Immune virolysis: effect of antibody and complement on C-type RNA virus.

In the presence of envelope antibody and complement, the AKR strain of mouse leukemia virus was lysed, with the result that (i) the viral nucleic acid became susceptible to ribonuclease digestion and (ii) the internal group-specific antigen of the virus was released. The internal localization of the group-specific antigen is confirmed, the evidence being based on the failure of group-specific antibody to lyse virus in the presence of complement.

Amino acid sequence homology between histone H5 and murine leukemia virus phosphoprotein p12.

The amino terminal acid sequences of several mouse leukemia virus phosphoproteins (p12) show definite homology with the amino terminal conserved region of H5 histones, the phosphorylated nuclear proteins of nucleated erythrocytes. Differences in the amino acid compositions of the two groups of proteins seem to rule out the possibility that they evolved from a single common ancestral gene. The finding of sequence homology between viral p12's and cellular histones, however, is consistent with evolution of retrovirus structural proteins by a process of differentiation from preexisting cellular genes. The conserved primary and secondary structure at the amino terminal region, common to both groups of proteins, may be related to their common function of nucleic acid binding modulated by phosphorylation.

Inhibition of lymphocyte proliferation by a synthetic peptide homologous to retroviral envelope proteins.

The retroviral transmembrane envelope protein p15E is immunosuppressive in that it inhibits immune responses of lymphocytes, monocytes, and macrophages. A region of p15E has been conserved among murine and feline retroviruses; a homologous region is also found in the transmembrane envelope proteins of the human retroviruses HTLV-I and HTLV-II and in a putative envelope protein encoded by an endogenous C-type human retroviral DNA. A peptide (CKS-17) was synthesized to correspond to this region of homology and was examined for its effects on lymphocyte proliferation. CKS-17 inhibited the proliferation of an interleukin-2-dependent murine cytotoxic T-cell line as well as alloantigen-stimulated proliferation of murine and human lymphocytes. Four other peptides, representing different regions of virus proteins, were inactive. These results suggest that the immunosuppressive portion of retroviral transmembrane envelope proteins may reside, at least in part, in a-conserved sequence represented by the CKS-17 peptide.

Feline leukemia and RD-114 virus group-specific proteins: comparison of amino terminal sequence.

The major internal virion polypeptide from feline and RD-114 type C viruses has been subjected to amino terminal sequence analyses with the Beckman automated sequencer. These proteins, as well as their homologs in rat and mouse viruses, begin with the sequence prolylleucylarginyl (Pro-Leu-Arg). Virus RD-114 differs from conventional feline type C viruses that show about 80 percent relatedness based on calculation of the minimum number of base changes to give equivalent coding for the protein segments analyzed. In addition, insertion of a gap in the RD-114 sequence is necessary to maintain positional homology. The difference between RD-114 and feline leukemia virus appears as great as the difference between mouse type C viruses and either of these two viruses. Thus, even though current evidence suggests that RD-114 is of feline origin, the sequence differences between RD-114 and conventional feline virus group-specific proteins is well beyond that based on one or a few point mutations.

Interactions of immunoglobulins G and M in the detection of the mammalian C-type virus cross-reactive antigen.

The mammalian C-type tumor viruses share an antigenic determinant, gs-3, located on the major internal polypeptide of the virion. Detection of this determined in gel diffusion assays by antiserums prepared in rats by immunization with rat tumor homogenates carrying murine virus and serums prepared in a rabbit by immunization with purified murine gs antigen depended on antibodies present in the fractions containing immunoglobulins M and G. The immunoglobulin G fraction by itself precipitated only the homologous murine antigen. Neither fraction alone precipitated heterologous (cat, rat, or hamster) antigen (definition of the gs-3 reaction), while a mixture of the two fractions did. The gs-3 reaction was eliminated by treatment of the serums with beta-mercaptoethanol, also indicating a requirement for immunoglobulin M antibodies.

Isolation and characterization of a novel protein (X-ORF product) from SIV and HIV-2.

A protein designated p14 was purified from a simian immunodeficiency virus (SIVMne) and was shown by amino acid sequence analysis to be nearly identical to the predicted translational product of a unique open reading frame (X-ORF) in the nucleotide sequences of SIVmac and human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2). Thus the X-ORF is proven to be a new retroviral gene. The p14 is present in SIVMne in molar amounts equivalent to those of the gag proteins. This is the first example of a retrovirus that contains a substantial quantity of a viral protein that is not a product of the gag, pro, pol, or env genes. SIV p14 and its homolog in HIV-2 may function as nucleic acid binding proteins since purified p14 binds to single-stranded nucleic acids in vitro. Antisera to the purified protein detected p14 in SIVMne, SIVmac, and a homologous protein (16 kilodaltons) in HIV-2 but did not react with HIV-1. Diagnostic procedures based on this novel protein will distinguish between HIV-1 and HIV-2.

Amino terminal myristylation of the protein kinase p60src, a retroviral transforming protein.

The transforming protein of Rous sarcoma virus, p60src, was shown to be acylated at its amino terminus with the long-chain fatty acid myristic acid by isolation of a tryptic peptide with the following structure: myristylglycylserylseryllysine. The occurrence of this unusual posttranslational modification in the cyclic adenosine monophosphate-dependent protein kinase and in several transforming protein kinases of mammalian retroviruses suggests that myristylation of the amino terminal glycyl residue may be critical for the function of certain proteins related to cell transformation and growth control.

Characterization of envelope and core structural gene products of HTLV-III with sera from AIDS patients.

The envelope (env) and structural (gag) gene products of human T-cell leukemia (lymphotropic) virus type III were identified by immunoaffinity chromatography, immunoprecipitation, and two-dimensional oligopeptide mapping methods. The env gene specifies a glycosylated polypeptide with a molecular weight of 160,000 (gp160) that is processed to gp120 and smaller gene products. The gag gene specifies two polypeptides of 70,000 and 55,000 molecular weight (p70 and p55), both of which contain p24, the major structural protein of the mature virion. The techniques in this study can be used to define the extent of variability of the env gene product among different virus isolates and may identify the nature and patterns of the humoral immune response that lead to an immunologically protected state.

Characterization of highly immunogenic p66/p51 as the reverse transcriptase of HTLV-III/LAV.

Approximately 80 percent of all human sera that react with antigens of HTLV-III, the etiologic agent of the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), recognize protein bands at 66 and 51 kilodaltons. A mouse hybridoma was produced that was specific to these proteins. Repeated cloning of the hybridoma did not separate the two reactivities. The p66/p51 was purified from HTLV-III lysates by immunoaffinity chromatography and subjected to NH2-terminal Edman degradation. Single amino acid residues were obtained in 17 successive degradation cycles. The sequence determined was a perfect translation of the nucleotide sequence of a portion of the HTLV-III pol gene. The purified p66/51 had reverse transcriptase activity and the monoclonal immunoglobulin G specifically removed the enzyme activity from crude viral extract as well as purified enzyme.

Characterization of gp41 as the transmembrane protein coded by the HTLV-III/LAV envelope gene.

Radiolabeled amino acid sequencing was used to characterize gp41, an antigen of HTLV-III/LAV, the virus believed to be the etiological agent of the acquired immune deficiency syndrome. This antigen is the one most commonly detected in immunoblot assays by sera of patients with AIDS or AIDS-related complex (ARC) and other individuals infected with HTLV-III/LAV. A mouse monoclonal antibody that was reactive with gp41 precipitated a 160-kilodalton protein (gp160) in addition to gp41, but did not precipitate a 120-kilodalton protein (gp120) from extracts of metabolically labeled cells producing HTLV-III. Extracts of infected cells that had been labeled with tritiated leucine or isoleucine were immunoprecipitated with the monoclonal antibody. The immunoprecipitates were fractionated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and the p41 was eluted from the gel bands and subjected to amino-terminal radiolabeled amino acid sequencing by the semiautomated Edman degradation. Leucine residues occurred in cycles 7, 9, 12, 26, 33, and 34 among 40 cycles and isoleucine occurred in cycle 4 among 24 cycles analyzed. Comparison of the data with the deduced amino acid sequence of the env gene product of HTLV-III precisely placed gp41 in the COOH-terminal region of the env gene product. Gp160 is thus the primary env gene product and it is processed into gp120 and gp41.

Nucleotide sequence of the p21 transforming protein of Harvey murine sarcoma virus.

Harvey murine sarcoma virus is a retrovirus which transforms cells by means of a single virally encoded protein called p21 has. We have determined the nucleotide sequence of 1.0 kilobase in the 5' half of the viral genome which encompasses the has coding sequences and its associated regulatory signals. The nucleotide sequence has identified the amino acid sequence of two additional overlapping polypeptides which share their reading frames and the carboxyl termini with p21 but which contain additional NH2-terminal amino acids.

Identification of a major growth factor for AIDS-Kaposi's sarcoma cells as oncostatin M.

Conditioned medium from human T cell leukemia virus type 2 (HTLV-II)-infected T cells supports the growth and long-term culture of cells derived from acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-associated Kaposi's sarcoma lesions (AIDS-KS cells). A protein of 30 kilodaltons was purified from conditioned medium that supports the growth of AIDS-KS cells. The amino-terminal sequence of this protein was identical to the amino-terminal sequence of Oncostatin M, a glycoprotein that inhibits the growth of a variety of cancer cells. Oncostatin M from conditioned medium stimulated a twofold increase in the growth of AIDS-KS cells at a concentration of less than 1 nanogram of the protein per milliliter of medium.

The where, what and how of ribosomal frameshifting in retroviral protein synthesis.

The gag and pol genes of most retroviruses occur in different reading frames and their translation as a single polypeptide is carried out by ribosomal frameshifting in the -1 direction. The alignment of the different reading frames occurs by overlapping reading in response to at least two signals within the RNA: one is a heptanucleotide stretch at the frameshift site and the other is a stem-loop structure which occurs just downstream of the first signal.

Identification and characterization of c-raf phosphoproteins in transformed murine cells.

Protein products of the c-raf gene were detected and characterized in two transformed murine cells lines by immunoprecipitation analysis with raf-specific sera. Both proteins reacted with an antiserum directed to the carboxyl terminus of the c-raf coding region. The p48raf (Mr48,000) phosphoprotein was found in a cell line transformed by an LTR-activated c-raf gene (Mueller & Mueller, 1984). It was found to be phosphorylated on serine and threonine residues and became phosphorylated in immunoprecipitates when supplied with [gamma-32]ATP. In contrast, P74raf, which was detected into a spontaneously transformed 3T3 (R+/Cl 3) cell line and may represent the full-length gene product of c-raf, appeared to incorporate [32P]PO4 less efficiently in vivo and exhibited a barely detectable associated kinase activity in only half of the experiments. The p48raf is a transforming protein which, like P75gag-raf, lacks the amino-terminal region of the c-raf coding region. P74raf, which retains the amino-terminal region, differs from p48raf in its phosphorylation characteristics and may not be a transforming protein. These data are consistent with a model in which lack of amino-terminal sequences in the c-raf gene product p48raf may, in and of itself, suffice to make it a transforming protein.

Cloning of the bovine leukemia virus proteinase in Escherichia coli and comparison of its specificity to that of human T-cell leukemia virus proteinase.

The proteinase of bovine leukemia virus (BLV) was cloned into pMal-c2 vector with N-terminal or with N- as well as C-terminal flanking sequences, and expressed in fusion with maltose binding protein. The proteinase self-processed itself from the fusion protein during expression and formed inclusion bodies. The enzyme was purified from inclusion bodies by cation-exchange chromatography followed by gel filtration. Specificity of the enzyme was compared to that of human T-cell leukemia proteinase type 1. Although the two viruses belong to the same subfamily of retroviruses, the differences in their proteinase specificity, based on kinetics with oligopeptide substrates representing naturally occurring cleavage sites as well as on inhibition pattern, appear to be pronounced.

The origin of human immunodeficiency virus type-1 rev gene. An evolutionary hypothesis.

The Rev protein of human immunodeficiency virus type-1 is an RNA-binding posttranscriptional transregulator encoded by an accessory gene that is distinct from retroviral oncogenes and whose origin is unclear. We hypothesize that the rev gene was generated by duplication of a viral RNA segment having a secondary-structure that evolved into the Rev-responsive element (RRE). This hypothesis is based on the following findings. First, accumulated data on functional mapping of Rev, Tat, and the transmembrane protein of Env suggested that the major coding exon of rev should have been inserted into the transmembrane region of env during the course of its evolution. Experiments with equine infectious anemia virus, another complex retrovirus, also indicate that a large portion of rev is located within the dispensable transmembrane region of env. Second, base usage analysis suggests the same origin for rev and RRE. Our hypothesis may provide a new insight into the evolutionary aspect of RNA-binding transactivators.

Complete amino acid sequence of the nucleic acid-binding protein of bovine leukemia virus.

The complete amino acid sequence of the nucleic acid-binding protein p12 of bovine leukemia virus (BLV) has been determined. Peptides were generated by enzymatic digestion and formic acid cleavage, purified by reversed-phase liquid chromatography and subjected to automated Edman degradation. BLV p12 is a proline-rich linear polypeptide composed of 69 amino acids with Mr 7558. A comparison of the p12 structure to that of the avian and murine type C retroviral nucleic acid-binding proteins shows significant homology only in the putative binding domain. This conserved region is duplicated BLV p12 as in the avian homolog.

The effect of salt on the Michaelis Menten constant of the HIV-1 protease correlates with the Hofmeister series.

The effect of different types of salt on the proteolytic activity of HIV-1 protease was studied. At a similar ionic strength, the enzyme activity changed according to the salting out effect of the ions used (Hofmeister series). Kinetic studies showed that a stronger salting out effect of the ions rather than the higher ionic strength per se increased the affinity to the substrate (Km) but in general did not alter the Kcat value.

Purification of HIV-1 wild-type protease and characterization of proteolytically inactive HIV-1 protease mutants by pepstatin A affinity chromatography.

Recombinant wild-type protease of human immunodeficiency virus, type 1 (HIV-1) expressed in E. coli was purified by pepstatin A affinity chromatography. An 88-fold purification was achieved giving a protease preparation with a specific enzymatic activity of approximately 3700 pmol/min/micrograms. Two proteolytically inactive HIV-1 mutant proteases (Arg-87----Lys; Asn-88----Glu) were found to bind to pepstatin A agarose, and and they were purified as the wild-type protease. A third mutant protease Arg-87----Glu) was apparently unable to bind to pepstatin A under similar conditions. Binding to pepstatin A indicates the binding ability of the substrate binding site and the ability to form dimers. These features may be used to purify and to characterize other mutated HIV-1 proteases.

Solid phase synthesis of the proteinase of bovine leukemia virus. Comparison of its specificity to that of HIV-2 proteinase.

The 126-residue proteinase (PR) of bovine leukemia virus (BLV) was synthesized by solid-phase peptide synthesis and its activity was shown using various oligopeptide substrates representing cleavage sites in BLV, human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1), murine leukemia virus (MuLV) and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). The specificity of the BLV PR was also compared to that of chemically synthesized human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2) PR. Many of the peptides were cleaved at the expected site, however, 6 out of 15 were hydrolyzed only by one of the PRs. Furthermore, one BLV peptide was processed differently by the two enzymes. These results, together with the relative activities and the lack of inhibition of BLV PR by two HIV-1 PR inhibitors, suggest that the BLV PR specificity is substantially different from that of HIV PRs.