title: Genetic assay for multimerization of retroviral gag polyproteins.
abstract: We have established a genetic assay for the multimerization of retroviral gag polyproteins. This assay is based on the GAL4 two-hybrid system for studying protein-protein interactions (S. Fields and O. Song, Nature (London) 340:245-246, 1989). In our initial experiments, we generated Saccharomyces cerevisiae plasmids that separately express the GAL4 DNA-binding and GAL4 activation domains fused to the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) gag polyprotein, Pr55gag. The coexpression of these two hybrid proteins in S. cerevisiae results in the association of the GAL4 domains and the potent activation of an integrated GAL4-responsive lacZ indicator gene. Similar results were obtained with plasmids encoding GAL4-Moloney murine leukemia virus (M-MuLV) gag polyprotein hybrid proteins. In contrast, the heterologous GAL4-HIV-1 gag and GAL4-M-MuLV gag fusion proteins were unable to interact with each other to induce lacZ expression. The results suggest that this yeast system provides a rapid and specific assay for the interactions of retroviral gag proteins that occur during virion assembly.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York 10032.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Luban
authors.forename: K B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Alin
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Bossolt
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Humaran
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Goff
mesh_terms: D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015683:Gene Products, gag / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015750:Genes, gag; D005821:Genetic Techniques; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics*; D008979:Moloney murine leukemia virus / Q000235:genetics*; D010641:Phenotype; D010957:Plasmids; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012190:Retroviridae / Q000235:genetics*; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D005656:Fungal Proteins; C052130:GAL4 protein, S cerevisiae; D015683:Gene Products, gag; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D001616:beta-Galactosidase