Identification of a heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein-recognition region in the HIV rev protein

Kamyar Hadian, Michelle Vincendeau, Nina Mäusbacher, Daniel Nagel, Stefanie M. Hauck, Marius Ueffing, Abraham Loyter, Thomas Werner, Horst Wolff, Ruth Brack-Werner*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

35 Scopus citations

Abstract

The Rev protein is a key regulator of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) gene expression. Rev is primarily known as an adaptor protein for nuclear export of HIV RNAs. However, Rev also contributes to numerous other processes by less well known mechanisms. Understanding the functional nature of Rev requires extensive knowledge of its cellular interaction partners. Here we demonstrate that Rev interacts with members of a large family of multifunctional host cell factors called hnRNPs. Rev employs amino acids 9-14 for specific binding to the heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins (hnRNP) A1, Q, K, R, and U. In addition, Rev interacts with hnRNP E1 and E2 by a different mechanism. The set of hnRNPs recognized by the N terminus of Rev feature RGG boxes. Exemplary testing of hnRNP A1 revealed a critical role of arginine residues within the RGG box for interaction with Rev. Finally, we demonstrate that expression levels of hnRNP A1, Q, K, R, and U influence HIV-1 production by persistently infected astrocytes, linking these hnRNPs to HIV replication. The novel interaction of HIV-1 Rev with functionally diverse hnRNPs lends further support to the idea that Rev is a multifunctional protein and may be involved in coupling HIV replication to diverse cellular processes and promoting virus-host cell interactions.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)33384-33391
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry
Volume284
Issue number48
DOIs
StatePublished - 27 Nov 2009

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