Download MendeleyPotent targeted activator of cell kill molecules eliminate cells expressing HIV-1.
Balibar, C.J., Klein, D.J., Zamlynny, B., Diamond, T.L., Fang, Z., Cheney, C.A., Kristoff, J., Lu, M., Bukhtiyarova, M., Ou, Y., Xu, M., Ba, L., Carroll, S.S., El Marrouni, A., Fay, J.F., Forster, A., Goh, S.L., Gu, M., Krosky, D., Rosenbloom, D.I.S., Sheth, P., Wang, D., Wu, G., Zebisch, M., Zhao, T., Zuck, P., Grobler, J., Hazuda, D.J., Howell, B.J., Converso, A.(2023) Sci Transl Med 15: eabn2038-eabn2038
- PubMed: 36812345
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1126/scitranslmed.abn2038
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:
7SLR, 7SLS - PubMed Abstract:
Antiretroviral therapy inhibits HIV-1 replication but is not curative due to establishment of a persistent reservoir after virus integration into the host genome. Reservoir reduction is therefore an important HIV-1 cure strategy. Some HIV-1 nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors induce HIV-1 selective cytotoxicity in vitro but require concentrations far exceeding approved dosages. Focusing on this secondary activity, we found bifunctional compounds with HIV-1-infected cell kill potency at clinically achievable concentrations. These targeted activator of cell kill (TACK) molecules bind the reverse transcriptase-p66 domain of monomeric Gag-Pol and act as allosteric modulators to accelerate dimerization, resulting in HIV-1 + cell death through premature intracellular viral protease activation. TACK molecules retain potent antiviral activity and selectively eliminate infected CD4 + T cells isolated from people living with HIV-1, supporting an immune-independent clearance strategy.
Organizational Affiliation:
Infectious Disease and Vaccines, Merck & Co. Inc., Rahway, NJ 07065, USA.
