New 7-methylguanine derivatives targeting the influenza polymerase PB2 cap-binding domain.
Pautus S, Sehr P, Lewis J, Fortuné A, Wolkerstorfer A, Szolar O, Guilligay D, Lunardi T, Décout JL, Cusack S.
The heterotrimeric influenza virus polymerase performs replication and transcription of viral RNA in the nucleus of infected cells. Transcription by 'cap-snatching' requires that host-cell pre-mRNAs are bound via their 5' cap to the PB2 subunit. Thus, the PB2 cap-binding site is potentially a good target for new antiviral drugs that will directly inhibit viral replication. Docking studies using the structure of the PB2 cap-binding domain suggested that 7-alkylguanine derivatives substituted at position N-9 and N-2 could be good candidates. Four series of 7,9-di- and 2,7,9-trialkyl guanine derivatives were synthesized and evaluated by an AlphaScreen assay in competition with a biotinylated cap analogue. Three synthesized compounds display potent in vitro activity with IC50 values lower than 10 μM. High-resolution X-ray structures of three inhibitors in complex with the H5N1 PB2 cap-binding domain confirmed the binding mode and provide detailed information for further compound optimization.