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PubMed1990

Expression, purification, and crystallization of the HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT).

The HIV-1 pol gene proteins (protease, reverse transcriptase, and endonuclease) were expressed in Escherichia coli N4830-1 by the use of the inducible expression vector pWS60 into which the pol gene was inserted. The p66/p51 heterodimer of reverse transcriptase (RT) was isolated in a highly pure and active form. Crystals of the p66/p51 heterodimer were obtained by the vapor diffusion hanging drop technique. The present crystal quality is still not adequate for high resolution X-ray investigation.

Crystallization↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Reverse transcriptase and its biological role].

Elements with open-reading translation frames homologous to retroviral RNA-dependent DNA polymerases (reverse transcriptases) were found in eukaryotic cell genomes. Expression of endogenous reverse transcriptases in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells is confirmed directly and indirectly. Evolution and function of reverse transcriptases are analyzed, and their phylogenetic and ontogenetic role is evaluated.

Biological Evolution↗
PubMed2005

The role of Thr139 in the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcriptase sensitivity to (+)-calanolide A.

The coumarins represent a unique class of non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) that were isolated from tropical plants. (+)-Calanolide A, the most potent compound of this class, selects for the T139I resistance mutation in HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT). Seven RTs mutated at amino acid position 139 (Ala, Lys, Tyr, Asp, Ile, Ser, and Gln) were constructed by site-directed mutagenesis. The mutant T139Q enzyme retained full catalytic activity compared with wild-type RT, whereas the mutant T139I, T139S, and T139A RTs retained only 85 to 50% of the activity. Mutant T139K, T139D, and T139Y RTs had seriously impaired catalytic activities. The mutations in the T139I and T139D RTs were shown to destabilize the RT heterodimer. (+)-Calanolide A lost inhibitory activity (up to 20-fold) against the mutant T139Y, T139Q, T139K, and T139I enzymes. All of the mutant enzymes retained marked susceptibility toward the other NNRTIs, including nevirapine, delavirdine, efavirenz, thiocarboxanilide UC-781, quinoxaline GW867420X, TSAO [[2',5'-bis-O-(tert-butyldimethylsilyl)-beta-D-ribofuranosyl]-3'-spiro-5''-(4''-amino-1'',2''-oxathiole-2'',2''-dioxide)] derivatives, and the nucleoside inhibitor, ddGTP. The fact that the T139I RT 1) proved to be resistant to (+)-calanolide A, 2) represents a catalytically efficient enzyme, and 3) requires only a single transition point mutation (ACA-->ATA) in codon 139 seems to explain why mutant T139I RT virus strains, but not virus strains containing other amino acid changes at this position, predominantly emerge in cell cultures under (+)-calanolide A pressure.

Coumarins↗
PubMed1998

Multiple concurrent reverse transcriptase and protease mutations and multidrug resistance of HIV-1 isolates from heavily treated patients.

BACKGROUND: Drug resistance of HIV-1 is an obstacle to the long-term efficacy of antiretroviral therapy. OBJECTIVE: To characterize reverse transcriptase and protease genes of multidrug-resistant HIV-1 isolates. DESIGN: Descriptive case series. SETTING: Academic medical center. PATIENTS: Four consecutive patients with HIV-1 infection were selected because they had previously received many antiretroviral drugs and had not achieved plasma HIV-1 RNA suppression despite treatment with several three-drug combinations. MEASUREMENTS: Reverse transcriptase sequencing, protease sequencing, and drug susceptibility testing of HIV-1. RESULTS: Isolates of HIV-1 from the four patients shared seven protease mutations and eight reverse transcriptase mutations. These mutations were present in biological clones and at three time points in three of the patients. Susceptibility testing showed high-level resistance (30-fold to >100-fold) to zidovudine, lamivudine, saquinavir, indinavir, and nelfinavir and lower-level resistance (3-fold to 5-fold) to didanosine, zalcitabine, and stavudine. CONCLUSIONS: Simultaneous resistance to almost all available antiretroviral drugs may occur in HIV-1. The concordance and persistence of mutations in drug-resistant HIV-1 isolates suggest that some combinations of reverse transcriptase and protease mutations give the virus a selective advantage in the presence of various drug combinations.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1988

Expression of soluble, enzymatically active, human immunodeficiency virus reverse transcriptase in Escherichia coli and analysis of mutants.

