scholarly journals The Polar Region of the HIV-1 Envelope Protein Determines Viral Fusion and Infectivity by Stabilizing the gp120-gp41 Association

2019 ◽  
Vol 93 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wuxun Lu ◽  
Shuliang Chen ◽  
Jingyou Yu ◽  
Ryan Behrens ◽  
Joshua Wiggins ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Fusion ◽  
Cell Fusion ◽  
Viral Entry ◽  
Polar Region ◽  
Targeted Mutagenesis ◽  
Target Cells ◽  
Viral Fusion ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms ◽  
Hiv 1

ABSTRACT HIV-1 enters cells through binding between viral envelope glycoprotein (Env) and cellular receptors to initiate virus and cell fusion. HIV-1 Env precursor (gp160) is cleaved into two units noncovalently bound to form a trimer on virions, including a surface unit (gp120) and a transmembrane unit (gp41) responsible for virus binding and membrane fusion, respectively. The polar region (PR) at the N terminus of gp41 comprises 17 residues, including 7 polar amino acids. Previous studies suggested that the PR contributes to HIV-1 membrane fusion and infectivity; however, the precise role of the PR in Env-mediated viral entry and the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. Here, we show that the PR is critical for HIV-1 fusion and infectivity by stabilizing Env trimers. Through analyzing the PR sequences of 57,645 HIV-1 isolates, we performed targeted mutagenesis and functional studies of three highly conserved polar residues in the PR (S532P, T534A, and T536A) which have not been characterized previously. We found that single or combined mutations of these three residues abolished or significantly decreased HIV-1 infectivity without affecting viral production. These PR mutations abolished or significantly reduced HIV-1 fusion with target cells and also Env-mediated cell-cell fusion. Three PR mutations containing S532P substantially reduced gp120 and gp41 association, Env trimer stability, and increased gp120 shedding. Furthermore, S532A mutation significantly reduced HIV-1 infectivity and fusogenicity but not Env expression and cleavage. Our findings suggest that the PR of gp41, particularly the key residue S532, is structurally essential for maintaining HIV-1 Env trimer, viral fusogenicity, and infectivity. IMPORTANCE Although extensive studies of the transmembrane unit (gp41) of HIV-1 Env have led to a fusion inhibitor clinically used to block viral entry, the functions of different domains of gp41 in HIV-1 fusion and infectivity are not fully elucidated. The polar region (PR) of gp41 has been proposed to participate in HIV-1 membrane fusion in biochemical analyses, but its role in viral entry and infectivity remain unclear. In our effort to characterize three nucleotide mutations of an HIV-1 RNA element that partially overlaps the PR coding sequence, we identified a novel function of the PR that determines viral fusion and infectivity. We further demonstrated the structural and functional impact of six PR mutations on HIV-1 Env stability, viral fusion, and infectivity. Our findings reveal the previously unappreciated function of the PR and the underlying mechanisms, highlighting the important role of the PR in regulating HIV-1 fusion and infectivity.

scholarly journals Role of the Ectodomain of the gp41 Transmembrane Envelope Protein of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 in Late Steps of the Membrane Fusion Process

2004 ◽  
Vol 78 (2) ◽  
pp. 811-820 ◽  
Author(s):  
Séverine Bär ◽  
Marc Alizon
Keyword(s):  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Membrane Fusion ◽  
Envelope Protein ◽  
Target Cells ◽  
Loop Region ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Fluorescent Cells ◽  
Hiv 1

ABSTRACT The membrane fusion process mediated by the gp41 transmembrane envelope glycoprotein of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) was addressed by a flow cytometry assay detecting exchanges of fluorescent membrane probes (DiI and DiO) between cells expressing the HIV-1 envelope proteins (Env) and target cells. Double-fluorescent cells were detected when target cells expressed the type of chemokine receptor, CXCR4 or CCR5, matching the type of gp120 surface envelope protein, X4 or R5, respectively. Background levels of double-fluorescent cells were observed when the gp120-receptor interaction was blocked by AMD3100, a CXCR4 antagonist. The L568A mutation in the N-terminal heptad repeat (HR1) of gp41 resulted in parallel inhibition of the formation of syncytia and double-fluorescent cells, indicating that gp41 had a direct role in the exchange of fluorescent probes. In contrast, three mutations in the loop region of the gp41 ectodomain, located on either side of the Cys-(X)5-Cys motif (W596 M and W610A) or at the distal end of HR1 (D589L), had limited or no apparent effect on membrane lipid mixing between Env+ and target cells, while they blocked formation of syncytia and markedly reduced the exchanges of cytoplasmic fluorescent probes. The loop region could therefore have a direct or indirect role in events occurring after the merging of membranes, such as the formation or dilation of fusion pores. Two types of inhibitors of HIV-1 entry, the gp41-derived peptide T20 and the betulinic acid derivative RPR103611, had limited effects on membrane exchanges at concentrations blocking or markedly reducing syncytium formation. This finding confirmed that T20 can inhibit the late steps of membrane fusion (post-lipid mixing) and brought forth an indirect argument for the role of the gp41 loop region in these steps, as mutations conferring resistance to RPR103611V were mapped in this region (I595S or L602H).

scholarly journals Role of the Membrane-Spanning Domain of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Envelope Glycoprotein in Cell-Cell Fusion and Virus Infection

2008 ◽  
Vol 82 (11) ◽  
pp. 5417-5428 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liang Shang ◽  
Ling Yue ◽  
Eric Hunter
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Cell Fusion ◽  
Viral Entry ◽  
Envelope Glycoprotein ◽  
Amino Acid Residues ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Membrane Spanning ◽  
Hiv 1

ABSTRACT The membrane-spanning domain (MSD) of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) gp41 glycoprotein is critical for its biological activity. Previous C-terminal truncation studies have predicted an almost invariant core structure of 12 amino acid residues flanked by basic amino acids in the HIV-1 MSD that function to anchor the glycoprotein in the lipid bilayer. To further understand the role of specific amino acids within the MSD core, we initially replaced the core region with 12 leucine residues and then constructed recovery-of-function mutants in which specific amino acid residues (including a GGXXG motif) were reintroduced. We show here that conservation of the MSD core sequence is not required for normal expression, processing, intracellular transport, and incorporation into virions of the envelope glycoprotein (Env). However, the amino acid composition of the MSD core does influence the ability of Env to mediate cell-cell fusion and plays a critical role in the infectivity of HIV-1. Replacement of conserved amino acid residues with leucine blocked virus-to-cell fusion and subsequent viral entry into target cells. This restriction could not be released by C-terminal truncation of the gp41 glycoprotein. These studies imply that the highly conserved core residues of the HIV Env MSD, in addition to serving as a membrane anchor, play an important role in mediating membrane fusion during viral entry.

scholarly journals Detection of Cell-Cell Fusion Mediated by Ebola Virus Glycoproteins

2006 ◽  
Vol 80 (6) ◽  
pp. 2815-2822 ◽  
Author(s):  
Séverine Bär ◽  
Ayato Takada ◽  
Yoshihiro Kawaoka ◽  
Marc Alizon
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Fusion ◽  
Viral Entry ◽  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Low Ph ◽  
Viral Envelope ◽  
Target Cells ◽  
Direct Role ◽  
Influenza Virus Hemagglutinin ◽  
Ph Dependent

ABSTRACT Ebola viruses (EboV) are enveloped RNA viruses infecting cells by a pH-dependent process mediated by viral glycoproteins (GP) involving endocytosis of virions and their routing into acidic endosomes. As with well-characterized pH-dependent viral entry proteins, in particular influenza virus hemagglutinin, it is thought that EboV GP require activation by low pH in order to mediate fusion of the viral envelope with the membrane of endosomes. However, it has not yet been possible to confirm the direct role of EboV GP in membrane fusion and the requirement for low-pH activation. It was in particular not possible to induce formation of syncytia by exposing cells expressing EboV GP to acidic medium. Here, we have used an assay based on the induction of a β-galactosidase (lacZ) reporter gene in target cells to detect cytoplasmic exchanges, indicating membrane fusion, with cells expressing EboV GP (Zaire species). Acidic activation of GP-expressing cells was required for efficient fusion with target cells. The direct role of EboV GP in this process is indicated by its inhibition by anti-GP antibodies and by the lack of activity of mutant GP normally expressed at the cell surface but defective for virus entry. Fusion was not observed when target cells underwent acidic treatment, for example, when they were placed in coculture with GP-expressing cells before the activation step. This unexpected feature, possibly related to the nature of the EboV receptor, could explain the impossibility of inducing formation of syncytia among GP-expressing cells.

scholarly journals Roles of Cholesterol in Early and Late Steps of the Nipah Virus Membrane Fusion Cascade

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erik M. Contreras ◽  
Gunner P. Johnston ◽  
David W. Buchholz ◽  
Victoria Ortega ◽  
I. Abrrey Monreal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Membrane ◽  
Membrane Fusion ◽  
Cell Fusion ◽  
Viral Entry ◽  
Nipah Virus ◽  
Fusion Pore ◽  
Membrane Cholesterol ◽  
Enveloped Viruses ◽  
Cell Cell

Cholesterol has been implicated in various viral life cycle steps for different enveloped viruses, including viral entry into host cells, cell-cell fusion, and viral budding from infected cells. Enveloped viruses acquire their membranes from their host cells. Though cholesterol has been associated with binding and entry of various enveloped viruses into cells, cholesterol’s exact function in the viral-cell membrane fusion process remains largely elusive, particularly for the paramyxoviruses. Further, paramyxoviral fusion occurs at the host cell membrane and is essential for both virus entry (virus-cell fusion) and syncytia formation (cell-cell fusion), central to viral pathogenicity. Nipah virus (NiV) is a deadly member of the Paramyxoviridae family, which also includes Hendra, measles, mumps, human parainfluenza, and various veterinary viruses. The zoonotic NiV causes severe encephalitis, vasculopathy, and respiratory symptoms, leading to a high mortality rate in humans. We used NiV as a model to study the role of membrane cholesterol in paramyxoviral membrane fusion. We used a combination of methyl-beta cyclodextrin (MβCD), lovastatin, and cholesterol to deplete or enrich cell membrane cholesterol outside cytotoxic concentrations. We found that the levels of cellular membrane cholesterol directly correlated with the levels of cell-cell fusion induced. These phenotypes were paralleled using NiV/vesicular stomatitis virus (NiV/VSV) pseudotyped viral infection assays. Remarkably, our mechanistic studies revealed that cholesterol reduces an early F-triggering step but enhances a late fusion pore formation step in the NiV membrane fusion cascade. Thus, our results expand our mechanistic understanding of the paramyxoviral/henipaviral entry and cell-cell fusion processes. IMPORTANCE Cholesterol has been implicated in various steps of the viral life cycle for different enveloped viruses. Nipah virus (NiV) is a highly pathogenic enveloped virus in the Henipavirus genus within the Paramyxoviridae family, capable of causing a high mortality rate in humans and high morbidity in domestic and agriculturally important animals. The role of cholesterol for NiV or the henipaviruses is unknown. Here we show that the levels of cholesterol influence the levels of NiV-induced cell-cell membrane fusion during syncytia formation, and virus-cell membrane fusion during viral entry. Further, the specific role of cholesterol in membrane fusion is not well defined for the paramyxoviruses. We show that the levels of cholesterol affect an early F-triggering step and a late fusion pore formation step during the membrane fusion cascade. Thus, our results expand our mechanistic understanding of the viral entry and cell-cell fusion processes, which may aid the development of antivirals.

scholarly journals From Capsids to Complexes: Expanding the Role of TRIM5α in the Restriction of Divergent RNA Viruses and Elements

Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 446
Author(s):  
Kevin M. Rose ◽  
Stephanie J. Spada ◽  
Rebecca Broeckel ◽  
Kristin L. McNally ◽  
Vanessa M. Hirsch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Molecular Basis ◽  
Human Population ◽  
Rna Viruses ◽  
Arms Race ◽  
Innate Immune ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms ◽  
Hiv 1

An evolutionary arms race has been ongoing between retroviruses and their primate hosts for millions of years. Within the last century, a zoonotic transmission introduced the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV-1), a retrovirus, to the human population that has claimed the lives of millions of individuals and is still infecting over a million people every year. To counteract retroviruses such as this, primates including humans have evolved an innate immune sensor for the retroviral capsid lattice known as TRIM5α. Although the molecular basis for its ability to restrict retroviruses is debated, it is currently accepted that TRIM5α forms higher-order assemblies around the incoming retroviral capsid that are not only disruptive for the virus lifecycle, but also trigger the activation of an antiviral state. More recently, it was discovered that TRIM5α restriction is broader than previously thought because it restricts not only the human retroelement LINE-1, but also the tick-borne flaviviruses, an emergent group of RNA viruses that have vastly different strategies for replication compared to retroviruses. This review focuses on the underlying mechanisms of TRIM5α-mediated restriction of retroelements and flaviviruses and how they differ from the more widely known ability of TRIM5α to restrict retroviruses.

scholarly journals HIV-1 requires Arf6-mediated membrane dynamics to efficiently enter and infect T lymphocytes

2011 ◽  
Vol 22 (8) ◽  
pp. 1148-1166 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura García-Expósito ◽  
Jonathan Barroso-González ◽  
Isabel Puigdomènech ◽  
José-David Machado ◽  
Julià Blanco ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
T Lymphocytes ◽  
Viral Entry ◽  
Membrane Trafficking ◽  
Membrane Dynamics ◽  
Viral Fusion ◽  
Viral Attachment ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Vesicular Stomatitis ◽  
Hiv 1

As the initial barrier to viral entry, the plasma membrane along with the membrane trafficking machinery and cytoskeleton are of fundamental importance in the viral cycle. However, little is known about the contribution of plasma membrane dynamics during early human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection. Considering that ADP ribosylation factor 6 (Arf6) regulates cellular invasion via several microorganisms by coordinating membrane trafficking, our aim was to study the function of Arf6-mediated membrane dynamics on HIV-1 entry and infection of T lymphocytes. We observed that an alteration of the Arf6–guanosine 5′-diphosphate/guanosine 5′-triphosphate (GTP/GDP) cycle, by GDP-bound or GTP-bound inactive mutants or by specific Arf6 silencing, inhibited HIV-1 envelope–induced membrane fusion, entry, and infection of T lymphocytes and permissive cells, regardless of viral tropism. Furthermore, cell-to-cell HIV-1 transmission of primary human CD4+T lymphocytes was inhibited by Arf6 knockdown. Total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy showed that Arf6 mutants provoked the accumulation of phosphatidylinositol-(4,5)-biphosphate–associated structures on the plasma membrane of permissive cells, without affecting CD4-viral attachment but impeding CD4-dependent HIV-1 entry. Arf6 silencing or its mutants did not affect fusion, entry, and infection of vesicular stomatitis virus G–pseudotyped viruses or ligand-induced CXCR4 or CCR5 endocytosis, both clathrin-dependent processes. Therefore we propose that efficient early HIV-1 infection of CD4+T lymphocytes requires Arf6-coordinated plasma membrane dynamics that promote viral fusion and entry.

scholarly journals Going beyond Integration: The Emerging Role of HIV-1 Integrase in Virion Morphogenesis

Viruses ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 1005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer L. Elliott ◽  
Sebla B. Kutluay
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Viral Genome ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Viral Rna ◽  
Target Cells ◽  
Host Chromosome ◽  
Virion Morphogenesis ◽  
Rna Genome ◽  
Hiv 1

The HIV-1 integrase enzyme (IN) plays a critical role in the viral life cycle by integrating the reverse-transcribed viral DNA into the host chromosome. This function of IN has been well studied, and the knowledge gained has informed the design of small molecule inhibitors that now form key components of antiretroviral therapy regimens. Recent discoveries unveiled that IN has an under-studied yet equally vital second function in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) replication. This involves IN binding to the viral RNA genome in virions, which is necessary for proper virion maturation and morphogenesis. Inhibition of IN binding to the viral RNA genome results in mislocalization of the viral genome inside the virus particle, and its premature exposure and degradation in target cells. The roles of IN in integration and virion morphogenesis share a number of common elements, including interaction with viral nucleic acids and assembly of higher-order IN multimers. Herein we describe these two functions of IN within the context of the HIV-1 life cycle, how IN binding to the viral genome is coordinated by the major structural protein, Gag, and discuss the value of targeting the second role of IN in virion morphogenesis.

scholarly journals Oregano Oil and Its Principal Component, Carvacrol, Inhibit HIV-1 Fusion into Target Cells

2020 ◽  
Vol 94 (15) ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Mediouni ◽  
J. A. Jablonski ◽  
S. Tsuda ◽  
A. Barsamian ◽  
C. Kessing ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Essential Oil ◽  
Cell Fusion ◽  
Target Cell ◽  
Viral Envelope ◽  
Target Cells ◽  
Cholesterol Depletion ◽  
Envelope Membrane ◽  
Oregano Essential Oil ◽  
Oregano Oil ◽  
Hiv 1

ABSTRACT Oregano essential oil has long been known for its health-promoting benefits. Here, we report its activity against viral replication. Oregano oil was found to specifically inhibit lentiviruses, such as human and simian immunodeficiency viruses (HIV and SIV), irrespective of virus tropism, but not hepatitis C virus, adenovirus 5 (ADV5), Zika virus, and influenza (H1N1) virus. Oregano oil’s most abundant components, carvacrol and its isomer, thymol, were shown to block virus-target cell fusion while not perturbing other stages of the virus life cycle. We detected changes in virus particle density, suggesting that cholesterol depletion from the HIV-1 envelope membrane reduces virus entry. Furthermore, infection was rescued by adding exogenous cholesterol. The evolution of viral resistance to carvacrol supported this mechanism of action with the identification of mutations in the viral gp41 fusion protein that counteracted cholesterol depletion. In addition, resistance to carvacrol emerged later than typically observed for other clinically used drugs, strengthening its antiviral potential. Structure-activity relationship studies revealed key motifs of carvacrol and thymol required for HIV neutralization and identified previously unknown active analogs. Carvacrol was also shown to additively cooperate with antiretroviral therapy. In sum, oregano oil and improved carvacrol and thymol analogs could be considered to supplement current HIV therapeutics. IMPORTANCE Oregano essential oil has multiple benefits in traditional medicine, cosmetics, and food industries. Carvacrol and its analog, thymol, are well-described components of oregano oil. Here, we show that these compounds inhibit HIV-target cell fusion independently of viral tropism. Our results suggest that carvacrol and thymol alter the cholesterol content of the viral membrane, blocking HIV-1 entry into the target cell. Resistance to carvacrol has selected for viruses with mutations in the viral envelope glycoprotein, gp41. This protein is known for its interaction with cholesterol present in membrane lipid rafts. Together, these results demonstrate the potential of therapies targeting the viral envelope membrane, and oregano oil is a safe supplement to antiretrovirals, potentially delaying disease progression and resistance development.

Role of Glycosphingolipids in HIV-1 Entry: Requirement of Globotriosylceramide (Gb3) in CD4/CXCR4-dependent Fusion

1999 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 317-325 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anu Puri ◽  
Peter Hug ◽  
Kristine Jernigan ◽  
Patrick Rose ◽  
Robert Blumenthal
Keyword(s):  
Structural Analysis ◽  
Cell Fusion ◽  
Envelope Glycoprotein ◽  
Human Erythrocyte ◽  
Head Group ◽  
Specific Interactions ◽  
Cd4 Cells ◽  
Fusion Site ◽  
Hiv 1

We have recently shown that addition of human erythrocyte glycosphingolipids (GSL) to non-human CD4+ or GSL-depleted human CD4+ cells rendered those cells susceptible to gp120-gp41-mediated cell fusion (Puri et al., BBRC, 1998). One GSL fraction (Fraction 3) isolated from human erythrocyte GSL mixture exhibited the highest recovery of fusion following incorporation into CD4+ non-human and GSL-depleted HeLa-CD4 cells (HeLa-CD4/GSL-). Structural analysis of Fraction 3 showed that this GSL had identical head group as the known GSL, Gal(α1→4)Gal(β1→4)Glc-Ceramide (Gb3) (Puri et al., PNAS, 1998). Here we report that presence of Gb3 in CD4+/CXCR4+ cells but not CD4+/CXCR4- cells allows fusion with HIV-1Lai-envelope glycoprotein expressing cells (TF228). Therefore, Gb3 functions in conjunction with HIV-1 co-receptor, CXCR4 to promote fusion. We propose that Gb3 functions by recruiting CD4 and/or CXCR4 at the fusion site through structurally specific interactions.

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