Synthesis and Antiviral Activity of New 5-Substituted 2′-Deoxyuridine Derivatives

New 5-azole- and 5-oxime-substituted analogues of 2′-deoxyuridine are synthesized. The analogues with azole ring manifest low toxicities and antiherpetic activities on Vero cell culture, the imidazole derivative being the most active. The inhibitory effects of oximes of 5-formyl-deoxyuridine are comparable with those of the azole-containing nucleoside analogues, although their cytotoxicities are found to be higher; oxime of 5-formyldeoxyuridine is particularly toxic. The nucleoside analogues synthesized exhibit no marked activity on cell cultures infected with various variants of poxvirus.     

Synthesis and Potent Anti-HCMV Activity of 2′,5′,5′-trifluoro-3′-hydroxy-apiosyl Nucleoside Phosphonic Acid Analogues

As antiviral nucleosides containing a fluorine atom at 2′-position are endowed with increased stabilization of glycosyl bond, it was of interest to investigate the influence of three fluorine atoms at 2′- and 5′-positions of apiosyl nucleoside phosphonate analogues. Various pyrimidine and purine 2′,5′,5′-trifluoro-3′-hydroxy-apiose nucleoside phosphonic acid analogues were synthesized from 1,3-dihydroxyacetone. Electrophilic fluorination of lactone was performed using N-fluorodibenzenesulfonimide. Difluorophosphonation was performed by direct displacement of triflate intermediate with diethyl(lithiodifluoromethyl) phosphonate to give the corresponding (α,α-difluoroalkyl) phosphonate. Condensation successfully proceeded from a glycosyl donor with persilylated bases to yield nucleoside phosphonate analogues. Deprotection of diethyl phosphonates provided the final phosphonic acid sodium salts. The synthesized nucleoside analogues were subjected to antiviral screening against various viruses.     

Synthesis and anti-HCV Evaluation of 4′(α)-ethyl and 2′(β)-methyl-carbodine Analogues

Novel 4′(α)-ethyl-2′(β)-methyl carbocyclic nucleoside analogues have been prepared and evaluated for inhibition of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA replication in cell culture. The construction of cyclopentene intermediate 12β was successfully made via sequential Johnson-Claisen orthoester rearrangement and ring-closing metathesis (RCM) starting from Weinreb amide 5. Selective dihydroxylation and desilylation gave the target carbodine analogues. The synthesized nucleoside analogues mentioned above 18 and 19 were assayed for their ability to inhibit HCV RNA replication in a subgenomic replicon Huh7 cell line (LucNeo#2). However, the synthesized nucleosides neither showed any significant antiviral activity nor toxicity up to 50 μM.     

Phosphodeoxyribosyltransferases,Designed Enzymes for Deoxyribonucleotides Synthesis

A large number of nucleoside analogues and 2′-deoxynucleoside triphosphates (dNTP) have been synthesized to interfere with DNA metabolism. However, in vivo the concentration and phosphorylation of these analogues are key limiting factors. In this context, we designed enzymes to switch nucleobases attached to a deoxyribose monophosphate. Active chimeras were made from two distantly related enzymes: a nucleoside deoxyribosyltransferase from lactobacilli and a 5′-monophosphate-2′-deoxyribonucleoside hydrolase from rat. Then their unprecedented activity was further extended to deoxyribose triphosphate, and in vitro biosyntheses could be successfully performed with several base analogues. These new enzymes provide new tools to synthesize dNTP analogues and to deliver them into cells.     

Design and synthesis of carbocyclic versions of furanoid nucleoside phosphonic Acid analogues as potential anti-hiv agents

Novel 5'-norcarbocyclic adenine and guanine phosphonic acid analogues with 6',6'-difluorine moiety were designed and synthesized from commercially available epichlorohydrin 5. A regioselective Mitsunobu reaction successfully proceeded from an allylic functional group 16b at low reaction temperature in polar cosolvent to give purine phosphonate analogues 17 and 24, respectively. The purine nucleoside phosphonate and phosphonic acid analogues were subjected to antiviral screening against HIV-1. Adenine analogue 21 and its SATE prodrug 29 show significant anti-HIV activity in MT-4 cell lines.     

In Search of Acyclic Analogues as Universal Nucleosides in Degenerate Probes

Abstract

Five acyclic nucleoside analogues with unnatural base moieties have been synthesized of which three successfully were incorporated into oligonucleotides. The acyclic analogue containing the base 5-nitroindazole was the least discriminating and should be further pursued for use as a universal nucleoside analogue.     

Synthesis and antiviral activities of new acyclic and "double-headed" nucleoside analogues

To develop an understanding of the structure-activity relationships for the inhibition of orthopoxviruses by nucleoside analogues, a variety of novel chemical entities were synthesized. These included a series of pyrimidine 5-hypermodified acyclic nucleoside analogues based upon recently discovered new leads, and some previously unknown "double-headed" or "abbreviated" nucleosides. None of the synthetic products possessed significant activity against two representative orthopoxviruses; namely, vaccinia virus and cowpox virus. They were also devoid of significant activity against a battery of other DNA and RNA viruses. So far as the results with the orthopoxviruses and herpes viruses, the results may point to the necessity for nucleoside analogues 5'-phosphorylation for antiviral efficacy.     

Synthesis and Activity of Oligonucleotides Containing a Biologically Active Nucleoside at the 2′End

Abstract

The antiviral activity of (E)-5-(2-bromovinyl)-2′-deoxyuridine (BVdUrd), acyclovir and other antiherpetic nucleosides depends on a selective phosphorylation by the herpesvirus-induced thymidine kinase in the infected cells. Viruses not encoding a specific thymidine kinase (TK) activity are resistant to the action of these nucleoside analogues. The nucleoside monophosphates are as such poorly taken up by the cells. In order to circumvent the necessity of intracellular phosphorylation, we synthesized four core oligonucleotides bearing a biological active nucleoside at the 2′end. It was hypothesized that these core oligonucleotides, like core 2–5A itself, would be taken up within the cell and that, following intracellular 2′-5′ phosphodiesterase cleavage, the 5′-monophosphate of the active product would be formed. In these circumstances, activity against TK- strains could be expected.     

Efficient Electrophilic Fluorination for the Synthesis of Novel 2′-Fluoro-3′-Methyl-5′-Deoxyphosphonic Acid Apiosyl Nucleoside Analogues

Novel 5′-deoxyapiosyl purine phosphonic acid analogues with a 2′-electropositive moiety, such as, a fluorine atom were designed and synthesized from commercially available hydroxylacetone. Condensation of a glycosyl donor 10 with purines under Vorbruggen conditions and cross-metathesis give the desired nucleoside phosphonic acid analogues 14, 17, 21, and 24. The synthesized nucleoside analogues were subjected to antiviral screening against HIV-1, and the adenine analogue 17 exhibited weak in vitro anti-HIV-1 activity (EC₅₀ = 26.6 μM)     

Synthesis, X-ray crystal structural study, antiviral and cytostatic evaluations of the novel unsaturated acyclic and epoxide nucleoside analogues

A series of the novel purine and pyrimidine nucleoside analogues were synthesised in which the sugar moiety was replaced by the 4-amino-2-butenyl (2-6 and 10-18) and oxiranyl (8 and 20) spacer. The Z- (2-6) and E-isomers (10-18) of unsaturated acyclic nucleoside analogues were synthesized by condensation of 2- and 6-substituted purine and 5-substituted uracil bases with Z- (1) or E-phthalimide (9) precursors. The oxiranyl nucleoside analogues (8 and 20) were obtained by epoxidation of 1 and 9 with m-chloroperoxybenzoic acid and subsequent coupling with adenine. The new compounds were evaluated for their antiviral and antitumor cell activities. Among the olefinic nucleoside analogues, Z-isomer of adenine containing 4-amino-2-butenyl side chain (6) exhibited the best cytostatic activities, particularly against colon carcinoma (SW 620, IC50 = 26 microM). Its E-isomer 15 did not show any antiproliferative activity against malignant tumor cell lines, except for a slight inhibition of colon carcinoma (SW 620, IC50 = 56.5 microM) cells. In general, Z-isomers showed better cytostatic activities than the corresponding E-isomers. (Z)-4-Amino-2-butenyl-adenine nucleoside analogue 6 showed albeit modest but selective activity against HIV-1 (EC50 = 4.83 microg mL(-1)).     

Methylene analogues of adenosine 5'-tetraphosphate. Their chemical synthesis and recognition by human and plant mononucleoside tetraphosphatases and dinucleoside tetraphosphatases

Adenosine 5'-polyphosphates have been identified in vitro, as products of certain enzymatic reactions, and in vivo. Although the biological role of these compounds is not known, there exist highly specific hydrolases that degrade nucleoside 5'-polyphosphates into the corresponding nucleoside 5'-triphosphates. One approach to understanding the mechanism and function of these enzymes is through the use of specifically designed phosphonate analogues. We synthesized novel nucleotides: alpha,beta-methylene-adenosine 5'-tetraphosphate (pppCH2pA), beta,gamma-methylene-adenosine 5'-tetraphosphate (ppCH2ppA), gamma,delta-methylene-adenosine 5'-tetraphosphate (pCH2pppA), alphabeta,gammadelta-bismethylene-adenosine 5'-tetraphosphate (pCH2ppCH2pA), alphabeta, betagamma-bismethylene-adenosine 5'-tetraphosphate (ppCH2pCH2pA) and betagamma, gammadelta-bis(dichloro)methylene-adenosine 5'-tetraphosphate (pCCl2pCCl2ppA), and tested them as potential substrates and/or inhibitors of three specific nucleoside tetraphosphatases. In addition, we employed these p4A analogues with two asymmetrically and one symmetrically acting dinucleoside tetraphosphatases. Of the six analogues, only pppCH2pA is a substrate of the two nucleoside tetraphosphatases (EC 3.6.1.14), from yellow lupin seeds and human placenta, and also of the yeast exopolyphosphatase (EC 3.6.1.11). Surprisingly, none of the six analogues inhibited these p4A-hydrolysing enzymes. By contrast, the analogues strongly inhibit the (asymmetrical) dinucleoside tetraphosphatases (EC 3.6.1.17) from human and the narrow-leafed lupin. ppCH2ppA and pCH2pppA, inhibited the human enzyme with Ki values of 1.6 and 2.3 nm, respectively, and the lupin enzyme with Ki values of 30 and 34 nm, respectively. They are thereby identified as being the strongest inhibitors ever reported for the (asymmetrical) dinucleoside tetraphosphatases. The three analogues having two halo/methylene bridges are much less potent inhibitors for these enzymes. These novel nucleotides should prove valuable tools for further studies on the cellular functions of mono- and dinucleoside polyphosphates and on the enzymes involved in their metabolism.     

Aberrant Apoptotic Response of Colorectal Cancer Cells to Novel Nucleoside Analogues

Despite the increased understanding of colorectal cancer and the introduction of targeted drug therapy, the metastatic phase of the disease remains refractory to treatment. Since the deregulation of normal apoptosis contributes to the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer, novel nucleoside analogues were synthesized here and evaluated for their ability to induce apoptosis and cause cell death in two colorectal adeno-carcinoma cell lines, Caco-2 and HT-29. Three novel nucleoside analogues assessed here showed cytotoxic activity, as measured by the MTT assay against both cell lines: the IC₅₀ values ranged between 3 and 37 μM, with Caco-2 cells being more sensitive than HT-29 cells. Compared to camptothecin, the positive control, the nucleoside analogues were significantly less toxic to normal unstimulated leukocytes (p>0.05). Moreover, the nucleosides were able to induce apoptosis as measured by an increase in caspase 8 and caspase 3 activity above that of the control. This was additionally supported by data derived from Annexin V-FITC assays. Despite marginal changes to the mitochondrial membrane potential, all three nucleosides caused a significant increase in cytosolic cytochrome c (p>0.05), with a corresponding decrease in mitochondrial cytochrome c. Morphological analysis of both cell lines showed the rapid appearance of vacuoles following exposure to two of the nucleosides, while a third caused cellular detachment, delayed cytoplasmic vacuolisation and nuclear abnormalities. Preliminary investigations, using the autophagic indicator monodansylcadaverine and chloroquine as positive control, showed that two of the nucleosides induced the formation of autophagic vacuoles. In summary, the novel nucleoside analogues showed selective cytotoxicity towards both cancer cell lines and are effective initiators of an unusual apoptotic response, demonstrating their potential to serve as structural scaffolds for more potent analogues.     

Novel anticancer polymeric conjugates of activated nucleoside analogues

Inherent or therapy-induced drug resistance is a major clinical setback in cancer treatment. The extensive usage of cytotoxic nucleobases and nucleoside analogues in chemotherapy also results in the development of specific mechanisms of drug resistance, such as nucleoside transport or activation deficiencies. These drugs are prodrugs; and being converted into the active mono-, di-, and triphosphates inside cancer cells following administration, they affect nucleic acid synthesis, nucleotide metabolism, or sensitivity to apoptosis. Previously, we actively promoted the idea that the nanodelivery of active nucleotide species, e.g., 5'-triphosphates of nucleoside analogues, can enhance drug efficacy and reduce nonspecific toxicity. In this study, we report the development of a novel type of drug nanoformulations, polymeric conjugates of nucleoside analogues, which are capable of the efficient transport and sustained release of phosphorylated drugs. These drug conjugates have been synthesized, starting from cholesterol-modified mucoadhesive polyvinyl alcohol or biodegradable dextrin, by covalent attachment of nucleoside analogues through a tetraphosphate linker. Association of cholesterol moieties in aqueous media resulted in intramolecular polymer folding and the formation of small nanogel particles containing 0.5 mmol/g of a 5'-phosphorylated nucleoside analogue, e.g., 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine (floxuridine, FdU), an active metabolite of anticancer drug 5-fluorouracyl (5-FU). The polymeric conjugates demonstrated rapid enzymatic release of floxuridine 5'-phosphate and much slower drug release under hydrolytic conditions (pH 1.0-7.4). Among the panel of cancer cell lines, all studied polymeric FdU-conjugates demonstrated an up to 50× increased cytotoxicity in human prostate cancer PC-3, breast cancer MCF-7, and MDA-MB-231 cells, and more than 100× higher efficacy against cytarabine-resistant human T-lymphoma (CEM/araC/8) and gemcitabine-resistant follicular lymphoma (RL7/G) cells as compared to free drugs. In the initial in vivo screening, both PC-3 and RL7/G subcutaneous tumor xenograft models showed enhanced sensitivity to sustained drug release from polymeric FdU-conjugate after peritumoral injections and significant tumor growth inhibition. All these data demonstrate a remarkable clinical potential of novel polymeric conjugates of phosphorylated nucleoside analogues, especially as new therapeutic agents against drug-resistant tumors.     

New carbocyclic nucleoside analogues with a bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane fragment as sugar moiety; Synthesis,X-ray crystallography and anticancer activity

An amine group was synthesized starting from an optically active bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane compound, which was then used to build the 5 atoms ring of a key 6-chloropurine intermediate. This was then reacted with ammonia and selected amines obtaining new adenine- and 6-substituted adenine conformationally constrained carbocyclic nucleoside analogues with a bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane skeleton in the sugar moiety. X-ray crystallography confirmed an exo-coupling of base to the ring and a L configuration of the nucleoside analogues. The compounds were tested for anticancer activity.     

Design and Synthesis of Novel 1′,3′-Dioxolane 5′-Deoxyphosphonic Acid Purine Analogues as Potent Antiviral Agents

Electronic parameters of 1′,3 ′-oxygen play significant roles in steering the conformation of nucleoside phosphonic acid analogues. To investigate the relationship of two oxygen atoms with antiviral enhancement, novel 1′,3 ′-dioxolane 5 ′-deoxyphosphonic acid purine analogues were synthesized via de novo acyclic stereoselective route from acrolein and glycolic acid. The synthesized nucleoside phosphonic acid analogues 14 and 19 were subjected to antiviral screening against several viruses, such as HIV-1, HSV-1, HSV-2, and HCMV. The guanine analogue 19 exhibits in vitro anti-HIV-1 activity similar to that of 9-[2-(phosphonomethoxy)ethyl]adenine (PMEA) in MT-4 cells.     

Synthesis of isoxazolidino analogues of 2',3'-dideoxynucleosides.

The complete set of the 4'-aza analogues of 2',3'-dideoxynucleosides was synthesized by cycloaddition of N-tetrahydropiranyl or N-trityl methylene nitrones on suitably protected vinyl nucleobases. The convertible nucleoside approach was used in the preparation of cytosine and 5-methyl cytosine analogues.     

Synthesis of novel 4'-cyclopropyl-5'-norcarbocyclic adenosine phosphonic acid analogues

Novel 4'-cyclopropyl-5'-norcarbocyclic adenosine phosphonic acid analogues were designed and racemically synthesized from propionaldehyde 5 through a de novo acyclic stereoselective route using triple Grignard addition and ring-closing metathesis (RCM) as key reactions. To improve cellular permeability and enhance the anti-HIV activity of this phosphonic acid, SATE phosphonodiester nucleoside prodrug 23 was prepared. The synthesized adenosine phosphonic acids analogues 17, 18, 19, 21, and 23 were subjected to antiviral screening against HIV-1. Compound 23 exhibits enhanced anti-HIV activity than its parent nucleoside phosphonic acid 18.     

Polymethylene derivatives of nucleic bases with omega-functional groups: IV. [7-(2-oxocyclohexyl)-7-oxoheptyl]purines

New polymethylene nucleoside analogues with a beta-dioxo function in the omega-position of their hydrocarbon chain, [7-(2-oxocyclohexyl)-7-oxoheptyl]purines, were synthesized, and their physicochemical properties were studied. The English version of the paper: Russian Journal of Bioorganic Chemistry, 2005, vol. 31, no. 3; see also http://www.maik.ru.     

Heterocyclic nucleoside analogues: design and synthesis of antiviral, modified nucleosides containing isoxazole heterocycles

We have designed and synthesized novel antiviral nucleoside analogues, which consist of isoxazole rings as modified sugars and nucleobases (thymine, uracil, and 5-fluorouracil) with a methylene linker between them. These compounds represent a new class of modified nucleoside analogues and some of them show potent antiviral activities against Polio virus (Coxsackie B type 3 and Vesicular Stomatitis).