Title: In silico characterisation and phylogenetic analysis of Arabidopsis homologues of the human antiretroviral SERINC proteins

Authors: Siarhei A. Dabravolski; Yury K. Kavalionak

Addresses: Department of Clinical Diagnostics, Vitebsk State Academy of Veterinary Medicine [UO VGAVM], Vitebsk, 7/11 Dovatora str. 21002, Belarus ORCID: 0000-0002-0547-6310 ' Department of Clinical Diagnostics, Vitebsk State Academy of Veterinary Medicine [UO VGAVM], Vitebsk, 7/11 Dovatora str. 21002, Belarus

Abstract: Serine incorporator (SERINC) family proteins are well-known for their antiretroviral properties via strong inhibition of the human immunodeficiency viruses-1 (HIV-1) replication in human T-cells. SERINC proteins are highly conserved in all eukaryotes, representing 10-12 transmembrane domains. In the present study, for the first time, five SERINC homologues from the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana were analysed. We primarily focused on the comprehensive computational, structural and functional characterisation, phylogeny reconstruction. Further investigation on the SERINC proteins on plants will help to define their role in plant development, exact biochemical function and affected physiological processes. Also, it would enhance our comprehension of the evolutionally conserved mechanisms of antiretroviral protection, shared between yeast, plants and human. Potentially, plant SERINC domain-containing proteins could be used as a model to study antiretroviral response. Such knowledge could provide important insight into the creation of an effective antiretroviral vaccine for medical use.

Keywords: SERINC; retrovirus; HIV; Arabidopsis; in silico; phylogeny.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCBDD.2021.117188

International Journal of Computational Biology and Drug Design, 2021 Vol.14 No.3, pp.217 - 236

Received: 21 Apr 2020
Accepted: 09 Apr 2021

Published online: 20 Aug 2021 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article