scholarly journals Identification of mechanistically distinct inhibitors of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase through fragment screening

2015 ◽  
Vol 112 (22) ◽  
pp. 6979-6984 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer La ◽  
Catherine F. Latham ◽  
Ricky N. Tinetti ◽  
Adam Johnson ◽  
David Tyssen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reverse Transcriptase ◽  
Dna Polymerase ◽  
Competitive Inhibitor ◽  
Polymerase Activity ◽  
Rnase H ◽  
Screening Methods ◽  
Klenow Fragment ◽  
Resistance Mutations ◽  
Rt Inhibitors ◽  
Hiv 1

Fragment-based screening methods can be used to discover novel active site or allosteric inhibitors for therapeutic intervention. Using saturation transfer difference (STD) NMR and in vitro activity assays, we have identified fragment-sized inhibitors of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) with distinct chemical scaffolds and mechanisms compared to nonnucleoside RT inhibitors (NNRTIs) and nucleoside/nucleotide RT inhibitors (NRTIs). Three compounds were found to inhibit RNA- and DNA-dependent DNA polymerase activity of HIV-1 RT in the micromolar range while retaining potency against RT variants carrying one of three major NNRTI resistance mutations: K103N, Y181C, or G190A. These compounds also inhibit Moloney murine leukemia virus RT but not the Klenow fragment of Escherichia coli DNA polymerase I. Steady-state kinetic analyses demonstrate that one of these fragments is a competitive inhibitor of HIV-1 RT with respect to deoxyribonucleoside triphosphate (dNTP) substrate, whereas a second compound is a competitive inhibitor of RT polymerase activity with respect to the DNA template/primer (T/P), and consequently also inhibits RNase H activity. The dNTP competing RT inhibitor retains activity against the NRTI-resistant mutants K65R and M184V, demonstrating a drug resistance profile distinct from the nucleotide competing RT inhibitors indolopyridone-1 (INDOPY-1) and 4-dimethylamino-6-vinylpyrimidine-1 (DAVP-1). In antiviral assays, the T/P competing compound inhibits HIV-1 replication at a step consistent with an RT inhibitor. Screening of additional structurally related compounds to the three fragments led to the discovery of molecules with improved potency against HIV-1 RT. These fragment inhibitors represent previously unidentified scaffolds for development of novel drugs for HIV-1 prevention or treatment.

scholarly journals A Novel Leu92 Mutant of HIV-1 Reverse Transcriptase with a Selective Deficiency in Strand Transfer Causes a Loss of Viral Replication

2015 ◽  
Vol 89 (16) ◽  
pp. 8119-8129 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eytan Herzig ◽  
Nickolay Voronin ◽  
Nataly Kucherenko ◽  
Amnon Hizi
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Viral Replication ◽  
Reverse Transcriptase ◽  
Dna Polymerase ◽  
Reverse Transcription ◽  
Polymerase Activity ◽  
Rnase H ◽  
Strand Transfer ◽  
Hiv 1

ABSTRACTThe process of reverse transcription (RTN) in retroviruses is essential to the viral life cycle. This key process is catalyzed exclusively by the viral reverse transcriptase (RT) that copies the viral RNA into DNA by its DNA polymerase activity, while concomitantly removing the original RNA template by its RNase H activity. During RTN, the combination between DNA synthesis and RNA hydrolysis leads to strand transfers (or template switches) that are critical for the completion of RTN. The balance between these RT-driven activities was considered to be the sole reason for strand transfers. Nevertheless, we show here that a specific mutation in HIV-1 RT (L92P) that does not affect the DNA polymerase and RNase H activities abolishes strand transfer. There is also a good correlation between this complete loss of the RT's strand transfer to the loss of the DNA clamp activity of the RT, discovered recently by us. This finding indicates a mechanistic linkage between these two functions and that they are both direct and unique functions of the RT (apart from DNA synthesis and RNA degradation). Furthermore, when the RT's L92P mutant was introduced into an infectious HIV-1 clone, it lost viral replication, due to inefficient intracellular strand transfers during RTN, thus supporting thein vitrodata. As far as we know, this is the first report on RT mutants that specifically and directly impair RT-associated strand transfers. Therefore, targeting residue Leu92 may be helpful in selectively blocking this RT activity and consequently HIV-1 infectivity and pathogenesis.IMPORTANCEReverse transcription in retroviruses is essential for the viral life cycle. This multistep process is catalyzed by viral reverse transcriptase, which copies the viral RNA into DNA by its DNA polymerase activity (while concomitantly removing the RNA template by its RNase H activity). The combination and balance between synthesis and hydrolysis lead to strand transfers that are critical for reverse transcription completion. We show here for the first time that a single mutation in HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (L92P) selectively abolishes strand transfers without affecting the enzyme's DNA polymerase and RNase H functions. When this mutation was introduced into an infectious HIV-1 clone, viral replication was lost due to an impaired intracellular strand transfer, thus supporting thein vitrodata. Therefore, finding novel drugs that target HIV-1 reverse transcriptase Leu92 may be beneficial for developing new potent and selective inhibitors of retroviral reverse transcription that will obstruct HIV-1 infectivity.

scholarly journals HIV-1 Reverse Transcriptase Still Remains a New Drug Target: Structure, Function, Classical Inhibitors, and New Inhibitors with Innovative Mechanisms of Actions

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesca Esposito ◽  
Angela Corona ◽  
Enzo Tramontano
Keyword(s):  
Reverse Transcriptase ◽  
Drug Target ◽  
Polymerase Activity ◽  
Rnase H ◽  
Primary Target ◽  
Lethal Mutagenesis ◽  
Rt Inhibitors ◽  
Process Characteristic ◽  
Hiv 1 ◽  
Chain Terminators

During the retrotranscription process, characteristic of all retroviruses, the viral ssRNA genome is converted into integration-competent dsDNA. This process is accomplished by the virus-coded reverse transcriptase (RT) protein, which is a primary target in the current treatments for HIV-1 infection. In particular, in the approved therapeutic regimens two classes of drugs target RT, namely, nucleoside RT inhibitors (NRTIs) and nonnucleoside RT inhibitors (NNRTIs). Both classes inhibit the RT-associated polymerase activity: the NRTIs compete with the natural dNTP substrate and act as chain terminators, while the NNRTIs bind to an allosteric pocket and inhibit polymerization noncompetitively. In addition to these two classes, other RT inhibitors (RTIs) that target RT by distinct mechanisms have been identified and are currently under development. These include translocation-defective RTIs, delayed chain terminators RTIs, lethal mutagenesis RTIs, dinucleotide tetraphosphates, nucleotide-competing RTIs, pyrophosphate analogs, RT-associated RNase H function inhibitors, and dual activities inhibitors. This paper describes the HIV-1 RT function and molecular structure, illustrates the currently approved RTIs, and focuses on the mechanisms of action of the newer classes of RTIs.

scholarly journals A new strategy to inhibit the excision reaction catalysed by HIV-1 reverse transcriptase: compounds that compete with the template–primer

2007 ◽  
Vol 405 (1) ◽  
pp. 165-171 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos Cruchaga ◽  
Elena Anso ◽  
María Font ◽  
Virginia S. Martino ◽  
Ana Rouzaut ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reverse Transcriptase ◽  
Competitive Inhibitor ◽  
Rnase H ◽  
Nucleoside Analogues ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Antiviral Compound ◽  
New Strategy ◽  
Direct Binding ◽  
Rt Inhibitors ◽  
Hiv 1

Inhibitors of the excision reaction catalysed by HIV-1 RT (reverse transcriptase) represent a promising approach in the fight against HIV, because these molecules would interfere with the main mechanism of resistance of this enzyme towards chain-terminating nucleotides. Only a limited number of compounds have been demonstrated to inhibit this reaction to date, including NNRTIs (non-nucleoside RT inhibitors) and certain pyrophosphate analogues. We have found previously that 2GP (2-O-galloylpunicalin), an antiviral compound extracted from the leaves of Terminalia triflora, was able to inhibit both the RT and the RNase H activities of HIV-1 RT without affecting cell proliferation or viability. In the present study, we show that 2GP also inhibited the ATP- and PPi-dependent phosphorolysis catalysed by wild-type and AZT (3′-azido-3′-deoxythymidine)-resistant enzymes at sub-micromolar concentrations. Kinetic and direct-binding analysis showed that 2GP was a non-competitive inhibitor against the nucleotide substrate, whereas it competed with the binding of RT to the template–primer (Kd=85 nM). As expected from its mechanism of action, 2GP was active against mutations conferring resistance to NNRTIs and AZT. The combination of AZT with 2GP was highly synergistic when tested in the presence of pyrophosphate, indicating that the inhibition of RT-catalysed phosphorolysis was responsible for the synergy found. Although other RT inhibitors that compete with the template–primer have been described, this is the first demonstration that these compounds can be used to block the excision of chain terminating nucleotides, providing a rationale for their combination with nucleoside analogues.

Synergistic Inhibition of HIV-1 Reverse Transcriptase DNA Polymerase Activity and Virus Replication in Vitro by Combinations of Carboxanilide Nonnucleoside Compounds

Biochemistry ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 34 (32) ◽  
pp. 10106-10112 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronald S. Fletcher ◽  
Dominique Arion ◽  
Gadi Borkow ◽  
Mark A. Wainberg ◽  
Gary I. Dmitrienko ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reverse Transcriptase ◽  
Dna Polymerase ◽  
Virus Replication ◽  
Polymerase Activity ◽  
Synergistic Inhibition ◽  
Hiv 1

scholarly journals Effects of the W153L Substitution in HIV Reverse Transcriptase on Viral Replication and Drug Resistance to Multiple Categories of Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors

2014 ◽  
Vol 58 (8) ◽  
pp. 4515-4526 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hong-Tao Xu ◽  
Susan P. Colby-Germinario ◽  
Maureen Oliveira ◽  
Daniel Rajotte ◽  
Richard Bethell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Viral Replication ◽  
Reverse Transcriptase ◽  
Rnase H ◽  
Hiv Reverse Transcriptase ◽  
Compound A ◽  
Enzymatic Function ◽  
Biochemical Assays ◽  
Rt Inhibitors ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Hiv 1

ABSTRACTA W153L substitution in HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) was recently identified by selection with a novel nucleotide-competing RT inhibitor (NcRTI) termed compound A that is a member of the benzo[4,5]furo[3,2,d]pyrimidin-2-one NcRTI family of drugs. To investigate the impact of W153L, alone or in combination with the clinically relevant RT resistance substitutions K65R (change of Lys to Arg at position 65), M184I, K101E, K103N, E138K, and Y181C, on HIV-1 phenotypic susceptibility, viral replication, and RT enzymatic function, we generated recombinant RT enzymes and viruses containing each of these substitutions or various combinations of them. We found that W153L-containing viruses were impaired in viral replicative capacity and were hypersusceptible to tenofovir (TFV) while retaining susceptibility to most nonnucleoside RT inhibitors. The nucleoside 3TC retained potency against W153L-containing viruses but not when the M184I substitution was also present. W153L was also able to reverse the effects of the K65R substitution on resistance to TFV, and K65R conferred hypersusceptibility to compound A. Biochemical assays demonstrated that W153L alone or in combination with K65R, M184I, K101E, K103N, E138K, and Y181C impaired enzyme processivity and polymerization efficiency but did not diminish RNase H activity, providing mechanistic insights into the low replicative fitness associated with these substitutions. We show that the mechanism of the TFV hypersusceptibility conferred by W153L is mainly due to increased efficiency of TFV-diphosphate incorporation. These results demonstrate that compound A and/or derivatives thereof have the potential to be important antiretroviral agents that may be combined with tenofovir to achieve synergistic results.

scholarly journals L74V increases the reverse transcriptase content of HIV-1 virions with non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase drug-resistant mutations L100I+K103N and K101E+G190S, which results in increased fitness

2013 ◽  
Vol 94 (7) ◽  
pp. 1597-1607 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiong Wang ◽  
Dongge Li ◽  
Robert A. Bambara ◽  
Hongmei Yang ◽  
Carrie Dykes
Keyword(s):  
Reverse Transcriptase ◽  
Resistance Mutation ◽  
Transcriptase Inhibitor ◽  
Rnase H ◽  
Drug Resistant ◽  
Resistance Mutations ◽  
Nnrti Resistance ◽  
Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor ◽  
Subsequent Addition ◽  
Hiv 1

The fitness of non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) drug-resistant reverse transcriptase (RT) mutants of HIV-1 correlates with the amount of RT in the virions and the RNase H activity of the RT. We wanted to understand the mechanism by which secondary NNRTI-resistance mutations, L100I and K101E, and the nucleoside resistance mutation, L74V, alter the fitness of K103N and G190S viruses. We measured the amount of RT in virions and the polymerization and RNase H activities of mutant RTs compared to wild-type, K103N and G190S. We found that L100I, K101E and L74V did not change the polymerization or RNase H activities of K103N or G190S RTs. However, L100I and K101E reduced the amount of RT in the virions and subsequent addition of L74V restored RT levels back to those of G190S or K103N alone. We conclude that fitness changes caused by L100I, K101E and L74V derive from their effects on RT content.

scholarly journals HIV-1 Reverse Transcriptase Can Simultaneously Engage Its DNA/RNA Substrate at Both DNA Polymerase and RNase H Active Sites: Implications for RNase H Inhibition

2009 ◽  
Vol 388 (3) ◽  
pp. 462-474 ◽  
Author(s):  
Greg L. Beilhartz ◽  
Michaela Wendeler ◽  
Noel Baichoo ◽  
Jason Rausch ◽  
Stuart Le Grice ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reverse Transcriptase ◽  
Dna Polymerase ◽  
Active Sites ◽  
Rnase H ◽  
Hiv 1

Effects of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Resistance to Protease Inhibitors on Reverse Transcriptase Processing, Activity, and Drug Sensitivity

1999 ◽  
Vol 73 (4) ◽  
pp. 3455-3459 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurence Carron de la Carrière ◽  
Sylvie Paulous ◽  
François Clavel ◽  
Fabrizio Mammano
Keyword(s):  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Reverse Transcriptase ◽  
Protease Inhibitors ◽  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type ◽  
Virus Type ◽  
Resistance Mutations ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Rt Inhibitors ◽  
Hiv 1

ABSTRACT Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) variants resistant to protease inhibitors often display a reduced replicative capacity as a result of an impairment of protease function. Such fitness-impaired viruses display Gag precursor maturation defects. Here, we report that some protease inhibitor-resistant viruses also display abnormalities in the processing of reverse transcriptase (RT) by the protease. In three recombinant viruses carrying resistant protease sequences from patient plasma, we observed a marked decrease in the amount of mature RT subunits and of particle-associated RT activity compared to their parental pretherapy counterparts. We investigated the possibility that a decrease in the amount of particle-associated mature RT could affect the sensitivity of the corresponding virus to RT inhibitors. We observed a twofold increase of sensitivity to zidovudine (AZT) when a virus which carried AZT mutations was processed by a resistant protease. Interestingly, the presence of AZT-resistance mutations partially rescued the replication defect associated with the mutated protease. The interplay between resistance to protease inhibitors and to RT inhibitors described here may be relevant to the therapeutic control of HIV-1 infection.

scholarly journals Nucleocapsid Protein Precursors NCp9 and NCp15 Suppress ATP-Mediated Rescue of AZT-Terminated Primers by HIV-1 Reverse Transcriptase

2020 ◽  
Vol 64 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Moisés A. Árquez ◽  
Samara Martín-Alonso ◽  
Robert J. Gorelick ◽  
Walter A. Scott ◽  
Antonio J. Acosta-Hoyos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reverse Transcriptase ◽  
Nucleocapsid Protein ◽  
Inhibitory Effect ◽  
Rnase H ◽  
Resistance Mutations ◽  
Site Mutation ◽  
Development Of Resistance ◽  
Transcription Process ◽  
Dna Primers ◽  
Hiv 1

