Effects of Specific Zidovudine Resistance Mutations and Substrate Structure on Nucleotide-Dependent Primer Unblocking by Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Reverse Transcriptase

Nucleotide-dependent unblocking of chain-terminated DNA by human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcriptase (RT) is enhanced by the presence of mutations associated with 3′-azido-3′-deoxythymidine (AZT) resistance. The increase in unblocking activity was greater for mutant combinations associated with higher levels of in vivo AZT resistance. The difference between mutant and wild-type activity was further enhanced by introduction of a methyl group into the nucleotide substrate and was decreased for a nonaromatic substrate, suggesting that π-π interactions between RT and an aromatic structure may be facilitated by these mutations.