Chromatin tethering of incoming foamy virus by the structural Gag protein.
Retroviruses hijack cellular machineries to productively infect their hosts. During the early stages of viral replication, proviral integration relies on specific interactions between components of the preintegration complex and host chromatin-bound proteins. Here, analyzing the fate of incoming primate foamy virus, we identify a short domain within the C-terminus of the structural Gag protein that efficiently binds host chromosomes, by interacting with H2A/H2B core histones. While viral particle production, virus entry and intracellular trafficking are not affected by mutation of this domain, chromosomal attachment of incoming subviral complexes is abolished, precluding proviral integration. We thus highlight a new function of the structural foamy Gag protein as the main tether between incoming subviral complexes and host chromatin prior to integration.
Tobaly-Tapiero
Joelle
J
CNRS UMR 7151, Institut Universitaire d'Hématologie, Université Paris Diderot, Paris Cedex 10, France.
Bittoun
Patricia
P
Lehmann-Che
Jacqueline
J
Delelis
Olivier
O
Giron
Marie-Lou
ML
de Thé
Hugues
H
Saïb
Ali
A
D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites; D002460:Cell Line; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D002843:Chromatin / Q000378:metabolism*; D006224:Cricetinae; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000378:metabolism; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D015683:Gene Products, gag / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006657:Histones / Q000378:metabolism; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D009154:Mutation; D011485:Protein Binding; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016092:Spumavirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D014162:Transfection; D016662:Virus Integration / Q000502:physiology; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000502:physiology
D002843:Chromatin; D004279:DNA, Viral; D015683:Gene Products, gag; D006657:Histones; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins