Identification and characterization of Vpx-interacting host factors

HIV-2/SIVsm Vpx通过降解髓细胞中的宿主抗病毒因子SAMHD1促进病毒复制。尽管有报道称SAMHD1的磷酸化状态对其抗病毒活性很重要，但Vpx的磷酸化是否对其抗SAMHD1活性有贡献尚不清楚。在这项研究中，我们确定了几种人类激酶作为与Vpx相互作用的潜在宿主因子。进一步的生化分析发现一个激酶直接与Vpx相互作用并促进其磷酸化。发现这种磷酸化对SAMHD1的降解以及有效的病毒感染很重要。我们的研究结果表明，我们发现的一种激酶可以调节vpx依赖性病毒的复制。

HIV-2/SIVsm Vpx promotes the viral replication through the degradation of a host antiviral factor, SAMHD1, in myeloid cells. Although it has been reported that phosphorylation status of SAMHD1 was important for its antiviral activity, it is still unknown whether the phosphorylation of Vpx contributes its anti-SAMHD1 activity. In this study we identified several human kinases as potential host factors to interact with Vpx. Further biochemical analysis uncovered that one kinase directly interacted with Vpx and promoted its phosphorylation. This phosphorylation is found to be important on the degradation of SAMHD1 as well as efficient viral infection. Our results together suggest that a kinase we identified could regulate the Vpx-dependent viral replication.