Direct binding to nucleic acids by Vpr of human immunodeficiency virus type 1.
Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) viral protein R (Vpr) is a 15kDa regulatory protein packaged in the HIV-1 virion. Although the molecular mechanism of Vpr function during viral replication remains elusive, Vpr has been found to possess interesting biological activities, including cell-cycle arrest at the G2/M check point, promotion of the HIV-1 pre-integration complex for nuclear transport, and a low but significant level of transcriptional activation of a variety of viral and cellular promoters. We now present data suggesting that HIV-1 Vpr is a nucleic-acid-binding protein. This activity of Vpr was demonstrated by DNA-cellulose chromatography, antibody co-immunoprecipitation, and gel electrophoretic mobility shift assays. By mutational analysis, the C-terminal region of Vpr, which is rich in basic amino-acid residues, was shown to be critical for Vpr binding to nucleic acids. The nucleic-acid-binding activity of Vpr is consistent with several biological activities of Vpr and may provide an important clue for understanding the molecular interactions between HIV-1 and the host cells.
Zhang
S
S
Institute for Molecular Virology, St. Louis University School of Medicine, 3681 Park Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
Pointer
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D
Singer
G
G
Feng
Y
Y
Park
K
K
Zhao
L J
LJ
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D016336:Gene Products, vpr / Q000378:metabolism*; D016679:Genome, Viral; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009696:Nucleic Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000235:genetics; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000378:metabolism; D054325:vpr Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D016336:Gene Products, vpr; D009696:Nucleic Acids; D012367:RNA, Viral; D054325:vpr Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus