5-(1-propenyl)-2--deoxyuridine and Herpes-Simplex

A number of structurally related 5-substituted pyrimidine 2'-deoxyribonucleosides were synthesized and tested for antiviral activity against herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) in cell culture. A minimum inhibitory concentration was determined for each compound, and from a comparison of these values a number of conclusions were drawn with regard to those molecular features that enhance or reduce antiviral activity. Optimum inhibition of HSV-1 in cell culture occurred when the 5-substituent was unsaturated and conjugated with the pyrimidine ring, was not longer than four carbon atoms in length, had E stereochemistry, and included a hydrophobic, electronegative function but did not contain a branching point. Such features are contained in (E)-5-(2-bromovinyl)-2'-deoxyuridine, which was the most active of the compounds described.

Topics: Animals; Cricetinae; Deoxyuridine; Herpes Simplex; Stereoisomerism; Structure-Activity Relationship

5-(1-Propenyl)-1-beta-D-arabinofuranosyluracil has been synthesized, and this compound and [E]-5-(-propenyl)-2'-deoxyuridine have been tested for inhibition of herpes virus multiplication. Only [E]-5-(1-propenyl)-2'-deoxyuridine was found to be an active inhibitor reducing by 50% the plaque formation of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) at about 1 muM. A comparison to the bromovinyl derivatives showed the following order of descending activity; [E]-5-(2-bromovinyl)-2'-deoxyuridine greater than 5-(2-bromovinyl)-1-beta-D-arabinofuranosyluracil greater than or equal to [E]-5-(1-propenyl)-2'-deoxyuridine greater than 5-(1-propenyl)-1-beta-arabinofuranosyluracil. HSV-1 mutants lacking thymidine kinase or resistant against acycloguanosine were resistant against [E]-5-(1-propenyl)-2'-deoxyuridine. All compounds seemed to be phosphorylated by HSV-1 thymidine kinase in a cell-free assay. The compounds were phosphorylated to a lower extent by cellular or HSV-2 thymidine kinase, and the HSV-2 strains tested were inhibited by less than 50% at 100 muM in plaque assays. A selective inhibition of HAV-1 DNA synthesis by [E]-5-(1-propenyl)-2'-deoxyuridine was observed in infected cells indicating an effect on viral DNA polymerase. [E]-5-(1-Propenyl)-2'-deoxyuridine had a low cellular toxicity and a therapeutic effect when applied topically to HSV-1-infected guinea pig skin.

Topics: Animals; Antiviral Agents; Arabinofuranosyluracil; Arabinonucleosides; Cell Division; Cell Line; Chlorocebus aethiops; Deoxyuridine; DNA; DNA, Viral; Guinea Pigs; Herpes Simplex; Phosphorylation; Simplexvirus; Thymidine; Uridine; Viral Plaque Assay