Heparin-binding capacity of the HIV-1 NEF-protein allows one-step purification and biochemical characterization

Recombinant Nef-protein of HIV-1 Bru derived from Escherichia coli revealed heparin-binding activity. This property was used to purify the Nef-protein by a one-step procedure, yielding about 90% homogenous Nef-protein as evaluated by silver staining. The Nef-protein was soluble without denaturing agents. Native folding of Nef was demonstrated with antibodies against conformational epitopes of Nef by a slot blot assay under native conditions. Despite its affinity to heparin and its nuclear localization in persistently HIV-1 infected glioblastoma cells (Kohleisen et al., 1992), Nef did not show DNA-binding properties by slot blot/hybridization assay and South/Western blot. In nucleotide-binding assays a strong autophosphorylation activity with [gamma-32P]ATP was observed. Nef-protein was not a substrate for ADP-ribosylation by bacterial toxins arguing against G-protein-like activities of Nef. Recombinant Nef did not interact with membranes as shown by the lack of increased fluorescence emission of Nef in the presence of liposomes. The recombinant Nef-protein obtained by one-step heparin-based purification shares immunological properties with native Nef and should prove useful for further studies of Nef function and immunogenicity.