sgi-1776 and HIV-Infections

Lentiviruses have evolved to acquire an auxiliary protein Vpx to counteract the intrinsic host restriction factor SAMHD1. Although Vpx is phosphorylated, it remains unclear whether such phosphorylation indeed regulates its activity toward SAMHD1. Here we identify the PIM family of serine/threonine protein kinases as the factors responsible for the phosphorylation of Vpx and the promotion of Vpx-mediated SAMHD1 counteraction. Integrated proteomics and subsequent functional analysis reveal that PIM family kinases, PIM1 and PIM3, phosphorylate HIV-2 Vpx at Ser13 and stabilize the interaction of Vpx with SAMHD1 thereby promoting ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis of SAMHD1. Inhibition of the PIM kinases promotes the antiviral activity of SAMHD1, ultimately reducing viral replication. Our results highlight a new mode of virus-host cell interaction in which host PIM kinases facilitate promotion of viral infectivity by counteracting the host antiviral system, and suggest a novel therapeutic strategy involving restoration of SAMHD1-mediated antiviral response.

Topics: Biphenyl Compounds; Cell Line, Tumor; HEK293 Cells; HIV Infections; HIV-2; Host-Pathogen Interactions; Humans; Imidazoles; Immune Tolerance; Molecular Dynamics Simulation; Monocytes; Phosphorylation; Protein Binding; Protein Kinase Inhibitors; Protein Processing, Post-Translational; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; Proteolysis; Proteomics; Proto-Oncogene Proteins; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-pim-1; Pyridazines; Recombinant Proteins; SAM Domain and HD Domain-Containing Protein 1; Serine; Thiazolidines; Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins; Virus Replication