Expanding the Solvent/Protein Region Occupation of the Non-Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor Binding Pocket for Improved Broad-Spectrum Anti-HIV-1 Efficacy: from Rigid Phenyl-Diarylpyrimidines to Flexible Hydrophilic Piperidine-Diarylpyrimidines

J Med Chem. 2024 Nov 14;67(21):19889-19904. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c02413. Epub 2024 Nov 5.

Abstract

Considering the nonideal antiresistance efficacy of our previously reported non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor 7, a series of novel piperidine-diarylpyrimidine derivatives were designed through expanding solvent/protein region occupation. The representative compound 15f proved to be exceptionally potent against Y188L (EC50 = 23 nM), F227L + V106A (EC50 = 15 nM) and RES056 (EC50 = 45 nM), significantly better than 7. This analog exerted strong inhibition against wild-type HIV-1 (EC50 = 3 nM) and single mutant strains (L100I, K103N, Y181C, E138 K). Notably, its cytotoxicity and selectivity (CC50 = 18.23 μM, SI = 6537) were 4-fold better than etravirine and rilpivirine. Additionally, it exhibited minimal suppression of CYP isoenzymes and hERG, indicating low potential for drug-drug interactions and cardiotoxicity. No significant acute toxicity and tissue damage at a dose of 2 g/kg were revealed. These findings lay the groundwork for the advancement of 15f as a highly potent, safe, and broad-spectrum NNRTI for HIV therapy.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-HIV Agents* / chemical synthesis
  • Anti-HIV Agents* / chemistry
  • Anti-HIV Agents* / pharmacology
  • Binding Sites
  • HIV Reverse Transcriptase* / antagonists & inhibitors
  • HIV Reverse Transcriptase* / metabolism
  • HIV-1* / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
  • Male
  • Molecular Docking Simulation
  • Piperidines / chemical synthesis
  • Piperidines / chemistry
  • Piperidines / pharmacology
  • Pyrimidines* / chemical synthesis
  • Pyrimidines* / chemistry
  • Pyrimidines* / pharmacology
  • Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors* / chemical synthesis
  • Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors* / chemistry
  • Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors* / pharmacology
  • Solvents / chemistry
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors
  • Pyrimidines
  • Anti-HIV Agents
  • HIV Reverse Transcriptase
  • Piperidines
  • Solvents