Restriction factors articles from across Nature Portfolio

The mechanisms regulating Tat function for HIV-1 replication remain poorly understood. Here, the authors reveal that the transcriptional activity of Tat is modulated by a PRMT2-licensed switch between its nucleolar sequestration and phase separation into the nucleoplasmic Super Elongation Complex (SEC) droplets.

A protein that evolved in primates, BTN3A3, is expressed in human airways and shows antiviral activity against avian IAVs but not against human IAVs.

In cell lines and HIV-1 patient PBMCs, the Schlafen 12 protein (SLFN12) is shown to be an HIV-1 restriction factor that inhibits HIV-1 replication and virus reactivation

The authors report the cryo-EM structure of human A3G bound to HIV-1 Vif, and the hijacked cellular proteins that promote ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis, suggesting how Vif antagonizes A3G by intercepting it to prevent viral restriction.

Antiretroviral APOBEC3 may contribute to HIV-1 latency. In this study, Ajoge and Renner et al. identify a previously undescribed function of human APOBEC3 proteins in redirecting integrations of HIV-1 DNA into more transcriptionally inactive regions of the genome.

Interaction between APOBEC3G and RNA is critical for its antiviral function. Here, the authors report four co-crystal structures of rhesus macaque APOBEC3G and RNA, demonstrating unpaired AA and GA dinucleotide motifs are preferentially recognized.

This study shows that TRIM5α contributes to the control of HIV-1 in infected humans.

APOBEC3G is an antiviral protein that has long been known to inhibit retrovirus replication by hypermutating viral DNA. An additional mechanism is now identified, in which APOBEC3G binds to the HIV-1 reverse transcriptase, inhibiting viral DNA synthesis.

Bacteria and phages are engaged in a molecular arms race, constantly coevolving to best each other. The crystal structure of the anti-CRISPR protein AcrF3 bound to Cas3, an essential component of CRISPR-based immunity, sheds light on how phages have found ways to suppress bacterial immunity.