title: Characterization of virus infectivity and cell-free capsid assembly of SIVMneCL8.
abstract: We have previously described a cell-free system that reconstitutes immature capsid assembly of Gag polypeptides from viruses belonging to three major primate lentiviral lineages, including HIV-1, HIV-2 and SIVagm. Studies described here examine a member of the SIVmac/Mne lineage, SIVMneCL8, using assays for virus production and infectivity as well as cellular events in capsid formation. We report that SIVMneCL8, a molecular clone with properties typical of transmitted viral variants, is less infectious per unit p27 Gag than another member of the SIVmac/Mne lineage, SIVmac239. SIVMneCL8 Gag polypeptides are arrested at an early stage of capsid assembly in the cell-free system. Additionally, SIVMneCL8 Gag polypeptides associate minimally with the host factor human HP68. This is the first report of a primate lentivirus that does not complete capsid assembly in the cell-free system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
authors.forename: Julia E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Dooher
authors.forename: Mario Javier
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Pineda
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Overbaugh
authors.forename: Jaisri R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Lingappa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019556:COS Cells; D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002474:Cell-Free System; D002499:Centrifugation, Density Gradient; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D015683:Gene Products, gag / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D047468:Immunoprecipitation; D015302:Simian Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000472:pathogenicity* / Q000502:physiology; D014771:Virion / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D019065:Virus Assembly
chemical_list: D036022:Capsid Proteins; C066594:Gag protein p27, Simian immunodeficiency virus; D015683:Gene Products, gag