We have constructed a plasmid that, when introduced into Escherichia coli, induces the synthesis of large quantities of a protein with an apparent molecular mass of 66 kDa that differs from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) RNA-dependent DNA polymerase (deoxynucleoside-triphosphate:DNA deoxynucleotidyltransferase or reverse transcriptase, EC 2.7.7.49) only in that it has two additional amino-terminal amino acids. This protein is soluble in E. coli extracts, is active in reverse transcriptase assays, and shows inhibition profiles with dideoxy-TTP and dideoxy-GTP that are indistinguishable from the viral enzyme. The deletion of 23 amino-terminal or carboxyl-terminal amino acids or the insertion of 5 amino acids at position 143 substantially decreases the polymerizing activity of the HIV reverse transcriptase made in E. coli. The properties of a 51-kDa reverse transcriptase-related protein made in E. coli suggests that the p51 found in the virion probably does not have substantial polymerizing activity. The full-length HIV reverse transcriptase and the various mutant proteins produced in E. coli should be quite useful for structural and biochemical analyses as well as for the production of antibodies.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2004

Nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor drug interactions.

Since their advent the nucleoside and nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors have consolidated their position as the 'backbone' of many antiretroviral therapy regimens. The ability of this class of drugs to combine successfully with members of their own as well as other antiretroviral classes has enabled the effective suppression of HIV replication to occur. Many of these therapeutic combinations rely on synergistic interactions to achieve this. There are, however, also many unfavourable pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic interactions between the members of nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors, as well as with other antiretroviral classes and non-HIV drugs. This article aims to identify clinically relevant, beneficial and detrimental interactions of this class of antiretroviral agent.

Drug Interactions↗
PubMed1991

Substrate inhibition of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcriptase.

Substrate inhibition was observed with the heterodimeric (p66/p51) and the homodimeric (p66/p66, p51/p51) forms of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcriptase (RNA-dependent DNA polymerase, EC 2.7.7.49). An apparent Ki value of 195 +/- 37 microM was determined for dTTP using the bacterial cloned and expressed heterodimer. Similar values were obtained with the homodimeric and the virus-encoded enzymes. When poly-(rC).p(dG)10 was used as template-primer, dGTP exhibited substrate inhibition with an apparent Ki value of 189 +/- 32 microM. Substrate inhibition was not observed with dTTP when DNA.DNA template-primers were used. Hill coefficients for substrate binding determined in the presence of saturating concentrations of template-primer were equal to 1.0, suggesting that substrate inhibition of the heterodimer is not the result of an allosteric mechanism involving the p51 subunit. Furthermore, UV crosslinking experiments with [gamma-32P]dTTP showed crosslinking only to the p66 subunit. Substrate inhibition was not as pronounced with other retroviral reverse transcriptases as it was with human immunodeficiency type 1 reverse transcriptase.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1992

A nonradioactive micro-assay for released reverse transcriptase activity of a lentivirus.

A nonradioactive micro-assay procedure for detection of released reverse transcriptase activity from cells infected with equine infectious anemia virus is described. This procedure utilizes biotinylated-dUTP in conjunction with a streptavidin-alkaline phosphatase conjugate. Detection of alkaline phosphatase is by autoradiography of the chemiluminescence produced during enzymatic dephosphorylation of Lumi Phos 530. This method, as with reverse transcriptase micro-assays employing 32P-labeled nucleotides, is suited to the processing of numerous samples, while having the advantages of safety and stability normally associated with nonradioactive methods of detection. Sensitivity is comparable to a reverse transcriptase micro-assay using 32P-dTTP.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗
PubMed2001

The reverse transcriptase model of somatic hypermutation.

The evidence supporting the reverse transcriptase model of somatic hypermutation is critically reviewed. The model provides a coherent explanation for many apparently unrelated findings. We also show that the somatic hypermutation pattern in the human BCL-6 gene can be interpreted in terms of the reverse transcriptase model and the notion of feedback of somatically mutated sequences to the germline over evolutionary time.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Product-enhanced reverse transcriptase assay for replication-competent retrovirus and lentivirus detection.

The product-enhanced reverse transcriptase (PERT) assay has been used to detect reverse transcriptase (RT) activity associated with retroviruses. Although the PERT assay has been proposed as a method for detection of replication-competent retrovirus (RCR) and lentivirus (RCL), it has not been rigorously compared with existing methods for RCR and RCL detection. We have assessed the PERT assay for detection of RCL and RCR that may contaminate lentiviral and retroviral vectors and compared it with published methods for RCL (p24gag ELISA/gag PCR) and RCR (S+/L-) detection. Our results suggest that the PERT assay is as sensitive as p24gag ELISA and gag PCR for detection of replication-competent HIV-1 in an RCL detection assay. Comparison of detection of replication-competent retroviruses, GALV and RD114, by extended S+/L- and PERT assays indicates that both assays can detect 1 IU of each virus. Our findings suggest that the PERT assay can be used for RCL and RCR testing of a variety of retroviral vectors regardless of the structure, sequence, and envelope of the vectors.

Biological Assay↗
PubMed2003

HIV-1 resistance profile of the novel nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor beta-D-2',3'-dideoxy-2',3'-didehydro-5-fluorocytidine (Reverset).

Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) represent the cornerstone of highly active antiretroviral therapy when combined with non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) or HIV-1 protease inhibitors (PIs). Unlike the NNRTIs and PIs, NRTIs must be successively phosphorylated by cellular kinases to a triphosphate form, which represents the active metabolite possessing antiviral activity. Emergence of viral resistance to NRTIs has severely hampered treatment options for persons infected with HIV-1. As such, there is an urgent need to develop NRTIs capable of suppressing NRTI-resistant strains of HIV-1. We have recently reported that the cytidine analogue D-d4FC (DPC817, Reverset) effectively inhibits clinically prevalent resistant strains of HIV-1. In this report, we have extended these findings and now describe a detailed resistance profile for this novel NRTI. By examining a panel of 50 viruses carrying RTs derived from HIV-1 clinical isolates displaying a wide range of NRTI resistance mutations, we report that the median fold increase in effective antiviral concentration for such a panel of viruses is 3.2, which is comparable to tenofovir (2.8-fold) and didanosine (2.4-fold). D-d4FC is highly effective at inhibiting subsets of lamivudine- and zidovudine-resistant variants but, like other NRTIs, seems less potent against multi-NRTI-resistant viruses, particularly those carrying the Q151M complex of mutations. Finally, in vitro selections for HIV-1 mutants capable of replicating in the presence of D-d4FC yielded a mutant carrying the RT K65R mutation. This mutation confers 5.3- to 8.7-fold resistance to D-d4FC in vitro. These findings suggest that D-d4FC may represent an alternative NRTI for the treatment of individuals infected with lamivudine- and zidovudine-resistant strains of HIV-1.

Adenine↗
PubMed1996

Targeting delavirdine/atevirdine resistant HIV-1: identification of (alkylamino)piperidine-containing bis(heteroaryl)piperazines as broad spectrum HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibitors.

A novel class of bis(heteroaryl)piperazine (BHAP) analogs which possesses the ability to inhibit NNRTI (non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor) resistant recombinant HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) and NNRTI resistant variants of HIV-1 has been identified via targeted screening. Further investigation of the structure-activity relationships of close congeners of these novel (alkylamino)piperidine BHAPs (AAP-BHAPs) led to the synthesis of several compounds possessing the desired phenotype (e.g., activity against recombinant RTs carrying the Y181C and P236L substitutions). Further structural modifications were required to inhibit metabolism and modulate solubility in order to obtain compounds with the desired biological profile as well as appropriate pharmaceutical properties. The AAP-BHAPs with the most suitable characteristics were compounds 7, 15, and 36.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Expression of reverse transcriptase genes in Fulvia fulva.

Antibodies raised against intercellular fluid antigens isolated from diseased tomato leaves have revealed that the fungal pathogen Fulvia fulva expresses genes for a fungal reverse transcriptase (RNA-dependent DNA polymerase). This enzyme is required for the replication of retroviruses and retroviral-like transposable elements and could provide a mechanism for increasing the mutation rate of fungal pathogens, perhaps explaining their ability to evolve new races rapidly. We report here the DNA sequence of a 225-bp clone from a lambda gt11 genomic library of F. fulva. This clone, designated P5, exhibits a high degree of sequence homology with the reverse transcriptase (pol) gene of the Drosophila melanogaster copia-like retrotransposon 17.6. Southern blot analysis of genomic DNA of F. fulva showed that P5-related sequences are moderately reiterated with 30-100 copies, some of which exhibit restriction fragment length polymorphism in different races of the pathogen. Western blot analysis of extracts from F. fulva with antibodies raised to purified reverse transcriptase (from human immunodeficiency virus-1) revealed immunoreactive proteins. Reverse transcriptase previously has been detected in a variety of organisms including yeast, insects, protozoa, and mammals, but to our knowledge, this is the first report of its occurrence in filamentous fungi.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Antiviral drug resistance mutations in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcriptase occur in specific RNA structural regions.

A statistically significant correlation exists between the locations of drug resistance mutations (DRMs) observed for various reverse transcriptase inhibitors and features of the secondary structure predicted for the RNA coding for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcriptase. The known DRMs map onto "unstable" bases, which are predominantly nonhelical regions (i.e., loops, bulges, and bends) of the predicted RNA secondary structure, whereas codons for the key conserved residues of polymerase sequence motifs map onto "stable" paired bases involved in helical regions. On the basis of these results, we hypothesize that the secondary structure of the RNA template (in this case, the reverse transcriptase gene itself) may be a previously unrecognized factor contributing to base misincorporation errors during reverse transcription and that, rather than being randomly distributed, mutations are more likely to occur in specific regions of the genome. The results suggest that these "mutation-prone" regions can be predicted by using a standard algorithm for RNA secondary structure.

Antiviral Agents↗
PubMed1979

Detection of reverse transcriptase activity in human cells.

Samples of three nonmalignant and seven leukemic human cells were examined for DNA polymerase activity that could be identified as RNA tumor virus reverse transcriptase. Experiments on virus-infected model animal cells provided the basis for cell fractionation procedures, and reconstituted systems of known virus, added to human cells, established a threshold of virus detection by enzyme assay at 1 to 10 particles/cell. DNA polymerase activity with some properties similar to a reverse transcriptase was detected in some of the human leukemic cells. However, parallel analyses of nonmalignant cells showed sufficient similarities to raise serious questions about the specificity of the criteria. Reverse transcriptase activity has been reported to be present in white blood cells from a proportion of cases of leukemia; however, it is concluded from the present study that the usual enzymatic criteria using synthetic template primers, which were used in most of the studies reported, are not sufficient to identify a DNA polymerase activity as viral reverse transcriptase.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

In vitro characterization of a simian immunodeficiency virus-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) chimera expressing HIV type 1 reverse transcriptase to study antiviral resistance in pigtail macaques.

Antiviral resistance is a significant obstacle in the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-infected individuals. Because nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) specifically target HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) and do not effectively inhibit simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) RT, the development of animal models to study the evolution of antiviral resistance has been problematic. To facilitate in vivo studies of NNRTI resistance, we examined whether a SIV that causes immunopathogenesis in pigtail macaques could be made sensitive to NNRTIs. Two simian-human immunodeficiency viruses (SHIVs) were derived from the genetic background of SIV(mne): SIV-RT-YY contains RT substitutions intended to confer NNRTI susceptibility (V181Y and L188Y), and RT-SHIV(mne) contains the entire HIV-1 RT coding region. Both mutant viruses grew to high titers in vitro but had reduced fitness relative to wild-type SIV(mne). Although the HIV-1 RT was properly processed into p66 and p51 subunits in RT-SHIV(mne) particles, the RT-SHIV(mne) virions had lower levels of RT per viral genomic RNA than HIV-1. Correspondingly, there was decreased RT activity in RT-SHIV(mne) and SIV-RT-YY particles. HIV-1 and RT-SHIV(mne) were similarly susceptible to the NNRTIs efavirenz, nevirapine, and UC781. However, SIV-RT-YY was less sensitive to NNRTIs than HIV-1 or RT-SHIV(mne). Classical NNRTI resistance mutations were selected in RT-SHIV(mne) after in vitro drug treatment and were monitored in a sensitive allele-specific real-time RT-PCR assay. Collectively, these results indicate that RT-SHIV(mne) may be a useful model in macaques for the preclinical evaluation of NNRTIs and for studies of the development of drug resistance in vivo.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Preclinical evaluation of HBY 097, a new nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 replication.

HBY 097 [(S)-4-isopropoxycarbonyl-6-methoxy-3-(methylthiomethyl)-3, 4-dihydroquinoxaline-2(1H)-thione] was selected from a series of quinoxalines as a nonnucleoside inhibitor of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) reverse transcriptase (NNRTI). HBY 097 was shown to be a highly potent inhibitor of HIV-1 induced cell killing and HIV-1 replication in a variety of human cell lines as well as in fresh human peripheral blood lymphocytes and macrophages. The compound was also active against a variety of clinical isolates of HIV-1 including different HIV-1 subtypes and viruses resistant to 3'-deoxy-3'-azidothymidine. Mutant reverse transcriptases which arise as a consequence of treatment with other nonnucleoside inhibitors of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase were still inhibited by HBY 097 at relatively low concentrations. An HIV-1MN variant resistant to inhibition by HBY 097 displayed in the reverse transcriptase gene a mutation causing a substitution at position 190 of a glutamic acid for a glycine residue (G190 --> E), which is characteristic for quinoxaline derivatives. The drug was demonstrated to possess a favorable toxicity profile and to show good oral bioavailability in both mice and dogs. As a consequence of its outstanding properties, HBY 097 was selected for further development and is at present undergoing clinical trials.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Synthesis of AZT 5'-triphosphate mimics and their inhibitory effects on HIV-1 reverse transcriptase.

In search of active nucleoside 5'-triphosphate mimics, we have synthesized a series of AZT triphosphate mimics (AZT P3Ms) and evaluated their inhibitory effects on HIV-1 reverse transcriptase as well as their stability in fetal calf serum and in CEM cell extracts. Reaction of AZT with 2-chloro-4H-1,3,2-benzodioxaphosphorin-4-one, followed by treatment of the phosphite intermediate 2 with pyrophosphate analogues, yielded the cyclic triphosphate intermediates 4b-4f, which were subjected to boronation and subsequent hydrolysis to give AZT 5'-alpha-borano-beta,gamma-bridge-modified triphosphates 6b-6f in moderate to good yields. Reaction of the cyclic intermediate 4d with iodine, followed by treatment with a series of nucleophiles, afforded the AZT 5'-beta,gamma-difluoromethylene-gamma-substituted triphosphates (7b-7i). Several different types of AZT P3Ms containing alpha-P-thio (or dithio) and beta,gamma-difluoromethylene (13,14), alpha,beta-difluoromethylene and gamma-P-methyl(or phenyl) (15,16), and alpha-borano-beta,gamma-difluoromethylene and gamma-O-methyl/phenyl (11,12) were also synthesized. The effectiveness of the compounds as inhibitors of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase was determined using a fluorometric assay and a poly(A) homopolymer as a template. A number of AZT P3Ms exhibited very potent inhibition of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase. Modifications at the beta,gamma-bridge of triphosphate rendered the AZT P3Ms 6b-6f with varied activities (K(i) from 9.5 to >>500 nM) while modification at the alpha,beta-bridge of triphosphate led to weak AZT P3M inhibitors. The results imply that the AZT P3Ms were substrate inhibitors, as is AZT triphosphate. The most active compound, AZT 5'-alpha-R(p)()-borano-beta,gamma-(difluoromethylene)triphosphate (AZT 5'-alphaB-betagammaCF(2)TP) (6d-I), is as potent as AZT triphosphate with a K(i)() value of 9.5 nM and at least 20-fold more stable than AZT triphosphate in the serum and cell extracts. Therefore, for the first time, a highly active and stable nucleoside triphosphate mimic has been identified, which is potentially useful as a new type of antiviral drug. The promising triphosphate mimic, 5'-alpha-borano-beta,gamma-(difluoromethylene)triphosphate, is expected to be valuable to the discovery of nucleotide mimic antiviral drugs.

Drug Stability↗