Reversal by dithiothreitol treatment of the block in murine leukemia virus maturation induced by disulfide cross-linking

J Virol. 2002 Oct;76(19):10050-5. doi: 10.1128/jvi.76.19.10050-10055.2002.

Abstract

We previously reported that if murine leukemia virus particles are produced in the presence of the mild oxidizing agent disulfide-substituted benzamide-2, they fail to undergo the normal process of virus maturation. We now show that treatment of these immature particles with a reducing agent (dithiothreitol) induces their maturation in vitro, as evidenced by proteolytic cleavage of Gag, Gag-Pol, and Env proteins and by their morphology. The identification of partial cleavage products in these particles suggests the sequence with which the cleavages occur under these conditions. This may be a useful experimental system for further analysis of retroviral maturation under controlled conditions in vitro.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • 3T3 Cells
  • Animals
  • Disulfides
  • Dithiothreitol / pharmacology*
  • Endopeptidases / physiology
  • Fusion Proteins, gag-pol / metabolism
  • Gene Products, env / metabolism
  • Gene Products, gag / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Moloney murine leukemia virus / physiology*
  • RNA, Viral / analysis
  • Virion / physiology

Substances

  • Disulfides
  • Fusion Proteins, gag-pol
  • Gene Products, env
  • Gene Products, gag
  • RNA, Viral
  • Endopeptidases
  • Dithiothreitol