title: The role of Vpr in HIV-1 pathogenesis.
abstract: The HIV-1 vpr gene is conserved among the human (HIV-1, HIV-2) and simian immunodeficiency viruses (SIV). HIV-1 vpr encodes a 96-amino acid, 14 kDa protein (Vpr). Research from a number of laboratories in the last decade has shown that Vpr performs multiple functions, including the induction of cell cycle arrest in the G(2) phase, transactivation of the viral promoter, nuclear import of preintegration complexes, and induction of apoptosis in the infected cell. More recent studies have attempted to elucidate the cellular targets that Vpr utilizes in order to perform the above functions. This review presents the latest findings about the pathogenic events triggered by Vpr, the cellular pathways involved, and the molecular and cellular consequences of the action of Vpr in the context of HIV-1 infection.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cellular Biology and Immunology, Department of Pathology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA.
authors.forename: Joshua L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.forename: Vicente
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Planelles
mesh_terms: D021581:Active Transport, Cell Nucleus; D017209:Apoptosis; D002453:Cell Cycle; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral; D016336:Gene Products, vpr / Q000502:physiology*; D016334:Genes, vpr; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006801:Humans; D054325:vpr Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
chemical_list: D016336:Gene Products, vpr; D054325:vpr Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus