Toxoplasma Gondii Dihydrofolate Reductase Research Articles

Structural Insight into Effective Inhibitors' Binding to Toxoplasma gondii Dihydrofolate Reductase Thymidylate Synthase.

Pyrimethamine (Pyr), a known dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) inhibitor, has long been used to treat toxoplasmosis caused by Toxoplasma gondii (Tg) infection. However, Pyr is effective only at high doses with associated toxicity to patients, calling for safer alternative treatments. In this study, we investigated a series of Pyr analogues, previously developed as DHFR inhibitors of Plasmodium falciparum bifunctional DHFR-thymidylate synthase (PfDHFR-TS), for their activity against T. gondii DHFR-TS (TgDHFR-TS). Of these, a set of compounds with a substitution at the C6 position of the pyrimidine ring exhibited high binding affinities (in a low nanomolar range) against TgDHFR-TS and in vitro T. gondii inhibitory activity. Three-dimensional structures of TgDHFR-TS reported here include the ternary complexes with Pyr, P39, or P40. A comparison of these structures showed the minor steric strain between the p-chlorophenyl group of Pyr and Thr83 of TgDHFR-TS. Such a conflict was relieved in the complexes with the two analogues, P39 and P40, explaining their highest binding affinities described herein. Moreover, these structures suggested that the hydrophobic environment in the active-site pocket could be used for drug design to increase the potency and selectivity of antifolate inhibitors. These findings would accelerate the development of new antifolate drugs to treat toxoplasmosis.

Discovery of Selective Toxoplasma gondii Dihydrofolate Reductase Inhibitors for the Treatment of Toxoplasmosis.

A safer treatment for toxoplasmosis would be achieved by improving the selectivity and potency of dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) inhibitors, such as pyrimethamine (1), for Toxoplasma gondii DHFR ( TgDHFR) relative to human DHFR ( hDHFR). We previously reported on the identification of meta-biphenyl analog 2, designed by in silico modeling of key differences in the binding pocket between TgDHFR and hDHFR. Compound 2 improves TgDHFR selectivity 6.6-fold and potency 16-fold relative to 1. Here, we report on the optimization and structure-activity relationships of this arylpiperazine series leading to the discovery of 5-(4-(3-(2-methoxypyrimidin-5-yl)phenyl)piperazin-1-yl)pyrimidine-2,4-diamine 3. Compound 3 has a TgDHFR IC50 of 1.57 ± 0.11 nM and a hDHFR to TgDHFR selectivity ratio of 196, making it 89-fold more potent and 16-fold more selective than 1. Compound 3 was highly effective in control of acute infection by highly virulent strains of T. gondii in the murine model, and it possesses the best combination of selectivity, potency, and prerequisite drug-like properties to advance into IND-enabling, preclinical development.

Discovery of Potent and Selective Leads against Toxoplasma gondii Dihydrofolate Reductase via Structure-Based Design.

Current treatment of toxoplasmosis targets the parasite's folate metabolism through inhibition of dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR). The most widely used DHFR antagonist, pyrimethamine, was introduced over 60 years ago and is associated with toxicity that can be largely attributed to a similar affinity for parasite and human DHFR. Computational analysis of biochemical differences between Toxoplasma gondii and human DHFR enabled the design of inhibitors with both improved potency and selectivity. The approach described herein yielded TRC-19, a promising lead with an IC50 of 9 nM and 89-fold selectivity in favor of Toxoplasma gondii DHFR, as well as crystallographic data to substantiate in silico methodology. Overall, 50% of synthesized in silico designs met hit threshold criteria of IC50 < 10 μM and >2-fold selectivity favoring Toxoplasma gondii, further demonstrating the efficiency of our structure-based drug design approach.

A toolbox facilitating stable transfection of Eimeria species

Stable transfection of Eimeria species has been difficult to achieve because of the obligate requirement for in vivo amplification and selection of the parasites. Strategies to generate and stabilise populations of transfected Eimeria tenella are described here, together with the identification of optimal parameters for the transfection process. A series of plasmids expressing selectable markers, including a panel of fluorescent reporter genes and a mutant Toxoplasma gondii dihydrofolate reductase–thymidylate synthase (DHFR-TSm2m3) gene that confers resistance to pyrimethamine, were electroporated into sporozoites of the E. tenella Wisconsin strain and stabilised by selective passage through chickens. Very high transfection efficiencies of up to 25% sporozoites in transient transfection and up to 9% oocysts following a single round of in vivo selection were achieved. Crucial factors include the use of very freshly harvested parasites with the AMAXA nucleofection system (program U33 in a cytomix-buffered reaction) and linearised plasmid DNA. The use of a restriction enzyme mediated integration (REMI) protocol boosted overall efficiency and elevated insertion rate per genome. Successful development of methods to generate and isolate stable populations of transfected Eimeria parasites will now stimulate rapid expansion of reverse genetic studies in this important coccidian.

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of 2,4-diamino-6-methyl-5-substitutedpyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidines as dihydrofolate reductase inhibitors

Nine novel nonclassical 2,4-diamino-6-methyl-5-mioarylsubstituted-7H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidines 2-10 were synthesized as potential inhibitors of dihydrofolate reductase and as antitumor agents. The analogues contain various electron donating and electron withdrawing substituents on the phenylsulfanyl ring of the side chains and were synthesized from the key intermediate 2,6-diamino-6-methyl-7H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]-pyrimidine, 14. Compound 14, was in turn obtained by chlorination of 4-position of 2-amino-6-methylpyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4(3H)-one, 16 followed by displacement with ammonia. Appropriately substituted phenyl thiols were appended to the 5-position of 14 via an oxidative addition reaction using iodine, ethanol and water. The compounds were evaluated against rat liver, rat-derived Pneumocystis, Mycobacterium avium and Toxoplasma gondii dihydrofolate reductase. The most potent and selective inhibitor, (2) has a 1-naphthyl side chain. In this series of compounds electron-withdrawing and bulky substituents in the side chain afford marginally active dihydrofolate reductase inhibitors. The single atom sulfur bridge in the side chain of these compounds is not conducive to potent dihydrofolate reductase inhibition.

Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of 2,4-diamino-5-methyl-6-substituted-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidines as dihydrofolate reductase inhibitors.

2,4-diamino-5-methyl-6-(substituted-phenyl)thiopyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidines 4-11 were synthesized as dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) inhibitors against opportunistic pathogens that afflict patients with AIDS. Synthesis was achieved from 2,4-diamino-5-methypyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine and substituted phenylthiols under modified conditions reported by Gangjee et al. Some of these compounds were potent and selective against DHFR from both Toxoplasma gondii and Mycobacterium avium compared to mammalian DHFR. Compound 11 with a 1-naphthyl substituent is 16-fold more potent and equally selective against Toxoplasma gondii DHFR as the clinically used trimethoprim.

Structure determination of tetrahydroquinazoline antifolates in complex with human and Pneumocystis carinii dihydrofolate reductase: correlations between enzyme selectivity and stereochemistry.

Structural data are reported for the first examples of the tetrahydroquinazoline antifolate (6R,6S)-2,4-diamino-6-(1-indolinomethyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydroquinazoline (1) and its trimethoxy analogue (6R,6S)-2,4-diamino-6-(3',4',5'-trimethoxybenzyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydroquinazoline (2) as inhibitor complexes with dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) from human (hDHFR) and Pneumocystis carinii (pcDHFR) sources. The indoline analogue (1) was crystallized as ternary complexes with NADPH and hDHFR (1.9 A resolution) and pcDHFR (2.3 A resolution), while the trimethoxy quinazoline analogue (2) was crystallized as a binary complex with hDHFR in two polymorphic rhombohedral R3 lattices: R3(1) to 1.8 A resolution and R3(2) to 2.0 A resolution. Structural analysis of these potent and selective DHFR-inhibitor complexes revealed preferential binding of the 6S-equatorial isomer in each structure. This configuration is similar to that of the natural tetrahydrofolate substrate; that is, 6S. These data also show that in both the hDHFR and pcDHFR ternary complexes with (1) the indoline ring is partially disordered, with two static conformations that differ between structures. These conformers also differ from that observed for the trimethoxybenzyl ring of tetrahydroquinazoline (2). There is also a correlation between the disorder of the flexible loop 23 and the disorder of the cofactor nicotinamide ribose ring in the pcDHFR-NADPH-(1) ternary complex. Comparison of the Toxoplasma gondii DHFR (tgDHFR) sequence with those of other DHFRs provides insight into the role of sequence and conformation in inhibitor-binding preferences which may aid in the design of novel antifolates with specific DHFR selectivity.

2,4-Diamino-6,7-dihydro-5H-cyclopenta[d]pyrimidine Analogues of Trimethoprim as Inhibitors of Pneumocystis carinii and Toxoplasma gondii Dihydrofolate Reductase.

2,4-Diamino-6,7-dihydro-5<i>H</i>-cyclopenta[<i>d</i>]pyrimidine Analogues of Trimethoprim as Inhibitors of <i>Pneumocystis </i><i>c</i><i>arinii </i>and <i>Toxoplasma </i><i>g</i><i>ondii </i>Dihydrofolate Reductase.

Synthesis, Antifolate, and Antitumor Activities of Classical and Nonclassical 2-Amino-4-oxo-5-substituted-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidines

Classical and nonclassical isosteric C8-N9 bridged analogues of the multitargeted antifolate LY231514 were synthesized as inhibitors of thymidylate synthase (TS), dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), and as antitumor and antiopportunistic infection agents. The syntheses of the analogues were accomplished by reductive amination of the appropriate anilines with 2-amino-4-oxo-5-cyanopyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine (28) followed by saponification of the ethyl esters, for the classical analogue 6. The N9-methyl analogues were obtained from the N9-H precursors by reductive methylation. In general, the nonclassical compounds 7-17 were similar in potency to TMP against Toxoplasma gondii DHFR, with selectivity ratios greater than 38 and 21 for 11 and 16, respectively. These compounds were poor inhibitors of Pneumocystis carinii DHFR and rat liver DHFR. The nonclassical analogues were also inactive against TS. The classical analogue 6 was a marginal inhibitor of isolated human TS (IC50 = 46 microM) and of human DHFR (IC50 = 10 microM), however, it was a potent inhibitor of the growth of two human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell lines and of CCRF-CEM human lymphoblastic leukemia cells in culture and was similar to LY231514 against ZR-75-1 human breast carcinoma cell line. Evaluation of 6 against MTX-resistant sublines indicated that DHFR is not the major target of 6. Metabolite protection studies of the growth inhibitory activity of 6 suggest that TS is a major target of this drug and that polyglutamyl forms of 6 may serve as the intracellular TS inhibitors. These studies also suggest that 6 has a site of action in addition to sites in the folate pathway.

In vitro generation of novel pyrimethamine resistance mutations in the Toxoplasma gondii dihydrofolate reductase.

Pyrimethamine is a potent inhibitor of dihydrofolate reductase and is widely used in the treatment of opportunistic infections caused by the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. In order to assess the potential role of dhfr sequence polymorphisms in drug treatment failures, we examined the dhfr-ts genes of representative isolates for T. gondii virulence types I, II, and III. These strains exhibit differences in their sensitivities to pyrimethamine but no differences in predicted dhfr-ts protein sequences. To assess the potential for pyrimethamine-resistant dhfr mutants to emerge, three drug-sensitive variants of the T. gondii dhfr-ts gene (the wild-type T. gondii sequence and two mutants engineered to reflect polymorphisms observed in drug-sensitive Plasmodium falciparum) were subjected to random mutagenesis and transfected into either wild-type T. gondii parasites or dhfr-deficient Saccharomyces cerevisiae under pyrimethamine selection. Three resistance mutations were identified, at amino acid residues 25 (Trp-->Arg), 98 (Leu-->Ser), and 134 (Leu-->His).

