Production of infectious SIVagm from human cells requires functional inactivation but not viral exclusion of human APOBEC3G

J Biol Chem. 2005 Jan 7;280(1):375-82. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M408987200. Epub 2004 Nov 3.

Abstract

The virus infectivity factor (Vif) is a protein encoded by most primate lentiviruses. Recent evidence suggests that HIV-1 Vif reduces the intracellular levels of the host cytidine deaminase APOBEC3G (Apo3G) and inhibits its packaging into virions. These functions of Vif are thought to be species-specific. Accordingly, HIV-1 Vif can target only human Apo3G (hApo3G), whereas, African green monkey simian immunodeficiency virus (SIVagm) Vif can inhibit African green monkey but not human Apo3G. Consistent with this, we found that SIVagm Vif does not affect the stability of exogenously and endogenously expressed hApo3G and does not prevent packaging of exogenous and endogenous hApo3G into SIVagm virions. Nevertheless, SIVagm Vif supported spreading infection of SIVagm virus in the hApo3G-positive human A3.01 T cell line and rescued infectivity of viruses produced from Apo3G-expressing HeLa cells. Sequence analysis verified that SIVagm Vif inhibited the accumulation of hApo3G-induced mutations, suggesting that SIVagm Vif is indeed active in human cells. Our data suggest that SIVagm Vif can inhibit hApo3G activity without inducing its intracellular degradation or preventing its packaging into virions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • APOBEC-3G Deaminase
  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Cytidine Deaminase
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Viral*
  • Gene Products, vif / genetics
  • Gene Products, vif / metabolism*
  • Genes, vif
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Nucleoside Deaminases
  • Proteins / genetics
  • Proteins / metabolism*
  • Repressor Proteins
  • Simian Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / genetics
  • Simian Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / metabolism*
  • Simian Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / virology
  • Simian Immunodeficiency Virus / pathogenicity
  • Simian Immunodeficiency Virus / physiology*
  • Species Specificity
  • Virion
  • Virulence / genetics

Substances

  • Gene Products, vif
  • Proteins
  • Repressor Proteins
  • Nucleoside Deaminases
  • APOBEC-3G Deaminase
  • APOBEC3G protein, human
  • Cytidine Deaminase

Associated data

  • GENBANK/L40990