Silencing Very-Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptor Reveals Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Role in HIV Infectivity

Here we describe methods for investigating alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) and very-low-density lipoprotein receptor (VLDLR) interactions with infectious and non-infectious HIV-1 virions. Using silencing RNA to transiently block expression of VLDLR and the receptor-associated protein (RAP) to continuously block VLDLR activity, AAT is demonstrated to participate with VLDLR during internalization and infectivity of HIV-1 virions.