1592U89, a novel carbocyclic nucleoside analog with potent, selective anti-human immunodeficiency virus activity.

1592U89, (-)-(1S,4R)-4-[2-amino-6-(cyclopropylamino)-9H-purin-9-yl]-2-cyclo pentene-1-methanol, is a carbocyclic nucleoside with a unique biological profile giving potent, selective anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) activity. 1592U89 was selected after evaluation of a wide variety of analogs containing a cyclopentene substitution for the 2'-deoxyriboside of natural deoxynucleosides, optimizing in vitro anti-HIV potency, oral bioavailability, and central nervous system (CNS) penetration. 1592U89 was equivalent in potency to 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT) in human peripheral blood lymphocyte (PBL) cultures against clinical isolates of HIV type 1 (HIV-1) from antiretroviral drug-naive patients (average 50% inhibitory concentration [IC50], 0.26 microM for 1592U89 and 0.23 microM for AZT). 1592U89 showed minimal cross-resistance (approximately twofold) with AZT and other approved HIV reverse transcriptase (RT) inhibitors. 1592U89 was synergistic in combination with AZT, the nonnucleoside RT inhibitor nevirapine, and the protease inhibitor 141W94 in MT4 cells against HIV-1 (IIIB). 1592U89 was anabolized intracellularly to its 5'-monophosphate in CD4+ CEM cells and in PBLs, but the di- and triphosphates of 1592U89 were not detected. The only triphosphate found in cells incubated with 1592U89 was that of the guanine analog (-)-carbovir (CBV). However, the in vivo pharmacokinetic, distribution, and toxicological profiles of 1592U89 were distinct from and improved over those of CBV, probably because CBV itself was not appreciably formed from 1592U89 in cells or animals (<2%). The 5'-triphosphate of CBV was a potent, selective inhibitor of HIV-1 RT, with Ki values for DNA polymerases (alpha, beta, gamma, and epsilon which were 90-, 2,900-, 1,200-, and 1,900-fold greater, respectively, than for RT (Ki, 21 nM). 1592U89 was relatively nontoxic to human bone marrow progenitors erythroid burst-forming unit and granulocyte-macrophage CFU (IC50s, 110 microM) and human leukemic and liver tumor cell lines. 1592U89 had excellent oral bioavailability (105% in the rat) and penetrated the CNS (rat brain and monkey cerebrospinal fluid) as well as AZT. Having demonstrated an excellent preclinical profile, 1592U89 has progressed to clinical evaluation in HIV-infected patients.

Unique intracellular activation of the potent anti-human immunodeficiency virus agent 1592U89.

The anabolism of 1592U89, (-)-(1S,4R)-4-[2-amino-6-(cyclopropylamino)-9H-purin-9-yl]-2-cyclo pentene-1-methanol, a selective inhibitor of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), was characterized in human T-lymphoblastoid CD4+ CEM cells. 1592U89 was ultimately anabolized to the triphosphate (TP) of the guanine analog (-)-carbovir (CBV), a potent inhibitor of HIV reverse transcriptase. However, less than 2% of intracellular 1592U89 was converted to CBV, an amount insufficient to account for the CBV-TP levels observed. 1592U89 was anabolized to its 5'-monophosphate (MP) by the recently characterized enzyme adenosine phosphotransferase, but neither its diphosphate (DP) nor its TP was detected. The MP, DP, and TP of CBV were found in cells incubated with either 1592U89 or CBV, with CBV-TP being the major phosphorylated species. We confirmed that CBV is phosphorylated by 5'-nucleotidase and that mycophenolic acid increased the formation of CBV-TP from CBV 75-fold. However, mycophenolic acid did not stimulate 1592U89 anabolism to CBV-TP. The adenosine deaminase inhibitor erythro-9-(2-hydroxy-3-nonyl)adenine (EHNA) did not inhibit CBV-TP formation from CBV or 1592U89, whereas the adenylate deaminase inhibitor 2'-deoxycoformycin selectively inhibited 1592U89 anabolism to CBV-TP and reversed the antiviral activity of 1592U89. 1592U89-MP was not a substrate for adenylate deaminase but was a substrate for a distinct cytosolic deaminase that was inhibited by 2'-deoxycoformycin-5'-MP. Thus, 1592U89 is phosphorylated by adenosine phosphotransferase to 1592U89-MP, which is converted by a novel cytosolic enzyme to CBV-MP. CBV-MP is then further phosphorylated to CBV-TP by cellular kinases. This unique activation pathway enables 1592U89 to overcome the pharmacokinetic and toxicological deficiencies of CBV while maintaining potent and selective anti-HIV activity.

Evaluation of the potent anti-hepatitis B virus agent (-) cis-5-fluoro-1-[2-(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-oxathiolan-5-yl]cytosine in a novel in vivo model.

A murine model was developed to investigate the in vivo activity of anti-hepatitis B virus (HBV) agents. Mice with subcutaneous tumors of HBV-producing 2.2.15 cells showed reductions in levels of HBV in serum and in intracellular levels of HBV when the mice were orally dosed with (-) cis-5-fluoro-1-[2-(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-oxathiolan-5-yl]cytosine (FTC). No effects on tumor size or alpha-fetoprotein levels were observed. FTC can selectively inhibit HBV replication at nontoxic doses.

Varicella-zoster virus thymidine kinase. Characterization and substrate specificity.

The varicella-zoster virus (VZV) thymidine kinase (TK) EC 2.7.2.21) catalyzes the phosphorylation of many anti-VZV nucleosides. Purified, bacterially expressed VZV TK was characterized with regard to N-terminal amino acid sequence, pI value, pH optimum, metal ion requirement, phosphate donor and acceptor specificity, and inhibition by dTTP. Initial velocities of thymidine phosphorylation with variable MgATP concentrations fit a two-site model with apparent Km values for MgATP of 0.10 and 900 microM. dTTP was a noncompetitive inhibitor of thymidine phosphorylation but was competitive with MgATP. Phosphate donor and acceptor specificities of the bacterially expressed enzyme were indistinguishable from those of VZV TK purified from infected cells. Detailed studies of the nucleoside specificity with the bacterially expressed enzyme showed that, for a given sugar moiety, thymine nucleosides were the most efficient substrates followed by nucleosides of cytosine, uracil, adenine, and with some exceptions, guanine. For a given pyrimidine or purine (except guanine), 2'-deoxyribonucleosides were the most efficient substrates, followed by arabinosides, ribonucleosides, 2',3'-dideoxyribonucleosides, and the acyclic moiety of acyclovir.

Phosphorylation of carbovir enantiomers by cellular enzymes determines the stereoselectivity of antiviral activity.

Two enantiomers of carbovir, a carbocyclic analog of 2',3'-dideoxyguanosine, were compared with respect to their phosphorylation and the phosphorylation of their nucleotides by mammalian enzymes. 5'-Nucleotidase catalyzed the phosphorylation of (-)-carbovir, which is active against HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), but did not phosphorylate (+)-carbovir. (-)-Carbovir monophosphate was 7,000 times more efficient as a substrate for GMP kinase than was (+)-carbovir monophosphate. Pyruvate kinase, phosphoglycerate kinase, and creatine kinase phosphorylated both enantiomers of carbovir diphosphate at similar rates. Nucleoside-diphosphate kinase preferentially phosphorylated the (-)-enantiomer. Both enantiomers of carbovir triphosphate were substrates and alternative substrate inhibitors of HIV reverse transcriptase. Thus, the contrasting HIV-inhibitory activities of carbovir enantiomers were due to differential phosphorylation by cellular enzymes and not due to enantioselectivity of HIV reverse transcriptase.

Potent and selective activity of a new carbocyclic nucleoside analog (carbovir: NSC 614846) against human immunodeficiency virus in vitro.

Carbocyclic 2',3'-didehydro-2',3'-dideoxyguanosine (Carbovir: NSC 614846), a novel nucleoside analog, emerged as a potent and selective anti-HIV agent from a large screening program conducted by the National Cancer Institute and its contractors. Its hydrolytic stability and its ability to inhibit the infectivity and replication of HIV in T-cells at concentrations of approximately 200- to 400-fold below toxic concentrations make carbovir a top-priority candidate for development as a potential antiretroviral agent in the treatment of AIDS patients.

125I-BW-A844U, an antagonist radioligand with high affinity and selectivity for adenosine A1 receptors, and 125I-azido-BW-A844U, a photoaffinity label.

3-(4-Amino)phenethyl-1-propyl-8-cyclopentylxanthine (BW-A844U) has been synthesized and shown to bind with high affinity to adenosine A1 receptors of bovine brain membranes (KD = 0.23 nM). This compound is highly selective for A1 receptors; the KI for binding to A2 receptors of human platelet membranes is 2.0 microM (A2/A1 ratio = 8700). Radioiodination of the 3-aminophenethyl group resulted in 125I-BW-A844U, a radioligand that retains high affinity for A1 receptors in bovine brain membranes (KD = 0.14 nM) and to 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)-dimethylammonio]-1-propane sulfonate-solubilized receptors (KD = 0.34 nM). Specific binding of 125I-BW-A844U represented greater than 90% of the total binding at the KD. From the association constant (K1 = 5.0 X 10(8) M-1min-1) and the dissociation constant (K-1 = 0.064 min-1), the kinetic KD (K-1/K1) in membranes was calculated to be 0.13 nM. NaCl (1 M) had little effect on the binding affinity of 125I-BW-A844U, in contrast to the large effect of salt on the binding affinity of acidic antagonist radioligands. 8-Sulfophenyltheophylline inhibited radioligand binding with a Hill coefficient of 1.0, indicative of a single affinity binding state for the antagonist. By comparison, two distinct agonist affinity states of A1 receptors for the agonist (R)-phenylisopropyladenosine could be resolved, a high affinity state (62%, KH = 74 pM) and a low affinity state (KL = 3.83 nM). The addition of 0.1 mM guanylylimidodiphosphate converted all receptors to the low affinity state. Addition of NaCl (0.5 M) decreased the fraction of receptors in the high affinity state and increased both KH and KL, suggesting that NaCl alters coupling of receptors to G proteins and influences the conformation of the receptor polypeptide, whether or not the receptor is coupled to a G protein. Conversion of the arylamine on the 3-position of 125I-BW-A844U to an aryl azide resulted in a photoaffinity label, 125I-azido-BW-A844U. Upon photoactivation, the photoaffinity label was specifically photoincorporated into the 34,000-dalton polypeptide of the adenosine A1 receptor.

125I-labeled 8-phenylxanthine derivatives: antagonist radioligands for adenosine A1 receptors.

A series of 8-phenylxanthine derivatives has been synthesized with oxyacetic acid on the para phenyl position to increase aqueous solubility and minimize nonspecific binding and iodinatable groups on the 1- or 3-position of the xanthine ring. The structure-activity relationship for binding of these compounds to A1 adenosine receptors of bovine and rat brain and A2 receptors of human platelets was examined. The addition of arylamine or photosensitive aryl azide groups to the 3-position of xanthine had little effect on A1 binding affinity with or without iodination, whereas substitutions at the 1-position caused greatly reduced A1 binding affinity. The addition of an aminobenzyl group to the 3-position of the xanthine had little effect on A2 binding affinity, but 3-aminophenethyl substitution decreased A2 binding affinity. Two acidic 3-(arylamino)-8-phenylxanthine derivatives were labeled with 125I and evaluated as A1 receptor radioligands. The new radioligands bound to A1 receptors with KD values of 1-1.25 nM. Specific binding represented over 80% of total binding. High concentrations of NaCl or other salts increased the binding affinity of acidic but not neutral antagonists, suggesting that interactions between ionized xanthines and receptors may be affected significantly by changes in ionic strength. On the basis of binding studies with these antagonists and isotope dilution with the agonist [125I]N6-(4-amino-3-iodobenzyl)adenosine, multiple agonist affinity states of A1 receptors have been identified.

Photoaffinity labeling adenosine A1 receptors with an antagonist 125I-labeled aryl azide derivative of 8-phenylxanthine.

We have derivatized a series of 125I-labeled 8-phenylxanthines with photoactive aryl azide groups on the 1- or 3-position of the xanthine ring. A 3-azidophenethyl derivative was found to be optimal for use as an antagonist photoaffinity label for adenosine A1 receptors. Following photoactivation, radioactivity was covalently and specifically incorporated into a 34,000-dalton and, to a lesser extent, into a 24,000-dalton polypeptide of rat brain membranes. Photoincorporation into both polypeptides was competitively inhibited by adenosine analogues with a potency order typical of adenosine A1 receptors, but the 24,000-dalton polypeptide bound both agonists and antagonists with lower affinity than the 34,000-dalton polypeptide. Specific photolabeling of receptors in brain membranes of rat, guinea pig, dog, and cow did not show any variation in the 34,000-dalton adenosine receptor binding subunit. The adenosine agonist photoaffinity label [125I]N6-(4-azido-3-iodobenzyl)adenosine also specifically photolabeled the 34,000-dalton polypeptide, but photoincorporation of the agonist was less efficient than the antagonist and, unlike the antagonist, was greatly reduced by guanosine 5'-(beta,gamma-imidotriphosphate). The results indicate that the antagonist photoaffinity label may be more useful than agonists particularly for labeling uncoupled receptors.

Carbocyclic puromycin: synthesis and inhibition of protein biosynthesis.

The carbocyclic analogue of puromycin was prepared by the coupling of N-(benzyloxycarbonyl)-p-methoxy-L-phenylalanine to the racemic aminonucleoside (+/-)-9-[3 beta-amino-2 beta-hydroxy-4 alpha-(hydroxymethyl)cyclopent-1 alpha-yl]-6-(dimethylamino)purine, followed by separation of the diastereomers and subsequent removal of the Cbz blocking group. Kinetic studies indicate that carbocyclic puromycin is an excellent substrate for the peptidyltransferase reaction with both prokaryotic and eukaryotic ribosomes. A comparison of carbocyclic puromycin with previously synthesized analogues indicate that the furanosyl ring oxygen and the hydroxymethyl group of puromycin do not contribute to ribosomal binding, but both moieties contribute to the rate of product formation from the enzyme-substrate complex. Carbocyclic puromycin was equal to puromycin when evaluated for cytotoxicity using P-388 mouse lymphoid leukemia cells in culture.

Carbocyclic analogues of xylofuranosylpurine nucleosides. Synthesis and antitumor activity.

(+/-)-4 alpha-Amino-2 alpha,3 beta-dihydroxy-1 alpha-cyclopentanemethanol (6), the carbocyclic analogue of xylofuranosylamine, was synthesized from the previously reported 4 alpha-acetamido-2 alpha,3 alpha-epoxycyclopentane-1 alpha-methanol. Amine 6 was converted to (+/-)-4 alpha-[(5-amino-6-chloro-4-pyrimidinyl)amino]-2 alpha,3 beta-dihydroxy-1 alpha-cyclopentanemethanol (7) by condensation with 5-amino-4,6-dichloropyrimidine. From 7, the carbocyclic analogues of xylofuranosyladenine and xylofuranosyl-8-azaadenine were prepared. In contrast to 9-beta-D-xylofuranosyladenine and its 8-aza analogue, the corresponding carbocyclic nucleosides were resistant to deamination by adenosine deaminase. The carbocyclic 8-aza derivative 10 exhibited significant in vivo antitumor activity which varied according to treatment schedule.

Comparison of the efficacy of vidarabine, its carbocyclic analog (cyclaradine), and cyclaradine-5'-methoxyacetate in the treatment of herpes simplex virus type 1 encephalitis in mice.

The relative therapeutic effects of vidarabine (9-beta-D-arabinofuranosyladenine), cyclaradine (the adenosine deaminase-resistant carbocyclic analog of vidarabine), and cyclaradine-5'-methoxyacetate in the parenteral treatment of systemic herpes simplex virus type 1 infections in Swiss mice were determined. Among control mice inoculated intraperitoneally with virus, a mortality rate of 95% was observed. The intraperitoneal administration of nontoxic doses of vidarabine (125 to 250 mg/kg per day) or cyclaradine (113 to 450 mg/kg per day), by daily injections for 7 days beginning 4 h after virus inoculation, reduced mortality to 0 to 10%. Among control animals inoculated intracerebrally with 32 50% lethal doses of virus, 100% mortality was observed, with a mean survival time of 4.6 days. Treatment with either drug at equimolar dose levels ranging from ca. 32 to 750 mg/kg per day produced significant (P less than 0.0005), dose-dependent increases in the mean survival time of animals dying of herpesvirus encephalitis. Mice inoculated intracerebrally with 10 50% lethal doses of virus exhibited 97% mortality and a mean survival time of 5.5 to 6.4 days. Treatment with vidarabine, cyclaradine, or cyclaradine-5'-methoxyacetate significantly increased the mean survival time of dying animals and, at doses ranging from 250 to 750 mg/kg per day, produced significant increases in survival. The three drugs displayed equivalent antiviral efficacy in vivo. Drug toxicity (measured by weight loss) was not detected in mice treated with cyclaradine or cyclaradine-5'-methoxyacetate at 750 mg/kg per day, whereas severe toxicity (weight loss of greater than or equal to 3 g) was observed in mice treated with vidarabine at an equivalent dose level. Thus, cyclaradine or its 5'-methoxyacetic acid ester may possess some advantage over vidarabine in the treatment of severe herpesvirus infections and should therefore be considered for clinical trials in humans.

Carbocyclic arabinofuranosyladenine (cyclaradine): efficacy against genital herpes in guinea pigs.

Carbocyclic arabinofuranosyladenine (cyclaradine), a novel nucleoside analog with such desired features as hydrolytic and enzymatic stability, adenosine deaminase resistance, and low systemic toxicity, inhibited the replication of herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2. The 5'-methoxyacetate prodrug form exhibited significant efficacy in the topical treatment of genital infections by herpes simplex virus type 2.

Chloramphenicol binding site with analogues of chloramphenicol and puromycin.

The effect of a series of puromycin analogues and aminoacyl chloramphenicol derivatives on poly(U,C)-directed polyphenylalanine synthesis in an Escherichia coli cell-free system was examined. A comparison between the structures and activities of the puromycin and chloramphenicol analogues was made to examine the proposal that ribosomal binding sites for both antibiotics overlap. Our results suggest that the dichloroacetamido group in the chloramphenicol molecule does not correspond to the role of the aminoacyl moieties of either puromycin or aminoacyl transfer ribonucleic acid. These results comparing the structures and activities of puromycin and chloramphenicol analogues also seem inconsistent with a common binding site for the p-substituted phenyl moieties of the two antibiotics. Previous data have indicated that both sites are mutually affected by the prior binding of either antibiotic. Although it is possible that chloramphenicol and puromycin may have overlapping bindings sites, no common structural features between the two antibiotics are supported by our data.

Effect of puromycin analogues and other agents on peptidyl-puromycin synthesis on polyribosomes.

The incorporation of [(3)H]puromycin into nascent polypeptide chains of polyribosomes has proved to be a sensitive method of evaluating effects of inhibitors on peptide bond synthesis. Several analogues of puromycin were found to react with polyribosomes from both bacteria and rat liver. The K(m) for puromycin is 4 muM with bacterial polyribosomes; under the same conditions, the K(i) for psi-hydroxy-puromycin (6-dimethylamino-9-[3-(l-beta-phenyllactylamino)-3-deoxy-beta- d-ribofuranosyl] purine) is 240 muM and for a carbocyclic analogue of puromycin (6-dimethylamino-9- {R- [2R-hydroxy-3R- (p-methoxyphenyl-l-alanylamino)]-cyclopentyl}purine) is 1 muM. Both were found to be competitive inhibitors of puromycin. The K(m) for C-A-C-C-A(Phe) is 250 muM. In addition, the dissociation constant for C-A-C-C-A(Phe) binding to washed ribosomes was found to be 1 and 0.03 muM in the absence and presence, respectively, of 20% (vol/vol) ethanol. The results with these analogues lead to the following conclusions. Substitution of a hydroxyl group for the alpha-amino group of puromycin results in an active analogue with about one-sixtieth the affinity of puromycin in the reaction. Omission of the 5'-hydroxymethyl group or substitution of the furanosyl ring oxygen by a carbon atom in the carbocyclic analogue reduces its activity compared with puromycin only slightly. Additionally, the relatively high K(m) for C-A-C-C-A(Phe) as an acceptor compared with puromycin suggests the existence of a protective mechanism on polyribosomes, which prevents aminoacyl-transfer ribonucleic acid (tRNA) free in solution from stripping nascent chains from polyribosomes so that only aminoacyl-tRNA bound to ribosomes through the appropriate coding mechanism can form a peptide bond.