Katherine Z. Borysko

Serine Peptide Phosphoester Prodrugs of Cyclic Cidofovir: Synthesis, Transport, and Antiviral Activity

Cidofovir (HPMPC, 1), a broad-spectrum antiviral agent, is currently used to treat AIDS-related human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) retinitis and has recognized therapeutic potential for orthopox virus infections, but is limited by its low oral bioavailability. Cyclic cidofovir (2) displays decreased nephrotoxicity compared to 1, while also exhibiting potent antiviral activity. Here we describe in detail the synthesis and evaluation as prodrugs of four cHPMPC dipeptide conjugates in which the free POH of 2 is esterified by the Ser side chain alcohol group of an X-L-Ser(OMe) dipeptide: 3 (X=L-Ala), 4 (X=L-Val), 5 (X=L-Leu), and 6 (X=L-Phe). Perfusion studies in the rat establish that the mesenteric permeability to 4 is more than 20-fold greater than to 1, and the bioavailability of 4 is increased 6-fold relative to 1 in an in vivo murine model. In gastrointestinal and liver homogenates, the cHPMPC prodrugs are rapidly hydrolyzed to 2. Prodrugs 3, 4, and 5 are nontoxic at 100 microM in HFF and KB cells and in cell-based plaque reduction assays had IC 50 values of 0.1-0.5 microM for HCMV and 10 microM for two orthopox viruses (vaccinia and cowpox). The enhanced transport properties of 3-6, conferred by incorporation of a biologically benign dipeptide moiety, and the facile cleavage of the Ser-O-P linkage suggest that these prodrugs represent a promising new approach to enhancing the bioavailability of 2.

Tyrosine-Based 1-(S)-[3-Hydroxy-2-(phosphonomethoxy)propyl]cytosine and -adenine ((S)-HPMPC and (S)-HPMPA) Prodrugs: Synthesis, Stability, Antiviral Activity, and in Vivo Transport Studies

Eight novel single amino acid (6-11) and dipeptide (12, 13) tyrosine P-O esters of cyclic cidofovir ((S)-cHPMPC, 4) and its cyclic adenine analogue ((S)-cHPMPA, 3) were synthesized and evaluated as prodrugs. In vitro IC(50) values for the prodrugs (<0.1-50 μM) vs vaccinia, cowpox, human cytomegalovirus, and herpes simplex type 1 virus were compared to those for the parent drugs ((S)-HPMPC, 2; (S)-HPMPA, 1; IC(50) 0.3-35 μM); there was no cytoxicity with KB or HFF cells at ≤100 μM. The prodrugs exhibited a wide range of half-lives in rat intestinal homogenate at pH 6.5 (<30-1732 min) with differences of 3-10× between phostonate diastereomers. The tyrosine alkylamide derivatives of 3 and 4 were the most stable. (l)-Tyr-NH-i-Bu cHPMPA (11) was converted in rat or mouse plasma solely to two active metabolites and had significantly enhanced oral bioavailability vs parent drug 1 in a mouse model (39% vs <5%).

Phosphorylation of β-d-Ribosylbenzimidazoles Is Not Required for Activity against Human Cytomegalovirus

ABSTRACT We have previously reported that 2,5,6-trichloro-1-(β-d-ribofuranosyl)benzimidazole (TCRB) and its 2-bromo analog (2-bromo-5,6-dichloro-1-(β-d-ribofuranosy)benzimidazole [BDCRB]) are potent and selective inhibitors of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) replication that block viral DNA maturation via HCMV gene products UL89 and UL56. To determine if phosphorylation is required for antiviral activity, the in vitro metabolism of BDCRB was examined and the antiviral activities of nonphosphorylatable 5′-deoxy analogs were determined. Reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis of extracts from uninfected and HCMV-infected cells incubated with [3H]BDCRB revealed two major metabolites. Both were less polar than naturally occurring nucleoside monophosphates, but one peak coeluted with a BDCRB-5′-monophosphate (BDCRB-5′-MP) standard. Further analysis revealed, however, that neither metabolite partitioned with BDCRB-5′-MP on anion-exchange HPLC. Their retention patterns were not affected by incubation with alkaline phosphatase, thereby establishing that the compounds were not nucleoside 5′-monophosphates. Both compounds were detected in uninfected and HCMV-infected cells and in mouse live extracts, but neither has been identified. Like TCRB and BDCRB, the nonphosphorylatable 5′-deoxy analogs were potent and selective inhibitors of HCMV replication. The 5′-deoxy analogs maintained inhibition of HCMV replication upon removal of BDCRB, whereas an inhibitor of DNA synthesis did not. Similar to TCRB, its 5′-deoxy analog (5′-dTCRB) did not affect viral DNA synthesis, but 5′-dTCRB did inhibit viral DNA maturation to genome-length units. Additionally, virus isolates resistant to TCRB were also resistant to 5′-dTCRB and the 5′-deoxy analog of BDCRB. Taken together, these results confirm that TCRB, BDCRB, and their 5′-deoxy analogs have common mechanisms of action and establish that these benzimidazole ribonucleosides, unlike other antiviral nucleosides, do not require phosphorylation at the 5′ position for antiviral activity.

Low nanogram detection of nucleotides using fast atom bombardment-mass spectrometry

The effect of trimethylsilyl (TMS) derivatization on detection limits of mononucleotides in fast atom bombardment-mass spectrometry (FAB-MS) was examined. FAB-MS methods were developed to optimize sensitivity using adenosine 5-monophosphate as a model compound and then applied to reference standards of two clinically important nucleotides: tricyclic nucleoside-5-monophosphate (TCNMP) and 5-fluoro-2-deoxyuridine-5-monophosphate (FdUMP). The detection limit for the TMS derivative of TCNMP was 2.5-5 ng/microliters and less than 2.5 ng/microliters for FdUMP as its TMS derivative. This is greater than two orders of magnitude more sensitive than the FAB-MS analysis of the corresponding free compounds. These low detection limits for the TMS derivatives were obtained using a narrow scan range, signal averaging, detection in the negative ion mode, and 3-nitrobenzyl alcohol as the matrix. Hydrolysis of one or more of the labile TMS groups did occur, with the extent of hydrolysis being greatest in the more protic matrices.

Acyclic sugar analogs of triciribine: lack of antiviral and antiproliferative activity correlate with low intracellular phosphorylation.

Triciribine and triciribine monophosphate have antiviral and antiproliferative activity at low or submicromolar concentrations. In an effort to improve and better understand this activity, we have synthesized a series of acyclic analogs and evaluated them for activity against select viruses and cancer cell lines. We conclude that the rigid ribosyl ring system of triciribine must be intact in order to be phosphorylated and to obtain significant antiviral and antiproliferative activity.

Triciribine (TCN), A Novel Tricyclic Adenosine Analog with Anticancer Activity

Abstract Triciribine shows promise as an antitumor drug and is currently in clinical trials. In L1210 cells in vitro, triciribine lethality is associated with inhibition of DNA synthesis, a G1(-S) cell progression block and slowing of progression of cells through s phase.

Benzimidazole Analogs Inhibit Human Herpesvirus 6

ABSTRACT Several benzimidazole nucleoside analogs, including 1H-β-d-ribofuranosyl-2-bromo-5,6-dichlorobenzimidazole (BDCRB) and 1H-β-l-ribofuranosyl-2-isopropylamino-5,6-dichlorobenzimidazole (maribavir [MBV]), inhibit the replication of human cytomegalovirus. Neither analog inhibited the related betaherpesvirus human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6). Additional analogs of these compounds were evaluated against both variants of HHV-6, and two l-analogs of BDCRB had good antiviral activity against HHV-6A, as well as more modest inhibition of HHV-6B replication.

Inhibition of Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 1 by Purines and Pyrrolo[2,3-d]Pyrimidines Does Not Correlate with Antiviral Activity

ABSTRACT We have previously shown that a series of nonnucleoside pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidines selectively inhibit the replication of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and human cytomegalovirus (HCMV). These compounds act at the immediate-early or early stage of HCMV replication and have antiviral properties somewhat similar to those of roscovitine and olomoucine, specific inhibitors of cyclin-dependent kinases (cdks). In the present study we examine the hypothesis that pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidines exert their antiviral effects by inhibition of cellular cdks. Much higher concentrations of a panel of pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine nucleoside analogs with antiviral activity were required to inhibit recombinant cdk1/cyclin B compared to the submicromolar concentrations required to inhibit HCMV and HSV-1 replication. 4,6-Diamino-5-cyano-7-(2-phenylethyl)pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine (compound 1369) was the best inhibitor of cdk1 and cyclin B, with a 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50; 14 μM) similar to that of roscovitine; it was competitive with respect to ATP (Ki = 14 μM). The potency of compound 1369 against cdk1 and cyclin B was similar to its cytotoxicity (IC50s, 32 to 100 μM) but not its antiviral efficacy (IC50s, 0.02 to 0.3 μM). Thus, our results indicated the null hypothesis. In contrast, roscovitine was only weakly active against HSV-1 (IC50, 38 μM) and HCMV (IC50, 40 μM). These values were similar to those derived by cytotoxicity and cell growth inhibition assays, thereby suggesting that roscovitine is not a selective antiviral. Therefore, we propose that inhibition of cdk1 and cyclin B is not responsible for selective antiviral activity and that pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidines constitute novel pharmacophores which compete with ATP to inhibit cdk1 and cyclin B.

Resistance of Human Cytomegalovirus to Cyclopropavir Maps to a Base Pair Deletion in the Open Reading Frame of UL97

ABSTRACT Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a widespread pathogen in the human population, affecting many immunologically immature and immunocompromised patients, and can result in severe complications, such as interstitial pneumonia and mental retardation. Current chemotherapies for the treatment of HCMV infections include ganciclovir (GCV), foscarnet, and cidofovir. However, the high incidences of adverse effects (neutropenia and nephrotoxicity) limit the use of these drugs. Cyclopropavir (CPV), a guanosine nucleoside analog, is 10-fold more active against HCMV than GCV (50% effective concentrations [EC50s] = 0.46 and 4.1 μM, respectively). We hypothesize that the mechanism of action of CPV is similar to that of GCV: phosphorylation to a monophosphate by viral pUL97 protein kinase with further phosphorylation to a triphosphate by endogenous kinases, resulting in inhibition of viral DNA synthesis. To test this hypothesis, we isolated a CPV-resistant virus, sequenced its genome, and discovered that bp 498 of UL97 was deleted. This mutation caused a frameshift in UL97 resulting in a truncated protein that lacks a kinase domain. To determine if this base pair deletion was responsible for drug resistance, the mutation was engineered into the wild-type viral genome, which was then exposed to increasing concentrations of CPV. The results demonstrate that the engineered virus was approximately 72-fold more resistant to CPV (EC50 = 25.8 ± 3.1 μM) than the wild-type virus (EC50 = 0.36 ± 0.11 μM). We conclude, therefore, that this mutation is sufficient for drug resistance and that pUL97 is involved in the mechanism of action of CPV.

Synthesis and Antiviral Activity of 2-Substituted Analogs of Triciribine

Abstract Triciribine (TCN) and triciribine monophosphate (TCN-P) have antiviral and antineoplastic activity at low or submicromolar concentrations. In an effort to improve and better understand this activity, we have conducted a structure-activity relationship study to explore the effect of substitutions at the 2-position of triciribine. 2-Methyl-(2-Me-TCN), 2-ethyl-(2-Et-TCN), 2-phenyl-(2-Ph-TCN), 2-chloro-(2-Cl-TCN), and 2-aminotriciribine(2-NH2-TCN) were designed and synthesized to determine the effects of substitutions at the 2-position which change the steric, electronic, and hydrophobic properties of TCN, while maintaining the integrity of the tricyclic ring system. These compounds were evaluated for activity against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1), herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), and human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and were found to be either less active than TCN and TCN-P or inactive at the highest concentrations tested, 100 µM. We conclude that substitutions at the 2-position of triciribine adversely affect the antiviral activity most likely because these analogs are not phosphorylated to active metabolites.