Structure-Activity Relationships Among a New Class of Antiviral Heterosubstituted 2′,3′-Dideoxynucleoside Analogues

Abstract

3′-Oxa-4′-thiocytidine nucleoside analogues 14–17 were prepared from oxathiolanes 10 and 11, and evaluated for activity against HIV-1 and HBV in vitro. The nucleoside analogues were found to possess potent activities against HIV-1 in a panel of cell lines. Compound 16 is moderately active against HBV in 2.2.15 cells.     

Synthesis of (2′,5′)-Oligoadenylate Antisense Chimeras Targeting Steroid 5α-Reductase

Abstract

2–5A antisense chimeras have been synthesized which target human steroid 5α-reductase mRNA. To enhance the stability of the chimera towards degradative enzymes the terminal phosphodiester bond was isomerized from 3′,5′ to 3′,3′ and the 5′-phosphate group was thiolated.     

Synthesis and Antiviral Activity Assay of Novel (E)-3′,5′-Diamino-5-(2-bromovinyl)-2′,3′,5′-trideoxyuridine

Abstract

(E)-3′,5′-diamino-5-(2-bromovinyl)-2′,3′,5′-trideoxyuridine (5), the diamino analogue of BVDU (1), was synthesized from BVDU. In contrast with BVDU, compound 5 did not show activity against herpes simplex virus or varicella-zoster virus.     

Anti-Hiv-1 Activity of 2′,3′-Dideoxinucleoside Analogues : Structure-Activity Relationship

Abstract

Among the purine and pyrimidine 2′,3′-dideoxynucleosides, 2′,3′-didehydro-2′,3′-dideoxynucleosides, 3′-azido-2′,3′-dideoxynucleosides and 3′-fluoro-2′,3′-dideoxynucleosides, several congeners have been identified which achieve a potent and selective inhibition of HIV-1 replication in vitro.     

SYNTHESIS of 2′-DEOXY-2′-FLUOROGUANYL-(3′,5′)-GUANOSINE

ABSTRACT

The protected analogue of 2-amnio-6-chloropurine arabinoside (3b) was subjected to reaction with diethylaminosulfur trifluoride (DAST) and subsequently treated with NaOAc in Ac₂O/AcOH to give N ²,O ^3′,O ^5′-triacetyl-2′-deoxy-2′-fluoroguanosine (5a). After deacetylation of the sugar moiety and protection of 5′-OH by a 4,4′-dimethoxytrityl group, this nucleoside component was converted to 2′-deoxy-2′-fluoroguanyl-(3′,5′)-guanosine (6c, GfpG).     

A Solid-Phase Synthesis of 2′,5′-Linked Oligoadenylates (2-5A)

Abstract

2′,5′-Oligoadenylate 5′-triphosphates (2-5A) as products of 2-5A synthetase and activators of ribonuclease L (RNase L), are mediators in one of the mechanisms of interferon′s antiviral action. Upon activation, RNase L inhibits protein synthesis due to the degradation of RNAs. This activity of 2-5A could possibly find an application in virus or cancer chemotherapy, but two major barriers prevent the use of 2′,5′-linked oligoadenylates as therapeutic agents. The 2-5A is readily degraded by a 2′,5′ phosphodiesterase and as a highly negatively charged molecule, is not readily taken up by cells. One possible solution to this latter limitation might be found in chemical modifications of the 2-5A structure. Many analogues of 2-5A have been already obtained with modified base, ribose or phosphate moieties. While these have provided some important information about the enzyme- activator interactions, the cell permeability problem still remains unsolved. One of the major obstacles in this study is lack of a convenient method of synthesis of 2′,5′ ribonucleotides of widely varying structure.     

Intramolecular Radical Reactions of 5′-O-Modified 2′,3′-Didehydro-2′,3′-Dideoxyuridine Derivatives

Abstract

Radical reactions of 5′-O-(2-bromo-1-methoxy)ethyl- and 5′-O-(2-propynyl)-2′,3′-dideoxy-2′,3′-didehydrouridines were investigated. Both reactions proceeded in a 6-exo-trig manner to give products cyclized regio- and stereospecifically at the 3′-position. The structures of these products were analyzed by X-ray crystallography.

     

Inhibition of thymidylate synthase by 2′,2′-difluoro-2′-deoxycytidine (Gemcitabine) and its metabolite 2′,2′-difluoro-2′-deoxyuridine

2′,2′-Difluoro-2′-deoxycytidine (dFdC, gemcitabine) is a cytidine analogue active against several solid tumor types, such as ovarian, pancreatic and non-small cell lung cancer. The compound has a complex mechanism of action. Because of the structural similarity of one metabolite of dFdC, dFdUMP, with the natural substrate for thymidylate synthase (TS) dUMP, we investigated whether dFdC and its deamination product 2′,2′-difluoro-2′-deoxyuridine (dFdU) would inhibit TS. This study was performed using two solid tumor cell lines: the human ovarian carcinoma cell line A2780 and its dFdC-resistant variant AG6000. The specific TS inhibitor Raltitrexed (RTX) was included as a positive control. Using the in situ TS activity assay measuring the intracellular conversion of [5-³H]-2′-deoxyuridine or [5-³H]-2′-deoxycytidine to dTMP and tritiated water, it was observed that dFdC and dFdU inhibited TS. In A2780 cells after a 4 h exposure to 1 μM dFdC tritium release was inhibited by 50% but did not increase after 24 h, Inhibition was also observed following dFdU at 100 μM. No effect was observed in the dFdC-resistant cell line AG6000; in this cell line only RTX had an inhibitory effect on TS activity. In the A2780 cell line RTX inhibited TS in a time dependent manner. In addition, DNA specific compounds such as 2′-C-cyano-2′-deoxy-1-beta-D-arabino-pentafuranosylcytosine and aphidicoline were utilized to exclude DNA inhibition mediated down regulation of the thymidine kinase.Inhibition of the enzyme resulted in a relative increase of mis-incorporation of [5-³H]-2′-deoxyuridine into DNA. In an attempt to elucidate the mechanism of in situ TS inhibition the ternary complex formation and possible inhibition in cellular extracts of A2780 cells, before and after exposure to dFdC, were determined. With the applied methods no proof for formation of a stable complex was found. In simultaneously performed experiments with 5FU such a complex formation could be demonstrated. However, using purified TS it was demonstrated that dFdUMP and not dFdCMP competitively inhibited TS with a Ki of 130 μM, without ternary complex formation. In conclusion, in this paper we reveal a new target of dFdC: thymidylate synthase.     

A general method for phospholipid polar head spin labeling: Synthesis of diphosphatidylglycerol-2-(2′,2′,5′,5′-tetramethylpyrroline-N-oxide) carboxylate

The synthesis of a highly reactive side-branched pyrroline-N-oxyl stable free radical, 2,2,5,5-tetramethylpyrroline-N-oxide-3-carbonyl chloride, versatile for polar head labeling of many phospholipid classes, is presented. As an example of applicability, the synthesis of diphosphatidylglycerol-2-(2′,2′,5′,5′-tetramethylpyrroline-N-oxide) carboxylate is reported.     

Influence of the xyloadenosine analogue of 2′,5′-oligoriboadenylate on poly(A)-specific, 2′,5′-oligoriboadenylate degrading 2′,3′-exoribonuclease and further enzymes involved in poly(A)(+)mRNA metabolism

The homogeneous poly(A)-specific 2,3-exoribonuclease from calf thymus gland, which cleaves both 3,5-and 2,5-linked oligoriboadenylates, does not degrade (xyloA2'p)₂ xyloA, the xylofuranosyladenosine analogue of the 2-5A core. This oligonucleotide, which is supposed to enter intact cells rapidly, was found to possess an increased stability and an enhanced antiherpesvirus activity compared to the natural (A2'p)₂A (Eppstein, D. A., Barnett, J. W., Marsh, Y. V., Gosselin, G. and Imbach, J.-L. (1983) Nature 302, 723–724). The poly(A) anabolic enzyme, poly(A) polymerase (Mn²⁺-dependent), from the same source, which is initiated by (A3'p)₂A and its higher oligomers, does not accept 2–5A core and its xyloadenosine analogue as primer. Both oligonucleotides exert no influence on endoribonuclease IV and on the integrity of the poly(A)-ribonucleoprotein complex.Abbreviations 2-5A ppp(A2'p)_nA(n2). 5-triphospho-oligo [(2–5)adenylyl]adenosine - 2-5A core (A2'p)₂A, adenylyl(2–5) adenylyl(2–5)adenosine - xyto 2-tA core (xyloA2'p)₂ xyloA, xyloadenylyl(2–5)xyloadenylyl(2–5)xyloadenosine The other abbreviations are according to the recommendations of the Commission on Biochemical Nomenclature, see Europ. J. Biochem.15 (1970) 203–208.     

Solution and Solid State Structure of 2′,5′-BIS-(O-Trityl)-3′-Oximinouridine

Abstract

Comparison of the solution (in CDCl₃ at 500 MHz¹H NMR) and X-ray crystal studies of 3′-oximinouridine 1 shows in general good agreement with the high anti glycosidic angle and in the conformation about C4′-C5′. The sugar pucker (C2′-endo) is qualititatively identical in both cases. This is the first example of a conformationally sugar-rigid nucleoside in which the rigidity arises from the sp² character of an endocyclic carbon (i.e. C3′), not from the strain due to the ring fusion (see ref. 7 for conformationally strained nucleosides).     

Synthesis,In Vitro Anti-HIV Activity,and Biological Stability of 5′-O-Myristoyl Analogue Derivatives of 3′-Fluoro-2′,3′-Dideoxythymidine (FLT) as Potential Bifunctional Prodrugs of FLT

Abstract

A group of 5′-O-myristoyl analogue derivatives of FLT (2) were evaluated as potential anti-HIV agents that were designed to serve as prodrugs to FLT. 3′-Fluoro-2′,3′-dideoxy-5′-O-(12-methoxydodecanoyl)thymidine (4) (EC₅₀ = 3.8 nM) and 3′-fluoro-2′,3′-dideoxy-5′-O-(12-azidododecanoyl)thymidine (8) (EC₅₀ = 2.8 nM) were the most effective anti-HIV-1 agents. There was a linear correlation between Log P and HPLC Log retention time for the 5 ′-O-FLT esters. The in vitro enzymatic hydrolysis half-life (t½), among the group of esters (3–8) in porcine liver esterase, rat plasma and rat brain homogenate was longer for 3′-fluoro-2′,3′-dideoxy-5 ′-O-(myristoyl)thymidine (7), with t½ values of 20.3, 4.6 and 17.5 min, respectively.     

Synthesis of (±)-Methyl 5-(1′,2′-Epoxy-2′,6′-dimethylcyclohexyl)-3-methyl-(2Z,4E)-2,4-pentadienoate

The effect of tripropyltin chloride (TPT) on transport systems in E. coli was investigated. The inhibition on uptakes of ¹⁴C-l-leucine, l-proline, adenine and methyl-(α-d-gluco)pyrano-side (α-methylglucoside) by TPT was examined. The active uptake of l-leucine which utilized ATP molecule as an energy source was 100% inhibited at the concentration of 10 µg/ml TPT. On the other hand, the uptake of l-proline which was generated by an “energied” membrane state of the cells was inhibited only 40% at the same concentration of TPT. α-Methylglucoside uptake was scarcely inhibited. Adenine uptake was intensely inhibited at 20 µg/ml TPT. The effect of the delayed addition of TPT on transport systems was also examined. l-Leucine incorporated into cells was completely released from cells by TPT. Leucine binding protein (LBP) was prepared from E. coli cells and the effect of TPT on LBP activity was examined. TPT scarcely inhibited LBP activity.     

1′, 2′-Seco-2′,3′-Dideoxynucleoside Analogues: Synthesis and Antiviral Evaluation of Racemic Trans-[1′, 5′-Dihydroxy 3′, 4′-methylenylpent-2′-oxy)methyl] Nucleosides

Abstract

Reaction of (±)but-3-en-1,2-diol (3) with ethyl diazoacetate afforded two cyclopropyl compounds (5) and (6). Their relative trans stereochemistry at C-2 and C-3 has been determined by high-field and computational NMR spectroscopy. (±)Trans-1-(1′,5′-dihydroxy-3′,4′-methylenyl-pent-2′-oxy)methyl]thymine (1d) or -cytosine (1b) and (±)trans-9-(1′,5′-dihydroxy-3′,4′-methylenylpent-2′-oxy)-methyl]adenine (la) or -guanine (1c) have been obtained through a regiospecific alkylation procedure and their antiviral evaluation is reported.     

Recombinant Glutamate Carboxypeptidase II (Prostate Specific Membrane Antigen—PSMA)—Cellular Localization and Bioactivity Analyses

Glutamate Carboxypeptidase II (also known as Prostate Specific Membrane Antigen—PSMA) is an important marker in the diagnosis of prostate cancer, however, relatively little is known about its biochemical and structure-function characteristics. We have expressed mutant forms of PSMA and have started to address the roles of three putative domains of PSMA in its cellular localization and peptidase activity. Three mutants, a full-length recombinant PSMA (rPSMA-FL), one expressing only the proposed extracellular domain of PSMA (rPSMA-ECD) and one form omitting the proposed transmembrane domain (rPSMA-ΔTMD) have been produced in human cells via a mammalian expression vector system. We show that rPSMA-FL is associated with the cell surface membrane; so too is rPSMA-ΔTMD even though it lacks the proposed transmembrane domain, whereas rPSMA-ECD has a cytosolic localization. Only rPSMA-FL retains functional hydrolytic activity and is similarly glycosylated to PSMA found in the cultured prostate cancer cell line LNCaP.     

Acyclic 2′, 3′-Dideoxy-2′,3′-didehydronucleoside 5′-Triphosphates as Termination Substrates of Broad Set of DNA Polymerases

Abstract

O4′-Nor-2′,3′-dideoxy-2′,3′-didehydronucleoside 5′-triphosphates (acyclo-d₄NTP) have been shown to have the properties of effective termination substrates for DNA biosynthesis, catalyzed by several different DNA polymerases.     

Radical Mediated Synthesis of 3′-α-C-Allenyl-2′,3′-dideoxythymidine as a Non-polar Analogue of AZT

Abstract

The synthesis of the novel modified nucleoside (1) exhibiting the 1,2-propadienyl [allenyl] group at the 3′-α- position is described. The 3′-C-C bond was formed by radical reaction between triphenylprop-2-ynylstannane (2) and the 3′-bromo(iodo)-2′,3′-dideoxynucleoside derivative (3).