Richard Lu

Olig bHLH proteins interact with homeodomain proteins to regulate cell fate acquisition in progenitors of the ventral neural tube

BACKGROUND Organizing signals such as Sonic hedgehog are thought to specify neuronal subtype identity by regulating the expression of homeodomain proteins in progenitors of the embryonic neural tube. One of these, Nkx2.2, is necessary and sufficient for the development of V3 interneurons. RESULTS We report that Olig genes, encoding basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) proteins, are expressed in a subset of Nkx2.2 progenitors before the establishment of interneurons and oligodendroglial precursors. Gain-of-function analysis in transgenic mouse embryos indicates that Olig genes specifically inhibit the establishment of Sim1-expressing V3 interneurons. Moreover, coexpression of Olig2 with Nkx2.2 in the chick neural tube generated cells expressing Sox10, a marker of oligodendroglial precursors. Colocalization of Olig and Nkx2.2 proteins at the dorsal extent of the Nkx2.2 expression domain is consistent with regulatory interactions that define the potential of progenitor cells in the border region. CONCLUSIONS Interactions between homeodomain and Olig bHLH proteins evidently regulate neural cell fate acquisition and diversification in the ventral neural tube. In particular, interactions between Olig and Nkx2.2 proteins inhibit V3 interneuron development and promote the formation of alternate cell types, including those expressing Sox10.

Class II Integrase Mutants with Changes in Putative Nuclear Localization Signals Are Primarily Blocked at a Postnuclear Entry Step of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Replication

ABSTRACT Integrase has been implicated in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) nuclear import. Integrase analyses, however, can be complicated by the pleiotropic nature of mutations: whereas class I mutants are integration defective, class II mutants display additional assembly and/or reverse transcription defects. We previously determined that HIV-1V165A, originally reported as defective for nuclear import, was a class II mutant. Here we analyzed mutants containing changes in other putative nuclear localization signals, including 186KRK188/211KELQKQITK219 and Cys-130. Previous work established HIV-1K186Q, HIV-1Q214L/Q216L, and HIV-1C130G as replication defective, but phenotypic classification was unclear and nuclear import in nondividing cells was not addressed. Consistent with previous reports, most of the bipartite mutants studied here were replication defective. These mutants as well as HIV-1V165A synthesized reduced cDNA levels, but a normal fraction of mutant cDNA localized to dividing and nondividing cell nuclei. Somewhat surprisingly, recombinant class II mutant proteins were catalytically active, and class II Vpr-integrase fusion proteins efficiently complemented class I mutant virus. Since a class I Vpr-integrase mutant efficiently complemented class II mutant viruses under conditions in which class II Vpr-integrases failed to function, we conclude that classes I and II define two distinct complementation groups and suggest that class II mutants are primarily defective at a postnuclear entry step of HIV-1 replication. HIV-1C130G was also defective for reverse transcription, but Vpr-integraseC130G did not efficiently complement class I mutant HIV-1. Since HIV-1C130A grew like the wild type, we conclude that Cys-130 is not essential for replication and speculate that perturbation of integrase structure contributed to the pleiotropic HIV-1C130G phenotype.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Replication in the Absence of Integrase-Mediated DNA Recombination: Definition of Permissive and Nonpermissive T-Cell Lines

ABSTRACT Functional retroviral integrase protein is thought to be essential for productive viral replication. Yet, previous studies differed on the extent to which integrase mutant viruses expressed human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) genes from unintegrated DNA. Although one reason for this difference was that class II integrase mutations pleiotropically affected the viral life cycle, another reason apparently depended on the identity of the infected cell. Here, we analyzed integrase mutant viral infectivities in a variety of cell types. Single-round infectivity of class I integration-specific mutant HIV-1 ranged from <0.03 to 0.3% of that of the wild type (WT) across four different T-cell lines. Based on this approximately 10-fold influence of cell type on mutant gene expression, we examined class I and class II mutant replication kinetics in seven different cell lines and two primary cell types. Unexpectedly, some cell lines supported productive class I mutant viral replication under conditions that restricted class II mutant growth. Cells were defined as permissive, semipermissive, or nonpermissive based on their ability to support the continual passage of class I integration-defective HIV-1. Mutant infectivity in semipermissive and permissive cells as quantified by 50% tissue culture infectious doses, however, was only 0.0006 to 0.005% of that of WT. Since the frequencies of mutant DNA recombination in these lines ranged from 0.023 to <0.093% of the WT, we conclude that productive replication in the absence of integrase function most likely required the illegitimate integration of HIV-1 into host chromosomes by cellular DNA recombination enzymes.

