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The official journal of the Epigenetics Society.

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Research Paper

The early expressed HIV-1 genes regulate DNMT1 expression

Ben Youngblood and Norbert O. Reich

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DNA methylation-mediated transcriptional regulation is essential for human development and diverse diseases ensue when this process is dysregulated. Viruses, including HIV-1, alter the expression of human DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) and various T cell- specific genes. Here we show that HIV-1 induction of DNMT1 results from over-expression of the early expressed HIV-1 proteins, and this induction is prevented with resveratrol which interferes with the transcription factor AP1 pathway. The HIV-1 responsive element resides in the 5´ most 420 bp of the -1634 to +71 DNMT1 promoter; positioning of this truncated promoter proximal to a hybrid SV40-DNMT1 reporter results in HIV-1-dependent regulation. HIV-1 mediated induction of DNMT1 is not specific to T-cells, and does not require receptor-mediated endocytosis. The characterization of HIV-1 mediated DNMT1 regulation provides a basis for identifying viral and cellular factors necessary for the de novo DNA methylation of cellular genes.

Authors

Ben Youngblood

university of california

Norbert O. Reich

university of california

Purchase article for $19

Subscribe to this journal for $79/year