title: Selective inhibition of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (HIV-1 RT) RNase H by small RNA hairpins and dumbbells.
abstract: We present here the design of a novel class of RNA inhibitors of the RNase H domain of HIV-1 RT, a ribonuclease activity that is essential for viral replication in vivo. Specifically, we show that small RNA hairpins and dumbbells can selectively inhibit the RNase H activity of HIV-1 RT without affecting other cellular RNases H (e.g., E. coli and human RNase H). These results suggest that the inhibitors do not interact with the nucleic acid binding site of RT RNase H, as this region should be well conserved among the various enzymes. The most potent inhibitors displayed IC50 values in the 3-8 microM range. Remarkably, the DNA polymerase activity, an intrinsic property of HIV RT, was not inhibited by the hairpin and dumbbell aptamers, a property not previously observed for any nucleic acid aptamer directed against RT RNase H. The results described here suggest a noncompetitive binding mechanism, as outlined in the differential inhibitory characteristics of each of the nucleic acid aptamers against the bacterial, human, and viral RNase H homologues.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Otto Maass Chemistry Building, McGill University, 801 Sherbrooke Street West, Montréal, Québec H3A 2K6, Canada.
authors.forename: Rami N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Hannoush
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Carriero
authors.forename: Kyung-Lyum
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Min
authors.forename: Masad J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Damha
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000378:metabolism; D024202:Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000201:enzymology; D054303:HIV Reverse Transcriptase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D019384:Nucleic Acid Synthesis Inhibitors; D012313:RNA / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016914:Ribonuclease H / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D019384:Nucleic Acid Synthesis Inhibitors; D012313:RNA; D054303:HIV Reverse Transcriptase; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase; D016914:Ribonuclease H