Gag Protein Oriented Supramolecular Nets as Potential HIV Traps

Bioconjug Chem. 2021 Jan 20;32(1):106-110. doi: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.0c00706. Epub 2021 Jan 6.

Abstract

For HIV/AIDS treatment, the cocktail therapy which uses a combination of anti-retroviral drugs remains the most widely accepted practice. However, the potential drug toxicity, patient tolerability, and emerging drug resistance have limited its long-term efficiency. Here, we design a HIV Gag protein-targeting redox supramolecular assembly (ROSA) system for potential HIV inhibition. An assembling precursor was constructed through conjugation of an oxidation-activatable fluorogenic compound BQA with a selected tetrapeptide GGFF. Since BQA shares a similar structure with the known Gag inhibitor, the precursor could bind to HIV Gag protein with moderate affinity. Moreover, after oxidation, the corresponding nanofibers could bind to Gag protein and trap HIV to realize virus control, thus providing a potential anti-HIV strategy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anti-HIV Agents / pharmacology
  • Cell Line
  • HIV-1 / drug effects
  • HIV-1 / metabolism*
  • HIV-1 / physiology
  • Humans
  • Hydrogels / chemistry
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Virus Replication / drug effects
  • gag Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus / metabolism*

Substances

  • Anti-HIV Agents
  • Hydrogels
  • gag Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus