Heterocycle Binding and Biology in the DNA Minor Groove

描述(由申请人提供)：由我们的合作研究小组开发的杂环阳离子，专门与DNA小槽中扩展的AT序列结合。这些化合物具有临床生物活性，对几种寄生虫具有较低的人体毒性，一种口服前药已经通过了针对几种寄生虫的第二阶段临床试验。该化合物计划于2004年10月开始治疗人类锥虫病的第三阶段试验。生物物理和体内生物学研究清楚地表明，这些化合物的作用靶标是DNA，特别是动质体微生物的运动质体DNA(KDNA)，如锥虫和利什曼原虫。杂环阳离子在体内能够阻止转录增强子与AT富含序列的结合，并重新分配拓扑异构酶II酶，这是将独特的kDNA系统复制到AT富集区的关键。我们的假设是，这两种作用都需要AT丰富的kDNA中紧密结合的药物分子的协同作用。这项建议中的研究旨在通过更好地了解寄生虫药物的生物学作用的分子基础，开发新的DNA靶向抗微生物药物。我们将使用平行和组合化学方法来开发系统和合理的新化合物集，以解决关于杂环-DNA络合物的特定问题。一系列传统的和新的生物物理方法将被用来评估化合物与不同DNA序列的相互作用，例如它们在微生物中的目标序列。我们特别关注化合物在密集AT富含结合部位的协同结合对DNA结构和蛋白质抑制的影响。将评估这些化合物对DNA结构和性能的长期和短期影响。我们将对选定的化合物进行详细的结构研究，我们认为这些化合物可以为分子识别机制提供基本的见解。我们将通过使用模型肽系统以及体内蛋白质抑制分析来测试这些化合物抑制选择性靶向AT丰富序列的转录增强子的能力。所有新化合物都将针对几种微生物进行测试，测试结果将与它们结合DNA和抑制蛋白质-DNA相互作用和功能的能力相关联。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Heterocyclic cations, developed by our collaborative research groups, bind specifically to extended AT sequences in the DNA minor groove. These compounds have shown clinical biological activity with low human toxicity against several parasitic microorganisms, and an orally available prodrug has progressed through Phase II clinical trials against several parasitic organisms. The compound is scheduled to begin Phase III trials against human trypanosomiasis in October 2004. Biophysical and in vivo biological studies clearly suggest that the target of action of the compounds is DNA and, in particular, the kinetoplast DNA (kDNA) of kinetoplastid microorganisms, such as trypanosomes and leishmania. The heterocyclic cations have shown in vivo ability to block transcription enhancer binding to AT rich sequences and to redistribute the topoisomerase II enzyme, which is critical for replication of the unique kDNA system into AT rich regions. Our hypothesis is that both of these effects require synergistic action of closely bound drug molecules in the AT rich kDNA. The research in this proposal is designed to develop new DNA-targeted antimicrobial drugs by providing a better understanding of the molecular basis of the biological action of the dications in parasites. We will use both parallel and combinatorial chemistry approaches to develop systematic and rational sets of new compounds to address specific questions about the heterocycle-DNA complexes. A battery of traditional, as well as novel biophysical methods, will be used to evaluate the interactions of the compounds with different DNA sequences, such as those that they target in the microorganisms. We are specifically focused on the effects on DNA structure and protein inhibition of cooperative binding of the compounds at closely spaced AT rich binding sites. Both long and short range effects of the compounds on DNA structure and properties will be evaluated. Detailed structural studies will be conducted with selected compounds that we feel can provide fundamental insight into the molecular recognition mechanisms. We will test the ability of the compounds to inhibit transcription enhancers that selectively target AT rich sequences by using model peptide systems, as well as in vivo analysis of protein inhibition. All new compounds will be tested against several microorganisms, and the results will be correlated with their ability to bind DNA and inhibit protein-DNA interactions and functions.