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Current HIV Research

Editor-in-Chief

ISSN (Print): 1570-162X
ISSN (Online): 1873-4251

HIV-1 Nef Mediates Pak Phosphorylation of Mek1 Serine298 and Elicits an Active Phospho-state of Pak2

Author(s): Arlette Kouwenhoven, Violette Der Minassian and Jon W. Marsh

Volume 11, Issue 3, 2013

Page: [198 - 209] Pages: 12

DOI: 10.2174/1570162X113119990039

Price: $65

Abstract

The HIV-1 Nef protein brings about increased T cell activity and viral titers through mechanisms that are poorly understood. Nef activity has been described as an enhancer, but not an inducer, of certain signaling pathways that lead to T cell activation and viral production, particularly from resting T cells. The protein has also been found to associate with and promote autophosphorylation of a serine kinase, Pak2, but the Nef-associated kinase level is very low and difficult to study. Here we demonstrate that Nef expression mediates phosphorylation of Mek1 serine298 in T cell lines as well as primary human T cells, thus directly affecting the Erk cascade. This phosphorylation is through a Pak and Rac activity. We also find that Pak2 in Nef expressing cells is phosphorylated on serine192/197, the first biochemical description of the Nef-mediated activation state for this kinase.

Keywords: Nef, Pak, Mek, kinase, T cell, phosphorylation.


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