Phosphorodithioate DNA as a potential therapeutic drug.

This article summarizes methods for the synthesis of phosphorodithioate-linked deoxyoligonucleotides and details an analysis of one of the distinctive properties of phosphorodithioate DNA oligomers, their ability to strongly inhibit human immunodeficiency virus type-1 reverse transcriptase (HIV-1 RT). Mechanistic studies indicate that oligomers of this type interfere with enzyme function by binding tightly to the active site for primer-template, which results in low or subnanomolar inhibitory constants. Although many of these studies have used deoxyoligocytidine analogs, a rationally designed approach has led to the discovery of a very active phosphorodithioate deoxyoligonucleotide inhibitor. This type of inhibitor, which binds strongly to the primer-template active site of HIV-1 RT, provides another type of potential therapeutic agent against HIV-1.