The incorporation of nucleoside analogs by human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcriptase decreases in the presence of polyamines

Nucleoside analogs (NAs) are an important class of anti-retroviral compounds used against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). We have analyzed the potential effect of polyamines on the incorporation of NAs during DNA synthesis by HIV type-1 (HIV-1) reverse transcriptase (RT). The polyamines exert the ability to decrease the incorporation of various dideoxynucleoside triphosphates (ddATP, ddTTP or ddCTP) with both RNA/DNA and DNA/DNA substrates in the following order: spermine > spermidine > putrescine. The reduction is a sequence-independent effect, taking place at different sequence context. The results suggest that polyamines might affect the inhibition of reverse transcription by nucleoside analogs HIV-1 RT directed.