Nonnucleoside inhibitors of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase: from the biology of reverse transcription to molecular design.

Replication of human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) uses a viral reverse transcriptase (RT) to convert its positive-strand RNA into double stranded DNA, which is then integrated into host genome. Reverse transcription is a complex event involving p66 and p51 RT subunits but also several viral proteins including Nef, Tat, Vif, IN, NCp7 and p55gag. Viral RNA itself forms a primer/template complex by association with a cellular tRNA(Lys3) which is already present in mature virions.

[Selectivity of the reverse transcriptase inhibitors toward types 1 and 2 of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)].

Two novel series of acyclonucleosides active as nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTI) against the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have been synthesized. Structural modifications, inverting the selectivity of classical NNRTI, considerably more active against HIV-1 than HIV-2, are reported. In these series, an increase in anti-HIV-2 activity is correlated with an increase of the cytotoxicity of these new molecules.

Synthesis and in vitro cytotoxic and antiviral activities of 1-(2,5,6-trideoxy-6-halogenohept-5-enofuranurononitrile)thymine and derivatives.

All 1-(2,5,6-trideoxy-6-halogenohept-5-enofuranurononitrile)thymine and their 3'-O-TBDMS derivatives have been prepared and their configuration established. Some of these compounds are endowed with a cytotoxic or cytostatic activity in cell culture. The single most important factor affecting the cytotoxicity of these compounds is the presence on the molecule of a soft (electrofugal) halogen atom.

Synthesis and anti-HIV activity of thymidine analogues bearing a 4'-cyanovinyl group and some derivatives thereof.

Treatment of 3'-O-tert-butyldimethylsilyl-2',5'-dideoxy-5'-oxothymidine (4) with potassium or magnesium nitromethanide afforded in good yield the resolvable epimeric mixture of the expected blocked nitronucleosides 5 which upon dehydration led to the corresponding E-nitroenofuranosylthymidine 6. Nucleophilic attack of cyanide onto the nitrovinyl group led to a nucleoside analogue bearing a terminal 1-cyanovinyl group (7), a soft electrophilic group which, upon reaction with benzeneselenol, underwent a conjugate addition to the phenylselenonucleoside derivative 9. All these compounds, eventually de-O-silylated, were subject of in vitro biological testing, some exhibiting interesting cytotoxic or antiviral properties.

Synthesis and antiproliferative activity of O-silylated nucleoside triazene N-oxide derivatives.

A series of modified nucleosides bearing at varied positions of the sugar moiety one 3-aryl-1-triazeno N1-oxide group and a variable number of O-TBDMS groups have been prepared and their cytotoxicities and cytostaticities measured on different cell lines. Nucleosides bearing an aryltriazeno N-oxide group and O-TBDMS groups are either devoid of cytotoxicity or possess a selective cytotoxicity. On the other hand, nucleosides bearing one triazeno group and no silyl group are devoid of cytotoxicity and silylated nucleosides without triazeno group are generally either devoid of cytotoxicity or unselectively cytotoxic.