title: Characterization of PfTrxR inhibitors using antimalarial assays and in silico techniques.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The compounds 1,4-napthoquinone (1,4-NQ), bis-(2,4-dinitrophenyl)sulfide (2,4-DNPS), 4-nitrobenzothiadiazole (4-NBT), 3-dimethylaminopropiophenone (3-DAP) and menadione (MD) were tested for antimalarial activity against both chloroquine (CQ)-sensitive (D6) and chloroquine (CQ)-resistant (W2) strains of Plasmodium falciparum through an in vitro assay and also for analysis of non-covalent interactions with P. falciparum thioredoxin reductase (PfTrxR) through in silico docking studies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The inhibitors of PfTrxR namely, 1,4-NQ, 4-NBT and MD displayed significant antimalarial activity with IC50 values of < 20 μM and toxicity against 3T3 cell line. 2,4-DNPS was only moderately active. In silico docking analysis of these compounds with PfTrxR revealed that 2,4-DNPS, 4-NBT and MD interact non-covalently with the intersubunit region of the enzyme.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study, tools for the identification of PfTrxR inhibitors using phenotyphic screening and docking studies have been validated for their potential use for antimalarial drug discovery project.
authors.forename: Ranjith
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Munigunti
authors.forename: Symon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gathiaka
authors.forename: Orlando
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Acevedo
authors.forename: Rajnish
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sahu
authors.forename: Babu
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tekwani
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacal Sciences, 4306 Walker Building, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA. aic0001@auburn.edu.
authors.forename: Angela I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Calderón