ABSTRACT
A significant proportion of genetic disease cases arise from truncation of proteins caused by premature termination codons. In eukaryotic cells some aminoglycosides cause readthrough of premature termination codons during protein translation. Inducing readthrough of these codons can potentially be of therapeutic value in the treatment of numerous genetic diseases. A significant drawback to the repeated use of aminoglycosides as treatments is the lack of balance between their readthrough efficacy and toxicity. The synthesis and biological testing of designer aminoglycoside compounds is documented herein. We disclose the implementation of a strategy to reduce cellular toxicity and maintain readthrough activity of a library of compounds by modification of the overall cationic charge of the aminoglycoside scaffold through ring I modifications.
ABSTRACT
A number of aminoalcohols, diamines and other related cycloanalogues of sphingosine have been synthesized and assayed in vitro against three Leishmania spp. and Trypanosoma cruzi. Most of the compounds were potent parasiticides, with IC50 values in the microM or lower range and potencies higher than those of pentamidine and benznidazol, the common therapeutic agents against these parasitoses.
