Abstract

Members of the tripartite motif (TRIM) protein family are involved in various cellular processes, including cell proliferation, differentiation, development, oncogenesis and apoptosis. Some TRIM proteins display antiviral properties, targeting retroviruses in particular. The potential activity of TRIM19, better known as promyelocytic leukaemia protein, against several viruses has been well documented and, recently, TRIM5 has been identified as the factor responsible for the previously described Lv1 and Ref1 antiretroviral activities. There is also evidence indicating that other TRIM proteins can influence viral replication. These findings are reviewed here, and the possibility that TRIMs represent a new and widespread class of antiviral proteins involved in innate immunity is also considered.

Author affiliations

1. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Unité Mixte de Recherche 7151, Université Paris 7, Hôpital Saint-Louis, 1 Avenue Claude Vellefaux, 75475 Paris cedex 10, France.
2. Division of Virology, National Institute for Medical Research, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London NW7 1AA, UK.

Correspondence to: Sébastien Nisole¹ Email: nisole.sebastien@paris7.jussieu.fr

Published online 9 September 2005

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