The human Aurora kinase inhibitor danusertib is a lead compound for anti-trypanosomal drug discovery via target repurposing

Eur J Med Chem. 2013 Apr:62:777-84. doi: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2012.07.038. Epub 2012 Jul 31.

Abstract

New drugs for neglected tropical diseases such as human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) are needed, yet drug discovery efforts are not often focused on this area due to cost. Target repurposing, achieved by the matching of essential parasite enzymes to those human enzymes that have been successfully inhibited by small molecule drugs, provides an attractive means by which new drug optimization programs can be pragmatically initiated. In this report we describe our results in repurposing an established class of human Aurora kinase inhibitors, typified by danusertib (1), which we have observed to be an inhibitor of trypanosomal Aurora kinase 1 (TbAUK1) and effective in parasite killing in vitro. Informed by homology modeling and docking, a series of analogs of 1 were prepared that explored the scope of the chemotype and provided a nearly 25-fold improvement in cellular selectivity for parasite cells over human cells.

Publication types

  • 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

  • Aurora Kinases
  • Benzamides / chemical synthesis
  • Benzamides / chemistry
  • Benzamides / pharmacology*
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Discovery*
  • Humans
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Structure
  • Parasitic Sensitivity Tests
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / chemical synthesis
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism
  • Pyrazoles / chemical synthesis
  • Pyrazoles / chemistry
  • Pyrazoles / pharmacology*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Trypanocidal Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Trypanocidal Agents / chemistry
  • Trypanocidal Agents / pharmacology*
  • Trypanosoma / drug effects*
  • Trypanosomiasis / drug therapy

Substances

  • Benzamides
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Pyrazoles
  • Trypanocidal Agents
  • Aurora Kinases
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • danusertib