Integrase deletion mutation impairs the Gag cleavage in prototype foamy virus

초록

Integrase (IN) is an essential enzyme that catalyzes integration of viral DNA into host cellular genome. Among retroviruses, foamy virus is the first in which the X-ray crystal structure of IN has been reported. Compared with other retroviruses, this virus has a unique expression pattern since Gag and Pol are produced independently from each other. For the successful maturation of prototype foamy virus (PFV), Gag should be cleaved into a 68/71-kDa Gag doublet. Here, we induced deletion mutations in PFV IN and characterized their effects on the Gag cleavage. Among the generated serial mutants, only those with deletions of up to two amino acids showed the wild-type Gag-cleavage pattern and viral titer level. These results were confirmed via transmission electron microscopy and site-specific mutagenesis. Taking together, maturation and morphogenesis, the deletion mutations of more than two amino acids in catalytic core domain (CCD) region are able to compromise the viral reproduction. © 2022 AEPress, s.r.o.. All rights reserved.

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