Taisei Kanamoto

Development of specific CXCR4 inhibitors possessing high selectivity indexes as well as complete stability in serum based on an anti-HIV peptide T140.

We previously reported a truncated polyphemusin peptide analogue, T140, which efficiently inhibits infection of target cells by T-cell line-tropic strains of HIV-1 (X4-HIV-1) through its specific binding to a chemokine receptor, CXCR4. We have found that T140 is not stable in feline serum due to the cleavage of the C-terminal Arg,(14) indispensable for anti-HIV activity. On the other hand, a C-terminally amidated analogue of T140, TZ14004, has been found to be completely stable in incubation in the serum for 2 days. The C-terminal amide is thought to be needed for stability in serum. However, TZ14004 does not have fairly strong anti-HIV activity, but has relatively strong cytotoxicity, probably due to an increase by +1 charge from total +7 charges of T140. In our previous study, the number of total +6 charges seemed to be a suitable balance between activity and cytotoxicity. In this study, we have conducted a double-L-citrulline (Cit)-scanning study on TZ14004 based on the C-terminally amidated form in due consideration of the total net charges in the whole molecule to find novel effective CXCR4 inhibitors, TN14003 ([Cit(6)]-T140 with the C-terminal amide) and TC14012 ([Cit(6), D-Cit(8)]-T140 with the C-terminal amide), which possess high selectivity indexes (SIs) and complete stability in feline serum.

Anti-Human Immunodeficiency Virus Activity of YK-FH312 (a Betulinic Acid Derivative), a Novel Compound Blocking Viral Maturation

ABSTRACT Betulinic acid, a triterpenoid isolated from the methyl alcohol extract of the leaves of Syzigium claviflorum, was found to have a potent inhibitory activity against human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). Betulinic acid derivatives were synthesized to enhance the anti-HIV activity. Among the derivatives, 3-O-(3′,3′-dimethylsuccinyl) betulinic acid, designated YK-FH312, showed the highest activity against HIV-induced cytopathic effects in HIV-1-infected MT-4 cells. To determine the step(s) of HIV replication affected by YK-FH312, a syncytium formation inhibition assay in MOLT-4/HIV-1IIIB and MOLT-4 coculture, a multinuclear-activation-of-galactosidase-indicator (MAGI) assay in MAGI-CCR5 cells, electron microscopic observation, and a time-of-addition assay were performed. In the syncytium formation inhibition assay or in the MAGI assay for de novo infection, the compound did not show inhibitory effects against HIV replication. Conversely, no virions were detected in HIV-1-infected cell cultures treated with YK-FH312 either by electron microscopic observation or by viral yield in the supernatant. In accordance with a p24 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of culture supernatant in the time-of-addition assay, YK-FH312 inhibited virus expression in the supernatant when it was added 18 h postinfection. However, Western blot analysis of the cells in the time-of-addition assay revealed that the production of viral proteins in the cells was not inhibited completely by YK-FH312. These results suggest that YK-FH312 might affect the step(s) of virion assembly and/or budding of virions, and this is a novel mechanism of action of an anti-HIV compound.

Pharmacophore identification of a specific CXCR4 inhibitor, T140, leads to development of effective anti-HIV agents with very high selectivity indexes

A polyphemusin peptide analogue, T22 ([Tyr(5,12), Lys7]-polyphemusin II), and its shortened potent analogues, T134 (des-[Cys(8,13), Tyr(9,12)]-[D-Lys10, Pro11, L-citrulline16]-T22 without C-terminal amide) and T140 [[L-3-(2-naphthyl)alanine3]-T134], strongly inhibit the T-cell line-tropic (T-tropic) HIV-1 infection through their specific binding to a chemokine receptor, CXCR4. T22 is an extremely basic peptide possessing five Arg and three Lys residues in the molecule. In our previous study, we found that there is an apparent correlation in the T22-related peptides between the number of total positive charges and anti-HIV activity or cytotoxicity. Here, we have conducted the conventional Ala-scanning study in order to define the anti-HIV activity pharmacophore of T140 (the strongest analogue among our compounds) and identified four indispensable amino acid residues (Arg2, Nal3, Tyr5, and Arg14). Based on this result, a series of L-citrulline (Cit)-substituted analogues of T140 with decreased net positive charges have been synthesized and evaluated in terms of anti-HIV activity and cytotoxicity. As a result, novel effective inhibitors, TC14003 and TC14005, possessing higher selectivity indexes (SIs, 50% cytotoxic concentration/50% effective concentration) than that of T140 have been developed.

Sulfated fibroin, a novel sulfated peptide derived from silk, inhibits human immunodeficiency virus replication in vitro.

We prepared two kinds of sulfated silk fibroins, SclFib30 and SclFib31, which contain different amounts of sulfate. These sulfated silk fibroins have anti-HIV-1 activity in vitro, apparently due to interference with the adsorption of virus particles to CD4+ cells, and completely blocked virus binding to the cells at a concentration of 100 μg/ml. Sulfated fibroins also abolished cell-to-cell infection-induced syncytium formation upon cocultivation of MOLT-4 and MOLT-4/HIV-1IIIB cells, suggesting that they would interfere with gp120 and prevent the formation of gp120/CD4 complex. Silk is used in biomaterials such as surgical sutures and is believed to be a safe material for humans. In accordance with low anticoagulant activity and high anti-HIV-1 activity against both X4 HIV-1 and R5 HIV-1 strains, sulfated silk fibroins have potential as antiviral material such for a vaginal anti-HIV formulation.

Contribution of Lipoproteins and Lipoprotein Processing to Endocarditis Virulence in Streptococcus sanguinis

Streptococcus sanguinis is an important cause of infective endocarditis. Previous studies have identified lipoproteins as virulence determinants in other streptococcal species. Using a bioinformatic approach, we identified 52 putative lipoprotein genes in S. sanguinis strain SK36 as well as genes encoding the lipoprotein-processing enzymes prolipoprotein diacylglyceryl transferase (lgt) and signal peptidase II (lspA). We employed a directed signature-tagged mutagenesis approach to systematically disrupt these genes and screen each mutant for the loss of virulence in an animal model of endocarditis. All mutants were viable. In competitive index assays, mutation of a putative phosphate transporter reduced in vivo competitiveness by 14-fold but also reduced in vitro viability by more than 20-fold. Mutations in lgt, lspA, or an uncharacterized lipoprotein gene reduced competitiveness by two- to threefold in the animal model and in broth culture. Mutation of ssaB, encoding a putative metal transporter, produced a similar effect in culture but reduced in vivo competiveness by >1,000-fold. [(3)H]palmitate labeling and Western blot analysis confirmed that the lgt mutant failed to acylate lipoproteins, that the lspA mutant had a general defect in lipoprotein cleavage, and that SsaB was processed differently in both mutants. These results indicate that the loss of a single lipoprotein, SsaB, dramatically reduces endocarditis virulence, whereas the loss of most other lipoproteins or of normal lipoprotein processing has no more than a minor effect on virulence.

Antimicrobial activity of trifluoromethyl ketones and their synergism with promethazine

The antimicrobial effects of 30 trifluoromethyl ketones [1-30] were studied on various representative bacteria. Of the ketones, 4,4,4-trifluoro-1-phenyl-1,3-butanedione [10], 1,1,1-trifluoro-3-(4,5-dimethyloxazol-2-yl)-2-propanone [11] and 1-(2-benzoxazolyl)-3,3,3-trifluoro-2-propanone [18] were found to exhibit potent antibacterial activity against the Gram-positive Bacillus megaterium and Corynebacterium michiganese, but not against Gram-negative bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Serratia marcescens. Compounds 11 and 18 inhibited the Escherichia coli. Compound 18 was also effective against yeasts. The combination of promethazine with 18 was significantly synergistic against E. coli strains, especially the proton pump deficient mutant. The results suggest that membrane transporters are the target of trifluoromethyl ketones. The inhibition was more marked in the proton pump deficient E. coli mutant than in the wild type, which suggested that the antibacterial effect of trifluoromethyl ketones is partly prevented by the proton pump system.

Biological and Genetic Characterization of a Human Immunodeficiency Virus Strain Resistant to CXCR4 Antagonist T134

The chemokine receptors CXCR4 and CCR5 are considered to be potential targets for the inhibition of HIV-1 replication. We have reported that T134 and T140 inhibited X4 HIV-1 infection specifically because they acted as CXCR4 antagonists. In the present study, we have generated a T134-resistant virus (trHIV-1(NL4-3)) in a cell culture with gradually increasing concentrations of the compound. The EC(50) of T134 against trHIV-1(NL4-3) recovered after 145 passages was 15 times greater than that against wild-type HIV-1(NL4-3). This adapted virus was resistant to other CXCR4 antagonists, T140, AMD3100, and ALX40-4C, and SDF-1; from 10 to 145 times greater than that against wild-type HIV-1(NL4-3). On the other hand, T134, T140, and ALX40-4C were still active against AMD3100-resistant viruses (arHIV-1(018A)). The trHIV-1(NL4-3) contained the following mutations in the V3 loop of gp120: N269K, Q278T, R279K, A284V, F285L, V286Y, I288T, K290E, N293D, M294I, and Q296K; an insertion of T at 290; and Delta274-275 (SI). In addition, many other mutations were recognized in the V1, V2, and V4 domains. Thus, resistance to T134 may be the consequence of amino acid substitutions in the envelope glycoprotein of X4 HIV-1. The trHIV-1(NL4-3) could not utilize CCR5 as an HIV infection coreceptor, although many amino acid substitutions were recognized. The trHIV-1(NL4-3) acquired resistance to vMIP II, which could inhibit both X4 and R5 HIV-1 infection. However, neither the ligands of CCR5, RANTES, and MIP-1alpha, nor a CCR5 low molecular antagonist, TAK-779, were able to influence the infection of trHIV-1(NL4-3). Those results indicated that alternation of coreceptor usage of trHIV-1(NL4-3) was not induced.

Comprehensive Evaluation of Streptococcus sanguinis Cell Wall-Anchored Proteins in Early Infective Endocarditis

ABSTRACT Streptococcus sanguinis is a member of the viridans group of streptococci and a leading cause of the life-threatening endovascular disease infective endocarditis. Initial contact with the cardiac infection site is likely mediated by S. sanguinis surface proteins. In an attempt to identify the proteins required for this crucial step in pathogenesis, we searched for surface-exposed, cell wall-anchored proteins encoded by S. sanguinis and then used a targeted signature-tagged mutagenesis (STM) approach to evaluate their contributions to virulence. Thirty-three predicted cell wall-anchored proteins were identified—a number much larger than those found in related species. The requirement of each cell wall-anchored protein for infective endocarditis was assessed in the rabbit model. It was found that no single cell wall-anchored protein was essential for the development of early infective endocarditis. STM screening was also employed for the evaluation of three predicted sortase transpeptidase enzymes, which mediate the cell surface presentation of cell wall-anchored proteins. The sortase A mutant exhibited a modest (∼2-fold) reduction in competitiveness, while the other two sortase mutants were indistinguishable from the parental strain. The combined results suggest that while cell wall-anchored proteins may play a role in S. sanguinis infective endocarditis, strategies designed to interfere with individual cell wall-anchored proteins or sortases would not be effective for disease prevention.

Certification of the Critical Importance of l-3-(2-Naphthyl)alanine at Position 3 of a Specific CXCR4 Inhibitor, T140, Leads to an Exploratory Performance of Its Downsizing Study

We have previously found that a 14-amino acid residue-peptide, T140, inhibits infection of target cells by T cell line-tropic HIV-1 (X4-HIV-1) through its specific binding to a chemokine receptor, CXCR4. Here, the importance of an L-3-(2-naphthyl)alanine (Nal) residue at position 3 in T140 for high anti-HIV activity and inhibitory activity against Ca(2+) mobilization induced by stromal cell-derived factor (SDF)-1alpha-stimulation through CXCR4 has initially been shown by the synthesis and biological evaluation of several analogues, where Nal(3) is substituted by diverse aromatic amino acids. Next, the order of the N-terminal 3 residues (Arg(1)-Arg(2)-Nal(3)) has been proved to be important from the structure--activity relationship (SAR) study shuffling these residues. Based on these results, we have found 10-residue peptides possessing modest anti-HIV activity by systematic antiviral evaluation of a series of synthetic, shortened analogues of T140.

Sulfation and biological activities of konjac glucomannan

The sulfation of konjac glucomannan and its anti-HIV and blood anticoagulant activities were investigated. Konjac glucomannan is a polysaccharide occurring naturally in konjac plant tubers and has high molecular weights. Solubility in water is very low, and the aqueous solutions at low concentrations have high viscosity. Before sulfation, hydrolysis by diluted sulfuric acid was carried out to decrease the molecular weights of M¯n=19.2 × 10(4)-0.2 × 10(4). Sulfation with piperidine-N-sulfonic acid or SO3-pyridine complex gave sulfated konjac glucomannans with molecular weights of M¯n=1.0 × 10(4)-0.4 × 10(4) and degrees of sulfation (DS) of 1.3-1.4. It was found that the sulfated konjac glucomannans had potent anti-HIV activity at a 50% effective concentration, (EC50) of 1.2-1.3 μg/ml, which was almost as high as that of an AIDS drug, ddC, whose EC50=3.2 μg/ml, and moderate blood anticoagulant activity, AA=0.8-22.7 units/mg, compared to those of standard sulfated polysaccharides, curdlan (10 units/mg) and dextran (22.7 units/mg) sulfates. Structural analysis of sulfated konjac glucomannans with negatively charged sulfated groups was performed by high resolution NMR, and the interaction between poly-l-lysine with positively charged amino groups as a model compound of proteins and peptides was measured by surface plasmon resonance measurement, suggesting that the sulfated konjac glucomannans had a high binding stability on immobilized poly-l-lysine. The binding of sulfated konjac glucomannan was concentration-dependent, and the biological activity of the sulfated konjac glucomannans may be due to electrostatic interaction between the sulfate and amino groups.