Synthetic Inhibitors of Snake Venom Enzymes: Thioesters Derived from 2-Sulfenyl Ethylacetate

• Main Authors: Isabel C. Henao Castañeda (Author), Jaime A. Pereañez (Author), Lina M. Preciado (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: MDPI AG, 2019-05-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.

Summary

Snakebite envenomings are a global public health issue. The therapy based on the administration of animal-derived antivenoms has limited efficacy against the venom-induced local tissue damage, which often leads to permanent disability. Therefore, there is a need to find inhibitors against toxins responsible for local damage. This work aimed to synthesize thioesters derived from 2-sulfenyl ethylacetate and to evaluate the inhibitory effects on two snake venom toxins. Ethyl 2-((4-chlorobenzoyl)thio)acetate (I), Ethyl 2-((3-nitrobenzoyl)thio)acetate (II) and Ethyl 2-((4-nitrobenzoyl)thio)acetate (III) were synthesized and spectroscopically characterized. Computational calculations were performed to support the study. The inhibitory capacity of compounds (I−III) was evaluated on a phospholipase A₂ (Cdcum6) isolated from the venom of the Colombian rattlesnake <i>Crotalus durissus cumanensis</i> and the P-I type metalloproteinase Batx-I isolated from <i>Bothrops atrox</i>. I−III inhibited PLA₂ with IC₅₀ values of 193.2, 305.4 and 132.7 µM, respectively. Otherwise, compounds II and III inhibited the proteolytic activity of Batx-I with IC₅₀ of 2774 and 1879 µM. Molecular docking studies show that inhibition of PLA₂ may be due to interactions of the studied compounds with amino acids in the catalytic site and the cofactor Ca²⁺. Probably, a blockage of the hydrophobic channel and some amino acids of the interfacial binding surface of PLA₂ may occur.

Item Description

1424-8247
10.3390/ph12020080