title: Tat is a multifunctional viral protein that modulates cellular gene expression and functions.
abstract: The human immunodeficiency virus type I (HIV-1) has developed several strategies to condition the host environment to promote viral replication and spread. Viral proteins have evolved to perform multiple functions, aiding in the replication of the viral genome and modulating the cellular response to the infection. Tat is a small, versatile, viral protein that controls transcription of the HIV genome, regulates cellular gene expression and generates a permissive environment for viral replication by altering the immune response and facilitating viral spread to multiple tissues. Studies carried out utilizing biochemical, cellular, and genomic approaches show that the expression and activity of hundreds of genes and multiple molecular networks are modulated by Tat via multiple mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Evan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.affiliation: Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Brenda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nava
authors.affiliation: Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Caputi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000502:physiology; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D056747:Immunomodulation; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics; D021381:Protein Transport; D015533:Transcriptional Activation; D054322:tat Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs; D054322:tat Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
keywords: HIV-1; Tat; gene regulation; transcription