HIV-1, the causative agent of acquired immunodeficiency
syndrome (AIDS), contains an RNA genome that produces a
chromosomally integrated DNA during the replicative cycle.
Activation of HIV-1 gene expression by the transactivator Tat is
dependent on an RNA regulatory element (TAR) located downstream of
the transcription initiation site. The protein encoded by this gene
is a transcriptional repressor that binds to chromosomally
integrated TAR DNA and represses HIV-1 transcription. In addition,
this protein regulates alternate splicing of the CFTR gene. A
similar pseudogene is present on chromosome 20. [provided by
RefSeq].
