Stabilization of the β-hairpin in Mason-Pfizer monkey virus capsid protein- a critical step for infectivity

In Vitro Quantification of the Effects of IP6 and Other Small Polyanions on Immature HIV-1 Particle Assembly and Core Stability

Proper assembly and disassembly of both immature and mature HIV-1 hexameric lattices are critical for successful viral replication. These processes are facilitated by several host-cell factors, one of which is myo-inositol hexaphosphate (IP6). IP6 participates in the proper assembly of Gag into immature hexameric lattices and is incorporated into HIV-1 particles. Following maturation, IP6 is also likely to participate in stabilizing capsid protein-mediated mature hexameric lattices. Although a structural-functional analysis of the importance of IP6 in the HIV-1 life cycle has been reported, the effect of IP6 has not yet been quantified. Using two in vitro methods, we quantified the effect of IP6 on the assembly of immature-like HIV-1 particles, as well as its stabilizing effect during disassembly of mature-like particles connected with uncoating. We analyzed a broad range of molar ratios of protein hexamers to IP6 molecules during assembly and disassembly. The specificity of the IP6-facilitated effect on HIV-1 particle assembly and stability was verified by K290A, K359A, and R18A mutants. In addition to IP6, we also tested other polyanions as potential assembly cofactors or stabilizers of viral particles.IMPORTANCE Various host cell factors facilitate critical steps in the HIV-1 replication cycle. One of these factors is myo-inositol hexaphosphate (IP6), which contributes to assembly of HIV-1 immature particles and helps maintain the well-balanced metastability of the core in the mature infectious virus. Using a combination of two in vitro methods to monitor assembly of immature HIV-1 particles and disassembly of the mature core-like structure, we quantified the contribution of IP6 and other small polyanion molecules to these essential steps in the viral life cycle. Our data showed that IP6 contributes substantially to increasing the assembly of HIV-1 immature particles. Additionally, our analysis confirmed the important role of two HIV-1 capsid lysine residues involved in interactions with IP6. We found that myo-inositol hexasulphate also stabilized the HIV-1 mature particles in a concentration-dependent manner, indicating that targeting this group of small molecules may have therapeutic potential.

Maturation of retroviruses

During retrovirus maturation, cleavage of the precursor structural Gag polyprotein by the viral protease induces architectural rearrangement of the virus particle from an immature into a mature, infectious form. The structural rearrangement encapsidates the viral RNA genome in a fullerene capsid, producing a diffusible viral core that can initiate infection upon entry into the cytoplasm of a host cell. Maturation is an important therapeutic window against HIV-1. In this review, we highlight recent breakthroughs in understanding of the structures of retroviral immature and mature capsid lattices that define the boundary conditions of maturation and provide novel insights on capsid transformation. We also discuss emerging insights on encapsidation of the viral genome in the mature capsid, as well as remaining questions for further study.

Conserved cysteines in Mason-Pfizer monkey virus capsid protein are essential for infectious mature particle formation

Retrovirus assembly is driven mostly by Gag polyprotein oligomerization, which is mediated by inter and intra protein-protein interactions among its capsid (CA) domains. Mason-Pfizer monkey virus (M-PMV) CA contains three cysteines (C82, C193 and C213), where the latter two are highly conserved among most retroviruses. To determine the importance of these cysteines, we introduced mutations of these residues in both bacterial and proviral vectors and studied their impact on the M-PMV life cycle. These studies revealed that the presence of both conserved cysteines of M-PMV CA is necessary for both proper assembly and virus infectivity. Our findings suggest a crucial role of these cysteines in the formation of infectious mature particles.

