Sulfonamide inhibition studies of two β-carbonic anhydrases from the bacterial pathogen Legionella pneumophila

Two β-carbonic anhydrases (CAs, EC 4.2.1.1) were identified, cloned and purified in the pathogenic bacterium Legionella pneumophila, denominated LpCA1 and LpCA2. They efficiently catalyze CO₂ hydration to bicarbonate and protons, with k_cat in the range of (3.4–8.3) × 10⁵ s⁻¹ and k_cat/K_m of (4.7–8.5) × 10⁷ M⁻¹ s⁻¹, and are inhibited by sulfonamides and sulfamates. The best LpCA1 inhibitors were aminobenzolamide and structurally similar sulfonylated aromatic sulfonamides, as well as acetazolamide and ethoxzolamide(K_Is in the range of 40.3–90.5 nM). The best LpCA2 inhibitors belonged to the same class of sulfonylated sulfonamides, together with acetazolamide, methazolamide and dichlorophenamide (K_Is in the range of 25.2–88.5 nM). As these enzymes may be involved in pH regulation in the phagosome during Legionella infection, their inhibition may lead to antibacterials with a novel mechanism of action.     

Anion inhibition studies of two new β-carbonic anhydrases from the bacterial pathogen Legionella pneumophila

We investigated the cloning, catalytic activity and anion inhibition of the β-class carbonic anhydrases (CAs, EC 4.2.1.1) from the bacterial pathogen Legionella pneumophila. Two such enzymes, lpCA1 and lpCA2, were found in the genome of this pathogen. These enzymes were determined to be efficient catalysts for CO₂ hydration, with k_cat values in the range of (3.4–8.3) × 10⁵ s⁻¹ and k_cat/K_M values of (4.7–8.5) × 10⁷ M⁻¹ s⁻¹. A set of inorganic anions and small molecules was investigated to identify inhibitors of these enzymes. Perchlorate and tetrafluoroborate were not acting as inhibitors (K_I >200 mM), whereas sulfate was a very weak inhibitor for both lpCA1 and lpCA2 (K_I values of 77.9–96.5 mM). The most potent lpCA1 inhibitors were cyanide, azide, hydrogen sulfide, diethyldithiocarbamate, sulfamate, sulfamide, phenylboronic acid and phenylarsonic acid, with K_I values ranging from 6 to 94 μM. The most potent lpCA2 inhibitors were diethyldithiocarbamate, sulfamide, sulfamate, phenylboronic acid and phenylarsonic acid, with K_I values ranging from 2 to 13 μM. As these enzymes seem to be involved in regulation of phagosome pH during Legionella infection, inhibition of these targets may lead to antibacterial agents with a novel mechanism of action.     

Sulfonamide inhibition studies of the β-carbonic anhydrase from the pathogenic bacterium Vibrio cholerae

The genome of the pathogenic bacterium Vibrio cholerae encodes for three carbonic anhydrases (CAs, EC 4.2.1.1) belonging to the α-, β- and γ-classes. VchCA, the α-CA from this species was investigated earlier, whereas the β-class enzyme, VchCAβ was recently cloned, characterized kinetically and its X-ray crystal structure reported by this group. Here we report an inhibition study with sulfonamides and one sulfamate of this enzyme. The best VchCAβ inhibitors were deacetylated acetazolamide and methazolamide and hydrochlorothiazide, which showed inhibition constants of 68.2–87.0 nM. Other compounds, with medium potency against VchCAβ, (K_Is in the range of 275–463 nM), were sulfanilamide, metanilamide, sulthiame and saccharin whereas the clinically used agents such as acetazolamide, methazolamide, ethoxzolamide, dorzolamide, zonisamide and celecoxib were micromolar inhibitors (K_Is in the range of 4.51–8.57 μM). Identification of potent and possibly selective inhibitors of VchCA and VchCAβ over the human CA isoforms, may lead to pharmacological tools useful for understanding the physiological role(s) of this under-investigated enzymes.     

Sulfonamide inhibition studies of the δ-carbonic anhydrase from the diatom Thalassiosira weissflogii

The δ-carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) TweCA from the marine diatom Thalassiosira weissflogii has recently been cloned, purified and its activity/inhibition with anions investigated. Here we report the first sulfonamide/sulfamate inhibition study of a δ-class CA. Among the 40 such compounds investigated so far, 3-bromosulfanilamide, acetazolamide, ethoxzolamide, dorzolamide and brinzolamide were the most effective TweCA inhibitors detected, with K_Is of 49.6–118 nM. Many simple aromatic sulfonamides as well as dichlorophenamide, benzolamide, topiramate, zonisamide, indisulam and valdecoxib were medium potency inhibitors, (K_Is of 375–897 nM). Saccharin and hydrochlorothiazide were ineffective inhibitors of the δ-class enzyme, with K_Is of 4.27–9.20 μM. The inhibition profile of the δ-CA is very different from that of α-, β- and γ-CAs from different organisms. Although no X-ray crystal structure of this enzyme is available, we hypothesize that as for other CA classes, the sulfonamides inhibit the enzymatic activity by binding to the Zn(II) ion from the δ-CA active site.     

Characterization,bioinformatic analysis and dithiocarbamate inhibition studies of two new α-carbonic anhydrases,CAH1 and CAH2, from the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster

Carbonic anhydrases (CAs) are essential and ubiquitous enzymes. Thus far, there are no articles on characterization of Drosophila melanogaster α-CAs. Data from invertebrate CA studies may provide opportunities for anti-parasitic drug development because α-CAs are found in many parasite or parasite vector invertebrates. We have expressed and purified D. melanogaster CAH1 and CAH2 as proteins of molecular weights 30 kDa and 28 kDa. CAH1 is cytoplasmic whereas CAH2 is a membrane-attached protein. Both are highly active enzymes for the CO₂ hydration reaction, being efficiently inhibited by acetazolamide. CAH2 in the eye of D. melanogaster may provide a new animal model for CA-related eye diseases. A series of dithiocarbamates were also screened as inhibitors of these enzymes, with some representatives showing inhibition in the low nanomolar range.     

Structure and catalytic mechanism of the β-carbonic anhydrases

The β-carbonic anhydrases (β-CAs) are a diverse but structurally related group of zinc-metalloenzymes found in eubacteria, plant chloroplasts, red and green algae, and in the Archaea. The enzyme catalyzes the rapid interconversion of CO₂ and H₂O to HCO₃⁻ and H⁺, and is believed to be associated with metabolic enzymes that consume or produce CO₂ or HCO₃⁻. For many organisms, β-CA is essential for growth at atmospheric concentrations of CO₂. Of the five evolutionarily distinct classes of carbonic anhydrase, β-CA is the only one known to exhibit allosterism. Here we review the structure and catalytic mechanism of β-CA, including the structural basis for allosteric regulation.     

Heavy metal ion inhibition studies of human,sheep and fish α-carbonic anhydrases

Carbonic anhydrases (CAs, EC 4.2.1.1) were purified from sheep kidney (sCA IV), from the liver of the teleost fish Dicentrarchus labrax (dCA) and from human erythrocytes (hCA I and hCA II). The purification procedure consisted of a single step affinity chromatography on Sepharose 4B-tyrosine-sulfanilamide. The kinetic parameters of these enzymes were determined for their esterase activity with 4-nitrophenyl acetate as substrate. The following metal ions, Pb²⁺, Co²⁺, Hg²⁺, Cd²⁺, Zn²⁺, Se²⁺, Cu²⁺, Al³⁺ and Mn³⁺ showed inhibitory effects on these enzymes. The tested metal ions inhibited these CAs competitively in the low milimolar/submillimolar range. The susceptibility to various cations inhibitors differs significantly between these vertebrate α-CAs and is probably due to their binding to His64 or the histidine cluster.     

Anion inhibition profiles of α-, β- and γ-carbonic anhydrases from the pathogenic bacterium Vibrio cholerae

Among the numerous metalloenzymes known to date, carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) was the first zinc containing one, being discovered decades ago. CA is a hydro-lyase, which catalyzes the following hydration–dehydration reaction: CO₂ + H₂O ⇋ HCO₃⁻ + H⁺. Several CA classes are presently known, including the α-, β-, γ-, δ-, ζ- and η-CAs. In prokaryotes, the existence of genes encoding CAs from at least three classes (α-, β- and γ-class) suggests that these enzymes play a key role in the physiology of these organisms. In many bacteria CAs are essential for the life cycle of microbes and their inhibition leads to growth impairment or growth defects of the pathogen. CAs thus started to be investigated in detail in bacteria, fungi and protozoa with the aim to identify antiinfectives with a novel mechanism of action. Here, we investigated the catalytic activity, biochemical properties and anion inhibition profiles of the three CAs from the bacterial pathogen Vibrio cholera, VchCA, VchCAβ and VchCAγ. The three enzymes are efficient catalysts for CO₂ hydration, with k_cat values ranging between (3.4 − 8.23) × 10⁵ s⁻¹ and k_cat/K_M of (4.1 − 7.0) × 10⁷ M⁻¹ s⁻¹. A set of inorganic anions and small molecules was investigated for inhibition of these enzymes. The most potent VchCAγ inhibitors were N,N-diethyldithiocarbamate, sulfamate, sulfamide, phenylboronic acid and phenylarsonic acid, with K_I values ranging between 44 and 91 μM.     

Inhibition studies with anions and small molecules of two novel β-carbonic anhydrases from the bacterial pathogen Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium

Two new β-carbonic anhydrases (CAs, EC 4.2.1.1) from the bacterial pathogen Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, stCA 1 and stCA 2, were characterized kinetically. The two enzymes possess appreciable activity as catalysts for the hydration of CO₂ to bicarbonate, with k_cat of 0.79 × 10⁶ s⁻¹ and 1.0 × 10⁶ s⁻¹, and k_cat/K_m of 5.2 × 10⁷ M⁻¹ s⁻¹ and of 8.3 × 10⁷ M⁻¹ s⁻¹, respectively. A large number of simple/complex inorganic anions as well as other small molecules (sulfamide, sulfamic acid, phenylboronic acid, phenylarsonic acid, dialkyldithiocarbamates) showed interesting inhibitory properties towards the two new enzymes, with several low micromolar inhibitors discovered. As many strains of S. enterica show extensive resistance to classical antibiotics, inhibition of the β-CAs investigated here may be useful for developing lead compounds for novel types of antibacterials.     

Sulphonamide inhibition studies of the β-carbonic anhydrase from the bacterial pathogen Clostridium perfringens

The β-carbonic anhydrases (CAs, EC 4.2.1.1) from the pathogenic bacterium Clostridium perfringens (CpeCA) was recently characterised kinetically and for its anion inhibition profile. In the search of effective CpeCA inhibitors, possibly useful to inhibit the growth/pathogenicity of this bacterium, we report here an inhibition study of this enzyme with a panel of aromatic, heterocyclic and sugar sulphonamides/sulphamates. Some sulphonamides, such as acetazolamide, ethoxzolamide, dichlorophenamide, dorzolamide, sulthiame and 4-(2-hydroxymethyl-4-nitrophenyl-sulphonamido)ethylbenzenesulphonamide were effective CpeCA inhibitors, with K_Is in the range of 37.4–71.6?nM. Zonisamide and saccharin were the least effective such inhibitors, whereas many other aromatic and heterocyclic sulphonamides were moderate – weak inhibitors with K_Is ranging between 113 and 8755?nM. Thus, this study provides the basis for developing better clostridial enzyme inhibitors with potential as antiinfectives with a new mechanism of action.     

