PrPC has nucleic acid chaperoning properties similar to the nucleocapsid protein of HIV-1

C R Biol. 2002 Jan;325(1):17-23. doi: 10.1016/s1631-0691(02)01388-4.

Abstract

The function of the cellular prion protein (PrPC) remains obscure. Studies suggest that PrPC functions in several processes including signal transduction and Cu2+ metabolism. PrPC has also been established to bind nucleic acids. Therefore we investigated the properties of PrPC as a putative nucleic acid chaperone. Surprisingly, PrPC possesses all the nucleic acid chaperoning properties previously specific to retroviral nucleocapsid proteins. PrPC appears to be a molecular mimic of NCP7, the nucleocapsid protein of HIV-1. Thus PrPC, like NCP7, chaperones the annealing of tRNA(Lys) to the HIV-1 primer binding site, the initial step of retrovirus replication. PrPC also chaperones the two DNA strand transfers required for production of a complete proviral DNA with LTRs. Concerning the functions of NCP7 during budding, PrPC also mimices NCP7 by dimerizing the HIV-1 genomic RNA. These data are unprecedented because, although many cellular proteins have been identified as nucleic acid chaperones, none have the properties of retroviral nucleocapsid proteins.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Binding Sites
  • Capsid / physiology*
  • Capsid Proteins*
  • DNA, Single-Stranded / biosynthesis
  • DNA, Viral / biosynthesis
  • Dimerization
  • Gene Products, gag / physiology*
  • HIV-1 / genetics
  • Molecular Chaperones / physiology*
  • Nucleic Acids / metabolism*
  • PrPC Proteins / physiology*
  • RNA, Transfer, Lys / metabolism
  • RNA, Viral / chemistry
  • Transcription, Genetic
  • Viral Proteins*
  • Virus Replication
  • gag Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus

Substances

  • Capsid Proteins
  • DNA, Single-Stranded
  • DNA, Viral
  • Gene Products, gag
  • Molecular Chaperones
  • NCP7 protein, Human immunodeficiency virus 1
  • Nucleic Acids
  • PrPC Proteins
  • RNA, Transfer, Lys
  • RNA, Viral
  • Viral Proteins
  • gag Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus