HIV-1 auxiliary regulatory protein Vpr promotes ubiquitination and turnover of Vpr mutants containing the L64P mutation.
The auxiliary regulatory protein Vpr of HIV-1 possesses several biological activities which are believed to facilitate HIV-1 replication and pathogenesis. In this report, experimental evidence suggests a novel biological activity of Vpr: facilitation of the turnover of Vpr mutants bearing the L64P mutation. This novel activity of Vpr was shared by Vpr molecules from different subtypes of HIV-1. Co-expression of the wild type Vpr with the VprW54A/L64P mutant resulted in normal synthesis of the mutant mRNA but enhanced ubiquitination and turnover of the mutant protein. These results suggest that Vpr may interact with the ubiquitin/proteasome pathway to regulate the stability of viral or cellular proteins.
Zhao
Ling-Jun
LJ
Institute for Molecular Virology, St. Louis University School of Medicine, 3681 Park Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA. zhaol@slu.edu
Jian
Heng
H
Zhu
Henghu
H
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D015853:Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D015870:Gene Expression; D016336:Gene Products, vpr / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D007976:Leupeptins / Q000494:pharmacology; D009154:Mutation; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013997:Time Factors; D014162:Transfection; D014452:Ubiquitins / Q000378:metabolism*; D054325:vpr Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
D015853:Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; D016336:Gene Products, vpr; D007976:Leupeptins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014452:Ubiquitins; D054325:vpr Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus; C072553:benzyloxycarbonylleucyl-leucyl-leucine aldehyde