LEDGF/p75: a novel target for anti-HIV therapy and advances in the study of its related inhibitors

LEDGF/p75 is a newly found cell cofactor, which plays an essential role in the integration     of HIV-1 cDNA into host chromosomes.  LEDGF/p75 tethers HIV integrase to chromatin, protects it from  degradation, and strongly influences the genome-wide pattern of HIV integration.  Depleting the protein from cells or over-expressing the integrase-binding domain of LEDGF/p75 blocks viral replication.  The essential role of LEDGF/p75 in HIV-1 replication makes it a new target for anti-HIV-1 drug development.  This article reviews the function of LEDGF/p75, LEDGF/p75-integrase interaction and LEDGF/p75 inhibitors.