| 1. |
- Andréasson, Måns, 1994-
(författare)
-
Redefining the essential molecular aspects that drive interactions between small molecules and G-quadruplex DNA
- 2023
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- G-Quadruplex (G4) structures are secondary nucleic acid structures located in guanine-rich regions of DNA and RNA sequences, involved in gene regulation and cellular maintenance. Efforts to target G4s in a therapeutic setting are scarce, mainly due to vague details about the binding interactions between the ligands and the G4 structure combined with the lack of emphasis on drug-like properties early in the ligand development process. Furthermore, the ability to target specific G4 structures with small drug-like molecules remains a big challenge to overcome in the field. In this thesis, extensive organic synthesis developments coupled with computational-aided design and orthogonal in vitro assays has been used in tandem to reveal in-depth knowledge about ligand-to-G4 interactions. First, a macrocyclic approach was applied to design and discover novel G4 ligands which showed that macrocycles offer a solid foundation for ligand design. Next, computational tools to optimise the macrocyclic molecular conformation were used based on the macrocycles' abilities to stack on the G4 surface. In addition, macrocyclic, and non-macrocyclic ligands that bound G4 with high potency were shown to correlate with electron-deficient electrostatic potential (ESP) maps. The frequent inclusion of cationic residues in G4 ligands and their enhancement on ligand-to-G4 binding was, thereof, ascribed to their impact on the electrostatic character of the ligands' arene-arene interactions with the G4 surface, and not through direct electrostatic ionic interactions. In addition, the dispersion energetic component in the arene-arene interactions between the G4 ligand and the G4 was discovered to be paramount for ligand-to-G4 binding. The implementation of these descriptors in practice resulted in the discovery of potent G4 binders with adequate pharmacokinetic (PK) properties, accentuating the significance of understanding the molecular interactions between ligands and G4s in rational ligand design. Finally, a G4 ligand conjugated to an oligonucleotide was demonstrated as a modular approach to achieve selective binding of a ligand to a specific G4 structure.
|
|
| 2. |
- Knutsson, Sofie, 1983-
(författare)
-
Towards Mosquitocides for Prevention of Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases : discovery and Development of Acetylcholinesterase 1 Inhibitors
- 2016
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Diseases such as malaria and dengue impose great economic burdens and are a serious threat to public health, with young children being among the worst affected. These diseases are transmitted by mosquitoes, also called disease vectors, which are able to transmit both parasitic and viral infections. One of the most important strategies in the battle against mosquito-borne diseases is vector control by insecticides and the goal is to prevent people from being bitten by mosquitoes. Today’s vector control methods are seriously threatened by the development and spread of insecticide-resistant mosquitos warranting the search for new insecticides. This thesis has investigated the possibilities of vector control using non-covalent inhibitors targeting acetylcholinesterase (AChE); an essential enzyme present in mosquitoes as well as in humans and other mammals. A key requirement for such compounds to be considered safe and suitable for development into new public health insecticides is selectivity towards the mosquito enzyme AChE1. The work presented here is focused on AChE1 from the disease transmitting mosquitoes Anopheles gambiae (AgAChE1) and Aedes aegypti (AaAChE1), and their human (hAChE) and mouse (mAChE) counterparts. By taking a medicinal chemistry approach and utilizing high throughput screening (HTS), new chemical starting points have been identified. Analysis of the combined results of three different HTS campaigns targeting AgAChE1, AaAChE1, and hAChE allowed the identification of several mosquito-selective inhibitors and a number of compound classes were selected for further development. These compounds are non-covalent inhibitors of AChE1 and thereby work via a different mechanism compared to current anti-cholinergic insecticides, whose activity is the result of a covalent modification of the enzyme. The potency and selectivity of two compound classes have been explored in depth using a combination of different tools including design, organic synthesis, biochemical assays, protein X-ray crystallography and homology modeling. Several potent inhibitors with promising selectivity for the mosquito enzymes have been identified and the insecticidal activity of one new compound has been confirmed by in vivo experiments on mosquitoes. The results presented here contribute to the field of public health insecticide discovery by demonstrating the potential of selectively targeting mosquito AChE1 using non-covalent inhibitors. Further, the presented compounds can be used as tools to study mechanisms important in insecticide development, such as exoskeleton penetration and other ADME processes in mosquitoes.
