NIAID HIV/OI Searchable Chemical Database
Vpr (Viral Protein R)
Although Vpr is only a 96-amino acid, 14 kD protein, it performs two distinct functions during HIV replication. VPR is incorporated into the HIV virion and helps to target the viral preintegration complex (PIC) to the nucleus in nondividing cells through it's nuclear localization signal (1,2). An interaction between Vpr and the p6 portion of the gag protein is believed to responsible for the packaging of Vpr into the virion (3). Vpr is also responsible for arresting HIV infected cells in the G2 phase of the cell cycle. Although the specific cellular target responsible for G2 arrest has yet to be identified, VPR expression has been correlated with a decrease in p34cdc2/cyclin B complex activity (4).
References
- COHEN, E.A.; DEHNI, G.; SODROSKI, J.G.; HASELTINE, WA, HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS VPR PRODUCT IS A VIRION-ASSOCIATED REGULATORY PROTEIN. J VIROL 64:3097-3099 (1990).
- BUKINSKY, M.I.; HAGGERTY, S.A.; RAGLAND, A.M.; KEWALRAMANI, V.; LEE M.A.; GENDELMAN, H.E.; RATNER, L.; STEVENSON, M.; EMERMAN, M, THE VPR PROTEIN OF HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS TYPE 1 INFLUENCES NUCLEAR LOCALIZATION OF VIRAL NUCLEIC ACIDS IN NONDIVIDING HOST CELLS. , PROC NATL ACAD SCI U S A., 91(15):7311-7315 (1994).
- KONDO E.; GOTTLINGER H.G., A CONSERVED LXXLF SEQUENCE IS THE MAJOR DETERMINANT IN P6 GAG REQUIRED FOR THE INCORPORATION OF HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS TYPE 1 VPR. J VIROL. 70(1):159-64 (1996).
- HE, J.; CHOE, S.; WALKER, R.; DI, MARZIO, P.; MORGAN, D.O.; LANDAU, N.R., HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS TYPE 1 VIRAL PROTEIN R (VPR) ARRESTS CELLS IN THE G2 PHASE OF THE CELL CYCLE BY INHIBITING P34CDC2 ACTIVITY. J VIROL. 69(11):6705-6711 (1995).
