Abstract
Dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) plays an essential role in cellular biochemistry and has been a wellrecognized drug target for over fifty years. Antifolate inhibitors of DHFR, including clinically used therapeutics such as methotrexate, trimethoprim, and pyrimethamine have been successful as anticancer, antibacterial, antifungal and antiparasitic agents. As resistant strains of these microorganisms evolve and as new disease threats arise, the need for new antifolates that are potent and specific for infectious organisms becomes more pressing. Several new antifolates have been reported over the past decade; many of these are potent against a particular species of DHFR, but achieving the goal of potency and selectivity has proven to be more difficult. This review will describe recent advances in attaining species selectivity in developing new antifolates. Specifically, advances in developing inhibitors against Pneumocystis jirovecii and Plasmodium falciparum, the causative agents in pneumocystis pneumonia and malaria, respectively, will be presented.
Keywords: Antifolate, DHFR, Pneumocystis, Plasmodium, trimethoprim, pyrimethamine, pyrimidine, pteridine
Current Medicinal Chemistry
Title: Towards Species-specific Antifolates
Volume: 13 Issue: 4
Author(s): D. C.M. Chan and A. C. Anderson
Affiliation:
Keywords: Antifolate, DHFR, Pneumocystis, Plasmodium, trimethoprim, pyrimethamine, pyrimidine, pteridine
Abstract: Dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) plays an essential role in cellular biochemistry and has been a wellrecognized drug target for over fifty years. Antifolate inhibitors of DHFR, including clinically used therapeutics such as methotrexate, trimethoprim, and pyrimethamine have been successful as anticancer, antibacterial, antifungal and antiparasitic agents. As resistant strains of these microorganisms evolve and as new disease threats arise, the need for new antifolates that are potent and specific for infectious organisms becomes more pressing. Several new antifolates have been reported over the past decade; many of these are potent against a particular species of DHFR, but achieving the goal of potency and selectivity has proven to be more difficult. This review will describe recent advances in attaining species selectivity in developing new antifolates. Specifically, advances in developing inhibitors against Pneumocystis jirovecii and Plasmodium falciparum, the causative agents in pneumocystis pneumonia and malaria, respectively, will be presented.
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Cite this article as:
Chan C.M. D. and Anderson C. A., Towards Species-specific Antifolates, Current Medicinal Chemistry 2006; 13 (4) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/092986706775527938
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/092986706775527938 |
Print ISSN 0929-8673 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-533X |
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