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Comparable sensitivities for detection of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) and other polymerases by RT assays requiring no radioisotopic materials.

An improved non-radioisotopic (Non-RI) reverse transcriptase (RT) assay with a template-primer-immobilized microtiter plate is described, which has greater sensitivity than the former Non-RI RT assay previously described. Non-RI and commercially available non-radioactive (Non-RA) RT assays were compared for their ability to detect various polymerases. Two RTs from Rous-associated virus 2 (RAV-2) and avian myeloblastosis virus (AMV), one polymerase from Escherichia coli (Pol-I) and one recombinant RT of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) were assessed. Two HIV-1 samples in a culture supernatant and pelleted virion suspended in Triton X-100 solution were measured. The Non-RI RT assay was one hundred times more sensitive by RAV-2 and Pol-I polymerases, and one thousand times more sensitive by the Non-RA assay than by the AMV RT. The Non-RI RT assay was 10, 16 and 64 times more sensitive than the Non-RA assay for measuring recombinant HIV-1 RT, pelleted virus and virus suspended in culture medium, respectively. To explain the discrepancy, it is shown that free biotin, such as in culture medium, disturbs the assay system of the Non-RA RT assay, but not the Non-RI assay. The present assay can be used to clarify the inhibitory mechanism of an anti-HIV-1 substance.

Animals↗

2',3'-dideoxynucleoside 5'-beta, gamma-(difluoromethylene) triphosphates with alpha-P-thio or alpha-P-seleno modifications: synthesis and their inhibition of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase.

Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) are prodrugs which require three intracellular phosphorylation steps to yield their corresponding, biologically active, nucleoside triphosphate. In order to circumvent this often inefficient phosphorylation cascade, a plausible approach is to provide the active species directly in the form of a stabilized nucleoside triphosphate mimic. We have previously shown that such a mimic, namely 5'-alpha-Rp-borano-beta,gamma-(difluoromethylene)triphosphate (5'-alphaBCF2TP) is a generic triphosphate mimic that is biologically stable and can render antiviral ddNs with potent inhibitory activity against HIV-1 RT. Herein we report the synthesis and activity against HIV-1 RT of several ddN 5'-alpha-modified-beta,gamma(difluoromethylene)triphosphate mimics with either a non-bridging calphaP-thio (5'-alphaSCF2TP) or alpha-P-seleno (5'-alpha SeCF2TP) modification. One compound, namely, AZT-5'-alpha-P-seleno-beta,gamma-(difluoromethylene)triphosphate (diastereomer I), was identified as a potent inhibitor of HIV-1 RT (Ki = 64 nM) and represents the first report of HIV-1 RT inhibition data for a nucleotide bearing an alpha-P-seleno modification. These triphosphate mimics may be useful in the investigation of enzyme mechanism and may have interesting properties with respect to drug resistance and polymerase selectivity.

Anti-HIV Agents↗

Developing novel nonnucleoside HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibitors: beyond the butterfly.

To date three nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection. A limiting factor in the effectiveness of these agents is the development of resistance, manifested by amino acid substitutions within the virally encoded reverse transcriptase (RT). Understanding the mechanism of action of these agents and how resistance develops have broadened the field of NNRTI research to elucidate structural and biochemical features of inhibition in hopes of creating better inhibitors. In this review, the history of NNRTIs will preface the many studies characterizing inhibition and the development of a new paradigm for understanding the molecular mechanism of drug resistance to NNRTIs. Combination therapies including nonnucleoside inhibitors will be discussed, concluding with remarks on potential new inhibitors.

Anti-HIV Agents↗

HEPT derivatives as non-nucleoside inhibitors of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase: QSAR studies agree with the crystal structures.

The interest in the non-nucleoside inhibitors (NNIs) to the reverse transcriptase (RT) as anti-AIDS agents has grown in the last ten years. The compound 1-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]-6-(phenylthio)thymine (HEPT) is the precursor of the most studied class of NNIs, from which hundreds of derivatives have been synthesized and tested. There are at least twelve QSAR studies about the HEPT derivatives as RT inhibitors. Most of the predictions derived by these studies are related to the nature of the active site near the substituents at positions N-1 and C-5, and at the C-6 phenyl ring. The validity of these models has been checked against the 3-D structure of HIV 1 RT-HEPT complexes available. Most of these predictions were confirmed at the molecular level.

