A novel endogenous antimalarial: Fe(II)-protoporphyrin IX alpha (heme) inhibits hematin polymerization to beta-hematin (malaria pigment) and kills malaria parasites.

The polymerization of hemoglobin-derived ferric-protoporphyrin IX [Fe(III)PPIX] to inert hemozoin (malaria pigment) is a crucial and unique process for intraerythrocytic plasmodia to prevent heme toxicity and thus a good target for new antimalarials. Quinoline drugs, i.e., chloroquine, and non-iron porphyrins have been shown to block polymerization by forming electronic pi-pi interactions with heme monomers. Here, we report the identification of ferrous-protoporphyrin IX [Fe(II)PPIX] as a novel endogenous anti-malarial. Fe(II)PPIX molecules, released from the proteolysis of hemoglobin, are first oxidized and then polymerized to hemozoin. We obtained Fe(II)PPIX on preparative scale by electrochemical reduction of Fe(III)PPIX, and the reaction was monitored by cyclic voltammetry. Polymerization assays at acidic pH were conducted with the resulting Fe(II)PPIX using a spectrophotometric microassay of heme polymerization adapted to anaerobic conditions and the products characterized by infrared spectroscopy. Fe(II)PPIX (a) did not polymerize and (b) produced a dose-dependent inhibition of Fe(III)PPIX polymerization (IC(50) = 0.4 molar equiv). Moreover, Fe(II)PPIX produced by chemical reduction with thiol-containing compounds gave similar results: a dose-dependent inhibition of heme polymerization was observed using either L-cysteine, N-acetylcysteine, or DL-homocysteine, but not with L-cystine. Cyclic voltammetry confirmed that the inhibition of heme polymerization was due to the Fe(II)PPIX molecules generated by the thiol-mediated reduction of Fe(III)PPIX. These results point to Fe(II)PPIX as a potential endogenous antimalarial and to Fe(III)PPIX reduction as a potential new pharmacological target.     

Metalloporphyrin probes for antimalarial drug action

Metal-substituted protoporphyrin IXs (Co(III)PPIX (1), Cr(III)PPIX (2), Mn(III)PPIX (3), Cu(II)PPIX (4), Mg(II)PPIX (5), Zn(II)PPIX (6) and Sn(IV)PPIX (7)), phthalocyanine tetrasulfonates (PcS (8) and Ni(II)PcS (9)), and anionic and cationic porphyrins (meso-tetra(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphine (TPPS4, 10), meso-tetra(4-carboxyphenyl)porphine (TPPC4, 11), tetrakis(4-N-trimethylaminophenyl)porphine (TMAP, 12) and meso-tetra(N-methyl-4-pyridyl)porphine (TMPyP4, 13)) have been used as probes to compare two different assays for the inhibition of beta-hematin formation. The results demonstrate that the efficacy of these probes in either the beta-hematin inhibition assay (9, 7, 6, 5>4>11, 3>10, 8>2, 1; 12 and 13 did not inhibit.) or the bionucleating template assay (8>1>11>9, 2>4>3>7>10>5>6; 12 and 13 did not inhibit.) differ significantly. These differences are examined in light of possible interactions between the inhibitor probes, heme, beta-hematin and the bionucleating template. This detailed analysis highlights the fact that while dominant modes of interactions may be occasionally identified, the precise mechanism of inhibition undoubtedly consists of the interplay between multiple interactions.     

Gallium(III), cobalt(III) and copper(II) protoporphyrin IX exhibit antimicrobial activity against Porphyromonas gingivalis by reducing planktonic and biofilm growth and invasion of host epithelial cells

Porphyromonas gingivalis acquires heme for growth, and initiation and progression of periodontal diseases. One of its heme acquisition systems consists of the HmuR and HmuY proteins. This study analyzed the antimicrobial activity of non-iron metalloporphyrins against P. gingivalis during planktonic growth, biofilm formation, epithelial cell adhesion and invasion, and employed hmuY, hmuR and hmuY-hmuR mutants to assess the involvement of HmuY and HmuR proteins in the acquisition of metalloporphyrins. Iron(III) mesoporphyrin IX (mesoheme) and iron(III) deuteroporphyrin IX (deuteroheme) supported planktonic growth of P. gingivalis cells, biofilm accumulation, as well as survival, adhesion and invasion of HeLa cells in a way analogous to protoheme. In contrast, cobalt(III), gallium(III) and copper(II) protoporphyrin IX exhibited antimicrobial activity against P. gingivalis, and thus represent potentially useful antibacterial compounds with which to target P. gingivalis. P. gingivalis hmuY, hmuR and hmuY-hmuR mutants showed decreased growth and infection of epithelial cells in the presence of all metalloporphyrins examined. In conclusion, the HmuY protein may not be directly involved in transport of free metalloporphyrins into the bacterial cell, but it may also play a protective role against metalloporphyrin toxicity by binding an excess of these compounds.     

Inhibition of hemozoin formation in Plasmodium falciparum trophozoite extracts by heme analogs: possible implication in the resistance to malaria conferred by the beta-thalassemia trait.

BACKGROUND: Human falciparum malaria, caused by the intracellular protozoa Plasmodium falciparum, results in 1-2 million deaths per year. P. falciparum digests host erythrocyte hemoglobin within its food vacuole, resulting in the release of potentially toxic free heme. A parasite-specific heme polymerization activity detoxifies the free heme by cross-linking the heme monomers to form hemozoin or malaria pigment. This biochemical process is the target of the widely successful antimalarial drug chloroquine, which is rapidly losing its effectiveness due to the spread of chloroquine resistance. We have shown that chloroquine resistance is not due to changes in the overall catalytic activity of heme polymerization or its chloroquine sensitivity. Therefore, the heme polymerization activity remains a potential target for novel antimalarials. In this study, we investigated the ability of heme analogs to inhibit heme polymerization and parasite growth in erythrocytes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Incorporation of radioactive hemin substrate into an insoluble hemozoin pellet was used to determine heme polymerization. Incorporation of radioactive hypoxanthine into the nucleic acid of dividing parasites was used to determine the effects of heme analogs on parasite growth. Microscopic and biochemical measurements were made to determine the extent of heme analog entry into infected erythrocytes. RESULTS: The heme analogs tin protoporphyrin IX (SnPP), zinc protoporphyrin IX (ZnPP), and zinc deuteroporphyrin IX, 2,4 bisglycol (ZnBG) inhibited polymerization at micromolar concentrations (ZnPP << SnPP < ZnBG). However, they did not inhibit parasite growth since they failed to gain access to the site of polymerization, the parasite's food vacuole. Finally, we observed high ZnPP levels in erythrocytes from two patients with beta-thalassemia trait, which may inhibit heme polymerization. CONCLUSIONS: The heme analogs tested were able to inhibit hemozoin formation in Plasmodium falciparum trophozite extracts. The increased ZnPP levels found in thalassemic erythrocytes suggest that these may contribute, at least in part, to the observed antimalarial protection conferred by the beta-thalassemia trait. This finding may lead to the development of new forms of antimalarial therapy.     

Interactions of quinoline antimalarials with hematin in solution

Quinoline antimalarial drugs such as chloroquine and related compounds are believed to act by targeting ferriprotoporphyrin IX (Fe(III)PPIX) in the form of hematin (H(2)O/HO-Fe(III)PPIX), its mu-oxo dimer ([Fe(III)PPIX](2)O) or crystalline beta-hematin ([Fe(III)PPIX](2)) in the malaria parasite. Fe(III)PPIX is formed when the parasite digests host hemoglobin during its intraerythrocytic blood stage. This has led to a number of studies on the interaction of Fe(III)PPIX with quinoline antimalarials and related compounds. This article reviews the spectroscopy, thermodynamics and structures of Fe(III)PPIX-quinoline complexes in solution.     

Linear free energy relationships predict coordination and π-stacking interactions of small molecules with ferriprotoporphyrin IX

In order to better understand the interaction of antimalarial compounds with ferriprotoporphyrin IX (Fe(III)PPIX), association constants of pyridines, imidazoles, amines and phenolates with Fe(III)PPIX and protoporphyrin IX (PPIX) have been measured spectrophotometrically in 40% (v/v) aq. DMSO at pH 7.4. The pH independent log association constants for coordination of nitrogen donor ligands exhibit a linear free energy relationship (LFER) with the pK_a of the donor atom. Association through π-stacking interactions (log K_π) with PPIX and Fe(III)PPIX increases with the number of π-electrons in the aromatic ring system. These findings indicate that in the aqueous milieu of the malaria parasite digestive vacuole, coordination to the Fe(III) center of the porphyrin is necessarily very weak, while π-stacking interactions will be much stronger. On the other hand, in environments in which proton competition is absent, coordination will dominate, with the most basic donor atoms forming the strongest complexes with Fe(III)PPIX. The lipid nanospheres within the digestive vacuole which are now known to be the location of conversion of Fe(III)PPIX to hemozoin could possibly be such an environment, making both types of interaction relevant to the design of new hemozoin inhibitors.     

Theoretical analysis of the binding of iron(III) protoporphyrin IX to 4-methoxyacetophenone thiosemicarbazone via DFT-D3, MEP,QTAIM, NCI,ELF, and LOL studies

Thiosemicarbazones display diverse pharmacological properties, including antimalarial activities. Their pharmacological activities have been studied in depth, but little of this research has focused on their antimalarial mode of action. To elucidate this antimalarial mechanism, we investigated the nature of the interactions between iron(III) protoporphyrin IX (Fe(III)PPIX) and the thione–thiol tautomers of 4-methoxyacetophenone thiosemicarbazone (MAPTSC). Dispersion-corrected density functional theory (DFT-D3), the quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM), the noncovalent interaction (NCI) index, the electron localization function (ELF), the localized orbital locator (LOL), and thermodynamic calculations were employed in this work. Fe(III)PPIX–MAPTSC binding is expected to inhibit hemozoin formation, thereby preventing Fe(III)PPIX detoxification in plasmodia. Preliminary studies geared toward the identification of atomic binding sites in the thione–thiol tautomers of MAPTSC were carried out using molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) maps and conceptual DFT-based local reactivity indices. The thionic sulfur and the ² N-azomethine nitrogen/thiol sulfur of, respectively, the thione and thiol tautomers of MAPTSC were identified as the most favorable nucleophilic sites for electrophilic attack. The negative values of the computed Fe(III)PPIX–MAPTSC binding energies, enthalpies, and Gibbs free energies are indicative of the existence and stability of Fe(III)PPIX–MAPTSC complexes. MAPTSC–Fe(III) coordinate bonds and strong hydrogen bonds (N–H···O) between the NH₂ group in MAPTSC and the C=O group in one propionate side chain of Fe(III)PPIX are crucial to Fe(III)PPIX–MAPTSC binding. QTAIM, NCI, ELF, and LOL analyses revealed a subtle interplay of weak noncovalent interactions dominated by dispersive-like van der Waals interactions between Fe(III)PPIX and MAPTSC that stabilize the Fe(III)PPIX–MAPTSC complexes.     

Induction of ER stress protects gastric cancer cells against apoptosis induced by cisplatin and doxorubicin through activation of p38 MAPK

Porphyromonas gingivalis acquires heme through an outer-membrane heme transporter HmuR and heme-binding hemophore-like lipoprotein HmuY. Here, we compare binding of iron(III) mesoporphyrin IX (mesoheme) and iron(III) deuteroporphyrin IX (deuteroheme) to HmuY with that of iron(III) protoporphyrin IX (protoheme) and protoporphyrin IX (PPIX) using spectroscopic methods. In contrast to PPIX, mesoheme and deuteroheme enter the HmuY heme cavity and are coordinated by His134 and His166 residues in a fully analogous way to protoheme binding. However, in the case of deuteroheme two forms of HmuY–iron porphyrin complex were observed differing by a 180° rotation of porphyrin about the α-γ-meso-carbon axis. Since the use of porphyrins either as active photosensitizers or in combination with antibiotics may have therapeutic value for controlling bacterial growth in vivo, it is important to compare the binding of heme derivatives to HmuY.     

