CLUSTERED LOCALIZATION OF OLIGOMERIC NEF PROTEIN OF HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS TYPE-1 ON THE CELL-SURFACE

We studied human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Nef protein bio chemically and histologically. HIV-1 Nef, derived from baculosystem an d from cells infected with HIV-1, formed homomeric monomers, dimers, t rimers, and further polymers. These oligomers were non-covalently asso ciated, In cells infected with HIV-1, Nef molecules were clustered at the cell surface as well as cytoplasm, Our previous results have indic ated that the Nef on the surface of cells infected with HIV-1 is cytot oxic against uninfected CD4+ T cells. Thus, it is very likely that the HIV-1-mediated cytotoxic reaction is due, at least in part, to the cl ustered localization of oligomeric Nef on the cell surface.