Lentiviral Vif degrades the APOBEC3Z3/APOBEC3H protein of its mammalian host and is capable of cross-species activity.

ABSTRACT: All lentiviruses except equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) use the small accessory protein Vif to counteract the restriction activity of the relevant APOBEC3 (A3) proteins of their host species. Prior studies have suggested that the Vif-A3 interaction is species specific. Here, using the APOBEC3H (Z3)-type proteins from five distinct mammals, we report that this is generally not the case: some lentiviral Vif proteins are capable of triggering the degradation of both the A3Z3-type protein of their normal host species and those of several other mammals. For instance, SIV(mac) Vif can mediate the degradation of the human, macaque, and cow A3Z3-type proteins but not of the sheep or cat A3Z3-type proteins. Maedi-visna virus (MVV) Vif is similarly promiscuous, degrading not only sheep A3Z3 bu

SUBMITTER: Larue RS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2916508 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature