A conserved hydrogen-bonding network of P2 bis-tetrahydrofuran-containing HIV-1 protease inhibitors (PIs) with a protease active-site amino acid backbone aids in their activity against PI-resistant HIV.

In the present study, GRL008, a novel nonpeptidic human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) protease inhibitor (PI), and darunavir (DRV), both of which contain a P2-bis-tetrahydrofuranyl urethane (bis-THF) moiety, were found to exert potent antiviral activity (50% effective concentrations [EC50s], 0.029 and 0.002 µM, respectively) against a multidrug-resistant clinical isolate of HIV-1 (HIVA02) compared to ritonavir (RTV; EC50, >1.0 µM) and tipranavir (TPV; EC50, 0.364 µM). Additionally, GRL008 showed potent antiviral activity against an HIV-1 variant selected in the presence of DRV over 20 passages (HIVDRV(R)P20), with a 2.6-fold increase in its EC50 (0.097 µM) compared to its corresponding EC50 (0.038 µM) against wild-type HIV-1NL4-3 (HIVWT). Based on X-ray crystallographic analysis, both GRL008 and DRV showed strong hydrogen bonds (H-bonds) with the backbone-amide nitrogen/carbonyl oxygen atoms of conserved active-site amino acids G27, D29, D30, and D30' of HIVA02 protease (PRA02) and wild-type PR in their corresponding crystal structures, while TPV lacked H-bonds with G27 and D30' due to an absence of polar groups. The P2' thiazolyl moiety of RTV showed two conformations in the crystal structure of the PRA02-RTV complex, one of which showed loss of contacts in the S2' binding pocket of PRA02, supporting RTV's compromised antiviral activity (EC50, >1 µM). Thus, the conserved H-bonding network of P2-bis-THF-containing GRL008 with the backbone of G27, D29, D30, and D30' most likely contributes to its persistently greater antiviral activity against HIVWT, HIVA02, and HIVDRV(R)P20.

P2' benzene carboxylic acid moiety is associated with decrease in cellular uptake: evaluation of novel nonpeptidic HIV-1 protease inhibitors containing P2 bis-tetrahydrofuran moiety.

GRL007 and GRL008, two structurally related nonpeptidic human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) protease inhibitors (PIs) containing 3(R),3a(S),6a(R)-bis-tetrahydrofuranylurethane (bis-THF) as the P2 moiety and a sulfonamide isostere consisting of benzene carboxylic acid and benzene carboxamide as the P2' moiety, respectively, were evaluated for their antiviral activity and interactions with wild-type protease (PR(WT)). Both GRL007 (Ki of 12.7 pM with PR(WT)) and GRL008 (Ki of 8.9 pM) inhibited PR(WT) with high potency in vitro. X-ray crystallographic analysis of PR(WT) in complex with GRL007 or GRL008 showed that the bis-THF moiety of both compounds has three direct polar contacts with the backbone amide nitrogen atoms of Asp29 and Asp30 of PR(WT). The P2' moiety of both compounds showed one direct contact with the backbone of Asp30' and a bridging polar contact with Gly48' through a water molecule. Cell-based antiviral assays showed that GRL007 was inactive (50% effective concentration [EC50] of >1 µM) while GRL008 was highly active (EC50 of 0.04 µM) against wild-type HIV-1. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)/mass spectrometry-based cellular uptake assays showed 8.1- and 84-fold higher intracellular concentrations of GRL008 than GRL007 in human MT-2 and MT-4 cell extracts, respectively. Thus, GRL007, in spite of its favorable enzyme-inhibitory activity and protease binding profile, exhibited a lack of antiviral activity in cell-based assays, most likely due to its compromised cellular uptake associated with its P2' benzene carboxylic acid moiety. The anti-HIV-1 potency, favorable toxicity, and binding profile of GRL008 suggest that further optimization of the P2' moiety may improve its antiretroviral features.

Computational and experimental investigations of mono-septanoside binding by Concanavalin A: correlation of ligand stereochemistry to enthalpies of binding.

Structure-energy relationships for a small group of pyranose and septanose mono-saccharide ligands are developed for binding to Concanavalin A (ConA). The affinity of ConA for methyl "manno"ß-septanoside 7 was found to be higher than any of the previously reported mono-septanoside ligands. Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) in conjunction with docking simulations and quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) modeling established the specific role of binding enthalpy in the structure-energy relations of ConA bound to natural mono-saccharides and unnatural mono-septanosides. An important aspect in the differential binding among ligands is the deformation energy required to reorganize internal hydroxyl groups upon binding of the ligand to ConA.

Remote induction of asymmetry in [13]-macro-dilactone topology by a single stereogenic center.

Analysis of a series of unsaturated [13]-macro-dilactones showed that the configuration of a single carbon dictates the planar chirality of a macrocycle backbone and in turn remotely switches the facial display of an embedded alkene unit.

Design, Synthesis, Biological Evaluation, and X-ray Studies of HIV-1 Protease Inhibitors with Modified P2' Ligands of Darunavir.

The structure-based design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of a series of nonpeptidic HIV-1 protease inhibitors with rationally designed P2' ligands are described. The inhibitors are designed to enhance backbone binding interactions, particularly at the S2' subsite. Synthesis of inhibitors was carried out efficiently. The stereochemistry of alcohol functionalities of the P2' ligands was set by asymmetric reduction of the corresponding ketone using (R,R)- or (S,S)-Noyori catalysts. A number of inhibitors displayed very potent enzyme inhibitory and antiviral activity. Inhibitors 3g and 3h showed enzyme Ki values of 27.9 and 49.7 pm and antiviral activity of 6.2 and 3.9 nm, respectively. These inhibitors also remained quite potent against darunavir-resistant HIV-1 variants. An X-ray structure of inhibitor 3g in complex with HIV-1 protease revealed key interactions in the S2' subsite.

Synthesis of alpha-D-idoseptanosyl glycosides using an S-phenyl septanoside donor.

[reaction: see text] An S-phenyl alpha-D-idoseptanoside donor was used in the selective preparation of a series of alpha-D-idoseptanosyl glycosides. Glycosylation of a methyl beta-D-glycero-D-guloseptanoside acceptor with the new donor constituted the first synthesis of a septanose disaccharide.

Synthesis of 2-iodo-2-deoxy septanosides from a D-xylose-based oxepine: intramolecular cyclization in the absence of a glycosyl acceptor.

Oxidative glycosylations of the D-xylose-based oxepine 1,6-anhydro-3,4,5-tri-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-D-xylosept-1-enitol (1) using N-iodosuccinimide (NIS) are reported. The reaction produced 2-deoxy-2-iodo-alpha-D-idoseptanosides and 2-deoxy-2-iodo-beta-D-guloseptanosides 2-9 in good yields. When limited equivalents of a glycosyl acceptor were used, or in the absence of a glycosyl acceptor, an intramolecular cyclization predominated to form 1,6-anhydro-3,4-di-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-2-iodo-alpha-D-idopyranose (10).

Diastereoselectivity in epoxidation of carbohydrate fused [13]-macro-dilactones.

DMDO epoxidation of carbohydrate fused [13]-macro-dilactones was found to be highly diastereoselective. Facial selectivity of the epoxidation depended on the identity of the fused carbohydrate. Gluco-configured macro-dilactones gave the R, R epoxide, whereas the galacto- configuration gave the S, S epoxide. The epoxide stereochemisty was confirmed by independent syntheses of dimethyl 4 R,5R-epoxyoctanedioate via Shi epoxidation of dimethyl E-oct-4-enedioate and by transesterification of the epoxide derived from the gluco-[13]-macro-dilactone. We demonstrate diastereoselectivity in alkene reactivity driven by remote rather than adjacent stereocenters.