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Antisense oligonucleotides inhibit in vitro cDNA synthesis by HIV-1 reverse transcriptase.

The inhibition of reverse transcription by various chemically modified antisense oligonucleotides was studied in a cell-free system, composed of an RNA template, a primer oligodeoxynucleotide, and the HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT). Different mechanisms of inhibition were observed depending on the chemical structure of the antisense molecule. (1) The hybridization of 2'-O-allyl oligonucleotide to the RNA template promotes a physical arrest of the polymerase. (2) The antisense effect of phosphodiester or phosphorothioate oligonucleotides is essentially due to the RNase H-mediated cleavage of the RNA. (3) A third mechanism was observed with phosphorothioate oligonucleotides that directly interact with the enzyme. Chimeric oligonucleotides, composed of an unmodified region flanked by 2'-O-methyl groups, led to less efficient inhibition than the parent unmodified oligomer, although the inhibitory mechanism was the same. No inhibitory effect was detected when alpha or methylphosphonate oligomers were used.

Antiviral Agents↗

Structure-based design, parallel synthesis, structure-activity relationship, and molecular modeling studies of thiocarbamates, new potent non-nucleoside HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibitor isosteres of phenethylthiazolylthiourea derivatives.

In this paper we describe our structure-based ligand design, synthetic strategy, and structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies that led to the identification of thiocarbamates (TCs), a novel class of non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs), isosteres of phenethylthiazolylthiourea (PETT) derivatives. Assuming as a lead compound O-[2-(phthalimido)ethyl]phenylthiocarbamate 12, one of the precursors of the previously described acylthiocarbamates (Ranise, A.; et al. J. Med. Chem. 2003, 46, 768-781), two targeted solution-phase TC libraries were prepared by parallel synthesis. The lead optimization strategy led to para-substituted TCs 31, 33, 34, 39, 40, 41, 44, 45, and 50, which were active against wild-type HIV-1 in MT-4-based assays at nanomolar concentrations (EC50 range: 0.04-0.01 microM). The most potent congener 50 (EC50 = 0.01 microM) bears a methyl group at position 4 of the phthalimide moiety and a nitro group at the para position of the N-phenyl ring. Most of the TCs showed good selectivity indices, since no cytotoxic effect was detected at concentrations as high as 100 microM. TCs 31, 37, 39, 40, and 44 significantly reduced the multiplication of the Y181C mutant, but they were inactive against K103R and K103N + Y181C mutants. Nevertheless, the fold increase in resistance of 41 was not greater than that of efavirenz against the K103R mutant in enzyme assays. The docking model predictions were consistent with in vitro biological assays of the anti-HIV-1 activity of the TCs and related compounds synthesized.

Anti-HIV Agents↗

Nigranoic acid, a triterpenoid from Schisandra sphaerandra that inhibits HIV-1 reverse transcriptase.

An A ring-secocycloartene triterpenoid, nigranoic acid (3,4-secocycloarta-4(28),24-(Z)-diene-3,-26-dioic acid, (1) was isolated from the stems of Schisandra sphaerandra, a Chinese traditional medicinal plant. Its structure elucidation and unambiguous NMR spectral assignment were achieved by the combination of 1D- and 2D-NMR techniques with the aid of computer modeling. Nigranoic acid showed activity in several anti-HIV reverse transcriptase and polymerase assays.

China↗

Effect of RNA secondary structure on RNA cleavage catalyzed by HIV-1 reverse transcriptase.

Using a synthetic 66 nucleotide RNA template containing a stable hairpin structure derived from the HIV-1 genome, six predominant RNA cleavage products are found during DNA synthesis catalyzed by HIV-1 RT. These major RNA cleavage sites correlate well with the pause sites seen during primer elongation [Suo, Z., & Johnson, K. A. (1997) Biochemistry (manuscript submitted for publication)]. Thus, the RNase H and polymerase activities of RT are coupled as RT reads through the RNA secondary structure. The distance between the two active sites of HIV-1 RT is 19-20 base pairs of DNA/RNA heteroduplex when the next template base is not paired. The heteroduplex region was enlarged by 2-3 base pairs once RT encounters the template hairpin. A model for this change is presented. At the pause sites, the burst amplitudes of RNA cleavage are larger than the corresponding reaction amplitudes of next nucleotide incorporation at the polymerase site. Measurement of the steady state rates of RNA cleavage confirms that all substrates dissociate slowly from RT. These results suggest that while substrates are bound nonproductively at the polymerase site, they are still bound productively at the RNase H active site of RT. Characterization of an RNase H-deficient RT mutant (D443N) shows that RNase H activity is not critical for RT to read through the RNA secondary structure. HIV-1 nucleocapsid does not increase the processivity of HIV-1 RT but inhibits DNA elongation by blocking the binding of RT to DNA substrates.

Base Sequence↗

Single-step purification of recombinant wild-type and mutant HIV-1 reverse transcriptase.

We have devised a single-step method that enables purification of HIV-1 recombinant reverse transcriptase directly from bacterial lysates in less than 2 h. Clarified lysates are applied to commercial Q- and S-matrix cartridge columns connected in series. The columns are washed with low-salt buffer to remove unbound protein, then the Q column is removed and reverse transcriptase is eluted from the S column using a salt gradient. The purification has been carried out with both medium-pressure and high-pressure chromatographic systems. Purifications are carried out at room temperature near neutral pH, providing enzyme with high DNA polymerase specific activity. A crucial aspect of the procedure is the use of Tris buffer, a buffer that is normally incompatible in cation-exchange methods. The method is applicable for the purification of the p51/p66 heterodimer and the p5l and p66 homodimer forms of reverse transcriptase. We have used this method to purify wild-type reverse transcriptase and several recombinant proteins containing mutations correlated with dideoxynucleoside drug resistance.

Blotting, Western↗

Potent dual anti-HIV and spermicidal activities of novel oxovanadium(V) complexes with thiourea non-nucleoside inhibitors of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase.

We have previously demonstrated that tetrahedral bis(cyclopentadienyl)vanadium(IV) complexes and square pyramidal oxovanadium(IV) complexes of vanadium are rapid and selective spermicidal agents at low micromolar concentrations. This study investigated the potential utility of oxovanadium in combination with thiourea non-nucleoside inhibitors (NNIs) of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) for the development of an effective dual-function anti-HIV spermicide. Two rationally designed substituted phenyl-ring containing pyridyl thiourea NNIs, N-[2-(2-chlorophenethyl)]-N(')-[2-(5-bromopyridyl)-thiourea) [1] and N-[2-(2-methoxyphenethyl)]-N(')-[2-(pyridyl)-thiourea [2] that exhibited subnanomolar IC(50) values against the drug-sensitive, drug-resistant, and multidrug-resistant strains of HIV-1, were complexed with oxovanadium. The oxovanadium-thiourea [OVT] NNIs, C(29)H(27)Br(2)Cl(2)N(6)O(2)S(2)V [3], and C(31)H(35)N(6)O(4)S(2)V [4], were synthesized by reacting VOSO(4), a V(IV) compound, with the corresponding deprotonated thiourea NNI compounds as ligands. Elemental analysis showed that each OVT-NNI used two thiourea molecules as ligands. The existence of the Vz.dbnd6;O bond (968cm(-1)) was confirmed by IR spectroscopy. No d-d bands were observed in the visible spectra of OVT-NNIs and their EPR spectra were featureless, indicating that the vanadium centers were oxidized to V(V). The new OVT-NNIs as well as their thiourea NNI ligands were evaluated for (i) anti-HIV activity using the cell-free recombinant RT inhibition assays, (ii) cellular HIV replication assays, (iii) spermicidal activity against human sperm by computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA), and (iv) cytotoxicity against normal human female genital tract epithelial cell using MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) dye-reduction assays. Similar to thiourea NNIs 1 and 2, the OVT-NNIs 3 and 4, exhibited potent anti-HIV activity with submicromolar IC(50[p24]) values (0.08 and 0.128 microM, respectively) and submicromolar IC(50[RT]) values (2.1 and 0.87 microM, respectively). Notably, OVT-NNIs were spermicidal against human sperm at low micromolar concentrations (IC(50)=34 and 55 microM, respectively) and induced rapid sperm immobilization (T(1/2)=12 and 240s) when compared with their respective thiourea NNI ligands (EC(50)=>400 microM and T(1/2)=>180min). Moreover, OVT-NNIs displayed high selectivity indices against normal female genital tract epithelial cells (IC(50) values >250 microM) when compared to the detergent-type spermicide, nonoxynol-9, which was cytotoxic at spermicidal concentrations (IC(50) values 32-64 microM). This is the first report on the dual anti-HIV and spermicidal activities of a vanadium/oxovanadium complex. Our discovery of potent anti-HIV and rapid spermicidal activities of OVT-NNIs may be useful for the development of an effective and safe vaginal anti-HIV spermicide for women who are at high risk for acquiring HIV/AIDS by heterosexual transmission.

