Use of isotopically chiral [4'-13C]penciclovir and 13C NMR to determine the specificity and absolute configuration of penciclovir phosphate esters formed in HSV-1 and HSV-2 infected cells and by HSV-1-encoded thymidine kinase.

Penciclovir is a potent antiherpesvirus agent which is highly selective due to its phosphorylation only in virus infected cells. Phosphorylation of one of the hydroxymethyl groups of penciclovir (PCV) creates a chiral centre leading to the possible formation of (R)- and (S)-enantiomers. The absolute configuration and stereospecificity of the PCV-phosphates produced in cells infected with herpes simplex viruses types 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and HSV-2), as well as by HSV-1-encoded thymidine kinase, were determined using isotopically chiral [4'-13C]PCV precursors and 13C NMR spectroscopy of the isolated metabolites. The absolute configuration of penciclovir-triphosphate (PCV-TP) produced in HSV-1 infected cells was shown to be S with an enantiomeric purity of greater than 95%. However, in contrast fo HSV-1-infected cells in which none of the (R) enantiomer was detected, about 10% of (R)-PCV-TP was produced in HSV-2-infected cells. Phosphorylation of PCV by HSV-1-encoded thymidine kinase was found to give 75% (S)- and 25% (R)-PCV-monophosphate. The proportion of the (S)-isomer appears to be amplified in the subsequent phosphorylations leading to the triphosphate.