The main transcriptional regulator of the human immunodeficiency virus, the Tat protein, recognizes and binds to a small structured RNA element at the 5' end of every viral mRNA, termed TAR. On the basis of published structural data of the molecular interactions between TAR and Tat-related peptides, we defined requirements for potential low-molecular weight inhibitors of TAR recognition by the Tat protein. In accordance with the resulting concept, a series of compounds was synthesized. In vitro evaluation of their potential to directly interfere with Tat-TAR interaction was used to define a new chemical class of potent Tat antagonistic substances. The most active compound competed with Tat-TAR complexation with a competition dose CD50 of 22 nM in vitro and blocked HIV expression in a cellular Tat transactivation system with an IC50 of 1.2 microM. The close relation between structural features of the interaction between TAR and a new type of inhibitory agent, "In-PRiNts" (for inhibitor of protein-ribonucleotide sequences), such as CGP 40336A and those of the Tat-TAR complex was confirmed by RNase A footprinting and by two-dimensional NMR. Structural implications for the complex between this class of compounds and TAR RNA will be presented.