Design and synthesis of hybrids of diarylpyrimidines and diketo acids as HIV-1 inhibitors

Structure-directed linker optimization of novel HEPTs as non-nucleoside inhibitors of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase

1-[(2-Hydroxyethoxy)methyl]-6-(phenylthio)thymines (HEPTs) have been previously described as an important class of HIV-1 nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs). In our continuously pursuing HEPT optimization efforts, a series of novel HEPTs, featuring -C(OH)CH₂R, -CC, or -CHCH₂R linker at the benzylic α-methylene unit, were developed as NNRTIs. Among these new HEPTs, the compound C20 with -CHCH₃ group at the benzylic α-methylene unit conferred the highest potency toward WT HIV-1 and selectivity (EC₅₀ = 0.23 μM, SI = 150.20), which was better than the lead compound HEPT (EC₅₀ = 7 μM, SI = 106). Also, C20 was endowed with high efficacy against clinically relevant mutant strains (EC_50(L100I) = 1.07 μM; EC_50(K103N) = 4.33 μM; EC_50(Y181C) = 5.57 μM; EC_50(E138K) = 1.06 μM; EC_{50(F227L+V106A)} = 5.45 μM) and wild-type HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) with an IC₅₀ value of 0.55 μM. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations, as well as preliminary structure-activity relationship (SAR) analysis of these new compounds, provided a deeper insight into the key structural features of the interactions between HEPT analogs and HIV-1 RT and laid the foundation for further modification on HEPT scaffold.

Hybrids of delavirdine and piperdin-4-yl-aminopyrimidines (DPAPYs) as potent HIV-1 NNRTIs: Design, synthesis and biological activities

The hybrids of delavirdine and piperdin-4-yl-aminopyrimidine (DPAPYs) were designed from two excellent HIV-1 NNRTIs delavirdine and piperidin-4-yl-aminopyrimidine via molecular hybridization. The target compounds 4a-r were prepared and evaluated for their cellular anti-HIV activities and cytotoxicities as well as the inhibitory activities against HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT). All the newly synthesized compounds demonstrated moderate to excellent potency against wild-type (WT) HIV-1 with EC50 values in a range of 5.7 to 0.0086 μM and against RT with IC50 values ranging from 12.0 to 0.11 μM, indicating that the DPAPYs were specific RT inhibitors. Among all, 4d displayed the most potent activity against WT HIV-1 (EC50 = 8.6 nM, SI = 2151). Gratifyingly, it exhibited good to excellent potency against the single HIV-1 mutants L100I, K103N, Y181C, Y188L, E138K, as well as the double mutant F227L + V106A. Furthermore, the preliminary structure-activity relationships were summarized, molecular modeling was conducted to explore the binding mode of DPAPYs and HIV-1 RT, and their physicochemical properties were also predicted.

HIV-1 Reverse Transcriptase/Integrase Dual Inhibitors: A Review of Recent Advances and Structure-activity Relationship Studies

The significant threat to humanity is HIV infection, and it is uncertain whether a definitive treatment or a safe HIV vaccine is. HIV-1 is continually evolving and resistant to commonly used HIV-resistant medications, presenting significant obstacles to HIV infection management. The drug resistance adds to the need for new anti-HIV drugs; it chooses ingenious approaches to fight the emerging virus. Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART), a multi-target approach for specific therapies, has proved effective in AIDS treatment. Therefore, it is a dynamic system with high prescription tension, increased risk of medication reactions, and adverse effects, leading to poor compliance with patients. In the HIV-1 lifecycle, two critical enzymes with high structural and functional analogies are reverse transcriptase (RT) and integrase (IN), which can be interpreted as druggable targets for modern dual-purpose inhibitors. Designed multifunctional ligand (DML) is a new technique that recruited many targets to be achieved by one chemical individual. A single chemical entity that acts for multiple purposes can be much more successful than a complex multidrug program. The production of these multifunctional ligands as antiretroviral drugs is valued with the advantage that the viral-replication process may end in two or more phases. This analysis will discuss the RT-IN dual-inhibitory scaffolds' developments documented so far.

Recent Advances Towards Treatment of HIV: Synthesis and SAR Studies

In the present study, authors want to encourage the research exertions through structureactivity relationship for the identification of effective molecules for the treatment of Human immunodeficiency virus because nowadays AIDS is considered as one of the main causes of death in human beings. A diversity of biological resources has been searched and developed for the treatment of HIV but unfortunately, until now, no medicine is found to be fully effective and safe for the cure of patients. Human immunodeficiency virus is a type of lentivirus which causes the infection of HIV and once it enters the human body, it stays for a longer period of time triggering immunodeficiency syndrome. For searching and developing new potent and effective anti-HIV molecules, medicinal chemists have engaged in countless targets with the structure-activity relationship (SAR) of molecules and on this basis, many antiretroviral therapies have been developed to cure HIV infection. Most of these new searched molecules have been found to be clinically active against various types of AIDS patient and auxiliary research in this area may lead to better treatment in the near future. This article encompasses and highlights the recent advancement of innumerable inhibitors laterally through synthetic, semi-synthetic and structure-activity relationship approaches.

Novel Benzoxazin-3-one Derivatives: Design, Synthesis, Molecular Modeling, Anti-HIV-1 and Integrase Inhibitory Assay

Introduction:

Integrase is a validated drug target for anti-HIV-1 therapy. The second generation integrase inhibitors display π-stacking interaction ability with 3’-end nucleotide as a streamlined metal chelating pharmacophore.

Method:

In this study, we introduced benzoxazin-3-one scaffold for integrase inhibitory potential as bioisostere replacement strategy of 2-benzoxazolinone.

Results:

Molecular modeling studies revealed that amide functionality alongside oxadiazole heteroatoms and sulfur in the second position of oxadiazole ring could mimic the metal chelating pharmacophore. The halobenzyl ring occupies hydrophobic site created by the cytidylate nucleotide (DC-16).

Conclusion:

The most potent and selective compound displayed 110 μM IC50 with a selectivity index of more than 2.

Current structure-based methods for designing non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors

In 2019, structure-based methods continue to guide the design of novel antiretroviral therapies targeting HIV reverse transcriptase. This Review summarizes key findings from reverse transcriptase–non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor analog crystal structure complexes reported from 2015 to 2019. Results from the literature and structure analysis have informed new ideas for structure-guided non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor drug design.

Evolution of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase and integrase dual inhibitors: Recent advances and developments

HIV infection is a major challenge to mankind and a definitive cure or a viable vaccine for HIV is still elusive. HIV-1 is constantly evolving and developing resistant against clinically used anti-HIV drugs thus posing serious hurdles in the treatment of HIV infection. This prompts the need to developed new anti-HIV drugs; preferentially adopting intelligent ways to counteract an evolving virus. Highly Active Anti-Retroviral Therapy (HAART): a strategy involving multiple targeting through various drugs has proven beneficial in the management of AIDS. However, it is a complex regimen with high drug load, increased risk of drug interactions and adverse effects, which lead to poor patient compliance. Reverse transcriptase (RT) and Integrase (IN) are two pivotal enzymes in HIV-1 lifecycle with high structural and functional analogy to be perceived as drug-able targets for novel dual-purpose inhibitors. Designed multi-functional ligand (DML) is a modern strategy by which multiple targets can be exploited using a single chemical entity. A single chemical entity acting on multiple targets can be much more effective than a complex multi-drug regimen. The development of such multifunctional ligands is highly valued in anti-HIV drug discovery with the proposed advantage of being able to stop two or more stages of viral replication cycle. This review will encompass the evolution of the RT-IN dual inhibitory scaffolds reported so far and the contribution made by the leading research groups over the years in this field.

Application of 3D-QSAR, Pharmacophore, and Molecular Docking in the Molecular Design of Diarylpyrimidine Derivatives as HIV-1 Nonnucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors

Diarylpyrimidines (DAPYs), acting as HIV-1 nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs), have been considered to be one of the most potent drug families in the fight against acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). To better understand the structural requirements of HIV-1 NNRTIs, three-dimensional quantitative structure–activity relationship (3D-QSAR), pharmacophore, and molecular docking studies were performed on 52 DAPY analogues that were synthesized in our previous studies. The internal and external validation parameters indicated that the generated 3D-QSAR models, including comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA, q2 = 0.679, R2 = 0.983, and rpred2 = 0.884) and comparative molecular similarity indices analysis (CoMSIA, q2 = 0.734, R2 = 0.985, and rpred2 = 0.891), exhibited good predictive abilities and significant statistical reliability. The docking results demonstrated that the phenyl ring at the C₄-position of the pyrimidine ring was better than the cycloalkanes for the activity, as the phenyl group was able to participate in π–π stacking interactions with the aromatic residues of the binding site, whereas the cycloalkanes were not. The pharmacophore model and 3D-QSAR contour maps provided significant insights into the key structural features of DAPYs that were responsible for the activity. On the basis of the obtained information, a series of novel DAPY analogues of HIV-1 NNRTIs with potentially higher predicted activity was designed. This work might provide useful information for guiding the rational design of potential HIV-1 NNRTI DAPYs.