HIV-1 Tat, apoptosis and the mitochondria: a tubulin link?
The Tat protein of HIV-1 is a powerful activator of viral gene expression. Besides this essential function at the HIV-1 promoter, the protein also exerts a remarkable number of other biological activities, among which the induction of cellular apoptosis. Two papers now published in Retrovirology provide possible molecular mechanisms for the pro-apoptotic effect of Tat, which involve the cell's microtubular network and the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis.
Giacca
Mauro
M
Molecular Medicine Laboratory, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Trieste, Italy. giacca@icgeb.org
D043203:1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology*; D015696:Gene Products, tat / Q000378:metabolism*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006801:Humans; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008870:Microtubules / Q000378:metabolism; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000473:pathology*; D014404:Tubulin / Q000378:metabolism*; D054322:tat Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
D015696:Gene Products, tat; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D014404:Tubulin; D054322:tat Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus; D043203:1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase; C084102:PAFAH1B1 protein, human