Human immunodeficiency virus type I reverse transcriptase (RT) possesses distinct DNA polymerase and RNase H sites, whereas integrase (IN) uses the same active site to perform 3-end processing and strand transfer of the proviral DNA. These four enzymatic activities are essential for viral replication and require metal ions. Two Mg 2؉ ions are present in the RT polymerase site, and one or two Mg 2؉ ions are required for the catalytic activities of RNase H and IN. We tested the possibility of inhibition of the RT polymerase and RNase H as well as the IN 3-end processing and transfer activities of purified enzymes by a series of 3,7-dihydroxytropolones designed to target two Mg 2؉ ions separated by ϳ3.7 Å. The RT polymerase and IN 3 processing and strand transfer activities were inhibited at submicromolar concentrations, while the RNase H activity was inhibited in the low micromolar range. In all cases, the lack of inhibition by tropolones and O-methylated 3,7-dihydroxytropolones was consistent with the active molecules binding the metal ions in the active site. In addition, inhibition of the DNA polymerase activity was shown to depend on the Mg 2؉ concentration. Furthermore, selective inhibitors were identified for several of the activities tested, leaving some potential for design of improved inhibitors. However, all tested compounds exhibited cellular toxicity that presently limits their applications.

Unexpectedly high reactivity of nitrogenated aromatics protected as amides or carbamates, when compared to sulfonamides, can be explained by a decrease of the aromaticity due to a greater ability of the carbon-centered groups to achieve delocalisation of the nitrogen lone pair, resulting in stronger global withdrawing effects.

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