Jože KOBE

After graduation, dr. Jože Kobe spent a year in the advanced laboratory of the ICN Nucleic Acid Research Institute with professor R. K. Robins in Irvine, California, becoming acquainted with novel concepts in medicinal chemistry and nucleic acid research in pharmaceutical firms. He introduced a novel quality in the area of theophylline analogues/pyrazolo -s- triazine ring system/ with significant inhibition of c-AMP response. He also made a contribution to the structural determination of synthetic nucleosides, which, besides synthesis, was his primary focus in a consortium organized by Professor D. Hadži, KRKA, NIC, and the Faculty of Pharmacy. He then moved to NIC, led the antiviral programme on synthetic nucleosides with the approval of KRKA. It culminated in a patent for Acyclovir synthesis and technology based on novel protection of guanine. He also carried out research on non-natural shorter DNAs by inclusion of 2’-deoxyribavirin and 8-aza-analog of guanosine (12-mer and 6-mer) (together with S. Jakša) as potential templates for post-synthetic treatment with Pt (II) reagents. The parallel quadruplex of TGG* GAG is imperative for anti-HIV activity.

Dickerson-Drew 12-mer, prepared with deoxy-Ribavirin, replacing deoxy-guanosine.

1942 Born in Ljubljana,Slovenia

1964 Degree in Chemistry, University of Ljubljana

1969 PhD on synthesis of aza-analogues of purine, University of Ljubljana

1971 Postdoc in ICN-NARI, Irvine

1974 scientific collaborator, National Institute of Chemistry (NIC), Ljubljana

1980 Visiting scientist, College of Pharmacy, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor and 1984 Astra, Lakemedel, Sweden

1992 Founder of Laboratory of Org. and Med. Chem., NIC, Ljubljana;

1995 Research professor

Important Works

Jakša S., Kralj B., Pannecouque C., Balzarini, J, DeClercq E., Kobe J. (2004): How a Modification …; Nucleosides, Nucleotides & Nuc. Acids; 37(1/2):77-88.

Kobe J., Gnidovec J., Zupet P. (1987) Proc. for Prep. 9-(2-hydroxyethoxymethyl) guanine and a Process for Preparing Intermediates: US Patent 4 701 526.

Kobe J., Robins R. K., O’Brien D. E. (1974) The Synthesis and Chem. Reactions of …, J. Het. Chem., 11:199-204.

Selected Awards

1964 Prešern student award; University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology.

1971, 1979 štipendija Fulbright, Fulbright Scholarship

1983, 1984 YU-US-joint Program: Metal Ions Complexation of Antiviral Nucleosides and Synthesis of C- nucleosides Related to Formycin and Pseudouridine.

2010 Symposium on Nucleic Acid Chemistry; Structure and Interactions. Slovenian NMR Centre, Nova Gorica; dedicated to J.K.