NEF INDUCES CD4 ENDOCYTOSIS - REQUIREMENT FOR A CRITICAL DILEUCINE MOTIF IN THE MEMBRANE-PROXIMAL CD4 CYTOPLASMIC DOMAIN

CD4 is crucial for antigen-driven helper T cell signaling and is used as receptor by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The HIV early protein Nef causes a loss of CD4 from cell surfaces through a previously undefined posttranscriptional mechanism. Here, we demonstrate that Nef acts by inducing CD4 endocytosis, resulting in its degradation in lysosomes. CD4 down-regulation is strongly enhanced by the association of Nef with cell membranes through myristoylation. The study of chimeric molecules reveals that 20 membrane-proximal residues of the CD4 cytoplasmic domain are sufficient to confer Nef sensitivity. Within this region, a dileucine motif, reminiscent of an endocytosis and lysosamal targeting signal found in the CD3 gamma and delta chains, is crucial for CD4 response to Nef.