Figure 1

Nef expression in the absence of integration. A. Viral integration was measured by an Alu-HIV qPCR assay for provirus. Cells were infected with wild-type (wt) virus or D116N integrase-containing virus bearing either wt nef or Δ-nef mutations. Repeat infections were also performed for wt integrase virus in the presence of 1 μM raltegravir. At 72 h post-infection, DNA was extracted and qPCR analysis was performed. Results were expressed relative to those obtained with wt virus (levels of expression set at 100%). B. Expression of Nef was confirmed by Western blot analysis of lysates from infections with wt virus (IN +) or D116N integrase-containing virus (IN -), bearing either wt nef (nef +) or Δ-nef (nef -) mutations. Repeat infections were also performed for wt integrase virus in the presence of 1 μM raltegravir, a concentration shown to be completely inhibitory to integration.