title: L-nucleosides: antiviral activity and molecular mechanism.
abstract: Drug discovery for antiviral chemotherapy has provided the effective treatment of numerous viral diseases. Among antiviral agents used in therapy, nucleoside analogues have been particularly useful. In fact, almost twenty nucleosides are currently used in antiviral therapy, seven of which are for the treatment of HIV infection. In the search for new and effective agents within this class, the focus has recently expanded on L-analogues, characterized by opposite configuration compared to the natural D-nucleosides. The interest in L-nucleosides has risen since the discovery of 3TC, one of the most important drugs used in the treatment of AIDS and hepatitis B infection. This review will discuss the latest advances in L-nucleosides as antiviral agents with a particular focus on the synthesis and molecular mechanism as well as metabolic differences between L- and D-nucleosides.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA. DCHU@RX.UGA.EDU
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gumina
authors.forename: Youhoon
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chong
authors.forename: Hyunah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Choo
authors.forename: Gyu-Yong
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Chung K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Chu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D001711:Biotransformation; D006801:Humans; D009705:Nucleosides / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D010766:Phosphorylation; D013237:Stereoisomerism; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D009705:Nucleosides