Functional and structural analysis of AT-specific minor groove binders that disrupt DNA-protein interactions and cause disintegration of the Trypanosoma brucei kinetoplast

Millan, C. R., Acosta-Reyes, F. J., Lagartera, L., Ebiloma, G. U., Lemgruber Soares, L. , Nué Martinez, J. J., Saperas, N., Dardonville, C., De Koning, H. P. and Campos, J. L. (2017) Functional and structural analysis of AT-specific minor groove binders that disrupt DNA-protein interactions and cause disintegration of the Trypanosoma brucei kinetoplast. Nucleic Acids Research, 45(14), pp. 8378-8391. (doi: 10.1093/nar/gkx521) (PMID:28637278) (PMCID:PMC5737332)

[img]
Preview
Text
141858.pdf - Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution.

4MB

Abstract

Trypanosoma brucei, the causative agent of sleeping sickness (Human African Trypanosomiasis, HAT), contains a kinetoplast with the mitochondrial DNA (kDNA), comprising of >70% AT base pairs. This has prompted studies of drugs interacting with AT-rich DNA, such as the N-phenylbenzamide bis(2-aminoimidazoline) derivatives 1 [4-((4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazol-2-yl)amino)-N-(4-((4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazol-2-yl)amino)phenyl)benzamide dihydrochloride] and 2 [N-(3-chloro-4-((4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazol-2-yl)amino)phenyl)-4-((4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazol-2-yl)amino)benzamide] as potential drugs for HAT. Both compounds show in vitro effects against T. brucei and in vivo curative activity in a mouse model of HAT. The main objective was to identify their cellular target inside the parasite. We were able to demonstrate that the compounds have a clear effect on the S-phase of T. brucei cell cycle by inflicting specific damage on the kinetoplast. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR)–biosensor experiments show that the drug can displace HMG box-containing proteins essential for kDNA function from their kDNA binding sites. The crystal structure of the complex of the oligonucleotide d[AAATTT]2 with compound 1 solved at 1.25 Å (PDB-ID: 5LIT) shows that the drug covers the minor groove of DNA, displaces bound water and interacts with neighbouring DNA molecules as a cross-linking agent. We conclude that 1 and 2 are powerful trypanocides that act directly on the kinetoplast, a structure unique to the order Kinetoplastida.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:De Koning, Professor Harry and Lemgruber Soares, Dr Leandro
Authors: Millan, C. R., Acosta-Reyes, F. J., Lagartera, L., Ebiloma, G. U., Lemgruber Soares, L., Nué Martinez, J. J., Saperas, N., Dardonville, C., De Koning, H. P., and Campos, J. L.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity
Journal Name:Nucleic Acids Research
Publisher:Oxford University Press
ISSN:0305-1048
ISSN (Online):1362-4962
Published Online:17 June 2017
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2017 The Authors
First Published:First published in Nucleic Acids Research 45(14):8378-8391
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

University Staff: Request a correction | Enlighten Editors: Update this record

Project CodeAward NoProject NamePrincipal InvestigatorFunder's NameFunder RefLead Dept
371796The Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology ( Core Support )Andrew WatersWellcome Trust (WELLCOTR)085349/Z/08/ZIII - PARASITOLOGY