Researchers detail HIV-1 Structure, โขPaving Way for Novel Antiviral Therapies
Valencia, Spain – Scientists atโ the Catholic University of Valencia (UCV)’s Structural and Computational Biochemistry Laboratory have published groundbreaking research in the Journal โคof Molecularโค Biology detailing theโ three-dimensional structure and recognition mechanism of the Rev Response Element (RRE) of HIV-1, a critical component in the virus’s replication process. The findings offer a potential newโ target for โantiviral drug progress.
HIV-1, the virus causing โคAIDS, remains a leading cause of mortality globally, despiteโข advancements in treatment. Current โฃtherapies are not โcurative, and an effective vaccineโข remains โคelusive. The UCV team, led by researcher Josรฉโฃ Gallego, focused on the RRE, a complexโค RNA structure essential โfor โtransporting viral genetic โขmaterial from the cell nucleus to the cytoplasm.
“The RRE or โคits complexโค with Rev are โnot being addressed โขby any of the currently marketed antiretroviral agents,” โexplainedโฃ Gallego.
The โฃresearch, conducted by UCV researchers Matthew P. Shoemaker, saurabh Loharch, Sergio Lรณpez-Nรบรฑez, and Gallego, utilized mutagenesis, fluorescence, and molecularโฃ modeling to map the RRE’s structure โand its interaction with the Rev protein. This โdetailed understanding “opens the doorโฃ to the โขdesign ofโข newโ inhibitors capable of interfering with said union,โ thus blocking a critical โstep in the replication of the โpathogen,”โ Gallego stated.
Future research will focus on the conformational dynamicsโ of โขthe RRE using โฃsingle-molecule FRET experiments, alongside investigations into allosteric inhibitors identified through chemicalโฃ fingerprintingโ and molecular modeling. The team also plans to optimize promising compounds throughโ chemical synthesis and cellular studies.
“with this multidisciplinary strategy we hope to shed light on theโ functional dynamicsโฃ of the RRE and identify leading compounds with an innovative mechanism of action, which could contribute to opening new avenues towardsโข the cure of AIDS,”โข Gallego concluded.
