4-Arylthiosemicarbazide derivatives as a new class of tyrosinase inhibitors and anti- Toxoplasma gondii agents

J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem. 2021 Dec;36(1):1145-1164. doi: 10.1080/14756366.2021.1931164.

Abstract

We report herein anti-proliferation effects of 4-arylthiosemicarbazides, with a cyclopentane substitution at N1 position, on highly virulent RH strain of Toxoplasma gondii. Among them, the highest in vitro anti-Toxoplasma activity was found with the meta-iodo derivative. Further experiments demonstrated inhibitory effects of thiosemicarbazides on tyrosinase (Tyr) activity, and good correlation was found between percentage of Tyr inhibition and IC50Tg. To confirm the concept that thiosemicarbazides are able to disrupt tyrosine metabolism in Toxoplasma tachyzoites, the most potent Tyr inhibitors were tested for their efficacy of T. gondii growth inhibition. All of them significantly reduced the number of tachyzoites in the parasitophorous vacuoles (PVs) compared to untreated cells, as well as inhibited tachyzoites growth by impeding cell division. Collectively, these results indicate that compounds with the thiosemicarbazide scaffold are able to disrupt tyrosine metabolism in Toxoplasma tachyzoites by deregulation of their crucial enzyme tyrosine hydroxylase (TyrH).

Keywords: Molecular docking; SAR analysis; Toxoplasma gondii; thiosemicarbazides; tyrosinase.

MeSH terms

  • Antiprotozoal Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Antiprotozoal Agents / chemistry
  • Antiprotozoal Agents / pharmacology*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / chemical synthesis
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Molecular Structure
  • Monophenol Monooxygenase / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Monophenol Monooxygenase / metabolism
  • Parasitic Sensitivity Tests
  • Semicarbazides / chemical synthesis
  • Semicarbazides / chemistry
  • Semicarbazides / pharmacology*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Toxoplasma / drug effects*
  • Toxoplasma / growth & development

Substances

  • Antiprotozoal Agents
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Semicarbazides
  • thiosemicarbazide
  • Monophenol Monooxygenase

Grants and funding

This research was funded by: National Science Centre, Poland [no. 2018/31/N/NZ6/03004] (cytotoxicity study, anti-T. gondii assay) and Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, Grant for Young Scientists [no. B1911000002149.02] (enzymatic study).