Substitution of the myristoylation signal of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Pr55Gag with the phospholipase C-delta1 pleckstrin homology domain results in infectious pseudovirion production

J Gen Virol. 2008 Dec;89(Pt 12):3144-3149. doi: 10.1099/vir.0.2008/004820-0.

Abstract

The matrix domain (MA) of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Pr55Gag is covalently modified with a myristoyl group that mediates efficient viral production. However, the role of myristoylation, particularly in the viral entry process, remains uninvestigated. This study replaced the myristoylation signal of MA with a well-studied phosphatidylinositol 4,5-biphosphate-binding plasma membrane (PM) targeting motif, the phospholipase C-delta1 pleckstrin homology (PH) domain. PH-Gag-Pol PM targeting and viral production efficiencies were improved compared with Gag-Pol, consistent with the estimated increases in Gag-PM affinity. Both virions were recovered in similar sucrose density-gradient fractions and had similar mature virion morphologies. Importantly, PH-Gag-Pol and Gag-Pol pseudovirions had almost identical infectivity, suggesting a dispensable role for myristoylation in the virus life cycle. PH-Gag-Pol might be useful in separating the myristoylation-dependent processes from the myristoylation-independent processes. This the first report demonstrating infectious pseudovirion production without myristoylated Pr55Gag.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Amino Acid Substitution*
  • Blood Proteins / chemistry*
  • Blood Proteins / genetics
  • Blood Proteins / metabolism
  • Cell Line
  • Fusion Proteins, gag-pol / metabolism
  • Gene Products, gag
  • HIV-1* / genetics
  • HIV-1* / metabolism
  • HIV-1* / pathogenicity
  • Humans
  • Myristic Acid / metabolism*
  • Phospholipase C delta / chemistry*
  • Phospholipase C delta / genetics
  • Phospholipase C delta / metabolism
  • Phosphoproteins / chemistry*
  • Phosphoproteins / genetics
  • Phosphoproteins / metabolism
  • Protein Precursors* / chemistry
  • Protein Precursors* / genetics
  • Protein Precursors* / metabolism
  • Virion* / genetics
  • Virion* / metabolism
  • Virion* / pathogenicity

Substances

  • Blood Proteins
  • Fusion Proteins, gag-pol
  • Gene Products, gag
  • Phosphoproteins
  • Protein Precursors
  • p55 gag precursor protein, Human immunodeficiency virus 1
  • platelet protein P47
  • Myristic Acid
  • Phospholipase C delta