Pentacycloundecane-based inhibitors of wild-type C-South African HIV-protease

Bioorg Med Chem Lett. 2011 Apr 15;21(8):2274-7. doi: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2011.02.105. Epub 2011 Mar 1.

Abstract

In this study, we present the first account of pentacycloundecane (PCU) peptide based HIV-protease inhibitors. The inhibitor exhibiting the highest activity made use of a natural HIV-protease substrate peptide sequence, that is, attached to the cage (PCU-EAIS). This compound showed nanomolar IC(50) activity against the resistance-prone wild type C-South African HIV-protease (C-SA) catalytic site via a norstatine type functional group of the PCU hydroxy lactam. NMR was employed to determine a logical correlation between the inhibitory concentration (IC(50)) results and the 3D structure of the corresponding inhibitors in solution. NMR investigations indicated that the activity is related to the chirality of the PCU moiety and its ability to induce conformations of the coupled peptide side chain. The results from docking experiments coincided with the experimental observed activities. These findings open up useful applications for this family of cage peptide inhibitors, considering the vast number of alternative disease related proteases that exist.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alkanes / chemical synthesis
  • Alkanes / chemistry*
  • Alkanes / pharmacology
  • Binding Sites
  • Catalytic Domain
  • Computer Simulation
  • Genotype
  • HIV / enzymology*
  • HIV / genetics
  • HIV Protease / chemistry*
  • HIV Protease / metabolism
  • HIV Protease Inhibitors / chemical synthesis
  • HIV Protease Inhibitors / chemistry*
  • HIV Protease Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • South Africa

Substances

  • Alkanes
  • HIV Protease Inhibitors
  • HIV Protease
  • undecane