UCSF

Moloney leukemia virus type 10 protein (MOV10) is an RNA helicase that is induced by type I interferon. It inhibits HIV replication at several steps of its replicative cycle. Of interest, MOV10 is a component of mRNA processing (P) bodies, which inhibit retrotransposition (RTP) of intracisternal A particles (IAP). In this report, we studied the effects of MOV10 on IAP RTP and its dependence on P bodies. Indeed, MOV10 inhibited IAP RTP. It decreased significantly not only the products of reverse transcriptase but also its endogenous activity. MOV10 also associated with IAP RNA. Furthermore, although it was found in IAP virus-like particles, it did not affect their incorporation of IAP RNA, primer tRNAPhe (phenylalanine tRNA), or IAP Gag. Concerning P bodies, the exogenously expressed MOV10 had no effect on their size and number, and the inhibition of IAP RTP persisted despite the depletion of their RCK subunit. Thus, by interfering with reverse transcription, MOV10 inhibits IAP RTP, and this inhibition is independent of P bodies.