Figure 5From: Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Vpr: oligomerization is an essential feature for its incorporation into virus particlesRole of Vpr oligomerization in incorporation of Vpr into virus particles. (A) Visualization of Vprwt and Gag interaction in HeLa cells by BiFC. HeLa cells were transfected with VN-Vprwt and VC-Gag expression plasmids. Thirty-six hours post transfection, cells were fixed, stained with DAPI and analyzed for presence and pattern of BiFC signal at 60× magnification. (B) Incorporation of Vpr mutant molecules into virus particles. Vpr plasmids were cotransfected with pNL43ΔVpr proviral plasmid in HEK293T cells. Forty-eight hours post-transfection, supernatant was collected, filtered, lysed and subjected to SDS-PAGE electrophoresis and evaluated for the presence viral proteins p24-Gag and Vpr using p24-specific and Vpr specific antibodies by western blot. Figure represents one of five independent experiments (n = 5) with similar results.Back to article page