scholarly journals Genetic Analysis of a Unique Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1) with a Primer Binding Site Complementary to tRNAMet Supports a Role for U5-PBS Stem-Loop RNA Structures in Initiation of HIV-1 Reverse Transcription

1999 ◽  
Vol 73 (3) ◽  
pp. 1818-1827 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sang-Moo Kang ◽  
Casey D. Morrow
Keyword(s):  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
In Vitro Culture ◽  
Reverse Transcription ◽  
Primer Binding Site ◽  
Rna Structures ◽  
Stem Loop ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Hiv 1

ABSTRACT Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) exclusively uses tRNA3 Lys to initiate reverse transcription. A novel HIV-1 mutant which stably utilizes tRNAMet rather than tRNA3 Lys as a primer was previously identified [HXB2(Met-AC] (S.-M. Kang, Z. Zhang, and C. D. Morrow, J. Virol. 71:207–217, 1997). Comparison of RNA secondary structures of the unique sequence (U5)-primer binding site (PBS) viral RNA genome alone or complexed with tRNAMet of HXB2(Met-AC) revealed structural motifs in common with the U5-PBS of the wild-type virus. In the current study, mutations were constructed to alter the U5-PBS structure and disrupt the U5-PBS-tRNAMet interaction of the virus derived from HXB2(Met-AC). All of the mutant viruses were infectious following transfection and coculture with SupT1 cells. Analysis of the initiation of reverse transcription revealed that some of the mutants were impaired compared to HXB2(Met-AC). The genetic stability of the PBS from each virus was determined following in vitro culture. Two mutant proviral constructs, one predicted to completely disrupt the stem-loop structure in U5 and the other predicted to destabilize contact regions of U5 with tRNAMet, reverted back to contain a PBS complementary to tRNA3 Lys. All other mutants maintained a PBS complementary to tRNAMetafter in vitro culture, although all contained multiple nucleotide substitutions within the U5-PBS from the starting proviral clones. Most interestingly, a viral mutant containing a 32-nucleotide deletion between nucleotides 142 and 173, encompassing regions in U5 which interact with tRNAMet, maintained a PBS complementary to tRNAMet following in vitro culture. All of the proviral clones recovered from this mutant, however, contained an additional 19-nucleotide insertion in U5. RNA modeling of the U5-PBS from this mutant demonstrated that the additional mutations present in U5 following culture restored RNA structures similar to those modeled from HXB2(Met-AC). These results provide strong genetic evidence that multiple sequence and structural elements in U5 in addition to the PBS are involved in the interaction with the tRNA used for initiation of reverse transcription.

scholarly journals Dimerization and Template Switching in the 5′ Untranslated Region between Various Subtypes of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1

2003 ◽  
Vol 77 (5) ◽  
pp. 3020-3030 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ebbe Sloth Andersen ◽  
Rienk E. Jeeninga ◽  
Christian Kroun Damgaard ◽  
Ben Berkhout ◽  
Jørgen Kjems
Keyword(s):  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type ◽  
Virus Type ◽  
Reverse Transcription ◽  
Untranslated Region ◽  
Template Switching ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Hiv 1

ABSTRACT The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) particle contains two identical RNA strands, each corresponding to the entire genome. The 5′ untranslated region (UTR) of each RNA strand contains extensive secondary and tertiary structures that are instrumental in different steps of the viral replication cycle. We have characterized the 5′ UTRs of nine different HIV-1 isolates representing subtypes A through G and, by comparing their homodimerization and heterodimerization potentials, found that complementarity between the palindromic sequences in the dimerization initiation site (DIS) hairpins is necessary and sufficient for in vitro dimerization of two subtype RNAs. The 5′ UTR sequences were used to design donor and acceptor templates for a coupled in vitro dimerization-reverse transcription assay. We showed that template switching during reverse transcription is increased with a matching DIS palindrome and further stimulated proportional to the level of homology between the templates. The presence of the HIV-1 nucleocapsid protein NCp7 increased the template-switching efficiency for matching DIS palindromes twofold, whereas the recombination efficiency was increased sevenfold with a nonmatching palindrome. Since NCp7 did not effect the dimerization of nonmatching palindromes, we concluded that the protein most likely stimulates the strand transfer reaction. An analysis of the distribution of template-switching events revealed that it occurs throughout the 5′ UTR. Together, these results demonstrate that the template switching of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase occurs frequently in vitro and that this process is facilitated mainly by template proximity and the level of homology.

scholarly journals Genetic Analyses of Conserved Residues in the Carboxyl-Terminal Domain of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Integrase

2005 ◽  
Vol 79 (16) ◽  
pp. 10356-10368 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Lu ◽  
Hina Z. Ghory ◽  
Alan Engelman
Keyword(s):  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Reverse Transcription ◽  
Class Ii ◽  
Class I ◽  
In Vitro Assays ◽  
Mutant Proteins ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Hiv 1

ABSTRACT Results of in vitro assays identified residues in the C-terminal domain (CTD) of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) integrase (IN) important for IN-IN and IN-DNA interactions, but the potential roles of these residues in virus replication were mostly unknown. Sixteen CTD residues were targeted here, generating 24 mutant viruses. Replication-defective mutants were typed as class I (blocked at integration) or class II (additional reverse transcription and/or assembly defects). Most defective viruses (15 of 17) displayed reverse transcription defects. In contrast, replication-defective HIV-1E246K synthesized near-normal cDNA levels but processing of Pr55 g ag was largely inhibited in virus-producing cells. Because single-round HIV-1E246K.Luc(R-) transduced cells at approximately 8% of the wild-type level, we concluded that the late-stage processing defect contributed significantly to the overall replication defect of HIV-1E246K. Results of complementation assays revealed that the CTD could function in trans to the catalytic core domain (CCD) in in vitro assays, and we since determined that certain class I and class II mutants defined a novel genetic complementation group that functioned in cells independently of IN domain boundaries. Seven of eight novel Vpr-IN mutant proteins efficiently trans-complemented class I active-site mutant virus, demonstrating catalytically active CTD mutant proteins during infection. Because most of these mutants inefficiently complemented a class II CCD mutant virus, the majority of CTD mutants were likely more defective for interactions with cellular and/or viral components that affected reverse transcription and/or preintegration trafficking than the catalytic activity of the IN enzyme.

scholarly journals The tRNA Primer Activation Signal in the Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Genome Is Important for Initiation and Processive Elongation of Reverse Transcription

2002 ◽  
Vol 76 (5) ◽  
pp. 2329-2339 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nancy Beerens ◽  
Ben Berkhout
Keyword(s):  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type ◽  
Virus Type ◽  
Reverse Transcription ◽  
Sequence Motif ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Trna Primer ◽  
Hiv 1

ABSTRACT Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) reverse transcription is primed by the cellular tRNA3 Lys molecule, which binds, with its 3"-terminal 18 nucleotides (nt), to a complementary sequence in the viral genome, the primer-binding site (PBS). Besides PBS-anti-PBS pairing, additional interactions between viral RNA sequences and the tRNA primer are thought to regulate the process of reverse transcription. We previously identified a novel 8-nt sequence motif in the U5 region of the HIV-1 RNA genome that is critical for tRNA3 Lys-mediated initiation of reverse transcription in vitro. This motif activates initiation from the natural tRNA3 Lys primer but is not involved in tRNA placement and was therefore termed primer activation signal (PAS). It was proposed that the PAS interacts with the anti-PAS motif in the TΨC arm of tRNA3 Lys. In this study, we analyzed several PAS-mutated viruses and performed reverse transcription assays with virion-extracted RNA-tRNA complexes. Mutation of the PAS reduced the efficiency of tRNA-primed reverse transcription. In contrast, mutations in the opposing leader sequence that trigger release of the PAS from base pairing stimulated reverse transcription. These results are similar to the reverse transcription effects observed in vitro. We also selected revertant viruses that partially overcome the reverse transcription defect of the PAS deletion mutant. Remarkably, all revertants acquired a single nucleotide substitution that does not restore the PAS sequence but that stimulates elongation of reverse transcription. These combined results indicate that the additional PAS-anti-PAS interaction is needed to assemble an initiation-competent and processive reverse transcription complex.

scholarly journals Characterization of Restrictions to Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Infection of Monocytes

2004 ◽  
Vol 78 (10) ◽  
pp. 5523-5527 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karine Triques ◽  
Mario Stevenson
Keyword(s):  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type ◽  
Virus Type ◽  
Reverse Transcription ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Exogenous Addition ◽  
Thymidine Phosphorylase Activity ◽  
Hiv 1

ABSTRACT Tissue macrophages are an important cellular reservoir for replication of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and simian immunodeficiency virus. In vitro, the ability of macrophages to support viral replication is differentiation dependent in that precursor monocytes are refractory to infection. There is, however, no consensus as to the exact point at which infection is restricted in monocytes. We have revisited this issue and have compared the efficiencies of early HIV-1 replication events in monocytes and in differentiated macrophages. Although virus entry in monocytes was comparable to that in differentiated macrophages, synthesis of full-length viral cDNAs was very inefficient. Relative to differentiated macrophages, monocytes contained low levels of dTTP due to low thymidine phosphorylase activity. Exogenous addition of d-thymidine increased dTTP levels to that in differentiated macrophages but did not correct the reverse transcription defect. These results point to a restriction in monocytes that is independent of reverse transcription precursors and suggest that differentiation-dependent cellular cofactors of reverse transcription are rate limiting in monocytes.

scholarly journals Inability of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Produced in Murine Cells To Selectively Incorporate Primer \batchmode \documentclass[fleqn,10pt,legalpaper]{article} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amsmath} \pagestyle{empty} \begin{document} \(\mathrm{tRNA}_{3}^{\mathrm{Lys}}\) \end{document}

2008 ◽  
Vol 82 (24) ◽  
pp. 12049-12059 ◽  
Author(s):  
Min Wei ◽  
Yiliang Yang ◽  
Meijuan Niu ◽  
Laurie Desfosse ◽  
Robert Kennedy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type ◽  
Virus Type ◽  
Reverse Transcription ◽  
Leukemia Virus ◽  
Trna Synthetase ◽  
Primer Binding Site ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Hiv 1

ABSTRACT Attempts to use the mouse as a model system for studying AIDS are stymied by the multiple blocks to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) replication that exist in mouse cells at the levels of viral entry, transcription, and Gag assembly and processing. In this report, we describe an additional block in the selective packaging of \batchmode \documentclass[fleqn,10pt,legalpaper]{article} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amsmath} \pagestyle{empty} \begin{document} \(tRNA_{3}^{Lys}\) \end{document} into HIV-1 produced in murine cells. HIV-1 and murine leukemia virus (MuLV) use \batchmode \documentclass[fleqn,10pt,legalpaper]{article} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amsmath} \pagestyle{empty} \begin{document} \(tRNA_{3}^{Lys}\) \end{document} and tRNAPro, respectively, as primers for reverse transcription. Selective packaging of \batchmode \documentclass[fleqn,10pt,legalpaper]{article} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amsmath} \pagestyle{empty} \begin{document} \(tRNA_{3}^{Lys}\) \end{document} into HIV-1 produced in human cells is much stronger than that for tRNAPro incorporation into MuLV produced in murine cells, and different packaging mechanisms are used. Thus, both lysyl-tRNA synthetase and GagPol are required for \batchmode \documentclass[fleqn,10pt,legalpaper]{article} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amsmath} \pagestyle{empty} \begin{document} \(tRNA_{3}^{Lys}\) \end{document} packaging into HIV-1, but neither prolyl-tRNA synthetase nor GagPol is required for tRNAPro packaging into MuLV. In this report, we show that when HIV-1 is produced in murine cells, the virus switches from an HIV-1-like incorporation of \batchmode \documentclass[fleqn,10pt,legalpaper]{article} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amsmath} \pagestyle{empty} \begin{document} \(tRNA_{3}^{Lys}\) \end{document} to an MuLV-like packaging of tRNAPro. The primer binding site in viral RNA remains complementary to \batchmode \documentclass[fleqn,10pt,legalpaper]{article} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amsmath} \pagestyle{empty} \begin{document} \(tRNA_{3}^{Lys}\) \end{document} , resulting in a significant decrease in reverse transcription and infectivity. Reduction in \batchmode \documentclass[fleqn,10pt,legalpaper]{article} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amsmath} \pagestyle{empty} \begin{document} \(tRNA_{3}^{Lys}\) \end{document} incorporation occurs even though both murine lysyl-tRNA synthetase and HIV-1 GagPol are packaged into the HIV-1 produced in murine cells. Nevertheless, the murine cell is able to support the select incorporation of \batchmode \documentclass[fleqn,10pt,legalpaper]{article} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amsmath} \pagestyle{empty} \begin{document} \(tRNA_{3}^{Lys}\) \end{document} into another retrovirus that uses \batchmode \documentclass[fleqn,10pt,legalpaper]{article} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amsmath} \pagestyle{empty} \begin{document} \(tRNA_{3}^{Lys}\) \end{document} as a primer, the mouse mammary tumor virus.

scholarly journals Probing the Importance of tRNA Anticodon: Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1) RNA Genome Complementarity with an HIV-1 That Selects tRNAGlu for Replication

2003 ◽  
Vol 77 (16) ◽  
pp. 8756-8764 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lesley C. Dupuy ◽  
Nathan J. Kelly ◽  
Tricia E. Elgavish ◽  
Stephen C. Harvey ◽  
Casey D. Morrow
Keyword(s):  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type ◽  
Virus Type ◽  
Reverse Transcription ◽  
Mononuclear Cells ◽  
Primer Binding Site ◽  
Wild Type Virus ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Hiv 1

ABSTRACT The initiation of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) reverse transcription occurs at the primer binding site (PBS) that is complementary to the 3′-terminal nucleotides of tRNA3 Lys. Why all known strains of HIV-1 select tRNA3 Lys for replication is unknown. Previous studies on the effect of altering the PBS of HIV-1 on replication identified an HIV-1 with a PBS complementary to tRNAGlu. Since the virus was not initially designed to use tRNAGlu, the virus had selected tRNAGlu from the intracellular pool of tRNA for use in replication. Further characterization of HIV-1 that uses tRNAGlu may provide new insights into the preference for tRNA3 Lys. HIV-1 constructed with the PBS complementary to tRNAGlu was more stable than HIV-1 with the PBS complementary to tRNAMet or tRNAHis; however, all of these viruses eventually reverted back to using tRNA3 Lys following growth in SupT1 cells or peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). New HIV-1 mutants with nucleotides in U5 complementary to the anticodon of tRNAGlu remained stable when grown in SupT1 cells or PBMCs, although the mutants grew more slowly than the wild-type virus. Sequence analysis of the U5 region and the PBS revealed additional mutations predicted to further promote tRNA-viral genome interaction. The results support the importance of the tRNA anticodon-genome interaction in the selection of the tRNA primer and highlight the fact that unique features of tRNA3 Lys are exploited by HIV-1 for selection as the reverse transcription primer.

scholarly journals Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Central DNA Flap: Dynamic Terminal Product of Plus-Strand Displacement DNA Synthesis Catalyzed by Reverse Transcriptase Assisted by Nucleocapsid Protein

2001 ◽  
Vol 75 (7) ◽  
pp. 3301-3313 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurence Hameau ◽  
Josette Jeusset ◽  
Sophie Lafosse ◽  
Dominique Coulaud ◽  
Etienne Delain ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Reverse Transcriptase ◽  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type ◽  
Reverse Transcription ◽  
Nucleocapsid Protein ◽  
Strand Displacement ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Hiv 1

ABSTRACT To terminate the reverse transcription of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) genome, a final step occurs within the center of the proviral DNA generating a 99-nucleotide DNA flap (6). This step, catalyzed by reverse transcriptase (RT), is defined as a discrete strand displacement (SD) synthesis between the first nucleotide after the central priming (cPPT) site and the final position of the central termination sequence (CTS) site. Using recombinant HIV-1 RT and a circular single-stranded DNA template harboring the cPPT-CTS sequence, we have developed an SD synthesis-directed in vitro termination assay. Elongation, strand displacement, and complete central flap behavior were analyzed using electrophoresis and electron microscopy approaches. Optimal conditions to obtain complete central flap, which ended at the CTS site, have been defined in using nucleocapsid protein (NCp), the main accessory protein of the reverse transcription complex. A full-length HIV-1 central DNA flap was then carried out in vitro. Its synthesis appears faster in the presence of the HIV-1 NCp or the T4-encoded SSB protein (gp32). Finally, a high frequency of strand transfer was shown during the SD synthesis along the cPPT-CTS site with RT alone. This reveals a local and efficient 3′-5′ branch migration which emphasizes some important structural fluctuations within the flap. These fluctuations may be stabilized by the NCp chaperone activity. The biological implications of the RT-directed NCp-assisted flap synthesis are discussed within the context of reverse transcription complexes, assembly of the preintegration complexes, and nuclear import of the HIV-1 proviral DNA to the nucleus toward their chromatin targets.

scholarly journals Defective Replication in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 When Non-\batchmode \documentclass[fleqn,10pt,legalpaper]{article} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amsmath} \pagestyle{empty} \begin{document} \(\mathrm{tRNA}_{3}^{\mathrm{Lys}}\) \end{document}Primers Are Used for Reverse Transcription

2005 ◽  
Vol 79 (14) ◽  
pp. 9081-9087 ◽  
Author(s):  
Min Wei ◽  
Shan Cen ◽  
Meijuan Niu ◽  
Fei Guo ◽  
Lawrence Kleiman
Keyword(s):  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type ◽  
Virus Type ◽  
Reverse Transcription ◽  
Primer Binding Site ◽  
Pcr Analysis ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Hiv 1

ABSTRACT \batchmode \documentclass[fleqn,10pt,legalpaper]{article} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amsmath} \pagestyle{empty} \begin{document} \(tRNA_{3}^{Lys}\) \end{document} , the primer for reverse transcriptase in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), anneals to the primer binding site (PBS) in HIV-1 RNA. It has been shown that altering the PBS and U5 regions upstream of the PBS in HIV-1 so as to be complementary to sequences in tRNAMet or tRNAHis will allow these tRNA species to be stably used as primers for reverse transcription. We have examined the replication of these mutant viruses in Sup-T1 cells. When Sup-T1 cells are infected by cocultivation with HIV-1-transfected 293T cells, viruses using tRNAHis or tRNAMet are produced at rates that are approximately 1/10 or 1/100, respectively, of rates for wild-type virions that use \batchmode \documentclass[fleqn,10pt,legalpaper]{article} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amsmath} \pagestyle{empty} \begin{document} \(tRNA_{3}^{Lys}\) \end{document} . When Sup-T1 cells are directly infected with equal amounts of these different viruses isolated from the culture supernatant of transfected 293T cells, virions using tRNAMet are produced at 1/100 the rate of wild-type viruses, and production of virions using tRNAHis is not detected. Both wild-type and mutant virions selectively package tRNALys only, and examination of the ability of total viral RNA to prime reverse transcription in vitro indicates a >80% reduction in the annealing of tRNAHis or tRNAMet to the mutant viral RNAs. PCR analysis of which of the three primer tRNAs is used indicates that only \batchmode \documentclass[fleqn,10pt,legalpaper]{article} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amsmath} \pagestyle{empty} \begin{document} \(tRNA_{3}^{Lys}\) \end{document} is detected as primer in wild-type virions and only tRNAHis is detected as primer in virions containing a PBS complementary to tRNAHis, while the mutant viruses containing a PBS complementary to tRNAMet use both tRNAMet and \batchmode \documentclass[fleqn,10pt,legalpaper]{article} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amsmath} \pagestyle{empty} \begin{document} \(tRNA_{1,2}^{Lys}\) \end{document} as primer tRNAs.

scholarly journals Preferential Completion of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Proviruses Initiated with tRNA3Lys rather than tRNA1,2Lys

1998 ◽  
Vol 72 (7) ◽  
pp. 5464-5471 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhijun Zhang ◽  
Qin Yu ◽  
Sang-Moo Kang ◽  
James Buescher ◽  
Casey D. Morrow
Keyword(s):  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Single Cell ◽  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type ◽  
Virus Type ◽  
Reverse Transcription ◽  
Primer Binding Site ◽  
Proviral Dna ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Hiv 1

ABSTRACT All retroviral genomes contain a nucleotide sequence designated as the primer binding site (PBS) which is complementary to the tRNA used for initiation of reverse transcription. For human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), all naturally occurring genomes have a PBS complementary to tRNA3 Lys. However, within HIV-1 virions, there are approximately equal amounts of tRNA1 Lys, tRNA2 Lys, and tRNA3 Lys. We have used an endogenous reverse transcription-PCR technique specific for the tRNA species within isolated HIV-1 virions to demonstrate that in addition to tRNA3 Lys, tRNA1 Lys and tRNA2 Lys could be used for initiation of HIV-1 reverse transcription. Using a single-round infection assay which employed an HIV-1 genome with a gpt gene encoding xanthine-guanine phosphoribosyl transferase in place of the env gene, we generated cell lines resistant to mycophenolic acid. Analysis of the U5-PBS from single-cell clones revealed PBS complementary to tRNA3 Lys, not tRNA1 Lys or tRNA2 Lys. A mutant HIV-1 genome was then created which would favor the completion of reverse transcription with tRNA1,2 Lys. Using this provirus in the complementation system, we again found only genomes with a PBS complementary to tRNA3 Lys from proviral DNA isolated fromgpt-resistant single-cell colonies. Finally, infection of cells with a mutant HIV genome with a PBS complementary to tRNA1,2 Lys resulted in gpt- resistant cell colonies which contained integrated provirions with a PBS complementary to tRNA1,2 Lys. The results of these studies suggest that the selection of tRNA3 Lys for initiation of HIV-1 reverse transcription occurs both at the initiation and at a postinitiation step in reverse transcription prior to integration of the proviral DNA.

scholarly journals Capsid lattice destabilization leads to premature loss of the viral genome and integrase enzyme during HIV-1 infection

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jenna E. Eschbach ◽  
Jennifer L. Elliott ◽  
Wen Li ◽  
Kaneil K. Zadrozny ◽  
Keanu Davis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type ◽  
Reverse Transcription ◽  
Viral Genome ◽  
Target Cells ◽  
Viral Core ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Hiv 1

ABSTRACTThe human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) capsid (CA) protein forms a conical lattice around the viral ribonucleoprotein complex (vRNP) consisting of a dimeric viral genome and associated proteins, together constituting the viral core. Upon entry into target cells, the viral core undergoes a process termed uncoating, during which CA molecules are shed from the lattice. Although the timing and degree of uncoating are important for reverse transcription and integration, the molecular basis of this phenomenon remains unclear. Using complementary approaches, we assessed the impact of core destabilization on the intrinsic stability of the CA lattice in vitro and fates of viral core components in infected cells. We found that substitutions in CA can impact the intrinsic stability of the CA lattice in vitro in the absence of vRNPs, which mirrored findings from assessment of CA stability in virions. Altering CA stability tended to increase the propensity to form morphologically aberrant particles, in which the vRNPs were mislocalized between the CA lattice and the viral lipid envelope. Importantly, destabilization of the CA lattice led to premature dissociation of CA from vRNPs in target cells, which was accompanied by proteasomal-independent losses of the viral genome and integrase enzyme. Overall, our studies show that the CA lattice protects the vRNP from untimely degradation in target cells and provide the mechanistic basis of how CA stability influences reverse transcription.AUTHOR SUMMARYThe human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) capsid (CA) protein forms a conical lattice around the viral RNA genome and the associated viral enzymes and proteins, together constituting the viral core. Upon infection of a new cell, viral cores are released into the cytoplasm where they undergo a process termed “uncoating”, i.e. shedding of CA molecules from the conical lattice. Although proper and timely uncoating has been shown to be important for reverse transcription, the molecular mechanisms that link these two events remain poorly understood. In this study, we show that destabilization of the CA lattice leads to premature dissociation of CA from viral cores, which exposes the viral genome and the integrase enzyme for degradation in target cells. Thus, our studies demonstrate that the CA lattice protects the viral ribonucleoprotein complexes from untimely degradation in target cells and provide the first causal link between how CA stability affects reverse transcription.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document