Joseph Armstrong Martin

The Novel Nucleoside Analog R1479 (4′-Azidocytidine) Is a Potent Inhibitor of NS5B-dependent RNA Synthesis and Hepatitis C Virus Replication in Cell Culture

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) polymerase activity is essential for HCV replication. Targeted screening of nucleoside analogs identified R1479 (4′-azidocytidine) as a specific inhibitor of HCV replication in the HCV subgenomic replicon system (IC50 = 1.28 μm) with similar potency compared with 2′-C-methylcytidine (IC50 = 1.13 μm). R1479 showed no effect on cell viability or proliferation of HCV replicon or Huh-7 cells at concentrations up to 2 mm. HCV replicon RNA could be fully cleared from replicon cells after prolonged incubation with R1479. The corresponding 5′-triphosphate derivative (R1479-TP) is a potent inhibitor of native HCV replicase isolated from replicon cells and of recombinant HCV polymerase (NS5B)-mediated RNA synthesis activity. R1479-TP inhibited RNA synthesis as a CTP-competitive inhibitor with a Ki of 40 nm. On an HCV RNA-derived template substrate (complementary internal ribosome entry site), R1479-TP showed similar potency of NS5B inhibition compared with 3′-dCTP. R1479-TP was incorporated into nascent RNA by HCV polymerase and reduced further elongation with similar efficiency compared with 3′-dCTP under the reaction conditions. The S282T point mutation in the coding sequence of NS5B confers resistance to inhibition by 2′-C-MeATP and other 2′-methyl-nucleotides. In contrast, the S282T mutation did not confer cross-resistance to R1479.

Recent advances in the design of HIV proteinase inhibitors

Inhibition of HIV proteinase is currently one of the most widely studied approaches for chemotherapeutic intervention in the treatment of AIDS. A range of inhibitors of this essential enzyme has been designed from detailed knowledge of its mechanism of action and cleavage sites. These inhibitors have been classified according to their derivation. All are transition-state analogues and contain a hydroxyethylene, hydroxyethylamine, phosphinate or symmetrical moiety. Many of these inhibitors have high selectivity for the viral enzyme and significant antiviral activity. Advances in the design of HIV proteinase inhibitors that have been reported in the past year are reviewed.

2′-Deoxy-4′-azido Nucleoside Analogs Are Highly Potent Inhibitors of Hepatitis C Virus Replication Despite the Lack of 2′-α-Hydroxyl Groups

RNA polymerases effectively discriminate against deoxyribonucleotides and specifically recognize ribonucleotide substrates most likely through direct hydrogen bonding interaction with the 2′-α-hydroxy moieties of ribonucleosides. Therefore, ribonucleoside analogs as inhibitors of viral RNA polymerases have mostly been designed to retain hydrogen bonding potential at this site for optimal inhibitory potency. Here, two novel nucleoside triphosphate analogs are described, which are efficiently incorporated into nascent RNA by the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase NS5B of hepatitis C virus (HCV), causing chain termination, despite the lack of α-hydroxy moieties. 2′-Deoxy-2′-β-fluoro-4′-azidocytidine (RO-0622) and 2′-deoxy-2′-β-hydroxy-4′-azidocytidine (RO-9187) were excellent substrates for deoxycytidine kinase and were phosphorylated with efficiencies up to 3-fold higher than deoxycytidine. As compared with previous reports on ribonucleosides, higher levels of triphosphate were formed from RO-9187 in primary human hepatocytes, and both compounds were potent inhibitors of HCV virus replication in the replicon system (IC50 = 171 ± 12 nm and 24 ± 3 nm for RO-9187 and RO-0622, respectively; CC50 >1 mm for both). Both compounds inhibited RNA synthesis by HCV polymerases from either HCV genotypes 1a and 1b or containing S96T or S282T point mutations with similar potencies, suggesting no cross-resistance with either R1479 (4′-azidocytidine) or 2′-C-methyl nucleosides. Pharmacokinetic studies with RO-9187 in rats and dogs showed that plasma concentrations exceeding HCV replicon IC50 values 8-150-fold could be achieved by low dose (10 mg/kg) oral administration. Therefore, 2′-α-deoxy-4′-azido nucleosides are a new class of antiviral nucleosides with promising preclinical properties as potential medicines for the treatment of HCV infection.

