Viral Infectivity Factor: A Novel Therapeutic Strategy to Block HIV-1 Replication

The HIV-1 viral infectivity factor (Vif), one of the six accessory proteins, is essential for viral replication and pathogenesis. Its main function is to form Vif-Cullin5-ElonginBC complex and then is able to ubiquitinate and degrade the human anti-viral factor APOBEC3G, which markedly enhances the virus infectivity. Delete Vif leads to the loss of the infectivity of HIV-1; therefore, Vif is a potentially new attractive target for therapeutic intervention in AIDS. This review describes the structure, function and especially inhibitors of HIV-1 Vif.