Distinct functions and requirements for the Cys-His boxes of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 nucleocapsid protein during RNA encapsidation and replication.

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1998. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

Distinct functions and requirements for the Cys-His boxes of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 nucleocapsid protein during RNA encapsidation and replication.

J Virol. 1997 Dec;71(12):9295-305. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/98037639
Schwartz MD; Fiore D; Panganiban AT; McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research, University of Wisconsin; Medical School, Madison 53706, USA.

Abstract: The process of retroviral RNA encapsidation involves interaction between trans-acting viral proteins and cis-acting RNA elements. The encapsidation signal on human immunodeficiency virus type 1 HIV-1) RNA is a multipartite structure composed of functional stem-loop structures. The nucleocapsid (NC) domain of the Gag polyprotein precursor contains two copies of a Cys-His box motif that have been demonstrated to be important in RNA encapsidation. To further characterize the role of the Cys-His boxes of the HIV-1 NC protein in RNA encapsidation, the relative efficiency of RNA encapsidation for virus particles that contained mutations within the Cys-His boxes was measured. Mutations that disrupted the first Cys-His box of the NC protein resulted in virus particles that encapsidated genomic RNA less efficiently and subgenomic RNA more efficiently than did wild-type virus. Mutations within the second Cys-His box did not significantly affect RNA encapsidation. In addition, a full complement of wild-type NC protein in virus particles is not required for efficient RNA encapsidation or virus replication. Finally, both Cys-His boxes of the NC protein play additional roles in virus replication.

Keywords: *Capsid/METABOLISM *Cysteine/METABOLISM *Gene Products, gag/METABOLISM *Histidine/METABOLISM *HIV-1/PHYSIOLOGY *RNA, Viral/METABOLISM *Virus Replication
980330
M9831183

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