Proteolytic Cleavage of HIV-1 GFP-Vpr Fusions at Novel Sites Within Virions and Living Cells: Concerns for Intracellular Trafficking Studies

Fast track, dynein-dependent nuclear targeting of human immunodeficiency virus Vpr protein; impaired trafficking in a clinical isolate

Nuclear import of the accessory protein Vpr is central to infection by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). We previously identified the Vpr F72L mutation in a HIV-infected, long-term non-progressor, showing that it resulted in reduced Vpr nuclear accumulation and altered cytoplasmic localisation. Here we demonstrate for the first time that the effects of nuclear accumulation of the F72L mutation are due to impairment of microtubule-dependent-enhancement of Vpr nuclear import. We use high resolution imaging approaches including fluorescence recovery after photobleaching and other approaches to document interaction between Vpr and the dynein light chain protein, DYNLT1, and impaired interaction of the F72L mutant with DYNLT1. The results implicate MTs/DYNLT1 as drivers of Vpr nuclear import and HIV infection, with important therapeutic implications.

Transgenes and protein localization: myths and legends

Fluorescent protein (FP) fusions are frequently used to localize and follow the movement of proteins in living cells. However, a consensus is missing about the experimental design and controls that guarantee the reliability of the results. Here, we discuss possible artifacts and try to navigate through the many methods, preferences, and assumptions that surround protein localization in plants that make it difficult to design a universal approach to achieve reliable results.

HIV-1 viral protein r: from structure to function

The viral protein r (Vpr) of HIV-1 binds several host proteins leading to pleiotropic functions, such as G2/M cell cycle arrest, apoptosis induction and gene transactivation. Vpr is encapsidated through the Gag C-terminus into the nascent viral particles, suggesting that Vpr plays several important functions in the early stages of the viral lifecycle. In this regard, Vpr interacts with nucleic acids and membranes to facilitate the preintegration complex migration and incorporation into the nucleus of nondividing cells. Thus, Vpr has to recruit several host and viral factors to promote its functions during HIV-1 pathogenesis. This article focuses on its interacting partners by giving an overview of the functional outcome of the different Vpr complexes, as well as the structural determinants of Vpr required for its binding properties.

Production of HIV-1 integrase fusion protein-carrying lentiviral vectors for gene therapy and protein transduction

Lentiviral vectors have broad target cell tropism and efficient machinery to integrate transgenes into the host genome. Modification of these vectors by incorporating heterologous proteins into virions has relied mostly on the fusion of proteins into the HIV-1 accessory protein Vpr. Vpr expression can be harmful for cells and its gene has been deleted from third-generation vector production plasmids. We therefore developed a direct integrase fusion protein strategy as an alternative way to package heterologous proteins into vectors. The method was tested by creating two different integrase fusion proteins, IN-p53 and IN-mCherry, cloned into the 3' end of pol in the packaging plasmid. Lentiviral vectors were produced by conventional methods, using the modified packaging plasmids. Vector-incorporated fusion proteins were correctly processed from Gag-Pol, retained the ability to catalyze transgene integration, and showed fusion protein-specific activity by being fluorescent or inducing apoptosis. Functional third-generation lentiviral vectors containing IN-fusion proteins can thus be produced by standard production protocols independent of Vpr expression. Our results suggest that this packaging method is useful for lentiviral vector-mediated protein transduction, such as intranuclear meganuclease, transposon, or zinc finger protein delivery, intracellular imaging of vector particles, and generation of modified lentiviral vectors that contain both toxic and nontoxic IN-fusion proteins.

HIV-1 Vpr oligomerization but not that of Gag directs the interaction between Vpr and Gag

During HIV-1 assembly, the viral protein R (Vpr) is incorporated into newly made viral particles via an interaction with the C-terminal domain of the Gag polyprotein precursor Pr55(Gag). Vpr has been implicated in the nuclear import of newly made viral DNA and subsequently in its transcription. In addition, Vpr can affect the cell physiology by causing G(2)/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Vpr can form oligomers, but their roles have not yet been investigated. We have developed fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy-fluorescence resonance energy transfer-based assays to monitor the interaction between Pr55(Gag) and Vpr in HeLa cells. To that end, we used enhanced green fluorescent protein-Vpr that can be incorporated into the virus and tetracysteine (TC)-tagged Pr55(Gag)-TC. This TC motif is tethered to the C terminus of Pr55(Gag) and does not interfere with Pr55(Gag) trafficking and the assembly of virus-like particles (VLPs). Results show that the Pr55(Gag)-Vpr complexes accumulated mainly at the plasma membrane. In addition, results with Pr55(Gag)-TC mutants confirm that the (41)LXXLF domain of Gag-p6 is essential for Pr55(Gag)-Vpr interaction. We also report that Vpr oligomerization is crucial for Pr55(Gag) recognition and its accumulation at the plasma membrane. On the other hand, Pr55(Gag)-Vpr complexes are still formed when Pr55(Gag) carries mutations impairing its multimerization. These findings suggest that Pr55(Gag)-Vpr recognition and complex formation occur early during Pr55(Gag) assembly.