It has been recently demonstrated that HIV-1 reverse transcriptase is the target of two diterpenes, (6 R)-6-hydroxydichotoma-3,14-diene-1,17-dial (compound 1) and (6 R)-6-acetoxydichotoma-3,14-diene-1,17-dial (compound 2), that inhibit HIV-1 replication in vitro. In this work, the effects of both diterpenes on the kinetic properties of the recombinant HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) enzyme were evaluated. RNA-dependent DNA-polymerase (RDDP) activity assays demonstrated that both diterpenes behave as non-competitive inhibitors with respect to dTTP and uncompetitive inhibitors with respect to poly(rA).oligo(dT) template primers. The K(i) values obtained for compounds 1 and 2 were 10 and 35 microM, respectively. Neither of these diterpenes affected the DNA-dependent DNA-polymerase (DDDP) activity of the HIV-1 RT. The RDDP activities of AMV-RT and MMLV-RT enzymes were also inhibited by compounds 1 and 2. In contrast to the HIV-1 enzyme, the DDDP activities of AMV-RT and MMLV-RT enzymes were significantly reduced by compound 1. Taken together, our results demonstrate that compound 1 is a more effective inhibitor of the viral reverse transcriptases from HIV-1, AMV and MMLV than compound 2. The kinetic behavior analyses of the HIV-1 RT demonstrate that both diterpenes have similar mechanisms of inhibition of RDDP activity.

No abstract

No abstract

In the present study, we show that adenosine (Ado) affects vaccinia virus (VV) replication in BSC-40 cells. In order to identify its effects on VV replicative cycle we analyzed the synthesis of virus macromolecules in cells incubated with 0.5 mM Ado. A 50% reduction in the steady-state level of virus DNA synthesis was observed. Consequently, virus post-replicative gene expression was also affected. A prolonged synthesis of the F11L early virus protein was also observed and it is likely related to a slow decline in the steady-state level of early mRNAs, as suggested by northern blot analysis of the VGF early transcript. The involvement of cAMP-signaling pathway as mediator of Ado response was also evaluated. Ado stimulated a three-fold increase in cAMP levels in BSC-40 cells and cAMP-mimetic agents reduced virus yield in a dose-dependent manner. Co-incubation of infected cells with H-89 reduced the inhibitory effects of 8-Br-cAMP and Ado on VV yields suggesting PKA involvement. A(2) receptor-mediated activation of PKA was indicated by antagonism of Ado response by theophylline and DMPX. Together, these results indicate that virus DNA replication is the main target of Ado. The mechanism involved is not related to reduction of the pyrimidine nucleotide synthesis. Furthermore, Ado-induced PKA activation modulates negatively an unidentified step of the virus replicative cycle.

No abstract