Identification of HIV-1 vpr product and function.
To investigate the role of vpr (viral protein R) in the replication and cytopathicity of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), infectious proviruses were constructed that were isogenic except for the ability to produce the protein product of vpr. The experiments described here demonstrate that vpr encodes a 96 amino acid 15 kDa protein. The vpr product increases the rate of replication and accelerates the cytopathic effect of the virus in T cells. Vpr acts in trans to increase levels of viral protein expression. The stimulatory effect of vpr is observed to act on the HIV-1 LTR as well as on several heterologous promoters.
Cohen
E A
EA
Department of Human Retrovirology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts 02115.
Terwilliger
E F
EF
Jalinoos
Y
Y
Proulx
J
J
Sodroski
J G
JG
Haseltine
W A
WA
D003588:Cytopathogenic Effect, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D016336:Gene Products, vpr; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology*; D011533:Proviruses / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D012191:Retroviridae Proteins / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000502:physiology; D054334:Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000235:genetics; D054325:vpr Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
D016336:Gene Products, vpr; D012191:Retroviridae Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D054334:Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins; D054325:vpr Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus