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Rare one and two amino acid inserts adjacent to codon 103 of the HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) affect susceptibility to non-nucleoside RT inhibitors.

HIV-1 strains that possess a one or two amino acid insert between codons 102 and 103 of the reverse transcriptase (RT) gene were identified in three HIV-1-infected individuals. Each strain also had one or more known mutations associated with nucleoside RT inhibitors (NRTIs) and non-nucleoside RT inhibitors (NNRTIs). Recombinant viruses from these strains had reduced susceptibility to efavirenz and nevirapine, and homology modelling predicted a loss of binding contacts with efavirenz. Mutagenesis studies indicated that replication of insert-containing strains was dependent on RT gene mutations and polymorphisms that co-evolved with the insert. These results suggest that inserts in the NNRTI-binding pocket contribute to NNRTI resistance, but are tolerated only under specific genetic conditions.

Alkynes↗

IFN-gamma exposes a cryptic cytotoxic T lymphocyte epitope in HIV-1 reverse transcriptase.

The proteasome, an essential component of the ATP-dependent proteolytic pathway in eukaryotic cells, is responsible for the degradation of most cellular proteins and is believed to be the main source of MHC class I-restricted antigenic peptides for presentation to CTL. Inhibition of the proteasome by lactacystin or various peptide aldehydes can result in defective Ag presentation, and the pivotal role of the proteasome in Ag processing has become generally accepted. However, recent reports have challenged this observation. Here we examine the processing requirements of two HLA A*0201-restricted epitopes from HIV-1 reverse transcriptase and find that they are produced by different degradation pathways. Presentation of the C-terminal ILKEPVHGV epitope is impaired in ME275 melanoma cells by treatment with lactacystin, and is independent of expression of the IFN-gamma-inducible proteasome beta subunits LMP2 and LMP7. In contrast, both lactacystin treatment and expression of LMP7 induce the presentation of the N-terminal VIYQYMDDL epitope. Consistent with these observations we show that up-regulation of LMP7 by IFN-gamma enhances presentation of the VIYQYMDDL epitope. Hence interplay between constitutive and IFN-gamma-inducible beta-subunits of the proteasome can qualitatively influence Ag presentation. These observations may have relevance to the patterns of immunodominance during the natural course of viral infection.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

Requirements for DNA unpairing during displacement synthesis by HIV-1 reverse transcriptase.

DNA displacement synthesis by reverse transcriptase during retroviral replication is required for the production of the linear precursor to integration. The sensitivity of unpaired thymines to KMnO(4) oxidation was used to probe for the extent of DNA melting by human immunodeficiency virus, type 1 (HIV-1) reverse transcriptase in front of the primer terminus in model oligonucleotide-based displacement constructs. Unpairing of the two base pairs downstream of the primer (+1 and +2 positions) requires the presence of the next correct dNTP, indicating that DNA melting only occurs after the formation of the ternary complex with the enzyme tightly clamped around the DNA. The amount or extent of DNA melting is not significantly affected by the length of the already-displaced strand or the base composition of the DNA beyond the +2 position. The F61W mutant form of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase, which is partially impaired for displacement synthesis, exhibits a reduction in the amount of melting at the +1 and +2 positions. These results demonstrate the importance of the observed melting to displacement synthesis and suggest that the unpairing reaction is mediated by an intimate association between the fingers region of the enzyme and the DNA in the closed clamp conformation of the protein.

Base Sequence↗

Mutations in the connection domain of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase increase 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine resistance.

We previously proposed that a balance between nucleotide excision and template RNA degradation plays an important role in nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) resistance. To explore the predictions of this concept, we analyzed the role of patient-derived C-terminal domains of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) in NRTI resistance. We found that when the polymerase domain contained previously described thymidine analog resistance mutations, mutations in the connection domain increased resistance to 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT) from 11-fold to as much as 536-fold over wild-type RT. Mutational analysis showed that amino acid substitutions E312Q, G335C/D, N348I, A360I/V, V365I, and A376S were associated strongly with the observed increase in AZT resistance; several of these mutations also decreased RT template switching, suggesting that they alter the predicted balance between nucleotide excision and template RNA degradation. These results indicate that mutations in the C-terminal domain of RT significantly enhance clinical NRTI resistance and should be considered in genotypic and phenotypic drug resistance studies.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Structure-based design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of conformationally restricted novel 2-alkylthio-6-[1-(2,6-difluorophenyl)alkyl]-3,4-dihydro-5-alkylpyrimidin-4(3H)-ones as non-nucleoside inhibitors of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase.

5-Alkyl-2-(alkylthio)-6-(2,6-difluorobenzyl)-3,4-dihydropyrimidin-4(3H)-ones (S-DABOs, 2) have been recently described as a new class of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase (RT) inhibitors (NNRTIs) active at nanomolar concentrations (Mai, A. et al. J. Med. Chem. 1999, 42, 619-627). In pursuing our lead optimization efforts, we designed novel conformationally restricted S-DABOs, 3, featuring a methyl at the benzylic carbon (Y = Me) and at the pyrimidine 5-position (R = Me). Conformational analyses and docking simulations suggested that the presence of both methyls would significantly reduce conformational flexibility without compromising, in the R enantiomers, the capability of fitting into the RT non-nucleoside binding pocket. To develop structure-activity relationships, we prepared several congeners of type 3 belonging to the thymine (R = Me) and uracil (R = H) series, featuring various 2-alkylthio side chains (X = Me, i-Pr, n-Bu, i-Bu, s-Bu, c-pentyl, and c-hexyl) and aryl moieties different from the 2,6-difluorophenyl (Ar = phenyl, 2,6-dichlorophenyl, 1-naphthyl). Moreover, alpha-ethyl derivatives (Y = Et) were included in the synthetic project in addition to alpha-methyl derivatives (Y = Me). All of the new compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxicity and anti-HIV-1 activity in MT-4 cells, and some of them were assayed against highly purified recombinant wild-type HIV-1 RT using homopolymeric template primers. The results were expressed as CC(50) (cytotoxicity), EC(50) (anti-HIV-1 activity), SI (selectivity, given by the CC(50)/EC(50) ratio), and IC(50) (RT inhibitory activity) values. In the 2,6-difluorobenzylthymine (R = Me) series, methylation of the benzylic carbon improved anti-HIV-1 and RT inhibitory activities together with selectivity. Compound 3w (Ar = 2,6-F(2)-Ph, R = Y = Me, X = c-pentyl) turned out the most potent and selective among the S-DABOs reported to date (CC(50) > 200 microM, EC(50) = 6 nM, IC(50) = 5 nM, and SI > 33 333). Assays performed on the pure enantiomer (+)-3w, much more active than (-)-3w, yielded the following results: CC(50) > 200 microM, EC(50) = 2 nM, IC(50) = 8 nM, and SI > 100 000, under conditions wherein MKC-442 was less active and selective (CC(50) > 200 microM, EC(50) = 30 nM, IC(50) = 40 nM, SI > 6666). The 2,6-difluorophenylethylthymines (R = Me) were generally endowed with higher potency compared with the uracil counterparts (R = H). In the 2,6-difluorophenyl series the best and the least performant 2-alkylthio side chains were the 2-c-pentylthio and the 2-methylthio, respectively. When the methyl at the benzylic carbon was replaced by an ethyl, activity was retained or decreased slightly, thus suggesting that the dimensions of the cavity within the RT hosting this substituent would not be compatible with groups larger than ethyl. Aryl moieties different from the 2,6-difluorophenyl (phenyl, 1-naphthyl, 2,6-dichlorophenyl) were generally detrimental to activity, consistent with a favorable electronic effect exerted by the 2,6-fluorines on a putative charge-transfer interaction between the aromatic moieties of the inhibitor and Tyr188.

Animals↗

Ritonavir combination therapy restores intestinal function in children with advanced HIV disease.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the intestinal absorptive processes in children with HIV infection before and after treatment with combination therapy that includes ritonavir. To test the hypothesis that combination therapy improves intestinal function. DESIGN: Intestinal function tests were performed in 10 children with advanced HIV disease at the enrollment and after 3 and 6 months of therapy with ritonavir combined with two HIV reverse transcriptase inhibitors. HIV viral load and CD4 cell counts were also determined; body weight was monitored. METHODS: The D-xylose absorption test, the steatocrit and the determination of fecal alpha1-antitrypsin concentration were used to evaluate carbohydrate and fat absorption, as well as fecal protein loss. Serum iron levels were measured to indirectly evaluate iron absorption. HIV-1 RNA-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immunofluorescence imaging were used to evaluate virologic and immunologic responses. RESULTS: In all, 9 children had carbohydrate malabsorption, 3 steatorrhea, 2 protein loss, and 7 iron deficiency. Most tests produced normal results after 3 months of therapy, and all abnormalities were abolished 6 months after institution of combination therapy. Mean results of each of four absorption tests were significantly changed on combination therapy. Viral load was progressively reduced and CD4 count was increased, with an inverse relationship. An evident shift of body weight pattern toward catch-up growth was observed in all children. CONCLUSIONS: Ritonavir combination therapy results in prompt and sustained restoration of intestinal function, which is associated with reduction in viral load, increase in CD4 counts, and gain in body weight.

Adolescent↗

In vitro metabolism of L-696,229, an HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibitor in rats and humans. Hepatic and extrahepatic metabolism and identification of enzymes involved in the hepatic metabolism.

The metabolism of L-696,229, 3-[2-(benzoxazol-2-yl)ethyl]-5-ethyl-6-methylpyridin-2(1H)-o ne, a potent human immunodeficiency virus-type 1 reverse transcriptase inhibitor, by rat liver, lung, gut, and kidney microsomes has been studied. L-696,229 was metabolized by rat liver microsomes to several products: the 5 alpha-hydroxyethyl (M1); 5,6-dihydrodiol (M2); 6'-hydroxy (M3); 6-hydroxymethyl (M4); and 5-vinyl (M5) metabolites. For these pathways, liver was the most active metabolizing organ, whereas lung was the major extrahepatic organ in the drug metabolism. In all tissues tested, M1 was the major metabolite. With the exception of M3, gender differences in the hepatic formation of all metabolites were observed. Enzymes responsible for the hepatic metabolism of L-696,229 in rats were also investigated using various enzyme inducers and polyclonal antibodies to rat P-450. Treatment of male rats with dexamethasone (DX) or phenobarbital (PB) caused significant increases in the hepatic formation of the gender-dependent metabolites. Methylcholanthrene (3-MC) greatly enhanced the hepatic formation of M1, M3, and M4. Immunoinhibition studies suggested that CYP2B1/2 and 2E1 were not involved in L-696,229 metabolism, whereas CYP1A was partly responsible for the formation of M1 in untreated rats. CYP3A played an important role in the formation of M1, M2, M4, and M5 in untreated and DX-treated rats. In PB-treated rats, CYP2B1/2 was involved in the increased formation of M1 and M4, whereas CYP3A was partly involved in the enhanced M2 and M4 formation, and primarily responsible for the increased M5 formation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗

Misincorporation by HIV-1 reverse transcriptase promotes recombination via strand transfer synthesis.

Genome heterogeneity in retroviruses derives from poor fidelity of the reverse transcriptase (RT) and recombination via RT-catalyzed strand transfer synthesis. RTs lack proofreading ability, and they proficiently extend primers with mismatched termini. Recombination reactions carried out in vitro are accompanied by a high frequency of base substitution errors, suggesting a relationship. Here we provide evidence that misincorporation during RNA-directed DNA synthesis promotes strand transfer recombination. Experiments involved measurement of DNA synthesis, RNase H-directed cleavage, and strand transfer synthesis from preformed mismatched primers on RNA templates by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) RT in vitro. A significant pause in synthesis occurred from a G(primer). rA(template) mismatch compared to the synthesis from a correctly paired (T.A) primer. The misincorporation-induced pause allowed an unusually large area of RT-RNase H-directed cleavage of the template RNA beneath the primer. Strand transfer to an acceptor molecule with sequence identical to the template RNA was about 50% more efficient than if the primer had had a correctly paired terminus. Overall transfer was measured over a large region of homology. Assuming that enhanced transfer occurs primarily at the site of the mismatch, the actual increase in transfer at that site must have been 1-2 orders of magnitude. Inclusion of a different acceptor molecule with complete complementarity to the originally mismatched 3' primer terminus resulted in an additional 2-fold increase in strand transfer efficiency. Overall, these results suggest the mechanism by which misincorporation during minus strand DNA synthesis in retroviral replication would promote high frequency recombination.