Prevalence and phylogenetic relationship of two β-carbonic anhydrases in affiliates of Enterobacteriaceae

Enterobacteriaceae, one of the major families of microorganisms that inhabit the soil and gut, internally regulate constant fluctuations in soil and gut pH by buffering these changes through the presence of carbonic anhydrase (CA). In our study, we prove the prevalence of β-CA, derived from the can gene, in members of Enterobacteriaceae by using a combination of experimental and bioinformatics approaches. Enzyme purification and western blot analysis revealed the presence of β-CA in Enterobacter sp. RS1. Genetic studies confirmed the presence of β-CA in both Enterobacter sp. RS1 and Citrobacter freundii SW3. Our analysis of the divergence of cynT and can genes among harboring members indicated that the can gene was more prominent in Enterobacteriaceae than cynT. Sequence analysis of the can gene revealed a >25 % similarity among all sequences and a >50 % similarity among sequences from the Enterobacteriaceae family. The β-CA from C. freundii SW3 and Enterobacter sp. RS1, isolated from soil and used in this study, possessed a high similarity with the can gene. The close association among Enterobacteriaceae genera usually found in the soil and gut and the sequence similarity of β-CA in the different genera of Enterobacteriaceae suggest the importance of the can gene in oscillating environmental conditions.     

Inhibition studies of the β-carbonic anhydrases from the bacterial pathogen Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium with sulfonamides and sulfamates

The two β-carbonic anhydrases (CAs, EC 4.2.1.1) from the bacterial pathogen Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, stCA 1 and stCA 2, were investigated for their inhibition with a large panel of sulfonamides and sulfamates. Unlike inorganic anions, which are weak, millimolar inhibitors of the two enzymes [Vullo et al., Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett.2011, 21, 3591], sulfonamides and sulfamates are effective micro-to nanomolar inhibitors of the two enzymes. Various types of inhibitors have been detected among the 38 investigated sulfonamides/sulfamates, with K(I)s in the range of 31 nM-5.87 μM. The best stCA 1 inhibitors were acetazolamide and benzolamide-based compounds, whereas the best stCA 2 inhibitors were sulfonylated benzenesulfonamides and amino-benzolamide derivatives (K(I)s in the range of 31-90 nM). 3-Fluoro-5-chloro-4-aminobenzolamide showed an inhibition constant of 51 nM against stCA 1 and of 38 nM against stCA 2, being the best inhibitor detected so far for these enzymes. As many strains of S. enterica show extensive resistance to classical antibiotics, inhibition of the β-CAs investigated here may be useful for developing novel antibacterials, targeting β-CAs which may be involved in pathogenicity and invasion of some bacteria.     

Anion inhibition studies of a β-carbonic anhydrase from Clostridium perfringens

A β-carbonic anhydrases (CAs, EC 4.2.1.1) was recently cloned, purified and characterized kinetically in the pathogen Clostridium perfringens. We report here the first inhibition study of this enzyme (CpeCA). CpeCA was poorly inhibited by iodide and bromide, and was inhibited with K_Is in the range of 1–10 mM by a range of anions such as (thio)cyanate, azide, bicarbonate, nitrate, nitrite, hydrogensulfite, hydrogensulfide, stannate, tellurate, pyrophosphate, divanadate, tetraborate, peroxydisulfate, sulfate, iminodisulfonate and fluorosulfonate. Better inhibitory power, with K_Is of 0.36–1.0 mM, was observed for cyanide, carbonate, selenate, selenocyanide, trithiocarbonate and diethyldithiocarbamate, whereas the best CpeCA inhibitors were sulfamate, sulfamide, phenylboronic acid and phenylarsonic acid, which had K_Is in the range of 7–75 μM. This study thus provides the basis for developing better clostridial enzyme inhibitors with potential as antiinfectives with a new mechanism of action.     

Activation studies of the α- and β-carbonic anhydrases from the pathogenic bacterium Vibrio cholerae with amines and amino acids

The α- and β-class carbonic anhydrases (CAs, EC 4.2.1.1) from the pathogenic bacterium Vibrio cholerae, VchCAα, and VchCAβ, were investigated for their activation with natural and non-natural amino acids and amines. The most effective VchCAα activators were L-tyrosine, histamine, serotonin, and 4-aminoethyl-morpholine, which had K_As in the range of 8.21–12.0?µM. The most effective VchCAβ activators were D-tyrosine, dopamine, serotonin, 2-pyridyl-methylamine, 2-aminoethylpyridine, and 2-aminoethylpiperazine, which had K_As in the submicromolar – low micromolar range (0.18–1.37?µM). The two bacterial enzymes had very different activation profiles with these compounds, between each other, and in comparison to the human isoforms hCA I and II. Some amines were selective activators of VchCAβ, including 2-pyridylmethylamine (K_A of 180?nm for VchCAβ, and more than 20?µM for VchCAα and hCA I/II). The activation of CAs from bacteria, such as VchCAα/β has not been considered previously for possible biomedical applications. It would be of interest to study in more detail the extent that CA activators are implicated in the virulence and colonisation of the host by such pathogenic bacteria, which for Vibrio cholerae, is highly dependent on the bicarbonate concentration and pH in the surrounding tissue.     

Sulfonamide inhibition studies of the β carbonic anhydrase from Drosophila melanogaster

An inibition study of the β-carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) DmBCA from the insect Drosophila melanogaster with sulfonamides and sulfamates is reported. Among the panel of 40 investigated compounds, the best DmBCA inhibitors were the sulfonylated benzenesulfonamides and ethoxzolamide, which showed inhibition constants in the range of 65.3–138 nM. Methazolamide and sulthiame were also effective inhibitors with K_Is ranging between 237 and 249 nM, whereas most of the simple aromatic/heterocyclic sulfonamides showed inhibition constants in the range of 0.47–6.40 μM. Topiramate, zonisamide and saccharine did not inhibit DmBCA. As orthologs of this mitochondrial CA are found in many insect species involved in the spread of various diseases, inhibitors interfering with their activity may be of interest for developing insecticides with an alternative mechanism of action to the presently used agents, for which many insects developed extensive resistance.     

Benzenesulfonamides incorporating nitrogenous bases show effective inhibition of β-carbonic anhydrases from the pathogenic fungi Cryptococcus neoformans,Candida glabrata and Malassezia globosa

There is an urgent need for new chemotherapic agents to treat human fungal infections due to emerging and spreading globally resistance mechanisms. Among the new targets that have been recently investigated for the development of antifungal drugs there are the metallo-enzymes Carbonic Anhydrases (CAs, EC 4.2.1.1). The inhibition of the β-CAs identified in many pathogenic fungi leads to an impairment of parasite growth and virulence, which in turn leads to a significant anti-infective effect. Based on antifungal nucleoside antibiotics, the inhibition of the β-CAs from the resistance-showing fungi Candida glabrata (CgNce103), Cryptococcus neoformans (Can2) and Malasszia globosa (MgCA) with a series of benzenesulfonamides bearing nitrogenous bases, such as uracil and adenine, is here reported. Many such compounds display low nanomolar (<100 nM) inhibitory potency against Can2 and CgNce103, whereas the activity of MgCA is considerably less affected (inhibition constants in the range 138.8–5601.5 nM). The β-CAs inhibitory data were compared with those against α-class human ubiquitous isoforms. Interesting selective inhibitory activities for the target fungal CAs over hCA I and II were reported, which make nitrogenous base benzenesulfonamides interesting tools and leads for further investigations in search of new antifungal with innovative mechanisms of action.     

