PiggyBac is a transposable DNA element originally discovered in the cabbage looper moth (Trichoplusia ni). The T. ni piggyBac transposon can introduce exogenous fragments into a genome, constructing a transgenic organism. Nevertheless, the comprehensive analysis of endogenous piggyBac-like elements (PLEs) is important before using piggyBac, because they may influence the genetic stability of transgenic lines. Herein, we conducted a genome-wide analysis of PLEs in the brown planthopper (BPH) Nilaparvata lugens (Stål) (Hemiptera: Delphacidae), and identified a total of 28 PLE sequences. All N. lugens piggyBac-like elements (NlPLEs) were present as multiple copies in the genome of BPH. Among the identified NlPLEs, NlPLE25 had the highest copy number and it was distributed on five chromosomes. The full length of NlPLE25 consisted of terminal inverted repeats and sub-terminal inverted repeats at both terminals, as well as a single open reading frame transposase encoding 546 amino acids. Furthermore, NlPLE25 transposase caused precise excision and transposition in cultured insect cells and also restored the original TTAA target sequence after excision. A cross-recognition between the NlPLE25 transposon and the piggyBac transposon was also revealed in this study. These findings provide useful information for the construction of transgenic insect lines.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Animals, Genetically Modified ; DNA Transposable Elements/genetics* ; Hemiptera/genetics* ; Transposases/genetics*

To determine the inhibitory effect of endophytic fungi from Dysosma versipellis on HIV-1 IN-LEDGF/p75 interaction,the protein-protein interaction between human immunodeficiency virus type 1( HIV-1) integrase and lens epithelial growth factor p75 protein( LEDGF/p75) was used as a target. The homogeneous time-resolved fluorescence( HTRF) technique was used in the inhibitory activity assay. The results showed that eight endophytic fungi with anti-IN-LEDGF/p75 interaction activity were screened out from fifty-three strains with different morphological characteristic. Among them,106 strain showed strong inhibitory activity against HIV-1 IN-LEDGF/p75 interaction with IC50 value of 5. 23 mg·L-1,and was identified as a potential novel species of Magnaporthaceae family by the analyses of ITS-rDNA,LSU and RPB2 sequences data. This study demonstrated that potential natural active ingredients against the HIV-1 IN-LEDGF/p75 interaction exist in the endophytic fungi of D. versipellis. These results may provide available candidate strain resources for the research and development of new anti-acquired immunodeficiency syndrome drugs.
Berberidaceae ; microbiology ; Endophytes ; Fungi ; chemistry ; HIV Integrase ; metabolism ; HIV-1 ; drug effects ; Humans ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; metabolism ; Protein Binding

No abstract available.
Anti-Bacterial Agents/*pharmacology ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics ; Carrier Proteins/*genetics ; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial/*genetics ; Humans ; Stenotrophomonas maltophilia/drug effects/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Transposases/*genetics ; Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination/*pharmacology

This study is to evaluate the HAART pharmacodynamics with dolutegravir as the "anchor" in vitro. A nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) resistant recombinant virus model (VSVG/HIV-1(RT-D67N,K70R,T215F)) and an integrase inhibitors (INIs) resistant recombinant virus model (VSVG/HIV-1(IN-G140S,QI48H)) were constructed and established. The anti-viral pharmacodynamics was evaluated with drug combinations including two NRTIs along with one INI or one NNRTI. The results showed that the combination with an INI gave a stronger synergism on wild type HIV-1 replication comparing to that with an NNRTI. Comparing the two INIs as the "anchor" for HAART, DTG exhibited an equivalent CI to that of RAL on wild type HIV-1 replication; but a greater synergy than RAL on INI-resistant HIV-1 replication. Besides of the pharmacodynamics results of DTG-based drug combination, the results may contribute to clinical antiviral therapy.
Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active ; Cells, Cultured ; Drug Resistance, Viral ; HIV Integrase Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; HIV-1 ; drug effects ; physiology ; Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Virus Replication ; drug effects

HIV-1 integrase (IN) is a key enzyme for the viral replication. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) between HIV-1 IN and a cellular cofactor lens epithelium-derived growth factor (LEDGF/p75) is a validated target for anti-HIV drug discovery. In order to build the platform for screening inhibitor against PPI between IN and LEDGF/p75, the vector containing the LEDGF/p75 protein cDNA was constructed and expressed in Escherichia coli and the function of the LEDGF/p75 protein was assayed. The LGDGF/p75 encoding gene optimized according to the preference codon usage of E. coli, was synthesized and cloned into the expression vector pGEX-4T-1 to form a recombined plasmid, then transformed into host cell E. coli BL21 (DE3). The recombined clones were identified and confirmed by BamH I/Sal I digestion and sequencing, the successfully recombined plasmid in the host cell was induced by IPTG and the condition of the expression was optimized. The expressed protein was purified by the Ni2+ affinity chromatography column and SDS-PAGE was used to analyze the molecular weight and specificity. In addition, ELISA assay was used to analyze the function of the recombinant protein. The recombinant LGDGF/p75 was soluble, and expressed highly and stably in E. coli. The protein was proved to enhance HIV-1 IN strand transfer activity in vitro by ELISA. It will be helpful to build the platform of screening inhibitors against PPI between IN and LEDGF/p75.
Cloning, Molecular ; Escherichia coli ; metabolism ; HIV Integrase ; metabolism ; HIV-1 ; physiology ; Humans ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; biosynthesis ; Protein Binding ; Virus Replication

Transposons are the mobile and autonomic replication DNA fragments in genomes. With more understanding of the structure and function of transposons, numerous transposons have been developed to the genetics tool for gene function analysis, gene transformation and gene therapy. The low transpositional activity of the natural transposons is the main obstacles to the utilization of transposons. Recently, with the progress in bioinformatics and protein engineering methods, researchers have reconstructed and optimized natural transposases to create hyperactive transposases that catalyze the transposition with high efficiency. The resulted hyperactive transposons have been applied to gene-modification and gene-tagging. Meanwhile, transposase chimeras were created by protein fusion technology. The insertion characteristic of transposons were artificially regulated which could be utilized in gene therapy.
DNA Transposable Elements ; Gene Targeting ; Genetic Therapy ; Protein Engineering ; Transposases ; chemistry

AIM: To evaluate the anti-HIV activity and mechanism of action of wikstroelide M, a daphnane diterpene from Daphne acutiloba Rehder (Thymelaeaceae). METHODS: The anti-HIV activities of wikstroelide M against different HIV strains were evaluated by cytopathic effect assay and p24 quantification assay with ELISA. The inhibitory effect of wikstroelide M on HIV reverse transcription was analyzed by real-time PCR and ELISA. The effect of wikstroelide M on HIV-1 integrase nuclear translocation was observed with a cell-based imaging assay. The effect of wikstroelide M on LEDGF/p75-IN interaction was assayed by molecular docking. RESULTS: Wikstroelide M potently inhibited different HIV-1 strains, including HIV-1IIIB, HIV-1A17, and HIV-19495, induced a cytopathic effect, with EC50 values ranging from 3.81 to 15.65 ng·mL⁻¹. Wikstroelide M also had high inhibitory activities against HIV-2ROD and HIV-2CBL-20-induced cytopathic effects with EC50 values of 18.88 and 31.90 ng·mL⁻¹. The inhibitory activities of wikstroelide M on the three HIV-1 strains were further confirmed by p24 quantification assay, with EC50 values ranging from 15.16 to 35.57 ng·mL⁻¹. Wikstroelide M also potently inhibited HIV-1IIIB induced cytolysis in MT-4 cells, with an EC50 value of 9.60 ng·mL⁻¹. The mechanistic assay showed that wikstroelide M targeted HIV-1 reverse transcriptase and nuclear translocation of integrase through disrupting the interaction between integrase and LEDGF/p75. CONCLUSION Wikstroelide M may be a potent HIV-1 and HIV-2 inhibitor, the mechanisms of action may include inhibition of reverse trascriptase activity and inhibition of integrase nuclear translocation through disrupting the interaction between integrase and LEDGF/p75.
Anti-HIV Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Cell Line ; Daphne ; chemistry ; Diterpenes ; pharmacology ; HIV Infections ; drug therapy ; virology ; HIV Integrase ; metabolism ; HIV Integrase Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; HIV Reverse Transcriptase ; antagonists & inhibitors ; HIV-1 ; drug effects ; enzymology ; HIV-2 ; drug effects ; Humans ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; metabolism ; Phytotherapy ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Virus Integration ; drug effects ; Virus Replication ; drug effects

A total of 52 endophytic fungi were isolated from roots and stems of Tibetan medicinal plant Phlomis younghusbandii Mukerjee. These fungal isolates were molecularly identified based on ITS sequnces and 28S sequences distributed to 12 genera, including Phoma, Chaetosphaeronema, Fusarium and Leptosphaeria, etc. Among them, the dominant genus was Phoma. Extracts of all strains were evaluated for anti-HIV-1 integrase activity by using soluable integrase expressed in E. coli BL21 (DE3). The results showed that seven samples from five fungal endophytes PHY-24, PHY-38, PHY-40, PHY-51, PHY-53, which belonged to genus Chaetosphaeronema, inhibited strand transfer reaction catalyzed by HIV-1 integrase with IC50 values, of 6.60, 5.20, 2.86, 7.86, 4.47, 4.56 and 3.23 microg x mL(-1) respectively. In conclusion, the endophytic fungi of Phlomis younghusbandii Mukerjee are valuable for further screening anti-HIV-1 integrase agents.
Ascomycota ; enzymology ; isolation & purification ; Chaetomium ; enzymology ; isolation & purification ; Endophytes ; enzymology ; isolation & purification ; Escherichia coli ; enzymology ; HIV Integrase ; genetics ; metabolism ; HIV Integrase Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Phlomis ; microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots ; microbiology ; Plant Stems ; microbiology ; Plants, Medicinal ; microbiology ; Plasmids ; Recombinant Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism

Both reverse transcriptase (RT) and integrase (IN) play crucial roles in the life cycle of HIV-1, which are also key targets in the area of anti-HIV drug research. Reverse transcriptase inhibitors are involved in the most employed drugs used to treat AIDS patients and HIV-infected people, while one of the integrase inhibitors has already been approved by US FDA to appear on the market. Great achievement has been made in the research on both, separately. Recently, much more attention of medicinal chemistry researchers has been attracted to the strategies of multi-target drugs. Compounds with excellent potency against both HIV RT and IN, evidently defined as dual inhibitors targeting both enzymes, have been obtained through considerable significant exploration, which can be classified into two categories according to different strategies. Combinatorial chemistry approach together with high throughput screening methods and multi-target-based virtual screening strategy have been useful tools for identifying selective anti-HIV compounds for long times; Rational drug design based on pharmacophore combination has also led to remarkable results. In this paper, latest progress of both categories in the discovery and structural modification will be covered, with a view to contribute to the career of anti-HIV research.
Drug Design ; HIV Integrase Inhibitors ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; HIV Reverse Transcriptase ; antagonists & inhibitors ; HIV-1 ; drug effects ; Humans ; Molecular Structure ; Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Structure-Activity Relationship

A series of novel quinolinone acid-containing compounds were designed and synthesized. Their structures were confirmed with 1H NMR and MS. The target compounds were tested for anti-HIV-1 integrase activities in vitro with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The result showed that D-2, D-4 and D-7 have anti-integrase activity with IC50 < 100 micromol L(-1).
HIV Integrase ; metabolism ; HIV Integrase Inhibitors ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; Quinolones ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Structure-Activity Relationship