The central region of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 p6 protein (Gag residues S14–I31) is dispensable for the virus in vitro

Abstract

The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 p6 region encodes p6Gagand the transframe p6Polprotein. The Gag frame encodes an N-terminal late assembly L domain and a C-terminal Vpr binding domain. In the Pol frame, substitution at a C-terminal motif decreases protease autocleavage. The role of the highly polymorphic central region of p6, comprising amino acids S14–I31 (p6Gag) and R20–D39 (p6Pol), is unclear. Analysis of this central region demonstrated that 35 % of p6Gagappears to be dispensable for virus propagationin vitroand smaller deletion and insertion polymorphisms can be toleratedin vivo. Extensive Pol deletion (ΔR20–D39, 42 % of p6Pol) did not alter protease autocleavage.