Subcellular localization of the human immunodeficiency virus trans-acting art gene product.

The genome of the human immunodeficiency virus is distinguished from other animal retroviruses by the presence of several additional open reading frames. The protein product of one of these novel genes, which has been termed art or trs, is required for the expression of the virus structural genes but not for the expression of virus encoded regulatory proteins. Immunocytochemistry and subcellular fractionation demonstrate that the art protein is located predominantly in the nucleus. Therefore, any proposed mechanism for the function of art is likely to involve nuclear events.