The APOBEC Protein Family: United by Structure, Divergent in Function

Overview

Journal Trends Biochem Sci

Specialty Biochemistry

Date 2016 Jun 11

PMID 27283515

Citations 214

Authors

Jason D Salter

Ryan P Bennett

Harold C Smith

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The APOBEC (apolipoprotein B mRNA editing catalytic polypeptide-like) family of proteins have diverse and important functions in human health and disease. These proteins have an intrinsic ability to bind to both RNA and single-stranded (ss) DNA. Both function and tissue-specific expression varies widely for each APOBEC protein. We are beginning to understand that the activity of APOBEC proteins is regulated through genetic alterations, changes in their transcription and mRNA processing, and through their interactions with other macromolecules in the cell. Loss of cellular control of APOBEC activities leads to DNA hypermutation and promiscuous RNA editing associated with the development of cancer or viral drug resistance, underscoring the importance of understanding how APOBEC proteins are regulated.

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