HIV-1 Nef-GCC185 interaction regulates assembly of cellular protein complexes at TGN targeting MHC-I downregulation

HIV-1 Nef downregulates surface MHC-I to protect the infected cells from CTLs-mediated killing. Although MHC-I downregulation has been extensively studied, the Nef-dependent assembly of the multi-protein complex and subsequent pathways activation has not yet been well explored. The present study is aimed for the identification of Nef-mediated sequential recruitment of cellular proteins that constitute the functional multi-protein complex, required for the downregulation of MHC-I.

Different Cellular protein complexes were identified by co-immunoprecipitation in Nef or NefE4A mutant-expressing Jurkat T, and THP-1 cells followed by exposure to Nef-specific peptides 24 h post infection. The MHC-I downregulation was analyzed by confocal microscopy and flow cytometry.

We found the association of Nef with PACS-2, GCC185, PI3K, AP-1, SFK, and MHC-I proteins that probably constitute a functional multi-protein complex. Furthermore, the immunoprecipitations with PACS-2 and GCC185 in the presence or absence of Nef, Nef E4A mutant and Nef with CP-inhibitor divide the functional complex of Nef into Nef-dependent (AP-1 and PI3K) and GCC185-dependent complex (MHC-I and SFK). The molecular mechanisms for activation of cellular pathways have been deciphered on the basis of these interactions that are brought in close proximity through Nef-GCC185 interaction. Knockdown of GCC185 using siRNA in Jurkat T cells showed a direct relationship between the assembly of functional multi-protein complex and MHC-I accumulation at GCC185.

Overall, our study elucidates that GCC185 is a focal point for the assembly of the Nef-mediated multi-protein complex at TGN.