Selection and identification of an RNA aptamer that specifically binds the HIV-1 capsid lattice and inhibits viral replication.

ABSTRACT: The HIV-1 capsid core participates in several replication processes. The mature capsid core is a lattice composed of capsid (CA) monomers thought to assemble first into CA dimers, then into ∼250 CA hexamers and 12 CA pentamers. CA assembly requires conformational flexibility of each unit, resulting in the presence of unique, solvent-accessible surfaces. Significant advances have improved our understanding of the roles of the capsid core in replication; however, the contributions of individual CA assembly forms remain unclear and there are limited tools available to evaluate these forms in vivo. Here, we have selected aptamers that bind CA lattice tubes. We describe aptamer CA15-2, which selectively binds CA lattice, but not CA monomer or CA hexamer, suggesting that it targets an interface

SUBMITTER: Gruenke PR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8860611 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature