Cutting edge: SIV Nef protein utilizes both leucine- and tyrosine-based protein sorting pathways for down-regulation of CD4

J Immunol. 1999 Sep 15;163(6):2977-81.

Abstract

The Nef protein is unique to primate lentiviruses and is closely linked to accelerated pathogenesis in both human and monkey hosts. Nef acts to down-regulate CD4 and MHC class I, two receptors important for immune function. A recent report demonstrated the presence of two tyrosine motifs in SIV Nef that contribute to its ability to down-regulate CD4 and to associate with clathrin adaptors. These tyrosine motifs are not present in HIV-1 Nef, which instead utilizes a leucine-based motif for its down-regulation of CD4. We now report that SIV Nef also contains a conserved leucine-based motif that contributes to CD4 down-regulation, functions to stimulate internalization, and contributes to the association of SIV Nef with clathrin adaptors AP-1 and AP-2. These results demonstrate that SIV Nef differs from HIV-1 Nef by its ability to use two parallel pathways of the protein-sorting machinery based on either tyrosine or leucine motifs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Protein Complex alpha Subunits
  • Adaptor Proteins, Vesicular Transport
  • Animals
  • CD4 Antigens / biosynthesis*
  • CD8 Antigens / genetics
  • Cell Line
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Down-Regulation / genetics
  • Down-Regulation / immunology*
  • Gene Products, nef / genetics
  • Gene Products, nef / immunology*
  • HIV-1 / genetics
  • HIV-1 / immunology
  • Humans
  • Leucine / genetics
  • Leucine / metabolism*
  • Macaca
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Mutagenesis, Site-Directed
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / immunology
  • Simian Immunodeficiency Virus / genetics
  • Simian Immunodeficiency Virus / immunology*
  • Transcription Factor AP-2
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Tyrosine / genetics
  • Tyrosine / metabolism*
  • nef Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus

Substances

  • Adaptor Protein Complex alpha Subunits
  • Adaptor Proteins, Vesicular Transport
  • CD4 Antigens
  • CD8 Antigens
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Gene Products, nef
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Transcription Factor AP-2
  • Transcription Factors
  • nef Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
  • Tyrosine
  • Leucine