Discovery and development of DNA polymerase IIIC inhibitors to treat Gram-positive infections.

Despite the growing global crisis caused by antimicrobial drug resistance among pathogenic bacteria, the number of new antibiotics, especially new chemical class of antibiotics under development is insufficient to tackle the problem. Our review focuses on an emerging class of antibacterial therapeutic agents that holds a completely novel mechanism of action, namely, inhibition of bacterial DNA polymerase IIIC. The recent entry of this new class into human trials may herald the introduction of novel drugs whose novel molecular target precludes cross-resistance with existing antibiotic classes. This review therefore examines the evolution of DNA pol IIIC inhibitors from the discovery of 6-(p-hydroxyphenylazo)uracil (HPUra) in the 1960s to the development of current first-in-class N7-substituted guanine drug candidate ACX-362E, now under clinical development for the treatment of Clostridioides difficile infection.

Synthesis and Anti-HCV Activities of 4'-Fluoro-2'-Substituted Uridine Triphosphates and Nucleotide Prodrugs: Discovery of 4'-Fluoro-2'- C-methyluridine 5'-Phosphoramidate Prodrug (AL-335) for the Treatment of Hepatitis C Infection.

We report the synthesis and biological evaluation of a series of 4'-fluoro-2'- C-substituted uridines. Triphosphates of the uridine analogues exhibited a potent inhibition of hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS5B polymerase with IC50 values as low as 27 nM. In an HCV subgenomic replicon assay, the phosphoramidate prodrugs of these uridine analogues demonstrated a very potent activity with EC50 values as low as 20 nM. A lead compound AL-335 (53) demonstrated high levels of the nucleoside triphosphate in vitro in primary human hepatocytes and Huh-7 cells as well as in dog liver following a single oral dose. Compound 53 was selected for the clinical development where it showed promising results in phase 1 and 2 trials.

Synthesis of Guanine α-Carboxy Nucleoside Phosphonate (G-α-CNP), a Direct Inhibitor of Multiple Viral DNA Polymerases.

The synthesis of guanine α-carboxy nucleoside phosphonate (G-α-CNP) is described. Two routes provide access to racemic G-α-CNP 9, one via base construction and the other utilizing Tsuji-Trost allylic substitution. The latter methodology was also applied to the enantiopure synthesis of both antipodes of G-α-CNP, each of which showing interesting antiviral DNA polymerase activity. Additionally, we report an improved multigram scale preparation of the cyclopentene building block 10, starting material for the preferred Tsuji-Trost route to 9.

Development of a Prodrug of Levofloxacin to Avoid Chelation with Al3+ and of Pemetrexed Dimedoxomil Esters for Oral Administration.

An ethoxycarbonyl 1-ethyl hemiacetal ester of levofloxacin (LVFX-EHE) avoids insoluble chelate formation with metal-containing drugs in the intestinal tract and is rapidly hydrolyzed to the parent drug. Furthermore, the minimum inhibitory concentration confirms that LVFX-EHE is less likely to cause pseudomembranous colitis because of less susceptibility to normal intestinal bacteria flora. Pemetrexed dimedoxomil, the prodrug of pemetrexed, was synthesized via reaction with medoxomil bromide after modification of L-glutamate with the tert-butyloxycarbonyl protecting group (BOC), followed by hydrolysis of the BOC moiety with trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) in CH2Cl2 at a temperature of 0°C for 2 h. A serum pemetrexed concentration of >2 µg/mL was observed after oral administration of pemetrexed dimedoxomil at a dose of 60 mg/kg to rats.

Synthesis and characterization of some abundant nanoparticles, their antimicrobial and enzyme inhibition activity.

Although the antimicrobial activity of the engineered nanoparticles (NPs) is well known, the biochemical mechanisms underlying this activity are not clearly understood. Therefore, four NPs with the highest global production, namely SiO2, TiO2, ZnO, and Ag, were synthesized and characterized. The synthesized SiO2, TiO2, ZnO, and Ag NPs exhibit an average size of 11.12, 13.4, 35, and 50 nm, respectively. The antimicrobial activity of the synthesized NPs against bacteria and fungi were also determined. NPs-mediated inhibition of two very important enzymes, namely urease and DNA polymerase, is also reported. The synthesized NPs especially Ag and ZnO show significant antimicrobial activity against bacteria and fungi including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus even at low concentration. The DNA polymerase activity was inhibited at a very low concentration range of 2-4 µg/ml, whereas the urease activity was inhibited at a high concentration range of 50-100 µg/ml. Based on their ability to inhibit the urease and DNA polymerase, NPs can be arranged in the following order: Ag > ZnO > SiO2 > TiO2 and Ag > SiO2 > ZnO > TiO2, respectively. As the synthesized NPs inhibit bacterial growth and suppress the activity of urease and DNA polymerase, the use of these NPs to control pathogens is proposed.

2'-Modified Guanosine Analogs for the Treatment of HCV.

Novel 2'-modified guanosine nucleosides were synthesized from inexpensive starting materials in 7-10 steps via hydroazidation or hydrocyanation reactions of the corresponding 2'-olefin. The antiviral effectiveness of the guanosine nucleosides was evaluated by converting them to the corresponding 5'-O-triphosphates (compounds 38-44) and testing their biochemical inhibitory activity against the wild-type NS5B polymerase.

Synthesis of Pyridone-based Nucleoside Analogues as Substrates or Inhibitors of DNA Polymerases.

The synthesis and characterization of novel acyclic and cyclic pyridone-based nucleosides and nucleotides is described. In total, seven nucleosides and four nucleotides were synthesized. None of the tested nucleosides showed inhibitory properties against Klenow exo- polymerase and M.MuLV and HIV-1 reverse transcriptases. The nucleotides containing 4-chloro- and 4-bromo-2-pyridone as a nucleobase were accepted by the Klenow fragment, but at the expense of fidelity and extension efficiency.

Pronounced Inhibition Shift from HIV Reverse Transcriptase to Herpetic DNA Polymerases by Increasing the Flexibility of α-Carboxy Nucleoside Phosphonates.

Alpha-carboxynucleoside phosphonates (α-CNPs) are novel viral DNA polymerase inhibitors that do not need metabolic conversion for enzyme inhibition. The prototype contains a cyclopentyl linker between nucleobase and α-carboxyphosphonate and preferentially (50- to 100-fold) inhibits HIV-1 RT compared with herpetic DNA polymerases. A synthesis methodology involving three steps has been developed for the synthesis of a series of novel α-CNPs, including a Rh(II)-catalyzed O-H insertion that connects the carboxyphosphonate group to a linker moiety and an attachment of a nucleobase to the other end of the linker by a Mitsunobu reaction followed by final deprotection. Replacing the cyclopentyl moiety in the prototype α-CNPs by a more flexible entity results in a selectivity shift of ∼ 100-fold in favor of the herpetic DNA polymerases when compared to selectivity for HIV-1 RT. The nature of the kinetic interaction of the acyclic α-CNPs against the herpetic DNA polymerases differs from the nature of the nucleobase-specific kinetic interaction of the cyclopentyl α-CNPs against HIV RT.

Discovery of ß-D-2'-deoxy-2'-α-fluoro-4'-α-cyano-5-aza-7,9-dideaza adenosine as a potent nucleoside inhibitor of respiratory syncytial virus with excellent selectivity over mitochondrial RNA and DNA polymerases.

Novel 4'-substituted ß-d-2'-deoxy-2'-α-fluoro (2'd2'F) nucleoside inhibitors of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are reported. The introduction of 4'-substitution onto 2'd2'F nucleoside analogs resulted in compounds demonstrating potent cell based RSV inhibition, improved inhibition of the RSV polymerase by the nucleoside triphosphate metabolites, and enhanced selectivity over incorporation by mitochondrial RNA and DNA polymerases. Selectivity over the mitochondrial polymerases was found to be extremely sensitive to the specific 4'-substitution and not readily predictable. Combining the most potent and selective 4'-groups from N-nucleoside analogs onto a 2'd2'F C-nucleoside analog resulted in the identification of ß-D-2'-deoxy-2'-α-fluoro-4'-α-cyano-5-aza-7,9-dideaza adenosine as a promising nucleoside lead for RSV.

N-Branched acyclic nucleoside phosphonates as monomers for the synthesis of modified oligonucleotides.

Protected N-branched nucleoside phosphonates containing adenine and thymine bases were prepared as the monomers for the introduction of aza-acyclic nucleotide units into modified oligonucleotides. The phosphotriester and phosphoramidite methods were used for the incorporation of modified and natural units, respectively. The solid phase synthesis of a series of nonamers containing one central modified unit was successfully performed in both 3'→5' and 5'→3' directions. Hybridization properties of the prepared oligoribonucleotides and oligodeoxyribonucleotides were evaluated. The measurement of thermal characteristics of the complexes of modified nonamers with the complementary strand revealed a considerable destabilizing effect of the introduced units. We also examined the substrate/inhibitory properties of aza-acyclic nucleoside phosphono-diphosphate derivatives (analogues of nucleoside triphosphates) but neither inhibition of human and bacterial DNA polymerases nor polymerase-mediated incorporation of these triphosphate analogues into short DNA was observed.

Design, synthesis, biochemical, and antiviral evaluations of C6 benzyl and C6 biarylmethyl substituted 2-hydroxylisoquinoline-1,3-diones: dual inhibition against HIV reverse transcriptase-associated RNase H and polymerase with antiviral activities.

Reverse transcriptase (RT) associated ribonuclease H (RNase H) remains the only virally encoded enzymatic function not targeted by current chemotherapy against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Although numerous chemotypes have been reported to inhibit HIV RNase H biochemically, few show significant antiviral activity against HIV. We report herein the design, synthesis, and biological evaluations of a novel variant of 2-hydroxyisoquinoline-1,3-dione (HID) scaffold featuring a crucial C-6 benzyl or biarylmethyl moiety. The synthesis involved a recently reported metal-free direct benzylation between tosylhydrazone and boronic acid, which allowed the generation of structural diversity for the hydrophobic aromatic region. Biochemical studies showed that the C-6 benzyl and biarylmethyl HID analogues, previously unknown chemotypes, consistently inhibited HIV RT-associated RNase H and polymerase with IC50s in low to submicromolar range. The observed dual inhibitory activity remained uncompromised against RT mutants resistant to non-nucleoside RT inhibitors (NNRTIs), suggesting the involvement of binding site(s) other than the NNRTI binding pocket. Intriguingly, these same compounds inhibited the polymerase, but not the RNase H function of Moloney Murine Leukemia Virus (MoMLV) RT and also inhibited Escherichia coli RNase H. Additional biochemical testing revealed a substantially reduced level of inhibition against HIV integrase. Molecular docking corroborates favorable binding of these analogues to the active site of HIV RNase H. Finally, a number of these analogues also demonstrated antiviral activity at low micromolar concentrations.

Synthesis of 2'-O,4'-C-alkylene-bridged ribonucleosides and their evaluation as inhibitors of HCV NS5B polymerase.

The synthesis of 2'-O,4'-C-methylene-bridged bicyclic guanine ribonucleosides bearing 2'-C-methyl or 5'-C-methyl modifications is described. Key to the successful installation of the methyl functionality in both cases was the use of a one-pot oxidation-Grignard procedure to avoid formation of the respective unreactive hydrates prior to alkylation. The 2'-C-methyl- and 5'-C-methyl-modified bicyclic guanosines were evaluated, along with the known uracil-, cytosine-, adenine-, guanine-LNA and guanine-ENA nucleosides, as potential antiviral agents and found to be inactive in the hepatitis C virus (HCV) cell-based replicon assay. Examination of the corresponding nucleoside triphosphates, however, against the purified HCV NS5B polymerase indicated that LNA-G and 2'-C-methyl-LNA-G are potent inhibitors of both 1b wild type and S282T mutant enzymes in vitro. Activity was further demonstrated for the LNA-G-triphosphate against HCV NS5B polymerase genotypes 1a, 2a, 3a and 4a. A phosphorylation by-pass prodrug strategy may be required to promote anti-HCV activity in the replicon assay.

Human polymerase alpha inhibitors for skin tumors. Part 2. Modeling, synthesis and influence on normal and transformed keratinocytes of new thymidine and purine derivatives.

Recently, the three-dimensional structure of the active site of human DNA polymerase alpha (pol alpha) was proposed based on the application of molecular modeling methods and molecular dynamic simulations. The modeled structure of the enzyme was used for docking selective inhibitors (nucleotide analogs and the non-nucleoside inhibitor aphidicolin) in its active site in order to design new drugs for actinic keratosis and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). The resulting complexes explained the geometrical and physicochemical interactions of the inhibitors with the amino acid residues involved in binding to the catalytic site, and offered insight into the experimentally derived binding data. The proposed structures were synthesized and tested in vitro for their influence on human keratinocytes and relevant tumor cell lines. Effects were compared to aphidicolin which inhibits pol alpha in a non-competitive manner, as well as to diclofenac and 5-fluorouracil, both approved for therapy of actinic keratosis. Here we describe three new nucleoside analogs inhibiting keratinocyte proliferation by inhibiting DNA synthesis and inducing apoptosis and necrosis. Thus, the combination of modeling studies and in vitro tests should allow the derivation of new drug candidates for the therapy of skin tumors, given that the agents are not relevant substrates of nucleotide transporters expressed by skin cancer cells. Kinases for nucleoside activation were detected, too, corresponding with the observed effects of nucleoside analogs.

Synthesis and anti-HCV evaluation of 4'(alpha)-ethyl and 2'(beta)-methyl-carbodine analogues.

Novel 4'(alpha)-ethyl-2'(beta)-methyl carbocyclic nucleoside analogues have been prepared and evaluated for inhibition of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA replication in cell culture. The construction of cyclopentene intermediate 12 beta was successfully made via sequential Johnson-Claisen orthoester rearrangement and ring-closing metathesis (RCM) starting from Weinreb amide 5. Selective dihydroxylation and desilylation gave the target carbodine analogues. The synthesized nucleoside analogues mentioned above 18 and 19 were assayed for their ability to inhibit HCV RNA replication in a subgenomic replicon Huh7 cell line (LucNeo#2). However, the synthesized nucleosides neither showed any significant antiviral activity nor toxicity up to 50 microM.

Modular assembly using sequential palladium coupling gives easy access to the SMoC class of cellular transporters.

The transducing ability of the third helix of transcription factor homeodomains is effectively mimicked by a biphenyl system displaying guanidine groups. The biphenyl class of small molecule carriers (SMoCs) can carry biomolecules into a wide variety of cell types. A "combinatorial" approach to the synthesis of SMoCs is described using sequential Pd(0) coupling chemistry to assemble the molecules from highly functionalized building blocks. SMoCs coupled to the DNA licensing repressor protein geminin can inhibit DNA replication in vitro. We conducted a structure-activity investigation utilizing a range of SMoC-geminin conjugates and demonstrate that both electrostatic and structural features are important for efficient uptake and functional activity. The best analogue was more efficient than either (Arg)(4) or (Arg)(8) linked to geminin. Effective inhibition of DNA synthesis was achieved in fibroblasts and osteosarcoma cell lines.

Differential antiproliferative activity of new benzimidazole-4,7-diones.

Ten benzimidazole-4,7-diones were synthesized and tested in vitro on two tumor cell lines. Several compounds showed a significant antiproliferative activity on K562 cells, although to a different extent, whereas compound 1i showed a highly significant activity on SW620 cells, comparable to that of doxorubicin. Both the substituents in the quinone ring and the position of the nitrogen atom in the pyridine moiety play a crucial role for the biological activity.

Synthesis of the mitomycin and FR900482 ring systems via dimethyldioxirane oxidation.

[reaction: see text] Dimethyldioxirane oxidizes a 2,3-dihydo-1H-pyrrolo[1,2-a]indole unsubstituted at the C-9 position stereoselectively to form a hydroxy ketone with all the basic elements of the mitomycin ring system. On the other hand, a 2,3-dihydo-1H-pyrrolo[1,2-a]indole derivative substituted with an alkyl group at C-9 undergoes an oxidative ring expansion in the presence of dimethyldioxirane to give an FR900482 analogue.

Synthesis, hydrolytic activation and cytotoxicity of etoposide prodrugs.

Two 4'-propylcarbonoxy derivatives (2,3) of etoposide (1), a topoisomerase II inhibitor, were synthesized and evaluated as potential prodrugs for anticancer therapy. Their activation via hydrolysis mechanisms was determined as a function of pH in buffer solutions, in human serum and in the presence of carboxyl ester hydrolase. Cytotoxicity was determined on various tumor cell lines and compared to the parent compound. On cell lines exhibiting resistance to etoposide we observed an enhanced cytotoxicity of the prodrugs of up to three orders of magnitude.

A synthesis of C(16),C(18)-bis-epi-cytochalasin D via Reformatsky cyclization.

Triene 5 has been prepared by the E-selective olefination of aldehyde 12 with the ylide 11. Several alternative syntheses of 12 were evaluated, and the successful route involved conversion of 22 into the vinyl ether 23 by Petasis olefination, followed by Claisen rearrangement. Diels-Alder cycloaddition of 5 with 4 gave the adduct 6 in 77% yield, and Reformatsky cyclization under dilution conditions afforded 10 (67%). After conversion to enol silane 32, oxidation with dimethyldioxirane produced 34. Conversion to a key intermediate 38 using electrophilic selenenylation and selenoxide rearrangement, followed by enolate alkylation and deprotection, gave 43. The X-ray crystal structure of 43 was determined to prove the stereochemistry.

Recent outcome in the field of distamycin-derived minor groove binders.

DNA minor groove binders represent a class of cytotoxic antitumor agents whose DNA sequence specificity may lead to a high selectivity of action. Tallimustine, benzoyl nitrogen mustard derivative of distamycin A, showed excellent antitumor activity in the preclinical tests, but as other minor groove binders, showed severe myelotoxicity. Novel nitrogen mustard derivatives of distamycin showing improved activity profile, have been identified recently. Moreover, a series of alpha-halogenoacrylamido derivatives of distamycin-like frames, in which the typical amidino moiety has been replaced with other moieties, was found to show cytotoxic and antitumor activity and cytotoxicity/myelotoxicity ratio improved significantly in comparison to tallimustine. The structural features of the alkylating moieties and binding frames, of distamycin and distamycin-like derivatives disclosed recently are discussed.