Development of a lead inhibitor for the A16V+S108T mutant of dihydrofolate reductase from the cycloguanil-resistant strain (T9/94) of Plasmodium falciparum

  • J Med Chem. 2000 Jul 13;43(14):2738-44. doi: 10.1021/jm0009181.
Y Yuthavong  1 T Vilaivan N Chareonsethakul S Kamchonwongpaisan W Sirawaraporn R Quarrell G Lowe
Affiliations
  • 1. National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, National Science and Technology Development Agency, Bangkok 10400, Thailand.
Abstract

The Ala16Val+Ser108Thr (A16V+S108T) mutant of the Plasmodium falciparum dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) is a key mutant responsible for cycloguanil-resistant malaria due to steric interaction between Val-16 and one of the C-2 methyl groups of cycloguanil. 4,6-Diamino-1,2-dihydrotriazines have been prepared, in which both methyl groups of cycloguanil are replaced by H or by H and an alkyl or phenyl group, and their inhibition constants against wild-type and mutant DHFR determined. The S108T mutation is considered to decrease cycloguanil binding further through the effect on the orientation of the p-chlorophenyl group. By moving the p-chloro-substituent to the m-position in the chlorophenyl group, the activity against the A16V+S108T mutant enzyme is improved, and this effect is reinforced by the p-chloro substituent in the 3, 4-dichlorophenyl group. A lead compound has been found with inhibitory activity similar to that of cycloguanil against the wild-type DHFR and about 120-fold more effective than cycloguanil against the A16V+S108T mutant enzyme. The activity of this compound against P. falciparum clone (T9/94 RC17) which harbors the A16V+S108T DHFR is about 85-fold greater than cycloguanil.

Products