Nucleoside Phosphonates Research Articles

Prevention of Cardiac Dysfunction Development by a Methanocarba Adenosine Monophosphonate Derivative

Accumulating evidence supports a therapeutic role of purinergic signaling in cardiac diseases. Previous studies showed that MRS2339, a charged methanocarba derivative of 2‐Cl‐adenosine monophosphate, is efficacious in animal models of heart failure when infused systemically. However, MRS2339 lacks oral bioavailability as a nucleoside 5’‐phosphate derivative and is subject to hydrolysis in vivo leading to the inactive nucleoside MRS1873. We now test the hypothesis that uncharged adenine nucleoside phosphonates, suitable as oral agents with a hydrolysis‐resistant phospho moiety, can prevent the development of cardiac dysfunction in a post‐infarction ischemic or pressure overloaded heart failure model. Of the diester‐masked uncharged phosphonates evaluated, MRS2978 but not MRS4074, was efficacious in preventing cardiac dysfunction with improved left ventricular (LV) fractional shortening (FS increased from 21±0.79% with vehicle (N=13) to 25.1±0.63% with MRS2978 (N=11), P<0.05) and with preservation of LV wall thickness when administered orally at onset of ischemic heart failure (within 24h after left anterior descending artery (LAD) ligation). MRS2925, the charged, unmasked analog of MRS2978, was able to prevent heart dysfunction only when it was infused subcutaneously; its oral gavage was not efficacious. In the established heart failure models caused either by LAD ligation or transverse aortic constriction (TAC), orally administrated MRS2978 (4 weeks after LAD ligation or 3 weeks after TAC), but not MRS2925, could partially restore cardiac dysfunction by increasing the FS in both ischemic (from 19.7±0.95% with vehicle (N=18) to 26.1±1.37% with MRS2978 (N=11), P<0.05) and pressure overload (FS from 17.5±0.76% with vehicle(N=9) to 23.7±1.25% with MRS2978 (N=10), P<0.05) heart failure models. MRS2978 was orally bioavailable (57–75%F) and highly stable in human, mouse and rat plasma, with 96–100% remaining after 2 h. MRS2925 could be formed from hydrolysis of MRS2978 in vivo, but as a minor metabolite (only 10%), suggesting that the effects of MRS2978 are not dependent on the MRS2925. Either MRS2978 or MRS2925, combining with 2me‐SATP, was capable of activating cardiac myocyte eNOS, consistent with myocyte eNOS activation as a mechanism for the salutary effect of these two phosphonates nucleotides. These data demonstrated the ability of oral therapy with MRS2978 to treat heart failure, both at the inception of heart failure for prevention and after the development of heart failure as a rescue.This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.

Acyclic nucleoside phosphonates containing the amide bond: hydroxy derivatives

To study the influence of a linker rigidity and changes in donor–acceptor properties, three series of nucleotide analogs containing a P–X–HN–C(O)– residue (X=CH(OH)CH2, CH(OH)CH2CH2, CH2CH(OH)CH2) as a replacement for the P–CH2–O–CHR– fragment in acyclic nucleoside phosphonates, e.g., adefovir, cidofovir, were synthesized. EDC proved to provide good yields of the analogs from the respective ω-amino-1- or -2-hydroxyalkylphosphonates and nucleobase-derived acetic acids. New phosphorus–nucleobase linkers are characterized by two fragments of the restricted rotation within amide bonds and in four-atom units (P–CH(OH)–CH2–N, P–CH(OH)–CH2–C and P–CH2–CH(OH)–C) in which antiperiplanar disposition of P and N/C atoms was deduced from 1H and 13C NMR spectral data. The synthesized analogs P–X–HNC(O)–CH2B [X=CH(OH)CH2, CH(OH)CH2CH2, CH2CH(OH)CH2] appeared inactive in antiviral assays on a wide variety of DNA and RNA viruses at concentrations up to 100 μM, while two phosphonates showed cytostatic activity towards myeloid leukemia (K-562) and multiple myeloma cells (MM.1S) with IC50 of 28.8 and 40.7 μM, respectively.Graphical abstract

Synthesis and Antiviral Evaluation of 3'-Fluoro-4'-modified-5'-norcarbocyclic Nucleoside Phosphonates.

The synthesis and anti-HIV evaluation of hitherto unknown 3'-fluoro-5'-norcarbocyclic nucleoside phosphonates bearing adenine with modifications at the 4' position (ethynyl, vinyl, ethyl, hydroxymethyl) is described. One of the synthesized compounds was found to be an inhibitor of HIV-1 replication, but with moderate efficiency relative to (R)-9-(2-phosphonylmethoxypropyl)adenine ((R)-PMPA, tenofovir), with no concomitant cytotoxicity.

Synthesis and Anti-HIV Activity of Guanine Modified Fluorinated Acyclic Nucleoside Phosphonate Derivatives.

The preparation of an unprecedented series of nucleobase modified 3-fluoro-2-(phosphonomethoxy)propyl (FPMP) acyclic nucleosides in both their (R) and (S) enantiomerically pure forms is described. The synthesis focuses on a Mitsunobu alkylation reaction to construct the C-N(9) bond between a chiral fluorinated side-chain residue and 6- or 7-modified guanine analogs. Prodrugs of FPMP-7-deazaguanine were also synthesized by derivatization of the corresponding phosphonic acid functionality with (bis)diamyl aspartate amidate groups, leading to moderate activity against human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1).

Alpha-carboxynucleoside phosphonates: direct-acting inhibitors of viral DNA polymerases.

Acyclic nucleoside phosphonates represent a well-defined class of clinically used nucleoside analogs. All acyclic nucleoside phosphonates need intracellular phosphorylation before they can bind viral DNA polymerases. Recently, a novel class of alpha-carboxynucleoside phosphonates have been designed to mimic the natural 2'-deoxynucleotide 5'-triphosphate substrates of DNA polymerases. They contain a carboxyl group in the phosphonate moiety linked to the nucleobase through a cyclic or acyclic bridge. Alpha-carboxynucleoside phosphonates act as viral DNA polymerase inhibitors without any prior requirement of metabolic conversion. Selective inhibitory activity against retroviral reverse transcriptase and herpesvirus DNA polymerases have been demonstrated. These compounds have a unique mechanism of inhibition of viral DNA polymerases, and provide possibilities for further modifications to optimize and fine tune their antiviral DNA polymerase spectrum.

Antiviral activity of brincidofovir on parvovirus B19

Parvovirus B19 (B19V), a single-stranded DNA virus in the family Parvoviridae, is a human pathogenic virus responsible for a wide range of clinical manifestations. Currently there is no approved antiviral therapy for parvovirus infection. The acyclic nucleoside phosphonate cidofovir (CDV) has been demonstrated to inhibit replication of B19V in vitro. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether brincidofovir (BCV), a novel lipid conjugate of CDV, could also inhibit B19V replication. Experiments were carried out in erythroid progenitor cells (EPCs) and UT7/EpoS1 cells, infected with B19V and cultured in the presence of different concentrations of BCV and CDV for comparison. The dynamics of viral replication was evaluated by a qPCR-based assay and the extent of inhibition of viral replication exerted by the compounds determined, along with the effect of the compounds on cell viability and cell proliferation rates. Results confirmed that BCV showed significantly higher antiviral activity against B19V compared to CDV in both cell-based systems. For BCV, the calculated EC50 values were in the range 6.6–14.3 μM in EPCs and 0.22–0.63 μM in UT7/EpoS1 cells. In comparison, the EC50 values for CDV were >300 μM in EPCs and 16.1 μM in UT7/EpoS1 cells. Concurrently, the effects on cell viability were observed at a much higher concentration of BCV, with calculated CC50 values in the range 93.4–102.9 μM in EPCs and 59.9–66.8 μM in UT7/Epos1. The antiviral activity was observed specifically with the metabolically active stereoisomer of BCV suggesting that CDV-diphosphate, the metabolite of both BCV and CDV, was the active antiviral. Our results support a selective role for BCV in the inhibition of B19 viral replication.

Synthesis of a 3′‐Deoxy‐C‐Nucleoside Phosphonate Bearing 9‐Deazaadenine as Base Moiety

Herein, the synthesis of the first example of a 3′‐deoxy‐5′‐phosphonate 2′[R] C‐nucleoside and its corresponding prodrug is presented. The developed route involves a reductive debromination at the 2′‐position of a suitably substituted 9‐deazaadenosine intermediate, followed by a stereoselective glycosylation at the 5′‐anomeric position to achieve the installation of the phosphonomethoxy functionality. The target compound with the desired configuration is formed upon base‐promoted epimerization at the 2′[S]‐position of the sugar moiety.

Conception and Synthesis of Oxabicyclic Nucleoside Phosphonates as Internucleotidic Phosphate Surrogates in Antisense Oligonucleotide Constructs.

The stereocontrolled synthesis of a novel oxabicyclic nucleoside phosphonate comprising a perhydrofuropyran core unit was achieved. It was incorporated in an oligonucleotide sequence as a 5'-3' phosphonate-phosphate insert, and the stability properties of the resulting duplex were measured. The oxabicyclic nucleoside framework was designed so as to restrict rotation around angles γ, δ, and ε of a natural nucleoside.

Acyclic nucleoside phosphonates with unnatural nucleobases, favipiravir and allopurinol, designed as potential inhibitors of the human and Plasmodium falciparum 6-oxopurine phosphoribosyltransferases

Hypoxanthine-guanine-xanthine phosphoribosyltransferase (HGXPRT) is a key enzyme of the purine salvage pathway and its activity is crucial for the survival of certain parasites e.g. Plasmodium falciparum (Pf). Acyclic nucleoside phosphonates (ANPs) containing either guanine or hypoxanthine as the purine base are inhibitors of this enzyme. In this part of a SAR study, these two naturally-occurring nucleobases attached to an acyclic moiety were replaced by allopurinol or favipiravir. Both allopurinol and favipiravir ANPs were prepared via Mitsunobu reaction. The alkylation of favipiravir was optimized to yield both N- and O- regioisomers but the N-regioisomers were unstable under deprotection conditions. Thus, only the ANPs containing the O-isomer of favipiravir and those containing allopurinol were evaluated as potential inhibitors of human HGPRT and PfHGXPRT. Two ANPs with allopurinol as the base have Ki values of 10 μM and 30 μM for PfHGXPRT but do not inhibit human HGPRT activity at concentrations of 100–150 μM.

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.

The Acyclic Nucleoside Phosphonates (ANPs): Antonin Holy's Legacy (2012 - 2018)

The Acyclic Nucleoside Phosphonates (ANPs): Antonin Holy's Legacy (2012 - 2018)

Nucleobase Modified Adefovir (PMEA) Analogues as Potent and Selective Inhibitors of Adenylate Cyclases from Bordetella pertussis and Bacillus anthracis.

A series of 13 acyclic nucleoside phosphonates (ANPs) as bisamidate prodrugs was prepared. Five compounds were found to be non-cytotoxic and selective inhibitors of Bordetella pertussis adenylate cyclase toxin (ACT) in J774A.1 macrophage cell-based assays. The 8-aza-7-deazapurine derivative of adefovir (PMEA) was found to be the most potent ACT inhibitor in the series (IC50 =16 nm) with substantial selectivity over mammalian adenylate cyclases (mACs). AC inhibitory properties of the most potent analogues were confirmed by direct evaluation of the corresponding phosphonodiphosphates in cell-free assays and were found to be potent inhibitors of both ACT and edema factor (EF) from Bacillus anthracis (IC50 values ranging from 0.5 to 21 nm). Moreover, 7-halo-7-deazapurine analogues of PMEA were discovered to be potent and selective mammalian AC1 inhibitors (no inhibition of AC2 and AC5) with IC50 values ranging from 4.1 to 5.6 μm in HEK293 cell-based assays.

Intramolecular π-stacks in mixed-ligand copper(II) complexes formed by heteroaromatic amines and antivirally active acyclic nucleotide analogs carrying a hydroxy-2-(phosphonomethoxy)propyl residue‡

Acyclic nucleoside phosphonates (ANPs) are of medical relevance and deserve detailed chemical characterization. We focus here on 1-[2-(phosphonomethoxy)ethyl]cytosine (PMEC), (S)-1-[3-hydroxy-2-(phosphonomethoxy)propyl]cytosine (HPMPC), 9-[2-(phosphonomethoxy)ethyl]adenine (PMEA), and (S)-9-[3-hydroxy-2-(phosphonomethoxy)propyl]adenine (HPMPA) and include for comparison the nucleobase-free (phosphonomethoxy)ethane (PME) and (R)-hydroxy-2-(phosphonomethoxy)propane (HPMP). The acidity constants of H3(ANP)+ and H2(NP) (NP2– = nucleoside phosph(on)ate derivative) are needed to understand the properties of the ternary neutral Cu(Arm)(ANP/NP) [Arm = 2,2′-bipyridine (Bpy) or 1,10-phenanthroline (Phen)] and the monoprotonated Cu(Arm)(H;ANP)+ complexes. The Cu(Arm)(ANP) species are considerably more stable than the corresponding Cu(Arm)(R-PO3), where R- represents a phosph(on)ate ligand with a non-coordinating group R. The observed stability enhancements are due to intramolecular stack formation (st) between the aromatic rings of Arm and the nucleobase residues and also to the formation of five-membered chelates involving the ether oxygen of the –CH(R)–O–CH2– residue (cl/O) (R = H or CH2–OH). In intramolecular equilibria, three structurally different Cu(Arm)(ANP) isomers occur; for example, of Cu(Phen)(HPMPA) about 5% exist as an open (op) Cu(Phen)(HPMPA)op isomer, 17% as Cu(Phen)(HPMPA)cl/O, and 78% as Cu(Phen)(HPMPA)st. In Cu(Arm)(ANP) the stacking tendency decreases in the order PMEA2– > HPMPA2– > PMEC2– > HPMPC2–. In monoprotonated Cu(Arm)(H;ANP)+ both H+ and Cu(Arm)2+ are at undergoing similar intramolecular equilibria as indicated above.

Expedient synthesis and biological evaluation of alkenyl acyclic nucleoside phosphonate prodrugs

The importance of phosphonoamidate prodrugs (ProTides) of acyclic nucleoside phosphonate (ANPs) is highlighted by the approval of Tenofovir Alafenamide Fumarate for the treatment of HIV and HBV infections. In the present paper we are reporting an expedient, one-pot, two-steps synthesis of allyl phosphonoamidates and diamidates that offers a time saving strategy when compared to literature methods. The use of these substrates in the cross metathesis reactions with alkenyl functionalised thymine and uracil nucleobases is reported. ANPs prodrugs synthesized via this methodology were evaluated for their antiviral activities against DNA and RNA viruses. It is anticipated that the use of 5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-1-napthyl as aryloxy moiety is capable to confer antiviral activity among a series of otherwise inactive uracil ProTides.

Recent advances in the synthesis of cyclic 5′-nornucleoside phosphonate analogues

Nucleoside phosphonates are isosteric, isopolar, and isoelectronic with phosphates. Nucleoside phosphonates can undergo enzymatic phosphorylation for conversion into the corresponding diphosphoryl phosphonates, which are naturally occurring nucleoside triphosphate analogues. The biological activity, which is mostly antiviral and antitumor but sometimes is as specific enzyme inhibitor, is briefly presented to help discover compounds with increased activity over natural nucleosides to provide structure-activity data. This review focuses on the synthesis of three types of cyclic 5′-nucleoside phosphonate analogues: (1) furanose 5′-nornucleoside phosphonates, (2) carbocyclic 5′-nornucleoside phosphonates, and (3) apiose 5′-nornucleoside phosphonates.

Synthesis of 3′-halo-5′-norcarbocyclic nucleoside phosphonates as potent anti-HIV agents

The synthesis and the antiviral evaluation of 3'-halo (iodo and fluoro) 5'-norcarbocyclic nucleoside phosphonates is described. No antiviral activity was observed against Zika virus, Dengue virus 2, HSV-1, HSV-2 and Chikungunya virus. In contrast, some of the synthesized compounds are potent inhibitors of the replication of HIV-1, comparatively to (R)-PMPA, with no concomitant cytotoxicity.

Synthesis and antiviral evaluation of cyclopentyl nucleoside phosphonates

The synthesis of both 2ʹ-hydroxy-3ʹ-deoxy and 2ʹ-deoxy-3ʹ-hydroxy cyclopentyl nucleoside phosphonates with the natural nucleobases adenine, thymine, cytosine and guanine from a single precursor has been performed. The guanine containing analogues showed antiviral activity. Especially the 3ʹ-deoxy congener 23 was active, displaying an EC50 of 5.35 μM against TK+ VZV strain and an EC50 of 8.83 μM against TK− VZV strain, besides lacking cytotoxicity. However, the application of phosphonodiamidate prodrug strategy did not lead to a boost in antiviral activity.

Evaluation of the Trypanosoma brucei 6-oxopurine salvage pathway as a potential target for drug discovery.

Due to toxicity and compliance issues and the emergence of resistance to current medications new drugs for the treatment of Human African Trypanosomiasis are needed. A potential approach to developing novel anti-trypanosomal drugs is by inhibition of the 6-oxopurine salvage pathways which synthesise the nucleoside monophosphates required for DNA/RNA production. This is in view of the fact that trypanosomes lack the machinery for de novo synthesis of the purine ring. To provide validation for this approach as a drug target, we have RNAi silenced the three 6-oxopurine phosphoribosyltransferase (PRTase) isoforms in the infectious stage of Trypanosoma brucei demonstrating that the combined activity of these enzymes is critical for the parasites’ viability. Furthermore, we have determined crystal structures of two of these isoforms in complex with several acyclic nucleoside phosphonates (ANPs), a class of compound previously shown to inhibit 6-oxopurine PRTases from several species including Plasmodium falciparum. The most potent of these compounds have Ki values as low as 60 nM, and IC50 values in cell based assays as low as 4 μM. This data provides a solid platform for further investigations into the use of this pathway as a target for anti-trypanosomal drug discovery.

Synthesis of α-Branched Acyclic Nucleoside Phosphonates as Potential Inhibitors of Bacterial Adenylate Cyclases.

Inhibition of Bordetella pertussis adenylate cyclase toxin (ACT) and Bacillus anthracis edema factor (EF), key virulence factors with adenylate cyclase activity, represents a potential method for treating or preventing toxemia related to whooping cough and anthrax, respectively. Novel α-branched acyclic nucleoside phosphonates (ANPs) having a hemiaminal ether moiety were synthesized as potential inhibitors of bacterial adenylate cyclases. ANPs prepared as bisamidates were not cytotoxic, but did not exhibit any profound activity (IC50 >10 μm) toward ACT in J774A.1 macrophages. The apparent lack of activity of the bisamidates is speculated to be due to the inefficient formation of the biologically active species (ANPpp) in the cells. Conversely, two 5-haloanthraniloyl-substituted ANPs in the form of diphosphates were shown to be potent ACT and EF inhibitors with IC50 values ranging from 55 to 362 nm.

Xanthine-based acyclic nucleoside phosphonates with potent antiviral activity against varicella-zoster virus and human cytomegalovirus.

While noncanonic xanthine nucleotides XMP/dXMP play an important role in balancing and maintaining intracellular purine nucleotide pool as well as in potential mutagenesis, surprisingly, acyclic nucleoside phosphonates bearing a xanthine nucleobase have not been studied so far for their antiviral properties. Herein, we report the synthesis of a series of xanthine-based acyclic nucleoside phosphonates and evaluation of their activity against a wide range of DNA and RNA viruses. Two acyclic nucleoside phosphonates within the series, namely 9-[2-(phosphonomethoxy)ethyl]xanthine (PMEX) and 9-[3-hydroxy-2-(phosphonomethoxy)propyl]xanthine (HPMPX), were shown to possess activity against several human herpesviruses. The most potent compound was PMEX, a xanthine analogue of adefovir (PMEA). PMEX exhibited a single digit µM activity against VZV (EC50 = 2.6 µM, TK+ Oka strain) and HCMV (EC50 = 8.5 µM, Davis strain), while its hexadecyloxypropyl monoester derivative was active against HSV-1 and HSV-2 (EC50 values between 1.8 and 4.0 µM). In contrast to acyclovir, PMEX remained active against the TK– VZV 07–1 strain with EC50 = 4.58 µM. PMEX was suggested to act as an inhibitor of viral DNA polymerase and represents the first reported xanthine-based acyclic nucleoside phosphonate with potent antiviral properties.