The Tf1 retrotransposon of Schizosaccharomyces pombe represents a group of eukaryotic long terminal repeat (LTR) retroelements that, based on their sequences, were predicted to use an RNA self-primer for initiating reverse transcription while synthesizing the negative-sense DNA strand. This feature is substantially different from the one typical to retroviruses and other LTR retrotransposons th...

The two isomers 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine 5'-triphosphate (erythro-AZT-TP) and 1-(3'-azido-2',3'-dideoxy-beta-D-xylofuranosyl)thymine 5'-triphosphate (threo-AZT-TP) were studied as inhibitors of the reverse transcriptase activity of avian myelobastosis virus. Kinetic analysis of the (rA)n X (dT)12-18 (a standard template primer complex of polyriboadenylate and oligodeoxythymidylate of indicate...

A series of (E)-N-phenylstyryl-N-alkylacetamides, 5, were synthesized by direct reduction-acetylation of beta-arylnitroolefins, followed by N-alkylation. The title compounds were characterized by (1)H-NMR, EIMS and IR analysis. All the synthesized compounds were assayed as HIV-1 non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors. A SAR study revealed that when group R(1) in 5 was ortho-substituted...

Sequential reverse transcriptase, DNA polymerase, and S1 nuclease reactions can be employed to synthesize double-stranded DNA representing messenger RNA. Using reverse transcriptase products made from partially purified lysozyme, ovomucoid, and ovalbumin messengers from hen oviduct, we have characterized the Escherichia coli DNA polymerase I reaction. We have optimized for a high yield of full ...

A molecular method for early detection of active female genital tuberculosis from clinical endometrial tissue specimens was developed by modifying single tube nested reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. The reliability of this method was compared with the gold standard culture method (a combination of Mycobacterium Growth Indicator Tube system and Lowenstein Jiensen media) that is a...

Retroviruses are known as the causative agents of numerous animal disorders. In humans, this virus family is responsible for AIDS, certain forms of leukemias, and some neurologic disorders. The development in our laboratory of an ultrasensitive test for the retroviral enzyme reverse transcriptase has made possible detection of retroviruses present at very low concentration [1]. This test, the s...

The alkoxybenzophenanthridine alkaloids (coralyne acetosulfate, fagaronine chloride, and nitidine chloride) have been reported to possess antileukemic activity in mice. These compounds were tested for inhibition of reverse transcriptase activity of an RNA tumor virus and DNA polymerase, RNA polymerase, and polyadenylic acid polymerase activities of NIH-Swiss mouse embryos. Reverse transcriptase...

BACKGROUND Novel indolylarylsulfones (IASs), designed through rational structure-based molecular modelling and docking approaches, have been recently characterized as effective inhibitors of the wild-type and drug-resistant mutant HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT). METHODS Here, we studied the interaction of selected halo- and nitro-substituted IAS derivatives, with the RT enzyme carrying the ...

INTRODUCTION Current Portuguese HIV treatment guidelines recommend initiating antiretroviral therapy with a regimen composed of two Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors plus one Non-nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor (2NRTI+NNRTI) or two Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors plus one boosted protease inhibitor (2NRTI+PI/r). Given the lower daily cost of NNRTI as the third a...