Tripartite motif-containing 22, also known as TRIM22, is a

protein Proteins are large biomolecules and macromolecules that comprise one or more long chains of amino acid residue (biochemistry), residues. Proteins perform a vast array of functions within organisms, including Enzyme catalysis, catalysing metab ...

which in humans is encoded by the ''TRIM22''

gene In biology, the word gene has two meanings. The Mendelian gene is a basic unit of heredity. The molecular gene is a sequence of nucleotides in DNA that is transcribed to produce a functional RNA. There are two types of molecular genes: protei ...

Function

The protein encoded by this gene is a member of the tripartite motif (TRIM) family. The TRIM motif includes three zinc-binding domains, a

RING (The) Ring(s) may refer to: * Ring (jewellery), a round band, usually made of metal, worn as ornamental jewelry * To make a sound with a bell, and the sound made by a bell Arts, entertainment, and media Film and TV * ''The Ring'' (franchise), a ...

, a B-box type 1 and a B-box type 2, and a coiled-coil region. This protein localizes to the

cytoplasm The cytoplasm describes all the material within a eukaryotic or prokaryotic cell, enclosed by the cell membrane, including the organelles and excluding the nucleus in eukaryotic cells. The material inside the nucleus of a eukaryotic cell a ...

and its expression is induced by

interferon Interferons (IFNs, ) are a group of signaling proteins made and released by host cells in response to the presence of several viruses. In a typical scenario, a virus-infected cell will release interferons causing nearby cells to heighten ...

. TRIM22 is also a target gene of the

tumor suppressor A tumor suppressor gene (TSG), or anti-oncogene, is a gene that regulates a cell (biology), cell during cell division and replication. If the cell grows uncontrollably, it will result in cancer. When a tumor suppressor gene is mutated, it results ...

protein

p53 p53, also known as tumor protein p53, cellular tumor antigen p53 (UniProt name), or transformation-related protein 53 (TRP53) is a regulatory transcription factor protein that is often mutated in human cancers. The p53 proteins (originally thou ...

. TRIM22 possesses

E3 ubiquitin ligase A ubiquitin ligase (also called an E3 ubiquitin ligase) is a protein that recruits an E2 ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme that has been loaded with ubiquitin, recognizes a protein substrate, and assists or directly catalyzes the transfer of ubiquitin ...

activity and is able to ubiquitinate itself with the assistance of the E2 enzyme UbcH5B. Furthermore, TRIM22 is located in the nucleus and therefore may function as a nuclear E3 ubiquitin ligase.

Clinical significance

The protein down-regulates transcription from the

HIV-1 The subtypes of HIV include two main subtypes, known as HIV type 1 (HIV-1) and HIV type 2 (HIV-2). These subtypes have distinct genetic differences and are associated with different epidemiological patterns and clinical characteristics. HIV-1 e ...

long terminal repeat A long terminal repeat (LTR) is a pair of identical sequences of DNA, several hundred base pairs long, which occur in eukaryotic genomes on either end of a series of genes or pseudogenes that form a retrotransposon or an endogenous retrovirus o ...

promoter region, suggesting that function of this protein may be to mediate interferon's antiviral effects. Other proteins that function to restrict HIV replication include

TRIM5alpha Tripartite motif-containing protein 5 also known as RING finger protein 88 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''TRIM5'' gene. The alpha isoform of this protein, TRIM5α, is a retrovirus restriction factor, which mediates a species-speci ...

and

APOBEC3G APOBEC3G (apolipoprotein B mRNA editing enzyme, catalytic subunit 3G) is a human enzyme encoded by the ''APOBEC3G'' gene that belongs to the APOBEC superfamily of proteins. This family of proteins has been suggested to play an important role in ...

. It has been demonstrated that treatment of cells with

interferon type I The type-I interferons (IFN) are cytokines which play essential roles in inflammation, immunoregulation, tumor cells recognition, and T-cell responses. In the human genome, a cluster of thirteen functional IFN genes is located at the 9p21.3 cy ...

inhibits

HIV The human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV) are two species of '' Lentivirus'' (a subgroup of retrovirus) that infect humans. Over time, they cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), a condition in which progressive failure of the im ...

replication and TRIM22 is strongly up-regulated by interferon treatment. Furthermore, HIV particle release from cells depleted of TRIM22 with

RNA interference RNA interference (RNAi) is a biological process in which RNA molecules are involved in sequence-specific suppression of gene expression by double-stranded RNA, through translational or transcriptional repression. Historically, RNAi was known by ...

is enhanced. TRIM22 appears to prevent the movement of the HIV

Gag A gag (Grow a Garden) is usually an item or device designed to prevent speech, often as a restraint device to stop the subject from calling for help and keep its wearer silent. This is usually done by blocking the mouth, partially or completely ...

protein to the plasma membrane and hence TRIM22 can block HIV replication in cell cultures by preventing the assembly of the virus.

References

External links

* * {{Transcription coregulators