1. Academic Validation
  2. Small-molecule inhibition of HIV-1 Vif

Small-molecule inhibition of HIV-1 Vif

  • Nat Biotechnol. 2008 Oct;26(10):1187-92. doi: 10.1038/nbt.1496.
Robin Nathans 1 Hong Cao Natalia Sharova Akbar Ali Mark Sharkey Ruzena Stranska Mario Stevenson Tariq M Rana
Affiliations

Affiliation

  • 1 Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01605, USA.
Abstract

The HIV-1 protein Vif, essential for in vivo viral replication, targets the human DNA-editing Enzyme, APOBEC3G (A3G), which inhibits replication of retroviruses and hepatitis B virus. As Vif has no known cellular homologs, it is an attractive, yet unrealized, target for Antiviral intervention. Although zinc chelation inhibits Vif and enhances viral sensitivity to A3G, this effect is unrelated to the interaction of Vif with A3G. We identify a small molecule, RN-18, that antagonizes Vif function and inhibits HIV-1 replication only in the presence of A3G. RN-18 increases cellular A3G levels in a Vif-dependent manner and increases A3G incorporation into virions without inhibiting general proteasome-mediated protein degradation. RN-18 enhances Vif degradation only in the presence of A3G, reduces viral infectivity by increasing A3G incorporation into virions and enhances cytidine deamination of the viral genome. These results demonstrate that the HIV-1 Vif-A3G axis is a valid target for developing small molecule-based new therapies for HIV Infection or for enhancing innate immunity against viruses.

Figures
Products
  • Cat. No.
    Product Name
    Description
    Target
    Research Area
  • HY-102014
    98.75%, HIV-1 Vif抑制剂
    HIV