Viral infectivity factor
![Ribbon representation of Crystal Structure of the HIV Vif BC-box in Complex with Human ElonginB and ElonginC[1]](/uploads/202502/19/Crystal_Structure_of_the_HIV_Vif_BC-box_in_Complex_with_Human_ElonginB_and_ElonginC0442.png)
Viral infectivity factor, or Vif, is a protein found in HIV and other retroviruses. Its role is to disrupt the antiviral activity of the human enzyme APOBEC (See also APOBEC3G) by targeting it for ubiquitination and cellular degradation. APOBEC is a cytidine deaminase enzyme that mutates viral nucleic acids.