Evidence that Gag facilitates HIV-1 envelope association both in GPI-enriched plasma membrane and detergent resistant membranes and facilitates envelope incorporation onto virions in primary CD4+ T cells.
HIV-1 particle assembly mediated by viral Gag protein occurs predominantly at plasma membrane. While colocalization of HIV-1 envelope with lipid rich microenvironment have been shown in T cells, the significance of viral proteins modulating envelope association in such microdomains in plasma membrane enriched in glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored proteins in primary CD4+ T cells that are natural targets of HIV-1 is poorly understood. Here we show that in primary CD4+ T cells that are natural targets of HIV-1 in vivo, Gag modulates HIV-1 envelope association with GM1 ganglioside and CD59 rich cellular compartments as well as with detergent resistant membranes. Our data strengthen evidence that Gag-Env interaction is important in envelope association with lipid rafts containing GPI-anchored proteins for efficient assembly onto mature virions resulting in productive infection of primary CD4+ T cells.
Patil
Ajit
A
Division of Molecular Virology, National AIDS Research Institute, Bhosari, Pune, India.
Gautam
Archana
A
Bhattacharya
Jayanta
J
D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000821:virology*; D018957:CD59 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry / Q000821:virology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D017261:Glycosylphosphatidylinositols / Q000032:analysis*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D014771:Virion / Q000378:metabolism; D019065:Virus Assembly; D054299:env Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000378:metabolism*; D054301:gag Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000378:metabolism*
D018957:CD59 Antigens; D017261:Glycosylphosphatidylinositols; D054299:env Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus; D054301:gag Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus