title: Betulinic acid derivatives as HIV-1 antivirals.
abstract: Betulinic acid (BA) derivatives are low molecular weight organic compounds synthesized from a plant-derived natural product. Several BA derivatives are potent and highly selective inhibitors of HIV-1. Depending on the specific side-chain modification, these compounds function by inhibiting HIV fusion or, as recently demonstrated, by interfering with a specific step in HIV-1 maturation. BA derivatives have potential as novel HIV-1 therapies, and additional studies of their mechanisms of action are likely to further define the novel targets of these compounds and elucidate the basic biology of HIV-1 fusion and maturation. In this review, recent studies of the novel mechanisms of action of this interesting class of antiviral compounds are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232, USA. chris.aiken@vanderbilt.edu
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Aiken
authors.forename: Chin Ho
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D053978:Pentacyclic Triterpenes; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects; D000094062:Betulinic Acid
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D053978:Pentacyclic Triterpenes; D014315:Triterpenes; D000094062:Betulinic Acid