scholarly journals Integrase-RNA interactions underscore the critical role of integrase in HIV-1 virion morphogenesis

eLife ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer L Elliott ◽  
Jenna E Eschbach ◽  
Pratibha C Koneru ◽  
Wen Li ◽  
Maritza Puray-Chavez ◽  
...  

A large number of human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) integrase (IN) alterations, referred to as class II substitutions, exhibit pleiotropic effects during virus replication. However, the underlying mechanism for the class II phenotype is not known. Here we demonstrate that all tested class II IN substitutions compromised IN-RNA binding in virions by one of the three distinct mechanisms: (i) markedly reducing IN levels thus precluding the formation of IN complexes with viral RNA; (ii) adversely affecting functional IN multimerization and consequently impairing IN binding to viral RNA; and (iii) directly compromising IN-RNA interactions without substantially affecting IN levels or functional IN multimerization. Inhibition of IN-RNA interactions resulted in the mislocalization of viral ribonucleoprotein complexes outside the capsid lattice, which led to premature degradation of the viral genome and IN in target cells. Collectively, our studies uncover causal mechanisms for the class II phenotype and highlight an essential role of IN-RNA interactions for accurate virion maturation.

Author(s):  
Jennifer Elliott ◽  
Jenna E. Eschbach ◽  
Pratibha C. Koneru ◽  
Wen Li ◽  
Maritza Puray Chavez ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTA large number of HIV-1 integrase (IN) alterations, referred to as class II substitutions, exhibit pleotropic effects during virus replication. However, the underlying mechanism for the class II phenotype is not known. Here we demonstrate that all tested class II IN substitutions compromised IN-RNA binding in virions by one of three distinct mechanisms: i) markedly reducing IN levels thus precluding formation of IN complexes with viral RNA; ii) adversely affecting functional IN multimerization and consequently impairing IN binding to viral RNA; iii) directly compromising IN-RNA interactions without substantially affecting IN levels or functional IN multimerization. Inhibition of IN-RNA interactions resulted in mislocalization of the viral ribonucleoprotein complexes outside the capsid lattice, which led to premature degradation of the viral genome and IN in target cells. Collectively, our studies uncover causal mechanisms for the class II phenotype and highlight an essential role of IN-RNA interactions for accurate virion maturation.


Viruses ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 1005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer L. Elliott ◽  
Sebla B. Kutluay

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.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Shema Mugisha ◽  
Tung Dinh ◽  
Kasyap Tenneti ◽  
Jenna Eve Eschbach ◽  
Keanu Davis ◽  
...  

Independent of its catalytic activity, HIV-1 integrase (IN) enzyme regulates proper particle maturation by binding to and packaging the viral RNA genome (gRNA) inside the mature capsid lattice. Allosteric integrase inhibitors (ALLINIs) and class II IN substitutions inhibit the binding of IN to the gRNA and cause the formation of non-infectious virions characterized by mislocalization of the viral ribonucleoprotein complexes between the translucent conical capsid lattice and the viral lipid envelope. To gain insight into the molecular nature of IN-gRNA interactions, we have isolated compensatory substitutions in the background of a class II IN (R269A/K273A) variant that directly inhibits IN binding to the gRNA. We found that additional D256N and D270N substitutions in the C-terminal domain (CTD) of IN restored its ability to bind gRNA and led to the formation of infectious particles with correctly matured morphology. Furthermore, reinstating the overall positive electrostatic potential of the CTD through individual D256R or D256K substitutions was sufficient to restore IN-RNA binding and infectivity for the R269A/K273A as well as the R262A/R263A class II IN mutants. The compensatory mutations did not impact functional IN oligomerization, suggesting that they directly contributed to IN binding to the gRNA. Interestingly, HIV-1 IN R269A/K273A, but not IN R262A/R263A, bearing compensatory mutations was more sensitive to ALLINIs providing key genetic evidence that specific IN residues required for RNA binding also influence ALLINI activity. Structural modeling provided further insight into the molecular nature of IN-gRNA interactions and ALLINI mechanism of action. Taken together, our findings highlight an essential role of IN-gRNA interactions for proper virion maturation and reveal the importance of electrostatic interactions between the IN CTD and the gRNA.


2000 ◽  
Vol 74 (18) ◽  
pp. 8252-8261 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hui Zhang ◽  
Roger J. Pomerantz ◽  
Geethanjali Dornadula ◽  
Yong Sun

ABSTRACT Virion infectivity factor (Vif) is a protein encoded by human immunodeficiency virus types 1 and 2 (HIV-1 and -2) and simian immunodeficiency virus, plus other lentiviruses, and is essential for viral replication either in vivo or in culture for nonpermissive cells such as peripheral blood lymphoid cells, macrophages, and H9 T cells. Defects in the vif gene affect virion morphology and reverse transcription but not the expression of viral components. It has been shown that Vif colocalizes with Gag in cells and Vif binds to the NCp7 domain of Gag in vitro. However, it seems that Vif is not specifically packaged into virions. The molecular mechanism(s) for Vif remains unknown. In this report, we demonstrate that HIV-1 Vif is an RNA-binding protein and specifically binds to HIV-1 genomic RNA in vitro. Further, Vif binds to HIV-1 RNA in the cytoplasm of virus-producing cells to form a 40S mRNP complex. Coimmunoprecipitation and in vivo UV cross-linking assays indicated that Vif directly interact with HIV-1 RNA in the virus-producing cells. Vif-RNA binding could be displaced by Gag-RNA binding, suggesting that Vif protein in the mRNP complex may mediate viral RNA interaction with HIV-1 Gag precursors. Furthermore, we have demonstrated that these Vif mutants that lose the RNA binding activity in vitro do not supportvif-deficient HIV-1 replication in H9 T cells, suggesting that the RNA binding capacity of Vif is important for its function. Further studies regarding Vif-RNA interaction in virus-producing cells will be important for studying the function of Vif in the HIV-1 life cycle.


2009 ◽  
Vol 83 (9) ◽  
pp. 4195-4204 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jian-Hua Wang ◽  
Constance Kwas ◽  
Li Wu

ABSTRACT Dendritic cells (DCs) play a critical role in cell-to-cell-mediated transmission of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). Interactions between intercellular adhesion molecules (ICAMs) and their ligands facilitate DC-T-cell contact. The interaction between ICAM-1 on DCs and leukocyte function-associated molecule 1 (LFA-1) on CD4+ T cells has been proposed to be important for DC-mediated HIV-1 transmission. Given that DCs and T cells express multiple ICAMs and binding ligands, the relative importance of ICAMs in DC-mediated HIV-1 transmission remains to be defined. Here, we examine the role of ICAM-1, -2, and -3 in DC-mediated HIV-1 transmission to various types of target cells including primary CD4+ T cells. The expression levels of ICAMs and their ligands on immature and mature DCs and various types of HIV-1 target cells were measured by flow cytometry. Blocking ICAM-1 in DCs with specific monoclonal antibodies and small interfering RNA impaired DC-mediated HIV-1 transmission. DC-mediated viral transmission was significantly inhibited when both ICAM-1 on DCs and LFA-1 on CD4+ T cells were blocked. However, blockade of ICAM-1 on target cells did not significantly inhibit DC-mediated HIV-1 transmission. Ectopic expression and antibody blocking suggest that DC-mediated HIV-1 transmission to primary CD4+ T cells is independent of ICAM-2 and ICAM-3. Taken together, our data clarified the role of ICAMs in DC-mediated HIV-1 transmission to CD4+ T cells.


2004 ◽  
Vol 78 (2) ◽  
pp. 811-820 ◽  
Author(s):  
Séverine Bär ◽  
Marc Alizon

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).


2017 ◽  
Vol 91 (17) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michaela K. Madison ◽  
Dana Q. Lawson ◽  
Jennifer Elliott ◽  
Ayşe Naz Ozantürk ◽  
Pratibha C. Koneru ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Recent evidence indicates that inhibition of HIV-1 integrase (IN) binding to the viral RNA genome by allosteric integrase inhibitors (ALLINIs) or through mutations within IN yields aberrant particles in which the viral ribonucleoprotein complexes (vRNPs) are eccentrically localized outside the capsid lattice. These particles are noninfectious and are blocked at an early reverse transcription stage in target cells. However, the basis of this reverse transcription defect is unknown. Here, we show that the viral RNA genome and IN from ALLINI-treated virions are prematurely degraded in target cells, whereas reverse transcriptase remains active and stably associated with the capsid lattice. The aberrantly shaped cores in ALLINI-treated particles can efficiently saturate and be degraded by a restricting TRIM5 protein, indicating that they are still composed of capsid proteins arranged in a hexagonal lattice. Notably, the fates of viral core components follow a similar pattern in cells infected with eccentric particles generated by mutations within IN that inhibit its binding to the viral RNA genome. We propose that IN-RNA interactions allow packaging of both the viral RNA genome and IN within the protective capsid lattice to ensure subsequent reverse transcription and productive infection in target cells. Conversely, disruption of these interactions by ALLINIs or mutations in IN leads to premature degradation of both the viral RNA genome and IN, as well as the spatial separation of reverse transcriptase from the viral genome during early steps of infection. IMPORTANCE Recent evidence indicates that HIV-1 integrase (IN) plays a key role during particle maturation by binding to the viral RNA genome. Inhibition of IN-RNA interactions yields aberrant particles with the viral ribonucleoprotein complexes (vRNPs) eccentrically localized outside the conical capsid lattice. Although these particles contain all of the components necessary for reverse transcription, they are blocked at an early reverse transcription stage in target cells. To explain the basis of this defect, we tracked the fates of multiple viral components in infected cells. Here, we show that the viral RNA genome and IN in eccentric particles are prematurely degraded, whereas reverse transcriptase remains active and stably associated within the capsid lattice. We propose that IN-RNA interactions ensure the packaging of both vRNPs and IN within the protective capsid cores to facilitate subsequent reverse transcription and productive infection in target cells.


2009 ◽  
Vol 90 (8) ◽  
pp. 1795-1805 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bizhan Romani ◽  
Susan Engelbrecht

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) viral protein R (Vpr) is an accessory protein that interacts with a number of cellular and viral proteins. The functions of many of these interactions in the pathogenesis of HIV-1 have been identified. Deletion of the vpr gene reduces the virulence of HIV-1 dramatically, indicating the importance of this protein for the virus. This review describes the current findings on several established functions of HIV-1 Vpr and some possible roles proposed for this protein. Because Vpr exploits cellular proteins and pathways to influence the biology of HIV-1, understanding the functions of Vpr usually involves the study of cellular pathways. Several functions of Vpr are attributed to the virion-incorporated protein, but some of them are attributed to the expression of Vpr in HIV-1-infected cells. The structure of Vpr may be key to understanding the variety of its interactions. Due to the critical role of Vpr in HIV-1 pathogenicity, study of the interactions between Vpr and cellular proteins may help us to understand the mechanism(s) of HIV-1 pathogenicity.


2010 ◽  
Vol 84 (13) ◽  
pp. 6515-6526 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiao Mei Wang ◽  
Peter E. Nadeau ◽  
Yung-Tsun Lo ◽  
Ayalew Mergia

ABSTRACT Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) envelope (Env)-mediated bystander apoptosis is known to cause the progressive, severe, and irreversible loss of CD4+ T cells in HIV-1-infected patients. Env-induced bystander apoptosis has been shown to be gp41 dependent and related to the membrane hemifusion between envelope-expressing cells and target cells. Caveolin-1 (Cav-1), the scaffold protein of specific membrane lipid rafts called caveolae, has been reported to interact with gp41. However, the underlying pathological or physiological meaning of this robust interaction remains unclear. In this report, we examine the interaction of cellular Cav-1 and HIV gp41 within the lipid rafts and show that Cav-1 modulates Env-induced bystander apoptosis through interactions with gp41 in SupT1 cells and CD4+ T lymphocytes isolated from human peripheral blood. Cav-1 significantly suppressed Env-induced membrane hemifusion and caspase-3 activation and augmented Hsp70 upregulation. Moreover, a peptide containing the Cav-1 scaffold domain sequence markedly inhibited bystander apoptosis and apoptotic signal pathways. Our studies shed new light on the potential role of Cav-1 in limiting HIV pathogenesis and the development of a novel therapeutic strategy in treating HIV-1-infected patients.


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