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Open Access Green as soon as Postprint is submitted to ZB.
HIV-1 Nef protein exhibits structural and functional similarity to scorpion peptides interacting with K+ channels.
Aids 5, 1301-1308 (1991)
The persistent infection of human glial cells with HIV-1 is characterized by prominent expression of the Nef protein. In order to evaluate the possible role of Nef in the development of HIV-1-associated neurological disorders, we compared Nef with known neuroactive proteins. We found that HIV Nef shares sequence and structural features with scorpion peptides known to interact with K+ channels. Sequence similarity encompasses two distinct regions of scorpion peptides. Based on crystallography data, both regions in scorpion peptides cooperate in forming a common domain stabilized by ion pairs between charged amino-acid residues. Recombinant Nef protein, as well as a synthetic part of a scorpion channel active peptide (M10), reversibly increased the total K+ current of chick dorsal root ganglions in patch-clamp experiments without killing the cells. These results indicate that a region conserved in HIV Nef and scorpion peptides concurs in both structure and electrophysiological activity and suggest that Nef, like scorpion peptides, may affect neuronal cell function.
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Publication type
Article: Journal article
Document type
Scientific Article
Keywords
Brain ; Electrophysiological Activity ; Hiv ; K+ Channel ; Nef ; Neurons ; Neuropathy
ISSN (print) / ISBN
0269-9370
e-ISSN
1473-5571
Journal
AIDS
Quellenangaben
Volume: 5,
Issue: 11,
Pages: 1301-1308
Publisher
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Non-patent literature
Publications
Reviewing status
Peer reviewed
Institute(s)
Institute of Virology (VIRO)