4-Aminopyridyl-based CYP51 inhibitors as anti-Trypanosoma cruzi drug leads with improved pharmacokinetic profile and in vivo potency

J Med Chem. 2014 Aug 28;57(16):6989-7005. doi: 10.1021/jm500448u. Epub 2014 Aug 19.

Abstract

CYP51 is a P450 enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of the sterol components of eukaryotic cell membranes. CYP51 inhibitors have been developed to treat infections caused by fungi, and more recently the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease. To specifically optimize drug candidates for T. cruzi CYP51 (TcCYP51), we explored the structure-activity relationship (SAR) of a N-indolyl-oxopyridinyl-4-aminopropanyl-based scaffold originally identified in a target-based screen. This scaffold evolved via medicinal chemistry to yield orally bioavailable leads with potent anti-T. cruzi activity in vivo. Using an animal model of infection with a transgenic T. cruzi Y luc strain expressing firefly luciferase, we prioritized the biaryl and N-arylpiperazine analogues by oral bioavailability and potency. The drug-target complexes for both scaffold variants were characterized by X-ray structure analysis. Optimization of both binding mode and pharmacokinetic properties of these compounds led to potent inhibitors against experimental T. cruzi infection.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • 14-alpha Demethylase Inhibitors / chemistry*
  • 14-alpha Demethylase Inhibitors / pharmacokinetics
  • 14-alpha Demethylase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • 4-Aminopyridine / chemistry*
  • Administration, Oral
  • Animals
  • Biological Availability
  • Chagas Disease / drug therapy
  • Chagas Disease / parasitology
  • Chemistry Techniques, Synthetic
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Cyclodextrins / chemistry
  • Cyclodextrins / pharmacokinetics
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Luciferases, Firefly / genetics
  • Mice
  • Organisms, Genetically Modified
  • Polyethylene Glycols / pharmacokinetics
  • Stearates / pharmacokinetics
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Tissue Distribution
  • Trypanocidal Agents / administration & dosage
  • Trypanocidal Agents / chemistry
  • Trypanocidal Agents / pharmacokinetics
  • Trypanocidal Agents / pharmacology*
  • Trypanosoma cruzi / drug effects*
  • Trypanosoma cruzi / genetics

Substances

  • 14-alpha Demethylase Inhibitors
  • Cyclodextrins
  • Stearates
  • Trypanocidal Agents
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • 4-Aminopyridine
  • Luciferases, Firefly

Associated data

  • PDB/4BMM
  • PDB/4C0C
  • PDB/4UQH