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Characteristics
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Vif (Virion infectivity factor) is a 23- kDa phosphoprotein that is expressed late in the retroviral life cycle. Vif is absolutely essential for a productive HIV-1 infection in primary CD4 T cells, macrophages and certain T-cell lines (eg, H9 and CEM). Vif induces productive viral replication by inactivating the host cell antiviral restriction factor APOBEC3G (A3G). A3G and related cytidine deaminases of the APOBEC3 family are potent inhibitors of many retroviruses, including HIV-1.
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