title: Modulation of HIV-1-host interaction: role of the Vpu accessory protein.
abstract: Viral protein U (Vpu) is a type 1 membrane-associated accessory protein that is unique to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and a subset of related simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV). The Vpu protein encoded by HIV-1 is associated with two primary functions during the viral life cycle. First, it contributes to HIV-1-induced CD4 receptor downregulation by mediating the proteasomal degradation of newly synthesized CD4 molecules in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Second, it enhances the release of progeny virions from infected cells by antagonizing Tetherin, an interferon (IFN)-regulated host restriction factor that directly cross-links virions on host cell-surface. This review will mostly focus on recent advances on the role of Vpu in CD4 downregulation and Tetherin antagonism and will discuss how these two functions may have impacted primate immunodeficiency virus cross-species transmission and the emergence of pandemic strain of HIV-1.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Human Retrovirology, Institut de Recherches Cliniques de Montréal, 110, Avenue des Pins Ouest, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H2W 1R7.
authors.forename: Mathieu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dubé
authors.forename: Mariana G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Bego
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Paquay
authors.forename: Éric A
authors.initials: ÉA
authors.lastname: Cohen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D054298:Human Immunodeficiency Virus Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D054334:Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000074010:Bone Marrow Stromal Antigen 2; D000086082:Viroporin Proteins
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; D054298:Human Immunodeficiency Virus Proteins; D054334:Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins; C094572:BST2 protein, human; D000074010:Bone Marrow Stromal Antigen 2; C514859:vpu protein, Human immunodeficiency virus 1; D000086082:Viroporin Proteins