DNA deaminase (cytidine deaminase) which acts as an inhibitor of retrovirus replication and retrotransposon mobility via deaminase-dependent and -independent mechanisms. Exhibits antiviral activity against vif-deficient: HIV-1 and simian immunodeficiency viruses (SIVs) and also simian foamy virus (SFV). After the penetration of retroviral nucleocapsids into target cells of infection and the initiation of reverse transcription, it can induce the conversion of cytosine to uracil in the minus-sense single-strand viral DNA, leading to G-to-A hypermutations in the subsequent plus-strand viral DNA. The resultant detrimental levels of mutations in the proviral genome, along with a deamination-independent mechanism that works prior to the proviral integration, together exert efficient antiretroviral effects in infected target cells. Selectively targets single-stranded DNA and does not deaminate double-stranded DNA or single- or double-stranded RNA. May inhibit the mobility of LTR retrotransposons.
Subcellular locations: Cytoplasm, Nucleus, Cytoplasm, P-body
Mainly cytoplasmic, small amount are found in the nucleus.