Project Details
Description
Project summary
HIV-1 is made of proteins and RNA. The instructions to make all HIV proteins in proper amounts
are presented on mRNAs that are 5'-capped. The 5'-cap of HIV-1 mRNAs gains chemical
modifications that bolster HIV proliferation significantly. Preliminary revealed that ABX464, a new
generation of HIV drug that compromises replication of HIV clinical isolates without positive
selection for drug resistance, abrogated the modified cap in HIV mRNAs. The proposed
interdisciplinary investigation will characterize the molecular details regulating HIV-1 cap
hypermethylation using ABX464 as a novel molecular probe. ABX464 does not directly interact
with Rev nor interfere with Rev/RRE interaction, and has been proposed to inhibit Rev:CBC
interaction. The hypothesis is that Rev and RNA helicase A recognize structural elements in the
proviral RNA and together bind TGS1 for cap hypermethylation that licenses the mRNA to enter
translation pathways to make HIV-1 proteins in the right amounts. To address the hypothesis,
three aims are proposed that evaluate the role of cap hypermethylation in HIV proliferation and
systemic chronic immune activation, and characterize the molecular interactions for cap
epigenetic modification. Aim 1. What are the viral and host protein-interaction framework for 5'-
cap epigenetic modification and the subsequent balanced HIV proviral RNA expression? Aim 2.
Are the molecular interactions for cap epigenetic modification conserved in primary T cells,
monocyte-derived macrophages, and does the cap epigenetic modification affect host chronic
immune activation? Aim 3. What RNA structural elements and RNA:protein interaction are
necessary for the HIV cap epigenetic modification? The comparative studies with ABX464 are
expected to pave the way for the future development of novel antiviral therapies targeting
previously underestimated pathways.
Status | Active |
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Effective start/end date | 8/10/23 → 7/31/24 |
Funding
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases: $572,354.00
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