Comparative studies of the inhibitory properties of antibiotics on human immunodeficiency virus and avian myeloblastosis virus reverse transcriptases and cellular DNA polymerases.

The inhibition of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) reverse transcriptase by certain antibiotics and related compounds was studied in comparison with that of avian myeloblastosis virus (AMV) reverse transcriptase and cellular DNA polymerases alpha and beta. In general, compounds that inhibited HIV reverse transcriptase also inhibited AMV reverse transcriptase. For example, 10 micrograms/ml of the isoquinoline quinones used in this study inhibited approximately 80% of the activity of reverse transcriptases of HIV and AMV, but did not inhibit the activity of DNA polymerases alpha and beta even at 50 micrograms/ml. AMV enzyme was more sensitive than HIV enzyme to colistin, enduracidins A and B, janiemycin, glysperin A, and thielavins A and B. The streptonigrin alkyl esters, however, inhibited HIV reverse transcriptase only. Sakyomicin A, luzopeptins, ellagic acid and suramine inhibited the activities of reverse transcriptases and cellular DNA polymerases.