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Nucleic Acids Research logoLink to Nucleic Acids Research
. 2000 Feb 1;28(3):663–668. doi: 10.1093/nar/28.3.663

SURVEY AND SUMMARY A compilation of cellular transcription factor interactions with the HIV-1 LTR promoter

Lloyd A Pereira 1, Karen Bentley 1, Anna Peeters 1, Melissa J Churchill 1, Nicholas J Deacon 1,a
PMCID: PMC102541  PMID: 10637316

Abstract

The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) long terminal repeat (LTR) represents a model promoter system and the identification and characterisation of cellular proteins that interact with this region has provided a basic understanding about both general eukaryotic and HIV-1 proviral transcriptional regulation. To date a large number of sequence-specific DNA–protein interactions have been described for the HIV-1 LTR. The aim of this report is to provide a comprehensive, updated listing of these HIV-1 LTR interactions. It is intended as a reference point to facilitate on-going studies characterising the identity of cellular proteins interacting with the HIV-1 LTR and the functional role(s) of specific regions of the LTR for HIV-1 replication.

INTRODUCTION

The regulation of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) proviral gene expression is tightly regulated by the binding of cellular host proteins to a variety of cis-acting DNA sequences located within the long terminal repeat (LTR) region of the viral genome (1). The HIV-1 LTR is divided into three regions: U3, R and U5 (Fig. 1). These contain four functional regions related to the regulation of HIV-1 transcription: the transactivation response (TAR) element found within R (nt +1 to +60), the basal or core promoter (nt –78 to –1), a core enhancer (nt –105 to –79) and a modulatory region (nt –454 to –104) (1). The last three are found within U3. The modulatory region has also been proposed to contain a negative regulatory element (NRE) between nt –340 and –184 because deletions within this region increased HIV-1 LTR-directed transcription and viral replication (2,3).

Figure 1.

Figure 1

Structure of the HIV-1 5′-LTR and gag leader sequence (GLS). The U3 region contains basal, enhancer and modulatory promoter elements, including the negative regulatory element (NRE). The sequence of the transactivating region (TAR) is found in the repeat (R) region. The tRNA primer binding (tRNA) and major splice donor (SD) sites are within the GLS. The initiation codon of the gag gene is depicted by AUG. Numbering above the boxed regions starts from the first nucleotide of the proviral DNA sequence (here using the HIV-1HXB2 sequence; accession no. K03455), numbering below the boxed regions is relative to the transcription start site nucleotide +1.

Early reports showed the three Sp1 core promoter binding sites and two NF-κB core enhancer motifs to be key elements involved in the regulation of HIV-1 transcription (1). Several cellular proteins including c-Myb, NF-AT, USF and COUP have also been proposed to interact with the modulatory region and contribute to HIV-1 LTR promoter activity (1,47). Subsequent studies have revealed a wealth of additional U3 and TAR DNA–protein interactions that significantly influence levels of HIV-1 LTR transcription. More recently, important motifs within the U5 region and gag leader sequence (GLS) have been described (811). Furthermore, we have identified a fourth Sp1 binding site at the 5′-end of the U3 region and, in addition to the U3 USF and NF-κB sites, found it to be essential for negative sense transcription from the HIV-1 LTR (12,13). Together these various binding sites and their relative orientations mediate combinatorial DNA–protein and protein–protein interactions that form a complex regulatory network through which HIV-1 regulates its levels of positive and negative sense gene expression in a diverse range of target host cells under a variety of extracellular stimuli.

DESCRIPTION OF THE COMPILATION

The present report provides an updated listing covering previously published HIV-1 LTR DNA–protein interactions (Tables 15). Interactions are tabulated according to the functional regions of the LTR (R/U5 junction, U5, GLS, TAR, basal/core promoter, core enhancer and modulatory region). The identity and site of interaction are listed in the first and second columns, respectively. Within each table interactions are listed in an order that is relative to the transcription start site +1. While most interactions are highly conserved across strains of HIV-1, not all sites are found in all strains and the exact position of an interacting site may differ slightly. Therefore, sites are recorded according to the numbering of the HIV-1 strain used in the original description. The source cell type and stimulatory conditions under which the interaction was observed are listed in the third column. In some instances interactions have been defined using only proteins in either a recombinant or purified form. For each interaction, the effect on levels of HIV-1 LTR transcription is provided in the fourth column. For more specific details of transcription factor interactions with the HIV-1 LTR and their proposed effect(s) on levels of transcription readers are referred to publications cited in the fifth column.

Table 1. Cellular transcription factors interacting with the HIV-1 LTR R/U5 junction, U5 region and GLS (nt +78 to +296).

Factor Region (nt) Cell type/source Effect on transcription Reference
Sp1 +271 to +289 Recombinant Sp1, ACH-2, U1 + 8, 11
IRF-1 and IRF-2 +204 to +223 Jurkat (IFN-induced), Raji, U937, HeLa, SupT1 + 8, 11
AP-3 (NFAT) +169 to +181 A3.01 (TPA + ionomycin treated), Raji, U937, HeLa, SupT1 + 8, 11
AP-1, ATF-1, ATF-2, CREB-1 +160 to +167 Jurkat (TPA treated), SW480, SW620, HT29 + 8–11,14
AP-1 +122 to –129 Recombinant AP-1, Jurkat (TPA treated) + 8,11
AP-1, ATF-1, ATF-2, CREB-1 +92 to +102 Jurkat (TPA treated), SW480, SW620, HT29 + 8,9,11,14

+, activator of HIV-1 LTR transcription; Recombinant, E.coli synthesised factor, in vitro transcribed/translated or artificially expressed in a cell line.

Table 5. Cellular transcription factors interacting with the HIV-1 LTR modulatory region (nt –454 to –104).

Factor Region (nt) Cell type/source Effect on transcription Reference
Nuclear matrix factor –117 to –220 HIV-1 infected HUT-78 65
RBF-2 –121 to –131 Jurkat + 32,33
LEF-1 –122 to –142 Recombinant, Jurkat + 20,66
Ets-1 –140 to –160 Recombinant + 66
cEts-1 –141 to –149 Recombinant, T cell Unclear 67
RBF-1 –142 to –151 Jurkat + 32,33
HIV-TF1 –159 to –173 BALL-1 + 68
NF-IL6 –157 to –177 Recombinant, PMA-stimulated U937, THP-1 +/– 62,64,69
Unclear –150 to –170 H9IIIB Unclear 35
USF, TFE3, TFEB –166 to –161 HeLa 6
LPS-inducible factor –171 to –163 Human monocytes, THP-1 Unclear 70
ILF –206 to –220 Recombinant Unclear 71
Unclear –215 to –280 H9IIIB, U1 Unclear 35
NF-IL6 –238 to –258 Recombinant + 64
AP-1 –247 to –222 U373-MG, TC620, HeLa + 72
NFAT –254 to –216 Activated T cells Unclear 7
Glucorticoid receptor –259 to –264 Recombinant Unclear 73
Unclear –255 to –238 RA or HMBA-stimulated NTERA-2 + 74
Unclear –260 to –290 HeLa 75
Unclear –260 to –275 H9IIIB, U1 Unclear 35,36
ILF –262 to –276 Recombinant Unclear 71
Unclear –273 to –255 SK23 T cell 76
GATA-2, GATA-3, GATA-4 –293 to –290 Recombinant, MT-2 77
NRT-1 –295 to –320 H9IIIB, H9, Jurkat, MOLT4, HeLa 78
HTF4, E2A, ITF-1 –299 to –304 Recombinant, MT-2, Jurkat Unclear 34,79 Pereira,L.A. et al., J. Biol. Chem., submitted for publication
c-Myb –299 to –304 Recombinant + 5,79
Novel factor –306 to –285 U373-MG, SK-N-MC, TC620, Jurkat, HeLa Unclear 72
Factor A1 –317 to –288 Jurkat and clone 2F6 T cell Unclear 80
RARα, ARP-1, EAR-2, EAR-3, HNF-4, NGFI-B, PPAR –320 to –356 U373-MG, SK-N-MC, TC620, Cos-1 and recombinant +/– 40,81
Factor R –322 to –298 Jurkat and clone 2F6 T cell Unclear 80
COUP-TF –324 to –357 Jurkat T cell, HeLa Unclear 4
Unclear –324 to –357 U937 + 82
NRT-2 –325 to –338 H9IIIB, H9, Jurkat, MOLT4 78
Novel steroid/hormone receptor (not COUP) –327 to –350 Jurkat T cell, HeLa and PBL 83,84
GATA-2, 3 –338 to –343 BAF3 B cell, Recombinant + 78,85
Unclear –361 to –379 Jurkat Unclear 84
NFI family (not YB-1), CREB/ATF family –370 to –377 Jurkat T cell, HeLa +/– 86
GATA-3 –373 to –377 Recombinant + 77
GATA-2 –401 to –405 BAF3 + 85
GATA-2 –409 to –413 BAF3 + 85
GATA-3 –433 to –441 Recombinant + 77
Sp1 –421 to –454 Recombinant, Jurkat *+ 12,13

+, activator of HIV-1 LTR transcription; *+, essential for negative sense HIV-1 LTR transcription; –, repressor of HIV-1 LTR transcription; +/–, shown to be both an activator and repressor of HIV-1 LTR transcription; Recombinant, E.coli synthesised factor, in vitro transcribed/translated or artificially expressed in a cell line; Unclear, identity of transcription factor and/or effect on HIV-1 LTR transcription not determined.

Table 2. Cellular transcription factors interacting with the HIV-1 LTR TAR DNA region (nt +1 to +60), initiator element (Inr; nt –7 to +30) and the inducer of short transcripts (IST, nt –5 to +82).

