Compounds for treating human papillomavirus

1. A method of identifying a compound that inhibits an activity of the human papillomavirus (HPV) 16 E6 protein, the method comprising:

(a) providing a compound of formula (I):

wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 6 and R 7 are each, independently, selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, haloalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, aralkyl, heteroaralkyl, heterocyclyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkenyl, heterocycloalkenyl, alkoxy, haloalkoxy, halo, hydroxy, carboxy, carboxylate, formyl, acyl, cyano, nitro, amino, alkyl amino, SO 3 H, sulfate, phosphate, methylenedioxy, ethylenedioxy, oxo, thioxo, imino, S(O) n alkyl, S(O) n aryl, S(O) n heteroaryl, S(O) n heterocyclyl, amine, ester, amide, and sulfonamide;

Ar is selected from the group consisting of aryl and heteroaryl;

R 8 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and C 1 -C 10 alkyl; and

X is selected from the group consisting of S and O; and

(b) determining whether the compound alters the level of binding between E6 and a protein containing an E6 binding motif, wherein a decrease in the level of binding between the E6 protein and the protein containing an E6 binding motif in the presence of the compound compared to the level binding in the absence of the compound identifies the compound as a compound that inhibits an activity of the HPV 16 E6 protein.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the protein containing an E6 binding motif is E6BP protein or E6AP protein.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein determining whether the compound alters the level of binding between E6 and the E6BP protein or the E6AP protein comprises analyzing the binding of E6 and E6BP or E6AP in vitro.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining whether the compound alters the level of binding between E6 and the protein containing an E6 binding motif comprises analyzing p53 degradation in vitro.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein a compound that has an IC50 for inhibition of p53 degradation between 1 and 2 μM is identified as a compound that inhibits the activity of the HPV 16 E6 protein.

6. A method of identifying a chemical derivative that inhibits an activity of the human papillomavirus (HPV) 16 E6 protein, the method comprising:

(a) providing a compound, wherein the compound is:

(b) generating a chemical derivative of the compound; and

(c) determining whether the chemical derivative alters the level of binding between E6 and a protein containing an E6 binding motif, wherein a decrease in the level of binding between the E6 protein and the protein containing an E6 binding motif in the presence of the chemical derivative compared to the level binding in the absence of the chemical derivative identifies the chemical derivative as a chemical derivative that inhibits an activity of the HPV 16 E6 protein.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein determining whether the chemical derivative alters the level of binding between E6 and the protein containing an E6 binding motif comprises analyzing the binding of E6 and E6BP in vitro.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein determining whether the chemical derivative alters the level of binding between E6 and the protein containing an E6 binding motif comprises analyzing p53 degradation.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein X is O, R 1 is hydroxyl, R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 6 and R 7 are hydrogen, R 8 is C 1 -C 10 alkyl, and Ar is aryl.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing a compound of formula (I) comprises providing the compound:

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein determining whether the compound alters the level of binding between E6 and the E6BP protein or the E6AP protein comprises analyzing the binding of E6 and E6BP or E6AP in vitro.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein determining whether the compound alters the level of binding between E6 and the protein containing an E6 binding motif comprises analyzing p53 degradation in vitro.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein a compound that has an IC50 for inhibition of p53 degradation between 1 and 2 μM is identified as a compound that inhibits the activity of the HPV 16 E6 protein.

14. A method of identifying a compound that inhibits an activity of the human papillomavirus (HPV) 16 E6 protein, the method comprising:

(a) providing a compound of formula (I):

wherein R 1 is hydroxyl; R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 6 and R 7 are each hydrogen; R 8 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and C 1 -C 10 alkyl; Ar is selected from the group consisting of aryl and heteroaryl; and X is selected from the group consisting of S and O;

(b) generating a chemical derivative of the compound; and

(c) determining whether the chemical derivative alters the level of binding between E6 and a protein containing an E6 binding motif, wherein a decrease in the level of binding between the E6 protein and the protein containing an E6 binding motif in the presence of the chemical derivative compared to the level binding in the absence of the chemical derivative identifies the chemical derivative as a chemical derivative that inhibits an activity of the HPV 16 E6protein.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein X is O, R 8 is C 1 -C 10 alkyl and Ar is aryl.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the compound is:

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein determining whether the chemical derivative alters the level of binding between E6 and the protein containing an E6 binding motif comprises analyzing the binding of E6 and E6BP in vitro.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein determining whether the chemical derivative alters the level of binding between E6 and the protein containing an E6 binding motif comprises analyzing p53 degradation.