Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Vif Induces Cell Cycle Delay via Recruitment of the Same E3 Ubiquitin Ligase Complex That Targets APOBEC3 Proteins for Degradation

Abstract

ABSTRACT Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Vif recruits a Cullin 5 ubiquitin ligase that targets APOBEC3 proteins for degradation. Recently, Vif has also been shown to induce cell cycle disturbance in G 2 . We show that in contrast to the expression of Vpr, the expression of Vif does not preclude cell division, and therefore, Vif causes delay and not arrest in G 2 . We also demonstrate that the interaction of Vif with the ubiquitin ligase is required for cell cycle disruption, as was previously shown for HIV-1 Vpr. The presence of APOBEC3 D/E, F, and G had no influence on Vif-induced alteration of the cell cycle. We conclude that cell cycle delay by Vif is a result of ubiquitination and degradation of a cellular protein that is different from the known APOBEC3 family members.