Binding Sites↗

Synthesis and HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibitor activity of some 2,5,6-substituted benzoxazole, benzimidazole, benzothiazole and oxazolo(4,5-b)pyridine derivatives.

In this study, the synthesis of some benzoxazoles and their analogues were described and their antiviral activities were studied together with the previously synthesized 2,5,6-trisubstituted benzoxazole, benzothiazole, benzimidazole and oxazolo(4,5-b)pyridine derivatives. The reverse transcriptase (RT) inhibitory activity of these compounds was determined using a commercial kit and assay system which utilizes the scintillation proximity assay principle. The results are concentration at which the compound inhibits RT activity by 50%). The compounds inhibited the in vitro binding of thymidine to the RT enzyme exhibiting IC50 values between 6.3 x 10(5) mumol/l-0.34 mumol/l and their activities were compared to some standard drugs such as 3'-azido-2',3'-dideoxythymidine triphosphate and dideoxythymidine triphosphate.

Benzimidazoles↗

Indolopyridones inhibit human immunodeficiency virus reverse transcriptase with a novel mechanism of action.

We have discovered a novel class of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) reverse transcriptase (RT) inhibitors that block the polymerization reaction in a mode distinct from those of the nucleoside or nucleotide RT inhibitors (NRTIs) and nonnucleoside RT inhibitors (NNRTIs). For this class of indolopyridone compounds, steady-state kinetics revealed competitive inhibition with respect to the nucleotide substrate. Despite substantial structural differences with classical chain terminators or natural nucleotides, these data suggest that the nucleotide binding site of HIV RT may accommodate this novel class of RT inhibitors. To test this hypothesis, we have studied the mechanism of action of the prototype compound indolopyridone-1 (INDOPY-1) using a variety of complementary biochemical tools. Time course experiments with heteropolymeric templates showed "hot spots" for inhibition following the incorporation of pyrimidines (T>C). Moreover, binding studies and site-specific footprinting experiments revealed that INDOPY-1 traps the complex in the posttranslocational state, preventing binding and incorporation of the next complementary nucleotide. The novel mode of action translates into a unique resistance profile. While INDOPY-1 susceptibility is unaffected by mutations associated with NNRTI or multidrug NRTI resistance, mutations M184V and Y115F are associated with decreased susceptibility, and mutation K65R confers hypersusceptibility to INDOPY-1. This resistance profile provides additional evidence for active site binding. In conclusion, this class of indolopyridones can occupy the nucleotide binding site of HIV RT by forming a stable ternary complex whose stability is mainly dependent on the nature of the primer 3' end.

DNA Primers↗

Template-competitive inhibitors of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase: design, synthesis and inhibitory activity.

We report the design, synthesis and activity studies on a novel class of template-competitive reverse transcriptase inhibitors (TCRTIs). The TCRTIs are 1,N(6)-etheno analogues of a series of dATP-based template-competitive DNA polymerase inhibitors synthesized in our laboratory (Moore, B. M.; Jalluri, R.; Doughty, M.B. Biochemistry 1996, 35, 11634). Thus, nucleotides 2-(4-azidophenacyl)thio-1,N(6)-etheno-2'-deoxyadenosine 5'-triphosphate 1, the tetrafluoro analogue 2-(4-azido-2,3,5,6-tetrafluorophenacyl)thio-1,N(6)-etheno-2'-deoxyadenosine 5'-triphosphate 2 and its analogues were synthesized by alkylation of 2-thio-1,N(6)-etheno-2'-deoxyadenosine 5'-monophosphate with the corresponding chloro- or bromo-alkyl halides and converted to the triphosphate. Kinetically, nucleotides 1 and 2 are both competitive inhibitors of reverse transcriptase versus template/primer with K(i)'s of 8.0 and 7.4 microM, respectively, and non-competitive inhibitors versus TTP with K(i)'s of 15 and 10 microM, respectively. Nucleotide 3, which differs from 1 only in that it lacks the etheno group, non-complementary nucleotide triphosphates, and related monophosphates and nucleosides, are completely inactive as inhibitors of reverse transcriptase at concentrations up to 1 mM. Photoinactivation of RT by 1 was both time- and concentration-dependent, and protected by template/primer but not by dNTPs. The concentration-dependent inactivation data gave a K(D,app) of 17.2 microM and maximum inactivation of 90%, and radiolabeled [beta, gamma-32P]-1 photoincorporated specifically and covalently into the p66 subunit of RT. Thus the photoinactivation data support our main conclusion from the kinetic data that this class of RT inhibitors are non-substrate and template-competitive.

Binding, Competitive↗

Trapping HIV-1 reverse transcriptase before and after translocation on DNA.

A disulfide cross-linking strategy was used to covalently trap as a stable complex (complex N) a short-lived, kinetic intermediate in DNA polymerization. This intermediate corresponds to the product of polymerization prior to translocation. We also prepared the trapped complex that corresponds to the product of polymerization after translocation (complex P). The cross-linking method that we used is a variation of a technique developed by the Verdine and Harrison laboratories. It involves disulfide interchange between an engineered sulfhydryl group of the protein (Q258C mutation) and a disulfide-containing tether attached at the N(2) amino group of a modified dG in either the template or the primer strand of the nucleic acid. We report here a highly efficient synthesis of the precursor, bis(3-aminopropyl)disulfide dihydrochloride, used to introduce this substituent into the oligonucleotide. Efficient cross-linking takes place when the base pair containing the substituent is positioned seven registers from the dNTP-binding site (N site) and the N site is occupied. Complex N, but not complex P, is a substrate for the ATP-based excision reaction that unblocks nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI)-terminated primers and causes resistance to several NRTIs, confirming predictions that the excision reaction takes place only when the 3'-end of the primer is bound at the N site. These techniques can be used for biochemical and structural studies of the mechanism of DNA polymerization, translocation, and excision-based resistance of RT to NRTIs. They may also be useful in studying other DNA or RNA polymerases or other enzymes.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

In vitro study of resistance-associated genotypic mutations to nucleoside analogs.

In spite of a rather long period of investigations, the problem of HIV drug resistance remains unsolved, and more that, at present HIV-1 mutants resistant to all known nucleoside inhibitors being used in clinical therapy against the human immunodeficiency syndrome are discovered. In this study we selected HIV-1 mutants resistant to the nucleoside inhibitors of HIV reverse transcriptase (NRTI): 3'-azido-2',3'-dideoxythymidine (AZT), 5'-phosphit 3'-azido-2',3'-dideoxythymidine (ph-AZT), dideoxyinosine (ddI) and didehydrodeoxythymidine (d4T). Selection of resistant mutants was carried out by gradually increasing of drug concentration in the culture medium during propagation of the HIV-1EVK on fresh MT-4 cells. Phenotypic resistance was defined as an increase in ID50 of 160-fold for AZT, 8 for ph-AZT, 10 for ddI, 7 for d4T. In comparison studies it was determined that the viral resistance to these drugs was appeared variously in a similar conditions and duration of selection. The nucleotide sequences of the RT region of the HIV-1 variants were compared with the HIV-1EVK from "0" passage. For some of selected HIV-1 mutants NRTI resistance mutations were detected. Selected AZT resistant variants contained amino acid substitutions in positions D67A and K70R. Our studies was not revealed substitution at position 75 for ph-AZT resistant variants, whereas substitution at position L214F have been observed in both experiments using AZT and ph-AZT. Selected d4T resistant mutants contained amino acid substitutions in positions N54D and P52R. Selected ddI resistant mutants contained only one amino acid substitution in position P143S. Collection of drug-resistant mutants should prove to be a convenient tool for rapid investigations a new antiretroviral agents on cross drug-resistance.

Didanosine↗

Examining interactions of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase with single-stranded template nucleotides by nucleoside analog interference.

Crystallographic studies have implicated several residues of the p66 fingers subdomain of human immunodeficiency virus type-1 reverse transcriptase in contacting the single-stranded template overhang immediately ahead of the DNA polymerase catalytic center. This interaction presumably assists in inducing the appropriate geometry on the template base for efficient and accurate incorporation of the incoming dNTP. To investigate this, we introduced nucleoside analogs either individually or in tandem into the DNA template ahead of the catalytic center and investigated whether they induce pausing of the replication machinery before serving as the template base. Analogs included abasic tetrahydrofuran linkages, neutralizing methylphosphonate linkages, and conformationally locked nucleosides. In addition, several Phe-61 mutants were included in our analysis, based on previous data indicating that altering this residue affects both strand displacement synthesis and the fidelity of DNA synthesis. We demonstrate here that altering the topology of the template strand two nucleotides ahead of the catalytic center can interrupt DNA synthesis. Mutating Phe-61 to either Ala or Leu accentuates this defect, whereas replacement with an aromatic residue (Trp) allows the mutant enzyme to bypass the template analogs with relative ease.

DNA↗

Differential tolerance to DNA polymerization by HIV-1 reverse transcriptase on N6 adenine C10R and C10S benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-dihydrodiol 9,10-epoxide-adducted templates.

To determine the effect of various stereoisomers of benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-dihydrodiol 9,10-epoxide (BPDE) on translesion bypass by human immunodeficiency virus-1 reverse transcriptase and its alpha-helix H mutants, six 33-mer templates were constructed bearing site- and stereospecific adducts. This in vitro model system was chosen to understand the structure-function relationships between the polymerase and damaged DNA during replication. Comparison of the replication pattern between wild type human immunodeficiency virus-1 reverse transcriptase and its mutants, using primers which were 3' to the lesion, revealed essentially similar patterns. While these primers terminated with all three of the C10R and two of the C10S BPDE-adducted templates 1 base 5' and 1 base 3' to the damaged site respectively, (+)-anti-trans-(C10S) BPDE-adducted DNA alone permitted the formation of full-length products. Utilization of a primer with its 3'-hydroxyl 1 base beyond the lesion resulted in full-length products with all the C10S BPDE-adducted templates and the (-)-syn-trans-(C10R)-BPDE-adducted template, following replication with either the wild type or mutant enzymes. However, the other two C10R BPDE-adducted templates failed to allow any primer extension, even with the wild type enzyme. Although T.P depletion studies further confirmed the differential primer extension abilities using the C10R and C10S adducted templates, their binding affinities were similar, yet distinct from the unadducted template.

7,8-Dihydro-7,8-dihydroxybenzo(a)pyrene 9,10-oxide↗

Molecular determinants of multi-nucleoside analogue resistance in HIV-1 reverse transcriptases containing a dipeptide insertion in the fingers subdomain: effect of mutations D67N and T215Y on removal of thymidine nucleotide analogues from blocked DNA primers.

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 isolates having dipeptide insertions in the fingers subdomain of the reverse transcriptase (RT) show high level resistance to 3 '-azido-3 '-deoxythymidine (AZT) and other nucleoside analogues. Insertions are usually associated with thymidine analogue resistance mutations, such as T215Y. The resistance phenotype correlates with increased ATP-dependent phosphorolytic activity, which facilitates removal of thymidine analogues from inhibitor-terminated primers. In this report, we show that substituting Thr, Ser, or Asn for Tyr-215 in a multidrug-resistant RT, bearing a Ser-Ser insertion between codons 69 and 70, leads to AZT and stavudine resensitization through the loss of the ATP-mediated removal activity. The mutation D67N, which is rarely found in insertion-containing strains, had no effect on excision and a minor influence on resistance. Substituting Tyr-215 had a larger effect than deleting the dipeptide insertion. The presence of both the insertion and mutation T215Y in the wild-type BH10 RT conferred significant ATP-mediated removal activity and moderate resistance to AZT. However, resistance levels and unblocking activities were lower than those observed with the multidrug-resistant enzyme. Removal reactions can be inhibited by the next complementary dNTP. Both Tyr-215 and the dipeptide insertion affect RT-DNA.DNA-dNTP ternary complex formation, an effect that was not detected in the presence of foscarnet. Based on crystal structures of binary and ternary complexes of HIV-1 RT, we propose that Tyr-215 exerts its action by facilitating a proper orientation of the pyrophosphate donor molecule, whereas the effects on dNTP binding are indirect and could be related to significant conformational changes occurring during polymerization.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

HIV-1 reverse transcriptase specifically interacts with the anticodon domain of its cognate primer tRNA.

The virion cores of the replication competent type 1 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1), a retrovirus, contain and RNA genome associated with nucleocapsid (NC) and reverse transcriptase (RT p66/p51) molecules. In vitro reconstructions of these complexes with purified components show that NC is required for efficient annealing of the primer tRNALys,3. In the absence of NC, HIV-1 RT is unable to retrotranscribe the viral RNA template from the tRNA primer. We demonstrate that the HIV-1 RT p66/p51 specifically binds to its cognate primer tRNALys,3 even in the presence of a 100-fold molar excess of other tRNAs. Cross-linking analysis of this interaction locates the contact site to a region within the heavily modified anti-codon domain of tRNALys,3.

Anticodon↗

Multiparameter single-molecule fluorescence spectroscopy reveals heterogeneity of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase:primer/template complexes.

By using single-molecule multiparameter fluorescence detection, fluorescence resonance energy transfer experiments, and newly developed data analysis methods, this study demonstrates directly the existence of three structurally distinct forms of reverse transcriptase (RT):nucleic acid complexes in solution. Single-molecule multiparameter fluorescence detection also provides first information on the structure of a complex not observed by x-ray crystallography. This species did not incorporate nucleotides and is structurally distinct from the other two observed species. We determined that the nucleic acid substrate is bound at a site far removed from the nucleic acid-binding tract observed by crystallography. In contrast, the other two states are identified as being similar to the x-ray crystal structure and represent distinct enzymatically productive stages in DNA polymerization. These species differ by only a 5-A shift in the position of the nucleic acid. Addition of nucleoside triphosphate or of inorganic pyrophosphate allowed us to assign them as the educt and product state in the polymerization reaction cycle; i.e., the educt state is a complex in which the nucleic acid is positioned to allow nucleotide incorporation. The second RT:nucleic acid complex is the product state, which is formed immediately after nucleotide incorporation, but before RT translates to the next nucleotide.

Crystallography, X-Ray↗

Increased yield of homogeneous HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (p66/p51) using a slow purification approach.

A chromatographic procedure to purify recombinant reverse transcriptase (RT) from human immunodeficiency virus-1 is reported. A bacterial system which expressed large amounts of p66 RT polypeptide was used. The purification scheme was optimized for high-yield production of homogeneous p66/p51 RT using a combination of chromatographic matrices in the following order: Q-Sepharose, heparin-Sepharose, phenyl-Sepharose, S-Sepharose, Poly(A)-Sepharose and Q-Sepharose. The p66 polypeptide remained intact after the first chromatographic step on Q-Sepharose, where it was recovered in the non-adsorbed fraction. A high yield of p66/p51 RT was obtained when the time from application to elution of heparin-Sepharose in the second chromatographic step was prolonged. Phenyl-Sepharose was used in the next chromatographic step to separate the heterodimeric forms of RT from p66 RT on the basis of hydrophobicity. The chromatography on S-Sepharose resolved the major heterodimeric form, p66/p51, from other heterodimeric variants. Further purification was done by affinity chromatography on Poly(A)-Sepharose followed by anion-exchange chromatography on Q-Sepharose. Amounts of 25-35 mg of the pure heterodimer p66/p51 RT were recovered from 50 g of bacterial cells.

Chromatography, Liquid↗

Genetic selection in Escherichia coli for active human immunodeficiency virus reverse transcriptase mutants.

Most catalytically active human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) reverse transcriptase (RT) mutants characterized to date have been isolated from the virus after treatment with HIV RT inhibitors such as nucleoside analogs. However, detailed understanding of structure-function relationships, and of the roles of the several catalytic activities of HIV RT in viral replication, requires characterization of a greater diversity of mutant enzymes than has been obtained from viral variants. Coupling of a bacterial genetic selection system for functional HIV RT with random mutagenesis has yielded a large number of active mutant enzymes, most of which have not been found in viral variants. The genetic selection system, combined with biochemical characterization of active mutant proteins, affords three major benefits. First, we can increase our understanding of the roles of individual amino acids in catalysis. Second, the mutational spectrum observed among active HIV RT variants can identify amino acids that are intolerant, or relatively intolerant, of substitution. Third, this system provides us with HIV RT variants with altered biochemical properties, such as replicational fidelity and processivity. Characterization of HIV harboring these mutant RTs with defined structural and functional alterations will contribute to elucidation of the roles of each catalytic activity of HIV RT in viral replication.

Chromatography, Affinity↗

Prediction of the binding free energies of new TIBO-like HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibitors using a combination of PROFEC, PB/SA, CMC/MD, and free energy calculations.

We have ranked 13 different TIBO derivatives with respect to their relative free energies of binding using two approximate computational methods: adaptive chemical Monte Carlo/molecular dynamics (CMC/MD) and Poisson-Boltzmann/solvent accessibility (PB/SA) calculations. Eight of these derivatives have experimentally determined binding affinities. The remaining new derivatives were constructed based on contour maps around R86183 (8Cl-TIBO), generated with the program PROFEC (pictorial representation of free energy changes). The rank order among the derivatives with known binding affinity was in good agreement with experimental results for both methods, with average errors in the binding free energies of 1. 0 kcal/mol for CMC/MD and 1.3 kcal/mol for the PB/SA method. With both methods, we found that one of the new derivatives was predicted to bind 1-2 kcal/mol better than R86183, which is the hitherto most tightly binding derivative. This result was subsequently supported by the most rigorous free energy computational methods: free energy perturbation (FEP) and thermodynamic integration (TI). The strategy we have used here should be generally useful in structure-based drug optimization. An initial ligand is derivatized based on PROFEC suggestions, and the derivatives are ranked with CMC/MD and PB/SA to identify promising compounds. Since these two methods rely on different sets of approximations, they serve as a good complement to each other. Predictions of the improved affinity can be reinforced with FEP or TI and the best compounds synthesized and tested. Such a computational strategy would allow many different derivatives to be tested in a reasonable time, focusing synthetic efforts on the most promising modifications.

Algorithms↗

Rapid determination of the affinity of 28- and 14-mer phosphorothioate oligonucleotides for HIV-1 reverse transcriptase by fluorescence spectroscopy.

Intrinsic fluorescence of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcriptase (E.C. 2.7.7.49) and displacement experiments of a fluorescent template.primer probe were used to study the interaction of the enzyme with several types of 28- and 14-mer normal or phosphorothioate oligodeoxycytidinylates and their duplexes with poly(rI). The two methods gave convergent results and allowed in each case fast determinations of ligand affinities for the enzyme. The dissociation constants (Kd) obtained from intrinsic fluorescence changes were slightly lower than those determined from the less direct competitive displacement experiments. In all cases, the enzyme displayed better recognition of the hybrid than of the unannealed oligonucleotide. The Kd values of phosphorothioate oligomers and their hybrids were lower than those of the corresponding normal oligomers and hybrids, but the difference was not as significant as in the case of the Ki constants for (dC)28 and S(dC)28 (Majumdar et al. (1989) Biochemistry 28, 1340). The affinities of the annealed phosphorothioate oligodeoxycytidinylates for the enzyme were found to be larger than for any other compounds in this series (Kd of poly(rI).S(dC)28: 0.28 nM at 25 degrees C). Changing the beta stereochemistry of the oligomer bases to alpha did not alter the affinity of the oligodeoxycytidinylate and its hybrids for the enzyme.

Base Sequence↗