Factor Region (nt) Cell type/source Effect on transcription Reference
NF-κB +31 to +40 MC3 treated with mitomycin C, Jurkat and 293 treated with or without TNFα recombinant p50, p52 and p65 + 15
CTF +41 to +46 HeLa Unclear 16
USF +35 to +60 Recombinant + 17
UPF-2 +28 to +36 HeLa Unclear 18
PRDII-BF1 +27 to +52 Recombinant + 19
LEF-1 +17 to +32 Jurkat + 20
Glucocorticoid receptor +15 to +20 Recombinant 21
IST, FBI-1 +1 to +8 and +49 to +78 HeLa Required for the establishment of abortive transcription complexes 22,23
Glucocorticoid receptor –1 to –6 Recombinant No effect 21
Oct-1 and Oct-2 –7 to –14 HeLa 24
USF –3 to +20 Recombinant + 17
NF-κB –1 to +9 Jurkat and 293 treated with or without TNFα, recombinant p50, p52 + 25
LBP-1 (UP-1, CP-2) –16 to +27 Recombinant +/– 26–28
YY1 –17 to +25 HeLa 29
TDP-43 –18 to +28 HeLa, recombinant 30,88
HIP-116 –25 to +2 HeLa, recombinant Unclear 31

+, activator of HIV-1 LTR transcription; –, repressor of HIV-1 LTR transcription; +/–, shown to be both an activator and repressor of HIV-1 LTR transcription; Recombinant, E.coli synthesised factor, in vitro transcribed/translated or artificially expressed in a cell line; Unclear, identity of transcription factor and/or effect on HIV-1 LTR transcription not determined; No effect, mutation of binding site shown to have no effect on levels of HIV-1 LTR transcription compared to the wild-type LTR.

Table 3. Cellular transcription factors interacting with the HIV-1 LTR basal/core promoter (nt –78 to –1).

Factor Region (nt) Cell type/source Effect on transcription Reference
RBF-2 –5 to –26 Jurkat + 32,33
LBP-1 (UP-1, CP-2) –16 to –38 Recombinant +/– 26–28
E47, AP-4, HTF4 –17 to –22 Recombinant 30,34
Unclear –20 to –102 H9IIIB, U1 Unclear 35,36
IE2-86 –20 to –120 Recombinant + 37
TATA binding protein –23 to –27 Ubiquitous Essential 38
LEF-1 –37 to –51 Jurkat + 20
HMBP –39 to –81 Hut 78, HeLa Unclear 39
YB-1 –40 to –83 U-87MG, SK-N-MC, Jurkat + 40,89
T3Rα –45 to –76 HeLa + 41,42
Sp1 –46 to –78 (three sites) Ubiquitous + 43
Sp3 –46 to –78 HeLa, Jurkat 44
Sp4 –46 to –78 Unclear + 44
GBF –46 to –78 Human Peripheral Blood Leukocyte cDNA Library Unclear 45
BTEB –46 to –78 Recombinant + 46
AAV Rep78 –54 to –34 Recombinant 47
T3Rα –59 to –64 Mononuclear cells and leukaemic cell lines + 48
p53 –64 to –75 Jurkat + 49
PEBP2 –67 to –73 NIH 3T3 Unclear 50

+, activator of HIV-1 LTR transcription; –, repressor of HIV-1 LTR transcription; +/–, shown to be both an activator and repressor of HIV-1 LTR transcription; Recombinant, E.coli synthesised factor, in vitro transcribed/translated or artificially expressed in a cell line; Unclear, identity of transcription factor and/or effect on HIV-1 LTR transcription not determined.

Table 4. Cellular transcription factors interacting with the HIV-1 LTR core enhancer region (nt –105 to –79).

Factor Region (nt) Cell type/source Effect on transcription Reference
C/EBP family members –79 to –109 Recombinant, Jurkat, HeLa, U138MG, C1.7W2 +/– 51–53
T3R –80 to –104 HeLa + 41,42
EBP-1 –80 to –105 Jurkat + 54
NF-κB/Rel family –81 to –91 and –95 to –104 Jurkat, H9, myeloid + 55–57
GABP-α and -β –81 to –91 and –95 to –104 Recombinant, TPA-stimulated Jurkat + 58
Prototypic NF-κB –81 to –91 and –95 to –104 CNS cells + 59
RBF-1 –80 to –104 Jurkat + 32,33
PRDII-BF1 –83 to –108 Recombinant + 19
E2F-1 –93 to –99 Recombinant 60
Ets-2, PU.1 –95 to –104 Recombinant + 61
NF-IL6 –97 to –132 Recombinant + 62–64

+, activator of HIV-1 LTR transcription; –, repressor of HIV-1 LTR transcription; +/–, shown to be both an activator and repressor of HIV-1 LTR transcription; Recombinant, E.coli synthesised factor, in vitro transcribed/translated or artificially expressed in a cell line.

Acknowledgments

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We are grateful to members of the AIDS Molecular Biology Unit, in particular Paul F. Lambert and Mandy Ludford-Menting, for helpful discussions and assistance. We thank Prof. John Mills for critical review of the manuscript. L.A.P. was in receipt of a Commonwealth AIDS Research Grant PhD Scholarship. Work in the AIDS Molecular Biology Unit is supported by an Australian Commonwealth AIDS Research Grant as a Laboratory of the National Centre in HIV Virology Research and the Research Fund of the Macfarlane Burnet Centre for Medical Research.

REFERENCES


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