We constructed the CAP2NC prokaryotic expression vector of HIV-1 NL4-3 strain and obtained relatively pure CAP2NC protein by optimizing its purification conditions to explore its in vitro self-assembly conditions. Primers were designed according to the CAP2NC DNA sequence of HIV-1 NL4-3 strain. The target gene was amplified by PCR and cloned into prokaryotic expression vector pTO-T7. Then the recombinant strain was transformed into Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3). IPTG induced protein expression, then the protein was purified by hydrophobic chromatography. SDS-PAGE and Western blotting were performed to analyze the target protein, and the biological activity of the antigen was identified through ELISA. The self-assembly of CAP2NC protein was analyzed by transmission electron microscopy and gel filtration chromatography. The protein had good reaction with the specific antibodies of p24 and formed different structures in various conditions. When 10% yeast RNA was added to the protein complex, the recombinant protein only formed into a tubular structure, which was similar to the self-assembled structure of the HIV-1 virus capsid. The results showed that the HIV-1 CAP2NC protein had in vitro self-assembly activity, and the RNA affected the structure of CAP2NC protein assembly. The protein can be used as a simple and effective molecular model to study its structure, and then it can provide a reference for the study of HIV immature virus particles.
构建并表达HIV-1 CAP2NC 蛋白，探索其体外自组装条件。通过PCR 技术扩增HIV-1 (NL4-3 毒株)CAP2NC 基因片段，并将其连接到原核表达载体pTO-T7，获得重组质粒pTO-T7-CAP2NC，然后转化至大肠杆菌BL21 (DE3) 菌株，经疏水层析纯化后获得重组蛋白CAP2NC。SDS-PAGE 结果表明，重组蛋白CAP2NC 可在大肠杆菌可溶高效表达，经纯化后纯度约为95%。ELISA 检测表明重组蛋白CAP2NC 可被HIV-1 衣壳蛋白特异性单克隆抗体识别，具有较好反应活性。重组蛋白透析后在非原性SDS-PAGE 中呈现为多种聚体形式。分子筛排阻层析分析CAP2NC 蛋白透析后可进行组装，负染电镜进一步观察显示CAP2NC 蛋白在RNA 存在条件下，可形成空心管状颗粒，其形态结构与HIV-1 病毒衣壳体外自组装形成的类似。上述结果表明HIV-1 CAP2NC 蛋白具有体外自组装的性质，为进一步在体外研究非成熟病毒样颗粒结构奠定基础。.
Keywords: CAP2NC protein; HIV-1; self-assembly property.