Apollon other research news

The Malvern, Penn., company has license to a discovery demonstrating the function of the HIV gene Vpr. As published by University of Pennsylvania researchers, the gene acts through a complex with an intracellular protein, named rip-1, which then activates the glucocorticoid receptor type II. The complex then enters the cell nucleus, altering cell metabolism and gene expression to render cells more susceptible to viral replication.

The receptor complex has known antagonists that block its entry into the nucleus, including RU-486, which opens a new strategy to stymie HIV infection, the researchers reported in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. ...