Macrocyclic inhibitors of the malarial aspartic proteases plasmepsin I, II, and IV

The first macrocyclic inhibitor of the Plasinodium falciparum aspartic proteases plasmepsin I, II, and IV with considerable selectivity over the human aspartic protease cathepsin D has been identified. A series of macrocyclic compounds were designed and synthesized. Cyclizations were accomplished using ring-closing metathesis with the second generation Grubbs catalyst. These compounds contain either a 13-membered or a 16-membered macrocycle and incorporate a 1,2-dihydroxyethylene as transition state mimicking unit. The binding mode or this new class of compounds was predicted with automated docking and molecular dynamics simulations, with an estimation of the binding affinities through the linear interaction energy (LIE) method. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.