The molecular mechanisms of resistance to viral entry fusion inhibitors targeting HIVgp41 are not well-understood. Fundamental gaps in knowledge of the energetic and structural interactions which drive binding hamper the long-term goal of development of new drugs with improved resistance profiles. The overall objective of this application is to (1) develop computational structural models to quantify binding for known gp41 fusion inhibitors (both peptides and small molecules), (2) characterize origins of resistance profiles to current inhibitors, and (3) discover new small molecule drug-leads. Based on strong preliminary results, the central hypothesis is that specific interactions within a conserved hydrophobic pocket on gp41, not exploited by the only currently available anti-fusion drug (peptide inhibitor T20), confer improved resistance profiles to next-generation peptide inhibitors and drive binding for small molecule inhibitors. The rationale for the proposed research is that robust computational models allow drug binding to be fully characterized at the atomic level, and this will enable development of HIV drugs with favorable resistance profiles. Thus, the work proposed is directly relevant to the NIH plan for basic and applied research towards discovery and development of novel agents and therapeutic strategies directed against viral factors involved in HIV replication and persistence. The work employs all-atom computer simulations (molecular dynamics and docking), in conjunction with detailed energetic and structural analysis, to test the central hypothesis and accomplish the goals set forth in each specific aim.
Aim #1 will determine the molecular basis of resistance to current peptide fusion inhibitors of gp41 to test the hypothesis that binding affinity for T20 is driven primarily by interactions with mutation-prone regions along the binding interface.
Aim #2 will characterize the mechanism of action for reported small molecule inhibitors of gp41 which we postulate are due to specific energetic and structural interactions modulated within the conserved pocket.
Aim #3 will identify new small organic molecules, which bind specifically to the gp41 pocket, using virtual-high-throughput-screening in conjunction with experimental validation. Active compounds will be characterized structurally using NMR and X-ray crystallography and developed further. The proposal's contributions are significant because results from detailed binding models and computer simulations will allow the molecular basis of recognition to be delineated, which will enable development of improved fusion inhibitors that maintain activity against clinically relevant HIV escape mutations.

Public Health Relevance

Results from the proposed research will be used to uncover the atomic-level structural and energetic determinates which describe binding of membrane fusion inhibitors with the viral entry protein gp41 which mediates HIV infection. The proposal seeks to understand the origins of resistance to gp41 inhibitors, and develop new compounds with improved resistance profiles, thus the finding are expected to be of direct relevance to public health.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01GM083669-04
Application #
8055893
Study Section
AIDS Discovery and Development of Therapeutics Study Section (ADDT)
Program Officer
Sakalian, Michael
Project Start
2008-04-01
Project End
2013-03-31
Budget Start
2011-04-01
Budget End
2012-03-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2011
Total Cost
$270,798
Indirect Cost
Name
State University New York Stony Brook
Department
Biostatistics & Other Math Sci
Type
Schools of Engineering
DUNS #
804878247
City
Stony Brook
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
11794
Hsu, Hao-Chi; Tong, Simon; Zhou, Yuchen et al. (2017) The Antinociceptive Agent SBFI-26 Binds to Anandamide Transporters FABP5 and FABP7 at Two Different Sites. Biochemistry 56:3454-3462
Allen, William J; Fochtman, Brian C; Balius, Trent E et al. (2017) Customizable de novo design strategies for DOCK: Application to HIVgp41 and other therapeutic targets. J Comput Chem 38:2641-2663
McGee Jr, T Dwight; Yi, Hyun Ah; Allen, William J et al. (2017) Structure-based identification of inhibitors targeting obstruction of the HIVgp41 N-heptad repeat trimer. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 27:3177-3184
Yi, Hyun A; Fochtman, Brian C; Rizzo, Robert C et al. (2016) Inhibition of HIV Entry by Targeting the Envelope Transmembrane Subunit gp41. Curr HIV Res 14:283-94
Allen, William J; Yi, Hyun Ah; Gochin, Miriam et al. (2015) Small molecule inhibitors of HIVgp41 N-heptad repeat trimer formation. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 25:2853-9
Allen, William J; Balius, Trent E; Mukherjee, Sudipto et al. (2015) DOCK 6: Impact of new features and current docking performance. J Comput Chem 36:1132-56
Jiang, Lingling; Rizzo, Robert C (2015) Pharmacophore-based similarity scoring for DOCK. J Phys Chem B 119:1083-102
Holden, Patrick M; Allen, William J; Gochin, Miriam et al. (2014) Strategies for lead discovery: application of footprint similarity targeting HIVgp41. Bioorg Med Chem 22:651-61
Allen, William J; Rizzo, Robert C (2014) Implementation of the Hungarian algorithm to account for ligand symmetry and similarity in structure-based design. J Chem Inf Model 54:518-29
Furt, Fabienne; Allen, William J; Widhalm, Joshua R et al. (2013) Functional convergence of structurally distinct thioesterases from cyanobacteria and plants involved in phylloquinone biosynthesis. Acta Crystallogr D Biol Crystallogr 69:1876-88

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