Thomas E. Renau

Conformationally-restricted analogues of efflux pump inhibitors that potentiate the activity of levofloxacin in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Conformational restriction of the ornithine residue of the efflux pump inhibitor D-ornithine-D-homophenylalanine-3-aminoquinoline (MC-02,595, 2) furnished bioisosteric proline derivatives that were less toxic in vivo and as active as the lead in potentiating the activity of the fluoroquinolone levofloxacin via the inhibition of efflux pumps in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Peptidomimetics of Efflux Pump Inhibitors Potentiate the Activity of Levofloxacin in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Several classes of peptidomimetics of the efflux pump inhibitor D-ornithine-D-homophenylalanine-3-aminoquinoline (MC-02,595) have been prepared and evaluated for their ability to potentiate the activity of the fluoroquinolone levofloxacin in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. A number of the new analogues were as active or more active than the lead, demonstrating that a peptide backbone is not essential for activity.

Addressing the stability of C-capped dipeptide efflux pump inhibitors that potentiate the activity of levofloxacin in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Synthetic optimization of a biologically labile class of dipeptides that function as efflux pump inhibitors to potentiate the antibacterial agent levofloxacin in Pseudomonas aeruginosa has led to the discovery of a related series of compounds that are completely stable in a variety of biological matrices. Other than the stability profile, the in vitro profile of the new series is essentially identical to that observed with the original one. A prototypical compound from the new series demonstrates potentiation in an in vivo model of infection.

Improved synthesis and biological evaluation of an acyclic thiosangivamycin active against human cytomegalovirus

We previously described the synthesis and in vitro antiviral activity of an acyclic thiosangivamycin analog (Gupta et al., 1989a). In order to extend these initial studies, a new, multi-gram synthesis of 4-amino-7-[(2-hydroxy- ethoxy)methyl]pyrrolo]2,3-d]pyrimidine-5-thiocarboxamide (compound 229) was achieved in 5 steps from the known 5-amino-2-bromo-3,4-dicyanopyrrole in good overall yield. In plaque reduction assays with HCMV, compound 229 had an IC50 of 7 microM; in yield reduction assays the IC90 was 25 microM. The compound was less active against MCMV, HSV-1, HSV-2, and least active against VZV. Concentrations of compound 229 up to 32 microM did not affect the growth of KB cells for incubation periods up to 72 h. At 100 microM, a prolongation in population doubling time from 21 h (untreated) to 35 h was noted. This inhibition, however, was reversible upon removal of the compound suggesting the inhibition was cytostatic rather than cytotoxic. Flow cytometric studies with compound 229 in HFF cells revealed an accumulation of cells in S phase and a concurrent loss of cells in G2/M phase, suggesting an early S phase blockage. We conclude there is adequate separation between antiviral activity and cytotoxicity to merit further work with this class of pyrrolopyrimidines.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CYTOTOXICITY AND CONVERSION OF THIOSANGIVAMYCIN ANALOGS TO TOYOCAMYCIN ANALOGS IN CELL CULTURE MEDIUM

Non-nucleoside analogs of the pyrrolopyrimidine nucleosides toyocamycin, sangivamycin and thiosangivamycin have been synthesized and their cytotoxicity in mammalian cells determined. While studying the effects of 5-thioamide-substituted analogs on cell growth, we observed an interesting phenomenon in which cells recovered spontaneously from growth inhibition during extended incubations. HPLC studies demonstrated that the 5-thioamide moiety of several structurally dissimilar 7-substituted 4-aminopyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidines, including thiosangivamycin, is unstable in cell culture medium and is converted to the corresponding 5-nitrile with a half-life of approximately 48 h. In contrast, different substituents at the 4-position of the heterocycle significantly affected the stability of the 5-thioamide moiety. Conversion of the thioamide to the nitrile was caused by components in the cell culture medium, not components of serum. The above observations demonstrate that caution should be exercised in interpreting biological data obtained in vitro for 5-thioamide pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidines.

Design, synthesis and activity against human cytomegalovirus of non-phosphorylatable analogs of toyocamycin, sangivamycin and thiosangivamycin

Abstract A number of 7-alkyl 4-aminopyrrolo[2,3- d pyrimidine derivatives related to toyocamycin, sangivamycin and thiosangivamycin have been prepared and tested for their activity against human cytomegalovirus (HCMV). Only the thioamide substituted derivatives demonstrated biological activity.

Molecular Basis for Fungal Selectivity of Novel Antimitotic Compounds

ABSTRACT Compounds that selectively disrupt fungal mitosis have proven to be effective in controlling agricultural pests, but no specific mitotic inhibitor is available for the treatment of systemic mycoses in mammalian hosts. In an effort to identify novel mitotic inhibitors, we used a cell-based screening strategy that exploited the hypersensitivity of a yeast α-tubulin mutant strain to growth inhibition by antimitotic agents. The compounds identified inhibited yeast nuclear division and included one structural class of compounds shown to be fungus specific. MC-305,904 and structural analogs inhibited fungal cell mitosis and inhibited the in vitro polymerization of fungal tubulin but did not block mammalian cell microtubule function or mammalian tubulin polymerization. Extensive analysis of yeast mutations that specifically alter sensitivity to MC-305,904 structural analogs suggested that compounds in the series bind to a site on fungal β-tubulin near amino acid 198. Features of the proposed binding site explain the observed fungal tubulin specificity of the series and are consistent with structure-activity relationships among a library of related compounds.

An Efficient Synthesis of 5-Bromopyridine-2-carbonitrile

Abstract 5-Bromopyridine-2-carbonitrile was efficiently synthesized in two steps from 2,5-dibromopyridine with an overall yield of 75%.