title: The highly specific carbohydrate-binding protein cyanovirin-N: structure, anti-HIV/Ebola activity and possibilities for therapy.
abstract: Cyanovirin-N (CV-N), a cyanobacterial lectin, is a potent viral entry inhibitor currently under development as a microbicide against a broad spectrum of enveloped viruses. CV-N was originally identified as a highly active anti-HIV agent and later, as a virucidal agent against other unrelated enveloped viruses such as Ebola, and possibly other viruses. CV-N's antiviral activity appears to involve unique recognition of N-linked high-mannose oligosaccharides, Man-8 and Man-9, on the viral surface glycoproteins. Due to its distinct mode of action and opportunities for harnessing the associated interaction for therapeutic intervention, a substantial body of research on CV-N has accumulated since its discovery in 1997. In this review we focus in particular on structural studies on CV-N and their relationship to biological activity.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Chemical Physics, NIDDK, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. lbarrientos1@cdc.gov
authors.forename: Laura G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Barrientos
authors.forename: Angela M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Gronenborn
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000472:pathogenicity; D019142:Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; C107733:cyanovirin N