1887

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Volume 88, Issue 2

C/EBP regulates human immunodeficiency virus 1 gene expression through its association with cdk9 Free

Abstract

Transcriptional regulation of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is a complex event that requires the cooperative action of both viral (e.g. Tat) and cellular (e.g. C/EBP, NF-B) factors. The HIV-1 Tat protein recruits the human positive transcription elongation factor P-TEFb, consisting of cdk9 and cyclin T1, to the HIV-1 transactivation response (TAR) region. In the absence of TAR, Tat activates the HIV-1 long terminal repeat (LTR) through its association with several cellular factors including C/EBP. C/EBP is a member of the CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein family of transcription factors and has been shown to be a critical transcriptional regulator of HIV-1 LTR. We examined whether Tat–C/EBP association requires the presence of the P-TEFb complex. Using immunoprecipitation followed by Western blot, we demonstrated that C/EBP–cyclin T1 association requires the presence of cdk9. Further, due to its instability, cdk9 was unable to physically interact with C/EBP in the absence of cyclin T1 or Tat. Using kinase assays, we demonstrated that cdk9, but not a cdk9 dominant-negative mutant (cdk9-dn), phosphorylates C/EBP. Our functional data show that co-transfection of C/EBP and cdk9 leads to an increase in HIV-1 gene expression when compared to C/EBP alone. Addition of C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) inhibits C/EBP transcriptional activity in the presence and absence of cdk9 and causes a delay in HIV-1 replication in T-cells. Together, our data suggest that Tat–C/EBP association is mediated through cdk9, and that phosphorylated C/EBP may influence AIDS progression by increasing expression of HIV-1 genes.

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2007-02-01
2023-03-26
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C/EBPβ regulates human immunodeficiency virus 1 gene expression through its association with cdk9
J. Gen. Virol. 88, 631 (2007); https://doi.org/10.1099/vir.0.82487-0
/content/journal/jgv/10.1099/vir.0.82487-0
/content/journal/jgv/10.1099/vir.0.82487-0
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