title: Functional conservation and coherence of HIV-1 subtype A Vpu alleles.
abstract: Functional studies of HIV-1 proteins are normally conducted using lab adapted strains of HIV-1. The extent of those functions in clinical strains is sometimes unknown. In this study, we amplified and sequenced HIV-1 Vpu from 10 Iranian patients infected with HIV-1. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the Vpu alleles were closely related to the CRF35_AD from Iran and subtype A Vpu. We addressed some of the well-established functions of the HIV-1 Vpu, as well as some of its recently reported functions. Ability of the clinical strains of subtype A Vpu alleles for downregulation of CD4 was similar to that of the lab adapted NL4.3 Vpu. Majority of the subtype A Vpu alleles performed stronger than NL4.3 Vpu for downregulation of SNAT1. The Vpu alleles differentially induced downregulation of HLA-C, ranging from no effect to 88% downregulation of surface HLA-C. Downregulation of tetherin and enhancement of virus release was similar for the subtype A Vpu alleles and NL4.3. Subtype A Vpu alleles were more potent when compared with NL4.3 for inhibition of NF-κB activation. Our study shows that subtype A Vpu alleles exert the classical functions of HIV-1 Vpu.
authors.affiliation: Cellular and Molecular Research Center (CMRC), Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences (AJUMS), Ahvaz, 61357-15794, Iran.|Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, 81746-73441, Iran.
authors.forename: Bizhan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Romani
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Payam Noor University, Tehran, 1395-4697, Iran.
authors.forename: Amirarsalan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kavyanifard
authors.affiliation: Cellular and Molecular Research Center (CMRC), Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences (AJUMS), Ahvaz, 61357-15794, Iran. abakhshi_e@ajums.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Elham
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-7185-989X
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Allahbakhshi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D026924:Amino Acid Transport System A / Q000378:metabolism; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D001483:Base Sequence; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D015536:Down-Regulation; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D057809:HEK293 Cells; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000821:virology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015236:HLA-C Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D006367:HeLa Cells; D054298:Human Immunodeficiency Virus Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010802:Phylogeny; D017423:Sequence Analysis, RNA / Q000379:methods*; D054334:Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult; D000074010:Bone Marrow Stromal Antigen 2; D000086082:Viroporin Proteins
chemical_list: D026924:Amino Acid Transport System A; D015703:Antigens, CD; D015704:CD4 Antigens; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; D015236:HLA-C Antigens; D054298:Human Immunodeficiency Virus Proteins; D054334:Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins; C094572:BST2 protein, human; D000074010:Bone Marrow Stromal Antigen 2; C445761:SLC38A1 protein, human; C514859:vpu protein, Human immunodeficiency virus 1; D000086082:Viroporin Proteins