Use of isotopically chiral [4'-13C]famciclovir and 13C NMR to identify the chiral monoacetylated intermediates in the conversion of famciclovir to penciclovir by human intestinal wall extract.

Famciclovir is the oral form of the potent antiherpesvirus agent, penciclovir. Hydrolysis of one of the acetyl ester groups of famciclovir creates a chiral centre leading to the possible formation of (R)- and (S)-enantiomers. During its conversion to penciclovir, famciclovir forms two chiral metabolites, namely monoacetyl-6-deoxy-penciclovir and monoacetyl-penciclovir. The absolute configuration and stereospecificity of the monoacetyl metabolites of famciclovir, produced in human intestinal wall extract, were determined using isotopically chiral famciclovir and 13C NMR spectroscopy of the isolated metabolites. 13C NMR showed that the esterase(s), in human intestinal wall extract, hydrolysed the acetyl group preferentially from the pro-(S)-acetoxymethyl group of famciclovir. The specificity of esterase action in forming monoacetyl-6-deoxy-penciclovir and monoacetyl-penciclovir was about 77 and 72%, respectively.

Use of isotopically chiral [4'-13C]penciclovir and 13C NMR to determine the specificity and absolute configuration of penciclovir phosphate esters formed in HSV-1 and HSV-2 infected cells and by HSV-1-encoded thymidine kinase.

Penciclovir is a potent antiherpesvirus agent which is highly selective due to its phosphorylation only in virus infected cells. Phosphorylation of one of the hydroxymethyl groups of penciclovir (PCV) creates a chiral centre leading to the possible formation of (R)- and (S)-enantiomers. The absolute configuration and stereospecificity of the PCV-phosphates produced in cells infected with herpes simplex viruses types 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and HSV-2), as well as by HSV-1-encoded thymidine kinase, were determined using isotopically chiral [4'-13C]PCV precursors and 13C NMR spectroscopy of the isolated metabolites. The absolute configuration of penciclovir-triphosphate (PCV-TP) produced in HSV-1 infected cells was shown to be S with an enantiomeric purity of greater than 95%. However, in contrast fo HSV-1-infected cells in which none of the (R) enantiomer was detected, about 10% of (R)-PCV-TP was produced in HSV-2-infected cells. Phosphorylation of PCV by HSV-1-encoded thymidine kinase was found to give 75% (S)- and 25% (R)-PCV-monophosphate. The proportion of the (S)-isomer appears to be amplified in the subsequent phosphorylations leading to the triphosphate.

Mode of antiviral action of penciclovir in MRC-5 cells infected with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), HSV-2, and varicella-zoster virus.

The metabolism and mode of action of penciclovir [9-(4-hydroxy-3-hydroxymethylbut-1-yl)guanine; BRL 39123] were studied and compared with those of acyclovir. In uninfected MRC-5 cells, low concentrations of the triphosphates of penciclovir and acyclovir were occasionally just detectable, the limit of detection being about 1 pmol/10(6) cells. In contrast, in cells infected with either herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) or varicella-zoster virus (VZV), penciclovir was phosphorylated quickly to give high concentrations of the triphosphate ester. Following the removal of penciclovir from the culture medium, penciclovir-triphosphate remained trapped within the cells for a long time (half-lives, 20 and 7 h in HSV-2- and VZV-infected cells, respectively). In HSV-2-infected cells, acyclovir was phosphorylated to a lesser extent and the half-life of the triphosphate ester was only 1 h. We were unable to detect any phosphates of acyclovir in VZV-infected cells. (S)-Penciclovir-triphosphate inhibited HSV-1 and HSV-2 DNA polymerase competitively with dGTP, the Ki values being 8.5 and 5.8 microM, respectively, whereas for acyclovir-triphosphate, the Ki value was 0.07 microM for the two enzymes. Both compounds had relatively low levels of activity against the cellular DNA polymerase alpha, with Ki values of 175 and 3.8 microM, respectively. (S)-Penciclovir-triphosphate did inhibit DNA synthesis by HSV-2 DNA polymerase with a defined template-primer, although it was not an obligate chain terminator like acyclovir-triphosphate. These results provide a biochemical rationale for the highly selective and effective inhibition of HSV-2 and VZV DNA synthesis by penciclovir and for the greater activity of penciclovir than that of acyclovir when HSV-2-infected cells were treated for a short time.