Advances in biocatalytic and chemoenzymatic synthesis of nucleoside analogues
Sebastian C. Cosgrove, Gavin J. Miller
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Nucleoside analogues represent a cornerstone of achievement in drug discovery, rising to prominence particularly in the fields of antiviral and anticancer discovery over the last 60 years. Traditionally accessed using chemical synthesis, a paradigm shift to include the use of biocatalytic synthesis is now apparent. AREAS COVERED: syntheses of nucleoside analogue drugs. Finally, recent advances in technologies for effecting enzymatic nucleoside synthesis are considered, chiefly immobilization and flow. EXPERT OPINION: Enzymatic synthesis of nucleoside analogues is maturing but has yet to usurp chemical synthesis as a first-hand synthesis technology, with scalability and substrate modification primary issues. Moving forward, tandem approaches that harness expertise across molecular microbiology and chemical synthesis will be vital to unlocking the potential of next generation nucleoside analogue drug discovery.