Production of avian leukosis virus particles in mammalian cells can be mediated by the interaction of the human immunodeficiency virus protein Rev and the Rev-responsive element.
In human immunodeficiency virus type 1-infected cells, the efficient expression of viral proteins from unspliced and singly spliced RNAs is dependent on two factors: the presence in the cell of the viral protein Rev and the presence in the viral RNA of the Rev-responsive element (RRE). We show here that the HIV-1 Rev/RRE system can increase the expression of avian leukosis virus (ALV) structural proteins in mammalian cells (D-17 canine osteosarcoma) and promote the release of mature ALV virions from these cells. In this system, the Rev/RRE interaction appears to facilitate the export of full-length unspliced ALV RNA from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, allowing increased production of the ALV structural proteins. Gag protein is produced in the cytoplasm of the ALV-transfected cells even in the absence of a Rev/RRE interaction. However, a functional Rev/RRE interaction increases the amount of Gag present intracellularly and, more strikingly, results in the release of mature ALV particles into the supernatant. RCAS virus containing an RRE is replication-competent in chicken embryo fibroblasts; however, we have been unable to determine whether the particles produced in D-17 cells are as infectious as the particles produced in chicken embryo fibroblasts.
Nasioulas
G
G
Gene Expression in Eukaryotes Section, National Cancer Institute Frederick Cancer Research and Development Center, Frederick, MD 21702-1201, USA.
Hughes
S H
SH
Felber
B K
BK
Whitcomb
J M
JM
D000818:Animals; D001354:Avian Leukosis Virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D001692:Biological Transport; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D002451:Cell Compartmentation; D002460:Cell Line; D004285:Dogs; D015694:Gene Products, rev / Q000378:metabolism*; D015752:Genes, env; D015497:HIV-1; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013045:Species Specificity; D015678:Viral Structural Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D054321:rev Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
D015694:Gene Products, rev; D012367:RNA, Viral; D015678:Viral Structural Proteins; D054321:rev Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus