Synthesis and biological evaluation of 2',4'- and 3',4'-bridged nucleoside analogues

Most nucleosides in solution typically exist in equilibrium between two major sugar pucker forms, N-type and S-type, but bridged nucleosides can be locked into one of these conformations depending on their specific structure. While many groups have researched these bridged nucleosides for the purpose of determining their binding affinity for antisense applications, we opted to look into the potential for biological activity within these conformationally-locked structures. A small library of 2',4'- and 3',4'-bridged nucleoside analogues was synthesized, including a novel 3',4'-carbocyclic bridged system. The synthesized compounds were tested for antibacterial, antitumor, and antiviral activities, leading to the identification of nucleosides possessing such biological activities. To the best of our knowledge, these biologically active compounds represent the first example of 2',4'-bridged nucleosides to demonstrate such properties. The most potent compound, nucleoside 33, exhibited significant antiviral activity against pseudoviruses SF162 (IC(50)=7.0 μM) and HxB2 (IC(50)=2.4 μM). These findings render bridged nucleosides as credible leads for drug discovery in the anti-HIV area of research.     

The stilbene derivatives,nucleosides, and nucleosides modified by stilbene derivatives

In this short review, including 187 references, the issues of biological activity of stilbene derivatives and nucleosides and the biological and medicinal potential of fusion of these two classes are discussed. The stilbenes, especially the stilbenoids, and nucleosides are both biologically active. Hybrids formed from binding of these compounds have not yet been broadly studied. However, those that have been investigated exhibit desirable medicinal properties. The review is divided in such parts: I. Derivative of stilbene (biomedical investigations, biological activities in cells, enzymes and hazard), parts II. naturally occurred nucleoside and its derivatives: uridine, thymidine and 5-methyluridine, cytidine, adenosine, guanosine and part III. hybrid molecules- drugs and hybrid molecules- nucleoside - stilbene and its derivative.     

Synthesis and DNA topoisomerase-II inhibitory activity of unnatural nucleosides

The synthesis and biological activities of a number of unnatural nucleosides (23-43) is described. Nucleosides have been synthesized by SnCl4-catalyzed condensation of amino sugar acetates and silylated modified pyrimidines. Few of the 2'-O-acetyl derivatives of the nucleosides were hydrolyzed to the respective hydroxy derivatives by treatment with methanol saturated with ammonia. The compounds were screened against Filarial DNA-topoisomerase-II but only one of the compounds (29) inhibited this enzyme at 40 microg/mL of reaction mixture.     

Enantioselective synthesis and biological evaluation of 5-o-carboranyl pyrimidine nucleosides

Base-modified carborane-containing nucleosides such as 5-o-carboranyl-2'-deoxyuridine (CDU) when combined with neutrons have potential for the treatment of certain malignancies. Lack of toxicity in various cells, high accumulation in cancer cells and intracellular phosphorylation are desirable characteristics for modified nucleosides used in boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) for brain tumors and other malignancies. The aim of this work was to synthesize the two beta-enantiomers of several 5-o-carboranyl-containing nucleosides. These derivatives may possess favorable properties such as high lipophilicity, high transportability, the ability to be phosphorylated, and resistance to catabolism. Beta-isomers of 2',3'-dihydroxynucleosides and analogues containing a heteroatom in the sugar moiety were also synthesized. Carboranyl pyrimidine nucleosides were prepared either from the parent beta-D-nucleoside, beta-L-nucleoside, or by a coupling reaction. The dioxolane derivative 7 was prepared by a coupling reaction between protected 5-o-carboranyluracil (8, CU) and the corresponding protected heterocycle. Specific catalysts were used during the N-glycosylation process to favor the formation of the beta-isomer. Biological evaluation of these new chiral 5-o-carboranyl pyrimidine derivatives indicated that most of these compounds have low toxicity in a variety of normal and malignant cells and achieved high cellular levels in a lymphoblastoid cell line. Increasing the number of hydroxyl groups on the sugar moiety decreased the cellular accumulation and serum binding to different extents. Five compounds were identified for further biological evaluation as potential agents for BNCT.     

Nucleoside Map of the Human Central Nervous System

Nucleosides are neuromodulators that have a wide range of biological roles in the brain. In order to better understand the function of nucleosides in the human central nervous system (CNS), we constructed a nucleoside map showing the concentration of various nucleosides and their metabolites using post mortem samples from 61 human brain areas and 4 spinal cord areas. We evaluated in vivo tissue levels of four nucleosides (uridine, inosine, guanosine, and adenosine) and three of their metabolites (uracil, hypoxanthine, and xanthine). The concentrations of nucleosides were unevenly distributed across different brain regions, where the highest levels were found in the cerebral cortex and basal ganglia, whereas the lowest concentrations were located in the locus coeruleus, the zona incerta, the substantia nigra, and the inferior colliculus. The regional differences in nucleoside levels in the CNS may reflect the distinct physiological functions adopted by these compounds in different brain areas.     

Isotachophoresis of nucleic acid constituents

Determination methods for purine and pyrimidine bases, nucleosides, nucleotides and related compounds using analytical capillary isotachophoresis are reviewed. First, the isotachophoretic characterization of these compounds, as well as methods for sample preparation prior to analysis, and the different ways of detecting unknown substances in complex biological systems are described. Then applications of isotachophoretic analysis in medical diagnosis and biomedical research are reviewed. In particular, the analysis of purines, pyrimidines, nucleosides and related compounds in blood and serum for the diagnosis and treatment of inherited diseases and cancer is described. Selected applications of nucleotide analysis in biomedical research using different tissue extracts are also reviewed, and some examples of nucleotide-dependent enzymic reactions, which were performed by means of analytical isotachophoresis, are presented.     

Coupling of 2,6-Dichloropurine and 2,6-Dichlorodeazapurines with Ribose and Ribose Modified Sugars

Abstract

Substituted purine and deazapurine nucleosides are of great interest in medicinal chemistry. Furthermore, 3′-deoxynucleosides exhibit a number of biological activities. In this research the coupling of 2,6-dichloro-1- or 3-deazapurine with protected 3′-deoxyribose is reported. Depending upon coupling conditions and base structure, different anomeric and isomeric mixtures have been obtained. Extensive studies, utilizing chemical and physical methods, have been performed to assign the correct configuration to the resulting nucleosides.     

New trends in synthesis of pyrazole nucleosides as new antimetabolites

Pyrazole nucleosides and condensed pyrazole nucleosides exhibit various biological activities. This article describes recent synthetic approaches to their preparation, chemical properties, biological activities, and structure-activity relationships, with emphasis to selected drugs or drug candidates. Two pyrazole C-nucleoside compounds pyrazofurin (pyrazomycin) and its alpha-epimer pyrazofurin B are active components of potent antivirals approved for therapeutic use in human medicine aimed against various diseases caused by DNA viruses.     

New Trends in Synthesis of Pyrazole Nucleosides as New Antimetabolites

Pyrazole nucleosides and condensed pyrazole nucleosides exhibit various biological activities. This article describes recent synthetic approaches to their preparation, chemical properties, biological activities, and structure-activity relationships, with emphasis to selected drugs or drug candidates. Two pyrazole C-nucleoside compounds pyrazofurin (pyrazomycin) and its α-epimer pyrazofurin B are active components of potent antivirals approved for therapeutic use in human medicine aimed against various diseases caused by DNA viruses.     

Synthesis, spectroscopic characterization and biological properties of new natural aldehydes thiosemicarbazones

As part of a research programme aimed at the synthesis of compounds with antiviral, antibacterial and antitumor properties and their spectroscopic characterization, new thiosemicarbazones deriving from natural aldehydes have been investigated. These substances contain in the same molecule both a chain with nucleophilic centres N, S with tubercolostatic activity, and a glycosidic or alkyl moiety (modified glycosides and nucleosides have recently received a great deal of attention in the fields of neoplastic diseases and viral infections). In this paper the synthesis and the characterization of these compounds by means of 1H NMR, IR, and MS techniques is reported. Biological studies have involved both inhibition of cell proliferation and apoptosis tests on human leukemia cell line U937.     

Synthesis and biological activity of 2-fluoro adenine and 6-methyl purine nucleoside analogs as prodrugs for suicide gene therapy of cancer

A novel series of 6-methylpurine nucleoside derivatives with substitutions at 5-position have been synthesised These compounds bear a 5'-heterocycle such as triazole or a imidazole with a two carbon chain, and an ether, thio ether or amine. To extend the SAR study of 2-fluoroadenine and 6-methyl purine nucleosides, their corresponding alpha-linker nucleosides with L-xylose and L-lyxose were also synthesized. All of these compounds have been evaluated for their substrate activity with E. coli PNP.     

SYNTHESIS AND BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY OF 2-FLUORO ADENINE AND 6-METHYL PURINE NUCLEOSIDE ANALOGS AS PRODRUGS FOR SUICIDE GENE THERAPY OF CANCER

A novel series of 6-methylpurine nucleoside derivatives with substitutions at 5′-position have been synthesised. These compounds bear a 5′-heterocycle such as triazole or a imidazole with a two carbon chain, and an ether, thio ether or amine. To extend the SAR study of 2-fluoroadenine and 6-methyl purine nucleosides, their corresponding α–linker nucleosides with l-xylose and l-lyxose were also synthesized. All of these compounds have been evaluated for their substrate activity with E. coli PNP.     

Synthesis and anti-cancer activity of some novel 5-azacytosine nucleosides

1-O-Acetyl-2-deoxy-3,5-di-O-toluoyl-4-thio-D-erythro-pentofuranose and 2-deoxy-1,3,5-tri-O-acetyl-4-thio-L-threo-pentofuranose were coupled with 5-azacytosine to obtain alpha and beta anomers of nucleosides. All four nucleosides were reduced to the corresponding dihydro derivatives and deblocked to give target compounds. All eight target compounds were evaluated in a series of human cancer cell lines in culture. Only 2'-deoxy-4'-thio-5-azacytidine (3beta) was found to be cytotoxic in all the cell lines and was further evaluated in vivo. Details of the synthesis and biological activity are reported.     

Urinary excretion of modified purines and nucleosides in immunodeficient children

Studies have been carried out using an XAD-4 resin and ion-exchange chromatography for determination of urinary purines and nucleosides in seven children with severe combined immunodeficiency and in six normal children. These studies have included analyses for five methylated purines or nucleosides produced by catabolism of nucleic acids. The following compounds have been quantitatively determined: 1-methyladenosine, 1-methylinosine, 1-methylguanosine, 1-methylguanine, 3-methylcytidine, adenosine, methylthioadenosine sulfoxide, cytidine, and deoxycytidine. 1-Methyladenosine and 1-methylinosine were most consistently elevated in the urine of immunodeficient children. Methylthioadenosine sulfoxide was very markedly increased in urine of two of the immunodeficient children while more moderate increases were noted with a number of other nucleosides. The germ-free child with severe combined immunodeficiency showed consistently lower excretion levels of these compounds when compared to normal children.     

2‐Azapurine Nucleosides: Synthesis,Properties, and Base Pairing of Oligonucleotides

This review deals with 2‐azapurine (imidazo[4,5‐d] [1,2,3]triazine) nucleosides and closely related analogs. Different routes are described to yield the desired target compounds, including a sequence of ring‐opening and ring‐closure reactions performed on purine nucleosides or direct glycosylation of a 2‐azapurine nucleobase with a sugar halide. Further, physical and spectroscopic properties of 2‐azapurine nucleosides are discussed, including fluorescence, ¹³C‐NMR data, single‐crystal X‐ray analyses, and conformation studies on selected compounds; new biological data are presented. The second part of this review is dedicated to oligonucleotides containing 2‐azapurines, including building‐block (phosphoramidite) preparation and their use in solid‐phase oligonucleotide synthesis. Base‐pairing properties of 2‐azapurine nucleosides as surrogates of canonical constituents of DNA were evaluated.     

Synthesis of 1,1,2-trisubstituted cyclopropane nucleosides in enantiomerically pure forms

Abstract

Due to the unique rigid and small steric feature of cyclopropane, cyclopropane nucleosides (CPNs) in which the ribose (deoxyribose) of nucleosides are replaced by a hydroxy-substituted cyclopropane, are of great biological interest. Novel 1,1,2-trisubstituted cyclopropane nucleosides were synthesized in enantiomerically pure forms as potential antiviral agents. In the synthesis, two cyclopropane tosylates, which were prepared from chiral cyclopropane lactones previously reported by us, were used effectively as common intermediates for the CPNs. These CPNs are also potentially useful as nucleoside units to incorporate into oligonucleotides in nucleic acids chemotherapy studies.     

Synthesis of 1′,2′-methano-2′,3′-dideoxynucleosides as potential antivirals

The synthesis of constrained nucleosides has become an important tool to understand the SAR in the interaction between biological and synthetic nucleotides in the context of antisense oligonucleotide therapy. The incorporation of a cyclopropane into a furanose ring of a nucleoside induces some degree of constrain without affecting significantly the steric environment of a nucleoside. Here, we report a new, short and stereocontrolled synthesis of two constrained nucleosides analogues, 1′,2′- methano-2′,3′-dideoxyuridine 9, and the corresponding cytidine analog 12. X-ray crystallography revealed that the furanose ring in the constrained uridine and cytidine analogues was flattened with virtual loss of pseudorotation. The phosphoramidate esters of the novel constrained uridine and cytidine nucleosides, intended as prodrugs, were tested in cell-based assays for viral replication across the herpes virus family and HIV inhibition courtesy of Merck laboratories, Rahway. They were also tested in antiproliferative assays against colorectal and melanoma cell lines. Unfortunately, none of the compounds showed activity in these assays.     

Facile Synthesis and Anti-Tumor Cell Activity of Se-Containing Nucleosides

Many organic compounds containing selenium have shown anticancer effects and some have been used in chemoprevention of cancers and other diseases. Though Se-containing amino acids are generally used for these purposes, the natural nucleosides may also be used as Se-carriers for these important applications. Therefore, we describe here the convenient synthesis of the new 3′-MeSe-thymidine nucleoside and the other uridine and thymidine derivatives modified with MeSe at the 2′ and 5′ positions, and report their anti-tumor activity against prostate cancer cell lines. Our work demonstrates for the first time anticancer activity of the methylseleno nucleosides.     

New synthetic strategies for acyclic and cyclic pyrimidinethione nucleosides and their analogues

Pyrimidinethione nucleosides are effective compounds and have significant and pivotal effects in several fields. New synthetic strategies for many pyrimidinethione nucleosides including acyclic and cyclic derivatives have been reported.     

Synthesis and Biological Activity of Chloroethyl Pyrimidine Nucleosides

The synthesis and biological activity of chloroethyl pyrimidine nucleosides is presented. One of these new nucleosides analogues significantly inhibited cell proliferation, migration and invasion as tested in vitro on the A431 vulvar epidermal carcinoma cell line.