Biophysical Characterization of Novel DNA Aptamers against K103N/Y181C Double Mutant HIV-1 Reverse Transcriptase

Molecules. 2022 Jan 3;27(1):285. doi: 10.3390/molecules27010285.

Abstract

The human immunodeficiency virus type-1 Reverse Transcriptase (HIV-1 RT) plays a pivotal role in essential viral replication and is the main target for antiviral therapy. The anti-HIV-1 RT drugs address resistance-associated mutations. This research focused on isolating the potential specific DNA aptamers against K103N/Y181C double mutant HIV-1 RT. Five DNA aptamers showed low IC50 values against both the KY-mutant HIV-1 RT and wildtype (WT) HIV-1 RT. The kinetic binding affinity forms surface plasmon resonance of both KY-mutant and WT HIV-1 RTs in the range of 0.06-2 μM and 0.15-2 μM, respectively. Among these aptamers, the KY44 aptamer was chosen to study the interaction of HIV-1 RTs-DNA aptamer complex by NMR experiments. The NMR results indicate that the aptamer could interact with both WT and KY-mutant HIV-1 RT at the NNRTI drug binding pocket by inducing a chemical shift at methionine residues. Furthermore, KY44 could inhibit pseudo-HIV particle infection in HEK293 cells with nearly 80% inhibition and showed low cytotoxicity on HEK293 cells. These together indicated that the KY44 aptamer could be a potential inhibitor of both WT and KY-mutant HIV-RT.

Keywords: DNA aptamer; HIV-1 RT; K103N/Y181C double mutant; NMR; SPR; cytotoxicity and pseudo-HIV particles; gold nanoparticles.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Substitution
  • Anti-HIV Agents* / chemical synthesis
  • Anti-HIV Agents* / chemistry
  • Anti-HIV Agents* / pharmacology
  • Aptamers, Nucleotide* / chemical synthesis
  • Aptamers, Nucleotide* / chemistry
  • Aptamers, Nucleotide* / pharmacology
  • HEK293 Cells
  • HIV Reverse Transcriptase* / antagonists & inhibitors
  • HIV Reverse Transcriptase* / chemistry
  • HIV Reverse Transcriptase* / genetics
  • HIV Reverse Transcriptase* / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Mutation, Missense*
  • Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular*
  • Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors* / chemical synthesis
  • Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors* / chemistry
  • Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors* / pharmacology

Substances

  • Anti-HIV Agents
  • Aptamers, Nucleotide
  • Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors
  • reverse transcriptase, Human immunodeficiency virus 1
  • HIV Reverse Transcriptase