|
|
| 3. |
- Kulén, Martina, 1988-
(författare)
-
New alternatives to combat Listeria monocytogenes and Chlamydia trachomatis : Design, synthesis, and evaluation of substituted ring-fused 2-pyridones as anti-virulent agents
- 2018
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Antibiotic resistance has become a global health burden with the number of resistant bacteria continuously increasing. Antibiotic drugs act by being either bactericidal (killing bacteria) or bacteriostatic (inhibiting growth of bacteria). However, these modes of action increase the selective pressure on the bacteria. An alternative treatment strategy to antibiotics is anti-virulence therapies that inhibits virulence of the pathogenic bacteria. The term “virulence” summarises a number of factors that the bacteria need to colonise a new niche and as a consequence its ability to infect and cause diseases. By inhibiting virulence, instead of killing, the selective pressure on the bacteria can be reduced and consequently decreases the rapid development of resistance. This thesis describes two projects focusing on development of anti-virulence agents, with the ring-fused 2-pyridone scaffold as the central character, targeting the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes and Chlamydia trachomatis.The first project is targeting L. monocytogenes, which is the cause for listeriosis in humans. This can develop into life-threatening encephalitis and meningitis as well as cause severe complications for developing fetus. The target in L. monocytogenes is the transcriptional regulator PrfA that control almost all virulence factors in this bacterium. We have designed and synthesised potent substituted ring-fused 2-pyridones, which at low micromolar concentrations block activation of the virulence regulator PrfA and thus attenuate the bacterial infection. Co-crystallisation of the active ring-fused 2-pyridones with PrfA resulted in determination of the exact substance interaction site in the protein. This facilitated further structure-based design that resulted in improved compounds capable of attenuating L. monocytogenes in an in vivo model.The second project targets C. trachomatis, which is the causative agent behind the most common sexually transmitted infection as well as the eye infection trachoma. By structure-activity relationship analysis of previously tested ring-fused 2-pyridones, we have designed and synthesised non-hydrolysable ring-fused 2-pyridone amide isosteres. The most potent analogues inhibit C. trachomatis infectivity at low nanomolar concentrations, without showing host cell toxicity or affecting the viability of commensal microbiota. Introduction of heteroatom substituents at specific sites of the ring-fused 2-pyridone scaffold, resulted in improved pharmacokinetic properties of the analogues and further evaluation in vivo was performed.
|
|
| 4. |
- Larsson, Malin, 1981-
(författare)
-
Computational methods for analyzing dioxin-like compounds and identifying potential aryl hydrocarbon receptor ligands : multivariate studies based on human and rodent in vitro data
- 2017
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are omnipresent and persistent environmental pollutants. In particular, 29 congeners are of special concern, and these are usually referred to as dioxin-like compounds (DLCs). In the European Union, the risks associated with DLCs in food products are estimated by a weighted sum of the DLCs’ concentrations. These weights, also called toxic equivalency factors (TEFs), compare the DLCs’ potencies to the most toxic congener, 2,3,7,8-tetrachloro-dibenzo-p-dioxin (2378- TCDD). The toxicological effects of PCDD/Fs and PCBs are diverse, ranging from chloracne and immunological effects in humans to severe weight loss, thymic atrophy, hepatotoxicity, immunotoxicity, endocrine disruption, and carcinogenesis in rodents.Here, the molecular structures of DLCs were used as the basis to study the congeneric differences in in vitro data from both human and rodent cell responses related to the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). Based on molecular orbital densities and partial charges, we developed new ways to describe DLCs, which proved to be useful in quantitative structure-activity relationship modeling. This thesis also provides a new approach, the calculation of the consensus toxicity factor (CTF), to condense information from a battery of screening tests. The current TEFs used to estimate the risk of DLCs in food are primarily based on in vivo information from rat and mouse experiments. Our CTFs, based on human cell responses, show clear differences compared to the current TEFs. For instance, the CTF of 23478-PeCDF is as high as the CTF for 2378-TCDD, and the CTF of PCB 126 is 30 times lower than the corresponding TEF. Both of these DLCs are common congeners in fish in the Baltic Sea. Due to the severe effects of DLCs and their impact on environmental and human health, it is crucial to determine if other compounds have similar effects. To find such compounds, we developed a virtual screening protocol and applied it to a set of 6,445 industrial chemicals. This protocol included a presumed 3D representation of AhR and the structural and chemical properties of known AhR ligands. This screening resulted in a priority list of 28 chemicals that we identified as potential AhR ligands.
