PF74 Reinforces the HIV-1 Capsid To Impair Reverse Transcription-Induced Uncoating

ABSTRACTThe RNA genome of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is enclosed in a cone-shaped capsid shell that disassembles following cell entry via a process known as uncoating. During HIV-1 infection, the capsid is important for reverse transcription and entry of the virus into the target cell nucleus. The small molecule PF74 inhibits HIV-1 infection at early stages by binding to the capsid and perturbing uncoating. However, the mechanism by which PF74 alters capsid stability and reduces viral infection is presently unknown. Here, we show, using atomic force microscopy (AFM), that binding of PF74 to recombinant capsid-like assemblies and to HIV-1 isolated cores stabilizes the capsid in a concentration-dependent manner. At a PF74 concentration of 10 μM, the mechanical stability of the core is increased to a level similar to that of the intrinsically hyperstable capsid mutant E45A. PF74 also prevented the complete disassembly of HIV-1 cores normally observed during 24 h of reverse transcription. Specifically, cores treated with PF74 only partially disassembled: the main body of the capsid remained intact and stiff, and a cap-like structure dissociated from the narrow end of the core. Moreover, the internal coiled structure that was observed to form during reverse transcriptionin vitropersisted throughout the duration of the measurement (∼24 h). Our results provide direct evidence that PF74 directly stabilizes the HIV-1 capsid lattice, thereby permitting reverse transcription while interfering with a late step in uncoating.IMPORTANCEThe capsid-binding small molecule PF74 inhibits HIV-1 infection at early stages and perturbs uncoating. However, the mechanism by which PF74 alters capsid stability and reduces viral infection is presently unknown. We recently introduced time-lapse atomic force microscopy to study the morphology and physical properties of HIV-1 cores during the course of reverse transcription. Here, we apply this AFM methodology to show that PF74 prevented the complete disassembly of HIV-1 cores normally observed during 24 h of reverse transcription. Specifically, cores with PF74 only partially disassembled: the main body of the capsid remained intact and stiff, but a cap-like structure dissociated from the narrow end of the core HIV-1. Our result provides direct evidence that PF74 directly stabilizes the HIV-1 capsid lattice.

Download Full-text

Reverse Transcription Mechanically Initiates HIV-1 Capsid Disassembly

Journal of Virology ◽

10.1128/jvi.00289-17 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 91 (12) ◽

Cited By ~ 35

Author(s):

Sanela Rankovic ◽

Janani Varadarajan ◽

Ruben Ramalho ◽

Christopher Aiken ◽

Itay Rousso

Keyword(s):

Atomic Force Microscopy ◽

Reverse Transcription ◽

Target Cells ◽

Filamentous Structure ◽

Force Microscopy ◽

The Core ◽

Atomic Force ◽

Capsid Shell ◽

Hiv 1 ◽

Capsid Disassembly

ABSTRACT The HIV-1 core consists of the viral genomic RNA and several viral proteins encased within a conical capsid. After cell entry, the core disassembles in a process termed uncoating. Although HIV-1 uncoating has been linked to reverse transcription of the viral genome in target cells, the mechanism by which uncoating is initiated is unknown. Using time-lapse atomic force microscopy, we analyzed the morphology and physical properties of isolated HIV-1 cores during the course of reverse transcription in vitro. We found that, during an early stage of reverse transcription the pressure inside the capsid increases, reaching a maximum after 7 h. High-resolution mechanical mapping reveals the formation of a stiff coiled filamentous structure underneath the capsid surface. Subsequently, this coiled structure disappears, the stiffness of the capsid drops precipitously to a value below that of a pre-reverse transcription core, and the capsid undergoes partial or complete rupture near the narrow end of the conical structure. We propose that the transcription of the relatively flexible single-stranded RNA into a more rigid filamentous structure elevates the pressure within the core, which triggers the initiation of capsid disassembly. IMPORTANCE For successful infection, the HIV-1 genome, which is in the form of a single-stranded RNA enclosed inside a capsid shell, must be reverse transcribed into double-stranded DNA and released from the capsid (in a process known as uncoating) before it can be integrated into the target cell genome. The mechanism that triggers uncoating is a pivotal question of long standing. By using atomic force microscopy, we found that during reverse transcription the pressure inside the capsid increases until the internal stress exceeds the strength of the capsid structure and the capsid breaks open. The application of AFM technologies to study purified HIV-1 cores represents a new experimental platform for elucidating additional aspects of capsid disassembly and HIV-1 uncoating.

