Synthesis and structural studies of pentacycloundecane-based HIV-1 PR inhibitors: A hybrid 2D NMR and docking/QM/MM/MD approach

Pentacycloundecane (PCU) lactam-peptide based HIV protease inhibitors were synthesized and nanomolar activity against the resistance-prone wild type C-South African HIV protease is reported. NMR investigations indicated that the activity is related to the chirality of the PCU moiety and its ability to induce conformations of the coupled peptide side chain. EASY-ROESY NMR experiments gave information about the 3D structure of the cage peptides and 3D solution structure could be linked to the experimental IC50 activity profile of the considered inhibitors. QM/MM/MD simulations of the inhibitors in solution confirmed the NMR observed conformations. Docking experiments and QM/MM/MD simulations of the inhibitor-HIV PR complexes were also performed. These computational results complimented the experimental inhibition activities and enabled us to report a unique binding mode for PCU-based inhibitors at the active site of HIV-protease enzyme. A conserved hydrogen bonding pattern between the norstatine type functional group of the PCU hydroxylactam and active site residues, ASP25/ASP25′, was observed in all active compounds. The biological significance and possible mode of inhibition by PCU-based HIV PR inhibitors discussed herein provide us with a deeper understanding of the mode of action of these novel inhibitors. The PCU-peptides are between 6000 and 8500 time less toxic to human MT-4 cells than Lopinavir. This potentially creates new application avenues for these putative inhibitors to be investigated against a vast number of other disease-related proteases.

Graphical abstractPentacycloundecane (PCU) lactam-peptide based HIV protease inhibitors were synthesized and exhibit nanomolar activity against the resistance-prone wild type C-South African HIV-protease. NMR studies combined with a molecular modeling approach indicated that the activity is related to the chirality of the PCU moiety.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► The use of PCU-cage compounds as potential protease inhibitors is described. ► The importance of the chirality of the cage in bioactive applications was shown. ► EASY–ROESY correlated the solution structure of short peptides to the observed activity. ► Computational chemistry results suggest the mode of action of these cage peptides.