Abstract

Background: Studies on the interaction between bioactive molecules and HIV-1 virus have been the focus of recent research in the scope of medicinal chemistry and pharmacology.

Objective: Investigating the structural parameters and physico-chemical properties of elucidating and identifying the antiviral pharmacophore sites.

Methods: A mixed computational Petra/Osiris/Molinspiration/DFT (POM/DFT) based model has been developed for the identification of physico-chemical parameters governing the bioactivity of 22 3-hydroxy-indolin-2-one derivatives of diacetyl-L-tartaric acid and aromatic amines containing combined antiviral/antitumor/antibacterial pharmacophore sites. Molecular docking study was carried out with HIV-1 integrase (pdb ID: 5KGX) in order to provide information about interactions in the binding site of the enzyme.

Results: The POM analyses of physico-chemical properties and geometrical parameters of compounds 3a-5j, show that they are bearing a two combined (O,O)-pockets leading to a special platform which is able to coordinate two transition metals. The increased activity of series 3a-5j, as compared to standard drugs, contains (Osp²,O sp³,O sp²)-pharmacophore site. The increase in bioactivity from 4b (R¹, R² = H, H) to 3d (R¹, R² = 4-Br, 2-OCH₃) could be attributed to the existence of π-charge transfer from para-bromo-phenyl to its amid group (CO^δ---NH^δ+). Similar to the indole-based reference ligand (pdb: 7SK), compound 3d forms hydrogen bonding interactions between the residues Glu170, Thr174 and His171 of HIV-1 integrase in the catalytic core domain of the enzyme.

Conclusion: Study confirmed the importance of oxygen atoms, especially from the methoxy group of the phenyl ring, and electrophilic amide nitrogen atom for the formation of interactions.

Keywords: 3-Hydroxy-indolin-2-ones, POM analyses, HIV antiviral activity, pharmacophore, molecular docking, HIV-1 integrase.

Graphical Abstract