Robert A. Domaoal

Computationally-Guided Optimization of a Docking Hit to Yield Catechol Diethers as Potent Anti-HIV Agents

A 5-μM docking hit has been optimized to an extraordinarily potent (55 pM) non-nucleoside inhibitor of HIV reverse transcriptase. Use of free energy perturbation (FEP) calculations to predict relative free energies of binding aided the optimizations by identifying optimal substitution patterns for phenyl rings and a linker. The most potent resultant catechol diethers feature terminal uracil and cyanovinylphenyl groups. A halogen bond with Pro95 likely contributes to the extreme potency of compound 42. In addition, several examples are provided illustrating failures of attempted grafting of a substructure from a very active compound onto a seemingly related scaffold to improve its activity.

Efficient discovery of potent anti-HIV agents targeting the Tyr181Cys variant of HIV reverse transcriptase.

Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) that interfere with the replication of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are being pursued with guidance from molecular modeling including free-energy perturbation (FEP) calculations for protein-inhibitor binding affinities. The previously reported pyrimidinylphenylamine 1 and its chloro analogue 2 are potent anti-HIV agents; they inhibit replication of wild-type HIV-1 in infected human T-cells with EC(50) values of 2 and 10 nM, respectively. However, they show no activity against viral strains containing the Tyr181Cys (Y181C) mutation in HIV-RT. Modeling indicates that the problem is likely associated with extensive interaction between the dimethylallyloxy substituent and Tyr181. As an alternative, a phenoxy group is computed to be oriented in a manner diminishing the contact with Tyr181. However, this replacement leads to a roughly 1000-fold loss of activity for 3 (2.5 μM). The present report details the efficient, computationally driven evolution of 3 to novel NNRTIs with sub-10 nM potency toward both wild-type HIV-1 and Y181C-containing variants. The critical contributors were FEP substituent scans for the phenoxy and pyrimidine rings and recognition of potential benefits of addition of a cyanovinyl group to the phenoxy ring.

An antibody-recruiting small molecule that targets HIV gp120.

HIV/AIDS is a global pandemic for which new treatment strategies are desperately needed. We have designed a novel small molecule, designated as ARM-H, that has the potential to interfere with HIV survival through two mechanisms: (1) by recruiting antibodies to gp120-expressing virus particles and infected human cells, thus enhancing their uptake and destruction by the human immune system, and (2) by binding the viral glycoprotein gp120, inhibiting its interaction with the human protein CD4 and preventing virus entry. Here we demonstrate that ARM-H is capable of simultaneously binding gp120, a component of the Env surface viral glycoprotein (found on the surface of both HIV and virus-infected cells) and anti-2,4-dinitrophenyl antibodies (already present in the human bloodstream). The ternary complex formed between the antibody, ARM-H, and gp120 is immunologically active and leads to the complement-mediated destruction of Env-expressing cells. Furthermore, ARM-H prevents virus entry into human T-cells and should therefore be capable of inhibiting virus replication through two mutually reinforcing mechanisms (inhibition of virus entry and antibody-mediated killing). These studies demonstrate the viable anti-HIV activity of antibody-recruiting small molecules and have the potential to initiate novel paradigms in HIV treatment.

Pre-steady-state Kinetic Studies Establish Entecavir 5′-Triphosphate as a Substrate for HIV-1 Reverse Transcriptase

The novel 2′-deoxyguanosine analog Entecavir (ETV) is a potent inhibitor of hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication and is recommended for treatment in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and HBV-co-infected patients because it had been reported that ETV is HBV-specific. Recent clinical observations, however, have suggested that ETV may indeed demonstrate anti-HIV-1 activity. To investigate this question at a molecular level, kinetic studies were used to examine the interaction of 5′-triphosphate form of ETV with wild type (WT) HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) and the nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor-resistant mutation M184V. Using single turnover kinetic assays, we found that HIV-1 WT RT and M184V RT could use the activated ETV triphosphate metabolite as a substrate for incorporation. The mutant displayed a slower incorporation rate, a lower binding affinity, and a lower incorporation efficiency with the 5′-triphosphate form of ETV compared with WT RT, suggesting a kinetic basis for resistance. Our results are supported by cell-based assays in primary human lymphocytes that show inhibition of WT HIV-1 replication by ETV and decreased susceptibility of the HIV-1 containing the M184V mutation. This study has important therapeutic implications as it establishes ETV as an inhibitor for HIV-1 RT and illustrates the mechanism of resistance by the M184V mutant.

Discovery of wild-type and Y181C mutant non-nucleoside HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibitors using virtual screening with multiple protein structures.

To discover non-nucleoside inhibitors of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (NNRTIs) that are effective against both wild-type (WT) virus and variants that encode the clinically troublesome Tyr181Cys (Y181C) RT mutation, virtual screening by docking was carried out using three RT structures and more than 2 million commercially available compounds. Two of the structures are for WT-virus with different conformations of Tyr181, while the third structure incorporates the Y181C modification. Eventually nine compounds were purchased and assayed. Three of the compounds show low-micromolar antiviral activity toward either or both the wild-type and Y181C HIV-1 strains. The study illustrates a viable protocol to seek anti-HIV agents with enhanced resistance profiles.

Identification of a β3-peptide HIV fusion inhibitor with improved potency in live cells

We recently reported a beta(3)-decapeptide, betaWWI-1, that binds a validated gp41 model in vitro and inhibits gp41-mediated fusion in cell culture. Here we report six analogs of betaWWI-1 containing a variety of non-natural side chains in place of the central tryptophan of the WWI-epitope. These analogs were compared on the basis of both gp41 affinity in vitro and fusion inibition in live, HIV-infected cells. One new beta(3)-peptide, betaWXI-a, offers a significantly improved CC(50)/EC(50) ratio in the live cell assay.

Quasi-biomimetic ring contraction promoted by a cysteine-based nucleophile: Total synthesis of Sch-642305, some analogs and their putative anti-HIV activities

Cysteine plays a number of important functional and structural roles in Nature, often in the realm of catalysis. Herein, we present an example of a cysteine-catalyzed Rauhut-Currier reaction for a potentially biomimetic synthesis of Sch-642305 and related analogs. In this key step of the synthesis we discuss interesting new discoveries and the importance of substrate-catalyst recognition, as well as cysteines structural features. Also, we investigate the activity of Sch-642305 and four analogs in HIV-infected T-cells.

Discovery of dimeric inhibitors by extension into the entrance channel of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase.

Design of non-nucleoside inhibitors of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase is being pursued with computational guidance. Extension of azine-containing inhibitors into the entrance channel between Lys103 and Glu138 has led to the discovery of potent and structurally novel derivatives including dimeric inhibitors in an NNRTI-linker-NNRTI motif.

Illuminating HIV gp120-ligand recognition through computationally-driven optimization of antibody-recruiting molecules

Here we report on the structure-based optimization of antibody-recruiting molecules targeting HIV gp120 (ARM-H). These studies have leveraged a combination of medicinal chemistry, biochemical and cellular assay analysis, and computation. Our findings have afforded an optimized analog of ARM-H, which is ~1000 fold more potent in gp120-binding and MT-2 antiviral assays than our previously reported derivative. Furthermore, computational analysis, taken together with experimental data, provides evidence that azaindole- and indole-based attachment inhibitors bind gp120 at an accessory hydrophobic pocket beneath the CD4-binding site and can also adopt multiple unique binding modes in interacting with gp120. These results are likely to prove highly enabling in the development of novel HIV attachment inhibitors, and more broadly, they suggest novel applications for ARMs as probes of conformationally flexible systems.