Structure-Based Design and Discovery of Pyridyl-Bearing Fused Bicyclic HIV-1 Inhibitors: Synthesis, Biological Characterization, and Molecular Modeling Studies

J Med Chem. 2021 Sep 23;64(18):13604-13621. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c00987. Epub 2021 Sep 9.

Abstract

Two series of new pyridyl-bearing fused bicyclic analogues designed to target the dual-tolerant regions of the non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI)-binding pocket were synthesized and evaluated for their anti-HIV activities. Several compounds, such as 6, 14, 15, 21, 30, and 33, were found to be potent inhibitors against the wild-type (WT) HIV-1 strain or multiple NNRTI-resistant strains at low nanomolar levels. Detailed structure-activity relationships were obtained by utilizing the variation of moieties within the corresponding pharmacophores. In vitro metabolic stability profiles and some drug-like properties of selected compounds were assessed, furnishing the preliminary structure-metabolic stability relationships. Furthermore, molecular modeling studies elucidated the binding modes of compounds 6, 15, 21, and 30 in the binding pocket of WT, E138K, K103N, or Y181C HIV-1 RTs. These promising compounds can be used as lead compounds and warrant further structural optimization to yield more active HIV-1 inhibitors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anti-HIV Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Anti-HIV Agents / metabolism
  • Anti-HIV Agents / pharmacology*
  • Cell Line
  • Drug Design
  • HIV Reverse Transcriptase / chemistry
  • HIV Reverse Transcriptase / genetics
  • HIV Reverse Transcriptase / metabolism
  • HIV-1 / drug effects*
  • Heterocyclic Compounds, 2-Ring / chemical synthesis
  • Heterocyclic Compounds, 2-Ring / metabolism
  • Heterocyclic Compounds, 2-Ring / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Microsomes, Liver / metabolism
  • Molecular Dynamics Simulation
  • Molecular Structure
  • Mutation
  • Protein Binding
  • Pyridines / chemical synthesis
  • Pyridines / metabolism
  • Pyridines / pharmacology*
  • Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors / chemical synthesis
  • Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors / metabolism
  • Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Anti-HIV Agents
  • Heterocyclic Compounds, 2-Ring
  • Pyridines
  • Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors
  • HIV Reverse Transcriptase