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Tipo J, Gottipati K, Slaton M, Gonzalez-Gutierrez G, Choi KH. Structure of HIV-1 RRE stem-loop II identifies two conformational states of the high-affinity Rev binding site. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4198. [PMID: 38760344 PMCID: PMC11101469 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48162-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024] Open
Abstract
During HIV infection, specific RNA-protein interaction between the Rev response element (RRE) and viral Rev protein is required for nuclear export of intron-containing viral mRNA transcripts. Rev initially binds the high-affinity site in stem-loop II, which promotes oligomerization of additional Rev proteins on RRE. Here, we present the crystal structure of RRE stem-loop II in distinct closed and open conformations. The high-affinity Rev-binding site is located within the three-way junction rather than the predicted stem IIB. The closed and open conformers differ in their non-canonical interactions within the three-way junction, and only the open conformation has the widened major groove conducive to initial Rev interaction. Rev binding assays show that RRE stem-loop II has high- and low-affinity binding sites, each of which binds a Rev dimer. We propose a binding model, wherein Rev-binding sites on RRE are sequentially created through structural rearrangements induced by Rev-RRE interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jerricho Tipo
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
| | - Keerthi Gottipati
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
| | - Michael Slaton
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
| | | | - Kyung H Choi
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA.
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA.
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sealy Center for Structural Biology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA.
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Lebedev A, Kim K, Ozhmegova E, Antonova A, Kazennova E, Tumanov A, Kuznetsova A. Rev Protein Diversity in HIV-1 Group M Clades. Viruses 2024; 16:759. [PMID: 38793640 PMCID: PMC11125641 DOI: 10.3390/v16050759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2024] [Revised: 05/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The HIV-1 Rev protein expressed in the early stage of virus replication is involved in the nuclear export of some forms of virus RNA. Naturally occurring polymorphisms in the Rev protein could influence its activity. The association between the genetic features of different virus variants and HIV infection pathogenesis has been discussed for many years. In this study, Rev diversity among HIV-1 group M clades was analyzed to note the signatures that could influence Rev activity and, subsequently, clinical characteristics. From the Los Alamos HIV Sequence Database, 4962 Rev sequences were downloaded and 26 clades in HIV-1 group M were analyzed for amino acid changes, conservation in consensus sequences, and the presence of clade-specific amino acid substitutions (CSSs) and the Wu-Kabat protein variability coefficient (WK). Subtypes G, CRF 02_AG, B, and A1 showed the largest amino acid changes and diversity. The mean conservation of the Rev protein was 80.8%. In consensus sequences, signatures that could influence Rev activity were detected. In 15 out of 26 consensus sequences, an insertion associated with the reduced export activity of the Rev protein, 95QSQGTET96, was identified. A total of 32 CSSs were found in 16 clades, wherein A6 had the 41Q substitution in the functionally significant region of Rev. The high values of WK coefficient in sites 51 and 82, located on the Rev interaction surface, indicate the susceptibility of these positions to evolutionary replacements. Thus, the noted signatures require further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksey Lebedev
- Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, 123098 Moscow, Russia; (K.K.); (E.O.); (A.A.); (E.K.); (A.T.)
- Mechnikov Scientific Research Institute of Vaccines and Serums, 105064 Moscow, Russia
| | - Kristina Kim
- Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, 123098 Moscow, Russia; (K.K.); (E.O.); (A.A.); (E.K.); (A.T.)
| | - Ekaterina Ozhmegova
- Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, 123098 Moscow, Russia; (K.K.); (E.O.); (A.A.); (E.K.); (A.T.)
| | - Anastasiia Antonova
- Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, 123098 Moscow, Russia; (K.K.); (E.O.); (A.A.); (E.K.); (A.T.)
| | - Elena Kazennova
- Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, 123098 Moscow, Russia; (K.K.); (E.O.); (A.A.); (E.K.); (A.T.)
| | - Aleksandr Tumanov
- Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, 123098 Moscow, Russia; (K.K.); (E.O.); (A.A.); (E.K.); (A.T.)
| | - Anna Kuznetsova
- Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, 123098 Moscow, Russia; (K.K.); (E.O.); (A.A.); (E.K.); (A.T.)
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Jackson PEH, Dzhivhuho G, Huang J, Hammarskjold ML, Rekosh D. Measurement of HIV Rev-Rev Response Element Functional Activity. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2807:175-194. [PMID: 38743229 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3862-0_13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Retroviruses must overcome cellular restrictions to the nucleocytoplasmic export of viral mRNAs that retain introns in order to complete their replication cycle. HIV accomplishes this using a system comprised of a trans-acting viral protein, Rev, and a cis-acting RNA secondary structure in the viral genome, the Rev-Response Element (RRE). HIV primary isolates differ with respect to the sequence and functional activity of the Rev-RRE system. Here, we describe a high throughput assay system for analyzing Rev-RRE functional activity using packageable viral vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick E H Jackson
- Myles H. Thaler Center for AIDS and Human Retrovirus Research, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
- Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
| | - Godfrey Dzhivhuho
- Myles H. Thaler Center for AIDS and Human Retrovirus Research, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Jing Huang
- Myles H. Thaler Center for AIDS and Human Retrovirus Research, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Marie-Louise Hammarskjold
- Myles H. Thaler Center for AIDS and Human Retrovirus Research, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - David Rekosh
- Myles H. Thaler Center for AIDS and Human Retrovirus Research, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
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Jackson PEH, Holsey J, Turse L, Hammarskjold ML, Rekosh D. Rev-Rev Response Element Activity Selection Bias at the Human Immunodeficiency Virus Transmission Bottleneck. Open Forum Infect Dis 2023; 10:ofad486. [PMID: 37854107 PMCID: PMC10580148 DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofad486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Sexual transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is inefficient and results in selection of viral variants based on incompletely understood factors. Functional variation in the Rev-Rev response element (RRE) regulatory axis of HIV affect replication kinetics and relative expression of viral proteins. We explored whether differences in this axis among viral isolates affect transmission fitness. Methods HIV sequences were identified from nine female-to-male transmission pairs. Using a rapid flow cytometric assay, we analyzed Rev-RRE functional activity of primary isolates. Results Rev-RRE activity was significantly lower in recipient viruses compared with corresponding donor viruses. In most transmission events, recipient virus Rev-RRE activity clustered at the extreme low end of the range of donor virus activity. Conclusions These data indicate selection pressure on the Rev-RRE axis during female-to-male sexual transmission. Variation in Rev-RRE activity may permit viral adaptation to different fitness landscapes and could play an important role in HIV pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick E H Jackson
- Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
- Myles H. Thaler Center for AIDS and Human Retrovirus Research, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Jordan Holsey
- Myles H. Thaler Center for AIDS and Human Retrovirus Research, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Lauren Turse
- Myles H. Thaler Center for AIDS and Human Retrovirus Research, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Marie-Louise Hammarskjold
- Myles H. Thaler Center for AIDS and Human Retrovirus Research, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - David Rekosh
- Myles H. Thaler Center for AIDS and Human Retrovirus Research, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
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Jackson PEH, Holsey J, Turse L, Marie-Louise H, Rekosh D. Rev-Rev Response Element Activity Selection Bias at the HIV Transmission Bottleneck. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.04.05.535732. [PMID: 37066242 PMCID: PMC10104022 DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.05.535732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/27/2023]
Abstract
HIV is not efficiently transmitted between hosts, and selection of viral variants occurs during the process of sexual transmission. The factors that confer selective advantage at the transmission bottleneck remain incompletely understood. We explored whether differences in the Rev-Rev Response Element (RRE) regulatory axis of HIV affect transmission fitness, since functional variation in the Rev-RRE axis in different viral isolates has been shown to affect replication kinetics and relative expression of many HIV proteins. Single genome HIV sequences were identified from nine linked subject pairs near the time of female-to-male transmission. Using a rapid flow-cytometric assay, we found that the functional Rev-RRE activity varied significantly between isolates. Moreover, it was generally lower in recipients' viruses compared to the corresponding donor viruses. In six of nine transmission events, recipient virus Rev-RRE activity clustered at the extreme low end of the range of donor virus activity. Rev-RRE pair activity was an unpredictable product of component Rev and RRE activity variation. These data indicate selection pressure on the Rev-RRE axis during female-to-male sexual transmission. Variation in the activity of the Rev-RRE axis may permit viral adaptation to different fitness landscapes and could play an important role in HIV pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick E. H. Jackson
- Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
- Myles H. Thaler Center for AIDS and Human Retrovirus Research, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Jordan Holsey
- Myles H. Thaler Center for AIDS and Human Retrovirus Research, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Lauren Turse
- Myles H. Thaler Center for AIDS and Human Retrovirus Research, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Hammarskjold Marie-Louise
- Myles H. Thaler Center for AIDS and Human Retrovirus Research, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - David Rekosh
- Myles H. Thaler Center for AIDS and Human Retrovirus Research, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
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Shi Y, Han J, Zhu B, Liu Z, Liang Q, Lan C, Li Z, Li H, Liu Y, Jia L, Li T, Wang X, Li J, Zhang B, Jiang J, Li L. Limited nucleotide changes of HIV-1 subtype B Rev response element in China affect overall Rev-RRE activity and viral replication. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:1044676. [PMID: 36578566 PMCID: PMC9791959 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1044676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The HIV-1 Rev response element (RRE) is a cis-acting RNA element that facilitates the nuclear export of mRNA-containing introns by binding specifically to the Rev protein, enabling a critical step in the viral replication cycle. This study aims to determine the subtype-specific loci of HIV-1 subtype B RRE circulating in China and to analyze their effects on Rev-RRE function and HIV-1 replication. We amplified 71 HIV-1 subtype B RRE full-length sequences from the HIV patients' blood samples collected in China, analyzed the subtype-specific loci on them by comparing them with subtype B in the United States, and predicted their RNA secondary structures. Rev-RRE activity assay was used to test the binding activity of Rev and different RREs. Infectious clones were mutated to test the effect of the subtype-specific loci on replication capacity. In this study, two sites were determined to be the subtype-specific loci of HIV-1 subtype B RRE circulating in China. Both site 186 and site 56-57insAAC can significantly increase the viral mRNA transcription and Rev-RRE activity, but only the site 186 can significantly improve viral replication ability. Collectively, the subtype-specific loci of subtype B RRE circulating in China have a significant effect on the Rev-RRE activity and viral replication. This study investigates the subtype-specific loci of RRE, which are unique to retroviruses and essential for viral replication, and will help to explore the reasons why subtype B circulating in China is more widespread and persistent than American subtype B in China at the genetic level, and will provide theoretical support for the development of more inclusive detection and treatment methods for subtype B circulating in China. At the same time, it will also provide insight into the impact of different subtype HIV-1 genetic characteristics on viral replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuting Shi
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of AIDS Prevention and Treatment, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China,Department of AIDS Research, State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Jingwan Han
- Department of AIDS Research, State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Bo Zhu
- Department of AIDS Research, State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Zhi Liu
- Department of AIDS Research, State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Qingmiao Liang
- School of Graduate Studies, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Chunlin Lan
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of AIDS Prevention and Treatment, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China,Department of AIDS Research, State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Zhengyang Li
- Department of AIDS Research, State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Hanping Li
- Department of AIDS Research, State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Yongjian Liu
- Department of AIDS Research, State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Lei Jia
- Department of AIDS Research, State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Tianyi Li
- Department of AIDS Research, State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaolin Wang
- Department of AIDS Research, State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Jingyun Li
- Department of AIDS Research, State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Bohan Zhang
- Department of AIDS Research, State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Junjun Jiang
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of AIDS Prevention and Treatment, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China,Junjun Jiang,
| | - Lin Li
- Department of AIDS Research, State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China,*Correspondence: Lin Li,
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Dzhivhuho G, Holsey J, Honeycutt E, O'Farrell H, Rekosh D, Hammarskjold ML, Jackson PEH. HIV-1 Rev-RRE functional activity in primary isolates is highly dependent on minimal context-dependent changes in Rev. Sci Rep 2022; 12:18416. [PMID: 36319640 PMCID: PMC9626594 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-21714-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
During HIV infection, intron-containing viral mRNAs are exported from the cell nucleus to the cytoplasm to complete the replication cycle. Cellular restrictions on the export of incompletely spliced transcripts are overcome by a viral protein, Rev, and an RNA structure found in all unspliced and incompletely spliced viral mRNAs, the Rev Response Element (RRE). Primary HIV isolates display substantial variation in the sequence and functional activity of Rev proteins. We analyzed Rev from two primary isolates with disparate activity that resulted in differences in in vitro fitness of replication-competent viral constructs. The results showed that amino acid differences within the oligomerization domain, but not the arginine-rich motif or the nuclear export signal, determined the level of Rev activity. Two specific amino acid substitutions were sufficient to alter the low-activity Rev to a high-activity phenotype. Other mutations in Rev sequences had unpredictable effects on activity that differed between the two Rev backbones. The sensitivity of Rev function level to small sequence changes likely permits modulation of Rev-RRE activity during HIV infection, which may play a role in pathogenesis. The functional consequences of Rev mutations differed between primary isolates, highlighting the challenge of generalizing studies of Rev conducted using laboratory HIV strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Godfrey Dzhivhuho
- Myles H. Thaler Center for HIV and Human Retrovirus Research, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Jordan Holsey
- Myles H. Thaler Center for HIV and Human Retrovirus Research, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Ethan Honeycutt
- Myles H. Thaler Center for HIV and Human Retrovirus Research, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Heather O'Farrell
- Myles H. Thaler Center for HIV and Human Retrovirus Research, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - David Rekosh
- Myles H. Thaler Center for HIV and Human Retrovirus Research, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Marie-Louise Hammarskjold
- Myles H. Thaler Center for HIV and Human Retrovirus Research, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Patrick E H Jackson
- Myles H. Thaler Center for HIV and Human Retrovirus Research, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
- Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
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Crespo R, Rao S, Mahmoudi T. HibeRNAtion: HIV-1 RNA Metabolism and Viral Latency. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:855092. [PMID: 35774399 PMCID: PMC9237370 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.855092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
HIV-1 infection remains non-curative due to the latent reservoir, primarily a small pool of resting memory CD4+ T cells bearing replication-competent provirus. Pharmacological reversal of HIV-1 latency followed by intrinsic or extrinsic cell killing has been proposed as a promising strategy to target and eliminate HIV-1 viral reservoirs. Latency reversing agents have been extensively studied for their role in reactivating HIV-1 transcription in vivo, although no permanent reduction of the viral reservoir has been observed thus far. This is partly due to the complex nature of latency, which involves strict intrinsic regulation at multiple levels at transcription and RNA processing. Still, the molecular mechanisms that control HIV-1 latency establishment and maintenance have been almost exclusively studied in the context of chromatin remodeling, transcription initiation and elongation and most known LRAs target LTR-driven transcription by manipulating these. RNA metabolism is a largely understudies but critical mechanistic step in HIV-1 gene expression and latency. In this review we provide an update on current knowledge on the role of RNA processing mechanisms in viral gene expression and latency and speculate on the possible manipulation of these pathways as a therapeutic target for future cure studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raquel Crespo
- Department of Biochemistry, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Shringar Rao
- Department of Biochemistry, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Tokameh Mahmoudi
- Department of Biochemistry, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Department of Pathology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Department of Urology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- *Correspondence: Tokameh Mahmoudi,
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Ali H, Bhange D, Mehta K, Gohil Y, Prajapati HK, Byrareddy SN, Buch S, Ranga U. An emerging and variant viral promoter of HIV-1 subtype C exhibits low-level gene expression noise. Retrovirology 2021; 18:27. [PMID: 34538278 PMCID: PMC8451104 DOI: 10.1186/s12977-021-00572-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND We observe the emergence of several promoter-variant viral strains in India during recent years. The variant viral promoters contain additional copies of transcription factor binding sites present in the viral modulatory region or enhancer, including RBEIII, LEF-1, Ap-1 and/or NF-κB. These sites are crucial for governing viral gene expression and latency. Here, we infer that one variant viral promoter R2N3-LTR containing two copies of RBF-2 binding sites (an RBEIII site duplication) and three copies of NF-κB motifs may demonstrate low levels of gene expression noise as compared to the canonical RN3-LTR or a different variant R2N4-LTR (a duplication of an RBEIII site and an NF-κB motif). To demonstrate this, we constructed a panel of sub-genomic viral vectors of promoter-variant LTRs co-expressing two reporter proteins (mScarlet and Gaussia luciferase) under the dual-control of Tat and Rev. We established stable pools of CEM.NKR-CCR5 cells (CEM-CCR5RL reporter cells) and evaluated reporter gene expression under different conditions of cell activation. RESULTS The R2N3-LTR established stringent latency that was highly resistant to reversal by potent cell activators such as TNF-α or PMA, or even to a cocktail of activators, compared to the canonical RN3- or the variant R2N4-LTR. The R2N3-LTR exhibited low-level basal gene expression in the absence of cell activation that enhanced marginally but significantly when activated. In the presence of Tat and Rev, trans-complemented in the form of an infectious virus, the R2N3-LTR demonstrated gene expression at levels comparable to the wild-type viral promoter. The R2N3-LTR is responsive to Tat and Rev factors derived from viral strains representing diverse genetic subtypes. CONCLUSION With extremely low-level transcriptional noise, the R2N3-LTR can serve as an excellent model to examine the establishment, maintenance, and reversal of HIV-1 latency. The R2N3-LTR would also be an ideal viral promoter to develop high-throughput screening assays to identify potent latency-reversing agents since the LTR is not affected by the usual background noise of the cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haider Ali
- Molecular Biology and Genetics Unit, HIV AIDS Laboratory, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Jakkur, Bangalore, 560064 India
| | - Disha Bhange
- Molecular Biology and Genetics Unit, HIV AIDS Laboratory, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Jakkur, Bangalore, 560064 India
| | - Kavita Mehta
- Molecular Biology and Genetics Unit, HIV AIDS Laboratory, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Jakkur, Bangalore, 560064 India
| | - Yuvrajsinh Gohil
- Molecular Biology and Genetics Unit, HIV AIDS Laboratory, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Jakkur, Bangalore, 560064 India
| | -
Harshit Kumar Prajapati
- Molecular Biology and Genetics Unit, HIV AIDS Laboratory, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Jakkur, Bangalore, 560064 India
| | - Siddappa N. Byrareddy
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE USA
| | - Shilpa Buch
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE USA
| | - Udaykumar Ranga
- Molecular Biology and Genetics Unit, HIV AIDS Laboratory, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Jakkur, Bangalore, 560064 India
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Sherpa C, Rausch JW, Le Grice SFJ. HIV Genetic Diversity - Superpower of a Formidable Virus. Curr HIV Res 2021; 18:69-73. [PMID: 32223727 DOI: 10.2174/1570162x1802200311104204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Chringma Sherpa
- Basic Research Laboratory Center for Cancer Research National Cancer Institute National Institute of Health Frederick, Maryland, 21702, United States
| | - Jason W Rausch
- Basic Research Laboratory Center for Cancer Research National Cancer Institute National Institute of Health Frederick, MD, 21702, United States
| | - Stuart F J Le Grice
- Basic Research Laboratory Center for Cancer Research National Cancer Institute National Institute of Health Frederick, MD, 21702, United States
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Jackson PEH, Dzhivhuho G, Rekosh D, Hammarskjold ML. Sequence and Functional Variation in the HIV-1 Rev Regulatory Axis. Curr HIV Res 2021; 18:85-98. [PMID: 31906839 DOI: 10.2174/1570162x18666200106112842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2019] [Revised: 11/22/2019] [Accepted: 12/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND To complete its replication cycle, HIV-1 requires the nucleocytoplasmic export of intron-containing viral mRNAs. This process is ordinarily restricted by the cell, but HIV overcomes the block by means of a viral protein, Rev, and an RNA secondary structure found in all unspliced and incompletely spliced viral mRNAs called the Rev Response Element (RRE). In vivo activity of the Rev-RRE axis requires Rev binding to the RRE, oligomerization of Rev to form a competent ribonucleoprotein complex, and recruitment of cellular factors including Crm1 and RanGTP in order to export the targeted transcript. Sequence variability is observed among primary isolates in both Rev and the RRE, and the activity of both can be modulated through relatively small sequence changes. Primary isolates show differences in Rev-RRE activity and a few studies have found a correlation between lower Rev-RRE activity and slower progression of clinical disease. Lower Rev-RRE activity has also been associated with the evasion of cytotoxic T lymphocyte mediated killing. CONCLUSION The HIV-1 Rev-RRE regulatory axis is an understudied mechanism by which viral adaptation to diverse immune milieus may take place. There is evidence that this adaptation plays a role in HIV pathogenesis, particularly in immune evasion and latency, but further studies with larger sample sizes are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick E H Jackson
- Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia United States.,Myles H. Thaler Center for HIV and Human Retrovirus Research, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, United States
| | - Godfrey Dzhivhuho
- Myles H. Thaler Center for HIV and Human Retrovirus Research, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, United States.,Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, United States
| | - David Rekosh
- Myles H. Thaler Center for HIV and Human Retrovirus Research, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, United States.,Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, United States
| | - Marie-Louise Hammarskjold
- Myles H. Thaler Center for HIV and Human Retrovirus Research, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, United States.,Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, United States
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12
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Johnson NM, Alvarado AF, Moffatt TN, Edavettal JM, Swaminathan TA, Braun SE. HIV-based lentiviral vectors: origin and sequence differences. MOLECULAR THERAPY-METHODS & CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT 2021; 21:451-465. [PMID: 33981779 PMCID: PMC8065252 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2021.03.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Three gene therapy strategies have received US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval; one includes HIV-1-based lentiviral vectors. These vectors incorporate features to provide long-term gene transfer and expression while minimizing generation of a replication-competent virus or pathogenicity. Importantly, the coding regions of viral proteins were deleted, and the cis-acting regulatory elements were retained. With the use of representative vectors developed for clinical/commercial applications, we compared the vector backbone sequences to the initial sources of the HIV-1. All vectors included required elements: 5′ long terminal repeat (LTR) through the Ψ packaging signal, central polypurine tract/chain termination sequence (cPPT/CTS), Rev responsive element (RRE), and 3′ LTR, including a poly(A) signal. The Ψ signaling sequence demonstrated the greatest similarity between all vectors with only minor changes. The 3′ LTR was the most divergent sequence with a range of deletions. The RRE length varied between vectors. Phylogenetic analysis of the cPPT/CTS indicated multiple sources, perhaps because of its later inclusion into lentiviral vector systems, whereas other regions revealed node clusters around the HIV-1 reference genomes HXB2 and NL4-3. We examine the function of each region in a lentiviral vector, the molecular differences between vectors, and where optimization may guide development of the lentiviral delivery systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan M Johnson
- Division of Immunology, Tulane National Primate Research Center, Tulane University School of Medicine, Covington, LA 70433, USA
| | - Anna Francesca Alvarado
- Department of Pharmacology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Trey N Moffatt
- Department of Pharmacology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Joshua M Edavettal
- Department of Pharmacology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Tarun A Swaminathan
- Department of Pharmacology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Stephen E Braun
- Division of Immunology, Tulane National Primate Research Center, Tulane University School of Medicine, Covington, LA 70433, USA.,Department of Pharmacology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
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13
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Native mass spectrometry reveals the initial binding events of HIV-1 rev to RRE stem II RNA. Nat Commun 2020; 11:5750. [PMID: 33188169 PMCID: PMC7666190 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-19144-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Nuclear export complexes composed of rev response element (RRE) ribonucleic acid (RNA) and multiple molecules of rev protein are promising targets for the development of therapeutic strategies against human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), but their assembly remains poorly understood. Using native mass spectrometry, we show here that rev initially binds to the upper stem of RRE IIB, from where it is relayed to binding sites that allow for rev dimerization. The newly discovered binding region implies initial rev recognition by nucleotides that are not part of the internal loop of RRE stem IIB RNA, which was previously identified as the preferred binding region. Our study highlights the unique capability of native mass spectrometry to separately study the binding interfaces of RNA/protein complexes of different stoichiometry, and provides a detailed understanding of the mechanism of RRE/rev association with implications for the rational design of potential drugs against HIV-1 infection. The HIV-1 RNA-binding protein rev facilitates nuclear export of viral RNA. Here, the authors use native mass spectrometry to study the interactions between rev-derived peptides and rev response elements of HIV-1 RNA, providing mechanistic insights into rev recognition and recruitment.
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14
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Raad NG, Ghattas IR, Amano R, Watanabe N, Sakamoto T, Smith CA. Altered‐specificity mutants of the HIV Rev arginine‐rich motif‐RRE IIB interaction. J Mol Recognit 2020; 33:e2833. [DOI: 10.1002/jmr.2833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2019] [Revised: 12/08/2019] [Accepted: 12/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nicole G. Raad
- Department of BiologyAmerican University of Beirut Beirut Lebanon
| | | | - Ryo Amano
- Department of Life ScienceChiba Institute of Technology Chiba Japan
| | - Natsuki Watanabe
- Department of Life ScienceChiba Institute of Technology Chiba Japan
| | - Taiichi Sakamoto
- Department of Life ScienceChiba Institute of Technology Chiba Japan
| | - Colin A. Smith
- Department of BiologyAmerican University of Beirut Beirut Lebanon
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15
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A novel, sensitive dual-indicator cell line for detection and quantification of inducible, replication-competent latent HIV-1 from reservoir cells. Sci Rep 2019; 9:19325. [PMID: 31852924 PMCID: PMC6920355 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-55596-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2019] [Accepted: 11/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the mechanisms involved in HIV infection and latency, and development of a cure, rely on the availability of sensitive research tools such as indicator cells, which allow rigorous quantification of viral activity. Here we describe the construction and validation of a novel dual-indicator cell line, Sup-GGR, which offers two different readouts to quantify viral replication. A construct expressing both Gaussia luciferase and hrGFP in a Tat- and Rev-dependent manner was engineered into SupT1-CCR5 to create Sup-GGR cells. This cell line supports the replication of both X4 and R5-tropic HIV as efficiently as its parental cell line, SupT1-CCR5, and allows repeated sampling without the need to terminate the culture. Sup-GGR demonstrates comparable sensitivity and similar kinetics in virus outgrowth assays (VOA) to SupT1-CCR5 using clinical samples. However the Gaussia luciferase reporter is significantly less labor-intensive and allows earlier detection of reactivated latent viruses compared to the conventional HIV p24 ELISA assay. The Sup-GGR cell line constitutes a versatile new tool for HIV research and clinical trials.
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16
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Gray LR, Jackson RE, Jackson PEH, Bekiranov S, Rekosh D, Hammarskjöld ML. HIV-1 Rev interacts with HERV-K RcREs present in the human genome and promotes export of unspliced HERV-K proviral RNA. Retrovirology 2019; 16:40. [PMID: 31842941 PMCID: PMC6916052 DOI: 10.1186/s12977-019-0505-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2019] [Accepted: 12/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The HERV-K (HML-2) viruses are the youngest of the human endogenous retroviruses. They are present as several almost complete proviral copies and numerous fragments in the human genome. Many HERV-K proviruses express a regulatory protein Rec, which binds to an element present in HERV-K mRNAs called the RcRE. This interaction is necessary for the nucleo-cytoplasmic export and expression of HERV-K mRNAs that retain introns and plays a role analogous to that of Rev and the RRE in HIV replication. There are over 900 HERV-K RcREs distributed throughout the human genome. Thus, it was of interest to determine if Rev could functionally interact with selected RcRE elements that map either to HERV-K proviruses or human gene regions. This interaction would have the potential to alter the expression of both HERV-K mRNAs and cellular mRNAs during HIV-1 infection. RESULTS In this study we employed a combination of RNAseq, bioinformatics and cell-based functional assays. Potential RcREs were identified through a number of bioinformatic approaches. They were then tested for their ability to promote export and translation of a reporter mRNA with a retained intron in conjunction with Rev or Rec. Some of the selected elements functioned well with either Rev, Rec or both, whereas some showed little or no function. Rev function on individual RcREs varied and was also dependent on the Rev sequence. We also performed RNAseq on total and cytoplasmic RNA isolated from SupT1 cells expressing HIV Rev, with or without Tat, or HERV-K Rec. Proviral mRNA from three HERV-K loci (4p16.1b, 22q11.23 and most significantly 3q12.3) accumulated in the cytoplasm in the presence of Rev or Tat and Rev, but not Rec. Consistent with this, the 3' RcRE from 3q12.3 functioned well with HIV-Rev in our reporter assay. In contrast, this RcRE showed little or no function with Rec. CONCLUSIONS The HIV Rev protein can functionally interact with many RcREs present in the human genome, depending on the RcRE sequence, as well as the Rev sequence. This leads to export of some of the HERV-K proviral mRNAs and also has the potential to change the expression of non-viral genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurie R Gray
- Myles H. Thaler Center for AIDS and Human Retrovirus Research and the Department of Microbiology, Immunology, Cancer Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, 22908, USA
| | - Rachel E Jackson
- Myles H. Thaler Center for AIDS and Human Retrovirus Research and the Department of Microbiology, Immunology, Cancer Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, 22908, USA
| | - Patrick E H Jackson
- Myles H. Thaler Center for AIDS and Human Retrovirus Research and the Department of Microbiology, Immunology, Cancer Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, 22908, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, 22908, USA
| | - Stefan Bekiranov
- Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, 22908, USA
| | - David Rekosh
- Myles H. Thaler Center for AIDS and Human Retrovirus Research and the Department of Microbiology, Immunology, Cancer Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, 22908, USA
| | - Marie-Louise Hammarskjöld
- Myles H. Thaler Center for AIDS and Human Retrovirus Research and the Department of Microbiology, Immunology, Cancer Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, 22908, USA.
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17
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Wang Z, Ji X, Hao Y, Hong K, Ma L, Li D, Shao Y. Premature Stop Codon at Residue 101 within HIV-1 Rev Does Not Influence Viral Replication of Clade BC but Severely Reduces Viral Fitness of Clade B. Virol Sin 2019; 35:181-190. [PMID: 31828587 DOI: 10.1007/s12250-019-00179-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2019] [Accepted: 10/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
HIV-1 Rev is an accessory protein that plays a key role in nuclear exportation, stabilization, and translation of the viral mRNAs. Rev of HIV-1 clade BC often shows a truncation of 16 AAs due to a premature stop codon at residue 101. This stop codon presents the highest frequency in clade BC and the lowest frequency in clade B. In order to discover the potential biological effect of this truncation on Rev activity and virus replication of clade BC, we constructed Rev expression vectors of clade BC with or without 16 AAs within C-terminal separately, and replaced the stop codon by Q in a CRF07_BC infectious clone. We found that 16 AAs truncation had no effect on expression and activity of Rev in clade BC. Also, the mutation from the stop codon to Q had no effect on virus replication of clade BC. Next, to investigate the effect of this truncation on Rev activity and replication capacity of clade B, Rev expression vectors of clade B carrying or lacking 16 AAs in C-terminal were constructed respectively, and residue Q at position 101 within Rev was substituted by the stop codon in a clade B infectious clone. It was found that 16 AAs truncation significantly down-regulated Rev expression and impaired clade B Rev activity. Furthermore, a Q-to-stop codon substitution within Rev significantly reduced viral replication fitness of clade B. These results indicate that the premature stop codon at residue 101 within Rev exerts diverse impact on viral replication among different HIV-1 clades.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 102206, China.
- Division of Research of Virology and Immunology, National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 102206, China.
| | - Xiaolin Ji
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 102206, China
- Division of Research of Virology and Immunology, National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Yanling Hao
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 102206, China
- Division of Research of Virology and Immunology, National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Kunxue Hong
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 102206, China
- Division of Research of Virology and Immunology, National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Liying Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 102206, China
- Division of Research of Virology and Immunology, National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Dan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 102206, China
- Division of Research of Virology and Immunology, National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Yiming Shao
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 102206, China.
- Division of Research of Virology and Immunology, National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 102206, China.
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18
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Evolution of the HIV-1 Rev Response Element during Natural Infection Reveals Nucleotide Changes That Correlate with Altered Structure and Increased Activity over Time. J Virol 2019; 93:JVI.02102-18. [PMID: 30867301 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.02102-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2018] [Accepted: 03/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The HIV-1 Rev response element (RRE) is a cis-acting RNA element characterized by multiple stem-loops. Binding and multimerization of the HIV Rev protein on the RRE promote the nucleocytoplasmic export of incompletely spliced mRNAs, an essential step in HIV replication. Most of our understanding of the Rev-RRE regulatory axis comes from studies of lab-adapted HIV clones. However, in human infection, HIV evolves rapidly, and mechanistic studies of naturally occurring Rev and RRE sequences are essential to understanding this system. We previously described the functional activity of two RREs found in circulating viruses in a patient followed during the course of HIV infection. The early RRE was less functionally active than the late RRE, despite differing in sequence by only 4 nucleotides. In this study, we describe the sequence, function, and structural evolution of circulating RREs in this patient using plasma samples collected over 6 years of untreated infection. RRE sequence diversity varied over the course of infection, with evidence of selection pressure that led to sequence convergence as disease progressed being found. An increase in RRE functional activity was observed over time, and a key mutation was identified that correlates with a major conformational change in the RRE and increased functional activity. Additional mutations were found that may have contributed to increased activity as a result of greater Shannon entropy in RRE stem-loop II, which is key to primary Rev binding.IMPORTANCE HIV-1 replication requires interaction of the viral Rev protein with a cis-acting regulatory RNA, the Rev response element (RRE), whose sequence changes over time during infection within a single host. In this study, we show that the RRE is subject to selection pressure and that RREs from later time points in infection tend to have higher functional activity. Differences in RRE functional activity are attributable to specific changes in RNA structure. Our results suggest that RRE evolution during infection may be important for HIV pathogenesis and that efforts to develop therapies acting on this viral pathway should take this into account.
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19
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Jackson PEH, Huang J, Sharma M, Rasmussen SK, Hammarskjold ML, Rekosh D. A novel retroviral vector system to analyze expression from mRNA with retained introns using fluorescent proteins and flow cytometry. Sci Rep 2019; 9:6467. [PMID: 31015546 PMCID: PMC6478720 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-42914-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2019] [Accepted: 04/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability to overcome cellular restrictions that exist for the export and translation of mRNAs with retained introns is a requirement for the replication of retroviruses and also for the expression of many mRNA isoforms transcribed from cellular genes. In some cases, RNA structures have been identified in the mRNA that directly interact with cellular factors to promote the export and expression of isoforms with retained introns. In other cases, a viral protein is also required to act as an adapter. In this report we describe a novel vector system that allows measurement of the ability of cis- and trans-acting factors to promote the export and translation of mRNAs with retained introns. One reporter vector used in this system is derived from an HIV proviral clone engineered to express two different fluorescent proteins from spliced and unspliced transcripts. The ratio of fluorescent signals is a measurement of the efficiency of export and translation. A second vector utilizes a third fluorescent protein to measure the expression of viral export proteins that interact with some of the export elements. Both vectors can be packaged into viral particles and be used to transduce cells, allowing expression at physiological levels from the integrated vector.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick E H Jackson
- Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, Department of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
- Myles H. Thaler Center for HIV and Human Retrovirus Research, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Jing Huang
- Myles H. Thaler Center for HIV and Human Retrovirus Research, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Monika Sharma
- Myles H. Thaler Center for HIV and Human Retrovirus Research, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
- Department of Surgery, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Sara K Rasmussen
- Myles H. Thaler Center for HIV and Human Retrovirus Research, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
- Department of Surgery, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Marie-Louise Hammarskjold
- Myles H. Thaler Center for HIV and Human Retrovirus Research, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - David Rekosh
- Myles H. Thaler Center for HIV and Human Retrovirus Research, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA.
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA.
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20
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Jayaraman B, Fernandes JD, Yang S, Smith C, Frankel AD. Highly Mutable Linker Regions Regulate HIV-1 Rev Function and Stability. Sci Rep 2019; 9:5139. [PMID: 30914719 PMCID: PMC6435700 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-41582-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2018] [Accepted: 03/05/2019] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
HIV-1 Rev is an essential viral regulatory protein that facilitates the nuclear export of intron-containing viral mRNAs. It is organized into structured, functionally well-characterized motifs joined by less understood linker regions. Our recent competitive deep mutational scanning study confirmed many known constraints in Rev’s established motifs, but also identified positions of mutational plasticity, most notably in surrounding linker regions. Here, we probe the mutational limits of these linkers by testing the activities of multiple truncation and mass substitution mutations. We find that these regions possess previously unknown structural, functional or regulatory roles, not apparent from systematic point mutational approaches. Specifically, the N- and C-termini of Rev contribute to protein stability; mutations in a turn that connects the two main helices of Rev have different effects in different contexts; and a linker region which connects the second helix of Rev to its nuclear export sequence has structural requirements for function. Thus, Rev function extends beyond its characterized motifs, and is tuned by determinants within seemingly plastic portions of its sequence. Additionally, Rev’s ability to tolerate many of these massive truncations and substitutions illustrates the overall mutational and functional robustness inherent in this viral protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bhargavi Jayaraman
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Jason D Fernandes
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA.,UCSC Genomics Institute/Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060, USA
| | - Shumin Yang
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA.,School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Cynthia Smith
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Alan D Frankel
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA.
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21
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Tongo M, de Oliveira T, Martin DP. Patterns of genomic site inheritance in HIV-1M inter-subtype recombinants delineate the most likely genomic sites of subtype-specific adaptation. Virus Evol 2018; 4:vey015. [PMID: 29942655 PMCID: PMC6007327 DOI: 10.1093/ve/vey015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Recombination between different HIV-1 group M (HIV-1M) subtypes is a major contributor to the ongoing genetic diversification of HIV-1M. However, it remains unclear whether the different genome regions of recombinants are randomly inherited from the different subtypes. To elucidate this, we analysed the distribution within 82 circulating and 201 unique recombinant forms (CRFs/URFs), of genome fragments derived from HIV-1M Subtypes A, B, C, D, F, and G and CRF01_AE. We found that viruses belonging to the analysed HIV-1M subtypes and CRF01_AE contributed certain genome fragments more frequently during recombination than other fragments. Furthermore, we identified statistically significant hot-spots of Subtype A sequence inheritance in genomic regions encoding portions of Gag and Nef, Subtype B in Pol, Tat and Env, Subtype C in Vif, Subtype D in Pol and Env, Subtype F in Gag, Subtype G in Vpu-Env and Nef, and CRF01_AE inheritance in Vpu and Env. The apparent non-randomness in the frequencies with which different subtypes have contributed specific genome regions to known HIV-1M recombinants is consistent with selection strongly impacting the survival of inter-subtype recombinants. We propose that hotspots of genomic region inheritance are likely to demarcate the locations of subtype-specific adaptive genetic variations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcel Tongo
- KwaZulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform (KRISP), School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), 719 Umbilo Road, Durban 4001, South Africa.,Center of Research for Emerging and Re-Emerging Diseases (CREMER), Institute of Medical Research and Study of Medicinal Plants (IMPM), Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Tulio de Oliveira
- KwaZulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform (KRISP), School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), 719 Umbilo Road, Durban 4001, South Africa
| | - Darren P Martin
- Division of Computational Biology, Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences and Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
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22
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Umunnakwe CN, Dorman KS, Dobbs D, Carpenter S. Identification of a homogenous structural basis for oligomerization by retroviral Rev-like proteins. Retrovirology 2017; 14:40. [PMID: 28830558 PMCID: PMC5568270 DOI: 10.1186/s12977-017-0366-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2017] [Accepted: 08/11/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Rev-like proteins are post-transcriptional regulatory proteins found in several retrovirus genera, including lentiviruses, betaretroviruses, and deltaretroviruses. These essential proteins mediate the nuclear export of incompletely spliced viral RNA, and act by tethering viral pre-mRNA to the host CRM1 nuclear export machinery. Although all Rev-like proteins are functionally homologous, they share less than 30% sequence identity. In the present study, we computationally assessed the extent of structural homology among retroviral Rev-like proteins within a phylogenetic framework. Results We undertook a comprehensive analysis of overall protein domain architecture and predicted secondary structural features for representative members of the Rev-like family of proteins. Similar patterns of α-helical domains were identified for Rev-like proteins within each genus, with the exception of deltaretroviruses, which were devoid of α-helices. Coiled-coil oligomerization motifs were also identified for most Rev-like proteins, with the notable exceptions of HIV-1, the deltaretroviruses, and some small ruminant lentiviruses. In Rev proteins of primate lentiviruses, the presence of predicted coiled-coil motifs segregated within specific primate lineages: HIV-1 descended from SIVs that lacked predicted coiled-coils in Rev whereas HIV-2 descended from SIVs that contained predicted coiled-coils in Rev. Phylogenetic ancestral reconstruction of coiled-coils for all Rev-like proteins predicted a single origin for the coiled-coil motif, followed by three losses of the predicted signal. The absence of a coiled-coil signal in HIV-1 was associated with replacement of canonical polar residues with non-canonical hydrophobic residues. However, hydrophobic residues were retained in the key ‘a’ and ‘d’ positions, and the α-helical region of HIV-1 Rev oligomerization domain could be modeled as a helical wheel with two predicted interaction interfaces. Moreover, the predicted interfaces mapped to the dimerization and oligomerization interfaces in HIV-1 Rev crystal structures. Helical wheel projections of other retroviral Rev-like proteins, including endogenous sequences, revealed similar interaction interfaces that could mediate oligomerization. Conclusions Sequence-based computational analyses of Rev-like proteins, together with helical wheel projections of oligomerization domains, reveal a conserved homogeneous structural basis for oligomerization by retroviral Rev-like proteins. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12977-017-0366-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chijioke N Umunnakwe
- Department of Animal Science, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA.,Program in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA.,HIV Dynamics and Replication Program, National Cancer Institute, 1050 Boyles St, Frederick, MD, 21702, USA
| | - Karin S Dorman
- Program in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA.,Department of Genetics, Developmental and Cell Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA.,Department of Statistics, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Drena Dobbs
- Program in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA.,Department of Genetics, Developmental and Cell Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Susan Carpenter
- Department of Animal Science, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA.
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