Ácido ajulêmico (AJA) é um análogo sintético do ácido THC-11-óico, um metabólito do composto tetrahidrocanabinol (THC), principal ingrediente ativo da maconha, uma droga derivada da planta cannabis sativa. A principal característica do composto AJA é que este apresenta potentes efeitos analgésico e antiinflamatório, sem a ação psicotrópica do THC. AJA não é ulcerogênico em doses terapêuticas e encontra-se atualmente na fase I de testes clínicos, apesar de seu mecanismo de ação não ser completamente entendido. Vários estudos têm reportado que AJA se liga de maneira direta a isoforma da família PPAR de receptores nucleares, induzindo sua atividade transcricional em modelos humanos e em ratos, quando administrado em concentrações farmacológicas. Atualmente AJA se encontra em fase I de testes clínicos, sob aprovação do FDA (Food and Drug Adminstration, E.U.A.). Neste trabalho, é determinada e analisada a estrutura cristalográfica do complexo PPAR -LBD:AJA, mostrando que de fato este receptor pode ser o (ou um) mediador da ação terapêutica de AJA in vivo. Na segunda parte da tese é apresentada da estrutura cristalográfica com complexo entre o domínio catalítico da integrase de HIV e parte do coativador transcricional p75 (também conhecido como LEDGF), mostrando as bases estruturais do reconhecimento molecular no hospedeiro por enzimas retrovirais, passo esse crucial para a replicação viral. Tal importância tem sido explorada no desenvolvimento de fármacos anti-retrovirais, que possam inibir o passo de integração do cDNA viral no genoma humano, atacando o sítio ativo da enzima Devido a características da interface observada no modelo cristolográfico, sugerimos tal região pode vir a ser um novo alvo no desenho de pequenas moléculas que interfiram no reconhecimento molecular / Ajulemic acid (AJA) is a synthetic analog of the tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) metabolite THC-11-oic acid. THC is a major active ingredient of the drug marijuana derived from the plant cannabis sativa. It has been shown that AJA has potent analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity without the psychotropic action of THC. At therapeutic doses AJA is not ulcerogenic, making it a promising anti-inflarnatory drug. Furthermore, AJA is currently under phase I of clinical tests by Indevus Phmaceuticals (USA). However, the mechanism of AJA action remains unknown. It has been shown by biochemical assays that AJA binds directly and specifically to the peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor (PPAR) indicating that this may be a potential target for drug-development in the treatment of pain and inflammation. In this work we describe the crystal structure of the ligand binding region of this receptor in complex with ajulêmico acid, showing that in fact they may be partners in vivo, also providing structure-based answers for current questions, for example, the specificity for the isoform . The binding mode of AJA gives clues about modifications on its structure that might lead to development of more specific and potent molecules. In the second half, it is presented the crystal structure of macromolecular complex between the catalytic core domain of HIV-1 Integrase and the integrase-binding domain of LEDGF (also known as p75). Inspection of the crystallographic model suggests the presence of a specific interface, sharing a high number of tight contacts, apparent lentiviral tropism of LEDGF. Also, our results, along with in vitro assays previously reported, encourage efforts to exploit vim-host protein interactions for the development of novel antiretroviral drugs

Ácido ajulêmico (AJA) é um análogo sintético do ácido THC-11-óico, um metabólito do composto tetrahidrocanabinol (THC), principal ingrediente ativo da maconha, uma droga derivada da planta cannabis sativa. A principal característica do composto AJA é que este apresenta potentes efeitos analgésico e antiinflamatório, sem a ação psicotrópica do THC. AJA não é ulcerogênico em doses terapêuticas e encontra-se atualmente na fase I de testes clínicos, apesar de seu mecanismo de ação não ser completamente entendido. Vários estudos têm reportado que AJA se liga de maneira direta a isoforma da família PPAR de receptores nucleares, induzindo sua atividade transcricional em modelos humanos e em ratos, quando administrado em concentrações farmacológicas. Atualmente AJA se encontra em fase I de testes clínicos, sob aprovação do FDA (Food and Drug Adminstration, E.U.A.). Neste trabalho, é determinada e analisada a estrutura cristalográfica do complexo PPAR -LBD:AJA, mostrando que de fato este receptor pode ser o (ou um) mediador da ação terapêutica de AJA in vivo. Na segunda parte da tese é apresentada da estrutura cristalográfica com complexo entre o domínio catalítico da integrase de HIV e parte do coativador transcricional p75 (também conhecido como LEDGF), mostrando as bases estruturais do reconhecimento molecular no hospedeiro por enzimas retrovirais, passo esse crucial para a replicação viral. Tal importância tem sido explorada no desenvolvimento de fármacos anti-retrovirais, que possam inibir o passo de integração do cDNA viral no genoma humano, atacando o sítio ativo da enzima Devido a características da interface observada no modelo cristolográfico, sugerimos tal região pode vir a ser um novo alvo no desenho de pequenas moléculas que interfiram no reconhecimento molecular / Ajulemic acid (AJA) is a synthetic analog of the tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) metabolite THC-11-oic acid. THC is a major active ingredient of the drug marijuana derived from the plant cannabis sativa. It has been shown that AJA has potent analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity without the psychotropic action of THC. At therapeutic doses AJA is not ulcerogenic, making it a promising anti-inflarnatory drug. Furthermore, AJA is currently under phase I of clinical tests by Indevus Phmaceuticals (USA). However, the mechanism of AJA action remains unknown. It has been shown by biochemical assays that AJA binds directly and specifically to the peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor (PPAR) indicating that this may be a potential target for drug-development in the treatment of pain and inflammation. In this work we describe the crystal structure of the ligand binding region of this receptor in complex with ajulêmico acid, showing that in fact they may be partners in vivo, also providing structure-based answers for current questions, for example, the specificity for the isoform . The binding mode of AJA gives clues about modifications on its structure that might lead to development of more specific and potent molecules. In the second half, it is presented the crystal structure of macromolecular complex between the catalytic core domain of HIV-1 Integrase and the integrase-binding domain of LEDGF (also known as p75). Inspection of the crystallographic model suggests the presence of a specific interface, sharing a high number of tight contacts, apparent lentiviral tropism of LEDGF. Also, our results, along with in vitro assays previously reported, encourage efforts to exploit vim-host protein interactions for the development of novel antiretroviral drugs

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / This thesis describes synthetic studies towards the HIV-1 integrase inhibitory natural products lithospermic acid and integramycin, resulting in a formal total synthesis of the former. A modular, flexible and convergent synthetic strategy to lithospermic acid was devised. In this approach, a Sonogashira coupling was used to unite the C1–C7 and C20–C27 fragments that were subsequently manipulated to then participate in the key step of the synthesis, a palladium-mediated carbonylative annulation. Reduction of the benzofuran nucleus with magnesium in methanol then provided the desired dihydrobenzofuran core of lithospermic acid. Various protecting group strategies were investigated to complete this sequence in an efficient manner. Further synthetic manipulations afforded the complete C1–C9/C19–C27 fragment, which was united with the C10–C18 fragment to deliver the entire carbon skeleton of lithospermic acid. A two step deprotection sequence was undertaken, however, complications with the final deprotective step prevented definitive proof that the total synthesis of lithospermic acid had been achieved. An alternate protecting group strategy was sought, and a formal total synthesis of lithospermic acid was achieved by intercepting an advanced intermediate from a previous total synthesis. Several strategies for the enantioselective synthesis of the dihydrobenzofuran core of lithospermic acid were evaluated, however, none proved successful. A synthetic route towards the tetramic acid subunit of integramycin was also investigated. 3- Methoxymaleimide was constructed using known chemistry, and the regioselective reduction of this ring system was developed. Attempts to further functionalise this ring system were thwarted by difficulties associated with handling. The scope of the regioselective reduction was investigated on an array of N- substituted methoxymaleimides with the procedure found to be generally high yielding and highly regioselective.

Like all viruses, the replication of HIV-1 relies heavily on host proteins due to its limited genome products. HIV-1 integrase (IN) catalyzes the integration of viral DNA into host genome and also impacts other steps of viral replication cycle, all of which are assisted by various cellular proteins. Among them, LEDGF/p75 acts as the IN-to-chromatin tethering factor. However, whether other cellular cofactors also participate in this process still remains elusive. To gain insight into the mechanism of action of HIV-1 IN during viral integration, we used a previously described IN/yeast lethality system and our results revealed that the HIV-1 IN-induced yeast lethality absolutely required its chromatin binding ability. Since there is no yeast homolog of LEDGF/p75, it raises the possibility that IN may recruit other cellular cofactors for its chromatin targeting. Consistently, further analysis in mammalian cells indicated that HIV-1 IN was able to mediate chromatin binding independent of IN-LEDGF/p75 interaction and that HIV-1 fitness relied more on chromatin binding than LEDGF/p75 binding of IN. These data greatly enrich our current knowledge on the dynamic interplay within the ternary complex IN/LEDGF/chromatin. HIV-1 exploits multiple cellular cofactors not only to facilitate viral replication, but also to evade the host defense system in favor of the virus. IN is known to be an unstable protein, degraded by the host ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. To investigate how IN avoids the host degradation machinery in the context of viral infection, we showed that IN interacted with host protein Ku70 and protected itself from the Lys48-linked polyubiquitination proteasomal pathway. More importantly, Ku70 was shown to be incorporated into the progeny virus in an IN-dependent manner, and both cell- and virus- associated Ku70 were essential for HIV-1 replication. Finally, the data demonstrated that the interactions between HIV-1 IN and host cofactors can be regulated through its SUMO-interacting motifs (SIMs). Three putative SIMs (72VILV75; 200IVDI203 and 257IKII260) in IN were examined and shown to be essential for IN-LEDGF/p75 but not IN-Ku70 interaction. In summary, this study advances our knowledge of the interaction network between IN and its cofactors, which would have important implications for the design of anti-HIV drugs.

Like all viruses, the replication of HIV-1 relies heavily on host proteins due to its limited genome products. HIV-1 integrase (IN) catalyzes the integration of viral DNA into host genome and also impacts other steps of viral replication cycle, all of which are assisted by various cellular proteins. Among them, LEDGF/p75 acts as the IN-to-chromatin tethering factor. However, whether other cellular cofactors also participate in this process still remains elusive. To gain insight into the mechanism of action of HIV-1 IN during viral integration, we used a previously described IN/yeast lethality system and our results revealed that the HIV-1 IN-induced yeast lethality absolutely required its chromatin binding ability. Since there is no yeast homolog of LEDGF/p75, it raises the possibility that IN may recruit other cellular cofactors for its chromatin targeting. Consistently, further analysis in mammalian cells indicated that HIV-1 IN was able to mediate chromatin binding independent of IN-LEDGF/p75 interaction and that HIV-1 fitness relied more on chromatin binding than LEDGF/p75 binding of IN. These data greatly enrich our current knowledge on the dynamic interplay within the ternary complex IN/LEDGF/chromatin. HIV-1 exploits multiple cellular cofactors not only to facilitate viral replication, but also to evade the host defense system in favor of the virus. IN is known to be an unstable protein, degraded by the host ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. To investigate how IN avoids the host degradation machinery in the context of viral infection, we showed that IN interacted with host protein Ku70 and protected itself from the Lys48-linked polyubiquitination proteasomal pathway. More importantly, Ku70 was shown to be incorporated into the progeny virus in an IN-dependent manner, and both cell- and virus- associated Ku70 were essential for HIV-1 replication. Finally, the data demonstrated that the interactions between HIV-1 IN and host cofactors can be regulated through its SUMO-interacting motifs (SIMs). Three putative SIMs (72VILV75; 200IVDI203 and 257IKII260) in IN were examined and shown to be essential for IN-LEDGF/p75 but not IN-Ku70 interaction. In summary, this study advances our knowledge of the interaction network between IN and its cofactors, which would have important implications for the design of anti-HIV drugs.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / This thesis describes synthetic studies towards the HIV-1 integrase inhibitory natural products lithospermic acid and integramycin, resulting in a formal total synthesis of the former. A modular, flexible and convergent synthetic strategy to lithospermic acid was devised. In this approach, a Sonogashira coupling was used to unite the C1–C7 and C20–C27 fragments that were subsequently manipulated to then participate in the key step of the synthesis, a palladium-mediated carbonylative annulation. Reduction of the benzofuran nucleus with magnesium in methanol then provided the desired dihydrobenzofuran core of lithospermic acid. Various protecting group strategies were investigated to complete this sequence in an efficient manner. Further synthetic manipulations afforded the complete C1–C9/C19–C27 fragment, which was united with the C10–C18 fragment to deliver the entire carbon skeleton of lithospermic acid. A two step deprotection sequence was undertaken, however, complications with the final deprotective step prevented definitive proof that the total synthesis of lithospermic acid had been achieved. An alternate protecting group strategy was sought, and a formal total synthesis of lithospermic acid was achieved by intercepting an advanced intermediate from a previous total synthesis. Several strategies for the enantioselective synthesis of the dihydrobenzofuran core of lithospermic acid were evaluated, however, none proved successful. A synthetic route towards the tetramic acid subunit of integramycin was also investigated. 3- Methoxymaleimide was constructed using known chemistry, and the regioselective reduction of this ring system was developed. Attempts to further functionalise this ring system were thwarted by difficulties associated with handling. The scope of the regioselective reduction was investigated on an array of N- substituted methoxymaleimides with the procedure found to be generally high yielding and highly regioselective.

Orientador: Marcia Miguel Castro Ferreira / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Quimica / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-15T02:36:54Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Melo_EduardoBorgesde_D.pdf: 5803988 bytes, checksum: 6377ba7d02209df67db56420a1568312 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009 / Resumo: Apesar da implantação da HAART, existe uma necessidade contínua de novos agentes anti- HIV. Os inibidores da enzima HIV-1 integrase (HIV-IN) constituem um dos mais recentes avanços na luta conta a AIDS. A principal abordagem utilizada nessas pesquisas são os métodos relacionados ao planejamento de fármacos auxiliados por computador (CADD). Neste trabalho, foram realizados três estudos QSAR (2D, 4D e híbrido) utilizando um conjunto de treinamento formado por 85 compostos descritos como inibidores da reação de transferência de fita catalisada pela HIV-IN. No estudo QSAR-2D, foram utilizados 1291 descritores físico-químicos obtidos por diversos programas. Para o estudo QSAR-4D, perfis de amostragem conformacionais (PACs) foram obtidos com o programa de dinâmica molecular Gromacs 4, e 65.856 descritores de campo (Coulomb e Lennard-Jones) foram obtidos a partir do programa LQTA-QSAR. As seleções de variáveis foram realizadas pela metodologia Ordered Predictors Selection (OPS), e os modelos foram construídos utilizando regressão por quadrados mínimos parciais (PLS). Na etapa de QSAR-2D, foi realizado um estudo preliminar com 33 compostos com baixa variabilidade estrutural e 167 descritores de mais simples interpretação. O modelo obtido foi formado por duas variáveis latentes e quatro descritores. Esse modelo apresentou uma relação direta com o mecanismo de inibição mais aceito. Já para o modelo com o conjunto completo, foram selecionados quatro descritores, porém de difícil interpretação, provavelmente devido à grande variabilidade estrutural do conjunto de treinamento. Já para o modelo QSAR-4D, uma relação direta com o mecanismo de inibição, com descritores correspondentes à interação com os co-fatores metálicos e com a alça hidrofóbica do sítio de ligação da HIV-IN, também pôde ser traçada. Todos os modelos apresentaram qualidade estatística aceitável, com boas capacidades de predição interna e robustez, além de não apresentarem correlação ao acaso. Já o modelo híbrido, construído com alguns dos descritores selecionados nos estudos anteriores, possui alta qualidade estatística, mas é inferior ao modelo QSAR-4D. Logo, ao serem considerados os resultados obtidos, conclui-se que os objetivos da tese foram alcançados e que os modelos obtidos apresentaram grande potencial para proposição de novos inibidores da HIV-IN. / Abstract: Despite the HAART implantation, there is a continuous need to search for new anti-HIV agents. The HIV-1 integrase (HIV-IN) inhibitors are one of the most recent breakthrough in AIDS research. So, the computer aides-drug design (CADD) related methods have been the main approach used in the research of such class of drugs. In this work, three QSAR studies (2D, 4D and hybrid), with a training set, consisted of 85 inhibitors of strand transfer (ST) reaction catalyzed by HIV-IN. In the 2D-QSAR study, 1,291 physicochemical descriptors were obtained by several programs. For the 4D-QSAR study, the conformational essembles profiles (CEPs) were obtained by the molecular dynamic program Gromacs 4. With the LQTA-QSAR program, 65,856 descriptors (Coulomb and Lennard-Jones) were obtained. In both the studies, the variable selections were carried out according to the Ordered Predictors Selection (OPS) method while the models were composed with Partial Least Squares (PLS) regression. In the 2D-QSAR step, a preliminary study with 33 compounds with low structural variability and 167 descriptors of more simple interpretation was developed. The obtained model was based on two latent variables and four descriptors. But, for the model with a complete set, there were four selected descriptors, although the difficult interpretation, probably due to the great structural variability of the training set. On the other hand, a direct relation with the inhibition mechanism could be traced for the 4D-QSAR model, including descriptors related with the interaction with the metallic co-factors and with the hydrophobic loop, placed in the binding site of HIV-IN. All the models showed an acceptable statistic quality, with good capacity of internal prediction and robustness. Moreover, the models did not present any randomized correlation. But, the hybrid model, built with some of descriptors selected in both studies, although it also has high statistic quality, is inferior to the 4D-QSAR model. Hence, considering the good obtained results, it can be concluded that the purposes of this thesis were achieved and that the models present a great potential to propose new HIV-IN inhibitors. / Doutorado / Físico-Química / Doutor em Ciências

No description available.

It is widely accepted that palladium is one of the most useful catalysts in organic chemistry, and many palladium(0)-catalysed carbon–carbon bond-forming reactions have been developed over the years. In addition, the ever-growing need for more environmentally benign processes in the chemical industry has driven scientists to look for greener options while developing new methodologies for organic synthesis. This thesis describes a series of studies on Suzuki and Heck coupling reactions in water and the application of palladium(0) catalysis to the development of new HIV-1 integrase inhibitors. The previously described 'transition-metal-free Suzuki-type coupling' reaction was shown to take place due to sub-ppm levels of palladium contaminants present in the commercially available sodium carbonate base. Based on this finding, a new, microwave-assisted Suzuki protocol utilizing ppb/ppm levels of palladium in water was developed. This methodology was adapted to terminal Heck coupling, although the scope of the protocol was found to be rather limited. Finally, both Suzuki and Heck reaction processes were successfully scaled up to 100 mmol using an automated batch stop-flow microwave apparatus. As the methodologies utilizing ultralow palladium concentrations were not applicable to aryl chlorides, attention was shifted towards palladium on carbon. This simple catalyst, together with microwave heating employing simultaneous cooling, was found to be beneficial in the Suzuki coupling of aryl chlorides with phenylboronic acid in water. Ligand-controlled internal arylation of ethylene glycol vinyl ether with aryl halides was shown to be possible in water alone without any additives. Reactions were run under air, using conventional heating and the products formed were isolated as aryl methyl ketones in good to excellent yields. The electron-rich (dippp)2Pd complex was shown to be beneficial for the microwave-assisted internal arylation of some aryl chlorides. Furthermore, the active role of the hydroxyl group of ethylene glycol vinyl ether in the formation of a cationic intermediate leading to internal Heck coupling product was elucidated. Finally, to demonstrate the usefulness of palladium(0) catalysis in the development of new pharmaceutical entities, a series of HIV-1 integrase inhibitors was synthesised and evaluated in strand transfer assays and in vitro. Based on the results and docking studies performed, valuable information related to the structure–activity relationship was obtained.

Les fonctions catalytiques de l'intégrase (IN) du Virus de l'Immunodéficience humaine (VIH-1) sont strictement nécessaires pour l'intégration du génome viral dans les cellules hôtes. Aujourd'hui, trois inhibiteurs anti-IN appartenant à la famille des dikétoacides sont utilisés en thérapie : le raltegravir, l'elvitegravir et le dolutegravir. Cependant, les patients traités par ces médicaments développent des mutations de résistance. Dans ce travail, nous cherchons à mieux comprendre le mécanisme d'interaction de ces drogues avec l'ADN viral. Ce travail a également contribué à la conception de molécules qui devraient être dotées d'une affinité augmentée pour l'ADN, permettant de surmonter le problème de la résistance virale. La compréhension du mécanisme d'inhibition de IN s'est poursuivie par l'étude de deux anticorps monoclonaux anti-K159 (peptide 147-175 du coeur catalytique de IN), 4C6 et 4F4. Les résultats montrent que les anticorps reconnaissent leurs épitopes dans l'IN. D'autre part, du fait de son implication dans de nombreuses étapes du cycle du VIH-1, nous ciblons la protéine 7 de la nucléocapside (NCp7). Pour ce faire, nous avons étudié la structure de nos systèmes (NCp7 et NCp7-ADN) et nous avons pu déterminer les interactions clés responsables de la structuration, ainsi que des fonctions, de ces systèmes. Dans un second temps, nous avons évalué les interactions de NCp7 avec un inhibiteur éjecteur de zinc (C247) de la famille des thioesters. Enfin, sur le plan méthodologique, nous avons raffiné dans le potentiel SIBFA (Sum of Interaction Between Fragments Ab initio computed) la représentation des doublets libres de type sp et sp2 dans les molécules conjuguées. / The catalytic functions of integrase (IN) of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV-1) are strictly necessary for the integration of the viral genome into the host cells. To this day, three anti-IN inhibitors belonging to the diketoacids are used in therapy: raltegravir, elvitegravir and dolutegravir. However, under treatments with these drugs, patients develop resistance mutations. In this work, we seek to better understand the interaction of the three drugs with viral DNA. This work also contributed to the design of novel molecules. These should be endowed with increased DNA binding affinities as a step towards overcoming viral resistance. The understanding of the inhibition mechanism of IN was pursued by the study of two monoclonal antibodies, 4F4 and 4C6, which are directed against sequence 147-175 of the catalytic core of HIV-1 IN, a peptide denoted K159. The results show that the antibodies recognize their epitopes in IN. We also aim to target an HIV-1 nucleocaspid protein NCp7 involved in many stages of the viral cycle. We have thus studied the structure of NCp7 and its viral DNA complex. We were able to determine the interactions responsible for the structuring and thus the functions of these complexes. Then, we evaluated the interactions of NCp7 with an inhibitor of the thioester family, C247, which acts as a zinc ejector. Finally, from the methodological standpoint, we have refined in SIBFA (Sum of Interaction Between Fragments Ab initio computed) the representation of the sp2 and sp lone pairs in conjugated molecules.