An intronic G run within HIV-1 intron 2 is critical for splicing regulation of vif mRNA

The interferon-regulated host factor hnRNPA0 modulates HIV-1 production by interference with LTR activity, mRNA trafficking, and programmed ribosomal frameshifting

The interplay between host factors and viral components impacts viral replication efficiency profoundly. Members of the cellular heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein family (hnRNPs) have been extensively studied as HIV-1 host dependency factors, but whether they play a role in innate immunity is currently unknown. This study aimed to identify hnRNPA0 as a type I interferon (IFN)-repressed host factor in HIV-1-infected cells. Knockdown of hnRNPA0, a situation that mirrors conditions under IFN stimulation, increased LTR activity, export of unspliced HIV-1 mRNA, viral particle production, and thus, increased infectivity. Conversely, hnRNPA0 overexpression primarily reduced plasmid-driven and integrated HIV-1 long terminal repeat (LTR) activity, significantly decreasing total viral mRNA and protein levels. In addition, high levels of hnRNPA0 significantly reduced the HIV-1 programmed ribosomal frameshifting efficiency, resulting in a shift in the HIV-1 p55/p15 ratio. The HIV-1 alternative splice site usage remained largely unaffected by altered hnRNPA0 levels suggesting that the synergistic inhibition of the LTR activity and viral mRNA transcription, as well as impaired ribosomal frameshifting efficiency, are critical factors for efficient HIV-1 replication regulated by hnRNPA0. The pleiotropic dose-dependent effects under high or low hnRNPA0 levels were further confirmed in HIV-1-infected Jurkat cells. Finally, our study revealed that hnRNPA0 levels in PBMCs were lower in therapy-naive HIV-1-infected individuals compared to healthy controls. Our findings highlight a significant role for hnRNPA0 in HIV-1 replication and suggest that its IFN-I-regulated expression levels are critical for viral fitness allowing replication in an antiviral environment.IMPORTANCERNA-binding proteins, in particular, heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins (hnRNPs), have been extensively studied. Some act as host dependency factors for HIV-1 since they are involved in multiple cellular gene expression processes. Our study revealed hnRNPA0 as an IFN-regulated host factor, that is differently expressed after IFN-I treatment in HIV-1 target cells and lower expressed in therapy-naïve HIV-1-infected individuals. Our findings demonstrate the significant pleiotropic role of hnRNPA0 in viral replication: In high concentrations, hnRNPA0 limits viral replication by negatively regulating Tat-LTR transcription, retaining unspliced mRNA in the nucleus, and significantly impairing programmed ribosomal frameshifting. Low hnRNPA0 levels as observed in IFN-treated THP-1 cells, particularly facilitate HIV LTR activity and unspliced mRNA export, suggesting a role in innate immunity in favor of HIV replication. Understanding the mode of action between hnRNPA0 and HIV-1 gene expression might help to identify novel therapeutically strategies against HIV-1 and other viruses.

Interferon-Regulated Expression of Cellular Splicing Factors Modulates Multiple Levels of HIV-1 Gene Expression and Replication

Type I interferons (IFN-Is) are pivotal in innate immunity against human immunodeficiency virus I (HIV-1) by eliciting the expression of IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs), which encompass potent host restriction factors. While ISGs restrict the viral replication within the host cell by targeting various stages of the viral life cycle, the lesser-known IFN-repressed genes (IRepGs), including RNA-binding proteins (RBPs), affect the viral replication by altering the expression of the host dependency factors that are essential for efficient HIV-1 gene expression. Both the host restriction and dependency factors determine the viral replication efficiency; however, the understanding of the IRepGs implicated in HIV-1 infection remains greatly limited at present. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the current understanding regarding the impact of the RNA-binding protein families, specifically the two families of splicing-associated proteins SRSF and hnRNP, on HIV-1 gene expression and viral replication. Since the recent findings show specifically that SRSF1 and hnRNP A0 are regulated by IFN-I in various cell lines and primary cells, including intestinal lamina propria mononuclear cells (LPMCs) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), we particularly discuss their role in the context of the innate immunity affecting HIV-1 replication.

Involvement of a Rarely Used Splicing SD2b Site in the Regulation of HIV-1 vif mRNA Production as Revealed by a Growth-Adaptive Mutation

We have previously reported an HIV-1 mutant designated NL-Y226tac that expresses Vif at an ultra-low level, being replication-defective in high-APOBEC3G cells, such as H9. It carries a synonymous mutation within the splicing SA1 site relative to its parental clone. In order to determine whether a certain mutant(s) emerges during multi-infection cycles, we maintained H9 cells infected with a relatively low or high input of NL-Y226tac for extended time periods. Unexpectedly, we reproducibly identified a g5061a mutation in the SD2b site in the two independent long-term culture experiments that partially increases Vif expression and replication ability. Importantly, the adaptive mutation g5061a was demonstrated to enhance vif mRNA production by activation of the SA1 site mediated through increasing usage of a rarely used SD2b site. In the long-term culture initiated by a high virus input, we additionally found a Y226Fttc mutation at the original Y226tac site in SA1 that fully restores Vif expression and replication ability. As expected, the adaptive mutation Y226Fttc enhances vif mRNA production through increasing the splicing site usage of SA1. Our results here revealed the importance of the SD2b nucleotide sequence in producing vif mRNA involved in the HIV-1 adaptation and of mutual antagonism between Vif and APOBEC3 proteins in HIV-1 adaptation/evolution and survival.

SRSF1 acts as an IFN-I-regulated cellular dependency factor decisively affecting HIV-1 post-integration steps

Efficient HIV-1 replication depends on balanced levels of host cell components including cellular splicing factors as the family of serine/arginine-rich splicing factors (SRSF, 1-10). Type I interferons (IFN-I) play a crucial role in the innate immunity against HIV-1 by inducing the expression of IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs) including potent host restriction factors. The less well known IFN-repressed genes (IRepGs) might additionally affect viral replication by downregulating host dependency factors that are essential for the viral life cycle; however, so far, the knowledge about IRepGs involved in HIV-1 infection is very limited. In this work, we could demonstrate that HIV-1 infection and the associated ISG induction correlated with low SRSF1 levels in intestinal lamina propria mononuclear cells (LPMCs) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) during acute and chronic HIV-1 infection. In HIV-1-susceptible cell lines as well as primary monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs), expression levels of SRSF1 were transiently repressed upon treatment with specific IFNα subtypes in vitro. Mechanically, 4sU labeling of newly transcribed mRNAs revealed that IFN-mediated SRSF1 repression is regulated on early RNA level. SRSF1 knockdown led to an increase in total viral RNA levels, but the relative proportion of the HIV-1 viral infectivity factor (Vif) coding transcripts, which is essential to counteract APOBEC3G-mediated host restriction, was significantly reduced. In the presence of high APOBEC3G levels, however, increased LTR activity upon SRSF1 knockdown facilitated the overall replication, despite decreased vif mRNA levels. In contrast, SRSF1 overexpression significantly impaired HIV-1 post-integration steps including LTR transcription, alternative splice site usage, and virus particle production. Since balanced SRSF1 levels are crucial for efficient viral replication, our data highlight the so far undescribed role of SRSF1 acting as an IFN-modulated cellular dependency factor decisively regulating HIV-1 post-integration steps.

Altered HIV-1 mRNA Splicing Due to Drug-Resistance-Associated Mutations in Exon 2/2b

The underlying molecular mechanism and their general effect on the replication capacity of HIV 1 drug-resistance-associated mutations is often poorly understood. To elucidate the effect of two such mutations located in a region with a high density of spicing regulatory elements on the HIV-1-splicing outcome, bioinformatic predictions were combined with transfection and infection experiments. Results show that the previously described R263K drug-resistance-associated integrase mutation has additionally a severe effect on the ESE2b splicing regulatory element (SRE) in exon 2b, which causes loss of SD2b recognition. This was confirmed by an R263R silent mutation with a similar predicted effect on the exon 2b SRE. In contrast, a V260I mutation and its silent counterpart with a lower effect on ESS2b did not exhibit any differences in the splicing pattern. Since HIV-1 highly relies on a balanced splicing reaction, changes in the splicing outcome can contribute to changes in viral replication and might add to the effect of escape mutations toward antiviral drugs. Thus, a classification of mutations purely addressing proteins is insufficient.

The Expression Level of HIV-1 Vif Is Optimized by Nucleotide Changes in the Genomic SA1D2prox Region during the Viral Adaptation Process

HIV-1 Vif plays an essential role in viral replication by antagonizing anti-viral cellular restriction factors, a family of APOBEC3 proteins. We have previously shown that naturally-occurring single-nucleotide mutations in the SA1D2prox region, which surrounds the splicing acceptor 1 and splicing donor 2 sites of the HIV-1 genome, dramatically alter the Vif expression level, resulting in variants with low or excessive Vif expression. In this study, we investigated how these HIV-1 variants with poor replication ability adapt and evolve under the pressure of APOBEC3 proteins. Adapted clones obtained through adaptation experiments exhibited an altered replication ability and Vif expression level compared to each parental clone. While various mutations were present throughout the viral genome, all replication-competent adapted clones with altered Vif expression levels were found to bear them within SA1D2prox, without exception. Indeed, the mutations identified within SA1D2prox were responsible for changes in the Vif expression levels and altered the splicing pattern. Moreover, for samples collected from HIV-1-infected patients, we showed that the nucleotide sequences of SA1D2prox can be chronologically changed and concomitantly affect the Vif expression levels. Taken together, these results demonstrated the importance of the SA1D2prox nucleotide sequence for modulating the Vif expression level during HIV-1 replication and adaptation.

Degradation-Independent Inhibition of APOBEC3G by the HIV-1 Vif Protein

The ubiquitin–proteasome system plays an important role in the cell under normal physiological conditions but also during viral infections. Indeed, many auxiliary proteins from the (HIV-1) divert this system to its own advantage, notably to induce the degradation of cellular restriction factors. For instance, the HIV-1 viral infectivity factor (Vif) has been shown to specifically counteract several cellular deaminases belonging to the apolipoprotein B mRNA-editing enzyme catalytic polypeptide-like (APOBEC3 or A3) family (A3A to A3H) by recruiting an E3-ubiquitin ligase complex and inducing their polyubiquitination and degradation through the proteasome. Although this pathway has been extensively characterized so far, Vif has also been shown to impede A3s through degradation-independent processes, but research on this matter remains limited. In this review, we describe our current knowledge regarding the degradation-independent inhibition of A3s, and A3G in particular, by the HIV-1 Vif protein, the molecular mechanisms involved, and highlight important properties of this small viral protein.

HIV-1: To Splice or Not to Splice, That Is the Question

The transcription of the HIV-1 provirus results in only one type of transcript-full length genomic RNA. To make the mRNA transcripts for the accessory proteins Tat and Rev, the genomic RNA must completely splice. The mRNA transcripts for Vif, Vpr, and Env must undergo splicing but not completely. Genomic RNA (which also functions as mRNA for the Gag and Gag/Pro/Pol precursor polyproteins) must not splice at all. HIV-1 can tolerate a surprising range in the relative abundance of individual transcript types, and a surprising amount of aberrant and even odd splicing; however, it must not over-splice, which results in the loss of full-length genomic RNA and has a dramatic fitness cost. Cells typically do not tolerate unspliced/incompletely spliced transcripts, so HIV-1 must circumvent this cell policing mechanism to allow some splicing while suppressing most. Splicing is controlled by RNA secondary structure, cis-acting regulatory sequences which bind splicing factors, and the viral protein Rev. There is still much work to be done to clarify the combinatorial effects of these splicing regulators. These control mechanisms represent attractive targets to induce over-splicing as an antiviral strategy. Finally, splicing has been implicated in latency, but to date there is little supporting evidence for such a mechanism. In this review we apply what is known of cellular splicing to understand splicing in HIV-1, and present data from our newer and more sensitive deep sequencing assays quantifying the different HIV-1 transcript types.

Dynamic nanopore long-read sequencing analysis of HIV-1 splicing events during the early steps of infection

Background

Alternative splicing is a key step in Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 (HIV-1) replication that is tightly regulated both temporally and spatially. More than 50 different transcripts can be generated from a single HIV-1 unspliced pre-messenger RNA (pre-mRNA) and a balanced proportion of unspliced and spliced transcripts is critical for the production of infectious virions. Understanding the mechanisms involved in the regulation of viral RNA is therefore of potential therapeutic interest. However, monitoring the regulation of alternative splicing events at a transcriptome-wide level during cell infection is challenging. Here we used the long-read cDNA sequencing developed by Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) to explore in a quantitative manner the complexity of the HIV-1 transcriptome regulation in infected primary CD4+ T cells.

Results

ONT reads mapping to the viral genome proved sufficiently long to span all possible splice junctions, even distant ones, and to be assigned to a total of 150 exon combinations. Fifty-three viral RNA isoforms, including 14 new ones were further considered for quantification. Relative levels of viral RNAs determined by ONT sequencing showed a high degree of reproducibility, compared favourably to those produced in previous reports and highly correlated with quantitative PCR (qPCR) data. To get further insights into alternative splicing regulation, we then compiled quantifications of splice site (SS) usage and transcript levels to build “splice trees”, a quantitative representation of the cascade of events leading to the different viral isoforms. This approach allowed visualizing the complete rewiring of SS usages upon perturbation of SS D2 and its impact on viral isoform levels. Furthermore, we produced the first dynamic picture of the cascade of events occurring between 12 and 24 h of viral infection. In particular, our data highlighted the importance of non-coding exons in viral RNA transcriptome regulation.

Conclusion

ONT sequencing is a convenient and reliable strategy that enabled us to grasp the dynamic of the early splicing events modulating the viral RNA landscape in HIV-1 infected cells.

Expression Level of HIV-1 Vif Can Be Fluctuated by Natural Nucleotide Variations in the vif-Coding and Regulatory SA1D2prox Sequences of the Proviral Genome

Vif is required for HIV-1 replication in natural target cells by counteracting host restriction factors, APOBEC3 (A3) proteins. We recently demonstrated that Vif expression level can be changed by naturally occurring single-nucleotide variations within SA1D2prox of the HIV-1 genome. We also found that levels for vif/vpr mRNAs are inversely correlated. While amino acid sequence per se is critical for functionality, Vif expression level modulated by signal sequences in its coding region is likely to be important as well. There are two splicing sites in the region involved in vpr expression. To reveal possible fluctuations of Vif-expression level, we examined SA1D2prox and vif gene by chimeric approaches using HIV-1 subtypes B and C with distinct anti-A3 activity. In this report, recombinant clones in subtype B backbone carrying chimeric sequences with respect to SA1D2prox/vif and those within the vif-coding region were generated. Of these, clones containing vif-coding sequence of subtype C, especially its 3′ region, expressed vif/Vif at a decreased level but did at an increased level for vpr/Vpr. Clones with reduced vif/Vif level grew similarly or slightly better than a parental clone in weakly A3G-positive cells but more poorly in highly A3G-expressing cells. Three clones with this property were also tested for their A3-degrading activity. One of the clones appeared to have some defect in addition to the poor ability to express vif/Vif. Taken all together, our results show that natural variations in the SA1D2prox and vif-coding region can change the Vif-expression level and affect the HIV-1 replication potential.

A scale-free analysis of the HIV-1 genome demonstrates multiple conserved regions of structural and functional importance

HIV-1 replicates via a low-fidelity polymerase with a high mutation rate; strong conservation of individual nucleotides is highly indicative of the presence of critical structural or functional properties. Identifying such conservation can reveal novel insights into viral behaviour. We analysed 3651 publicly available sequences for the presence of nucleic acid conservation beyond that required by amino acid constraints, using a novel scale-free method that identifies regions of outlying score together with a codon scoring algorithm. Sequences with outlying score were further analysed using an algorithm for producing local RNA folds whilst accounting for alignment properties. 11 different conserved regions were identified, some corresponding to well-known cis-acting functions of the HIV-1 genome but also others whose conservation has not previously been noted. We identify rational causes for many of these, including cis functions, possible additional reading frame usage, a plausible mechanism by which the central polypurine tract primes second-strand DNA synthesis and a conformational stabilising function of a region at the 5′ end of env.

HIV-1 is a very rapidly mutating organism, however some parts of its genetic material change more than others. We looked for coding regions of HIV-1 that change relatively little, by turning the problem of finding such regions into a problem in signal processing, and solving this using a novel analytical approach that we recently described. We investigated why the regions we identified change less, including using the genetic code in the regions we found to prime an algorithm to predict their structures. In some cases there are already known functions for the features we found, in others they provide new insights into the properties of known regions, and in some cases we identify new regions that vary less for as yet unknown functional reasons.

Gymnotic Delivery of LNA Mixmers Targeting Viral SREs Induces HIV-1 mRNA Degradation

Transcription of the HIV-1 provirus generates a viral pre-mRNA, which is alternatively spliced into more than 50 HIV-1 mRNAs encoding all viral proteins. Regulation of viral alternative splice site usage includes the presence of splicing regulatory elements (SREs) which can dramatically impact RNA expression and HIV-1 replication when mutated. Recently, we were able to show that two viral SREs, G_I3-2 and ESE_tat, are important players in the generation of viral vif, vpr and tat mRNAs. Furthermore, we demonstrated that masking these SREs by transfected locked nucleic acid (LNA) mixmers affect the viral splicing pattern and viral particle production. With regard to the development of future therapeutic LNA mixmer-based antiretroviral approaches, we delivered the G_I3-2 and the ESE_tat LNA mixmers “nakedly”, without the use of transfection reagents (gymnosis) into HIV-1 infected cells. Surprisingly, we observed that gymnotically-delivered LNA mixmers accumulated in the cytoplasm, and seemed to co-localize with GW bodies and induced degradation of mRNAs containing their LNA target sequence. The G_I3-2 and the ESE_tat LNA-mediated RNA degradation resulted in abrogation of viral replication in HIV-1 infected Jurkat and PM1 cells as well as in PBMCs.

Behind the scenes of HIV-1 replication: Alternative splicing as the dependency factor on the quiet

Alternative splicing plays a key role in the HIV-1 life cycle and is essential to maintain an equilibrium of mRNAs that encode viral proteins and polyprotein-isoforms. In particular, since all early HIV-1 proteins are expressed from spliced intronless and late enzymatic and structural proteins from intron containing, i.e. splicing repressed viral mRNAs, cellular splicing factors and splicing regulatory proteins are crucial for the replication capacity. In this review, we will describe the complex network of cis-acting splicing regulatory elements (SREs), which are mainly localized in the neighbourhoods of all HIV-1 splice sites and warrant the proper ratio of individual transcript isoforms. Since SREs represent binding sites for trans-acting cellular splicing factors interacting with the cellular spliceosomal apparatus we will review the current knowledge of interactions between viral RNA and cellular proteins as well as their impact on viral replication. Finally, we will discuss potential therapeutic approaches targeting HIV-1 alternative splicing.

Global synonymous mutagenesis identifies cis-acting RNA elements that regulate HIV-1 splicing and replication

The ~9.5 kilobase HIV-1 genome contains RNA sequences and structures that control many aspects of viral replication, including transcription, splicing, nuclear export, translation, packaging and reverse transcription. Nonetheless, chemical probing and other approaches suggest that the HIV-1 genome may contain many more RNA secondary structures of unknown importance and function. To determine whether there are additional, undiscovered cis-acting RNA elements in the HIV-1 genome that are important for viral replication, we undertook a global silent mutagenesis experiment. Sixteen mutant proviruses containing clusters of ~50 to ~200 synonymous mutations covering nearly the entire HIV-1 protein coding sequence were designed and synthesized. Analyses of these mutant viruses resulted in their division into three phenotypic groups. Group 1 mutants exhibited near wild-type replication, Group 2 mutants exhibited replication defects accompanied by perturbed RNA splicing, and Group 3 mutants had replication defects in the absence of obvious splicing perturbation. The three phenotypes were caused by mutations that exhibited a clear regional bias in their distribution along the viral genome, and those that caused replication defects all caused reductions in the level of unspliced RNA. We characterized in detail the underlying defects for Group 2 mutants. Second-site revertants that enabled viral replication could be derived for Group 2 mutants, and generally contained point mutations that reduced the utilization of proximal splice sites. Mapping of the changes responsible for splicing perturbations in Group 2 viruses revealed the presence of several RNA sequences that apparently suppressed the use of cryptic or canonical splice sites. Some sequences that affected splicing were diffusely distributed, while others could be mapped to discrete elements, proximal or distal to the affected splice site(s). Overall, our data indicate complex negative regulation of HIV-1 splicing by RNA elements in various regions of the HIV-1 genome that enable balanced splicing and viral replication.

In addition to encoding viral proteins, the HIV-1 genome contains sequence elements that act at the level of RNA to enable replication. We undertook an experiment to discover new RNA elements that act in this way by altering nearly the entire coding sequence of the viral genome so as to change the RNA sequence without changing protein sequences. This experiment uncovered two classes of defective mutants. One class had profound defects in RNA splicing, the other had no obvious defects in splicing. Through an analysis of the splicing-defective mutants, we found several previously RNA sequences in the viral genome that affected splicing, enabling a nearly complete catalogue of signals that regulate HIV-1 alternative splicing in infected cells to be derived. Because these newly described sequences lack sequence motifs that are known to bind to canonical splicing-regulatory proteins, they may function through novel mechanisms.

Production of HIV-1 vif mRNA Is Modulated by Natural Nucleotide Variations and SLSA1 RNA Structure in SA1D2prox Genomic Region

Genomic RNA of HIV-1 contains localized structures critical for viral replication. Its structural analysis has demonstrated a stem-loop structure, SLSA1, in a nearby region of HIV-1 genomic splicing acceptor 1 (SA1). We have previously shown that the expression level of vif mRNA is considerably altered by some natural single-nucleotide variations (nSNVs) clustering in SLSA1 structure. In this study, besides eleven nSNVs previously identified by us, we totally found nine new nSNVs in the SLSA1-containing sequence from SA1, splicing donor 2, and through to the start codon of Vif that significantly affect the vif mRNA level, and designated the sequence SA1D2prox (142 nucleotides for HIV-1 NL4-3). We then examined by extensive variant and mutagenesis analyses how SA1D2prox sequence and SLSA1 secondary structure are related to vif mRNA level. While the secondary structure and stability of SLSA1 was largely changed by nSNVs and artificial mutations introduced to restore the original NL4-3 form from altered ones by nSNVs, no clear association of the two SLSA1 properties with vif mRNA level was observed. In contrast, when naturally occurring SA1D2prox sequences that contain multiple nSNVs were examined, we attained significant inverse correlation between the vif level and SLSA1 stability. These results may suggest that SA1D2prox sequence adapts over time, and also that the altered SA1D2prox sequence, SLSA1 stability, and vif level are mutually related. In total, we show here that the entire SA1D2prox sequence and SLSA1 stability critically contribute to the modulation of vif mRNA level.

Elucidating the in vivo interactome of HIV-1 RNA by hybridization capture and mass spectrometry

HIV-1 replication requires myriad interactions between cellular proteins and the viral unspliced RNA. These interactions are important in archetypal RNA processes such as transcription and translation as well as for more specialized functions including alternative splicing and packaging of unspliced genomic RNA into virions. We present here a hybridization capture strategy for purification of unspliced full-length HIV RNA-protein complexes preserved in vivo by formaldehyde crosslinking, and coupled with mass spectrometry to identify HIV RNA-protein interactors in HIV-1 infected cells. One hundred eighty-nine proteins were identified to interact with unspliced HIV RNA including Rev and Gag/Gag-Pol, 24 host proteins previously shown to bind segments of HIV RNA, and over 90 proteins previously shown to impact HIV replication. Further analysis using siRNA knockdown techniques against several of these proteins revealed significant changes to HIV expression. These results demonstrate the utility of the approach for the discovery of host proteins involved in HIV replication. Additionally, because this strategy only requires availability of 30 nucleotides of the HIV-RNA for hybridization with a capture oligonucleotide, it is readily applicable to any HIV system of interest regardless of cell type, HIV-1 virus strain, or experimental perturbation.

Analysis of Competing HIV-1 Splice Donor Sites Uncovers a Tight Cluster of Splicing Regulatory Elements within Exon 2/2b

The HIV-1 accessory protein Vif is essential for viral replication by counteracting the host restriction factor APOBEC3G (A3G), and balanced levels of both proteins are required for efficient viral replication. Noncoding exons 2/2b contain the Vif start codon between their alternatively used splice donors 2 and 2b (D2 and D2b). For vif mRNA, intron 1 must be removed while intron 2 must be retained. Thus, splice acceptor 1 (A1) must be activated by U1 snRNP binding to either D2 or D2b, while splicing at D2 or D2b must be prevented. Here, we unravel the complex interactions between previously known and novel components of the splicing regulatory network regulating HIV-1 exon 2/2b inclusion in viral mRNAs. In particular, using RNA pulldown experiments and mass spectrometry analysis, we found members of the heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoparticle (hnRNP) A/B family binding to a novel splicing regulatory element (SRE), the exonic splicing silencer ESS2b, and the splicing regulatory proteins Tra2/SRSF10 binding to the nearby exonic splicing enhancer ESE2b. Using a minigene reporter, we performed bioinformatics HEXplorer-guided mutational analysis to narrow down SRE motifs affecting splice site selection between D2 and D2b. Eventually, the impacts of these SREs on the viral splicing pattern and protein expression were exhaustively analyzed in viral particle production and replication experiments. Masking of these protein binding sites by use of locked nucleic acids (LNAs) impaired Vif expression and viral replication.IMPORTANCE Based on our results, we propose a model in which a dense network of SREs regulates vif mRNA and protein expression, crucial to maintain viral replication within host cells with varying A3G levels and at different stages of infection. This regulation is maintained by several serine/arginine-rich splicing factors (SRSF) and hnRNPs binding to those elements. Targeting this cluster of SREs with LNAs may lead to the development of novel effective therapeutic strategies.

Identification of small molecule modulators of HIV-1 Tat and Rev protein accumulation

Background

HIV-1 replication is critically dependent upon controlled processing of its RNA and the activities provided by its encoded regulatory factors Tat and Rev. A screen of small molecule modulators of RNA processing identified several which inhibited virus gene expression, affecting both relative abundance of specific HIV-1 RNAs and the levels of Tat and Rev proteins.

Results

The screen for small molecules modulators of HIV-1 gene expression at the post-transcriptional level identified three (a pyrimidin-7-amine, biphenylcarboxamide, and benzohydrazide, designated 791, 833, and 892, respectively) that not only reduce expression of HIV-1 Gag and Env and alter the accumulation of viral RNAs, but also dramatically decrease Tat and Rev levels. Analyses of viral RNA levels by qRTPCR and RTPCR indicated that the loss of either protein could not be attributed to changes in abundance of the mRNAs encoding these factors. However, addition of the proteasome inhibitor MG132 did result in significant restoration of Tat expression, indicating that the compounds are affecting Tat synthesis and/or degradation. Tests in the context of replicating HIV-1 in PBMCs confirmed that 791 significantly reduced virus replication. Parallel analyses of the effect of the compounds on host gene expression revealed only minor changes in either mRNA abundance or alternative splicing. Subsequent tests suggest that 791 may function by reducing levels of the Tat/Rev chaperone Nap1.

Conclusions

The three compounds examined (791, 833, 892), despite their lack of structural similarity, all suppressed HIV-1 gene expression by preventing accumulation of two key HIV-1 regulatory factors, Tat and Rev. These findings demonstrate that selective disruption of HIV-1 gene expression can be achieved.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12977-017-0330-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Differential hnRNP D isoform incorporation may confer plasticity to the ESSV-mediated repressive state across HIV-1 exon 3

Even though splicing repression by hnRNP complexes bound to exonic sequences is well-documented, the responsible effector domains of hnRNP proteins have been described for only a select number of hnRNP constituents. Thus, there is only limited information available for possible varying silencer activities amongst different hnRNP proteins and composition changes within possible hnRNP complex assemblies. In this study, we identified the glycine-rich domain (GRD) of hnRNP proteins as a unifying feature in splice site repression. We also show that all four hnRNP D isoforms can act as genuine splicing repressors when bound to exonic positions. The presence of an extended GRD, however, seemed to potentiate the hnRNP D silencer activity of isoforms p42 and p45. Moreover, we demonstrate that hnRNP D proteins associate with the HIV-1 ESSV silencer complex, probably through direct recognition of "UUAG" sequences overlapping with the previously described "UAGG" motifs bound by hnRNP A1. Consequently, this spatial proximity seems to cause mutual interference between hnRNP A1 and hnRNP D. This interplay between hnRNP A1 and D facilitates a dynamic regulation of the repressive state of HIV-1 exon 3 which manifests as fluctuating relative levels of spliced vpr- and unspliced gag/pol-mRNAs.

Natural Single-Nucleotide Variations in the HIV-1 Genomic SA1prox Region Can Alter Viral Replication Ability by Regulating Vif Expression Levels

We previously found that natural single-nucleotide variations located within a proximal region of splicing acceptor 1 (SA1prox) in the HIV-1 genome could alter the viral replication potential and mRNA expression pattern, especially the vif mRNA level. Here, we studied the virological and molecular basis of nucleotide sequence variations in SA1prox for alterations of viral replication ability. Consistent with our previous findings, variant clones indeed expressed Vif at different levels and grew distinctively in cells with various APOBEC3G expression levels. Similar effects were observed for natural variations found in HIV-2 SA1prox, suggesting the importance of the SA1prox sequence. To define nucleotides critical for the regulation of HIV-1 Vif expression, effects of natural SA1prox variations newly found in the HIV Sequence Compendium database on vif mRNA/Vif protein levels were examined. Seven out of nine variations were found to produce Vif at lower, higher, or more excessive levels than wild-type NL4-3. Combination experiments of variations giving distinct Vif levels suggested that the variations mutually affected vif transcript production. While low and high producers of Vif grew in an APOBEC3G-dependent manner, excessive expressers always showed an impeded growth phenotype due to defects in single-cycle infectivity and/or virion production levels. The phenotype of excessive expressers was not due primarily to inadequate expression of Tat or Rev, although SA1prox variations altered the overall HIV-1 mRNA expression pattern. Collectively, our results demonstrate that HIV SA1prox regulates Vif expression levels and suggest a relationship between SA1prox and viral adaptation/evolution given that variations occurred naturally.

IMPORTANCE

While human cells possess restriction factors to inhibit HIV-1 replication, HIV-1 encodes antagonists to overcome these barriers. Conflicts between host restriction factors and viral counterparts are critical driving forces behind mutual evolution. The interplay of cellular APOBEC3G and viral Vif proteins is a typical example. Here, we demonstrate that naturally occurring single-nucleotide variations in the proximal region of splicing acceptor 1 (SA1prox) of the HIV-1 genome frequently alter Vif expression levels, thereby modulating viral replication potential in cells with various ABOBEC3G levels. The results of the present study reveal a previously unidentified and important way for HIV-1 to compete with APOBEC3G restriction by regulating its Vif expression levels. We propose that SA1prox plays a regulatory role in Vif counteraction against APOBEC3G in order to contribute to HIV-1 replication and evolution, and this may be applicable to other primate lentiviruses.

Biophysical Characterization of Nucleophosmin Interactions with Human Immunodeficiency Virus Rev and Herpes Simplex Virus US11

Nucleophosmin (NPM1, also known as B23, numatrin or NO38) is a pentameric RNA-binding protein with RNA and protein chaperon functions. NPM1 has increasingly emerged as a potential cellular factor that directly associates with viral proteins; however, the significance of these interactions in each case is still not clear. In this study, we have investigated the physical interaction of NPM1 with both human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Rev and Herpes Simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) US11, two functionally homologous proteins. Both viral proteins show, in mechanistically different modes, high affinity for a binding site on the N-terminal oligomerization domain of NPM1. Rev, additionally, exhibits low-affinity for the central histone-binding domain of NPM1. We also showed that the proapoptotic cyclic peptide CIGB-300 specifically binds to NPM1 oligomerization domain and blocks its association with Rev and US11. Moreover, HIV-1 virus production was significantly reduced in the cells treated with CIGB-300. Results of this study suggest that targeting NPM1 may represent a useful approach for antiviral intervention.

Balanced splicing at the Tat-specific HIV-1 3'ss A3 is critical for HIV-1 replication

Background

The viral regulatory protein Tat is essential for establishing a productive transcription from the 5′-LTR promoter during the early phase of viral gene expression. Formation of the Tat-encoding mRNAs requires splicing at the viral 3′ss A3, which has previously been shown to be both negatively and positively regulated by the downstream splicing regulatory elements (SREs) ESS2p and ESE2/ESS2. However, using the novel RESCUE-type computational HEXplorer algorithm, we were recently able to identify another splicing enhancer (ESE^5807-5838, henceforth referred to as ESE_tat) located between ESS2p and ESE2/ESS2. Here we show that ESE_tat has a great impact on viral tat-mRNA splicing and that it is fundamental for regulated 3′ss A3 usage.

Results

Mutational inactivation or locked nucleic acid (LNA)-directed masking of the ESE_tat sequence in the context of a replication-competent virus was associated with a failure (i) to activate viral 3′ss A3 and (ii) to accumulate Tat-encoding mRNA species. Consequently, due to insufficient amounts of Tat protein efficient viral replication was drastically impaired. RNA in vitro binding assays revealed SRSF2 and SRSF6 as candidate splicing factors acting through ESE_tat and ESE2 for 3′ss A3 activation. This notion was supported by coexpression experiments, in which wild-type, but not ESE_tat-negative provirus responded to higher levels of SRSF2 and SRSF6 proteins with higher levels of tat-mRNA splicing. Remarkably, we could also find that SRSF6 overexpression established an antiviral state within provirus-transfected cells, efficiently blocking virus particle production. For the anti-HIV-1 activity the arginine-serine (RS)-rich domain of the splicing factor was dispensable.

Conclusions

Based on our results, we propose that splicing at 3′ss A3 is dependent on binding of the enhancing SR proteins SRSF2 and SRSF6 to the ESE_tat and ESE2 sequence. Mutational inactivation or interference specifically with ESE_tat activity by LNA-directed masking seem to account for an early stage defect in viral gene expression, probably by cutting off the supply line of Tat that HIV needs to efficiently transcribe its genome.

A functional conserved intronic G run in HIV-1 intron 3 is critical to counteract APOBEC3G-mediated host restriction

Background

The HIV-1 accessory proteins, Viral Infectivity Factor (Vif) and the pleiotropic Viral Protein R (Vpr) are important for efficient virus replication. While in non-permissive cells an appropriate amount of Vif is critical to counteract APOBEC3G-mediated host restriction, the Vpr-induced G2 arrest sets the stage for highest transcriptional activity of the HIV-1 long terminal repeat.

Both vif and vpr mRNAs harbor their translational start codons within the intron bordering the non-coding leader exons 2 and 3, respectively. Intron retention relies on functional cross-exon interactions between splice sites A1 and D2 (for vif mRNA) and A2 and D3 (for vpr mRNA). More precisely, prior to the catalytic step of splicing, which would lead to inclusion of the non-coding leader exons, binding of U1 snRNP to the 5' splice site (5'ss) facilitates recognition of the 3'ss by U2 snRNP and also supports formation of vif and vpr mRNA.

Results

We identified a G run localized deep in the vpr AUG containing intron 3 (G_I3-2), which was critical for balanced splicing of both vif and vpr non-coding leader exons. Inactivation of G_I3-2 resulted in excessive exon 3 splicing as well as exon-definition mediated vpr mRNA formation. However, in an apparently mutually exclusive manner this was incompatible with recognition of upstream exon 2 and vif mRNA processing. As a consequence, inactivation of G_I3-2 led to accumulation of Vpr protein with a concomitant reduction in Vif protein. We further demonstrate that preventing hnRNP binding to intron 3 by G_I3-2 mutation diminished levels of vif mRNA. In APOBEC3G-expressing but not in APOBEC3G-deficient T cell lines, mutation of G_I3-2 led to a considerable replication defect. Moreover, in HIV-1 isolates carrying an inactivating mutation in G_I3-2, we identified an adjacent G-rich sequence (G_I3-1), which was able to substitute for the inactivated G_I3-2.

Conclusions

The functionally conserved intronic G run in HIV-1 intron 3 plays a major role in the apparently mutually exclusive exon selection of vif and vpr leader exons and hence in vif and vpr mRNA formation. The competition between these exons determines the ability to evade APOBEC3G-mediated antiviral effects due to optimal vif expression.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12977-014-0072-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Genomic HEXploring allows landscaping of novel potential splicing regulatory elements

Effective splice site selection is critically controlled by flanking splicing regulatory elements (SREs) that can enhance or repress splice site use. Although several computational algorithms currently identify a multitude of potential SRE motifs, their predictive power with respect to mutation effects is limited. Following a RESCUE-type approach, we defined a hexamer-based ‘HEXplorer score’ as average Z-score of all six hexamers overlapping with a given nucleotide in an arbitrary genomic sequence. Plotted along genomic regions, HEXplorer score profiles varied slowly in the vicinity of splice sites. They reflected the respective splice enhancing and silencing properties of splice site neighborhoods beyond the identification of single dedicated SRE motifs. In particular, HEXplorer score differences between mutant and reference sequences faithfully represented exonic mutation effects on splice site usage. Using the HIV-1 pre-mRNA as a model system highly dependent on SREs, we found an excellent correlation in 29 mutations between splicing activity and HEXplorer score. We successfully predicted and confirmed five novel SREs and optimized mutations inactivating a known silencer. The HEXplorer score allowed landscaping of splicing regulatory regions, provided a quantitative measure of mutation effects on splice enhancing and silencing properties and permitted calculation of the mutationally most effective nucleotide.

The PI3K pathway acting on alternative HIV-1 pre-mRNA splicing

HIV-1 mediates pro-survival signals and prevents apoptosis via the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) pathway. This pathway, however, also affects phosphorylation of serine-arginine (SR) proteins, a family of splicing regulatory factors balancing splice site selection. We now show that pharmacologic inhibition of PI3K signalling alters the HIV-1 splicing pattern of both minigene- and provirus-derived mRNAs. This indicates that HIV-1 might also promote PI3K signalling to balance processing of its transcripts by regulating phosphorylation of splicing regulatory proteins.

Natural single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the 3' region of the HIV-1 pol gene modulate viral replication ability

We previously showed that prototype macaque-tropic human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) acquired nonsynonymous growth-enhancing mutations within a narrow genomic region during the adaptation process in macaque cells. These adaptive mutations were clustered in the 3' region of the pol gene, encoding a small portion of the C-terminal domain of integrase (IN). Mutations in HIV-1 IN have been reported to have pleiotropic effects on both the early and late phases in viral replication. cis-acting functions in the IN-coding sequence for viral gene expression have also been reported. We here demonstrated that the adaptive mutations promoted viral growth by increasing virion production with no positive effects on the early replication phase. Synonymous codon alterations in one of the adaptive mutations influenced virion production levels, which suggested nucleotide-dependent regulation. Indeed, when the single-nucleotide natural polymorphisms observed in the 3' regions of 196 HIV-1/simian immunodeficiency virus (SIVcpz) pol genes (nucleotides [nt] 4895 to 4929 for HIV-1 NL4-3) were introduced into macaque- and human-tropic HIV-1 clones, more than half exhibited altered replication potentials. Moreover, single-nucleotide mutations caused parallel increases or decreases in the expression levels of viral late proteins and viral replication potentials. We also showed that the overall expression profiles of viral mRNAs were markedly changed by single-nucleotide mutations. These results demonstrate that the 3' region of the HIV-1 pol gene (nt 4895 to 4929) can alter viral replication potential by modulating the expression pattern of viral mRNAs in a nucleotide-dependent manner.

IMPORTANCE

Viruses have the plasticity to adapt themselves under various constraints. HIV-1 can mutate and evolve in growth-restrictive cells by acquiring adaptive changes in its genome. We have previously identified some growth-enhancing mutations in a narrow region of the IN-coding sequence, in which a number of cis-acting elements are located. We now focus on the virological significance of this pol gene region and the mechanistic basis underlying its effects on viral replication. We have found several naturally occurring synonymous mutations within this region that alter viral replication potentials. The effects caused by these natural single-nucleotide polymorphisms are linked to the definite expression patterns of viral mRNAs. We show here that the nucleotide sequence of the pol gene (nucleotides 4895 to 4929 for HIV-1 NL4-3) plays an important role in HIV-1 replication by modulating viral gene expression.

The D-amino acid peptide D3 reduces amyloid fibril boosted HIV-1 infectivity

Background

Amyloid fibrils such as Semen-Derived Enhancer of Viral Infection (SEVI) or amyloid-β-peptide (Aβ) enhance HIV-1 attachment and entry. Inhibitors destroying or converting those fibrils into non-amyloidogenic aggregates effectively reduce viral infectivity. Thus, they seem to be suitable as therapeutic drugs expanding the current HIV-intervening repertoire of antiretroviral compounds.

Findings

In this study, we demonstrate that the small D-amino acid peptide D3, which was investigated for therapeutic studies on Alzheimer’s disease (AD), significantly reduces both SEVI and Aβ fibril boosted infectivity of HIV-1.

Conclusions

Since amyloids could play an important role in the progression of AIDS dementia complex (ADC), the treatment of HIV-1 infected individuals with D3, that inhibits Aβ fibril formation and converts preformed Aβ fibrils into non-amyloidogenic and non-fibrillar aggregates, may reduce the vulnerability of the central nervous system of HIV patients for HIV associated neurological disorders.

Negative regulation of mitochondrial transcription by mitochondrial topoisomerase I

Mitochondrial topoisomerase I is a genetically distinct mitochondria-dedicated enzyme with a crucial but so far unknown role in the homeostasis of mitochondrial DNA metabolism. Here, we present data suggesting a negative regulatory function in mitochondrial transcription or transcript stability. Deficiency or depletion of mitochondrial topoisomerase I increased mitochondrial transcripts, whereas overexpression lowered mitochondrial transcripts, depleted respiratory complexes I, III and IV, decreased cell respiration and raised superoxide levels. Acute depletion of mitochondrial topoisomerase I triggered neither a nuclear mito-biogenic stress response nor compensatory topoisomerase IIβ upregulation, suggesting the concomitant increase in mitochondrial transcripts was due to release of a local inhibitory effect. Mitochondrial topoisomerase I was co-immunoprecipitated with mitochondrial RNA polymerase. It selectively accumulated and rapidly exchanged at a subset of nucleoids distinguished by the presence of newly synthesized RNA and/or mitochondrial RNA polymerase. The inactive Y559F-mutant behaved similarly without affecting mitochondrial transcripts. In conclusion, mitochondrial topoisomerase I dampens mitochondrial transcription and thereby alters respiratory capacity. The mechanism involves selective association of the active enzyme with transcriptionally active nucleoids and a direct interaction with mitochondrial RNA polymerase. The inhibitory role of topoisomerase I in mitochondrial transcription is strikingly different from the stimulatory role of topoisomerase I in nuclear transcription.

Tra2-mediated recognition of HIV-1 5' splice site D3 as a key factor in the processing of vpr mRNA

Small noncoding HIV-1 leader exon 3 is defined by its splice sites A2 and D3. While 3' splice site (3'ss) A2 needs to be activated for vpr mRNA formation, the location of the vpr start codon within downstream intron 3 requires silencing of splicing at 5'ss D3. Here we show that the inclusion of both HIV-1 exon 3 and vpr mRNA processing is promoted by an exonic splicing enhancer (ESE(vpr)) localized between exonic splicing silencer ESSV and 5'ss D3. The ESE(vpr) sequence was found to be bound by members of the Transformer 2 (Tra2) protein family. Coexpression of these proteins in provirus-transfected cells led to an increase in the levels of exon 3 inclusion, confirming that they act through ESE(vpr). Further analyses revealed that ESE(vpr) supports the binding of U1 snRNA at 5'ss D3, allowing bridging interactions across the upstream exon with 3'ss A2. In line with this, an increase or decrease in the complementarity of 5'ss D3 to the 5' end of U1 snRNA was accompanied by a higher or lower vpr expression level. Activation of 3'ss A2 through the proposed bridging interactions, however, was not dependent on the splicing competence of 5'ss D3 because rendering it splicing defective but still competent for efficient U1 snRNA binding maintained the enhancing function of D3. Therefore, we propose that splicing at 3'ss A2 occurs temporally between the binding of U1 snRNA and splicing at D3.