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Cell transformation by a virus containing a molecularly constructed gag-erbB fused gene.

A provirus DNA that contains a gag-erbB fused gene as the sole and transforming gene was molecularly constructed from plasmid pSRA2 containing the entire genome of Rous sarcoma virus and pAE7.7 containing the entire genome of an avian erythroblastosis virus (AEV), AEV-H. A virus containing the gag-erbB fused gene (GEV) was recovered from chicken embryo fibroblasts transfected with the proviral DNA and a helper virus DNA. GEV could transform chicken embryo fibroblasts as efficiently as could AEV-H. Anti-erbB and anti-gag sera immunoprecipitated a protein with a molecular weight of about 110,000 from GEV-transformed cells. The erbB and gag-erbB fused-gene products in AEV-H- and GEV-transformed cells were analyzed.

Animals↗

Processing of in vitro-synthesized gag precursor proteins of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 by HIV proteinase generated in Escherichia coli.

We expressed the gag and proteinase regions of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 by transcription and translation in vitro. A synthetic RNA spanning the gag and pro domains gave primarily the unprocessed capsid precursor pr53. Efficient cleavage of this precursor was observed when the gag and pro domains were placed in the same translational reading frame, yielding equimolar amounts of the gag protein and of proteinase (PR). Expression of HIV type 1 PR in Escherichia coli as a fusion protein gave rapid autocatalytic processing to an HIV-specific protein of approximately 11 kilodaltons. HIV PR generated in E. coli specifically induced cleavage of the HIV capsid precursor, whereas deletion of the carboxy-terminal 17 amino acids of the proteinase rendered it inactive. Inhibitor studies showed that the enzyme was insensitive to inhibitors of serine and cysteine proteinases and metalloproteinases and was inhibited only by a very high concentration (1 mM) of pepstatin A.

Cloning, Molecular↗

Expression and processing of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 gag and pol genes by cells infected with a recombinant vaccinia virus.

Human cells infected with a recombinant vaccinia virus containing human immunodeficiency virus type 1 gag-pol genes produced large amounts of human immunodeficiency virus gag proteins beginning at 1 h and peaking at 48 h postinfection. We show that these polyproteins are processed accurately into mature forms and that the viral polymerase gene is encoded as a 160-kilodalton gag-pol fusion protein, most likely by translational frameshifting from the gag into the pol reading frame.

Cells, Cultured↗

Characterization of immunodominant epitopes of gag and pol gene-encoded proteins of human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I.

A series of synthetic peptides derived from the corresponding regions of the gag, pol, and env proteins of human T-cell lymphotropic virus types I (HTLV-I) and II (HTLV-II) were used in an enzyme immunoassay to map the immunodominant epitopes of HTLV. Serum specimens from 79 of 87 (91%) HTLV-I-infected patients reacted with the synthetic peptide Gag-1a (amino acids [a.a.] 102 to 117) derived from the C terminus of the p19gag protein of HTLV-I. Minimal cross-reactivity (11%) was observed with serum specimens from HTLV-II-infected patients. Peptide Pol-3, encoded by the pol region of HTLV-I (a.a. 487 to 502), reacted with serum specimens from both HTLV-I- and HTLV-II-infected patients (94 and 86%, respectively). The antibody levels to Pol-3 were significantly higher (P less than 0.01) in patients with HTLV-I-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis than in either adult T-cell leukemia patients or HTLV-I-positive asymptomatic carriers. None of the other peptides studied demonstrated significant binding to serum specimens obtained from HTLV-I- or HTLV-II-infected individuals. While Gag-1a did not react with serum specimens from normal controls, Pol-3 demonstrated some reaction with specimens from seronegative individuals (11.4%). The antibodies to Gag-1a and Pol-3 in serum specimens from HTLV-I-infected patients could be specifically inhibited by the corresponding synthetic peptides and by a crude HTLV-I antigen preparation, indicating that these peptides mimic native epitopes present in HTLV-I proteins that are recognized by serum antibodies from HTLV-I- and -II-infected individuals.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Predominant use of a T-cell receptor V beta gene family in simian immunodeficiency virus Gag-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes in a rhesus monkey.

To explore the structural basis for AIDS virus recognition by CD8+ lymphocytes, we sought to determine whether there is a diverse or restricted usage of T-cell receptors (TCR) by simian immunodeficiency virus of macaques (SIVmac) Gag-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) in the rhesus monkey. Six Gag-specific CTL clones were independently generated from an SIVmac-infected rhesus monkey. All six CTL clones recognized a single SIVmac Gag peptide in association with a single major histocompatibility complex class I gene product, Mamu-A*01. TCR alpha-chain sequences from these six CTL clones employed four different V alpha families and five different J alpha gene segments. In contrast, five of the six CTL clones expressed V beta genes that were members of the same family, a human V beta 23 homolog. Furthermore, only one J beta gene was expressed by four of the six CTL clones. These results indicate that TCR of SIVmac Gag-specific CTL from a rhesus monkey can exhibit a restricted usage of V beta gene families and J beta genes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Two cis-acting signals control ribosomal frameshift between human T-cell leukemia virus type II gag and pro genes.

The open reading frame of the human T-cell leukemia virus type II pro gene is arranged at a -1 position relative to the gag gene. Synthesis of the Gag-Pro fusion polyprotein is facilitated by ribosomal frameshift into the reading frame of the pro gene. Cloning of a synthetic 41-bp oligonucleotide corresponding to the gag-pro junction within a heterologous gene (nef of human immunodeficiency virus type I) and mutation analysis revealed that two cis-acting signals, an adenosine residue stretch and a dyad symmetry sequence, flanking the UAA termination codon, are required for efficient ribosomal frameshifting between gag and pro. The stability of the stem-loop structure is crucial for frameshifting.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Nuclear localization of foamy virus Gag precursor protein.

All foamy viruses give rise to a strong nuclear staining when infected cells are reacted with sera from infected hosts. This nuclear fluorescence distinguishes foamy viruses from all other retroviruses. The experiments reported here indicate that the foamy virus Gag precursor protein is transiently located in the nuclei of infected cells and this is the likely reason for the typical foamy virus nuclear fluorescence. By using the vaccinia virus expression system, a conserved basic sequence motif in the nucleocapsid domain of foamy virus Gag proteins was identified to be responsible for the nuclear transport of the gag precursor molecule. This motif was also found to be able to direct a heterologous protein, the Gag protein of human immunodeficiency virus, into the nucleus.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Different abilities of Friend murine leukemia virus (MuLV) and Moloney MuLV to induce promonocytic leukemia are due to determinants in both psi-gag-PR and env regions.

Moloney murine leukemia virus (M-MuLV) is capable of inducing promonocytic leukemia in 50% of adult BALB/c mice that have received peritoneal injections of pristane, but Friend MuLV strain 57 (F-MuLV) is nonleukemogenic under similar conditions. It was shown earlier that these differences could not be mapped to the U3 region of the virus long terminal repeat, indicating the probable influence of structural genes and/or R-U5 sequences. In this study, reciprocal chimeras containing exchanged structural genes and R-U5 sequences from these two closely related viruses were analyzed for differences in ability to induce disease. Results showed that two regions of F-MuLV, psi-gag-PR and env, when substituted for those of M-MuLV were dramatically disease attenuating. The 5'-most region, which is widely distributed, overlaps with the 5' end of the env intron and includes the RNA packaging region, psi, the entire gag coding region, and the viral protease coding region (PR) of pol. It was also found that reciprocal constructs having substitutions of both of these regions of M-MuLV in an F-MuLV background allowed full reestablishment of promonocytic leukemia. These leukemias were positive for c-myb rearrangements which are characteristic of M-MuLV-induced promonocytic leukemias. Neither region alone, however, was sufficient to produce disease with a greater incidence than 13%. Further studies demonstrated that the inability of viruses with psi, gag, PR, or env sequences from F-MuLV to induce leukemia in this model system was not due to their inability to replicate in hematopoietic tissue, to integrate into the c-myb locus early on after infection in vivo, or to express gag-myb mRNA characteristic of M-MuLV-induced preleukemic cells and acute leukemia.

3T3 Cells↗

Specificity and sequence requirements for interactions between various retroviral Gag proteins.

We previously established a genetic assay for retroviral Gag polyprotein multimerization (J. Luban, K. B. Alin, K. L. Bossolt, T. Humaran, and S. P. Goff, J. Virol. 66:5157-5160, 1992). Here we use this assay to demonstrate homomeric interactions between Gag polyproteins encoded by six different retroviruses. Of the Gag polyproteins tested, only those encoded by closely related retroviruses formed heteromultimers. To determine the primary sequence requirements for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Gag polyprotein multimerization, we studied the effects on multimerization of deletion and linker insertion mutations. Sequences necessary for this process were located between the C-terminal one-third of the capsid domain and the C terminus of the nucleocapsid domain.

Animals↗

Structural interactions between retroviral Gag proteins examined by cysteine cross-linking.

We have examined structural interactions between Gag proteins within Moloney murine leukemia virus (M-MuLV) particles by making use of the cysteine-specific cross-linking agents iodine and bis-maleimido hexane. Virion-associated wild-type M-MuLV Pr65Gag proteins in immature particles were intermolecularly cross-linked at cysteines to form Pr65Gag oligomers, from dimers to pentamers or hexamers. Following a systematic approach of cysteine-to-serine mutagenesis, we have shown that cross-linking of Pr65Gag occurred at cysteines of the nucleocapsid (NC) Cys-His motif, suggesting that the Cys-His motifs within virus particles are packed in close proximity. The M-MuLV Pr65Gag protein did not cross-link to the human immunodeficiency virus Pr55Gag protein when the two molecules were coexpressed, indicating either that they did not coassemble or that heterologous Gag proteins were not in close enough proximity to be cross-linked. Using an assembly-competent, protease-minus, cysteine-minus Pr65Gag protein as a template, novel cysteine residues were generated in the M-MuLV capsid domain major homology region (MHR). Cross-linking of proteins containing MHR cysteines showed above-background levels of Gag-Gag dimers but also identified a novel cellular factor, present in virions, that cross-linked to MHR residues. Although the NC cysteine mutation was compatible with M-MuLV particle assembly, deletions of the NC domain were not tolerated. These results suggest that the Cys-His motif is held in close proximity within immature M-MuLV particles by interactions between CA domains and/or non-Cys-His motif domains of the NC.

3T3 Cells↗

Encapsidation of poliovirus replicons encoding the complete human immunodeficiency virus type 1 gag gene by using a complementation system which provides the P1 capsid protein in trans.

Poliovirus genomes which contain small regions of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) gag, pol, and env genes substituted in frame for the P1 capsid region replicate and express HIV-1 proteins as fusion proteins with the P1 capsid precursor protein upon transfection into cells (W. S. Choi, R. Pal-Ghosh, and C. D. Morrow, J. Virol. 65:2875-2883, 1991). Since these genomes, referred to as replicons, do not express capsid proteins, a complementation system was developed to encapsidate the genomes by providing P1 capsid proteins in trans from a recombinant vaccinia virus, VV-P1. Virus stocks of encapsidated replicons were generated after serial passage of the replicon genomes into cells previously infected with VV-P1 (D. C. Porter, D. C. Ansardi, W. S. Choi, and C. D. Morrow, J. Virol. 67:3712-3719, 1993). Using this system, we have further defined the role of the P1 region in viral protein expression and RNA encapsidation. In the present study, we constructed poliovirus replicons which contain the complete 1,492-bp gag gene of HIV-1 substituted for the entire P1 region of poliovirus. To investigate whether the VP4 coding region was required for the replication and encapsidation of poliovirus RNA, a second replicon in which the complete gag gene was substituted for the VP2, VP3, and VP1 capsid sequences was constructed. Transfection of replicon RNA with and without the VP4 coding region into cells resulted in similar levels of expression of the HIV-1 Gag protein and poliovirus 3CD protein, as indicated by immunoprecipitation using specific antibodies. Northern (RNA) blot analysis of RNA from transfected cells demonstrated comparable levels of RNA replication for each replicon. Transfection of the replicon genomes into cells infected with VV-P1 resulted in the encapsidation of the genomes; serial passage in the presence of VV-P1 resulted in the generation of virus stocks of encapsidated replicons. Analysis of the levels of protein expression and encapsidated replicon RNA from virus stocks after 21 serial passages of the replicon genomes with VV-P1 indicated that the replicon which contained the VP4 coding region was present at a higher level than the replicon which contained a complete substitution of the P1 capsid sequences. These differences in encapsidation, though, were not detected after only two serial passages of the replicons with VV-P1 or upon coinfection and serial passage with type 1 Sabin poliovirus.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Genetic analysis of the major homology region of the Rous sarcoma virus Gag protein.

The mature cores of all retroviruses contain a major structural protein known as the CA (capsid) protein. Although it appears to form a shell around the ribonucleoprotein complex that contains the viral RNA, its function in viral replication is largely unknown. Little sequence similarity exists between the CA proteins of different retroviruses, except for a region of about 20 amino acids termed the major homology region (MHR). To examine the role of the CA protein in particle assembly and release, mutants of Rous sarcoma virus were created in which segments of CA were deleted or single conserved residues in the MHR were altered. The ability of the deletion mutants to release particles at rates similar to the wild-type protein demonstrated that the CA domain of Gag is not an essential component of the minimal budding machinery. Certain point mutations in the MHR region did block assembly and release in certain cell types, presumably by perturbing the global structure of the Gag precursor. Another group of MHR substitutions produced noninfectious or poorly infectious particles that were normal in their content of gag and pol gene products and viral RNA. The mutants were capable of initiating reverse transcription in vitro; however, the association of CA protein with the core was compromised, as indicated by its sensitivity to extraction with nonionic detergent. Prominent blebs on the virion envelope also indicated a disturbance at the membrane. Finally, an anti-peptide serum directed against MHR was found to react with the uncleaved Gag protein but not with mature CA, suggesting that MHR undergoes a dynamic rearrangement upon liberation from the polyprotein. We conclude that the MHR is involved in the very late steps in maturation of the virion (i.e., ones that occur after budding is initiated) and is essential for proper function of the core upon entry into a new host cell.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Transforming activity of retroviral genomes encoding Gag-Axl fusion proteins.

Retroviral genomes encoding a portion of the Moloney murine leukemia virus Gag protein fused to portions of the murine axl cDNA were constructed so as to mimic naturally occurring transforming viruses. Virus MA1 retained 5 amino acids of the extracellular domain and the complete transmembrane and intracellular domains of Axl; virus MA2 retained only the intracellular Axl sequences beginning 33 amino acids downstream of the transmembrane region. Although both viruses could transform NIH 3T3 cells, they induced different morphological changes. MA1 transformants became elongated and assumed a cross-hatched pattern, while MA2 transformants were round and very refractile and grew to high density. Gag-Axl and Glyco-Gag-Axl proteins were detected in both types of transformed cells and were predominantly localized to the cytoplasmic compartment. When cell-free v-axl virus supernatants were introduced into wild-type BALB/c neonates, Rag-2-deficient mice, or c-myc transgenic mice, they did not cause tumors in a 3-month period. However, MA2-transformed NIH 3T3 cells, but not MA1 or control cells, could establish sarcomas by subcutaneous or intraperitoneal injection into BALB/c neonates. These results show that the transforming potential of the axl gene can be activated by truncation of the extracellular domain of the receptor and fusion of the remaining sequence to the gag gene.

3T3 Cells↗

Intracellular expression of RNA transcripts complementary to the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 gag gene inhibits viral replication in human CD4+ lymphocytes.

Intracellular expression of antisense transcripts was evaluated for its potential to interfere with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) replication. Retroviral vectors encoding HIV-1 psi-gag complementary sequences downstream of a selectable gene (neo, puromycin gene, or Lyt2 gene) were stable and yielded high titers. Human CEMSS T cells were transduced with amphotropic retroviral vectors to express RNA complementary to the psi-gag sequence of HIV-1. Replication of laboratory-adapted HIV-1 strains was inhibited by more than 1 order of magnitude (log10) in these transduced cells even at high inoculation doses (4 x 10(4) 50% tissue culture infective doses). Antisense-mediated anti-HIV efficacy was further demonstrated by survival of CD4+ cells in these cultures relative to controls. The level of anti-HIV-1 activity of the psi-gag antisense sequence correlated with the length of the antisense transcript. Maximal anti-HIV efficacy was observed with complementary sequence more than 1,000 nucleotides long, whereas transcripts less than 400 nucleotides long failed to inhibit HIV-1 replication. Expression of psi-gag antisense RNA also reduced HIV-1 JR-CSF replication 10-fold in primary CD4+ lymphocytes. These results obtained with a T-cell line and primary peripheral blood lymphocytes indicate the potential of long antisense RNAs as an efficient anti-HIV-1 therapeutic agent for gene therapy.

Anti-HIV Agents↗

Cloning of a new murine endogenous retrovirus, MuERV-L, with strong similarity to the human HERV-L element and with a gag coding sequence closely related to the Fv1 restriction gene.

We had previously identified a new family of human endogenous retrovirus-like elements, the HERV-L elements (human endogenous retrovirus with leucine tRNA primer), whose pol gene was most closely related to that of the foamy viruses. HERV-L pol-related sequences were also detected in other mammalian species. The recent cloning of the mouse Fv1 gene (S. Best, P. Le Tissier, G. Towers, and J. P. Stoye, Nature 382:826-829, 1996) has shed light on another HERV-L domain--identified as a gag gene based on its location within the provirus--which was found to be 60% identical, at the nucleotide level, to the Fv1 open reading frame (ORF). We have now cloned the murine homolog of HERV-L which, in contrast to HERV-L, displays fully open reading frames in the gag and pol genes. Its predicted Gag protein shares 43% identity with the Fv1 ORF product. Moreover, the characteristic major homology region of the capsid subdomain can be identified within both proteins, thus strongly emphasizing the gag-like origin of Fv1.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Cells with high cyclophilin A content support replication of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Gag mutants with decreased ability to incorporate cyclophilin A.

