Characterization and biological activity of 8-substituted analogues of 2',5'-oligoadenylates

Analogues of the 2',5'-linked adenylate trimer 5'-monophosphates (p5'A2'p5'A2'p5'A) containing 8-hydroxyadenosine and 8-mercaptoadenosine in the first, second, and third nucleotide positions were tested for their ability to bind to and activate RNase L of mouse L cells. The ability of p5'ASH2'p5'ASH2'p5'ASH (pASH3) (1c) to bind 2-5A dependent endonuclease was markedly decreased. On the other hand, an analogue of the 2',5'-linked adenylate trimer monophosphate substituted by 8-hydroxyadenosine in the first, second, and third nucleotide positions bound almost as well as parent 2-5A [pppA(2'p5'A)2] (p3A3) (1d) to RNase L. The 8-substituted analogues of 2-5A were more resistant to the degradation by the (2',5') phosphodiesterase. Of particular interest is monophosphate, pASH3 (1c) which possessed higher anti-HIV activity than pA3 (1a) or pAOH3 (1b).