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.

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.

Structure of EDTA-treated satellite tobacco necrosis virus at pH 6.5.

The crystal structure of EDTA-treated satellite tobacco necrosis virus (STNV) at pH 6.5 has been determined to 7.5 A resolution (1 A = 0.1 nm) with molecular replacement techniques, using the known structure of the protein subunit. The calcium ions at the 3-fold contacts are absent, whereas the calcium ions on the 5-fold axes still remain. The protein shell is slightly expanded. The expansion does not impose any large conformational changes on the subunits and the subunit contacts are to a large extent retained. The electron density map shows high levels of density in the RNA region. It is found close to the protein shell but well-separated from the protein. This density indicates a preferential ordering of the RNA in certain regions, but does not allow a detailed interpretation of the RNA conformation. A similar density in the RNA region is also found in a low resolution map of native STNV.

Sequential removal of Ca2+ from satellite tobacco necrosis virus. Crystal structure of two EDTA-treated forms.

Two forms of EDTA-treated satellite tobacco necrosis virus (STNV) have been studied with X-ray crystallography methods. The crystals of both forms were isomorphous with native STNV crystals, and (FEDTA-Fnat) maps as well as (2FEDTA-Fnat) maps were calculated with phases from the native structure. The maps were based on partial data sets to 2.8 A resolution, and averaged using the 60-fold non-crystallographic symmetry. In the first crystal form, calcium ions were absent from one of the three sites in the icosahedral protein shell. The crystals were produced at pH 5.0 from a virus solution treated with EDTA at pH 6.5. The virions were not expanded, and no essential changes were seen in the protein shell. In the second crystal form, all calcium ions in the protein shell were absent. The virus material in these crystals had been subjected to treatment with EDTA at pH 8.0 before crystallization at pH 6.5. The high pH treatment caused degradation of the viral RNA. No expansion of the virion had occurred and all protein--protein contacts were retained. These results are compared with the previously presented low-resolution structure of slightly expanded STNV with intact RNA, where calcium ions from two sites were absent. The relevance of Ca2(+)-depleted virions for infection in vivo is discussed as well as the possibility that the Ca2(+)-binding sites may be parts of ion channels in the viral capsid. One possible RNA-binding site was found in the maps of both crystal types, and the same site could also be localized in the high-resolution map of native STNV.

Purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray data of the bacteriophage MS2.

Single crystals of the bacteriophage MS2 have been produced by the vapour diffusion technique in the presence of 1.5% polyethylene glycol 6000 and 0.2 M-sodium phosphate buffer (pH 7.4). These are the first bacteriovirus crystals diffracting to high resolution. The crystal space group is C2 with the unit cell parameters a = 467.9 A, b = 289.5 A, c = 275.6 A and beta = 121.8 degrees. The asymmetric unit contains one half of the virion. The maximum resolution limit of the X-ray diffraction data obtained from these crystals was 2.9 A. The purification of the virus material was done by mild procedures exclusively and involved precipitation with polyethylene glycol 6000 and size exclusion chromatography on Sepharose CL-4B.

Structure of RNA in satellite tobacco necrosis virus. A low resolution neutron diffraction study using 1H2O/2H2O solvent contrast variation.

The crystal structure of satellite tobacco necrosis virus has been studied by neutron diffraction at 16 A resolution using the technique of 1H2O/2H2O solvent contrast variation to distinguish between the regions of protein and nucleic acid. The RNA density is essentially localized in a region just inside the protein coat, leading to a significant interaction between the two components. From the appearance of the RNA density we conclude that the protein coat imposes partial icosahedral symmetry on a significant proportion of the nucleic acid. The shape and dimensions of the major part of this density suggests that about 72% of the total RNA could be double-helical in structure. The most important interaction between the two components of the virus occurs between the N-terminal triple-helical arms of the protein subunits and those regions of the RNA density that could have a double-helical secondary structure.

Crystallization of P2 myelin protein.

Single crystals of bovine P2 myelin protein have been grown in polyethylene glycol 4000 by the hanging-drop vapor diffusion method. Crystals belonging to space group P2(1)2(1)2(1) with cell dimensions a = 91.8 A, b = 99.5 A, c = 56.5 A (1 A = 0.1 nm). The diffraction pattern extends to better than 2.3 A resolution.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

Expression, purification, and crystallization of the HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT).

The HIV-1 pol gene proteins (protease, reverse transcriptase, and endonuclease) were expressed in Escherichia coli N4830-1 by the use of the inducible expression vector pWS60 into which the pol gene was inserted. The p66/p51 heterodimer of reverse transcriptase (RT) was isolated in a highly pure and active form. Crystals of the p66/p51 heterodimer were obtained by the vapor diffusion hanging drop technique. The present crystal quality is still not adequate for high resolution X-ray investigation.

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.

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.