Inhibition of 3C protease from human rhinovirus strain 1B by peptidyl bromomethylketonehydrazides

The gene coding for the 3C protease from human rhinovirus strain 1B was efficiently expressed in an Escherichia coli strain which also overexpressed the rare argU tRNA. The protease was isolated from inclusion bodies, refolded, and exhibited a kcat/Km = 3280 M-1 s-1 using an internally quenched peptidyl fluorogenic substrate. This continuous fluorogenic assay was used to measure the kinetics of 3C protease inhibition by several conventional peptidyl chloromethylketones as well as a novel series of compounds, the bromomethylketonehydrazides. Compounds containing the bromomethylketonehydrazide backbone and a glutamine-like side chain at the P1 position were potent, time-dependent inhibitors of rhinovirus 3C protease with kinact/Kinact values as high as 23,400 M-1 s-1. The inhibitory activity of compounds containing modified P1 side chains suggests that the interactions between the P1 carboxamide group and the 3C protease contributes at least 30-fold to the kinact/Kinact rate constants for bromomethylketonehydrazide inhibition of 3C protease. Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry measurements of the molecular weights of native and inhibited 3C protease have established an inhibitory mechanism involving formation of a covalent adduct between the enzyme and the inhibitor with the loss of a bromide ion from the bromomethylketonehydrazide. Tryptic digestion of bromomethylketonehydrazide-inhibited 3C protease established adduct formation to a peptide corresponding to residues 145-154, a region which contains the active site cysteine-148 residue. The bromomethylketonehydrazides were fairly weak inhibitors of chymotrypsin, human elastase, and cathepsin B and several of these compounds also showed evidence for inhibition of human rhinovirus 1B replication in cell culture.

Novel azacyclic ureas that are potent inhibitors of HIV-1 protease

A series of novel, azacyclic ureas which are highly potent inhibitors of the HIV-1 protease (IC50 = 4.1 to < 0.5 nM) were synthesized. Aqueous solubilities of this series of compounds were improved by incorporating polar functional groups at the P1' P2 and P2' positions. These compounds also possess good anti-viral activity by inhibition of the cytopathic effect of HIV-13B in MT-4 cells in vitro.

A novel, picomolar inhibitor of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 protease

The design, synthesis, and molecular modeling studies of a novel series of azacyclic ureas, which are inhibitors of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) protease that incorporate different ligands for the S1', S2, and S2' substrate-binding sites of HIV-1 protease are described. The synthesis of this series is highly flexible in the sense that the P1', P2, and P2' residues of the inhibitors can be changed independently. Molecular modeling studies on the phenyl ring of the P2 and P2' ligand suggested incorporation of hydrogen-bonding donor/acceptor groups at the 3' and 4-positions of the phenyl ring should increase binding potency. This led to the discovery of compound 7f (A-98881), which possesses high potency in the HIV-1 protease inhibition assay and the in vitro MT-4 cell culture assay (Ki = approximately 5 pM and EC50 = 0.002 microM). This compares well with the symmetrical cyclic urea 1 pioneered at DuPont Merck.

Cyclobut-A and cyclobut-G, carbocyclic oxetanocin analogs that inhibit the replication of human immunodeficiency virus in T cells and monocytes and macrophages in vitro

Two newly synthesized carbocyclic oxetanocin analogs, (+/-)-9-[(1 beta,2 alpha,3 beta)-2,3-bis(hydroxymethyl)-1-cyclobutyl]adenine (cyclobut-A) and (+/-)-9-[(1 beta,2 alpha,3 beta)-2,3-bis(hydroxymethyl)-1-cyclobutyl]guanine (cyclobut-G) were tested for activity against the infectivity of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in vitro. A number of other carbocyclic oxetanocin analogs failed to exert good antiretroviral effects. Both cyclobut-A and cyclobut-G protected CD4+ ATH8 cells against the infectivity and cytopathic effect of HIV type 1 (HIV-1) and suppressed proviral DNA synthesis in ATH8 cells exposed to HIV-1 in vitro at concentrations of 50 to 100 microM. These compounds also inhibited the in vitro infectivity of another human pathogenic retrovirus, HIV-2. Furthermore, both compounds completely suppressed the replication of a monocytotropic strain of HIV-1 in monocytes and macrophages at concentrations as low as 0.5 microM, as assessed by inhibition of HIV-1 p24 gag protein production. We also found that 2'-deoxyguanosine readily reversed the antiretroviral activity of cyclobut-G in our system, whereas the activity of cyclobut-A was hardly reversed by 2'-deoxyadenosine or 2'-deoxycytidine. We noted, however, that these compounds inhibited the proliferation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells at concentrations of greater than or equal to 100 microM in vitro. Although both cyclobut-A and cyclobut-G appear to have a certain level of in vitro toxicity, our observations may have theoretical and clinical implications in understanding the structure-activity relationships of antiretroviral agents active against HIV.

A novel prodrug of an impermeant inhibitor of 3-deoxy-D-manno-2-octulosonate cytidylyltransferase has antibacterial activity

Although 8-amino-2,6-anhydro-3,8-dideoxy-D-glycero-D-talo-octonic acid (2) is a potent inhibitor of 3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonate cytidylyltransferase (CMP-KDO synthetase), it is unable to reach its cytoplasmic target and is therefore inactive as an antibacterial agent. However, esterification of 2 with 8-(hydroxymethyl)-1-naphthyl methyl disulfide (8) generates a prodrug (12), which gains entry into bacterial cells. Intracellular reduction of the disulfide leads to a rapid, intramolecular, displacement of the acid 2, which then inhibits the growth of Gram-negative bacteria by interfering with the biosynthesis of lipopolysaccharide.

Lysinomicin, a new aminoglycoside antibiotic. II. Structure and stereochemistry

The structure of lysinomicin, a new aminocyclitol antibiotic, was established as 3-epi-2'-N-(L-beta-lysyl)-4',5'-didehydro-6'-de-C-methylfortimi cin B (1) on the basis of spectral evidence and chemical degradation of the antibiotic. In the course of the degradation of 1, three additional compounds with interesting biological properties were obtained: 3-epi-2'-N-(L-beta-lysyl)-6'-de-C-methylfortimicin B (4), 3-epi-4',5'-didehydro-6'-de-C-methylfortimicin B (6) and 3-epi-6'-de-C-methylfortimicin B (7).

Spectinomycin modification. IV. 7-deoxy-4(R)-dihydrospectinomycin

7-Deoxy-4(R)-dihydrospectinomycin (7) has been prepared and its structure firmly established by proton magnetic resonance and high resolution mass spectrometry. This spectinomycin analog is devoid of antibiotic activity.

Spectinomycin modification. III Chloro-deoxy analogs

9-Epichloro-9-deoxy-4(R)-dihydrospectinomycin (3), 9-chloro-9-deoxy-4(R)-dihydrospectinomycin (7), 9-deoxy-8, 9-epimino-4(R)-dihydrospectinomycin (6), and 9-epichloro-9-deoxy-spectinomycin (10) have been prepared and their structures established by proton magnetic resonance. These analogs are devoid of antibiotic activity.

Structure of chelocardin, a novel tetracycline antibiotic

Reproducible experimental surgical-wound infections in mice for use in the evaluation of topical antibacterial agents are described. The experimental would was created on the backs of mice by means of a midline incision and was infected by means of cotton sutures monocontaminated with Staphylococcus aureus or Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The course of these wound infections was followed by quantitation of surface bacteria through use of a surface rinse technique. Surface wound counts of the infecting organisms thus obtained appeared to reflect the dynamics of the total wound count, as determined by homogenization of biopsied tissue. Treatment of infected wounds with a placebo cream had only a slight effect on surface wound counts and on mortality in the case of the S. aureus infection but enhanced markedly the lethality of the P. aeruginosa infection.

Spectinomycin modification. I 7-EPI-9-deoxy-4(R)-dihydrospectinomycin

7-EPI-9-deoxy-4(R)-dihydrospectinomycin (10) had been prepared and its structure firmly established by complete analysis of its pmr spectrum. This analog of spectinomycin is devoid of antibiotic activity.

Spectinomycin modification. II. 7-EPI-sectinomycin

7-Epi-spectinomycin (9) and 7-epi-4(R)-dihydrospectinomycin (10) have been prepared and their structure firmly established by proton magnetic resonance. Both of these spectinomycin analogs are devoid of antibiotic activity.

Hymenoptera: Pure Venom from Bees, Wasps, and Hornets

Pure venom can be obtained from bees, wasps, and hornets by electrical stimulation with inexpensive apparatus.