# TIM-mediated Inhibition of HIV Release: Cooperation with SERINC and Antagonism by Nef

> **NIH NIH R01** · OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $331,500

## Abstract

The majority of antiviral restriction factors are interferon (IFN) inducible, and are thus collectively referred to
as IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs); many, however, are NOT directly regulated by IFN and remain poorly
characterized. Notably, some of these cellular factors are known to modulate lipids and/or membrane properties,
thereby disrupting the replication of HIV and other viruses. Two recent examples from this category are TIM (T-
cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain) and SERINC (serine incorporator) family proteins, which directly interact
with or possibly regulate the synthesis of phosphatidylserine (PS), thus inhibiting HIV release or infectivity.
Interestingly, our preliminary data and two recent reports published in Nature showed that the lentiviral Nef
proteins effectively antagonize the restriction by TIMs and SERINCs. Moreover, we have recently observed that
SERINC proteins potentiate the ability of TIM-1 to block HIV-1 release and that SERINCs do this by stabilizing
the TIM expression in the viral producer cells. In this application, we propose to test several novel hypotheses
that address the possible link between TIM, SERINC, PS and Nef. Aim 1 will determine how HIV-1 Nef
antagonizes TIM-mediated inhibition of viral release through modulating the synthesis and trafficking of TIM-1
and PS. Aim 2 will focus on understanding of the role of endogenous SERINC proteins in CD4+ T cells that
regulates the TIM expression and stability, as well as in modulating lipids in the viral producer cell and viral
particles, collectively contributing to the inhibition of HIV-1 release and replication. Aim 3 will define the molecular
interplay between SERINC and TIM proteins in viral producer cells, and dissect how HIV-1 Nef protein down-
modulates this process to promote HIV-1 production and infection. Results from the proposed experiments will
provide novel and unified mechanistic insights into the interplay between TIM, SERINC and HIV Nef, and will
enhance our understanding of virus-host interaction and AIDS pathogenesis.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10242695
- **Project number:** 5R01AI150473-04
- **Recipient organization:** OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Shan-Lu Liu
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $331,500
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-09-01 → 2024-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10242695

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10242695, TIM-mediated Inhibition of HIV Release: Cooperation with SERINC and Antagonism by Nef (5R01AI150473-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10242695. Licensed CC0.

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