Multimerization of HIV-1 vif protein as a therapeutic target
AssigneeThomas Jafferson University
InventorsHui Zhang, Roger J. Pomerantz, Bin Yang
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Abstract
The HIV-1 protein Vif comprises a multimerization domain that allows Vif-Vif interaction and Vif multimerization, which is important for Vif function in the HIV-1 life-cycle. A method for screening for an antagonist of Vif comprises contacting the multimerization domain of Vif with a test compound that specifically binds the multimerization domain. Antagonists identified by the screening assay inhibit Vif multimerization. The antagonists inhibit essential functions of Vif and accordingly are useful as inhibitors of HIV-1 replication.
Claims17
A method of identifying a Vif protein antagonist that specifically binds to a multimerization domain of a Vif protein and inhibits Vif protein multimerization, comprising.
- a) contacting a Vif protein or fragment thereof comprising a multimerization domain with a test molecule under conditions conducive to binding between the multimerization domain and said test molecule;
- and
- b) determining whether the test molecule specifically binds to the multimerization domain within said Vif protein and inhibits said Vif protein multimerization,
- wherein the multimerization domain comprises the amino acid sequence Pro-Pro-Leu-Pro (SEQ ID NO:
- 25).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.