Nucleoside Phosphate-Conjugates Come of Age: Catalytic Transformation, Polymerase Recognition and Antiviral Properties

Over the past few decades, different types of nucleoside phosphate-conjugates have been under extensive investigation due to their favorable molecular lability with interesting catalytic hydrolysis mechanisms, recognition as polymerase substrates, and especially for their development as antiviral/ anticancer protide therapeutics. The antiviral conjugates such as nucleoside phosphoesters and phosphoramidates that were discovered and developed in the initial years have been well reviewed by the pioneers in the field. In the present review, we will discuss the basic chemical and biological principles behind consideration of some representative structural classes. We will also summarize the chemical and biological properties of some of the more recent analogues that were synthesized and evaluated in our laboratory and by others. This includes new principles for their application as direct substrates of polymerases, nucleobasedependent catalytic and antiviral activity, and a plausible ‘prodrug of a prodrug’ strategy for tissue/organ-specific targeted drug delivery.