scholarly journals Design, Synthesis and Characterization of HIV-1 CA-Targeting Small Molecules: Conformational Restriction of PF74

Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 479
Author(s):  
Rajkumar Lalji Sahani ◽  
Raquel Diana-Rivero ◽  
Sanjeev Kumar V. Vernekar ◽  
Lei Wang ◽  
Haijuan Du ◽  
...  

Small molecules targeting the PF74 binding site of the HIV-1 capsid protein (CA) confer potent and mechanistically unique antiviral activities. Structural modifications of PF74 could further the understanding of ligand binding modes, diversify ligand chemical classes, and allow identification of new variants with balanced antiviral activity and metabolic stability. In the current work, we designed and synthesized three series of PF74-like analogs featuring conformational constraints at the aniline terminus or the phenylalanine carboxamide moiety, and characterized them using a biophysical thermal shift assay (TSA), cell-based antiviral and cytotoxicity assays, and in vitro metabolic stability assays in human and mouse liver microsomes. These studies showed that the two series with the phenylalanine carboxamide moiety replaced by a pyridine or imidazole ring can provide viable hits. Subsequent SAR identified an improved analog 15 which effectively inhibited HIV-1 (EC50 = 0.31 μM), strongly stabilized CA hexamer (ΔTm = 8.7 °C), and exhibited substantially enhanced metabolic stability (t1/2 = 27 min for 15 vs. 0.7 min for PF74). Metabolic profiles from the microsomal stability assay also indicate that blocking the C5 position of the indole ring could lead to increased resistance to oxidative metabolism.

Viruses ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 452 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanjeev Kumar V. Vernekar ◽  
Rajkumar Lalji Sahani ◽  
Mary C. Casey ◽  
Jayakanth Kankanala ◽  
Lei Wang ◽  
...  

HIV-1 capsid protein (CA) plays an important role in many steps of viral replication and represents an appealing antiviral target. Several CA-targeting small molecules of various chemotypes have been studied, but the peptidomimetic PF74 has drawn particular interest due to its potent antiviral activity, well-characterized binding mode, and unique mechanism of action. Importantly, PF74 competes against important host factors for binding, conferring highly desirable antiviral phenotypes. However, further development of PF74 is hindered by its prohibitively poor metabolic stability, which necessitates the search for structurally novel and metabolically stable chemotypes. We have conducted a pharmacophore-based shape similarity search for compounds mimicking PF74. We report herein the analog synthesis and structure-activity relationship (SAR) of two hits from the search, and a third hit designed via molecular hybridization. All analogs were characterized for their effect on CA hexamer stability, antiviral activity, and cytotoxicity. These assays identified three active compounds that moderately stabilize CA hexamer and inhibit HIV-1. The most potent analog (10) inhibited HIV-1 comparably to PF74 but demonstrated drastically improved metabolic stability in liver microsomes (31 min vs. 0.7 min t1/2). Collectively, the current studies identified a structurally novel and metabolically stable PF74-like chemotype for targeting HIV-1 CA.


2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S25-S26
Author(s):  
Jingjing Ma ◽  
Emma Wu ◽  
Ye Li ◽  
William Seibel ◽  
Le Shen ◽  
...  

Abstract Compromised epithelial barrier function is known to be associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and may contribute to disease development. One mechanism of barrier dysfunction is increased expression of paracellular tight junction ion and water channels formed by claudins. Claudin-2 and -15 are two such channels. We hypothesize that blocking these channels could be a viable therapeutic approach to treat diarrhea. In an effort to develop blockers of these channels, we turn to our previously developed and validated in silico models of claudin-15 (Samanta et al. 2018). We reasoned that compounds that can bind with the interior of claudin pores can limit paracellular water and ion flux. Thus, we used docking algorithms to search for putative small molecules that bind in the claudin-15 pore. AutoDock Vina was initially used to assess rigid docking using small compound databases. The small molecules were analyzed based on binding affinity to the pore and visualized using VMD for their potential blockage of the channel. Clusters of binding modes were identified based on the prominent interacting residues of the protein with the small molecules. We initially screened 10,500 compounds from within the UIC Centre for Drug Discovery and a cross-section of 10,000 compounds from the NCI open compound repository. This initial screen allowed us to identify 2 first-in-class selective claudin-15 blockers with efficacy in MDCK monolayers induced to express claudin-15 and in wildtype duodenum. Next, we screened the entire NCI open compound repository for additional molecules structurally related to our best initially identified molecule and this has allowed us to identify 13 additional molecules that increase TER of claudin-15 expressing MDCK monolayers by 90–160%. Additionally, these molecules possess similar structural components that will be collected in a fragment library and explored through molecular dynamics simulations. We also developed a claudin-2 homology model on which we are performing docking studies and in vitro measurements, which we expect will result in similar candidate ligands for blocking claudin-2. Our study will provide important insight into the role of claudin-dependent cation permeability in fundamental physiology, which we believe will lead to the utility of claudin blockers as a novel and much needed approach to treat diseases such as IBD.


Molecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (24) ◽  
pp. 5852
Author(s):  
Hui Bai ◽  
Xuelian Liu ◽  
Pengfei Chenzhang ◽  
Yumei Xiao ◽  
Bin Fu ◽  
...  

A series of novel 1,2,4-triazole derivatives containing oxime ether and phenoxy pyridine moiety were designed and synthesized. The new compounds were identified by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). Compound (Z)-1-(6-(4-nitrophenoxy)pyridin-3-yl)-2-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)ethan-1-one O-methyl oxime (5a18) was further confirmed by X-ray single crystal diffraction. Their antifungal activities were evaluated against eight phytopathogens. The in vitro bioassays indicated that most of the title compounds displayed moderate to high fungicidal activities. Compound (Z)-1-(6-(4-bromo-2-chlorophenoxy)pyridin-3-yl)-2-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)ethan-1-one O-methyl oxime (5a4) exhibited a broad-spectrum antifungal activities with the EC50 values of 1.59, 0.46, 0.27 and 11.39 mg/L against S. sclerotiorum, P. infestans, R. solani and B. cinerea, respectively. Compound (Z)-1-(6-(2-chlorophenoxy)pyridin-3-yl)-2-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)ethan-1-one O-benzyl oxime (5b2) provided the lowest EC50 value of 0.12 mg/L against S. sclerotiorum, which were comparable to the commercialized difenoconazole. Moreover, homologous modeling and molecular docking disclosed possible binding modes of compounds 5a4 and 5b2 with CYP51. This work provided useful guidance for the discovery of new 1,2,4-triazole fungicides.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dalya Al-Saad ◽  
Misal Giuseppe Memeo ◽  
Paolo Quadrelli

Influenza virus flu A H1N1 still remains a target for its inhibition with small molecules. Fleeting nitrosocarbonyl intermediates are at work in a short-cut synthesis of carbocyclic nucleoside analogues. The strategy of the synthetic approaches is presented along with thein vitroantiviral tests. The nucleoside derivatives were tested for their inhibitory activity against a variety of viruses. Promising antiviral activities were found for specific compounds in the case of flu A H1N1.


2007 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 551-554 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Bannwarth ◽  
M. Reboud-Ravaux

Mutations that occur in response to the HIV-1 protease inhibitors are responsible for the development of multidrug cross-resistance to these antiproteases in AIDS treatment. One alternative to inhibiting the active site of HIV-1 protease is to target the dimer interface of the homodimeric enzyme at the antiparallel β-sheet formed by the interdigitation of the C- and N-ends of each monomer. This region is highly conserved and is responsible for approx. 75% of the dimer-stabilization energy. The strategies that have been used to design small molecules to target the interface antiparallel β-sheet have produced lipopeptides, guanidinium derivatives and peptides (or peptidomimetics) cross-linked with spacers. The mechanism of inhibition was determined using a combination of kinetic and biophysical methods. These dimerization inhibitors proved equally active in vitro against both wild-type and mutated proteases. They are therefore promising alternatives to active-site-directed inhibitors in AIDS therapy. Disruption of protein–protein interactions by small molecules is a new way to obtain potentially therapeutic molecules.


1995 ◽  
Vol 6 (5) ◽  
pp. 320-326 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Schott ◽  
M. P. Häussler ◽  
P. Gowland ◽  
A. Bender ◽  
H. von Briesen ◽  
...  

N4-hexadecyl-5′-0-(4-monomethoxytrityl)-2′-deoxycytidine-3′-hydrogenphosphonate and 5′-0-(4-monomethoxytrityl)-2′-deoxythymidine-3′-0-hydrogenphosphonate were condensed with 2′,3′-dideoxycytidine (ddC) according to the hydrogenphosphonate method to yield N4-hexadecyl-2′-deoxycytidylyl-(3′-5′)-2′,3′-dideoxycytidine (N4-hexadecyldC-ddC) and 2′-deoxythymidylyl-(3′-5′)-N4-palmitoyl-2′,3′-dideoxycytidine (dT-N4-palmddC). N4-palmitoyl-2′,3′-dideoxycytidine (N4-palmddC) was synthesized by reacting palmitic anhydride with ddC. Both dinucleoside phosphates have amphiphilic properties and represent a new class of ddC derivatives in which in the case of the dinucleosides, the ddC-5′-monophosphate is masked with lipophilic residues of variable stability. The ddC derivatives can be solubilized in water by micelle formation and, because they have lipophilic residues, they can be incorporated into the lipid membranes of liposomes. The ddC derivatives were shown to have antiviral activities comparable to those of AZT and ddC when tested in vitro against HIV-1-infected HeLa and H9 cells as well as infected human monocytes/macrophages.


Author(s):  
Maharshi Thalla ◽  
Aishwarya Jala ◽  
Roshan M. Borkar ◽  
Subham Banerjee

AbstractPyrazinamide (PZA), a medication for tuberculosis, has high aqueous solubility and low permeability, undergoes extensive liver metabolism, and exhibits liver toxicity through its metabolites. To avoid this, PZA in lipid core-shell nanoarchitectonics has been formulated to target lymphatic uptake and provide metabolic stability to the incorporated drug. The UPLC-MS/MS method for reliable in vitro quantitative analysis of pyrazinamide (PZA) in lipid core-shell nanoarchitectonics as per ICH guidance was developed and validated using the HILIC column. The developed UPLC-MS/MS method is a simple, precise, accurate, reproducible, and sensitive method for the estimation of PZA in PZA-loaded lipid core-shell nanoarchitectonics for the in vitro determination of % entrapment efficiency, % loading of pyrazinamide, and microsomal stability of lipid core-shell nanoarchitectonics in human liver microsomes. The % entrapment efficiency was found to be 42.72% (±12.60). Lipid nanoarchitectonics was found to be stable in human liver microsomes, where %QH was found to be 6.20%, that is, low clearance. Thus, this formulation is suitable for preventing PZA-mediated extensive liver metabolism. These findings are relevant for the development of other lipid-mediated, suitable, stable nanoformulations containing PZA through various in vitro methods.


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