Carbon Isosteres of the 4-Aminopyridine Substructure of Chloroquine: Effects on pKa, Hematin Binding, Inhibition of Hemozoin Formation, and Parasite Growth

Abstract

Unlike diprotic chloroquine (CQ), its two 4-aminoquinoline carbon isosteres (1, 2) are monoprotic at physiological pH. Compared to CQ, hematin binding affinity of 1 decreased 6.4-fold, and there was no measurable binding for 2. Although 1 was a weak inhibitor of hemozoin formation, neither isostere inhibited P. falciparum in vitro. Evidently, the CQ-hematin interaction is largely a function of its pyridine substructure, but inhibition of hemozoin formation and parasite growth depends on its 4-aminopyridine substructure.