Structural studies of biomolecules related to cancer and HIV-AIDS

Division Of Basic Sciences - Nci

Investigators

Abstract

We have determined a new cryo-EM structure of the complex formed by APOBEC3H (A3H) and HIV-1 Vif protein, revealing atomic-level interactions between A3H and Vif, between Vif and Vif, as well as between Vif and RNA. Our structure of the A3H-Vif ubiquitin E3 ligase complex suggests that this holoenzyme is optimized for efficient ubiquitin transfer from the E2-conjugated ubiquitin to the target lysine. Additionally, we have developed DNA-oligonucleotide-based inhibitors targeting APOBEC3A, which will be utilized to study the role of APOBEC3A in cancer development.