Structural Requirements for Sterol 14alpha-Demethylases

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 DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant) Sterol 14α-demethylase (CYP51) is the monooxygenase that catalyzes a unique three step reaction (14α- methyl →14α-alcohol→14α-aldehyde→14α-demethylated product plus formic acid), removing the 14α- methyl group from the cyclized sterol precursors. CYP51 is regarded as a possible evolutionary ancestor to all members of the currently existing P450 superfamily. The CYP51 reaction is required for biosynthesis of cholesterol in humans, ergosterol in eukaryotic microbial human pathogens (such as fungi and protozoa), and various phytosterols in plants. The vast majority of the sterols are utilized for the formation of viable eukaryotic membranes (fluidity, permeability, modulation of multiple functions of integrated membrane proteins), while some sterols serve as precursors for a number of regulatory molecules essential for cell growth, development, and multiplication. Blocking sterol biosynthesis in unicellular organisms is lethal. CYP51 inhibitors (azoles) are used as the major clinical antifungal drugs and agricultural fungicides. Two of these drugs (posaconazole and ravuconazole) are presently in clinical trials for the deadly human infection caused by the protozoan pathogen Trypanosoma cruzi (Chagas disease). All of the azoles currently in use were discovered empirically, i.e. by screening their effects on fungal cell growth, and are far from ideal in terms of efficiency, safet, side effects, and sensitivity to resistance. The long-term goal of our research is to understand the molecular basis for the CYP51 functional conservation, drug action, and drug resistance. Here we propose to apply the information on the CYP51 structure/function that was gained during the previous cycles of funding to rationalize the CYP51-targeting drug discovery paradigm. We will perform protozoan/fungal/human CYP51 structure-guided derivatization of the highly potent, non-toxic experimental VNI scaffold to make pharmacologically-optimized drug candidates suitable for clinical trials for Chagas disease (including the infections caused by naturally resistant strains of the parasite) and visceral leishmaniasis (Aim 1a), as well as to develop new custom-designed inhibitors of fungal CYP51s (Aim 1b). Aim 2 will evaluate human CYP51 as a potential drug target for cholesterol- related human diseases, including cancer and Alzheimer's disease. Aim 3 of this proposal is to determine the structure of CYP51 in complex with its electron donor partner, NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase, which will reveal the key residues involved in the protein-protein interaction, and may lead to the development of a novel type of CYP51 inhibitors. The results of this research will direct future approaches in drug discovery, enabling the creation of rationally designed species-oriented drug candidates directed at saving millions of human lives.