K+ ionophores stimulate retrovirus-induced fusion-from-within.
Fusion-from-without (FFWO) and fusion-from-within (FFWI) for Moloney MLV in SC-1 cells were selectively stimulated by the polycation polybrene and the ionophore amphotericin B, which can be used to discriminate between the two fusion types. FFWI was stimulated by a number of different K+ ionophores. The stimulation occurred within few hours, did not require protein synthesis, and depended on the uninfected cell type, which suggests that FFWI is stimulated by a permutation of the K+ gradient of the uninfected cell. Plasma membrane vesicles from infected cells could also stimulate fusion with the same stimulation pattern as FFWI.
Department of Pharmacology, Royal Danish School of Phamacy, Copenhagen. kba@mail.dfh.dk
K B
KB
Andersen
D016475:3T3 Cells; D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D015686:Gene Products, env / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007476:Ionophores / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007700:Kinetics; D008561:Membrane Fusion; D051379:Mice; D008979:Moloney murine leukemia virus / Q000378:metabolism*; D011188:Potassium / Q000494:pharmacology*
D015686:Gene Products, env; D007476:Ionophores; D000666:Amphotericin B; D011188:Potassium