In contrast to the wealth of structural data available for the mature p66/p51 heterodimeric human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcriptase (RT), the structure of the homodimeric p66 precursor remains unknown. In all X-ray structures of mature RT, free or complexed, the processing site in the p66 subunit, for generating the p51 subunit, is sequestered into a β-strand within the folded ribonuclease H (RNH) domain and is not readily accessible to proteolysis, rendering it difficult to propose a simple and straightforward mechanism of the maturation step. Here, we investigated, by solution NMR, the conformation of the RT p66 homodimer. Our data demonstrate that the RNH and Thumb domains in the p66 homodimer are folded and possess conformations very similar to those in mature RT. This finding suggests that maturation models which invoke a complete or predominantly unfolded RNH domain are unlikely. The present study lays the foundation for further in-depth mechanistic investigations at the atomic level.

HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) has been an attractive target for the development of antiretroviral agents. Although this enzyme is bi-functional, having both DNA polymerase and ribonuclease H (RNH) activities, there is no clinically approved inhibitor of the RNH activity. Here, we characterize the structural basis and molecular interaction of an allosteric site inhibitor, BHMP07, with the wild type (WT) RNH fragment. Solution NMR experiments for inhibitor titration on WT RNH showed relatively wide chemical shift perturbations, suggesting a long-range conformational effect on the inhibitor interaction. Comparisons of the inhibitor-induced NMR chemical-shift changes of RNH with those of RNH dimer, in the presence and absence of Mg2+, were performed to determine and verify the interaction site. The NMR results, with assistance of molecular docking, indicate that BHMP07 preferentially binds to a site that is located between the RNH active site and the region encompassing helices B and D (the “substrate-handle region”). The interaction site is consistent with the previous proposed site, identified using a chimeric RNH (p15-EC) [Gong, el (2011) Chem. Biol. Drug Des. 77, 39-47], but with slight differences that reflect the characteristics of the amino acid sequences in p15-EC compared to the WT RNH.

Repeat proteins are built of modules, each of which constitutes a structural motif. We have investigated whether fragments of a designed consensus armadillo repeat protein (ArmRP) recognize each other. We examined a split ArmRP consisting of an N-capping repeat (denoted Y), three internal repeats (M), and a C-capping repeat (A). We demonstrate that the C-terminal MA fragment adopts a fold similar to the corresponding part of the entire protein. In contrast, the N-terminal YM2 fragment constitutes a molten globule. The two fragments form a 1:1 YM2:MA complex with a nanomolar dissociation constant essentially identical to the crystal structure of the continuous YM3A protein. Molecular dynamics simulations show that the complex is structurally stable over a 1 μs timescale and reveal the importance of hydrophobic contacts across the interface. We propose that the existence of a stable complex recapitulates possible intermediates in the early evolution of these repeat proteins.

The RNase H (RNH) function of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) plays an essential part in the viral life cycle. We report the characterization of YLC2-155, a 2-hydroxyisoquinoline-1,3-dione (HID)-based active-site RNH inhibitor. YLC2-155 inhibits both polymerase (50% inhibitory concentration [IC 50 ] ϭ 2.6 M) and RNH functions (IC 50 ϭ 0.65 M) of RT but is more effective against RNH. X-ray crystallography, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis, and molecular modeling were used to show that YLC2-155 binds at the RNH-active site in multiple conformations.KEYWORDS RNase H, human immunodeficiency virus, inhibitor, reverse transcriptase H IV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) plays a critical role in virus replication. It has multiple functions, including RNA-dependent DNA synthesis, RNase H (RNH) activity, and DNA-dependent DNA synthesis to convert the viral single-stranded RNA genome into double-stranded DNA for downstream incorporation into the host cell genome (1). At least one component of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) administered to patients includes RT polymerase inhibitors, either a nucleoside RT inhibitor(s) or a nonnucleoside RT inhibitor, or both. Prolonged use of antivirals can lead to side effects or drug resistance (2, 3). Hence, new antivirals that act by novel mechanisms of action are needed. No currently approved therapeutics target the RNH function of HIV-1 RT. Hence, RNH is an attractive target for future antiviral therapies.RNH inhibitors of several different chemotypes have been identified and characterized for their effectiveness against HIV-1 (4). These include acylhydrazones (5-7), diketo acids (8, 9), ␣-hydroxytropolones (10), vinylogous ureas (11), naphthyridinones (12), pyridopyrimidinones (13,14), pyrimidinol carboxylic acids (15), hydroxypyridonecarboxylic acids (16), 3-hydroxypyrimidine-2,4-diones (17, 18), and 2-hydroxyisoquinoline-1,3-diones (HIDs) (19). Notably, many 2-hydroxyisoquinoline-1,3-diones inhibit both RT polymerase and RNH functions of RT (19). In order to further understand the mechanism of RT inhibition by HIDs, we further characterized YLC2-155, which is substituted at the C7 position of the 2-hydroxyisoquinoline-1,3-dione with a furan ring (Fig. 1).

This article communicates our study to elucidate the molecular determinants of weak Mg2+ interaction with the ribonuclease H (RNH) domain of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase in solution. Since the interaction is weak (a ligand-dissociation constant > 1 mM), non-specific Mg2+ interaction with the protein or interaction of the protein with other solutes that are present in the buffer solution can confound the observed Mg2+-titration data. To investigate these indirect effects, we monitored changes in the chemical shifts of backbone amides of RNH by recording NMR 1H-15N single-quantum coherence (HSQC) spectra upon titration of Mg2+ into an RNH solution. We performed the titration in three different conditions: (1) in the absence of NaCl, (2) in the presence of 50 mM NaCl, and (3) at a constant 160 mM Cl− concentration. Careful analysis of these three sets of titration data, along with molecular dynamics simulation data of RNH with Na+ and Cl− ions, demonstrates two characteristic phenomena distinct from the specific Mg2+ interaction with the active site: (a) weak interaction of Mg2+, as a salt, with the substrate-handle region of the protein, (b) overall apparent lower Mg2+-affinity in the absence of NaCl compared to that in the presence of 50 mM NaCl. A possible explanation may be that the titrated MgCl2 is consumed as a salt and interacts with RNH in the absence of NaCl. In addition, our data suggest that Na+ increases the kinetic rate of the specific Mg2+ interaction at the active site of RNH. Taken together, our study provides biophysical insight into the mechanism of weak metal interaction on a protein.