Original Article

Symmetrical 1-pyrrolidineacetamide showing anti-HIV activity through a new binding site on HIV-1 integrase

Li Du, Ya-xue Zhao, Liu-meng Yang, Yong-tang Zheng, Yun Tang, Xu Shen, Hua-liang Jiang

Abstract

Aim: To characterize the functional and pharmacological features of a symmetrical 1-pyrrolidineacetamide, N,N′-(methylene-di-4,1-phenylene) bis-1-pyrrolidineacetamide, as a new anti-HIV compound which could competitively inhibit HIV-1 integrase (IN) binding to viral DNA.
Methods: A surface plasma resonance (SPR)-based competitive assay was employed to determine the compound's inhibitory activity, and the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide cell assay was used to qualify the antiviral activity. The potential binding sites were predicted by molecular modeling and determined by site-directed mutagenesis and a SPR binding assay.
Results: 1-pyrrolidineacetamide, N,N′-(methylene-di-4,1-phenylene) bis- 1-pyrrolidineacetamide could competitively inhibit IN binding to viral DNA with a 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) value of 7.29±0.68 μmol/L as investigated by SPR-based investigation. Another antiretroviral activity assay showed that this compound exhibited inhibition against HIV-1(IIIB) replication with a 50% effective concentration (EC50) value of 40.54 μmol/L in C8166 cells, and cytotoxicity with a cytotoxic concentration value of 173.84 μmol/L in mock-infected C8166 cells. Molecular docking predicted 3 potential residues as 1-pyrrolidineacetamide, N,N′-(methylene-di-4,1-phenylene)bis-1-pyrrolidineacetamide binding sites. The importance of 3 key amino acid residues (Lys 103, Lys 173, and Thr 174) involved in the binding was further identified by site-directed mutagenesis and a SPR binding assay.
Conclusion: This present work identified a new anti-HIV compound through a new IN-binding site which is expected to supply new potential drug-binding site information for HIV-1 integrase inhibitor discovery and development.
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