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. 1994 Apr;68(4):2677–2682. doi: 10.1128/jvi.68.4.2677-2682.1994

The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Tat protein transactivates tumor necrosis factor beta gene expression through a TAR-like structure.

L Buonaguro 1, F M Buonaguro 1, G Giraldo 1, B Ensoli 1
PMCID: PMC236745  PMID: 8139045

Abstract

We have previously shown that the Tat protein of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) transactivates tumor necrosis factor alpha and beta (TNF alpha and TNF beta) gene expression in HIV-1-infected and in tat-transfected T-lymphocytic and monocytic cell lines. The product encoded by the first exon of the tat gene (amino acids 1 to 72) is sufficient for this transactivation. Here we show that (i) the NF-kappa B and Sp1 binding sites of the TNF beta promoter are required for Tat-mediated transactivation and (ii) a predicted stem-loop structure in the TNF beta mRNA leader region, which resembles the Tat-responsive element of the HIV-1 long terminal repeat (TAR) and which is therefore termed TAR-like, is essential for TNF beta transactivation by Tat. These data suggest that similar promoter regulatory elements are necessary for Tat-mediated transactivation of both TNF beta and HIV-1 gene expression. This represents the first demonstration of a cellular gene with a regulatory element downstream of the transcriptional initiation site that, like TAR, may function as an RNA element.

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Selected References

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