Discovery of a nuclease-resistant, non-natural dinucleotide that inhibits HIV-1 integrase

Integration of HIV viral DNA into human chromosomal DNA catalyzed by HIV integrase is essential for the replication of HIV. Discovery of novel inhibitors of HIV integrase is of considerable significance in approaches to the development of therapeutic agents against AIDS. We have synthesized a new dinucleotide 1 with an internucleotide phosphate bond that is unusually resistant to exonucleases. This compound exhibits potent anti-HIV-1 integrase activity.     

中药大蓟化学成分的研究

从大蓟的50％乙醇提取物中分离得到2个木脂素：（-）2-（3’-甲氧基4’-羟基-苯基）-3,4-二羟基4-（3＂-4＂-羟基-苄基）-3-四氢呋哺甲醇（1）和络石苷（2）,以及另外6个化合物：蒙花苷（3）、柳穿鱼叶苷（4）、粗毛豚草素（5）、芹菜素（6）、咖啡酸（7）和对-香豆酸（8）。本文首次在蓟属植物中发现木脂素类成分,化合物7也为首次从本植物中分离得到,通过体外玻片法对化合物1—8进行凝血活性测定,发现化合物3、4具有一定的促凝血作用。     

Inhibition of development, swarming differentiation and virulence factors in Proteus mirabilis by an extract of Lithrea molleoides and its active principle (Z,Z)-5-(trideca-4’,7’-dienyl)-resorcinol

Antibacterial activity of Lithrea molleoides extract against Proteus mirabilis has been previously reported by our group. In the present study, the compound (Z,Z)-5-(trideca-4’,7’-dienyl)-resorcinol (1) was isolated as its responsible active principle. The effects of the compound obtained and of L. molleoides extract on P. mirabilis growth and virulence factors were evaluated.Compound 1 showed MIC and MBC values of 4000 μg/ml. It was found that the extract, at four times the MIC, produced complete killing of the uropathogen at 2 h from the beginning of the experiment, while the alkylresorcinol, at four times the MIC, produced the same effect after 24 h. Hemolysis was adversely affected in treatments with both products at 8 μg/ml, while hemagglutination was not altered. The whole extract induced complete autoaggregation of P. mirabilis at 2000 μg/ml, while compound 1 at the same concentration did not show this property. Swarming motility was delayed in treatments with the extract and with 1 at 1000 and 8 μg/ml, respectively, at 8 h from the beginning of the assay. Complete inhibition of the phenomenon was still observed after 24 h when compound 1 was added at 125 μg/ml.These findings offer the possibility of new classes of antimicrobial medicines to tackle infections caused by P. mirabilis.     

Tricyclic HIV integrase inhibitors: potent and orally bioavailable C5-aza analogs

A series of C5-aza tricyclic HIV integrase inhibitors was prepared. A highly potent and orally bioavailable compound (compound 9) was identified and selected for development.     

Lilac alcohol epoxide: a linalool derivative in Actinidia arguta flowers

Lilac alcohol epoxide (2-(5-methyl-5-(oxiran-2-yl)-tetrahydrofuran-2-yl)propan-1-ol), a previously unreported monoterpene, was identified in the solvent extract of the flowers of seven Actinidia arguta genotypes. The diastereomeric lilac alcohol epoxides co-occurred with the lilac aldehydes and alcohols. Another compound, the lilac diol (2-(5-(1-hydroxyethyl)-5-methyl-tetrahydrofuran-2-yl)propan-1-ol) was synthesised as part of our efforts to identify the lilac alcohol epoxide.     

Design, synthesis, and SAR studies of novel and highly active tri-cyclic HIV integrase inhibitors

A novel class of tri-cyclic HIV integrase inhibitors were designed based on conformational analysis of 1,6-naphthyridine carboxamide compound L-870810 and docking the designed inhibitor into the active site of our integrase enzyme model. The efficient syntheses of pyrroloquinoline tri-cyclic analogs are described. The SAR studies resulted in the identification of a lead compound that is more potent and more soluble than L-870810.     

Purification of the nitrogenase proteins from Clostridium pasteurianum

A method is described for the purification of the nitrogenase proteins from Clostridium pasteurianum by two polyethylene glycol precipitations and chromatography on columns of DEAE-cellulose, Sephadex G-100 and Sephadex G-200. The Mo-Fe protein and the Fe protein have been purified 70–80-fold from the crude extract, and they appear essentially pure when tested by anaerobic polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.     

