Cullin4A and cullin4B are interchangeable for HIV Vpr and Vpx action through the CRL4 ubiquitin ligase complex.
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seizes control of cellular cullin-RING E3 ubiquitin ligases (CRLs) to promote viral replication. HIV-1 Vpr and HIV-2/simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) Vpr and Vpx engage the cullin4 (CUL4)-containing ubiquitin ligase complex (CRL4) to cause polyubiquitination and proteasomal degradation of host proteins, including ones that block infection. HIV-1 Vpr engages CRL4 to trigger the degradation of uracil-N-glycosylase 2 (UNG2). Both HIV-1 Vpr and HIV-2/SIV Vpr tap CRL4 to initiate G2 cell cycle arrest. HIV-2/SIV Vpx secures CRL4 to degrade the antiviral protein SAMHD1. CRL4 includes either cullin4A (CUL4A) or cullin4B (CUL4B) among its components. Whether Vpr or Vpx relies on CUL4A, CUL4B, or both to act through CRL4 is not known. Reported structural, phenotypic, and intracellular distribution differences between the two CUL4 types led us to hypothesize that Vpr and Vpx employ these in a function-specific manner. Here we determined CUL4 requirements for HIV-1 and HIV-2/SIV Vpr-mediated G2 cell cycle arrest, HIV-1 Vpr-mediated UNG2 degradation, and HIV-2 Vpx-mediated SAMHD1 degradation. Surprisingly, CUL4A and CUL4B are exchangeable for CRL4-dependent Vpr and Vpx action, except in primary macrophages, where Vpx relies on both CUL4A and CUL4B for maximal SAMHD1 depletion. This work highlights the need to consider both CUL4 types for Vpr and Vpx functions and also shows that the intracellular distribution of CUL4A and CUL4B can vary by cell type.


OBJECTIVE
The work presented here shows for the first time that HIV Vpr and Vpx do not rely exclusively on CUL4A to cause ubiquitination through the CRL4 ubiquitin ligase complex. Furthermore, our finding that intracellular CUL4 and SAMHD1 distributions can vary with cell type provides the basis for reconciling previous disparate findings regarding the site of SAMHD1 depletion. Finally, our observations with primary immune cells provide insight into the cell biology of CUL4A and CUL4B that will help differentiate the functions of these similar proteins.
Center for Immunology and Microbial Disease, Albany Medical College, Albany, New York, USA.
Hamayun John
HJ
Sharifi
Center for Immunology and Microbial Disease, Albany Medical College, Albany, New York, USA.
Andrea K M
AK
Furuya
Division of HIV Medicine, Albany Medical Center, Albany, New York, USA.
Robert M
RM
Jellinger
Center for Immunology and Microbial Disease, Albany Medical College, Albany, New York, USA.
Michael D
MD
Nekorchuk
Center for Immunology and Microbial Disease, Albany Medical College, Albany, New York, USA deNoroC@mail.amc.edu.
Carlos M C
CM
de Noronha
D002453:Cell Cycle; D002460:Cell Line; D044842:Cullin Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015498:HIV-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D011485:Protein Binding; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D054334:Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D054325:vpr Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
C114234:CUL4A protein, human; C517832:CUL4B protein, human; D044842:Cullin Proteins; C074286:VPX protein, Human immunodeficiency virus 2; D054334:Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins; D054325:vpr Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases