1
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Investigation of the Low-Populated Excited States of the HIV-1 Nucleocapsid Domain. Viruses 2022; 14:v14030632. [PMID: 35337039 PMCID: PMC8950434 DOI: 10.3390/v14030632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Revised: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The nucleocapsid domain (NCd), located at the C-terminus of the HIV-1 Gag protein, is involved in numerous stages of the replication cycle, such as the packaging of the viral genome and reverse transcription. It exists under different forms through the viral life cycle, depending on the processing of Gag by the HIV-1 protease. NCd is constituted of two adjacent zinc knuckles (ZK1 and ZK2), separated by a flexible linker and flanked by disordered regions. Here, conformational equilibria between a major and two minor states were highlighted exclusively in ZK2, by using CPMG and CEST NMR experiments. These minor states appear to be temperature dependent, and their populations are highest at physiological temperature. These minor states are present both in NCp7, the mature form of NCd, and in NCp9 and NCp15, the precursor forms of NCd, with increased populations. The role of these minor states in the targeting of NCd by drugs and its binding properties is discussed.
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2
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Mouhand A, Pasi M, Catala M, Zargarian L, Belfetmi A, Barraud P, Mauffret O, Tisné C. Overview of the Nucleic-Acid Binding Properties of the HIV-1 Nucleocapsid Protein in Its Different Maturation States. Viruses 2020; 12:v12101109. [PMID: 33003650 PMCID: PMC7601788 DOI: 10.3390/v12101109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Revised: 09/23/2020] [Accepted: 09/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
HIV-1 Gag polyprotein orchestrates the assembly of viral particles. Its C-terminus consists of the nucleocapsid (NC) domain that interacts with nucleic acids, and p1 and p6, two unstructured regions, p6 containing the motifs to bind ALIX, the cellular ESCRT factor TSG101 and the viral protein Vpr. The processing of Gag by the viral protease subsequently liberates NCp15 (NC-p1-p6), NCp9 (NC-p1) and NCp7, NCp7 displaying the optimal chaperone activity of nucleic acids. This review focuses on the nucleic acid binding properties of the NC domain in the different maturation states during the HIV-1 viral cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Assia Mouhand
- Expression Génétique Microbienne, UMR 8261, CNRS, Université de Paris, Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique (IBPC), 75005 Paris, France; (A.M.); (M.C.); (P.B.)
| | - Marco Pasi
- Laboratoire de Biologie et de Pharmacologie Appliquée (LBPA), UMR 8113 CNRS, Institut D’Alembert, École Normale Supérieure Paris-Saclay, Université Paris-Saclay, 4, Avenue des Sciences, 91190 Gif sur Yvette, France; (M.P.); (L.Z.); (A.B.)
| | - Marjorie Catala
- Expression Génétique Microbienne, UMR 8261, CNRS, Université de Paris, Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique (IBPC), 75005 Paris, France; (A.M.); (M.C.); (P.B.)
| | - Loussiné Zargarian
- Laboratoire de Biologie et de Pharmacologie Appliquée (LBPA), UMR 8113 CNRS, Institut D’Alembert, École Normale Supérieure Paris-Saclay, Université Paris-Saclay, 4, Avenue des Sciences, 91190 Gif sur Yvette, France; (M.P.); (L.Z.); (A.B.)
| | - Anissa Belfetmi
- Laboratoire de Biologie et de Pharmacologie Appliquée (LBPA), UMR 8113 CNRS, Institut D’Alembert, École Normale Supérieure Paris-Saclay, Université Paris-Saclay, 4, Avenue des Sciences, 91190 Gif sur Yvette, France; (M.P.); (L.Z.); (A.B.)
| | - Pierre Barraud
- Expression Génétique Microbienne, UMR 8261, CNRS, Université de Paris, Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique (IBPC), 75005 Paris, France; (A.M.); (M.C.); (P.B.)
| | - Olivier Mauffret
- Laboratoire de Biologie et de Pharmacologie Appliquée (LBPA), UMR 8113 CNRS, Institut D’Alembert, École Normale Supérieure Paris-Saclay, Université Paris-Saclay, 4, Avenue des Sciences, 91190 Gif sur Yvette, France; (M.P.); (L.Z.); (A.B.)
- Correspondence: (O.M.); (C.T.)
| | - Carine Tisné
- Expression Génétique Microbienne, UMR 8261, CNRS, Université de Paris, Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique (IBPC), 75005 Paris, France; (A.M.); (M.C.); (P.B.)
- Correspondence: (O.M.); (C.T.)
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3
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Boutant E, Bonzi J, Anton H, Nasim MB, Cathagne R, Réal E, Dujardin D, Carl P, Didier P, Paillart JC, Marquet R, Mély Y, de Rocquigny H, Bernacchi S. Zinc Fingers in HIV-1 Gag Precursor Are Not Equivalent for gRNA Recruitment at the Plasma Membrane. Biophys J 2020; 119:419-433. [PMID: 32574557 PMCID: PMC7376094 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2020.05.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2020] [Revised: 04/15/2020] [Accepted: 05/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Gag precursor specifically selects the unspliced viral genomic RNA (gRNA) from the bulk of cellular and spliced viral RNAs via its nucleocapsid (NC) domain and drives gRNA encapsidation at the plasma membrane (PM). To further identify the determinants governing the intracellular trafficking of Gag-gRNA complexes and their accumulation at the PM, we compared, in living and fixed cells, the interactions between gRNA and wild-type Gag or Gag mutants carrying deletions in NC zinc fingers (ZFs) or a nonmyristoylated version of Gag. Our data showed that the deletion of both ZFs simultaneously or the complete NC domain completely abolished intracytoplasmic Gag-gRNA interactions. Deletion of either ZF delayed the delivery of gRNA to the PM but did not prevent Gag-gRNA interactions in the cytoplasm, indicating that the two ZFs display redundant roles in this respect. However, ZF2 played a more prominent role than ZF1 in the accumulation of the ribonucleoprotein complexes at the PM. Finally, the myristate group, which is mandatory for anchoring the complexes at the PM, was found to be dispensable for the association of Gag with the gRNA in the cytosol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel Boutant
- Laboratoire de Bioimagerie et Pathologies, UMR 7021 CNRS, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Strasbourg, Illkirch, France.
| | - Jeremy Bonzi
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Architecture et Réactivité de l'ARN, UPR9002, Strasbourg, France
| | - Halina Anton
- Laboratoire de Bioimagerie et Pathologies, UMR 7021 CNRS, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Strasbourg, Illkirch, France
| | - Maaz Bin Nasim
- Laboratoire de Bioimagerie et Pathologies, UMR 7021 CNRS, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Strasbourg, Illkirch, France
| | - Raphael Cathagne
- Laboratoire de Bioimagerie et Pathologies, UMR 7021 CNRS, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Strasbourg, Illkirch, France
| | - Eléonore Réal
- Laboratoire de Bioimagerie et Pathologies, UMR 7021 CNRS, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Strasbourg, Illkirch, France
| | - Denis Dujardin
- Laboratoire de Bioimagerie et Pathologies, UMR 7021 CNRS, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Strasbourg, Illkirch, France
| | - Philippe Carl
- Laboratoire de Bioimagerie et Pathologies, UMR 7021 CNRS, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Strasbourg, Illkirch, France
| | - Pascal Didier
- Laboratoire de Bioimagerie et Pathologies, UMR 7021 CNRS, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Strasbourg, Illkirch, France
| | - Jean-Christophe Paillart
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Architecture et Réactivité de l'ARN, UPR9002, Strasbourg, France
| | - Roland Marquet
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Architecture et Réactivité de l'ARN, UPR9002, Strasbourg, France
| | - Yves Mély
- Laboratoire de Bioimagerie et Pathologies, UMR 7021 CNRS, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Strasbourg, Illkirch, France
| | - Hugues de Rocquigny
- Morphogenèse et Antigénicité du VIH et des Virus des Hépatites, Inserm - U1259 MAVIVH, Tours, France.
| | - Serena Bernacchi
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Architecture et Réactivité de l'ARN, UPR9002, Strasbourg, France.
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4
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Nguyen LH, Tran TT, Truong LTN, Mai HH, Nguyen TT. Overcharging of the Zinc Ion in the Structure of the Zinc-Finger Protein Is Needed for DNA Binding Stability. Biochemistry 2020; 59:1378-1390. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.9b01055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ly H. Nguyen
- Key Laboratory for Multiscale Simulations of Complex Systems, VNU University of Science, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, 334 Nguyen Trai Street, Thanh Xuan District, Hanoi 120000, Vietnam
| | - Tuyen T. Tran
- Key Laboratory for Multiscale Simulations of Complex Systems, VNU University of Science, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, 334 Nguyen Trai Street, Thanh Xuan District, Hanoi 120000, Vietnam
| | - Lien Thi Ngoc Truong
- Hanoi University of Science and Technology, 1 Dai Co Viet Road, Hai Ba Trung District, Hanoi 112400, Vietnam
| | - Hanh Hong Mai
- Key Laboratory for Multiscale Simulations of Complex Systems, VNU University of Science, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, 334 Nguyen Trai Street, Thanh Xuan District, Hanoi 120000, Vietnam
| | - Toan T. Nguyen
- Key Laboratory for Multiscale Simulations of Complex Systems, VNU University of Science, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, 334 Nguyen Trai Street, Thanh Xuan District, Hanoi 120000, Vietnam
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5
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Lin C, Mendoza-Espinosa P, Rouzina I, Guzmán O, Moreno-Razo JA, Francisco JS, Bruinsma R. Specific inter-domain interactions stabilize a compact HIV-1 Gag conformation. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0221256. [PMID: 31437199 PMCID: PMC6705756 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0221256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2019] [Accepted: 08/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
HIV-1 Gag is a large multidomain poly-protein with flexible unstructured linkers connecting its globular subdomains. It is compact when in solution but assumes an extended conformation when assembled within the immature HIV-1 virion. Here, we use molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to quantitatively characterize the intra-domain interactions of HIV-1 Gag. We find that the matrix (MA) domain and the C-terminal subdomain CActd of the CA capsid domain can form a bound state. The bound state, which is held together primarily by interactions between complementary charged and polar residues, stabilizes the compact state of HIV-1 Gag. We calculate the depth of the attractive free energy potential between the MA/ CActd sites and find it to be about three times larger than the dimerization interaction between the CActd domains. Sequence analysis shows high conservation within the newly-found intra-Gag MA/CActd binding site, as well as its spatial proximity to other well known elements of Gag -such as CActd's SP1 helix region, its inositol hexaphosphate (IP6) binding site and major homology region (MHR), as well as the MA trimerization site. Our results point to a high, but yet undetermined, functional significance of the intra-Gag binding site. Recent biophysical experiments that address the binding specificity of Gag are interpreted in the context of the MA/CActd bound state, suggesting an important role in selective packaging of genomic RNA by Gag.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Lin
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
| | - Paola Mendoza-Espinosa
- Departamento de Física, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Iztapalapa, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Ioulia Rouzina
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States of America
| | - Orlando Guzmán
- Departamento de Física, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Iztapalapa, Ciudad de México, México
| | - José Antonio Moreno-Razo
- Departamento de Física, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Iztapalapa, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Joseph S. Francisco
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
| | - Robijn Bruinsma
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
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6
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Characterization of a male specific region containing a candidate sex determining gene in Atlantic cod. Sci Rep 2019; 9:116. [PMID: 30644412 PMCID: PMC6333804 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-36748-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2018] [Accepted: 11/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The genetic mechanisms determining sex in teleost fishes are highly variable and the master sex determining gene has only been identified in few species. Here we characterize a male-specific region of 9 kb on linkage group 11 in Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) harboring a single gene named zkY for zinc knuckle on the Y chromosome. Diagnostic PCR test of phenotypically sexed males and females confirm the sex-specific nature of the Y-sequence. We identified twelve highly similar autosomal gene copies of zkY, of which eight code for proteins containing the zinc knuckle motif. 3D modeling suggests that the amino acid changes observed in six copies might influence the putative RNA-binding specificity. Cod zkY and the autosomal proteins zk1 and zk2 possess an identical zinc knuckle structure, but only the Y-specific gene zkY was expressed at high levels in the developing larvae before the onset of sex differentiation. Collectively these data suggest zkY as a candidate master masculinization gene in Atlantic cod. PCR amplification of Y-sequences in Arctic cod (Arctogadus glacialis) and Greenland cod (Gadus macrocephalus ogac) suggests that the male-specific region emerged in codfishes more than 7.5 million years ago.
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7
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René B, Mauffret O, Fossé P. Retroviral nucleocapsid proteins and DNA strand transfers. BIOCHIMIE OPEN 2018; 7:10-25. [PMID: 30109196 PMCID: PMC6088434 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopen.2018.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2018] [Accepted: 07/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
An infectious retroviral particle contains 1000-1500 molecules of the nucleocapsid protein (NC) that cover the diploid RNA genome. NC is a small zinc finger protein that possesses nucleic acid chaperone activity that enables NC to rearrange DNA and RNA molecules into the most thermodynamically stable structures usually those containing the maximum number of base pairs. Thanks to the chaperone activity, NC plays an essential role in reverse transcription of the retroviral genome by facilitating the strand transfer reactions of this process. In addition, these reactions are involved in recombination events that can generate multiple drug resistance mutations in the presence of anti-HIV-1 drugs. The strand transfer reactions rely on base pairing of folded DNA/RNA structures. The molecular mechanisms responsible for NC-mediated strand transfer reactions are presented and discussed in this review. Antiretroviral strategies targeting the NC-mediated strand transfer events are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brigitte René
- LBPA, ENS Paris-Saclay, UMR 8113, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, 61 Avenue du Président Wilson, 94235, Cachan, France
| | - Olivier Mauffret
- LBPA, ENS Paris-Saclay, UMR 8113, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, 61 Avenue du Président Wilson, 94235, Cachan, France
| | - Philippe Fossé
- LBPA, ENS Paris-Saclay, UMR 8113, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, 61 Avenue du Président Wilson, 94235, Cachan, France
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8
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Ren W, Ji D, Xu X. Metal cofactor modulated folding and target recognition of HIV-1 NCp7. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0196662. [PMID: 29715277 PMCID: PMC5929515 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0196662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2017] [Accepted: 04/17/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The HIV-1 nucleocapsid 7 (NCp7) plays crucial roles in multiple stages of HIV-1 life cycle, and its biological functions rely on the binding of zinc ions. Understanding the molecular mechanism of how the zinc ions modulate the conformational dynamics and functions of the NCp7 is essential for the drug development and HIV-1 treatment. In this work, using a structure-based coarse-grained model, we studied the effects of zinc cofactors on the folding and target RNA(SL3) recognition of the NCp7 by molecular dynamics simulations. After reproducing some key properties of the zinc binding and folding of the NCp7 observed in previous experiments, our simulations revealed several interesting features in the metal ion modulated folding and target recognition. Firstly, we showed that the zinc binding makes the folding transition states of the two zinc fingers less structured, which is in line with the Hammond effect observed typically in mutation, temperature or denaturant induced perturbations to protein structure and stability. Secondly, We showed that there exists mutual interplay between the zinc ion binding and NCp7-target recognition. Binding of zinc ions enhances the affinity between the NCp7 and the target RNA, whereas the formation of the NCp7-RNA complex reshapes the intrinsic energy landscape of the NCp7 and increases the stability and zinc affinity of the two zinc fingers. Thirdly, by characterizing the effects of salt concentrations on the target RNA recognition, we showed that the NCp7 achieves optimal balance between the affinity and binding kinetics near the physiologically relevant salt concentrations. In addition, the effects of zinc binding on the inter-domain conformational flexibility and folding cooperativity of the NCp7 were also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weitong Ren
- School of Physics, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
| | - Dongqing Ji
- School of Physics, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
| | - Xiulian Xu
- School of Physical Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225002, China
- * E-mail:
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9
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Racine PJ, Chamontin C, de Rocquigny H, Bernacchi S, Paillart JC, Mougel M. Requirements for nucleocapsid-mediated regulation of reverse transcription during the late steps of HIV-1 assembly. Sci Rep 2016; 6:27536. [PMID: 27273064 PMCID: PMC4895152 DOI: 10.1038/srep27536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2016] [Accepted: 05/13/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
HIV-1 is a retrovirus replicating within cells by reverse transcribing its genomic RNA (gRNA) into DNA. Within cells, virus assembly requires the structural Gag proteins with few accessory proteins, notably the viral infectivity factor (Vif) and two copies of gRNA as well as cellular factors to converge to the plasma membrane. In this process, the nucleocapsid (NC) domain of Gag binds to the packaging signal of gRNA which consists of a series of stem-loops (SL1-SL3) ensuring gRNA selection and packaging into virions. Interestingly, mutating NC activates a late-occurring reverse transcription (RT) step in producer cells, leading to the release of DNA-containing HIV-1 particles. In order to decipher the molecular mechanism regulating this late RT, we explored the role of several key partners of NC, such as Vif, gRNA and the cellular cytidine deaminase APOBEC3G that restricts HIV-1 infection by targeting the RT. By studying combinations of deletions of these putative players, we revealed that NC, SL1-SL3 and in lesser extent Vif, but not APOBEC3G, interplay regulates the late RT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre-Jean Racine
- Centre d'études d’agents pathogènes et biotechnologies pour la santé, CPBS-CNRS, Université de Montpellier, 1919 Route de Mende, 34293 Montpellier, France
| | - Célia Chamontin
- Centre d'études d’agents pathogènes et biotechnologies pour la santé, CPBS-CNRS, Université de Montpellier, 1919 Route de Mende, 34293 Montpellier, France
| | - Hugues de Rocquigny
- Laboratoire de Biophotonique et Pharmacologie, UMR 7213 CNRS, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Strasbourg, 74 Route du Rhin, 67401, Illkirch Cedex, France
| | - Serena Bernacchi
- Architecture et Réactivité de l’ARN, Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, IBMC, 15 rue René Descartes, 67084, Strasbourg, France
| | - Jean-Christophe Paillart
- Architecture et Réactivité de l’ARN, Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, IBMC, 15 rue René Descartes, 67084, Strasbourg, France
| | - Marylène Mougel
- Centre d'études d’agents pathogènes et biotechnologies pour la santé, CPBS-CNRS, Université de Montpellier, 1919 Route de Mende, 34293 Montpellier, France
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10
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Belfetmi A, Zargarian L, Tisné C, Sleiman D, Morellet N, Lescop E, Maskri O, René B, Mély Y, Fossé P, Mauffret O. Insights into the mechanisms of RNA secondary structure destabilization by the HIV-1 nucleocapsid protein. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2016; 22:506-517. [PMID: 26826129 PMCID: PMC4793207 DOI: 10.1261/rna.054445.115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2015] [Accepted: 12/06/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The mature HIV-1 nucleocapsid protein NCp7 (NC) plays a key role in reverse transcription facilitating the two obligatory strand transfers. Several properties contribute to its efficient chaperon activity: preferential binding to single-stranded regions, nucleic acid aggregation, helix destabilization, and rapid dissociation from nucleic acids. However, little is known about the relationships between these different properties, which are complicated by the ability of the protein to recognize particular HIV-1 stem-loops, such as SL1, SL2, and SL3, with high affinity and without destabilizing them. These latter properties are important in the context of genome packaging, during which NC is part of the Gag precursor. We used NMR to investigate destabilization of the full-length TAR (trans activating response element) RNA by NC, which is involved in the first strand transfer step of reverse transcription. NC was used at a low protein:nucleotide (nt) ratio of 1:59 in these experiments. NMR data for the imino protons of TAR identified most of the base pairs destabilized by NC. These base pairs were adjacent to the loops in the upper part of the TAR hairpin rather than randomly distributed. Gel retardation assays showed that conversion from the initial TAR-cTAR complex to the fully annealed form occurred much more slowly at the 1:59 ratio than at the higher ratios classically used. Nevertheless, NC significantly accelerated the formation of the initial complex at a ratio of 1:59.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anissa Belfetmi
- LBPA, ENS de Cachan, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, 94235 Cachan Cedex, France
| | - Loussiné Zargarian
- LBPA, ENS de Cachan, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, 94235 Cachan Cedex, France
| | - Carine Tisné
- Laboratoire de Cristallographie et RMN biologiques, Université Paris Descartes, CNRS UMR 8015, 75006 Paris Cedex, France
| | - Dona Sleiman
- Laboratoire de Cristallographie et RMN biologiques, Université Paris Descartes, CNRS UMR 8015, 75006 Paris Cedex, France
| | - Nelly Morellet
- Centre de Recherches de Gif, Institut de Chimie des Substances Naturelles, CNRS UPR 2301, 91190 Gif sur Yvette Cedex, France
| | - Ewen Lescop
- Centre de Recherches de Gif, Institut de Chimie des Substances Naturelles, CNRS UPR 2301, 91190 Gif sur Yvette Cedex, France
| | - Ouerdia Maskri
- LBPA, ENS de Cachan, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, 94235 Cachan Cedex, France
| | - Brigitte René
- LBPA, ENS de Cachan, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, 94235 Cachan Cedex, France
