Mechanism of mitochondrial membrane permeabilization by HIV-1 VPR, mimetics of VPR and methods of screening active molecules having the ability to alter and/or prevent and/or mimic the interaction of VPR with ANT

摘要

The invention is directed to the induction of mitochondrial membrane permeabilization via the physical and functional interaction of the HIV-1 Vpr protein with the mitochondrial inner membrane protein ANT (adenine nucleotide translocator, also called adenine nucleotide translocase or ADP/ATP carrier). Reagents and methods for inducing and/or inhibiting the binding of Vpr to ANT, mitochondrial membrane permeabilization, and apoptosis are provided.