DNA Research: APOBEC3G DNA deaminase acts processively 3'->5' on single-stranded DNA

AIDSWEEKLY Plus; Monday, July 17, 2006
Staff Medical Writers

According to recent research published in the journal Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, "Akin to a 'Trojan horse', APOBEC3G DNA deaminase is encapsulated by the HIV virion. APOBEC3G facilitates restriction of HIV-1 infection in T cells by deaminating cytosines in nascent minus-strand complementary DNA.

“Here, we investigate the biochemical basis for C->U targeting. We observe that APOBEC3G binds randomly to single-stranded DNA, then jumps and slides processively to deaminate target motifs.”

“When confronting partially double-stranded DNA, to which APOBEC3G cannot bind, sliding is lost but jumping is retained. APOBEC3G shows catalytic orientational specificity such that deamination occurs predominantly 3'->5' without requiring hydrolysis of a nucleotide cofactor,” L. Chelico and colleagues at the University of Southern California reported.

The authors concluded, “Our data suggest that the G->A mutational gradient generated in viral genomic DNA in vivo could result from an intrinsic processive directional attack by APOBEC3G on single-stranded cDNA.”

Chelico and colleagues published their study in Nature Structural & Molecular Biology (APOBEC3G DNA deaminase acts processively 3'->5' on single-stranded DNA. Nat Struct Mol Biol. 2006 May;13(5):392-9).

For additional information, contact M.F. Goodman, University of So California, Dept. Biology Science Molecular, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA.

The publisher's contact information for the journal Nature Structural & Molecular Biology is: Nature Publishing Group, 75 Varick Street, 9TH Floor, New York, NY 10013-1917, USA.

Keywords: Los Angeles, California, United States, AIDS, DNA, DNA Research, Deoxyribonucleic Acid, Genetics, Genomics, HIV, Proteomics, Sexually Transmitted Disease, Virology.

This article was prepared by AIDS Weekly editors from staff and other reports.

Reference

Chelico L, Pham P, Calabrese P, et al., “APOBEC3G DNA deaminase acts processively 3' --> 5' on single-stranded DNA”, Nat Struct Mol Biol. 2006 May;13(5):392-9.

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