ASK1 restores the antiviral activity of APOBEC3G by disrupting HIV-1 Vif-mediated counteraction

The human protein APOBEC3G (A3G) inhibits HIV-1 replication, but the viral protein Vif counteracts by inducing A3G degradation. Here Miyakawa et al. show that the antiretroviral drug AZT restores A3G function in vitro by stimulating expression of a host protein, ASK1, which interferes with the action of Vif.