Small-Molecule APOBEC3G DNA Cytosine Deaminase Inhibitors Based on a 4-Amino-1,2,4-triazole-3-thiol Scaffold

Margaret E. Olson, Ming Li, Reuben S. Harris, Daniel A. Harki

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

34 Scopus citations

Abstract

APOBEC3G (A3G) is a single-stranded DNA cytosine deaminase that functions in innate immunity against retroviruses and retrotransposons. Although A3G can potently restrict Vif-deficient HIV-1 replication by catalyzing excessive levels of G→A hypermutation, sublethal levels of A3G-catalyzed mutation may contribute to the high level of HIV-1 fitness and its incurable prognosis. To chemically modulate A3G catalytic activity with the goal of decreasing the HIV-1 genomic mutation rate, we synthesized and biochemically evaluated a class of 4-amino-1,2,4-triazole-3-thiol small-molecule inhibitors identified by high-throughput screening. This class of compounds exhibits low-micromolar (3.9-8.2μM) inhibitory potency and remarkable specificity for A3G versus the related cytosine deaminase, APOBEC3A. Chemical modification of inhibitors, A3G mutational screening, and thiol reactivity studies implicate C321, a residue proximal to the active site, as the critical A3G target for this class of molecules.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)112-117
Number of pages6
JournalChemMedChem
Volume8
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2013
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • APOBEC3G
  • Antiviral agents
  • Drug discovery
  • Heterocycles
  • Hypomutation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Drug Discovery
  • General Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics
  • Molecular Medicine
  • Biochemistry
  • Pharmacology
  • Organic Chemistry

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