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RNA-mimicry to guide the intra-cellular targeting of host virus protein and viral RNA-protein interactions to inhibit HIV replication.

Award Number: R01AI170206
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY & INFECTIOUS DISEASES
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 05/06/2022
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 04/30/2027

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RNA-mimicry to guide the intra-cellular targeting of host virus protein and viral RNA-protein interactions to inhibit HIV replication. - Abstract: The long-term goal of this application is to characterize host-virus interaction interface as a novel drug target and to develop inhibitors to disrupt intracellular protein-protein interactions (PPI) between the host and the virus to curb HIV-1 replication. It has been established that perturbing IN without affecting its enzymatic activity can inhibit late stages of HIV-1 replication such as assembly, particle production and/or particle morphogenesis. Such class II IN mutations and allosteric inhibitors of IN (ALLINI), inhibit late events and they do so by perturbing IN/IN multimerization, IN/host factor interaction or IN/RNA interactions. We have observed that such defects in particle morphogenesis can also be observed in IN mutants defective for interaction with a host factor, INI1/hSNF5, an IN-binding host factor, that is selectively incorporated into HIV-1 virions. INI1 is required for HIV- 1 late events. Expression of a minimal-IN-binding domain of INI1 (INI1183-292) termed S6, disrupts IN/INI1 interaction in vivo and potently inhibits HIV-1 particle production. Knocking down INI1 and use of INI1-/- cell lines inhibit HIV-1 particle production. INI1-binding defective IN mutants lead to the production of morphologically defective particles indicating that targeting IN/INI1 interaction is an effective strategy to inhibit HIV-1 particle production. Lack of structure of INI1 and IN/INI1 complex have precluded our ability to develop inhibitors to target this interaction. New research from our laboratory including the NMR structure of the IN-binding Repeat 1 (Rpt1) domain of INI1, and molecular docking of IN/INI1 interaction have helped overcome this knowledge gap. We found that IN-binding domain of INI1, termed Rpt1, and Trans Activating Response element (TAR) of HIV-1 genomic RNA structurally mimic each other, a novel finding. Both Rpt1 and TAR bind to same surface of IN C-terminal domain (CTD) and compete for binding to IN with an identical IC50 value (0.005 µM). Furthermore, INI1-interaction-defective mutants of IN cause impairment of particle morphogenesis. We hypothesize that peptidomimetics and small molecules derived from Rpt1 have dual activity and inhibit both IN/INI1 and IN/TAR interactions. As a proof of principle, we have developed a stapled peptide derived from interface a-1 helix of Rpt1, that potently disrupts IN/INI1 and IN/RNA interactions, inhibits particle morphogenesis and in vivo HIV-1 replication. In this proposal, we will characterize IN/INI1 interface as an outstanding drug target by carrying out: i) Genetic analysis to understand the mechanism of INI1 influence on assembly/particle production via trans-complementation and “synthethic rescue” experiments; ii) Development of a novel class of stapled peptides and small molecules with dual activity in targeting IN/INI1 and IN/RNA interactions by SAR and virtual-ligand screening; and determine the NMR structure of INI1-stapled peptide complexes with IN-C-terminal domain; and iii) Understanding the mechanism by which INI1-derived stapled peptides and small molecules inhibit HIV-1 replication and target identification by screening for viral escape mutants. These studies will establish IN/INI1 as a novel drug target and provide new lead compounds to inhibit HIV-1 late events.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2026 ( Subtotal = $611,113 )
2026	2026	ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE	1300 MORRIS PARK AVE	BRONX	NY	10461	BRONX	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	5	5/5/2026	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$611,113
														Subtotal = $611,113

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $611,113 )
2025	2025	ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE	1300 MORRIS PARK AVE	BRONX	NY	10461	BRONX	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	4	4/16/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$611,113
														Subtotal = $611,113

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $676,974 )
2024	2024	ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE	1300 MORRIS PARK AVE	BRONX	NY	10461	BRONX	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	3	4/8/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$676,974
														Subtotal = $676,974

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $676,974 )
2023	2023	ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE	1300 MORRIS PARK AVE	BRONX	NY	10461	BRONX	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	2	4/19/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$676,974
														Subtotal = $676,974

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $614,093 )
2022	2022	ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE	1300 MORRIS PARK AVE	BRONX	NY	10461	BRONX	USA	Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research	000	1	5/6/2022	NEW	$614,093
														Subtotal = $614,093

Grand Total All Awards = $3,190,267

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RNA-mimicry to guide the intra-cellular targeting of host virus protein and viral RNA-protein interactions to inhibit HIV replication.

Award Number: R01AI170206

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY & INFECTIOUS DISEASES

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 05/06/2022

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 04/30/2027

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