The Enzymatic Synthesis and Anti-HIV Activity of 9-β-D-2-Deoxy and 9-β-D-2′,3′-Dideoxynucleossdes of 2-Aminopurine

The 9-β-D-2′-deoxy and 9-β-D-2′,3′-dideoxyribonucleosides of 2-aminopurine have been prepared using crude nucleoside N-deoxyribosyltransferases (E.C. 2.4.2.6) from Lactobacillus leichmannii in the presence of 10% ethylene glycol to inhibit degradation of the product nucleosides. The 2′,3′-dideoxynucleoside of 2-aminopurine is an inhibitor of the replication of HIV-1, HIV-2, and SIV with EC50 values in the range 8–100 μM depending on the cell line used and has low in vitro toxicity at its effective concentrations.