Binding to selected regions of reovirus mRNAs by a nonstructural reovirus protein.

When assembled into 13--19S particles, the reovirus nonstructural protein sigma-NS selectively binds single-stranded RNAs. Sedimentation analyses combined with binding to nitrocellulose membrane filters showed that 1--2 pmol of reovirus mRNAs from the large, medium, or small size classes saturated in vitro the binding site(s) on 13--19S particles containing 100 pmol of sigma-NS. All mRNA segments in each size class bound to particles, and no mRNAs in one size class excluded the binding of mRNAs in any other class. In competition experiments, the maximal binding of all reovirus mRNAs to particles of sigma-NS was achieved when medium and small mRNAs were bound before the large mRNAs. This preferred order of addition of mRNAs to sigma-NS resulted in a marked increase in the size of some of the complexes. This finding suggests that the addition of large mRNAs last to particles promoted the formation of complexes with more than one RNA segment bound per particle. The 13--19S particles of sigma-NS protected 20- to 40-nucleotide RNA fragments from nuclease digestion. At least one of the protected fragments from mRNAs of each size class included the 3' terminus; the remaining were from internal regions of the mRNAs. The protected RNA fragments rebound to particles during a second or third cycle of binding in a configuration in which they were fully protected from nuclease digestion. We conclude that binding of particles of sigma-NS to reovirus mRNAs was not at random sites but was to specific regions unique for members of each size class.

Small reovirus-specific particle with polycytidylate-dependent RNA polymerase activity.

We previously reported that virus-specific particles with polycytidylate [poly(C)]-dependent RNA polymerase activity accumulated at 30 degrees C in reovirus-infected cells. These particles sedimented heterogeneously from 300 to 550S and traversed through a 40% glycerol cushion to the pellet in 3 h at 190,000 x g. In the present report, we found that smaller particles with poly(C)-dependent RNA polymerase activity remained in the glycerol cushion. These smaller, enzymatically active particles, when purified, sedimented at 15 to 1S. They were spherical or triangular with a diameter of 11 to 12 nm. They were comprised mostly, and likely solely, of one reovirus protein, sigma NS. No particles with poly(C)-dependent RNA polymerase activity were found in mock-infected cells. Chromatography on the cation exchanger, CM-Sephadex, ascertained that sigma NS was the poly(C)-dependent RNA polymerase and showed its existence in two forms. In one form, it was enzymatically active and eluted from the column at 0.5 M KCl. In the enzymatically inactive state, it did not bind to the column. Our results suggest that the enzymatically active form of sigma NS carries a greater net positive charge than the inactive form. They also suggest that both forms of sigma NS are associated with a particle which has poly(C)-dependent RNA polymerase activity.

Small reovirus particle composed solely of sigma NS with specificity for binding different nucleic acids.

We reported previously that polycytidylate [poly(C)]-dependent RNA polymerase activity was a property of small spherical or triangular reovirus-specific particles which sedimented at 13 to 19S and were composed solely of the reovirus protein, sigma NS. Depending on the fraction of cellular extracts from which they were obtained, these particles exhibited marked differences in stability. Most 13 to 19S particles from a particular fraction repeatedly disaggregated into smaller 4 to 5S subunits with no enzymatic activity. Disruption of many particles could be prevented and polymerase activity retained after these particles had bound different single-stranded (ss) RNAs. Our previous results indicated that there was heterogeneity among the 13 to 19S particles in that possession of poly(C)-dependent RNA polymerase activity was a property of only some. Support for this heterogeneity was derived from the demonstration in this report that there were at least three types of binding sites present within particles in any purified preparation: (i) those binding only poly(C); (ii) those binding only reovirus ss RNAs; and (iii) those binding one or the other, but not both at the same time. It is suggested that only those particles able to bind either poly(C) or reovirus ss RNAs had poly(C)-dependent RNA polymerase activity, as reovirus ss RNAs markedly inhibited the polymerase activity. All three size classes of reovirus ss RNAs were equally effective in binding, but once bound, they were not copied. It is possible that heterogeneity in binding capacity of different particles comprised of only one protein, sigma NS, could result from the ability of subunits containing this protein to assemble into slightly different 13 to 19S particles with specificity of binding or polymerase activity conferred by the configuration of the assembled particles. The high capacity of sigma NS to bind many different nucleic acids with some specificity suggests that these particles may act during infection as condensing agents to bring together 10 reovirus ss RNA templates in preparation for double-stranded RNA synthesis.

Expression of polyomavirus virion proteins by a vaccinia virus vector: association of VP1 and VP2 with the nuclear framework.

The polyomavirus proteins VP1, VP2, and VP3 move from their cytoplasmic site of synthesis into the nucleus, where virus assembly occurs. To identify cellular or viral components which might control this process, we determined the distribution of VP1, VP2, and VP3 in a soluble fraction, a cytoplasmic cytoskeleton fraction, and a nuclear framework fraction of infected cells. All three proteins were detected in a detergent-extractable form immediately after their synthesis in polyomavirus-infected cells. Approximately 50, 25, and 40% of pulse-labeled VP1, VP2, and VP3, respectively, associated with the skeletal framework of the nucleus within 10 min after their synthesis. The remaining portion of each labeled protein failed to accumulate on the nuclear framework during a 40-min chase and was degraded. When expressed separately by recombinant vaccinia viruses, VP1 and VP2, but not VP3, accumulated on the nuclear framework. This association was not dependent on other polyomavirus proteins or viral DNA. The amount of total VP1 and VP2 which was bound to the nuclear framework approximated 45 and 20%, respectively. Indirect immunofluorescence demonstrated an exclusive nuclear localization of VP1 in situ. In coinfection experiments, a greater percentage of total VP2 and VP3 was bound to the nuclear framework of cells which cosynthesized VP1. These results indicate that although VP1 and VP2 can bind independently to the insoluble nuclear framework, the association of VP3 with this nuclear structure is promoted by the presence of VP1.

Desialylation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells promotes growth of HIV-1.

Activation of peripheral blood CD4+ helper T lymphocytes establishes a permissive state for growth of HIV-1. Activated T lymphocytes expressed increased sialidase (neuraminidase) activity and were hyposialylated. Treatment of freshly isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) with microbial neuraminidase (NANase) or phytohemagglutinin (PHA) prior to infection at low multiplicity with T cell line-adapted HIV-1IIIB resulted in production of large amounts of p24 antigen and reverse transcriptase. In contrast, neither viral component was detected in the medium of mock-treated cells infected at a similar multiplicity through 21 days in culture. The titer of a stock solution of HIV-1IIIB was 1.4 +/- 0.18 log10 greater in NANase-treated PBMCs than in mock-treated cells; the titer was similarly raised 1.5 to 1.76 +/- 0.18 log10 in PHA-treated cells. Growth of the primary isolate HIV-1(91/US/056) was also enhanced in NANase-treated PBMCs; the titer of a stock solution of HIV-1(91/US/056 was 1.0 +/- 0.16 log10 greater in NANase-treated PBMCs than in mock-treated cells 7 days after infection. No enhancement of viral growth in PBMCs was detected when NANase was heat-inactivated or specifically inhibited with 2,3-dehydro-2-desoxy-N-acetyl-neuraminic acid prior to use. Treatment of PBMCs with NANase did not alter the distribution of lymphocyte subsets nor change the density of CD4 antigen per cell after 7 days in culture. Whereas PHA treatment of PBMCs was mitogenic, pretreatment with NANase was not; the amount of [3H]thymidine incorporated into DNA and culture growth characteristics were similar for NANase- and mock-treated cells. Thus, desialylation of PBMCs promoted a permissive state for growth of HIV-1 without affecting the rate of DNA synthesis or relative number of target CD4+ cells.

Neutralizing antibodies from the sera of human immunodeficiency virus type 1-infected individuals bind to monomeric gp120 and oligomeric gp140.

Antibodies that neutralize primary isolates of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) appear during HIV-1 infection but are difficult to elicit by immunization with current vaccine products comprised of monomeric forms of HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein gp120. The limited neutralizing antibody response generated by gp120 vaccine products could be due to the absence or inaccessibility of the relevant epitopes. To determine whether neutralizing antibodies from HIV-1-infected patients bind to epitopes accessible on monomeric gp120 and/or oligomeric gp140 (ogp140), purified total immunoglobulin from the sera of two HIV-1-infected patients as well as pooled HIV immune globulin were selectively depleted of antibodies which bound to immobilized gp120 or ogp140. After passage of each immunoglobulin preparation through the respective columns, antibody titers against gp120 and ogp140 were specifically reduced at least 128-fold. The gp120- and gp140-depleted antibody fraction from each serum displayed reduced neutralization activity against three primary and two T-cell line-adapted (TCLA) HIV-1 isolates. Significant residual neutralizing activity, however, persisted in the depleted sera, indicating additional neutralizing antibody specificities. gp120- and ogp140-specific antibodies eluted from each column neutralized both primary and TCLA viruses. These data demonstrate the presence and accessibility of epitopes on both monomeric gp120 and ogp140 that are specific for antibodies that are capable of neutralizing primary isolates of HIV-1. Thus, the difficulties associated with eliciting neutralizing antibodies by using current monomeric gp120 subunit vaccines may be related less to improper protein structure and more to ineffective immunogen formulation and/or presentation.

Relative inefficiency of soluble recombinant CD4 for inhibition of infection by monocyte-tropic HIV in monocytes and T cells.

Macrophages are major viral reservoirs in the brain, lungs, and lymph nodes of HIV-infected patients. But not all HIV isolates infect macrophages. The molecular basis for this restrictive target cell tropism and the mechanisms by which HIV infects macrophages are not well understood: virus uptake by CD4-dependent and -independent pathways have both been proposed. Soluble rCD4 (sCD4) binds with high affinity to gp 120, the envelope glycoprotein of HIV, and at relatively low concentrations (less than 1 microgram/ml) completely inhibits infection of many HIV strains in T cells or T cell lines. HTLV-IIIB infection of the H9 T cell line was completely inhibited by prior treatment of virus with 10 micrograms/ml sCD4: no p24 Ag or HIV-induced T cell syncytia were detected in cultures of H9 cells exposed to 1 x 10(4) TCID50 HTLV-IIIB in the presence of sCD4. Under identical conditions and at a 100-fold lower viral inoculum, 10 micrograms/ml sCD4 had little or no effect on infection of monocytes by any of six different HIV isolates by three different criteria: p24 Ag release, virus-induced cytopathic effects, and the frequency of infected cells that express HIV-specific mRNA. At 10- to 100-fold higher concentrations of sCD4, however, infection was completely inhibited. Monoclonal anti-CD4 also prevented infection of these same viral isolates in monocytes. The relative inefficiency of sCD4 for inhibition of HIV infection in monocytes was a property of the virion, not the target cell: HIV isolates that infect both monocytes and T cells required similarly high levels of sCD4 (100 to 200 micrograms/ml) for inhibition of infection. These data suggest that the gp120 of progeny HIV derived from macrophages interacts with sCD4 differently than that of virions derived from T cells. For both variants of HIV, however, the predominant mechanism of virus entry for infection is CD4-dependent.