title: Ion channel activity of HIV-1 Vpu is dispensable for counteraction of CD317.
abstract: While the C-terminal domain of HIV-1 Vpu is critical for CD4 degradation, the transmembrane domain (TM) mediates ion channel activity, enhances virus release and is essential for counteracting CD317/Bst-2/Tetherin. Here we analyzed whether the ion channel activity of Vpu is required to antagonize CD317-mediated restriction of virion release. We examined TM-mutants of three conserved residues: the S23A mutation, which was previously shown to abrogate ion channel function, did not affect Vpu mediated augmentation of virus release. In contrast, the A14N and A18N mutation did not affect ion channel activity of Vpu, but substantially reduced its ability to support virus release and to down-regulate CD317 from the cell surface. Altogether, our data suggest that not the ion channel activity of Vpu, but its ability to remove CD317 from the cell surface is required to augment HIV-1 release.
authors: Institute of Virology, Friedrich Alexander University, Erlangen, Germany.
authors: Sebastian
authors: S
authors: Bolduan
authors: Jörg
authors: J
authors: Votteler
authors: Veronika
authors: V
authors: Lodermeyer
authors: Timo
authors: T
authors: Greiner
authors: Herwig
authors: H
authors: Koppensteiner
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Schindler
authors: Gerhard
authors: G
authors: Thiel
authors: Ulrich
authors: U
authors: Schubert