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Herein we describe the synthesis and conformational analysis of a series of bicyclic thymidine derivatives and their evaluation as inhibitors of thymidine monophosphate kinase from Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TMPKmt), based on previously discovered bicyclic sugar nucleosides. With a K(i) value of 2.3 microm, 1-[3-aminomethyl-3,5-dideoxy-2-O,6-N-(thiocarbonyl)-beta-D-ribofuranosyl]thymine emerged as the most potent TMPK inhibitor of this series. Moreover, this promising compound displays inhibitory potency against Mycobacteria cultures with an IC(99) value of 100 microg mL(-1), thus promoting TMPKmt for the first time as a validated target for further inhibitory design. Attempts to rationalise the observed structure-activity relationship (SAR) involving molecular modelling and conformational analysis are described.

Abbreviations: TK: thymidine kinase; HSV: herpes simplex virus; VZV, varicella zoster virus; Dm: Drosophila melanogaster; dNK: deoxynucleoside kinase; dThd: thymidine; AZT: azidothymidine. 2Abstr act In an effort to increase the potency and selectivity of earlier identified substrate-based inhibitors of mitochondrial thymidine kinase 2 (TK-2), we now describe the synthesis of new thymidine analogues containing a 4-or 5-substituted 1,2,3-triazol-1-yl substituent at the 3'-position of the 2'-deoxyribofuranosyl ring. These analogues were prepared by Cu-and Ru-catalysed cycloadditions of 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine and the appropriate alkynes, which produced the 1,4-and 1,5-triazoles, respectively. Selected analogues showed nanomolar inhibitory activity for TK-2, while virtually not affecting the TK-1 counterpart. Enzyme kinetics indicated a competitive and uncompetitive inhibition profile against thymidine and the co-substrate ATP, respectively. This behavior is rationalized by suggesting that the inhibitors occupy the substrate-binding site in a TK-2-ATP complex that maintains the enzyme's active site in a closed conformation through the stabilization of a small lid domain.