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Abbreviations: TK: thymidine kinase; HSV: herpes simplex virus; VZV, varicella zoster virus; Dm: Drosophila melanogaster; dNK: deoxynucleoside kinase; dThd: thymidine; AZT: azidothymidine. 2Abstr act In an effort to increase the potency and selectivity of earlier identified substrate-based inhibitors of mitochondrial thymidine kinase 2 (TK-2), we now describe the synthesis of new thymidine analogues containing a 4-or 5-substituted 1,2,3-triazol-1-yl substituent at the 3'-position of the 2'-deoxyribofuranosyl ring. These analogues were prepared by Cu-and Ru-catalysed cycloadditions of 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine and the appropriate alkynes, which produced the 1,4-and 1,5-triazoles, respectively. Selected analogues showed nanomolar inhibitory activity for TK-2, while virtually not affecting the TK-1 counterpart. Enzyme kinetics indicated a competitive and uncompetitive inhibition profile against thymidine and the co-substrate ATP, respectively. This behavior is rationalized by suggesting that the inhibitors occupy the substrate-binding site in a TK-2-ATP complex that maintains the enzyme's active site in a closed conformation through the stabilization of a small lid domain.

We explored the influence of modifications of uridine 5’-methylenephosphonate on biological activity at the human P2Y2 receptor. Key steps in the synthesis of a series of 5-substituted uridine 5’-methylenephosphonates were the reaction of a suitably protected uridine 5’-aldehyde with [(diethoxyphosphinyl)methylidene]triphenylphosphorane, C-5 bromination and a Suzuki–Miyaura coupling. These analogues behaved as selective agonists at the P2Y2 receptor, with three analogues exhibiting potencies in the submicromolar range. Although maximal activities observed with the phosphonate analogues were much less than observed with UTP, high concentrations of the phosphonates had no effect on the stimulatory effect of UTP. These results suggest that these phosphonates bind to an allosteric site of the P2Y2 receptor.

We report on Mycobacterium tuberculosis thymidine monophosphate kinase (TMPKmt) inhibitory activities of a series of new 3'-and 5'-modified thymidine analogues including α-and β-derivatives. In addition, several analogues were synthesized in which the 4-oxygen was replaced by a more lipophilic sulfur atom to probe the influence of this modification on TMPKmt inhibitory activity. Several compounds showed an inhibitory potency in the low micromolar range, with the 5'-arylthiourea 4-thio-α-thymidine analogue being the most active one (K i = 0.17 μM). This compound was capable of inhibiting mycobacteria growth at a concentration of 25 μg/mL. 2

Based on the presumed binding mode of an earlier identified inhibitor, we herein report new 3'-modified nucleosides as potent and selective inhibitors of mitochondrial thymidine kinase (TK2). A series of thirteen 3'-amino-, 3'-guanidino- and 3'-tetrazole-containing nucleosides were synthesized and evaluated for their TK2 inhibitory activity. Within the tetrazole series, compounds with nanomolar inhibitory activity were identified. A homology model of TK2 allowed to elucidate the observed activities. Introduction of a 2-bromovinyl group on C-5 of the pyrimidine base of the most promising 3'-derivative further improved the inhibitory activity, and caused a significant increase in the selectivity for TK2 versus TK1. Interestingly, for the current series of analogues, a strong correlation was observed between TK2 and Drosophila melanogaster dNK inhibition, further substantiating the phylogenetic relationship between these two nucleoside kinases.

A small series of 5-(hetero)aryl-modified nucleoside phosphonates was synthesized via an 8-step procedure including a Wittig reaction and SuzukiMiyaura coupling. An unanticipated anomerisation during phosphonate deprotection allowed us to isolate both anomers of the 5-substituted 2'-deoxyuridine phosphonates and assess their antiviral activity against a broad panel of viruses.

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