Proteins capable of interacting with HIV-1 Nef protein

摘要

New proteins capable of interacting with HIV-1 Nef protein are selected from proteins which are referred to as A, B and C and have the 42, 47 and 303 amino acid sequences shown in the specification, respectively, and active variants and fragments of these proteins. Also claimed are: (1) nucleic acid sequences coding for proteins A, B and C, selected from (a) the cDNA sequences shown in the specification (126, 141 and 909 nucleotides long, encoding A, B and C respectively), (b) DNA sequences that hybridise with the sequences of (a) or fragments of the sequences of (a) under stringent conditions, (c) DNA sequences derived from the sequences of (a) and (b) as a result of the degeneracy of the genetic code; and the corresp. mRNA and DNA (sic) sequences; (2) an expression vector contg. a nucleic acid sequence as above and the means necessary for its expression; (3) a kit for screening for inhibitors of the interaction between the Nef protein and protein A, B or C, comprising yeast cells cotransformed with an expression vector as above, and an expression vector contg. a gene coding for the Nef protein; (4) host cells or microorganisms transformed with the expression vector of (3); (5) host cells or microorganisms cotransformed as in (4); and (6) anti-HIV agents selected from (a) proteins A, B and C and their Nef-interacting fragments and (b) Nef protein fragments that inhibit the interaction of the Nef protein with cellular proteins contg. protein A, B or C.