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For many questions of the coastal zone management the knowledge on the biological and ecological state of coastal waters is of high importance. Due to the complexity of this water type, characterized by different classes of water constituents, a sophisticated methodology needs to be applied for quantitative remote sensing. Within the MAPP-Project (MERIS Applications and Regional Products Project) a specific remote sensing interpretation algorithm was developed for the regional assessment of water constituents in the Baltic Sea. This is a part of the ESA Cat-1 proposal ID 1413 GEMEL-3 ("Generation of MERIS Level-3 products for European multidisciplinary regional applications"). The operational implementation in a MERIS-value-adding system allows a near real-time estimation of chlorophyll sediment and gelbstoff concentrations on a regular basis. The algorithm, based on a principal component inversion (PCI) technique and the model will be introduced. The applicability of the model will be demonstrated on a couple of comparisons of MERIS reflectances and in-situ measurements. The potential of the model shall be demonstrated on available MERIS data.

Several methods for functionalization of the 4-position of imidazo[4,5-d][1,2,3]triazin-4-one were investigated. These investigations were successful and led to the preparation of 4-amino, 4-triazol-1-yl, 4-methoxy, 4-methylthio, 4-methylamino, 4-thio, 4-nitrobenzyl, and 4-unsubstituted 9-(beta-D-ribofuranosyl)-imidazo-[4,5-d][1,2,3]triazine (2-azapurine ribosides). The 4-unsubstituted compound (19) was slightly active against HCMV in plaque and yield reduction experiments and was not cytotoxic at 100 microM. The methylamino (15), hydrazino (16), and p-nitrobenzylthio (20) were inactive against HCMV but slightly cytotoxic. The thiomethyl-substituted analog (21) was the most active with activity comparable to ganciclovir but with greater cytotoxicity. We conclude that even though none of the tested compounds had antiviral activity superior to ganciclovir, the new synthetic methods will provide a route to more interesting compounds.

2'-Deoxyguanosine (G) analogues carrying various hydrophobic substituents in the N2 and C8 positions were synthesized and introduced through solid-phase synthesis into 15-mer oligodeoxynucleotide, GGTTGGTGTGGTTGG, which forms a chairlike structure consisting of two G-tetrads and is a potent thrombin inhibitor. The effects of the substitutions at N2 and C8 of the G-tetrad-forming G residues on the thrombin inhibitory activity are relatively small, suggesting that these substitutions cause relatively small perturbations on the chairlike structure formed by the oligodeoxynucleotide. Introduction of a benzyl group into N2 of G6 and G11 and naphthylmethyl groups into N2 of G6 increased the thrombin inhibitory activity, whereas other substituents in these positions had almost no effect or decreased the activity. Particularly, the oligodeoxynucleotide carrying a 1-naphthylmethyl group in the N2 position of G6 showed an increase in activity by about 60% both in vitro and in vivo. Substitutions on the N2 position of other G residues had little effect or decreased the activity. Introduction of a relatively small group, such as methyl and propynyl, into the C8 positions of G1, G5, G10, and G14 increased the activity, presumably due to the stabilization of a chairlike structure, whereas introduction of a large substituent group, phenylethynyl, decreased the activity, probably due to the steric hindrance.

Triple helix formation by purine-rich oligonucleotides in the anti-parallel motif is inhibited by physiological concentrations of potassium. Substitution with 7-deazaxanthine (c 7 X) has been suggested as a strategy to overcome this effect. We have tested this by examining triple helix formation both in vitro and in vivo by a series of triple helix-forming oligonucleotides (TFOs) containing guanine plus either adenine, thymine, or c 7 X. The TFOs were conjugated to psoralen at the 54 end and were designed to bind to a portion of the supF mutation reporter gene. Using in vitro gel mobility shift assays, we found that triplex formation by the c 7 X-substituted TFOs was relatively resistant to the presence of 140 mM K + . The c 7 X-containing TFOs were also superior in gene targeting experiments in mammalian cells, yielding 4- to 5-fold higher mutation frequencies in a shuttle vector-based mutagenesis assay designed to detect mutations induced by third strand-directed psoralen adducts. When the phosphodiester backbone was replaced by a phosphorothioate one, the in vitro binding of the c 7 X-TFOs was not affected, but the efficiency of in vivo triple helix formation was reduced. These results indicate the utility of the c 7 X substitution for in vivo gene targeting experiments, and they show that the feasibility of the triplex anti-gene strategy can be significantly enhanced by advances in nucleotide chemistry.

GS-9451 is a selective hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS3 protease inhibitor in development for the treatment of genotype 1 (GT1) HCV infection. Key preclinical properties of GS-9451, including in vitro antiviral activity, selectivity, cross-resistance, and combination activity, as well as pharmacokinetic properties, were determined. In multiple GT1a and GT1b replicon cell lines, GS-9451 had mean 50% effective concentrations (EC 50 s) of 13 and 5.4 nM, respectively, with minimal cytotoxicity; similar potency was observed in chimeric replicons encoding the NS3 protease gene of GT1 clinical isolates. GS-9451 was less active in GT2a replicon cells (EC 50 = 316 nM). Additive to synergistic in vitro antiviral activity was observed when GS-9451 was combined with other agents, including alpha interferon, ribavirin, and the polymerase inhibitors GS-6620 and tegobuvir (GS-9190), as well as the NS5A inhibitor ledipasvir (GS-5885). GS-9451 retained wild-type activity against multiple classes of NS5B and NS5A inhibitor resistance mutations. GS-9451 was stable in hepatic microsomes and hepatocytes from human and three other tested species. Systemic clearance was low in dogs and monkeys but high in rats. GS-9451 showed good oral bioavailability in all three species tested. In rats, GS-9451 levels were ∼40-fold higher in liver than plasma after intravenous dosing, and elimination of GS-9451 was primarily through biliary excretion. Together, these results are consistent with the antiviral activity observed in a recent phase 1b study. The results of in vitro cross-resistance and combination antiviral assays support the ongoing development of GS-9451 in combination with other agents for the treatment of chronic HCV infection.

Nucleotide dimers and monomers were shown to inhibit human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV) RNase H activity. Several effective inhibitors were identified and placed into three general groups based on biochemical characterization of their inhibition, The first group (group A) inhibited HIV RNase H and the closely related feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) RNase H, but did not inhibit less related retroviral or cellular RNases H or HIV reverse transcriptase (RT). The second group (group B) inhibited the RNase H activity of several retroviruses as well as the reverse transcriptase function of HIV RT. The third group (group C) inhibited RNases H from retroviral and cellular sources but did not inhibit HIV RT. Kinetic analyses of HIV RNase H inhibition were conducted and all three types of inhibitors exhibited a competitive mode of inhibition with regard to substrate. The small nucleotides described here represent the most potent (Ki values from 0.57 to 16 μM) and selective inhibitors of HIV RNase H reported to date. Further structure - function analyses of these molecules may lead to the discovery of unique, potent antiretroviral therapeutics.

GS-9669 is a highly optimized thumb site II nonnucleoside inhibitor of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA polymerase, with a binding affinity of 1.35 nM for the genotype (GT) 1b protein. It is a selective inhibitor of HCV RNA replication, with a mean 50% effective concentration (EC 50 ) of ≤11 nM in genotype 1 and 5 replicon assays, but lacks useful activity against genotypes 2 to 4. The M423T mutation is readily generated clinically upon monotherapy with the thumb site II inhibitors filibuvir and lomibuvir, and it is notable that GS-9669 exhibited only a 3-fold loss in potency against this variant in the genotype 1b replicon. Rather than M423T, resistance predominantly tracks to residues R422K and L419M and residue I482L in GT 1b and 1a replicons, respectively. GS-9669 exhibited at least additive activity in combination with agents encompassing four other direct modes of action (NS3 protease, NS5A, NS5B via an alternative allosteric binding site, and NS5B nucleotide) as well as with alpha interferon or ribavirin in replicon assays. It exhibited high metabolic stability in in vitro human liver microsomal assays, which, in combination with its pharmacokinetic profiles in rat, dog, and two monkey species, is predictive of good human pharmacokinetics. GS-9669 is well suited for combination with other orally active, direct-acting antiviral agents in the treatment of genotype 1 chronic HCV infection. (This study has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov under registration number NCT01431898.)

The glycosylation of 3,4-dicyano-2-[(ethoxymethylene)amino]pyrrole (7) with 2-deoxy-2-fluoro-alpha-D-erythro-pentofuranosyl bromide (2) furnished an anomeric mixture of nucleosides (8a,b). This mixture was separated, and the individual anomers were treated with methanolic ammonia to effect a concomitant deblocking and ring closure. This furnished both anomers of 2'-deoxy-2'-fluoro-ara-toyocamycin (9a,b). The cyano moiety of 9b was converted to the carboxamide moiety to furnish 2'-deoxy-2'-fluoro-ara-sangivamycin (10) and to the thiocarboxamide moiety to furnish 2'-deoxy-2'-fluoro-ara-thiosangivamycin (11). The target compounds 10 and 11 showed similar antiproliferative activity against L1210 cells in vitro, with IC50's of 3 and 5 microM. Antiviral evaluation revealed a somewhat different pattern of activity. All analogs, both alpha and beta anomers, were active against human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), albeit the beta anomers were most active. The beta anomers also were active against herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Compound 10 was most active in the series, ca. 10-fold more potent than 11; IC50's for 10 ranged from 4 to 25 nM for HCMV, HIV, and varicella zoster virus (VZV) and from 30 to 500 nM for HSV-1. Even though compound 10 was cytotoxic, which will probably preclude its use as an antiviral drug (IC50's = 0.2-5.5 microM), the difference between cytotoxicity and activity against HCMV, HIV, and VZV was sufficient to indicate specific activity against a viral target.

A series of 7-substituted 4-aminopyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidines related to the nucleosides toyocamycin and thiosangivamycin were prepared and tested for their activity against human cytomegalovirus (HCMV). The nucleosides 2'-deoxytoyocamycin (1), xylo-toyocamycin (2), 3'-deoxytoyocamycin (3), 2',3'-dideoxy-2',3'-didehydrotoyocamycin (4), 2',3'-dideoxytoyocamycin (5), ara-toyocamycin (6), 2'-deoxy-2'-amino-ara-toyocamycin (7), and 5'-deoxytoyocamycin (8) were treated with sodium hydrogen sulfide generated in situ to afford the corresponding thiosangivamycin analogs (9-16). The cyano derivatives 1-8 were synthesized by modifications of literature procedures. All of the thioamide derivatives (9-16) were active against HCMV with IC50's ranging from 0.5 to 6 microM. Most also were active against herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) but at higher concentrations. The antiviral activity was not completely separated from cytotoxicity in two human cell lines. The antiproliferative activity was strongly influenced by the position of the modification on the carbohydrate moiety. The xylosyl and 3'-deoxy derivatives were significantly more potent than those with modifications at the 2', 5', or 2',3' position(s). Interestingly, 5'-deoxythiosangivamycin (16) possessed both antiviral and antiproliferative activity suggesting that phosphorylation of the 5'-hydroxyl may not be required for these compounds to have biological activity.

The 15-mer oligodeoxynucleotide GGTTGGTGTGGTTGG is a potent inhibitor of thrombin and it forms a stable, highly compact structure in solution. Deletions and substitutions by abasic residues, 2′-deoxyinosine, 7-deaza-2′-deoxyguanosine and 8-methyl-2′-deoxyguanosine show that the structural features of the oligodeoxynucleotide are important for its biological activity.

The study involved 46 healthy purebred Arabian mares exhibiting regular oestrous cycles that underwent artificial insemination (AI). Pregnancy was detected ultrasonographically (US) in 40 mares. In 15 mares in foal, early embryonic death (EED) was observed during the pregnancy days 14-21. Blood for determinations of serum acute phase proteins (SAA and Hp) and progesterone (P4) was sampled 12-24 h before ovulation and the first insemination, at 12, 24, 72, 96 h and on day 7, 10, 14, 21, 35 and 55 after ovulation. The results revealed that in 25 mares without EED, the serum levels of P4, SAA and Hp were within physiological limits; in 15 mares with EED, the levels of SAA and Hp were significantly increased. In seven mares with EED, high levels of SAA and Hp were already found before ovulation and at 12, 24, 72, 96 h as well as on day 7 and 10 post-ovulation, whereas the level of P4 was normal for early pregnancy. In the remaining eight mares with EED, increased levels of SAA and Hp were found at 72 h after ovulation and maintained until day 55. In this group, the level of P4 decreased since 96 h after ovulation. Determinations of SAA, Hp and P4 in mares in early pregnancy (EP) are useful for monitoring normal development of pregnancy and for diagnosis of subclinical genital inflammations, which may lead to EED.

In connection with interpretation of data from spectrometers flown on Soviet carriers Intercosmos, Salyut-7 and Mir, investigations were carried out on the spectral correlation behaviour and information content of multispectral data in the VIS/NIR-range for ocean remote sensing experiments. Using Principal Components Analysis (PCA) the intrinsic dimensionality of the data is determined. The results of information extraction by means of selective PCA are compared to simple algorithms for estimating ocean colour, suspended matter and atmospheric turbidity. It is shown that very simple algorithms may be used for information extraction from ocean remote sensing data without atmospheric correction, obtaining results that are only slightly affected by atmospheric influence.

Protection of the 3'- and 5'-hydroxyl groups of the nucleoside antibiotic toyocamycin (1) with 1,3-dichloro-1,1,3,3-tetraisopropyldisiloxane was followed by (trifluoromethyl)sulfonylation of the 2'-hydroxyl group. A displacement of the resulting triflate ester moiety with lithium chloride, lithium bromide, sodium iodide, and lithium azide in hexamethylphosphoramide was followed by a removal of the disilyl moiety with tetra-n-butylammonium fluoride to afford the appropriate (2'-deoxy-2'-substituted-arabinofuranosyl)toyocamycin analogues 6a-d. Hydrolysis of the carbonitrile moieties of 6a-d with hydrogen peroxide gave the corresponding sangivamycin analogues (7a-d). A reduction of the azido moiety of 6a and 7a with 1,3-propanedithiol furnished the corresponding amino derivatives (6e and 7e). The antiproliferative activity of 6a-e and 7a-e was evaluated in L1210 cell cultures. None of these compounds caused significant inhibition of cell growth. Evaluation of these compounds for antiviral activity showed that all the toyocamycin analogues were active against human CMV, but of the sangivamycin analogues, only (2'-deoxy-2'-azidoarabinosyl)sangivamycin (7a) was active against this virus. None of the compounds were active against HSV-1 or HSV-2. (2'-Deoxy-2'-aminoarabinofuranosyl)toyocamycin (6e) was studied more extensively and showed some separation between antiviral activity and cytotoxicity as measured by effects on DNA synthesis, cell growth, and cell-plating efficiency. Although 6e also was active against murine CMV in vitro, it was not active against this virus in infected mice. We conclude that arabinosylpyrrolopyrimidines have potential as antivirals, but no members of the current series are potent enough to show significant activity in vivo.

Several methods for functionalization of the 4-position of imidazo[4,5-d][1,2,3]triazin-4-one were investigated. These investigations were successful and led to the preparation of 4-amino, 4-triazol-1-yl, 4-methoxy, 4-methylthio, 4-methylamino, 4-thio, 4-nitrobenzyl, and 4-unsubstituted 9-(beta-D-ribofuranosyl)-imidazo-[4,5-d][1,2,3]triazine (2-azapurine ribosides). The 4-unsubstituted compound (19) was slightly active against HCMV in plaque and yield reduction experiments and was not cytotoxic at 100 microM. The methylamino (15), hydrazino (16), and p-nitrobenzylthio (20) were inactive against HCMV but slightly cytotoxic. The thiomethyl-substituted analog (21) was the most active with activity comparable to ganciclovir but with greater cytotoxicity. We conclude that even though none of the tested compounds had antiviral activity superior to ganciclovir, the new synthetic methods will provide a route to more interesting compounds.

We have synthesized several 8-azapurine nucleosides as inhibitors of adenosine deaminase. The presence of a nitrogen on the imidazole ring decreased the Ki value for nebularine by 100-fold but did not lower the Ki value for coformycin. Evaluation of these compounds in a MOLT-4 growth assay revealed that 2-azacoformycin was as effective as 2'-deoxycoformycin in potentiating growth inhibition by 2'-deoxyadenosine. The azapurine nucleosides merit further study as antitumor agents.

Triple helix formation with pyrimidine deoxyoligonucleotides for the sequence-specific recognition of DNA duplex targets suffers from a decrease in affinity as the pH of the medium increases to that of physiological fluids. A solution to this problem has been identified and entails the substitution of N6-methyl-8-oxo-2'-deoxyadenosine (M) for the 5-methyl-deoxycytosine base residues. The triple helix forming ability of an oligonucleotide consisting of thymidine and M residues is pH independent in the physiological range. Furthermore, M has been found to be superior to the previously used 5-methyldeoxycytidine and deoxyguanosine in conferring increased affinity for duplex DNA under physiological salt conditions.

Treatment of 7-(2,3,5-tris-O-(t-butyldimethylsilyl)-β-D-ribofuranosyl)imidazo[4,5-d]-v-triazin-4-one (1) with MnO2 in hot pyridine furnished 7-(2,3,5-tris-O-(t-butyldimethylsilyl)-β-D-ribofuranosyl)pyrido[1,2-a]-purine (4). Treatment of 4 with tetra-n-butylammonium fluoride furnished the free nucleoside 5.

Protection of the 3'- and 5'-hydroxyl groups of the nucleoside antibiotic toyocamycin (1) with 1,3-dichloro-1,1,3,3-tetraisopropyldisiloxane was followed by (trifluoromethyl)sulfonylation of the 2'-hydroxyl group. A displacement of the resulting triflate ester moiety with lithium chloride, lithium bromide, sodium iodide, and lithium azide in hexamethylphosphoramide was followed by a removal of the disilyl moiety with tetra-n-butylammonium fluoride to afford the appropriate (2'-deoxy-2'-substituted-arabinofuranosyl)toyocamycin analogues 6a-d. Hydrolysis of the carbonitrile moieties of 6a-d with hydrogen peroxide gave the corresponding sangivamycin analogues (7a-d). A reduction of the azido moiety of 6a and 7a with 1,3-propanedithiol furnished the corresponding amino derivatives (6e and 7e). The antiproliferative activity of 6a-e and 7a-e was evaluated in L1210 cell cultures. None of these compounds caused significant inhibition of cell growth. Evaluation of these compounds for antiviral activity showed that all the toyocamycin analogues were active against human CMV, but of the sangivamycin analogues, only (2'-deoxy-2'-azidoarabinosyl)sangivamycin (7a) was active against this virus. None of the compounds were active against HSV-1 or HSV-2. (2'-Deoxy-2'-aminoarabinofuranosyl)toyocamycin (6e) was studied more extensively and showed some separation between antiviral activity and cytotoxicity as measured by effects on DNA synthesis, cell growth, and cell-plating efficiency. Although 6e also was active against murine CMV in vitro, it was not active against this virus in infected mice. We conclude that arabinosylpyrrolopyrimidines have potential as antivirals, but no members of the current series are potent enough to show significant activity in vivo.

Here we present data on the mechanism of action of VP-14637 and JNJ-2408068 (formerly R-170591), two small-molecule inhibitors of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Both inhibitors exhibited potent antiviral activity with 50% effective concentrations (EC 50 s) of 1.4 and 2.1 nM, respectively. A similar inhibitory effect was observed in a RSV-mediated cell fusion assay (EC 50 = 5.4 and 0.9 nM, respectively). Several drug-resistant RSV variants were selected in vitro in the presence of each compound. All selected viruses exhibited significant cross-resistance to both inhibitors and contained various single amino acid substitutions in two distinct regions of the viral F protein, the heptad repeat 2 (HR2; mutations D486N, E487D, and F488Y), and the intervening domain between HR1 and HR2 (mutation K399I and T400A). Studies using [ 3 H]VP-14637 revealed a specific binding of the compound to RSV-infected cells that was efficiently inhibited by JNJ-2408068 (50% inhibitory concentration = 2.9 nM) but not by the HR2-derived peptide T-118. Further analysis using a transient T7 vaccinia expression system indicated that RSV F protein is sufficient for this interaction. F proteins containing either the VP-14637 or JNJ-2408068 resistance mutations exhibited greatly reduced binding of [ 3 H]VP-14637. Molecular modeling analysis suggests that both molecules may bind into a small hydrophobic cavity in the inner core of F protein, interacting simultaneously with both the HR1 and HR2 domains. Altogether, these data indicate that VP-14637 and JNJ-2408068 interfere with RSV fusion through a mechanism involving a similar interaction with the F protein.

Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of respiratory tract infections worldwide. Several novel small-molecule inhibitors of RSV have been identified, but they are still in preclinical or early clinical evaluation. One such inhibitor is a recently discovered triphenol-based molecule, VP-14637 (ViroPharma). Initial experiments suggested that VP-14637 acted early and might be an RSV fusion inhibitor. Here we present studies demonstrating that VP-14637 does not block RSV adsorption but inhibits RSV-induced cell-cell fusion and binds specifically to RSV-infected cells with an affinity corresponding to its inhibitory potency. VP-14637 is capable of specifically interacting with the RSV fusion protein expressed by a T7 vaccinia virus system. RSV variants resistant to VP-14637 were selected; they had mutations localized to two distinct regions of the RSV F protein, heptad repeat 2 (HR2) and the intervening domain between heptad repeat 1 (HR1) and HR2. No mutations arose in HR1, suggesting a mechanism other than direct disruption of the heptad repeat interaction. The F proteins containing the resistance mutations exhibited greatly reduced binding of VP-14637. Despite segregating with the membrane fraction following incubation with intact RSV-infected cells, the compound did not bind to membranes isolated from RSV-infected cells. In addition, binding of VP-14637 was substantially compromised at temperatures of ≤22°C. Therefore, we propose that VP-14637 inhibits RSV through a novel mechanism involving an interaction between the compound and a transient conformation of the RSV F protein.

The aim of this paper is to investigate an object oriented model of parallel programs in a distributed memory environment that is structural and yet has reduced complexity in dealing with parallel software. The presented model enables integration of well-known methods based on the common concept of a program control flow. A parallel program is described by a multi-flow graph, being an extension of an ordinary flow-graph. It allows developers to design structural tests, to assess test coverage and to estimate quality parameters.

A new diagnostic model of multimicrocomputer systems is defined and analysed. It is assumed that a system consists of units which are able to perform a permissible set of tests. Three kinds of system units can be engaged in each test: active (deciding) units, passive units, and the tested units. From the invalidation point of view the proposed model is located between Preparata-Metze-Chien's (1967) model (symmetric invalidation) and Chwa-Hakimi-Malek's (1980, 1981) model (asymmetric invalidation for comparison testing). Moreover, we assume multiple invalidation per test and single unit per test. The new category of (/spl alpha/,/spl beta/)-diagnosable systems is proposed and described Some relationships between the (/spl alpha/,/spl beta/)-diagnosability and the traditional diagnosability are shown and proved. Besides, the (/spl alpha/,/spl beta/)-part diagnosability for different determined. Hierarchical systems such as microprocessors and voting systems are considered and compared. >

Objective: The study was intended to determine methods that could evaluate in vitro the flow characteristics of glaucoma drainage devices. Design: Two test methods were used: (1) a gravity-driven flow test and (2) a syringepump-driven flow test. Eighteen devices, both valved and nonvalved, from 4 manufacturers were evaluated for their hydrodynamic resistance and the pressure at which the flow becomes 0. Outcome: Results show a wide variation in device performance, indicating a strong need for enhanced quality control procedures in the device manufacturing process. Conclusion: A gravity-driven flow test provides a reasonably quick test of both resistance and closing pressure, which might be useful as a manufacturing line test. The syringe-driven flow test requires more time but provides additional insight into device performance, and, therefore, might be useful as a design validation test.

Publisher Summary The search for anti-viral agents targeted against a variety of viruses other than HIV has continued to yield novel compounds for the treatment of nonHIV diseases. Some of these are herpes viruses, hepatitis B and C, influenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus. A retrospective analysis of the association of anti-herpesvirus treatment with the incidence of Kaposi's sarcoma in HIV infected individuals has shown that treatment with foscarnet or ganciclovir but not acyclovir reduce the risk of developing Kaposi's sarcoma. In harmony with this, HHV-8 (Kaposi sarcoma associated herpesvirus) has been found to be sensitive to ganciclovir, cidofovir, and foscarnet but not acyclovir. Another herpesvirus that has been associated with human malignancies, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), is sensitive to the L-nucleoside L-FMAU in H1 cells. Among other anti-viral agents, topically applied cidofovir is active against Papilloma virus infections in humans. Cidofovir is also found to have activity in vitro against polyoma viruses and is efficacious in vivo in a murine model of polyoma virus infection. Various cysteine protease inhibitors are active against adenovirus replication, while interferon-α remains the only clinically approved treatment for hepatitis C, the recent determination of the structure of HCV NS3 protease by two independent groups has provided an opportunity for the exploitation of this target for the development of anti-viral agents.

The solution-state three-dimensional structure of the DNA aptamer d(G1G2T3T4G5G6T7G8T9G10G11T12T13G14G15) which binds to and inhibits thrombin has recently been determined by NMR methods (Wang et al., 1993). This DNA adopts a highly compact, highly symmetrical structure which consists of two tetrads of guanosine base pairs and three loops. The basic features of this three-dimensional structure are preserved when the aptamer binds to thrombin. The three-dimensional structure can be used as a basis for interpreting the relative activities of modified aptamers as well as for proposing a model for the aptamer-thrombin complex. This investigation also provides a demonstration of a novel approach to medicinal chemistry in which a wide range of molecules are synthesized, a lead molecule is identified, and the structural information on the lead compound allows for rational design of additional compounds of potential therapeutic value.

We have synthesized several 8-azapurine nucleosides as inhibitors of adenosine deaminase. The presence of a nitrogen on the imidazole ring decreased the Ki value for nebularine by 100-fold but did not lower the Ki value for coformycin. Evaluation of these compounds in a MOLT-4 growth assay revealed that 2-azacoformycin was as effective as 2'-deoxycoformycin in potentiating growth inhibition by 2'-deoxyadenosine. The azapurine nucleosides merit further study as antitumor agents.

We have identified a 15-nucleotide site within a G-free transcription cassette that forms triple helix with sequence-specific oligodeoxyribonucleotides. When oligodeoxynucleotides were added to template DNA prior to in vitro transcription, a significant fraction of transcripts were truncated at a site corresponding to the region of triple helix formation. Kinetic analysis of the transcription products demonstrated that these truncated transcripts could be elongated to full length upon prolonged incubation. When an alkylating base was incorporated into the oligodeoxynucleotide to form covalent triple helix, most of the transcripts remained truncated. We conclude that triple helix formation can stall or, in the case of covalent crosslinking, can block RNA polymerase II and thus may provide a method for the specific inhibition of gene expression.

The first total synthesis of mycalisine A, a pyrrolo[2,3- d ]pyrimidine nucleoside, was accomplished by a multi-step synthesis from toyocamycin.

A reduction of the nitrile group of 5-amino-4-cyano-1-methylpyrazole (3) has provided the very versatile compound 5-amino-1-methylpyrazole-4-carboxaldehyde (4). The amino group of 4 was protected using di-methylformamide dimethylacetal and the aldehyde group was then reacted with trimethylsilyl cyanide to afford the moisture sensitive compound 5-[[(dimethylamino)methylene]amino]-4-[cyano(trimethylsiloxy)-methyl]-1-methylpyrazole (10). The cyano group of the cyanohydrin 10 was reduced using a cobalt boride catalyst to afford an intermediate aminomethyl group which was involved in an in situ annulation. This reaction provided 1-methyl-1,4,5,6-tetrahydropyrazolo[3,4-d][1,3]diazepin-4-ol, a derivative of the new ring system, pyrazolo[3,4-d][1,3]diazepine.

A catalytic reduction of the nitrile portion of the trimethylsilyl cyanohydrin 7 to a primary amine has produced an situ annulation to generate the 3,4,5-trihydro-1,3-diazepin-5-ol ring. This ring substructure has demonstrated important biological significant.3