Postbinding fusion function contributed by a chimeric murine leukemia virus envelope protein

Arch Virol. 2001;146(5):953-61. doi: 10.1007/s007050170127.

Abstract

We previously obtained a chimeric Friend murine leukemia virus (FMLV) envelope protein (Env) in which the whole receptor-binding domain (RBD) was replaced with a surface domain of human CD4. Here, we examined if the postbinding fusion function of the CD4-Env chimera still remains to be intact. While a pseudotype MLV bearing CD4-Env showed no infectivity, NIH 3T3 cells could be infected with a pseudotype MLV bearing both CD4-Env and a mutant FMLV Env defective in postbinding fusion function. The pseudotype MLV showed no infectivity on HeLa cells but on the FMLV receptor (mCAT1)-expressing HeLa cells. In NIH 3T3 cells, the R-peptide-deleted CD4-Env could not induce syncytia by itself but did so in co-operation with the fusion-deficient Env. Syncytia induced by the coexpression were not observed in HeLa cells but in the mCAT1-expressing HeLa cells. These results indicate that the CD4-Env could contribute postbinding fusion function in the membrane fusion process triggered by FMLV RBD-mCAT1 interaction.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 3T3 Cells / virology
  • Animals
  • Binding Sites
  • CD4 Antigens / genetics*
  • Cytopathogenic Effect, Viral / genetics
  • Friend murine leukemia virus / genetics
  • Friend murine leukemia virus / pathogenicity
  • Friend murine leukemia virus / physiology*
  • Gene Products, env / physiology*
  • Genes, env
  • Giant Cells / virology
  • HeLa Cells / virology
  • Humans
  • Membrane Fusion / genetics
  • Membrane Fusion / physiology*
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Point Mutation
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Receptors, Virus / metabolism
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / physiology*
  • Virulence
  • Virus Cultivation

Substances

  • CD4 Antigens
  • Gene Products, env
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Receptors, Virus
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • ecotropic murine leukemia virus receptor