Small Molecule Ligands of the BET-like Bromodomain, Sm BRD3, Affect Schistosoma mansoni Survival, Oviposition, and Development

J Med Chem. 2023 Dec 14;66(23):15801-15822. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c01321. Epub 2023 Dec 4.

Abstract

Schistosomiasis is a disease affecting >200 million people worldwide, but its treatment relies on a single agent, praziquantel. To investigate new avenues for schistosomiasis control, we have conducted the first systematic analysis of bromodomain-containing proteins (BCPs) in a causative species, Schistosoma mansoni. Having identified 29 putative bromodomains (BRDs) in 22 S. mansoni proteins, we selected SmBRD3, a tandem BRD-containing BCP that shows high similarity to the human bromodomain and extra terminal domain (BET) family, for further studies. Screening 697 small molecules identified the human BET BRD inhibitor I-BET726 as a ligand for SmBRD3. An X-ray crystal structure of I-BET726 bound to the second BRD of SmBRD3 [SmBRD3(2)] enabled rational design of a quinoline-based ligand (15) with an ITC Kd = 364 ± 26.3 nM for SmBRD3(2). The ethyl ester pro-drug of compound 15 (compound 22) shows substantial effects on sexually immature larval schistosomula, sexually mature adult worms, and snail-infective miracidia in ex vivo assays.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Ligands
  • Oviposition
  • Schistosoma mansoni
  • Schistosomiasis mansoni* / drug therapy
  • Schistosomiasis*

Substances

  • 4-(1-acetyl-4-((4-chlorophenyl)amino)-2-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinolin-6-yl)benzoic acid
  • Ligands