Recent insights into HIV-1 Vif.
The lentiviruses, including HIV-1 (but excluding equine infectious anemia virus), encode a viral infectivity factor (Vif) protein. Circumstantial evidence suggested that Vif acts to neutralize an inhibitory host defense mechanism, but progress in the field was limited because the identity of the cellular target was unknown. The recent identification of the elusive host cell factor let loose a flood of advances. These findings have revealed a novel innate defense mechanism against retroviruses. In infected cells, the cellular cytidine deaminase APOBEC3G, a relative of the activation-induced deaminase (AID), is encapsidated into assembling virions. The enzyme lies in the virion, waiting to wreak havoc on the viral genome in the next round of virus replication--unless it is first caught by Vif.
Navarro
Francisco
F
The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 10010 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
Landau
Nathaniel R
NR
D000071480:APOBEC-3G Deaminase; D000818:Animals; D003564:Cytidine Deaminase; D016346:Gene Products, vif / Q000378:metabolism*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D004860:Infectious Anemia Virus, Equine / Q000502:physiology; D009700:Nucleoside Deaminases; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000502:physiology; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D014771:Virion / Q000502:physiology*; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000502:physiology*; D054320:vif Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
D016346:Gene Products, vif; D011506:Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D054320:vif Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus; D009700:Nucleoside Deaminases; D000071480:APOBEC-3G Deaminase; C464924:APOBEC3G protein, human; D003564:Cytidine Deaminase