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pubmed:abstractText |
Viral protein R (Vpr), one of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) accessory proteins, contributes to multiple cytopathic effects, G2 cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. The mechanisms of Vpr have been intensely studied because it is believed that they underlie HIV-1 pathogenesis. We here report a cell-based small molecule screen on Vpr induced cell death in the context of HIV-1 infection. From the screen of 504 bioactive compounds, we identified damnacanthal (Dam), a component of noni [corrected] as an inhibitor of Vpr induced cell death. Our studies illustrate a novel efficient platform for drug discovery and development in anti-HIV therapy which should also be applicable to other viruses.
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pubmed:affiliation |
Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA. masa3k@ucla.edu
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