scholarly journals Redundant Roles for Nucleocapsid and Matrix RNA-Binding Sequences in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Assembly

2005 ◽  
Vol 79 (22) ◽  
pp. 13839-13847 ◽  
Author(s):  
David E. Ott ◽  
Lori V. Coren ◽  
Tracy D. Gagliardi

ABSTRACT RNA appears to be required for the assembly of retroviruses. This is likely due to binding of RNA by multiple Gags, which in turn organizes and stabilizes the Gag-Gag interactions that form the virion. While the nucleocapsid (NC) domain is the most conspicuous RNA-binding region of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Gag polyprotein, we have previously shown that NC is not strictly required for efficient particle production. To determine if an RNA requirement for HIV-1 assembly exists, we analyzed virions produced by an NC deletion mutant for the presence of RNA. The results revealed that virions without NC still contained significant amounts of RNA. Since these packaged RNAs are probably incorporated by other RNA-binding sequences in Gag, an RNA-binding site in the matrix protein (MA) of Gag was mutated. While this mutation did not interfere with HIV-1 replication, a construct with both MA and NC mutations (MX/NX) failed to produce particles. The MX/NX mutant was rescued in trans by coassembly with several forms of Gag: wild-type Gag, either of the single-mutant Gags, or Gag truncations that contain MA or NC sequences. Addition of basic sequences to the MX/NX mutant partially restored particle production, consistent with a requirement for Gag-RNA binding in addition to Gag-Gag interactions. Together, these results support an RNA-binding requirement for Gag assembly, which relies on binding of RNA by MA or NC sequences to condense, organize, and stabilize the HIV-1 Gag-Gag interactions that form the virion.

2009 ◽  
Vol 83 (19) ◽  
pp. 9875-9889 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elodie Beaumont ◽  
Daniela Vendrame ◽  
Bernard Verrier ◽  
Emmanuelle Roch ◽  
François Biron ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Lentiviruses, including human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), typically encode envelope glycoproteins (Env) with long cytoplasmic tails (CTs). The strong conservation of CT length in primary isolates of HIV-1 suggests that this factor plays a key role in viral replication and persistence in infected patients. However, we report here the emergence and dominance of a primary HIV-1 variant carrying a natural 20-amino-acid truncation of the CT in vivo. We demonstrated that this truncation was deleterious for viral replication in cell culture. We then identified a compensatory amino acid substitution in the matrix protein that reversed the negative effects of CT truncation. The loss or rescue of infectivity depended on the level of Env incorporation into virus particles. Interestingly, we found that a virus mutant with defective Env incorporation was able to spread by cell-to-cell transfer. The effects on viral infectivity of compensation between the CT and the matrix protein have been suggested by in vitro studies based on T-cell laboratory-adapted virus mutants, but we provide here the first demonstration of the natural occurrence of similar mechanisms in an infected patient. Our findings provide insight into the potential of HIV-1 to evolve in vivo and its ability to overcome major structural alterations.


2006 ◽  
Vol 80 (16) ◽  
pp. 7939-7951 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anjali Joshi ◽  
Kunio Nagashima ◽  
Eric O. Freed

ABSTRACT The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Gag precursor protein Pr55Gag drives the assembly and release of virus-like particles in the infected cell. The capsid (CA) domain of Gag plays an important role in these processes by promoting Gag-Gag interactions during assembly. The C-terminal domain (CTD) of CA contains two dileucine-like motifs (L189/L190 and I201/L202) implicated in regulating the localization of Gag to multivesicular bodies (MVBs). These dileucine-like motifs are located in the vicinity of the CTD dimer interface, a region of CA critical for Gag-Gag interactions during virus assembly and CA-CA interactions during core formation. To study the importance of the CA dileucine-like motifs in various aspects of HIV-1 replication, we introduced a series of mutations into these motifs in the context of a full-length, infectious HIV-1 molecular clone. CA mutants LL189,190AA and IL201,202AA were both severely impaired in virus particle production because of a variety of defects in the binding of Gag to membrane, Gag multimerization, and CA folding. In contrast to the model suggesting that the CA dileucine-like motifs regulate MVB targeting, the IL201,202AA mutation did not alter Gag localization to the MVB in either HeLa cells or macrophages. Revertants of single-amino-acid substitution mutants were obtained that no longer contained dileucine-like motifs but were nevertheless fully replication competent. The varied phenotypes of the mutants reported here provide novel insights into the interplay among Gag multimerization, membrane binding, virus assembly, CA dimerization, particle maturation, and virion infectivity.


2008 ◽  
Vol 82 (20) ◽  
pp. 9937-9950 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathaniel W. Martinez ◽  
Xiaoxiao Xue ◽  
Reem G. Berro ◽  
Geri Kreitzer ◽  
Marilyn D. Resh

ABSTRACT Retroviral Gag proteins are synthesized as soluble, myristoylated precursors that traffic to the plasma membrane and promote viral particle production. The intracellular transport of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Gag to the plasma membrane remains poorly understood, and cellular motor proteins responsible for Gag movement are not known. Here we show that disrupting the function of KIF4, a kinesin family member, slowed temporal progression of Gag through its trafficking intermediates and inhibited virus-like particle production. Knockdown of KIF4 also led to increased Gag degradation, resulting in reduced intracellular Gag protein levels; this phenotype was rescued by reintroduction of KIF4. When KIF4 function was blocked, Gag transiently accumulated in discrete, perinuclear, nonendocytic clusters that colocalized with endogenous KIF4, with Ubc9, an E2 SUMO-1 conjugating enzyme, and with SUMO. These studies identify a novel transit station through which Gag traffics en route to particle assembly and highlight the importance of KIF4 in regulating HIV-1 Gag trafficking and stability.


2007 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 284-292 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nancy C. Connolly ◽  
Theresa L. Whiteside ◽  
Cara Wilson ◽  
Venkatswarlu Kondragunta ◽  
Charles R. Rinaldo ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Treatments for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-positive individuals that augment HIV-1 suppression and have potential for achieving long-term control of HIV-1 viremia in the absence of antiretroviral therapy (ART) are urgently needed. We therefore conducted a phase I, clinical safety trial of a dendritic cell (DC)-based vaccination strategy as immunotherapy for HIV-1-positive individuals on ART. We studied 18 HIV-1-positive subjects on ART who underwent leukapheresis to obtain peripheral blood mononuclear cells for DC generation from monocytes cultured with cytokines. Mature DC were pulsed with three HIV-1 HLA*A0201 Gag, Env, and Pol peptides and one influenza A virus matrix protein peptide. The vaccine was administered to donors randomized to receive two vaccinations, either intravenously or subcutaneously. The primary end points were safety and tolerability of two doses of peptide-DC vaccine (3 million versus 10 million). Secondary end points included gamma interferon (IFN-γ) enzyme-linked immunospot assay responses and clinical correlates of an immune response to vaccination. Autologous DC-peptide vaccine was safe, well tolerated, and feasible for use in all participants. Adverse events were rare. Although the trial was not powered to assess an immunologic response, a significantly increased frequency of HIV-1 peptide-specific IFN-γ-positive cells was observed 2 weeks following the second vaccine, with three individuals responding to all four peptides. DC vaccination was safe, was feasible, and showed promise of immunogenicity in ART-treated, HIV-1-positive individuals. Additional studies of DC immunization strategies for HIV-1 infection are warranted.


2010 ◽  
Vol 84 (13) ◽  
pp. 6590-6597 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Popova ◽  
Sergei Popov ◽  
Heinrich G. Göttlinger

ABSTRACT To facilitate the release of infectious progeny virions, human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) exploits the Endosomal Sorting Complex Required for Transport (ESCRT) pathway by engaging Tsg101 and ALIX through late assembly (L) domains in the C-terminal p6 domain of Gag. However, the L domains in p6 are known to be dispensable for efficient particle production by certain HIV-1 Gag constructs that have the nucleocapsid (NC) domain replaced by a foreign dimerization domain to substitute for the assembly function of NC. We now show that one such L domain-independent HIV-1 Gag construct (termed ZWT) that has NC-p1-p6 replaced by a leucine zipper domain is resistant to dominant-negative inhibitors of the ESCRT pathway that block HIV-1 particle production. However, ZWT became dependent on the presence of an L domain when NC-p1-p6 was restored to its C terminus. Furthermore, when the NC domain was replaced by a leucine zipper, the p1-p6 region, but not p6 alone, conferred sensitivity to inhibition of the ESCRT pathway. In an authentic HIV-1 Gag context, the effect of an inhibitor of the ESCRT pathway on particle production could be alleviated by deleting a portion of the NC domain together with p1. Together, these results indicate that the ESCRT pathway dependence of HIV-1 budding is determined, at least in part, by the NC-p1 region of Gag.


2005 ◽  
Vol 79 (14) ◽  
pp. 9134-9144 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eva Gottwein ◽  
Hans-Georg Kräusslich

ABSTRACT Ubiquitin is important for the release of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and several other retroviruses, but the functional significance of Gag ubiquitination is unknown. To address this problem, we decided to analyze Gag ubiquitination in detail. A low percentage of the HIV-1 p6 protein has previously been shown to be ubiquitinated, and published mutagenesis data suggested that Gag ubiquitination is largely lost upon mutation of the two lysine residues in p6. In this study, we show that Gag proteins lacking the p6 domain or the two lysine residues within p6 are ubiquitinated at levels comparable to those of the wild-type Gag protein. We detected monoubiquitinated forms of the matrix (MA), capsid (CA), and nucleocapsid (NC) proteins in mature virus preparations. Protease digestion of Gag polyproteins extracted from immature virions indicated that ubiquitinated MA, CA, and possibly NC are as abundant as ubiquitinated p6. The HIV-1 late-domain motifs PTAP and LRSLF were not required for Gag ubiquitination, and mutation of the PTAP motif even resulted in an increase in the amount of Gag-Ub conjugates detected. Finally, at steady state, ubiquitinated Gag proteins were not enriched in either membrane-associated or virus-derived Gag fractions. In summary, these results indicate that HIV-1 Gag can be monoubiquitinated in all domains and that ubiquitination of lysine residues outside p6 may thus contribute to viral release and/or infectivity.


1999 ◽  
Vol 73 (10) ◽  
pp. 8824-8830 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Kotov ◽  
Jing Zhou ◽  
Paula Flicker ◽  
Christopher Aiken

ABSTRACT Highly conserved among primate lentiviruses, the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Nef protein enhances viral infectivity by an unknown mechanism. Nef-defective virions are blocked at a stage of the HIV-1 life cycle between entry and reverse transcription, possibly virus uncoating. Nef is present in purified HIV-1 particles; however, it has not been determined whether Nef is specifically recruited into HIV-1 particles or whether virion-associated Nef plays a functional role in HIV-1 replication. To address the specificity and potential functionality of virion-associated Nef, we determined the subviral localization of Nef. HIV-1 cores were isolated by detergent treatment of concentrated virions followed by equilibrium density gradient sedimentation. Relative to HIV-1 virions, HIV-1 cores contained equivalent amounts of reverse transcriptase and integrase, decreased amounts of the viral matrix protein, and trace quantities of the viral transmembrane glycoprotein gp41. Examination of the particles by electron microscopy revealed cone-shaped structures characteristic of lentiviral cores. Similar quantities of proteolytically processed Nef protein were detected in gradient fractions of HIV-1 cores and intact virions. In addition, detergent-resistant subviral complexes isolated from immature HIV-1 particles contained similar quantities of Nef as untreated virions. These results demonstrate that Nef stably associates with the HIV-1 core and suggest that virion-associated Nef plays a functional role in accelerating HIV-1 replication.


2007 ◽  
Vol 81 (13) ◽  
pp. 7048-7060 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carsten Münk ◽  
Jörg Zielonka ◽  
Hannelore Constabel ◽  
Björn-Philipp Kloke ◽  
Benjamin Rengstl ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The productive replication of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) occurs exclusively in defined cells of human or chimpanzee origin, explaining why heterologous animal models for HIV replication, pathogenesis, vaccination, and therapy are not available. This lack of an animal model for HIV-1 studies prompted us to examine the susceptibility of feline cells in order to evaluate the cat (Felis catus) as an animal model for studying HIV-1. Here, we report that feline cell lines harbor multiple restrictions with respect to HIV-1 replication. The feline CD4 receptor does not permit virus infection. Feline T-cell lines MYA-1 and FeT-1C showed postentry restrictions resulting in low HIV-1 luciferase reporter activity and low expression of viral Gag-Pol proteins when pseudotyped vectors were used. Feline fibroblastic CrFK and KE-R cells, expressing human CD4 and CCR5, were very permissive for viral entry and HIV-long terminal repeat-driven expression but failed to support spreading infection. KE-R cells displayed a profound block with respect to release of HIV-1 particles. In contrast, CrFK cells allowed very efficient particle production; however, the CrFK cell-derived HIV-1 particles had low specific infectivity. We subsequently identified feline apolipoprotein B-editing catalytic polypeptide 3 (feAPOBEC3) proteins as active inhibitors of HIV-1 particle infectivity. CrFK cells express at least three different APOBEC3s: APOBEC3C, APOBEC3H, and APOBEC3CH. While the feAPOBEC3C did not significantly inhibit HIV-1, the feAPOBEC3H and feAPOBEC3CH induced G to A hypermutations of the viral cDNA and reduced the infectivity ∼10- to ∼40-fold.


2009 ◽  
Vol 83 (11) ◽  
pp. 5956-5960 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guylaine Haché ◽  
Truus E. M. Abbink ◽  
Ben Berkhout ◽  
Reuben S. Harris

ABSTRACT APOBEC3G restricts Vif-deficient human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) by deaminating viral cDNA cytosines to uracils. This promutagenic activity is counteracted by HIV-1 Vif, which is a natural APOBEC3G antagonist. However, we previously reported that Vif-deficient HIV-1 could evolve resistance to APOBEC3G by a novel mechanism requiring an A200-to-C/T transition mutation and Vpr inactivation. A pyrimidine at nucleotide 200 in the untranslated leader region contributed to resistance by increasing virus particle production, which resulted in fewer APOBEC3G molecules per particle. Here we show that the A200-to-C/T mutation functions posttranscriptionally by inactivating an upstream start codon, which in turn enables optimal viral mRNA translation from canonical start codons.


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