HIV-1 and MLV Gag proteins are sufficient to recruit APOBEC3G into virus-like particles

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2004 Aug 27;321(3):566-73. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2004.07.005.

Abstract

The cytidine deaminase hAPOBEC3G is an antiviral human factor that counteracts the replication of HIV-1 in absence of the Vif protein. hAPOBEC3G is packaged into virus particles and lethally hypermutates HIV-1. In this work, we examine the mechanisms governing hAPOBEC3G packaging. By GST pull-down and co-immunoprecipitation assays, we show that hAPOBEC3G binds to HIV-1 Pr55 Gag and its NC domain and to the RT and IN domains contained in Pr160 Gag-Pol. We demonstrate that the expression of HIV-1 Gag is sufficient to induce the packaging of hAPOBEC3G into Gag particles. Gag-Pol polypeptides containing RT and IN domains, as well as HIV-1 genomic RNA, seem not to be necessary for hAPOBEC3G packaging. Lastly, we show that hAPOBEC3G and its murine ortholog are packaged into HIV-1 and MLV Gag particles. We conclude that the Gag polypeptides from distant retroviruses have conserved domains allowing the packaging of the host antiviral factor APOBEC3G.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • APOBEC-3G Deaminase
  • Animals
  • Cytidine Deaminase
  • Gene Products, gag / genetics
  • Gene Products, gag / metabolism*
  • HIV-1 / genetics
  • HIV-1 / physiology
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Leukemia Virus, Murine / genetics
  • Leukemia Virus, Murine / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Nucleoside Deaminases
  • Protein Isoforms / genetics
  • Protein Isoforms / metabolism
  • Protein Precursors / genetics
  • Protein Precursors / metabolism*
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Proteins / genetics
  • Proteins / metabolism*
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
  • Repressor Proteins
  • Virion / chemistry
  • Virion / metabolism*
  • Virus Replication
  • gag Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
  • pol Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus

Substances

  • Gene Products, gag
  • Protein Isoforms
  • Protein Precursors
  • Proteins
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Repressor Proteins
  • gag Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
  • p55 gag precursor protein, Human immunodeficiency virus 1
  • pol Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
  • pr160 gag-pol precursor protein, Human immunodeficiency virus 1
  • Nucleoside Deaminases
  • APOBEC-3G Deaminase
  • APOBEC3G protein, human
  • Cytidine Deaminase