The Tat protein of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) interacts with the EGF-like repeats of the Notch proteins and the EGF precursor

• Published in: Virus research 2003-12, Vol.98 (1), p.57-61
• Main Authors: Shoham, Nitza, Cohen, Limor, Yaniv, Abraham, Gazit, Arnona
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Cell Line; Drosophila; EGF-like repeats; Epidermal Growth Factor - chemistry; Epidermal Growth Factor - metabolism; Gene Products, tat - metabolism; HIV; Human immunodeficiency virus; Humans; Membrane Proteins - chemistry; Membrane Proteins - metabolism; Mice; Notch; Notch1 protein; Notch2 protein; Protein Precursors - chemistry; Protein Precursors - metabolism; Receptor, Notch1; Receptor, Notch2; Receptors, Cell Surface - chemistry; Receptors, Cell Surface - metabolism; Receptors, Notch; Repetitive Sequences, Amino Acid; Tat protein; Transcription Factors; Two-Hybrid System Techniques
• ISSN: 0168-1702; 1872-7492
• DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2003.08.016

Employing the yeast two-hybrid system, the Tat protein of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was shown to interact with a region spanning the EGF-like repeats 1–6 of the mouse Notch1, the human Notch2 and the Drosophila Notch. This observation was confirmed in mammalian cells by demonstrating an interaction between the HIV Tat and the EGF-like repeats 1–6 of the various Notch proteins. The HIV Tat protein interacted also with the full-length mouse Notch1 receptor when co-expressed in mammalian cells. Moreover, the HIV Tat protein interacted also with the EGF-like repeats 1–4-spanning domain of the human EGF precursor. The ability of the HIV Tat protein to interact with the Notch proteins and possibly with other EGF-like repeats-bearing proteins, suggests that such interactions might modulate their physiological functions, thus affecting various AIDS-associated pathologies.