PHD3-VHL axis controls HIV-2 infection through oxygen-dependent hydroxylation and degradation of Vpx

• Published in: PLoS pathogens Vol. 21; no. 6; p. e1013241
• Main Authors: Miyakawa, Kei, Tanaka, Kiho, Ino, Yoko, Kimura, Yayoi, Kameya, Taichi, Mizukoshi, Fuminori, Nishi, Mayuko, Yokoyama, Masaru, Nakabayashi, Jun, Nomaguchi, Masako, Sato, Hironori, Kimura, Hirokazu, Akari, Hirofumi, Miura, Tomoyuki, Takaoka, Akinori, Hasegawa, Hideki, Matano, Tetsuro, Minamishima, Yoji Andrew, Ryo, Akihide
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 16.06.2025; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Analysis; Biology and Life Sciences; Crosslinked polymers; Health aspects; HEK293 Cells; HIV Infections - metabolism; HIV Infections - virology; HIV-2 - metabolism; Humans; Hydroxylation; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-Proline Dioxygenases - genetics; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-Proline Dioxygenases - metabolism; Infection control; Macrophages - metabolism; Macrophages - virology; Medicine and Health Sciences; Methods; Oxygen - metabolism; Proteolysis; Research and Analysis Methods; Ubiquitin-proteasome system; Viral proteins; Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins - genetics; Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins - metabolism; Von Hippel-Lindau Tumor Suppressor Protein - genetics; Von Hippel-Lindau Tumor Suppressor Protein - metabolism; Japan
• ISSN: 1553-7374; 1553-7366; 1553-7374
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1013241

HIV-2 viral protein X (Vpx) plays a pivotal role in antagonizing the host restriction factors, including SAMHD1 and components of the HUSH complex, to facilitate viral replication. However, the regulatory mechanisms controlling Vpx stability remain unclear. In this study, we identify the von Hippel–Lindau (VHL) tumor suppressor as a novel E3 ubiquitin ligase that specifically targets Vpx for proteasomal degradation. Mechanistically, we demonstrate that VHL-mediated degradation depends on the oxygen-dependent hydroxylation of Vpx at proline residue 41 (Pro41), a modification catalyzed by prolyl hydroxylase domain-containing protein 3 (PHD3). Using an integrated approach combining crosslinking mass spectrometry and molecular modeling analyses, we elucidate the structural architecture of the PHD3-Vpx complex, revealing the spatial orientation of the catalytic domain of PHD3 required for Pro41 hydroxylation. Furthermore, we establish the physiological significance of this pathway in human macrophages, where pharmacological inhibition or genetic ablation of VHL or PHD3 enhances HIV-2 infection by facilitating Vpx-mediated SAMHD1 degradation. Collectively, our findings unveil a previously unrecognized oxygen-sensitive regulatory mechanism influencing HIV-2 infection and suggest novel therapeutic strategies targeting Vpx stability through modulation of its prolyl hydroxylation status.