In silico, in vitro, X-ray crystallography, and integrated strategies for discovering spermidine synthase inhibitors for Chagas disease

Sci Rep. 2017 Jul 27;7(1):6666. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-06411-9.

Abstract

Chagas disease results from infection by Trypanosoma cruzi and is a neglected tropical disease (NTD). Although some treatment drugs are available, their use is associated with severe problems, including adverse effects and limited effectiveness during the chronic disease phase. To develop a novel anti-Chagas drug, we virtually screened 4.8 million small molecules against spermidine synthase (SpdSyn) as the target protein using our super computer "TSUBAME2.5" and conducted in vitro enzyme assays to determine the half-maximal inhibitory concentration values. We identified four hit compounds that inhibit T. cruzi SpdSyn (TcSpdSyn) by in silico and in vitro screening. We also determined the TcSpdSyn-hit compound complex structure using X-ray crystallography, which shows that the hit compound binds to the putrescine-binding site and interacts with Asp171 through a salt bridge.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Binding Sites
  • Chagas Disease / drug therapy
  • Chagas Disease / enzymology*
  • Computer Simulation
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Drug Discovery
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Protozoan Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Protozoan Proteins / metabolism
  • Spermidine Synthase / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Spermidine Synthase / metabolism
  • Trypanosoma cruzi / drug effects
  • Trypanosoma cruzi / enzymology*

Substances

  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Protozoan Proteins
  • Spermidine Synthase