|
|
| 5. |
- Nordqvist, Anneli, 1978-
(författare)
-
Hit Identification and Hit Expansion in Antituberculosis Drug Discovery : Design and Synthesis of Glutamine Synthetase and 1-Deoxy-D-Xylulose-5-Phosphate Reductoisomerase Inhibitors
- 2011
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Since the discovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) as the bacterial agent causing tuberculosis, the permanent eradication of this disease has proven challenging. Although a number of drugs exist for the treatment of tuberculosis, 1.7 million people still die every year from this infection. The current treatment regimen involves lengthy combination therapy with four different drugs in an effort to combat the development of resistance. However, multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant strains are emerging in all parts of the world. Therefore, new drugs effective in the treatment of tuberculosis are much-needed. The work presented in this thesis was focused on the early stages of drug discovery by applying different hit identification and hit expansion strategies in the exploration of two new potential drug targets, glutamine synthetase (GS) and 1-deoxy-D-xylulose-5-phosphate reductoisomerase (DXR). A literature survey was first carried out to identify new Mtb GS inhibitors from compounds known to inhibit GS in other species. Three compounds, structurally unrelated to the typical amino acid derivatives of previously known GS inhibitors, were then discovered by virtual screening and found to be Mtb GS inhibitors, exhibiting activities in the millimolar range. Imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine analogues were also investigated as Mtb GS inhibitors. The chemical functionality, size requirements and position of the substituents in the imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine hit were investigated, and a chemical library was designed based on a focused hierarchical design of experiments approach. The X-ray structure of one of the inhibitors in complex with Mtb GS provided additional insight into the structure–activity relationships of this class of compounds. Finally, new α-arylated fosmidomycin analogues were synthesized as inhibitors of Mtb DXR, exhibiting IC50 values down to 0.8 µM. This work shows that a wide variety of aryl groups are tolerated by the enzyme. Cinnamaldehydes are important synthetic intermediates in the synthesis of fosmidomycin analogues. These were prepared by an oxidative Heck reaction from acrolein and various arylboronic acids. Electron-rich, electron-poor, heterocyclic and sterically hindered boronic acids could be employed, furnishing cinnamaldehydes in 43–92% yield.
|
|
| 6. |
- Oanh, Ho Ngoc Hoang, 1986-
(författare)
-
Regulation of the multi-functional protein YscU in assembly of the Yersinia type III secretion injectisome
- 2017
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Yersinia pseudotuberculosis is a Gram-negative zoonotic pathogenic bacterium causing gastroenteritis in human and animals. It shares a conserved virulence plasmid encoding for a needle-like secretion machinery, or type III secretion system, which can be found in other pathogenic Gram-negative bacteria. The type III secretion system (T3SS) is a macromolecular assembly that enables pathogenic effector proteins (or Yersinia outer proteins, Yops) to be transported into eukaryotic host cells. This export machinery is assembled in a highly ordered stepwise mechanism. The activation of T3SS is also dependent on calcium concentration, temperature, and pH of the growth media as mimic factors for host cell’s contact. The T3SS-associated inner-membrane protein, YscU, of Yersinia is proposed to function as a substrate specificity switch protein and forms basal structure of T3SS. YscU has four α helical transmembrane domain and a soluble cytoplasmic domain YscUC which undergoes auto-proteolysis at a conserved N↑PTH motif. The auto-proteolysis process, which is required for the assembly of the injectisome and secretion of Yops, results in a 10-kDa C-terminal polypeptide fragment, denoted YscUCC and 6-kDa N-terminal fragment YscUCN. In this thesis, we showed that YscUC dissociation was important for Yops secretion and resulted in unfolded YscUCN and oligomeric YscUCC. By combination in vivo and in vitro methods, growth media conditions as calcium, temperature, and pH were indicated to control secretion by regulation of YscUC dissociation. The calcium-binding isotherm to YscUC was fit best with a one-site binding model resulting in Kd 800 µM, which is identical to calcium level that blocks secretion in vivo. YscU is also the key protein for the T3SS pH dependence, demonstrated by thermal unfolding profile and secondary structure of protein were altered between pH 7.4 and 6.0. In addition, bacterial inner membrane was proposed to assist the YscUCN folding, monitored by using lipid bilayer as a mimic environment in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. This binding is important for Yops secretion and YscUC is anchored to bacterial membrane upon dissociation. The other substrate specificity switch protein YscP has function as a “molecular ruler” controlling length of the secretion needle. Previous genetic experiments have suggested that YscP and YscU interact physically, when mutation at defined residues on yscU (suppressor mutants) rescued Yops secretion in null-yscP mutant. In this research, direct binding of YscU and YscP was proved as weak but important interaction with Kd 430 mM by application of NMR and the binding interface of YscP was centred on the last helix of YscUC. Furthermore, we found that the YscP interaction could inhibit YscU auto-proteolysis. Studying the dissociation kinetic of suppressor YscUC variants at temperature 30 and 37oC provides strong support to a model where YscU is a temperature sensor for T3SS and YscUC dissociation is required for Yops secretion. Interestingly, the NPTH motif is conserved through most of YscU family members, meaning that role of dissociation may be conserved also in other bacterial injectisomes. To this end, the dissociation of YscU can be used as a therapeutic target in drug discovery. We attempted to identify the small-molecules that can hinder YscU dissociation. The small compound methyl(5-methyl-2-phenyl-1,3-thiazolidin-4-yl)acetate was found to be able to inhibit dissociation and to crystalize full YscUC, which has never been successfully done before. Finally, we found that the inner-rod protein YscI is binding to YscUC with a 1:1 stoichiometry as shown with pull-down assays and isothermal titration calorimetry. Taken together we have made several discoveries that expand the functional palette of YscU and all these functions were shown to have biological relevance with Yops secretion levels. In light of the strong sequence conservation between T3SS utilizing pathogenic bacteria the findings are likely to be general characters.
|
|
| 7. |
- Svensson, Fredrik, 1987-
(författare)
-
Computational Methods in Medicinal Chemistry : Mechanistic Investigations and Virtual Screening Development
- 2015
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Computational methods have become an integral part of drug development and can help bring new and better drugs to the market faster. The process of predicting the biological activity of large compound collections is known as virtual screening, and has been instrumental in the development of several drugs today in the market. Computational methods can also be used to elucidate the energies associated with chemical reactivity and predict how to improve a synthetic protocol. These two applications of computational medicinal chemistry is the focus of this thesis.In the first part of this work, quantum mechanics has been used to probe the energy surface of palladium(II)-catalyzed decarboxylative reactions in order to gain a better understating of these systems (paper I-III). These studies have mapped the reaction pathways and been able to make accurate predictions that were verified experimentally.The other focus of this work has been to develop virtual screening methodology. Our first study in the area (paper IV) investigated if the results from several virtual screening methods could be combined using data fusion techniques in order to get a more consistent result and better performance. The study showed that the results obtained from data fusion were more consistent than the results from any single method. The data fusion methods also for several target had a better performance than any of the included single methods.Next, we developed a dataset suitable for evaluating the performance of virtual screening methods when applied to large compound collection as a replacement or complement for high throughput screening (paper V). This is the first benchmark dataset of its kind.Finally, a method for using computationally derived reaction coordinates as basis for virtual screening was developed. The aim was to find inhibitors that resemble key steps in the mechanism (paper VI). This initial proof of concept study managed to locate several known and one previously not reported reaction mimetics against insulin regulated amino peptidase.
|
|
| 8. |
- Adolfsson, Dan E., 1989-
(författare)
-
Synthesis of Ring-fused Peptidomimetics : Interacting with Amyloid Fibrils
- 2020
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease are the two most common neurological disorders in humans. Both conditions involve progressive death of neurons in the central nervous system, decline in bodily functions and eventually (and invariably), death. So far, no cure exists and the available treatments can only ease symptoms. Despite substantial investments in research, the biomolecular processes are still far from fully understood. However, both diseases are associated with formation of fibrillar protein aggregates called amyloid deposits. Whereas Alzheimer’s disease involves aggregation of the Tau and Amyloid β proteins, α-Synuclein fibrilization plays a key role in Parkinson's disease. Although they are chemically distinct, the deposits consist of protein fibres with similar morphology and fold. Small molecules, such as the thiazoline fused 2-pyridones herein presented, can interfere with the formation of amyloid fibres, or bind to them. Besides having potential for diagnostication and treatment, such small molecules constitute valuable tool compounds in future research, to unravel the mechanisms of amyloid formation and pathology. The first step towards successful treatment, diagnostication and prevention of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease is understanding the causes and underlying mechanisms better. This thesis narrates the synthesis and development of novel chemical structures: multi ring fused peptidomimetics with the ability to bind mature amyloid fibrils, consisting of α-Synuclein or Amyloid β. The first project (articles I, III and VI) describes method development for the extension of bicyclic thiazolino 2-pyrdiones by fusion with aromatic nitrogen heterocycles, which enables the desired amyloid binding properties. Derivatisations of the newly generated central scaffold, and variation of the multiple attached substituents, were subsequently performed in efforts to improve binding strength and solubility, and gain selectivity towards certain fibrils. One of the most promising amyloid fibril binders was evaluated in a human cell line and in mice, and found to be protective against accelerator induced neurotoxicity. One pyrimidine fused compound moreover indicated potent inhibition of Amyloid b aggregation. The second project (articles II, IV and V) focuses on development of methods to modify the thiazoline ring. Ring opening induced by electrophiles generates N-alkenyl 2-pyridones but decreases amyloid binding potency. Introduction of a cyclobutane moiety fused with the thiazoline ring is better tolerated, and adds a terminal alkene moiety that can be exploited in future chemical modifications. Expansion of the five membered thiazoline ring to a six membered dihydrothiazine ring, equipped with a nitrophenyl substituent, provides compounds with enhanced fibril binding capacity, which further inhibits Amyloid β fibril formation in vitro. Taken together, the synthetic methodologies allow construction and late stage modification of complex fused heterocycles, with several points of variation. Thus, the developed methods may be of future value in our laboratories and elsewhere.
|
|
| 9. |
- Andersson, Ida E., 1982-
(författare)
-
Modified Glycopeptides Targeting Rheumatoid Arthritis : Exploring molecular interactions in class II MHC/glycopeptide/T-cell receptor complexes
- 2011
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune inflammatory disease that leads to degradation of cartilage and bone mainly in peripheral joints. In collagen-induced arthritis (CIA), a mouse model for RA, activation of autoimmune CD4+ T cells depends on a molecular recognition system where T-cell receptors (TCRs) recognize a complex between the class II MHC Aq protein and CII259-273, a glycopeptide epitope from type II collagen (CII). Interestingly, vaccination with the Aq/CII259-273 complex can relieve symptoms and cause disease regression in mice. This thesis describes the use of modified glycopeptides to explore interactions important for binding to the Aq protein and recognition by autoimmune T-cell hybridomas obtained from mice with CIA. The CII259-273 glycopeptide was modified by replacement of backbone amides with different amide bond isosteres, as well as substitution of two residues that anchor the glycopeptide in prominent pockets in the Aq binding site. A three-dimensional structure of the Aq/glycopeptide complex was modeled to provide a structural basis for interpretation of the modified glycopeptide’s immunological activities. Overall, it was found that the amide bond isosteres affected Aq binding more than could be explained by the static model of the Aq/glycopeptide complex. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, however, revealed that the introduced amide bond isosteres substantially altered the hydrogen-bonding network formed between the N-terminal 259-265 backbone sequence of CII259-273 and Aq. These results indicated that the N-terminal hydrogen-bonding interactions follow a cooperative model, where the strength and presence of individual hydrogen bonds depended on the neighboring interactions. The two important anchor residues Ile260 and Phe263 were investigated using a designed library of CII259-273 based glycopeptides with substitutions by different (non-)natural amino acids at positions 260 and 263. Evaluation of binding to the Aq protein showed that there was scope for improvement in position 263 while Ile was preferred in position 260. The obtained SAR understanding provided a valuable basis for future development of modified glycopeptides with improved Aq binding. Furthermore, the modified glycopeptides elicited varying T-cell responses that generally could be correlated to their ability to bind to Aq. However, in several cases, there was a lack of correlation between Aq binding and T-cell recognition, which indicated that the interactions with the TCRs were determined by other factors, such as presentation of altered epitopes and changes in the kinetics of the TCR’s interaction with the Aq/glycopeptide complex. Several of the modified glycopeptides were also found to bind well to the human RA-associated DR4 protein and elicit strong responses with T-cell hybridomas obtained from transgenic mice expressing DR4 and the human CD4 co-receptor. This encourages future investigations of modified glycopeptides that can be used to further probe the MHC/glycopeptide/TCR recognition system and that also constitute potential therapeutic vaccines for treatment of RA. As a step towards this goal, three modified glycopeptides presented in this thesis have been identified as candidates for vaccination studies using the CIA mouse model.
|
|
| 10. |
- Berg, Lotta, 1985-
(författare)
-
Exploring non-covalent interactions between drug-like molecules and the protein acetylcholinesterase
- 2017
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The majority of drugs are small organic molecules, so-called ligands, that influence biochemical processes by interacting with proteins. The understanding of how and why they interact and form complexes is therefore a key component for elucidating the mechanism of action of drugs. The research presented in this thesis is based on studies of acetylcholinesterase (AChE). AChE is an essential enzyme with the important function of terminating neurotransmission at cholinergic synapses. AChE is also the target of a range of biologically active molecules including drugs, pesticides, and poisons. Due to the molecular and the functional characteristics of the enzyme, it offers both challenges and possibilities for investigating protein-ligand interactions. In the thesis, complexes between AChE and drug-like ligands have been studied in detail by a combination of experimental techniques and theoretical methods. The studies provided insight into the non-covalent interactions formed between AChE and ligands, where non-classical CH∙∙∙Y hydrogen bonds (Y = O or arene) were found to be common and important. The non-classical hydrogen bonds were characterized by density functional theory calculations that revealed features that may provide unexplored possibilities in for example structure-based design. Moreover, the study of two enantiomeric inhibitors of AChE provided important insight into the structural basis of enthalpy-entropy compensation. As part of the research, available computational methods have been evaluated and new approaches have been developed. This resulted in a methodology that allowed detailed analysis of the AChE-ligand complexes. Moreover, the methodology also proved to be a useful tool in the refinement of X-ray crystallographic data. This was demonstrated by the determination of a prereaction conformation of the complex between the nerve-agent antidote HI-6 and AChE inhibited by the nerve agent sarin. The structure of the ternary complex constitutes an important contribution of relevance for the design of new and improved drugs for treatment of nerve-agent poisoning. The research presented in the thesis has contributed to the knowledge of AChE and also has implications for drug discovery and the understanding of biochemical processes in general.
|
|
| 11. |
- Engdahl, Cecilia, 1987-
(författare)
-
Selective inhibition of acetylcholinesterase 1 from disease-transmitting mosquitoes : design and development of new insecticides for vector control
- 2017
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is an essential enzyme with an evolutionary conserved function: to terminate nerve signaling by rapid hydrolysis of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. AChE is an important target for insecticides. Vector control by the use of insecticide-based interventions is today the main strategy for controlling mosquito-borne diseases that affect millions of people each year. However, the efficiency of many insecticides is challenged by resistant mosquito populations, lack of selectivity and off-target toxicity of currently used compounds. New selective and resistance-breaking insecticides are needed for an efficient vector control also in the future. In the work presented in this thesis, we have combined structural biology, biochemistry and medicinal chemistry to characterize mosquito AChEs and to develop selective and resistance-breaking inhibitors of this essential enzyme from two disease-transmitting mosquitoes.We have identified small but important structural and functional differences between AChE from mosquitoes and AChE from vertebrates. The significance of these differences was emphasized by a high throughput screening campaign, which made it evident that the evolutionary distant AChEs display significant differences in their molecular recognition. These findings were exploited in the design of new inhibitors. Rationally designed and developed thiourea- and phenoxyacetamide-based non-covalent inhibitors displayed high potency on both wild type and insecticide insensitive AChE from mosquitoes. The best inhibitors showed over 100-fold stronger inhibition of mosquito than human AChE, and proved insecticide potential as they killed both adult and larvae mosquitoes.We show that mosquito and human AChE have different molecular recognition and that non-covalent selective inhibition of AChE from mosquitoes is possible. We also demonstrate that inhibitors can combine selectivity with sub-micromolar potency for insecticide resistant AChE.
|
|
| 12. |
- Lindgren, Cecilia, 1988-
(författare)
-
Design strategies for new drugs targeting multicomponent systems : focusing on class II MHC proteins and acetylcholinesterase
- 2017
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The field of medicinal chemistry is constantly evolving. Aided by advances within techniques as well as knowledge of biological systems, increasingly complex targets and drugs can be considered. This thesis includes two projects focusing on the design of drugs targeting multicomponent systems, referring to systems for which multiple components must be considered during the drug design process.In the first project, the long-term goal is to develop a vaccine against the autoimmune disease rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The cause of RA is unknown, but it is genetically linked to expression of class II MHC proteins that present antigens to T-cell receptors (TCRs), responsible for initiating an immune response. A glycopeptide fragment, CII259–273, from type II collagen has shown promising results as a vaccine against arthritis resembling RA in mice. CII259–273 binds to the class II MHC protein followed by presentation to the TCR, forming a multicomponent system.We have used molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to study the effect that modifications of CII259–273 have on the multicomponent system. Non-native amino acids and amide bond isosteres have been introduced. This has demonstrated the importance of retaining the backbone conformation of CII259–273, as well as the hydrogen bonds formed to the backbone. The ability to introduce such modifications would be of value to affect the potency towards the MHC protein, and prevent degradation of the glycopeptide. The studies have revealed a multicomponent system that is highly sensitive to even small modifications that can affect the dynamics of the entire complex.In the second project, the long-term goal is to develop a broad-spectrum antidote against nerve agents. Nerve agents are extremely toxic compounds that act by covalently inhibiting the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE), which is essential for termination of nerve signalling. A major limitation of current antidotes is that their efficiency is dependent on the type of nerve agent. A broad-spectrum antidote must be able to bind to the multicomponent system consisting of AChE covalently inhibited by different nerve agents. It will then act by performing a nucleophilic attack on the nerve agent adduct, thus breaking the covalent bond to AChE.We have used statistical molecular design (SMD) and quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) modelling to identify a fragment with a potency for AChE inhibited by different nerve agents. A nucleophilic component able to restore the enzyme to the active form was thereafter introduced. This resulted in a functional reactivator, efficient for multiple nerve agents. Furthermore, the mechanism of reactivation has been investigated through structural studies, enabled by a combination of X-ray crystallography and molecular modelling. A high flexibility of the reactivator, as well as the ability to bind to AChE in multiple conformations, are defined as important properties for a broad-spectrum antidote.
|
|
| 13. |
- Lindström, Anton, 1976-
(författare)
-
A multivariate approach to characterization of drug-like molecules, proteins and the interactions between them
- 2008
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- En sjukdom kan många gånger härledas till en kaskadereaktion mellan proteiner, co-faktorer och substrat. Denna kaskadreaktion blir många gånger målet för att behandla sjukdomen med läkemedel. För att designa nya läkemedelsmoleyler används vanligen datorbaserade verktyg. Denna design av läkemedelsmolekyler drar stor nytta av att målproteinet är känt och då framförallt dess tredimensionella (3D) struktur. Är 3D-strukturen känd kan man utföra så kallad struktur- och datorbaserad molekyldesign, 3D-geometrin (f.f.a. för inbindningsplatsen) blir en vägledning för designen av en ny molekyl. Många faktorer avgör interaktionen mellan en molekyl och bindningsplatsen, till exempel fysikalisk-kemiska egenskaper hos molekylen och bindningsplatsen, flexibiliteten i molekylen och målproteinet, och det omgivande lösningsmedlet. För att strukturbaserad molekyldesign ska fungera väl måste två viktiga steg utföras: i) 3D anpassning av molekyler till bindningsplatsen i ett målprotein (s.k. dockning) och ii) prediktion av molekylers affinitet för bindningsplatsen. Huvudsyftena med arbetet i denna avhandling var som följer: i) skapa modeler för att prediktera affiniteten mellan en molekyl och bindningsplatsen i ett målprotein; ii) förfina molekyl-protein-geometrin som skapas vid 3D-anpassning mellan en molekyl och bindningsplatsen i ett målprotein (s.k. dockning); iii) karaktärisera proteiner och framför allt deras sekundärstruktur; iv) bedöma effekten av olika matematiska beskrivningar av lösningsmedlet för förfining av 3D molekyl-protein-geometrin skapad vid dockning och prediktion av molekylers affinitet för proteiners bindningsfickor. Ett övergripande syfte var att använda kemometriska metoder för modellering och dataanalys på de ovan nämnda punkterna. För att sammanfatta så presenterar denna avhandling metoder och resultat som är användbara för strukturbaserad molekyldesign. De rapporterade resultaten visar att det är möjligt att skapa kemometriska modeler för prediktion av molekylers affinitet för bindningsplatsen i ett protein och att dessa presterade lika bra som andra vanliga metoder. Dessutom kunde kemometriska modeller skapas för att beskriva effekten av hur inställningarna för olika parametrar i dockningsprogram påverkade den 3D molekyl-protein-geometrin som dockingsprogram skapade. Vidare kunde kemometriska modeller andvändas för att öka förståelsen för deskriptorer som beskrev sekundärstrukturen i proteiner. Förfining av molekyl-protein-geometrin skapad genom dockning gav liknande och ickesignifikanta resultat oberoende av vilken matematisk modell för lösningsmedlet som användes, förutom för ett fåtal (sex av 30) fall. Däremot visade det sig att användandet av en förfinad geometri var värdefullt för prediktion av molekylers affinitet för bindningsplatsen i ett protein. Förbättringen av prediktion av affintitet var markant då en Poisson-Boltzmann beskrivning av lösningsmedlet användes; jämfört med prediktionerna gjorda med ett dockningsprogram förbättrades korrelationen mellan beräknad affintiet och uppmätt affinitet med 0,7 (R2).
|
|
| 14. |
- Saleeb, Michael, 1985-
(författare)
-
Towards novel antibacterials : Synthesis and identification of natural product inspired inhibitors of Chlamydia trachomatis and development of chemical probes targeting virulence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa
- 2018
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Antibiotic resistance has evolved significantly to become one of the serious threats to public health today. Yet, the pipeline of new antibiotics is drying up and is lagging behind the challenging needs. As a contribution to this recurrent need for novel antibacterials, we applied multidisciplinary strategies to identify small-molecule antibacterials against Chlamydia trachomatis and antivirulence agents against Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections. These strategies included:1. Synthesis of a focused compounds library inspired by natural product scaffolds followed by phenotypic screening against Chlamydia trachomatis. (Paper I)(-)-Hopeaphenol is a polyphenol natural product that was identified as an antivirulence agent against Y. pseudotuberculosis and P. aeruginosa. Hopeaphenol core scaffold, 2,3-diaryl-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran, is ubiquitous in polyphenolic phytochemicals. In this thesis, a focused library of forty-eight compounds was synthesized based on 2,3-diarylbenzofuran and 2,3-diaryl-2,3- dihydrobenzofuran. The library was then explored for antibacterial properties in a number of screening assays and resulted in five novel antichlamydial compounds with inhibition potency down to sub-micromolar. The identified molecules also inhibited the growth of different clinical presentations of C. trachomatis, one of the most common sexually transmitted disease worldwide.2. Target-based screening against the P. aeruginosa virulence factor using enzymatic and biophysical assays. (Paper II-IV)P. aeruginosa is a Gram-negative opportunistic pathogen with remarkable antibiotic resistance that is associated with a wide range of clinical infections. An alternative strategy to develop novel and selective antibacterials is to target the bacterial virulence factors, i.e. the ability of the bacteria to promote disease, thus ‘disarming’ the pathogens instead of killing them. P. aeruginosa employs its virulence factor, the type III secretion system (T3SS), to inject toxins (e.g. ExoS) into the eukaryotic cytosol. In one part of this thesis, we utilized enzymatic assay and identified inhibitors against the P. aeruginosa T3S toxin (ExoS). A follow up structure-activity relationship analysis was established and resulted in five (low micromolar) inhibitors of ExoS ADP-ribosylation enzymatic activity. In another part, we used surface plasmon resonance biophysical assay and identified small molecule binders of T3S translocation protein (PcrV). The primary SAR analysis was established and showed the antivirulence properties of these molecules and the potential to expand them further as novel antibacterials.
|
|
| 15. |
- Rybacka, Aleksandra, 1987-
(författare)
-
A step forward in using QSARs for regulatory hazard and exposure assessment of chemicals
- 2016
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- According to the REACH regulation chemicals produced or imported to the European Union need to be assessed to manage the risk of potential hazard to human health and the environment. An increasing number of chemicals in commerce prompts the need for utilizing faster and cheaper alternative methods for this assessment, such as quantitative structure-activity or property relationships (QSARs or QSPRs). QSARs and QSPRs are models that seek correlation between data on chemicals molecular structure and a specific activity or property, such as environmental fate characteristics and (eco)toxicological effects.The aim of this thesis was to evaluate and develop models for the hazard assessment of industrial chemicals and the exposure assessment of pharmaceuticals. In focus were the identification of chemicals potentially demonstrating carcinogenic (C), mutagenic (M), or reprotoxic (R) effects, and endocrine disruption, the importance of metabolism in hazard identification, and the understanding of adsorption of ionisable chemicals to sludge with implications to the fate of pharmaceuticals in waste water treatment plants (WWTPs). Also, issues related to QSARs including consensus modelling, applicability domain, and ionisation of input structures were addressed.The main findings presented herein are as follows:QSARs were successful in identifying almost all carcinogens and most mutagens but worse in predicting chemicals toxic to reproduction.Metabolic activation is a key event in the identification of potentially hazardous chemicals, particularly for chemicals demonstrating estrogen (E) and transthyretin (T) related alterations of the endocrine system, but also for mutagens. The accuracy of currently available metabolism simulators is rather low for industrial chemicals. However, when combined with QSARs, the tool was found useful in identifying chemicals that demonstrated E- and T- related effects in vivo.We recommend using a consensus approach in final judgement about a compound’s toxicity that is to combine QSAR derived data to reach a consensus prediction. That is particularly useful for models based on data of slightly different molecular events or species.QSAR models need to have well-defined applicability domains (AD) to ensure their reliability, which can be reached by e.g. the conformal prediction (CP) method. By providing confidence metrics CP allows a better control over predictive boundaries of QSAR models than other distance-based AD methods.Pharmaceuticals can interact with sewage sludge by different intermolecular forces for which also the ionisation state has an impact. Developed models showed that sorption of neutral and positively-charged pharmaceuticals was mainly hydrophobicity-driven but also impacted by Pi-Pi and dipole-dipole forces. In contrast, negatively-charged molecules predominantly interacted via covalent bonding and ion-ion, ion-dipole, and dipole-dipole forces.Using ionised structures in multivariate modelling of sorption to sludge did not improve the model performance for positively- and negatively charged species but we noted an improvement for neutral chemicals that may be due to a more correct description of zwitterions. Overall, the results provided insights on the current weaknesses and strengths of QSAR approaches in hazard and exposure assessment of chemicals. QSARs have a great potential to serve as commonly used tools in hazard identification to predict various responses demanded in chemical safety assessment. In combination with other tools they can provide fundaments for integrated testing strategies that gather and generate information about compound’s toxicity and provide insights of its potential hazard. The obtained results also show that QSARs can be utilized for pattern recognition that facilitates a better understanding of phenomena related to fate of chemicals in WWTP.
|
|
