Interaction between Nef and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase leads to activation of p21-activated kinase and increased production of HIV

T Linnemann, YH Zheng, R Mandic, BM Peterlin - Virology, 2002 - Elsevier
T Linnemann, YH Zheng, R Mandic, BM Peterlin
Virology, 2002Elsevier
The negative factor (Nef) is one of six accessory proteins from primate lentiviruses (HIV-1,
HIV-2, and SIV). It leads to high levels of viremia and the progression to AIDS in monkeys
and humans. In this study, we demonstrated that Nef from HIV-1 binds to the regulatory
subunit (p85) of phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K). This interaction depended on the C-
terminus of p85 and Nef. Moreover, PI3K was required to activate the Nef-associated p21-
activated kinase (PAK). Finally, inhibition of PI3K blocked the activation of PAK and …
The negative factor (Nef) is one of six accessory proteins from primate lentiviruses (HIV-1, HIV-2, and SIV). It leads to high levels of viremia and the progression to AIDS in monkeys and humans. In this study, we demonstrated that Nef from HIV-1 binds to the regulatory subunit (p85) of phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K). This interaction depended on the C-terminus of p85 and Nef. Moreover, PI3K was required to activate the Nef-associated p21-activated kinase (PAK). Finally, inhibition of PI3K blocked the activation of PAK and decreased the production of viral particles to levels observed with the Nef-deleted provirus. We conclude that Nef assembles a multiprotein signaling complex which is required for the optimal replication of HIV-1.
Elsevier