4cb5

Publication Abstract from PubMed

The heterotrimeric influenza virus polymerase performs replication and transcription of viral RNA in the nucleus of infected cells. Transcription by 'cap-snatching' requires that host-cell pre-mRNAs are bound via their 5' cap to the PB2 subunit. Thus, the PB2 cap binding site is potentially a good target for new antiviral drugs that will directly inhibit viral replication. Docking studies using the structure of the PB2 cap binding domain suggested that 7-alkylguanine derivatives substituted at position N-9 and N-2 could be good candidates. Four series of 7,9-di- and 2,7,9-tri-alkyl guanine derivatives were synthesized and evaluated by an AlphaScreen assay in competition with a biotinylated cap analogue. Three synthesised compounds display potent in vitro activity with IC50 lower than 10 M. High-resolution X-ray structures of three inhibitors in complex with the H5N1 PB2 cap-binding domain confirmed the binding mode and provide detailed information for further compound optimization.

New 7-methyl-guanosine derivatives targeting the influenza polymerase PB2 cap-binding domain.,Pautus S, Sehr P, Lewis J, Fortune A, Wolkerstorfer A, Szolar O, Guilligay D, Lunardi T, Decout JL, Cusack S J Med Chem. 2013 Oct 18. PMID:24134208^[1]

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.