| ABSTRACT: |
|
The inhibition of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) reverse
transcriptase by certain antibiotics and related compounds was studied in
comparison with that of avian myeloblastosis virus (AMV) reverse
transcriptase and cellular DNA polymerases alpha and beta. In general,
compounds that inhibited HIV reverse transcriptase also inhibited AMV
reverse transcriptase. For example, 10 micrograms/ml of the isoquinoline
quinones used in this study inhibited approximately 80% of the activity of
reverse transcriptases of HIV and AMV, but did not inhibit the activity of
DNA polymerases alpha and beta even at 50 micrograms/ml. AMV enzyme was
more sensitive than HIV enzyme to colistin, enduracidins A and B,
janiemycin, glysperin A, and thielavins A and B. The streptonigrin alkyl
esters, however, inhibited HIV reverse transcriptase only. Sakyomicin A,
luzopeptins, ellagic acid and suramine inhibited the activities of reverse
transcriptases and cellular DNA polymerases. |