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On the engineering of rDNA proteins for purification by immobilized metal affinity chromatography: applications to alternating histidine-containing chimeric proteins from recombinant Escherichia coli.

Recently we reported (D. B. Evans, W. G. Tarpley, and S. K. Sharma, 1991, Protein Expression Purif. 2, 205-213) the cloning, expression, and characterization of recombinant chimeric proteins with an N-terminal metal-binding peptide (mbp), His-Asp-His-Asp-His, and a renin cleavage site. Using these chimerics as examples, we describe here the use of genetically engineered alternating histidines in the purification of these chimerics by immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC). In these chimerics, an alternate histidine-containing peptide was fused to the N-termini of HIV reverse transcriptase (HIV RT) and beta-galactosidase. These chimerics were retarded on immobilized nickel very strongly and could be completely eluted only by the use of 100 mM imidazole, whereas the wildtype HIV RT and Escherichia coli contaminating proteins were eluted between 10 and 35 mM imidazole. When the DNA coding for the mbp was removed, the resulting chimerics were recovered from the IMAC column at 35 mM imidazole. The strong and specific interaction between the chimeric protein and the immobilized metal ion was also abolished when the mbp was specifically cleaved by human renin. It is concluded from these studies that tailoring recombinant proteins with three or more alternate histidines should result in the isolation of such chimeric proteins from crude mixtures in a single step. Since IMAC is amendable to scale up, the tailored specificity engineered into the protein of interest via an mbp should allow one to achieve large-scale isolation of recombinant proteins from bacterial and nonbacterial hosts in a highly predictable manner.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The K65R mutant reverse transcriptase of HIV-1 cross-resistant to 2', 3'-dideoxycytidine, 2',3'-dideoxy-3'-thiacytidine, and 2',3'-dideoxyinosine shows reduced sensitivity to specific dideoxynucleoside triphosphate inhibitors in vitro.

The K65R mutation in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) reverse transcriptase (RT) encodes cross-resistance to 2',3'-dideoxycytidine (ddC), 2',3'-dideoxy-3'-thiacytidine (3TC), and 2',3'-dideoxyinosine (ddI). We characterized the in vitro sensitivities of recombinant wild type (wt) and K65R mutant RT to dideoxynucleoside triphosphate (ddNTP) inhibitors, using a variety of primer-templates. With poly(rA)-oligo(dT), the K65R mutant showed slight increases in Ki for ddTTP and 3'-azido, 3'-deoxythymidine triphosphate (AZTTP) compared to wt RT, but neither wt nor K65R RT was inhibited by ddCTP or ddATP. With poly(rI)-oligo(dC), the K65R mutant showed a 2-fold increase in Km for dCTP and a 20-fold increase in Ki for ddCTP compared to wt, whereas ddATP, ddTTP, and AZTTP failed to inhibit either enzyme. With a heteropolymeric primer-template, the K65R mutant showed 10-fold reduced sensitivities to ddCTP, 3TCTP, and ddATP, and 4-fold reduced sensitivity to AZTTP, compared to wt. In contrast, both enzymes were equally inhibited by ddTTP and ddGTP. HIV-1 cross-resistance to ddC/3TC/ddI resulting from the K65R mutation may therefore involve selective alterations in substrate/inhibitor recognition. Additionally, competitive inhibition by ddNTPs noncomplementary to the template base appears to be unimportant in the mechanism of inhibition of HIV-1 RT by dideoxynucleoside analogs.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A novel mechanism for inhibition of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase.

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic is an important medical problem. Although combination drug regimens have produced dramatic decreases in viral load, current therapies do not provide a cure for HIV infection. We have used structure-based design and combinatorial medicinal chemistry to identify potent and selective HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) inhibitors that may work by a mechanism distinct from that of current HIV drugs. The most potent of these compounds (compound 4, 2-naphthalenesulfonic acid, 4-hydroxy-7-[[[[5-hydroxy-6-[(4-cinnamylphenyl)azo]-7-sulfo-2-naphthalenyl]amino]carbonyl]amino]-3-[(4-cinnamylphenyl)azo], disodium salt) has an IC(50) of 90 nM for inhibition of polymerase chain extension, a K(d) of 40 nM for inhibition of DNA-RT binding, and an IC(50) of 25-100 nM for inhibition of RNaseH cleavage. The parent compound (1) was as effective against 10 nucleoside and non-nucleoside resistant HIV-1 RT mutants as it was against the wild-type enzyme. Compound 4 inhibited HIV-1 RT and murine leukemia virus (MLV) RT, but it did not inhibit T(4) DNA polymerase, T(7) DNA polymerase, or the Klenow fragment at concentrations up to 200 nM. Finally, compound 4 protected cells from HIV-1 infection at a concentration more than 40 times lower than the concentration at which it caused cellular toxicity.

Algorithms↗

Targeting delavirdine/atevirdine resistant HIV-1: identification of (alkylamino)piperidine-containing bis(heteroaryl)piperazines as broad spectrum HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibitors.

A novel class of bis(heteroaryl)piperazine (BHAP) analogs which possesses the ability to inhibit NNRTI (non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor) resistant recombinant HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) and NNRTI resistant variants of HIV-1 has been identified via targeted screening. Further investigation of the structure-activity relationships of close congeners of these novel (alkylamino)piperidine BHAPs (AAP-BHAPs) led to the synthesis of several compounds possessing the desired phenotype (e.g., activity against recombinant RTs carrying the Y181C and P236L substitutions). Further structural modifications were required to inhibit metabolism and modulate solubility in order to obtain compounds with the desired biological profile as well as appropriate pharmaceutical properties. The AAP-BHAPs with the most suitable characteristics were compounds 7, 15, and 36.

Animals↗

3'-Azido-3'-deoxythymidine drug resistance mutations in HIV-1 reverse transcriptase can induce long range conformational changes.

HIV reverse transcriptase (RT) is one of the main targets for the action of anti-AIDS drugs. Many of these drugs [e.g., 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT) and 2',3'-dideoxyinosine (ddI)] are analogues of the nucleoside substrates used by the HIV RT. One of the main problems in anti-HIV therapy is the selection of a mutant virus with reduced drug sensitivity. Drug resistance in HIV is generated for nucleoside analogue inhibitors by mutations in HIV RT. However, most of these mutations are situated some distance from the polymerase active site, giving rise to questions concerning the mechanism of resistance. To understand the possible structural bases for this, the crystal structures of AZT- and ddI-resistant RTs have been determined. For the ddI-resistant RT with a mutation at residue 74, no significant conformational changes were observed for the p66 subunit. In contrast, for the AZT-resistant RT (RTMC) bearing four mutations, two of these (at 215 and 219) give rise to a conformational change that propagates to the active site aspartate residues. Thus, these drug resistance mutations produce an effect at the RT polymerase site mediated simply by the protein. It is likely that such long-range effects could represent a common mechanism for generating drug resistance in other systems.

Binding Sites↗

The K65R mutation confers increased DNA polymerase processivity to HIV-1 reverse transcriptase.

The K65R mutation in HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) is associated with viral cross-resistance to 2',3'-dideoxyinosine, 2',3'-dideoxycytidine, and 2',3'-dideoxy-3'-thiacytidine. We have found that in vitro DNA synthesis by K65R RT is significantly more processive than that of wild type (wt) RT. Depending on the template/primer (T/P) used, the total incorporation of nucleotides under single processive cycle conditions was 20-50% higher with K65R RT than with wt RT. With heteropolymeric T/P, the total incorporation of dNMP by K65R and wt RT was similar under continuous DNA synthesis reaction conditions. However, under single processive cycle conditions, the rate of full-length polymerization product synthesis by K65R RT was about 2-fold higher than that by wt RT. We also found a decreased rate of T/P dissociation during K65R RT DNA synthesis, which is consistent with the increased processivity of the enzyme. We postulate that the increased processivity of the K65R RT may be a compensatory response to the decreased affinity of this mutant for certain dNTP substrates, allowing normal viral replication kinetics.

DNA↗

Fidelity of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase.

