Effector domains of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Rev and human T-cell leukemia virus type I Rex are functionally interchangeable and share an essential peptide motif

Thomas J. Hope, Barbara L. Bond, David McDonald, Nicola P. Klein, Tristram G. Parslow*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

133 Scopus citations

Abstract

The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Rev and human T-cell leukemia virus type I Rex transactivators are posttranscriptional regulatory proteins that promote retroviral gene expression by interacting with specific viral mRNAs. Rev and Rex have markedly dissimilar amino acid sequences and RNA target specificities but are thought to act through the same cellular pathway. In this report, we demonstrate that short peptide domains which are required for effector activity in Rev and Rex are functionally interchangeable. Activity of these effector domains depends upon a previously unrecognized tetrapeptide motif that is present in both Rev and Rex and also in analogous proteins from other complex retroviruses. The conserved effector motif may mediate essential interactions of Rev, Rex, and other transactivators of this type with a common cellular cofactor.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)6001-6007
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of virology
Volume65
Issue number11
StatePublished - Nov 1991

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Insect Science
  • Virology
  • Microbiology
  • Immunology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Effector domains of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Rev and human T-cell leukemia virus type I Rex are functionally interchangeable and share an essential peptide motif'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this