Amphibian transcription factor IIIA proteins contain a sequence element functionally equivalent to the nuclear export signal of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Rev.
The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Rev protein is required for nuclear export of late HIV-1 mRNAs. This function is dependent on the mutationally defined Rev activation domain, which also forms a potent nuclear export signal. Transcription factor IIIA (TFIIIA) binds to 5S rRNA transcripts and this interaction has been proposed to play a role in the efficient nuclear export of 5S rRNA in amphibian oocytes. Here it is reported that amphibian TFIIIA proteins contain a sequence element with homology to the Rev activation domain that effectively substitutes for this domain in inducing the nuclear export of late HIV-1 mRNAs. It is further demonstrated that this TFIIIA sequence element functions as a protein nuclear export signal in both human cells and frog oocytes. Thus, this shared protein motif may play an analogous role in mediating the nuclear export of both late HIV-1 RNAs and 5S rRNA transcripts.
Fridell
R A
RA
Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
Fischer
U
U
Lührmann
R
R
Meyer
B E
BE
Meinkoth
J L
JL
Malim
M H
MH
Cullen
B R
BR
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002025:Bufonidae; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D015694:Gene Products, rev / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D015498:HIV-2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009865:Oocytes / Q000502:physiology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012341:RNA, Ribosomal, 5S / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013045:Species Specificity; D035582:Transcription Factor TFIIIA; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014982:Xenopus laevis; D054321:rev Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D015694:Gene Products, rev; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012341:RNA, Ribosomal, 5S; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D035582:Transcription Factor TFIIIA; D014157:Transcription Factors; D054321:rev Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus