LC3C Contributes to Vpu-Mediated Antagonism of BST2/Tetherin Restriction on HIV-1 Release through a Non-canonical Autophagy Pathway.

BST2 (bone marrow stromal antigen 2)/tetherin is a restriction factor of enveloped viruses, which blocks the release of viral particles. HIV-1 encodes proteins that antagonize this innate barrier, including the accessory protein Vpu. Here, we investigate whether the autophagy pathway and/or ATG proteins are hijacked by HIV-1 Vpu to circumvent BST2 restriction of viral release.

Assembly of subtype 1 influenza neuraminidase is driven by both the transmembrane and head domains.

Neuraminidase (NA) is one of the two major influenza surface antigens and the main influenza drug target. Although NA has been well characterized and thought to function as a tetramer, the role of the transmembrane domain (TMD) in promoting proper NA assembly has not been systematically studied. Here, we demonstrate that in the absence of the TMD, NA is synthesized and transported in a predominantly inactive state.