PRMT3 reverses HIV-1 latency through increasing chromatin accessibility and co-localization of TEAD4 and P-TEFb at the viral promoter

Latent HIV-1 presents a formidable challenge for viral eradication. HIV-1 transcription and latency reversal require interactions between the viral promoter and host proteins. Here, we performed the dCas9-targeted locus-specific protein analysis and discovered the interaction of human arginine methyltransferase 3 (PRMT3) with the HIV-1 promoter. This interaction reverses latency in cell line models and primary cells from latently infected persons by increasing the levels of H4R3Me2a and transcription factor P-TEFb at the viral promoter. PRMT3 is found to promote chromatin accessibility and transcription of HIV-1 and a small subset of host genes in regions harboring the classical recognition motif for another transcription factor TEAD4. This motif attracts TEAD4 and PRMT3 to the viral promoter to synergistically activate transcription. Physical interactions among PRMT3, P-TEFb, and TEAD4 exist, which may help form a transcriptional hub at the viral promoter. Our study reveals the potential of targeting these hub proteins to eradicate latent HIV-1.