Wild-Type Levels of Nuclear Localization and Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Replication in the Absence of the Central DNA Flap

ABSTRACT Numerous factors have been implicated in the nuclear localization of retroviral preintegration complexes. Whereas sequences in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) matrix, Vpr, and integrase proteins were initially reported to function specifically in nondividing cells, other recently identified sequences apparently function in dividing cells as well. One of these, the central DNA flap formed during reverse transcription, is specific to lentiviruses. It was previously reported that flap-negative (F−) HIV-1LAI was completely defective for viral spread in the MT-4 T-cell line, yet F− HIV-1 vectors were only 2- to 10-fold defective in various single-round transduction assays. To address these different findings, we analyzed the infectivity and nuclear localization phenotypes of two highly related T-cell-tropic strains, HIV-1NL4-3 and a derivative of HIV-1HXBc2 deficient for both Vpr and Nef. In stark contrast to the previous report, F− derivatives of both strains replicated efficiently in MT-4 cells. F− HIV-1NL4-3 also spread like wild-type HIV-1NL4-3 in infected Jurkat and primary T-cell cultures. In contrast, F− HIV-1HXBc2 was replication defective in primary T cells. Results of real-time quantitative PCR assays, however, indicated that F− HIV-1HXBc2 entered primary T-cell nuclei as efficiently as its wild-type counterpart. Thus, the F− HIV-1HXBc2 growth defect did not appear to correlate with defective nuclear import. Consistent with this observation, wild-type nef restored replication to F− HIV-1HXBc2 in primary T cells. Our results indicate that the central DNA flap does not play a major role in either preintegration complex nuclear import or HIV-1 replication in a variety of cell types.

Nuclear Localization of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Preintegration Complexes (PICs): V165A and R166A Are Pleiotropic Integrase Mutants Primarily Defective for Integration, Not PIC Nuclear Import

ABSTRACT Retroviral replication requires the integration of reverse-transcribed viral cDNA into a cell chromosome. A key barrier to forming the integrated provirus is the nuclear envelope, and numerous regions in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) have been shown to aid the nuclear localization of viral preintegration complexes (PICs) in infected cells. One region in integrase (IN), composed of Val-165 and Arg-166, was reportedly essential for HIV-1 replication and nuclear localization in all cell types. In this study we confirmed that HIV-1V165A and HIV-1R166A were replication defective and that less mutant viral cDNA localized to infected cell nuclei. However, we present three lines of evidence that argue against a specific role for Val-165 and Arg-166 in PIC nuclear import. First, results of transient transfections revealed that V165A FLAG-tagged IN and green fluorescent protein-IN fusions carrying either V165A or R166A predominantly localized to cell nuclei. Second, two different strains of previously described class II IN mutant viruses displayed similar nuclear entry profiles to those observed for HIV-1V165A and HIV-1R166A, suggesting that defective nuclear import may be a common phenotype of replication-defective IN mutant viruses. Third, V165A and R166A mutants were defective for in vitro integration activity, when assayed both as PICs isolated from infected T-cells and as recombinant IN proteins purified from Escherichia coli. Based on these results, we conclude that HIV-1V165A and HIV-1R166A are pleiotropic mutants primarily defective for IN catalysis and that Val-165 and Arg-166 do not play a specific role in the nuclear localization of HIV-1 PICs in infected cells.

Genetic Analyses of DNA-Binding Mutants in the Catalytic Core Domain of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Integrase

ABSTRACT The catalytic core domain (CCD) of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) integrase (IN) harbors the enzyme active site and binds viral and chromosomal DNA during integration. Thirty-five CCD mutant viruses were constructed, paying particular attention to conserved residues in the Phe139-Gln146 flexible loop and abutting Ser147-Val165 amphipathic alpha helix that were implicated from previous in vitro work as important for DNA binding. Defective viruses were typed as class I mutants (specifically blocked at integration) or pleiotropic class II mutants (additional particle assembly and/or reverse transcription defects). Whereas HIV-1P145A and HIV-1Q146K grew like the wild type, HIV-1N144K and HIV-1Q148L were class I mutants, reinforcing previous results that Gln-148 is important for DNA binding and uncovering for the first time an important role for Asn-144 in integration. HIV-1Q62K, HIV-1H67E, HIV-1N120K, and HIV-1N155K were also class I mutants, supporting findings that Gln-62 and Asn-120 interact with viral and target DNA, respectively, and suggesting similar integration-specific roles for His-67 and Asn-155. Although results from complementation analyses established that IN functions as a multimer, the interplay between active-site and CCD DNA binding functions was unknown. By using Vpr-IN complementation, we determined that the CCD protomer that catalyzes integration also preferentially binds to viral and target DNA. We additionally characterized E138K as an intramolecular suppressor of Gln-62 mutant virus and IN. The results of these analyses highlight conserved CCD residues that are important for HIV-1 replication and integration and define the relationship between DNA binding and catalysis that occurs during integration in vivo.

Genetic Analyses of Conserved Residues in the Carboxyl-Terminal Domain of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Integrase

ABSTRACT Results of in vitro assays identified residues in the C-terminal domain (CTD) of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) integrase (IN) important for IN-IN and IN-DNA interactions, but the potential roles of these residues in virus replication were mostly unknown. Sixteen CTD residues were targeted here, generating 24 mutant viruses. Replication-defective mutants were typed as class I (blocked at integration) or class II (additional reverse transcription and/or assembly defects). Most defective viruses (15 of 17) displayed reverse transcription defects. In contrast, replication-defective HIV-1E246K synthesized near-normal cDNA levels but processing of Pr55gag was largely inhibited in virus-producing cells. Because single-round HIV-1E246K.Luc(R-) transduced cells at approximately 8% of the wild-type level, we concluded that the late-stage processing defect contributed significantly to the overall replication defect of HIV-1E246K. Results of complementation assays revealed that the CTD could function in trans to the catalytic core domain (CCD) in in vitro assays, and we since determined that certain class I and class II mutants defined a novel genetic complementation group that functioned in cells independently of IN domain boundaries. Seven of eight novel Vpr-IN mutant proteins efficiently trans-complemented class I active-site mutant virus, demonstrating catalytically active CTD mutant proteins during infection. Because most of these mutants inefficiently complemented a class II CCD mutant virus, the majority of CTD mutants were likely more defective for interactions with cellular and/or viral components that affected reverse transcription and/or preintegration trafficking than the catalytic activity of the IN enzyme.

Simian Virus 40-Based Replication of Catalytically Inactive Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Integrase Mutants in Nonpermissive T Cells and Monocyte-Derived Macrophages

ABSTRACT Integrase function is required for retroviral replication in most instances. Although certain permissive T-cell lines support human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) replication in the absence of functional integrase, most cell lines and primary human cells are nonpermissive for integrase mutant growth. Since unintegrated retroviral DNA is lost from cells following cell division, we investigated whether incorporating a functional origin of DNA replication into integrase mutant HIV-1 might overcome the block to efficient gene expression and replication in nonpermissive T-cell lines and primary cells. Whereas the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) origin (oriP) did little to augment expression from an integrase mutant reporter virus in EBV nuclear antigen 1-expressing cells, simian virus 40 (SV40) oriT dramatically enhanced integrase mutant infectivity in T-antigen (Tag)-expressing cells. Incorporating oriT into the nef position of a full-length, integrase-defective virus strain yielded efficient replication in Tag-expressing nonpermissive Jurkat T cells without reversion to an integration-competent genotype. Adding Tag to integrase mutant-oriT viruses yielded 11.3-kb SV40-HIV chimeras that replicated in Jurkat cells and primary monocyte-derived macrophages. Real-time quantitative PCR analyses of Jurkat cell infections revealed that amplified copies of unintegrated DNA likely contributed to SV40-HIV integrase mutant replication. SV40-based HIV-1 integrase mutant replication in otherwise nonpermissive cells suggests alternative approaches to standard integrase-mediated retroviral gene transfer strategies.

Lys-34, Dispensable for Integrase Catalysis, Is Required for Preintegration Complex Function and Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Replication

ABSTRACT Retroviral integrases (INs) function in the context of preintegration complexes (PICs). Two conserved Lys residues in the N-terminal domain of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) IN were analyzed here for their roles in integration and virus replication. Whereas HIV-1K46A grew like the wild type, HIV-1K34A was dead. Yet recombinant INK34A protein functioned in in vitro integration assays, and Vpr-INK34A efficiently transcomplemented the infectivity defect of an IN active site mutant virus in cells. HIV-1K34A was therefore similar to a number of previously characterized mutant viruses that failed to replicate despite encoding catalytically competent IN. To directly analyze mutant PIC function, a sensitive PCR-based integration assay was developed. HIV-1K34A and related mutants failed to support detectable levels (<1% of wild type) of integration. We therefore concluded that mutations like K34A disrupted higher-order interactions important for PIC function/maturation compared to the innate catalytic activity of IN enzyme.

Characterization of a Replication-Competent, Integrase-Defective Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)/Simian Virus 40 Chimera as a Powerful Tool for the Discovery and Validation of HIV Integrase Inhibitors

ABSTRACT Integrase is actively studied as an antiviral target, but many inhibitors selected from biochemical screens fail to inhibit human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) replication or primarily affect off-site targets. Here we develop and validate a replication-competent, simian virus 40-HIV integrase mutant chimera as a novel tool to classify the mechanism of action of potential integrase inhibitors. Whereas the mutant was more susceptible than the wild type to entry, reverse transcriptase, and protease inhibitors, it specifically resisted the action of integrase inhibitor L-870,810. We furthermore demonstrate inhibition of integration by GS-9137 and GS-9160 and off-site targeting by the 6-aminoquinolone antibiotic WM-5.