Interference with HIV-1 reverse transcriptase-catalyzed DNA chain elongation by the 5'-triphosphate of the carbocyclic analog of 2'-deoxyguanosine.

In an effort to better understand features in nucleotide analogs that result in the inhibition of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase, we have evaluated this enzyme with the 5'-triphosphate of the carbocyclic analog of 2'-deoxyguanosine (CdG-TP). CdG-TP was a reasonably potent competitive inhibitor of the incorporation of dGTP into DNA by HIV-1 reverse transcriptase using either a RNA or DNA template (Ki, 1 microM). CdG-TP was a good substrate for HIV-1 reverse transcriptase on both templates, but the DNA chain was poorly extended beyond the incorporation of CdG. These results indicate that substitution of ribose with a cyclopentane ring in nucleotides is not well tolerated by HIV-1 reverse transcriptase.