The VIZIER project: preparedness against pathogenic RNA viruses.

Life-threatening RNA viruses emerge regularly, and often in an unpredictable manner. Yet, the very few drugs available against known RNA viruses have sometimes required decades of research for development. Can we generate preparedness for outbreaks of the, as yet, unknown viruses? The VIZIER (VIral enZymes InvolvEd in Replication) (http://www.vizier-europe.org/) project has been set-up to develop the scientific foundations for countering this challenge to society. VIZIER studies the most conserved viral enzymes (that of the replication machinery, or replicases) that constitute attractive targets for drug-design. The aim of VIZIER is to determine as many replicase crystal structures as possible from a carefully selected list of viruses in order to comprehensively cover the diversity of the RNA virus universe, and generate critical knowledge that could be efficiently utilized to jump-start research on any emerging RNA virus. VIZIER is a multidisciplinary project involving (i) bioinformatics to define functional domains, (ii) viral genomics to increase the number of characterized viral genomes and prepare defined targets, (iii) proteomics to express, purify, and characterize targets, (iv) structural biology to solve their crystal structures, and (v) pre-lead discovery to propose active scaffolds of antiviral molecules.

Application of the use of high-throughput technologies to the determination of protein structures of bacterial and viral pathogens.

The Structural Proteomics In Europe (SPINE) programme is aimed at the development and implementation of high-throughput technologies for the efficient structure determination of proteins of biomedical importance, such as those of bacterial and viral pathogens linked to human health. Despite the challenging nature of some of these targets, 175 novel pathogen protein structures (approximately 220 including complexes) have been determined to date. Here the impact of several technologies on the structural determination of proteins from human pathogens is illustrated with selected examples, including the parallel expression of multiple constructs, the use of standardized refolding protocols and optimized crystallization screens.

Synthesis of novel, potent, diol-based HIV-1 protease inhibitors via intermolecular pinacol homocoupling of (2S)-2-benzyloxymethyl-4-phenylbutanal.

The synthesis of novel, potent, diol-based HIV-1 protease inhibitors, having phenethyl groups (-CH(2)CH(2)Ph) in P1/P1' position is described. An intermolecular pinacol homocoupling of (2S)-2-benzyloxymethyl-4-phenylbutanal 16 was the key step in the synthesis. From this reaction sequence four carba analogues, compounds 8a, 8b, 9a, and 9b, were prepared, having the inverted configuration of one or both of the stereogenic centers carrying the diol hydroxyls as compared to the parent series represented by inhibitors 6 and 7. Inhibitor 8b was found to be a potent inhibitor of HIV-1 protease (PR), showing excellent antiviral activity in the cell-based assay and in the presence of 40% human serum. The absolute stereochemistry of the central diol of the potent inhibitor (8b) was determined from the X-ray crystallographic structure of its complex with HIV-1 PR.

Design and synthesis of potent C(2)-symmetric diol-based HIV-1 protease inhibitors: effects of fluoro substitution.

Implementation of derivatized carbohydrates as C(2)-symmetric HIV-1 protease inhibitors has previously been reported. With the objective of improving the anti-HIV activity of such compounds, we synthesized a series of fluoro substituted P1/P1' analogues. These compounds were evaluated for antiviral activity toward both wild type and mutant virus. The potency of the analogues in blocking HIV-1 protease was moderate, with K(i) values ranging from 1 to 7 nM. Nonetheless, compared to the parent nonfluorous inhibitors, a majority of the compounds exhibited improved antiviral activity, for example the 3-fluorobenzyl derivative 9b, which had a K(i) value of 7.13 nM and displayed one of the most powerful antiviral activities in the cellular assay of the series. Our results strongly suggest that fluoro substitution can substantially improve antiviral activity. The X-ray crystal structures of two of the fluoro substituted inhibitors (9a and 9f) cocrystallized with HIV-1 protease are discussed.

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 central DNA flap: dynamic terminal product of plus-strand displacement dna synthesis catalyzed by reverse transcriptase assisted by nucleocapsid protein.

To terminate the reverse transcription of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) genome, a final step occurs within the center of the proviral DNA generating a 99-nucleotide DNA flap (6). This step, catalyzed by reverse transcriptase (RT), is defined as a discrete strand displacement (SD) synthesis between the first nucleotide after the central priming (cPPT) site and the final position of the central termination sequence (CTS) site. Using recombinant HIV-1 RT and a circular single-stranded DNA template harboring the cPPT-CTS sequence, we have developed an SD synthesis-directed in vitro termination assay. Elongation, strand displacement, and complete central flap behavior were analyzed using electrophoresis and electron microscopy approaches. Optimal conditions to obtain complete central flap, which ended at the CTS site, have been defined in using nucleocapsid protein (NCp), the main accessory protein of the reverse transcription complex. A full-length HIV-1 central DNA flap was then carried out in vitro. Its synthesis appears faster in the presence of the HIV-1 NCp or the T4-encoded SSB protein (gp32). Finally, a high frequency of strand transfer was shown during the SD synthesis along the cPPT-CTS site with RT alone. This reveals a local and efficient 3'-5' branch migration which emphasizes some important structural fluctuations within the flap. These fluctuations may be stabilized by the NCp chaperone activity. The biological implications of the RT-directed NCp-assisted flap synthesis are discussed within the context of reverse transcription complexes, assembly of the preintegration complexes, and nuclear import of the HIV-1 proviral DNA to the nucleus toward their chromatin targets.

Synthesis and comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) of symmetric and nonsymmetric cyclic sulfamide HIV-1 protease inhibitors.

We have previously reported on the unexpected flipped conformation in the cyclic sulfamide class of inhibitors. An attempt to induce a symmetric binding conformation by introducing P2/P2' substituents foreseen to bind preferentially in the S2/S2' subsite was unsuccessful. On the basis of the flipped conformation we anticipated that nonsymmetric sulfamide inhibitors, with P2/P2' side chains modified individually for the S1' and S2 subsites, should be more potent than the corresponding symmetric analogues. To test this hypothesis, a set of 18 cyclic sulfamide inhibitors (11 nonsymmetric and 7 symmetric) with different P2/P2' substituents was prepared and evaluated in an enzyme assay. To rationalize the structure-activity relationship (SAR) and enable the alignment of the nonsymmetric inhibitors, i.e., which of the P2/P2' substituents of the nonsymmetric inhibitors interact with which subsite, a CoMFA study was performed. The CoMFA model, constructed from the 18 inhibitors in this study along with seven inhibitors from previous work by our group, has successfully been used to rationalize the SAR of the cyclic sulfamide inhibitors. Furthermore, from the information presented herein, the SAR of the cyclic sulfamide class of inhibitors seems to differ from the SAR of the related cyclic urea inhibitors reported by DuPont and DuPont-Merck.

Monoclonal antibodies to native HIV type 1 reverse transcriptase and their interaction with enzymes from different subtypes.

Recombinant reverse transcriptase (RT) from HIV-1 subtype B was used to produce mouse anti-RT monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). Immunization was done by mixing RT with the ISCOM matrix-forming adjuvant saponin (Quil A). Two different assays, both based on the interaction of native RT and antibodies, were used to monitor the immune response in mice and for screening, selection, and characterization of the MAbs. The first assay measures the capacity of antibodies to inhibit the polymerase activity of the RT and the second assay measures the ability of antibodies to capture enzymatically active RT. Twelve clones with the capacity to inhibit at least 50% of the RT activity and 34 clones with high RT-capturing capacity were found. The MAb panel was utilized to evaluate the immunological properties of 18 different RTs representing 9 different HIV1 subtypes. The RT-inhibitory MAbs could be divided into two groups based on their pattern of cross-reactivity toward the different HIV-1 RTs. The degree of diversity recorded among MAbs with RT-capturing capacity was larger. At least seven groups of MAbs with distinct cross-reactivity patterns were identified. Thus, the degree of isoenzyme specificity varied greatly, from MAbs that were quite specific for subtype B RT to one MAb that was able to capture the RTs from all HIV-1 isolates tested except one of the two group O isolates. In conclusion, our study revealed that there exist surprisingly large immunological differences between RTs from different HIV-1 subtypes as well as from the same subtype.

Design and fast synthesis of C-terminal duplicated potent C(2)-symmetric P1/P1'-modified HIV-1 protease inhibitors.

An analysis of the X-ray structure of a complex of HIV-1 protease with a linear C(2)-symmetric C-terminal duplicated inhibitor guided the selection of a series of diverse target compounds. These were synthesized with the objective to identify suitable P1/P1' substituents to provide inhibitors with improved antiviral activity. Groups with various physical properties were attached to the para-positions of the P1/P1' benzyloxy groups in the parent inhibitor. A p-bromobenzyloxy compound, prepared in only three steps from commercially available starting materials, was utilized as a common precursor in all reactions. The subsequent coupling reactions were completed within a few minutes and relied on palladium catalysis and flash heating with microwave irradiation. All of the compounds synthesized exhibited good inhibitory potency in the protease assay, with K(i) values ranging from 0.09 to 3.8 nM. A 30-fold improvement of the antiviral effect in cell culture, compared to the parent compound, was achieved with four of the inhibitors. The differences in K(i) values were not correlated to the differences in antiviral effect, efficiency against mutant virus, or reduced potency in the presence of human serum. The poorest enzyme inhibitors in fact belong to the group with the best antiviral effect. The binding features of two structurally related inhibitors, cocrystallized with HIV-1 protease, are discussed with special emphasis on the interaction at the enzyme/water phase.

Inhibitors of the C(2)-symmetric HIV-1 protease: nonsymmetric binding of a symmetric cyclic sulfamide with ketoxime groups in the P2/P2' side chains.

Symmetric cyclic sulfamides, substituted in the P2/P2' position with functional groups foreseen to bind preferentially to the S2/S2' subsites of HIV-1 protease, have been prepared. Despite efforts to promote a symmetric binding, the sulfamides seemed prone to bind nonsymmetrically, as deduced from X-ray crystal structure analysis of one of the most potent inhibitors, possessing ketoxime groups in the P2/P2' side chains. Ab initio calculations suggested that the nonsymmetric conformation of the cyclic sulfamide scaffold had lower energy than the corresponding symmetric, cyclic urea-like conformation.

Urea-PETT compounds as a new class of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibitors. 3. Synthesis and further structure-activity relationship studies of PETT analogues.

The further development of allosteric HIV-1 RT inhibitors in the urea analogue series of PETT (phenylethylthiazolylthiourea) derivatives is described here. The series includes derivatives with an ethyl linker (1-5) and racemic (6-16) and enantiomeric (17-20) cis-cyclopropane compounds. The antiviral activity was determined both at the RT level and in cell culture on both wild-type and mutant forms of HIV-1. Most compounds have anti-HIV-1 activity on the wt in the nanomolar range. Resistant HIV-1 was selected in vitro for some of the compounds, and the time for resistant HIV-1 to develop was longer for urea-PETT compounds than it was for reference compounds. Preliminary pharmacokinetics in rats showed that compound 18 is orally bioavailable and penetrates well into the brain. The three-dimensional structure of complexes between HIV-1 RT and two enantiomeric compounds (17 and 18) have been determined. The structures show similar binding in the NNI binding pocket. The propionylphenyl moieties of both inhibitors show perfect stacking to tyrosine residues 181 and 188. The cyclopropyl moiety of the (+)-enantiomer 18 exhibits optimal packing distances for the interactions with leucine residue 100 and valine residue 179.

Design and synthesis of new potent C2-symmetric HIV-1 protease inhibitors. Use of L-mannaric acid as a peptidomimetic scaffold.

A study on the use of derivatized carbohydrates as C2-symmetric HIV-1 protease inhibitors has been undertaken. L-Mannaric acid (6) was bis-O-benzylated at C-2 and C-5 and subsequently coupled with amino acids and amines to give C2-symmetric products based on C-terminal duplication. Potent HIV protease inhibitors, 28 Ki = 0.4 nM and 43 Ki = 0.2 nM, have been discovered, and two synthetic methodologies have been developed, one whereby these inhibitors can be prepared in just three chemical steps from commercially available materials. A remarkable increase in potency going from IC50 = 5000 nM (23) to IC50 = 15 nM (28) was observed upon exchanging -COOMe for -CONHMe in the inhibitor, resulting in the net addition of one hydrogen bond interaction between each of the two -NH- groups and the HIV protease backbone (Gly 48/148). The X-ray crystal structures of 43 and of 48 have been determined (Figures 5 and 6), revealing the binding mode of these inhibitors which will aid further design.

