HIV genes
art/trs gene rev gene, see there.
env† gene Encodes viral coat proteins gp 120 and gp 41, which mediate CD4 binding and membrane fusion, controlled by tat and rev
gag‡ gene Encodes nucleocapsid core proteins including p24
nef‡ gene 3´ orf, B gene, ORF-2 gene Encodes a protein of unknown function found in infected Pts that may down-regulate viral expression–nef deletion results in a five-fold increase in viral DNA synthesis and replication
pol‡ gene Encodes reverse transcriptase, protease, integrase and ribonuclease
R† gene Encodes TAR–transcription activating response element, which has a nonspecific immunodeficiency effect
rev† gene art/trs gene Encodes a 19 kD post-transcriptional protein regulator required for HIV replication, up-regulating HIV synthesis by transactivating anti-repression, ↑ levels of envelope RNA by regulating the env gene; inactivation of rev prevents viral replication–as measured by the successful production of the p24 glycoprotein by infected monocytes can be massively ↑ by adding cytokines to culture medium
tat† gene Encodes a potent 14 kD transcription activator that amplifies HIV replication, the inactivation prevents viral replication
vif† gene Facilitates infectivity of free HIV
vpr† gene Encodes a weak transcription activator
vpu† gene Unique to HIV-1, encodes a 16 kD product which, when mutated, has a 5-10-fold Ø in replicative capacity and is critical for efficient budding of virions NEJM 1991; 324:308rv
†Gene encoding regulatory protein
‡Gene encoding structural protein