title: HIV-1 drug discovery: targeting folded RNA structures with branched peptides.
abstract: Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is an RNA virus that is prone to high rates of mutation. While the disease is managed with current antiretroviral therapies, drugs with a new mode of action are needed. A strategy towards this goal is aimed at targeting the native three-dimensional fold of conserved RNA structures. This perspective highlights medium-sized peptides and peptidomimetics used to target two conserved RNA structures of HIV-1. In particular, branched peptides have the capacity to bind in a multivalent fashion, utilizing a large surface area to achieve the necessary affinity and selectivity toward the target RNA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Virginia Tech Center for Drug Discovery, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, USA. santosw@vt.edu.
authors.forename: Jessica E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Wynn
authors.forename: Webster L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Santos
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001483:Base Sequence; D055808:Drug Discovery; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D019151:Peptide Library; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D019151:Peptide Library; D010455:Peptides; D012367:RNA, Viral