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PubMedDate not supplied

A new procedure for the phosphorylation of nucleosides: application to the discovery of inhibitors of HIV integrase.

A new phosphorylating agent for nucleosides, 2-O-(4,4'-dimethoxytrityl) ethylsulfonylethan-2'-yl-phosphate (1), has been developed by us. In the many examples studied by us, phosphorylation yields were found to be very high (about 90%). The procedure appears to be remarkably general and can be utilized for the phosphorylation of many biomolecules. Successful application of this phosphorylation method has contributed to the discovery of inhibitors of HIV integrase in our laboratory.

HIV Integrase Inhibitors↗

PubMed2006

Regiocontrolled synthesis and HIV inhibitory activity of unsymmetrical binaphthoquinone and trimeric naphthoquinone derivatives of conocurvone.

Unsymmetrical biquinone and trimeric quinone derivatives were synthesized using halotriflate-biselectrophilic naphthoquinones through stepwise regioselective quinone substitution chemistry and evaluated for their ability to inhibit the cytopathogenic effects of HIV-1 using an MTT colorimetric assay. Compounds were also screened for their ability to inhibit the activity of HIV-1 integrase in vitro. Pyranylated trimeric quinones and biquinones exhibited both antiviral activity and integrase inhibitory activity. Conocurvone 1 and trimeric quinone 21 were the most potent HIV integrase inhibitors in the series. All of the biquinones showed HIV inhibitory activity. Simple methoxy substituted biquinones did not inhibit HIV-1 integrase.

Anti-HIV Agents↗

PubMed2003

Modeling HIV-1 integrase complexes based on their hydrodynamic properties.

We present a model structure of a candidate tetramer for HIV-1 integrase. The model was built in three steps using data from fluorescence anisotropy, structures of the individual integrase domains, cross-linking data, and other biochemical data. First, the structure of the full-length integrase monomer was modeled using the individual domain structures and the hydrodynamic properties of the full-length protein that were recently measured by fluorescence depolarization. We calculated the rotational correlation times for different arrangements of three integrase domains, revealing that only structures with close proximity among the domains satisfied the experimental data. The orientations of the domains were constrained by iterative tests against the data on cross-linking and footprinting in integrase-DNA complexes. Second, the structure of an integrase dimer was obtained by joining the model monomers in accordance with the available dimeric crystal structures of the catalytic core. The hydrodynamic properties of the dimer were in agreement with the experimental values. Third, the active sites of the two model dimers were placed in agreement with the spacing between the sites of integration on target DNA as well as the integrase-DNA cross-linking data, resulting in twofold symmetry of a tetrameric complex. The model is consistent with the experimental data indicating that the F185K substitution, which is found in the model at a tetramerization interface, selectively disrupts correct complex formation in vitro and HIV replication in vivo. Our model of the integrase tetramer bound to DNA may help to design anti-integrase inhibitors.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed1996

Assaying the activity of HIV-1 integrase with DNA-coated plates.

Integration of reverse transcribed viral DNA of HIV into host chromosomes is mediated by the viral enzyme, integrase. This enzymatic activity can be monitored in vitro by integration of a small labeled DNA (donor) into a second unlabeled DNA (target). The methodology usually involves isotope labeling and gel electrophoresis. To simplify the measurement, a method mimicking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) procedures was developed. Fragments of DNA were adsorbed directly on 96-well plates and used as the target DNA. The donor was a synthetic 21-bp DNA duplex of HIV-1 U5 LTR; biotin was incorporated into the 5' end of one strand whose two nucleotides at the 3' end were specifically removed during the integration. As a result of integration, the biotin-labeled donor DNA was joined with the target DNA and became immobilized on plates. These integration products were then measured by binding of avidin-alkaline phosphatase on plates. The method is simple and straightforward and can easily be adapted for high throughput screening of integrase inhibitors.

DNA↗

PubMed2001

New developments in anti-HIV chemotherapy.

Virtually all the compounds that are currently used, or under advanced clinical trial, for the treatment of HIV infections, belong to one of the following classes: (i) nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs): i.e., zidovudine (AZT), didanosine (ddI), zalcitabine (ddC), stavudine (d4T), lamivudine (3TC), abacavir (ABC), emtricitabine [(-)FTC], tenofovir (PMPA) disoproxil fumarate; (ii) non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs): i.e., nevirapine, delavirdine, efavirenz, emivirine (MKC-442); and (iii) protease inhibitors (PIs): i.e., saquinavir, ritonavir, indinavir, nelfinavir, amprenavir, and lopinavir. In addition to the reverse transcriptase and protease step, various other events in the HIV replicative cycle are potential targets for chemotherapeutic intervention: (i) viral adsorption, through binding to the viral envelope glycoprotein gp120 (polysulfates, polysulfonates, polyoxometalates, zintevir, negatively charged albumins, cosalane analogues); (ii) viral entry, through blockade of the viral coreceptors CXCR4 and CCR5 [bicyclams (i.e. AMD3100), polyphemusins (T22), TAK-779, MIP-1 alpha LD78 beta isoform]; (iii) virus-cell fusion, through binding to the viral glycoprotein gp41 [T-20 (DP-178), T-1249 (DP-107), siamycins, betulinic acid derivatives]; (iv) viral assembly and disassembly, through NCp7 zinc finger-targeted agents [2,2'-dithiobisbenzamides (DIBAs), azadicarbonamide (ADA) and NCp7 peptide mimics]; (v) proviral DNA integration, through integrase inhibitors such as L-chicoric acid and diketo acids (i.e. L-731,988); (vi) viral mRNA transcription, through inhibitors of the transcription (transactivation) process (fluoroquinolone K-12, Streptomyces product EM2487, temacrazine, CGP64222). Also, in recent years new NRTIs, NNRTIs and PIs have been developed that possess respectively improved metabolic characteristics (i.e. phosphoramidate and cyclosaligenyl pronucleotides of d4T), or increased activity against NNRTI-resistant HIV strains [second generation NNRTIs, such as capravirine and the novel quinoxaline, quinazolinone, phenylethylthiazolylthiourea (PETT) and emivirine (MKC-442) analogues], or, as in the case of PIs, a different, non-peptidic scaffold [i.e. cyclic urea (DMP 450), 4-hydroxy-2-pyrone (tipranavir)]. Given the multitude of molecular targets with which anti-HIV agents can interact, one should be cautious in extrapolating from cell-free enzymatic assays to the mode of action of these agents in intact cells. A number of compounds (i.e. zintevir and L-chicoric acid, on the one hand; and CGP64222 on the other hand) have recently been found to interact with virus-cell binding and viral entry in contrast to their proposed modes of action targeted at the integrase and transactivation process, respectively.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2003

Anticancer and antiviral sulfonamides.

The sulfonamides constitute an important class of drugs, with several types of pharmacological agents possessing antibacterial, anti- carbonic anhydrase, diuretic, hypoglycemic and antithyroid activity among others. A large number of structurally novel sulfonamide derivatives have ultimately been reported to show substantial antitumor activity in vitro and in vivo. Although they have a common chemical motif of aromatic/heterocyclic or amino acid sulfonamide, there are a variety of mechanisms of their antitumor action, such as carbonic anhydrase inhibition, cell cycle perturbation in the G1 phase, disruption of microtubule assembly, functional suppression of the transcriptional activator NF-Y, and angiogenesis (matrix metalloproteinase, MMP) inhibition among others. Some of these compounds selected via elaborate preclinical screenings or obtained through computer-based drug design, are currently being evaluated in clinical trials. The review summarizes recent classes of sulfonamides and related sulfonyl derivatives disclosed as effective tumor cell growth inhibitors, or for the treatment of different types of cancer. Another research line that progressed much in the last time regards different sulfonamides with remarkable antiviral activity. Thus, at least two clinically used HIV protease inhibitors possess sulfonamide moieties in their molecules, whereas a very large number of other derivatives are constantly being synthesized and evaluated in order to obtain compounds with less toxicity or activity against drug-resistant viruses. Several non nucleoside HIV reverse transcriptase or HIV integrase inhibitors containing sulfonamido groups were also reported. Another approach to inhibit the growth of retroviruses, including HIV, targets the ejection of zinc ions from critical zinc finger viral proteins, which has as a consequence the inhibition of viral replication in the absence of mutations leading to drug resistance phenotypes. Most compounds with antiviral activity possessing this mechanism of action incorporate in their molecules primary sulfonamide groups. Some small molecule chemokine antagonists acting as HIV entry inhibitors also possess sulfonamide functionalities in their scaffold.

Animals↗

PubMed1995

Characterization of endonucleolytic activity of HIV-1 integrase using a fluorogenic substrate.

Retroviruses require viral DNA to be synthesized by reverse transcription in the cytoplasm followed by integration of the resulting viral DNA into the host chromosome in the nucleus. Reverse transcription and integration, essential steps in the life cycle of retroviruses, are possible targets in the development of antiviral reagents. One attractive target is the integrase protein, a product of the retroviral pol gene which is solely responsible for the retroviral integration process through cutting and joining reactions. When screening for massive numbers of antiviral agents, a rapid and precise assay is ideal. We report the application of fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) with fluorescein and eosin as the energy transfer pair to characterize HIV-IN-mediated DNA cleavage reactions. Past concerns with applications of FRET to DNA were due to interactions of the fluorophore with the DNA, resulting in quenched fluorescence. However, in this study these concerns have been resolved with the use of a nucleotide analog with a 12-carbon linker arm, 5-amino (12)-2'-deoxyuridine beta-cyanoethyl phosphoramidite. Steady-state fluorescence studies show that cleavage of the fluorogenic substrate by integrase results in enhancement of quenched donor fluorescence intensity. The fluorescence assay was confirmed by autoradiographic analysis of the cleavage reaction with radiolabeled fluorogenic substrate. This fluorescence assay will facilitate both detailed kinetic studies and the rapid screening of novel integrase inhibitors.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed2005

Integrase of Mason-Pfizer monkey virus.

The gene encoding an integrase of Mason-Pfizer monkey virus (M-PMV) is located at the 3'-end of the pol open reading frame. The M-PMV integrase has not been previously isolated and characterized. We have now cloned, expressed, isolated, and characterized M-PMV integrase and compared its activities and primary structure with those of HIV-1 and other retroviral integrases. M-PMV integrase prefers untranslated 3'-region-derived long-terminal repeat sequences in both the 3'-processing and the strand transfer activity assays. While the 3'-processing reaction catalyzed by M-PMV integrase was significantly increased in the presence of Mn(2+) and Co(2+) and was readily detectable in the presence of Mg(2+) and Ni(2+) cations, the strand transfer activity was strictly dependent only on Mn(2+). M-PMV integrase displays more relaxed substrate specificity than HIV-1 integrase, catalyzing the cleavage and the strand transfer of M-PMV and HIV-1 long-terminal repeat-derived substrates with similar efficiency. The structure-based sequence alignment of M-PMV, HIV-1, SIV, and ASV integrases predicted critical amino acids and motifs of M-PMV integrase for metal binding, interaction with nucleic acids, dimerization, protein structure maintenance and function, as well as for binding of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 and Rous avian sarcoma virus integrase inhibitors 5-CI-TEP, DHPTPB and Y-3.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2004

Lamellarins, from A to Z: a family of anticancer marine pyrrole alkaloids.

The lamellarins form a group of more than 30 polyaromatic pyrrole alkaloids, isolated from diverse marine organisms, mainly but not exclusively ascidians and sponges. These molecules fall in three structural groups, with the central pyrrole ring fused or unfused (lamellarins O-R) to adjacent aromatic rings and with the quinoline moiety containing a 5, 6-single--as in lamellarins I-L--or a double bond, as it is the case for lamellarins D and M which are both potent cytotoxic agents. The family also includes sulphated members, such as the integrase inhibitor lamellarin alpha 20-sulfate. This review presents the origin and structure of the lamellarins and summarizes the various chemical pathways which have been proposed to synthesize all lamellarins and different structurally related marine pyrrole alkaloids, including ningalins, storniamides and lukianols. The mechanisms of actions of these marine products are also discussed. Inhibition of HIV-1 integrase by lamellarin alpha 20-sulfate and human topoisomerase I by lamellarin D and Molluscum contagiosum virus topoisomerase by lamellarin H, along with other effects on nuclear proteins, provide an experimental basis indicating that DNA manipulating enzymes are important targets for the lamellarins. Some of these marine compounds exhibit cytotoxic activities against tumor cells in vitro and are insensitive to Pgp-mediated drug efflux. The structure-activity relationships are discussed. Other compounds in the series, without being strongly cytotoxic, can reverse the multidrug resistance phenotype and thus may be useful to promote the therapeutic activity of conventional cytotoxic drugs toward chemoresistant tumors. A complete description of the chemistry and pharmacological profiles of the lamellarins is presented here to shed light on this undervalued family of marine alkaloids.

Alkaloids↗

PubMed2004

Synthesis and HIV-1 integrase inhibitory activity of dimeric and tetrameric analogs of indolicidin.

We found that indolicidin, a natural antimicrobial peptide, has HIV-1 integrase inhibitory activity. Subsequently, we also discovered analogs of indolicidin with substantially higher inhibitory potency. The dimers and tetramers of the most active sequence (ILPWKWPWWPWPP) were prepared by connection of the monomers' C-terminal ends, using lysine as a linker. The inhibitory potency of the dimeric peptide is higher than the monomeric peptide. The tetrameric peptide, prepared by connection of two dimers at C-ends using again lysine as the linker, is the most potent integrase inhibitor with IC(50) value of 0.6 microM for both 3'-end processing and strand transfer.

Anti-HIV Agents↗

PubMed2004

Antiviral sulfonamide derivatives.

The sulfonamides constitute an important class of drugs, with several types of pharmacological agents possessing antibacterial, anti-carbonic anhydrase, diuretic, hypoglycemic, antithyroid and anticancer activity among others. A large number of structurally novel sulfonamide derivatives have ultimately been reported to show substantial antiviral activity in vitro and in vivo. The review summarizes recent classes of sulfonamides and related sulfonyl derivatives disclosed as effective such agents. Thus, at least some HIV protease inhibitors used clinically (amprenavir) or compounds in advanced clinical trials (tipranavir, TMC-126, TMC-114, etc.) possess sulfonamide moieties in their molecules, whereas a very large number of other derivatives are constantly being synthesized and evaluated in order to obtain compounds with less toxicity or activity against drug-resistant viruses. Several non nucleoside HIV reverse transcriptase or HIV integrase inhibitors containing sulfonamide groups were also reported. Another approach to inhibit the growth of retroviruses, including HIV, targets the ejection of zinc ions from critical zinc finger viral proteins, which has as a consequence the inhibition of viral replication in the absence of mutations leading to drug resistance phenotypes. Most compounds with antiviral activity possessing this mechanism of action incorporate in their molecules primary sulfonamide groups. Finally, some small molecule chemokine antagonists acting as HIV entry inhibitors also possess sulfonamide functionalities in their scaffold.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

The DDE recombinases: diverse roles in acquired and innate immunity.

BACKGROUND: The RAG proteins required for V(D)J recombination of immunoglobulin and T-cell receptor genes in the acquired immune response contain a magnesium ion-binding site termed a DDE site, composed of D (aspartic acid) and E (glutamic acid) amino acids. A similar DDE-like magnesium binding site also is present in transposases, retroviral integrases, and the innate antiviral response enzymes RNAse H and RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC). OBJECTIVE: To help clinicians understand immunodeficiency that results from deficiencies of RAG protein functions, such as severe combined immunodeficiency disorders, Omenn syndrome, and ataxia telangiectasia, and to be familiar with the diverse roles of other DDE enzymes. METHODS: Literature published in peer-reviewed journals during the past 2 decades that identified and characterized DDE enzymes, including RAG proteins, RISC and RNA silencing, RNAse H, retroviral integrases, transposases, and a putative DDE recombinase required for herpes virus replication, was selectively reviewed and summarized by the author. RESULTS: DDE enzymes play a critical role in acquired immunity through RAG-mediated immunoglobulin and T-cell receptor V(D)J recombination in innate immunity through RISC and RNAse H. Paradoxically, DDE enzymes are critical components of pathogen-specific enzymes such as retroviral integrase and other pathogen-encoded proteins. CONCLUSION: Because of their critical role in acquired and innate immunity, the DDE recombinases are attractive targets for novel pharmacologic therapies. Currently, retroviral integrase inhibitors in clinical trial for human immunodeficiency virus infection appear to be safe and effective and could provide a paradigm for inactivating DDE sites in other viral pathogens, as well as RAG and RISC.

Animals↗

PubMed2000

Current lead natural products for the chemotherapy of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.

A large variety of natural products have been described as anti-HIV agents, and for a portion thereof the target of interaction has been identified. Cyanovirin-N, a 11-kDa protein from Cyanobacterium (blue-green alga) irreversibly inactivates HIV and also aborts cell-to-cell fusion and transmission of HIV, due to its high-affinity interaction with gp120. Various sulfated polysaccharides extracted from seaweeds (i.e., Nothogenia fastigiata, Aghardhiella tenera) inhibit the virus adsorption process. Ingenol derivatives may inhibit virus adsorption at least in part through down-regulation of CD4 molecules on the host cells. Inhibition of virus adsorption by flavanoids such as (-)epicatechin and its 3-O-gallate has been attributed to an irreversible interaction with gp120 (although these compounds are also known as reverse transcriptase inhibitors). For the triterpene glycyrrhizin (extracted from the licorice root Glycyrrhiza radix) the mode of anti-HIV action may at least in part be attributed to interference with virus-cell binding. The mannose-specific plant lectins from Galanthus, Hippeastrum, Narcissus, Epipac tis helleborine, and Listera ovata, and the N-acetylgl ucosamine-specific lectin from Urtica dioica would primarily be targeted at the virus-cell fusion process. Various other natural products seem to qualify as HIV-cell fusion inhibitors: the siamycins [siamycin I (BMY-29304), siamycin II (RP 71955, BMY 29303), and NP-06 (FR901724)] which are tricyclic 21-amino-acid peptides isolated from Streptomyces spp that differ from one another only at position 4 or 17 (valine or isoleucine in each case); the betulinic acid derivative RPR 103611, and the peptides tachyplesin and polyphemusin which are highly abundant in hemocyte debris of the horseshoe crabs Tachypleus tridentatus and Limulus polyphemus, i.e., the 18-amino-acid peptide T22 from which T134 has been derived. Both T22 and T134 have been shown to block T-tropic X4 HIV-1 strains through a specific antagonism with the HIV corecept or CXCR4. A number of natural products have been reported to interact with the reverse transcriptase, i.e., baicalin, avarol, avarone, psychotrine, phloroglucinol derivatives, and, in particular, calanolides (from the tropical rainforest tree, Calophyllum lanigerum) and inophyllums (from the Malaysian tree, Calophyllum inophyllum). The natural marine substance illimaquinone would be targeted at the RNase H function of the reverse transcriptase. Curcumin (diferuloylmethane, from turmeric, the roots/rhizomes of Curcuma spp), dicaffeoylquinic and dicaffeoylt artaric acids, L-chicoric acid, and a number of fungal metabolites (equisetin, phomasetin, oteromycin, and integric acid) have all been proposed as HIV-1 integrase inhibitors. Yet, we have recently shown that L-c hicoric acid owes its anti-HIV activity to a specific interaction with the viral envelope gp120 rather than integrase. A number of compounds would be able to inhibit HIV-1 gene expression at the transcription level: the flavonoid chrysin (through inhibition of casein kinase II, the antibacter ial peptides melittin (from bee venom) and cecropin, and EM2487, a novel substance produced by Streptomyces. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED)

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Novel compounds in preclinical/early clinical development for the treatment of HIV infections.

Virtually all the compounds that are currently used, or under advanced clinical trial, for the treatment of HIV infections, belong to one of the following classes: (i) nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), (ii) non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) and (iii) protease inhibitors (PIs). In addition to the reverse transcriptase and protease step, various other events in the HIV replicative cycle are potential targets for chemotherapeutic intervention: (i) viral adsorption, through binding to the viral envelope glycoprotein gp120 (polysulphates, polysulphonates, polyoxometalates, zintevir, negatively charged albumins); (ii) viral entry, through blockade of the viral coreceptors CXCR4 and CCR5 [bicyclams (AMD3100), polyphemusins (T22), TAK-779]; (iii) virus-cell fusion, through binding to the viral glycoprotein gp41 [T-20 (DP-178), siamycins, betulinic acid derivatives]; (iv) viral assembly and disassembly, through NCp7 zinc finger-targeted agents [2,2'-dithiobisbenzamides (DIBAs), azadicarbonamide (ADA)]; (v) proviral DNA integration, through integrase inhibitors such as L-chicoric acid; (vi) viral mRNA transcription, through inhibitors of the transcription (transactivation) process (peptoid CGP64222, fluoroquinolone K-12, Streptomyces product EM2487). Also, in recent years new NRTIs, NNRTIs and PIs have been developed that possess, respectively, improved metabolic characteristics (i.e. phosphoramidate and cyclosaligenyl pronucleotides of d4T), or increased activity against NNRTI-resistant HIV strains, or, in the case of PIs, a different, non-peptidic scaffold. Given the multitude of molecular targets with which anti-HIV agents can interact, one should be cautious in extrapolating from cell-free enzymatic assays to the mode of action of these agents in intact cells. A number of compounds (i.e. zintevir and L-chicoric acid, on the one hand; and CGP64222 on the other hand) have recently been found to interact with virus-cell binding and viral entry in contrast to their proposed modes of action targeted at the integrase and transactivation process, respectively.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2005

Simple but highly effective three-dimensional chemical-feature-based pharmacophore model for diketo acid derivatives as hepatitis C virus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase inhibitors.

A molecular modeling strategy using aryl diketo acid (ADK) derivatives recently reported in the literature as hepatitis C virus (HCV) polymerase inhibitors was designed. A 3D chemical-feature-based pharmacophore model was developed using Catalyst software, which produced 10 pharmacophore hypotheses. The top-ranked one (Hypo 1), characterized by a high correlation coefficient (r = 0.965), consisted of two hydrogen bond acceptors, one negative ionizable moiety, and two hydrophobic aromatics. This model was used to predict the anti-RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (anti-RdRp) activity of 6-(1-arylmethylpyrrol-2-yl)-1,4-dioxo-5-hexenoic acids and other ADK derivatives previously synthesized in our laboratories as HIV-1 integrase inhibitors. Furthermore, the experimental IC50 values of 9 compounds, tested in vitro against recombinant HCV polymerase, were compared with the corresponding values predicted using Hypo1. A good agreement between experimental and simulated data was obtained. The results demonstrate that the hypothesis derived in this study can be considered to be a useful tool in designing new leads based on ADK scaffolds as HCV RdRp inhibitors.

Antiviral Agents↗

PubMed2004

Spectroscopic studies of diketoacids-metal interactions. A probing tool for the pharmacophoric intermetallic distance in the HIV-1 integrase active site.

The interactions with divalent cations of 4-phenyl-4-oxo-2-hydroxybuten-2-oic acid (benzoylpyruvic acid (BPA)), the pharmacophore of HIV-1 integrase inhibitors, were investigated using spectroscopic tools. In the absence of the enzyme, a 2:2 metal-ligand complex was characterized with an intermetallic distance of 4-6 A. Molecular modeling allowed us to propose a compatible structure for the metal-ligand complex. BPA does not inhibit the reactions catalyzed by HIV-1 IN, emphasizing the importance of the aromatic ring substitution in the antiviral activity.

Cations, Divalent↗

PubMed2004

Probability issues in molecular design: predictive and modeling ability in 3D-QSAR schemes.

In the current work we investigated 3D-QSAR data by the use of the coupled leave-several-out (LSO) and leave-one-out (LOO) cross-validation (CV) procedures. We verified the above mentioned scheme using both simulated data and real 3D QSAR data describing a series of CoMFA steroids, heterocyclic azo dyes and styrylquinoline HIV integrase inhibitors. Unlike in standard analyses, this technique characterizes individual method not by a single performance metrics but screens a whole possible modeling space by sampling different molecules into the training and test sets, respectively. This allowed us for the discussion of the information included in the estimators validating cross-validation procedures, as well as the comparison of the efficiency of several 3D QSAR schemes, in particular, Comparative Molecular Field Analysis (CoMFA) and Comparative Molecular Surface Analysis (CoMSA). Moreover, it allows one to acquire some general knowledge about predictive and modeling ability in 3D QSAR method.

Drug Design↗

PubMed2001

Arylisothiocyanate-containing esters of caffeic acid designed as affinity ligands for HIV-1 integrase.

Integrase is an enzyme found in human immunodeficiency virus, which is required for the viral life cycle, yet has no human cellular homologue. For this reason, HIV integrase (IN) has become an important target for the development of new AIDS therapeutics. Irreversible affinity ligands have proven to be valuable tools for studying a number of enzyme and protein systems, yet to date there have been no reports of such affinity ligands for the study of IN. As an initial approach toward irreversible ligand design directed against IN, we appended isothiocyanate functionality onto caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), a known HIV integrase inhibitor. The choice of isothiocyanate as the reactive functionality, was based on its demonstrated utility in the preparation of affinity ligands directed against a number of other protein targets. Several isomeric CAPE isothiocyanates were prepared to explore the enzyme topography for reactive nitrogen and sulfur nucleophiles vicinal to the enzyme-bound CAPE. The preparation of these CAPE isothiocyanates, required development of new synthetic methodology which employed phenyl thiocarbamates as latent isothiocyanates which could be unmasked near the end of the synthetic sequence. When it was observed that beta-mercaptoethanol (beta-ME), which is required to maintain the catalytic activity of soluble IN (a F185KC280S mutant), reacted with CAPE isothiocyanate functionality to form the corresponding hydroxyethylthiocarbamate, a variety of mutant IN were examined which did not require the presence of beta-ME for catalytic activity. Although in these latter enzymes, CAPE isothiocyanate functionality was presumed to be present and available for acylation by IN nucleophiles, they were equally effective against Cys to Ser mutants. One conclusion of these studies, is that upon binding of CAPE to the integrase, nitrogen or sulfur nucleophiles may not be properly situated in the vicinity of the phenethyl aryl ring to allow reaction with and covalent modification of reactive functionality, such as isothiocyanate groups. The fact that introduction of the isothiocyanate group onto various positions of the phenethyl ring or replacement of the phenyl ring with naphthyl rings, failed to significantly affect inhibitory potency, indicates a degree of insensitivity of this region of the molecule toward structural modification. These findings may be useful in future studies concerned with the development and use of HIV-1 integrase affinity ligands.

Amino Acid Substitution↗