Variation in HIV-1 Nef function within and among viral subtypes reveals genetically separable antagonism of SERINC3 and SERINC5

PLoS Pathog. 2020 Sep 14;16(9):e1008813. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008813. eCollection 2020 Sep.

Abstract

HIV Nef counteracts cellular host restriction factors SERINC3 and SERINC5, but our understanding of how naturally occurring global Nef sequence diversity impacts these activities is limited. Here, we quantify SERINC3 and SERINC5 internalization function for 339 Nef clones, representing the major pandemic HIV-1 group M subtypes A, B, C and D. We describe distinct subtype-associated hierarchies for Nef-mediated internalization of SERINC5, for which subtype B clones display the highest activities on average, and of SERINC3, for which subtype B clones display the lowest activities on average. We further identify Nef polymorphisms that modulate its ability to counteract SERINC proteins, including substitutions in the N-terminal domain that selectively impair SERINC3 internalization. Our findings demonstrate that the SERINC antagonism activities of HIV Nef differ markedly among major viral subtypes and between individual isolates within a subtype, suggesting that variation in these functions may contribute to global differences in viral pathogenesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • HIV Infections / genetics
  • HIV Infections / metabolism
  • HIV Infections / virology*
  • HIV Seropositivity
  • HIV-1 / physiology*
  • Host-Pathogen Interactions
  • Humans
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Membrane Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Polymorphism, Genetic*
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / genetics
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / metabolism
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / virology
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • Virus Replication*
  • nef Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus / genetics
  • nef Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus / metabolism*

Substances

  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Membrane Proteins
  • SERINC3 protein, human
  • SERINC5 protein, human
  • nef Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus