BCX-34: a novel T-cell selective immunosuppressant: purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) inhibitor

Synthesis and antiproliferative activity of 2,6-diamino-9-benzyl-9-deazapurine and related compounds

Treatment of 6-bromomethyl- or 6-dibromomethyl-5-nitropyrimidine-2,4-diamine with KCN gave the same product--(2,6-diamino-5-nitropyrimidinyl)acetonitrile. Benzylation of the nitrile took place on the alpha-carbon to the cyano group preferentially affording the corresponding mono- and dibenzyl derivative, whose reductive cyclization resulted in 7-benzyl-5H-pyrrolo[3,2-d]pyrimidine-2,4-diamine and 7,7-dibenzyl-7H-pyrrolo[3,2-d]pyrimidine-2,4,6-triamine, respectively. Suitability of the protection of N(2) and N(4) atoms with benzyl, acetyl, or benzoyl groups was also investigated. The in vitro evaluation of cell growth inhibition on CCRF-CEM, HL-60, HeLa S3, and L1210 cell lines showed significant activity in 8 new compounds. The most potent compounds were the above mentioned 6-dibromomethyl derivative (IC(50)=0.54, 1.7, 5.0, and 1.9 molL(-1)) and 7,N(2),N(4)-tribenzyl-5H-pyrrolo[3,2-d]pyrimidine-2,4-diamine (IC(50)=1.9, 2.7, 7.3, and 1.0 molL(-1)).

Purine nucleoside phosphorylases: properties, functions, and clinical aspects

The ubiquitous purine nucleoside phosphorylases (PNPs) play a key role in the purine salvage pathway, and PNP deficiency in humans leads to an impairment of T-cell function, usually with no apparent effects on B-cell function. This review updates the properties of the enzymes from eukaryotes and a wide range of prokaryotes, including a tentative classification of the enzymes from various sources, based on three-dimensional structures in the solid state, subunit composition, amino acid sequences, and substrate specificities. Attention is drawn to the compelling need of quantitative experimental data on subunit composition in solution, binding constants, and stoichiometry of binding; order of ligand binding and release; and its possible relevance to the complex kinetics exhibited with some substrates. Mutations responsible for PNP deficiency are described, as well as clinical methods, including gene therapy, for corrections of this usually fatal disease. Substrate discrimination between enzymes from different sources is also being profited from for development of tumour-directed gene therapy. Detailed accounts are presented of design of potent inhibitors, largely nucleosides and acyclonucleosides, their phosphates and phosphonates, particularly of the human erythrocyte enzyme, some with Ki values in nanomolar and picomolar range, intended for induction of the immunodeficient state for clinical applications, such as prevention of host-versus-graft response in organ transplantations. Methods of assay of PNP activity are reviewed. Also described are applications of PNP from various sources as tools for the enzymatic synthesis of otherwise inaccessible therapeutic nucleoside analogues, as coupling enzymes for assays of orthophosphate in biological systems in the micromolar and submicromolar ranges, and for coupled assays of other enzyme systems.

Enzymatic N-riboside scission in RNA and RNA precursors

N-ribohydrolases and transferases act on nucleosides, nucleotides and oligonucleotides to effect base removal. Advances in mechanistic and structural analysis have established that enzymes of N-riboside scission act by combinations of leaving-group and ribosyl activation. Alternative O-riboside substrates have been developed for mechanistic diagnosis. Transition-state structures have been determined, and powerful inhibitors have been designed from structural and transition-state information.