Diels--Alder bioconjugation of diene-modified oligonucleotides.

In an effort to offer complementary technology for covalent biomolecule modification (bioconjugation), we have developed a method that exploits the aqueous acceleration of Diels--Alder reactions for this purpose. Three different diene phosphoramidite reagents have been synthesized that enable diene modification of synthetic oligonucleotides prepared by the phosphoramidite method. Clean and efficient Diels--Alder cycloaddition of these diene oligonucleotides with maleimide dieneophiles was carried out, and the labeled oligonucleotide bioconjugates were characterized by HPLC and electrospray mass spectrometry. Dieneophile stoichiometry, temperature, and pH are all parameters that were shown to influence the efficiency of the process.

Selective inhibitors of monoamine oxidase (MAO). 5. 1-Substituted phenoxathiin inhibitors containing no nitrogen that inhibit MAO A by binding it to a hydrophobic site.

It is believed that a monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor specific for MAO A, which is reversibly bound to this enzyme and displaceable by tyramine, will be an antidepressant which will not cause a rise in blood pressure when tyramine-containing foods are ingested. Some linear tricyclic compounds with a larger and a smaller group forming the central ring and with a lipophilic group ortho to the larger group (here mostly the SO2 function of phenoxathiin 10,10-dioxide) are reported to have the sought properties. Potency appears to require short length and relatively small cross section for the substituent. The 1-ethyl (13), 1-vinyl (22), 1-trifluoromethyl (27), and 1-iodo (76) phenoxathiin dioxides had the best profiles. Structure-activity relationships, syntheses, and a possible rationale for the selectivity of these compounds and related tricyclics are given. Compound 13 was selected for further development. A summary of pharmacological data for 13 is given.

Selective inhibitors of monoamine oxidase. 4. SAR of tricyclic N-methylcarboxamides and congeners binding at the tricyclics' hydrophilic binding site.

Linear [6.6.6] tricyclic moieties whose center ring is made of two atoms of differing size (here primarily thioxanth-9-ones and phenoxathiins) monosubstituted meta to the sulfur by C(O)NHMe include potent and selective inhibitors of monoamine oxidase A. Similarities with effects on SAR of acylamide and of diazapentacyclic substitution on such rings, including positional variables, the requirement for monomethylation (primary and dialkylated amides are inactive and higher monoalkylated amides show little or no potency), and that sulfur is optimally in sulfone form, suggest that binding to the enzyme occurs similarly in each series. No significantly greater rise in blood pressure was found in rats given sufficient 8 to inhibit most brain and liver MAO A and then followed by oral tyramine than was found on administration of tyramine to controls. This is in contrast to a large blood pressure rise in rats pretreated with phenelzine followed by tyramine, and in accord with the belief that an inhibitor selective for MAO A which is reversibly bound to the enzyme and therefore displaced by any ingested tyramine will not lead to the "cheese effect" (hypertension during treatment with MAO inhibitors usually caused by ingestion of foods containing tyramine).

Potent 2'-amino-2'-deoxypyrimidine RNA inhibitors of basic fibroblast growth factor.

Screening of random oligonucleotide libraries with SELEX [systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment; Tuerk, C., & Gold, L. (1990) Science 249, 505-510] has emerged as a powerful method for identifying high-affinity nucleic acid ligands for a wide range of molecular targets. Nuclease sensitivity of unmodified RNA and DNA, however, imposes considerable restrictions on their use as therapeutics or diagnostics. Modified RNA in which pyrimidine 2'-hydroxy groups have been substituted with 2'-amino groups (2'-aminopyrimidine RNA) is known to be substantially more resistant to serum nucleases. We report here on the use of SELEX to identify high-affinity 2'-aminopyrimidine RNA ligands to a potent angiogenic factor, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). High-affinity ligands with the same consensus primary structure have been isolated from two independent libraries of approximately 6 x 10(14) molecules containing 30 or 50 randomized positions. Compared to unmodified RNA with the same sequence, 2'-aminopyrimidine ligands are at least 1000-fold more stable in 90% human serum. The sequence information required for high-affinity binding to bFGF is contained within 24-26 nucleotides. The minimal ligand m21A (5'-GGUGUGUGGAAGACAGCGGGUGGUUC-3'; G = guanosine, A = adenosine, C = 2'-amino-2'-deoxycytidine, U = 2'-amino-2'-deoxyuridine, and C = 2'-amino-2'-deoxycytidine or deoxycytidine) binds to bFGF with an apparent dissociation constant (Kd) of 3.5 +/- 0.3) x 10(-10) M at 37 degrees C in phosphate-buffered saline (pH 7.4). Disassociation of m21A from bFGF is adequately described with a first-order rate constant of (1.96 +/- 0.08) x 10(-3) s-1 (t1/2 = 5.9 min). The calculated value for the association rate constant (kon = k(off)/Kd) was 5.6 x 10(6) M-1 s-1. Highly specific binding of m21A to bFGF was observed: binding to denatured bFGF, five proteins from the FGF family (acidic FGF, FGF-4, FGF-5, FGF-6, and FGF-7), and four other heparin binding proteins is substantially weaker under the same conditions with KdbFGF/Kdprotein values ranging from (4.1 +/- 1.4) x 10(-2) to > 10(-6). Heparin but not chondroitin sulfate competed for binding of m21A to bFGF. In cell culture, m21A inhibited [125I]bFGF binding to both low-affinity sites (ED50 approximately 1 nM) and high-affinity sites (ED50 approximately 3 nM) on CHO cells expressing transfected FGF receptor-1.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Synthesis and antiviral evaluation of 6'-substituted aristeromycins: potential mechanism-based inhibitors of S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase.

New carbocyclic adenosine analogues substituted at the 6'-position with fluorine, hydroxyl, methylene, or hydroxymethyl have been synthesized as potential mechanism-based inhibitors of S-adenosylhomocysteine (AdoHcy) hydrolase. The synthetic routes began with a functionalized (+/-)-azidocyclopentane 2, which was elaborated to the adenosine analogue, or with functionalized cyclopentane epoxides 11, 20, and 27, which were opened directly with adenine in the presence of base. The 6' alpha-fluoro, 6' beta-fluoro, and 6'-methylene carbocyclic adenosine analogues were potent inhibitors of AdoHcy hydrolase. None of the compounds displayed significant activity against herpes simplex virus type 1 or type 2, but several demonstrated potent inhibition of vaccinia virus replication.

Synthesis and antiviral activity of various esters of 9-[(1,3-dihydroxy-2-propoxy)methyl]guanine.

The synthesis and in vivo biological activity of a series of mono-O-, di-O-, and N2-acyl derivatives of 9-[(1,3-dihydro-2-propoxy)-methyl]guanine (DHPG) are described.

Synthesis and anti-herpes-virus activity of acyclic 2'-deoxyguanosine analogues related to 9-[(1,3-dihydroxy-2-propoxy)methyl]guanine.

Several "sugar" modified acyclic nucleoside analogues related to 9-[(1,3-dihydroxy-2-propoxy)methyl]guanine (DHPG, 2) were synthesized and evaluated for antiviral activity. The preparation generally involved the condensation of the acetoxymethyl ether of alcohols 6c-g and 10-12a with diacetylguanine to give adducts 7c-g and 14-16, which were then deprotected to afford analogues 9c-g and 17-19. Alternatively, alcohols 12a and 13a were converted to iodides via their tosylates 12b and 13b and then reacted with the sodium salt of guanine to afford, after deprotection, analogues 22 and 23. A crossed aldol-Cannizzaro reaction on aldehyde 27 readily afforded 28, which was deprotected to give analogue 29. An in vitro assay against HSV-1 showed that all compounds tested were less active than DHPG, though several were good substrates for the viral thymidine kinase. The more promising acyclic nucleosides 9c, 19, and 29 were evaluated in a mouse encephalitis model and proved ineffective at preventing death at a dose of 20 mg/kg.

Synthesis and antiherpes virus activity of phosphate and phosphonate derivatives of 9-[(1,3-dihydroxy-2-propoxy)methyl]guanine.

A series of phosphate esters of 9-[(1,3-dihydroxy-2-propoxy)methyl]guanine (DHPG, 1) were synthesized and evaluated for antiherpes virus activity. The cyclic phosphate esters were made by a new, efficient method utilizing stannic chloride as a solubilizing agent. Monophosphate 2 and bisphosphate 4 showed comparable activity to DHPG and probably acted as prodrugs of DHPG. On the other hand, the cyclic phosphate of DHPG 3 was taken up by cells and bypassed the virus-specified thymidine kinase. As a result, 3 was active against DHPG-resistant HSV mutants that lacked the viral-specified thymidine kinase and was more toxic than DHPG to uninfected cells. The phosphonate 5, the least toxic of the derivatives tested, was only marginally active against HSV but showed substantial activity against human cytomegalovirus in vitro.

Synthesis and antiherpes simplex virus activity of 9-[(1,3-dihydroxy-2-propylthio)methyl]guanine.

The synthesis of the thio analogue (thio-DHPG, 2) of 9-[(1,3-dihydroxy-2-propoxy)methyl]guanine (DHPG, 1) is described. The synthesis of 2 proceeded via the condensation of acetoxymethyl sulfide 9 with diacetylguanine 10 to give the protected nucleoside analogue 11. Although catalytic hydrogenolysis failed, the benzyl ether functionalities of 11 were successfully cleaved by an acetolysis reaction to furnish 14. Ammonolysis of 14 gave 2, which was also transformed to sulfoxide 15 and sulfone 16. Preliminary in vitro screening indicated that 2 exhibited comparable activity to DHPG against herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) but was less active against the type 2 virus (HSV-2) and human cytomegalovirus (HCMV). In a mouse encephalitis model (HSV-2), subcutaneous treatment with 2 led to a 53% reduction in mortality at a dose of 100 mg/kg per day.

Acyclic analogues of 2'-deoxynucleosides related to 9-[(1,3-dihydroxy-2-propoxy)methyl]guanine as potential antiviral agents.

A series of acyclic analogues of 2'-deoxynucleosides related in structure to 9-[(1,3-dihydroxy-2-propoxy)methyl]guanine (DHPG, 1) have been synthesized and evaluated for antiviral activity against herpes simplex virus type 1 (F strain). Additionally, the ability of these analogues to function as substrates for the virus-specified thymidine kinase was examined. Phosphorylation by this kinase is essential for antiviral activity. Although the acyclic 4-oxopyrimidine nucleosides were substrates for the kinase, they were devoid of antiviral activity. In the purine series, most analogues similar in structure to DHPG did exhibit significantly lower antiviral activity, indicating that even small modifications in the purine substituents substantially reduce the antiviral potency. The most active agent, 2,6-diaminopurine 27, was only poorly phosphorylated by the viral kinase; therefore, its activity was most likely due to a prior enzymatic deamination to give DHPG. Evaluation of 27 in a mouse encephalitis model has shown it to be nearly as potent as DHPG (1).