The mechanism of inhibition of avian myeloblastosis virus reverse transcriptase by a dialdehyde derivative of ATP. Inactivation of essential sulfhydryl group function

Mechanism of polyoxometalate-mediated inactivation of DNA polymerases: an analysis with HIV-1 reverse transcriptase indicates specificity for the DNA-binding cleft

The anti-DNA polymerase activity of a structural family of polyoxometalates has been determined. Two representative compounds of this family, possessing a saddle-like structure [(O3POPO3)4W12O36]16- (polyoxometalate I) and [(O3PCH2PO3)4W12O36]16- (polyoxometalate II) were found to inhibit all the DNA polymerases tested, with IC50 values ranging from 2 to 10 microM. A comparative study with HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) and Klenow polymerase as representative DNA polymerases indicated that protection from inactivation was achieved by inclusion of DNA but not by deoxynucleotide triphosphates (dNTPs). Kinetic analysis revealed that the mode of HIV-1 RT inhibition is competitive with respect to DNA, and non-competitive with respect to dNTP binding. Cross-linking experiments confirmed that the inhibitors interfere with the DNA-binding function of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase. Interestingly, a number of drug-resistant mutants of HIV-1 RT exhibit a sensitivity to polyoxometalate comparable to the wild-type HIV-1 RT, suggesting that these polyoxometalates interact at a novel site. Because different polymerases contain DNA-binding clefts of various dimensions, it should be possible to modify polyoxometalates or to add a link to an enzyme-specific drug so that more effective inhibitors could be developed. Using a computer model of HIV-1 RT we performed docking studies in a binary complex (enzyme-polyoxometalate I) to propose tentatively a possible interacting site in HIV-1 RT consistent with the available biochemical results as well as with the geometric and charge constraints of the two molecules.

Sulphydryl groups in the template-primer-binding domain of murine leukaemia virus reverse transcriptase. Identification and functional analysis of cysteine-90

Treatment of murine leukaemia virus reverse transcriptase with benzophenone 4-maleimide inactivates DNA polymerase activity, but has no effect on the RNAase H function. Kinetic measurements indicated that benzophenone 4-maleimide is a competitive inhibitor with respect to template-primer binding, but is non-competitive with respect to dNTP binding. Enzyme modified with benzophenone 4-maleimide cannot bind template-primer or primer alone, as judged by u.v.-mediated cross-linking of radiolabelled substrates. Of the eight cysteine residues in murine leukaemia virus reverse transcriptase, only two were modified by benzophenone 4-maleimide, which were identified as Cys-90 and Cys-310 by comparative tryptic-peptide mapping and amino acid composition analysis. Inclusion of template-primer or primer alone in the modification mixture protected only Cys-90 from modification by benzophenone 4-maleimide. To investigate the role of Cys-90 in detail, we converted it to alanine by site-directed mutagenesis. The mutant enzyme, however, exhibited no loss either of DNA polymerase or of RNAase H activity. These results indicate that Cys-90 is located in a domain of murine leukaemia virus reverse transcriptase that binds template-primer, but may not have a direct role in the enzymic function of the enzyme. Ala-90 mutant murine leukaemia virus reverse transcriptase is at least 10-fold more susceptible to heat inactivation than is the wild-type enzyme, which suggests that Cys-90 in murine leukaemia virus reverse transcriptase may play a role in maintaining structural integrity.

Affinity labelling of rat liver acetyl-CoA carboxylase by a 2',3'-dialdehyde derivative of ATP

The interaction of rat liver acetyl-CoA carboxylase with a 2',3'-dialdehyde derivative of ATP (oATP) has been studied. The degree of the enzyme inactivation has been found to depend on the oATP concentration and the incubation time. ATP was proved to be the only substrate which protected the inactivation. Acetyl-CoA did not effect inactivation, while HCO3- accelerated the process. Ki values for oATP in the absence and presence of HCO3- were 0.35 +/- 0.04 and 0.5 +/- 0.06 mM, and those of the modification constant (kmod) were 0.11 and 0.26 min-1 respectively. oATP completely inhibited the [14C]ADP in equilibrium ATP exchange and did not effect the [14C]acetyl-CoA in equilibrium malonyl-CoA exchange. Incorporation of approximately 1 equivalent of [3H]oATP per acetyl-CoA carboxylase subunit has been shown. No recovery of the modified enzyme activity has been observed in Tris or beta-mercaptoethanol containing buffers, and treatment with NaB3H4 has not led to 3H incorporation. The modification elimination of the ATP triphosphate chain. The results indicated the affinity modification of acetyl-CoA carboxylase by oATP. It was shown that the reagent apparently interacted selectively with the epsilon-amino group of lysine in the ATP-binding site to form a morpholine-like structure.

Inhibition of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase by adenine dinucleotides. Unique inhibitory action of Ap5A

Terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase (TdT) exhibits strong sensitivity to ATP and its dinucleotide analogues, Ap2A, Ap3A, Ap4A, Ap5A and Ap6A. Similar to ATP, all of the dinucleotides appear to be competitive inhibitors of TdT catalysis with respect to substrate deoxynucleoside triphosphates and effectively block the UV-mediated substrate cross-linking to TdT. Among the various dinucleotides, Ap5A and Ap6A (diadenosine 5'-5' penta- and hexaphosphate, respectively) are significantly more effective than dinucleotides containing 2, 3 or 4 phosphate backbones. Furthermore, Ap5A is found to be the only dinucleotide which has reactivity at both substrate- and primer-binding domains in TdT.