Expression of the art gene protein of human T-lymphotropic virus type III (HTLV-III/LAV) in bacteria

Abstract

Human T-lymphotropic virus type III (HTLV-III/LAV or HIV) contains a gene designated art (anti-repressor transactivator). Here, we report the expression of the art gene product in bacteria and show that the 20-kilodalton (kDa) bacterially expressed art protein is recognized by serum of a patient. The bacterially synthesized art protein competed in an immunological reaction with a 20-kDa protein produced in HTLV-III/LAV-infected lymphocytes. Antiserum to a synthetic oligopeptide corresponding to a sequence in the second exon of the art gene also precipitated the 20-kDa protein in HTLV-III/LAV-infected cells. These results demonstrate that the 20-kDa art gene product is expressed in cell lines that produce HTLV-III/LAV virions.