Conformationally restricted tricyclic analogues of lipophilic pyrido[2,3‐d]pyrimidine antifolates

AbstractThe effect of conformational restriction of the C9‐N10 bridge on inhibitory potency and selectivity of trimetrexate against dihydrofolate reductase, was studied. Specifically three nonclassical tricyclic 1,3‐diamino‐8‐(3′,4′,5′‐trimethoxybenzyl)‐7,9‐dihydro‐pyrrolo[3,4‐c]pyrido[2,3‐d]pyrimidin‐6(5H,8H)‐one (4), 1,3‐diamino‐8‐(3′,4′,5′‐trimethoxybenzyl)‐9‐hydro‐pyrrolo[3,4‐c]pyrido[2,3‐d]pyrimidin‐6‐(8H)‐one (5) and 1,3‐diamino‐(8H)‐(3′,4′,5′‐trimethoxybenzyl)‐7,9‐dihydro‐pyrrolo[3,4‐c]pyrido[2,3‐d]pyrimidine (7) antifolates were synthesized. The tricyclic analogues 4 and 5 were obtained via the regiospecific cyclo‐condensation of the β‐keto ester 17 with 2,4,6‐triaminopyrimidine. The analogue 7 was obtained via reduction of the lactam 4 with borane in tetrahydrofuran. Compounds 4, 5 and 7 were evaluated as inhibitors of dihydrofolate reductase from Pneumocystis carinii, Toxoplasma gondii and rat liver. All three compounds were more selective than trimetrexate against Pneumocystis carinii dihydrofolate reductase and significantly more selective than trimetrexate against Toxoplasma gondii dihydrofolate reductase compared with rat liver dihydrofolate reductase.

Structure-based design and synthesis of lipophilic 2,4-diamino-6-substituted quinazolines and their evaluation as inhibitors of dihydrofolate reductases and potential antitumor agents.

The synthesis and biological activities of 14 6-substituted 2,4-diaminoquinazolines are reported. These compounds were designed to improve the cell penetration of a previously reported series of 2,4-diamino-6-substituted-pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidines which had shown significant potency and remarkable selectivity for Toxoplasma gondii dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), but had much lower inhibitory effects on the growth of T. gondii cells in culture. The target N9-H analogues were obtained via regiospecific reductive amination of the appropriate benzaldehydes with 2,4,6-triaminoquinazoline, which, in turn, was synthesized from 2,4-diamino-6-nitroquinazoline. The N9-CH3 analogues were synthesized via a regiospecific reductive methylation of the corresponding N9-H precursors. The compounds were evaluated as inhibitors of DHFR from human, Pneumocystis carinii, T. gondii, rat liver, Lactobacillus casei, and Escherichia coli, and selected analogues were evaluated as inhibitors of the growth of tumor cells in culture. These analogues displayed potent T. gondii DHFR inhibition as well as inhibition of the growth of T. gondii cells in culture. Further, selected analogues were potent inhibitors of the growth of tumor cells in culture in the in vitro screening program of the National Cancer Institute with GI50s in the nanomolar and subnanomolar range. Crystallographic data for the ternary complex of hDHFR-NADPH and 2,4-diamino-6-[N-(2', 5'-dimethoxybenzyl)-N-methylamino]pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine, 1c, reveal the first structural details for a reversed N9-C10 folate bridge geometry as well as the first conformational details of a hybrid piritrexim-trimetrexate analogue.

2,4-Diaminothieno[2,3-d]pyrimidine lipophilic antifolates as inhibitors of Pneumocystis carinii and Toxoplasma gondii dihydrofolate reductase.

