Farnesyltransferase catalyzes the posttranslational modification of numerous proteins involved in intracellular signal transduction by transferring the farnesyl residue of farnesyl pyrophosphate to the thiol of a cysteine side chain of the protein substrate. The cysteine residue belongs to a characteristic carboxy-terminal consensus sequence, the so-called

The development of farnesyltransferase inhibitors directed against Plasmodium falciparum is a strategy towards new drugs against malaria. Previously, we described benzophenone-based farnesyltransferase inhibitors with high in vitro antimalarial activity but no in vivo activity. Through the introduction of a methylpiperazinyl moiety, farnesyltransferase inhibitors with in vivo antimalarial activity were obtained. Subsequently, a structure-based design approach was chosen to further improve the antimalarial activity of this type of inhibitor. As no crystal structure of the farnesyltransferase of the target organism is available, homology modeling was used to reveal differences between the active sites of the rat/human and the P. falciparum farnesyltransferase. Based on flexible docking data, the piperazinyl moiety was replaced by a N,N,N'-trimethylethylenediamine moiety. This resulted in an inhibitor with significantly improved in vitro and in vivo antimalarial activity. Furthermore, this inhibitor displayed a notable increase in selectivity towards malaria parasites relative to human cells.

Because of the involvement of farnesylated proteins in oncogenesis, inhibition of the protein-modifying enzyme farnesyltransferase is considered a major emerging strategy in cancer therapy. Here, we describe the structure-activity relationship of a novel class of CAAX-peptidomimetic farnesyltransferase inhibitors based on the benzophenone scaffold. 4'-Methyl, 4'-chloro, 4'-bromo, and 4'-nitrophenylacetic acid as substituents at the 2-amino group of the benzophenone core structure yield farnesyltransferase inhibitors active in the nanomolar range. Using diphenylacetic acid in this position further improves activity. SEAL superimposition of inhibitor 12a to the enzyme-bound conformation of a CAAX-peptide shows a markedly good resemblance of the molecular properties of the peptide. FlexX docking of 12a confirms the good fit of the molecule into the peptide binding site of farnesyltransferase. The novel benzophenone-based AAX-peptidomimetic substructure described here will be useful for the design of some novel types of farnesyltransferase inhibitors.

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2005 Furan derivatives R 0060 Novel Lead Structures for Antimalarial Farnesyltransferase Inhibitors. -[synthesis and evaluation] -(KETTLER, K.; SAKOWSKI, J.; WIESNER, J.; ORTMANN, R.; JOMAA, H.; SCHLITZER*, M.; Pharmazie 60 (2005) 5, 323-327; Inst. Pharm., Zent. Pharmaforsch.,