title: HIV-1 Vpr activates the G2 checkpoint through manipulation of the ubiquitin proteasome system.
abstract: HIV-1 Vpr is a viral accessory protein that activates ATR through the induction of DNA replication stress. ATR activation results in cell cycle arrest in G2 and induction of apoptosis. In the present study, we investigate the role of the ubiquitin/proteasome system (UPS) in the above activity of Vpr. We report that the general function of the UPS is required for Vpr to induce G2 checkpoint activation, as incubation of Vpr-expressing cells with proteasome inhibitors abolishes this effect. We further investigated in detail the specific E3 ubiquitin ligase subunits that Vpr manipulates. We found that Vpr binds to the DCAF1 subunit of a cullin 4a/DDB1 E3 ubiquitin ligase. The carboxy-terminal domain Vpr(R80A) mutant, which is able to bind DCAF1, is inactive in checkpoint activation and has dominant-negative character. In contrast, the mutation Q65R, in the leucine-rich domain of Vpr that mediates DCAF1 binding, results in an inactive Vpr devoid of dominant negative behavior. Thus, the interaction of Vpr with DCAF1 is required, but not sufficient, for Vpr to cause G2 arrest. We propose that Vpr recruits, through its carboxy terminal domain, an unknown cellular factor that is required for G2-to-M transition. Recruitment of this factor leads to its ubiquitination and degradation, resulting in failure to enter mitosis.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cell Biology and Immunology, Department of Pathology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA. jason.dehart@path.utah.edu
authors.forename: Jason L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: DeHart
authors.forename: Erik S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Zimmerman
authors.forename: Orly
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ardon
authors.forename: Carlos M R
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Monteiro-Filho
authors.forename: Enrique R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Argañaraz
authors.forename: Vicente
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Planelles
mesh_terms: D002460:Cell Line; D016195:G2 Phase; D016336:Gene Products, vpr / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D006367:HeLa Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000494:pharmacology; D046988:Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex / Q000378:metabolism*; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D014162:Transfection; D025801:Ubiquitin / Q000378:metabolism*; D014779:Virus Replication; D054325:vpr Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
chemical_list: D016336:Gene Products, vpr; D009842:Oligopeptides; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D012367:RNA, Viral; D025801:Ubiquitin; D054325:vpr Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus; D046988:Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; C078846:epoxomicin