1
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Moianos D, Makri M, Prifti GM, Chiotellis A, Pappas A, Woodson ME, Tajwar R, Tavis JE, Zoidis G. N-Hydroxypiridinedione: A Privileged Heterocycle for Targeting the HBV RNase H. Molecules 2024; 29:2942. [PMID: 38931006 PMCID: PMC11206691 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29122942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2024] [Revised: 06/12/2024] [Accepted: 06/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) remains a global health threat. Ribonuclease H (RNase H), part of the virus polymerase protein, cleaves the pgRNA template during viral genome replication. Inhibition of RNase H activity prevents (+) DNA strand synthesis and results in the accumulation of non-functional genomes, terminating the viral replication cycle. RNase H, though promising, remains an under-explored drug target against HBV. We previously reported the identification of a series of N-hydroxypyridinedione (HPD) imines that effectively inhibit the HBV RNase H. In our effort to further explore the HPD scaffold, we designed, synthesized, and evaluated 18 novel HPD oximes, as well as 4 structurally related minoxidil derivatives and 2 barbituric acid counterparts. The new analogs were docked on the RNase H active site and all proved able to coordinate the two Mg2+ ions in the catalytic site. All of the new HPDs effectively inhibited the viral replication in cell assays exhibiting EC50 values in the low μM range (1.1-7.7 μM) with low cytotoxicity, resulting in selectivity indexes (SI) of up to 92, one of the highest reported to date among HBV RNase H inhibitors. Our findings expand the structure-activity relationships on the HPD scaffold, facilitating the development of even more potent anti-HBV agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitrios Moianos
- Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, 15771 Athens, Greece; (D.M.); (M.M.); (G.-M.P.)
| | - Maria Makri
- Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, 15771 Athens, Greece; (D.M.); (M.M.); (G.-M.P.)
| | - Georgia-Myrto Prifti
- Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, 15771 Athens, Greece; (D.M.); (M.M.); (G.-M.P.)
| | - Aristeidis Chiotellis
- Institute of Nuclear & Radiological Sciences & Technology, Energy & Safety, National Center for Scientific Research “Demokritos”, 15310 Athens, Greece; (A.C.); (A.P.)
| | - Alexandros Pappas
- Institute of Nuclear & Radiological Sciences & Technology, Energy & Safety, National Center for Scientific Research “Demokritos”, 15310 Athens, Greece; (A.C.); (A.P.)
| | - Molly E. Woodson
- Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63104, USA; (M.E.W.); (R.T.); (J.E.T.)
| | - Razia Tajwar
- Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63104, USA; (M.E.W.); (R.T.); (J.E.T.)
| | - John E. Tavis
- Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63104, USA; (M.E.W.); (R.T.); (J.E.T.)
| | - Grigoris Zoidis
- Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, 15771 Athens, Greece; (D.M.); (M.M.); (G.-M.P.)
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2
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Giannakopoulou E, Pardali V, Edwards TC, Woodson M, Tajwar R, Tavis JE, Zoidis G. Identification and assessment of the 1,6-dihydroxy-pyridin-2-one moiety as privileged scaffold for HBV ribonuclease H inhibition. Antiviral Res 2024; 223:105833. [PMID: 38325606 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2024.105833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 01/20/2024] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
The Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) ribonuclease H (RNase H) although promising remains an unexploited therapeutic target. HBV RNase H inhibition causes premature termination of viral minus-polarity DNA strands, prevents the synthesis of the viral positive-polarity DNA strand, and causes accumulation of RNA:DNA heteroduplexes within viral capsids. As part of our ongoing research to develop more potent anti-HBV RNase H inhibitors, we designed, synthesized and analyzed a library of 18 novel compounds (17 N-hydroyxpyridinedione (HPD) imine derivatives and 1 barbituric acid analogue) as potential leads for HBV treatment development. In cell assays, fourteen HPDs showed significant anti-HBV activity with EC50s from 1.1 to 2.5 μM and selectivity indices (SI) of up to 58. Three of them exhibited more than 3-fold improvement in the SI over the best previous HPD imine (SI = 13). To gain insight to the interaction between the tested compounds and the active site of HBV RNase H, docking experiments were undertaken. In almost all binding poses, the novel HPDs coordinated both active site Mg2+ ions via their oxygen trident. Furthermore, the novel HPDs displayed high cell permeability and solubility as well as good drug-like properties. These results reveal that HPD imines can be significantly active and selective HBV inhibitors, and that the HPD scaffold merits further development towards anti-HBV agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erofili Giannakopoulou
- School of Health Sciences, Department of Pharmacy, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, 15771, Athens, Greece
| | - Vasiliki Pardali
- School of Health Sciences, Department of Pharmacy, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, 15771, Athens, Greece
| | - Tiffany C Edwards
- Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, 63104, United States
| | - Molly Woodson
- Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, 63104, United States
| | - Razia Tajwar
- Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, 63104, United States
| | - John E Tavis
- Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, 63104, United States
| | - Grigoris Zoidis
- School of Health Sciences, Department of Pharmacy, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, 15771, Athens, Greece.
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3
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Li Q, Tavis JE. In Vitro Enzymatic and Cell Culture-Based Assays for Measuring Activity of HBV Ribonuclease H Inhibitors. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2837:257-270. [PMID: 39044091 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-4027-2_22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/25/2024]
Abstract
HBV is a small, enveloped DNA virus that replicates by reverse transcription of an RNA intermediate. Current anti-HBV treatment regiments employ interferon α or nucleos(t)ide analogs, but they are not curative, are of long duration, and can be accompanied by systemic side-effects. The HBV ribonuclease H (RNaseH) is essential for viral replication; however, it is unexploited as a drug target. RNaseH inhibitors that actively block viral replication would represent an important addition to the potential new drugs for treating HBV infection. Here, we describe two methods to measure the activity of RNaseH inhibitors. The DNA oligonucleotide-directed RNA cleavage assay allows mechanistic analysis of compounds for anti-HBV RNaseH activity. Analysis of preferential inhibition of plus-polarity DNA strand synthesis by HBV RNaseH inhibitors in a cell culture model of HBV replication can be used to measure the ability of RNaseH inhibitors to block viral replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qilan Li
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine and Saint Louis University Liver Center, Saint Louis, MO, USA
| | - John E Tavis
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine and Saint Louis University Liver Center, Saint Louis, MO, USA.
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4
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Woodson ME, Mottaleb MA, Murelli RP, Tavis JE. In vitro evaluation of tropolone absorption, metabolism, and clearance. Antiviral Res 2023; 220:105762. [PMID: 37996012 PMCID: PMC10843707 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2023.105762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
Tropolone compounds can inhibit hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication at sub-micromolar levels and are synergistic upon co-treatment with nucleos(t)ide analog drugs. However, only a few compounds within this chemotype have been screened for their pharmacological properties. Here, we chose 36 structurally diverse tropolones from six subclasses to characterize their in vitro pharmacological parameters. All compounds were more soluble in pHs that reflect the gastrointestinal tract (pH 5 and 6.5) than plasma (pH 7.4). Those compounds that had solubility limits >100 μM were tested in a passive permeability assay, and there was no general trend in the compounds' passive permeability at any pH. Twenty-nine compounds with the best absorption parameters were tested in HEK293 cells to assess potential cytotoxicity; measured toxicities were similar to those in the hepatic HepDES19 cells used for screening (R2 = 0.55). Sixteen representative compounds were tested against five major CYP450 isoforms and there was no substantial inhibition by any compound against any of the enzymes tested (<50%). The t1/2 values of 15 compounds were determined in the microsome stability assay and 12 compounds were evaluated in plasma protein binding assays to assess factors affecting their rate of clearance. All compounds with detectable analyte peaks had t1/2 > 30 min, and while 4 of 12 had statistically significant decreased potency in conditions with increased albumin concentrations, only one compound's potency was biologically significant. These data indicate that the tropolones have pharmacological characteristics that reflect approved drugs and inform future structure activity relationships during drug design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Molly E Woodson
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA; Institute for Drug and Biotherapeutic Innovation, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - M Abdul Mottaleb
- Institute for Drug and Biotherapeutic Innovation, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Ryan P Murelli
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brooklyn College, City University of New York, Brooklyn, NY, USA; The Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, NY, USA
| | - John E Tavis
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA; Institute for Drug and Biotherapeutic Innovation, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO, USA.
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5
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Olenginski LT, Attionu SK, Henninger EN, LeBlanc RM, Longhini AP, Dayie TK. Hepatitis B Virus Epsilon (ε) RNA Element: Dynamic Regulator of Viral Replication and Attractive Therapeutic Target. Viruses 2023; 15:1913. [PMID: 37766319 PMCID: PMC10534774 DOI: 10.3390/v15091913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) chronically infects millions of people worldwide, which underscores the importance of discovering and designing novel anti-HBV therapeutics to complement current treatment strategies. An underexploited but attractive therapeutic target is ε, a cis-acting regulatory stem-loop RNA situated within the HBV pregenomic RNA (pgRNA). The binding of ε to the viral polymerase protein (P) is pivotal, as it triggers the packaging of pgRNA and P, as well as the reverse transcription of the viral genome. Consequently, small molecules capable of disrupting this interaction hold the potential to inhibit the early stages of HBV replication. The rational design of such ligands necessitates high-resolution structural information for the ε-P complex or its individual components. While these data are currently unavailable for P, our recent structural elucidation of ε through solution nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy marks a significant advancement in this area. In this review, we provide a brief overview of HBV replication and some of the therapeutic strategies to combat chronic HBV infection. These descriptions are intended to contextualize our recent experimental efforts to characterize ε and identify ε-targeting ligands, with the ultimate goal of developing novel anti-HBV therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukasz T. Olenginski
- Center for Biomolecular Structure and Organization, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA (R.M.L.)
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Solomon K. Attionu
- Center for Biomolecular Structure and Organization, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA (R.M.L.)
| | - Erica N. Henninger
- Center for Biomolecular Structure and Organization, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA (R.M.L.)
| | - Regan M. LeBlanc
- Center for Biomolecular Structure and Organization, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA (R.M.L.)
| | - Andrew P. Longhini
- Center for Biomolecular Structure and Organization, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA (R.M.L.)
- Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
| | - Theodore K. Dayie
- Center for Biomolecular Structure and Organization, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA (R.M.L.)
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6
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Tajwar R, Bradley DP, Ponzar NL, Tavis JE. Predicted structure of the hepatitis B virus polymerase reveals an ancient conserved protein fold. Protein Sci 2022; 31:e4421. [PMID: 36173165 PMCID: PMC9601786 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Revised: 07/31/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) chronically infects >250 million people. It replicates by a unique protein-primed reverse transcription mechanism, and the primary anti-HBV drugs are nucleos(t)ide analogs targeting the viral polymerase (P). P has four domains compared to only two in most reverse transcriptases: the terminal protein (TP) that primes DNA synthesis, a spacer, the reverse transcriptase (RT), and the ribonuclease H (RNase H). Despite being a major drug target and catalyzing a reverse transcription pathway very different from the retroviruses, HBV P has resisted structural analysis for decades. Here, we exploited computational advances to model P. The TP wrapped around the RT domain rather than forming the anticipated globular domain, with the priming tyrosine poised over the RT active site. The orientation of the RT and RNase H domains resembled that of the retroviral enzymes despite the lack of sequences analogous to the retroviral linker region. The model was validated by mapping residues with known surface exposures, docking nucleic acids, mechanistically interpreting mutations with strong phenotypes, and docking inhibitors into the RT and RNase H active sites. The HBV P fold, including the orientation of the TP domain, was conserved among hepadnaviruses infecting rodent to fish hosts and a nackednavirus, but not in other non-retroviral RTs. Therefore, this protein fold has persisted since the hepadnaviruses diverged from nackednaviruses >400 million years ago. This model will advance mechanistic analyses into the poorly understood enzymology of HBV reverse transcription and will enable drug development against non-active site targets for the first time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Razia Tajwar
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine and Institute for Drug and Biotherapeutic InnovationSaint Louis UniversitySaint LouisMissouriUSA
| | - Daniel P. Bradley
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine and Institute for Drug and Biotherapeutic InnovationSaint Louis UniversitySaint LouisMissouriUSA
| | - Nathan L. Ponzar
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine and Institute for Drug and Biotherapeutic InnovationSaint Louis UniversitySaint LouisMissouriUSA
| | - John E. Tavis
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine and Institute for Drug and Biotherapeutic InnovationSaint Louis UniversitySaint LouisMissouriUSA
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7
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Geerling E, Murphy V, Mai MC, Stone ET, Casals AG, Hassert M, O’Dea AT, Cao F, Donlin MJ, Elagawany M, Elgendy B, Pardali V, Giannakopoulou E, Zoidis G, Schiavone DV, Berkowitz AJ, Agyemang NB, Murelli RP, Tavis JE, Pinto AK, Brien JD. Metal coordinating inhibitors of Rift Valley fever virus replication. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0274266. [PMID: 36112605 PMCID: PMC9481026 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0274266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is a veterinary and human pathogen and is an agent of bioterrorism concern. Currently, RVFV treatment is limited to supportive care, so new drugs to control RVFV infection are urgently needed. RVFV is a member of the order Bunyavirales, whose replication depends on the enzymatic activity of the viral L protein. Screening for RVFV inhibitors among compounds with divalent cation-coordinating motifs similar to known viral nuclease inhibitors identified 47 novel RVFV inhibitors with selective indexes from 1.1–103 and 50% effective concentrations of 1.2–56 μM in Vero cells, primarily α-Hydroxytropolones and N-Hydroxypyridinediones. Inhibitor activity and selective index was validated in the human cell line A549. To evaluate specificity, select compounds were tested against a second Bunyavirus, La Crosse Virus (LACV), and the flavivirus Zika (ZIKV). These data indicate that the α-Hydroxytropolone and N-Hydroxypyridinedione chemotypes should be investigated in the future to determine their mechanism(s) of action allowing further development as therapeutics for RVFV and LACV, and these chemotypes should be evaluated for activity against related pathogens, including Hantaan virus, severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Geerling
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Valerie Murphy
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Maria C. Mai
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - E. Taylor Stone
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Andreu Gazquez Casals
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Mariah Hassert
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Austin T. O’Dea
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Feng Cao
- John Cochran Division, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Maureen J. Donlin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Mohamed Elagawany
- Center for Clinical Pharmacology, Washington University School of Medicine and University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Bahaa Elgendy
- Center for Clinical Pharmacology, Washington University School of Medicine and University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States of America
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Administrative Sciences, University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Vasiliki Pardali
- Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Erofili Giannakopoulou
- Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Grigoris Zoidis
- Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Daniel V. Schiavone
- Department of Chemistry and The Graduate Center of The City University of New York, Brooklyn College, The City University of New York, Brooklyn, New York, United States of America
| | - Alex J. Berkowitz
- Department of Chemistry and The Graduate Center of The City University of New York, Brooklyn College, The City University of New York, Brooklyn, New York, United States of America
| | - Nana B. Agyemang
- Department of Chemistry and The Graduate Center of The City University of New York, Brooklyn College, The City University of New York, Brooklyn, New York, United States of America
| | - Ryan P. Murelli
- Department of Chemistry and The Graduate Center of The City University of New York, Brooklyn College, The City University of New York, Brooklyn, New York, United States of America
| | - John E. Tavis
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Amelia K. Pinto
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - James D. Brien
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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8
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Piskunen P, Latham R, West CE, Castronovo M, Linko V. Integrating CRISPR/Cas systems with programmable DNA nanostructures for delivery and beyond. iScience 2022; 25:104389. [PMID: 35633938 PMCID: PMC9130510 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Precise genome editing with CRISPR/Cas paves the way for many biochemical, biotechnological, and medical applications, and consequently, it may enable treatment of already known and still-to-be-found genetic diseases. Meanwhile, another rapidly emerging field—structural DNA nanotechnology—provides a customizable and modular platform for accurate positioning of nanoscopic materials, for e.g., biomedical uses. This addressability has just recently been applied in conjunction with the newly developed gene engineering tools to enable impactful, programmable nanotechnological applications. As of yet, self-assembled DNA nanostructures have been mainly employed to enhance and direct the delivery of CRISPR/Cas, but lately the groundwork has also been laid out for other intriguing and complex functions. These recent advances will be described in this perspective.
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Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a hepatotropic, partially double-stranded DNA virus that replicates by reverse transcription and is a major cause of chronic liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma. Reverse transcription is catalyzed by the four-domain multifunctional HBV polymerase (P) protein that has protein-priming, RNA- and DNA-dependent DNA synthesis (i.e., reverse transcriptase), and ribonuclease H activities. P also likely promotes the three strand transfers that occur during reverse transcription, and it may participate in immune evasion by HBV. Reverse transcription is primed by a tyrosine residue in the amino-terminal domain of P, and P remains covalently attached to the product DNA throughout reverse transcription. The reverse transcriptase activity of P is the target for the nucleos(t)ide analog drugs that dominate HBV treatment, and P is the target of ongoing efforts to develop new drugs against both the reverse transcriptase and ribonuclease H activities. Despite the unusual reverse transcription pathway catalyzed by P and the importance of P to HBV therapy, understanding the enzymology and structure of HBV P severely lags that of the retroviral reverse transcriptases due to substantial technical challenges to studying the enzyme. Obtaining a better understanding of P will broaden our appreciation of the diversity among reverse transcribing elements in nature, and will help improve treatment for people chronically infected with HBV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel N Clark
- Department of Microbiology, Weber State University, Ogden, UT, United States
| | - Razia Tajwar
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, United States
| | - Jianming Hu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, United States
| | - John E Tavis
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, United States.
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Prifti GM, Moianos D, Giannakopoulou E, Pardali V, Tavis JE, Zoidis G. Recent Advances in Hepatitis B Treatment. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:417. [PMID: 34062711 PMCID: PMC8147224 DOI: 10.3390/ph14050417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus infection affects over 250 million chronic carriers, causing more than 800,000 deaths annually, although a safe and effective vaccine is available. Currently used antiviral agents, pegylated interferon and nucleos(t)ide analogues, have major drawbacks and fail to completely eradicate the virus from infected cells. Thus, achieving a "functional cure" of the infection remains a real challenge. Recent findings concerning the viral replication cycle have led to development of novel therapeutic approaches including viral entry inhibitors, epigenetic control of cccDNA, immune modulators, RNA interference techniques, ribonuclease H inhibitors, and capsid assembly modulators. Promising preclinical results have been obtained, and the leading molecules under development have entered clinical evaluation. This review summarizes the key steps of the HBV life cycle, examines the currently approved anti-HBV drugs, and analyzes novel HBV treatment regimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgia-Myrto Prifti
- Department of Pharmacy, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Health Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, 15771 Athens, Greece; (G.-M.P.); (D.M.); (E.G.); (V.P.)
| | - Dimitrios Moianos
- Department of Pharmacy, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Health Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, 15771 Athens, Greece; (G.-M.P.); (D.M.); (E.G.); (V.P.)
| | - Erofili Giannakopoulou
- Department of Pharmacy, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Health Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, 15771 Athens, Greece; (G.-M.P.); (D.M.); (E.G.); (V.P.)
| | - Vasiliki Pardali
- Department of Pharmacy, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Health Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, 15771 Athens, Greece; (G.-M.P.); (D.M.); (E.G.); (V.P.)
| | - John E. Tavis
- Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, MO 63104, USA;
| | - Grigoris Zoidis
- Department of Pharmacy, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Health Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, 15771 Athens, Greece; (G.-M.P.); (D.M.); (E.G.); (V.P.)
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11
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Bak E, Miller JT, Noronha A, Tavis J, Gallicchio E, Murelli RP, Le Grice SFJ. 3,7-Dihydroxytropolones Inhibit Initiation of Hepatitis B Virus Minus-Strand DNA Synthesis. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25194434. [PMID: 32992516 PMCID: PMC7583054 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25194434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2020] [Revised: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 09/19/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Initiation of protein-primed (-) strand DNA synthesis in hepatitis B virus (HBV) requires interaction of the viral reverse transcriptase with epsilon (ε), a cis-acting regulatory signal located at the 5' terminus of pre-genomic RNA (pgRNA), and several host-encoded chaperone proteins. Binding of the viral polymerase (P protein) to ε is necessary for pgRNA encapsidation and synthesis of a short primer covalently attached to its terminal domain. Although we identified small molecules that recognize HBV ε RNA, these failed to inhibit protein-primed DNA synthesis. However, since initiation of HBV (-) strand DNA synthesis occurs within a complex of viral and host components (e.g., Hsp90, DDX3 and APOBEC3G), we considered an alternative therapeutic strategy of allosteric inhibition by disrupting the initiation complex or modifying its topology. To this end, we show here that 3,7-dihydroxytropolones (3,7-dHTs) can inhibit HBV protein-primed DNA synthesis. Since DNA polymerase activity of a ribonuclease (RNase H)-deficient HBV reverse transcriptase that otherwise retains DNA polymerase function is also abrogated, this eliminates direct involvement of RNase (ribonuclease) H activity of HBV reverse transcriptase and supports the notion that the HBV initiation complex might be therapeutically targeted. Modeling studies also provide a rationale for preferential activity of 3,7-dHTs over structurally related α-hydroxytropolones (α-HTs).
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen Bak
- Basic Research Laboratory National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702, USA; (E.B.); (J.T.M.); (A.N.)
| | - Jennifer T. Miller
- Basic Research Laboratory National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702, USA; (E.B.); (J.T.M.); (A.N.)
| | - Andrea Noronha
- Basic Research Laboratory National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702, USA; (E.B.); (J.T.M.); (A.N.)
| | - John Tavis
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, St. Louis University, St. Louis, MO 63104, USA;
| | - Emilio Gallicchio
- Department of Chemistry, Brooklyn College, The City University of New York, Brooklyn, NY 11210, USA; (E.G.); (R.P.M.)
- PhD Program in Chemistry, The Graduate Center of The City University of New York, New York, NY 10016, USA
- PhD Program in Biochemistry, The Graduate Center of The City University of New York, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Ryan P. Murelli
- Department of Chemistry, Brooklyn College, The City University of New York, Brooklyn, NY 11210, USA; (E.G.); (R.P.M.)
- PhD Program in Chemistry, The Graduate Center of The City University of New York, New York, NY 10016, USA
- PhD Program in Biochemistry, The Graduate Center of The City University of New York, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Stuart F. J. Le Grice
- Basic Research Laboratory National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702, USA; (E.B.); (J.T.M.); (A.N.)
- Correspondence:
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12
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Zhang BY, Chai DP, Wu YH, Qiu LP, Zhang YY, Ye ZH, Yu XP. Potential Drug Targets Against Hepatitis B Virus Based on Both Virus and Host Factors. Curr Drug Targets 2020; 20:1636-1651. [PMID: 31362671 DOI: 10.2174/1389450120666190729115646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2019] [Revised: 06/24/2019] [Accepted: 06/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatitis B is a very harmful and epidemic disease caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV). Although an effective anti-HBV vaccine is available, chronic infection poses still a huge health burden in the whole world. The present anti-HBV drugs including nucleoside analogues and interferonalpha have their limitations without exception. There is no effective drug and therapeutic method that can really and truly cure hepatitis B so far. The variability of HBV genome results in that a significant number of patients develop drug resistance during the long-term use of anti-HBV drugs. Hence, it is urgently needed to discover novel targets and develop new drugs against hepatitis B. OBJECTIVE The review aims to provide the theory support for designing of the anti-HBV innovative drugs by offering a summary of the current situation of antiviral potential targets. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION Since HBV is obligate intracellular parasite, and as such it depends on host cellular components and functions to replicate itself. The targeting both virus and host might be a novel therapeutic option for hepatitis B. Accordingly, we analyse the advances in the study of the potential drug targets for anti-HBV infection, focusing on targeting virus genome, on targeting host cellular functions and on targeting virus-host proteins interactions, respectively. Meanwhile, the immune targets against chronic hepatitis B are also emphasized. In short, the review provides a summary of antiviral therapeutic strategies to target virus factors, host factors and immune factors for future designing of the innovative drug against HBV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing-Yi Zhang
- Department of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Biometrology and Inspection & Quarantine, College of Life Sciences, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou 310018, China
| | - Dan-Ping Chai
- Department of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Biometrology and Inspection & Quarantine, College of Life Sciences, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou 310018, China
| | - Yi-Hang Wu
- Department of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Biometrology and Inspection & Quarantine, College of Life Sciences, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou 310018, China
| | - Li-Peng Qiu
- Institute of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
| | - Yong-Yong Zhang
- Department of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Biometrology and Inspection & Quarantine, College of Life Sciences, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou 310018, China
| | - Zi-Hong Ye
- Department of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Biometrology and Inspection & Quarantine, College of Life Sciences, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou 310018, China
| | - Xiao-Ping Yu
- Department of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Biometrology and Inspection & Quarantine, College of Life Sciences, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou 310018, China
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13
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Pierra Rouviere C, Dousson CB, Tavis JE. HBV replication inhibitors. Antiviral Res 2020; 179:104815. [PMID: 32380149 PMCID: PMC7293572 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2020.104815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2020] [Revised: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 04/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Chronic Hepatitis B Virus infections afflict >250 million people and kill nearly 1 million annually. Current non-curative therapies are dominated by nucleos(t)ide analogs (NAs) that profoundly but incompletely suppress DNA synthesis by the viral reverse transcriptase. Residual HBV replication during NA therapy contributes to maintenance of the critical nuclear reservoir of the HBV genome, the covalently-closed circular DNA, and to ongoing infection of naive cells. Identification of next-generation NAs with improved efficacy and safety profiles, often through novel prodrug approaches, is the primary thrust of ongoing efforts to improve HBV replication inhibitors. Inhibitors of the HBV ribonuclease H, the other viral enzymatic activity essential for viral genomic replication, are in preclinical development. The complexity of HBV's reverse transcription pathway offers many other potential targets. HBV's protein-priming of reverse transcription has been briefly explored as a potential target, as have the host chaperones necessary for function of the HBV reverse transcriptase. Improved inhibitors of HBV reverse transcription would reduce HBV's replication-dependent persistence mechanisms and are therefore expected to become a backbone of future curative combination anti-HBV therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Cyril B Dousson
- Ai-biopharma, Medicinal Chemistry Department, Montpellier, France.
| | - John E Tavis
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA.
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14
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Li Q, Lomonosova E, Donlin MJ, Cao F, O'Dea A, Milleson B, Berkowitz AJ, Baucom JC, Stasiak JP, Schiavone DV, Abdelmessih RG, Lyubimova A, Fraboni AJ, Bejcek LP, Villa JA, Gallicchio E, Murelli RP, Tavis JE. Amide-containing α-hydroxytropolones as inhibitors of hepatitis B virus replication. Antiviral Res 2020; 177:104777. [PMID: 32217151 PMCID: PMC7199283 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2020.104777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2020] [Revised: 03/16/2020] [Accepted: 03/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) ribonuclease H (RNaseH) is a promising but unexploited drug target. Here, we synthesized and analyzed a library of 57 amide-containing α-hydroxytropolones (αHTs) as potential leads for HBV drug development. Fifty percent effective concentrations ranged from 0.31 to 54 μM, with selectivity indexes in cell culture of up to 80. Activity against the HBV RNaseH was confirmed in semi-quantitative enzymatic assays with recombinant HBV RNaseH. The compounds were overall poorly active against human ribonuclease H1, with 50% inhibitory concentrations of 5.1 to >1,000 μM. The αHTs had modest activity against growth of the fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans, but had very limited activity against growth of the Gram - bacterium Escherichia coli and the Gram + bacterium Staphylococcus aureus, indicating substantial selectivity for HBV. A molecular model of the HBV RNaseH templated against the Ty3 RNaseH was generated. Docking the compounds to the RNaseH revealed the anticipated binding pose with the divalent cation coordinating motif on the compounds chelating the two Mn++ ions modeled into the active site. These studies reveal that that amide αHTs can be strong, specific HBV inhibitors that merit further assessment toward becoming anti-HBV drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qilan Li
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, 1100 S. Grand Blvd, Saint Louis, MO, 63104, USA
| | - Elena Lomonosova
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, 1100 S. Grand Blvd, Saint Louis, MO, 63104, USA.
| | - Maureen J Donlin
- Edward A. Doisy Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, 1100 S. Grand Blvd, Saint Louis, MO, 63104, USA.
| | - Feng Cao
- John Cochran Division, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Saint Louis, MO, USA.
| | - Austin O'Dea
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, 1100 S. Grand Blvd, Saint Louis, MO, 63104, USA.
| | - Brienna Milleson
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, 1100 S. Grand Blvd, Saint Louis, MO, 63104, USA
| | - Alex J Berkowitz
- Department of Chemistry, Brooklyn College, The City University of New York, Brooklyn, NY, 11210, USA; Program in Chemistry, The Graduate Center of The City University of New York, New York, NY, 11210, USA.
| | - John-Charles Baucom
- Department of Chemistry, Brooklyn College, The City University of New York, Brooklyn, NY, 11210, USA; Program in Chemistry, The Graduate Center of The City University of New York, New York, NY, 11210, USA.
| | - John P Stasiak
- Department of Chemistry, Brooklyn College, The City University of New York, Brooklyn, NY, 11210, USA.
| | - Daniel V Schiavone
- Department of Chemistry, Brooklyn College, The City University of New York, Brooklyn, NY, 11210, USA; Program in Chemistry, The Graduate Center of The City University of New York, New York, NY, 11210, USA.
| | - Rudolf G Abdelmessih
- Department of Chemistry, Brooklyn College, The City University of New York, Brooklyn, NY, 11210, USA.
| | - Anastasiya Lyubimova
- Department of Chemistry, Brooklyn College, The City University of New York, Brooklyn, NY, 11210, USA.
| | - Americo J Fraboni
- Department of Chemistry, Brooklyn College, The City University of New York, Brooklyn, NY, 11210, USA.
| | - Lauren P Bejcek
- Department of Chemistry, Brooklyn College, The City University of New York, Brooklyn, NY, 11210, USA; Program in Chemistry, The Graduate Center of The City University of New York, New York, NY, 11210, USA.
| | - Juan A Villa
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, 1100 S. Grand Blvd, Saint Louis, MO, 63104, USA.
| | - Emilio Gallicchio
- Department of Chemistry, Brooklyn College, The City University of New York, Brooklyn, NY, 11210, USA; Program in Chemistry, The Graduate Center of The City University of New York, New York, NY, 11210, USA; Program in Biochemistry, The Graduate Center of The City University of New York, New York, NY, 11210, USA.
| | - Ryan P Murelli
- Department of Chemistry, Brooklyn College, The City University of New York, Brooklyn, NY, 11210, USA; Program in Chemistry, The Graduate Center of The City University of New York, New York, NY, 11210, USA; Program in Biochemistry, The Graduate Center of The City University of New York, New York, NY, 11210, USA.
| | - John E Tavis
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, 1100 S. Grand Blvd, Saint Louis, MO, 63104, USA.
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15
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Tramontano E, Corona A, Menéndez-Arias L. Ribonuclease H, an unexploited target for antiviral intervention against HIV and hepatitis B virus. Antiviral Res 2019; 171:104613. [PMID: 31550450 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2019.104613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2019] [Revised: 09/18/2019] [Accepted: 09/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Ribonucleases H (RNases H) are endonucleolytic enzymes, evolutionarily related to retroviral integrases, DNA transposases, resolvases and numerous nucleases. RNases H cleave RNA in RNA/DNA hybrids and their activity plays an important role in the replication of prokaryotic and eukaryotic genomes, as well as in the replication of reverse-transcribing viruses. During reverse transcription, the RNase H activity of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) degrades the viral genomic RNA to facilitate the synthesis of viral double-stranded DNA. HIV and HBV reverse transcriptases contain DNA polymerase and RNase H domains that act in a coordinated manner to produce double-stranded viral DNA. Although RNase H inhibitors have not been developed into licensed drugs, recent progress has led to the identification of a number of small molecules with inhibitory activity at low micromolar or even nanomolar concentrations. These compounds can be classified into metal-chelating active site inhibitors and allosteric inhibitors. Among them, α-hydroxytropolones, N-hydroxyisoquinolinediones and N-hydroxypyridinediones represent chemotypes active against both HIV and HBV RNases H. In this review we summarize recent developments in the field including the identification of novel RNase H inhibitors, compounds with dual inhibitory activity, broad specificity and efforts to decrease their toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enzo Tramontano
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
| | - Angela Corona
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Luis Menéndez-Arias
- Centro de Biología Molecular "Severo Ochoa" (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas & Universidad Autónoma de Madrid), Madrid, Spain.
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16
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Edwards TC, Ponzar NL, Tavis JE. Shedding light on RNaseH: a promising target for hepatitis B virus (HBV). Expert Opin Ther Targets 2019; 23:559-563. [PMID: 31084514 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2019.1619697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Tiffany C Edwards
- a Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology , Saint Louis University Liver Center, Saint Louis University School of Medicine , Saint Louis , MO , USA
| | - Nathan L Ponzar
- a Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology , Saint Louis University Liver Center, Saint Louis University School of Medicine , Saint Louis , MO , USA
| | - John E Tavis
- a Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology , Saint Louis University Liver Center, Saint Louis University School of Medicine , Saint Louis , MO , USA
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17
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Tong C, Zhou T, Zhao C, Yuan L, Xu Y, Liu B, Fan J, Li D, Zhu A. Fluorometric determination of RNase H via a DNAzyme conjugated to reduced graphene oxide, and its application to screening for inhibitors and activators. Mikrochim Acta 2019; 186:335. [DOI: 10.1007/s00604-019-3425-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2018] [Accepted: 04/08/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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18
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Edwards TC, Mani N, Dorsey B, Kakarla R, Rijnbrand R, Sofia MJ, Tavis JE. Inhibition of HBV replication by N-hydroxyisoquinolinedione and N-hydroxypyridinedione ribonuclease H inhibitors. Antiviral Res 2019; 164:70-80. [PMID: 30768944 PMCID: PMC10587990 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2019.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2018] [Revised: 12/20/2018] [Accepted: 02/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
We recently developed a screening system capable of identifying and evaluating inhibitors of the Hepatitis B virus (HBV) ribonuclease H (RNaseH), which is the only HBV enzyme not targeted by current anti-HBV therapies. Inhibiting the HBV RNaseH blocks synthesis of the positive-polarity DNA strand, causing early termination of negative-polarity DNA synthesis and accumulation of RNA:DNA heteroduplexes. We previously reported inhibition of HBV replication by N-hydroxyisoquinolinediones (HID) and N-hydroxypyridinediones (HPD) in human hepatoma cells. Here, we report results from our ongoing efforts to develop more potent anti-HBV RNaseH inhibitors in the HID/HPD compound classes. We synthesized and screened additional HIDs and HPDs for preferential suppression of positive-polarity DNA in cells replicating HBV. Three of seven new HIDs inhibited HBV replication, however, the therapeutic indexes (TI = CC50/EC50) did not improve over what we previously reported. All nine of the HPDs inhibited HBV replication with EC50s ranging from 110 nM to 4 μM. Cellular cytotoxicity was evaluated by four assays and CC50s ranged from 15 to >100 μM. The best compounds have a calculated TI of >300, which is a 16-fold improvement over the primary HPD hit. These studies indicate that the HPD compound class holds potential for antiviral discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiffany C Edwards
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA; Saint Louis University Liver Center, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
| | - Nagraj Mani
- Arbutus Biopharma Incorporated, Warminster, PA, USA.
| | - Bruce Dorsey
- Arbutus Biopharma Incorporated, Warminster, PA, USA.
| | | | | | | | - John E Tavis
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA; Saint Louis University Liver Center, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
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19
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Long KR, Lomonosova E, Li Q, Ponzar NL, Villa JA, Touchette E, Rapp S, Liley RM, Murelli RP, Grigoryan A, Buller RM, Wilson L, Bial J, Sagartz JE, Tavis JE. Efficacy of hepatitis B virus ribonuclease H inhibitors, a new class of replication antagonists, in FRG human liver chimeric mice. Antiviral Res 2018; 149:41-47. [PMID: 29129708 PMCID: PMC5743599 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2017.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2017] [Revised: 09/11/2017] [Accepted: 11/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Chronic hepatitis B virus infection cannot be cured by current therapies, so new treatments are urgently needed. We recently identified novel inhibitors of the hepatitis B virus ribonuclease H that suppress viral replication in cell culture. Here, we employed immunodeficient FRG KO mice whose livers had been engrafted with primary human hepatocytes to ask whether ribonuclease H inhibitors can suppress hepatitis B virus replication in vivo. Humanized FRG KO mice infected with hepatitis B virus were treated for two weeks with the ribonuclease H inhibitors #110, an α-hydroxytropolone, and #208, an N-hydroxypyridinedione. Hepatitis B virus viral titers and S and e antigen plasma levels were measured. Treatment with #110 and #208 caused significant reductions in plasma viremia without affecting hepatitis B virus S or e antigen levels, and viral titers rebounded following treatment cessation. This is the expected pattern for inhibitors of viral DNA synthesis. Compound #208 suppressed viral titers of both hepatitis B virus genotype A and C isolates. These data indicate that Hepatitis B virus replication can be suppressed during infection in an animal by inhibiting the viral ribonuclease H, validating the ribonuclease H as a novel target for antiviral drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly R Long
- Seventh Wave Laboratories LLC, 19 Worthington Access Drive, Maryland Heights, MO 63043, USA.
| | - Elena Lomonosova
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology & the Saint Louis University Liver Center, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, 1100 S. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63104, USA.
| | - Qilan Li
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology & the Saint Louis University Liver Center, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, 1100 S. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63104, USA.
| | - Nathan L Ponzar
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology & the Saint Louis University Liver Center, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, 1100 S. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63104, USA.
| | - Juan A Villa
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology & the Saint Louis University Liver Center, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, 1100 S. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63104, USA.
| | - Erin Touchette
- Seventh Wave Laboratories LLC, 19 Worthington Access Drive, Maryland Heights, MO 63043, USA.
| | - Stephen Rapp
- Seventh Wave Laboratories LLC, 19 Worthington Access Drive, Maryland Heights, MO 63043, USA.
| | - R Matt Liley
- Seventh Wave Laboratories LLC, 19 Worthington Access Drive, Maryland Heights, MO 63043, USA.
| | - Ryan P Murelli
- Brookyln College & PhD Program in Chemistry at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York, NY 11210, USA.
| | - Alexandre Grigoryan
- Brookyln College & PhD Program in Chemistry at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York, NY 11210, USA.
| | - R Mark Buller
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology & the Saint Louis University Liver Center, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, 1100 S. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63104, USA
| | - Lisa Wilson
- Yecuris Corporation, P.O. Box 4645, Tualatin, OR 97062, USA.
| | - John Bial
- Yecuris Corporation, P.O. Box 4645, Tualatin, OR 97062, USA.
| | - John E Sagartz
- Seventh Wave Laboratories LLC, 19 Worthington Access Drive, Maryland Heights, MO 63043, USA.
| | - John E Tavis
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology & the Saint Louis University Liver Center, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, 1100 S. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63104, USA.
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20
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Edwards TC, Lomonosova E, Patel JA, Li Q, Villa JA, Gupta AK, Morrison LA, Bailly F, Cotelle P, Giannakopoulou E, Zoidis G, Tavis JE. Inhibition of hepatitis B virus replication by N-hydroxyisoquinolinediones and related polyoxygenated heterocycles. Antiviral Res 2017; 143:205-217. [PMID: 28450058 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2017.04.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2017] [Revised: 03/06/2017] [Accepted: 04/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
We previously reported low sensitivity of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) ribonuclease H (RNaseH) enzyme to inhibition by N-hydroxyisoquinolinedione (HID) compounds. Subsequently, our biochemical RNaseH assay was found to have a high false negative rate for predicting HBV replication inhibition, leading to underestimation of the number of HIDs that inhibit HBV replication. Here, 39 HID compounds and structurally related polyoxygenated heterocycles (POH), N-hydroxypyridinediones (HPD), and flutimides were screened for inhibition of HBV replication in vitro. Inhibiting the HBV RNaseH preferentially blocks synthesis of the positive-polarity DNA strand and causes accumulation of RNA:DNA heteroduplexes. Eleven HIDs and one HPD preferentially inhibited HBV positive-polarity DNA strand accumulation. EC50s ranged from 0.69 μM to 19 μM with therapeutic indices from 2.4 to 71. Neither the HIDs nor the HPD had an effect on the ability of the polymerase to elongate DNA strands in capsids. HBV RNaseH inhibition by the HIDs was confirmed with an improved RNaseH assay and by detecting accumulation RNA:DNA heteroduplexes in HBV capsids from cells treated with a representative HID. Therefore, the HID scaffold is more promising for anti-HBV drug discovery than we originally reported, and the HPD scaffold may hold potential for antiviral development. The preliminary structure-activity relationship will guide optimization of the HID/HPDs as HBV inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiffany C Edwards
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology and Saint Louis University Liver Center, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA; Saint Louis University Liver Center, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
| | - Elena Lomonosova
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology and Saint Louis University Liver Center, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA; Saint Louis University Liver Center, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
| | - Jenny A Patel
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology and Saint Louis University Liver Center, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
| | - Qilan Li
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology and Saint Louis University Liver Center, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA; Saint Louis University Liver Center, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
| | - Juan A Villa
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology and Saint Louis University Liver Center, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA; Saint Louis University Liver Center, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
| | - Ankit K Gupta
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology and Saint Louis University Liver Center, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
| | - Lynda A Morrison
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology and Saint Louis University Liver Center, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
| | - Fabrice Bailly
- University of Lille, INSERM, UMR-S 1172, Jean-Pierre Aubert Research Center, Lille, France.
| | - Philippe Cotelle
- University of Lille, INSERM, UMR-S 1172, Jean-Pierre Aubert Research Center, Lille, France.
| | - Erofili Giannakopoulou
- School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
| | - Grigoris Zoidis
- School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
| | - John E Tavis
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology and Saint Louis University Liver Center, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA; Saint Louis University Liver Center, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
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21
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Menéndez-Arias L, Sebastián-Martín A, Álvarez M. Viral reverse transcriptases. Virus Res 2016; 234:153-176. [PMID: 28043823 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2016.12.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2016] [Revised: 12/19/2016] [Accepted: 12/24/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Reverse transcriptases (RTs) play a major role in the replication of Retroviridae, Metaviridae, Pseudoviridae, Hepadnaviridae and Caulimoviridae. RTs are enzymes that are able to synthesize DNA using RNA or DNA as templates (DNA polymerase activity), and degrade RNA when forming RNA/DNA hybrids (ribonuclease H activity). In retroviruses and LTR retrotransposons (Metaviridae and Pseudoviridae), the coordinated action of both enzymatic activities converts single-stranded RNA into a double-stranded DNA that is flanked by identical sequences known as long terminal repeats (LTRs). RTs of retroviruses and LTR retrotransposons are active as monomers (e.g. murine leukemia virus RT), homodimers (e.g. Ty3 RT) or heterodimers (e.g. human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) RT). RTs lack proofreading activity and display high intrinsic error rates. Besides, high recombination rates observed in retroviruses are promoted by poor processivity that causes template switching, a hallmark of reverse transcription. HIV-1 RT inhibitors acting on its polymerase activity constitute the backbone of current antiretroviral therapies, although novel drugs, including ribonuclease H inhibitors, are still necessary to fight HIV infections. In Hepadnaviridae and Caulimoviridae, reverse transcription leads to the formation of nicked circular DNAs that will be converted into episomal DNA in the host cell nucleus. Structural and biochemical information on their polymerases is limited, although several drugs inhibiting HIV-1 RT are known to be effective against the human hepatitis B virus polymerase. In this review, we summarize current knowledge on reverse transcription in the five virus families and discuss available biochemical and structural information on RTs, including their biosynthesis, enzymatic activities, and potential inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Menéndez-Arias
- Centro de Biología Molecular "Severo Ochoa", Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas and Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, c/Nicolás Cabrera, 1, Campus de Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Alba Sebastián-Martín
- Centro de Biología Molecular "Severo Ochoa", Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas and Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, c/Nicolás Cabrera, 1, Campus de Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Mar Álvarez
- Centro de Biología Molecular "Severo Ochoa", Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas and Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, c/Nicolás Cabrera, 1, Campus de Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain
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Lu G, Villa JA, Donlin MJ, Edwards TC, Cheng X, Heier RF, Meyers MJ, Tavis JE. Hepatitis B virus genetic diversity has minimal impact on sensitivity of the viral ribonuclease H to inhibitors. Antiviral Res 2016; 135:24-30. [PMID: 27693161 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2016.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2016] [Revised: 09/12/2016] [Accepted: 09/19/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) causes hepatitis, cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver cancer, but the current therapies that employ either nucelos(t)ide analogs or (pegylated)interferon α do not clear the infection in the large majority of patients. Inhibitors of the HBV ribonuclease H (RNaseH) that are being developed with the goal of producing anti-HBV drugs are promising candidates for use in combination with the nucleos(t)ide analogs to improve therapeutic efficacy. HBV is genetically very diverse, with at least 8 genotypes that differ by ≥8% at the sequence level. This diversity is reflected in the viral RNaseH enzyme, raising the possibility that divergent HBV genotypes or isolates may have varying sensitivity to RNaseH inhibitors. To evaluate this possibility, we expressed and purified 18 patient-derived RNaseHs from genotypes B, C, and D. Basal RNaseH activity and sensitivity to three novel RNaseH inhibitors from three different chemotypes were assessed. We also evaluated four consensus HBV RNaseHs to determine if such sequences would be suitable for use in antiviral drug screening. The patient-derived enzymes varied by over 10-fold in their basal RNaseH activities, but they were equivalently sensitive to each of the three inhibitors. Similarly, all four consensus HBV RNaseH enzymes were active and were equally sensitive to an RNaseH inhibitor. These data indicate that a wide range of RNaseH sequences would be suitable for use in antiviral drug screening, and that genotype- or isolate-specific genetic variations are unlikely to present a barrier during antiviral drug development against the HBV RNaseH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaofeng Lu
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology and Saint Louis University Liver Center, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA; Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, People's Republic of China
| | - Juan Antonio Villa
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology and Saint Louis University Liver Center, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Maureen J Donlin
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology and Saint Louis University Liver Center, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Tiffany C Edwards
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology and Saint Louis University Liver Center, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Xiaohong Cheng
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology and Saint Louis University Liver Center, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Richard F Heier
- Center for World Health and Medicine, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Marvin J Meyers
- Center for World Health and Medicine, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - John E Tavis
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology and Saint Louis University Liver Center, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
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