Title:Viral Infectivity Factor: A Novel Therapeutic Strategy to Block HIV-1 Replication
VOLUME: 13 ISSUE: 7
Author(s):Guliang Yang and Xujie Xiong
Affiliation:Hubei Key Laboratory of Economic Forest Germplasm Improvement and Resources Comprehensive Utilization, College of Chemistry and Life Science, Huanggang Normal University, No. 146, Xingang 2 Road, Huanggang 438000, Hubei, P.R. China.
Keywords:HIV-1, accessory proteins, Vif, structure, function, inhibitors.
Abstract:The HIV-1 viral infectivity factor (Vif), one of the six accessory proteins, is essential for viral replication and
pathogenesis. Its main function is to form Vif-Cullin5-ElonginBC complex and then is able to ubiquitinate and degrade
the human anti-viral factor APOBEC3G, which markedly enhances the virus infectivity. Delete Vif leads to the loss of the
infectivity of HIV-1; therefore, Vif is a potentially new attractive target for therapeutic intervention in AIDS. This review
describes the structure, function and especially inhibitors of HIV-1 Vif.
