Interaction of Vpx and apolipoprotein B mRNA-editing catalytic polypeptide 3 family member A (APOBEC3A) correlates with efficient lentivirus infection of monocytes

J Biol Chem. 2010 Apr 16;285(16):12248-54. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M109.090977. Epub 2010 Feb 23.

Abstract

The accessory protein Vpx is encoded by lentiviruses of the human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2) and the simian immunodeficiency SIVsm/SIVmac lineage. It is packaged into virions and is indispensable in early steps of monocyte infection. HIV-1, which does not encode Vpx, is not able to infect human monocytes, but Vpx enables infection with HIV-1. The underlying mechanism is not completely understood. In this work, we focus on Vpx-mediated intracellular postentry events as counteraction of host cell proteins. We found that Vpx binds to apolipoprotein B mRNA-editing catalytic polypeptide 3 family member A (APOBEC3A; A3A), a member of the family of cytidine deaminases, present in monocytes. This interaction led to a reduction of the steady-state protein level of A3A. A single-point mutation in Vpx (H82A) abrogated binding to A3A and single-round infection of monocytes by HIV-1. Taken together, our data indicate that lentiviral Vpx counteracts A3A in human monocytes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Line
  • Cytidine Deaminase / metabolism*
  • HIV Infections / etiology
  • HIV Infections / metabolism
  • HIV Infections / virology
  • HIV-1 / genetics
  • HIV-1 / metabolism*
  • HIV-1 / pathogenicity*
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Monocytes / metabolism*
  • Monocytes / virology*
  • Mutagenesis, Site-Directed
  • Protein Binding
  • Proteins / metabolism*
  • Simian Immunodeficiency Virus / genetics
  • Simian Immunodeficiency Virus / metabolism*
  • Simian Immunodeficiency Virus / pathogenicity*
  • Transfection
  • Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins / genetics
  • Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins / metabolism*
  • Virus Replication / genetics
  • Virus Replication / physiology

Substances

  • Proteins
  • VPX protein, Simian immunodeficiency virus
  • Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins
  • APOBEC3A protein, human
  • Cytidine Deaminase