Characteristics of HIV-Tat protein transduction domain.
The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Tat protein transduction domain (PTD), which contains rich arginine and lysine residues, is responsible for the highly efficient transduction of protein through the plasma membrane. In addition, it can be secreted from infected cells and has the ability to enter neighboring cells. When the PTD of Tat is fused to proteins and exogenously added to cells, the fusion protein can cross plasma membranes. Recent reports indicate that the endogenously expressed Tat fusion protein can demonstrate biodistribution of several proteins. However, intercellular transport and protein transduction have not been observed in some studies. Therefore, this study examined the intercellular transport and protein transduction of the Tat protein. The results showed no evidence of intercellular transport (biodistribution) in a cell culture. Instead, the Tat fusion peptides were found to have a significant effect on the transduction and intercellular localization properties. This suggests that the HIV-1 PTD passes through the plasma membrane in one direction.
Yoon
Jong-Sub
JS
Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 137-701, Republic of Korea.
Jung
Yong-Tae
YT
Hong
Seong-Karp
SK
Kim
Sun-Hwa
SH
Shin
Min-Chul
MC
Lee
Dong-Gun
DG
Shin
Wan-Shik
WS
Min
Woo-Sung
WS
Paik
Soon-Young
SY
D000818:Animals; D016367:Baculoviridae / Q000378:metabolism; D002460:Cell Line; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D015696:Gene Products, tat / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000378:metabolism; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D042541:Intracellular Space / Q000378:metabolism; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D021381:Protein Transport; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D014161:Transduction, Genetic; D054322:tat Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
D015696:Gene Products, tat; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C485184:enhanced green fluorescent protein; D054322:tat Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins