scholarly journals HIV-1 Integrase Binds the Viral RNA Genome and Is Essential during Virion Morphogenesis

Cell ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 166 (5) ◽  
pp. 1257-1268.e12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacques J. Kessl ◽  
Sebla B. Kutluay ◽  
Dana Townsend ◽  
Stephanie Rebensburg ◽  
Alison Slaughter ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Viral Rna ◽  
Virion Morphogenesis ◽  
Rna Genome ◽  
Hiv 1

scholarly journals Going beyond Integration: The Emerging Role of HIV-1 Integrase in Virion Morphogenesis

Viruses ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 1005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer L. Elliott ◽  
Sebla B. Kutluay
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Viral Genome ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Viral Rna ◽  
Target Cells ◽  
Host Chromosome ◽  
Virion Morphogenesis ◽  
Rna Genome ◽  
Hiv 1

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.

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

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Elliott ◽  
Jenna E. Eschbach ◽  
Pratibha C. Koneru ◽  
Wen Li ◽  
Maritza Puray Chavez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rna Binding ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Underlying Mechanism ◽  
Class Ii ◽  
Viral Rna ◽  
Target Cells ◽  
Ribonucleoprotein Complexes ◽  
Virion Morphogenesis ◽  
Hiv 1

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.

scholarly journals Unpaired Guanosines in the 5′ Untranslated Region of HIV-1 RNA Act Synergistically To Mediate Genome Packaging

2020 ◽  
Vol 94 (21) ◽  
Author(s):  
Olga A. Nikolaitchik ◽  
Xayathed Somoulay ◽  
Jonathan M. O. Rawson ◽  
Jennifer A. Yoo ◽  
Vinay K. Pathak ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Binding Sites ◽  
Untranslated Region ◽  
Virus Assembly ◽  
Viral Rna ◽  
Rna Packaging ◽  
Genome Packaging ◽  
Stem Loop ◽  
Rna Genome ◽  
Genome Encapsidation ◽  
Hiv 1

ABSTRACT The viral protein Gag selects full-length HIV-1 RNA from a large pool of mRNAs as virion genome during virus assembly. Currently, the precise mechanism that mediates the genome selection is not understood. Previous studies have identified several sites in the 5′ untranslated region (5′ UTR) of HIV-1 RNA that are bound by nucleocapsid (NC) protein, which is derived from Gag during virus maturation. However, whether these NC binding sites direct HIV-1 RNA genome packaging has not been fully investigated. In this report, we examined the roles of single-stranded exposed guanosines at NC binding sites in RNA genome packaging using stable cell lines expressing competing wild-type and mutant HIV-1 RNAs. Mutant RNA packaging efficiencies were determined by comparing their prevalences in cytoplasmic RNA and in virion RNA. We observed that multiple NC binding sites affected RNA packaging; of the sites tested, those located within stem-loop 1 of the 5′ UTR had the most significant effects. These sites were previously reported as the primary NC binding sites by using a chemical probe reverse-footprinting assay and as the major Gag binding sites by using an in vitro assay. Of the mutants tested in this report, substituting 3 to 4 guanosines resulted in <2-fold defects in packaging. However, when mutations at different NC binding sites were combined, severe defects were observed. Furthermore, combining the mutations resulted in synergistic defects in RNA packaging, suggesting redundancy in Gag-RNA interactions and a requirement for multiple Gag binding on viral RNA during HIV-1 genome encapsidation. IMPORTANCE HIV-1 must package its RNA genome during virus assembly to generate infectious viruses. To better understand how HIV-1 packages its RNA genome, we examined the roles of RNA elements identified as binding sites for NC, a Gag-derived RNA-binding protein. Our results demonstrate that binding sites within stem-loop 1 of the 5′ untranslated region play important roles in genome packaging. Although mutating one or two NC-binding sites caused only mild defects in packaging, mutating multiple sites resulted in severe defects in genome encapsidation, indicating that unpaired guanosines act synergistically to promote packaging. Our results suggest that Gag-RNA interactions occur at multiple RNA sites during genome packaging; furthermore, there are functionally redundant binding sites in viral RNA.

scholarly journals Allosteric HIV-1 Integrase Inhibitors Lead to Premature Degradation of the Viral RNA Genome and Integrase in Target Cells

2017 ◽  
Vol 91 (17) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michaela K. Madison ◽  
Dana Q. Lawson ◽  
Jennifer Elliott ◽  
Ayşe Naz Ozantürk ◽  
Pratibha C. Koneru ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reverse Transcriptase ◽  
Reverse Transcription ◽  
Hexagonal Lattice ◽  
Viral Rna ◽  
Productive Infection ◽  
Target Cells ◽  
Integrase Inhibitors ◽  
Ribonucleoprotein Complexes ◽  
Rna Genome ◽  
Hiv 1

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.

scholarly journals Interactions between HIV-1 Gag and Viral RNA Genome Enhance Virion Assembly

2017 ◽  
Vol 91 (16) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kari A. Dilley ◽  
Olga A. Nikolaitchik ◽  
Andrea Galli ◽  
Ryan C. Burdick ◽  
Louis Levine ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Particle Production ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Virus Assembly ◽  
Viral Rna ◽  
Structural Protein ◽  
Genome Packaging ◽  
Virion Assembly ◽  
Rna Genome ◽  
Hiv 1 ◽  
In Cells

ABSTRACT Most HIV-1 virions contain two copies of full-length viral RNA, indicating that genome packaging is efficient and tightly regulated. However, the structural protein Gag is the only component required for the assembly of noninfectious viruslike particles, and the viral RNA is dispensable in this process. The mechanism that allows HIV-1 to achieve such high efficiency of genome packaging when a packageable viral RNA is not required for virus assembly is currently unknown. In this report, we examined the role of HIV-1 RNA in virus assembly and found that packageable HIV-1 RNA enhances particle production when Gag is expressed at levels similar to those in cells containing one provirus. However, such enhancement is diminished when Gag is overexpressed, suggesting that the effects of viral RNA can be replaced by increased Gag concentration in cells. We also showed that the specific interactions between Gag and viral RNA are required for the enhancement of particle production. Taken together, these studies are consistent with our previous hypothesis that specific dimeric viral RNA-Gag interactions are the nucleation event of infectious virion assembly, ensuring that one RNA dimer is packaged into each nascent virion. These studies shed light on the mechanism by which HIV-1 achieves efficient genome packaging during virus assembly. IMPORTANCE Retrovirus assembly is a well-choreographed event, during which many viral and cellular components come together to generate infectious virions. The viral RNA genome carries the genetic information to new host cells, providing instructions to generate new virions, and therefore is essential for virion infectivity. In this report, we show that the specific interaction of the viral RNA genome with the structural protein Gag facilitates virion assembly and particle production. These findings resolve the conundrum that HIV-1 RNA is selectively packaged into virions with high efficiency despite being dispensable for virion assembly. Understanding the mechanism used by HIV-1 to ensure genome packaging provides significant insights into viral assembly and replication.

scholarly journals Extended Interactions between HIV-1 Viral RNA and tRNALys3 Are Important to Maintain Viral RNA Integrity

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 58
Author(s):  
Thomas Gremminger ◽  
Zhenwei Song ◽  
Juan Ji ◽  
Avery Foster ◽  
Kexin Weng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reverse Transcription ◽  
Potential Interaction ◽  
Viral Rna ◽  
Primer Binding Site ◽  
Rna Integrity ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Infected Cells ◽  
Extended Interaction ◽  
Hiv 1

The reverse transcription of the human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) initiates upon annealing of the 3′-18-nt of tRNALys3 onto the primer binding site (PBS) in viral RNA (vRNA). Additional intermolecular interactions between tRNALys3 and vRNA have been reported, but their functions remain unclear. Here, we show that abolishing one potential interaction, the A-rich loop: tRNALys3 anticodon interaction in the HIV-1 MAL strain, led to a decrease in viral infectivity and reduced the synthesis of reverse transcription products in newly infected cells. In vitro biophysical and functional experiments revealed that disruption of the extended interaction resulted in an increased affinity for reverse transcriptase (RT) and enhanced primer extension efficiency. In the absence of deoxyribose nucleoside triphosphates (dNTPs), vRNA was degraded by the RNaseH activity of RT, and the degradation rate was slower in the complex with the extended interaction. Consistently, the loss of vRNA integrity was detected in virions containing A-rich loop mutations. Similar results were observed in the HIV-1 NL4.3 strain, and we show that the nucleocapsid (NC) protein is necessary to promote the extended vRNA: tRNALys3 interactions in vitro. In summary, our data revealed that the additional intermolecular interaction between tRNALys3 and vRNA is likely a conserved mechanism among various HIV-1 strains and protects the vRNA from RNaseH degradation in mature virions.

scholarly journals Effects of Gag Mutation and Processing on Retroviral Dimeric RNA Maturation

2006 ◽  
Vol 80 (3) ◽  
pp. 1242-1249 ◽  
Author(s):  
William Fu ◽  
Que Dang ◽  
Kunio Nagashima ◽  
Eric O. Freed ◽  
Vinay K. Pathak ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Viral Protein ◽  
Leukemia Virus ◽  
Viral Rna ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Protein Cleavage ◽  
Rna Packaging ◽  
Virus Rna ◽  
Rna Dimer ◽  
Rna Maturation ◽  
Hiv 1

ABSTRACT After their release from host cells, most retroviral particles undergo a maturation process, which includes viral protein cleavage, core condensation, and increased stability of the viral RNA dimer. Inactivating the viral protease prevents protein cleavage; the resulting virions lack condensed cores and contain fragile RNA dimers. Therefore, protein cleavage is linked to virion morphological change and increased stability of the RNA dimer. However, it is unclear whether protein cleavage is sufficient for mediating virus RNA maturation. We have observed a novel phenotype in a murine leukemia virus capsid mutant, which has normal virion production, viral protein cleavage, and RNA packaging. However, this mutant also has immature virion morphology and contains a fragile RNA dimer, which is reminiscent of protease-deficient mutants. To our knowledge, this mutant provides the first evidence that Gag cleavage alone is not sufficient to promote RNA dimer maturation. To extend our study further, we examined a well-defined human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Gag mutant that lacks a functional PTAP motif and produces immature virions without major defects in viral protein cleavage. We found that the viral RNA dimer in the PTAP mutant is more fragile and unstable compared with those from wild-type HIV-1. Based on the results of experiments using two different Gag mutants from two distinct retroviruses, we conclude that Gag cleavage is not sufficient for promoting RNA dimer maturation, and we propose that there is a link between the maturation of virion morphology and the viral RNA dimer.

scholarly journals Circularization of the HIV-1 RNA genome

2007 ◽  
Vol 35 (15) ◽  
pp. 5253-5261 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Ooms ◽  
T. E. M. Abbink ◽  
C. Pham ◽  
B. Berkhout
Keyword(s):  
Rna Genome ◽  
Hiv 1

scholarly journals Selective and Nonselective Packaging of Cellular RNAs in Retrovirus Particles

2007 ◽  
Vol 81 (12) ◽  
pp. 6623-6631 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel J. Rulli ◽  
Catherine S. Hibbert ◽  
Jane Mirro ◽  
Thoru Pederson ◽  
Shyam Biswal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Leukemia Virus ◽  
Signal Recognition Particle ◽  
Viral Rna ◽  
Genomic Rna ◽  
Gag Protein ◽  
Mrna Species ◽  
Reverse Transcription Pcr ◽  
Cellular Mrnas ◽  
A Minor ◽  
Hiv 1

ABSTRACT Assembly of retrovirus particles normally entails the selective encapsidation of viral genomic RNA. However, in the absence of packageable viral RNA, assembly is still efficient, and the released virus-like particles (termed “Ψ−” particles) still contain roughly normal amounts of RNA. We have proposed that cellular mRNAs replace the genome in Ψ− particles. We have now analyzed the mRNA content of Ψ− and Ψ+ murine leukemia virus (MLV) particles using both microarray analysis and real-time reverse transcription-PCR. The majority of mRNA species present in the virus-producing cells were also detected in Ψ− particles. Remarkably, nearly all of them were packaged nonselectively; that is, their representation in the particles was simply proportional to their representation in the cells. However, a small number of low-abundance mRNAs were greatly enriched in the particles. In fact, one mRNA species was enriched to the same degree as Ψ+ genomic RNA. Similar results were obtained with particles formed from the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Gag protein, and the same mRNAs were enriched in MLV and HIV-1 particles. The levels of individual cellular mRNAs were ∼5- to 10-fold higher in Ψ− than in Ψ+ MLV particles, in agreement with the idea that they are replacing viral RNA in the former. In contrast, signal recognition particle RNA was present at the same level in Ψ− and Ψ+ particles; a minor fraction of this RNA was weakly associated with genomic RNA in Ψ+ MLV particles.

scholarly journals Similar frequency and inducibility of intact HIV-1 proviruses in blood and lymph nodes

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alyssa R Martin ◽  
Alexandra M Bender ◽  
Jada Hackman ◽  
Kyungyoon J Kwon ◽  
Briana A Lynch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Lymph Nodes ◽  
Cd4 T Cells ◽  
Viral Rna ◽  
Latent Reservoir ◽  
Similar Frequency ◽  
Latently Infected ◽  
Infected Cells ◽  
Secondary Lymphoid Organs ◽  
Hiv 1

Abstract Background The HIV-1 latent reservoir (LR) in resting CD4 + T cells is a barrier to cure. LR measurements are commonly performed on blood samples and therefore may miss latently infected cells residing in tissues, including lymph nodes. Methods We determined the frequency of intact HIV-1 proviruses and proviral inducibility in matched peripheral blood (PB) and lymph node (LN) samples from ten HIV-1-infected patients on ART using the intact proviral DNA assay and a novel quantitative viral induction assay. Prominent viral sequences from induced viral RNA were characterized using a next-generation sequencing assay. Results The frequencies of CD4 + T cells with intact proviruses were not significantly different in PB vs LN (61vs104/10 6CD4 + cells), and were substantially lower than frequencies of CD4 + T cells with defective proviruses. The frequencies of CD4 + T cells induced to produce high levels of viral RNA were not significantly different in PB vs LN (4.3/10 6 vs 7.9/10 6), but were 14-fold lower than the frequencies of cells with intact proviruses. Sequencing of HIV-1 RNA from induced proviruses revealed comparable sequences in paired PB and LN samples. Conclusions These results further support the use of PB as an appropriate proxy for the HIV-1 LR in secondary lymphoid organs

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