Adsorption to the Surface of Hemozoin Crystals: Structure-Based Design and Synthesis of Amino-Phenoxazine β-Hematin Inhibitors

In silico adsorption of eight antimalarials that inhibit β-hematin (synthetic hemozoin) formation identified a primary binding site on the (001) face, which accommodates inhibitors via formation of predominantly π-π interactions. A good correlation (r²=0.64, P=0.017) between adsorption energies and the logarithm of β-hematin inhibitory activity was found for this face. Of 53 monocyclic, bicyclic and tricyclic scaffolds, the latter yielded the most favorable adsorption energies. Five new amino-phenoxazine compounds were pursued as β-hematin inhibitors based on adsorption behaviour. The 2-substituted phenoxazines show good to moderate β-hematin inhibitory activity (<100 μM) and Plasmodium falciparum blood stage activity against the 3D7 strain. N¹,N¹-diethyl-N⁴-(10H-phenoxazin-2-yl)pentane-1,4-diamine ( P2a ) is the most promising hit with IC₅₀ values of 4.7±0.6 and 0.64±0.05 μM, respectively. Adsorption energies are predictive of β-hematin inhibitory activity, and thus the in silico approach is a beneficial tool for structure-based development of new non-quinoline inhibitors.     

The hidden cost of road maintenance due to the increased weight of battery and hydrogen trucks and buses—a perspective

Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy - Decarbonisation of transport emissions is essential to meet climate targets. For road transport, currently available technologies are battery electric...     

Synthesis of Uronic Acid 1-Azasugars as Putative Inhibitors of α-Iduronidase, β-Glucuronidase and Heparanase**

1-Azasugar analogues of l -iduronic acid (l -IdoA) and d -glucuronic acid (d -GlcA) and their corresponding enantiomers have been synthesized as potential pharmacological chaperones for mucopolysaccharidosis I (MPS I), a lysosomal storage disease caused by mutations in the gene encoding α-iduronidase (IDUA). The compounds were efficiently synthesized in nine or ten steps from d - or l -arabinose, and the structures were confirmed by X-ray crystallographic analysis of key intermediates. All compounds were inactive against IDUA, although l -IdoA-configured 8 moderately inhibited β-glucuronidase (β-GLU). The d -GlcA-configured 9 was a potent inhibitor of β-GLU and a moderate inhibitor of the endo-β-glucuronidase heparanase. Co-crystallization of 9 with heparanase revealed that the endocyclic nitrogen of 9 forms close interactions with both the catalytic acid and catalytic nucleophile.