The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) shows extensive genetic variation and undergoes rapid evolution. The fidelity of purified HIV-1 reverse transcriptase was measured during DNA polymerization in vitro by means of three different assays. Reverse transcriptase from HIV-1 introduced base-substitution errors in DNA from the bacteriophage phi X174 amber3 at estimated frequencies of 1/2000 to 1/4000. Analyses of misincorporation rates opposite a single template adenine residue showed that HIV-1 reverse transcriptase catalyzed nucleotide mismatches with a specificity of A:C much greater than A:G greater than A:A. The high error rate of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase in vitro translates to approximately five to ten errors per HIV-1 genome per round of replication in vivo. This high error rate suggests that misincorporation by HIV-1 reverse transcriptase is, at least in part, responsible for the hypermutability of the AIDS virus. The specificity of misincorporation may provide a basis for the systematic construction of antiviral nucleosides.

Avian Myeloblastosis Virus↗

1,1,3-Trioxo-2H,4H-thieno[3,4-e][1,2,4]thiadiazine (TTD) derivatives: a new class of nonnucleoside human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) reverse transcriptase inhibitors with anti-HIV-1 activity.

We report the development of a new group of nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs). One of the most active congeners of this series of 1,1,3-trioxo-2H,4H-thieno[3,4-e] [1,2,4]thiadiazine (TTD) derivatives, i.e., 2-(3-fluorobenzyl)-4-cyanomethylen-l,1,3-trioxo-2H,4H- thieno [3,4-e] [1,2,4] thiadiazine) (QM96639) was found to inhibit human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 [HIV-1 (IIIB)] replication in MT-4 cells at a concentration of 0.09 microM. This compound was toxic for the host cells only at a 1,400-fold higher concentration. The TTD derivatives proved effective against a variety of HIV-1 strains, including those that are resistant to 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT), but not against HIV-2 (ROD) or simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV/ MAC251). HIV-1 strains containing the L100I, K103N, V106A, E138K, Y181C, or Y188H mutations in their reverse transcriptase (RT) displayed reduced sensitivity to the compounds. Their cross-resistance patterns correlated with that of nevirapine. 2-Benzyl-4-cyanomethylen-1,1,3-trioxo-2H,4H-thieno[3,4-e] [1,2,4]thiadiazine (QM96521) enhanced the anti-HIV-1 activity of AZT and didanosine in a subsynergistic manner. HIV-1-resistant virus containing the V179D mutation in the RT was selected after approximately six passages of HIV-1 (IIIB) in CEM cells in the presence of different concentrations of QM96521. From structure-activity relationship analysis of a wide variety of TTD derivatives, a number of restrictions appeared as to the chemical modifications that were compatible with anti-HIV activity. Modelling studies suggest that in contrast to most other NNRTIs, but akin to nevirapine, QM96521 does not act as a hydrogen bond donor in the RT-drug complex.

Anti-HIV Agents↗

Detection and quantification of multiple drug resistance mutations in HIV-1 reverse transcriptase by an oligonucleotide ligation assay.

OBJECTIVES: To develop an assay for the early detection and quantification of minor human immunodeficiency virus-1 populations bearing multiple drug resistance (MDR) mutations. STUDY DESIGN/METHODS: The oligonucleotide ligation assay (OLA) is based on ligation of probe and detector oligonucleotides annealed to a polymerase chain reaction amplicon strand with detection by an enzyme immunoassay. In OLA-MDR, oligonucleotides were designed to detect MDR mutations. The method was validated with wild-type and MDR mutant clones mixed at different proportions. RESULTS: K103N mutants were detected as minor populations (5%-30%) by OLA in 6 of 18 samples from patients treated with nonnucleoside reverse transcription inhibitors and classified as wild type by sequencing. In one patient, the kinetics of the increase of MDR mutants could be followed in sequential samples, with K103N being detected earlier by OLA than by sequencing. Q151M mutants were detected as minor populations (13%-24%) by OLA but not by sequencing in 4 samples. CONCLUSIONS: Oligonucleotide ligation assay MDR exhibits higher sensitivity than sequencing for detection of minor MDR mutant populations.

Drug Resistance, Multiple, Viral↗

Pyrimidine thioethers: a novel class of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibitors with activity against BHAP-resistant HIV.

A series of pyrimidine thioethers was synthesized and evaluated for inhibitory properties against wild-type HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) and an RT carrying the resistance-conferring mutation P236L. Modifications of both the pyrimidine and the functionality attached through the thioether yielded several analogues, which demonstrated activity against both enzyme types, with IC50 values as low as 190 nM against wild-type and 66 nM against P236L RT. Evaluation of a select number of pyrimidine thioethers in cell culture showed that these compounds have excellent activity against HIV-1IIIB-WT and retain good activity against a laboratory-derived HIV-1MF delavirdine-resistant variant.

Amino Acid Substitution↗

Increased fidelity of drug-selected M184V mutated HIV-1 reverse transcriptase as the basis for the effectiveness of 3TC in HIV clinical trials.

HIV-infected individuals, who received 3TC monotherapy over one year, generally had lower plasma viral burden than at base-line. This was in spite of high-level resistance to this compound and the appearance of the M184V substitution in the HIV reverse transcriptase (RT) gene, responsible for diminished sensitivity to 3TC. This apparent contradiction is explained by an increase in the fidelity of the HIV RT, conferred by the M184V mutation, on the basis of the following observations. First, titers of viral neutralizing antibodies, as measured against sequential autologous HIV isolates, remained stable in this population in contrast to rapid declines in patients treated with other drugs. This suggests that increased fidelity of M184V RT may limit variability in the HIV env gene and result in protracted effectiveness of anti-viral immune responsiveness. Second, recombinant HIV, that contained the M184V substitution in RT, could not replicate in the presence of d4T, AZT, Nevirapine, Delavirdine or Saquinavir, using previously described protocols for the generation of drug resistance in vitro.

Anti-HIV Agents↗

2.2 A resolution structure of the amino-terminal half of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (fingers and palm subdomains).

BACKGROUND: HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) catalyzes the transformation of single-stranded viral RNA into double-stranded DNA, which is integrated into host cell chromosomes. The molecule is a heterodimer of two subunits, p51 and p66. The amino acid sequence of p51 is identical to the sequence of the amino-terminal subdomains of p66. Earlier crystallographic studies indicate that the RT molecule is flexible, which may explain the difficulty in obtaining high-resolution data for the intact protein. We have therefore determined the structure of a fragment of RT (RT216), which contains only the amino-terminal half of the RT molecule ('finger' and 'palm' subdomains). RESULTS: The crystal structure of RT216 has been refined at 2.2 A resolution to a crystallographic R-value of 20.8%. The structure is very similar to that of the corresponding part of the p66 subunit in the p66/p51 heterodimer, although there is a small difference in the relative orientation of the two subdomains compared with the structure of an RT-DNA-antibody fragment complex. There are a large number of stabilizing contacts (mainly hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions) between the subdomains. The locations of conserved amino acids and the position of some important drug-resistant mutations are described. CONCLUSIONS: The RT216 structure provides detailed three-dimensional information of one important part of HIV-1 RT (including the critical active site residues). We propose a model to explain the inhibitory effect of non-nucleoside inhibitors, which partially accounts for their effect in terms of conformational changes of active site residues.

Binding Sites↗

Mapping of nucleic acid binding in proteolytic domains of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase.

Human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) reverse transcriptase (RT) and its domain fragments were used to map nucleic acid binding sites within the enzyme. Discrete domain fragments were produced after the digestion of three forms of RT (p66, p66/p51 heterodimer, and p51) with V8 protease or trypsin, and the primary structure of each domain fragment was mapped by both immunoblotting and N-terminal amino acid sequence analysis. These domain fragments represent N-terminal, middle, or C-terminal regions of RT. Using Northwestern or Southwestern blotting assays, the domain fragments were evaluated for nucleic acid binding. In this technique, RT proteins are electroblotted onto the membrane and renatured after SDS-PAGE; the proteins are then probed with the primer analogues 32P-labeled d(T)16 or 32P-labeled tRNA(Lys,3). A V8 protease domain fragment spanning residues 195 to approximately 300 (p12), which was found earlier to be UV cross-linked to the primer in intact RT [Sobol et al. (1991) Biochemistry 30, 10623-10631], showed binding to both nucleic acid probes. We first localized nucleic acid binding in p66 to an N-terminal domain fragment of residues 1 approximately equal to 300. By contrast, a C-terminal domain fragment termed p30(303 approximately equal to 560) did not show nucleic acid binding. To investigate the role of the region just N-terminal to residue 303, an expression vector named pRC-35 encoding residues 273-560 was constructed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Dynamics of dominance of a dipeptide insertion in reverse transcriptase of HIV-1 from patients subjected to prolonged therapy.

A small proportion (0.8%) of individuals of a cohort of HIV-1 infected patients subjected to prolonged therapy with nucleoside analogues included a recently recognised dipeptide insertion in their RT (Ser-Ser or Ser-Gly between RT codons 69 and 70). To study the dynamics of dominance of genomes with this genetic change, sequential HIV-1 isolates from two patients were analyzed with regard to consensus sequences and complexity of mutant spectra. The two patients displayed completely different, complex evolutionary patterns leading to temporary dominance of dipeptide insertions. In one patient, a virus very closely related to an ancestor virus from the same patient overtook the population at late times, displacing genomes encoding a Ser-Ser insertion. In another patient the sequential dominance of genomes with Ser-Ser insertion-->no insertion-->Ser-Gly insertion was observed. These three types of genomes coexisted in the mutant spectrum of one HIV-1 isolate. Complexity was also reflected in the shape of phylogenetic trees derived with genomes from the mutant spectrum at each time point. The results suggest that HIV-1 genomes encoding a dipeptide insertion between RT codons 69 and 70 do not show a clear selective advantage over other genomes lacking the insertion. Such an absence of a clear selective advantage will favor that such genomes encoding this RT insertion become dominant only in a transient fashion, and following disparate kinetics in different patients.

Adult↗

Immunogenic properties of reverse transcriptase of HIV type 1 assessed by DNA and protein immunization of rabbits.

Genetic immunization may be one way to prime individuals for a subsequent broad anti-HIV-1 immune response. Reverse transcriptase of HIV-1 (RT) presents a selective target for attempts to arrest replication of HIV-1. Rabbits immunized with a plasmid carrying the gene for reverse transcriptase HIV-1 (RT DNA) developed potent antibody and cellular responses to the gene product. The immunogenic properties of RT DNA and recombinant reverse transcriptase were compared in rabbits. The specific immune responses were similar to those reported previously for HIV-1 infected humans. The array of B and T cell epitopes recognized in RT DNA-immunized rabbits was broader than in rabbits immunized with the recombinant RT. We localized seven novel B and T cell epitopes and concordance between B cell and helper T cell epitopes was observed. B cell epitopes of RT induced proliferation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells and were active as helper T cell epitopes. T cell-proliferative responses to the epitopes of RT preceded or paralleled the production of antibodies of the same specificity. Subdomains of reverse transcriptase involved in the enzymatic activity of RT were highly immunogenic. Anti-RT IgG partially inhibited reverse transcription in vitro.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A single amino acid change at Leu-188 in the reverse transcriptase of HIV-2 and SIV renders them sensitive to non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors.

Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) are selective for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and generally not effective on HIV-2 or simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV). Only SIVagm was found to be sensitive to NNRTIs. When the amino acid differences in RT between SIVmac and SIVagm were compared with the known amino acid substitutions of NNRTI-resistance variants of HIV-1, we came to consider that the amino acid residue Leu-188 of HIV-2 and SIVmac might be related to their resistance to NNRTIs. To test this hypothesis, we substituted Leu-188 to Cys or Tyr in HIV-2 and SIVmac, and examined sensitivity of the mutant molecular clones to NNRTIs. The L188Y mutant of HIV-2 became completely sensitive to delavirdine and efavirenz, while that of SIVmac was also significantly sensitive to these NNRTIs. We further isolated NNRTI-resistant variants from these mutant viruses and determined amino acid substitutions in RT. The roles of the observed substitutions in NNRTI-resistance were further confirmed by site-directed mutagenesis. Our study reveals the crucial role of L188 in the natural resistance of HIV-2 and SIVmac to NNRTIs. Furthermore, the observed substitutions in RT of HIV-2 and SIVmac support the common mechanism of action of NNRTIs against HIV-1, HIV-2 and SIV.

Alkynes↗