Interaction of human immunodeficiency virus gp120 with the voltage-gated potassium channel BEC1

Abstract Retrovirus replication critically depends on a dynamic interplay between retroviral and host proteins. We report on the binding of the surface subunit (glycoprotein 120 (gp120)) of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) envelope protein (Env) to the cytoplasmic C-terminus of the voltage-gated potassium channel BEC1 (brain-specific ether-a-go-go-like channel 1), an interaction that can result in the repression of BEC’s activity and the inhibition of HIV-1 particle-release. BEC1 protein was found to be expressed in T cells and macrophages, the major target cells of HIV-1. Thus, gp120/BEC1 interaction may be involved in HIV-1 life cycle and/or pathogenesis. Structured summary MINT- 7968695 : BEC1 (uniprotkb: Q9ULD8 ) physically interacts (MI: 0915 ) with gp160 (uniprotkb: P04578 ) by anti bait coimmunoprecipitation (MI: 0006 ) MINT- 7968714 : BEC1 (uniprotkb: Q9ULD8 ) physically interacts (MI: 0915 ) with gp160 (uniprotkb: P04578 ) by anti tag coimmunoprecipitation (MI: 0007 ) MINT- 7968675 : BEC1 (uniprotkb: Q9ULD8 ) physically interacts (MI: 0915 ) with gp160 (uniprotkb: P04578 ) by pull down (MI: 0096 )