Journal
VIRUSES-BASEL
Volume 7, Issue 8, Pages 4352-4368Publisher
MDPI
DOI: 10.3390/v7082824
Keywords
Vpu; HIV-1; Viroporin; protein trafficking; membrane permeability; ion transport; membrane pore; antiretroviral target
Categories
Funding
- FIS [PI08/0912]
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Viral protein U (Vpu) is a lentiviral viroporin encoded by human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and some simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) strains. This small protein of 81 amino acids contains a single transmembrane domain that allows for supramolecular organization via homoligomerization or interaction with other proteins. The topology and trafficking of Vpu through subcellular compartments result in pleiotropic effects in host cells. Notwithstanding the high variability of its amino acid sequence, the functionality of Vpu is well conserved in pandemic virus isolates. This review outlines our current knowledge on the interactions of Vpu with the host cell. The regulation of cellular physiology by Vpu and the validity of this viroporin as a therapeutic target are also discussed.
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