The binding of the anti-HIV agent cosalane to CD4 is thought to involve ion
ic interactions of negatively charged carboxylates of the ligand with posit
ively charged residues on the surface of the protein. The purpose of the pr
esent study was to examine the hypothesis that the two carboxyl groups of c
osalane could be sacrificed through conjugation to amino acids, and the ant
i-HIV activity still be retained, provided that at least two new carboxyl g
roups are contributed by the amino acid residues. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science
Ltd. All rights reserved.