Structural Basis for Importin-α Binding of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus Tat.

ABSTRACT: HIV-1 has caused 35 million deaths globally, and approximately the same number is currently living with HIV-1. The trans-activator of transcription (Tat) protein of HIV-1 plays an important regulatory function in the virus life cycle, responsible for regulating the reverse transcription of the viral genome RNA. Tat is found in the nucleus of infected cells, but can also invade uninfected neighbouring cells. Regions within Tat responsible for these cellular localisations are overlapping and include a nuclear localisation signal (NLS) spanning ⁴⁸GRKKRR, and a cell penetrating peptide (CPP) signal spanning ⁴⁸GRKKRRQRRRAPQN. However, the mechanism by which this NLS/CPP region mediates interaction with the nuclear import receptors remains to be resolved structurally. Here,

SUBMITTER: Smith KM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5431807 | biostudies-literature | 2017 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature