Coumarins are a large class of compounds that display a range of interesting biological properties, being considered privileged structures because of the ability of their 2H-chromen-2-one nuclei to bind to multiple pharmacological targets. We hypothesized that the linkage of a second pharmacophore nucleus to the 2H-chromen-2-one core, the 1,2,3-triazole moiety, would entail more selective and pharmacologically active coumarins. Therefore, we describe the synthesis of fourteen 4-methylcoumarins/1,4-substituted 1,2,3-triazole conjugates, which were predicted by in silico methods to inhibit acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and proved to be moderate in vitro inhibitors of this enzyme. Molecular docking simulations suggest that the most active of these compounds has a putative binding mode similar to donepezil, both occupying the peripheral anionic site of AChE, which is associated with the secondary noncholinergic functions of the enzyme. This highlights the potential of this series for further optimization in the search of new coumarins for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

Os únicos fármacos aprovados para o tratamento da doença de Chagas, nifurtimox e benznidazol, apresentam efeitos colaterais e eficácia limitada na fase crônica da doença, destacando a necessidade de novos fármacos. Entre os diferentes alvos moleculares de fármacos identificados no parasita, uma trans-sialidase de Trypanosoma cruzi (TcTS) tem sido considerada essencial para o reconhecimento e invasão nas células do hospedeiro. Desta forma, o trabalho descreve a síntese eficiente e a avaliação biológica (inibição de TcTS e atividade antitripanossoma) de alguns triazol-arilsulfonamidas contendo galactose pela reação de 1,3-dipolar de cicloadição azida-alcino Cu(I) (CuAAC) em micro-ondas, usando como precursores os derivados de azido benzenossulfonamidas e alcino derivado de galactose. A maioria dos compostos testados contra TcTS mostrou inibição moderada a fraca (40%-15%), com exceção de um dos compostos (81%). Quanto ao ensaio de atividade antitripanossoma, alguns compostos [(IC50 70,9 µM) e (IC50 44,0 µM)] apresentaram atividades mais significativas, embora não tenham sido tão ativos como benznidazol (IC50 1,4 µM). Adicionalmente, a avaliação da citotoxicidade mostrou que todos os compostos não foram citotóxicos. Neste trabalho preliminar, alguns compostos foram considerados protótipos para posterior otimização.

The only drugs approved for the treatment of Chagas disease, nifurtimox and benznidazole, present toxic side effects and limited efficacy in the chronic stage of the disease, which highlight the need for new drugs. Amongst the different molecular drug targets discovered in the parasite, Trypanosoma cruzi trans-sialidase (TcTS) has been considered crucial in the recognition and invasion of host cells. Hence, we report the efficient synthesis and biological evaluation (TcTS inhibition and antitrypanosomal activities) of some galactose-containing triazol-arylsulfonamides via microwave-assisted Cu(I) 1,3-dipolar azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) based on azide benzenesulfonamides and a galactose-derived alkyne as precursors. Most of the compounds tested against TcTS showed moderate to weak inhibition (40%-15%), except one of the compounds (81%). Regarding the antitrypanosomal assay, some compounds [(IC50 70.9 µM) and (IC50 44.0 µM)] exhibited the most significant activities, although not as active as benznidazole (IC50 1.4 µM). Nevertheless, the cytotoxicity assessment showed that all compounds were not cytotoxic. In this preliminary work, we considered some compounds as lead scaffolds for further optimization.

Chagas disease (CD) causes the highest burden of parasitic diseases in the Western Hemisphere and is therefore a priority for drug research and development. Platelet-activating factor (PAF) causes the CD parasite Trypanosoma cruzi to differentiate, which suggests that the parasite may express PAF receptors. Here, we explored the T. cruzi proteome for PAF receptor-like proteins. From a total of 23,000 protein sequences, we identified 29 hypothetical proteins that are predicted to have seven transmembrane domains (TMDs), which is the main characteristic of the G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), including the PAF receptor. The TMDs of these sequences were independently aligned with domains from 25 animal PAF receptors and the sequences were analysed for conserved residues. The conservation score mean values for the TMDs of the hypothetical proteins ranged from 31.7-44.1%, which suggests that if the putative T. cruzi PAF receptor is among the sequences identified, the TMDs are not highly conserved. These results suggest that T. cruzi contains several GPCR-like proteins and that one of these GPCRs may be a PAF receptor. Future studies may further validate the PAF receptor as a target for CD chemotherapy.

A biotransformação da lignana tetraidrofurânica, (-)-grandisina, pelo fungo endofítico Phomopsis sp, obtido de Viguiera arenaria, conduziu à formação de um novo metabólito caracterizado como 3,4-dimetil-2-(4'-hidróxi-3',5'-dimetóxifenil)-5-metóxi-tetraidrofurano. O metabólito foi analisado contra o parasita Trypanosoma cruzi, o agente causador da doença de Chagas, e mostrou uma atividade tripanocida (IC50 9,8 μmol L-1) similar ao precursor natural (IC50 3,7 μmol L-1).

The biotrasformation of the tetrahydrofuran lignan, (-)-grandisin, by the endophitic fungus Phomopsis sp, obtained from Viguiera arenaria, led to the formation of a new compound determined as 3,4-dimethyl-2-(4'-hydroxy-3',5'-dimethoxyphenyl)-5-methoxy-tetrahydrofuran. The metabolite was evaluated against the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas's disease, and showed a trypanocidal activity (IC50 9.8 μmol L-1) similar to the natural precursor (IC50 3.7 μmol L-1).

This work describes the synthesis of the glycosylated amino acids αGlcNAc-Thr, βGlcNAc-Thr and αLacNAc-Thr by the glycosylation reaction of the amino acid threonine with the corresponding glycosyl donors αGlcNAcCl and αLacN3Cl. The glycosylated amino acids containing the sugar units α-D-GlcNAc and α-D-LacNAc O-linked to threonine amino acids are related to O-glycans found in mucins of the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, while the corresponding β-D-GlcNAc isomer is involved in cellular signaling events.

Statins are the most used drugs for the treatment of hyperlipidemia in primary and secondary prevention, with the aim of decreasing the levels of plasmatic cholesterol- lipoproteins. Owing to their structural similarity to the substrate HMG-CoA (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA), they inhibit the HMG-CoA reductase enzyme, disrupting the cholesterol biosynthesis. Currently, six therapeutic statins are available: lovastatin (Mevacor) and pravastatin (Pravachol), which are natural, sinvastatin (Zocor), a semi-synthetic derivative, and the totally synthetic statins, fluvastatin (Lescol), atorvastatin (Lipitor) and rosuvastatin (Crestor). Recent investigations have showed other important effects of statins, such as antineoplastic action and improvement in endothelial function.

Este trabalho descreve a padronização de metodologia de análise CLAE para identificação e separação dos aminoácidos glicosilados (blocos de construção) 3, 4, 7 e 8, e seus respectivos precursores. Os aminoácidos glicosilados, contendo unidades de açúcar beta-D-GlcNAc (3 e 7) O-ligadas a aminoácidos de treonina estão envolvidos em eventos de sinalização celular, e os correspondentes isômeros 4 e 8, contendo unidades de alfa-D-GlcNAc, estão relacionados a O-glicanas encontradas em mucinas do parasita Trypanosoma cruzi. A metodologia desenvolvida é vantajosa e eficiente, pois permite a análise de misturas reacionais brutas, evitando exaustivos processos de purificação.

This work describes the standardization of HPLC analysis methodology for the identification and separation of the glycosylated amino acids (building blocks) 3, 4, 7 and 8 and their respective precursors. The glycosylated amino acids containing the sugar units beta-D-GlcNAc (3 and 7) O-linked to threonine amino acids are involved in cellular signalling events, and the correspondent isomers 4 and 8, possessing alpha-D-GlcNAc units are related to O-glycans found in mucins of the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. The developed methodology is advantageous and efficient as it permits the analysis of crude reaction mixtures, avoiding exhaustive purification processes.

Glucosidases are involved in key steps in the processing of oligosaccharides by cleaving O-glucose residues. Since they catalyze breaking and transfer reactions of glucosidic groups for the normal growth and development of all the cells, defects or genetic deficiencies in these enzymes are associated with serious disorders of the carbohydrate metabolism. Thus, glucosidases represent important targets to develop inhibitors, owing to their potential activities against viruses, tumoral growth and metastasis, diabetes, Gaucher's disease and other syndromes associated with the lisosomal storage of glucoesphingolipids, and osteoarthritis. This paper presents a description of the biochemical pathways and mechanisms of alpha and beta-glucosidases, and the currently available drugs capable to inhibit these enzymes.

Sete dicetopiperazinas, correspondentes aos ciclos (L)-Pro-(L)-Phe, (L)-Pro-Gly, (L)-Pro-(L)-Pro, (L)-Pro-(L)-Val, (L)-4-OH-Pro-(L)-Leu, (L)-4-OH-Pro-(L)-Phe e (L)-Pro-(L)-Leu, foram isoladas do caldo da cultura do fungo Aspergillus fumigatus. As estereoquímicas relativas e absolutas foram determinadas, respectivamente, com base nos experimentos de NOESY e através de modificação do método de Marfey em CLAE.

Seven diketopiperazines, corresponding to the cyclos (L)-Pro-(L)-Phe, (L)-Pro-Gly, (L)-Pro-(L)-Pro, (L)-Pro-(L)-Val, (L)-4-OH-Pro-(L)-Leu, (L)-4-OH-Pro-(L)-Phe, and (L)-Pro-(L)-Leu, were isolated from the Aspergillus fumigatus fermentation broth. The relative and absolute stereochemistries were determined on the basis of NOESY experiments and by using a modified version of Marfey's method using HPLC, respectively.

The total synthesis of sulfadiazine and silver sulfadiazine from readily available starting materials was adapted to semi-micro laboratory scale and is proposed as an experiment in drug synthesis for undergraduate courses.

Molecular Modeling is an important tool in drug design and it is very useful to predict biological activity from a library of compounds. A wide variety of computer programs and methods have been developed to visualize the tridimensional geometry and calculate physical properties of drugs. In this work, we describe a practical approach of molecular modeling as a powerful tool to study structure-activity relationships of drugs, including some antibacterials, hormones, cholinergic and adrenergic agents. At first, the students learn how to draw 3D structures and use them to perform conformational and molecular analysis. Thus, they compare drugs with similar pharmacological activity by superimposing one structure on the top of another and evaluate the geometry and physical properties.