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Nuclear import of HIV‐1 intracellular reverse transcription complexes is mediated by importin 7
Author(s) -
Fassati Ariberto,
Görlich Dirk,
Harrison Ian,
Zaytseva Lyubov,
Mingot JoséManuel
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
the embo journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 7.484
H-Index - 392
eISSN - 1460-2075
pISSN - 0261-4189
DOI - 10.1093/emboj/cdg357
Subject(s) - biology , importin , nuclear transport , intracellular , transcription (linguistics) , microbiology and biotechnology , reverse transcriptase , transcription factor , cell nucleus , virology , genetics , rna , gene , nucleus , philosophy , linguistics
Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV‐1), like other lentiviruses, can infect non‐dividing cells. This property depends on the active nuclear import of its intracellular reverse transcription complex (RTC). We have studied nuclear import of purified HIV‐1 RTCs in primary macrophages and found that importin 7, an import receptor for ribosomal proteins and histone H1, is involved in the process. Nuclear import of RTCs requires, in addition, energy and the com ponents of the Ran system. Depletion of importin 7 from cultured cells by small interfering RNA inhibits HIV‐1 infection. These results provide a new insight into the molecular mechanism for HIV‐1 nuclear import and reveal potential targets for therapeutic intervention.