Differential gene expression of steroid 5 alpha-reductase 2 in core needle biopsies from malignant and benign prostatic tissue.

Androgens are implicated in the development of prostate cancer (CAP) and benign prostate hyperplasia. The conversion of testosterone to the more potent metabolite dihydrotestosterone by prostatespecific steroid 5 alpha-reductase type 2 (5 alpha-red2) is a key mechanism in the action of androgens in the prostate and is important in the promotion and progression of prostate diseases. Manipulation of the turnover of androgens is thus fundamental in the pharmacological treatment strategy. We have developed a sensitive solution hybridization method for quantification of the gene expression of 5 alpha-red2 in core needle biopsies of the prostate. The 5 alpha-red2-specific messenger RNA (mRNA) levels were measured in 50 human prostate transrectal ultrasound-guided core biopsies obtained from 31 outpatients (median age 72, range 67-88 yr) undergoing biopsy for diagnostic purposes. Significant differences were observed in the gene expression of 5 alpha-red2 between cancerous and noncancerous tissue. In the 14 biopsies judged cancerous, the median 5 alpha-red mRNA levels were 3.5 amol/ng total RNA compared with 12.0 amol/ng total RNA in the biopsies showing no cancer (P = 0.0018). The median 5 alpha-red2 mRNA level in noncancerous tissue was thus 3.4 times higher than in the cancerous specimens.

Unexpected binding mode of a cyclic sulfamide HIV-1 protease inhibitor.

Two cyclic, C2-symmetric HIV-1 protease inhibitors, one sulfamide and one urea derivative, both comprising phenyl ether groups in the P1/P1' positions, were cocrystallized with HIV-1 protease, and the crystal structures were determined to 2.0 A resolution. The structure of the urea 2 showed a conformation similar to that reported for the related urea 3 by Lam et al., while the sulfamide 1 adopted an unanticipated conformation in which the P1' and P2' side chains were transposed.

Characterization and partial purification of human monoamine oxidase-B expressed in Escherichia coli.

Monoamine oxidases (MAO-A and MAO-B) are enzymes that play a key role in the degradation of endogenous and dietary monoamines. A full-length cDNA of the B-type of MAO, isolated from a human liver cDNA library, was cloned into a prokaryotic expression vector (pET11c). Escherichia coli which was transfected with the recombinant plasmid expressed an insoluble protein product with the expected molecular weight (65 kDa). However, in the inclusion body fraction, where most of the recombinant protein was present, no MAO activity was observed. In contrast, the membrane fraction of the bacterial lysates expressed catalytic activity as estimated by oxidative deamination of beta-phenylethylamine and tyramine. The active enzyme protein was solubilized with Triton X-100 and partly purified (80-fold) on a DEAE-Sepharose column. This enzyme activity showed properties very similar to those of human brain and platelet MAO-B. Moreover, a single band of the expected molecular size was observed on an immunoblot. The peak fraction from the DEAE-Sepharose separation was further purified on a tyramine-Sepharose column, yielding a highly purified enzyme (190-fold), visible as a band on a sodium dodecyl sulfate-containing polyacrylamide gel.

Inhibition of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 wild-type and mutant reverse transcriptases by the phenyl ethyl thiazolyl thiourea derivatives trovirdine and MSC-127.

A new class of very potent and selective non-nucleoside inhibitors of HIV reverse transcriptase (RT) has recently been identified. The prototype compound trovirdine (LY 300046 HCl) and one analogue, MSC-127, have been studied with respect to inhibition of wild-type HIV-1 RT and RT with various mutations known to give rise to resistance to other non-nucleoside RT inhibitors, namely Leu100-->Ile (Ile100), Glu138-->Arg (Arg138), Tyr181-->Cys (Cys181) and Tyr188-->His (His188). The inhibition of HIV-1 RT by trovirdine and MSC-127 was reversible and template dependent. Trovirdine inhibited HIV-1 RT with an IC50 of 0.007 microM when employing heteropolymeric primer/template (oligo-DNA/ribosomal RNA) and dGTP as substrate. Enzyme kinetic studies showed that inhibition of RT by trovirdine was non-competitive with regard to deoxynucleoside triphosphates and uncompetitive with respect to varied primer/template under steady-state conditions. The amino acid changes Leu100, Tyr181 and Tyr188 gave rise to 25-, 147- and 12-fold decrease in inhibition by trovirdine. Enzyme-kinetic studies on trovirdine have been carried out using various RT mutants and compared to the properties of the earlier reported non-nucleoside RT inhibitors 9-Cl-TIBO, nevirapine and L-697,661.

Enhancement of HIV-1 proteinase activity by HIV-1 reverse transcriptase.

HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) was found to increase the activity of HIV-1 proteinase in vitro and in eukaryotic cells. The effect of RT on proteinase activity was dose-dependent and independent of pH or salt concentration. The cleavage of sequences corresponding to all the naturally occurring cleavage sites that could be tested in vitro was enhanced. The effect of RT on cleavage was greatest at the cleavage site between RT and integrase. The enhancement of viral proteinase activity by the virus RT may contribute to regulation of the order and/or efficiency of cleavage at different sites during virus replication and maturation.

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.

Enzymatic properties and sensitivity to inhibitors of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) reverse transcriptase with Glu-138-->Arg and Tyr-188-->His mutations.

Two mutants of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT), Tyr-188-->His and Glu-138-->Arg have been prepared and their catalytic properties and sensitivities to inhibitors studied. As compared to wild type RT, a reduction in catalytic efficiency and turn over number was observed, especially for the Tyr-188-->His mutant. The non-nucleoside inhibitors nevirapine, L-697,661 and 9-Cl-TIBO caused a mixed type of inhibition of RT (Arg-138) with respect to substrate, and with the exception of a non-competitive inhibition by nevirapine, also a mixed type of inhibition of RT (His-188). Foscarnet (PFA) caused a non-competitive type of inhibition of RT (Arg-138) and a mixed inhibition of RT (His-188). The inhibition by ddG-TP was competitive with both mutant RTs. Inhibition by nevirapine gave IC50 values of 0.15, 0.23 and 0.72 microM; by 9-Cl-TIBO of 0.20, 2.50 and 10.3 microM; by L-697,661 of 0.064, 0.28 and 0.60 microM; by ddGTP of 0.13, 0.14 and 0.02 microM; by PFA of 17.0, 48.0 and 15.0 microM for RT wt, RT (Arg-138) and RT (His-188), respectively.

Disruption of a salt bridge between Asp 488 and Lys 465 in HIV-1 reverse transcriptase alters its proteolytic processing and polymerase activity.

The conserved aspartic acid residue 488 in the RNase H domain of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) was mutated to alanine. RT was expressed in Escherichia coli alone or with the entire pol-gene polyprotein consisting of proteinase, RT, and integrase and processed by the HIV-1 proteinase in the bacterial cell. Expression of mutant RT together with the proteinase resulted in an overproduction of RT p51 vs p66. The mutation also altered the conformation of the RT p66/p51 heterodimer as shown by the loss of binding of monoclonal antibodies to mutant RT in ELISA. Crystallographic data shows that a salt bridge exists between Asp 488 and Lys 465 of RNase H which stabilizes the uncleavable form of RT p66, and that substitution of Asp for Ala would prevent the formation of this salt bridge. Our results indicate that disruption of this salt bridge through mutation of Asp 488 interferes with the conformational changes that regulate the limited processing of p66 to 51 by the virus proteinase. Homology data suggest that such a bridge may be present in other lentiviruses. The mutation introduced caused a moderate decrease in both the RNase H activity and the polymerase activity of RT, indicating that the proper folding of the RNase H domain of RT is necessary to achieve full polymerase activity.