Genotoxicity assessment of potentially mutagenic nucleoside analogues using ToxTracker®.

Nucleoside analogues have long been designed and tested in cancer treatment and against viral infections. However, several early compounds were shown to have mutagenic properties as a consequence of their mode-of-action. This limited their use, and several have been discontinued for lengthy treatments or altogether. Nonetheless, nucleoside analogues remain an attractive modality for virally driven diseases, of which many still are without proper treatment options. To quantitatively assess the genotoxic mode-of-action of a panel of nucleoside analogues, we applied the ToxTracker® reporter assay. Many of the early nucleoside analogues showed a genotoxic response. The more recently developed nucleoside analogues, Remdesivir and Molnupiravir that are currently being repurposed for Covid-19 treatment, had a different profile in ToxTracker and did not induce the genotoxicity reporters. Our analyses support the metabolite GS-441524 over the parent analogue Remdesivir. In contrast, Molnupiravir was devoid of clear cellular toxicity while its active metabolite (EIDD-1931) was cytotoxic and induced several biomarkers. Nucleoside analogues continue to be attractive treatment options upon viral infections. ToxTracker readily distinguished between the genotoxic analogues and those with different profiles and provides a basis for clustering and potency ranking, offering a comprehensive tool to assess the toxicity of nucleoside analogues.

Phenoxazine nucleoside derivatives with a multiple activity against RNA and DNA viruses.

Emerging and re-emerging viruses periodically cause outbreaks and epidemics all over the world, eventually leading to global events such as the current pandemic of the novel SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus infection COVID-19. Therefore, an urgent need for novel antivirals is crystal clear. Here we present the synthesis and evaluation of an antiviral activity of phenoxazine-based nucleoside analogs divided into three groups: (1) 8-alkoxy-substituted, (2) acyclic, and (3) carbocyclic. The antiviral activity was assessed against a structurally and phylogenetically diverse panel of RNA and DNA viruses from 25 species. Four compounds (11a-c, 12c) inhibited 4 DNA/RNA viruses with EC50 ≤ 20 µM. Toxicity of the compounds for the cell lines used for virus cultivation was negligible in most cases. In addition, previously reported and newly synthesized phenoxazine derivatives were evaluated against SARS-CoV-2, and some of them showed promising inhibition of reproduction with EC50 values in low micromolar range, although accompanied by commensurate cytotoxicity.

Anti-norovirus activity of C7-modified 4-amino-pyrrolo[2,1-f][1,2,4]triazine C-nucleosides.

Synthetic nucleoside analogues characterized by a C-C anomeric linkage form a family of promising therapeutics against infectious and malignant diseases. Herein, C-nucleosides comprising structural variations at the sugar and nucleobase moieties were examined for their ability to inhibit both murine and human norovirus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp). We have found that the combination of 4-amino-pyrrolo[2,1-f][1,2,4]triazine and its 7-halogenated congeners with either a d-ribose or 2'-C-methyl-d-ribose unit resulted in analogues with good antiviral activity against murine norovirus (MNV), albeit coupled with a significant cytotoxicity. Among this series, 4-aza-7,9-dideazaadenosine notably retained a strong antiviral effect in a human norovirus (HuNoV) replicon assay with an EC50 = 0.015 µM. This study demonstrates that C-nucleosides can be used as viable starting scaffolds for further optimization towards the development of nucleoside-based inhibitors of norovirus replication.

A Humanized Yeast Phenomic Model of Deoxycytidine Kinase to Predict Genetic Buffering of Nucleoside Analog Cytotoxicity.

Knowledge about synthetic lethality can be applied to enhance the efficacy of anticancer therapies in individual patients harboring genetic alterations in their cancer that specifically render it vulnerable. We investigated the potential for high-resolution phenomic analysis in yeast to predict such genetic vulnerabilities by systematic, comprehensive, and quantitative assessment of drug-gene interaction for gemcitabine and cytarabine, substrates of deoxycytidine kinase that have similar molecular structures yet distinct antitumor efficacy. Human deoxycytidine kinase (dCK) was conditionally expressed in the Saccharomycescerevisiae genomic library of knockout and knockdown (YKO/KD) strains, to globally and quantitatively characterize differential drug-gene interaction for gemcitabine and cytarabine. Pathway enrichment analysis revealed that autophagy, histone modification, chromatin remodeling, and apoptosis-related processes influence gemcitabine specifically, while drug-gene interaction specific to cytarabine was less enriched in gene ontology. Processes having influence over both drugs were DNA repair and integrity checkpoints and vesicle transport and fusion. Non-gene ontology (GO)-enriched genes were also informative. Yeast phenomic and cancer cell line pharmacogenomics data were integrated to identify yeast-human homologs with correlated differential gene expression and drug efficacy, thus providing a unique resource to predict whether differential gene expression observed in cancer genetic profiles are causal in tumor-specific responses to cytotoxic agents.

