Commentary
SNFing HIV transcription
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Correspondence: Michael Bukrinsky mtmmib@gwumc.edu
The George Washington University, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Tropical Medicine, Washington, DC 20037, USA
Retrovirology 2006, 3:49 doi:10.1186/1742-4690-3-49
Published: 9 August 2006Abstract
The SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex is an essential regulator of transcription of cellular genes. HIV-1 infection induces exit of a core component of SWI/SNF, Ini1, into the cytoplasm and its association with the viral pre-integration complex. Several recent papers published in EMBO Journal, Journal of Biological Chemistry, and Retrovirology provide new information regarding possible functions of Ini1 and SWI/SNF in HIV life cycle. It appears that Ini1 has an inhibitory effect on pre-integration steps of HIV replication, but also contributes to stimulation of Tat-mediated transcription. This stimulation involves displacement of the nucleosome positioned at the HIV promoter.