The human immunodeficiency virus tat protein increases the transcription of human Alu repeated sequences by increasing the activity of the cellular transcription factor TFIIIC

J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr (1988). 1992;5(11):1142-7.

Abstract

The HIV Tat protein is able to upregulate the transcription by RNA polymerase III of cotransfected or endogenous cellular Alu-repeated sequences in both HeLa and Jurkat T cells. This effect is mediated by an increase in the activity of transcription factor TFIIIC, which binds to the B box in the RNA polymerase III Alu promoter. This is the first example of an effect of the Tat protein on the transcription of a cellular gene or on the activity of a cellular transcription factor. The significance of this effect for the life cycle of HIV and its interaction with infected cells is discussed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Actins / genetics
  • Base Sequence
  • Cell Line
  • DNA, Viral / chemistry
  • DNA, Viral / genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Viral
  • Gene Products, tat / physiology*
  • HIV / genetics*
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Oligonucleotides / chemistry
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid*
  • Transcription Factors / physiology*
  • Transcription Factors, TFIII*
  • Transcription, Genetic*
  • Transfection
  • tat Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus

Substances

  • Actins
  • DNA, Viral
  • Gene Products, tat
  • Oligonucleotides
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Transcription Factors
  • Transcription Factors, TFIII
  • tat Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
  • transcription factor TFIIIC