title: The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Vpu protein enhances membrane permeability.
abstract: Infection of T lymphocytes by the human immunodeficiency virus causes drastic alterations in the intracellular cation content of the infected cells. The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 genome encodes several accessory proteins, including Vpu, an integral membrane protein that forms ion channels in planar lipid bilayers. The effect of Vpu on the permeability of the plasma membrane to several molecules has been analyzed. Expression of vpu in Escherichia coli cells increases membrane permeability to a number of molecules such as 2-nitrophenyl beta-D-galactopyranoside, uridine, the impermeable translation inhibitor hygromycin B, and lysozyme. In addition, transient expression of Vpu in eukaryotic COS cells enhances entry of charged molecules such as hygromycin B and neurobiotin into these cells. The effect of Vpu on cell membrane permeability resembles that reported for other membrane-active proteins from different animal viruses, including influenza M2, Semliki Forest virus 6K, and poliovirus 2B and 3A proteins.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Biología Molecular CSIC-UAM, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Cantoblanco, Spain. megonzalez@cbm.uam.es
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: González
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Carrasco
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019556:COS Cells; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability / Q000235:genetics; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000502:physiology*; D054298:Human Immunodeficiency Virus Proteins; D006801:Humans; D013347:Subcellular Fractions / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D014162:Transfection; D054334:Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D000086082:Viroporin Proteins
chemical_list: D054298:Human Immunodeficiency Virus Proteins; D054334:Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins; C514859:vpu protein, Human immunodeficiency virus 1; D000086082:Viroporin Proteins