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 Vp r protein with the mitochondrial inner membrane protein ANT (adenine nucleotid e translocator, also called adenine nucleotide translocase or ADP/ATP carrier) . Reagents and methods fo inducing and/or inhibiting the binding of Vpr to ANT , mitochondrial membrane permeabilization, and apoptosis are provided.