2'-deoxy-4'-azido nucleoside analogs are highly potent inhibitors of HCV replication despite the lack of 2'-alpha hydroxyl groups

RNA polymerases effectively discriminate against deoxyribonucleotides and specifically recognize ribonucleotide substrates most likely through direct hydrogen bonding interaction with the 2′-α-hydroxy moieties of ribonucleosides. Therefore, ribonucleoside analogs as inhibitors of viral RNA polymerases have mostly been designed to retain hydrogen bonding potential at this site for optimal inhibitory potency. Here, two novel nucleoside triphosphate analogs are described, which are efficiently incorporated into nascent RNA by the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase NS5B of hepatitis C virus (HCV), causing chain termination, despite the lack of α-hydroxy moieties. 2′-Deoxy-2′-β-fluoro-4′-azidocytidine (RO-0622) and 2′-deoxy-2′-β-hydroxy-4′-azidocytidine (RO-9187) were excellent substrates for deoxycytidine kinase and were phosphorylated with efficiencies up to 3-fold higher than deoxycytidine. As compared with previous reports on ribonucleosides, higher levels of triphosphate were formed from RO-9187 in primary human hepatocytes, and both compounds were potent inhibitors of HCV virus replication in the replicon system (IC50 = 171 ± 12 nm and 24 ± 3 nm for RO-9187 and RO-0622, respectively; CC50 >1 mm for both). Both compounds inhibited RNA synthesis by HCV polymerases from either HCV genotypes 1a and 1b or containing S96T or S282T point mutations with similar potencies, suggesting no cross-resistance with either R1479 (4′-azidocytidine) or 2′-C-methyl nucleosides. Pharmacokinetic studies with RO-9187 in rats and dogs showed that plasma concentrations exceeding HCV replicon IC50 values 8-150-fold could be achieved by low dose (10 mg/kg) oral administration. Therefore, 2′-α-deoxy-4′-azido nucleosides are a new class of antiviral nucleosides with promising preclinical properties as potential medicines for the treatment of HCV infection.

New Potent and Selective Inhibitors of Herpes Simplex Virus Tbyhidine Kinase

Abstract Analogues of 5-ethyl-2′-deoxyuridine with modifications in the 5′-position have been prepared as potent inhibitors of herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSV TK). The most potent compound in the series is extremely selective for the viral enzyme, antagonises the antiviral activity of acyclovir in vitro and shows a protective effect in virus-infected mice.

THE SYNTHESIS OF ZINNIOL

Abstract Zinniol 10, 3 - methoxy - 4 -methyl - 5 (3 - methyl - 2 - butenyloxy) - 1,2 - benzenedimethanol, a metabolite isolated from the pathogenic fungus Alternaria zinniae, has been synthesised.

The synthesis of 1-[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl]-7,12-dihydro-3H-[2]-benzoxepino[4,3-e]indole : A potential antidepressant agent

The structures of doxepin and serotonin were overlayed using molecular graphics and 1 - [2-(dimethylamino)ethyl] - 7, 12 - dihydro - 3H - [2] - benzoxepino[4,3-e]indole(1) was proposed as a potential antidepressant agent. This paper deals with the synthesis of the title compound. Key steps in the synthesis include a regioselective electrophilic substitution at C-4 of ethyl 5-hydroxy-1-indolecarboxylate (4) and subsequent modification to 7,12-dihydro-3H-[2]-benzoxepino[4,3-e]indole(12). Standard procedures were then used to construct the dimethylaminoethyl side chain to yeild the title compound (1).

Applications of Parallel Synthesis to Lead Optimization

Parallel synthesis of focused compound libraries for hit confirmation and lead optimization are certainly important drivers for shortening the lead discovery phase in the pharmaceutical and crop protection industries. In this article we show with permission of Roche and Syngenta three real case studies where Polyphor synthesized focused libraries for lead validation and optimization using high-throughput parallel synthesis and purification techniques. The three examples differ significantly in the synthetic strategies which were employed as well as in the chemical complexity of the final products. A multigeneration approach towards insecticidal triazines, the application of a sequential three-component reaction towards insecticidal and fungicidal thiazoles and finally a multistep synthesis approach of advanced building blocks followed by a two-step final derivatization towards novel antiviral N-hydroxy-indolin-2-ones are presented. In all cases 100-200 analogues were synthesized using parallel synthesis in solution followed by purification of the final products by parallel flash or high-throughput (unattended) HPLC (coupled to MS) within four months. Promising biological results were obtained in all three cases.