The crystal structure of halofantrine-ferriprotoporphyrin IX and the mechanism of action of arylmethanol antimalarials

The crystal structure of the complex formed between the antimalarial drug halofantrine and ferriprotoporphyrin IX (Fe(III)PPIX) has been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The structure shows that halofantrine coordinates to the Fe(III) center through its alcohol functionality in addition to π-stacking of the phenanthrene ring over the porphyrin. The length of the Fe(III)-O bond is consistent with an alkoxide and not an alcohol coordinating group. The iron porphyrin is five coordinate and monomeric. Changes in the electronic spectrum of Fe(III)PPIX upon addition of halofantrine base in acetonitrile solution are almost identical to those observed upon addition of quinidine free base in the same solvent. This suggests homologous binding. Molecular mechanics modeling of Fe(III)PPIX complexes of quinidine, quinine, 9-epiquinine and 9-epiquinidine based on this homology suggests that the antimalarially active quinidine and quinine can readily adopt conformations that permit formation of an intramolecular salt bridge between the protonated quinuclidine tertiary amino group and unprotonated heme propionate group, while the inactive epimers 9-epiquinidine and 9-epiquinine have to adopt high energy conformations in order to accommodate such salt bridge formation. We propose that salt bridge formation may interrupt formation of the hemozoin precursor dimer formed during the heme detoxification pathway and so account for the strong activity of the two active isomers.     

Quinoline antimalarials decrease the rate of beta-hematin formation

The strength of inhibition of beta-hematin (synthetic hemozoin or malaria pigment) formation by the quinoline antimalarial drugs chloroquine, amodiaquine, quinidine and quinine has been investigated as a function of incubation time. In the assay used, beta-hematin formation was brought about using 4.5M acetate, pH 4.5 at 60 degrees C. Unreacted hematin was detected by formation of a spectroscopically distinct low spin pyridine complex. Although, these drugs inhibit beta-hematin formation when relatively short incubation times are used, it was found that beta-hematin eventually forms with longer incubation periods (<8h for chloroquine and >8h for quinine). This conclusion was supported by both infrared and X-ray powder diffraction observations. It was further found that the IC(50) for inhibition of beta-hematin formation increases markedly with increasing incubation times in the case of the 4-aminoquinolines chloroquine and amodiaquine. By contrast, in the presence of the quinoline methanols quinine and quinidine the IC(50) values increase much more slowly. This results in a partial reversal of the order of inhibition strengths at longer incubation times. Scanning electron microscopy indicates that beta-hematin crystals formed in the presence of chloroquine are more uniform in both size and shape than those formed in the absence of the drug, with the external morphology of these crystallites being markedly altered. The findings suggest that these drugs act by decreasing the rate of hemozoin formation, rather than irreversibly blocking its formation. This model can also explain the observation of a sigmoidal dependence of beta-hematin inhibition on drug concentration.     

Heme redox potential control in de novo designed four-alpha-helix bundle proteins

The effects of various mechanisms of metalloporphyrin reduction potential modulation were investigated experimentally using a robust, well-characterized heme protein maquette, synthetic protein scaffold H10A24 [?CH(3)()CONH-CGGGELWKL.HEELLKK.FEELLKL.AEERLKK. L-CONH(2)()?(2)](2). Removal of the iron porphyrin macrocycle from the high dielectric aqueous environment and sequestration within the hydrophobic core of the H10A24 maquette raises the equilibrium reduction midpoint potential by 36-138 mV depending on the hydrophobicity of the metalloporphyrin structure. By incorporating various natural and synthetic metalloporphyrins into a single protein scaffold, we demonstrate a 300-mV range in reduction potential modulation due to the electron-donating/withdrawing character of the peripheral macrocycle substituents. Solution pH is used to modulate the metalloporphyrin reduction potential by 160 mV, regardless of the macrocycle architecture, by controlling the protonation state of the glutamate involved in partial charge compensation of the ferric heme. Attempts to control the reduction potential by inserting charged amino acids into the hydrophobic core at close proximity to the metalloporphyrin lead to varied success, with H10A24-L13E lowering the E(m8.5) by 40 mV, H10A24-E11Q raising it by 50 mV, and H10A24-L13R remaining surprisingly unaltered. Modifying the charge of the adjacent metalloporphyrin, +1 for iron(III) protoporphyrin IX or neutral for zinc(II) protoporphyrin IX resulted in a loss of 70 mV [Fe(III)PPIX](+) - [Fe(III)PPIX](+) interaction observed in maquettes. Using these factors in combination, we illustrate a 435-mV variation of the metalloporphyrin reduction midpoint potential in a simple heme maquette relative to the about 800-mV range observed for natural cytochromes. Comparison between the reduction potentials of the heme maquettes and other de novo designed heme proteins reveals global trends in the E(m) values of synthetic cytochromes.     

Regulation of soluble guanylate cyclase activity by porphyrins and metalloporphyrins

Alterations of the chemical structure of protoporphyrin IX markedly altered the activation of soluble guanylate cyclase purified from bovine lung. Hydrophobic side chains at positions 2 and 4 and vicinal propionic acid residues at positions 6 and 7 of the porphyrin ring (protoporphyrin IX, mesoporphyrin IX) were essential for maximal enzyme activation (Ka = 7-8 nM; Vmax = 6-8 mumol of cGMP/min/mg). Substitution of hydrophobic with polar groups (hematoporphyrin IX, coproporphyrin III), or with hydrogen atoms ( deuteroporphyrin IX), and methylation of propionate residues resulted in decreased enzyme stimulation. Stimulatory porphyrins increased the Vmax and the apparent affinities of enzyme for MgGTP and uncomplexed Mg2+. An open central core in the porphyrin ring was essential for enzyme activation. The pyrrolic nitrogen adduct, N-phenylprotoporphyrin IX, was inhibitory and competitive with protoporphyrin IX (KI = 73 nM). Similarly, metalloporphyrins inhibited enzymatic activity and ferro-protoporphyrin IX (KI = 350 nM), zinc-protoporphyrin IX (KI = 50 nM) and manganese-protoporphyrin IX (KI = 9 nM) were competitive with protoporphyrin IX. Inhibitory porphyrins and metalloporphyrins also prevented enzyme activation by S-nitroso-N- acetylpenicillamine and NO. Guanylate cyclase reconstituted with such porphyrins required higher concentrations of protoporphyrin IX for further activation and were not activated by NO. Thus, porphyrins, metalloporphyrins, and NO appeared to interact at a common binding site on guanylate cyclase. This common site is likely that which normally binds heme and, therefore, NO-heme when the heme-containing enzyme is exposed to NO. Thus, NO and nitroso compounds may react with enzyme-bound heme to generate a modified porphyrin which structurally resembles protoporphyrin IX in its interaction with guanylate cyclase.     

Spectrophotometric determination of de novo hemozoin/beta-hematin formation in an in vitro assay

Formation of hemozoin in the malaria parasite, due to its unique nature, is an attractive molecular target. Several laboratories have been trying to unravel the molecular mechanism of hemozoin biosynthesis within the parasite digestive vacuoles. Use of different assay protocols for in vitro beta-hematin (synthetic identical to hemozoin) formation by these laboratories has led to inconsistent and often contradictory findings. Much of the difficulty may be attributed to oligomeric heme aggregates, which may be indistinguishable in some detection approaches if adequate separation of beta-hemtin is not achieved. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a widely accepted protocol for in vitro beta-hematin formation. We describe here a spectrophotometric assay for in vitro beta-hematin formation. The assay has been validated with the Plasmodium falciparum lysate, the parasite lipid extracts, and some commercially available fatty acids, which are known to initiate/catalyze beta-hematin formation in vitro. The necessity for multiple wash steps for accurate quantification of de novo hemozoin/beta-hematin formation was verified experimentally. It was necessary to wash the pellet, which contains beta-hematin and heme aggregates, sequentially with Tris/SDS buffer and alkaline bicarbonate solution for complete removal of monomeric heme and heme aggregates and accurate quantification of beta-hematin formed during the assay. The pellets and side products in the supernatant were characterized by infrared spectroscopy. No beta-hematin formation occurred in the absence of a catalytic/initiating factor. Based on these findings, a filtration-based assay that uses 96-well microplates, and which has important application in in vitro screening and identification of novel inhibitors of hemozoin formation as potential blood schizontocidal antimalarials, has been developed.     

A direct and simultaneous detection of zinc protoporphyrin IX, free protoporphyrin IX, and fluorescent heme degradation product in red blood cell hemolysates

Fluorescence emission of free protoporphyrin IX (PPIX, em. approximately 626 nm), zinc protoporphyrin IX (ZPP, em. approximately 594 nm) and fluorescent heme degradation product (FHDP, em. approximately 466 nm) are identified and simultaneously detected in mouse and human red cell hemolysates, when excited at 365 nm. A novel method is established for comparing relative FHDP, PPIX and ZPP levels in hemolysates without performing red cell porphyrin extractions. The ZPP fluorescence directly measured in hemolysates (F(365/594)) correlates with the ZPP fluorescence obtained from acetone/water extraction (R(2) = 0.9515, P < 0.0001). The relative total porphyrin (ZPP and PPIX) fluorescence obtained from direct hemolysate fluorescence measurements also correlates with red blood cell total porphyrins determined by ethyl acetate extraction (Piomelli extraction, R(2) = 0.88, P < 0.0001). These fluorescent species serves as biomarkers for alterations in Hb synthesis and Hb stability.     

In vitro beta-hematin formation assays with plasma of mice infected with Plasmodium yoelii and other parasite preparations: comparative inhibition with quinoline and endoperoxide antimalarials.

Formation of beta-hematin in vitro could be catalyzed in the presence of various preparations related to the malaria parasite viz., the cell free homogenate of Plasmodium yoelii, lipid extract of the parasite homogenate, purified malarial hemozoin and synthetic beta-hematin. Plasma from mice infected with P. yoelii also catalyzed in vitro beta-hematin formation with highly significant efficiency. The plasma based beta-hematin formation assay was highly sensitive, as the background absorbance was almost negligible due to absence of any preformed hemozoin. The plasma beta-hematin synthesizing activity was recovered in the lipid extract. The quinoline and endoperoxide antimalarials act by inhibiting hemozoin biosynthesis in the malaria parasite. Therefore, the in vitro beta-hematin formation assay is useful for the screening and identification of blood schizontocidal antimalarials acting through interruption of heme detoxification in the parasite. Quinoline and endoperoxide antimalarials showed about three fold greater inhibition of beta-hematin synthesizing activity in the plasma-based assays as compared to that of P. yoelii homogenate-based assays. The specificity of the inhibition was similar in both preparations. The plasma-based assay therefore provides a better alternative than the parasite homogenate-based assay for in vitro screening and identification of novel inhibitors of hemozoin biosynthesis as potential blood schizontocidal antimalarials.     

Zinc protoporphyrin IX binds heme crystals to inhibit the process of crystallization in Plasmodium falciparum

The intraerythrocytic Plasmodium falciparum parasite converts most of host hemoglobin heme into a nontoxic heme crystal. Erythrocyte zinc protoporphyrin IX, normally present at 0.5 microM, which is a ratio of 1:40,000 hemes, can elevate 10-fold in some of the anemias associated with malaria disease protection. This work examines a binding mechanism for zinc protoporphyrin IX inhibition of heme crystallization similar to the antimalarial quinolines. Zinc protoporphyrin IX neither forms crystals alone nor extends on preformed heme crystals. Inhibition of both seed heme crystal formation and crystal extension occurs with an inhibitory concentration (IC)50 of 5 microM. Field emission in-lens scanning electron microscopy depicts the transition and inhibition of heme monomer aggregates to heme crystals with and without seeding of preformed hemozoin templates. In vitro zinc protoporphyrin IX, like the quinolines, binds to heme crystals in a saturable, specific, pH, and time-dependent manner. The ratio at saturation is approximately 1 zinc protoporphyrin IX per 250 hemes of the crystal. Unlike the quinolines, zinc protoporphyrin IX binds measurably in the absence of heme. Isolated ring and trophozoite stage parasites have an elevated zinc protoporphyrin IX to heme ratio 6 to 10 times that in the erythrocyte cytosol, which also corresponds to elevated ratios found in heme crystals purified from Plasmodium parasites. This work implicates protection from malaria by a mechanism where elevated zinc protoporphyrin IX in anemic erythrocytes binds to heme crystals to inhibit further crystallization. In endemic malaria areas, severe iron deficiency anemia should be treated with antimalarials along with iron replenishment.     

Effects of metalloporphyrins on hemoglobin formation in mouse Friend virus-transformed erythroleukemia cells. Stimulation of heme biosynthesis by cobalt protoporphyrin

Mouse Friend virus-transformed erythroleukemia cells in culture undergo erythroid differentiation when treated with a variety of compounds including iron protoporphyrin IX, i.e. hemin. Exogenous hemin is not only incorporated into hemoglobin in these cells but also stimulates heme biosynthesis (Granick, J. L., and Sassa, S. (1978) J. Biol. Chem. 253, 5402-5406). In this study, we examined whether metalloporphyrins other than hemin can also induce differentiation, and if so, whether they can also be incorporated into hemoglobin. Among eight metalloporphyrins examined in culture of these cells, i.e. Co, Mn, Cu, Mg, Ni, Zn, Sn, and Cd protoporphyrin IX, only Co protoporphyrin (10(-4) M) was found to significantly increase the biosynthesis of heme and hemoglobin. In contrast to hemin-mediated induction of erythroid differentiation, Co protoporphyrin was not incorporated into hemoglobin in Friend cells. These data indicate that Co protoporphyrin induces the formation of heme and hemoglobin in Friend cells and that these increases are due to the enhancement of heme biosynthetic activity.     

Iron(III) protoporphyrin IX complexes of the antimalarial Cinchona alkaloids quinine and quinidine

The antimalarial properties of the Cinchona alkaloids quinine and quinidine have been known for decades. Surprisingly, 9-epiquinine and 9-epiquinidine are almost inactive. A lack of definitive structural information has precluded a clear understanding of the relationship between molecular structure and biological activity. In the current study, we have determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction the structures of the complexes formed between quinine and quinidine and iron(III) protoporphyrin IX (Fe(III)PPIX). Coordination of the alkaloid to the Fe(III) center is a key feature of both complexes, and further stability is provided by an intramolecular hydrogen bond formed between a propionate side chain of Fe(III)PPIX and the protonated quinuclidine nitrogen atom of either alkaloid. These interactions are believed to be responsible for inhibiting the incorporation of Fe(III)PPIX into crystalline hemozoin during its in vivo detoxification. It is also possible to rationalize the greater activity of quinidine compared to that of quinine.     

Antimalarial drugs inhibiting hemozoin (beta-hematin) formation: a mechanistic update

Digestion of hemoglobin in the food vacuole of the malaria parasite produces very high quantities of redox active toxic free heme. Hemozoin (beta-hematin) formation is a unique process adopted by Plasmodium sp. to detoxify free heme. Hemozoin formation is a validated target for most of the well-known existing antimalarial drugs and considered to be a suitable target to develop new antimalarials. Here we discuss the possible mechanisms of free heme detoxification in the malaria parasite and the mechanistic details of compounds, which offer antimalarial activity by inhibiting hemozoin formation. The chemical nature of new antimalarial compounds showing antimalarial activity through the inhibition of hemozoin formation has also been incorporated, which may help to design future antimalarials with therapeutic potential against multi-drug resistant malaria.     

Heme polymerase: modulation by chloroquine treatment of a rodent malaria.

The biosynthesis of the beta-hematin of malarial pigment (hemozoin) is catalyzed by a newly discovered enzyme, heme polymerase, which is described for Plasmodium berghei in this report. This novel enzyme is present in the insoluble fraction of hemolysates of infected erythrocytes but is not present in normal erythrocytes. The substrate is ferriprotoporphyrin IX (FP) released from hemoglobin. At pH 5 and 37 degrees C the enzyme is saturated by 100 microM FP. The pH optimum is between 5 and 6 and the reaction is linear for 6 hours. All heme polymerase activity is destroyed by heating at 100 degrees C for 3 minutes. Chloroquine treatment of malarious mice reduces by 80 percent the activity of this enzyme, without inhibiting release of FP from hemoglobin, and thereby causes excess nonpolymerized, nonhemozoin FP to accumulate. Since the accumulated FP is accessible to bind chloroquine, we propose that it is the mediator of the antimalarial activity of chloroquine.