Virion infectivity factor, HIV2 (Vif)

HIV2 VIF protein is located in the cytoplasm of infected cells and its effect on viral replication is equivalent in HIV-1. VIF is a highly insoluble protein with a strong tendency to aggregate. This characteristic has hampered efforts to purify VIF protein for structural analyses. Therefore, in contrast to most other HIV-encoded proteins, there are currently no structural data available for VIF. It is also now generally accepted that VIF is packaged into viral particles, although its functional significance is still under investigation. The packaging of VIF into virus particles is functionally relevant. VIF packaging is specific and is mediated through an interaction with viral genomic RNA. In addition, virus-associated VIF interacts with Gag or Gag–Polprecursor molecules. and is stably associated with the viral nucleoprotein complex.