The p13II protein of HTLV type 1: comparison with mitochondrial proteins coded by other human viruses

In addition to the essential regulatory proteins Rex and Tax, the HTLV-1 genome encodes several accessory proteins of yet undefined function. One of these "orphan" proteins, named p13(II), was recently shown to be selectively targeted to mitochondria and to induce specific changes in mitochondrial morphology suggestive of altered inner membrane permeability and swelling. This represented the first report of a retroviral gene product targeted to mitochondria, and suggested that p13(II)-induced alterations in the function of this organelle may play a role in HTLV-1 replication and/or pathogenesis. The more recent findings that both Vpr and Tat of HIV-1 are targeted to mitochondria reinforces the proposed relevance of mitochondrial metabolism to the life cycle of retroviruses. Thus, p13(II), Vpr, and Tat can be added to the growing list of mitochondrial proteins produced by clinically important human viruses, including Epstein-Barr virus, human cytomegalovirus, and hepatitis B virus. Mitochondria are known to play a critical role by providing an amplification loop required for the execution of signaling pathways leading to programmed cell death. The functional consequences of the interactions between viral proteins and mitochondria described so far have been attributed to either the positive or negative control of apoptotic responses mediated by this organelle. Further analysis of the effects of p13(II) on mitochondrial function is likely to add to our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the development of HTLV-1-associated diseases.