Design and Characterization of Inhibitors of Cell-Mediated Degradation of APOBEC3G That Decrease HIV-1 Infectivity

The cytoplasmic human Apolipoprotein B mRNA-editing enzyme catalytic polypeptide-like 3 (APOBEC3 or A3) cytidine deaminases G and F (A3G and A3F) can block the spread of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). HIV counteracts this cell-intrinsic defense through a viral protein called viral infectivity factor (Vif). Vif causes proteasomal degradation of A3G and A3F proteins (A3G/F) in HIV-producing cells to ensure infectivity of virions subsequently released from these cells. Here, we optimized a lead compound reported previously to boost cellular levels of A3G. The modified analogs designed, synthesized, and evaluated here inhibit cell-mediated post-translational degradation of A3G/F, whether Vif is present or not. This increases A3G/F incorporation into Vif-positive virions to decrease viral infectivity. The compounds and processes described here can facilitate the development of new anti-HIV therapeutics whose host-targeted effect may not be evaded by resistance-conferring mutations in HIV Vif.