Effects of APOBEC3G's Cytidine Deaminase Activity on Retroviral Evolution

Apolipoprotein B editing complex (APOBEC3/A3) genes are found in mammalian cells. In primates, there 7 APOBEC3 genes, namely, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3DE, 3F, 3G, and 3H. Previous research has shown that A3 proteins help to inhibit viral infection via their cytidine deaminase activity. However, it also been could lead evolution, where viruses such as HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) instead gain beneficial mutations enable them overcome the antiviral activity of proteins, resistance certain drugs used for treating infections escape recognition by immune system. This paper is a review article summarizing role A3G on potential impact evolution have treatment retroviral HIV.