Improved methodology has been developed for preparation of oligodeoxynucleotides bearing adducts on the N2 position of guanine in which the adduction reaction is carried out in homogeneous solution rather than while the oligonucleotide is immobilized on a solid matrix. The methodology utilizes a new synthon, 2-fluoro-O6-(trimethylsilylethyl)-2'-deoxyinosine (3). Nucleoside 3 is stable to the conditions of oligonucleotide synthesis, but the O6 protection is eliminated under very mild conditions following displacement of the 2-fluoro group by amine nucleophiles. Oligonucleotides containing 3 could be removed from the solid support by treatment with 0.1 M NaOH (8 h, rt) without disruption of 3. Reaction of the crude, partially deprotected oligonucleotide with (R)-2-amino-2-phenylethanol in homogeneous solution, followed by removal of the remaining protective groups with NH4OH (60 degrees C, 8 h) and then 0.1% acetic acid, gave the adducted oligonucleotide in good purity and yield. Alternatively, fully deprotected oligonucleotide containing 3 could be prepared by use of labile phenoxyacetyl-type protecting groups on the exocyclic amino groups.

The importance of natural products in the treatment of human disease is well documented. While natural products continue to have a profound impact on human health, chemists have succeeded in generating semisynthetic analogues that sometimes overshadow the original natural product in terms of clinical significance. Synthetic efforts based on natural products have primarily focused on improving their drug-like features while targeting utility in the same biological space. A less documented phenomenon is that natural products can serve as powerful starting materials to generate drug substances with novel therapeutic utility that is unrelated to the biological space of the natural product starting material. In this Perspective, examples of natural product derived marketed drugs with therapeutic utility in clinical space that is different from the biological profile of the starting material are presented, demonstrating that this is not merely a theoretical concept but both a clinical reality and an underexplored opportunity.

The ␣ V integrins are key receptors involved in mediating cell migration and angiogenesis. In age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic retinopathy, angiogenesis plays a critical role in the loss of vision. These ocular vasculopathies might be treatable with a suitable ␣ V antagonist, and an oral drug would offer a distinct advantage over current therapies. (3,S,␤,S)-1,2,3,4-Tetrahydro-␤- [[1-[1-oxo-3-(1,5,6,7-tetrahydro-1,8-naphthyridin-2-yl)propyl]-4-piperidinyl]methyl]-3-quinolinepropanoic acid (JNJ-26076713) is a potent, orally bioavailable, nonpeptide ␣ V antagonist derived from the arginine-glycine-asparagine binding motif in the matrix protein ligands (e.g., vitronectin). This compound inhibits ␣ V ␤ 3 and ␣ V ␤ 5 binding to vitronectin in the low nanomolar range, it has excellent selectivity over integrins ␣ IIb ␤ 3 and ␣ 5 ␤ 1 , and it prevents adhesion to human, rat, and mouse endothelial cells. JNJ-26076713 blocks cell migration induced by vascular endothelial growth factor, fibroblast growth factor (FGF), and serum, and angiogenesis induced by FGF in the chick chorioallantoic membrane model. JNJ-26076713 is the first ␣ V antagonist reported to inhibit retinal neovascularization in an oxygen-induced model of retinopathy of prematurity after oral administration. In diabetic rats, orally administered JNJ-26076713 markedly inhibits retinal vascular permeability, a key early event in diabetic macular edema and AMD. Given this profile, JNJ-26076713 represents a potential therapeutic candidate for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration, macular edema, and proliferative diabetic retinopathy.Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in people over 55 years of age, and diabetic retinopathy (DR) in people under 55 years of age (Klein et al., 1994;Williams et al., 2004). Both disease conditions are characterized by new blood vessel growth-choroidal neovascularization in AMD and retinal neovascularization in DR (Freund, 1993;Speicher et al., 2003;Williams et al., 2004;Zarbin, 2004). There is ample evidence that ␣ V integrins are involved in ocular angiogenesis. Proangiogenic growth factors, including VEGF and FGF, are up-regulated in AMD and DR and they stimulate ␣ V expression. In the well established mouse model of oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR), or retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) model, ␣ V integrins and the Article, publication date, and citation information can be found at

The structures of the (R)- and (S)-alpha-(N2-guanyl)styrene oxide adducts at X6 in d(GGCAGXTGGTG).d(CACCACCTGCC), encompassing codon 12 of the human n-ras protooncogene (underlined), were refined from 1H NMR data. These were the R(12,2) and S(12,2) adducts. For the R(12,2) adduct, upfield chemical shifts were observed for the T7 H6, H1', and N3H resonances. At 30 degrees C, R-SOG 6 N1H, T7 N3H, and T10 N3H disappeared due to exchange with solvent. For the S(12,2) adduct, S-SOG6 H1' shifted upfield 0.33 ppm, but all imino resonances were observed. The styrene methylene protons were nonequivalent for both adducts, suggesting hydrogen bonding between the hydroxyl and C18 O2 or O4' in the R(12,2) adduct and C17 O2 in the S(12,2) adduct. The styrene aromatic protons appeared as three signals in the R(12,2) adduct and as two signals in the S(12,2) adduct, suggesting rapid rotation of the styrene ring on the NMR time scale. NOE data revealed that the phenyl ring was oriented in the 3'-direction relative to R-SOG6 for the R(12,2) adduct and in the 5'-direction relative to S-SOG6 for the S(12,2) adduct. A total of 253 and 221 interproton distances were obtained from relaxation matrix analyses of the R(12,2) and S(12,2) adducts, respectively. NOE-restrained molecular dynamics calculations converged with root mean square deviations of 0.8-1.2 A for the R(12,2) adduct and 0.82-1.4 A for the S(12,2) adduct. Complete relaxation matrix analyses of the nine inner base pairs yielded sixth root residual indices between calculated and experimental NOE intensities of 8.8 x 10(-2) for the R(12,2) adduct and 7.9 x 10(-2) for the S(12,2) adduct. The refined structure for the R(12,2) adduct showed a 0.4 A increase in the stretch of R-SOG6.C17 and T7.A16, and a 1-2 A widening of the minor groove at and adjacent to the SO lesion, with the styrene ring oriented edgewise in the minor groove. Smaller minor groove disturbances were observed for the S(12,2) adduct, which had the styrene ring oriented flat in the minor groove. No DNA bending was predicted by the calculated structures.