Synthesis of the biotinylated anti-HIV compound BMMP and the target identification study

Abstract BMMP [2-(benzothiazol-2-ylmethylthio)-4-methylpyrimidine], an inhibitor of HIV-1 replication, was linked to biotin to study the interaction with the presumed target, HIV-1 Pr55 Gag or CA, by means of surface plasmon resonance. The synthesized Biotin–BMMP inhibited HIV-1 replication to a similar extent as BMMP alone, but did not interact with Pr55 Gag or CA, suggesting that BMMP exerts its activity by a different mechanism.