New peptidomimetic rhodesain inhibitors with improved selectivity towards human cathepsins

Eur J Med Chem. 2022 May 14;238:114460. doi: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2022.114460. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTParasitic cysteine proteases such as rhodesain (TbCatL) from Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense are relevant targets for developing new potential drugs against parasitic diseases (e. g. Human African Trypanosomiasis). Designing selective inhibitors for parasitic cathepsins can be challenging as they share high structural similarities with human cathepsins. In this paper, we describe the development of novel peptidomimetic rhodesain inhibitors by applying a structure-based de novo design approach and molecular docking protocols. The inhibitors with a new scaffold in P2 and P3 position display high selectivity towards trypanosomal rhodesain over human cathepsins L and B and high antitrypanosomal activity. Vinylsulfonate 2a has emerged as a potent rhodesain inhibitor (k2nd = 883 • 103 M-1 s-1) with single-digit nanomolar binding affinity (Ki = 9 nM) and more than 150-fold selectivity towards human cathepsins and it thus constitutes an interesting starting compound for the further development of selective drugs against Human African Trypanosomiasis.PMID:35597010 | DOI:10.1016/j.ejmech.2022.114460

Source: European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry - May 21, 2022 Category: Chemistry Authors: Sascha Jung Natalie Fuchs Christoph Grathwol Ute A Hellmich Annika Wagner Erika Diehl Thomas Willmes Christoph Sotriffer Tanja Schirmeister Source Type: research