Design of β‐Hairpin Peptidomimetics That Inhibit Binding of α‐Helical HIV‐1 Rev Protein to the Rev Response Element RNA

Bound to please: Binding of the Rev protein to HIV-1 RRE RNA is essential for virus replication. A strategy for the discovery of Rev-RRE inhibitors, based on the use of protein epitope mimetics, is described. Template-bound β-hairpin peptidomimetics (see picture, orange) are designed that mimic the Rev helical epitope (green). The mimetics bind with high affinity and selectivity to the target RNA, and have potential for development into novel anti-viral drugs.