Dynamic fluorescent imaging of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 gag in live cells by biarsenical labeling

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Gag is the primary structural protein of the virus and is sufficient for particle formation. We utilized the recently developed biarsenical-labeling method to dynamically observe HIV-1 Gag within live cells by adding a tetracysteine tag (C-C-P-G-C-C) to the C terminus of Gag in both Pr55Gag expression and full-length proviral constructs. Membrane-permeable biarsenical compounds FlAsH and ReAsH covalently bond to this tetracysteine sequence and specifically fluoresce, effectively labeling Gag in the cell. Biarsenical labeling readily and specifically detected a tetracysteine-tagged HIV-1 Gag protein (Gag-TC) in HeLa, Mel JuSo, and Jurkat T cells by deconvolution fluorescence microscopy. Gag-TC was localized primarily at or near the plasma membrane in all cell types examined. Fluorescent two-color analysis of Gag-TC in HeLa cells revealed that nascent Gag was present mostly at the plasma membrane in distinct regions. Intracellular imaging of a Gag-TC myristylation mutant observed a diffuse signal throughout the cell, consistent with the role of myristylation in Gag localization to the plasma membrane. In contrast, mutation of the L-domain core sequence did not appreciably alter the localization of Gag, suggesting that the PTAP L domain functions at the site of budding rather than as a targeting signal. Taken together, our results show that Gag concentrates in specific plasma membrane areas rapidly after translation and demonstrate the utility of biarsenical labeling for visualizing the dynamic localization of Gag.