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Updated: Aug 5, 2026
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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
Structural Basis of Intermolecular Interactions Between APOBEC3 and HIV-1 Vif
Hirotaka Ode1, Yasumasa Iwatani2
1Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Clinical Research Center, NHO Nagoya Medical Center, Nagoya 460-0001, Aichi, Japan.
Viruses
|July 28, 2026
Summary
The APOBEC3 (A3) family fights viruses, but HIV-1
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Molecular Biology
- Immunology
Background:
- The APOBEC3 (A3) protein family provides intrinsic cellular defense against retroviral infections, including HIV-1.
- HIV-1 counters this defense using its viral infectivity factor (Vif) protein, which targets A3 proteins for degradation.
- Understanding the A3-Vif interaction is crucial for combating viral replication.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the structural basis of interactions between human APOBEC3 proteins and HIV-1 Vif.
- To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the Vif-A3 antagonism.
- To provide insights for potential therapeutic strategies targeting these interactions.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing biological and structural studies, including mutagenesis and cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM).
- Analysis of Vif-binding interfaces on A3 proteins (A3G, A3F, A3H).
- Examination of Vif's multiple binding sites for different A3 proteins.
Main Results:
- Identification of three distinct Vif-binding interfaces on human A3 proteins.
- Characterization of three largely non-overlapping interfaces on Vif for A3 binding.
- Cryo-EM studies reveal detailed intermolecular interactions and a potential mechanism for Vif recognizing multiple A3s.
Conclusions:
- The structural interplay between A3 proteins and Vif is complex, involving specific binding interfaces.
- Vif's ability to bind and neutralize multiple A3 proteins is structurally defined.
- Knowledge of these structural interactions may guide the development of novel antiviral drugs.
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