AKAP8L (A-kinase anchor protein 8-like) protein probably plays a role in CTE-mediated gene expression by association with DHX9 by increasing nuclear unspliced mRNA export. In EBV infected cells, it may target PRKACA to nuclear sites containing EBNA-LP (an EBV protein) to modulate transcription from specific promoters. In synergy with DHX9, it can activate the CTE-mediated gene expression of type D retroviruses. In case of HIV-1 infection, it is involved in the DHX9-promoted annealing of host tRNA (Lys3) to viral genomic RNA as a primer in reverse transcription. Here, DHX9 is linked to HIV-1 infection.