Kumar M et al. (2016) Biochem Biophys Res Commun "HIV-1 Nef binds with human GCC185 protein and regulates mannose 6 phosphate receptor recycling."

Tripathi RK, Kumar M, Nazir A, Kaur S

[Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 2016]

HIV-1 Nef modulates cellular function that enhances viral replication in vivo which culminate into AIDS pathogenesis. With no enzymatic activity, Nef regulates cellular function through host protein interaction. Interestingly, trans-cellular introduction of recombinant Nef protein in C. elegans results in AIDS like pathogenesis which might share common pathophysiology because the gene sequence of C. elegans and humans share considerable homology. Therefore employing C. elegans based initial screen complemented with sequence based homology search we identified GCC185 as novel host protein interacting with HIV-1 Nef. The detailed molecular characterization revealed N-terminal EEEE65 acidic domain of Nef as key region for interaction. GCC185 is a tethering protein that binds with Rab9 transport vesicles. Our results show that Nef-GCC185 interaction disrupts Rab9 interaction resulting in delocalization of CI-MPR (cation independent Mannose 6 phosphate receptor) resulting in elevated secretion of hexosaminidase. In agreement with this, our studies identified novel host GCC185 protein that interacts with Nef EEEE65 acidic domain interfering GCC185-Rab9 vesicle membrane fusion responsible for retrograde vesicular transport of CI-MPR from late endosomes to TGN. In light of existing report suggesting critical role of Nef-GCC185 interaction reveals valuable mechanistic insights affecting specific protein transport pathway in docking of late endosome derived Rab9 bearing transport vesicle at TGN elucidating role of Nef during viral pathogenesis.

Vekariya U et al. (2018) Life Sci "HIV-1 Nef-POTEE; A novel interaction modulates macrophage dissemination via mTORC2 signaling pathway."

Tripathi RK, Kumar B, Bhadauria S, Saxena R, Sachan R, Rawat K, Sachdev M, Kumari S, Vekariya U, Nazir A, Agnihotri SK, Singh P, Kaur S

[Life Sci, 2018]

AIMS: Human immunodeficiency virus -1 [HIV-1] Nef, localizes in different cellular compartments and modulates several cellular pathways. Nef promotes virus pathogenicity through alteration in cell surface receptor expression, apoptosis, protein trafficking etc. Nef regulates viral pathogenesis through interaction with different host proteins. Thus, molecular mechanisms of pathogenesis could be deciphered by identifying novel Nef interacting proteins. MAIN METHODS: HIV-1 Nef interacting proteins were identified by pull down assay and MALDI-TOF analysis. The interaction was further validated through mammalian two hybrid assay. Functional role of this interaction was identified by immunoprecipitation assay, cell invasion and cell migration studies. Fold Change in mRNA levels of CD163, CD206, CCL17 and CCL18 was analyzed using qPCR. KEY FINDINGS: In current study, C. elegans protein ACT4C and its human homolog POTEE was identified to be interacting with Nef. This interaction activates mTORC2 complex, which in-turn activates AKT and PKC-. The activation of mTORC2 complex was found to be initiated by the interaction of Nef, mTORC2, Rictor to POTEE. The cellular phenotype and functions affected by Nef-POTEE interaction resulted in significant increase in cell invasion and migration of macrophages (M). SIGNIFICANCE: M is primary target of HIV-1 infection where HIV-1 replicates and polarizes immunosuppressive M2 phenotype. Combine effect of M2 phenotype and Viral-host protein interactions compromise the M associated physiological functions. Infected M dissemination into other system also leads to HIV-1 induced malignancies. Therefore, targeting POTEE-Nef interaction can lead to formulating better therapeutic strategy against HIV-1.

Nazir A et al. (2010) PLoS One "Trans-cellular introduction of HIV-1 protein Nef induces pathogenic response in Caenorhabditis elegans."

Nazir A, Sammi SR, Tripathi RK, Singh P

[PLoS One, 2010]

BACKGROUND: Caenorhabditis elegans has emerged as a very powerful model for studying the host pathogen interactions. Despite the absence of a naturally occurring viral infection for C. elegans, the model is now being exploited experimentally to study the basic aspects of virus-host interplay. The data generated from recent studies suggests that the virus that infects mammalian cells does infect, replicate and accumulate in C. elegans. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We took advantage of the easy-to-achieve protein introduction in C. elegans and employing the methodology, we administered HIV-1 protein Nef into live worms. Nef is known to be an important protein for exacerbating HIV-1 pathogenesis in host by enhancing viral replication. The deletion of nef from the viral genome has been reported to inhibit its replication in the host, thereby leading to delayed pathogenesis. Our studies, employing Nef introduction into C. elegans, led to creation of an in-vivo model that allowed us to study, whether or not, the protein induces effect in the whole organism. We observed a marked lipodystrophy, effect on neuromuscular function, impaired fertility and reduced longevity in the worms exposed to Nef. The observed effects resemble to those observed in Nef transgenic mice and most interestingly the effects also relate to some of the pathogenic aspects exhibited by human AIDS patients. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Our studies underline the importance of this in vivo model for studying the interactions of Nef with host proteins, which could further be used for identifying possible inhibitors of such interactions.