The G140S mutation in HIV integrases from raltegravir-resistant patients rescues catalytic defect due to the resistance Q148H mutation

Raltegravir (MK-0518) is the first integrase (IN) inhibitor to be approved by the US FDA and is currently used in clinical treatment of viruses resistant to other antiretroviral compounds. Virological failure of Raltegravir treatment is associated with mutations in the IN gene following two main distinct genetic pathways involving either the N155 or Q148 residue. Importantly, in most cases, an additional mutation at the position G140 is associated with the Q148 pathway. Here, we investigated the viral DNA kinetics for mutants identified in Raltegravir-resistant patients. We found that (i) integration is impaired for Q148H when compared with the wild-type, G140S and G140S/Q148H mutants; and (ii) the N155H and G140S mutations confer lower levels of resistance than the Q148H mutation. We also characterized the corresponding recombinant INs properties. Enzymatic performances closely parallel ex vivo studies. The Q148H mutation ‘freezes’ IN into a catalytically inactive state. By contrast, the conformational transition converting the inactive form into an active form is rescued by the G140S/Q148H double mutation. In conclusion, the Q148H mutation is responsible for resistance to Raltegravir whereas the G140S mutation increases viral fitness in the G140S/Q148H context. Altogether, these results account for the predominance of G140S/Q148H mutants in clinical trials using Raltegravir

Properties of Electrodeposited CuSCN 2D Layers and Nanowires Influenced by Their Mixed Domain Structure

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Identification of the functional states of human vitamin K epoxide reductase from molecular dynamics simulations

In mammalians, the enzymatic activity of vitamin K epoxide reductase (VKORC1) requires a protein conformational reorganisation that includes several transient enzymatic states involving a dynamic electron transfer. Regarding the structurally non-characterised human enzyme (hVKORC1), this process remains poorly explained and the different redox states of the enzyme generated by its biochemical transformation are unknown. Here, we report a 3D model of the fully reduced hVKORC1 at the atomistic level. By exploring this model through molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, we established the most probable intermediate states of the enzyme which were used for generation of the putative functionally related enzymatic states. Enzymatic functionality of each state was assigned by probing their recognition properties with respect to vitamin K in its quinone and hydroxyquinone forms. Two states were identified as contributing to the two-step vitamin K transformation. The state highly selective for native vitamin K was further validated through analyses of its free energy of binding with vitamin K agonists (VKAs) that showed a high correlation with the experimental inhibiting constants

Bip: a C-alpha-tetrasubstituted, axially chiral alpha-amino acid. Synthesis and conformational preference of model peptides

By using the recently proposed biphenyl-based, C-alpha-tetrasubstituted, cyclic, axially chiral a-amino acid Bip we synthesised by solution methods a large set of model peptides, including the homo-oligomer series, to the pentamer level. All of the peptides were fully characterised and their preferred conformation was assessed in solution by means of a FT-IR absorption and H-1 NMR study. Results of X-ray diffraction analyses of two Bip derivatives and a terminally protected tripeptide with the sequence -Gly-Bip-Gly- are also presented. Our findings indicate that Bip tends to support beta -turn and 3(10)-helical structures, although in short peptides the fully-extended (C-5) conformation would also be populated to some extent. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved

Biomimetic catalysis of catechol cleavage by O2 in organic solvents - Role of accessibility of O2 to FeIII in 2,11-diaza[3,3](2,6)pyridinophane-type catalysts

International audienceThree new complexes, [Fe(LN4H2)Cl2]+, [Fe(LN4H2)(Cat)]+, and [Fe(LN4H2)(DBC)]+, were synthesized by using the tetradentate macrocyclic ligand LN4H2 (where LN4H2, Cat, and DBC stand for 2,11-diaza[3,3](2,6) pyridinophane, catecholate, and 3,5-di-tert-butylcatecholate, respectively). The structure of [Fe(LN4H2)Cl2]+ was determined by X-ray diffraction. It crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/c with a = 9.613(1), b = 11.589(1), c = 14.063(2) Å, ß=110.20(2)°, V = 1541.9(3) Å3 and Z = 4. These complexes were found to catalyze the oxidation of catechol groups using O2. This was performed in various organic solvents at 20 °C. The reaction rates were measured for the stoichiometric complexes [Fe(LN4H2)(Cat)]+ and [Fe(LN4H2)(DBC)]+. It was found that despite the relatively high energy of the ligand-to-metal charge transfer O(DBC or Cat)?FeIII, their activity was comparable to that of the fast TPA systems [TPA indicates tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine]. The oxidation products of DBCH2 have been studied. It has then been shown that the LN4H2 systems catalyse by means of both intra- and extradiol cleavage of catechol groups. The existence of multiple reactive pathways can account for the fast reactivity observed

HIV-1 IN alternative molecular recognition of DNA induced by raltegravir resistance mutations

International audienceVirologic failure during treatment with raltegravir, the first effective drug targeting HIV integrase, is associated with two exclusive pathways involving either Q148H/R/K, G140S/A or N155H mutations. We carried out a detailed analysis of the molecular and structural effects of these mutations. We observed no topological change in the integrase core domain, with conservation of a newly identified V-shaped hairpin containing the Q148 residue, in particular. In contrast, the mutations greatly altered the specificity of DNA recognition by integrase. The native residues displayed a clear preference for adenine, whereas the mutant residues strongly favored pyrimidines. Raltegravir may bind to N155 and/or Q148 residues as an adenine bioisoster. This may account for the selected mutations impairing raltegravir binding while allowing alternative DNA recognition by integrase. This study opens up new opportunities for the design of integrase inhibitors active against raltegravir-resistant viruses. Copyright Cop. 2009 John Wiley and Sons, Ltd. Supporting information may be found in the online version of this article

A chirally stable, atropoisomeric, C-alpha-tetrasubstituted alpha-amino acid: incorporation into model peptides and conformational preference

A variety of model peptides, including four complete homologous series, to the pentamer level, characterized by the recently proposed binaphthyl-based, axially chiral, Cα-tetrasubstituted, cyclic α-amino acid Bin, in combination with Ala, Gly, or Aib residues, was synthesized by solution methods and fully characterized. The solution conformational propensity of these peptides was determined by FT-IR absorption and 1H-NMR techniques. Moreover, the molecular structures of the free amino acid (S)-enantiomer and an Nα-acylated dipeptide alkylamide with the heterochiral sequence -(R)-Bin-Phe- were assessed in the crystal state by X-ray diffraction. Taken together, the results point to the conclusion that β-bends and 310 helices are preferentially adopted by Bin-containing peptides, although the fully extended conformation would also be adopted in solution by the short oligomers to some extent. We also confirmed the tendency of (R)-Bin to fold a peptide chain into right-handed bend and helical structures. The absolute configuration of the Bin residue(s) was correlated with the typically intense exciton-split Cotton effect of the 1Bb binaphthyl transition near 225 nm