Raymond P. Panzica

Uridine phosphorylase inhibitors: chemical modification of benzyloxybenzyl-barbituric acid and its effects on urdpase inhibition.

5-(o-Benzyloxy)benzylbarbituric acid (6) and 5-(p-benzyloxy)benzylbarbituric acid (7) were prepared and their inhibitory activities compared to 5-(m-benzyloxy)-benzylbarbituric acid (BBB) a known, potent inhibitor of uridine phosphorylase (UrdPase). Compounds 6 and 7 were 18-fold and 51-fold less active, respectively, than BBB in inhibiting UrdPase. These data provide solid evidence that the 5-benzylbarbituric acids possessing meta substituents are the most active inhibitors. In addition, 2-thioBBB (11) was synthesized and it was shown to be as active an inhibitor as BBB.

Structure-activity relationships for the binding of ligands to xanthine or guanine phosphoribosyltransferase from Toxoplasma gondii

Abstract Preliminary characterization of Toxoplasma gondii phosphoribosyltransferase activity towards purine nucleobases indicates that there are at least two enzymes present in these parasites. One enzyme uses hypoxanthine, guanine, and xanthine as substrates, while a second enzyme uses only adenine. Furthermore, competition experiments using the four possible substrates suggest that there may be a third enzyme that uses xanthine. Therefore, sixty-eight purine analogues and thirteen related derivatives were evaluated as ligands of T. gondii phosphoribosyltransferase, using xanthine or guanine as substrates, by examining their ability to inhibit these reactions in vitro . Inhibition was quantified by determining apparent K i values for compounds that inhibited these activities by greater than 10% at a concentration of 0.9 mM. On the basis of these data, a structure-activity relationship for the binding of ligands to these enzymes was formulated using hypoxanthine (6-oxopurine) as a reference compound. It was concluded that the following structural features of purine analogues are required or strongly preferred for binding to both enzymes: (1) a pyrrole-type nitrogen (lactam form) at the 1-position; (2) a methine (CH), a pyridine type nitrogen (  N  ), or an exocyclic amino or oxo group at the 2-position; (3) no exocyclic substituents at the 3-position; (4) an exocyclic oxo or thio group in the one or thione tautomeric form at the 6-position; (5) a pyridine-type nitrogen (  N  ) or a methine group at the 7-position; (6) a methine group at the 8-position; (7) a pyrrole-type nitrogen or a carbon at the 9-position; and (8) no exocyclic substituents at the 9-position. These findings provide the basis for the rational design of additional ligands of hypoxanthine, guanine, and xanthine phosphoribosyltransferase activities in T. gondii .

Synthesis of Chiral 1′,2′-SECO-Nucleosides OF Guanine AND Uracil

Abstract 2R-Chloromethoxy-1, 3S-dibenzyloxybutane (6a) and 2R-chloro methoxy-1, 3S,4-tribenzyloxybutane (6b) chirons readily available from D-isoascorbic acid, were used in the preparation of 1′,2′-seco-nucleo-sides of uracil and guanine.

AS Triazine Acyclonucleosides: Potential Inhibitors of Pyrimidine Enzymes1

Abstract Seven as-triazine-3,5-dione acyclonucleosides were synthesized and evaluated as inhibitors of orotate phosphoribosyltransferase (OPRTase, EC 2.4.2.10), orotidine 5′-monophosphate decarboxylase (ODCase, EC 4.1.2.23), uridine phosphorylase (UrdPase, EC 2.4.2.3), and thymidine phosphorylase (dThdPase, EC 2.4.2.4).

The synthesis and biological evaluation of 4-p-nitrobenzylthio-v-triazolo [4,5-d]pyridazine and imidazo[4,5-d]pyridazine ribosides as potential nucleoside transport inhibitors

The synthesis of S4-substituted nucleosides possessing the imidazo- and v-triazolo[4,5-d]pyridazine ring systems was undertaken and the compounds prepared were evaluated as inhibitors of nucleoside transport into human erythrocytes. 1-(2,3,5-Tri-O-acetyl-beta-D-ribofuranosyl)-v-triazolo[4,5-d]pyridazine- 4 (5H)-thione and 1-(2,3,5-tri-O-acetyl-beta-D-ribofuranosyl)imidazo[4,5-d]pyridazine-4 (5H)-thione were each synthesized by two different routes and served as precursors for the title analogues. The nitrobenzylmercaptopurine riboside (NBMPR) analogues, 4-(p-nitrobenzylthio)-1-(beta-D-ribofuranosyl)imidazo[4,5-d]pyrida zine and 4-(p-nitrobenzylthio)-1-(beta-D-ribofuranosyl)-v-triazolo[4,5-d]py ridazine, inhibited the transport of adenosine, but were approximately 4- and 28-fold less active, respectively, than NBMPR and nitrobenzylthioformycin, known potent and specific inhibitors of carrier-mediated transport.

As-Triazine-3, 5-Dione Acyclic Nucleosides

Abstract Certain acyclonucleoside analogues of the as-triazine-3, 5-dione ring system have been synthesized and designed as possible inhibitors of pyrimidine nucleoside phosphorylases.

Analogs of AICA- and IsoAICA Ribosides and Their Methylated Base Counterparts

Abstract A mild, convenient and efficient synthesis has been developed for imidazole-4-thiocarboxamide and imidazole-5-thiocarboxamide ribosides and the analogous selenocarboxamides. This methodology, i.e., DMF saturated with H2S or H2Se, also converts the corresponding N-methylated bases to the corresponding amides. The imidazole-4(5)-selenocarboxamides were shown to be sensitive to base (pH 11) and were easily converted back to their cyano precursors. The kinetics of these reactions were determined and they indicate that the C5 amides were more reactive than their C4 analogs.

Synthesis of 1′,2′-Seco-nucleoside Analogues of AZT

Abstract 1′,2′-Seco-AZT (3) and its 3′R,4′S diastereomer (19) were prepared and evaluated as antiviral agents. The chiral, acyclic side chains of these thymine acyclonuleosides were derived from D-isoascorbic acid. The two AZT analogues, 3 and 19, were screened against HIV, other RNA viruses, and two DNA viruses and they were found to be inactive.

Synthesis and Biological Activity of Certain 4-Substituted Imidazo[4,5-d]Pyridazine Nucleosides

Abstract Purine analogues and derivatives exhibit a broad range of pharmacological activities and are used in the chemotherapy of cancer, parasitic and viral infections, and for the suppression of immune responses. Undoubtedly, this wide range of biological activities reflect an equally wide number of biochemical sites of action, one of which is the purine de novo pathway. New agents which can either serve as inhibitors of enzymes involved in this pathway or as substrates are continually sought. The unique series of nucleosides described herein should meet these desired needs. The synthesis of 1involved glycosylation of a suitably 4,5-disubstituted imidazole and subsequent cyclization of the imidazole nucleoside so formed to the imidazo[4,5-d]pyridazine nucleoside. Such methodology was successfully employed1,2 in the preparation of certain 4,7-disubstituted imidazo[4,5-d]pyridazine nucleosides. Chlorination of 1furnished 4-chloro-1-(2,3,5-tri-O-acetyl-β-D-ribo-furanosyl)imidazo[4,5-dlpyridazine (2) in 80%...