Oximic compounds as potential inhibitors of metacaspase-2 (TbMCA2) of Trypanosoma brucei.

Metacaspases are a distinct class of cysteine proteases predominantly found in plants, fungi, and protozoa, crucial for regulating programmed cell death (PCD). They possess unique structural features and differ markedly from caspases in their activation mechanisms and substrate specificities, with a notable preference for binding basic residues in substrates. In this study, we introduced vanillin-derived oximic compounds to explore their pharmaceutical potential. We evaluated these compounds for their inhibitory effects on TbMCA2, a metacaspase in Trypanosoma brucei, identifying AO-7, AO-12, and EO-20 as promising inhibitors. AO-12 showed significant potential as a non-competitive inhibitor with notable IC50 values. Molecular docking studies were also conducted to evaluate the binding affinity of these compounds for TbMCA2. This research is particularly relevant given the urgent need for more effective and less toxic treatments for trypanosomiasis, a parasitic disease caused by trypanosomes. The absence of available vaccines and the limitations imposed by drug toxicity underscore the importance of these findings. Our study represents a significant advancement in developing therapeutic agents targeting metacaspases in trypanosomatids and highlights the necessity of understanding metacaspase regulation across various species. It provides valuable insights into inhibitor sensitivity and potential species-specific therapeutic strategies. In conclusion, this research opens promising avenues for novel therapeutic agents targeting metacaspases in trypanosomatids, addressing a critical gap in combating neglected diseases associated with these pathogens. Further research is essential to refine the efficacy and safety profiles of these compounds, aiming to deliver more accessible and effective therapeutic solutions to populations afflicted by these debilitating diseases.

Metacaspase of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (ScMCA-Ia) presents different catalytic cysteine in a processed and non-processed form.

Metacaspases are cysteine proteases belonging to the CD clan of the C14 family. They possess important characteristics, such as specificity for cleavage after basic residues (Arg/Lys) and dependence on calcium ions to exert their catalytic activity. They are defined by the presence of a large subunit (p20) and a small subunit (p10) and are classified into types I, II, and III. Type I metacaspases have a characteristic pro-domain at the N-terminal of the enzyme, preceding a region rich in glutamine and asparagine. In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a type I metacaspase is found. This organism encodes a single metacaspase that participates in the process of programmed cell death by apoptosis. The study focuses on cloning, expressing, and mutating Saccharomyces cerevisiae metacaspase (ScMCA-Ia). Mutations in Cys155 and Cys276 were introduced to investigate autoprocessing mechanisms. Results revealed that Cys155 plays a crucial role in autoprocessing, initiating a conformational change that activates ScMCA-Ia. Comparative analysis with TbMCA-IIa highlighted the significance of the N-terminal region in substrate access to the active site. The study proposes a two-step processing mechanism for type I metacaspases, where an initial processing step generates the active form, followed by a distinct intermolecular processing step. This provides new insights into ScMCA-Ia's activation and function. The findings hold potential implications for understanding cellular processes regulated by metacaspases. Overall, this research significantly advances knowledge in metacaspase biology.

Biological and In silico Studies on Synthetic Analogues of Tyrosine Betaine as Inhibitors of Neprilysin - A Drug Target for the Treatment of Heart Failure.

BACKGROUND: Fungal secondary metabolites are important sources for the discovery of new pharmaceuticals, as exemplified by penicillin, lovastatin and cyclosporine. Searching for secondary metabolites of the fungi Metarhizium spp., we previously identified tyrosine betaine as a major constituent. METHODS: Because of the structural similarity with other inhibitors of neprilysin (NEP), an enzyme explored for the treatment of heart failure, we devised the synthesis of tyrosine betaine and three analogues to be subjected to in vitro NEP inhibition assays and to molecular modeling studies. RESULTS: In spite of the similar binding modes with other NEP inhibitors, these compounds only displayed moderate inhibitory activities (IC50 ranging from 170.0 to 52.9 µM). However, they enclose structural features required to hinder passive blood brain barrier permeation (BBB). CONCLUSIONS: Tyrosine betaine remains as a starting point for the development of NEP inhibitors because of the low probability of BBB permeation and, consequently, of NEP inhibition at the Central Nervous System, which is associated to an increment in the Aß levels and, accordingly, with a higher risk for the onset of Alzheimer's disease.

Thermodynamic analysis of Kex2 activity: The acylation and deacylation steps are potassium- and substrate-dependent.

Kex2 is the prototype of a large family of eukaryotic subtilisin-related proprotein-processing proteases that cleave at sites containing pairs of basic residues. Here, we studied the effects of KCl on the individual rate constants of association, dissociation, acylation and deacylation and determined the thermodynamic parameters at each step of the Kex2 reaction. Potassium bound Kex2 with KD=20.3mM. The order in which potassium entered the reaction system modified the effect of activation or inhibition, which depended on the size of the substrate. A possible allosteric potassium binding site at the S6 subsite was involved in activation, and a distant site located between the catalytic domain and the P-domain was involved in inhibition. Potassium decreased the energetic barriers of almost all steps of catalysis. The acylation of Ac-PMYKR-AMC in the absence of potassium was the rate-limiting step. Therefore, for substrates containing a P1-Arg, the deacylation step is not necessarily the rate-limiting event, and other residues at the P' positions may participate in controlling the acylation and deacylation steps. Thus, it is reasonable to conclude that potassium is involved in the processing of the α-mating factor that promotes Ca2+ mobilization by activating a high-affinity Ca2+-influx system to increase the cytosolic [Ca2+], resulting in the activation of channels that are essential for the survival of Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells.