title: Does the HIV Nef protein mimic the MHC?
abstract: The sequence of the HIV Nef protein has no significant homology to other proteins in the SwissProt database, and experimental data concerning its function are sparse and contradictory. Using a novel protein sequence comparison method, we find similarities between different Nef sequences and the alpha chain of human MHC class I proteins. The possible biological implications of this finding are discussed.
authors.affiliation: European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Hobohm
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sander
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000032:analysis; D016208:Databases, Factual; D015693:Gene Products, nef / Q000737:chemistry*; D006678:HIV; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex; D008954:Models, Biological; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D054311:nef Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D015693:Gene Products, nef; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D054311:nef Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus