Human chromosome 12 encodes a species-specific factor which increases human immunodeficiency virus type 1 tat-mediated trans activation in rodent cells.
The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) tat protein functions at a much lower level in rodent cells than in human cells. This species-specific difference in trans activation appears to be due to the lack of a functional homolog of a human cofactor for tat in rodent cells. Using HIV-1 long terminal repeat-driven human growth hormone as a reporter plasmid, we found that the tat-mediated trans activation functions at a level 5- to 20-fold lower in rodent cells than in human cells. Stable rodent-human hybrid cells containing only human chromosome 12 support a dramatically higher degree of trans activation. Thus, human chromosome 12 encodes a species-specific HIV-1 tat cofactor which, at least partially, restores high levels of tat-mediated trans activation. Chromosome 6 also appears to provide an additional factor which enhances HIV-1 tat-mediated trans activation in murine cells.
Newstein
M
M
Division of Biology and Medicine, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912.
Stanbridge
E J
EJ
Casey
G
G
Shank
P R
PR
D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D002881:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 12; D002896:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 6; D015696:Gene Products, tat / Q000378:metabolism*; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000235:genetics; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D006822:Hybrid Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D010957:Plasmids; D013045:Species Specificity; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000378:metabolism*; D015533:Transcriptional Activation; D054322:tat Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
D015696:Gene Products, tat; D015534:Trans-Activators; D054322:tat Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus; D013006:Growth Hormone