Production of infectious virus and degradation of APOBEC3G are separable functional properties of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Vif.

ABSTRACT: HIV-1 Vif regulates viral infectivity by inhibiting the encapsidation of APOBEC3G (APO3G) through proteasomal degradation of the protein. Here we compared various Vif proteins for their ability to induce APO3G degradation and rescue viral infectivity. We found that Vif expressed from proviral vectors caused relatively inefficient degradation of APO3G in HeLa cells yet was very effective in inhibiting APO3G's antiviral activity. On the other hand, Vif expressed autonomously from a codon-optimized vector caused very efficient APO3G degradation and also effectively inhibited APO3G's antiviral effects. In contrast, a Vif chimera containing an N-terminal fluorescent tag efficiently induced APO3G degradation but was unable to restore viral infectivity. The lack of a direct correlation between AP

SUBMITTER: Kao S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2129170 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature