Effects of stabilization of the gp41 cytoplasmic domain on fusion activity and infectivity of SIVmac239.

ABSTRACT: We investigated the effects of introducing specific sequences that are predicted to affect trimer stability into the CT domain of the SIV Env protein. Two constructs, 3HBai and 3HBaa, with additional GCN4-related sequences in the CT domain (45 aa) had enhanced infectivity, and differed in their fusion activity and trimer stability. Another construct, 3HBii, exhibited a very stable trimeric structure. Pseudotyped virions containing 3HBii retained infectivity despite the lack of syncytia formation. In contrast, 3HBai and 3HBaa, which caused extensive syncytia formation, had a less stable trimeric structure. We observed an inverse correlation between trimer stability and fusion activity but no correlation between syncytia formation activity and infectivity. Quantitative cell-cell fusion assay

SUBMITTER: Vzorov AN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3206742 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature