A PNA-transportan conjugate targeted to the TAR region of the HIV-1 genome exhibits both antiviral and virucidal properties.
We have earlier reported that anti-TAR PNA conjugated with the membrane-transducing peptide transportan inhibits transactivation of the HIV-1 LTR resulting in decreased production of HIV-1 virions by chronically infected H9 cells (N., Kaushik, A., Basu, P., Palumbo, R.L., Myers, V.N., Pandey, 2002. Anti-TAR polyamide nucleotide analog conjugated with a membrane permeating peptide inhibits HIV-1 production. J. Virol. 76, 3881-3891). In this study, we have found that the PNA(TAR)-transportan conjugate is efficiently internalized by cells and kinetics analysis reveals a sigmoidal curve with a cooperativity index of 6, indicating very rapid cellular uptake. Additionally, analysis of uptake at varying temperatures or in the presence of phenylarsine oxide revealed that the mechanism of uptake is neither receptor-dependent nor occurs via endocytosis. We also found that the PNA(TAR)-transportan conjugate exhibits potent virucidal activity as HIV-1 virions pretreated with the conjugate were rendered noninfectious, suggesting that the conjugate may also permeate the virus envelope. The anti-HIV-1 virucidal activity of the conjugate may be useful either in topical formulations designed to block HIV-1 infection or as a prophylactic agent for inactivation of HIV-1 in the circulating plasma prior to attachment and entry.
Chaubey
Binay
B
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School, 185 South Orange Avenue, MSB, A920K, Newark, NJ 07103, USA.
Tripathi
Snehlata
S
Ganguly
Sabyasachi
S
Harris
Dylan
D
Casale
Ralph A
RA
Pandey
Virendra N
VN
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016325:HIV Long Terminal Repeat / Q000187:drug effects*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D020135:Peptide Nucleic Acids / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010455:Peptides / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D020135:Peptide Nucleic Acids; D010455:Peptides