HIV-1 Tat, apoptosis and the mitochondria: a tubulin link?

doi:10.1186/1742-4690-2-7

Retrovirology

Volume 2

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Commentary

HIV-1 Tat, apoptosis and the mitochondria: a tubulin link?

Mauro Giacca

Molecular Medicine Laboratory, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Trieste, Italy

author email corresponding author email

Retrovirology 2005, 2:7doi:10.1186/1742-4690-2-7


Published:	7 February 2005

Abstract

The Tat protein of HIV-1 is a powerful activator of viral gene expression. Besides this essential function at the HIV-1 promoter, the protein also exerts a remarkable number of other biological activities, among which the induction of cellular apoptosis. Two papers now published in Retrovirology provide possible molecular mechanisms for the pro-apoptotic effect of Tat, which involve the cell's microtubular network and the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis.