Viral and cellular specificities of caprine arthritis encephalitis virus Vif protein

Virology. 2002 Jan 5;292(1):156-61. doi: 10.1006/viro.2001.1269.

Abstract

The caprine arthritis encephalitis virus (CAEV) Vif protein is necessary for a productive infection of susceptible goat cells. The vif gene is conserved among all primate and most nonprimate lentiviruses. However, previous reports demonstrated that, in their respective host cells, primate Vif deleted lentiviruses could not be complemented by nonprimate Vif proteins, suggesting that species-specific restrictions between Vif and the virus-producing cells may modulate the Vif function on viral infectivity. Here we bring further support to this hypothesis since we show that CAEV Vif, when expressed in goat cells, is able to increase the infectivity of Vif deleted human immunodeficiency type-1 virus and of murine leukemia virus. Moreover, we demonstrate in vitro interactions between different Vif proteins and NC domains of heterologous Gag precursors, supporting the notion that species specificity of lentiviral infection is not due to molecular interactions between Vif and viral components.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Arthritis-Encephalitis Virus, Caprine / metabolism*
  • Arthritis-Encephalitis Virus, Caprine / pathogenicity*
  • Cell Line
  • Gene Deletion
  • Gene Products, gag / metabolism
  • Gene Products, vif / genetics
  • Gene Products, vif / metabolism*
  • Goats
  • HIV-1 / genetics
  • HIV-1 / pathogenicity*
  • Humans
  • Lentivirus Infections / virology
  • Leukemia Virus, Murine / genetics
  • Leukemia Virus, Murine / pathogenicity*
  • Mice
  • Protein Precursors / metabolism
  • vif Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus

Substances

  • Gene Products, gag
  • Gene Products, vif
  • Protein Precursors
  • vif Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus