title: The multifaceted oncoprotein Tax: subcellular localization, posttranslational modifications, and NF-κB activation.
abstract: The human T-cell lymphotropic virus type-I (HTLV-I) is the etiologic agent of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) and of tropical spastic paraparesis/HTLV-I-associated myelopathy. Constitutive NF-κB activation by the viral oncoprotein Tax plays a crucial role in the induction and maintenance of cellular proliferation, transformation, and inhibition of apoptosis. In an attempt to provide a general view of the molecular mechanisms of constitutive Tax-induced NF-κB activation, we summarize in this review the recent body of literature that supports a major role for Tax posttranslational modifications, chiefly ubiquitination, and SUMOylation, in the NF-κB activity of Tax. These modifications indeed participate in the control of Tax subcellular localization and modulate its protein-protein interaction potential. Tax posttranslational modifications, which highlight the ability of HTLV-I to optimize its limited viral genome size, might represent an attractive target for the design of new therapies for ATL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Youmna
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kfoury
authors.forename: Rihab
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nasr
authors.forename: Chloé
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Journo
authors.forename: Renaud
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mahieux
authors.forename: Claudine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pique
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bazarbachi
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D016356:Gene Products, tax / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D015459:Leukemia-Lymphoma, Adult T-Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000821:virology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000821:virology; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015493:Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic / Q000821:virology; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational / Q000235:genetics*; D058207:Sumoylation
chemical_list: D016356:Gene Products, tax; D016328:NF-kappa B