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Inhibition of Viral RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerases by Nucleoside Inhibitors: An Illustration of the Unity and Diversity of Mechanisms. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232012649. [PMID: 36293509 PMCID: PMC9604226 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232012649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2022] [Revised: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP) is essential for the replication and expression of RNA viral genomes. This class of viruses comprise a large number of highly pathogenic agents that infect essentially all species of plants and animals including humans. Infections often lead to epidemics and pandemics that have remained largely out of control due to the lack of specific and reliable preventive and therapeutic regimens. This unmet medical need has led to the exploration of new antiviral targets, of which RdRP is a major one, due to the fact of its obligatory need in virus growth. Recent studies have demonstrated the ability of several synthetic nucleoside analogs to serve as mimics of the corresponding natural nucleosides. These mimics cause stalling/termination of RdRP, or misincorporation, preventing virus replication or promoting large-scale lethal mutations. Several such analogs have received clinical approval and are being routinely used in therapy. In parallel, the molecular structural basis of their inhibitory interactions with RdRP is being elucidated, revealing both traditional and novel mechanisms including a delayed chain termination effect. This review offers a molecular commentary on these mechanisms along with their clinical implications based on analyses of recent results, which should facilitate the rational design of structure-based antiviral drugs.
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Durand M, Nagot N, Nhu QBT, Vizeneux A, Thuy LLT, Duong HT, Thanh BN, Rapoud D, Vallo R, Quillet C, Tran HT, Michel L, Tuyet TNT, Hai OKT, Hai VV, Feelemyer J, Vande Perre P, Des Jarlais D, Minh KP, Laureillard D, Molès JP. Long-Term Persistence of Mitochondrial DNA Instability among HCV-Cured People Who Inject Drugs. Biomedicines 2022; 10:2541. [PMID: 36289803 PMCID: PMC9599189 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10102541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Revised: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
People who inject drugs (PWID) are a population exposed to many genotoxicants and with a high prevalence of HCV infection. Direct-acting antiviral (DAA) regimens are now widely used to treat chronic HCV infection. Although side effects to treatment are currently rare, the long-term effects such as suspicions of de novo hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) occurrence or HCC recurrence and cardiac defects are still up for debate. Given the structure of DAAs, the molecules have a potential mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) genotoxicity. We have previously reported acute mtDNA toxicity of three DAA regimens among PWID with a strong impact on the rate of mtDNA deletion, less on the quantity of mtDNA copy per cell at sustained viral response at 12 weeks (SVR12). Herein, we report the mtDNA parameters nine months after drug discontinuation. We observed that the percentage of the deleted mtDNA genome increased over time. No exposure to any other genotoxicants during this period was associated with a high deletion percentage, suggesting that the replicative advantage of the deleted molecules outweighed their elimination processes. Such observation calls for longer-term follow-up and may contribute to the molecular basis of subclinical side effects of DAA treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mélusine Durand
- Pathogenesis and Control of Chronic and Emerging Infections, University of Montpellier, INSERM, 34000 Montpellier, France
| | - Nicolas Nagot
- Pathogenesis and Control of Chronic and Emerging Infections, University of Montpellier, INSERM, 34000 Montpellier, France
| | - Quynh Bach Thi Nhu
- Faculty of Public Health, Hai Phong University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hai Phong 180000, Vietnam
| | - Amélie Vizeneux
- Pathogenesis and Control of Chronic and Emerging Infections, University of Montpellier, INSERM, 34000 Montpellier, France
| | - Linh Le Thi Thuy
- Faculty of Public Health, Hai Phong University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hai Phong 180000, Vietnam
| | - Huong Thi Duong
- Faculty of Public Health, Hai Phong University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hai Phong 180000, Vietnam
| | - Binh Nguyen Thanh
- Faculty of Public Health, Hai Phong University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hai Phong 180000, Vietnam
| | - Delphine Rapoud
- Pathogenesis and Control of Chronic and Emerging Infections, University of Montpellier, INSERM, 34000 Montpellier, France
| | - Roselyne Vallo
- Pathogenesis and Control of Chronic and Emerging Infections, University of Montpellier, INSERM, 34000 Montpellier, France
| | - Catherine Quillet
- Pathogenesis and Control of Chronic and Emerging Infections, University of Montpellier, INSERM, 34000 Montpellier, France
| | - Hong Thi Tran
- Faculty of Public Health, Hai Phong University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hai Phong 180000, Vietnam
| | - Laurent Michel
- Pierre Nicole Center, French Red Cross, 75005 Paris, France
| | | | | | - Vinh Vu Hai
- Infectious Diseases Department, Viet Tiep Hospital, Hai Phong 180000, Vietnam
| | - Jonathan Feelemyer
- College of Global Public Health, New York University, New York, NY 10012, USA
| | - Philippe Vande Perre
- Pathogenesis and Control of Chronic and Emerging Infections, University of Montpellier, INSERM, 34000 Montpellier, France
| | - Don Des Jarlais
- College of Global Public Health, New York University, New York, NY 10012, USA
| | - Khue Pham Minh
- Faculty of Public Health, Hai Phong University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hai Phong 180000, Vietnam
| | - Didier Laureillard
- Pathogenesis and Control of Chronic and Emerging Infections, University of Montpellier, INSERM, 34000 Montpellier, France
- Infectious Diseases Department, Caremeau University Hospital, 30029 Nîmes, France
| | - Jean-Pierre Molès
- Pathogenesis and Control of Chronic and Emerging Infections, University of Montpellier, INSERM, 34000 Montpellier, France
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Yu HJ, Xiao GL, Zhao YY, Wang XX, Lan R. Targeting Mitochondrial Metabolism and RNA Polymerase POLRMT to Overcome Multidrug Resistance in Cancer. Front Chem 2022; 9:775226. [PMID: 34976949 PMCID: PMC8716502 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2021.775226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Clinically, the prognosis of tumor therapy is fundamentally affected by multidrug resistance (MDR), which is primarily a result of enhanced drug efflux mediated by channels in the membrane that reduce drug accumulation in tumor cells. How to restore the sensitivity of tumor cells to chemotherapy is an ongoing and pressing clinical issue. There is a prevailing view that tumor cells turn to glycolysis for energy supply due to hypoxia. However, studies have shown that mitochondria also play crucial roles, such as providing intermediates for biosynthesis through the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle and a plenty of ATP to fuel cells through the complete breakdown of organic matter by oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). High OXPHOS have been found in some tumors, particularly in cancer stem cells (CSCs), which possess increased mitochondria mass and may be depends on OXPHOS for energy supply. Therefore, they are sensitive to inhibitors of mitochondrial metabolism. In view of this, we should consider mitochondrial metabolism when developing drugs to overcome MDR, where mitochondrial RNA polymerase (POLRMT) would be the focus, as it is responsible for mitochondrial gene expression. Inhibition of POLRMT could disrupt mitochondrial metabolism at its source, causing an energy crisis and ultimately eradicating tumor cells. In addition, it may restore the energy supply of MDR cells to glycolysis and re-sensitize them to conventional chemotherapy. Furthermore, we discuss the rationale and strategies for designing new therapeutic molecules for MDR cancers by targeting POLRMT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui-Jing Yu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen, China
| | - Guan-Li Xiao
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yu-Ying Zhao
- Department of Cell Biology and Medical Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xin-Xin Wang
- Department of Cell Biology and Medical Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen, China
| | - Rongfeng Lan
- Department of Cell Biology and Medical Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen, China
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Abstract
The therapeutic targeting of the nonstructural protein 5B (NS5B) RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) of the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) with nucleotide analogs led to a deep understanding of this enzymes structure, function and substrate specificity. Unlike previously studied DNA polymerases including the reverse transcriptase of Human Immunodeficiency Virus, development of biochemical assays for HCV RdRp proved challenging due to low solubility of the full-length protein and inefficient acceptance of exogenous primer/templates. Despite the poor apparent specific activity, HCV RdRp was found to support rapid and processive transcription once elongation is initiated in vitro consistent with its high level of viral replication in the livers of patients. Understanding of the substrate specificity of HCV RdRp led to the discovery of the active triphosphate of sofosbuvir as a nonobligate chain-terminator of viral RNA transcripts. The ternary crystal structure of HCV RdRp, primer/template, and incoming nucleotide showed the interaction between the nucleotide analog and the 2'-hydroxyl binding pocket and how an unfit mutation of serine 282 to threonine results in resistance by interacting with the uracil base and modified 2'-position of the analog. Host polymerases mediate off-target toxicity of nucleotide analogs and the active metabolite of sofosbuvir was found to not be efficiently incorporated by host polymerases including the mitochondrial RNA polymerase (POLRMT). Knowledge from studying inhibitors of HCV RdRp serves to advance antiviral drug discovery for other emerging RNA viruses including the discovery of remdesivir as an inhibitor of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2), the virus that causes COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joy Y Feng
- Gilead Sciences, Inc., Foster City, CA, United States.
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Bernatchez JA, Coste M, Beck S, Wells GA, Luna LA, Clark AE, Zhu Z, Hecht D, Rich JN, Sohl CD, Purse BW, Siqueira-Neto JL. Activity of Selected Nucleoside Analogue ProTides against Zika Virus in Human Neural Stem Cells. Viruses 2019; 11:v11040365. [PMID: 31010044 PMCID: PMC6521205 DOI: 10.3390/v11040365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2019] [Revised: 04/15/2019] [Accepted: 04/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Zika virus (ZIKV), an emerging flavivirus that causes neurodevelopmental impairment to fetuses and has been linked to Guillain-Barré syndrome continues to threaten global health due to the absence of targeted prophylaxis or treatment. Nucleoside analogues are good examples of efficient anti-viral inhibitors, and prodrug strategies using phosphate masking groups (ProTides) have been employed to improve the bioavailability of ribonucleoside analogues. Here, we synthesized and tested a small library of 13 ProTides against ZIKV in human neural stem cells. Strong activity was observed for 2′-C-methyluridine and 2′-C-ethynyluridine ProTides with an aryloxyl phosphoramidate masking group. Substitution of a 2-(methylthio) ethyl phosphoramidate for the aryloxyl phosphoramidate ProTide group of 2′-C-methyluridine completely abolished antiviral activity of the compound. The aryloxyl phosphoramidate ProTide of 2′-C-methyluridine outperformed the hepatitis C virus (HCV) drug sofosbuvir in suppression of viral titers and protection from cytopathic effect, while the former compound’s triphosphate active metabolite was better incorporated by purified ZIKV NS5 polymerase over time. These findings suggest both a nucleobase and ProTide group bias for the anti-ZIKV activity of nucleoside analogue ProTides in a disease-relevant cell model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean A Bernatchez
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
| | - Michael Coste
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182, USA.
| | - Sungjun Beck
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
| | - Grace A Wells
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182, USA.
| | - Lucas A Luna
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182, USA.
| | - Alex E Clark
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
| | - Zhe Zhu
- Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
- Department of Medicine, Division of Regenerative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
| | - David Hecht
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182, USA.
- Department of Chemistry, Southwestern College, Chula Vista, CA 91910, USA.
| | - Jeremy N Rich
- Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
- Department of Medicine, Division of Regenerative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
| | - Christal D Sohl
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182, USA.
| | - Byron W Purse
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182, USA.
- The Viral Information Institute, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182, USA.
| | - Jair L Siqueira-Neto
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
- Center for Discovery and Innovation in Parasitic Diseases, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
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Rahman MF, Raj R, Govindarajan R. Identification of Structural and Molecular Features Involved in the Transport of 3'-Deoxy-Nucleoside Analogs by Human Equilibrative Nucleoside Transporter 3. Drug Metab Dispos 2018. [PMID: 29530865 PMCID: PMC5896370 DOI: 10.1124/dmd.117.079400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Combination antiretroviral drug treatments depend on 3′-deoxy-nucleoside analogs such as 3′-azido-3′-deoxythymidine (AZT) and 2′3′-dideoxyinosine (DDI). Despite being effective in inhibiting human immunodeficiency virus replication, these drugs produce a range of toxicities, including myopathy, pancreatitis, neuropathy, and lactic acidosis, that are generally considered as sequelae to mitochondrial damage. Although cell surface–localized nucleoside transporters, such as human equilibrative nucleoside transporter 2 (hENT2) and human concentrative nucleoside transporter 1 (hCNT1), are known to increase the carrier-mediated uptake of 3′-deoxy-nucleoside analogs into cells, another ubiquitously expressed intracellular nucleoside transporter (namely, hENT3) has been implicated in the mitochondrial transport of 3′-deoxy-nucleoside analogs. Using site-directed mutagenesis, generation of chimeric hENTs, and 3H-permeant flux measurements in mutant/chimeric RNA–injected Xenopus oocytes, here we identified the molecular determinants of hENT3 that dictate membrane translocation of 3′-deoxy-nucleoside analogs. Our findings demonstrated that whereas hENT1 had no significant transport activity toward 3′-deoxy-nucleoside analogs, hENT3 was capable of transporting 3′-deoxy-nucleoside analogs similar to hENT2. Transport analyses of hENT3-hENT1 chimeric constructs demonstrated that the N-terminal half of hENT3 is primarily responsible for the hENT3–3′-deoxy-nucleoside analog interaction. In addition, mutagenic studies identified that 225D and 231L in the N-terminal half of hENT3 partially contribute to the ability of hENT3 to transport AZT and DDI. The identification of the transporter segment and amino acid residues that are important in hENT3 transport of 3′-deoxy-nucleoside analogs may present a possible mechanism for overcoming the adverse toxicities associated with 3′-deoxy-nucleoside analog treatment and may guide rational development of novel nucleoside analogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Fazlur Rahman
- Division of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy (M.F.R., R.R., R.G.) and Translational Therapeutics, Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center (R.G.), The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Radhika Raj
- Division of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy (M.F.R., R.R., R.G.) and Translational Therapeutics, Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center (R.G.), The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Rajgopal Govindarajan
- Division of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy (M.F.R., R.R., R.G.) and Translational Therapeutics, Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center (R.G.), The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
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Simple In Vitro Assay To Evaluate the Incorporation Efficiency of Ribonucleotide Analog 5'-Triphosphates into RNA by Human Mitochondrial DNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2018; 62:AAC.01830-17. [PMID: 29180528 PMCID: PMC5786792 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01830-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2017] [Accepted: 11/21/2017] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
There is a growing body of evidence suggesting that some ribonucleoside/ribonucleotide analogs may be incorporated into mitochondrial RNA by human mitochondrial DNA-dependent RNA polymerase (POLRMT) and disrupt mitochondrial RNA synthesis. An assessment of the incorporation efficiency of a ribonucleotide analog 5′-triphosphate by POLRMT may be used to evaluate the potential mitochondrial toxicity of the analog early in the development process. In this report, we provide a simple method to prepare active recombinant POLRMT. A robust in vitro nonradioactive primer extension assay was developed to assay the incorporation efficiency of ribonucleotide analog 5′-triphosphates. Our results show that many ribonucleotide analogs, including some antiviral compounds currently in various preclinical or clinical development stages, can be incorporated into newly synthesized RNA by POLRMT and that the incorporation of some of them can lead to chain termination. The discrimination (D) values of ribonucleotide analog 5′-triphosphates over those of natural ribonucleotide triphosphates (rNTPs) were measured to evaluate the incorporation efficiency of the ribonucleotide analog 5′-triphosphates by POLRMT. The discrimination values of natural rNTPs under the condition of misincorporation by POLRMT were used as a reference to evaluate the potential mitochondrial toxicity of ribonucleotide analogs. We propose the following criteria for the potential mitochondrial toxicity of ribonucleotide analogs based on D values: a safe compound has a D value of >105; a potentially toxic compound has a D value of >104 but <105; and a toxic compound has a D value of <104. This report provides a simple screening method that should assist investigators in designing ribonucleoside-based drugs having lower mitochondrial toxicity.
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