives.

Thymidylate synthase (TS) is a target for antifolate-based chemotherapies of microbial and human diseases. Here, ligand-based, synthetic, and X-ray crystallography studies led to the discovery of 6-(3-cyanobenzoyloxy)-2-oxo-2H-naphto[1,8-bc]furan, a novel inhibitor with a Ki of 310 nM against Pneumocystis carinii TS. The X-ray ternary complex with Escherichia coli TS revealed, for the first time, displacement of the substrate toward the dimeric protein interface, thus providing new opportunities for further design of specific inhibitors of microbial pathogens.

Virtual screening identification of nonfolate compounds, including a CNS drug, as antiparasitic agents inhibiting pteridine reductase.

Folate analogue inhibitors of Leishmania major pteridine reductase (PTR1) are potential antiparasitic drug candidates for combined therapy with dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) inhibitors. To identify new molecules with specificity for PTR1, we carried out a virtual screening of the Available Chemicals Directory (ACD) database to select compounds that could interact with L. major PTR1 but not with human DHFR. Through two rounds of drug discovery, we successfully identified eighteen drug-like molecules with low micromolar affinities and high in vitro specificity profiles. Their efficacy against Leishmania species was studied in cultured cells of the promastigote stage, using the compounds both alone and in combination with 1 (pyrimethamine; 5-(4-chlorophenyl)-6-ethylpyrimidine-2,4-diamine). Six compounds showed efficacy only in combination. In toxicity tests against human fibroblasts, several compounds showed low toxicity. One compound, 5c (riluzole; 6-(trifluoromethoxy)-1,3-benzothiazol-2-ylamine), a known drug approved for CNS pathologies, was active in combination and is suitable for early preclinical evaluation of its potential for label extension as a PTR1 inhibitor and antiparasitic drug candidate.

Structural study of phenyl boronic acid derivatives as AmpC beta-lactamase inhibitors.

A small set of boronic acids acting as low nanomolar inhibitors of AmpC beta-lactamase were designed and synthesized in the effort to improve affinity, pharmacokinetic properties, and to provide a valid lead compound. X-ray crystallography revealed the binary complex of the best inhibitor bound to the enzyme, highlighting possibilities for its further rational derivatization and chemical optimization.

High-performance liquid chromatography analysis of polyacetylenes and polyenes in Echinacea pallida by using a monolithic reversed-phase silica column.

In this study, a RP-HPLC method for the analysis of polyacetylenes and polyenes in Echinacea pallida roots and phytopharmaceuticals was developed. The reference compounds used for quantification were isolated from the plant material and their structures were determined on the basis of the analysis of UV, IR, NMR and MS data. The complete structure elucidation of three compounds, namely 8-hydroxy-tetradec-(9E)-ene-11,13-diyn-2-one (1), tetradec-(8Z)-ene-11,13-diyn-2-one (6) and pentadec-(8Z)-en-2-one (9) is described. In the analysis of the n-hexane extracts of E. pallida roots, the comparison between conventional and monolithic columns showed that the elution order in both cases is identical and the selectivity is equivalent. However, the retention times achieved by the monolithic column are shorter, resulting in a faster separation (20 min). Therefore, the analyses were carried out on a Chromolith Performance RP-18e (100 mm x 4.6 mm i.d.), with a gradient mobile phase composed by H(2)O and ACN at the flow rate of 2 mL/min. The column was thermostatted at 20 degrees C. The photodiode array detector monitored the eluent at 210 nm. The validation procedure confirmed that this technique affords reliable analysis of these components and is appropriate for the quality control of complex matrices, such as E. pallida roots and phytopharmaceuticals.

Isolation and structure elucidation of cytotoxic polyacetylenes and polyenes from Echinacea pallida.

Bioassay-guided fractionation of n-hexane extracts of Echinacea pallida (Asteraceae) roots led to the isolation and structure elucidation of two polyacetylenes (1, 3) and three polyenes (2, 4, 5). Two are known hydroxylated compounds, namely 8-hydroxy-pentadeca-(9E)-ene-11,13-diyn-2-one (1) and 8-hydroxy-pentadeca-(9E,13Z)-dien-11-yn-2-one (2). Two dicarbonylic constituents, namely pentadeca-(9E)-ene-11,13-diyne-2,8-dione (3) and pentadeca-(9E,13Z)-dien-11-yne-2,8-dione (4), were isolated and characterized for the first time. Furthermore, the structure elucidation of pentadeca-(8Z,13Z)-dien-11-yn-2-one (5) is described. The structure of the compounds isolated was determined on the basis of UV, IR, NMR (including 1D and 2D NMR experiments, such as 1H-1H gCOSY, gHSQC-DEPT, gHMBC, gNOESY) and MS spectroscopic data. The cytotoxic activity of the isolated constituents against MIA PaCa-2 human pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells was evaluated in the concentration range 1-100 microg/ml. Results show that the hydroxylated compounds (1, 2) have low cytotoxicity, while the more hydrophobic polyacetylenes (3) and polyenes (4, 5) displayed moderate activity.

Aza-boronic acids as non-beta-lactam inhibitors of AmpC-beta-lactamase.

With the aim of improving the ability of non-beta-lactam inhibitors to inhibit AmpC-beta-lactamase, a series of 3-aza-phenyl-boronic acid derivatives was obtained using in parallel synthesis. The molecules were tested against Escherichia coli AmpC-beta-lactamase. The best inhibitors, 3-(2-hydroxy-naphthalen-1-ylazo)-phenyl-boronic acid (12) and 3-(2,4-dihydroxy-naphthalen-1-ylazo)-phenyl-boronic acid (14), showed apparent inhibition constant values (K(i)) of 0.3 and 0.45 microM and increased the potency of the semi-synthetic cephalosporin antibiotic, ceftazidime, lowering its minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value of 50%, against Gram-negative bacteria strains, producing high levels of AmpC-beta-lactamase.