scholarly journals Proline Residues within Spacer Peptide p1 Are Important for Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Infectivity, Protein Processing, and Genomic RNA Dimer Stability

2002 ◽  
Vol 76 (22) ◽  
pp. 11245-11253 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa K. Hill ◽  
Miranda Shehu-Xhilaga ◽  
Suzanne M. Crowe ◽  
Johnson Mak
Keyword(s):  
Protein Processing ◽  
Viral Infectivity ◽  
Genomic Rna ◽  
Stem Loop ◽  
Altered Protein ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Rna Dimer ◽  
Hiv 1

ABSTRACT The full-length human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) mRNA encodes two precursor polyproteins, Gag and GagProPol. An infrequent ribosomal frameshifting event allows these proteins to be synthesized from the same mRNA in a predetermined ratio of 20 Gag proteins for each GagProPol. The RNA frameshift signal consists of a slippery sequence and a hairpin stem-loop whose thermodynamic stability has been shown in in vitro translation systems to be critical to frameshifting efficiency. In this study we examined the frameshift region of HIV-1, investigating the effects of altering stem-loop stability in the context of the complete viral genome and assessing the role of the Gag spacer peptide p1 and the GagProPol transframe (TF) protein that are encoded in this region. By creating a series of frameshift region mutants that systematically altered the stability of the frameshift stem-loop and the protein sequences of the p1 spacer peptide and TF protein, we have demonstrated the importance of stem-loop thermodynamic stability in frameshifting efficiency and viral infectivity. Multiple changes to the amino acid sequence of p1 resulted in altered protein processing, reduced genomic RNA dimer stability, and abolished viral infectivity. The role of the two highly conserved proline residues in p1 (position 7 and 13) was also investigated. Replacement of the two proline residues by leucines resulted in mutants with altered protein processing and reduced genomic RNA dimer stability that were also noninfectious. The unique ability of proline to confer conformational constraints on a peptide suggests that the correct folding of p1 may be important for viral function.

scholarly journals Role of RNA in Facilitating Gag/Gag-Pol Interaction

2002 ◽  
Vol 76 (8) ◽  
pp. 4131-4137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmad Khorchid ◽  
Rabih Halwani ◽  
Mark A. Wainberg ◽  
Lawrence Kleiman
Keyword(s):  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Genomic Rna ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Membrane Bound ◽  
Bulk Membrane ◽  
Triton X ◽  
Viral Genomic Rna ◽  
Hiv 1

ABSTRACT We have examined the influence of RNA upon the interaction of Gag-Pol with Gag during human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) assembly. COS7 cells were transfected with protease-negative HIV-1 proviral DNA, and Gag/Gag-Pol complexes were detected by coimmunoprecipitation with anti-integrase. In COS7 cells, Gag/Gag-Pol is found almost entirely in pelletable, membrane-bound complexes. Exposure of cells to 1% Triton X-100 releases Gag/Gag-Pol from bulk membrane, but the complexes remain pelletable. The role of RNA in facilitating the interaction between Gag and Gag-Pol was examined in these bulk membrane-free, pelletable complexes. The specific presence of viral genomic RNA is not required to maintain the Gag/Gag-Pol interaction, but some type of RNA is, since exposure to RNase destabilized the Gag/Gag-Pol complex. When present only in Gag, the nucleocapsid mutation R7R10K11S, which inhibits Gag binding to RNA, inhibits the formation of both Gag and Gag/Gag-Pol complexes. When present only in Gag-Pol, this mutation has no effect upon complex formation. This result indicates that Gag-Pol may not interact directly with RNA but rather requires RNA-facilitated Gag multimerization for its interaction with Gag.

scholarly journals Role of Invariant Thr80 in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Protease Structure, Function, and Viral Infectivity

2006 ◽  
Vol 80 (14) ◽  
pp. 6906-6916 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer E. Foulkes ◽  
Moses Prabu-Jeyabalan ◽  
Deyna Cooper ◽  
Gavin J. Henderson ◽  
Janera Harris ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Dynamics ◽  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type ◽  
Virus Type ◽  
Dynamics Simulation ◽  
Viral Infectivity ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Hiv 1

ABSTRACT Sequence variability associated with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is useful for inferring structural and/or functional constraints at specific residues within the viral protease. Positions that are invariant even in the presence of drug selection define critically important residues for protease function. While the importance of conserved active-site residues is easily understood, the role of other invariant residues is not. This work focuses on invariant Thr80 at the apex of the P1 loop of HIV-1, HIV-2, and simian immunodeficiency virus protease. In a previous study, we postulated, on the basis of a molecular dynamics simulation of the unliganded protease, that Thr80 may play a role in the mobility of the flaps of protease. In the present study, both experimental and computational methods were used to study the role of Thr80 in HIV protease. Three protease variants (T80V, T80N, and T80S) were examined for changes in structure, dynamics, enzymatic activity, affinity for protease inhibitors, and viral infectivity. While all three variants were structurally similar to the wild type, only T80S was functionally similar. Both T80V and T80N had decreased the affinity for saquinavir. T80V significantly decreased the ability of the enzyme to cleave a peptide substrate but maintained infectivity, while T80N abolished both activity and viral infectivity. Additionally, T80N decreased the conformational flexibility of the flap region, as observed by simulations of molecular dynamics. Taken together, these data indicate that HIV-1 protease functions best when residue 80 is a small polar residue and that mutations to other amino acids significantly impair enzyme function, possibly by affecting the flexibility of the flap domain.

scholarly journals Impact of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 RNA Dimerization on Viral Infectivity and of Stem-Loop B on RNA Dimerization and Reverse Transcription and Dissociation of Dimerization from Packaging

2000 ◽  
Vol 74 (12) ◽  
pp. 5729-5735 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ni Shen ◽  
Louis Jetté ◽  
Chen Liang ◽  
Mark A. Wainberg ◽  
Michael Laughrea
Keyword(s):  
Reverse Transcription ◽  
Viral Infectivity ◽  
Stem Loop ◽  
Rna Dimerization ◽  
Reduced Genome ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Genome Dimerization ◽  
Hiv 1 ◽  
Kissing Loop

ABSTRACT The kissing-loop domain (KLD) encompasses a stem-loop, named kissing-loop or dimerization initiation site (DIS) hairpin (nucleotides [nt] 248 to 270 in the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 strains HIV-1Lai and HIV-1Hxb2), seated on top of a 12-nt stem-internal loop called stem-loop B (nt 243 to 247 and 271 to 277). Destroying stem-loop B reduced genome dimerization by ∼50% and proviral DNA synthesis by ∼85% and left unchanged the dissociation temperature of dimeric genomic RNA. The most affected step of reverse transcription was plus-strand DNA transfer, which was reduced by ∼80%. Deleting nt 241 to 256 or 200 to 256 did not reduce genome dimerization significantly more than the destruction of stem-loop B or the DIS hairpin. We conclude that the KLD is nonmodular: mutations in stem-loop B and in the DIS hairpin have similar effects on genome dimerization, reverse transcription, and encapsidation and are also “nonadditive”; i.e., a larger deletion spanning both of these structures has the same effects on genome dimerization and encapsidation as if stem-loop B strongly impacted DIS hairpin function and vice versa. A C258G transversion in the palindrome of the kissing-loop reduced genome dimerization by ∼50% and viral infectivity by ∼1.4 log. Two mutations, CGCG261→UUAA261 (creating a weaker palindrome) and a Δ241–256 suppressor mutation, were each able to reduce genome dimerization but leave genome packaging unaffected.

scholarly journals Structure, Function, and Interactions of the HIV-1 Capsid Protein

Life ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 100
Author(s):  
Eric Rossi ◽  
Megan E. Meuser ◽  
Camille J. Cunanan ◽  
Simon Cocklin
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Capsid Protein ◽  
Adaptor Proteins ◽  
Restriction Factors ◽  
Gag Polyprotein ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Host Cell Factors ◽  
Hiv 1

The capsid (CA) protein of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is an essential structural component of a virion and facilitates many crucial life cycle steps through interactions with host cell factors. Capsid shields the reverse transcription complex from restriction factors while it enables trafficking to the nucleus by hijacking various adaptor proteins, such as FEZ1 and BICD2. In addition, the capsid facilitates the import and localization of the viral complex in the nucleus through interaction with NUP153, NUP358, TNPO3, and CPSF-6. In the later stages of the HIV-1 life cycle, CA plays an essential role in the maturation step as a constituent of the Gag polyprotein. In the final phase of maturation, Gag is cleaved, and CA is released, allowing for the assembly of CA into a fullerene cone, known as the capsid core. The fullerene cone consists of ~250 CA hexamers and 12 CA pentamers and encloses the viral genome and other essential viral proteins for the next round of infection. As research continues to elucidate the role of CA in the HIV-1 life cycle and the importance of the capsid protein becomes more apparent, CA displays potential as a therapeutic target for the development of HIV-1 inhibitors.

scholarly journals Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Nucleocapsid Protein Nuclear Localization Mediates Early Viral mRNA Expression

2002 ◽  
Vol 76 (20) ◽  
pp. 10444-10454 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jielin Zhang ◽  
Clyde S. Crumpacker
Keyword(s):  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Mrna Expression ◽  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type ◽  
Virus Type ◽  
Nucleocapsid Protein ◽  
Viral Mrna ◽  
Genomic Rna ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Hiv 1

ABSTRACT An important aspect of the pathophysiology of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection is the ability of the virus to replicate in the host vigorously without a latent phase and to kill cells with a dynamic turnover of 1.8 × 109 cells/day and 10.3 × 109 virions/24 h. The transcription of HIV-1 RNA in acute infection occurs at two stages; the transcription of viral spliced mRNA occurs early, and the transcription of viral genomic RNA occurs later. The HIV-1 Tat protein is translated from the early spliced mRNA and is critical for HIV-1 genomic RNA expression. The cellular transcription factors are important for HIV-1 early spliced mRNA expression. In this study we show that virion nucleocapsid protein (NC) has a role in expression of HIV-1 early spliced mRNA. The HIV-1 NC migrates from the cytoplasm to the nucleus and accumulates in the nucleus at 18 h postinfection. Mutations on HIV-1 NC zinc fingers change the pattern of early viral spliced mRNA expression and result in a delayed expression of early viral mRNA in HIV-infected cells. This delayed HIV-1 early spliced mRNA expression occurs after proviral DNA has been integrated into the cellular genome, as shown by a quantitative integration assay. These results show that virion NC plays an important role in inducing HIV-1 early mRNA expression and contributes to the rapid viral replication that occurs during HIV-1 infection.

scholarly journals Role of Vif in Stability of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Core

2000 ◽  
Vol 74 (23) ◽  
pp. 11055-11066 ◽  
Author(s):  
Åsa Öhagen ◽  
Dana Gabuzda
Keyword(s):  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Dna Synthesis ◽  
Virus Entry ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
The Core ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Hiv 1

ABSTRACT The Vif protein of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is important for virion infectivity. Previous studies have shown thatvif-defective virions exhibit structural abnormalities in the virus core and are defective in the ability to complete proviral DNA synthesis in acutely infected cells. We developed novel assays to assess the relative stability of the core in HIV-1 virions. Using these assays, we examined the role of Vif in the stability of the HIV-1 core. The integrity of the core was examined following virion permeabilization or removal of the lipid envelope and treatment with various triggers, including S100 cytosol, deoxynucleoside triphosphates, detergents, NaCl, and buffers of different pH to mimic aspects of the uncoating and disassembly process which occurs after virus entry but preceding or during reverse transcription.vif mutant cores were more sensitive to disruption by all triggers tested than wild-type cores, as determined by endogenous reverse transcriptase (RT) assays, biochemical analyses, and electron microscopy. RT and the p7 nucleocapsid protein were released more readily from vif mutant virions than from wild-type virions, suggesting that the internal nucleocapsid is less stably packaged in the absence of Vif. Purified cores could be isolated from wild-type but not vif mutant virions by sedimentation through detergent-treated gradients. These results demonstrate that Vif increases the stability of virion cores. This may permit efficient viral DNA synthesis by preventing premature degradation or disassembly of viral nucleoprotein complexes during early events after virus entry.

scholarly journals Removal of a Single N-Linked Glycan in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 gp120 Results in an Enhanced Ability To Induce Neutralizing Antibody Responses

2007 ◽  
Vol 82 (2) ◽  
pp. 638-651 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yun Li ◽  
Bradley Cleveland ◽  
Igor Klots ◽  
Bruce Travis ◽  
Barbra A. Richardson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Neutralizing Antibody ◽  
Pronounced Increase ◽  
Enhanced Sensitivity ◽  
Subtype B ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Hiv 1

ABSTRACT Glycans on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) envelope protein play an important role in infection and evasion from host immune responses. To examine the role of specific glycans, we introduced single or multiple mutations into potential N-linked glycosylation sites in hypervariable regions (V1 to V3) of the env gene of HIV type 1 (HIV-1) 89.6. Three mutants tested showed enhanced sensitivity to soluble CD4. Mutant N7 (N197Q) in the carboxy-terminal stem of the V2 loop showed the most pronounced increase in sensitivity to broadly neutralizing antibodies (NtAbs), including those targeting the CD4-binding site (IgG1b12) and the V3 loop (447-52D). This mutant is also sensitive to CD4-induced NtAb 17b in the absence of CD4. Unlike the wild-type (WT) Env, mutant N7 mediates CD4-independent infection in U87-CXCR4 cells. To study the immunogenicity of mutant Env, we immunized pig-tailed macaques with recombinant vaccinia viruses, one expressing SIVmac239 Gag-Pol and the other expressing HIV-1 89.6 Env gp160 in WT or mutant forms. Animals were boosted 14 to 16 months later with simian immunodeficiency virus gag DNA and the cognate gp140 protein before intrarectal challenge with SHIV89.6P-MN. Day-of-challenge sera from animals immunized with mutant N7 Env had significantly higher and broader neutralizing activities than sera from WT Env-immunized animals. Neutralizing activity was observed against SHIV89.6, SHIV89.6P-MN, HIV-1 SF162, and a panel of subtype B primary isolates. Compared to control animals, immunized animals showed significant reduction of plasma viral load and increased survival after challenge, which correlated with prechallenge NtAb titers. These results indicate the potential advantages for glycan modification in vaccine design, although the role of specific glycans requires further examination.

Nutritional Contributions to the CNS Pathophysiology of HIV-1 Infection and Implications for Treatment

CNS Spectrums ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 61-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teri T. Baldewicz ◽  
Pim Brouwers ◽  
Karl Goodkin ◽  
Adarsh M. Kumar ◽  
Mahendra Kumar
Keyword(s):  
Disease Progression ◽  
Causative Factor ◽  
Nutritional Deficiencies ◽  
Micronutrient Deficiencies ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Nutritional Deficits ◽  
Hiv 1

AbstractNutritional deficiencies are commonplace in patients with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection, and recent research has indicated that nutritional factors may play an important role in the pathogenesis of HIV-1 disease. Although nutritional deficiencies are unlikely to be the primary causative factor in disease progression, they may contribute to cognitive dysfunction, neurologic abnormalities, mood disturbance, and immune dysregulation associated with HIV-1 infection. Furthermore, deficiencies of specific micronutrients have been associated with increased risk of HIV-1–associated mortality. This article will briefly summarize the role of macronutrient deficiency, the interactions of specific micronutrient deficiencies with neuropsychiatrie functioning, and the role of these factors in HIV-1 disease progression. Since recent research has shown that normalization of many nutritional deficits and supplementation beyond normal levels are associated with improvements in neuropsychiatrie functioning, potential treatment implications will also be discussed.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document