title: Characterization of the interaction between the HIV-1 Gag structural polyprotein and the cellular ribosomal protein L7 and its implication in viral nucleic acid remodeling.
abstract: In HIV-1 infected cells, the integrated viral DNA is transcribed by the host cell machinery to generate the full length HIV-1 RNA (FL RNA) that serves as mRNA encoding for the Gag and GagPol precursors. Virion formation is orchestrated by Gag, and the current view is that a specific interaction between newly made Gag molecules and FL RNA initiates the process. This in turn would cause FL RNA dimerization by the NC domain of Gag (GagNC). However the RNA chaperoning activity of unprocessed Gag is low as compared to the mature NC protein. This prompted us to search for GagNC co-factors.
  
  
  
  Here we report that RPL7, a major ribosomal protein involved in translation regulation, is a partner of Gag via its interaction with the NC domain. This interaction is mediated by the NC zinc fingers and the N- and C-termini of RPL7, respectively, but seems independent of RNA binding, Gag oligomerization and its interaction with the plasma membrane. Interestingly, RPL7 is shown for the first time to exhibit a potent DNA/RNA chaperone activity higher than that of Gag. In addition, Gag and RPL7 can function in concert to drive rapid nucleic acid hybridization.
  
  
  
  Our results show that GagNC interacts with the ribosomal protein RPL7 endowed with nucleic acid chaperone activity, favoring the notion that RPL7 could be a Gag helper chaperoning factor possibly contributing to the start of Gag assembly.
authors: Laboratoire de Biophotonique et Pharmacologie, UMR 7213 CNRS, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Strasbourg, 74, Route du Rhin, 67401, Illkirch Cedex, France.
authors: Hala El
authors: HE
authors: Mekdad
authors: Laboratoire de Biophotonique et Pharmacologie, UMR 7213 CNRS, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Strasbourg, 74, Route du Rhin, 67401, Illkirch Cedex, France.
authors: Emmanuel
authors: E
authors: Boutant
authors: Laboratoire de Biophotonique et Pharmacologie, UMR 7213 CNRS, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Strasbourg, 74, Route du Rhin, 67401, Illkirch Cedex, France.
authors: Hassan
authors: H
authors: Karnib
authors: Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg (FMTS), INSERM U1109, Université de Strasbourg, 3 rue Koeberlé, 67000, Strasbourg Cedex, France.
authors: Marina E
authors: ME
authors: Biedma
authors: Laboratoire de Biophotonique et Pharmacologie, UMR 7213 CNRS, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Strasbourg, 74, Route du Rhin, 67401, Illkirch Cedex, France.
authors: Kamal Kant
authors: KK
authors: Sharma
authors: Laboratoire de Biophotonique et Pharmacologie, UMR 7213 CNRS, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Strasbourg, 74, Route du Rhin, 67401, Illkirch Cedex, France.
authors: Iuliia
authors: I
authors: Malytska
authors: Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg (FMTS), INSERM U1109, Université de Strasbourg, 3 rue Koeberlé, 67000, Strasbourg Cedex, France.
authors: Géraldine
authors: G
authors: Laumond
authors: Architecture et Réactivité de l'ARN, CNRS, Institut de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Université de Strasbourg, 15 rue René Descartes, 67084, Strasbourg Cedex, France.
authors: Marion
authors: M
authors: Roy
authors: Laboratoire de Biophotonique et Pharmacologie, UMR 7213 CNRS, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Strasbourg, 74, Route du Rhin, 67401, Illkirch Cedex, France.
authors: Eléonore
authors: E
authors: Réal
authors: Architecture et Réactivité de l'ARN, CNRS, Institut de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Université de Strasbourg, 15 rue René Descartes, 67084, Strasbourg Cedex, France.
authors: Jean-Christophe
authors: JC
authors: Paillart
authors: Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg (FMTS), INSERM U1109, Université de Strasbourg, 3 rue Koeberlé, 67000, Strasbourg Cedex, France.
authors: Christiane
authors: C
authors: Moog
authors: Laboratoire de Biophotonique et Pharmacologie, UMR 7213 CNRS, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Strasbourg, 74, Route du Rhin, 67401, Illkirch Cedex, France.
authors: Jean Luc
authors: JL
authors: Darlix
authors: Laboratoire de Biophotonique et Pharmacologie, UMR 7213 CNRS, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Strasbourg, 74, Route du Rhin, 67401, Illkirch Cedex, France.
authors: Yves
authors: Y
authors: Mély
authors: Laboratoire de Biophotonique et Pharmacologie, UMR 7213 CNRS, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Strasbourg, 74, Route du Rhin, 67401, Illkirch Cedex, France. hderocquigny@unistra.fr.
authors: Hugues
authors: 0000-0002-6585-8505
authors: H
authors: de Rocquigny
mesh_terms: D019281:Dimerization; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008958:Models, Molecular; D018832:Molecular Chaperones / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011485:Protein Binding; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D012269:Ribosomal Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D019065:Virus Assembly; D016335:Zinc Fingers; D054301:gag Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D018832:Molecular Chaperones; D012367:RNA, Viral; C053634:RPL7 protein, human; D012269:Ribosomal Proteins; D054301:gag Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
keywords: Chaperone activity; Gag; HIV; Interaction; Nucleocapsid; RPL7