Development of APOBEC3B inhibitors: Recent advances and perspectives.

The apolipoprotein B mRNA editing catalytic polypeptide-like 3B (A3B) is a member of the cytidine deaminase A3 family, which plays a crucial role in the viral immune process. As a cytosine deaminase, A3B is a major contributor to tumor-associated mutations. Numerous studies have shown that A3B is aberrantly expressed in a variety of tumor cells, which promotes tumor growth, migration, and drug resistance. Hence, A3B is deemed a promising candidate for potential therapeutic interventions against tumor resistance. Presently, although research on A3B inhibitors is still in its early stages, various selective inhibitors have already been reported. Notably, oligonucleotide and allosteric inhibitors have more desirable effects. In this Perspective, we encapsulate the structure, biological functions, and disease relevance of A3B. Subsequently, we summarize the literature covering various A3B inhibitors and discuss their design requirements and modes of action.