Construction and characterization of a potent HIV-2 Tat transdominant mutant protein

The human immunodeficiency virus types 1 and 2 (HIV-1 and HIV-2) Tat proteins Tat-1 and Tat-2 stimulate transcription of the viral long terminal repeat (LTR) sequences and are required for efficient viral replication. A class of mutant Tat proteins, termed "transdominant mutants," has been described that possesses relatively low transactivation activity, yet is able to inhibit the function of wild-type Tat. These mutant proteins contain a nonfunctional TAR RNA-binding domain but apparently retain a functional activation domain. A potential limitation for therapeutic use of transdominant mutants described to date is their low but significant basal level of transactivation for the HIV-1 or HIV-2 LTRs. In order to make an improved transdominant mutant, we have constructed Tat-2 proteins that contain mutations in four contiguous arginines at residues 81 to 84 in the RNA-binding domain. Using purified proteins and in vitro RNA-binding assays, we verified that these mutant Tat-2 proteins are defective for TAR RNA binding. We also verified that these mutant Tat-2 proteins bind to a cellular protein kinase in vitro that we have previously shown to bind specifically to the Tat-1 and Tat-2 activation domain. Using plasmid cotransfection assays, we compared the phenotypes of these mutant Tat-2 proteins with the most potent Tat-1 transdominant mutant described to date. One Tat-2 mutant, named "R81-84A," was found to be equivalent to the Tat-1 mutant in ability to inhibit wild-type Tat transactivation of HIV-1 and HIV-2 LTRs. Moreover, the R81-84A mutant possessed a significantly lower basal level of transactivation than the Tat-1 mutant. The R81-84A Tat-2 mutant is therefore a promising reagent for future development as an anti-HIV agent. Additionally, our results suggest that wild-type Tat-2 transactivation of the HIV-2 LTR is especially sensitive to inhibition by transdominant mutants.