title: HCV NS3/4A protein activates HIV-1 transcription from its long terminal repeat.
abstract: Approximately 30-40% of patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the U.S. are also infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Studies have shown that HIV can worsen hepatitis C, while the impact of hepatitis C on HIV disease is less clear. In this study, we described that HCV NS3/4A protein can activate HIV-1 transcription from its long terminal repeat (LTR) region, while the serine protease-inactive mutant of NS3/4A fails to do so. The activation effect of NS3/4A to HIV-1 transcription can be explained by its ability to enhance DNA binding activities of the transcription factor AP-1. These results have provided insights into the mechanism involved in the co-infection of HCV and HIV.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Virology and the Modern Virology Research Center, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, PR China.
authors.forename: Xiaoyun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Musarat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ishaq
authors.forename: Jiajie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Deyin
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Guo
mesh_terms: D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002460:Cell Line; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000821:virology; D016325:HIV Long Terminal Repeat; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics*; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D009154:Mutation; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D043583:Nucleoside-Triphosphatase; D053487:DEAD-box RNA Helicases; D000085242:Viral Proteases
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins; C084422:NS3 protein, hepatitis C virus; D043583:Nucleoside-Triphosphatase; D053487:DEAD-box RNA Helicases; D000085242:Viral Proteases; C455041:NS4A cofactor peptide, Hepatitis C virus