Host-parasite co-metabolic activation of antitrypanosomal aminomethyl-benzoxaboroles

Zhang, N. et al. (2018) Host-parasite co-metabolic activation of antitrypanosomal aminomethyl-benzoxaboroles. PLoS Pathogens, 14(2), e1006850. (doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1006850) (PMID:29425238) (PMCID:PMC5823473)

Abstract

Recent development of benzoxaborole-based chemistry gave rise to a collection of compounds with great potential in targeting diverse infectious diseases, including human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT), a devastating neglected tropical disease. However, further medicinal development is largely restricted by a lack of insight into mechanism of action (MoA) in pathogenic kinetoplastids. We adopted a multidisciplinary approach, combining a high-throughput forward genetic screen with functional group focused chemical biological, structural biology and biochemical analyses, to tackle the complex MoAs of benzoxaboroles in Trypanosoma brucei. We describe an oxidative enzymatic pathway composed of host semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase and a trypanosomal aldehyde dehydrogenase TbALDH3. Two sequential reactions through this pathway serve as the key underlying mechanism for activating a series of 4-aminomethylphenoxy-benzoxaboroles as potent trypanocides; the methylamine parental compounds as pro-drugs are transformed first into intermediate aldehyde metabolites, and further into the carboxylate metabolites as effective forms. Moreover, comparative biochemical and crystallographic analyses elucidated the catalytic specificity of TbALDH3 towards the benzaldehyde benzoxaborole metabolites as xenogeneic substrates. Overall, this work proposes a novel drug activation mechanism dependent on both host and parasite metabolism of primary amine containing molecules, which contributes a new perspective to our understanding of the benzoxaborole MoA, and could be further exploited to improve the therapeutic index of antimicrobial compounds.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Vincent, Dr Isabel and Barrett, Professor Michael

Creator Roles

Vincent, I. M.: Investigation
Barrett, M. P.: Conceptualization, Funding acquisition, Supervision, Writing – review and editing

• Authors: Zhang, N., Zoltner, M., Leung, K.-F., Scullion, P., Hutchinson, S., Del Pino, R. C., Vincent, I. M., Zhang, Y.-K., Freund, Y. R., Alley, M. R.K., Jacobs, R. T., Read, K. D., Barrett, M. P., Horn, D., and Field, M. C.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Cancer Sciences; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity
• Journal Name: PLoS Pathogens
• Publisher: Public Library of Science
• ISSN: 1553-7366
• ISSN (Online): 1553-7374
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2018 Zhang et al.
• First Published: First published in PLoS Pathogens 14(2):e1006850
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License