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Shorter size of transmembrane glycoprotein of an HIV-1 isolate
H Shimizu1, S Morikawa, K Yamaguchi
1Division of AIDS Virus, National Institute of Health, Tokyo, Japan.
Abstract:
An HIV-1 strain carrying a shorter form of the transmembrane glycoprotein (TM) with a mobility of 32 kD, named KB-1, was isolated from a Japanese male hemophiliac by coculture of his peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) with MT-2 cells and adaption to TALL-1 cells. Another HIV-1 strain, named KB-2, was isolated from his seropositive spouse by coculture of her PBMCs with MT-2 cells. The KB-2 strain carried a TM of ordinary size, with a mobility of 41 kD. The KB-1 strain carrying a truncated form of the TM could replicate in MT-2, MT-4, TALL-1 and MOLT-4 cells. The KB-1 strain is a useful HIV-1 isolate for investigating the function of the cytoplasmic domain of the TM and the significance of the presence of an in-frame stop codon in HIV env gene.
Insights
Researchers isolated two HIV-1 strains, KB-1 and KB-2. KB-1 features a truncated transmembrane glycoprotein (TM), offering insights into TM function and HIV env gene significance.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Molecular Biology
- Immunology
Background:
- Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection remains a global health challenge.
- The transmembrane glycoprotein (TM) is crucial for HIV-1 entry and replication.
- Variations in TM structure can impact viral pathogenesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To isolate and characterize novel HIV-1 strains from a patient with hemophilia and his spouse.
- To investigate the biological properties of an HIV-1 strain with a truncated TM.
- To assess the utility of the novel HIV-1 isolates for functional studies.
Main Methods:
- Isolation of HIV-1 strains KB-1 and KB-2 from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs).
- Coculture techniques with MT-2 and TALL-1 cell lines.
- Analysis of transmembrane glycoprotein (TM) size and mobility via SDS-PAGE.
- Viral replication assays in various human T-cell lines (MT-2, MT-4, TALL-1, MOLT-4).
Main Results:
- Isolation of two distinct HIV-1 strains, KB-1 and KB-2.
- KB-1 strain possesses a truncated TM (32 kD) compared to the standard TM (41 kD) in KB-2.
- KB-1 demonstrated replication competence in multiple T-cell lines.
- The truncated TM in KB-1 contains an in-frame stop codon in the HIV env gene.
Conclusions:
- The KB-1 HIV-1 isolate, with its truncated TM, provides a valuable tool for studying TM cytoplasmic domain function.
- This isolate is significant for investigating the role of in-frame stop codons in the HIV env gene.
- The findings contribute to understanding HIV-1 diversity and potential therapeutic targets.