Ten previously unreported 2,4-diaminothieno[2,3-d]pyrimidine lipophilic dihydrofolate reductase inhibitors were synthesized as potential inhibitors of Pneumocystis carinii and Toxoplasma gondii dihydrofolate reductase. Pivaloylation of 2,4-diamino-5-methylthieno[2,3-d]pyrimidine followed by dibromination with N-bromosuccinimide in the presence of benzoyl peroxide gave 2,4-bis(pivaloylamino)-6-bromo-5-(bromomethyl)thieno[2,3-d]pyrimid ine, which after condensation with substituted anilines or N-methylanilines and deprotection with base yielded 2,4-diamino-6-bromo-5-[(substituted anilino)methyl]thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidines. Removal of the 6-bromo substituent was accomplished with sodium borohydride and palladium chloride. The reaction yields were generally good to excellent. The products were tested as inhibitors of dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) from P. carinii, T. gondii, and rat liver. Although the IC50 could not be reached for the 6-unsubstituted compounds because of their extremely poor solubility, three of the five 6-bromo derivatives were soluble enough to allow the IC50 to be determined against all three enzymes. 2,4-Diamino-5-[3,5-dichloro-4-(1-pyrrolo)anilino]methyl]- 6-bromothieno[2,3-d]pyrimidine was the most active of the 6-bromo derivatives, with an IC50 of 7.5 microM against P. carinii DHFR, but showed no selectivity for either P. carinii or T. gondii DHFR relative to the enzyme from rat liver.

Nonclassical 2,4-diamino-5-aryl-6-ethylpyrimidine antifolates: activity as inhibitors of dihydrofolate reductase from Pneumocystis carinii and Toxoplasma gondii and as antitumor agents.

Twelve novel 2,4-diamino-5-(4'-benzylamino)- and 2,4-diamino-5[4'-(N-methylbenzylamino)-3'-nitrophenyl]-6-ethylp yrimidines bearing 4-substituents on the benzylamino or N-methylbenzylamino aryl ring were synthesized and evaluated as nonclassical inhibitors of Pneumocystis carinii and Toxoplasma gondii dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR). Compounds were prepared by reaction of 2,4-diamino-5-(4'-chloro-3'-nitrophenyl)- (8) or 2,4-diamino-5-(4'-fluoro-3'-nitrophenyl)-6-ethylpyrimidine (15) with the appropriate 4-substituted (CO2H, CO2Me, SO2NH2, dioxolan-2-yl, CHO, dimethyloxazolin-2-yl) benzylamine or N-methylbenzylamine derivative. Compounds 25-29 were synthesized from 2,4-diamino-5-{4'-[N-(4"-carboxybenzyl)amino]-3'-nitrophenyl}-6- ethylpyrimidine (10) and the corresponding amine (NH3, MeNH2, Me2NH, piperidine, diethyl L-glutamate) via isobutyl mixed anhydride coupling; hydrolysis of the diethyl L-glutamate 29 afforded the L-glutamate analogue 30. The compounds exhibited potent inhibitory activity against T. gondii (IC50 values 0.0018-0.14 microM) and rat liver (IC50 values 0.0029-0.27 microM) DHFR, with a 4-substituent invariably enhancing binding to both enzymes relative to the unsubstituted benzoprim (5) or methylbenzoprim (6). Modest selectivity for T. gondii enzyme was observed with several analogues, whereas all of the compounds were relatively weak inhibitors of P. carinii DHFR and exhibited no selectivity. Selected analogues were evaluated for in vivo antitumor activity against the methotrexate-resistant M5076 murine reticulosarcoma, with 2,4-diamino-5-{4'-[N-[4"-(N"-methylcarbamoyl)benzyl]-N- methylamino]-3'-nitrophenyl}-6-ethylpyrimidine (14) (Ki for rat liver DHFR = 0.00035 +/- 0.00029 nM) combining significant antitumor activity with minimal toxicity.

ChemInform Abstract: Brominated Trimetrexate Analogues as Inhibitors of Pneumocystis carinii and Toxoplasma gondii Dihydrofolate Reductase.

AbstractChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of nonclassical 2,4-diamino-5-methylpyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidines with novel side chain substituents as potential inhibitors of dihydrofolate reductases.

