The characterization of EIAV reverse transcriptase and its inhibition by 5'-triphosphates of 2'-deoxyuridine analogs,...

A characterization of equine infectious anemia virus reverse transcriptase (EIAV RT) and its inhibition by 5'-triphosphate analogs was undertaken to explore the possibility of using EIAV RT as an in vitro model for studying human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). EIAV RT activity was found to be dependent on the bivalent cations Mg++ and Mn++. The optimal pH for enzyme reaction was pH 8.2. EIAV RT preferred a 70 mmol/L concentration of monovalent salts. Phosphonoformic acid (PFA) was an active inhibitor of EIAV RT, but phosphonoacetic acid (PAA) and N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) were not. The inhibition of EIAV RT activity by 5'-triphosphates of nucleoside derivatives was in the following decreasing order: FLTTP greater than AZTTP greater than nPrearaUTP greater than nPredUTP = CEdUTP greater than EtdUTP greater than nPrdUTP greater than HMdUTP. nPrearaUTP was a linear competitive and PFA a linear noncompetitive inhibitor of EIAV RT with respect to dTTP. Apparent Kis and Kii were 1.5 and 2.2 mumol/L respectively. The susceptibility pattern of EIAV RT to inhibitors was similar to that of HIV RT.