GRL-142 binds to and impairs HIV-1 integrase nuclear localization signal and potently suppresses highly INSTI-resistant HIV-1 variants

Sci Adv. 2023 Jul 14;9(28):eadg2955. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adg2955. Epub 2023 Jul 12.

Abstract

Nuclear localization signal (NLS) of HIV-1 integrase (IN) is implicated in nuclear import of HIV-1 preintegration complex (PIC). Here, we established a multiclass drug-resistant HIV-1 variant (HIVKGD) by consecutively exposing an HIV-1 variant to various antiretroviral agents including IN strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs). HIVKGD was extremely susceptible to a previously reported HIV-1 protease inhibitor, GRL-142, with IC50 of 130 femtomolar. When cells were exposed to HIVKGD IN-containing recombinant HIV in the presence of GRL-142, significant decrease of unintegrated 2-LTR circular cDNA was observed, suggesting that nuclear import of PIC was severely compromised by GRL-142. X-ray crystallographic analyses revealed that GRL-142 interacts with NLS's putative sequence (DQAEHLK) and sterically blocks the nuclear transport of GRL-142-bound HIVKGD's PIC. Highly INSTI-resistant HIV-1 variants isolated from heavily INSTI-experienced patients proved to be susceptible to GRL-142, suggesting that NLS-targeting agents would serve as salvage therapy agents for highly INSTI-resistant variant-harboring individuals. The data should offer a new modality to block HIV-1 infectivity and replication and shed light on developing NLS inhibitors for AIDS therapy.

MeSH terms

  • Antiviral Agents
  • HIV Integrase* / genetics
  • HIV-1* / genetics
  • Humans
  • Nuclear Localization Signals / genetics

Substances

  • Nuclear Localization Signals
  • p31 integrase protein, Human immunodeficiency virus 1
  • HIV Integrase
  • Antiviral Agents