Fig. 1

An illustration showing how the ABCA1 gene's ability to produce HDL is inhibited. The ABCA1 gene, which encodes the cellular cholesterol transporter, is shown in this figure to be downregulated by Nef. Nef also alters the function of ABCA1 protein upgradation by blocking its interaction with the chaperone Calnexin (CNX), which results in the gene's degradation in the proteasome and prevents the production of HDL [10]