A versatile synthesis of "tafuramycin A": a potent anticancer and parasite attenuating agent.

An improved and versatile synthesis of tafuramycin A, a potent anticancer and parasite-attenuating agent, is reported. The three major improvements that optimized yield, simplified purification and allowed the synthesis of more versatile duocarmycin analogues are: a first-time reported regioselective bromination using DMAP as catalyst; the control of the aryl radical alkene cyclization step to prevent the dechlorination side reaction; and the design of a new protection/deprotection method to avoid furan double bond reduction during the classical O-benzyl deprotection in the final step. This alternative protection/deprotection strategy provides ready access to duocarmycin seco-analogues that carry labile functionalities under reducing reaction conditions. Tafuramycin A (3) was prepared in either 8 steps from intermediate 6 or 7 steps from intermediate 17 in 52% or 37% yield respectively. Our strategy provides a significant improvement on the original procedure (11% overall yield) and greater versatility for analogue development.

Synthesis and evaluation of novel 3-C-alkylated-Neu5Ac2en derivatives as probes of influenza virus sialidase 150-loop flexibility.

Novel 3-C-alkylated-Neu5Ac2en derivatives have been designed to target the expanded active site cavity of influenza virus sialidases with an open 150-loop, currently seen in X-ray crystal structures of influenza A virus group-1 (N1, N4, N5, N8), but not group-2 (N2, N9), sialidases. The compounds show selectivity for inhibition of H5N1 and pdm09 H1N1 sialidases over an N2 sialidase, providing evidence of the relative 150-loop flexibility of these sialidases. In a complex with N8 sialidase, the C3 substituent of 3-phenylally-Neu5Ac2en occupies the 150-cavity while the central ring and the remaining substituents bind the active site as seen for the unsubstituted template. This new class of inhibitors, which can 'trap' the open 150-loop form of the sialidase, should prove useful as probes of 150-loop flexibility.

Novel sialic acid derivatives lock open the 150-loop of an influenza A virus group-1 sialidase.

Influenza virus sialidase has an essential role in the virus' life cycle. Two distinct groups of influenza A virus sialidases have been established, that differ in the flexibility of the '150-loop', providing a more open active site in the apo form of the group-1 compared to group-2 enzymes. In this study we show, through a multidisciplinary approach, that novel sialic acid-based derivatives can exploit this structural difference and selectively inhibit the activity of group-1 sialidases. We also demonstrate that group-1 sialidases from drug-resistant mutant influenza viruses are sensitive to these designed compounds. Moreover, we have determined, by protein X-ray crystallography, that these inhibitors lock open the group-1 sialidase flexible 150-loop, in agreement with our molecular modelling prediction. This is the first direct proof that compounds may be developed to selectively target the pandemic A/H1N1, avian A/H5N1 and other group-1 sialidase-containing viruses, based on an open 150-loop conformation of the enzyme.