Document Report Card

ID: ALA1140220

Journal: J Med Chem

Title: Synthetic and crystallographic studies of a new inhibitor series targeting Bacillus anthracis dihydrofolate reductase.

Authors: Beierlein JM, Frey KM, Bolstad DB, Pelphrey PM, Joska TM, Smith AE, Priestley ND, Wright DL, Anderson AC.

Abstract: Bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax, poses a significant biodefense danger. Serious limitations in approved therapeutics and the generation of resistance have produced a compelling need for new therapeutic agents against this organism. Bacillus anthracis is known to be insensitive to the clinically used antifolate, trimethoprim, because of a lack of potency against the dihydrofolate reductase enzyme. Herein, we describe a novel lead series of B. anthracis dihydrofolate reductase inhibitors characterized by an extended trimethoprim-like scaffold. The best lead compound adds only 22 Da to the molecular weight and is 82-fold more potent than trimethoprim. An X-ray crystal structure of this lead compound bound to B. anthracis dihydrofolate reductase in the presence of NADPH was determined to 2.25 A resolution. The structure reveals several features that can be exploited for further development of this lead series.

CiteXplore: 19007108

DOI: 10.1021/jm800776a