Impact of Tat Genetic Variation on HIV-1 Disease

الملخص EN

The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) promoter or long-terminal repeat (LTR) regulates viral gene expression by interacting with multiple viral and host factors.

The viral transactivator protein Tat plays an important role in transcriptional activation of HIV-1 gene expression.

Functional domains of Tat and its interaction with transactivation response element RNA and cellular transcription factors have been examined.

Genetic variation within tat of different HIV-1 subtypes has been shown to affect the interaction of the viral transactivator with cellular and/or viral proteins, influencing the overall level of transcriptional activation as well as its action as a neurotoxic protein.

Consequently, the genetic variability within tat may impact the molecular architecture of functional domains of the Tat protein that may impact HIV pathogenesis and disease.

Tat as a therapeutic target for anti-HIV drugs has also been discussed.