FIG 2.

Soraphen A does not impair virion maturation but affects binding to CD4 and membrane fusion to target cells. (A to D) ACH2 cells were activated with vorinostat (VOR) and treated with SorA 10 μM, lopinavir (LPN) 10 μM or DMSO (mock). Cells were fixed and processed for transmission electron microscopy (TEM) 48 h after infection. TEM pictures were taken of untreated ACH2 cells (A) and those treated with Vor+DMSO (B), Vor+SorA (C), and Vor+LPN (D). (E) The numbers of mature, immature, and unclassified viral particles are shown. (F) Normalized CD4 binding is represented (n = 2). Mock-treated activated ACH2 cells and nonactivated ACH2 cells were used as controls. (G) HIV pseudoparticles containing a Vpr-BlaM fusion protein were produced from transfected 293T cells in the presence of SorA 10 μM, LPN 10 μM, or DMSO (mock) and used to infect Jurkat cells by spinoculation. Normalized HIV fusion values are shown (n = 5; *, P < 0.05; **, P < 0.01). (H) Levels of p24 and gp120 relative to DMSO control (set to 1) are shown. The dotted line highlights the half relative level. Single concentrations of compounds were chosen based on inhibitory extent and lack of toxicity.