Development of a robust cell-based high-throughput screening assay to identify targets of HIV-1 viral protein R dimerization

• Main Authors: Zych C, Domling A, Ayyavoo V
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dove Medical Press 2013-05-01
• Series: Drug Design, Development and Therapy
• Online Access: http://www.dovepress.com/development-of-a-robust-cell-based-high-throughput-screening-assay-to--a13132

Courtney Zych,1 Alexander Domling,2 Velpandi Ayyavoo11Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; 2Department of Pharmacology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USAAbstract: Targeting protein–protein interactions (PPI) is an emerging field in drug discovery. Dimerization and PPI are essential properties of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 proteins, their mediated functions, and virus biology. Additionally, dimerization is required for the functional interaction of HIV-1 proteins with many host cellular components. In this study, a bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC)-based screening assay was developed that can quantify changes in dimerization, using HIV-1 viral protein R (Vpr) dimerization as a "proof of concept." Results demonstrated that Venus Vpr (generated by BiFC Vpr constructs) could be competed off in a dose-dependent manner using untagged, full-length Vpr as a competitor molecule. The change in signal intensity was measured quantitatively through flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy in a high content screening assay. High content imaging was used to screen a library of small molecules for an effect on Vpr dimerization. Among the tested molecules, a few of the small molecules demonstrate an effect on Vpr dimerization in a dose-dependent manner.Keywords: BiFC, protein–protein interaction, HIV-1 Vpr, dimerization, drug targets