Viruses 2010, 2(4), 987-994; doi:10.3390/v2040987
Commentary

Ultra Structural Characterisation of Tetherin - a Protein Capable of Preventing Viral Release from the Plasma Membrane

Ravindra K. Gupta 1,2  and Greg J. Towers 1,2,* email
1 Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Molecular Virology, University College London, London W1T4JF, UK 2 Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, 46 Cleveland Street, London W1T 4JF, UK
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Received: 23 March 2010; in revised form: 7 April 2010 / Accepted: 7 April 2010 / Published: 12 April 2010
(This article belongs to the Section Editorial)
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Abstract: Tetherin is an antiviral restriction factor made by mammalian cells to protect them from viral infection. It prevents newly formed virus particles from leaving infected cells. Its antiviral mechanism appears to be remarkably uncomplicated. In 2 studies published in PLoS Pathogens electron microscopy is used to support the hypothesis that the tethers that link HIV-1 virions to tetherin expressing cells contain tetherin and are likely to contain tetherin alone. They also show that the HIV-1 encoded tetherin antagonist that is known to cause tetherin degradation, Vpu, serves to reduce the amount of tetherin in the particles thereby allowing their release.

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Cite This Article

MDPI and ACS Style

Gupta, R.K.; Towers, G.J. Ultra Structural Characterisation of Tetherin - a Protein Capable of Preventing Viral Release from the Plasma Membrane. Viruses 2010, 2, 987-994.

AMA Style

Gupta RK, Towers GJ. Ultra Structural Characterisation of Tetherin - a Protein Capable of Preventing Viral Release from the Plasma Membrane. Viruses. 2010; 2(4):987-994.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Gupta, Ravindra K.; Towers, Greg J. 2010. "Ultra Structural Characterisation of Tetherin - a Protein Capable of Preventing Viral Release from the Plasma Membrane." Viruses 2, no. 4: 987-994.

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