Screening of inhibitors of HIV-1 protease using an Escherichia coli cell assay.
To evaluate the available peptidic and pseudopeptidic inhibitors of HIV protease for their possible in vivo activity, a screening test using Escherichia coli was established. E. coli cells carrying the plasmid pET9c-PR containing the gene for HIV-1 protease under the control of a T7-promotor are grown in the absence and in the presence of inhibitors. The action of the toxic protease produced by the cells is counteracted by the inhibitors. Provided sufficient membrane permeability of the inhibitors exists, this results in accelerated cell growth. From the peptides known to be active in an in-vitro enzyme test, most compounds inhibit HIV protease only to a limited degree in this test. However, two short peptides (Ac-Ser-Tyr-Glu-Leu and Lys-Ile-Ser-Tyr-Asp-Tyr) protect cell growth to an considerabe extent, thus indicating that they reach the E. coli cytosol and there block HIV protease. Two pseudopeptides known to be very potent in the enzyme test (SDZ PRI 053 and CIBA 61755) also inhibit HIV-1 protease strongly in this cell growth test.
Büttner
J
J
Max-Planck-Institut für Biochemie, Martinsried, Germany.
Dornmair
K
K
Schramm
H J
HJ
D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects*; D005030:Ethylenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D016333:HIV Protease / Q000235:genetics; D017320:HIV Protease Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007189:Indans / Q000494:pharmacology; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests / Q000379:methods; D010957:Plasmids
D005030:Ethylenes; D017320:HIV Protease Inhibitors; D007189:Indans; C096888:SDZ PRI 053; C103288:CGP 61755; D016333:HIV Protease