The antiviral activity of nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors is often limited by ineffective phosphorylation. We report on a nucleoside triphosphate (NTP) prodrug approach in which the γ-phosphate of NTPs is bioreversibly modified. A series of TriPPPro-compounds bearing two lipophilic masking units at the γ-phosphate and d4T as a nucleoside analogue are synthesized. Successful delivery of d4TTP is demonstrated in human CD4+ T-lymphocyte cell extracts by an enzyme-triggered mechanism with high selectivity. In antiviral assays, the compounds are potent inhibitors of HIV-1 and HIV-2 in CD4+ T-cell (CEM) cultures. Highly lipophilic acyl residues lead to higher membrane permeability that results in intracellular delivery of phosphorylated metabolites in thymidine kinase-deficient CEM/TK− cells with higher antiviral activity than the parent nucleoside.

The metabolic conversion of nucleoside analogues into their triphosphates often proceeds insufficiently. Rate-limitations can be at the mono-, but also at the di- and triphosphorylation steps. We developed a nucleoside triphosphate (NTP) delivery system (TriPPPro-approach). In this approach, NTPs are masked by two bioreversible units at the γ-phosphate. Using a procedure involving H-phosphonate chemistry, a series of derivatives bearing approved, as well as potentially antivirally active, nucleoside analogues was synthesized. The enzyme-triggered delivery of NTPs was demonstrated by pig liver esterase, in human T-lymphocyte cell extracts and by a polymerase chain reaction using a prodrug of thymidine triphosphate. The TriPPPro-compounds of some HIV-inactive nucleoside analogues showed marked anti-HIV activity. For cellular uptake studies, a fluorescent TriPPPro-compound was prepared that delivered the triphosphorylated metabolite to intact CEM cells.

The antiviral activity of nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors is often hampered by insufficient phosphorylation. Nucleoside triphosphate analogues are presented, in which the γ-phosphate was covalently modified by a non-bioreversible, lipophilic 4-alkylketobenzyl moiety. Interestingly, primer extension assays using human immunodeficiency virus reverse transcriptase (HIV-RT) and three DNA-polymerases showed a high selectivity of these γ-modified nucleoside triphosphates to act as substrates for HIV-RT, while they proved to be nonsubstrates for DNA-polymerases α, β, and γ. In contrast to d4TTP, the γ-modified d4TTPs showed a high resistance toward dephosphorylation in cell extracts. A series of acyloxybenzyl-prodrugs of these γ-ketobenzyl nucleoside triphosphates was prepared. The aim was the intracellular delivery of a stable γ-modified nucleoside triphosphate to increase the selectivity of such compounds to act in infected versus noninfected cells. Delivery of γ-ketobenzyl-d4TTPs was proven in T-lymphocyte cell extracts. The prodrugs were potent inhibitors of HIV-1/2 in cultures of infected CEM/0 cells and more importantly in thymidine kinase-deficient CD4+ T-cells.

The metabolic conversion of nucleoside analogues into their triphosphates often proceeds insufficiently.R atelimitations can be at the mono-, but also at the di-and triphosphorylation steps.W ed eveloped an ucleoside triphosphate (NTP) delivery system (TriPPPro-approach). In this approach,N TPs are masked by two bioreversible units at the g-phosphate.U sing ap rocedure involving H-phosphonate chemistry,aseries of derivatives bearing approved, as well as potentially antivirally active,nucleoside analogues was synthesized. The enzyme-triggered delivery of NTPs was demonstrated by pig liver esterase,i nh uman T-lymphocyte cell extracts and by apolymerase chain reaction using aprodrug of thymidine triphosphate.T he TriPPPro-compounds of some HIV-inactive nucleoside analogues showed marked anti-HIV activity.F or cellular uptake studies,afluorescent TriPPProcompound was prepared that delivered the triphosphorylated metabolite to intact CEM cells.