Biology subjects

Dzhivhuho, G.

Publications and source records attributed to Dzhivhuho, G..

2 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2025

Identification and Characterization of Functional and Trans-dominant Negative HERV-K (HML-2) Rec Proteins Encoded in the Human Genome.

Human Endogenous Retroviruses K (HERV-K) of the HML-2 subgroup are the most recently integrated and biologically active retroviral elements within the human genome. The HERV-K Rec protein, a functional homolog of HIV Rev and HTLV Rex, is necessary for the nuclear export of viral mRNAs with retained introns. However, the diversity of Rec proteins encoded in the human genome and their functional capacities have remained largely unexplored. We identified full-length Rec protein sequences in the human genome and selected 23 variants for functional characterization. Using a dual-color fluorescent reporter and a complementary ELISA assay, we found that Rec proteins from only 7 genomic loci were functional. In addition, a subset of the non-functional Rec proteins exerted trans-dominant negative effects. Detailed mutational analysis of the most potent inhibitory variant, encoded by the HERV-K provirus 12q14.1, displayed only 2 amino acid changes (H2N and del34E) relative to the prototypical functional Rec protein encoded by the reconstructed consensus HERV-K (HERV-K Con). Insertion of a glutamic acid at position 34 restored the functional activity, while the substitution of histidine with asparagine at position 2 did not. Our results unveil an unexpected complexity in HERV-K (HML-2) post-transcriptional regulation, with Rec variants displaying a spectrum of activities ranging from robust nuclear export of RNA with retained introns to trans-dominant negative inhibition of Rec function. These findings expand our understanding of the regulatory landscape governing HERV-K (HML-2) expression and suggest mechanisms by which different HERV-K Rec proteins may influence host cell biology and pathology, including oncogenesis.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2022

HIV-1 Rev-RRE Functional Activity in Primary Isolates is Highly Dependent on Minimal Context-Dependent Changes in Rev

During HIV infection, intron-containing viral mRNAs have to be exported efficiently from the host cell nucleus to the cytoplasm in order to complete the replication cycle. To overcome cellular restrictions to export incompletely spliced transcripts, HIV encodes a protein, Rev, that is constitutively expressed from a completely spliced transcript. Rev is then imported into the nucleus where it binds to an RNA structure on intron-containing viral mRNAs called the Rev Response Element (RRE). Bound Rev multimerizes and recruits cellular factors that permit the nuclear export of the resulting ribonucleoprotein complex. Primary HIV isolates display substantial variation in the functional activity of the Rev-RRE axis, which may permit viral adaptation to differing immune environments. We describe two subtype G primary isolates with disparate Rev activity. Rev activity was correlated with in vitro fitness of replication-competent viral constructs. Amino acid differences within the oligomerziation domain, but not within the arginine-rich motif or nuclear export signal, determined the different levels of Rev activity. Two specific amino acid substitutions were demonstrated to be able to alter the low-activity Rev to a high-activity phenotype. However, introducing the original amino acids from the the low activity Rev into high activity Rev in this position did not result in significant alterations in activity, highlighting the importance of the broader sequence context for functional activity. These results demonstrate that studies of Rev and RRE activity variation, which may have broader implications for HIV transmission and pathogenesis, should include sequences from primary isolates, as findings using only laboratory-adapted strains cannot be generalized.

microbiology↗