Probing the Use of Triphenyl Phosphonium Cation for Mitochondrial Nucleoside Delivery.

Herein, we report the design, the synthesis, and the study of novel triphenyl phosphonium-based nucleoside conjugates. 2'-Deoxycytidine was chosen as nucleosidic cargo, as it allows the introduction of fluorescein on the exocyclic amine of the nucleobase and grafting of the vector was envisaged through the formation of a biolabile ester bond with the hydroxyl function at the 5'-position. Compound was identified as a potential nucleoside prodrug, showing ability to be internalized efficiently into cells and to be co-localized with mitochondria.

Synthesis of adenine dinucleosides SAM analogs as specific inhibitors of SARS-CoV nsp14 RNA cap guanine-N7-methyltransferase.

The spreading of new viruses is known to provoke global human health threat. The current COVID-19 pandemic caused by the recently emerged coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 is one significant and unfortunate example of what the world will have to face in the future with emerging viruses in absence of appropriate treatment. The discovery of potent and specific antiviral inhibitors and/or vaccines to fight these massive outbreaks is an urgent research priority.