Nuclear localization signal of lentiviral integrase and method of use thereof

Abstract

The present invention provides novel peptides, nucleic acids, vectors, compounds, compositions and methods for regulating nuclear import The present invention also relates to a lentiviral NLS, and methods of use thereof for inhibiting HIV pathogenesis and disease progression, and for gene delivery methods

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 02399, filed Dec. 29, 2004 and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 532,563, filed Dec. 29, 2003, both of which are hereby incorporated herein in their entireties.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]This invention provides compounds and methods for modulating nuclear import. The present invention provides HIV-1 integrase-derived molecules that stimulate, accelerate, inhibit or abrogate nuclear import. The present invention also provides a peptide comprising a C-terminal Nuclear Localization Signal sequence of an HIV-1 integrase protein, or a fragment thereof, functioning in modulating nuclear import and methods utilizing same.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]After fusion and entry, the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV-1) must navigate its genome through the cytosol and into the nucleus of its target cells, where integration into the host's c...

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Benefits of technology

[0022]In another embodiment, this invention provides a method of targeted cell death, comprising contacting a cell with a viral particle comprising a nucleic acid encoding a lentiviral nuclear localization signal, fused in frame to a nucleic acid encoding for a cytotoxic protein and a targeting moiety expressed on said viral particle surface wherein said targeting moiety directs said viral particle to a cell of interest, whereby said nucleic acid is expressed in the cytoplasm of said cell of interest, and following nuclear import of said lentiviral nuclear localization signal to said cytotoxic protein cell death is stimulated, thereby accomplishing targeted cell death.

[0024]In another embodiment, this invention provides a method of inhibiting or abrogating HIV pathogenesis or disease progression, comprising contacting an HIV infected cell with a vector or viral particle comprising at least one copy of a nucleic acid encoding an integrase wherein said integrase comprises a mutated lentiviral nuclear localization signal, whereby said mutated integrase competes for the HIV integrase present in said infected cell, preventing proviral nuclear entry, thereby inhibiting or abrogating HIV pathogenesis or disease progression.

[0025]In another embodiment, this invention provides a method of inhibiting or abrogating HIV latency, comprising contacting an HIV infected cell with a vector or viral particle comprising at least one copy of a nucleic acid encoding an integrase wherein said integrase comprises a mutated lentiviral nuclear localization signal, whereby said mutated integrase competes for the HIV integrase present in said infected cell, thereby inhibiting or abrogating HIV latency.

[0027]In another embodiment, this invention provides a method of inhibiting or abrogating HIV latency, comprising contacting an HIV infected cell with an inhibitor of a lentiviral nuclear localization signal, whereby said inhibitor prevents nuclear entry of HIV integrase or derivatives thereof or of the HIV provirus, thereby inhibiting or abrogating HIV latency.

[0028]In another embodiment, this invention provides a method of inhibiting or abrogating HIV pathogenesis or disease progression, comprising contacting an HIV infected cell with an nucleic acid sequence complementary to a lentiviral nuclear localization signal, or a fiagment thereof, whereby said nucleic acid sequence inhibits expression or promotes degradation of an HIV integrase nuclear localization signal, preventing nuclear entry of HIV provirus, thereby inhibiting or abrogating HIV pathogenesis or disease progression.

[0029]In another embodiment, this invention provides a method of inhibiting or abrogating HIV latency, comprising contacting an HIV infected cell with a nucleic acid sequence complementary to a lentiviral nuclear localization signal, or a fragment thereof, whereby said nucleic acid sequence inhibits expression or promotes degradation of an HIV integrase nuclear localization signal, preventing nuclear entry of HIV integrase or derivatives thereof or of the HIV provirus, thereby inhibiting or abrogating HIV latency.

Problems solved by technology

Nevertheless, assignment and definition of the relative importance of each remains controversial.

Again, the interpretation of these results has been challenged and / or reassessed.

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