Activation of β- and γ-carbonic anhydrases from pathogenic bacteria with tripeptides

Six tripeptides incorporating acidic amino acid residues were prepared for investigation as activators of β- and γ-carbonic anhydrases (CAs, EC 4.2.1.1) from the pathogenic bacteria Vibrio cholerae, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and Burkholderia pseudomallei. The primary amino acid residues that are involved in the catalytic mechanisms of these CA classes are poorly understood, although glutamic acid residues near the active site appear to be involved. The tripeptides that contain Glu or Asp residues can effectively activate VchCAβ and VchCAγ (enzymes from V. cholerae), Rv3273 CA (mtCA3, a β-CA from M. tuberculosis) and BpsCAγ (γ-CA from B. pseudomallei) at 0.21–18.1?µM levels. The position of the acidic residues in the peptide sequences can significantly affect bioactivity. For three of the enzymes, tripeptides were identified that are more effective activators than both l-Glu and l-Asp. The tripeptides are also relatively selective because they do not activate prototypical α-CAs (human carbonic anhydrases I and II). Because the role of CA activators in the pathogenicity and life cycles of these infectious bacteria are poorly understood, this study provides new molecular probes to explore such processes.     

Inhibition of the β-carbonic anhydrase from the dandruff-producing fungus Malassezia globosa with monothiocarbamates

A series of monothiocarbamates (MTCs) was investigated for the inhibition of the β-class carbonic anhydrase (CAs, EC 4.2.1.1) from the fungal parasite Malassezia globosa, MgCA. These MTCs incorporate various scaffolds, among which aliphatic amine with 1–4 carbons atom in their molecule, morpholine, piperazine, as well as phenethylamine and benzylamine derivatives. All the reported MTCs displayed a better efficacy in inhibiting MgCA compared to the clinically used sulphonamide drug acetazolamide (K_I of 74?μM), with K_Is spanning between 1.85 and 18.9?μM. The homology model of the enzyme previously reported by us was used to rationalize the results by docking some of these MTCs within the fungal CA active site. This study might be useful to enrich the knowledge of the MgCA inhibition profile, eliciting novel ideas pertaining the design of modulators with potential efficacy in combatting dandruff or other fungal infections.     

Kinetic and anion inhibition studies of a β-carbonic anhydrase (FbiCA 1) from the C4 plant Flaveria bidentis

Several β-carbonic anhydrases (CAs, EC 4.2.1.1) are present in all land plants examined thus far. Here we report the first detailed biochemical characterization of one such isoform, FbiCA 1, from the C₄ plant Flaveria bidentis, which was cloned, purified and characterized as recombinant protein. FbiCA 1 has an interesting CO₂ hydrase catalytic activity (k_cat of 1.2 × 10⁵ and k_cat/K_m of 7.5 × 10⁶ M^?1 × s^?1) and was moderately inhibited by most simple/complex inorganic anions. Potent FbiCA 1 inhibitors were also detected, such as trithiocarbonate, diethyldithiocarbamate, sulfamide, sulfamic acid, phenylboronic acid and phenylarsonic acid (K_Is in the range of 4–60 μM). Such inhibitors may be used as tools to better understand the role of various β-CA isoforms in photosynthesis.     

Anion inhibition studies of the α-carbonic anhydrase from the pathogenic bacterium Vibrio cholerae

An α-carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) has been recently cloned and characterized in the human pathogenic bacterium Vibrio cholerae, denominated VchCA (Del Prete et al. J. Med. Chem. 2012, 55, 10742). This enzyme shows a good catalytic activity for the CO₂ hydration reaction, comparable to that of the human (h) isoform hCA I. Many inorganic anions and several small molecules were investigated as VchCA inhibitors. Inorganic anions such as cyanate, cyanide, hydrogen sulfide, hydrogen sulfite, and trithiocarbonate were effective VchCA inhibitors with inhibition constants in the range of 33–88 μM. Other effective inhibitors were diethyldithiocarbamate, sulfamide, sulfamate, phenylboronic acid and phenylarsonic acid, with K_Is of 7–43 μM. Halides (bromide, iodide), bicarbonate and carbonate were much less effective VchCA inhibitors, with K_Is in the range of 4.64–28.0 mM. The resistance of VchCA to bicarbonate inhibition may represent an evolutionary adaptation of this enzyme to living in an environment rich in this ion, such as the gastrointestinal tract, as bicarbonate is a virulence enhancer of this bacterium.