Nine novel 2,4-diamino-5-methyl-6-substituted-pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidines, 2-10, were synthesized as potential inhibitors of Pneumocystis carinii dihydrofolate reductase (pcDHFR) and Toxoplasma gondii dihydrofolate reductase (tgDHFR). Compounds 2-5 were designed as conformationally restricted analogues of trimetrexate (TMQ), in which rotation around tau 3 was constrained by incorporation of the side chain nitrogen as part of an indoline or an indole ring. Analogue 6, which has an extra atom between the side chain nitrogen and the phenyl ring, has its nitrogen as part of a tetrahydroisoquinoline ring. Analogues 7-9 are epiroprim (Ro 11-8958) analogues and contain a pyrrole ring as part of the side chain substitution on the phenyl ring similar to epiroprim. These analogues were designed to investigate the role of the pyrrole substitution on the phenyl ring of 2,4-diamino-5-methyl-6-(anilinomethyl)pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidines. Molecular modeling indicated that a pyrrole substituent in the ortho position of the side chain phenyl ring was most likely to interact with pcDHFR in a manner similar to the pyrrole moiety of epiroprim. Analogue 10, in which a phenyl ring replaced a methoxy group, was synthesized to determine the contribution of a phenyl ring on selectivity, lipophilicity, and cell penetration. The synthesis of analogues 2-4 was achieved via reductive amination of 2,4-diamino-5-methyl 6-carboxaldehyde with the appropriately substituted indolines. The indolines were obtained from the corresponding indoles via NaCNBH3 reductions. Analogues 5-10 were synthesized by nucleophilic displacement of 2,4-diamino-5-methyl-6-(bromomethyl)-pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine with the 5-methoxyindolyl anion, 6,7-dimethoxytetrahydroisoquinoline, the appropriately substituted pyrroloaniline or 2-methoxy-5-phenylaniline. The pyrroloanilines were synthesized in two steps by treating the substituted nitroanilines with 2,5-dimethoxy-tetrahydrofuran to afford the nitropyrrole intermediates, followed by reduction of the nitro group with Raney Ni. The analogues were more potent than trimethoprim and epiroprim and more selective than TMQ and piritrexim against pcDHFR and tgDHFR. Compounds 5 and 10 had IC50 values of 1 and 0.64 microM, respectively, for the inhibition of the growth of T. gondii cells in culture, and showed excellent culture IC50/enzyme IC50 ratios, which were correlated with their calculated log P values, indicating a direct relationship between calculated lipophilicity and cell penetration.

6,7-disubstituted 2,4-diaminopteridines: novel inhibitors of Pneumocystis carinii and Toxoplasma gondii dihydrofolate reductase

Four novel, disubstituted diaminopteridines have been identified which antagonize the uptake of a folate precursor (para-aminobenzoic acid) by rat-derived Pneumocystis carinii maintained in short-term axenic culture at concentrations ranging from 4.5 to 26 microM. The compounds were at least 10 to 100 times more active than trimethoprim in this assay. None of these entities exhibited toxicity to mammalian cell lines at < 100 microM. The same structures also caused significant inhibition of Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoite replication within Madin-Darby bovine kidney cells at concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 10 microM. Three of the structures (GR92754, AH10639, and AH2504) were at least an order of magnitude more potent than the standard anti-T. gondii agent, pyrimethamine. All three entities were also significantly more potent and selective than pyrimethamine as inhibitors of T. gondii dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), with 50% inhibitory concentrations within the range of 0.018 to 0.033 microM. One of these compounds, 6,7-dibutyl-2,4-diaminopteridine (GR92754), was also a potent and selective inhibitor of P. carinii DHFR (50% inhibitory concentration, 0.082 microM). GR92754 is the first DHFR inhibitor described that exhibits greater potency, selectivity, and intracellular activity against both organisms than any of the DHFR agents used clinically, namely, trimethoprim, pyrimethamine, and trimetrexate. This information could provide the starting point for examination of the pharmacokinetic and therapeutic potential of GR92754 and related chemical entities with animal models.