Anti-HIV Agents↗

Carboxanilide derivative non-nucleoside inhibitors of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase interact with different mechanistic forms of the enzyme.

Researchers at the National Cancer Institute first recognized the anti-HIV potential of the carboxanilide compound oxathiin carboxanilide (UC84) [Bader, J. P., et al. (1991) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 88, 6740-6744]. We have compared the inhibitory effect of UC84 and a second-generation thiocarboxanilide derivative, UC38, on HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) RNA-dependent DNA polymerase activity. UC38 was a much better inhibitor (IC50 = 0.8 microM) than UC84 (IC50 = 4.3 microM). Inhibition by UC84 was competitive with respect to primer/template (P/T), whereas that by UC38 was uncompetitive. Both compounds were mixed noncompetitive inhibitors with respect to deoxynucleoside triphosphate (dNTP). Both compounds protected RT from irreversible photoinactivation by an azido derivative of nevirapine, implying that UC84 and UC38 bind to the same region of RT as nevirapine. UC84 photoprotected both free RT and the RT-P/T binary complex, but did not protect the RT-P/T-dNTP ternary complex. In contrast, UC38 completely photoprotected the RT-P/T-dNTP ternary complex, but not free RT or the RT-P/T binary complex. UC84 and UC38 thus appear to bind to different mechanistic forms of RT in the polymerase reaction sequence.

Affinity Labels↗

HIV-1 reverse transcriptase: crystallization and analysis of domain structure by limited proteolysis.

Bacterially expressed recombinant HIV-1 reverse transcriptase is active as both a homodimer of Mr 66,000 subunits and a heterodimer of Mr 66,000 and 51,000 subunits. The heterodimer is formed by cleavage of a C-terminal fragment from one Mr 66,000 polypeptide, which occurs during purification and crystallization of reverse transcriptase. Thus, crystals obtained from purified Mr 66,000 polypeptide preparations consisted of an apparently equimolar mixture of Mr 66,000 and 51,000 polypeptides, which were apparently analogous to the Mr 66,000 and 51,000 polypeptides detected in HIV-infected cells and in virions. Limited proteolysis of the homodimer with alpha-chymotrypsin also resulted in cleavage to a stable Mr 66,000/51,000 mixture, and proteolysis with trypsin resulted in the transient formation of some Mr 51,000 polypeptide. These results are consistent with the reverse transcriptase molecule having a protease-sensitive linker region following a structured domain of Mr 51,000. Further digestion with trypsin resulted in cleavage of the Mr 51,000 polypeptide after residue 223, yielding peptides of apparent Mr 29,000 and 30,000. A minor peptide of Mr 40,000 was also produced by cleavage of the Mr 66,000 polypeptide after residue 223. About half the original Mr 66,000 polypeptides remained resistant to proteolysis and existed in complex with the above peptides in solution. During both chymotrypsin and trypsin digestion there was an increase in the reverse transcriptase activity caused by a doubling of Vmax with little change in Km for dTTP.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Mutations that confer resistance to template-analog inhibitors of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 reverse transcriptase lead to severe defects in HIV replication.

We isolated two template analog reverse transcriptase (RT) inhibitor-resistant mutants of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 RT by using the DNA aptamer, RT1t49. The mutations associated, N255D or N265D, displayed low-level resistance to RT1t49, while high-level resistance could be observed when both mutations were present (Dbl). Molecular clones of HIV that contained the mutations produced replication-defective virions. All three RT mutants displayed severe processivity defects. Thus, while biochemical resistance to the DNA aptamer RT1t49 can be generated in vitro via multiple mutations, the overlap between the aptamer- and template-primer-binding pockets favors mutations that also affect the RT-template-primer interaction. Therefore, viruses with such mutations are replication defective. Potent inhibition and a built-in mechanism to render aptamer-resistant viruses replication defective make this an attractive class of inhibitors.

Anti-HIV Agents↗

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↗

Prediction of activity for nonnucleoside inhibitors with HIV-1 reverse transcriptase based on Monte Carlo simulations.

Results of Monte Carlo (MC) simulations for more than 200 nonnucleoside inhibitors of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (NNRTIs) representing eight diverse chemotypes have been correlated with their anti-HIV activities in an effort to establish simulation protocols and methods that can be used in the development of more effective drugs. Each inhibitor was modeled in a complex with the protein and by itself in water, and potentially useful descriptors of binding affinity were collected during the MC simulations. A viable regression equation was obtained for each data set using an extended linear response approach, which yielded r(2) values between 0.54 and 0.85 and an average unsigned error of only 0.50 kcal/mol. The most common descriptors confirm that a good geometrical match between the inhibitor and the protein is important and that the net loss of hydrogen bonds with the inhibitor upon binding is unfavorable. Other physically reasonable descriptors of binding are needed on a chemotype case-by-case basis. By including descriptors in common from the individual fits, combination regressions that include multiple data sets were also developed. This procedure led to a refined "master" regression for 210 NNRTIs with an r(2) of 0.60 and a cross-validated q(2) of 0.55. The computed activities show an rms error of 0.86 kcal/mol in comparison with experiment and an average unsigned error of 0.69 kcal/mol. Encouraging results were obtained for the predictions of 27 NNRTIs, representing a new chemotype not included in the development of the regression model. Predictions for this test set using the master regression yielded a q(2) value of 0.51 and an average unsigned error of 0.67 kcal/mol. Finally, additional regression analysis reveals that use of ligand-only descriptors leads to models with much diminished predictive ability.

Alkynes↗

Major subdomain rearrangement in HIV-1 reverse transcriptase simulated by molecular dynamics.

We have performed eight 1-ns in vacuo molecular dynamics simulations of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT). Starting with the p66 thumb subdomain in an upright configuration, the p66 thumb moved down over the palm during six of the eight trajectories, in excellent agreement with the crystallographic structure of unliganded RT. The large rearrangement of the p66 thumb subdomain, its tip moving approximately 30 A, occurs during the first 30-200 ps. This approach may allow a detailed study of the processes involved in biologically significant conformational changes in macromolecules.

Crystallography, X-Ray↗

Comparative purification of recombinant HIV-1 and HIV-2 reverse transcriptase: preparation of heterodimeric enzyme devoid of unprocessed gene product.

A procedure for producing and purifying recombinant HIV-1 and HIV-2 reverse transcriptase (RT) is described. These enzymes are produced by Escherichia coli-transformed with a plasmid containing the gene encoding for either the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) or HIV-2 RT protein. Both proteins are partially processed by host cell proteases giving rise to a mixture of heterodimeric and nonheterodimeric products, which are subsequently resolved to near homogeneity by chromatography on phosphocellulose, Q-Sepharose, and hydrophobic interaction HPLC. Both HIV-1 (66/51 kDa) and HIV-2 (68/54 kDa) heterodimeric enzymes devoid of excess unprocessed (p66 or p68) precursors are isolated, enabling comparative enzymatic characterization of the fully active (and biologically relevant) heterodimeric forms. Homogenous HIV-1 and HIV-2 RT purified by this methodology exhibit near equivalent polymerase and RNase H activities.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The structure of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase complexed with an RNA pseudoknot inhibitor.

Small RNA pseudoknots, selected to bind human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) reverse transcriptase tightly, are potent inhibitors of reverse transcriptase. The co-crystal structure of reverse transcriptase complexed with a 33 nucleotide RNA pseudoknot has been determined by fitting the ligand into a high quality, 4-fold averaged 4.8 A resolution electron density map. The RNA is kinked between stems S1 and S2, thereby optimizing its contacts with subunits of the heterodimer. Its binding site extends along the cleft that lies between the polymerase and RNase H active sites, partially overlaps with that observed for duplex DNA and presumably overlaps some portion of the tRNA site. Stem S2 and loop L1 stabilize the 'closed' conformation of the polymerase through extensive electrostatic interactions with several basic residues in helix I of the p66 thumb and in the p66 fingers domain. Presumably, this RNA ligand inhibits reverse transcriptase by binding to a site that partly overlaps the primer-template binding site.

Crystallization↗

Molecular simulation of the folding patterns of the omega-loop (Tyr181 to Tyr188) of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase.

A large, highly hydrophilic and constrained omega-loop was dissected from the allosteric area of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (segment Tyr181 to Tyr188). The loop contains two amino acids (Asp185, Asp186) of the catalytic aspartyl triad (Asp110, Asp185, Asp186) and two amino acids (Tyr181, Tyr188) of the nonnucleoside RT inhibitor (NNRTI) binding sites. Hydrogen-bonding forces between the two folded peptide chains play the greatest role in holding the two chains together and in specifying the folding patterns. The treatment of solvents as dielectric continuums surrounding the AMBER force field model has shown changes in conformation but these changes were not dramatically because the omega-loop shape was completely maintained.

Binding Sites↗

Arylthiopyrrole (AThP) derivatives as non-nucleoside HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibitors: synthesis, structure-activity relationships, and docking studies (part 2).

Arylthio isopropyl pyridinylmethylpyrrolemethanols (AThPs) have been recently reported as a new class of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) reverse transcriptase (RT) inhibitors acting at the non-nucleoside binding site (NNBS) of this enzyme. Docking experiments of the potent inhibitors 4k (IC(50) = 0.24 microM, SI = 167) and 5e (IC(50) = 0.11 microM, SI > 1667) of wild-type RT prompted the synthesis and biological evaluation of novel AThP derivatives featuring a number of polar groups in position 3 of the pyrrole ring and larger and more hydrophobic alicyclic substituents in place of the isopropyl group at position 4. Among the compounds synthesized and tested in cell-based assays against HIV-1 infected cells, 19b was the most active, with EC(50) = 0.007 microM, CC(50) = 114.5 microm, and SI = 16357. This compound and its precursor 18b retained interesting activities against clinically relevant drug-resistant RT forms carrying K103N, Y181I, and L100I mutations. Docking calculations of 10, 14, 18b, and 19b were also performed to investigate their binding mode into the RT NNBS and to rationalize both structure-activity relationship and resistance data.

Binding Sites↗

Characterization of the dimerization process of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase heterodimer using intrinsic protein fluorescence.

Intrinsic protein fluorescence has been used to study dimerization of the HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT). We observed a 25% increase of the tryptophan fluorescence of the enzyme during dissociation of the subunits induced by the addition of acetonitrile. Upon reassociation of the separated subunits, the original fluorescence emission of the heterodimer is restored. A two-state transition model for the RT dimerization process in which the dimers are in equilibrium with folded monomers is proposed. The free energy of dissociation was determined to be 12.2 (+/- 0.2) kcal/mol. In the absence of Mg2+ ions a decrease of this value was observed, whereas the addition of a synthetic primer/template (18/36mer) results in an increase of dimer stability. Analyzing the effect of Mg2+ on the establishment of the binding equilibrium, a dramatic effect with a 100-fold acceleration of the association by the divalent ion was observed.

Acetonitriles↗