Green fluorescent protein-tagged retroviral envelope protein for analysis of virus-cell interactions.
Fluorescent retroviral envelope (Env) proteins were developed for direct visualization of viral particles. By fusing the enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) to the N terminus of the amphotropic 4070A envelope protein, extracellular presentation of eGFP was achieved. Viruses incorporated the modified Env protein and efficiently infected cells. We used the GFP-tagged viruses for staining retrovirus receptor-positive cells, thereby circumventing indirect labeling techniques. By generating cells which conditionally expressed the GFP-tagged Env protein, we could confirm an inverse correlation between retroviral Env expression and infectivity (superinfection). eGFP-tagged virus particles are suitable for monitoring the dynamics of virus-cell interactions.
Department of Gene Regulation and Differentiation, German Research Center for Biotechnology, D-38124 Braunschweig, Germany.
Dirk
D
Spitzer
Kurt E J
KE
Dittmar
Manfred
M
Rohde
Hansjörg
H
Hauser
Dagmar
D
Wirth
D016475:3T3 Cells; D000818:Animals; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D011991:Receptors, Virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012190:Retroviridae / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D014161:Transduction, Genetic; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D011991:Receptors, Virus; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins