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J. Virol., Sep 1997, 6582-6592, Vol 71, No. 9
P Spearman, R Horton, L Ratner and I Kuli-Zade
The interaction of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) Gag protein with
the plasma membrane of a cell is a critical event in the assembly of HIV
particles. The matrix protein region (MA) of HIV type 1 (HIV-1) Pr55Gag has
previously been demonstrated to confer membrane-binding properties on the
precursor polyprotein. Both the myristic acid moiety and additional
determinants within MA are essential for plasma membrane binding and
subsequent particle formation. In this study, we demonstrated the
myristylation-dependent membrane interaction of MA in an in vivo
membrane-binding assay. When expressed within mammalian cells, MA was found
both in association with cellular membranes and in a membrane-free form. In
contrast, the intact precursor Pr55Gag molecule analyzed in an identical
manner was found almost exclusively bound to membranes. Both membrane-bound
and membrane-free forms of MA were myristylated and phosphorylated.
Differential membrane binding was not due to the formation of multimers, as
dimeric and trimeric forms of MA were also found in both membrane-bound and
membrane-free fractions. To define the requirements for membrane binding of
MA, we analyzed the membrane binding of a series of MA deletion mutants.
Surprisingly, deletions within alpha-helical regions forming the globular
head of MA led to a dramatic increase in overall membrane binding. The
stability of the MA-membrane interaction was not affected by these
deletions, and no deletion eliminated membrane binding of the molecule.
These results establish that myristic acid is a primary determinant of the
stability of the Gag protein-membrane interaction and provide support for
the hypothesis that a significant proportion of HIV-1 MA molecules may
adopt a conformation in which myristic acid is hidden and unavailable for
membrane interaction.
Copyright © 1997, American Society for Microbiology
Membrane binding of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 matrix protein in vivo supports a conformational myristyl switch mechanism
Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee 37232-2581, USA. paul.spearman@mcmail.vanderbilt.edu
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