ASSAYS AND NOVEL CELLULAR TARGETS FOR THERAPEUTIC AGENTS TO TREAT RETROVIRAL INFECTION

摘要

Assays and test kits for identifying compounds that can interfere with early steps of the retroviral life cycle in a host cell are provided. Assays and test kits for identifying novel cellular enzymes needed to complete integration of retroviral DNA into cellular DNA are also provided. These assays are based on the discovery that cellular enzymes are needed to complete the repair steps of retroviral integration, and lack of such enzyme(s) causes cell death upon infection with a retrovirus. One required enzyme is a DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK). Methods for interfering with the retroviral life cycle in an infected host cell are also provided, which involve inhibiting DNA-PK or any other enzyme needed to complete the repair step of retroviral integration.