title: Inhibition of HIV-1 gene expression by a fragment of hnRNP U.
abstract: Cellular proteins are now appreciated as critically involved in all steps of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) life cycle, and disrupting host functions essential for virus replication may provide novel antiviral approaches. Selection from a human complementary DNA (cDNA) library for clones able to induce resistance to infection by recombinant HIV-1 genomes resulted in the identification of a gene fragment that potently restricts HIV-1 activity. The active cDNA encodes an N-terminal fragment of the heterogeneous nuclear ribonuclear protein U (hnRNP U). The gene fragment specifically targets the 3' long terminal repeat (3'LTR) in the viral mRNA and blocks the cytoplasmic accumulation of HIV-1 mRNAs. The results suggest that HIV-1 requires machinery for the nuclear export of viral mRNAs that can be specifically blocked by an interfering gene.
authors.affiliation: Howard Hughes Medical Institute, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, HHSC 1310c, 701 West 168th Street, New York, New York 10032, USA.
authors.forename: Susana T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Valente
authors.forename: Stephen P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Goff
mesh_terms: D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000378:metabolism; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral; D015723:Gene Library; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D006367:HeLa Cells; D034722:Heterogeneous-Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein U / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000378:metabolism*; D014161:Transduction, Genetic; D014779:Virus Replication
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D034722:Heterogeneous-Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein U; D010446:Peptide Fragments