Whereas most DNA sequence-specific transcription factors increase the rate of initiation and interact with enhancer or promoter DNA, human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) Tat predominantly stimulates elongation and interacts with the trans-acting responsive (TAR) RNA element. Tat is essential for HIV replication.[6]
HTATSF1 has also been shown to be involved in intron retention, and is associated with splicing of mRNAs that encode ribosomal proteins.[7] It is also associated with a naïve pluripotent state, although the relationship is complex and is strongly affected by other pluripotency factors such as Nanog and KLF2.[7]
