Identification of N- and C-3-Modified Laudanosoline Derivatives as Novel Influenza PAN Endonuclease Inhibitors

J Med Chem. 2023 Jan 12;66(1):188-219. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c00857. Epub 2022 Dec 15.

Abstract

Influenza PAN inhibitors are of particular importance in current efforts to develop a new generation of antiviral drugs due to the growing emergence of highly pathogenic influenza viruses and the resistance to existing antiviral inhibitors. Herein, we design and synthesize a set of 1,3-cis-N-substituted-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline derivatives to enhance their potency by further exploiting the pockets 3 and 4 in the PAN endonuclease based on the hit d,l-laudanosoline. Particularly, the lead compound 35 exhibited potent and broad anti-influenza virus effects with EC50 values ranging from 0.43 to 1.12 μM in vitro and good inhibitory activity in a mouse model. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that 35 could bind tightly to the PAN endonuclease of RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, thus blocking the viral replication to exert antiviral activity. Overall, our study might establish the importance of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline-6,7-diol-based derivatives for the development of novel PAN inhibitors of influenza viruses.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antiviral Agents / metabolism
  • Antiviral Agents / pharmacology
  • Endonucleases
  • Humans
  • Influenza, Human*
  • Mice
  • Orthomyxoviridae*
  • Tetrahydroisoquinolines* / pharmacology

Substances

  • laudanosoline
  • Tetrahydroisoquinolines
  • Antiviral Agents
  • Endonucleases