Identification and characterization of Vpx-interacting host factors

HIV-2/SIVsm Vpx通过在骨髓细胞中降解宿主抗病毒因子SAMHD 1来促进病毒复制。尽管已有报道SAMHD 1的磷酸化状态对其抗病毒活性很重要，但Vpx的磷酸化是否有助于其抗SAMHD 1活性仍是未知的。在这项研究中，我们确定了几种人类激酶作为潜在的宿主因子与Vpx相互作用。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SAMHD 1的降解以及有效的病毒感染是重要的。我们的研究结果表明，我们确定的激酶可以调节Vpx依赖的病毒复制。

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.