scholarly journals Fruit-Specific Expression of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Tat Gene in Tomato Plants and Its Immunogenic Potential in Mice

2007 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 685-692 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuri Jorge Peña Ramírez ◽  
Ennio Tasciotti ◽  
Abel Gutierrez-Ortega ◽  
Alberto J. Donayre Torres ◽  
María Teresa Olivera Flores ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type ◽  
Virus Type ◽  
Tomato Fruit ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Potential Candidate ◽  
Tat Protein ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Hiv 1

ABSTRACT The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Tat protein is considered a potential candidate vaccine antigen. In an effort to design a strategy for noninvasive vaccination against HIV-1, we developed transgenic tomatoes expressing the Tat protein. Two independent plants testing positive in transgene detection analysis were selected and grown to maturity. Monoclonal antibodies against Tat recognized a protein of the expected size. Interestingly, expression of Tat seemed to be toxic to the plant, as in all cases the fruit exhibited underdeveloped reproductive structures and no seeds. Nine groups of 10 pathogen-free BALB/c male mice were primed either orally, intraperitoneally, or intramuscularly with 10 mg of tomato fruit extract derived from transgenic or wild-type plants and with 10 μg of Tat86 recombinant protein. Mice were immunized at days 0, 14, and 28, and given boosters after 15 weeks; sera were drawn 7 days after each booster, and the antibody titer was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. All three immunization approaches induced the development of a strong anti-Tat immunological response, which increased over time. Isotype subclass determination showed the presence of mucosal (immunoglobulin A) immunity soon after the beginning of the oral immunization protocol, and the data were confirmed by the presence of anti-Tat antibodies in fecal pellets and in vaginal washes. We also demonstrated that sera from immunized mice inhibited with high efficiency recombinant Tat-dependent transactivation of the HIV-1 long terminal repeat promoter. This neutralization activity might be relevant for the suppression of extracellular Tat activities, which play an important role in HIV disease development.

scholarly journals Structure-Function Analysis of the Epitope for 4E10, a Broadly Neutralizing Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Antibody

2006 ◽  
Vol 80 (4) ◽  
pp. 1680-1687 ◽  
Author(s):  
Florence M. Brunel ◽  
Michael B. Zwick ◽  
Rosa M. F. Cardoso ◽  
Josh D. Nelson ◽  
Ian A. Wilson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type ◽  
Virus Type ◽  
Function Analysis ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Peptide Epitope ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Hiv 1 ◽  
4E10 Antibody

ABSTRACT The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) neutralizing antibody 4E10 binds to a linear, highly conserved epitope within the membrane-proximal external region of the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein gp41. We have delineated the peptide epitope of the broadly neutralizing 4E10 antibody to gp41 residues 671 to 683, using peptides with different lengths encompassing the previously suggested core epitope (NWFDIT). Peptide binding to the 4E10 antibody was assessed by competition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the Kd values of selected peptides were determined using surface plasmon resonance. An Ala scan of the epitope indicated that several residues, W672, F673, and T676, are essential (>1,000-fold decrease in binding upon replacement with alanine) for 4E10 recognition. In addition, five other residues, N671, D674, I675, W680, and L679, make significant contributions to 4E10 binding. In general, the Ala scan results agree well with the recently reported crystal structure of 4E10 in complex with a 13-mer peptide and with our circular dichroism analyses. Neutralization competition assays confirmed that the peptide NWFDITNWLWYIKKKK-NH2 could effectively inhibit 4E10 neutralization. Finally, to limit the conformational flexibility of the peptides, helix-promoting 2-aminoisobutyric acid residues and helix-inducing tethers were incorporated. Several peptides have significantly improved affinity (>1,000-fold) over the starting peptide and, when used as immunogens, may be more likely to elicit 4E10-like neutralizing antibodies. Hence, this study represents the first stage toward iterative development of a vaccine based on the 4E10 epitope.

scholarly journals Tat Protein of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Subtype C Strains Is a Defective Chemokine

2004 ◽  
Vol 78 (5) ◽  
pp. 2586-2590 ◽  
Author(s):  
Udaykumar Ranga ◽  
Raj Shankarappa ◽  
Nagadenahalli B. Siddappa ◽  
Lakshmi Ramakrishna ◽  
Ramalingam Nagendran ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type ◽  
Virus Type ◽  
The United States ◽  
Tat Protein ◽  
Subtype C ◽  
Monocyte Migration ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Hiv 1

ABSTRACT Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-associated dementia (HAD) is correlated with increased monocyte migration to the brain, and the incidence of HAD among otherwise asymptomatic subjects appears to be lower in India than in the United States and Europe (1 to 2% versus 15 to 30%). Because of the genetic differences between HIV-1 strains circulating in these regions, we sought to identify viral determinants associated with this difference. We targeted Tat protein for these studies in view of its association with monocyte chemotactic function. Analyses of Tat sequences representing nine subtypes revealed that at least six amino acid residues are differentially conserved in subtype C Tat (C-Tat). Of these, cysteine (at position 31) was highly (>99%) conserved in non-subtype C viruses and more than 90% of subtype C viruses encoded a serine. We hypothesized a compromised chemotactic function of C-Tat due to the disruption of CC motif and tested it with the wild type C-Tat (CS) and its two isogenic variants (CC and SC) derived by site-directed mutagenesis. We found that the CS natural variant was defective for monocyte chemotactic activity without a loss in the transactivation property. While the CC mutant is functionally competent for both the functions, in contrast, the SC mutant was defective in both. Therefore, the loss of the C-Tat chemotactic property may underlie the reduced incidence of HAD; although not presenting conclusive evidence, this study provides the first evidence for a potential epidemiologic phenomenon associated with biological differences in the subtype C viruses.

scholarly journals A functional genetic approach suggests a novel interaction between the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Tat protein and HIV-1 TAR RNA in vivo

2003 ◽  
Vol 84 (3) ◽  
pp. 603-606 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lars H. Lund ◽  
Britta Wahren ◽  
Mariano A. Garcia-Blanco
Keyword(s):  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type ◽  
Virus Type ◽  
Tat Protein ◽  
Cyclin T1 ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Tar Rna ◽  
Hiv 1

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Tat and human Cyclin T1 form a complex and together recognize the viral TAR RNA element with specificity. Using HIV-1/equine infectious anaemia virus TAR chimeras, we show that in addition to the well-characterized interaction with the bulge, Tat recognizes the distal stem and the loop of TAR. These data support previously proposed, but unproven, molecular models.

scholarly journals Arginine Methylation Increases the Stability of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Tat

2009 ◽  
Vol 83 (22) ◽  
pp. 11694-11703 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haran Sivakumaran ◽  
Armando van der Horst ◽  
Alex J. Fulcher ◽  
Ann Apolloni ◽  
Min-Hsuan Lin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type ◽  
Virus Type ◽  
Half Life ◽  
Arginine Methylation ◽  
Viral Gene ◽  
Tat Protein ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Hiv 1

ABSTRACT Arginine methylation of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Tat protein downregulates its key function in viral-gene transactivation. The fate of methylated Tat is unknown, so it is unclear whether methylated Tat is degraded or persists in the cell for additional functions. Here we show that the arginine methyltransferase PRMT6 increases Tat protein half-life by 4.7-fold. Tat stabilization depends on the catalytic activity of PRMT6 and requires arginine methylation within the Tat basic domain. In contrast, HIV-1 Rev, which is also methylated by PRMT6, is completely refractory to the stabilizing effect. Proteasome inhibition and silencing experiments demonstrated that Tat can be degraded by a REGγ-independent proteasome, against which PRMT6 appears to act to increase Tat half-life. Our data reveal a proteasome-dependent Tat degradation pathway that is inhibited by arginine methylation. The stabilizing action of PRMT6 could allow Tat to persist within the cell and the extracellular environment and thereby enable functions implicated in AIDS-related cancer, neurodegeneration, and T-cell death.

scholarly journals Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Tat Increases the Expression of Cleavage and Polyadenylation Specificity Factor 73-Kilodalton Subunit Modulating Cellular and Viral Expression

2004 ◽  
Vol 78 (13) ◽  
pp. 6846-6854 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco A. Calzado ◽  
Rocío Sancho ◽  
Eduardo Muñoz
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type ◽  
Virus Type ◽  
Tat Protein ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Cleavage And Polyadenylation ◽  
Specificity Factor ◽  
Hiv 1

ABSTRACT The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Tat protein, which is essential for HIV gene expression and viral replication, is known to mediate pleiotropic effects on various cell functions. For instance, Tat protein is able to regulate the rate of transcription of host cellular genes and to interact with the signaling machinery, leading to cellular dysfunction. To study the effect that HIV-1 Tat exerts on the host cell, we identified several genes that were up- or down-regulated in tat-expressing cell lines by using the differential display method. HIV-1 Tat specifically increases the expression of the cleavage and polyadenylation specificity factor (CPSF) 73-kDa subunit (CPSF3) without affecting the expression of the 160- and 100-kDa subunits of the CPSF complex. This complex comprises four subunits and has a key function in the 3′-end processing of pre-mRNAs by a coordinated interaction with other factors. CPSF3 overexpression experiments and knockdown of the endogenous CPSF3 by mRNA interference have shown that this subunit of the complex is an important regulatory protein for both viral and cellular gene expression. In addition to the known CPSF3 function in RNA polyadenylation, we also present evidence that this protein exerts transcriptional activities by repressing the mdm2 gene promoter. Thus, HIV-1-Tat up-regulation of CPSF3 could represent a novel mechanism by which this virus increases mRNA processing, causing an increase in both cell and viral gene expression.

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