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S Oroszlan

Publications and source records attributed to S Oroszlan.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

A solid phase assay for the protease of human immunodeficiency virus.

A solid phase assay for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) protease using an immobilized substrate, Affi Gel 10-Gly-Gly-Gly-Gly-Val-Ser-Gln-Asn-Tyr-Pro-Ile-Val-Gln-[3H]Gly-OH has been devised. The Tyr-Pro bond of the substrate was hydrolyzed by the protease, releasing the radiolabeled cleavage product, Pro-Ile-Val-Gln-[3H]Gly-OH, into the supernatant. The pH optimum was found to be 6.0, and a high ionic strength was required for maximal activity. The solid phase assay is usable for convenient monitoring of purification procedures, and rapid screening of inhibitors of HIV protease.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The where, what and how of ribosomal frameshifting in retroviral protein synthesis.

The gag and pol genes of most retroviruses occur in different reading frames and their translation as a single polypeptide is carried out by ribosomal frameshifting in the -1 direction. The alignment of the different reading frames occurs by overlapping reading in response to at least two signals within the RNA: one is a heptanucleotide stretch at the frameshift site and the other is a stem-loop structure which occurs just downstream of the first signal.

Protein Biosynthesis↗

Identification of amino acids inserted during suppression of UAA and UGA termination codons at the gag-pol junction of Moloney murine leukemia virus.

Expression of the murine leukemia virus pol gene occurs by translational readthrough of an in-frame UAG codon between the gag and pol coding regions. In a previous study, we mutated the UAG codon to UAA or UGA and demonstrated that both of these termination codons could be suppressed in reticulocyte lysates and in infected cells with the same efficiency as UAG. We now report the identity of the amino acids inserted in vitro in response to UAA and UGA in fusion products containing the gag-pol junction region. The results show that UAA, like UAG, directs the incorporation of glutamine, whereas UGA directs the incorporation of three amino acids, arginine, cysteine, and tryptophan. To our knowledge, this is the first report indicating misreading of UAA as glutamine and UGA as arginine and cysteine in higher eukaryotes. Interestingly, although our protein synthesis system presumably contains other known UAG and UGA suppressors, these tRNAs did not suppress the termination codons in our experiments. Thus, it seems possible that the sequence surrounding the gag-pol junction not only promotes suppression but also helps determine which tRNAs function in suppression.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Characterization of the secreted, native gp120 and gp160 of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1.

We have previously shown that the cell line 6D5(451) chronically infected with the HIV-1 isolate HTLV-III(451), secretes the HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins gp120 and gp160 in the extracellular medium. The HTLV-III(451) gp120 and gp160 were purified by sequential affinity chromatographic steps using a monoclonal antibody to HIV-1 gp41 and an anti-HIV-1-positive human serum. Amino acid sequence analysis of gp120 and gp160 showed the loss of the signal peptide. Digestion of the purified gp120 and gp160 with endoglycosidases revealed that both proteins are heavily glycosylated and contain complex carbohydrates, in contrast to the intracellular form of gp160 which has been shown to contain mannose-rich immature sugars. Competitive binding analysis showed that while both gp120 and gp160 bind CD4, the affinity of gp160 was five times lower than that of gp120. Both gp120 and gp160 inhibited syncytia formation by HIV-1-infected cells when mixed with CD4+ cells. Furthermore, both gp120 and gp160 had strong mitogenic effects on the T cells from HIV-1-infected gibbons but not on cells from uninfected gibbons.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Inhibition of human immunodeficiency virus infectivity by chloroquine.

The effect of chloroquine, a drug known to affect intracellular exocytic pathways, was studied in two retroviral systems: human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) and avian reticuloendotheliosis virus (REV-A). With chloroquine treatment of virus-infected cells, significant size reduction of the cell- and virus-associated surface glycoproteins, gp90 of REV-A and gp120 of HIV-1, was observed. In the case of HIV-1, extracellular virions derived from treated cells contained very little gp120. Infectivity and reverse transcriptase assays of HIV-1 demonstrated that by chloroquine treatment the majority of the virions released was noninfectious and the total virus yield was also reduced. The data suggest that chloroquine inhibition of infectious virus production is most likely due to interference with terminal glycosylation in the trans-Golgi network.

Ammonium Chloride↗

Synthesis and processing of the transmembrane envelope protein of equine infectious anemia virus.

The transmembrane (TM) envelope protein of lentiviruses, including equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV), is significantly larger than that of other retroviruses and may extend in the C-terminal direction 100 to 200 amino acids beyond the TM domain. This size difference suggests a lentivirus-specific function for the long C-terminal extension. We have investigated the synthesis and processing of the EIAV TM protein by immune precipitation and immunoblotting experiments, by using several envelope-specific peptide antisera. We show that the TM protein in EIAV particles is cleaved by proteolysis to an N-terminal glycosylated 32- to 35-kilodalton (kDa) segment and a C-terminal nonglycosylated 20-kDa segment. The 20-kDa fragment was isolated from virus fractionated by high-pressure liquid chromatography, and its N-terminal amino acid sequence was determined for 13 residues. Together with the known nucleotide sequence, this fixes the cleavage site at a His-Leu bond located 240 amino acids from the N terminus of the TM protein. Since the 32- to 35-kDa fragment and the 20-kDa fragment are not detectable in infected cells, we assume that cleavage occurs in the virus particle and that the viral protease may be responsible. We have also found that some cells producing a tissue-culture-adapted strain of EIAV synthesize a truncated envelope precursor polyprotein. The point of truncation differs slightly in the two cases we have observed but lies just downstream from the membrane-spanning domain, close to the cleavage point described above. In one case, virus producing the truncated envelope protein appeared to be much more infectious than virus producing the full-size protein, suggesting that host cell factors can select for virus on the basis of the C-terminal domain of the TM protein.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Gag precursors of HIV and SIV are cleaved into six proteins found in the mature virions.

During retroviral maturation gag precursors are proteolytically cleaved to mature gag proteins. The number of mature gag proteins and their order in the gag precursors of HIV-I3B, SIVMne (captive macaque isolate), and SIVCat (wild mangabey isolate) has been determined by N-terminal amino acid sequence analysis of mature gag proteins and alignment with predicted sequences of homologous gag precursors. For HIV-1 and SIVs maturation proteolysis results in six gag proteins and the gag precursor cleavage pattern is distinctive and different from cleavage patterns for all other known retroviruses.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Substitution mutations of the highly conserved arginine 87 of HIV-1 protease result in loss of proteolytic activity.

The 297bp gene coding for the HIV-1 protease was chemically synthesized and expressed in E. coli. Single amino acid substitutions (Arg 87 - greater than Lys; Arg 87 - greater than Glu) were introduced in the C-terminally located conserved region GlyArgAsn of the protease gene in the wild-type clone. The products of the mutant and the wild-type clones were expressed at approximately similar levels at 30 minutes of induction but the mutant protease proteins accumulated as a function of time of induction unlike the wild-type protease which declined after 60 minutes. The mutants were completely devoid of proteolytic activity as determined in assays employing as substrates a synthetic nonapeptide and a gag related recombinant polyprotein.

Arginine↗

Synthetic non-peptide inhibitors of HIV protease.

We have studied the inhibition of HIV protease by the antifungal antibiotic cerulenin, as well as by several related synthetic, structurally simpler analogs. The effect of these compounds on HIV protease was conveniently studied by monitoring the cleavage of an authentic single peptide bond in a synthetic nonapeptide corresponding to a natural cleavage site in HIV-1 gag precursor polyprotein. The relative inhibitory effects of these compounds have afforded an insight into the structural characteristics which impart antiprotease activity.

Antifungal Agents↗

Continuous spectrophotometric assay for retroviral proteases of HIV-1 and AMV.

Ac-Lys-Ala-Ser-Gln-Asn-Phe(NO2)-Pro-Val-Val-NH2 (peptide I) and Thr-Phe-Gln-Ala-Phe(NO2)-Pro-Leu-Arg-Glu-Ala (peptide II) undergo hydrolysis between the p-nitrophenylalanyl and prolyl residues catalyzed by the proteases of HIV-1 and AMV, respectively. The specific hydrolyses of peptides I and II are accompanied by a decrease in their uv absorption at 269 nm (delta epsilon = 1000) and an increase at 316 nm (delta epsilon = 600). The use of microspectrophotometric cells allows continuous uv measurements on a volume (60 to 120 microliters) comparable to that required for the HPLC point assay currently used. At the highest substrate concentration possible under the assay conditions, good first-order kinetics were observed with both proteases, and the values of Vmax/Km were obtained.

Avian Leukosis Virus↗

Phosphorylation of human interleukin-2 (IL-2).

Human interleukin-2 (IL-2) is a lymphokine which is capable of activating lymphocytes and supporting the long-term in vitro growth of activated T cell clones. Recombinant human IL-2, expressed in either E. coli or cos cells, was shown to be phosphorylated by protein kinase C. Phosphorylated IL-2 synthesized in E. coli was analyzed by SDS-PAGE, reverse phase HPLC, and tryptic peptide mapping. The phosphorylated tryptic peptide was identified as the N-terminal fragment containing a single phosphorylation site at the serine residue at position 7. There was no difference in biological activity between non-phosphorylated and phosphorylated IL-2, as determined by a T cell growth assay. Although the physiological role of phosphorylation of IL-2 is unclear, IL-2 can be labeled with [gamma-32P] ATP and protein kinase C to a high specific radioactivity, and the synthesis of biologically active 32p-labeled IL-2 may be useful for receptor-binding studies of the cells containing low level of phosphoprotein phosphotases.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The preparation and biochemical characterization of intact capsids of equine infectious anemia virus.

