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1: Retrovirology. 2005 Feb 7;2:7.Click here to read Click here to read Links

HIV-1 Tat, apoptosis and the mitochondria: a tubulin link?

Giacca M.

Molecular Medicine Laboratory, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Trieste, Italy. giacca@icgeb.org

The Tat protein of HIV-1 is a powerful activator of viral gene expression. Besides this essential function at the HIV-1 promoter, the protein also exerts a remarkable number of other biological activities, among which the induction of cellular apoptosis. Two papers now published in Retrovirology provide possible molecular mechanisms for the pro-apoptotic effect of Tat, which involve the cell's microtubular network and the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis.

PMID: 15698476 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

PMCID: PMC549042