Synthesis, crystal structure, and in vitro biological evaluation of C-6 pyrimidine derivatives: new lead structures for monitoring gene expression in vivo.
Martic, M., Pernot, L., Westermaier, Y., Perozzo, R., Kraljevic, T.G., Kristafor, S., Raic-Malic, S., Scapozza, L., Ametamey, S.(2011) Nucleosides Nucleotides Nucleic Acids 30: 293-315
- PubMed: 21623543 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/15257770.2011.581258
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
3F0T, 3RDP - PubMed Abstract: 
Novel C-6 substituted pyrimidine derivatives are good substrates of herpes simplex virus type 1 thymidine kinase (HSV1-TK). Enzyme kinetic experiments showed that our lead compound, N-methyl DHBT (N-methyl-6-(1,3-dihydroxyisobutyl) thymine; N-Me DHBT), is phosphorylated at a similar rate compared to "gold standard" 9-[4-fluoro-3-(hydroxymethyl)butyl]guanine, FHBG, (K(m) = 10 ± 0.3 μM; k(cat) = 0.036 ± 0.015 sec(-1)). Additionally, it does not show cytotoxic properties on B16F1 cells up to a concentration of 10 mM. The x-ray analysis of the crystal structures of HSV1-TK with N-Me DHBT and of HSV1-TK with the fluorinated derivative N-Me FHBT confirmed the binding mode predicted by docking studies and their substrate characteristics. Moreover, the crystal structure of HSV1-TK with N-Me DHBT revealed an additional water-mediated H-bond interesting for the design of further analogues.
Organizational Affiliation: 
Center for Pharmaceutical Science of ETH, PSI and USZ, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.