Capsids of equine infectious anemia virus have been isolated as cone-shaped particles 60 x 120 nm in size. Detergent treatment of whole virus followed by two cycles of rate-zonal centrifugation in Ficoll produces these capsids in a yield of approximately 10%. The major protein components are the gag-encoded p11 nucleocapsid protein and p26 capsid protein, which are present in equimolar amounts. Substantial cleavage of p11 to p6 and p4 can be observed under conditions where the viral protease packaged in the capsid is enzymatically active.

Capsid↗

Chemical synthesis and expression of the HIV-1 protease gene in E. coli.

The 297bp HIV-1 protease gene was constructed from five discrete synthetic fragments and expressed in E. coli. A soluble protein product of 11.5 Kd was detected by immunoblotting using protease specific antisera. A quantitative assay system, utilizing a synthetic nonapeptide spanning the cleavage site between p17-p24 in the gag polyprotein, was used to measure the specific protease activity in crude extracts. The protease hydrolyzed tyrosyl-proline bonds with an approximate specific activity of 43 pmoles/min/micrograms of total protein. The chemical synthesis of the protease gene and it's expression provides a feasible method for rapid mutant analysis, important for structure-function studies and rational design of potential inhibitors.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A region of basic amino-acid cluster in HIV-1 Tat protein is essential for trans-acting activity and nucleolar localization.

The trans-acting factor of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Tat, has a basic amino-acid cluster that is highly conserved among different HIV isolates. We have examined the effects of mutations in the basic region of Tat on its trans-acting activity and cellular localization. Introduction of a stop codon immediately preceding the basic region abolished the activity, while the truncated mutant with the basic region retained some activity. The basic region of Tat was replaceable with that of Rev (another trans-acting factor of HIV) but not with that of adenovirus Ela nor cellular enzyme. The result of immunofluorescence analysis revealed a correlation between the nuclear, especially nucleolar, accumulation and the activities of mutant Tat proteins.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Chromatographic analysis of the aminoacyl-tRNAs which are required for translation of codons at and around the ribosomal frameshift sites of HIV, HTLV-1, and BLV.

An examination of the frameshift signals or proposed signals within published sequences of retroviruses and other genetic elements from higher animals shows that each site utilizes a tRNA which normally contains Wybutoxine (Wye) base or Queuine (Q) base in the anticodon loop. We find experimentally that most of the Phe-tRNA present in HIV-1 infected cells lacks the highly modified Wye base in its anticodon loop and most of the Asn-tRNA in HTLV-1 and BLV infected cells lacks the highly modified Q base in its anticodon loop. Interestingly, Phe-tRNA translates a UUU codon within the ribosomal frameshift signal in HIV and Asn-tRNA translates a AAC codon within the proposed frameshift signals in HTLV-1 and BLV. Thus, the lack of a highly modified base in the anticodon loop of tRNAs in retroviral infected cells is correlated with the participation of these undermodified tRNAs in the corresponding frameshift event. This suggests that the "shifty" tRNAs proposed by Jacks et al. (Cell 55, 447-458, 1988) to carry out frameshifting may be hypomodified isoacceptors.

Animals↗

Inhibition of bacterially expressed HIV protease activity determined by an in vitro cleavage assay with MuLV Pr65gag.

HIV protease is a virally coded enzyme that cleaves gag as well as gag-pol precursor polyproteins into functional products needed for virus assembly. A pUC plasmid containing an HIV insert starting at the 5' end of the pol gene and ending just inside the intergrase coding sequence was expressed in E. coli. It provided an 11 kD gene product (protease) that specifically cleaved the Gazdar MuLV Pr65gag precursor into Pr40gag (p30 + p10) and Pr27gag (p15 + p12) intermediates, as well as lower molecular weight gag-encoded products. These were detected by immunoblotting with either MuLV anti-p30 or p12 sera. Using cleavage of MuLV Pr65gag as an assay system, pepstatin A, fusidic acid, and cerulenin were observed to inhibit HIV protease cleavage by greater than 50% at concentrations of 0.1, 0.2-0.5, and 0.5 mM, respectively.

Cloning, Molecular↗

Purification and partial characterization of human immunodeficiency virus type 2 reverse transcriptase.

We have raised a rabbit monospecific antibody against a synthetic peptide derived from a sequence within the COOH-terminal portion of the reverse transcriptase (RT) of HIV-1. This sequence was also found to be conserved in the predicted amino acid sequence of HIV-2. The antibody, designated C2003, cross-reacted with HIV-2 RT on immunoblots of HIV-2 virus extract and directly inhibited HIV-2 RT activity. Fractionation of HIV-2 RT by immunoaffinity chromatography with C2003 antibody yielded a pair of viral proteins of 68 and 55 kD associated with both RT and RNAse H activities. Both proteins were found to be highly immunogenic, recognized by 11 of 11 human sera that previously tested positive for antibodies to HIV-2 antigens in immunoblot assays.

Amino Acid Sequence↗