Catechol-substituted L-chicoric acid analogues as HIV integrase inhibitors

HIV integrase catalyzes the integration of HIV DNA copy into the host cell DNA, which is essential for the production of progeny viruses. L-Chicoric acid and dicaffeoylquinic acids, isolated from plants, are well known potent inhibitors of HIV integrase. The common structural features of these inhibitors are caffeic acid derivatives connected to tartaric acid or quinic acid through ester bonds. In the present study, we have synthesized and tested the inhibitory activities of a new type of HIV IN inhibitors, which has catechol groups in place of caffeoyl groups in the structure of L-chicoric acid. Upon substitution of catechol groups at succinic acid, pyrrole-dicarboxylic acid, maleimide or maleic anhydride, the inhibitory activities (IC(50)=3.8-23.6 microM) were retained or remarkably increased when compared to parent compound L-chicoric acid (IC(50)=13.7 microM).     

HIV-1整合酶及其抑制剂的研究进展

HIV-1整合酶是由HIV病毒pol基因编码的分子量为32KD的蛋白质,是HIV病毒复制的必需酶之一,它催化病毒DNA整合入宿主染色体DNA。人类细胞中没有HIV 整合酶的类似物[1],理论上抑制整合酶对人体副作用很小。因此HIV-1整合酶成为继HIV-1蛋白酶,逆转录酶后治疗艾滋病的富有吸引力和合理的靶标。本文综述了HIV整合酶结构,抑制剂的研究以及以HIV-1 整和酶为靶点治疗AIDS方法的最新研究进展。     

Peptidic HIV integrase inhibitors derived from HIV gene products: Structure–activity relationship studies

Structure–activity relationship studies were conducted on HIV integrase (IN) inhibitory peptides which were found by the screening of an overlapping peptide library derived from HIV-1 gene products. Since these peptides located in the second helix of Vpr are considered to have an α-helical conformation, Glu-Lys pairs were introduced into the i and i + 4 positions to increase the helicity of the lead compound possessing an octa-arginyl group. Ala-scan was also performed on the lead compound for the identification of the amino acid residues responsible for the inhibitory activity. The results indicated the importance of an α-helical structure for the expression of inhibitory activity, and presented a binding model of integrase and the lead compound.     

Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of novel tricyclic HIV-1 integrase inhibitors by modification of its pyridine ring

This communication details both the syntheses and biological evaluation of a novel class of HIV-1 integrase inhibitors. When the quinoline moiety is replaced with the quinoxoline moiety, the antiviral activity is significantly compromised. Similarly, introduction of imidazole to replace the pyridine ring is deleterious to the potency of the compound against the enzyme. Substitution at the 3-position of the pyridine has been investigated. The presence of the pyridine ring in the tricyclic core is preferred for antiviral activity against HIV integrase.     

The chemotaxonomic significance of two bioactive caffeic acid esters,nepetoidins A and B,in the Lamiaceae

A survey of leaf surface constituents in the family Lamiaceae using HPLC with diode array detection revealed the presence of two characteristic phenolic compounds in many species. The distribution of these phenolics in the Lamiaceae was found to be of taxonomic significance, as they were present in the great majority of species investigated for the subfamily Nepetoideae, including representatives of the well-known genera of culinary herbs, mint, rosemary, sage, thyme and basil. In contrast, they were absent from species of the other subfamilies of Lamiaceae studied and from the related families Verbenaceae, Scrophulariaceae, Acanthaceae and Buddlejaceae. The compounds were isolated from Plectranthus crassus and identified by NMR spectroscopy as the known caffeic acid esters (Z,E)-[2-(3,5-dihydroxyphenyl)ethenyl] 3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-2-propenoate and (Z,E)-[2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)ethenyl] 3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-2-propenoate, for which the trivial names nepetoidins A and B are proposed. The presence of this pair of caffeic acid esters adds another character to the chemical, palynological and embryological features distinguishing the Nepetoideae from the other subfamilies of Lamiaceae and related families, and supports the view that the Nepetoideae are a specialised and monophyletic group within the family. Nepetoidin B was shown to have a greater antioxidant activity than gallic, rosmarinic and caffeic acids, and showed activity as an insect phagostimulant. Both compounds were antifungal.     

Three new Hg metal-organic polymers generated from 1,4-bis(n-pyridyl)-3,4-diaza-2,4-hexadiene ligands

Three new polymeric mercury(II) thiocyanate coordination polymers, {[Hg₂(L₄)(SCN)₄]_n (1), [Hg₂(μ-L₅)(μ-SCN)₄]_n[Hg₂(μ-L₅)(μ-SCN)₄]_2n (2) and [Hg(L₆)(SCN)₂]_n (3); L₄ = 2,5-bis(2-pyridyl)-3,4-diaza-2,4-hexadiene, L₅ = 2,5-bis(3-pyridyl)-3,4-diaza-2,4-hexadiene and L₆ = 2,5-bis(4-pyridyl)-3,4-diaza-2,4-hexadiene) were prepared from reactions of mercury(II) thiocyanate with three organic nitrogen donor-based ligands under thermal gradient conditions using the branched tube method and fully characterized by infrared spectroscopy, elemental analysis, thermo gravimetric analysis, and single crystal X-ray diffraction. The compounds are structurally diverse and show very interesting structural motifs: the compound 1 is one-dimensional heterochiral double-chains. In compound 2, the bridging ligand L₅ adopts a transoid conformation and the network contains two interpenetrating coordination polymers, a 2D net and a 1D double-chain. The crystal structure of 3 consists of one-dimensional zigzag chains. Solid-state luminescent spectra of the compounds 1 and 3 indicate intense fluorescent emissions at ca. 393 nm and 363 nm, respectively.     

Small molecule inhibitors of the LEDGF site of human immunodeficiency virus integrase identified by fragment screening and structure based design

A fragment-based screen against human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV) integrase led to a number of compounds that bound to the lens epithelium derived growth factor (LEDGF) binding site of the integrase catalytic core domain. We determined the crystallographic structures of complexes of the HIV integrase catalytic core domain for 10 of these compounds and quantitated the binding by surface plasmon resonance. We demonstrate that the compounds inhibit the interaction of LEDGF with HIV integrase in a proximity AlphaScreen assay, an assay for the LEDGF enhancement of HIV integrase strand transfer and in a cell based assay. The compounds identified represent a potential framework for the development of a new series of HIV integrase inhibitors that do not bind to the catalytic site of the enzyme.     

Rational design of 2-pyrrolinones as inhibitors of HIV-1 integrase

HIV-1 integrase is an essential enzyme for viral replication and a validated target for the development of drugs against AIDS. With an aim to discover new potent inhibitors of HIV-1 integrase, we developed a pharmacophore model based on reported inhibitors embodying structural diversity. Eight compounds of 2-pyrrolinones fitting all the features of the pharmacophore query were found through the screening of an in-house database. These candidates were successfully synthesized, and three of them showed strand transfer inhibitory activity, in which, one compound showed antiviral activity. Further mapping analysis and docking studies affirmed these results.     

A platform for designing HIV integrase inhibitors. Part 1: 2-hydroxy-3-heteroaryl acrylic acid derivatives as novel HIV integrase inhibitor and modeling of hydrophilic and hydrophobic pharmacophores

We present a novel series of HIV integrase inhibitors, showing IC₅₀s ranging from 0.01 to over 370 μM in an enzymatic assay. Furthermore, pharmacophore modeling study for the inhibitors was carried out to elucidate the structure–activity relationships. Finally, we found a 3D-pharmacophore model, which is composed of a hydrophilic and a hydrophobic domain, providing valuable information for designing other novel types of integrase inhibitors.     

A pungent diarylheptanoid from Alpinia oxyphylla

From the neutral fraction of the methanolic extract of the fruit of Alpinia oxyphylla, a new pungent compound has been isolated, and is shown to be 1-(4′-hydroxy-3′-methoxyphenyl)-7-phenyl-3-heptanone. This compound is 125 times more pungent than zingerone.     

Design of a series of bicyclic HIV-1 integrase inhibitors. Part 1: Selection of the scaffold

HIV integrase inhibitors based on a novel bicyclic pyrimidinone core is presented. Nine variations of the core scaffold are evaluated leading to optimization of the 6:6 core giving compound 48 with an EC₅₀ of 3 nM against wild type HIV infected T-cells.     

D77, one benzoic acid derivative, functions as a novel anti-HIV-1 inhibitor targeting the interaction between integrase and cellular LEDGF/p75

Integration of viral-DNA into host chromosome mediated by the viral protein HIV-1 integrase (IN) is an essential step in the HIV-1 life cycle. In this process, Lens epithelium-derived growth factor (LEDGF/p75) is discovered to function as a cellular co-factor for integration. Since LEDGF/p75 plays an important role in HIV integration, disruption of the LEDGF/p75 interaction with IN has provided a special interest for anti-HIV agent discovery. In this work, we reported that a benzoic acid derivative, 4-[(5-bromo-4-{[2,4-dioxo-3-(2-oxo-2-phenylethyl)-1,3-thiazolidin-5-ylidene]methyl}-2-ethoxyphenoxy)methyl]benzoic acid (D77) could potently inhibit the IN-LEDGF/p75 interaction and affect the HIV-1 IN nuclear distribution thus exhibiting antiretroviral activity. Molecular docking with site-directed mutagenesis analysis and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) binding assays has clarified possible binding mode of D77 against HIV-1 integrase. As the firstly discovered small molecular compound targeting HIV-1 integrase interaction with LEDGF/p75, D77 might supply useful structural information for further anti-HIV agent discovery.