Neutron Reflectometry and Molecular Simulations Demonstrate HIV-1 Nef Homodimer Formation on Model Lipid Bilayers.

ABSTRACT: The HIV-1 Nef protein plays a critical role in viral infectivity, high-titer replication in vivo, and immune escape of HIV-infected cells. Nef lacks intrinsic biochemical activity, functioning instead through interactions with diverse host cell signaling proteins and intracellular trafficking pathways. Previous studies have established an essential role for Nef homodimer formation at the plasma membrane for most if not all its functions. Here we combined neutron reflectometry of full-length myristoylated Nef bound to model lipid bilayers with molecular simulations based on previous X-ray crystal structures of Nef homodimers. This integrated approach provides direct evidence that Nef associates with the membrane as a homodimer with its structured core region displaced from the membrane for

SUBMITTER: Heinrich F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10079580 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature