Surface expression and cellular trafficking of CCR5 natural mutants.

(A) Cell surface expression of wtCCR5 and the A29S, Δ32, and FS299 mutants as analyzed by FACS using 2D7-PE, a MAb mapping to the second extracellular loop of the receptor. The displayed patterns are representative of the surface expression observed for the various mutants. Staining of untransfected cells with 2D7 was used as a negative control. (B) Mean channel fluorescence (MCF) obtained for all mutants using the 2D7 MAb. A typical experiment out of the two performed independently is represented. (C) Subcellular distribution of wt CCR5, C178R, and FS299 as analyzed by confocal microscopy by using MC-5, a MAb recognizing a linear epitope on the receptor N-terminus. Paraformaldehyde-fixed cells were permeabilized or not with 0.15% Triton X-100 before staining. The figure presented is representative of two experiments with similar results.