Regulatory genes of human immunodeficiency viruses.
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Amino Acid Sequence↗
Biomedical subjects
F Wong-Staal
Publications and source records attributed to F Wong-Staal.
Type-specific and cross-reactive neutralizing antisera against HIV elicited by V3-peptide heptalysine octomers.
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Animals↗
Role of the fusogenic peptide sequence in syncytium induction and infectivity of human immunodeficiency virus type 2.
Syncytium induction is a characteristic feature of infection by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in vitro. The hydrophobic amino terminus of the transmembrane glycoprotein of HIV type 1 is an essential determinant of virus entry into the target cell population and the formation of syncytia in cell culture. To define the role of the HIV type 2 fusion peptide during infection and syncytium formation, we introduced 8 amino acid substitutions into the hydrophobic amino terminus of gp41, changing either the hydrophobicity, the charge, or the polarity of the amino acid. Viruses containing the envelope mutations were analyzed for their syncytium-inducing capacities, levels of infectivity, and envelope processing and expression. Mutations that increased the hydrophobic nature of the fusion peptide increased syncytium formation, whereas mutations which increased the charge and the polarity and/or decreased the hydrophobicity of the fusion domain severely reduced the capacity of the virus to induce syncytia. However, viruses severely compromised for syncytium formation exhibit only slightly lower levels of infectivity.
Amino Acid Sequence↗
The promoter of human T-cell leukemia virus type-I is repressed by the immediate-early gene region of human cytomegalovirus in primary blood lymphocytes.
Infection with human T-cell leukemia virus type-I (HTLV-1) is associated with a low incidence of morbidity in the form of adult T-cell leukemia as well as neurologic disease, including tropical spastic paraparesis/HTLV-I-associated myelopathy, suggesting that there are other important factors which determine outcome of infection. HTLV-I and the human herpesvirus, cytomegalovirus (HCMV), have both been shown to infect OKT4+ T lymphocytes in vitro as well as in vivo. We investigated the effects of expression of HCMV IE-2 protein(s) on the HTLV-I long terminal repeat (LTR) containing the promoter elements in T-cell lines and primary lymphocytes. A consistent repressive effect was observed on HTLV-I LTR-driven chloramphenicol acetyl transferase activity after cotransfection with the HCMV IE-2 gene region, both in HTLV-I-producing cell lines as well as in uninfected primary peripheral blood lymphocytes and cloned lymphocyte lines. This repressive effect on the HTLV-I LTR by the HCMV IE-2 gene product(s) represent a unique interaction between two viruses capable of infecting the same target cell in vivo. Such an interaction may have important implications for disease expression associated with HTLV-I infection.
Base Sequence↗
Long-term high-titer neutralizing activity induced by octameric synthetic HIV-1 antigen.
A titer for homologous viral neutralization activity (greater than 1:19,683) was observed after a 3.5-year immunization period with an octameric, branching peptide representing the principal neutralizing determinant (PND) of the human immunodeficiency virus-1IIIB envelope protein. Booster immunizations elicited persistent and potent antibodies in guinea pigs, exceeding responses produced by a conventional bovine serum albumin conjugate by 100-fold. Peptide length, central presentation of a conserved sequence, and inclusion of an upstream sequence contributed to immunogenicity. Titers (greater than 1:1,000) of heterotypic neutralizing antibodies also developed. Octameric PND peptides are a promising approach for an acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) vaccine.
AIDS Vaccines↗
Kinetics of expression of multiply spliced RNA in early human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection of lymphocytes and monocytes.
The genome of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) encodes at least six proteins involved in regulation as well as the structural proteins Gag, Pol, and Env. The interplay of the various regulators generates early and late transcriptional phases in the HIV-1 life cycle; the earliest RNA is enriched in subgenomic species, and the genomic transcript appears at the later stage of infection. We investigated the nature of the mRNAs expressed in the early stages of infection when the 2 kilobase subgenomic species predominate. RNA was analyzed in the early phase of a one-step growth cycle of HIV-1 infection in T-lymphoid and monocytic cell lines by using PCR amplification of in vitro-synthesized viral cDNAs. In both cell lines, expression of Tat-, Rev-, and Nef-specific messages appeared simultaneously and could be detected within 8-12 hr of infection but in different amounts with a predominance of Nef-specific message. The Env-specific message could be detected as early as the Rev-specific message, indicating that expression of at least small amounts of the singly spliced message could occur before the accumulation of Rev.
Antisense Elements (Genetics)↗
Alteration of HIV-1 infectivity and neutralization by a single amino acid replacement in the V3 loop domain.
The V3 loop (residues 303-338) of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) gp120 envelope protein represents a principal neutralizing determinant for the virus. An HIV-1 proviral clone containing a mutation in the V3 loop was constructed in which the proline residue at position 313 was changed to an alanine (P313-A). This mutation alters the conserved GPGR sequence that is found in the V3 loop sequences of different HIV-1 isolates. The P313-A clone produced virus particles, which were infectious for a number of T-cell lines including MOLT-4, CEM, and SupT1, but demonstrated a relatively low infectivity on the AA5 B-cell line when compared with wild-type viruses, HTLV-IIIB, HXB2/10 (a chimeric molecular clone), and another mutant virus (Q290-T). V3 loop-specific neutralizing polyclonal sera and the 9284 monoclonal antibody, which recognizes the amino side of the V3 loop sequence, effectively blocked infectivity and syncytia formation of all viruses tested. In contrast, the 0.5 beta monoclonal antibody, which is biologically more potent than 9284 and recognizes a different V3 loop determinant, failed to neutralize the P313-A virus. These results suggest that the proline residue in the relatively conserved GPGR "turn" region of the V3 loop is crucial for recognition by the 0.5 beta antibody. The observed variation in sensitivity of the B-cell line to the P313-A virus may reflect the presence of cell-specific factors which could be important in establishing an HIV-1 infection.
Alanine↗
Identification of the human herpesvirus 6 glycoprotein H and putative large tegument protein genes.
Determination of the nucleotide sequences of two molecular clones of human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) (strain GS) and comparison with those of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) has allowed the identification of the genes for the glycoprotein H (gH) and the putative large tegument protein of HHV-6. Two molecular clones of fragments of HHV-6, the BamHI-G fragment (7,981 bp) of the clone termed pZVB43 and a HindIII fragment (8,717 bp) of the clone termed pZVH14, represent approximately 10% of the HHV-6 genome (16,689). An open reading frame within the BamHI-G fragment was designated the gH gene of HHV-6 because of the extensive sequence similarity of its predicted product (79,549 Da) to the HCMV gH gene product. The predicted product (239,589 Da) of an open reading frame within clone pZVH14 showed homology to the predicted product of the proposed gene of HCMV representing the large tegument protein. Computer analyses indicated a closer relationship of the predicted peptides of these HHV-6 genes to those of HCMV than to those of the other human herpesviruses Epstein-Barr virus, herpes simplex virus type 1, and varicella-zoster virus. The gH gene was more conserved among the human herpesvirus group, while significant sequence similarity of the tegument gene could be found only with that of HCMV. The data reported here with one conserved gene (gH) and a more divergent gene (tegument) support previous reports that HHV-6 and HCMV are more closely related to each other than to the other well-characterized human herpesviruses.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
Genetic regulation of human immunodeficiency virus.
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has a complex life cycle in which both cellular and virus-encoded factors participate to determine the level of virus production. Two of the viral genes, tat and rev, are essential for virus replication and encode novel trans-activators that interact specifically with their cognate RNA target elements. Elucidation of their mechanisms of action is likely to expand our knowledge of gene regulation at transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels in the eukaryotic cell. Several viral genes (vif, vpu, and vpr) facilitate virus infection and/or release and may play a role in target cell tropism and infection in vivo. The functions of yet other viral genes (nef, vpt) remain unclear. Recent data also suggest that the tat gene product may have a role in HIV pathogenesis that goes beyond trans-activating virus expression. It can potentially impact on uninfected cells as a diffusible molecule and alter the growth of different cell types.
Antiviral Agents↗
The biochemistry of AIDS.
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Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
The AIDS virus. What we know and what we can do about it.
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AIDS Vaccines↗
Identification and characterization of a nuclear factor that specifically binds to the Rev response element (RRE) of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1).
The Rev protein of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) differentially transactivates the expression of viral structural proteins by allowing the accumulation of unspliced and singly spliced viral mRNA in the cytoplasm. The cis-acting RNA target sequence for the Rev protein, termed the Rev response element (RRE), is present in the env gene and is predicted to form a highly ordered RNA secondary structure. Recent data indicate that Rev directly binds to RRE and, further, that this binding can be mapped to a 90-nucleotide subfragment at the 5' end of RRE. We now report that RRE also binds specifically and predominantly to a nuclear factor of approximately 56 kD. Mapping of the binding site reveals that the same subfragment that binds Rev also binds this nuclear factor. We designate this protein as NFRRE for nuclear factor, RRE binding. Rev and NFRRE appear to bind simultaneously to RRE. NFRRE is widely distributed in various mammalian cells. We speculate that this factor plays an important role in Rev-mediated transactivation and is likely to be involved in the processing or transport of cellular mRNA.
Animals↗
Tat protein of HIV-1 stimulates growth of cells derived from Kaposi's sarcoma lesions of AIDS patients.
Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is frequently associated with human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) infection. Supernatants from HIV-1-infected T cells carrying the CD4 antigen promote the growth of cells derived from KS lesions of AIDS patients (AIDS-KS cells), and the HIV-1 tat gene, introduced into the germ line of mice, induces skin lesions closely resembling KS. Here we report that the tat gene product (Tat) is released from both HIV-1-acutely infected H9 cells and tat-transfected COS-1 cells. These Tat-containing supernatants specifically promote growth of AIDS-KS cells which are inhibited by anti-Tat antibodies; recombinant Tat has the same growth-promoting properties. Therefore a viral regulatory gene product can be released as a biologically active protein and directly act as a growth stimulator. These and previous data indicate that extracellular Tat could be involved in the development or progression, or both, of KS in HIV-1-infected individuals.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
Transcriptional activation from the long-terminal repeat of human immunodeficiency virus in vitro.
The mechanism of trans-acting regulation of transcription from the long terminal repeat (LTR) of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has been investigated. The roles of the cis-acting elements within HIV LTR, as well as the trans-acting factors present in HIV-infected cells, have been evaluated by an in vitro transcription system. Our observations indicate that both the sequence downstream from the CAP site of HIV LTR (located at nucleotide positions +1 to +56; called the TAR element) and the GC boxes (-77 to -45) are required for full transcriptional stimulation and that both the virus-encoded tat protein and one or more cellular factors might be involved. These results demonstrate the presence of a combinatorial regulation of HIV transcription by multiple factors, which may confer the provirus with greater flexibility in regulated viral gene expression.
Binding, Competitive↗
Trans-activating rev protein of the human immunodeficiency virus 1 interacts directly and specifically with its target RNA.
The 20-kDa phosphorylated rev protein from human immunodeficiency virus 1 has been shown to transactivate posttranscriptionally the expression of viral structural proteins by selective stabilization and nuclear export of unspliced and incompletely spliced viral mRNA. We could demonstrate in gel-mobility and immunoprecipitation assays that the recombinant rev protein purified from a baculovirus expression system forms a distinct and specific complex with its target RNA (rev-responsive element), a 234-nucleotide sequence within the envelope coding region of human immunodeficiency virus 1. No complex formation could be observed using RNAs with similar secondary structure nor with other human immunodeficiency virus 1 recombinant proteins. Deletion analysis mapped this specific binding to the first 90 nucleotides of this rev-responsive element, which contains a U2 small nuclear RNA homologous region. We propose that the specific binding of rev to its target RNA sequence plays an essential part in releasing an incompletely spliced viral mRNA containing this target sequence to the cytoplasm.
Base Sequence↗
Trans-activation of the JC virus late promoter by the tat protein of type 1 human immunodeficiency virus in glial cells.
Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a demyelinating disease of the central nervous system caused by the JC virus (JCV), a human papovavirus. PML is a relatively rare disease seen predominantly in immunocompromised individuals and is a frequent complication observed in AIDS patients. The significantly higher incidence of PML in AIDS patients than in other immunosuppressive disorders has suggested that the presence of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in the brain may directly or indirectly contribute to the pathogenesis of this disease. In the present study we have examined the expression of the JCV genome in both glial and non-glial cells in the presence of HIV-1 regulatory proteins. We find that the HIV-1-encoded trans-regulatory protein tat increases the basal activity of the JCV late promoter, JCVL, in glial cells. In a reciprocal experiment, the JCV early protein, the large tumor antigen, stimulates expression from JCVL and HIV-1 long terminal repeat promoter in both glial and non-glial cells. This trans-activation occurs at the level of RNA synthesis, as measured by the rate of transcription, stability of the message, and translation. We conclude that the presence of the HIV-1-encoded tat protein may positively affect the JCV lytic cycle in glial cells by stimulating JCV gene expression. Our results suggest a mechanism for the relatively high incidence of PML in AIDS patients than in other immunosuppressive disorders. Furthermore, our findings indicate that the HIV-1 regulatory protein tat may stimulate other viral and perhaps cellular promoters, in addition to its own.
Cell Line↗
In vitro characterization of a biologically active molecular clone of HIV-2NIH-Z containing a nef deletion and expressing a full-length transmembrane protein.
We have previously described the cloning and sequencing of a novel stain of human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2) called HIV-2NIH-Z. A plasmid clone, pHIV2Z, containing the full-length provirus has now been constructed, and virus particles have been obtained upon transfection into COS-1 and H-9 cells. These particles can infect a number of T-cell lines and exert a cytopathic effect on fresh human and macaque peripheral blood lymphocytes. The cloned virus is biologically and morphologically indistinguishable from its parental uncloned strain as shown by restriction enzyme analysis, electron microscopy, and kinetics of infection. However, as shown by radioimmunoprecipitation assays, the cloned virus-infected cells express a full-length gp41 protein as predicted by the nucleotide sequence, whereas the wild-type parental strain expresses a truncated gp33 protein. Both the parental strain and the cloned virus possess a deletion encompassing the end of the nef gene within the U3 region which apparently does not affect their in vitro cytopathic and replicative capacities.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
Conservative mutations in the putative metal-binding region of human immunodeficiency virus tat disrupt virus replication.
The tat trans-activator proteins of the primate immunodeficiency viruses contain a highly conserved cysteine-rich domain. In human immunodeficiency virus type 1 tat there are seven cysteines located between residues 22 and 37 that are thought to form a metal-nucleic acid-binding structure. Most of the previous mutagenesis studies had demonstrated that these residues are essential for tat activity and virus expression. Here we show that potentially conserved cysteine-histidine substitutions within the proposed tetrahedral structure still eliminate tat activity and virus expression. Consistent with previous studies, one cysteine-to-histidine mutation (amino acid 31) had little effect on trans-activation. We have studied the functional properties, stability and subcellular localization of several tat protein mutants. Most of the mutants are stable and properly localized to the nucleus and/or nucleolus. However, cysteine-to-glycine at position 34 affected tat stability. Our studies with the histidine mutants suggest that tat does not assume the prototype "zinc finger" structure for metal binding.
Amino Acid Sequence↗