ABSTRACT In HIV-1, development of resistance to AZT (3′-azido-3′-deoxythymidine) is mediated by the acquisition of thymidine analogue resistance mutations (TAMs) (i.e., M41L, D67N, K70R, L210W, T215F/Y, and K219E/Q) in the viral reverse transcriptase (RT). Clinically relevant combinations of TAMs, such as M41L/T215Y or D67N/K70R/T215F/K219Q, enhance the ATP-mediated excision of AZT monophosphate (AZTMP) from the 3′ end of the primer, allowing DNA synthesis to continue. Additionally, during HIV-1 maturation, the Gag polyprotein is cleaved to release a mature nucleocapsid protein (NCp7) and two intermediate precursors (NCp9 and NCp15). NC proteins interact with the viral genome and facilitate the reverse transcription process. Using wild-type and TAM-containing RTs, we showed that both NCp9 and NCp15 inhibited ATP-mediated rescue of AZTMP-terminated primers annealed to RNA templates but not DNA templates, while NCp7 had no effect on rescue activity. RNase H inactivation by introducing the active-site mutation E478Q led to the loss of the inhibitory effect shown by NCp9. NCp15 had a stimulatory effect on the RT’s RNase H activity not observed with NCp7 and NCp9. However, analysis of RNase H cleavage patterns revealed that in the presence of NCp9, RNA/DNA complexes containing duplexes of 12 bp had reduced stability in comparison with those obtained in the absence of NC or with NCp7 or NCp15. These effects are expected to have a strong influence on the inhibitory action of NCp9 and NCp15 by affecting the efficiency of RNA-dependent DNA polymerization after unblocking DNA primers terminated with AZTMP and other nucleotide analogues.

scholarly journals Reduced Fitness in Cell Culture of HIV-1 with Nonnucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor-Resistant Mutations Correlates with Relative Levels of Reverse Transcriptase Content and RNase H Activity in Virions

2010 ◽  
Vol 84 (18) ◽  
pp. 9377-9389 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiong Wang ◽  
Robert A. Bambara ◽  
Lisa M. Demeter ◽  
Carrie Dykes
Keyword(s):  
Cell Culture ◽  
Reverse Transcriptase ◽  
Substantial Reduction ◽  
Transcriptase Inhibitor ◽  
Rnase H ◽  
Relative Fitness ◽  
Resistant Mutants ◽  
Cell Culture Assay ◽  
Rt Inhibitors ◽  
Hiv 1

ABSTRACT Nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase (RT) inhibitors (NNRTIs) are important components of multidrug therapy for HIV-1. Understanding the effect of NNRTI-resistant mutants on virus replication and reverse transcriptase (RT) function is valuable for the development of extended-spectrum NNRTIs. We measured the fitness of six NNRTI-resistant mutants, the K103N, V106A, Y181C, G190A, G190S, and P236L viruses, using a flow cytometry-based cell culture assay. K103N and Y181C viruses had fitness similar to that of the wild type while V106A, G190A, G190S, and P236L viruses had reduced fitness. We also determined the biochemical correlates of fitness by measuring the RNase H and polymerization activities of recombinant mutant RTs and virion-associated RTs. The RNase H activities of recombinant and virion-associated RTs correlated with the relative fitness for each mutant. K103N and Y181C mutants had normal RNase H activity; V106A, G190A, and G190S mutants had moderate reductions in activity; and the P236L mutant had substantially reduced activity. With the exception of the P236L mutant, reduced fitness correlates with low virion-associated polymerization efficiency and reduced RT content. Reduced polymerase function in virions derived from low RT content rather than an intrinsic polymerization defect in each RT protein. In conclusion, severe defects in RNase H activity alone, exemplified by the P236L mutant, appear sufficient to cause a substantial reduction in fitness. For the other NNRTI mutants, reductions in RT content decreased both polymerization and RNase H activity in virions. RNase H reduction was compounded by intrinsic RNase H defects in the mutant RTs.

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