Structure-function relationship of novel X4 HIV-1 entry inhibitors - L- and D-arginine peptide-aminoglycoside conjugates

Abstract

We present the design, synthesis, anti-HIV-1 and mode of action of neomycin and neamine conjugated at specific sites to arginine 6- and 9-mers d- and l-arginine peptides (APACs). The d-APACs inhibit the infectivity of X4 HIV-1 strains by one or two orders of magnitude more potently than their respective l-APACs. d-arginine conjugates exhibit significantly higher affinity towards CXC chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) than their l-arginine analogs, as determined by their inhibition of monoclonal anti-CXCR4 mAb 12G5 binding to cells and of stromal cell-derived factor 1α (SDF-1α)/CXCL12 induced cell migration. These results indicate that APACs inhibit X4 HIV-1 cell entry by interacting with CXCR4 residues common to glycoprotein 120 and monoclonal anti-CXCR4 mAb 12G5 binding. d-APACs readily concentrate in the nucleus, whereas the l-APACs do not. 9-mer-d-arginine analogues are more efficient inhibitors than the 6-mer-d-arginine conjugates and the neomycin-d-polymers are better inhibitors than their respective neamine conjugates. This and further structure-function studies of APACs may provide new target(s) and lead compound(s) of more potent HIV-1 cell entry inhibitors. © 2007 The Authors.