The nuclear localization signal of the matrix protein of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 allows the establishment of infection in macrophages and quiescent T lymphocytes.

摘要: Lentiviruses, including human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), are unusual among retroviruses in their ability to infect nondividing cells. The matrix proteins of several lentiviruses contain a short stretch amino acids reminiscent known nuclear localization signals. In HIV-1, this motif has been shown function as targeting sequence when conjugated heterologous protein, and permit the active import HIV-1 preintegration complex growth-arrested present work, mutations were introduced region T-cell- macrophage-tropic clones. resulting viral mutants replicated with normal or even accelerated kinetics dividing cells, activated peripheral blood lymphocytes. However, sharp contrast wild-type virus, could not grow efficiently terminally differentiated macrophages establish stable inducible infection intermediate unstimulated Because represent major reservoir vivo, because at any given time most T cells body quiescent, these results strongly suggest that karyophilic properties protein critical for spread HIV-infected individuals, consequently AIDS pathogenesis.