Functional region mapping of HIV-2 Vpx protein.

To determine functional regions of HIV-2 Vpx, we analyzed a series of site-specific vpx-mutants for their growth potentials in lymphocytic cells and compared the results with those in macrophages. We found that amino acid residues important for virus growth in lymphocytic cells, in macrophages, and in both are clustered separately in Vpx. Through generation and characterization of new vpx-mutants, we further demonstrated that a remarkable proline-stretch present at the C-terminus of Vpx is critical for its stable expression, thereby contributing to its functional activity. Taken together, there can be functionally distinct regions in HIV-2 Vpx.