Function of exon 2 in optimal trans-activation by Tat of HIV type 2

Interactions between HIV-1 Tat and KSHV

Since the advent of the HIV-1 pandemic, a close association between HIV-1 infection and the development of selected types of cancers has been brought to light. The discovery of Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) has led to significant advances in uncovering the virological and molecular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of AIDS-related malignancies. Extensive evidence indicates that HIV-1 trans-activating protein Tat plays an oncogenic role in the development of KSHV-associated neoplasms. Comprehensive knowledge of the functions of Tat-1 together with the KSHV genes will contribute to a better understanding of the pathogenesis of virus-associated cancers and the interaction of viruses with their hosts.

Interactions between Tat of HIV-2 and transcription factor Sp1

Tat of HIV-2 (Tat-2) requires host cellular factors for optimal function. We show that transactivation by Tat-2 of the HIV promoter requires cis-acting binding sites for Sp1 or Sp1 brought to the promoter via a heterologous system. We demonstrate that an activation domain in Tat-2 consists of one of two potential alpha-helices in the amino-terminal region, the cysteine-rich region, and the core region and that this independent activation domain requires cis-acting Sp1-binding sites for function. Tat-2 interacts with Sp1 in in vitro binding assays, and these interactions require basic residues outside of the Tat-2 activation domain. The regions in Sp1 sufficient for functional synergy with Tat are the Sp1 activation domains, while the DNA-binding region is dispensable. Substitution mutations of a glutamine-rich region in one Sp1 activation domain, which eliminate interactions with a TBP-associated factor, also significantly decrease synergy with Tat. Thus, the functional synergy between Tat-2 and Sp1 localizes to domains in each activator that interact with components of the transcription complex. We suggest that these interactions, rather than direct Tat/Sp1 binding, result in highly processive RNA polymerase II complexes and full-length viral transcripts.

Molecular determinants for cellular uptake of Tat protein of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 in brain cells

We measured the cellular uptake of 125I-labeled full-length Tat (amino acids 1 to 86) (125I-Tat(1-86)) and 125I-Tat(1-72) (first exon) in human fetal astrocytes, neuroblastoma cells, and human fetal neurons and demonstrated that the uptake of 125I-Tat(1-72) without the second exon was much lower than that of 125I-Tat(1-86) (P < 0.01). This suggests an important role for the C-terminal region of Tat for its cellular uptake. 125I-Tat uptake could be inhibited by dextran sulfate and competitively inhibited by unlabeled Tat but not by overlapping 15-mer peptides, suggesting that Tat internalization is charge and conformationally dependent. Interestingly, one of 15-mer peptides, Tat(28-42), greatly enhanced 125I-Tat uptake. These findings are important for understanding the neuropathogenesis of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection and in the potential application of Tat for drug delivery to cells.