The design of potent metabolically stable neuraminidase (NA) inhibitors represents an attractive approach for treating influenza virus infection. In this study, we describe the exploitation of the 150-cavity in the active site of group 1 NA for the design, synthesis, and in vitro evaluation of new triazole-containing N-acyl derivatives related to Zanamivir. Inhibition studies with influenza virus NAs of group 1 (H1N1) and group 2 (H3N2) revealed that several of them are good inhibitors, with IC50 values in the low nanomolar (2.3 nM-31 nM) range. Substituents that form stable van der Waals interaction with the 150-cavity residues play crucial roles in NA inhibition as demonstrated by the potency of 6a (H1N1 IC50 = 2.3 nM, and H3N2 IC50 = 2.9 nM). Docking studies indicated that the cyclohexane-substituted triazole ring extended toward the hydrophobic region in the active site of group 1 NA in open form. The high potency observed for inhibitor 6a may be attributable to the highly favorable hydrophobic interactions in this region.
Date:
2016-07-28
Relation:
European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry. 2016 Jul 28;123:397-406.
