Uracil DNA glycosylase is dispensable for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 replication and does not contribute to the antiviral effects of the cytidine deaminase Apobec3G.

ABSTRACT: It is well established that many host factors are involved in the replication of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1. One host protein, uracil DNA glycosylase 2 (UNG2), binds to multiple viral proteins and is packaged into HIV type 1 virions. UNG initiates the removal of uracils from DNA, and this has been proposed to be important both for reverse transcription and as a mediator to the antiviral effect of virion-incorporated Apobec3G, a cytidine deaminase that generates numerous uracils in the viral DNA during virus replication. We used a natural human UNG-/- cell line as well as cells that express a potent catalytic active-site inhibitor of UNG to assess the effects of removing UNG activity on HIV infectivity. In both cases, we find UNG2 activity and protein to be completely dispens

SUBMITTER: Kaiser SM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1346881 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature