Human herpesvirus 6 U69 kinase phosphorylates the methylenecyclopropane nucleosides cyclopropavir, MBX 2168, and MBX 1616 to their monophosphates.

Dihydroxymethyl and monohydroxymethyl methylenecyclopropane nucleosides are effective inhibitors of both variants of human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6). We investigated involvement of HHV-6 U69 protein kinase in their mechanism of action. Phosphorylation of the dihydroxymethyl analogue cyclopropavir and monohydroxymethyl nucleosides with either a 6-ether moiety (MBX 2168) or a 6-thioether moiety (MBX 1616) with purified U69 was examined. All three compounds were substrates of this viral kinase and had similar Michaelis-Menten kinetic parameters.