A case of entecavir-induced Fanconi syndrome.

Acquired Fanconi syndrome has been associated with the long-term ingestion of several nucleoside analogs used to treat chronic hepatitis B virus infection. However, the nucleoside analog entecavir has not been found to cause nephrotoxicity. We report a case of entecavir-induced Fanconi syndrome. Our patient was a 73-year-old man admitted to our hospital because of renal dysfunction. He also presented with hyperaminoaciduria, renal diabetes, phosphaturia, hypophosphatemia, hypokalemia, hypouricemia, and hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis, supporting a diagnosis of Fanconi syndrome. In this case, the cause of Fanconi syndrome was most likely entecavir, which had been administered as needed depending on his renal function for 5 years. After drug discontinuation and replacement with tenofovir alafenamide fumarate therapy once a week, the patient's kidney function recovered and electrolyte anomalies partially improved. We highlight the fact that entecavir may induce severe renal dysfunction, which can cause the development of Fanconi syndrome; therefore, close monitoring of proximal tubular function is recommended during entecavir therapy.

Risk of cancer in children exposed to antiretroviral nucleoside analogues in utero: The french experience.

All nucleoside analogues for treating HIV infection, due to their capacity to integrate into and alter human DNA, are experimentally genotoxic to some extent. The long-term oncogenic risk after in utero exposure remains to be determined. Cancer incidence in uninfected children exposed to nucleos(t)ide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) was evaluated, by cross-checking against the National Cancer Registry, in the French perinatal study of children born to HIV+ mothers. Twenty-one cancers were identified in 15,163 children (median age: 9.9 years [interquartile range (IQR): 5.8-14.2]) exposed to at least one NRTI in utero between 1990 and 2014. Five of these children were exposed to zidovudine monotherapy, and 15 to various combinations, seven of which included didanosine. Overall, the total number of cases was not significantly different from that expected for the general population (SIR = 0.8[0.47-1.24]), but the number of cases after didanosine exposure was twice that expected (SIR = 2.5 [1.01-5.19]). Didanosine accounted for only 10% of prescriptions but was associated with one-third of cancers. In multivariate analysis, didanosine exposure was significantly associated with higher risk (HR = 3.0 [0.9-9.8]). This risk was specifically linked to first-trimester exposure (HR = 5.5 [2.1-14.4]). Three cases of pineoblastoma, a very rare cancer, were observed, whereas 0.03 were expected. Two were associated with didanosine exposure. Despite reassuring data overall, there is strong evidence to suggest that didanosine displays transplacental oncogenicity. These findings cannot be extrapolated to other NRTIs, but they highlight the need for comprehensive evaluations of the transplacental genotoxicity of this antiretroviral class. Environ. Mol. Mutagen., 60:404-409, 2019. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Synthesis of a Novel Class of 1,3-oxathiolane Nucleoside Derivatives of T- 705 and Evaluation of Their Anti-influenza A Virus and Anti-HIV Activity.

BACKGROUND: T-705 (Favipiravir) is a broad spectrum antiviral agent approved for stockpiling in Japan and currently in Phase 3 testing in the United States. Against influenza, it acts as a prodrug, converted intracellularly to selectively inhibit viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase or similar enzymes. This is regarded as a novel antiviral mechanism of action, reducing crossresistance to other existing anti-influenza drugs. OBJECTIVE: To develop new analogs, a class of 1,3-oxathiolane nucleoside derivatives of T-705 was designed and synthesized in this work. RESULTS: Anti-influenza activity and Anti-HIV activity of these compounds were evaluated. Compound 1a displayed activity against A H1N1 with an IC50 of 40.4 µmol/L. Compound 1b showed weak activity against HIV with a viral suppression rate of 70-80% at 30 µmol/L. CONCLUSION: A class of 1,3-oxathiolane nucleoside derivatives of T-705 was designed and synthesized, and one of them was identified as a novel scaffold against viral infection.

Metabolism of 4-pyridone-3-carboxamide-1ß-d-ribonucleoside (4PYR) in primary murine brain microvascular endothelial cells (mBMECs).

4-pyridone-3-carboxamide-1ß-D-ribonucleoside (4PYR) is a derivative of nicotinamide found physiologically in human body fluids that can be metabolized to mono-, di- or triphosphate derivatives (4PYMP, 4PYDP and 4PYTP respectively) and an analogue of NAD - the 1-ß-D-ribonucleoside-4-pyridone-3-carboxamide adenine dinucleotide (4PYRAD) in human cells. The European Uremic Toxin Work Group (EUTox) has classified 4PYR as a uremic toxin that adversely affects endothelium. This study aimed to investigate the metabolism of 4PYR in murine brain microvascular endothelial cells (mBMECs). Incubation of mBMECs with 4PYR was carried out for 0, 24, 48 or 72 h. After incubation, a medium was removed and cellular concentrations of ATP, ADP, NAD, 4PYMP and 4PYRAD were analyzed using reversed-phase HPLC. 4PYR was metabolized by mBMECs to 4PYMP and 4PYRAD that reached concentrations of 2 ± 0.7 and 0.6 ± 0.2 nmol/mg protein (mean ± SEM), respectively, after 72 h incubation. However, unlike with endothelial cells studied so far this process has no effect on energy balance in the cell as indicated by maintained ATP/ADP ratio and adenine and nicotinamide intracellular pools. Further studies are required to explain whether the difference in 4PYR metabolism is related to differences between species or organs.

DRAM Is Involved in Regulating Nucleoside Analog-Induced Neuronal Autophagy in a p53-Independent Manner.

The widespread use of combined anti-retroviral therapy (cART) has not decreased the prevalence of HIV-1-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND), a type of neurodegenerative disease, even though cART effectively inhibits virus colonization in the central nervous system. Therefore, anti-retroviral agents cannot be fully excluded from the pathogenesis of HAND. Our previous study reported that long-term nucleoside analogue (NA) exposure induced mitochondrial toxicity in the cortical neurons of HAND patients and mice, but the exact mechanism of NA-associated neurotoxicity has remained unclear. Alteration of autophagy can result in protein aggregation and the accumulation of dysfunctional organelles, which are hallmarks of some neurodegenerative diseases. In this study, we first found increased autophagy in cortical autopsy specimens of AIDS patients. We then found that a low dose of NAs could stimulate autophagy in primary cultured neurons, while a high dose of NAs could induce only neuronal apoptosis. The level of NA-induced Bcl-2 and Bax expressions determined whether neuronal autophagy or apoptosis occurred. Furthermore, the level of NA-induced neuronal apoptosis correlated with the dysfunction of cellular DNA polymerase gamma. Damage-regulated autophagy modulator (DRAM) overexpression was also involved in NA-induced neuronal autophagy. p53 played a role in the regulation of NA-induced neuronal apoptosis, but its role in NA-associated neuronal autophagy was uncertain. Our results suggest that DRAM is involved in the regulation of NA-induced neuronal autophagy in a p53-independent manner. Further research is needed to investigate the underlying mechanism.

Structure-activity relationship analysis of mitochondrial toxicity caused by antiviral ribonucleoside analogs.

Recent cases of severe toxicity during clinical trials have been associated with antiviral ribonucleoside analogs (e.g. INX-08189 and balapiravir). Some have hypothesized that the active metabolites of toxic ribonucleoside analogs, the triphosphate forms, inadvertently target human mitochondrial RNA polymerase (POLRMT), thus inhibiting mitochondrial RNA transcription and protein synthesis. Others have proposed that the prodrug moiety released from the ribonucleoside analogs might instead cause toxicity. Here, we report the mitochondrial effects of several clinically relevant and structurally diverse ribonucleoside analogs including NITD-008, T-705 (favipiravir), R1479 (parent nucleoside of balapiravir), PSI-7851 (sofosbuvir), and INX-08189 (BMS-986094). We found that efficient substrates and chain terminators of POLRMT, such as the nucleoside triphosphate forms of R1479, NITD-008, and INX-08189, are likely to cause mitochondrial toxicity in cells, while weaker chain terminators and inhibitors of POLRMT such as T-705 ribonucleoside triphosphate do not elicit strong in vitro mitochondrial effects. Within a fixed 3'-deoxy or 2'-C-methyl ribose scaffold, changing the base moiety of nucleotides did not strongly affect their inhibition constant (Ki) against POLRMT. By swapping the nucleoside and prodrug moieties of PSI-7851 and INX-08189, we demonstrated that the cell-based toxicity of INX-08189 is mainly caused by the nucleoside component of the molecule. Taken together, these results show that diverse 2' or 4' mono-substituted ribonucleoside scaffolds cause mitochondrial toxicity. Given the unpredictable structure-activity relationship of this ribonucleoside liability, we propose a rapid and systematic in vitro screen combining cell-based and biochemical assays to identify the early potential for mitochondrial toxicity.

The pivotal role of uridine-cytidine kinases in pyrimidine metabolism and activation of cytotoxic nucleoside analogues in neuroblastoma.

Uridine-cytidine kinase (UCK) catalyzes the phosphorylation of uridine and cytidine as well as the pharmacological activation of several cytotoxic pyrimidine ribonucleoside analogues. In this study, we investigated the functional role of two isoforms of UCK in neuroblastoma cell lines. Analysis of mRNA coding for UCK1 and UCK2 showed that UCK2 is the most abundantly expressed UCK in a panel of neuroblastoma cell lines. Transient and stable overexpression of UCK2 in neuroblastoma cells increased the metabolism of uridine and cytidine as well as the cytotoxicity of 3-deazauridine. Knockdown of endogenous UCK2 as well as overexpression of UCK1 resulted in decreased metabolism of uridine and cytidine and protected the neuroblastoma cells from 3-deazauridine-induced toxicity. Subcellular localization studies showed that UCK1-GFP and UCK2-GFP were localized in the cell nucleus and cytosol, respectively. However, co-expression of UCK1 with UCK2 resulted in a nuclear localization of UCK2 instead of its normal cytosolic localization, thereby impairing its normal function. The physical association of UCK1 and UCK2 was further demonstrated through pull-down analysis using his-tagged UCK. The discovery that UCK2 is highly expressed in neuroblastoma opens the possibility for selectively targeting neuroblastoma cells using UCK2-dependent pyrimidine analogues, while sparing normal tissues.

The role of transporters in the toxicity of nucleoside and nucleotide analogs.

INTRODUCTION: Two families of nucleoside analogs have been developed to treat viral infections and cancer, but these compounds can cause tissue- and cell-specific toxicity related to their uptake and subcellular activity, which are dictated by host enzymes and transporters. Cellular uptake of these compounds requires nucleoside transporters that share functional similarities but differ in substrate specificity. Tissue-specific cellular expression of these transporters enables nucleoside analogs to produce their tissue-specific toxic effects, a limiting factor in the treatment of retroviruses and cancer. AREAS COVERED: This review discusses the families of nucleoside transporters and how they mediate cellular uptake of nucleoside analogs. Specific focus is placed on examples of known cases of transporter-mediated cellular toxicity and classification of the toxicities resulting. Efflux transporters are also explored as a contributor to analog toxicity and cell-specific effects. EXPERT OPINION: Efforts to modulate transporter uptake/clearance remain long-term goals of oncologists and virologists. Accordingly, subcellular approaches that either increase or decrease intracellular nucleoside analog concentrations are eagerly sought and include transporter inhibitors and targeting transporter expression. However, additional understanding of nucleoside transporter kinetics, tissue expression and genetic polymorphisms is required to design better molecules and better therapies.

Cellular toxicity of nicotinamide metabolites.

There are almost 100 different substances called uremic toxins. Nicotinamide derivatives are known as new family of uremic toxins. These uremic compounds play a role in an increased oxidative stress and disturbances in cellular repair processes by inhibiting poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase activity. New members of this family were discovered and described. Their toxic properties were a subject of recent studies. This study evaluated the concentration of 4-pyridone-3-carboxamid-1-ß-ribonucleoside-triphosphate (4PYTP) and 4-pyridone-3-carboxamid-1-ß-ribonucleoside-monophosphate (4PYMP) in erythrocytes of patients with chronic renal failure. Serum and red blood cells were collected from chronic renal failure patients on conservative treatment, those treated with hemodialysis, and at different times from those who underwent kidney transplantation. Healthy volunteers served as a control group. Nicotinamide metabolites were determined using liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry based on originally discovered and described method. Three novel compounds were described: 4-pyridone-3-carboxamid-1-ß-ribonucleoside (4PYR), 4PYMP, and 4PYTP. 4PYR concentration was elevated in the serum, whereas 4PYMP and 4PYTP concentrations were augmented in erythrocytes of dialysis patients. Interestingly, concentrations of these compounds were less elevated during the treatment with erythropoietin-stimulating agents (ESAs). After successful kidney transplantation, concentrations of 4PYR and 4PYMP normalized according to the graft function, whereas that of 4PYTP was still elevated. During the incubation of erythrocytes in the presence of 4PYR, concentration of 4PYMP rose very rapidly while that of 4PYTP increased slowly. Therefore, we hypothesized that 4PYR, as a toxic compound, was actively absorbed by erythrocytes and metabolized to the 4PYMP and 4PYTP, which may interfere with function and life span of these cells.

Development of modified nucleosides that have supremely high anti-HIV activity and low toxicity and prevent the emergence of resistant HIV mutants.

An idea to use 4'-C-substituted-2'-deoxynucleoside derivatives was proposed based on a working hypothesis to solve the problems of existing acquired immune deficiency syndrome chemotherapy (highly active antiretroviral therapy). Subsequent studies have successfully proved the validity of the idea and resulted in the development of 2'-deoxy-4'-C-ethynyl-2-fluoroadenosine and 2'-deoxy-4'-C-ethynyl-2-chloroadenosine, nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, which have supremely high activity against all human immunodeficiency viruses including multidrug-resistant HIV and low toxicity.

Bitriazolyl acyclonucleosides synthesized via Huisgen reaction using internal alkynes show antiviral activity against tobacco mosaic virus.

A family of novel bitriazolyl acyclonucleosides were synthesized using a simple and convenient one-step synthetic procedure via the Huisgen reaction by addition of NaN(3) onto triazole nucleosides bearing internal alkynyl groups introduced at the 5-position of the triazole ring. Some of the compounds exhibited interesting antiviral activity against tobacco mosaic virus, demonstrating the importance of the bitriazolyl motif for the observed antiviral activity.

Nano-NRTIs: efficient inhibitors of HIV type-1 in macrophages with a reduced mitochondrial toxicity.

BACKGROUND: Macrophages serve as a depot for HIV type-1 (HIV-1) in the central nervous system. To efficiently target macrophages, we developed nanocarriers for potential brain delivery of activated nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) called nano-NRTIs. METHODS: Nanogel carriers consisting of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)- or Pluronic-polyethylenimine (PEI) biodegradable networks, star PEG-PEI or poly(amidoamine) dendrimer-PEI-PEG dendritic networks, as well as nanogels decorated with brain-targeting peptide molecules, specifically binding to the apolipoprotein E receptor, were synthesized and evaluated. Nano-NRTIs were obtained by mixing aqueous solutions of zidovudine 5'-triphosphate or didanosine 5'-triphosphate and nanocarriers, followed by freeze-drying. Intracellular accumulation, cytotoxicity and antiviral activity of nano-NRTIs were monitored in monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs). HIV-1 viral activity in infected MDMs was measured by a reverse transcriptase activity assay following treatment with nano-NRTIs. Mitochondrial DNA depletion in MDMs and human HepG2 cells was assessed by quantitative PCR. RESULTS: Nanogels were efficiently captured by MDMs and demonstrated low cytotoxicity, and no antiviral activity without drugs. All nano-NRTIs demonstrated high efficacy of HIV-1 inhibition at drug levels as low as 1 µmol/l, representing a 4.9- to 14-fold decrease in 90% effective drug concentrations as compared with NRTIs, whereas 50% cytotoxicity effects started at 200× higher concentrations. Nano-NRTIs with a core-shell structure and decorated with brain-targeting peptides displayed the highest antiviral efficacy. Mitochondrial DNA depletion, a major cause of NRTI neurotoxicity, was reduced threefold compared with NRTIs at application of selected nano-NRTIs. CONCLUSIONS: Nano-NRTIs demonstrated a promising antiviral efficacy against HIV-1 in MDMs and showed strong potential as nanocarriers for delivery of antiviral drugs to macrophages harbouring in the brain.

2'-deoxy-2'-α-fluoro-2'-ß-C-methyl 3',5'-cyclic phosphate nucleotide prodrug analogs as inhibitors of HCV NS5B polymerase: discovery of PSI-352938.

A series of novel 2'-deoxy-2'-α-fluoro-2'-ß-C-methyl 3',5'-cyclic phosphate nucleotide prodrug analogs were synthesized and evaluated for their in vitro anti-HCV activity and safety. These prodrugs demonstrated a 10-100-fold greater potency than the parent nucleoside in a cell-based replicon assay due to higher cellular triphosphate levels. Our structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies provided compounds that gave high levels of active triphosphate in rat liver when administered orally to rats. These studies ultimately led to the selection of the clinical development candidate 24a (PSI-352938).

Synthesis of 4,6-dideoxy-3-fluoro-2-keto-beta-D-glucopyranosyl analogues of 5-fluorouracil, N6-benzoyl adenine, uracil, thymine, N4-benzoyl cytosine and evaluation of their antitumor activities.

The synthesis of the unsaturated 4,6-dideoxy-3-fluoro-2-keto-beta-d-glucopyranosyl nucleosides of 5-fluorouracil (6a), N(6)-benzoyl adenine (6b), uracil (6c), thymine (6d) and N(4)-benzoyl cytosine (6e), is described. Monoiodination of compounds 1a,b, followed by acetylation, catalytic hydrogenation and finally regioselective 2'-O-deacylation afforded the partially acetylated dideoxynucleoside analogues of 5-fluorouracil (5a) and N(6)-benzoyl adenine (5b), respectively. Direct oxidation of the free hydroxyl group at the 2'-position of 5a,b, with simultaneous elimination reaction of the beta-acetoxyl group, afforded the desired unsaturated 4,6-dideoxy-3-fluoro-2-keto-beta-D-glucopyranosyl derivatives 6a,b. Compounds 1c-e were used as starting materials for the synthesis of the dideoxy unsaturated carbonyl nucleosides of uracil (6c), thymine (6d) and N(4)-benzoyl cytosine (6e). Similarly a protection-selective deprotection sequence followed by oxidation of the free hydroxyl group at the 2'-position of the dideoxy benzoylated analogues 9c-e with simultaneous elimination reaction of the beta-benzoyl group, gave the desired nucleosides 6c-e. None of the compounds was inhibitory to a broad spectrum of DNA and RNA viruses at subtoxic concentrations. The 5-fluorouracil derivative 6a was more cytostatic (50% inhibitory concentration ranging between 0.2 and 12 microM) than the other compounds.

Differences in cytosolic and mitochondrial 5'-nucleotidase and deoxynucleoside kinase activities in Sprague-Dawley rat and CD-1 mouse tissues: implication for the toxicity of nucleoside analogs in animal models.

Cytosolic and mitochondrial deoxynucleoside kinases (dNKs), as well as 5'deoxynucleotidases (5'-dNTs), control intracellular and intramitochondrial phosphorylation of natural nucleotides and nucleoside analogs used in antiviral and cancer chemotherapy. The balance in the activities of these two groups of enzymes to a large extent determines both the efficacy and side effects of these drugs. Because of the broad and overlapping substrate specificities of the nucleoside kinases and 5'-NTs, their tissue distribution and roles in the metabolism of both natural nucleosides and their analogs are still not fully elucidated. Here, the activity of dNKs: dCK and TK (TK1 and TK2) as well as 5'-dNTs: CN1, CN2 and dNT (dNT1 and dNT2) were determined in 14 different adult mouse and rat tissues. In most cases tissue activities of TK1, TK2 and dCK were 2-3-fold higher in the mouse, a similar pattern was found with CN1 and dNTs although with several exceptions, e.g., TK2 activities in muscle extracts from rats were 2-10-fold higher than in the mouse. Furthermore CN1 activities in hepatic, renal and adipose extracts were 2-3-fold higher in the rat. CN2 had higher levels in the testis, spleen, pancreas and diaphragm and lower level in the lung of mouse compared to rat tissues. The result suggests that a major difference in these activity profiles between mouse and rat may account for discrepancies in pharmacological response of the two animals to certain nucleoside compounds, and may help to improve the usefulness of animal models in future efforts of drug discovery.

Synthesis, antiviral activity, and stability of nucleoside analogs containing tricyclic bases.

A series of 3,9-dihydro-9-oxo-5H-imidazo[1,2-A]purine nucleosides (tricylic nucleosides) were synthesized from 9-[4-alpha-(hydroxymethyl)cyclopent-2-ene-1-alpha-yl]guanine (CBV) 5, (-)-beta-D-(2R,4R)-1,3-dioxolane-guanosine (DXG) 6, 3'-azido-3'-deoxy-guanosine (AZG) 7, and 2'-C-methylguanosine 8. Their in vitro activity against HIV and HCV was evaluated and correlated to their ability to degrade to their purine counterpart.