The Vif protein of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 is posttranslationally modified by ubiquitin

Sylvie Dussart; Marianne Courcoul; Gilles Bessou; Marc Douaisi; Yohann Duverger; Robert Vigne; Etienne Decroly

doi:10.1016/j.bbrc.2004.01.023

The Vif protein of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 is posttranslationally modified by ubiquitin

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2004 Feb 27;315(1):66-72. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2004.01.023.

Authors

Sylvie Dussart¹, Marianne Courcoul, Gilles Bessou, Marc Douaisi, Yohann Duverger, Robert Vigne, Etienne Decroly

Affiliation

¹ Inserm Unit 372, Université de la Méditerranée, 163 Avenue de Luminy, BP178, 13276 Marseille Cedex 09, France.

PMID: 15013426
DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2004.01.023

Abstract

The viral infectivity factor (Vif), one of the six HIV-1 auxiliary genes, is absolutely necessary for productive infection in primary CD4-positive T lymphocytes and macrophages. Vif overcomes the antiviral function of the host factor APOBEC3G. To better understand this mechanism, it is of interest to characterize cellular proteins that interact with Vif and may regulate its function. Here, we show that Vif binds to hNedd4 and AIP4, two HECT E3 ubiquitin ligases. WW domains present in those HECT enzymes contribute to the binding of Vif. Moreover, the region of Vif, which includes amino acids 20-128 and interacts with the hNedd4 WW domains, does not contain proline-rich stretches. Lastly, we show that Vif undergoes post-translational modifications by addition of ubiquitin both in cells overexpressing Vif and in cells expressing HIV-1 provirus. Vif is mainly mono-ubiquitinated, a modification known to address the Gag precursor to the virus budding site.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Blotting, Western
Cell Line
Endosomal Sorting Complexes Required for Transport
Gene Expression
Gene Products, vif / genetics
Gene Products, vif / metabolism*
Glutathione Transferase / metabolism
HIV Infections / virology
HIV-1 / chemistry*
HeLa Cells
Humans
Nedd4 Ubiquitin Protein Ligases
Precipitin Tests
Protein Biosynthesis
Protein Processing, Post-Translational*
Protein Structure, Tertiary
Recombinant Proteins / genetics
Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
Repressor Proteins / metabolism
Transfection
Ubiquitin / metabolism*
Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / chemistry
Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / metabolism
vif Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus

Substances

Endosomal Sorting Complexes Required for Transport
Gene Products, vif
Recombinant Proteins
Repressor Proteins
Ubiquitin
vif Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
ITCH protein, human
Nedd4 Ubiquitin Protein Ligases
Nedd4 protein, human
Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
Glutathione Transferase