Molecular evolution of the primate antiviral restriction factor tetherin.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Tetherin is a recently identified antiviral restriction factor that restricts HIV-1 particle release in the absence of the HIV-1 viral protein U (Vpu). It is reminiscent of APOBEC3G and TRIM5a that also antagonize HIV. APOBEC3G and TRIM5a have been demonstrated to evolve under pervasive positive selection throughout primate evolution, supporting the red-queen hypothesis. Therefore, one naturally presumes that Tetherin also evolves under pervasive positive selection throughout primate evolution and supports the red-queen hypothesis. Here, we performed a detailed evolutionary analysis to address this presumption.

Methodology/principal findings

Results of non-synonymous and synonymous substitution rates reveal that Tetherin as a whole experiences neutral evolution ra

SUBMITTER: Liu J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2912774 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature