Design, Synthesis, and Optimization of Macrocyclic Peptides as Species-Selective Antimalaria Proteasome Inhibitors

J Med Chem. 2022 Jul 14;65(13):9350-9375. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c00611. Epub 2022 Jun 21.

Abstract

With over 200 million cases and close to half a million deaths each year, malaria is a threat to global health, particularly in developing countries. Plasmodium falciparum, the parasite that causes the most severe form of the disease, has developed resistance to all antimalarial drugs. Resistance to the first-line antimalarial artemisinin and to artemisinin combination therapies is widespread in Southeast Asia and is emerging in sub-Saharan Africa. The P. falciparum proteasome is an attractive antimalarial target because its inhibition kills the parasite at multiple stages of its life cycle and restores artemisinin sensitivity in parasites that have become resistant through mutation in Kelch K13. Here, we detail our efforts to develop noncovalent, macrocyclic peptide malaria proteasome inhibitors, guided by structural analysis and pharmacokinetic properties, leading to a potent, species-selective, metabolically stable inhibitor.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Antimalarials* / pharmacology
  • Antimalarials* / therapeutic use
  • Artemisinins* / pharmacology
  • Drug Resistance
  • Humans
  • Malaria, Falciparum* / drug therapy
  • Peptides / therapeutic use
  • Plasmodium falciparum
  • Proteasome Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Proteasome Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Protozoan Proteins / genetics

Substances

  • Antimalarials
  • Artemisinins
  • Peptides
  • Proteasome Inhibitors
  • Protozoan Proteins