Discovery of a Branched Peptide That Recognizes the Rev Response Element (RRE) RNA and Blocks HIV-1 Replication

J Med Chem. 2018 Nov 8;61(21):9611-9620. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.8b01076. Epub 2018 Oct 18.

Abstract

We synthesized and screened a unique 46 656-member library composed of unnatural amino acids that revealed several hits against RRE IIB RNA. Among the hit peptides identified, peptide 4A5 was found to be selective against competitor RNAs and inhibited HIV-1 Rev-RRE RNA interaction in cell culture in a p24 ELISA assay. Biophysical characterization in a ribonuclease protection assay suggested that 4A5 bound to the stem-loop region in RRE IIB while SHAPE MaP probing with 234 nt RRE RNA indicated additional interaction with secondary Rev binding sites. Taken together, our investigation suggests that HIV replication is inhibited by 4A5 blocking binding of Rev and subsequent multimerization.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Active Transport, Cell Nucleus / drug effects
  • Base Sequence
  • Binding Sites
  • Cell Nucleus / drug effects
  • Cell Nucleus / metabolism
  • Drug Design*
  • Genes, env*
  • HIV-1 / drug effects*
  • HIV-1 / genetics
  • HIV-1 / physiology*
  • Peptides / metabolism
  • Peptides / pharmacology*
  • RNA, Viral / metabolism
  • Virus Replication / drug effects*

Substances

  • Peptides
  • RNA, Viral