DNA Primers↗

3-iodo-4-phenoxypyridinones (IOPY's), a new family of highly potent non-nucleoside inhibitors of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase.

Building upon the potent anti-HIV-1 activities observed for the 3-dimethylamino-4-benzylpyridinone 2, and the corresponding 4-aryloxypyridinone analogue 3, a concise and efficient route to the 3-iodo-4-aryloxypyridinones 14a-c (IOPY's) was developed. This involved reaction of the 4-hydroxy substituted pyridinone 10 with the requisite dichloroiodobenzene reagent 11. IOPY compound 14c is active at IC(50)=1-45 nM against wild type HIV-1 and a panel of six major simple/double HIV mutant strains.

HIV-1↗

Cytotoxic T-cell responses to HIV-1 reverse transcriptase, integrase and protease.

OBJECTIVES: To determine immunodominant regions and new epitopes for cytotoxic T cells (CTL) directed against the HIV-1 pol products reverse transcriptase (RT), integrase and protease in a large cohort of patients at different stages of disease. DESIGN AND METHODS: Cross-sectional analysis of 98 patients from the French IMMUNOCO cohort (CD4 counts: 125-1050 x 10(6) cells/l), monitored for CTL recognition of HIV-1 pol products using recombinant vaccinia virus constructs and synthetic peptides. RESULTS: Memory CTL responses against HIV-1 pol products were detected in 78% of all patients whatever the stage of disease. RT was more immunogenic (81%, 30 out of 37 patients) than integrase and protease (51% and 24%, respectively). CTL recognition of RT was more frequent against Pol amino acids 310-460 (61%, 11 out of 18 patients) than against the other three portions (Pol 168-310, Pol 450-600, Pol 590-728) in patients with CD4 counts > 400 x 10(6)/l, whereas in patients at advanced stages no prominent differences were observed. Two new clusters of antigenic regions were found in the NH2 segment: three epitopes between amino-acids Pol 200 and 217 and four epitopes between amino-acids Pol 346 and 387, using five different HLA-restricting elements. A new cluster of three conserved epitopes was found in the COOH segment of RT. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that memory CTL responses against HIV-1 RT, integrase and protease are detectable in most patients at different stages of disease. The capacity of CTL to recognize simultaneously clusters of epitopes may become important for the immune control to reinforce antiretroviral drug efficiency.

Cohort Studies↗

Selective non-nucleoside HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibitors. New 2,3-dihydrothiazolo[2,3-a]isoindol-5(9bH)-ones and related compounds with anti-HIV-1 activity.

A series of substituted 2,3-dihydrothiazolo[2,3-a]isoindol-5(9bH)-ones and related compounds 1-73 were synthesized and evaluated for their ability to inhibit reverse transcriptase (RT) of the human immune deficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) and replication of HIV-1 in MT2 cells. The antiviral activity of these compounds depends on the stereoselective configuration of the substituent in position 9b. Structure-activity studies were done within these series of compounds to determine the optimum substituents for antiviral activity. The most potent inhibitors were found in the class of 2,3-dihydrothiazolo[2,3-a]isoindol-5(9bH)-ones bearing a phenyl ring system in position 9b optionally substituted with one or two methyl groups or a chlorine atom in position 8. The most active analogues (R)-(+)-1, (R)-(+)-6, (R)-(+)-13, (R)-(+)-26, and (R)-(+)-53 inhibit the HIV-1 RT with an IC50 between 16 and 300 nM and an IC50 between 10 and 392 nM in MT2 cells, respectively.

Animals↗

Primer unblocking by HIV-1 reverse transcriptase and resistance to nucleoside RT inhibitors (NRTIs).

During zidovudine and stavudine treatment, HIV-1 selects several mutations (thymidine-associated mutations, TAMs) in the reverse transcriptase gene that confer high- and moderate-levels of resistance, respectively, to these nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs). The mechanism of the resistance provided by these mutations has long remained elusive. However, recent data showed that ATP-phosphorolysis, a reaction analogous to pyrophosphorolysis (the reverse of the nucleotide incorporation reaction) in which ATP is the pyrophosphate donor, is central to this mechanism by allowing repair of the chain-terminated primer. A detailed structural and mechanistic model accounting for the specificity of the ATP-phosphorolysis and its inhibition by the next complementary nucleotide is now available. In the context of multiresistant viruses, the TAMs are also associated with resistance to abacavir, and to a lesser extent to didanisone, zalcitabine and tenofovir. When associated with the TAMs, a dipeptide insertion in the fingers of reverse transcriptase increases the ATP-phosphorolysis of most chain terminators, stressing the increasing importance of this mechanism. However, some non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) inhibit this process. In addition, point mutations conferring resistance to NNRTIs (Y181C and L100I) or NRTIs (K65R, L74V, and M184V) partially resensitize the resistant viruses to AZT by inhibiting ATP-phosphorolysis. These findings allow rationalizing the beneficial effects of some drug combinations and should contribute to improve drug cocktails. The development of NRTIs that would not allow the ATP-mediated excision to take place should prove beneficial for future treatments, even though high-level resistance to multiple NRTIs can ultimately develop in the absence of any significant primer unblocking.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Fidelity of mutant HIV-1 reverse transcriptases: interaction with the single-stranded template influences the accuracy of DNA synthesis.

We have used random sequence mutagenesis and complementation in a bacterial selection system to establish a large library of immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) reverse transcriptase (RT) mutants with amino acid substitutions in the beta3-beta4 region of the fingers subdomain [Kim, B., Hathaway, T. R., and Loeb, L. A. (1996) J. Biol. Chem. 271, 4872-4878]. We show here that one of these mutants, D76V, exhibits increased accuracy of copying both DNA and RNA templates in a primer extension assay with biased dNTP pools. More detailed analysis of DNA-dependent polymerization showed that the D76V mutation conferred an up to 14-fold increase in fidelity of nucleotide insertion and a 9-fold reduced mutation rate in an M13mp2 lacZalpha forward mutation assay. Substitution at D76 with positively charged (D76R) and nonpolar (D76V and D76I) residues increased replicational accuracy, while substitutions with negatively charged (D76E) and polar residues (D76S and D76C) had little effect on fidelity. We propose that D76 affects replicational accuracy by mediating interaction between the fingers subdomain and the single-stranded template. Our work shows that the Escherichia coli complementation system can yield HIV RT mutants with increased fidelity that have not been isolated from the natural host and that are valuable in understanding the molecular bases of replicational accuracy.

Amino Acid Substitution↗

Phosphorylation of carbovir enantiomers by cellular enzymes determines the stereoselectivity of antiviral activity.

Two enantiomers of carbovir, a carbocyclic analog of 2',3'-dideoxyguanosine, were compared with respect to their phosphorylation and the phosphorylation of their nucleotides by mammalian enzymes. 5'-Nucleotidase catalyzed the phosphorylation of (-)-carbovir, which is active against HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), but did not phosphorylate (+)-carbovir. (-)-Carbovir monophosphate was 7,000 times more efficient as a substrate for GMP kinase than was (+)-carbovir monophosphate. Pyruvate kinase, phosphoglycerate kinase, and creatine kinase phosphorylated both enantiomers of carbovir diphosphate at similar rates. Nucleoside-diphosphate kinase preferentially phosphorylated the (-)-enantiomer. Both enantiomers of carbovir triphosphate were substrates and alternative substrate inhibitors of HIV reverse transcriptase. Thus, the contrasting HIV-inhibitory activities of carbovir enantiomers were due to differential phosphorylation by cellular enzymes and not due to enantioselectivity of HIV reverse transcriptase.

Antiviral Agents↗

Pre-steady-state kinetic characterization of RNA-primed initiation of transcription by HIV-1 reverse transcriptase and analysis of the transition to a processive DNA-primed polymerization mode.

