4-Substituted-1,2,3-triazolo nucleotide analogues as CD73 inhibitors, their synthesis, in vitro screening, kinetic and in silico studies

Abstract

Three series of nucleotide analogues were synthesized and evaluated as potential CD73 inhibitors. Nucleobase replacement consisted in connecting the appropriate aromatic or purine residues through a triazole moiety that is generated from 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition. The first series is related to 4-substituted-1,2,3-triazolo-β-hydroxyphosphonate ribonucleosides. Additional analogues were also obtained, in which the phosphonate group was replaced by a bisphosphonate pattern (P-C-P-C, series 2) or the ribose moiety was removed leading to acyclic derivatives (series 3). The β-hydroxyphosphonylphosphonate ribonucleosides (series 2) were found to be potent inhibitors of CD73 using both purified recombinant protein and cell-based assays. Two compounds (2a and 2b) that contained a bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl or a naphthyl substituents proved to be the most potent inhibitors, with IC₅₀ values of 4.8 ± 0.8 µM and 0.86 ± 0.2 µM, compared to the standard AOPCP (IC₅₀ value of 3.8 ± 0.9 µM), and were able to reverse the adenosine-mediated immune suppression on human T cells. This series of compounds illustrates a new type of CD73 inhibitors.

Keywords: 5′-ectonucleotidase; Bis-phosphonate; Click chemistry; Enzyme inhibitor; Immuno-oncology; Nucleotide.