Tripeptides from synthetic amino acids block the Tat-TAR association and slow down HIV spread in cell cultures

Chembiochem. 2007 Oct 15;8(15):1850-6. doi: 10.1002/cbic.200700232.

Abstract

Non-natural amino acids with aromatic or heteroaromatic side chains were incorporated into tripeptides of the general structure Arg-X-Arg and tested as ligands of the HIV RNA element TAR. Some of these compounds could compete efficiently with the association of TAR and Tat and downregulated a TAR-controlled reporter gene in HeLa cells. Peptide 7, which contains a 2-pyrimidinyl-alkyl chain, also inhibited the spread of HIV-1 in cell cultures. NMR studies of 7 bound to HIV-2-TAR gave evidence for contacts in the bulge region.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alkanes / chemistry
  • Alkanes / pharmacology
  • Amino Acids / chemistry
  • Amino Acids / pharmacology*
  • Arginine / analogs & derivatives
  • Arginine / pharmacology
  • Cells, Cultured
  • HIV / drug effects*
  • HIV / growth & development
  • HIV Long Terminal Repeat / drug effects*
  • HIV-1 / drug effects
  • HIV-1 / growth & development
  • HIV-2 / drug effects
  • HIV-2 / growth & development
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Hydrocarbons, Aromatic / chemistry
  • Hydrocarbons, Aromatic / pharmacology
  • Ligands
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Models, Chemical
  • Oligopeptides / chemical synthesis
  • Oligopeptides / pharmacology*
  • Peptide Fragments / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Pyrimidines / chemistry
  • Pyrimidines / pharmacology
  • RNA, Viral / chemistry
  • RNA, Viral / metabolism
  • tat Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus / antagonists & inhibitors*

Substances

  • Alkanes
  • Amino Acids
  • Hydrocarbons, Aromatic
  • Ligands
  • Oligopeptides
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Pyrimidines
  • RNA, Viral
  • tat Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
  • tat peptide (1-9), Human immunodeficiency virus 1
  • Arginine