Targeting HIV-1 integrase with aptamers selected against the purified RNase H domain of HIV-1 RT

HIV-1 RNase H and integrase both belong to the phosphotransferase family and share structural similarities. An interesting result was obtained when the DNA aptamers initially raised against p15 RNase H were assayed against HIV-1 integrase. In contrast to RNase H, the HIV-1 integrase was inhibited by these aptamers. Our results point out that prototype structures can be exploited to develop inhibitors of two related enzymes.