Mutations in the Basic Region of the Mason-Pfizer Monkey Virus Nucleocapsid Protein Affect Reverse Transcription, Genomic RNA Packaging, and the Virus Assembly Site

In addition to specific RNA-binding zinc finger domains, the retroviral Gag polyprotein contains clusters of basic amino acid residues that are thought to support Gag-viral genomic RNA (gRNA) interactions. One of these clusters is the basic K¹⁶NK¹⁸EK²⁰ region, located upstream of the first zinc finger of the Mason-Pfizer monkey virus (M-PMV) nucleocapsid (NC) protein. To investigate the role of this basic region in the M-PMV life cycle, we used a combination of in vivo and in vitro methods to study a series of mutants in which the overall charge of this region was more positive (RNRER), more negative (AEAEA), or neutral (AAAAA). The mutations markedly affected gRNA incorporation and the onset of reverse transcription. The introduction of a more negative charge (AEAEA) significantly reduced the incorporation of M-PMV gRNA into nascent particles. Moreover, the assembly of immature particles of the AEAEA Gag mutant was relocated from the perinuclear region to the plasma membrane. In contrast, an enhancement of the basicity of this region of M-PMV NC (RNRER) caused a substantially more efficient incorporation of gRNA, subsequently resulting in an increase in M-PMV RNRER infectivity. Nevertheless, despite the larger amount of gRNA packaged by the RNRER mutant, the onset of reverse transcription was delayed in comparison to that of the wild type. Our data clearly show the requirement for certain positively charged amino acid residues upstream of the first zinc finger for proper gRNA incorporation, assembly of immature particles, and proceeding of reverse transcription.IMPORTANCE We identified a short sequence within the Gag polyprotein that, together with the zinc finger domains and the previously identified RKK motif, contributes to the packaging of genomic RNA (gRNA) of Mason-Pfizer monkey virus (M-PMV). Importantly, in addition to gRNA incorporation, this basic region (KNKEK) at the N terminus of the nucleocapsid protein is crucial for the onset of reverse transcription. Mutations that change the positive charge of the region to a negative one significantly reduced specific gRNA packaging. The assembly of immature particles of this mutant was reoriented from the perinuclear region to the plasma membrane. On the contrary, an enhancement of the basic character of this region increased both the efficiency of gRNA packaging and the infectivity of the virus. However, the onset of reverse transcription was delayed even in this mutant. In summary, the basic region in M-PMV Gag plays a key role in the packaging of genomic RNA and, consequently, in assembly and reverse transcription.

Optimized method for isolation of immature intracytoplasmic retroviral particles from mammalian cells

To biochemically and structurally characterize viral intracytoplasmic particles (ICAPs), a sample of high purity and homogeneity is usually required. Production of ICAPs in the system closely related to their natural host cells is crucial for the analysis of host-cell binding proteins involved in ICAPs assembly, transport and budding. However, this approach is often hampered by problems with low yield of the ICAPs due to either low expression or fast release from the host cell. Another obstacle may be a low stability or fragility of the intracellular particles. The published methods for ICAPs isolation often involved several time-consuming centrifugation steps yielding damaged particles. Other papers describe the ICAPs production in non-natural host cells. Here, we optimized the method for purification of unstable Mason-Pfizer monkey virus (M-PMV) ICAPs from non-human primate derived cells, commonly used to study MPMV replication i.e. African green monkey kidney fibroblast cell line (COS-1). Our simple and rapid procedure involved separation of the intracytoplasmic particles from the cell debris and organelles by differential, low-speed centrifugation, their purification using sucrose velocity gradient and final concentrating by low-speed centrifugation. Importantly, the method was established for unstable and fragile M-PMV intracytoplasmic particles. Therefore, it may be suitable for isolation of ICAPs of other viruses.

Conformational plasticity of a native retroviral capsid revealed by x-ray crystallography

Retroviruses depend on self-assembly of their capsid proteins (core particle) to yield infectious mature virions. Despite the essential role of the retroviral core, its high polymorphism has hindered high-resolution structural analyses. Here, we report the x-ray structure of the native capsid (CA) protein from bovine leukemia virus. CA is organized as hexamers that deviate substantially from sixfold symmetry, yet adjust to make two-dimensional pseudohexagonal arrays that mimic mature retroviral cores. Intra- and interhexameric quasi-equivalent contacts are uncovered, with flexible trimeric lateral contacts among hexamers, yet preserving very similar dimeric interfaces making the lattice. The conformation of each capsid subunit in the hexamer is therefore dictated by long-range interactions, revealing how the hexamers can also assemble into closed core particles, a relevant feature of retrovirus biology.