CEM-SS Cells Research Articles

Synthesis and characterization of Cu(II), Ni(II) and Zn(II) metal complexes of bidentate NS isomeric Schiff bases derived from S-methyldithiocarbazate (SMDTC): bioactivity of the bidentate NS isomeric Schiff bases, some of their Cu(II), Ni(II) and Zn(II) complexes and the X-ray structure of the bis[ S-methyl-β- N-(2-furyl-methyl)methylenedithiocarbazato]zinc(II) complex

Two new isomeric Schiff bases, S-methyl-β- N-(2-furylmethyl)methylenedithiocarbazate (NS′) and S-methyl-β- N-(5-methyl-2-furyl)methylenedithiocarbazate (NS″) have been prepared. Bis-chelated complexes of these two bidentate ligands, [M(NS) 2], [M=Cu(II), Ni(II) and Zn(II)], were synthesized. The Schiff bases and their metal complexes have been characterized by a variety of physico-chemical techniques. X-ray crystallographic analysis shows that the Zn(II) complex, [Zn(NS′) 2], is four-coordinate and has a distorted tetrahedral structure with the ligand coordinated to the Zn(II) ion as an uninegatively charged bidentate chelating agent via the azomethine nitrogen and the mercaptide sulfur atoms. The Cu(II) complexes are paramagnetic with a square-planar stereochemistry. The Ni(II) and [Zn(NS″) 2] complexes have a square-planar and tetrahedral structure, respectively, however, they are diamagnetic. Only Cu(NS′) 2 showed clear activity against the bacteria, Subtilis mutant (B28), while both NS′ and NS″ Schiff bases were strongly antifungal against Saccharomyces cereviceae (20341), Candida albicans, Candida lypolytica (2075) and Aspergillus ochraceous (398). Cu(NS′) 2 and Ni(NS′) 2 showed clear inhibition of C. albicans and S. cereviceae (20341), respectively. The Cu(NS′) 2, Ni(NS′) 2 and Zn(NS′) 2 complexes showed very good activity against human cell T-lymphoblastic leukemia [CEM-SS] cells with CD 50 values of 1.6, 2.1 and 3.0 μg ml −1, respectively. The remainder of the Schiff bases and complexes were inactive towards CEM-SS cells. None of the compounds showed any activity towards colon cancer cells (HT-29). Only the Cu(NS′) 2 and Zn(NS′) 2 complexes were highly active against cervical cancer cells (HELA cells) with CD 50 values of 1.5 and 2.1 μg ml −1, while the Ni(NS′) 2 complex was weakly active towards HELA cells with a CD 50 value of 23.0 μg ml −1.

Isolation and structure of pedilstatin from a republic of maldives Pedilanthus sp.

A new cancer cell growth inhibitor designated pedilstatin (1) was isolated from a Republic of Maldives Pedilanthus sp. The structure was determined to be 13-O-acetyl-12-O-[2'Z,4'E-octadienoyl]-4alpha-deoxyphorbol on the basis of high-resolution mass spectral and 2D NMR assignments. Pedilstatin was found to significantly inhibit growth of the P388 lymphocytic leukemia cell line with an ED(50) of 0.28 microg/mL, to afford, at concentrations of 2-5 microM, protection (to 80%) of human-derived lymphoblastoid CEM-SS cells from infection and cell-killing by HIV-1, and to show inhibition of protein kinase C with a K(i) of 620 +/- 20 nM.

Synthesis of substituted diarylmethylenepiperidines (DAMPs), a novel class of anti-HIV agents

Substituted diarylmethylenepiperidines (DAMPs) were synthesized as conformationally restricted analogues of the alkenyldiarylmethane (ADAM) class of non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs). Although, like the ADAMs, the DAMPs were found to inhibit the cytopathic effect of HIV-1RF in CEM-SS cells, they were completely inactive as inhibitors of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase. The DAMPs were assessed for inhibition of HIV attachment and fusion. DAMP 14 was active in both assays with IC50 values of 26.5 μM (TI 3.8) and 12.1 μM (TI: >8), respectively. DAMP 15 also inhibited HIV fusion with an IC50 12.8 μM (TI: >6), but not virus attachment. However, attempts to verify inhibition of virus attachment and fusion as antiviral targets using time-of-addition experiments failed to confirm these observations, and instead identified an antiviral target occurring after completion of reverse transcription. DAMPs 11, 12, 14, and 15 were found to inhibit virus replication if added 8 h post virus exposure, and DAMP 11 was equipotent at inhibition of virus replication if added 24 h after virus addition. DAMPs 11, 12, and 15 did not inhibit virus replication in TNF-α induced latently infected U1 cells, a model for post-integrative antiviral targets. When tested in both 3′ end-processing and strand-transfer assays in the presence of HIV-1 integrase, none of the DAMPs showed any inhibitory activity, indicating that HIV-1 integrase is not involved in the mechanism of the antiviral action. Thus, the DAMPs are novel conformationally restricted analogues of the previously published ADAM series with an unidentified antiviral target bounded by the completion of reverse transcription and virus integration.

Comparison of Two Different Preparations of HIV Immune Globulin for Efficiency of Neutralization of HIV Type 1 Primary Isolates

The objective of this study was to compare the virus-neutralizing ability of two different preparations of HIV immune globulin (HIVIG) isolated from human plasma units that were selected according to two different criteria. The first preparation, designated NYBC-HIVIG, was isolated from plasmas with high neutralizing antibody titers against HIV-1. The second preparation, designated NABI-HIVIG, was isolated from plasma with high titers of antibody to the HIV-1 p24 antigen. A panel of primary HIV-1 isolates was phenotypically characterized by their ability to induce syncytia in CEM-SS cells. Neutralization of this panel of primary isolates by the two HIVIG preparations was assessed in HeLa-MAGI-CCR5 cells, utilizing a luminescence-based assay. In addition, the reactivities of these two preparations with a panel of HIV-1 gp120 proteins, V3 loop peptides, and HIV-1 p24 antigen were determined. Both HIVIG preparations were shown to neutralize all virus isolates tested. However, doses of NABI-HIVIG required for 50% virus neutralization were 2.2- to 4.4- fold (mean, 3.2-fold) higher than the required doses of NYBC-HIVIG. Comparative antigen-binding assays showed that, although NABI-HIVIG possessed higher titers of antibody to HIV-1 p24, NYBC-HIVIG generally contained higher titers of antibody to HIV-1 gp120 and V3 peptides. These experiments show that the criteria used for selection of source plasmas for isolation of HIVIG can influence the effective concentration of virus-neutralizing antibody present in the final immunoglobulin preparation, and may determine the doses required for clinical efficacy.

The biological effects of structural variation at the meta position of the aromatic rings and at the end of the alkenyl chain in the alkenyldiarylmethane series of non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors.

In an effort to elucidate a set of structure-activity relationships in the alkenyldiarylmethane (ADAM) series of non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, a number of modifications were made at two locations: (1) the meta positions of the two aromatic rings and (2) the end of the alkenyl chain. Forty-two new ADAMs were synthesized and evaluated for inhibition of the cytopathic effect of HIV-1(RF) in CEM-SS cell culture and for inhibition of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase. The size of the aromatic substituents was found to affect anti-HIV activity, with optimal activity appearing with Cl, CH(3), and Br substituents and with diminished activity occurring with smaller (H and F) or larger (I and CF(3)) substituents. The substituents at the end of the alkenyl chain were also found to influence the antiviral activity, with maximal activity associated with methyl or ethyl ester groups and with diminished activity resulting from substitution with higher esters, amides, sulfides, sulfoxides, sulfones, thioesters, acetals, ketones, carbamates, ureas, and thioureas. Twelve of the new ADAMs displayed submicromolar EC(50) values for inhibition of the cytopathic effect of HIV-1(RF) in CEM-SS cells. Selected ADAMs, 19 and 21, were compared to previously published ADAMs 15 and 17 for antiviral efficacy and activity against the HIV-1 reverse transcriptase enzyme. All four ADAMs were found to inhibit HIV-1 reverse transcriptase enzyme activity, to inhibit the replication of a variety of HIV-1 clinical isolates representing syncytium-inducing, nonsyncytium-inducing, and subtype representative isolates, and to inhibit HIV-1 replication in monocytes. Subsequent assessment against a panel of site-directed reverse transcriptase mutants in NL4-3 demonstrated no effect of the K103N mutation on antiviral efficacy and a slight enhancement (6- to 11-fold) in sensitivity to AZT-resistant viruses. Additionally, ADAMs 19 (44-fold) and 21 (29-fold) were more effective against the A98G mutation (found in association with nevirapine resistance in vitro), and ADAM 21 was 5-fold and 2-fold more potent against the Y181C inactivation mutation than the previously reported ADAMs 15 and 17, respectively. All four ADAMs were tested for efficacy against a multidrug-resistant virus derived from a highly experienced patient expressing resistance to the reverse transcriptase enzyme inhibitors AZT, ddI, 3TC, d4T, foscarnet, and nevirapine, as well as the protease inhibitors indinavir, saquinavir, and nelfinavir. ADAM 21 was 2-fold more potent than ADAM 15 and 6-fold more potent than ADAMs 17 and 19 at preventing virus replication. Thus, we have identified a novel series of reverse transcriptase inhibitors with a favorable profile of antiviral activity against the primary mutation involved in clinical failure of non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, K103N, and that retain activity against a multidrug-resistant virus.

Solid-phase synthesis of the alkenyldiarylmethane (ADAM) series of non-nucleoside HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibitors.

The Sonogashira and Stille cross-coupling reactions have been employed in the synthesis of several non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) in the alkenyldiarylmethane (ADAM) series. The synthesis has been carried out both in solution and on a solid support. In contrast to previous syntheses of NNRTIs in the ADAM series, the present strategy allows the incorporation of differently substituted aromatic rings in a stereochemically defined fashion. The most potent of the new ADAMs inhibited the cytopathic effect of HIV-1RF in CEM-SS cell culture with an EC50 value of 20 nM.

Cellular metabolism in lymphocytes of a novel thioether–phospholipid–AZT conjugate with anti-HIV-1 activity

We previously synthesized a thioetherphospholipid–AZT conjugate (3′-azido-3′-deoxy-5′-(1-hexadecylthio-2-methoxypropyl)-phosphothymidine, CP-102) with potent anti-HIV-1 activity and significant reduction in cell cytotoxicity compared to AZT alone. To study the cellular metabolism of the conjugate compound we synthesized a double-tritium-labeled thioetherphospholipid-AZT conjugate (3′-azido-3′-deoxy-5′-(1-[9, 10- 3H]- S-octadecylthio-2- O-methoxypropyl)-phosphothymidine-[methyl- 3H], [ 3H]CP-102). The intracellular radioactive metabolic products of [ 3H]CP-102 treated human lymphoblastoid CEM-SS cells were analyzed by HPLC and thin-layer chromatography. Results of this investigation provide evidence that a putative intracellular lipid cleavage enzyme metabolizes [ 3H]CP-102 to form a thioetherdiglyceride compound that migrates with an authentic 1- S-octadecyl-2- O-methyl-thioglycerol standard on TLC. The thioetherdiglyceride metabolite did not react with the ninhydrin reagent indicating it did not contain a primary amine such as that found on serine or ethanolamine containing phospholipids. Also, the product did not contain a phosphatidic acid group based on migration characteristics in the TLC plate. The other major hydrophilic metabolite was 3′-azido-3′-deoxythymidine-[methyl- 3H]-monophosphate (AZT–MP) with lesser amounts of AZT, AZT–DP and AZT–TP. In summary, the best interpretation of these data is that the thioetherphospholipid–AZT conjugate, [ 3H]CP-102, is cleaved by a putative intracellular lipid cleavage enzyme to release a thioetherdiglyceride compound and AZT–MP. The resulting AZT–MP was either dephosphorylated to AZT or sequentially phosphorylated to AZT–DP and, ultimately, to AZT–TP, the known inhibitory metabolite against HIV-1 reverse transcriptase. Phospholipid–nucleoside conjugates may provide a unique approach for developing anti-HIV-1 prodrugs that do not have a strict requirement for a nucleoside kinase for initial activation of the prodrug to an antiviral form.

Circulating Metabolites of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus Protease Inhibitor Nelfinavir in Humans: Structural Identification, Levels in Plasma, and Antiviral Activities

Nelfinavir mesylate (Viracept, formally AG1343) is a potent and orally bioavailable human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 (HIV-1) protease inhibitor (K(i) = 2 nM) and is being widely prescribed in combination with HIV reverse transcriptase inhibitors for the treatment of HIV infection. The current studies evaluated the presence of metabolites circulating in plasma following the oral administration of nelfinavir to healthy volunteers and HIV-infected patients, as well as the levels in plasma and antiviral activities of these metabolites. The results showed that the parent drug was the major circulating chemical species, followed in decreasing abundance by its hydroxy-t-butylamide metabolite (M8) and 3'-methoxy-4'-hydroxynelfinavir (M1). Antiviral assays with HIV-1 strain RF-infected CEM-SS cells showed that the 50% effective concentrations (EC50) of nelfinavir, M8, and M1 were 30, 34, and 151 nM, respectively, and that the corresponding EC50 against another HIV-1 strain, IIIB, in MT-2 cells were 60, 86, and 653 nM. Therefore, apparently similar in vitro antiviral activities were demonstrated for nelfinavir and M8, whereas an approximately 5- to 11-fold-lower level of antiviral activity was observed for M1. The active metabolite, M8, showed a degree of binding to human plasma proteins similar to that of nelfinavir (ca. 98%). Concentrations in plasma of nelfinavir and its metabolites in 10 HIV-positive patients receiving nelfinavir therapy (750 mg three times per day) were determined by a liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry assay. At steady state (day 28), the mean plasma nelfinavir concentrations ranged from 1.73 to 4.96 microM and the M8 concentrations ranged from 0.55 to 1.96 microM, whereas the M1 concentrations were low and ranged from 0.09 to 0.19 microM. In conclusion, the findings from the current studies suggest that, in humans, nelfinavir forms an active metabolite circulating at appreciable levels in plasma. The active metabolite M8 may account for some of the antiviral activity associated with nelfinavir in the treatment of HIV disease.

A novel anti-HIV macrocyclic peptide from Palicourea condensata.

A 37 amino acid cyclic polypeptide has been isolated from the organic extract of the tropical tree Palicourea condensata. Palicourein (1) is the largest of a growing family of plant peptides that contain a cyclized amino acid backbone cross-linked via three internal disulfide bridges. Palicourein inhibits the in vitro cytopathic effects of HIV-1RF infection of CEM-SS cells with an EC50 value of 0.1 microM and an IC50 value of 1.5 microM.

Correlation of Anti-HIV Activity with Anion Spacing in a Series of Cosalane Analogues with Extended Polycarboxylate Pharmacophores

Cosalane and its synthetic derivatives inhibit the binding of gp120 to CD4 as well as the fusion of the viral envelope with the cell membrane. The binding of the cosalanes to CD4 is proposed to involve ionic interactions of the negatively charged carboxylates of the ligands with positively charged arginine and lysine amino acid side chains of the protein. To investigate the effect of anion spacing on anti-HIV activity in the cosalane system, a series of cosalane tetracarboxylates was synthesized in which the two proximal and two distal carboxylates are separated by 6--12 atoms. Maximum activity was observed when the proximal and distal carboxylates are separated by 8 atoms. In a series of cosalane amino acid derivatives containing glutamic acid, glycine, aspartic acid, beta-alanine, leucine, and phenylalanine residues, maximum activity was displayed by the di(glutamic acid) analogue. A hypothetical model has been devised for the binding of the cosalane di(glutamic acid) conjugate to CD4. In general, the compounds in this series are more potent against HIV-1(RF) in CEM-SS cells than they are vs HIV-1(IIIB) in MT-4 cells, and they are least potent vs HIV-2(ROD) in MT-4 cells.

Synthesis and antiviral activity of 4-benzyl pyridinone derivatives as potent and selective non-nucleoside human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcriptase inhibitors.

Several 4-benzyl analogues of 5-ethyl-6-methyl-4-(phenylthio)pyridin-2(1H)-ones were synthesized and evaluated for their anti-HIV-l activities. Key transformations include metalation at the 4-C-position of 5-ethyl-2-methoxy-6-methyl-3-pivaloylaminopyridine (5) and its coupling with benzyl bromide or benzaldehyde derivatives. Biological studies revealed that some of the new 4-benzylpyridinones show potent HIV-1 specific reverse transcriptase inhibitory properties. Compounds 14, 19, and 27, which inhibit the replication of HIV-1 in CEM-SS cells, with IC(50) values ranging from 0.2 to 6 nM are the most active compounds in this series. Biochemical studies showed that compound 27 strongly inhibited the activity of a recombinant HIV-1 RT. Moreover, the infectivity of isolated HIV-1 particles was severely decreased after exposure to compound 27. Although cross resistance is frequently observed between non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, compound 27 was capable of inhibiting a virus resistant to nevirapine with an IC(50) of 40 nM.

Antiviral, Cyototoxic And Antimicrobial Activities Of Anthraquinones Isolated From The Roots Of Morinda Elliptica

2-Formyl-1-hydroxyanthraquinone, along with ten other known anthraquinones (1-hydroxy-2-methylanthraquinone, nordamnacanthal, damnacanthal, lucidin-?-methyl ether, rubiadin, rubiadin-1-methyl ether, soranjidiol, morindone, morindone-5-methyl ether and alizarin-1-methyl ether), isolated from the roots of Morinda elliptica , were assayed for anti-HIV, cytotoxic and antimicrobial activites. Only damnacanthal showed moderate activity against HIV. It was cytotoxic towards the MCF-7 (breast carcinoma) and CEM-SS (T-lymphoblastic leukaemia) cell line. Nordamnacanthal was very cytotoxic against the CEM-SS cell lines. Other anthraquinones that showed strong cytotoxicity towards the cell lines tested were lucidin-?-methyl ether (CEM-SS and MCF-7) and rubiadin (CEM-SS). Three anthraquinones viz., nordamnacanthal, damnacanthal and morindone, were found to have strong antimicrobial activity.

Isolation and characterization of Myrianthus holstii lectin, a potent HIV-1 inhibitory protein from the plant Myrianthus holstii(1).

Aqueous extracts from the African plant Myrianthus holstii potently inhibited the infection of the T-lymphoblastoid cell line, CEM-SS, by human immunodeficiency virus-1(RF) (HIV-1(RF)). The active constituent, M. holstii lectin (MHL), was purified by LH-20 column chromatography and reversed phase HPLC. MHL, a 9284-Da cysteine-rich protein, was characterized by amino acid analysis, N-terminal sequencing, ESIMS, and matrix-assisted laser-desorption ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Pure MHL had anti-HIV activity, with an EC(50) value of 150 nM. Delaying the addition of MHL for up to 8 h after initial exposure of CEM-SS cells to virus did not result in loss of the antiviral activity; however, if addition of the compound was delayed for 16 h or more, there was a marked decrease in the antiviral activity. MHL bound to a virus-free, soluble form of the viral envelope protein gp120 but did not inhibit the subsequent binding to a cell-free, soluble form of the cellular receptor CD4.

Synthesis of single- and double-chain fluorocarbon and hydrocarbon galactosyl amphiphiles and their anti-HIV-1 activity

Galactosylceramide (GalCer) is an alternative receptor allowing HIV-1 entry into CD4(−)/GalCer(+) cells. This glycosphingolipid recognizes the V3 loop of HIV gp120, which plays a key role in the fusion of the HIV envelope and cellular membrane. To inhibit HIV uptake and infection, we designed and synthesized analogs of GalCer. These amphiphiles and bolaamphiphiles consist of single and double hydrocarbon and/or fluorocarbon chain β-linked to galactose and galactosamine. They derive from serine (GalSer), cysteine (GalCys), and ethanolamine (GalAE). The anti-HIV activity and cytotoxicity of these galactolipids were evaluated in vitro on CEM-SS (a CD4(+) cell line), HT-29, a CD4(−) cell line expressing high levels of GalCer receptor, and/or HT29 genetically modified to express CD4. GalSer and GalAE derivatives, tested in aqueous medium or as part of liposome preparation, showed moderate anti-HIV-1 activities (IC 50 in the 20–220 μM range), whereas none of the GalCys derivatives was found to be active. Moreover, only some of these anti-HIV active analogs inhibited the binding of [ 3H]suramin (a polysulfonyl compound which displays a high affinity for the V3 loop) to SPC3, a synthetic peptide which contains the conserved GPGRAF region of the V3 loop. Our results most likely indicate that the neutralization of the virion through masking of this conserved V3 loop region is not the only mechanism involved in the HIV-1 antiviral activity of our GalCer analogs.

6-N-Acyltriciribine analogues: structure-activity relationship between acyl carbon chain length and activity against HIV-1.

Triciribine (TCN) and triciribine-5'-monophosphate (TCN-P) are active against HIV-1 at submicromolar concentrations. In an effort to improve and better understand this activity, we have conducted a structure-activity relationship study to explore the tolerance of TCN to structural modifications at the 6-position. A number of 6-N-acyltriciribine analogues were synthesized and evaluated for antiviral activity and cytotoxicity. The cytotoxicity of these compounds was minimal in three human cell lines (KB, CEM-SS cells, and human foreskin fibroblasts (HFF)). The compounds were marginally active or inactive against herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and human cytomegalovirus (HCMV). In contrast, most of the compounds exhibited moderate to high activity against human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), IC(50)'s = 0.03 to 1 microM. This structure-activity relationship study identified the N-heptanoyl group as having the optimal carbon chain length. This compound was as active against HIV-1 as TCN and TCN-P. Reverse phase HPLC of extracts from uninfected cells treated with 6-N-acyltriciribines detected sufficient TCN-P to account for anti-HIV activity thereby suggesting a prodrug effect. Studies in an adenosine kinase deficient cell line showed that the 6-N-acyl derivative was not phosphorylated directly but first was metabolized to triciribine which then was converted to TCN-P.

Synthesis and anti-HIV activity of prodrugs derived from saquinavir and indinavir.

With a view to improving the pharmacological properties, safety and pharmacokinetic profiles of current protease inhibitors, the synthesis of various acyl-substituted saquinavir and indinavir prodrugs, their in vitro stability with respect to hydrolysis and their anti-HIV (LAI and HTLV IIIB) activity and cytotoxicity in CEM-SS and MT4 cells have been investigated. Hydrolysis of the ester bond and liberation of the active free drug was found to be crucial for HIV inhibition: the faster the hydrolysis, the closer the anti-HIV activity was to that of the respective parent drug. This is the case for most of the C-14-substituted indinavir and saquinavir derivatives (IC50 from 10 to 360 nM for ester half-lives of 90 min to 40 h). Concomitantly, the level of HIV inhibition is very low for the prodrugs for which hydrolysis is very slow. This is the case with the myristoyl or oleyl saquinavir esters, owing to the stable masking of the hydroxyl that is part of the peptidomimetic non-cleavable transition state isostere responsible for the inhibitory potency of saquinavir (and indinavir). In contrast, the anti-HIV activity of the monosubstituted C-8 indinavir prodrugs seems not to be correlated with their resistance to hydrolysis, as expected (the C-8 hydroxyl of indinavir is not involved in the transition state isostere). No cytotoxicity was detected for the indinavir and saquinavir prodrugs for concentrations as high as 10 or even 100 microM, thus indicating promising therapeutic potential.

Human beta interferon scaffold attachment region inhibits de novo methylation and confers long-term, copy number-dependent expression to a retroviral vector.

Moloney murine leukemia virus-based retroviral vector expression is gradually lost during prolonged in vitro culture of CEMSS T cells. However, when the human beta interferon scaffold attachment region (IFN-SAR) was inserted into the vector immediately upstream of the 3' long terminal repeat (LTR), expression was maintained for the length of the study (4 months). Clonal analysis of the retrovirus vector-infected CEMSS cells showed that SAR-containing retroviral vector expression levels were positively correlated with the proviral copy numbers (P < 0.0001), while there was no correlation between the proviral copy numbers and expression levels in control vector-infected clones. Thirty-three percent of the CEMSS cell clones infected with the control vector showed evidence of partial or complete methylation in the 5' LTR region. In sharp contrast, we detected no methylation in the clones infected with the SAR-containing vector. To demonstrate a direct inhibitory effect of methylation on retroviral vector expression, we have transfected 293 cells with in vitro-methylated proviral DNA. In transiently transfected cells, expression of methylated LTR was reduced but not completely inhibited, irrespective of the presence of the IFN-SAR sequence. In stably transfected cells, however, methylation completely abolished expression of the control vector but not of the SAR-containing vector. Furthermore, the expression of the SAR-containing vector was stable over time, indicating the ability of the SAR sequence to alleviate methylation-mediated transcriptional repression of a vector. This study extends our understanding of the mechanisms of retroviral vector inactivation by methylation and provides insight into a functional role for the SAR elements.

Deletion of the GPG motif in the HIV type 1 V3 loop does not abrogate infection in all cells.

The three amino acids glycine, proline, and glycine (GPG) constitute a conserved motif at the center of the V3 loop of HIV-1 surface glycoprotein 120. It has been indicated that deletion of this GPG motif is lethal for viral infectivity and abrogates the ability of the virus to form syncytia. In the present work, we studied the effects of GPG deletion on viral infectivity, cell tropism, syncytium formation, and initiation of apoptosis by constructing a mutant provirus based on the infectious clone pBRu-2. Successful infection and replication of GPG-deleted virus were detected in MT-2 cells, although the mutant virus showed lower infectivity. Infection could also be observed in the C8166, C91-PL, Molt-3, and THP-1 cell lines, and in PBMC-derived dendritic cells (DCs), but not in CEM-SS, HUT78, H9, Jurkat, and U937 cell lines or in PBMCs. Mutant virus also induced syncytia and apoptosis in the MT-2 cells. An intact GPG motif is probably necessary for unimpaired induction of fusion in some HIV-1-permissive cells. However, once the virus enters the cells, the GPG sequence does not seem to be indispensable for syncytium formation or apoptosis induction in MT-2 cells. Our data also imply that cell surface molecules other than CD4 and CXCR4 may be involved in entry of the GPG-deleted virus.

Novel modifications in the alkenyldiarylmethane (ADAM) series of non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors.

In an effort to obtain more insight into the interaction between HIV-1 reverse transcriptase and the alkenyldiarylmethanes (ADAMs), a new series of compounds has been synthesized and evaluated for inhibition of HIV-1 replication. The modifications reported in this new series include primarily changes to the alkenyl chain. The most potent compound proved to be methyl 3',3' '-dibromo-4',4' '-dimethoxy-5',5' '-bis(methoxycarbonyl)-6,6-diphenyl-5-hexenoate (28), which displayed an EC(50) of 1.3 nM for inhibition of the cytopathic effect of HIV-1(RF) in CEM-SS cells. ADAM 28 inhibited HIV-1 reverse transcriptase with an IC(50) of 0.3 microM. Mutations that conferred greater than 10-fold resistance to ADAM 28 clustered at residues Val 106, Val 179, Tyr 181, and Tyr 188. Results derived from this series indicate that ADAMs containing chlorines in the aromatic rings might bind to HIV-1 reverse transcriptase in a slightly different mode when compared with those analogues incorporating bromine in the aromatic rings.

Synthesis of isomeric nucleoside phosphonates: Cyclic analogs of the anti-HIV active compound, PMEA

Synthesis of cyclic analogs of the anti-HIV active acyclic nucleoside phosphonate, PMEA, is described. A key reaction in the synthesis was the stereoselective cyclization of an acyclic phosphonyl intermediate to a phosphonyltetrahydrofuran. Complete stereostructures of the target isomeric phosphonyl-nucleosides were established by COSY and NOESY NMR data and X-ray crystallographic analysis. Preliminary anti-HIV data in infected CEM-SS cells are mentioned.