Peptidomimetic nitrile inhibitors of malarial protease falcipain-2 with high selectivity against human cathepsins

Bioorg Med Chem Lett. 2018 May 15;28(9):1540-1544. doi: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2018.03.069. Epub 2018 Mar 26.

Abstract

Falcipain-2 (FP2) is an essential enzyme in the lifecycle of malaria parasites such as Plasmodium falciparum, and its inhibition is viewed as an attractive mechanism of action for new anti-malarial agents. Selective inhibition of FP2 with respect to a family of human cysteine proteases (that include cathepsins B, K, L and S) is likely to be required for the development of agents targeting FP2. Here we describe a series of P2-modified aminonitrile based inhibitors of FP2 that provide a clear strategy toward addressing selectivity for the P. falciparum and show that it can provide potent FP2 inhibitors with strong selectivity against all four of these human cathepsin isoforms.

Keywords: 3-Pyridine; Falcipain-2 Peptidomimetic-nitrile; Malaria; Selective.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antimalarials / chemical synthesis
  • Antimalarials / chemistry
  • Antimalarials / pharmacology*
  • Cathepsins / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Cathepsins / metabolism
  • Cysteine Endopeptidases / metabolism*
  • Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors / chemical synthesis
  • Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Humans
  • Malaria, Falciparum / drug therapy
  • Malaria, Falciparum / metabolism
  • Molecular Structure
  • Nitriles / chemical synthesis
  • Nitriles / chemistry
  • Nitriles / pharmacology*
  • Peptidomimetics / chemical synthesis
  • Peptidomimetics / chemistry
  • Peptidomimetics / pharmacology*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Antimalarials
  • Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors
  • Nitriles
  • Peptidomimetics
  • Cathepsins
  • Cysteine Endopeptidases
  • falcipain 2