During HIV infection of CD4+ T cells, HIV Tat binds tubulin through a four-amino-acid subdomain of its conserved core region, altering microtubule dynamics (29, 30) and leading to the mitogen-activated protein kinase 8 (MAPK8)-mediated phosphorylation of BCL2L11 and dissociation from DYNLL1 and the dynein motor complex. Here, MAPK8 is linked to HIV infectious disease.