Alterations in the MA and NC Domains Modulate Phosphoinositide-Dependent Plasma Membrane Localization of the Rous Sarcoma Virus Gag Protein

ABSTRACT Packaging of genomic RNA (gRNA) by retroviruses is essential for infectivity, yet the subcellular site of the initial interaction between the Gag polyprotein and gRNA remains poorly defined. Because retroviral particles are released from the plasma membrane, it was previously thought that Gag proteins initially bound to gRNA in the cytoplasm or at the plasma membrane. However, the Gag protein of the avian retrovirus Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) undergoes active nuclear trafficking, which is required for efficient gRNA encapsidation (L. Z. Scheifele, R. A. Garbitt, J. D. Rhoads, and L. J. Parent, Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 99:3944–3949, 2002, https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.062652199; R. Garbitt-Hirst, S. P. Kenney, and L. J. Parent, J Virol 83:6790–6797, 2009, https://doi.org/10.1128/JVI.00101-09). These results raise the intriguing possibility that the primary contact between Gag and gRNA might occur in the nucleus. To examine this possibility, we created a RSV proviral construct that includes 24 tandem repeats of MS2 RNA stem-loops, making it possible to track RSV viral RNA (vRNA) in live cells in which a fluorophore-conjugated MS2 coat protein is coexpressed. Using confocal microscopy, we observed that both wild-type Gag and a nuclear export mutant (Gag.L219A) colocalized with vRNA in the nucleus. In live-cell time-lapse images, the wild-type Gag protein trafficked together with vRNA as a single ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complex in the nucleoplasm near the nuclear periphery, appearing to traverse the nuclear envelope into the cytoplasm. Furthermore, biophysical imaging methods suggest that Gag and the unspliced vRNA physically interact in the nucleus. Taken together, these data suggest that RSV Gag binds unspliced vRNA to export it from the nucleus, possibly for packaging into virions as the viral genome. IMPORTANCE Retroviruses cause severe diseases in animals and humans, including cancer and acquired immunodeficiency syndromes. To propagate infection, retroviruses assemble new virus particles that contain viral proteins and unspliced vRNA to use as gRNA. Despite the critical requirement for gRNA packaging, the molecular mechanisms governing the identification and selection of gRNA by the Gag protein remain poorly understood. In this report, we demonstrate that the Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) Gag protein colocalizes with unspliced vRNA in the nucleus in the interchromatin space. Using live-cell confocal imaging, RSV Gag and unspliced vRNA were observed to move together from inside the nucleus across the nuclear envelope, suggesting that the Gag-gRNA complex initially forms in the nucleus and undergoes nuclear export into the cytoplasm as a viral ribonucleoprotein (vRNP) complex.

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Hydrodynamic and Membrane Binding Properties of Purified Rous Sarcoma Virus Gag Protein

Journal of Virology ◽

10.1128/jvi.01628-15 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 89 (20) ◽

pp. 10371-10382 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Robert A. Dick ◽

Siddhartha A. K. Datta ◽

Hirsh Nanda ◽

Xianyang Fang ◽

Yi Wen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Plasma Membrane ◽

Rous Sarcoma Virus ◽

Acyl Chain ◽

Membrane Binding ◽

Membrane Association ◽

Gag Protein ◽

Rous Sarcoma ◽

Sarcoma Virus ◽

Hiv 1

ABSTRACTPreviously, no retroviral Gag protein has been highly purified in milligram quantities and in a biologically relevant and active form. We have purified Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) Gag protein and in parallel several truncation mutants of Gag and have studied their biophysical properties and membrane interactionsin vitro. RSV Gag is unusual in that it is not naturally myristoylated. From its ability to assemble into virus-like particlesin vitro, we infer that RSV Gag is biologically active. By size exclusion chromatography and small-angle X-ray scattering, Gag in solution appears extended and flexible, in contrast to previous reports on unmyristoylated HIV-1 Gag, which is compact. However, by neutron reflectometry measurements of RSV Gag bound to a supported bilayer, the protein appears to adopt a more compact, folded-over conformation. At physiological ionic strength, purified Gag binds strongly to liposomes containing acidic lipids. This interaction is stimulated by physiological levels of phosphatidylinositol-(4,5)-bisphosphate [PI(4,5)P2] and by cholesterol. However, unlike HIV-1 Gag, RSV Gag shows no sensitivity to acyl chain saturation. In contrast with full-length RSV Gag, the purified MA domain of Gag binds to liposomes only weakly. Similarly, both an N-terminally truncated version of Gag that is missing the MA domain and a C-terminally truncated version that is missing the NC domain bind only weakly. These results imply that NC contributes to membrane interactionin vitro, either by directly contacting acidic lipids or by promoting Gag multimerization.IMPORTANCERetroviruses like HIV assemble at and bud from the plasma membrane of cells. Assembly requires the interaction between thousands of Gag molecules to form a lattice. Previous work indicated that lattice formation at the plasma membrane is influenced by the conformation of monomeric HIV. We have extended this work to the more tractable RSV Gag. Our results show that RSV Gag is highly flexible and can adopt a folded-over conformation on a lipid bilayer, implicating both the N and C termini in membrane binding. In addition, binding of Gag to membranes is diminished when either terminal domain is truncated. RSV Gag membrane association is significantly less sensitive than HIV Gag membrane association to lipid acyl chain saturation. These findings shed light on Gag assembly and membrane binding, critical steps in the viral life cycle and an untapped target for antiretroviral drugs.

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Lysines Close to the Rous Sarcoma Virus Late Domain Critical for Budding

Journal of Virology ◽

10.1128/jvi.78.19.10606-10616.2004 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 78 (19) ◽

pp. 10606-10616 ◽

Cited By ~ 29

Author(s):

Jared L. Spidel ◽

Rebecca C. Craven ◽

Carol B. Wilson ◽

Akash Patnaik ◽

Huating Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Plasma Membrane ◽

Rous Sarcoma Virus ◽

Leukemia Virus ◽

Cell Leukemia Virus Type ◽

Gag Protein ◽

Rous Sarcoma ◽

Human T Cell ◽

The Matrix ◽

T Cell Leukemia Virus ◽

Sarcoma Virus

ABSTRACT The release of retroviruses from the plasma membrane requires host factors that are believed to be recruited to the site of budding by the late (L) domain of the virus-encoded Gag protein. The L domain of Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) has been shown to interact with a ubiquitin (Ub) ligase, and budding of this virus is dependent on Ub. RSV is similar to other retroviruses in that it contains ∼100 molecules of Ub, but it is unique in that none of these molecules has been found to be conjugated to Gag. If transient ubiquitination of RSV Gag is required for budding, then replacement of the target lysine(s) with arginine should prevent the addition of Ub and reduce budding. Based on known sites of ubiquitination in other viruses, the important lysines would likely reside near the L domain. In RSV, there are five lysines located just upstream of the L domain in a region of the matrix (MA) protein that is dispensable for membrane binding, and replacement of these with arginine (mutant 1-5KR) reduced budding 80 to 90%. The block to budding was found to be on the plasma membrane; however, the few virions that were released had normal size, morphology, and infectivity. Budding was restored when any one of the residues was changed back to lysine or when lysines were inserted in novel positions, either within this region of MA or within the downstream p10 sequence. Moreover, the 1-5KR mutant could be rescued into particles by coexpression of budding-competent Gag molecules. These data argue that the phenotype of mutant 1-5KR is not due to a conformational defect. Consistent with the idea that efficient budding requires a specific role for lysines, human T-cell leukemia virus type 1, which does not bud well compared to RSV and lacks lysines close to its L domain, was found to be released at a higher level upon introduction of lysines near its L domain. This report strongly supports the hypothesis that ubiquitination of the RSV Gag protein (and perhaps those of other retroviruses) is needed for efficient budding.

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Repositioning Basic Residues in the M Domain of the Rous Sarcoma Virus Gag Protein

Journal of Virology ◽

10.1128/jvi.74.23.11222-11229.2000 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 74 (23) ◽

pp. 11222-11229 ◽

Cited By ~ 45

Author(s):

Eric M. Callahan ◽

John W. Wills

Keyword(s):

Plasma Membrane ◽

Rous Sarcoma Virus ◽

Electrostatic Interactions ◽

Particle Production ◽

Gag Protein ◽

Particle Release ◽

Gag Proteins ◽

Rous Sarcoma ◽

Sarcoma Virus ◽

Acidic Phospholipids

ABSTRACT The first 86 residues of the Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) Gag protein form a membrane-binding (M) domain that directs Gag to the plasma membrane during budding. Unlike other retroviral Gag proteins, RSV Gag is not myristylated; however, the RSV M domain does contain 11 basic residues that could potentially interact with acidic phospholipids in the plasma membrane. To investigate this possibility, we analyzed mutants in which basic residues in the M domain were replaced with asparagines or glutamines. The data show that neutralizing as few as two basic residues in the M domain blocked particle release and prevented Gag from localizing to the plasma membrane. Though not as severe, single neutralizations also diminished budding and, when expressed in the context of proviral clones, reduced the ability of RSV to spread in cell cultures. To further explore the role of basic residues in particle production, we added lysines to new positions in the M domain. Using this approach, we found that the budding efficiency of RSV Gag can be improved by adding pairs of lysines and that the basic residues in the M domain can be repositioned without affecting particle release. These data provide the first gain-of-function evidence for the importance of basic residues in a retroviral M domain and support a model in which RSV Gag binds to the plasma membrane via electrostatic interactions.

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In Vivo Interference of Rous Sarcoma Virus Budding by cis Expression of a WW Domain

Journal of Virology ◽

10.1128/jvi.76.6.2789-2795.2002 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 76 (6) ◽

pp. 2789-2795 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Akash Patnaik ◽

John W. Wills

Keyword(s):

Plasma Membrane ◽

Rous Sarcoma Virus ◽

Gag Protein ◽

Ww Domain ◽

Particle Release ◽

Rous Sarcoma ◽

Sarcoma Virus ◽

Membrane Budding

ABSTRACT For all enveloped viruses, the actual mechanism by which nascent virus particles separate or “pinch off” from the cell surface is largely unknown. In the case of retroviruses, the Gag protein drives the budding process, and the virus release step is directed by the late (L) assembly domain within Gag. A PPPPY motif within the L domain of Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) was previously characterized as being critical for the release of virions and shown to interact in vitro with the WW domain of Yes-associated protein (Yap). To determine whether WW domain-L domain interactions can occur in vivo, we attempted to interfere with the host cell machinery normally recruited to the site of budding by inserting this WW domain in different locations within Gag. At a C-terminal location, the WWYap domain had no effect on budding, suggesting that the intervening I domains (which provide the major region of Gag-Gag interaction) prevent its access to the L domain. When positioned on the other side of the I domains closer to the L domain, the WWYap domain resulted in a dramatic interference of particle release, and confocal microscopy revealed a block to budding on the plasma membrane. Budding was restored by attachment of the heterologous L domain of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Gag, which does not bind WWYap. These findings suggest that cis expression of WW domains can interfere with RSV particle release in vivo via specific, high-affinity interactions at the site of assembly on the plasma membrane, thus preventing host factor accessibility to the L domain and subsequent virus-cell separation. In addition, they suggest that L domain-specific host factors function after Gag proteins begin to interact.

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Specificity of Plasma Membrane Targeting by the Rous Sarcoma Virus Gag Protein

Journal of Virology ◽

10.1128/jvi.77.1.470-480.2003 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 77 (1) ◽

pp. 470-480 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Lisa Z. Scheifele ◽

Jonathan D. Rhoads ◽

Leslie J. Parent

Keyword(s):

Plasma Membrane ◽

Rous Sarcoma Virus ◽

Membrane Binding ◽

Alpha Helix ◽

Membrane Targeting ◽

Hydrophobic Membrane ◽

Particle Assembly ◽

Gag Protein ◽

Rous Sarcoma ◽

Sarcoma Virus

ABSTRACT Budding of C-type retroviruses begins when the viral Gag polyprotein is directed to the plasma membrane by an N-terminal membrane-binding (M) domain. While dispersed basic amino acids within the M domain are critical for stable membrane association and consequent particle assembly, additional residues or motifs may be required for specific plasma membrane targeting and binding. We have identified an assembly-defective Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) Gag mutant that retains significant membrane affinity despite having a deletion of the fourth alpha-helix of the M domain. Examination of the mutant protein's subcellular distribution revealed that it was not localized to the plasma membrane but instead was mistargeted to intracytoplasmic membranes. Specific plasma membrane targeting was restored by the addition of myristate plus a single basic residue, by multiple basic residues, or by the heterologous hydrophobic membrane-binding domain from the cellular Fyn protein. These results suggest that the fourth alpha-helix of the RSV M domain promotes specific targeting of Gag to the plasma membrane, either through a direct interaction with plasma membrane phospholipids or a membrane-associated cellular factor or by maintaining the conformation of Gag to expose specific plasma membrane targeting sequences.

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Genetic Evidence for a Connection between Rous Sarcoma Virus Gag Nuclear Trafficking and Genomic RNA Packaging

Journal of Virology ◽

10.1128/jvi.00101-09 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 83 (13) ◽

pp. 6790-6797 ◽

Cited By ~ 45

Author(s):

Rachel Garbitt-Hirst ◽

Scott P. Kenney ◽

Leslie J. Parent

Keyword(s):

Nuclear Localization ◽

Rous Sarcoma Virus ◽

Rna Binding ◽

Genetic Evidence ◽

Genomic Rna ◽

Wild Type ◽

Nuclear Trafficking ◽

Gag Protein ◽

Rous Sarcoma ◽

Sarcoma Virus

ABSTRACT The packaging of retroviral genomic RNA (gRNA) requires cis-acting elements within the RNA and trans-acting elements within the Gag polyprotein. The packaging signal ψ, at the 5′ end of the viral gRNA, binds to Gag through interactions with basic residues and Cys-His box RNA-binding motifs in the nucleocapsid. Although specific interactions between Gag and gRNA have been demonstrated previously, where and when they occur is not well understood. We discovered that the Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) Gag protein transiently localizes to the nucleus, although the roles of Gag nuclear trafficking in virus replication have not been fully elucidated. A mutant of RSV (Myr1E) with enhanced plasma membrane targeting of Gag fails to undergo nuclear trafficking and also incorporates reduced levels of gRNA into virus particles compared to those in wild-type particles. Based on these results, we hypothesized that Gag nuclear entry might facilitate gRNA packaging. To test this idea by using a gain-of-function genetic approach, a bipartite nuclear localization signal (NLS) derived from the nucleoplasmin protein was inserted into the Myr1E Gag sequence (generating mutant Myr1E.NLS) in an attempt to restore nuclear trafficking. Here, we report that the inserted NLS enhanced the nuclear localization of Myr1E.NLS Gag compared to that of Myr1E Gag. Also, the NLS sequence restored gRNA packaging to nearly wild-type levels in viruses containing Myr1E.NLS Gag, providing genetic evidence linking nuclear trafficking of the retroviral Gag protein with gRNA incorporation.

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TNPO3-mediated nuclear entry of the Rous sarcoma virus Gag protein is independent of the cargo-binding domain

10.1101/2020.03.12.989608 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Breanna L. Rice ◽

Matthew S. Stake ◽

Leslie J. Parent

Keyword(s):

Nuclear Import ◽

Rous Sarcoma Virus ◽

Binding Domain ◽

Nuclear Entry ◽

Gag Protein ◽

Nuclear Localization Signals ◽

Rous Sarcoma ◽

Importin Α ◽

Sarcoma Virus ◽

Cargo Binding

AbstractRetroviral Gag polyproteins orchestrate the assembly and release of nascent virus particles from the plasma membranes of infected cells. Although it was traditionally thought that Gag proteins trafficked directly from the cytosol to the plasma membrane, we discovered that the oncogenic avian alpharetrovirus Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) Gag protein undergoes transient nucleocytoplasmic transport as an intrinsic step in virus assembly. Using a genetic approach in yeast, we identified three karyopherins that engage the two independent nuclear localization signals (NLS) in Gag. The primary NLS is in the nucleocapsid (NC) domain of Gag and binds directly to importin-α, which recruits importin-β to mediate nuclear entry. The second NLS, which resides in the matrix (MA) domain, is dependent on importin-11 and transportin-3 (TNPO3), known as MTR10p and Kap120p in yeast, although it is not clear whether these import factors are independent or additive. The functionality of importin α/β and importin-11 has been verified in avian cells, whereas the role of TNPO3 has not been studied. In this report, we demonstrate that TNPO3 mediates nuclear entry of Gag and directly binds to Gag. To our surprise, this interaction did not require the cargo-binding domain of TNPO3, which typically mediates nuclear entry for other binding partners of TNPO3 including SR-domain containing splicing factors and tRNAs that re-enter the nucleus. These results suggest that RSV hijacks the host nuclear import pathway using a unique mechanism, potentially allowing other cargo to bind TNPO3 simultaneously.ImportanceRSV Gag nuclear entry is facilitated using three distinct host import factors that interact with nuclear localization signals in the Gag MA and NC domains. Here we show that the MA region is required for nuclear import of Gag through the TNPO3 pathway. Gag nuclear entry does not require the cargo binding domain of TNPO3. Understanding the molecular basis for TNPO3-mediated nuclear trafficking of the RSV Gag protein may lead to a deeper appreciation for whether different import factors play distinct roles in retrovirus replication.

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Myristic acid is attached to the transforming protein of Rous sarcoma virus during or immediately after synthesis and is present in both soluble and membrane-bound forms of the protein

Molecular and Cellular Biology ◽

10.1128/mcb.4.12.2697-2704.1984 ◽

1984 ◽

Vol 4 (12) ◽

pp. 2697-2704

Author(s):

J E Buss ◽

M P Kamps ◽

B M Sefton

Keyword(s):

Plasma Membrane ◽

Myristic Acid ◽

Rous Sarcoma Virus ◽

Minor Component ◽

Rous Sarcoma ◽

Cytoplasmic Face ◽

Sarcoma Virus ◽

Stable Part ◽

Membrane Bound ◽

A Minor

Myristic acid, a minor component of cellular fatty acids, has been shown previously to be covalently bound to most molecules of p60src, the transforming protein of Rous sarcoma virus. We have now determined at what time during the life cycle of p60src, and where within the cell, this lipid becomes attached to the protein. p60src was found to acquire myristic acid at only one time, during or immediately after its synthesis. p60src is known to be synthesized on free polysomes and appears at the cytoplasmic face of the plasma membrane after a lag of 10 min. The addition of myristic acid to p60src therefore precedes the binding of the protein to the plasma membrane. The lipid attached to p60src is a permanent, metabolically stable part of the protein; we found no evidence for turnover of the myristyl moiety. However, we did find myristate attached to various soluble forms of p60src and to a large number of cytosolic cellular proteins as well. This demonstrates that the attachment of myristic acid to a protein is not in itself sufficient to convert a soluble protein into a membrane-bound protein.

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TNPO3-Mediated Nuclear Entry of the Rous Sarcoma Virus Gag Protein Is Independent of the Cargo-Binding Domain

Journal of Virology ◽

10.1128/jvi.00640-20 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 94 (17) ◽

Author(s):

Breanna L. Rice ◽

Matthew S. Stake ◽

Leslie J. Parent

Keyword(s):

Nuclear Localization ◽

Nuclear Import ◽

Rous Sarcoma Virus ◽

Binding Domain ◽

Nuclear Entry ◽

Gag Protein ◽

Nuclear Localization Signals ◽

Rous Sarcoma ◽

Importin Α ◽

Sarcoma Virus

ABSTRACT Retroviral Gag polyproteins orchestrate the assembly and release of nascent virus particles from the plasma membranes of infected cells. Although it was traditionally thought that Gag proteins trafficked directly from the cytosol to the plasma membrane, we discovered that the oncogenic avian alpharetrovirus Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) Gag protein undergoes transient nucleocytoplasmic transport as an intrinsic step in virus assembly. Using a genetic approach in yeast, we identified three karyopherins that engage the two independent nuclear localization signals (NLSs) in Gag. The primary NLS is in the nucleocapsid (NC) domain of Gag and binds directly to importin-α, which recruits importin-β to mediate nuclear entry. The second NLS (TNPO3), which resides in the matrix (MA) domain, is dependent on importin-11 and transportin-3 (TNPO3), which are known as MTR10p and Kap120p in yeast, although it is not clear whether these import factors are independent or additive. The functions of importin-α/importin-β and importin-11 have been verified in avian cells, whereas the role of TNPO3 has not been studied. In this report, we demonstrate that TNPO3 directly binds to Gag and mediates its nuclear entry. To our surprise, this interaction did not require the cargo-binding domain (CBD) of TNPO3, which typically mediates nuclear entry for other binding partners of TNPO3, including SR domain-containing splicing factors and tRNAs that reenter the nucleus. These results suggest that RSV hijacks this host nuclear import pathway using a unique mechanism, potentially allowing other cargo to simultaneously bind TNPO3. IMPORTANCE RSV Gag nuclear entry is facilitated using three distinct host import factors that interact with nuclear localization signals in the Gag MA and NC domains. Here, we show that the MA region is required for nuclear import of Gag through the TNPO3 pathway. Gag nuclear entry does not require the CBD of TNPO3. Understanding the molecular basis for TNPO3-mediated nuclear trafficking of the RSV Gag protein may lead to a deeper appreciation for whether different import factors play distinct roles in retrovirus replication.

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