| | - Yves Mély
- Laboratoire de Biophotonique et Pharmacologie, CNRS UMR 7213, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Strasbourg, 67401 Illkirch Cedex, France
| | - Philippe Fossé
- LBPA, ENS de Cachan, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, 94235 Cachan Cedex, France
| | - Olivier Mauffret
- LBPA, ENS de Cachan, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, 94235 Cachan Cedex, France
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Qualley DF, Sokolove VL, Ross JL. Bovine leukemia virus nucleocapsid protein is an efficient nucleic acid chaperone. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2015; 458:687-692. [PMID: 25686502 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2015.02.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2015] [Accepted: 02/05/2015] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Nucleocapsid proteins (NCs) direct the rearrangement of nucleic acids to form the most thermodynamically stable structure, and facilitate many steps throughout the life cycle of retroviruses. NCs bind strongly to nucleic acids (NAs) and promote NA aggregation by virtue of their cationic nature; they also destabilize the NA duplex via highly structured zinc-binding motifs. Thus, they are considered to be NA chaperones. While most retroviral NCs are structurally similar, differences are observed both within and between retroviral genera. In this work, we compare the NA binding and chaperone activity of bovine leukemia virus (BLV) NC to that of two other retroviral NCs: human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) NC, which is structurally similar to BLV NC but from a different retrovirus genus, and human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) NC, which possesses several key structural differences from BLV NC but is from the same genus. Our data show that BLV and HIV-1 NCs bind to NAs with stronger affinity in relation to HTLV-1 NC, and that they also accelerate the annealing of complementary stem-loop structures to a greater extent. Analysis of kinetic parameters derived from the annealing data suggests that while all three NCs stimulate annealing by a two-step mechanism as previously reported, the relative contributions of each step to the overall annealing equilibrium are conserved between BLV and HIV-1 NCs but are different for HTLV-1 NC. It is concluded that while BLV and HTLV-1 belong to the same genus of retroviruses, processes that rely on NC may not be directly comparable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominic F Qualley
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Berry College, Mt. Berry, GA, USA.
| | | | - James L Ross
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Berry College, Mt. Berry, GA, USA
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Wu T, Gorelick RJ, Levin JG. Selection of fully processed HIV-1 nucleocapsid protein is required for optimal nucleic acid chaperone activity in reverse transcription. Virus Res 2014; 193:52-64. [PMID: 24954787 PMCID: PMC4252486 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2014.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2014] [Revised: 06/09/2014] [Accepted: 06/10/2014] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The mature HIV-1 nucleocapsid protein (NCp7) is generated by sequential proteolytic cleavage of precursor proteins containing additional C-terminal peptides: NCp15 (NCp7-spacer peptide 2 (SP2)-p6); and NCp9 (NCp7-SP2). Here, we compare the nucleic acid chaperone activities of the three proteins, using reconstituted systems that model the annealing and elongation steps in tRNA(Lys3)-primed (-) strong-stop DNA synthesis and subsequent minus-strand transfer. The maximum levels of annealing are similar for all of the proteins, but there are important differences in their ability to facilitate reverse transcriptase (RT)-catalyzed DNA extension. Thus, at low concentrations, NCp9 has the greatest activity, but with increasing concentrations, DNA synthesis is significantly reduced. This finding reflects NCp9's strong nucleic acid binding affinity (associated with the highly basic SP2 domain) as well as its slow dissociation kinetics, which together limit the ability of RT to traverse the nucleic acid template. NCp15 has the poorest activity of the three proteins due to its acidic p6 domain. Indeed, mutants with alanine substitutions for the acidic residues in p6 have improved chaperone function. Collectively, these data can be correlated with the known biological properties of NCp9 and NCp15 mutant virions and help to explain why mature NC has evolved as the critical cofactor for efficient virus replication and long-term viral fitness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiyun Wu
- Section on Viral Gene Regulation, Program in Genomics of Differentiation, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-2780, USA
| | - Robert J Gorelick
- AIDS and Cancer Virus Program, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD 21702-1201, USA
| | - Judith G Levin
- Section on Viral Gene Regulation, Program in Genomics of Differentiation, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-2780, USA.
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