Viral protein U counteracts a human host cell restriction that inhibits HIV-1 particle production.
Human cells resist viral infections by a variety of mechanisms. Viruses must overcome host cell restrictions to successfully reproduce their genetic material. Here, we identify a host restriction to viral replication that acts at the stage of particle assembly. Viral protein U (Vpu) is an HIV-1 accessory protein that enhances particle assembly and release in most human cells, but not in simian cells. By using human-simian cell heterokaryons, we show that the inhibition of assembly in human cells is dominant. Vpu overcomes the block to assembly in human cells and in human-simian heterokaryons. The HIV-1 vpu gene may have evolved to counteract an assembly restriction that is present in human cells.
Varthakavi
Vasundhara
V
Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232-2581, USA.
Smith
Rita M
RM
Bour
Stephan P
SP
Strebel
Klaus
K
Spearman
Paul
P
D000818:Animals; D019556:COS Cells; D002459:Cell Fusion; D002460:Cell Line; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D015683:Gene Products, gag / Q000502:physiology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D006367:HeLa Cells; D054298:Human Immunodeficiency Virus Proteins; D006801:Humans; D010641:Phenotype; D010957:Plasmids / Q000378:metabolism; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry; D013997:Time Factors; D014162:Transfection; D014709:Vero Cells; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D054334:Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D014779:Virus Replication; D000086082:Viroporin Proteins
D015683:Gene Products, gag; D054298:Human Immunodeficiency Virus Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D014764:Viral Proteins; D054334:Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins; C514859:vpu protein, Human immunodeficiency virus 1; D000086082:Viroporin Proteins