title: HIV-1 Vpr oligomerization but not that of Gag directs the interaction between Vpr and Gag.
abstract: During HIV-1 assembly, the viral protein R (Vpr) is incorporated into newly made viral particles via an interaction with the C-terminal domain of the Gag polyprotein precursor Pr55(Gag). Vpr has been implicated in the nuclear import of newly made viral DNA and subsequently in its transcription. In addition, Vpr can affect the cell physiology by causing G(2)/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Vpr can form oligomers, but their roles have not yet been investigated. We have developed fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy-fluorescence resonance energy transfer-based assays to monitor the interaction between Pr55(Gag) and Vpr in HeLa cells. To that end, we used enhanced green fluorescent protein-Vpr that can be incorporated into the virus and tetracysteine (TC)-tagged Pr55(Gag)-TC. This TC motif is tethered to the C terminus of Pr55(Gag) and does not interfere with Pr55(Gag) trafficking and the assembly of virus-like particles (VLPs). Results show that the Pr55(Gag)-Vpr complexes accumulated mainly at the plasma membrane. In addition, results with Pr55(Gag)-TC mutants confirm that the (41)LXXLF domain of Gag-p6 is essential for Pr55(Gag)-Vpr interaction. We also report that Vpr oligomerization is crucial for Pr55(Gag) recognition and its accumulation at the plasma membrane. On the other hand, Pr55(Gag)-Vpr complexes are still formed when Pr55(Gag) carries mutations impairing its multimerization. These findings suggest that Pr55(Gag)-Vpr recognition and complex formation occur early during Pr55(Gag) assembly.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Biophotonique et Pharmacologie, UMR 7213 CNRS, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Strasbourg, 74 Route du Rhin, 67401 Illkirch Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Joëlle V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Fritz
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dujardin
authors.forename: Julien
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Godet
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Didier
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: De Mey
authors.forename: Jean-Luc
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Darlix
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mély
authors.forename: Hugues
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: de Rocquigny
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D001704:Biopolymers; D002455:Cell Division; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D016195:G2 Phase; D015683:Gene Products, gag / Q000378:metabolism*; D016336:Gene Products, vpr / Q000378:metabolism*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D011485:Protein Binding
chemical_list: D001704:Biopolymers; D015683:Gene Products, gag; D016336:Gene Products, vpr