Prodrug activation by a viral protease: evaluating combretastatin peptide hybrids to selectively target infected cells

Infections with flaviviruses such as dengue virus (DENV) are prevalent throughout tropical regions worldwide. Replication of these viruses depends on tubulin, a host cell factor that can be targeted to obtain broad-spectrum antiviral agents. Targeting of tubulin does, however, require specific measu...

Ausführliche Beschreibung

Gespeichert in:
Bibliographische Detailangaben
Hauptverfasser: Richter, Michael (VerfasserIn) , Leuthold, Mila (VerfasserIn) , Graf, Dominik Korbinian (VerfasserIn) , Bartenschlager, Ralf (VerfasserIn) , Klein, Christian D. (VerfasserIn)
Dokumenttyp: Article (Journal)
Sprache:Englisch
Veröffentlicht: July 18, 2019
In: ACS medicinal chemistry letters
Year: 2019, Jahrgang: 10, Heft: 8, Pages: 1115-1121
ISSN:1948-5875
DOI:10.1021/acsmedchemlett.9b00058
Online-Zugang:Verlag, Volltext: https://doi.org/10.1021/acsmedchemlett.9b00058
Volltext
Verfasserangaben:Michael Richter, Mila M. Leuthold, Dominik Graf, Ralf Bartenschlager, Christian D. Klein
Beschreibung
Zusammenfassung:Infections with flaviviruses such as dengue virus (DENV) are prevalent throughout tropical regions worldwide. Replication of these viruses depends on tubulin, a host cell factor that can be targeted to obtain broad-spectrum antiviral agents. Targeting of tubulin does, however, require specific measures to avoid toxic side-effects. Herein, we report the synthesis and biological evaluation of combretastatin peptide hybrids that incorporate the cleavage site of the DENV protease to allow activation of the tubulin ligand within infected cells. The prodrug candidates have no effect on tubulin polymerization in vitro and are 20-2000-fold less toxic than combretastatin A-4. Several of the prodrug candidates were cleaved by the DENV protease in vitro with similar efficiency as the natural viral substrates. Selected compounds were studied in DENV and Zika virus replication assays and had antiviral activity at subcytotoxic concentrations.
Beschreibung:Gesehen am 21.10.2019
Beschreibung:Online Resource
ISSN:1948-5875
DOI:10.1021/acsmedchemlett.9b00058