Modulation of LINE-1 retrotransposition by a human SAMHD1 polymorphism

The HIV-1 restriction factor SAMHD1 has the ability to negatively modulate retrotransposition of the long interspersed element 1(LINE-1). By exploring the ability of human SAMHD1 polymorphisms to inhibit LINE-1, we found that the single nucleotide polymorphism S33A present in the Korean population lose the ability to inhibit LINE-1 retrotransposition. Because SAMHD1 residue S33 is phosphorylated in human cycling and non-cycling cells, we demonstrated that SAMHD1 requires to be either phosphorylated on position 33 or to contain a bulky residue in order to inhibit LINE-1 retrotransposition. Therefore this unique mutation uncouples functions in this important restriction factor.