Rev
Tat
Vif
Integrase
Proteomics
Env
Nef

Nef

The accessory protein Nef is essential for high-level viremia and progression to AIDS in infected patients. Nef is targeted, via myristylation and a cholesterol recognition motif, to lipid rafts in cellular membranes and interacts with partner proteins to perform diverse functions, including host cell activation and stimulation of viral replication, and promoting internalization of host cell surface molecules, such as CD4, MHC class I and T cell receptors. We are interested in structures of Nef complexes as well as understanding possible allosteric effects that regulate binding and assembly.