Molecular characterization of HIV-1 Nef and ACOT8 interaction: insights from in silico structural predictions and in vitro functional assays.

ABSTRACT: HIV-1 Nef interacts with several cellular proteins, among which the human peroxisomal thioesterase 8 (ACOT8). This interaction may be involved in the endocytosis regulation of membrane proteins and might modulate lipid composition in membrane rafts. Nef regions involved in the interaction have been experimentally characterized, whereas structural details of the ACOT8 protein are unknown. The lack of structural information hampers the comprehension of the functional consequences of the complex formation during HIV-1 infection. We modelled, through in silico predictions, the ACOT8 structure and we observed a high charge complementarity between Nef and ACOT8 surfaces, which allowed the identification of the ACOT8 putative contact points involved in the interaction. The predictions were valida

SUBMITTER: Serena M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4772117 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature