PDZ domain-binding motif of human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 Tax oncoprotein is essential for the interleukin 2 independent growth induction of a T-cell line.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is the etiologic agent of adult T-cell leukemia (ATL), whereas HTLV type 2 (HTLV-2), is not associated with ATL or any other leukemia. HTLV-1 encodes the transforming gene tax1, whose expression in an interleukin (IL)-2-dependent T-cell line (CTLL-2) induces IL-2-independent growth.

RESULTS:

In this study, we demonstrated that IL-2-independent growth induction by Tax1 was abrogated by mutations of the PDZ domain-binding motif (PBM) at the Tax1 C-terminus. HTLV-2 Tax2, which shares 75% amino acid identity with Tax1 but does not have a PBM, was not able to induce IL-2-independent growth of CTLL-2.

CONCLUSION:

Our results suggest that Tax1, through interaction with PDZ domain protein(s) induces IL-2-independent growth, which may be a factor in multi-step leukemogenesis caused by HTLV-1.

• Authors: Chikako Tsubata, Masaya Higuchi, Masahiko Takahashi, Masayasu Oie, Yuetsu Tanaka, Fumitake Gejyo, Masahiro Fujii
• Journal: Retrovirology (Retrovirology) Vol. 2 Pg. 46 (Jul 23 2005) ISSN: 1742-4690 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 16042787 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Gene Products, tax
• Interleukin-2
• NF-kappa B

Topics

• Binding Sites
• Cell Line
• Cell Proliferation
• Gene Products, tax (chemistry, physiology)
• Humans
• Interleukin-2 (physiology)
• Leukemia-Lymphoma, Adult T-Cell (etiology)
• NF-kappa B (physiology)