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Updated: Mar 17, 2026

Amplification of Near Full-length HIV-1 Proviruses for Next-Generation Sequencing
Published on: October 16, 2018
APOBEC3 proteins can copackage and comutate HIV-1 genomes
Belete A Desimmie1, Ryan C Burdick1, Taisuke Izumi1
1Viral Mutation Section, HIV Dynamics and Replication Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702, USA.
APOBEC3 cytidine deaminases are packaged into HIV-1 virions and can be copackaged. Copackaging of APOBEC3 proteins leads to additive or synergistic increases in G-to-A hypermutation, enhancing viral inhibition.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- APOBEC3 cytidine deaminases inhibit viral replication through G-to-A hypermutation.
- The copackaging and cooperative effects of APOBEC3 proteins in HIV-1 inhibition are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the copackaging of APOBEC3 proteins within HIV-1 virions.
- To determine if copackaged APOBEC3 proteins act additively or synergistically to inhibit HIV-1 replication.
Main Methods:
- Visualization of fluorescently-tagged APOBEC3 proteins using single-virion fluorescence microscopy.
- Analysis of G-to-A mutations in proviral genomes to assess comutation frequency.
- Identification of distinct editing site sequence contexts for each APOBEC3 protein.
Main Results:
- APOBEC3 proteins (A3G, A3F, A3D, A3H) are copackaged into HIV-1 virions.
- Copackaging of A3G + A3F and A3G + A3H resulted in additive and synergistic increases in G-to-A mutations, respectively.
- Distinct editing contexts were identified for each APOBEC3, and hypermutation was observed in patient-derived proviral DNA.
Conclusions:
- APOBEC3 proteins can be copackaged and comutate the same viral genomes.
- Cooperative action of APOBEC3 proteins enhances inhibition of HIV-1 replication.
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