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Updated: Jul 11, 2026

Rapid Screening of HIV Reverse Transcriptase and Integrase Inhibitors
Published on: April 9, 2014
Ile178 of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase is critical for inhibiting the viral integrase
Iris Oz Gleenberg1, Yehuda Goldgur, Amnon Hizi
1Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel.
HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) was shown to inhibit in vitro the viral integrase (IN). We have reported previously that an RT-derived 20-residue peptide binds IN and inhibits its enzymatic activities. In this peptide, Leu168, Phe171, Gln174, and Ile178 were predicted to be involved in IN inhibition. In the presented study, these residues were mutagenized and the resulting peptides were tested for binding and inhibiting IN activities. Ile178 was found to be the major contributor to IN inhibition, probably by interacting with IN residue Gly149. As Gly149 is a key IN residue, this inhibition probably results from a steric hindrance of the IN active site.
HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) was shown to inhibit in vitro the viral integrase (IN). We have reported previously that an RT-derived 20-residue peptide binds IN and inhibits its enzymatic activities. In this peptide, Leu168, Phe171, Gln174, and Ile178 were predicted to be involved in IN inhibition. In the presented study, these residues were mutagenized and the resulting peptides were tested for binding and inhibiting IN activities. Ile178 was found to be the major contributor to IN inhibition, probably by interacting with IN residue Gly149. As Gly149 is a key IN residue, this inhibition probably results from a steric hindrance of the IN active site.
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