The importin ␣/␤ pathway mediates nuclear import of proteins containing the classical nuclear localization signals (NLSs). Although the consensus sequences of the classical NLSs have been defined, there are still many NLSs that do not match the consensus rule and many nonfunctional sequences that match the consensus. We report here six different NLS classes that specifically bind to distinct binding pockets of importin ␣. By screening of random peptide libraries using an mRNA display, we selected peptides bound by importin ␣ and identified six classes of NLSs, including three novel classes. Two noncanonical classes (class 3 and class 4) specifically bound the minor binding pocket of importin ␣, whereas the classical monopartite NLSs (class 1 and class 2) bound to the major binding pocket. Using a newly developed universal green fluorescent protein expression system, we found that these NLS classes, including plant-specific class 5 NLSs and bipartite NLSs, fundamentally require the regions outside the core basic residues for their activity and have specific residues or patterns that confer the activities differently between yeast, plants, and mammals. Furthermore, amino acid replacement analyses revealed that the consensus basic patterns of the classical NLSs are not essential for activity, thereby generating more unconventional patterns, including redox-sensitive NLSs. These results explain the causes of the NLS diversity. The defined consensus patterns and properties of importin ␣-dependent NLSs provide useful information for identifying NLSs.

The nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR) from the electroplax of the ray Torpedo californica is composed of five subunits present in a molar stoichiometry of alpha 2 beta gamma delta (refs 1-3) and contains both the binding site for the neurotransmitter and the cation gating unit (reviewed in refs 4-6). We have recently elucidated the complete primary structures of the alpha-, beta- and delta-subunit precursors of the T. californica AChR by cloning and sequencing cDNAs for these polypeptides. Here, we report the whole primary structure of the gamma-subunit precursor of the AChR deduced from the nucleotide sequence of the cloned cDNA. Comparison of the amino acid sequences of the four subunits reveals marked homology among them. The close resemblance among the hydrophilicity profiles and predicted secondary structures of all the subunits suggests that these polypeptides are oriented in a pseudosymmetric fashion across the membrane. Each subunit contains four putative transmembrane segments that may be involved in the ionic channel. The transmembrane topology of the subunit molecules has also been inferred.

The primary structures of two types of bovine brain substance P precursors have been determined. One precursor contains a sequence homologous to that of the amphibian peptide kassinin. This new tachykinin sequence is bounded by paired basic amino acids Lys-Arg, which suggests that, like substance P, it can be liberated from the precursor and may serve as an endogenous hormone or neuromediator in mammalian organisms.

The nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR) from fish electric organ and mammalian skeletal muscle is the best characterized neurotransmitter receptor (reviewed in refs 1-3). The AChR from the electroplax of the ray Torpedo californica consists of five subunits present in a molar stoichiometry of alpha 2 beta gamma delta (refs 4-6); the apparent molecular weights of the alpha-, beta-, gamma- and delta-subunits are 40,000 (40K), 50K, 60K and 65K, respectively. Knowledge of the primary structures of these constituent polypeptides would facilitate the understanding of the molecular mechanism underlying the function of the neurotransmitter receptor. Recently, we have cloned cDNA for the alpha-subunit precursor of the T. californica AChR and have deduced the primary structure of this polypeptide from the nucleotide sequence of the cloned cDNA. Here we report the cloning and nucleotide analysis of cDNAs for the AChR beta- and delta-subunit precursors. The primary structures of the two polypeptides deduced from the cDNA sequences reveal conspicuous amino acid sequence homology among these and the alpha-subunits. The three subunits contain several highly conserved regions which may be essential for the receptor function or inter-subunit interaction.

Several 6-benzyl analogs of 1-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]-6-(phenylthio)thymine (1; HEPT) were synthesized and evaluated for their anti-HIV-1 activity. LDA (lithium diisopropylamide) lithiation of 5-ethyluracil derivatives 7 and 8 and subsequent reaction with an aryl aldehyde gave 6-(arylhydroxymethyl)-5-ethyluracil derivatives 9-12. 6-(Arylhydroxymethyl)-5-isopropyluracil derivatives 15-18 were prepared from the 5-isopropyl-2-thiouracil derivatives 13 and 14 by the above procedure following oxidative hydrolysis of the thione. Preparation of the target 5-alkyl-1-(alkoxymethyl)-6-benzyluracil derivatives 27-34 was carried out by acetylation of 9-14 followed by Pd-catalyzed hydrogenolysis. The 1-butyl- (37 and 39) and 1-(2-methoxyl)- (38 and 40) 5-alkyl-6-benzyluracils were synthesized by 1-alkylation of the 3-phenacyl derivatives 35 and 36 with alkyl halides followed by deprotection of the 3-phenacyl group. Compounds synthesized in this study inhibited HIV-1 replication in MT-4 cells in the submicromolar to namomolar concentration range. From this series of compounds, 6-benzyl-1-(ethoxymethyl)-5-isopropyluracil (33) was selected for clinical evaluation.

No abstract

In the search for 1-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)-methyl]-6-(phenylthio)thymine (HEPT) derivatives, we have found several 5-ethyl-6-(phenylthio)uracil analogues to be highly potent and selective inhibitors of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1.

A series of novel acyclouridine derivatives substituted at both the C-5 and C-6 positions were synthesized for the purpose of improving the activity of a recently reported HIV-1-specific lead, 1-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]-6-(phenylthio)thymine (HEPT). Preparation of C-6 substituted derivatives was carried out based on the following three methods: (1) LDA (lithium diisopropylamide) lithiation of a thymine derivative (4) and subsequent reaction with electrophiles, (2) an addition-elimination reaction of HEPT or its 6-(phenylsulfinyl) derivative (10), or (3) palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling between a 6-iodo derivative (16) and terminal alkynes. Following the methods, 21 C-6 substituted analogues were synthesized. Among these, 6-(cyclohexylthio) (8), 6-phenoxy (13), and 6-benzyl (27) derivatives showed anti-HIV-1 (HTLV-IIIB) activity with EC50 values of 8.2, 85, and 23 microM, respectively. Preparation of C-5 substituted derivatives was based on either LTMP (lithium 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidide) lithiation of 6-(phenylthio)uracil derivative 37 or the above mentioned palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling of a 5-iodo-6-(phenylthio)uracil derivative (38). Following these methods, 11 C-5 substituted analogues were synthesized. Some 5-substituted derivatives (5-I, 44; 5-CH = CPh2, 49; 5-CH = CHPh (Z), 54; and 5-CH = CH2, 55) were more active than HEPT, but their selectivity indices (SI = CC50/EC50) were lower than that of HEPT. Compound 8 was also evaluated against another HIV-1 strain (HTLV-IIIRF) and HIV-2 strains (LAV-2ROD and LAV-2EHO). Only HTLV-IIIRF was as sensitive as HTLV-IIIB.