Single-turnover and equilibrium measurements were carried out to determine the basis of the apparently slow, nonprocessive polymerization reaction catalyzed by HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) during transcription initiation, when both the primer and template are composed of RNA. Comparison of the binding and kinetic parameters of a 20-mer, all-RNA primer/35-mer template substrate to one identical in sequence but composed of a 20-mer, all-DNA primer/35-mer RNA template reveals striking differences. Equilibrium titrations yielded a dissociation constant (Kd) >200 nM for the RNA/RNA-RT complex which is at least 200-fold higher than that of the DNA/RNA-substrate (Kd approximately 1 nM). The affinity of the RT-RNA/RNA complex for dTTP was found to be at least 500 times lower (Kd approximately 3.4 mM) than that of the RT-DNA/RNA complex (Kd approximately 6.6 microM). The single-turnover dNTP incorporation time course using the RNA-primer substrate, the DNA-primer substrate, or a series of RNA-primer substrates preextended with one to eight deoxynucleotides showed that dNTP incorporation occurs with a biphasic exponential burst of +1 extension product, followed by a linear phase. At least three different RT-bound forms of the p/ts exist: a fast, kinetically competent form (single-turnover rate approximately 10-50 s-1); a slow form (rate approximately 0.3-1 s-1); and a form that is dead-end (no turnover). The studies further revealed that a switch to a fast, kinetically competent p/t occurs after six dNTPs are incorporated into the RNA primer, with the switch being defined as the transition from a minority to a majority of the p/t bound in the optimal manner.

Base Composition↗

HIV-1 reverse transcriptase discriminates against non-self tRNA primers.

The interactions between the Reverse Transcriptase (RT) of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and the natural tRNA(Lys3) primer for initiation of viral DNA synthesis were examined. We constructed a set of HIV-1 RNA templates in which the wild-type primer binding site (PBS(Lys3)) is replaced by sequences complementary to tRNA(lle), tRNA(Lys1,2), tRNA(Phe), tRNA(Pro) or tRNA(Trp) and tested the ability of RT enzymes of different retroviral species to initiate cDNA synthesis from self versus non-self tRNA primers. We demonstrate that initiation of HIV-1 reverse transcription is a specific process that is most efficient with the self tRNA(Lys3) primer. Interestingly, the property of HIV-1 RT to discriminate against non-self tRNA primers is lost upon extension of the tRNA by only two deoxyribonucleotides. Furthermore, selective tRNA priming by HIV-1 RT was not observed with viral RNA-tRNA(Lys3) duplexes isolated from HIV-1 virion particles, suggesting that the majority of tRNA(Lys3) primers annealed to viral RNA in particles is extended by a variable number of deoxyribonucleotides. This result indicates that reverse transcription is initiated relatively early in nascently assembled virions.

Deoxyribonucleotides↗

Fidelity of in vitro DNA strand transfer reactions catalyzed by HIV-1 reverse transcriptase.

The fidelity of DNA strand transfer reactions catalyzed by human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcriptase has been studied in vitro. A model system involving two sequential DNA strand transfers was developed to simulate the process of forced copy-choice recombination. A propensity for nucleotide misincorporation at the junction of the strand transfer, as determined by DNA sequencing of the reaction products, was found consistent with a model involving the addition of nontemplate-directed nucleotides prior to the transfer of nascent DNA onto the accepting RNA template [Peliska, J. A., & Benkovic, S. J. (1992) Science 258, 1112]. The kinetic and mechanistic factors that may dictate which nucleotide bases are incorporated at recombination sites during strand transfer and the possible consequences of recombination-induced mutagenesis in vivo are discussed.

Base Sequence↗

Synthesis and anti-HIV activities of urea-PETT analogs belonging to a new class of potent non-nucleoside HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibitors.

A series of potent specific HIV-1 RT inhibitory compounds is described. The compounds are urea analogs of PETT (PhenylEthylThiazoleThiourea) derivatives and the series includes derivatives with an ethyl linker (1-6) and conformationally restricted analogs (7-13). The antiviral activity is determined both at the RT level and in cell culture on both native and mutant forms of HIV-1. Many compounds display activity in the nM range against wt-RT.

Anti-HIV Agents↗