Development of Small-Molecule Anti-HIV-1 Agents Targeting HIV-1 Capsid Proteins

• Published in: Chemical & pharmaceutical bulletin Vol. 72; no. 1; pp. 41 - 47
• Main Authors: Kobayakawa, Takuya, Yokoyama, Masaru, Tsuji, Kohei, Boku, Sayaka, Kurakami, Masaki, Fujino, Masayuki, Ishii, Takahiro, Miura, Yutaro, Nishimura, Soshi, Shinohara, Kouki, Yamamoto, Kenichi, Bolah, Peter, Kotani, Osamu, Murakami, Tsutomu, Sato, Hironori, Tamamura, Hirokazu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan The Pharmaceutical Society of Japan 01.01.2024; Japan Science and Technology Agency
• Subjects: Anti-HIV Agents - chemistry; Anti-HIV Agents - metabolism; Anti-HIV Agents - pharmacology; anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV); Antiviral activity; capsid; Capsid - metabolism; Capsid Proteins - chemistry; Capsid Proteins - genetics; Capsid Proteins - metabolism; Conical bodies; dipeptide mimic; HIV; HIV-1; Human immunodeficiency virus; Humans; Hydrophobicity; in silico screening; Proteins; Virions; Virus Assembly; in silico screening; dipeptide mimic; anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV); capsid
• ISSN: 0009-2363; 1347-5223; 1347-5223
• DOI: 10.1248/cpb.c23-00618

The capsid of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) forms a conical structure by assembling oligomers of capsid (CA) proteins and is a virion shell that encapsulates viral RNA. The inhibition of the CA function could be an appropriate target for suppression of HIV-1 replication because the CA proteins are highly conserved among many strains of HIV-1, and the drug targeting CA, lenacapavir, has been clinically developed by Gilead Sciences, Inc. Interface hydrophobic interactions between two CA molecules via the Trp184 and Met185 residues in the CA sequence are indispensable for conformational stabilization of the CA multimer. Our continuous studies found two types of small molecules with different scaffolds, MKN-1 and MKN-3, designed by in silico screening as a dipeptide mimic of Trp184 and Met185 have significant anti-HIV-1 activity. In the present study, MKN-1 derivatives have been designed and synthesized. Their structure–activity relationship studies found some compounds having potent anti-HIV activity. The present results should be useful in the design of novel CA-targeting molecules with anti-HIV activity.