Structure-activity and structure-selectivity studies on diaminoquinazolines and other inhibitors of Pneumocystis carinii and Toxoplasma gondii dihydrofolate reductase

Twenty-eight 2,4-diaminopteridines with alkyl and aralkyl groups at the 6- and 7-positions, five 1,3-diamino-7,8,9,10-tetrahydropyrimido [4,5-c]isoquinolines with an alkyl, alkylthio, or aryl group at the 6-position, and nine 4,6-diamino-1,2-dihydro-s-triazines with one or two alkyl groups at the 2-position and a substituted phenyl or naphthyl group at the 1-position were evaluated as inhibitors of dihydrofolate reductase enzymes from Pneumocystis carinii, Toxoplasma gondii, and rat liver. Halogen substitution at the 5- or 6-position of 2,4-diaminoquinazoline favored selective binding to the P. carinii enzyme but not the T. gondii enzyme. For example, the 50% inhibitory concentrations of 2,4-diamino-6-chloroquinazoline as an inhibitor of P. carinii, T. gondii, and rat liver dihydrofolate reductase were 3.6, 14 and 29 microM, respectively, corresponding to 12-fold selectivity for the P. carinii enzyme but only marginal selectivity for the T. gondii enzyme. Greater than fivefold selectivity for P. carinii but not T. gondii dihydrofolate reductase was also observed for the 2,4-diaminoquinazolines with 5-methyl, 5-fluoro, 5- and 6-bromo, 6-chloro, and 5-chloro-6-bromo substitution. In contrast, alkyl and aralkyl substitution at the 6- and 7-positions of 2,4-diaminopteridines was found to be a favorable feature for selective inhibition of the T. gondii enzyme and, in two cases, for both enzymes. Nine of the fifty-one compounds tested against P. carinii dihydrofolate reductase and four of the thirty compounds tested against T. gondii dihydrofolate reductase displayed fivefold or greater selectivity for the microbial enzyme versus the rat liver enzyme. The most selective against both enzymes was 2,4-diamino-6,7-bis(cyclohexylmethyl) pteridine, with a selectivity ratio 2 orders of magnitude greater than the value reported for trimetrexate and piritrexim. Since substitution at the 7-position is generally considered to be detrimental to the binding of 2,4-diaminop-teridines and related compounds to mammalian dihydrofolate reductase, the selectivity observed in this study with the 6,7-bis(cyclohexylmethyl) analog may represent a useful approach to enhancing selective inhibition of the enzyme from nonmammalian species.

Identification of highly potent and selective inhibitors of Toxoplasma gondii dihydrofolate reductase.

Toxoplasma gondii RH was obtained in high yield from culture in RPMI medium on a line of Chinese hamster ovary cells lacking dihydrofolate reductase activity (ATCC 3952 dhfr-; American Type Culture Collection). Dihydrofolate reductase preparations from harvested organisms had specific activities of 22.9 +/- 2.1 nmol/min/mg. The 50% inhibitory concentrations against reference compounds were 0.014 microM for methotrexate, 0.24 microM for pyrimethamine, 2.7 microM for trimethoprim, and 0.010 microM for trimetrexate. The Km value for NADPH was 11 microM and followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics; the Km for dihydrofolate was ca. 11 microM, but substrate inhibition appeared to occur at high substrate concentrations. Dihydrofolate reductase from T. gondii was used to screen 130 compounds from the National Cancer Institute repository. Thirteen compounds were > 100-fold more potent than pyrimethamine toward T. gondii dihydrofolate reductase; six compounds with various potencies were 8 to 46 times as selective as pyrimethamine for the protozoal form of the enzyme over the mammalian form. Four trimetrexate analogs were more potent than trimetrexate, and two were significantly more selective. Representative compounds were also tested in a culture model of T. gondii employing uracil incorporation as an index of growth. One pyrimethamine analog was as effective as pyrimethamine in inhibiting T. gondii in culture (50% inhibitory concentration, 0.45 microM). Three other compounds were also effective at micromolar concentrations.