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[Reverse transcriptase of the human immunodeficiency virus: isolation and substrate specificity].

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-I) reverse transcriptase was expressed in E. coli and purified to homogeneity (E. coli strain RRI (pRC-RT, pRK 248cIts)). We have investigated the substrate properties toward to DNA synthesis, catalyzed by this enzyme, of some nucleoside-5'-triphosphate analogues, previously studied in the same reactions, catalyzed by AMV and M-MLV reverse transcriptases. We have investigated substrate properties of new analogues of 2',3'-dideoxy-2',3'-didehydro- and 2',3'-dideoxytubercidin-5'-triphosphates. We have compared the relative efficiency of incorporation of different analogues tested in the DNA chain. It has been shown that expressed and purified HIV reverse transcriptase had the same specificity to analogues of 2'-deoxyribonucleoside-5'-triphosphates as was described for reverse transcriptases and natural HIV reverse transcriptase as well. These properties allow to apply the expressed HIV reverse transcriptase in different model systems.

Base Sequence↗

Reproducibility of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) protease and reverse transcriptase sequencing of plasma samples from heavily treated HIV-1-infected individuals.

The reproducibility of population-based human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) protease and reverse transcriptase (RT) sequencing was assessed using replicate aliquots of cryopreserved plasma samples obtained from seven heavily treated HIV-1-infected individuals. The sequence of each sample replicate was compared with the consensus sequence for that sample and 99.4% of 35128 amino acids were found to be concordant with the sample consensus. Partial discordances were present at 0.5% of positions and complete discordances were present at <0.1% of positions. To assess the reproducibility at detecting mutations (defined here as differences from the subtype B consensus sequence), the proportion of sequences having a mutation when at least two sequences from that sample had the same mutation were examined. There was a median of 13 protease and 18 RT mutations per sample for a total of 3126 mutations; 95% of these mutations were detected. However, sequencing of multiple clones from two samples demonstrated that those mutations present in a minority of clones were often not detected by population-based sequencing. These results suggest that HIV-1 protease and RT sequencing of circulating plasma virus is highly reproducible but that the sensitivity at detecting mutations may be low if those mutations are present as minor variants.

Anti-HIV Agents↗

Application of directly coupled LC-NMR-MS to the structural elucidation of metabolites of the HIV-1 reverse-transcriptase inhibitor BW935U83.

The human in vivo metabolism of the HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibitor 5-chloro-1-(2',3'-dideoxy-3'-fluoro-erythro-pentofuranosyl)uracil (BW935U83) was studied using 19F NMR spectroscopy, directly coupled LC-NMR and LC-NMR-MS. The number and relative proportions of the drug metabolites were obtained from 19F NMR spectra of whole human urine. The novel use of the continuous-flow 19F detected LC-NMR experiment yielded chromatographic retention times and 19F chemical shifts for the parent drug, the glucuronide conjugate of the parent and an early eluting polar metabolite. The parent drug and its glucuronide conjugate were easily characterised by directly coupled 1H LC-NMR spectroscopy and two-dimensional TOCSY experiments. The identification of the second metabolite was achieved using 19F NMR and directly coupled 1H LC-NMR-MS which furnished the molecular weight, and through the use of MS-MS techniques, information on the fragment ions. This species was identified as 3-fluoro-ribolactone.

Anti-HIV Agents↗

Biased TCR repertoire in HIV-1-infected patients due to clonal expansion of HIV-1-reverse transcriptase-specific CTL clones.

To study whether an expansion of HIV-1-specific CTL is contributing to the skewed TCR repertoire in HIV-1-infection, we characterized the TCR usage of CTL clones specific for a conserved epitope in HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT/476-484). CTL clones from three HIV-1-infected patients displayed highly similar TCR usage and used the identical Vbeta6.1 and Valpha2.5 gene segments. CTL clones from two patients showed a very high degree of similarity within the TCR complementarity-determining region-3 (CDR-3). In accordance with the similar molecular structure, all three CTL clones also exhibited a similar functional activity with regard to recognition of variant peptides and cytokine secretion pattern. In one subject clonal expansion of a single CTL specificity could be shown over a 10-mo period. TCR spectratyping of PBMC from two patients revealed a marked expansion of CDR-3 segments of a certain length within the Vbeta6-family. Sequence analysis of these CDR-3 yielded sequences identical to the RT/476-484-specific CTL previously isolated from the same patients. This analysis demonstrates that clonal expansion of HIV-1-specific CTL is contributing to the skewed TCR repertoire in HIV-1-infected patients.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Novel deletion of HIV type 1 reverse transcriptase residue 69 conferring selective high-level resistance to nevirapine.

A novel deletion of residue 69 of the HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) gene was detected in combination with mutations V75I/V and F77L/F in a patient with partial virological response to several antiretroviral drug regimens, including stavudine (D4T), didanosine (DDI), lamivudine (3TC), saquinavir (SQV), and nevirapine (NVP). Longitudinal analysis of samples revealed that this deletion emerged upon reinitiation DDI/D4T therapy following a toxicity-induced short discontinuation of all antiretrovirals. Analysis of the resistance phenotype showed a greater than 62-fold increase of the IC50 of NVP, but no significant change in sensitivity to other single nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs). The mutated virus showed only a moderately reduced sensitivity to DDI (6.7-fold) and D4T (4.8 fold). In a subsequent sample 3 months later additional RT mutations were found, including A62V, Y188L, and Q151M, conferring high-level cross-resistance to multiple nucleoside analogs. Our findings provide evidence that the deletion of RT residue 69 selectively confers high-level NVP resistance.

Adult↗

A high-throughput homogeneous assay for reverse transcriptase using generic reagents and time-resolved fluorescence detection.

A homogeneous time-resolved fluorescence (HTRF) assay has been developed for determining the activity of HIV reverse transcriptase (HIV-RT). By using a sequential capping strategy, the assay has been configured to utilize only generic reagents such as biotinylated dUTP, streptavidin-allophycocyanin, and streptavidin-europium. The assay was optimized for a HIV-RT high-throughput screen. Under optimized conditions, a signal-to-background ratio of approximately 10:1 and a Z' factor of 0.8 were obtained. The titration curves of several known HIV-RT inhibitors have been evaluated with this assay format. This HTRF format can be used for high-throughput assays with other nucleotide polymerases.

HIV↗

Rational design and synthesis of phenethyl-5-bromopyridyl thiourea derivatives as potent non-nucleoside inhibitors of HIV reserve transcriptase.

A series of novel phenethylthiazolylthiourea (PETT) derivatives targeting the nonnucleoside inhibitor (NNI) binding site of HIV reverse transcriptase (RT) have been designed based on the structure of the NNI binding pocket. The structure-based design and synthesis of these new PETT derivatives were complemented by biological assays of their anti-HIV activity. Modeling studies for rational drug design included the construction of a composite NNI binding pocket from nine RT-NNI crystal structures, the analyses of surface complementarity between NNI and RT, and application of Ki calculations combined with a docking procedure involving the novel PETT derivatives. The use of the composite NNI binding pocket allowed the identification and structure-based design of three promising PETT derivatives with ortho-F (2), ortho-Cl (3), and meta-F (5) substituents on the phenyl ring. These novel PETT derivatives were more active than AZT or trovirdine and showed potent anti-HIV activity with IC50[p24] values of < 1 nM and selectivity indices of > 100,000.

Anti-HIV Agents↗

Infectious potential of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcriptase mutants with altered inhibitor sensitivity.

There is considerable interest in the potential of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) to develop drug resistance, especially as 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (Retrovir) is now in widespread clinical use to treat people with AIDS and AIDS-related complex (ARC). To address this possibility, mutations in the HIV reverse transcriptase [deoxynucleoside-triphosphate:DNA deoxynucleotidyltransferase (RNA-directed), EC 2.7.7.49] gene have been introduced by site-directed mutagenesis of cloned constructs in Escherichia coli. Analysis of the recombinant mutant reverse transcriptase from a number of these constructs revealed enzymes that maintained enzyme activity but had a reduced ability to recognize inhibitors such as azidothymidine triphosphate. To assess the infectivity of these mutants, several constructs of proviral HIV clones with mutant reverse transcriptase genes have been made and used to transfect T cells. All five mutants tested have lower infectious potential, suggesting considerable levels of reverse transcriptase activity are required for efficient virus replication. Viable virus recovered from two clones showed decreased sensitivity to the antiviral compound phosphonoformate, thus demonstrating the potential for drug-resistant HIV to replicate. However, although the reverse transcriptase from these mutant viruses showed decreased sensitivity to azidothymidine triphosphate, paradoxically these viruses were hypersensitive to azidothymidine when tested in culture.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Virological response to HIV-1 nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors-based, tenofovir DF-including regimens in the ANRS Aquitaine Cohort.

BACKGROUND: HIV-1 nucleoside/tide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTI)-only based, comprising tenofovir DF(TDF) have been shown to lead to high rates of virological failures (VF), mainly in patients on first-line combination therapy. We wished to investigate the virological response to these regimens in a large cohort of antiretroviral (ARV)-treated patients. METHODS: Patients followed-up in the Aquitaine Cohort in 2001-2003 and who had received NRTI-based, TDF-including regimens for at least 3 months were included. The VF was defined as: (i) a decrease in plasma HIV-1 RNA <0.5 log(10)copies/ml between M0 and M3; or (ii) a plasma HIV-1 RNA >50 copies/ml at M3 in patients with plasma HIV-1 RNA <50 copies/ml at M0. The baseline RT genotype was determined in a subgroup of patients. RESULTS: Within 121 patients (95% ARV-experienced) who received either lamivudine (3TC)/didanosine (DDI)/TDF (n=48), or abacavir (ABC)/3TC/TDF (n=14), or 3TC/zidovudine (ZDV)/TDF (n=27), or 3TC/ZDV/ABC/TDF (n=20), or DDI/ABC/TDF (n=12), the ABC/3TC/TDF and DDI/ABC/TDF combinations were associated with the highest frequencies of VF. In contrast the use of ZDV was related to a better virological response. The baseline RT genotype was also predictive of the virological outcome. CONCLUSION: NRTI-based, TDF-including therapies can lead to high rates of VF both in ARV-naïve and in ARV-experienced patients. Our data strongly suggest the interest of associating ZDV and TDF in these regimens.

Adenine↗

Antiretroviral activity, biochemistry, and pharmacokinetics of 3'-azido-2',3'-dideoxy-5-methylcytidine.

3'-Azido-2',3'-dideoxy-5-methylcytidine (CS-92, AzddMeC) is an antiviral nucleoside analogue structurally related to 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT). CS-92 is a potent and selective inhibitor of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase and HIV-1 replication in human lymphocytes and macrophages. The EC50 for CS-92 in HIV-1-infected human PBM cells was 0.09 microM. In HIV-1-infected human macrophages, the EC50 was 0.006 microM. This compound was also effective against human immunodeficiency virus type 2 in lymphocytes. The replication of Friend murine virus was only weakly inhibited, and no effect was observed against herpes simplex virus type 1 and type 2 and coxsackievirus B4. CS-92 was not toxic to PBM or Vero cells when tested up to 200 microM and was, furthermore, at least 40 times less toxic to granulocyte-macrophage and erythroid precursor cells in vitro than was AZT. The interaction of the 5'-triphosphate of CS-92 with HIV-1 reverse transcriptase indicated competitive inhibition (the inhibition constant, Kis, was 0.0093 microM) with a 30-fold greater affinity for CS-92-TP than for ddCTP. CS-92-TP inhibited HIV-1 reverse transcriptase by 50% at a concentration 6,000-fold lower than that which was required for a similar inhibition of DNA polymerase alpha. Pharmacokinetic studies showed that CS-92 was not deaminated to AZT in rats, but this compound was found to have a half-life of 2.7 hours. In rhesus monkeys, however, a compound with a retention time and ultraviolet spectra characteristics similar to AZT was detected. The mean half-life in rhesus monkeys for CS-92 was 1.52 and 1.74 h after intravenous and oral administration, respectively, and the oral bioavailability was about 21 percent. Additional preclinical studies with CS-92 will determine the ultimate utility of this antiviral agent for the treatment of HIV-1 infections.

Animals↗

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) recombinant reverse transcriptase. Asymmetry in p66 subunits of the p66/p66 homodimer.

A recombinant p66 form of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) reverse transcriptase (RT) can be obtained [(1991) Biotechnol. Appl. Biochem. 14, 69-81] from crude Escherichia coli extracts by immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC). We have analyzed the p66 HIV-1 RT, isolated in the presence of 0.3 M imidazole, by gel permeation HPLC on Superose 12. The results show that it contains two major distinct p66 forms (24.1 min and 28.3 min peaks) which are distinguishable from the purified homodimeric (p66/p66) HIV-1 RT (22.2 min peak). Protein peak 1 (24.1 min) is converted to a 22.3 min peak upon storage for 20 h at 4 degrees C. Under identical conditions, the isolated peak 2 (28.3 min) appeared as a conformationally heterogeneous mixture elaborated by peaks at 22.3 min and 25.9 min. The protein species thus obtained were active in the RNA-dependent DNA polymerase and RNase H activity assays and produced heterodimeric HIV-1 RT upon incubation with the HIV-1 protease. When the IMAC-purified, imidazole-free homodimeric (p66/p66) form of the enzyme was incubated with 0.3 M imidazole for 16 h at 4 degrees C, protein peaks at 28.3 min (peak A) and 30.5 min (peak B) were isolated by gel permeation HPLC. While both of these p66-containing species were stable and displayed identical RNA-dependent DNA polymerase activities, the protein in peak B was only 50% active in RNase H function compared with the protein from peak A. These imidazole-mediated dissociation studies support the hypothesis of partial unfolding of one of the RNase H domains of the p66/p66 homodimer, suggesting that the p66 subunits are asymmetric in the native enzyme.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗

Carrier bound templates for single tube reverse transcriptase assays and for combined purification and activity analyses, with special reference to HIV.

Polyriboadenosine (prA) was coupled to polycarbonate macrobeads or magnetic beads. The efficiency of the beads and of prA-Sepharose, after priming with odT, as templates in activity assays of purified AMV- and HIV-reverse transcriptase (RT), using [125I]iododeoxyuridine-triphosphate as substrate, was studied. Although the use of immobilized templates, compared with soluble template, resulted in a decreased total molar turnover, it did not affect the sensitivity of the assay for detecting RT. The utility of the new assay was analyzed by mixing purified AMV- or HIV-Rt with different dilutions of the untreated clinical specimen. This showed that RT activity was unaffected by 100 microliters of an extract of whole blood cells resuspended to their original blood volume and diluted 1/64, and also by 100 microliters of serum diluted 1/64. To improve the utility of the assay at the inhibitory concentrations of clinical specimens, the following procedure was adopted: the sample to be analyzed was incubated with the carrier bound template in order to allow the RT to bind, the carrier was washed to remove inhibitory factors, and the reaction components were then added to determine the amount of bound RT. This procedure greatly enhanced the recovery of RT activity from crude specimens and made the direct detection of HIV-RT possible. The assay is easily automated and useful for RT determination in multiple samples and for determining RT-inhibiting substances such as substrate analogs and antibodies.

Adenosine↗

Antiviral profile of HIV inhibitors in macrophages: implications for therapy.

Macrophages (M/M) are identified as the second cellular target of HIV and a crucial virus reservoir. M/M are persistently infected cells and not susceptible to the HIV cytophatic effects typical of infected CD4+ T-lymphocytes. HIV replication in M/M is a crucial pathogenetic event during the whole course of the disease. Moreover, the dynamics of HIV-1 replication and cumulative virus production is quite different in M/M and CD4+ T-lymphocytes in the presence or in the absence of antiviral drugs. Thus, for their unique cellular characteristics, the activity of anti-HIV compounds could be different in M/M than in CD4+ T-lymphocytes. Indeed, nucleoside analogues inhibitors of HIV-reverse transcriptase (NRTIs) show potent antiviral activity in macrophages, although the limited penetration of these compounds in sequestered body compartments and the scarce phosphorylation ability of macrophages, suggest that a phosphate group linked to NRTIs may confer a greater anti-HIV activity in such cells. The antiviral activity of non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) in macrophages is similar to that found in CD4-lymphocytes. Interestingly, protease inhibitors (PIs), acting at post-integrational stages of virus replication, are the only drugs able to interfere with virus production and release from macrophages with established and persistent HIV infection. For these reasons, a careful analysis of the distribution of antiviral drugs, and the assessment of their activity in cells of macrophage lineage, represent key factors in the development of therapeutic strategies aimed to the treatment of the HIV-infected patients.

Anti-HIV Agents↗

Mutations within the RNase H domain of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcriptase abolish virus infectivity.

The C-terminal region of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) reverse transcriptase (RT) contains the domain responsible for RNase H activity. To determine the importance of this RNase H domain, specific changes in the C-terminal region of a recombinant RT expressed in Escherichia coli were introduced by amino acid substitutions and specific deletions. The enzyme activities of purified wild-type and mutant RT/RNase H proteins, standardized for protein content, were compared by filter assays and thermal inactivation kinetics. A point mutation of His 539----Asn produced an enzyme with a marked thermolabile RNase H function (nine-fold increase in inactivation), whereas RT function was only marginally more labile than that of the wild-type (two-fold). A second mutation, His 539----Asp, impaired both enzyme activities to a similar degree (four- to five-fold). A C-terminal deletion of 19 amino acids (aa) (aa 540 to 558) and a C-terminal truncation of 21 aa (aa 540 to 560) reduced RT as well as RNase H activity. A 130 aa deletion enzyme exhibited no RNase H activity and insufficient RT activity to allow inactivation studies. Two mutants, the 19 aa deletion and His----Asn, were introduced into proviral HIV-1 DNA clones to determine whether changes in enzyme activity, particularly RNase H activity, affected virus infectivity. Both mutants were non-infectious, indicating that the C-terminal 19 to 21 amino acids and His 539 of the RT/RNase H protein are essential for HIV replication. These results are consistent with the assumption that RNase H is essential for the infectivity of HIV-1.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Gln145Met/Leu changes in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcriptase confer resistance to nucleoside and nonnucleoside analogs and impair virus replication.

The frequencies of multidrug resistance-associated mutations at codons 145, 151, and 69 of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) reverse transcriptase (RT) gene in strains from a group of 3,595 highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART)-experienced patients were 0.22, 2.36, and 0.86%, respectively. Several amino acid substitutions different from the recently reported Gln145Met change (S. Paolucci, F. Baldanti, M. Tinelli, G. Maga, and G. Gerna, AIDS 17:924-927, 2003) were detected at position 145. Thus, amino acid substitutions selected at position 145 were introduced into the wild-type HIV type 1 (HIV-1) RT gene by site-directed mutagenesis, and recombinant HIV strains were assayed for their drug susceptibilities. Only Met and Leu substitutions at position 145 of the HIV-1 RT conferred multidrug resistance, while other amino acid changes did not. Lower levels of replication of the Gln145Met recombinant strain compared with those of both Gln151Met and wild-type recombinant strains were observed. In in vitro inhibition assays, expression and purification of the recombinant Gln145Met HIV-1 RT revealed a strong loss of catalytic efficiency of the mutated enzyme, as well as significant resistance to both zidovudine and efavirenz. Specific amino acid substitutions in the HIV RT nucleotide-binding pocket might affect both antiretroviral drug recognition and binding and decrease the level of virus replication, possibly by interfering with the enzyme activity. This finding may explain the lower frequency of Gln145Met/Leu mutations observed compared with the frequencies of Gln151Met/Leu mutations and the insertion at position 69 in HAART-experienced patients.

Amino Acid Substitution↗

Phosphatidylazidothymidine. Mechanism of antiretroviral action in CEM cells.

Dimyristoylphosphatidylazidothymidine has been shown to inhibit human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) replication in CEM or U937 cells infected with the LAV-1 strain in vitro, but its metabolism and mechanism of antiretroviral activity have not been determined (Hostetler, K. Y., Stuhmiller, L. M., Lenting, H. B. M., van den Bosch, H., and Richman, D. D., J. Biol. Chem. (1990) 265, 6112-6117). We synthesized phosphatidylazidothymidine labeled with tritium in the 5'-position of dideoxyribose and incubated the phospholipid prodrug with CEM cells for 24 h. The radioactive products were analyzed by high pressure liquid chromatography and thin layer chromatography. Phosphatidylazidothymidine is deacylated by cellular phospholipases A to lysophosphatidylazidothymidine, which is subsequently hydrolyzed to glycero-3-phospho-5'-azidothymidine by lysophospholipases. Phosphodiesteratic cleavage of glycero-3-phospho-5'-azidothymidine occurs with formation of azidothymidine (AZT) or AZT-5'-monophosphate. Anabolic phosphorylation leads to the formation of AZT-diphosphate and AZT-triphosphate. To evaluate the possibility of direct inhibition of HIV reverse transcriptase by phosphatidyl-AZT, lysophosphatidyl-AZT or glycero-3-phospho-5'-AZT, we synthesized these compounds and found them to lack the ability to inhibit HIV recombinant reverse transcriptase in vitro. AZT-triphosphate was greater than 10,000 times more potent in inhibiting reverse transcriptase activity. Thus, phosphatidyl-AZT exerts its antiviral activity by metabolic conversion to AZT-triphosphate. Phospholipid prodrugs of this type may be useful in treating the macrophage reservoir of HIV infection.

Cell Line↗