HIV-1 Vpr-a still "enigmatic multitasker".

Carolin A Guenzel,Cã©Cile Hã©Rate,Serge Benichou

doi:10.3389/fmicb.2014.00127

Carolin A Guenzel, Cã©Cile Hã©Rate + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2014.00127

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Abstract

Like other HIV-1 auxiliary proteins, Vpr is conserved within all the human (HIV-1, HIV-2) and simian (SIV) immunodeficiency viruses. However, Vpr and homologous HIV-2, and SIV Vpx are the only viral auxiliary proteins specifically incorporated into virus particles through direct interaction with the Gag precursor, indicating that this presence in the core of the mature virions is mainly required for optimal establishment of the early steps of the virus life cycle in the newly infected cell. In spite of its small size, a plethora of effects and functions have been attributed to Vpr, including induction of cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, modulation of the fidelity of reverse transcription, nuclear import of viral DNA in macrophages and other non-dividing cells, and transcriptional modulation of viral and host cell genes. Even if some more recent studies identified a few cellular targets that HIV-1 Vpr may utilize in order to perform its different tasks, the real role and functions of Vpr during the course of natural infection are still enigmatic. In this review, we will summarize the main reported functions of HIV-1 Vpr and their significance in the context of the viral life cycle.

Highlights

The vpr gene is conserved among human (HIV-1 and HIV-2) and simian immunodeficiency viruses (SIV) and encodes the regulatory viral protein R (Vpr), a small basic protein (14 kDa) of 96 amino acids (Ogawa et al, 1989; Hattori et al, 1990; Steffy and Wong-Staal, 1991; Tristem et al, 1992)
Replication of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), caprine-arthritisencephalitis virus (CAEV), or equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) that lack functional dUTP pyropshophatase (dUTPase) activity is severely affected in non-dividing host cells. These results indicate that uracil misincorporation in viral DNA strands during reverse transcription is deleterious for the ongoing steps of the virus life cycle
DIRECTIONS Like other HIV-1 auxiliary proteins, Vpr is a small but multifunctional protein which is potentially able to interact with plenty of cellular partners

Summary

Introduction

The vpr gene is conserved among human (HIV-1 and HIV-2) and simian immunodeficiency viruses (SIV) and encodes the regulatory viral protein R (Vpr), a small basic protein (14 kDa) of 96 amino acids (Ogawa et al, 1989; Hattori et al, 1990; Steffy and Wong-Staal, 1991; Tristem et al, 1992). Vpr affects the nuclear import of the viral DNA within the pre-integration complex (PIC), the cell cycle progression, the regulation of apoptosis and the transactivation of the HIV-1 LTR as well as host cell genes.

Results

Conclusion