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Updated: May 18, 2026

Assessment of Immunologically Relevant Dynamic Tertiary Structural Features of the HIV-1 V3 Loop Crown R2 Sequence by ab initio Folding
Published on: September 15, 2010
The APOBEC3C crystal structure and the interface for HIV-1 Vif binding
Shingo Kitamura1, Hirotaka Ode, Masaaki Nakashima
1Clinical Research Center, Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, National Hospital Organization Nagoya Medical Center, Nagoya, Japan.
Human APOBEC3C proteins fight HIV-1, but HIV-1 Vif protein degrades them. Researchers determined the APOBEC3C structure, revealing its Vif-binding site, crucial for understanding HIV-1 interactions.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Virology
- Structural Biology
Background:
- APOBEC3 (A3) proteins are cellular enzymes that restrict retroviral replication.
- HIV-1 Vif protein antagonizes A3 proteins via proteasomal degradation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the high-resolution crystal structure of APOBEC3C.
- To identify the Vif-interaction interface on APOBEC3C.
Main Methods:
- X-ray crystallography
- Structure-guided mutagenesis
Main Results:
- The crystal structure of APOBEC3C was solved.
- A Vif-interaction interface was identified, involving a shallow cavity between α2 and α3 helices.
- This interface is distinct from the DPD motif interaction site in APOBEC3G.
Conclusions:
- The findings elucidate the structural basis of Vif-APOBEC3C interaction.
- This knowledge may facilitate the development of novel anti-HIV-1 therapeutics.
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