Download Full-text

HIV-1 uncoating occurs via a series of rapid biomechanical changes in the core related to individual stages of reverse transcription

Journal of Virology ◽

10.1128/jvi.00166-21 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Sanela Rankovic ◽

Akshay Deshpande ◽

Shimon Harel ◽

Christopher Aiken ◽

Itay Rousso

Keyword(s):

Reverse Transcription ◽

Viral Genome ◽

Viral Capsid ◽

Target Cells ◽

Force Microscopy ◽

The Core ◽

Atomic Force ◽

Successful Infection ◽

Capsid Shell ◽

Hiv 1

The HIV core consists of the viral genome and associated proteins encased by a cone-shaped protein shell termed the capsid. Successful infection requires reverse transcription of the viral genome and disassembly of the capsid shell within a cell in a process known as uncoating. The integrity of the viral capsid is critical for reverse transcription, yet the viral capsid must be breached to release the nascent viral DNA prior to integration. We employed atomic force microscopy to study the stiffness changes in HIV-1 cores during reverse transcription in vitro in reactions containing the capsid-stabilizing host metabolite IP6. Cores exhibited a series of stiffness spikes, with up to three spikes typically occurring between 10-30, 40-80, and 120-160 minutes after initiation of reverse transcription. Addition of the reverse transcriptase (RT) inhibitor efavirenz eliminated the appearance of these spikes and the subsequent disassembly of the capsid, thus establishing that both result from reverse transcription. Using timed addition of efavirenz, and analysis of an RNAseH-defective RT mutant, we established that the first stiffness spike requires minus-strand strong stop DNA synthesis, with subsequent spikes requiring later stages of reverse transcription. Additional rapid AFM imaging experiments revealed repeated morphological changes in cores that were temporally correlated with the observed stiffness spikes. Our study reveals discrete mechanical changes in the viral core that are likely related to specific stages of reverse transcription. These reverse-transcription-induced changes in the capsid progressively remodel the viral core to prime it for temporally accurate uncoating in target cells. Importance For successful infection, the HIV-1 genome, which is enclosed inside a capsid shell, must be reverse transcribed into double-stranded DNA and released from the capsid (in a process known as uncoating) before it can be integrated into the target cell genome. The mechanism of HIV-1 uncoating is a pivotal question of long standing. Using atomic force microscopy to analyze individual HIV-1 cores during reverse transcription, we observe a reproducible pattern of stiffness spikes. These spikes were shown to be associated with distinct stages of the reverse transcription reaction. Our findings suggest that these reverse-transcription-induced alterations gradually prepared the core for uncoating at the right time and location in target cells.

Download Full-text

Crystal growth of the core and rotated epitaxial shell of a heterometallic metal-organic framework revealed with atomic force microscopy

Faraday Discussions ◽

10.1039/d1fd00033k ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Fajar Inggit Pambudi ◽

Michael William Anderson ◽

Martin Attfield

Keyword(s):

Atomic Force Microscopy ◽

Crystal Growth ◽

Metal Organic Framework ◽

Metal Organic Frameworks ◽

Force Microscopy ◽

The Core ◽

Atomic Force ◽

Metal Organic ◽

Surface Crystal ◽

Organic Framework

Atomic force microscopy has been used to determine the surface crystal growth of two isostructural metal-organic frameworks, [Zn2(ndc)2(dabco)] (ndc = 1,4-naphthalene dicarboxylate, dabco = 4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane) (1) and [Cu2(ndc)2(dabco)] (2) from...

Download Full-text