Endoproteolytic cleavage of gp160 is required for the activation of human immunodeficiency virus

Role of hemagglutinin cleavage for the pathogenicity of influenza virus

Although human epidemics of influenza occur on nearly an annual basis and result in a significant number of "excess deaths," the viruses responsible are not generally considered highly pathogenic. On occasion, however, an outbreak occurs that demonstrates the potential lethality of influenza viruses. The human pandemic of 1918 spread worldwide and killed millions, and the limited human outbreak of highly pathogenic avian viruses in Hong Kong at the end of 1997 is a warning that this could happen again. In avian species such as chickens and turkeys, several outbreaks of highly pathogenic influenza viruses have been documented. Although the reason for the lethality of the human 1918 viruses remains unclear, the pathogenicity of the avian viruses, including those that caused the human 1997 outbreak, relates primarily to properties of the hemagglutinin glycoprotein (HA). Cleavage of the HA precursor molecule HA0 is required to activate virus infectivity, and the distribution of activating proteases in the host is one of the determinants of tropism and, as such, pathogenicity. The HAs of mammalian and nonpathogenic avian viruses are cleaved extracellularly, which limits their spread in hosts to tissues where the appropriate proteases are encountered. On the other hand, the HAs of pathogenic viruses are cleaved intracellularly by ubiquitously occurring proteases and therefore have the capacity to infect various cell types and cause systemic infections. The x-ray crystal structure of HA0 has been solved recently and shows that the cleavage site forms a loop that extends from the surface of the molecule, and it is the composition and structure of the cleavage loop region that dictate the range of proteases that can potentially activate infectivity. Here influenza virus pathogenicity is discussed, with an emphasis on the role of HA0 cleavage as a determining factor.

Structure-activity relationship of small-sized HIV protease inhibitors containing allophenylnorstatine

We designed and synthesized a new class of peptidomimetic human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) protease inhibitors containing a unique unnatural amino acid, allophenylnorstatine [Apns; (2S, 3S)-3-amino-2-hydroxy-4-phenylbutyric acid], with a hydroxymethylcarbonyl (HMC) isostere as the active moiety. A systematic evaluation of structure-activity relationships for HIV protease inhibition, anti-HIV activities, and pharmacokinetic profiles has led to the delineation of a set of structural charateristics that appear to afford an orally available HIV protease inhibitor. Optimum structures, exemplified by 21f (JE-2147), incorporated 3-hydroxy-2-methylbenzoyl groups as the P2 ligand, (R)-5,5-dimethyl-1,3-thiazolidine-4-carbonyl (Dmt) residue at the P1' site, and 2-methylbenzylcarboxamide group as the P2' ligand. The present study demonstrated that JE-2147 has potent antiviral activities in vitro and exhibits good oral bioavailability and plasma pharmacokinetic profiles in two species of laboratory animals.

Engineering of noninfectious HIV-1-like particles containing mutant gp41 glycoproteins as vaccine candidates that allow vaccinees to be distinguished from HIV-1 infectees

Many AIDS vaccine candidates under development may elicit immune responses similar to those observed in and used to screen human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-infected individuals. Therefore, it is important to develop vaccine candidates that incorporate antigenic markers and allow vaccinees to be distinguished from HIV-1 infectees. To this end, we introduced a series of mutations into and in the vicinity of the major immunodominant region (MIR) of gp41 (residues 598-609), a domain recognized by almost all HIV-1 infectees, and evaluated whether HIV-1-like particles incorporating such mutant glycoproteins could be expressed in mammalian cells. Results indicated that although up to three consecutive amino acids could be replaced within MIR without significantly affecting particle formation or gp160 processing, deletions within MIR impaired envelope processing. Replacement of HIV-1 MIR by part or most of the corresponding domain from other lentiviruses markedly decreased or abolished gp160 processing. Synthetic peptides corresponding to a mutated MIR incorporating three amino acid replacements were not recognized by a panel of sera from HIV-1 infectees, suggesting that HIV-1-like particles with this type of mutation represent potential candidate vaccines that could allow vaccinees to be distinguished from HIV-1 infectees.

Membrane interactions of the synthetic N-terminal peptide of HIV-1 gp41 and its structural analogs

Structural and functional studies assessed the membrane actions of the N terminus of HIV-1 glycoprotein 41000 (gp41). Earlier site-directed mutagenesis has shown that key amino acid changes in this gp41 domain inhibit viral infection and syncytia formation. Here, a synthetic peptide corresponding to the N terminus of gp41 (FP; 23 residues, 519-541), and also FP analogs (FP520V/E with Val-->Glu at residue 520; FP527L/R with Leu-->Arg at 527; FP529F/Y with Phe-->Tyr at 529; and FPCLP1 with FP truncated at 525) incorporating these modifications were prepared. When added to human erythrocytes at physiologic pH, the lytic and aggregating activities of the FP analogs were much reduced over those with the wild-type FP. With resealed human erythrocyte ghosts, the lipid-mixing activities of the FP analogs were also substantially depressed over that with the wild-type FP. Combined with results from earlier studies, theoretical calculations using hydrophobic moment plot analysis and physical experiments using circular dichroism and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy indicate that the diminished lysis and fusion noted for FP analogs may be due to altered peptide-membrane lipid interactions. These data confirm that the N-terminal gp41 domain plays critical roles in the cytolysis and fusion underlying HIV-cell infection.

Processing and routage of HIV glycoproteins by furin to the cell surface

Proteolytic activation of HIV-1 and HIV-2 envelope glycoprotein precursors (gp160 and gp140, respectively) occurs at the carboxyl side of a consensus motif consisting of the highly basic amino acid sequence. We have shown previously (Hallenberger et al., 1997) and confirmed in this report, that furin and PC7 can be considered as the putative physiological enzymes involved in the proteolytic activation of the HIV-1 and HIV-2 envelope precursors. In this study, we show by cell surface biotinylation and immunoprecipitation of the cell surface associated viral glycoproteins with antibodies that the mature viral envelope glycoproteins are correctly transported to the cell. membrane. Furthermore, we show that the uncleaved forms of the glycoproteins (gp160HIV-1 and gp140HIV-2) are also highly represented at the cell surface. First, transient expression of gp160 and gp140 into CV1, a cell line known to be inefficient in the proteolytic processing of the env gene, results in the expression of gp160 and gp140 at the cell surface. Moreover, HIV-1 infection of T cells also showed that gp160 is directed to the cell surface. In addition, we show that the precursor is not incorporated in the virus particle following the budding from the cell surface. Furthermore, a gp160 mutant (deficient for three carbohydrate sites on the gp41), shown to be poorly processed with the coexpressed endoproteases, is found to be transported as an uncleaved precursor to the cell surface. In contrast to HIV envelope glycoproteins, the influenza hemagglutinin precursor (HA0), that is thought to be matured by the furin-like enzymes as well, is found to be retained within the cell and is not able to reach the cell surface. Taken together, these results show that the proteolytic maturation of the viral envelope precursors of human immunodeficiency viruses type 1 and type 2 is not a prerequisite for cell surface targeting of the HIV glycoproteins. Implications of these results for antiviral immune response are discussed.

Dual conformations for the HIV-1 gp120 V3 loop in complexes with different neutralizing fabs

BACKGROUND

The third hypervariable (V3) loop of HIV-1 gp120 has been termed the principal neutralizing determinant (PND) of the virus and is involved in many aspects of virus infectivity. The V3 loop is required for viral entry into the cell via membrane fusion and is believed to interact with cell surface chemokine receptors on T cells and macrophages. Sequence changes in V3 can affect chemokine receptor usage, and can, therefore, modulate which types of cells are infected. Antibodies raised against peptides with V3 sequences can neutralize laboratory-adapted strains of the virus and inhibit syncytia formation. Fab fragments of these neutralizing antibodies in complex with V3 loop peptides have been studied by X-ray crystallography to determine the conformation of the V3 loop.

RESULTS

We have determined three crystal structures of Fab 58.2, a broadly neutralizing antibody, in complex with one linear and two cyclic peptides the amino acid sequence of which comes from the MN isolate of the gp120 V3 loop. Although the peptide conformations are very similar for the linear and cyclic forms, they differ from that seen for the identical peptide bound to a different broadly neutralizing antibody, Fab 59.1, and for a similar peptide bound to the MN-specific Fab 50.1. The conformational difference in the peptide is localized around residues Gly-Pro-Gly-Arg, which are highly conserved in different HIV-1 isolates and are predicted to adopt a type II beta turn.

CONCLUSIONS

The V3 loop can adopt at least two different conformations for the highly conserved Gly-Pro-Gly-Arg sequence at the tip of the loop. Thus, the HIV-1 V3 loop has some inherent conformational flexibility that may relate to its biological function.

Endoproteolytic processing of the ebola virus envelope glycoprotein: cleavage is not required for function

Proteolytic processing is required for the activation of numerous viral glycoproteins. Here we show that the envelope glycoprotein from the Zaire strain of Ebola virus (Ebo-GP) is proteolytically processed into two subunits, GP1 and GP2, that are likely covalently associated through a disulfide linkage. Murine leukemia virions pseudotyped with Ebo-GP contain almost exclusively processed glycoprotein, indicating that this is the mature form of Ebo-GP. Mutational analysis identified a dibasic motif, reminiscent of furin-like protease processing sites, as the Ebo-GP cleavage site. However, analysis of Ebo-GP processing in LoVo cells that lack the proprotein convertase furin demonstrated that furin is not required for processing of Ebo-GP. In sharp contrast to other viral systems, we found that an uncleaved mutant of Ebo-GP was able to mediate infection of various cell lines as efficiently as the wild-type, proteolytically cleaved glycoprotein, indicating that cleavage is not required for the activation of Ebo-GP despite the conservation of a dibasic cleavage site in all filoviral envelope glycoproteins.

Conserved cysteines of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 protease are involved in regulation of polyprotein processing and viral maturation of immature virions

We investigated the role of the two highly conserved cysteine residues, cysteines 67 and 95, of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) protease in regulating the activity of that protease during viral maturation. To this end, we generated four HIV-1 molecular clones: the wild type, containing both cysteine residues; a protease mutant in which the cysteine at position 67 was replaced by an alanine (C67A); a C95A protease mutant; and a double mutant (C67A C95A). When immature virions were produced in the presence of an HIV-1 protease inhibitor, KNI-272, and the inhibitor was later removed, limited polyprotein processing was observed for wild-type virion preparations over a 20-h period. Treatment of immature wild-type virions with the reducing agent dithiothreitol considerably improved the rate and extent of Gag processing, suggesting that the protease is, in part, reversibly inactivated by oxidation of the cysteine residues. In support of this, C67A C95A virions processed Gag up to fivefold faster than wild-type virions in the absence of a reducing agent. Furthermore, oxidizing agents, such as H2O2 and diamide, inhibited Gag processing of wild-type virions, and this effect was dependent on the presence of cysteine 95. Electron microscopy revealed that a greater percentage of double-mutant virions than wild-type virions developed a mature-like morphology on removal of the inhibitor. These studies provide evidence that under normal culture conditions the cysteines of the HIV-1 protease are susceptible to oxidation during viral maturation, thus preventing immature virions from undergoing complete processing following their release. This is consistent with the cysteines being involved in the regulation of viral maturation in cells under oxidative stress.

The extracellular processing of HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein gp160 by human plasmin

Cleavage of the envelope glycoprotein precursor gp160 of HIV-1 is a prerequisite for the infectivity of HIV-1, and occurs at least in part before gp160 reaches the cell surface. Kexin/subtilisin-related endopeptidases are proposed enzyme candidates for this intracellular processing. In this study, we reveal the possibility that plasminogen binds to the cell surface and part of gp160 escaping intracellular processing is cleaved by plasmin extracellularly. Plasmin cleaves gp160 precisely at the C-terminal arginine residue of gp120, and the processing is effectively inhibited by an analogue peptide of the cleavage motif (RXK/RR) and by plasmin inhibitors.

The mouse hepatitis virus A59 spike protein is not cleaved in primary hepatocyte and glial cell cultures

Mouse hepatitis virus strain A59 (MHV-A59) produces mild meningoencephalitis and severe hepatitis during acute infection. To determine whether an in vitro system could be established which would mimic in vivo replication of the virus, we examined the ability of MHV-A59 to replicate in primary cultures of hepatocytes derived from C57BL/6 mice. Infection of hepatocytes with MHV-A59 resulted in low levels of replication, with virus remaining cell associated. Maximum viral yield was observed at 24 hours postinfection, while occasional syncytia were observed at 48 hours postinfection. Primary glial cell culture represents a potential in vitro system representing the second main target of MHV-A59, namely the brain. It is known that MHV-A59 produces a productive, but nonlytic infection in these cultures. Since cell-to-cell fusion is associated with the cleavage of S, the observation of little or no syncytia following MHV-A59 infection of both hepatocytes and glial cells prompted us to examine the cleavage of the spike protein (S) by Western blot analysis. The cleavage of S is inefficient in MHV-A59 infected hepatocytes and in glial cells. Furthermore, no cleavage of this protein was detected in liver homogenates from C57BL/6 mice infected with MHV-A59. These data suggest that cleavage of the MHV-A59 S protein, and by inference cell-to-cell fusion, does not seem to be essential for entry and spread of the virus in vivo and in vitro.

Stabilization of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 envelope glycoprotein trimers by disulfide bonds introduced into the gp41 glycoprotein ectodomain

Biochemical and structural studies of fragments of the ectodomain of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) gp41 transmembrane envelope glycoprotein have demonstrated that the molecular contacts between alpha helices allow the formation of a trimeric coiled coil. By introducing cysteine residues into specific locations along these alpha helices, the normally labile HIV-1 gp160 envelope glycoprotein was converted into a stable disulfide-linked oligomer. Although proteolytic cleavage into gp120 and gp41 glycoproteins was largely blocked, the disulfide-linked oligomer was efficiently transported to the cell surface and was recognized by a series of conformationally dependent antibodies. The pattern of hetero-oligomer formation between this construct and an analogous construct lacking portions of the gp120 variable loops and of the gp41 cytoplasmic tail demonstrates that these oligomers are trimers. These results support the relevance of the proposed gp41 structure and intersubunit contacts to the native, complete HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein. Disulfide-mediated stabilization of the labile HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein oligomer, which has been suggested to possess advantages as an immunogen, may assist attempts to develop vaccines.

Probing the natural antibody repertoire by combinatorial cloning of IgM and IgD isotypes in phage display vectors

It is well known that immunoglobulins with no identifiable immunogenic origin, called natural antibodies, are present in the sera of healthy individuals and their role as a defence against important pathogens has been proposed. Unfortunately, the studies are hampered by the fact that these immunoglobulins seem to have low affinity and to be polyreactive, and are commonly available in polyclonal preparations. Lately, new technologies for the production of monoclonal antibodies became available, and in particular the cloning of genes coding for antibody fragments in combinatorial phage display vectors provided a handy tool for the selection of human monoclonal antibodies. In this work, we describe the successful development of a technology for the molecular cloning of combinatorial phage display libraries containing genes coding exclusively for antibody fragment of the IgM or IgD phenotype. These libraries can be useful for molecular cloning of monoclonal antibodies of the IgM and IgD phenotype and can help elucidate the role played by natural antibodies in defence against infectious agents.

An anti-HIV peptide construct derived from the cleavage region of the Env precursor acts on Env fusogenicity through the presence of a functional cleavage sequence

A 22-amino-acid-long multibranched peptide construct (CLV) derived from the cleavage region (KIEPLGVAPTKAKRR*VVQREKR*) of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type-1 envelope precursor inhibits HIV infection (Virology, 1996, 223, 406-408). We attempted to characterize its activity for Env expressed via a recombinant vaccinia virus (rVV): gp 160 cleavage was delayed, but not impaired, in the presence of CLV (10 microM), whereas neither Env production nor Env membrane expression was significantly altered. Through the synthesis of analogs, we concluded that the presence of a cleavage sequence was required for inhibition of syncytium formation by CLV in rVV-infected CD(4+) cell cultures: indeed, a single amino acid residue substitution (R* > S) in the cleavage sites presented by CLV abolished its activity. Other analogs allowed us to further determine the region of CLV which mediates its activity. The ability of a radiolabeled CLV analog to enter cells was also shown. Although, these data strongly suggest that CLV acts on Env fusogenicity at least partially through interference with gp160 processing.

Interaction of a basic amphipathic peptide from the carboxyterminal part of the HIV envelope protein gp41 with negatively charged lipid surfaces

The interaction of the positively charged synthetic amphipathic peptide fragment gp41(828) corresponding to a segment from the carboxyterminal region of the HIV envelope glycoprotein gp41 with lipid monolayers spread at the air-water interface has been studied by film balance measurements. The peptide itself does not form a stable monolayer but interacts with phospholipids spread together on the aqueous surface. Upon compression of a mixed phosphatidylcholine-peptide monolayer the peptide is irreversibly squeezed out of the lipid-peptide monolayer. In contrast, with negatively charged phosphatidylglycerol stable lipid-peptide monolayers are formed even in the presence of up to 30 mol% peptide. The monolayer may be expanded and compressed repeatedly without significant loss of substance. After addition of calcium ions to the subphase of a phosphatidylglycerol-peptide monolayer the peptide is to some extent excluded from the monolayer. In contrast to phosphatidylcholine monolayers this process is partly reversible and the excluded material is reincorporated into the film during subsequent expansion. We conclude that attached to the headgroups of the lipid monolayer a peptide-layer stabilized at the surface by electrostatic interactions is formed. The surface action may lead to rigidified lipid-peptide domains causing an increased membrane permeability which might correspond to a cytopathologic function of the protein fragment.

Expression of the extracellular domain of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 envelope protein and its fusion with beta-galactosidase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Two envelope glycoprotein gene fragments were cloned from the proviral genome of the HXB2 isolate of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). For the production of the two domains of the envelope gene product these cloned gene fragments were inserted into an Escherichia coli-yeast inducible shuttle vector fused to the galactokinase (GAL1) promoter. Cell extracts from strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae harboring these two vectors (pYENV1 and pYENV2) were found to contain a specific protein with a size of 50 kDa when induced by galactose, while the protein could not be detected in extracts from control cells containing only the E. coli-yeast vector in the presence of galactose. Furthermore, another expression plasmid coding for fusion proteins from the majority of the external envelope glycoprotein (gp120) moiety and a large part of the beta-galactosidase was constructed. Antibodies from HIV type 1-positive sera could react with recombinant fusion polypeptides. Transformants could produce this fusion protein to a level of about 1.6% of the total protein content, as deduced from beta-galactosidase activity.

Characterization of the proline-rich region of murine leukemia virus envelope protein

Mammalian type C retroviral envelope proteins contain a variable proline-rich region (PRR), located between the N-terminal receptor-binding domain and the more highly conserved C-terminal portion of the surface (SU) subunit. We have investigated the role of the PRR in the function of murine leukemia virus (MuLV) envelope protein. In the MuLVs, the PRR contains a highly conserved N-terminal sequence and a hypervariable C-terminal sequence. Despite this variability, the amphotropic PRR could functionally substitute for the ecotropic PRR. The hypervariable region of the PRR was not absolutely required for envelope protein function. However, truncations in this region resulted in decreased levels of both the SU and TM proteins in viral particles and increased amounts of the uncleaved precursor protein, Pr85. In contrast, the N-terminal conserved region was essential for viral infectivity. Deletion of this region prevented the stable incorporation of envelope proteins into viral particles in spite of normal envelope protein processing, wild-type levels of cell surface expression, and a wild-type ability to induce syncytia in an XC cell cocultivation assay. However, higher levels of the SU protein were shed into the supernatant, suggesting a defect in SU-TM interactions. Our data are most consistent with a role for the PRR in stabilizing the overall structure of the protein, thereby affecting the proper processing of Pr85, SU-TM interactions, and the stable incorporation of envelope proteins into viral particles. In addition, we have demonstrated that the PRR can tolerate the insertion of a peptide-binding domain, making this a potentially useful site for constructing targetable retroviral vectors.

Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors as potential broad based anti-viral agents

N-Linked oligosaccharides play many roles in the fate and functions of glycoproteins. One function is to assist in the folding of proteins by mediating interactions of the lectin-like chaperone proteins calnexin and calreticulin with nascent glycoproteins. These interactions can be prevented by inhibitors of the alpha-glucosidases and this causes some proteins to be misfolded and retained within the endoplasmic reticulum. In human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) the misfolding of key viral envelope glycoproteins interferes with the viral life cycle. It has been demonstrated in an animal model of chronic HBV that glucosidase inhibitors can alter glycosylation and have anti-viral activity. As the mechanism of action of alpha-glucosidase inhibitors is the induction of misfolded or otherwise defective viral glycoproteins, such inhibitors may be useful therapeutics for many viruses, especially those which bud from the endoplasmic reticulum (where protein folding takes place). For example bovine viral diarrhea virus, a pestivirus akin to hepatitis C virus, is also extremely sensitive to glucosidase inhibition.

Cleavage of rhesus rotavirus VP4 after arginine 247 is essential for rotavirus-like particle-induced fusion from without

We recently described our finding that recombinant baculovirus-produced virus-like particles (VLPs) can induce cell-cell fusion similar to that induced by intact rotavirus in our assay for viral entry into tissue culture cells (J. M. Gilbert and H. B. Greenberg, J. Virol. 71:4555-4563, 1997). The conditions required for syncytium formation are similar to those for viral penetration of the plasma membrane during the course of viral infection. This VLP-mediated fusion activity was dependent on the presence of the outer-layer proteins, viral protein 4 (VP4) and VP7, and on the trypsinization of VP4. Fusion activity occurred only with cells that are permissive for rotavirus infection. Here we begin to dissect the role of VP4 in rotavirus entry by examining the importance of the precise trypsin cleavage of VP4 and the activation of VP4 function related to viral entry. We present evidence that the elimination of the three trypsin-susceptible arginine residues of VP4 by specific site-directed mutagenesis prevents syncytium formation. Two of the three arginine residues in VP4 are dispensable for syncytium formation, and only the arginine residue at site 247 appears to be required for activation of VP4 functions and cell-cell fusion. Using the recombinant VLPs in our syncytium assay will aid in understanding the conformational changes that occur in VP4 involved in rotavirus penetration into host cells.

Retroviral envelope glycoprotein processing: structural investigation of the cleavage site

Proteolytic activation of retroviral envelope glycoprotein precursors occurs at the carboxyl side of a consensus motif consisting of the amino acid sequence (Arg/Lys)-Xaa-(Arg/Lys)-Arg. Synthetic peptides spanning the processing sites of HIV-1/2 and SIV glycoprotein precursors were examined for their ability to be cleaved by the subtilisin-like endoproteases kexin and furin. To determine the potential role of secondary structure on proteolytic activation, we examined the secondary structure of synthetic peptides by circular dichroism and NMR spectroscopy. The results indicate that (i) the peptides were correctly cleaved by kexin and furin and therefore could be used as specific substrates for the purification and characterization of the lymphocyte endoprotease(s) responsible for proteolytic processing of precursors; (ii) the regions surrounding the cleavage sites could be characterized by their flexibility in aqueous solutions. However, a loop has been shown to be a determinant for the specificity of the interaction between the enzyme and its substrate as determined by molecular modeling. Furthermore, we determine and propose a possible structure of the cleavage site which fits to the active site of the modeled furin.

Mutational analysis of the fusion peptide of Moloney murine leukemia virus transmembrane protein p15E

Fusion peptides are hydrophobic sequences located at the N terminus of the transmembrane (TM) envelope proteins of the orthomyxoviruses and paramyxoviruses and several retroviruses. The Moloney murine leukemia virus TM envelope protein, p15E, contains a hydrophobic stretch of amino acids at its N terminus followed by a region rich in glycine and threonine residues. A series of single amino acid substitutions were introduced into this region, and the resulting proteins were examined for their abilities to be properly processed and transported to the cell surface and to induce syncytia in cells expressing the ecotropic receptor. One substitution in the hydrophobic core and several substitutions in the glycine/threonine-rich region that prevented both cell-cell fusion and the transduction of NIH 3T3 cells when incorporated into retroviral vector particles were identified. In addition, one mutation that enhanced the fusogenicity of the resulting envelope protein was identified. The fusion-defective mutants trans dominantly interfered with the ability of the wild-type envelope protein to cause syncytium formation in a cell-cell fusion assay, although no trans-dominant inhibition of transduction was observed. Certain substitutions in the hydrophobic core that prevented envelope protein processing were also found. These data indicate that the N-terminal region of p15E is important both for viral fusion and for the correct processing and cell surface expression of the viral envelope protein.

Efficient infection mediated by viral receptors incorporated into retroviral particles

Many host cell surface proteins, including viral receptors, are incorporated into enveloped viruses. To address the functional significance of these host proteins, murine leukemia viruses containing the cellular receptors for Rous sarcoma virus (Tva) or ecotropic murine leukemia virus (MCAT-1) were produced. These receptor-pseudotyped viruses efficiently infect cells expressing the cognate viral envelope glycoproteins, with titers of up to 10(5) infectious units per milliliter for the Tva pseudotypes. Receptor and viral glycoprotein specificity and functional requirements are maintained, suggesting that receptor pseudotype infection recapitulates events of normal viral entry. The ability of the Tva and MCAT-1 pseudotypes to infect cells efficiently suggests that, in contrast to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 entry, neither of these retroviral receptors requires a coreceptor for membrane fusion. In addition, the ability of receptor pseudotypes to target infected cells suggests that they may be useful therapeutic reagents for directing infection of viral vectors. Receptor-pseudotyped viruses may be useful for identifying new viral receptors or for defining functional requirements of known receptors. Moreover, this work suggests that the production of receptor pseudotypes in vivo could provide a mechanism for expanded viral tropism with potential effects on the pathogenesis and evolution of the virus.

Megalomicin inhibits HIV-1 replication and interferes with gp160 processing

The inhibitory effects on HIV replication of megalomicin (MGM, an inhibitor of intra-Golgi vesicle transport, have been studied. In experiments at low multiplicity of infection on Jurkat and MT2 cell lines. MGM inhibited the production of p24 antigen, the formation of syncytia, and the induction of apoptosis at concentrations below 5 microM. Furthermore, PCR analysis of genomic DNA showed that, in the presence of MGM, HIV-1 had been eradicated from the culture. MGM also inhibited replication of primary isolates of HIV-1 in blood lymphoblasts and more importantly, at 1 microM, MGM inhibited depletion of CD4+ T cells in cultures of blood lymphocytes from seropositive patients. Finally, MGM inhibited the generation of infectious virions and the processing of the envelope protein precursor gp160 to its mature forms, resulting in the rapid degradation of gp 160. These data suggest that MGM induces a powerful inhibitory effect on HIV-1 replication at nontoxic concentrations by preventing the processing of HIV-1 gp160 envelope protein and the subsequent formation of infectious viral particles.

The entire SU subunit is required for the incorporation of the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein complex into virions

A modified envelope glycoprotein of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) containing an intact TM subunit, but lacking most of the gp120/SU subunit was transported and expressed on the membrane of COS-1 cells. However, this deleted glycoprotein, failed to be incorporated into the budding viral particles. This suggested that a particular domain(s) of the gp120/SU glycoprotein subunit could be required for envelope incorporation. To explore this possibilty, we constructed envelope genes containing specific domains of the SU protein in-frame with the TM subunit. Transient expression studies indicated that any envelope primary translation product containing one or more of the gp 20/SU variable domains and the entire gp41/TM protein was transported and stably expressed on the cell surface. However, efficient proteolytic processing of these Env precursors into gp41, was not observed. The addition of more than 90% of the SU sequences into the deleted Env product, including the five variable domains, were insufficient to promote incorporation of this glycoprotein precursor into virions. These results suggest that the native conformation of the SU subunit is an essential requirement for the efficient incorporation of the Env complex into virons. The C1 domain of the SU glycoprotein subunit constitutes an important determinant that makes the envelope complex assembly-competent, but, by itself, it is not sufficient to drive this process.

A vaccine for HIV type 1: the antibody perspective

Antibodies that bind well to the envelope spikes of immunodeficiency viruses such as HIV type 1 (HIV-1) and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) can offer protection or benefit if present at appropriate concentrations before viral exposure. The challenge in antibody-based HIV-1 vaccine design is to elicit such antibodies to the viruses involved in transmission in humans (primary viruses). At least two major obstacles exist. The first is that very little of the envelope spike surface of primary viruses appears accessible for antibody binding (low antigenicity), probably because of oligomerization of the constituent proteins and a high degree of glycosylation of one of the proteins. The second is that the mature oligomer constituting the spikes appears to stimulate only weak antibody responses (low immunogenicity). Viral variation is another possible obstacle that appears to present fewer problems than anticipated. Vaccine design should focus on presentation of an intact mature oligomer, increasing the immunogenicity of the oligomer and learning from the antibodies available that potently neutralize primary viruses.

Assembly of a rod-shaped chimera of a trimeric GCN4 zipper and the HIV-1 gp41 ectodomain expressed in Escherichia coli

The HIV-1 envelope subunit gp41 plays a role in viral entry by initiating fusion of the viral and cellular membranes. A chimeric molecule was constructed centered on the ectodomain of gp41 without the fusion peptide, with a trimeric isoleucine zipper derived from GCN4 (pIIGCN4) on the N terminus and part of the trimeric coiled coil of the influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA) HA2 on the C terminus. The chimera pII-41-HA was overexpressed as inclusion bodies in bacteria and refolded to soluble aggregates that became monodisperse after treatment with protease. Either trypsin or proteinase K, used previously to define a protease-resistant core of recombinant gp41 [Lu, M., Blacklow, S. C. & Kim, P. S. (1995) Nat. Struct. Biol. 2, 1075-1082], removed about 20-30 residues from the center of gp41 and all or most of the HA2 segment. Evidence is presented that the resulting soluble chimera, retaining the pIIGCN4 coiled coil at the N terminus, is an oligomeric highly alpha-helical rod about 130 A long that crystallizes. The chimeric molecule is recognized by the Fab fragments of mAbs specific for folded gp41. A similar chimera was assembled from the two halves of the molecule expressed separately in different bacteria and refolded together. Crystals from the smallest chimera diffract x-rays to 2.6-A resolution.

Paracrine transfer of mouse mammary tumor virus superantigen

Transfer of vSAG7, the endogenous superantigen encoded in the Mtv7 locus, from MHC class II to MHC class II+ cells has been suggested to occur both in vivo and in vitro. This transfer usually leads to the activation and deletion of T cells expressing responsive V beta s. However, there is no direct molecular evidence for such a transfer. We have developed an in vitro system which confirms this property of vSAGs. vSAG7 was transfected into a class II murine fibroblastic line. Coculture of these cells with class II+ cells and murine T cell hybridomas expressing the specific V beta s led to high levels of IL-2 production which was specifically inhibited by vSAG7- and MHC class II-specific mAbs. Moreover, injection of vSAG7+ class II+ cells in mice led to expansion of V beta 6+ CD4+ cells. We show that this transfer activity is paracrine but does not require cell-to-cell contact. Indeed, vSAG7 was transferred across semi-permeable membranes. Transfer can occur both from class II+ and class II+ cells, indicating that MHC class II does not sequester vSAG7. Finally, competition experiments using bacterial toxins with well defined binding sites showed that the transferred vSAG7 fragment binds to the alpha 1 domain of HLA-DR.

The role of eukaryotic subtilisin-like endoproteases for the activation of human immunodeficiency virus glycoproteins in natural host cells

Proteolytic activation of the precursor envelope glycoproteins gp160 of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and gp140 of HIV-2, a prerequisite for viral infection, results in the formation of gp120/gp41 and gp125/gp36, respectively. Cleavage is mediated by cellular proteases. Furin, a member of the eukaryotic subtilisin family, has been shown to be an activating protease for HIV. Here, we compared the presence of furin and other mammalian subtilisins in lymphatic cells and tissues. Northern blot analyses revealed that furin and the recently discovered protease LPC/PC7 were the only subtilisin-like enzymes transcribed in such cells. Furin was identified as an enzymatically active endoprotease present in different lymphocytic, as well as monocytic, cell lines. When expressed from vaccinia virus vectors, the proprotein convertases were correctly processed, transported, and secreted into the media and enzymatically active. Coexpression of different subtilisins with the HIV envelope precursors revealed that furin and LPC/PC7 are able to cleave HIV-1 gp160. Moreover, both enzymes proteolytically processed the envelope precursor of HIV-2. gp140 was also cleaved to some extent by PC1, which is not, however, present in lymphatic cells. Furin- and LPC/PC7-catalyzed cleavage of HIV-1 gp160 resulted in biologically active envelope protein. In conclusion, among the known members of the subtilisin family, only furin and LPC/PC7 fulfill the requirements of a protease responsible for in vivo activation of HIV envelope glycoproteins.

Endoprotease activities other than furin and PACE4 with a role in processing of HIV-I gp160 glycoproteins in CHO-K1 cells

We addressed the question of whether furin is the endoprotease primarily responsible for processing the human immunodeficiency virus type I (HIV-I) envelope protein gp160 in mammalian cells. The furin-deficient Chinese hamster ovary (CHO)-K1 strain RPE.40 processed gp160 as efficiently as wild-type CHO-K1 cells in vivo. Although furin can process gp160 in vitro, this processing is probably not physiologically relevent, because it occurs with very low efficiency. PACE4, a furin homologue, allowed processing of gp160 when both were expressed in RPE.40 cells. Further, PACE4 participated in the activation of a calcium-independent protease activity in RPE.40 cells, which efficiently processed the gp160 precursor in vitro. This calcium-independent protease activity was not found in another furin-deficient cell strain, 7.P15, selected from the monkey kidney cell line COS-7.

The Role of the Envelope Glycoprotein in the Depletion of T Helper Cells in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection

Infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) causes gradual depletion of CD4+ T helper lymphocytes and destruction of the lymphoid tissue, which ultimately leads to a fatal defect of the cellular immune system. Paramount to the understanding of the pathogenesis of HIV infection is to elucidate the mechanism which underlies the loss of T helper cells. Various ideas have been proposed in order to explain this issue. Several hypotheses have focused on the role of the envelope glycoprotein in this process. This review summarizes the data obtained and concepts proposed regarding the involvement of the HIV glycoprotein in the pathology of CD4+ T cell depletion.

Identification of the paired basic convertases implicated in HIV gp160 processing based on in vitro assays and expression in CD4(+) cell lines

The human immunodeficiency virus HIV envelope glycoprotein gp160 is synthesized as an inactive precursor, which is processed into its fusiogenic form gp120/gp41 by host cell proteinases during its intracellular trafficking. Kexin/subtilisin-related endoproteases have been proposed to be enzyme candidates for this maturation process. In the present study, 1) we examined the ability of partially purified precursor convertases and their isoforms to cleave gp160 in vitro. The data demonstrate that all the convertases tested specifically cleave the HIV envelope glycoprotein into gp120 and gp41. 2) We demonstrated that a 19-amino acid model peptide spanning the gp120/gp41 junction is cleaved by all convertases at the same gp160 site as that recognized in HIV-infected cells. 3) In an effort to evaluate specific convertase inhibitors, we showed that the alpha1-antitrypsin variant, alpha1-PDX, inhibits equally well the ability of the tested convertases to cleave gp160 in vitro. 4) Three lymphocyte cell lines were screened by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction in an effort to identify which are the convertases expressed in the most common HIV target, the CD4(+) lymphocytes. The data demonstrate that furin, PC5/6, and the newly cloned PC7 are the main transcribed convertases, suggesting that these proteinases are the major gp160-converting enzymes in T4 lymphocytes.

A mechanism of restricted human immunodeficiency virus type 1 expression in human glial cells

We characterized in detail the life cycle of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in human glioma H4/CD4 cells which stably express transfected CD4 DNA (B. Volsky, K. Sakai, M. Reddy, and D. J. Volsky, Virology 186:303-308, 1992). Infection of cloned H4/CD4 cells with the N1T strain of cell-free HIV-1 (HIV-1/N1T) was rapid and highly productive as measured by the initial expression of viral DNA, RNA, and protein, but all viral products declined to low levels by 14 days after infection. Chronically infected, virus-producing H4/CD4 cells could be obtained by cell cloning, indicating that HIV-1 DNA can integrate and remain expressed in these cells. The HIV-1 produced in H4/CD4 cells was noninfectious to glial cells, but it could be transmitted with low efficiency to CEM cells. Examination of viral protein composition by immunoprecipitation with AIDS serum or anti-gp120 antibody revealed that HIV-1/N1T-infected H4/CD4 cells produced all major viral proteins including gp160, but not gp120. Deglycosylation experiments with three different glycosidases determined that the absence of gp120 was not due to aberrant glycosylation of gp160, indicating a defect in gp160 proteolytic processing. Similar results were obtained in acutely and chronically infected H4/CD4 cells. To determine the generality of this HIV-1 replication phenotype in H4/CD4 cells, nine different viral clones were tested for replication in H4/CD4 cells by transfection. Eight were transiently productive like N1T, but one clone, NL4-3, established a long-lived productive infection in H4/CD4 cells, produced infectious progeny virus, and produced both gp160 and gp120. We conclude that for most HIV-1 strains tested, HIV-1 infection of H4/CD4 is restricted to a single cycle because of the defective processing of gp160, resulting in the absence of gp120 on progeny virus.

Proteolytic processing activates a viral superantigen

Mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) superantigens (vSAg) undergo proteolytic processing at residues that have been demonstrated in vitro to be recognition sites for the endoprotease furin. To examine the role of furin in the presentation of vSAg7 to T cells, the vSAg7 and class II MHC IEk genes were introduced into Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells (furin-positive) and into a furin-negative CHO variant (FD11). Both transfected cell lines efficiently presented peptide antigen and bacterial superantigens to T cell hybridomas. However, while the furin-positive cells presented vSAg7 well, the furin-negative cells presented poorly. Transient transfection of the furin-negative cells with an expression plasmid containing the furin gene restored the ability to present vSAg7 efficiently. The marginal presentation of vSAg7 observed using the furin-negative transfectants was eliminated after culture with the protease inhibitor leupeptin, suggesting that one or more endoproteases other than furin have a detectable but limited capacity to proteolytically activate vSAg7. Biochemical analyses revealed that vSAg7 was largely unprocessed in the absence of furin. Thus, viral superantigens, unlike bacterial superantigens, require proteolytic processing to activate T cells.

N-butyldeoxynojirimycin-mediated inhibition of human immunodeficiency virus entry correlates with impaired gp120 shedding and gp41 exposure

The alpha-glucosidase inhibitor N-butyldeoxynojirimycin (NB-DNJ) is an inhibitor of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) replication and HIV-induced syncytium formation in vitro. Although an NB-DNJ-mediated change in viral envelope N-glycan composition inhibits HIV entry at the level of post-CD4 binding, the exact mechanism of inhibition remains to be established. In this study we have examined the effects of NB-DNJ on virion envelope composition and CD4-induced gp120 shedding and gp41 exposure. Virion composition analysis revealed an NB-DNJ-mediated reduction of 15% in overall virion envelope glycoprotein content and a reduction of 26% in the proteolytic maturation of virion gp160. Taken together, these two effects resulted in a reduction of approximately 40% in virion gp120 content. CD4-induced shedding of gp120 from the surfaces of envelope-transfected Cos cells was undetectable when gp120 was expressed in the presence of NB-DNJ. Similarly, the shedding of virion-associated gp120 was reduced 7.4-fold. CD4-induced exposure of cryptic gp41 epitopes on the surfaces of HIV-expressing ACH-2 cells was also greatly impaired, and the exposure of virion-associated gp41 epitopes was reduced 4.0-fold. Finally, CD4-induced increases in the binding of antibodies to the V3 loop of ACH-2-cell-expressed envelope glycoproteins were reduced 25-fold when the glycoproteins were expressed in the presence of NB-DNJ. These results suggest that the NB-DNJ-mediated retention of glycosylated N-glycans inhibits HIV entry by a combined effect of a reduction in virion gp120 content and a qualitative defect within the remaining gp120, preventing it from undergoing conformational changes after CD4 binding.

Characterization of a 120-Kilodalton pre-S-binding protein as a candidate duck hepatitis B virus receptor

Infection by human and animal hepadnaviruses displays remarkable host and tissue tropism. The infection cycle probably initiates with binding of the pre-S domain of viral envelope protein to surface receptors present on the hepatocyte. Three types of neutralizing monoclonal antibodies against duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV) have their binding sites clustered within residues 83 to 107 of the pre-S protein, suggesting that this region may constitute a major receptor binding site. A 170- or 180-kDa duck protein (p170 or gp180) which binds DHBV particles through this part of the pre-S sequence has been identified recently. Although the p170 binding protein is host (duck) specific, its distribution is not restricted to DHBV-infectible tissues. Using the pre-S protein fused to glutathione S-transferase and immobilized on Sepharose beads, we have now identified an additional binding protein with a size of 120 kDa (p120). p120 expression is restricted to the liver, kidney, and pancreas, the three major organs of DHBV replication. While optimal p170 binding requires an intact pre-S protein, binding to p120 occurs much more efficiently with a few N- or C-terminally truncated forms. The p120 binding site was mapped to residues 98 to 102 of the pre-S region, which overlaps with a cluster of known virus-neutralizing epitopes. Site-directed mutagenesis revealed residues 100 to 102 (Phe-Arg-Arg) as the critical p120 contact site; nonconservative substitution in any of the three positions abolished p120 binding. Double mutations at positions 100 to 102 markedly reduced DHBV infectivity in cell culture. Short pre-S peptides covering the clustered neutralizing epitopes (also p170 and p120 binding sites) reduced DHBV infectivity in primary duck hepatocyte cultures. Thus, p120 represents a candidate component of the DHBV receptor complex.

TAR- and Tat-independent replication of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 in human hepatoma cells

The molecular mechanisms involved in the regulation of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) replication may differ in various cell types and with various exogenous stimuli. TAR/Tat interactions play important roles in HIV-1-long terminal repeat (LTR)-directed transcription, and have become specific targets in molecular therapies for blocking HIV-1 replication. As we previously reported, astrocytic glial cells, which can support HIV-1 replication in cell culture and may be infected in vivo, provide an intracellular milieu in which TAR mutant HIV-1 viruses may replicate. In further studies of this molecular model, several divergent human cell types were analyzed for both TAR- and Tat-independent HIV-1 replication. Human hepatoma cell lines, which can be productively infected by HIV-1 after the hepatoma cells are transduced with the human CD4 receptor gene, were found to support high levels of HIV-1 replication. In these studies, utilizing a transient transfection system with wild-type and various TAR, Tat, or combined TAR/Tat mutant HIV-1 proviral constructs, we demonstrate TAR-independent replication in unstimulated human hepatoma cells. Remarkably, in human hepatoma cells, HIV-1 replication is not only independent of TAR but also can be independent of Tat expression. It is further demonstrated, using electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs) and an in situ UV cross-linking system, that human hepatoma cells contain novel endogenous cellular proteins that bind to the proviral HIV-1 5' LTR in the downstream region, between nucleotides +38 to +125 on proviral DNA. This alternative regulatory pathway of TAR- and Tat-independent viral production may provide a new system to dissect further the interactions of Tat/TAR and determine the role of the TAR element, in its DNA form, in HIV-1 replication.

Characterization of the functional properties of env genes from long-term survivors of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection

A small number of persons infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) remain clinically and immunologically healthy for more than a decade after infection. Recent reports suggest that these individuals may be infected with an attenuated strain of HIV-1; however, a common genetic basis for viral attenuation has not been found in all cases. In the present study, we examined the functional properties of the HIV-1 env genes from six long-term survivors. env clones were generated by PCR amplification of proviral env sequences, followed by cloning of the amplified regions into expression vectors. Eight to ten clones from each subject were screened by transient transfection for expression of the envelope precursor glycoprotein, gp160. Those clones expressing gp160 were then cotransfected with an HIV-1 luciferase reporter vector, pNL4-3Env(-)LUC(+) and evaluated for their ability to mediate infection of phytohemagglutinin-activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells in single-cycle infectivity assays. Clones expressing gp160 were identified for all six long-term survivors, indicating the presence of proviral env genes with intact open reading frames. For two subjects, D and DH, the encoded envelope glycoproteins yielded high levels of luciferase activity when pseudotyped onto HIV-1 virions and tested in single-cycle infectivity assays. In contrast, envelope glycoproteins cloned from four other long-term survivors were poorly processed and failed to mediate infection. Sequencing of the gp120/41 cleavage site and conserved gp41 cysteine residues of these clones did not reveal any obvious mutations to explain the functional defects. The functional activity of env clones from long-term survivors D and DH was comparable to that seen with several primary HIV-1 env genes cloned from individuals with disease progression and AIDS. These results suggest that the long-term survival of subjects D and DH is not associated with overt functional defects in env; however, functional abnormalities in env may contribute to maintaining a long-term asymptomatic state in the other four cases we studied.

Isolation of the human PC6 gene encoding the putative host protease for HIV-1 gp160 processing in CD4+ T lymphocytes

Production of infectious HIV-1 virions is dependent on the processing of envelope glycoprotein gp160 by a host cell protease. The protease in human CD4+ T lymphocytes has not been unequivocally identified, yet members of the family of mammalian subtilisin-like protein convertases (SPCs), which are soluble or membrane-bound proteases of the secretory pathway, best fulfill the criteria. These proteases are required for proprotein maturation and cleave at paired basic amino acid motifs in numerous cellular and viral glycoprotein precursors, both in vivo and in vitro. To identify the gp160 processing protease, we have used reverse transcription-PCR and Northern blot analyses to ascertain the spectrum of SPC proteases in human CD4+ T cells. We have cloned novel members of the SPC family, known as the human PC6 genes. Two isoforms of the hPC6 protease are expressed in human T cells, hPC6A and the larger hPC6B. The patterns of SPC gene expression in human T cells has been compared with the furin-defective LoVo cell line, both of which are competent in the production of infectious HIV virions. This comparison led to the conclusion that the hPC6 gene products are the most likely candidates for the host cell protease responsible for HIV-1 gp160 processing in human CD4+ T cells.

Uncleaved env gp160 of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 is degraded within the Golgi apparatus but not lysosomes in COS-1 cells

The fate of newly synthesized human immunodeficiency virus type 1 env gp160 was examined in COS-1 cells. The results of morphological chase experiments involving cycloheximide demonstrated that gp160 was retained in the Golgi apparatus for longer than the half-life of the molecule. The degradation of gp160 was insensitive to both bafilomycin A1 and leupeptin (< 0.2 mM), which block lysosomal proteolysis. However, degradation was effectively suppressed by leupeptin at higher concentrations, maximally at 1.7 mM. Furthermore, undegraded gp160 was accumulated in the Golgi apparatus, but was not detected in lysosomes. These results indicate that in COS-1 cells gp160 is not degraded in lysosomes, but rather that degradation takes place in the Golgi apparatus.

Prediction of the secondary structure of HIV-1 gp120

The secondary structure of HIV-1 gp120 was predicted using multiple alignment and a combination of two independent methods based on neural network and nearest-neighbor algorithms. The methods agreed on the secondary structure for 80% of the residues in BH10 gp120. Six helices were predicted in HIV strain BH10 gp120, as well as in 27 other HIV-1 strains examined. Two helical segments were predicted in regions displaying profound sequence variation, one in a region suggested to be critical for CD4 binding. The predicted content of helix, beta-strand, and coil was consistent with estimates from Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The predicted secondary structure of gp120 compared well with data from NMR analysis of synthetic peptides from the V3 loop and the C4 region. As a first step towards modeling the tertiary structure of gp120, the predicted secondary structure may guide the design of future HIV subunit vaccine candidates.

Molecular determinants of acute single-cell lysis by human immunodeficiency virus type 1

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection of CD4-positive lymphocytes is accompanied by acute cytopathic effects, i.e., syncytium formation and single-cell lysis. Syncytium formation involves cell-cell fusion mediated by viral envelope glycoproteins on the surface of infected cells and by CD4 glycoproteins on adjacent cells. The molecular basis for the lysis of single-HIV-1 infected cells is unclear. Here we report that the expression of functional envelope glycoproteins from primary and laboratory-adapted HIV-1 isolates resulted in the lysis of single CD4-positive lymphocytes. As was previously observed in HIV-1 infected cultures, single-cell lysis in this system primarily involved necrosis and was not inhibited by soluble CD4. Binding of the viral envelope glycoproteins to the CD4 glycoprotein facilitated, but was not sufficient for, cytolysis. Importantly, the ability of the HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins to mediate membrane fusion was essential for single-cell killing. By contrast, the long cytoplasmic tail of the gp41 transmembrane envelope glycoprotein was neither necessary nor sufficient for single-cell lysis. These results suggest that intracellular envelope glycoprotein-CD4 interactions initiate autofusion events that disrupt cell membrane integrity, leading to single-cell lysis by HIV-1.

NMR and CD studies on the conformation of a synthetic peptide containing epitopes of the human immunodeficiency virus 1 transmembrane protein gp41

CD and nmr characterizations are reported for the 23-mer peptide CMC3, corresponding to residues 577-599 of gp41, the transmembrane glycoprotein of the human immunodeficiency virus 1. Concentration, temperature, and pH dependencies of CD and nmr spectra are indicative of self-association with a consequent stabilization of secondary structural elements in water. The addition to the water solution of small amounts of trifluoroethanol induces a secondary structure, mostly due to the presence of helical elements. The amphipathic character of the helix and the presence of three hydrophobic 4/3 heptad repeats suggest that the peptide could be structured in a symmetric association of helices, such as in a coiled-coil structure. This behavior is discussed in terms of a possible role of this segment in the gp41 envelope oligomerization.

Cystatins in health and disease

Proteolytic enzymes have many physiological functions in plants, bacteria, viruses, protozoa and mammals. They play a role in processes such as food digestion, complement activation or blood coagulation. The action of proteolytic enzymes is biologically controlled by proteinase inhibitors and increasing attention is being paid to the physiological significance of these natural inhibitors in pathological processes. The reason for this growing interest is that uncontrolled proteolysis can lead to irreversible damage e.g. in chronic inflammation or tumor metastasis. This review focusses on the possible role of the cystatins, natural and specific inhibitors of the cysteine proteinases, in pathological processes.

The role of CD4 in HIV envelope-mediated pathogenesis

There is now compelling evidence that env-CD4 interactions are central to several complex pathogenic mechanisms in HIV-1 infection. In addition to mediating virus attachment to CD4+ cells, the high affinity interaction of env protein with CD4 is also important in initiating both syncytium formation and syncytium-independent cytopathic effects. In addition, shed gp120 can bind to CD4 on noninfected cells and interfere with the function of these cells while at the same time rendering the cells susceptible to destruction by ADCC, by CD4+ CTLs or by programmed cell death induced by cross-linking of CD4 with gp120 and anti-gp120 followed by cellular activation. Although all of these mechanisms have been demonstrated to operate in vitro, it remains unclear how important each mechanism is in vivo. Nevertheless, the central role of env-CD4 interactions in all of these pathogenic mechanisms highlights the importance of developing effective low molecular weight inhibitors of this reaction.

Processing of the envelope glycoprotein gp160 in immunotoxin-resistant cell lines chronically infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1

We describe the isolation and characterization of variant cell lines which are chronically infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and resistant to the action of immunotoxins directed against the HIV envelope protein. These variants all produce normal levels of HIV proteins, budding virions, and the envelope protein precursor gp160. Two of the variants, 10E and 11E, contain a mutation within the env gene which results in the production of a truncated precursor and altered processing and transport of the protein to the cell surface. Variants B9 and G4 are defective in gp160 cleavage and do not efficiently transport the envelope protein to the cell surface. There are no mutations in the expressed viruses of B9 and G4. These cell lines express higher levels of CD4 protein and mRNA than H9/NL4-3. Thus, 10E, 11E, B9, and G4 have escaped immunotoxin action by downmodulating the envelope protein from their cell surfaces. None of these variants produce infectious HIV. Two other immunotoxin-resistant variants, E9-3 and 41-17, produce normal levels of gp160, efficiently transport the cleaved and processed subunits to the cell surface, and secrete infectious HIV. These studies identify alterations in gp160 processing that underscore the importance of the relationship between HIV and the cell that it infects.