Distinct nucleic acid interaction properties of HIV-1 nucleocapsid protein precursor NCp15 explain reduced viral infectivity.

ABSTRACT: During human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) maturation, three different forms of nucleocapsid (NC) protein-NCp15 (p9 + p6), NCp9 (p7 + SP2) and NCp7-appear successively. A mutant virus expressing NCp15 shows greatly reduced infectivity. Mature NCp7 is a chaperone protein that facilitates remodeling of nucleic acids (NAs) during reverse transcription. To understand the strict requirement for NCp15 processing, we compared the chaperone function of the three forms of NC. NCp15 anneals tRNA to the primer-binding site at a similar rate as NCp7, whereas NCp9 is the most efficient annealing protein. Assays to measure NA destabilization show a similar trend. Dynamic light scattering studies reveal that NCp15 forms much smaller aggregates relative to those formed by NCp7 and NCp9. Nuclear ma

SUBMITTER: Wang W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4066767 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature