Novel inhibitors of trihydroxynaphthalene reductase with antifungal activity identified by ligand-based and structure-based virtual screening

J Chem Inf Model. 2011 Jul 25;51(7):1716-24. doi: 10.1021/ci2001499. Epub 2011 Jun 21.

Abstract

Curvularia lunata is a dark pigmented fungus that is the causative agent of several diseases in plants and in both immunodeficient and immunocompetent patients. 1,8-Dihydroxynaphthalene-melanin is found in the cell wall of C. lunata and is believed to be the important virulence factor of dematiaceous fungi. Trihydroxynaphthalene reductase is an enzyme of the 1,8-dihydroxynaphthalene-melanin biosynthetic pathway, and it thus represents an emerging target for the development of novel fungicides and antimycotics. In the present study, we describe novel inhibitors of trihydroxynaphthalene reductase from C. lunata. These inhibitors were identified by ligand-based three-dimensional similarity searching and docking to a homology-built model and by subsequent biochemical and antifungal evaluation. Discovery of competitive inhibitors with K(i) values in low micromolar and even nanomolar concentration range proves the aplicability of homology-built model of 3HNR for hit finding by virtual screening methods.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antifungal Agents / chemistry*
  • Antifungal Agents / pharmacology
  • Binding, Competitive
  • Computer Simulation*
  • Fungal Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • High-Throughput Screening Assays
  • Ligands
  • Molecular Structure
  • Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-CH Group Donors / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Small Molecule Libraries / chemistry*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents
  • Fungal Proteins
  • Ligands
  • Small Molecule Libraries
  • tetrahydroxynaphthalene reductase
  • Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-CH Group Donors