Characterization of the nuclear import pathway for HIV-1 integrase

The karyophilic properties of the human immunodeficiency virus, type I (HIV-1) pre-integration complex (PIC) allow the virus to infect non-dividing cells. To better understand the mechanisms responsible for nuclear translocation of the PIC, we investigated nuclear import of HIV-1 integrase (IN), a PIC-associated viral enzyme involved in the integration of the viral genome in the host cell DNA. Accumulation of HIV-1 IN into nuclei of digitonin-permeabilized cells does not result from passive diffusion but rather from an active transport that occurs through the nuclear pore complexes. HIV-1 IN is imported by a saturable mechanism, implying that a limiting cellular factor is responsible for this process. Although IN has been previously proposed to contain classical basic nuclear localization signals, we found that nuclear accumulation of IN does not involve karyopherins alpha, beta1, and beta2-mediated pathways. Neither the non-hydrolyzable GTP analog, guanosine 5'-O-(thiotriphosphate), nor the GTP hydrolysis-deficient Ran mutant, RanQ69L, significantly affects nuclear import of IN, which depends instead on ATP hydrolysis. Therefore these results support the idea that IN import is not mediated by members of the karyopherin beta family. More generally, in vitro nuclear import of IN does not require addition of cytosolic factors, suggesting that cellular factor(s) involved in this active but atypical pathway process probably remain associated with the nuclear compartment or the nuclear pore complexes from permeabilized cells.     

Regulated degradation of the HIV-1 Vpu protein through a betaTrCP-independent pathway limits the release of viral particles

Viral protein U (Vpu) of HIV-1 has two known functions in replication of the virus: degradation of its cellular receptor CD4 and enhancement of viral particle release. Vpu binds CD4 and simultaneously recruits the betaTrCP subunit of the SCF(betaTrCP) ubiquitin ligase complex through its constitutively phosphorylated DS52GXXS56 motif. In this process, Vpu was found to escape degradation, while inhibiting the degradation of betaTrCP natural targets such as beta-catenin and IkappaBalpha. We further addressed this Vpu inhibitory function with respect to the degradation of Emi1 and Cdc25A, two betaTrCP substrates involved in cell-cycle progression. In the course of these experiments, we underscored the importance of a novel phosphorylation site in Vpu. We show that, especially in cells arrested in early mitosis, Vpu undergoes phosphorylation of the serine 61 residue, which lies adjacent to the betaTrCP-binding motif. This phosphorylation event triggers Vpu degradation by a betaTrCP-independent process. Mutation of Vpu S61 in the HIV-1 provirus extends the half-life of the protein and significantly increases the release of HIV-1 particles from HeLa cells. However, the S61 determinant of regulated Vpu turnover is highly conserved within HIV-1 isolates. Altogether, our results highlight a mechanism where differential phosphorylation of Vpu determines its fate as an adaptor or as a substrate of distinct ubiquitin ligases. Conservation of the Vpu degradation determinant, despite its negative effect on virion release, argues for a role in overall HIV-1 fitness.     

How proteins enter the nucleus

Nuclear protein import is a selective process. Proteins destined for the nucleus contain NLSs. These short stretches of amino acids interact with proteins located in the cytoplasm, on the nuclear envelope, and/or at the nuclear pore complex. Following binding at the pore complex, proteins are translocated through the pore into the nucleus in a manner requiring ATP. The biochemical dissection of the nuclear pore complex has begun. Alteration of protein import into the nucleus is emerging as a new and complex form of regulation. However, we are left with the following problems: How do proteins move through the cytoplasm to reach the nuclear pore? How does the nuclear pore complex open and close in a selective manner? How is ATP utilized during import? And finally, how is bi-directional traffic of both proteins and RNA through the pore regulated?     

Cone-shaped HIV-1 capsids are transported through intact nuclear pores

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Autophagy pathway intersects with HIV-1 biosynthesis and regulates viral yields in macrophages

Autophagy is a cytoplasmic degradative pathway that can participate in biosynthetic processes, as in the yeast Cvt pathway, but is more commonly known for its functions in removing damaged or surplus organelles and macromolecular complexes. Here, we find that autophagy intersects with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) biogenesis, mirroring the above dichotomy. Early, nondegradative stages of autophagy promoted HIV yields. HIV Gag-derived proteins colocalized and interacted with the autophagy factor LC3, and autophagy promoted productive Gag processing. Nevertheless, when autophagy progressed through maturation stages, HIV was degraded. This, however, does not occur, as the HIV protein Nef acts as an antiautophagic maturation factor through interactions with the autophagy regulatory factor Beclin 1, thus protecting HIV from degradation. The dual interaction of HIV with the autophagy pathway enhances viral yields by using the early stages while inhibiting the late stages of autophagy. The role of Nef in the latter process enhances yields of infectious HIV and may be of significance for progression to clinical AIDS.     

Siglecs facilitate HIV-1 infection of macrophages through adhesion with viral sialic acids

BACKGROUND: Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infects macrophages effectively, despite relatively low levels of cell surface-expressed CD4. Although HIV-1 infections are defined by viral tropisms according to chemokine receptor usage (R5 and X4), variations in infection are common within both R5- and X4-tropic viruses, indicating additional factors may contribute to viral tropism. METHODOLOGY AND PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Using both solution and cell surface binding experiments, we showed that R5- and X4-tropic HIV-1 gp120 proteins recognized a family of I-type lectin receptors, the Sialic acid-binding immunoglobulin-like lectins (Siglec). The recognition was through envelope-associated sialic acids that promoted viral adhesion to macrophages. The sialic acid-mediated viral-host interaction facilitated both R5-tropic pseudovirus and HIV-1(BaL) infection of macrophages. The high affinity Siglec-1 contributed the most to HIV-1 infection and the variation in Siglec-1 expression on primary macrophages from different donors was associated statistically with sialic acid-facilitated viral infection. Furthermore, envelope-associated sialoglycan variations on various strains of R5-tropic viruses also affected infection. CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE OF THE FINDINGS: Our study showed that sialic acids on the viral envelope facilitated HIV-1 infection of macrophages through interacting with Siglec receptors, and the expression of Siglec-1 correlated with viral sialic acid-mediated host attachment. This glycan-mediated viral adhesion underscores the importance of viral sialic acids in HIV infection and pathogenesis, and suggests a novel class of antiviral compounds targeting Siglec receptors.     

HIV-1 remodels the nuclear pore complex

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) commandeers host cell proteins and machineries for its replication. Our earlier work showed that HIV-1 induced the cytoplasmic retention of nucleocytoplasmic shuttling and ribonucleic acid (RNA)-binding proteins. This retention is dependent on nuclear export of the viral genomic RNA and on changes in the localization and expression level of the nucleoporin (Nup) p62 (Nup62). To further characterize the extent of perturbation induced by HIV-1, we performed proteomics analyses of nuclear envelopes (NEs) isolated from infected T cells. Infection induced extensive changes in the composition of the NE and its associated proteins, including a remarkable decrease in the abundance of Nups. Immunogold electron microscopy revealed the translocation of Nups into the cytoplasm. Nup62 was identified as a component of purified virus, and small interfering RNA depletion studies revealed an important role for this Nup in virus gene expression and infectivity. This detailed analysis highlights the profound effects on NE composition induced by HIV-1 infection, providing further evidence of the magnitude of viral control over the cell biology of its host.     

Inhibition of SIRT1 by HIV-1 viral protein Tat results in activation of p53 pathway

Human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) disease is characterized by a relentless decline in CD4(+) T cells, resulting in the development of AIDS. Extracellular Tat secreted from the HIV-1 infected cells, enters non-infected T cells to induce apoptosis. A number of mechanisms, none of which is mutually exclusive, have been attributed to the cell depletion property of Tat protein. In the present communication, we provide evidence that the cell-killing effect of Tat is mediated by the activation of p53 pathway via inhibition of SIRT1, an NAD(+)-dependent deacetylase belonging to class III histone deacetylases. This evidence is based on the following experimental facts reported herein: (1) Overexpression of Tat protein decreases both the deacetylase and promoter activity of SIRT1, (2) SIRT1 inhibition by Tat involves increased levels of acetylated p53 and (3) The activation of p53 leads to subsequent increases in the expression of p53 target genes, p21 and BAX.     

Two nuclear localization signals in the HIV-1 matrix protein regulate nuclear import of the HIV-1 pre-integration complex

Replication of HIV-1 in non-dividing and slowly proliferating cell populations depends on active import of the viral pre-integration complex (PIC) into the cell nucleus. While it is commonly accepted that this process is mediated by an interaction between the HIV-1 PIC and the cellular nuclear import machinery, controversial results have been reported concerning the mechanisms of this interaction. Here, we demonstrate that a recently identified nuclear localization signal within the HIV-1 matrix protein (MA), MA NLS-2, together with previously described MA NLS-1, mediates nuclear import of the HIV-1 PIC. Inactivation of both MA NLSs precluded nuclear translocation of MA and rendered the virus defective in nuclear import and replication in non-dividing macrophage cultures, even when functional Vpr and integrase (IN), two more viral proteins implicated in HIV-1 nuclear import, were present. Taken together, these results indicate that Vpr does not function as an independent nuclear import factor and demonstrate that HIV-1 MA, by virtue of its two nuclear localization signals, regulates HIV-1 nuclear import.     

HIV-1 viral genes and mitochondrial apoptosis

The mitochondrion is an organelle that regulates various cellular functions including the production of energy and programmed cell death. Aberrant mitochondrial function is often concomitant with various cytopathies and medical disorders. The mitochondrial membrane plays a key role in the induction of cellular apoptosis, and its destabilization, as triggered by both intracellular and extracellular stimuli, results in the release of proapoptotic factors into the cytosol. Not surprisingly, proteins from the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV) have been implicated in exploiting this organelle to promote the targeted depletion of key immune cells, which assists in viral evasion of the immune system and contributes to the characteristic global immunodeficiency observed during progression of disease. Here we review the mechanisms by which HIV affects the mitochondrion, and suggest that various viral-associated genes may directly regulate apoptotic cell death.     

BI-2 destabilizes HIV-1 cores during infection and Prevents Binding of CPSF6 to the HIV-1 Capsid

Background

The recently discovered small-molecule BI-2 potently blocks HIV-1 infection. BI-2 binds to the N-terminal domain of HIV-1 capsid. BI-2 utilizes the same capsid pocket used by the small molecule PF74. Although both drugs bind to the same pocket, it has been proposed that BI-2 uses a different mechanism to block HIV-1 infection when compared to PF74.

Findings

This work demonstrates that BI-2 destabilizes the HIV-1 core during infection, and prevents the binding of the cellular factor CPSF6 to the HIV-1 core.

Conclusions

Overall this short-form paper suggests that BI-2 is using a similar mechanism to the one used by PF74 to block HIV-1 infection.

     

A pathway for tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced Bcl10 nuclear translocation. Bcl10 is up-regulated by NF-kappaB and phosphorylated by Akt1 and then complexes with Bcl3 to enter the nucleus

Bcl10 overexpression and nuclear translocation were originally identified in mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma with t(1;14)(p32;q32) chromosome translocation. DNA amplification of Bcl10 was also found in other solid tumors. We have recently shown that nuclear translocation of Bcl10 is a specific molecular determinant of Helicobacter pylori-independent mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma (Kuo, S.-H., Chen, L. T., Yeh, K.-H., Wu, M. S., Hsu, H. C., Yeh, P. Y., Mao, T. L., Chen, C. L., Doong, S. L., Lin, J. T., and Cheng, A.-L. (2004) J. Clin. Oncol. 22, 3491-3497). However, the molecular mechanism of Bcl10 nuclear translocation remains unknown. In this study, we observed that tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) up-regulates the expression of Bcl10 and induces a fraction of Bcl10 nuclear translocation in human breast carcinoma MCF7 cells. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays and electrophoretic mobility shift assays indicated that an NF-kappaB-binding site resides in the Bcl10 5 '-untranslated region. This study also demonstrates that Akt1, activated by TNFalpha, phosphorylates Bcl10 at Ser218 and Ser231 and that phosphorylated Bcl10 subsequently complexes with Bcl3 to enter the nucleus. Either inhibition of Akt1 or depletion of Bcl3 blocks Bcl10 nuclear translocation. In summary, these findings characterize a molecular linkage that directs Bcl10 nuclear translocation in response to TNFalpha treatment.