From APOBEC to ZAP: Diverse mechanisms used by cellular restriction factors to inhibit virus infections.

ABSTRACT: Antiviral restriction factors are cellular proteins that inhibit the entry, replication, or spread of viruses. These proteins are critical components of the innate immune system and function to limit the severity and host range of virus infections. Here we review the current knowledge on the mechanisms of action of several restriction factors that affect multiple viruses at distinct stages of their life cycles. For example, APOBEC3G deaminates cytosines to hypermutate reverse transcribed viral DNA; IFITM3 alters membranes to inhibit virus membrane fusion; MXA/B oligomerize on viral protein complexes to inhibit virus replication; SAMHD1 decreases dNTP intracellular concentrations to prevent reverse transcription of retrovirus genomes; tetherin prevents release of budding virions from cells;

SUBMITTER: Chemudupati M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6334645 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature