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In acute myeloid leukemia (AML), SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complexes sustain leukemic identity by driving high levels of MYC. Previous studies have implicated the hematopoietic transcription factor PU.1 (SPI1) as an important target of SWI/SNF inhibition, but PU.1 is widely regarded to have pioneer-like activity. As a result, many questions have remained regarding the interplay between PU.1 and SWI/SNF in AML as well as normal hematopoiesis. Here we found that PU.1 binds to most of its targets in a SWI/SNF-independent manner and recruits SWI/SNF to promote accessibility for other AML core regulatory factors, including RUNX1, LMO2, and MEIS1. SWI/SNF inhibition in AML cells reduced DNA accessibility and binding of these factors at PU.1 sites and redistributed PU.1 to promoters. Analysis of nontumor hematopoietic cells revealed that similar effects also impair PU.1-dependent B-cell and monocyte populations. Nevertheless, SWI/SNF inhibition induced profound therapeutic response in an immunocompetent AML mouse model as well as in primary human AML samples. In vivo, SWI/SNF inhibition promoted leukemic differentiation and reduced the leukemic stem cell burden in bone marrow but also induced leukopenia. These results reveal a variable therapeutic window for SWI/SNF blockade in AML and highlight important off-tumor effects of such therapies in immunocompetent settings. Significance: Disruption of PU.1-directed enhancer programs upon SWI/SNF inhibition causes differentiation of AML cells and induces leukopenia of PU.1-dependent B cells and monocytes, revealing the on- and off-tumor effects of SWI/SNF blockade.

Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) remains a major public health problem worldwide, with limited treatment options, but inducing an antiviral response by innate immunity activation may provide a therapeutic alternative. We assessed the cytokine-mediated anti-hepatitis B virus (HBV) potential for stimulating the cyclic GMP-AMP synthase-stimulator of interferon genes (STING) pathway using STING agonists in primary human hepatocytes (PHH) and nonparenchymal liver cells (NPCs). The natural STING agonist, 2',3'-cyclic GMP-AMP, the synthetic analogue 3',3'-c-di(2'F,2'dAMP), and its bis(pivaloyloxymethyl) prodrug had strong indirect cytokine-mediated anti-HBV effects in PHH regardless of HBV genotype. Furthermore, STING agonists induced anti-HBV cytokine secretion

Cyclic dinucleotides (CDNs) are second messengers that activate stimulator of interferon genes (STING). The cGAS-STING pathway plays a promising role in cancer immunotherapy. Here, we describe the synthesis of CDNs containing 7-substituted 7-deazapurine moiety. We used mouse cyclic GMP-AMP synthase and bacterial dinucleotide synthases for the enzymatic synthesis of CDNs. Alternatively, 7-(het)aryl 7-deazapurine CDNs were prepared by Suzuki-Miyaura cross-couplings. New CDNs were tested in biochemical and cell-based assays for their affinity to human STING. Eight CDNs showed better activity than 2'3'

Supplementary Materials

Motif profiling

Gene set enrichment analyses

Complete blood counts

In acute myeloid leukemia (AML), SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complexes sustain leukemic identity by driving high levels of MYC. Previous studies have implicated the hematopoietic transcription factor PU.1 (SPI1) as an important target of SWI/SNF inhibition, but PU.1 is widely regarded to have pioneer-like activity. As a result, many questions have remained regarding the interplay between PU.1 and SWI/SNF in AML as well as normal hematopoiesis. Here we found that PU.1 binds to most of its targets in a SWI/SNF-independent manner and recruits SWI/SNF to promote accessibility for other AML core regulatory factors, including RUNX1, LMO2, and MEIS1. SWI/SNF inhibition in AML cells reduced DNA accessibility and binding of these factors at PU.1 sites and redistributed PU.1 to promoters. Analysis of nontumor hematopoietic cells revealed that similar effects also impair PU.1-dependent B-cell and monocyte populations. Nevertheless, SWI/SNF inhibition induced profound therapeutic response in an immunocompetent AML mouse model as well as in primary human AML samples. In vivo, SWI/SNF inhibition promoted leukemic differentiation and reduced the leukemic stem cell burden in bone marrow but also induced leukopenia. These results reveal a variable therapeutic window for SWI/SNF blockade in AML and highlight important off-tumor effects of such therapies in immunocompetent settings.Significance:Disruption of PU.1-directed enhancer programs upon SWI/SNF inhibition causes differentiation of AML cells and induces leukopenia of PU.1-dependent B cells and monocytes, revealing the on- and off-tumor effects of SWI/SNF blockade.

RNA-seq datasets

The cGAS-STING (cyclic GMP-AMP synthase-stimulator of interferon genes) pathway plays a crucial role in inducing an antiviral and antitumor immune response. We studied the effects of synthetic STING agonists on several immune populations and related cytokine production. In comparison with the toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) agonist, STING agonists induced secretion of a broader proinflammatory cytokine spectrum. Unlike the TLR7 agonist, the structurally diverse STING agonists partially depleted B and NK cells and completely depleted CD14+ monocytes via induction of apoptosis. The TANK-binding kinase 1 inhibitor efficiently prevented interferon alpha (IFNα) secretion and cell depletion, suggesting their possible dependence on the cGAS-STING pathway activation. Finally, IFNα, tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin 6, and interleukin 1 beta secretion and CD14+ monocyte apoptosis were primary responses to STING agonists, whereas IFNγ was secreted secondarily. These findings bring new insights into the cGAS-STING pathway immunomodulation that is of future therapeutic importance.

Novel 4-aminoquinazoline-6-carboxamide derivatives bearing differently substituted aryl or heteroaryl groups at position 7 in the core were rationally designed, synthesized and evaluated for biological activity in vitro as phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase IIα (PI4K2A) inhibitors. The straightforward approach described here enabled the sequential, modular synthesis and broad functionalization of the scaffold in a mere six steps. The SAR investigation reported here is based on detailed structural analysis of the conserved binding mode of ATP and other adenine derivatives to the catalytic site of type II PI4Ks, combined with extensive docking studies. Several compounds exhibited significant activity against PI4K2A. Moreover, we solved a crystal structure of PI4K2B in complex with one of our lead ligand candidates, which validated the ligand binding site and pose predicted by our docking-based ligand model. These discoveries suggest that our structure-based approach may be further developed and employed to synthesize new inhibitors with optimized potency and selectivity for this class of PI4Ks.

Cyclic dinucleotides (CDNs) are second messengers that bind to the stimulator of interferon genes (STING) and trigger the expression of type I interferons and proinflammatory cytokines. Here we evaluate the activity of 3',3'-c-di(2'F,2'dAMP) and its phosphorothioate analogues against five STING allelic forms in reporter-cell-based assays and rationalize our findings with X-ray crystallography and quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics calculations. We show that the presence of fluorine in the 2' position of 3',3'-c-di(2'F,2'dAMP) improves its activity not only against the wild type (WT) but also against REF and Q STING. Additionally, we describe the synthesis of the acyloxymethyl and isopropyloxycarbonyl phosphoester prodrugs of CDNs. Masking the negative charges of the CDNs results in an up to a 1000-fold improvement of the activities of the prodrugs relative to those of their parent CDNs. Finally, the uptake and intracellular cleavage of pivaloyloxymethyl prodrugs to the parent CDN is rapid, reaching a peak intracellular concentration within 2 h.

STING (stimulator of interferon genes) is a key regulator of innate immunity that has recently been recognized as a promising drug target. STING is activated by cyclic dinucleotides (CDNs) which eventually leads to expression of type I interferons and other cytokines. Factors underlying the affinity of various CDN analogues are poorly understood. Herein, we correlate structural biology, isothermal calorimetry (ITC) and computational modeling to elucidate factors contributing to binding of six CDNs—three pairs of natural (ribo) and fluorinated (2′‐fluororibo) 3′,3′‐CDNs. X‐ray structural analyses of six {STING:CDN} complexes did not offer any explanation for the different affinities of the studied ligands. ITC showed entropy/enthalpy compensation up to 25 kcal mol−1 for this set of similar ligands. The higher affinities of fluorinated analogues are explained with help of computational methods by smaller loss of entropy upon binding and by smaller strain (free) energy., The complexity of the thermodynamics associated with the binding of fluorinated and non‐fluorinated cyclic dinucleotides to the STING protein was analyzed and explained by employing a combination of experimental and theoretical methods. Large enthalpy/entropy compensations can only be explained by complementing the structural and energetic analysis of the complex with conformational analysis of free ligands.

The DNA-linked inhibitor antibody assay (DIANA) has been recently validated for ultrasensitive enzyme detection and for quantitative evaluation of enzyme inhibitor potency. Here we present its adaptation for high-throughput screening of human carbonic anhydrase IX (CAIX), a promising drug and diagnostic target. We tested DIANA's performance by screening a unique compound collection of 2816 compounds consisting of lead-like small molecules synthesized at the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry (IOCB) Prague ("IOCB library"). Additionally, to test the robustness of the assay and its potential for upscaling, we screened a pooled version of the IOCB library. The results from the pooled screening were in agreement with the initial nonpooled screen with no lost hits and no false positives, which shows DIANA's potential to screen more than 100,000 compounds per day.All DIANA screens showed a high signal-to-noise ratio with a Z' factor of0.89. The DIANA screen identified 13 compounds with

SARS-CoV-2 has caused an extensive pandemic of COVID-19 all around the world. Key viral enzymes are suitable molecular targets for the development of new antivirals against SARS-CoV-2 which could represent potential treatments of the corresponding disease. With respect to its essential role in the replication of viral RNA, RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) is one of the prime targets. HeE1-2Tyr and related derivatives were originally discovered as inhibitors of the RdRp of flaviviruses. Here, we present that these pyridobenzothiazole derivatives also significantly inhibit SARS-CoV-2 RdRp, as demonstrated using both polymerase- and cell-based antiviral assays.

Stimulator of interferon genes (STING) is an adaptor protein of the cGAS-STING signaling pathway involved in the sensing of cytosolic DNA. It functions as a receptor for cyclic dinucleotides (CDNs) and, upon their binding, mediates cytokine expression and host immunity. Besides naturally occurring CDNs, various synthetic CDNs, such as ADU-S100, have been reported to effectively activate STING and are being evaluated in clinical trials for the treatment of cancer. Here, we describe the preparation of a unique new class of STING agonists: isonucleotidic cyclic dinucleotides and the synthesis of their prodrugs. The presented CDNs stimulate STING with comparable efficiency to ADU-S100, whereas their prodrugs demonstrate activity up to four orders of magnitude better due to the improved cellular uptake. The compounds are very potent inducers of inflammatory cytokines by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). We also report the X-ray crystal structure of the lead inhibitor bound to the wild-type (WT) STING.

Remdesivir was shown to inhibit RNA-dependent RNA-polymerases (RdRp) from distinct viral families such as from Filoviridae (Ebola) and Coronaviridae (SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2, MERS). In this study, we tested the ability of remdesivir to inhibit RdRps from the Flaviviridae family. Instead of remdesivir, we used the active species that is produced in cells from remdesivir, the appropriate triphosphate, which could be directly tested in vitro using recombinant flaviviral polymerases. Our results show that remdesivir can efficiently inhibit RdRps from viruses causing severe illnesses such as Yellow fever, West Nile fever, Japanese and Tick-borne encephalitis, Zika and Dengue. Taken together, this study demonstrates that remdesivir or its derivatives have the potential to become a broad-spectrum antiviral agent effective against many RNA viruses., Graphical abstract Image 1, Highlights • Remdesivir triphosphate inhibits flaviviral polymerases. • Remdesivir is a low micromolar inhibitor of flaviviral polymerases. • Remdesivir has the potential to cure diseases caused by flaviviruses such as Yellow fever or Zika.

The molecules of life were created by a continuous physicochemical process on an early Earth. In this hadean environment, chemical transformations were driven by fluctuations of the naturally given physical parameters established for example by wet–dry cycles. These conditions might have allowed for the formation of (self)-replicating RNA as the fundamental biopolymer during chemical evolution. The question of how a complex multistep chemical synthesis of RNA building blocks was possible in such an environment remains unanswered. Here we report that geothermal fields could provide the right setup for establishing wet–dry cycles that allow for the synthesis of RNA nucleosides by continuous synthesis. Our model provides both the canonical and many ubiquitous non-canonical purine nucleosides in parallel by simple changes of physical parameters such as temperature, pH and concentration. The data show that modified nucleosides were potentially formed as competitor molecules. They could in this sense be considered as molecular fossils., How RNA building blocks have formed on an early Earth by a continuous process is still a mystery awaiting its solution. Here, the authors report that fluctuations of physical parameters like temperature and pH could have been enough to facilitate nucleoside formation from simple starting materials.

We report on the discovery of norbornyl moiety as a novel structural motif for cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) inhibitors which was identified by screening a carbocyclic nucleoside analogue library. Three micromolar hits were expanded by the use of medicinal chemistry methods into a series of 16 novel compounds. They had prevailingly micromolar activities against CDK2 and the best compound of the series attained IC50 of 190 nM. The binding modes were explored in molecular details by modeling and docking. Quantum mechanics-based scoring was used to rationalize the affinities. In conclusion, the discovered 9-hydroxymethylnorbornyl moiety was shown by joint experimental-theoretical efforts to be able to serve as a novel substituent for CDK2 inhibitors. This finding opens door to the exploration of chemical space towards more effective derivatives targeting this important class of protein kinases.

Cyclic dinucleotides are second messengers in the cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS)-stimulator of interferon genes (STING) pathway, which plays an important role in recognizing tumor cells and viral or bacterial infections. They bind to the STING adaptor protein and trigger expression of cytokines via TANK binding kinase 1 (TBK1)/interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) and inhibitor of nuclear factor-κB (IκB) kinase (IKK)/nuclear factor-κB (NFκB) signaling cascades. In this work, we describe an enzymatic preparation of 2'-5',3'-5'-cyclic dinucleotides (2'3'CDNs) with use of cyclic GMP-AMP synthases (cGAS) from human, mouse, and chicken. We profile substrate specificity of these enzymes by employing a small library of nucleotide-5'-triphosphate (NTP) analogues and use them to prepare 33 2'3'CDNs. We also determine affinity of these CDNs to five different STING haplotypes in cell-based and biochemical assays and describe properties needed for their optimal activity toward all STING haplotypes. Next, we study their effect on cytokine and chemokine induction by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and evaluate their cytotoxic effect on monocytes. Additionally, we report X-ray crystal structures of two new CDNs bound to STING protein and discuss structure-activity relationship by using quantum and molecular mechanical (QM/MM) computational modeling.

With the worldwide number of human immunodeficiency virus positive patients stagnant and the increasing emergence of viral strains resistant to current treatment, the development of novel anti-human immunodeficiency virus drug candidates is a perpetual quest of medicinal chemists. Herein, we report a novel group of diarylpyrimidines, non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, which represents an important class of current anti-human immunodeficiency virus therapy. Series of diarylpyrimidines containing o, o-difluorophenyl (A-arm), 4-cyanophenylamino (B-arm), and a small substituent (e.g. NH2, OMe) at positions 2, 4, and 6 of the pyrimidine ring were prepared. The A-arm was modified in the para position (F or OMe) and linked to the central pyrimidine core with a variable spacer (CO, O, NH). Antiviral activities of 20 compounds were measured against wild type human immunodeficiency virus-1 and mutant reverse transcriptase strains (K103N, Y181C) using a cytoprotection assay. To the most promising structural motives belong the o, o-difluoro- p-methoxy A-arm in position 4, and the amino group in position 6 of pyrimidine. Single digit nanomolar activities with no significant toxicity (CC50 > 17,000 nM) were found for compounds 35 (EC50 = 2 nM), 37 (EC50 = 3 nM), and 13 (EC50 = 4 nM) having O, NH, and CO linkers, respectively.

We describe the expression and purification of an active recombinant Zika virus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp). Next, we present the development and optimization of an in vitro assay to measure its activity. We then applied the assay to selected triphosphate analogs and discovered that 2'-C-methylated nucleosides exhibit strong inhibitory activity. Surprisingly, also carbocyclic derivatives with the carbohydrate locked in a North-like conformation as well as a ribonucleotide with a South conformation exhibited strong activity. Our results suggest that the traditional 2'-C-methylated nucleosides pursued in the race for anti-HCV treatment can be superseded by brand new scaffolds in the case of the Zika virus.

The nucleoside/nucleotide derived antiviral agents have been the most important components of antiviral therapy used in clinics. Recently, the focus of the medicinal chemists within this exciting research field has been affected mainly by the lack of effective therapies for the Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and several other "neglected" diseases caused by viruses such as Zika or Dengue. 2'-Methyl modified nucleosides and their monophosphate prodrugs (ProTides) have revolutionized the therapies for HCV in the last few years and, according to the latest research efforts, have also brought a promise for treatment of diseases caused by other members of Flaviviridae family. Here, we report on the design and synthesis of 5'-N and S modified ProTides derived from 2'-methyladenosine. We studied potential applicability of these derivatives as prodrugs of this archetypal antiviral compound.

The minor phospholipid, phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PI4P), is emerging as a key regulator of lipid transfer in ER-membrane contact sites. Four different phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase (PI4K) enzymes generate PI4P in different membrane compartments supporting distinct cellular processes, many of which are crucial for the maintenance of cellular integrity but also hijacked by intracellular pathogens. While type III PI4Ks have been targeted by small molecular inhibitors, thus helping decipher their importance in cellular physiology, no inhibitors are available for the type II PI4Ks, which hinders investigations into their cellular functions. Here, we describe the identification of small molecular inhibitors of PI4K type II alpha (PI4K2A) by implementing a large scale small molecule high-throughput screening. A novel assay was developed that allows testing of selected inhibitors against PI4K2A in intact cells using a bioluminescence resonance energy transfer approach adapted to plate readers. The compounds disclosed here will pave the way to the optimization of PI4K2A inhibitors that can be used in cellular and animal studies to better understand the role of this enzyme in both normal and pathological states.

Phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PI4P) is the most abundant monophosphoinositide in eukaryotic cells. Humans have four phosphatidylinositol 4-kinases (PI4Ks) that synthesize PI4P, among which are PI4K IIβ and PI4K IIα. In this study, two crystal structures are presented: the structure of human PI4K IIβ and the structure of PI4K IIα containing a nucleoside analogue. The former, a complex with ATP, is the first high-resolution (1.9 Å) structure of a PI4K. These structures reveal new details such as high conformational heterogeneity of the lateral hydrophobic pocket of the C-lobe and together provide a structural basis for isoform-specific inhibitor design.

We report on a new analogue of locked cyclohexane nucleic acids that contains an adenine nucleobase at an alternative position and which resembles homo-DNA. The crucial locked carbocyclic nucleo­side monomer was prepared with high enantioselectivity and was subsequently incorporated into a pair of modified oligonucleotides that were subjected to hybridization studies.

Phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase IIIβ is a cellular lipid kinase pivotal to pathogenesis of various RNA viruses. These viruses hijack the enzyme in order to modify the structure of intracellular membranes and use them for the construction of functional replication machinery. Selective inhibitors of this enzyme are potential broad-spectrum antiviral agents, as inhibition of this enzyme results in the arrest of replication of PI4K IIIβ-dependent viruses. Herein, we report a detailed study of novel selective inhibitors of PI4K IIIβ, which exert antiviral activity against a panel of single-stranded positive-sense RNA viruses. Our crystallographic data show that the inhibitors occupy the binding site for the adenine ring of the ATP molecule and therefore prevent the phosphorylation reaction.

We report on the synthesis of novel conformationally locked nucleoside and nucleotide derivatives, which are structurally closely related to clinically used antivirals such as didanosine and abacavir. As a suitable conformationally rigid substitute of the sugar/pseudosugar ring allowing a permanent stabilization of the nucleoside in North conformation we employed bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane (norbornane) substituted in the bridgehead position with a hydroxymethyl group and in the C-3 position with a nucleobase. Prepared nucleoside derivatives were also converted into appropriate phosphoramidate prodrugs (ProTides) in order to increase delivery of the compounds in the cells. All target compounds were evaluated in a broad antiviral and cytostatic assay panel.

We describe here the preparation of conformationally locked cyclohexane nucleic acids designed as hybrids between locked nucleic acids (LNAs) and cyclohexene nucleic acids (CeNAs), both of which excel in hybridization with complementary RNAs. We have accomplished the synthesis of these adenine derivatives starting from a simple ketoester and installed all four chiral centres by means of total synthesis. The acquired monomers were incorporated into nonamer oligonucleotides.

Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) causes a severe and potentially fatal neuroinfection in humans. Despite its high medical relevance, no specific antiviral therapy is currently available. Here we demonstrate that treatment with a nucleoside analog, 7-deaza-2′- C -methyladenosine (7-deaza-2′-CMA), substantially improved disease outcomes, increased survival, and reduced signs of neuroinfection and viral titers in the brains of mice infected with a lethal dose of TBEV. To investigate the mechanism of action of 7-deaza-2′-CMA, two drug-resistant TBEV clones were generated and characterized. The two clones shared a signature amino acid substitution, S603T, in the viral NS5 RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) domain. This mutation conferred resistance to various 2′- C -methylated nucleoside derivatives, but no cross-resistance was seen with other nucleoside analogs, such as 4′- C -azidocytidine and 2′-deoxy-2′-beta-hydroxy-4′-azidocytidine (RO-9187). All-atom molecular dynamics simulations revealed that the S603T RdRp mutant repels a water molecule that coordinates the position of a metal ion cofactor as 2′- C -methylated nucleoside analogs approach the active site. To investigate its phenotype, the S603T mutation was introduced into a recombinant TBEV strain (Oshima-IC) generated from an infectious cDNA clone and into a TBEV replicon that expresses a reporter luciferase gene (Oshima-REP-luc2A). The mutants were replication impaired, showing reduced growth and a small plaque size in mammalian cell culture and reduced levels of neuroinvasiveness and neurovirulence in rodent models. These results indicate that TBEV resistance to 2′- C -methylated nucleoside inhibitors is conferred by a single conservative mutation that causes a subtle atomic effect within the active site of the viral NS5 RdRp and is associated with strong attenuation of the virus. IMPORTANCE This study found that the nucleoside analog 7-deaza-2′- C -methyladenosine (7-deaza-2′-CMA) has high antiviral activity against tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), a pathogen that causes severe human neuroinfections in large areas of Europe and Asia and for which there is currently no specific therapy. Treating mice infected with a lethal dose of TBEV with 7-deaza-2′-CMA resulted in significantly higher survival rates and reduced the severity of neurological signs of the disease. Thus, this compound shows promise for further development as an anti-TBEV drug. It is important to generate drug-resistant mutants to understand how the drug works and to develop guidelines for patient treatment. We generated TBEV mutants that were resistant not only to 7-deaza-2′-CMA but also to a broad range of other 2′- C -methylated antiviral medications. Our findings suggest that combination therapy may be used to improve treatment and reduce the emergence of drug-resistant viruses during nucleoside analog therapy for TBEV infection.

Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) causes a severe and potentially fatal neuroinfection in humans. Despite its high medical relevance, no specific antiviral therapy is currently available. Here we demonstrate that treatment with a nucleoside analog, 7-deaza-2′-C-methyladenosine (7-deaza-2′-CMA), substantially improved disease outcomes, increased survival, and reduced signs of neuroinfection and viral titers in the brains of mice infected with a lethal dose of TBEV. To investigate the mechanism of action of 7-deaza-2′-CMA, two drug-resistant TBEV clones were generated and characterized. The two clones shared a signature amino acid substitution, S603T, in the viral NS5 RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) domain. This mutation conferred resistance to various 2′-C-methylated nucleoside derivatives, but no cross-resistance was seen with other nucleoside analogs, such as 4′-C-azidocytidine and 2′-deoxy-2′-beta-hydroxy-4′-azidocytidine (RO-9187). All-atom molecular dynamics simulations revealed that the S603T RdRp mutant repels a water molecule that coordinates the position of a metal ion cofactor as 2′-C-methylated nucleoside analogs approach the active site. To investigate its phenotype, the S603T mutation was introduced into a recombinant TBEV strain (Oshima-IC) generated from an infectious cDNA clone and into a TBEV replicon that expresses a reporter luciferase gene (Oshima-REP-luc2A). The mutants were replication impaired, showing reduced growth and a small plaque size in mammalian cell culture and reduced levels of neuroinvasiveness and neurovirulence in rodent models. These results indicate that TBEV resistance to 2′-C-methylated nucleoside inhibitors is conferred by a single conservative mutation that causes a subtle atomic effect within the active site of the viral NS5 RdRp and is associated with strong attenuation of the virus.

The synthesis of a novel library of purine derivatives bearing various bicyclic and polycylic substituents at the N-9 position is described. The series includes norbornanes, bicyclo[2.2.2]octanes, and bicyclo[3.2.1]octanes attached at the bridgehead position as well as bicyclo[3.1.1]heptanes, tetrahydro-1-naphthalenes, and adamantanes bonded either directly or via a linear chain to the 6-chloropurine nucleobase. A number of prepared derivatives exerted significant activity against the enterovirus. Despite attempts to correlate the activity against picornaviruses with their phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase KIIIβ inhibitory activity, it is clear that the inhibition of this host factor cannot explain the observed antiviral potency.

The synthesis and antiviral evaluation of 6-amino- and 6-chloro-9-(exo-bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2yl)-9H-purine derivatives with thiophene and tetrahydrothiophenes annelated to a norbornane moiety are described. The key step in the synthesis of derivatives with the symmetrically annelated thiophene was the Mitsunobu reaction of endo-4-thiatricyclo[5.2.1.02,6]deca-2,5-dien-8-ol with 6-chloropurine. The key alcohol was obtained by DDQ mediated aromatization of the corresponding tetrahydro derivatives, which were used for the preparation of the target tetrahydrothieno analogs. The key intermediate for the synthesis of derivatives with the asymmetrically annelated thiophene was 8-exo-azido-3-thiatricyclo[5.2.1.02,6]deca-2(6),4-diene, which was prepared from 5-exo-azido[2.2.1]heptan-2-one by aldol condensation with O-ethyl S-(2-oxoethyl) carbonodithioate, deprotection and cyclization. The target compounds were obtained by the construction of the purine base on an amine, which was obtained by LAH reduction of the key azide. The synthesized compounds were evaluated for antiviral and cytostatic activity.

We report on the synthesis and the study of the structure–activity relationship of novel 9-norbornyl-6-chloropurine derivatives, which exert selective antiviral activity on the replication of Coxsackievirus B3. In particular, the synthetic approaches towards norbornyl derivatives bearing diverse side chains were studied. The main goal of the study was to determine the influence of the norbornane moiety substitution at positions 5′ and 6′ on selective antiviral activity with special regard to the liphophilicity profile of the substituent.

Azanorbornylpurine derivatives were prepared by Mitsunobu reaction of appropriate hydroxyazanorbornane derivative with 6-chloropurine or construction of purine base at azanorbornylamines. The prepared target compounds were evaluated for antiviral activity and effect on neuronal and muscle nicotinic acetylcholine receptors.

A series of 5,6-substituted norbornenes and 5,6-substituted polychlorinated norbornenes was prepared by using a microwave-assisted Diels-Alder reaction. This procedure proved very versatile, fast, and with an easy workup step, and therefore suitable even forlarge-scale synthesis.

Coxsackievirus and related enteroviruses are important human pathogens that cause various diseases with clinical manifestations ranging from trivial flu-like syndromes to dangerous or even fatal diseases such as myocarditis, meningitis and encephalitis. Here, we report on our continuous SAR study focused on 9-(bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-yl)-9H-purines as anti-enteroviral inhibitors. The purine moiety was modified at positions 2, 6 and 8. Several analogues inhibited Coxsackievirus B3 as well as other enteroviruses at low-micromolar concentrations. The 6-chloropurine derivative was confirmed as the most active compound in this series.

We report on the preparation of novel 1′-homonucleoside derivatives locked in a West conformation by 1′,4′-bridge consisting of annulated benzene or naphthalene ring. The crucial step of the synthesis was Diels–Alder reaction of an appropriate aryne with a suitable furane derivative. Antiviral properties of novel compounds were studied and slight activity against HCV was detected in several compounds.

Two convergent methodologies for construction of novel carbocyclic C-nucleosides allowing the syntheses of derivatives with uracil heterobase substituted at the position C-5 as well as C-6 were developed. The crucial step of the first methodology was the reaction of (6-chloro-2,4-dimethoxypyrimidin-5-yl)lithium, the nucleobase precursor, with suitable ketones, the carbocyclic pseudosugar precursors. The second approach was based on the copper-catalyzed cross-coupling between magnesiated pyrimidine and appropriate allyl chlorides. These methodologies were applied for the synthesis of novel carbocyclic C-nucleosides bearing cyclohexene or cyclohexane as a pseudosugar.

The key intermediates, [(1R*,2R*,4R*,6R*)-6- (12a) and [(1R*,2R*,4R*,5S*)-5-(hydroxymethyl)- bicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-yl]methyl benzoates (12b), were prepared from (1R*,2S*,4R*)- bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-ylmethyl benzoate by hydroboration, oxidation with pyridinium dichromate and subsequent reduction of the thus obtained ketones. The Mitsunobu reaction of12aand12bwith 6-chloropurine afforded 6-chloropurine derivatives, which were converted into others purine analogues. Thymine analogues were prepared from [(1R*,2R*,4S*,6S*)-6- (25a) and [(1R*,2S*,4R*,5S*)-5-aminobicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-yl]methanols (25b), which were prepared from alcohols12aand12bin several easy steps.

A synthetic route toward a series of unique cyclic nucleoside phosphonates locked in South conformation is described. The desired conformation is stabilized by a substitution of the sugar moiety by bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane (norbornane) bearing a purine or pyrimidine nucleobase in the bridgehead position. Although the final phosphonate derivatives are devoid of any significant antiviral activity probably due to the unfavorable conformational properties, several intermediates and their analogs exhibit surprising activity against feline herpes virus. Since these compounds do not possess an appropriate hydroxymethyl function allowing phosphorylation and subsequent incorporation into the polynucleotide chain, it seems to be likely that these compounds act by a novel unknown mechanism of action and may represent a new possible alternative for nucleoside and nucleotide therapeutics of this widely spread feline infection. A number of derivatives exerted also a significant antiviral activity against Coxsackievirus B3 and B4.

The synthesis of a novel library of purine derivatives bearing various bicyclic and polycylic substituents at the N-9 position is described. The series includes norbornanes, bicyclo[2.2.2]octanes, and bicyclo[3.2.1]octanes attached at the bridgehead position as well as bicyclo[3.1.1]heptanes, tetrahydro-1-naphthalenes, and adamantanes bonded either directly or via a linear chain to the 6-chloropurine nucleobase. A number of prepared derivatives exerted significant activity against the enterovirus. Despite attempts to correlate the activity against picornaviruses with their phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase KIIIβ inhibitory activity, it is clear that the inhibition of this host factor cannot explain the observed antiviral potency.

The non-hydrolyzable alkylcarbonate analogs of O-acetyl-ADP-ribose have been synthesized from the phosphorylated ribose derivatives after coupling with AMP morpholidate promoted by mechanical grinding. The analogs were assessed for their ability to inhibit the human sirtuin homolog SIRT1.

A convenient and simplified route to the title purine derivatives (III) can be carried out in a single step by using commercially available pyrimidine precursors.