Blocking of CD4 cell receptors for the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV‐1) by chemically modified bovine milk proteins: Potential for AIDS prophylaxis

Abstract

The chemical transformation of synthetic combinatorial libraries to increase the diversity of compounds of medicinal interest was reported recently. Chemical modification of natural products represents a complementary approach to accomplish this aim. Modification of lysines by aromatic acid anhydrides, preferentially by 3-hydroxyphthalic and trimellitic anhydrides and trimellitic anhydride chloride, converted commonly available proteins (human and bovine serum albumin and casein) into potent inhibitors of (i) binding between the HIV-1 gp120 envelope glycoprotein and the CD4 cell receptor, probably owing to their binding to CD4, and (ii) infection by HIV-1. Modified bovind milk proteins are also potent HIV-1 inhibitors and may have protential for anti-Hiv-1 prophylaxis.