Combination of Non-natural <scp>d</scp>-Amino Acid Derivatives and Allophenylnorstatine−Dimethylthioproline Scaffold in HIV Protease Inhibitors Have High Efficacy in Mutant HIV

Abstract

Several non-natural D-amino acid derivatives were introduced as P2/P3 residues in allophenylnorstatine-containing (Apns; (2S,3S)-3-amino-2-hydroxy-4-phenylbutyric acid) HIV protease inhibitors. The synthetic analogues exhibited potent inhibitory activity against HIV-1 protease enzyme and HIV-1 replication in MT-4 cells. Structure-activity relationships revealed that D-cysteine or serine derivatives contributed to highly potent anti-HIV activities. Interestingly, anti-HIV activity of all the D-amino acid-introduced inhibitors was remarkably enhanced in their anti-HIV activities against a Nelfinavir-resistant clone, which has a D30N mutation in the protease, over that of the wild-type strain. HIV inhibitory activity of several analogues was moderately affected by an inclusion of alpha1-acid glycoprotein in the test medium.