HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) has been the prime target for anti-HIV chemotherapy; however, its rapid mutation often generates drug resistance. Prominent variant strains of HIV-1 that lead to treatment failure with nonnucleoside RT inhibitors (NNRTIs) bear the Tyr181Cys mutation in RT. Based on our previous discovery and crystallography for potent noncovalent NNRTIs, new compounds were designed with incorporation of chemical warheads intended to modify covalently Cys181. Here we report on the success of the strategy, including biochemical, biophysical, and cellular evidence of the desired irreversible covalent inhibition. The new compounds completely eliminate the activity of Cys181-bearing RT, and it may be possible to dose them less frequently than noncovalent inhibitors.
HIV-1反转录酶(RT)是抗HIV化疗的主要目标;然而,它的快速突变经常会产生药物抗性。导致非核苷类RT抑制剂(NNRTIs)治疗失败的突变HIV-1变异株携带RT中的Tyr181Cys突变。基于我们先前发现的有效非共价NNRTIs和晶体学,新化合物被设计成引入化学战争头,旨在共价修饰Cys181。在这里,我们报告了该策略的成功,包括所需的不可逆共价抑制的生物化学,生物物理和细胞证据。新化合物完全消除了携带Cys181的RT的活性,并且可能比非共价抑制剂更少地使用剂量。