Chemical library screens targeting an HIV-1 accessory factor/host cell kinase complex identify novel antiretroviral compounds

ACS Chem Biol. 2009 Nov 20;4(11):939-47. doi: 10.1021/cb900195c.

Abstract

Nef is an HIV-1 accessory protein essential for AIDS progression and an attractive target for drug discovery. Lack of a catalytic function makes Nef difficult to assay in chemical library screens. We developed a high-throughput screening assay for inhibitors of Nef function by coupling it to one of its host cell binding partners, the Src-family kinase Hck. Hck activation is dependent upon Nef in this assay, providing a direct readout of Nef activity in vitro. Using this screen, a unique diphenylfuropyrimidine was identified as a strong inhibitor of Nef-dependent Hck activation. This compound also exhibited remarkable antiretroviral effects, blocking Nef-dependent HIV replication in cell culture. Structurally related analogs were synthesized and shown to exhibit similar Nef-dependent antiviral activity, identifying the diphenylfuropyrimidine substructure as a new lead for antiretroviral drug development. This study demonstrates that coupling noncatalytic HIV accessory factors with host cell target proteins addressable by high-throughput assays may afford new avenues for the discovery of anti-HIV agents.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Anti-HIV Agents / chemistry*
  • Anti-HIV Agents / pharmacology*
  • Cell Line
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
  • Enzyme Activation
  • HIV-1 / drug effects*
  • HIV-1 / physiology
  • High-Throughput Screening Assays
  • Humans
  • Molecular Structure
  • Protein Binding
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-hck / metabolism*
  • Small Molecule Libraries / chemistry*
  • Small Molecule Libraries / pharmacology*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Virus Replication
  • nef Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus / metabolism*

Substances

  • Anti-HIV Agents
  • Small Molecule Libraries
  • nef Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
  • nef protein, Human immunodeficiency virus 1
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-hck