Gag polyprotein-mediated incorporation of cellular cyclophilin A (CyPA) into virions is essential for the formation of infectious human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) virions. Either a point mutation in Gag (P222A) or drugs which bind CyPA decrease virion incorporation of CyPA and interfere with HIV-1 replication. We have found that lymphoid cells varied greatly in their CyPA content and that cells with high CyPA content supported the replication of P222A HIV-1 Gag mutants. These experiments demonstrated that a higher cellular CyPA content of some cells was able to compensate for the decreased binding affinity of P222A mutant Gag for CyPA, allowing virus replication to occur.

Animals↗

The neuroinvasiveness of a murine retrovirus is influenced by a dileucine-containing sequence in the cytoplasmic tail of glycosylated Gag.

The tempo and intensity of retroviral neuropathogenesis are dependent on the capacity of the virus to invade the central nervous system. For murine leukemia viruses, an important determinant of neuroinvasiveness is the virus-encoded protein glycosylated Gag, the function of which in the virus life cycle is not known. While this protein is dispensable for virus replication, mutations which prevent its expression slow the spread of virus in vivo and restrict virus dissemination to the brain. To further explore the function of this protein, we compared two viruses, CasFrKP (KP) and CasFrKP41 (KP41), which differ dramatically in neurovirulence. KP expresses high early viremia titers, is neuroinvasive, and induces clinical neurologic disease in 100% of neonatally inoculated mice, with an incubation period of 18 to 23 days. In contrast, KP41 expresses early viremia titers 100- fold lower than those of KP, exhibits attenuated neuroinvasiveness, and induces clinical neurologic disease infrequently, with a relatively long incubation period. The genomes of these two viruses differ by only 10 nucleotides, resulting in differences at five residues, all located within the N-terminal cytoplasmic tail of glycosylated Gag. In this study, using KP as the parental virus, we systematically mutated each of the five amino acid residues to those of KP41 and found that substitution mutation of two membrane-proximal residues, E53 and L56, to K and P, respectively produced the greatest effect on early viremia kinetics and neurovirulence. These mutations disrupted the KP sequence E53FLL56, the leucine dipeptide of which suggests the possibility that it may represent a sorting signal for glycosylated Gag. Supporting this idea was the finding that alteration of this sequence motif increased the level of cell surface expression of the protein, which suggests that analysis of the intracellular trafficking of glycosylated Gag may provide further clues to its function.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Nonreciprocal packaging of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 and type 2 RNA: a possible role for the p2 domain of Gag in RNA encapsidation.

The ability of human immunodeficiency virus types 1 (HIV-1) and 2 (HIV-2) to cross-package each other's RNA was investigated by cotransfecting helper virus constructs with vectors derived from both viruses from which the gag and pol sequences had been removed. HIV-1 was able to package both HIV-1 and HIV-2 vector RNA. The unspliced HIV-1 vector RNA was packaged preferentially over spliced RNA; however, unspliced and spliced HIV-2 vector RNA were packaged in proportion to their cytoplasmic concentrations. The HIV-2 helper virus was unable to package the HIV-1 vector RNA, indicating a nonreciprocal RNA packaging relationship between these two lentiviruses. Chimeric proviruses based on HIV-2 were constructed to identify the regions of the HIV-1 Gag protein conferring RNA-packaging specificity for the HIV-1 packaging signal. Two chimeric viruses were constructed in which domains within the HIV-2 gag gene were replaced by the corresponding domains in HIV-1, and the ability of the chimeric proviruses to encapsidate an HIV-1-based vector was studied. Wild-type HIV-2 was unable to package the HIV-1-based vector; however, replacement of the HIV-2 nucleocapsid by that of HIV-1 generated a virus with normal protein processing which could package the HIV-1-based vector. The chimeric viruses retained the ability to package HIV-2 genomic RNA, providing further evidence for a lack of reciprocity in RNA-packaging ability between the HIV-1 and HIV-2 nucleocapsid proteins. Inclusion of the p2 domain of HIV-1 Gag in the chimera significantly enhanced packaging.

Amino Acid Sequence↗