Inhibition of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 replication by transdominant mutant Tat proteins

In order to investigate the inhibition effect of Tat protein, an HIV-1 encoding transactivator, on HIV-1 replication, M5 and M6 Tat retroviral vectors which can express the mutant Tat proteins, M5 (Arg52→Leu) and M6 (Thr40→Ala, Lys41→Ala, meanwhile premature at Lys50) respectively, were constructed and transfected into the amphotropic PA317 cells. Deduced replication-deficiency retrovirus further infected MT4 cells. HIV-1 challenge experiments showed that M5 and M6 Tat proteins could both inhibit the replication of HIV-1.