The prion protein has RNA binding and chaperoning properties characteristic of nucleocapsid protein NCP7 of HIV-1.

Abstract

Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies are fatal neurodegenerative diseases associated with the accumulation of a protease-resistant form of the prion protein (PrP). Although PrP is conserved in vertebrates, its function remains to be identified. In vitro PrP binds large nucleic acids causing the formation of nucleoprotein complexes resembling human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) nucleocapsid-RNA complexes and in vivo MuLV replication accelerates the scrapie infectious process, suggesting possible interactions between retroviruses and PrP. Retroviruses, including HIV-1 encode a major nucleic acid binding protein (NC protein) found within the virus where 2000 NC protein molecules coat the dimeric genome. NC is required in virus assembly and infection to chaperone RNA dimerization and packaging and in proviral DNA synthesis by reverse transcriptase (RT). In HIV-1, 5'-leader RNA/NC interactions appear to control these viral processes. This prompted us to compare and contrast the interactions of human and ovine PrP and HIV-1 NCp7 with HIV-1 5'-leader RNA. Results show that PrP has properties characteristic of NCp7 with respect to viral RNA dimerization and proviral DNA synthesis by RT. The NC-like properties of huPrP map to the N-terminal region of huPrP. Interestingly, PrP localizes in the membrane and cytoplasm of PrP-expressing cells. These findings suggest that PrP is a multifunctional protein possibly participating in nucleic acid metabolism.

• Authors: C Gabus, E Derrington, P Leblanc, J Chnaiderman, D Dormont, W Swietnicki, M Morillas, W K Surewicz, D Marc, P Nandi, J L Darlix
• Journal: The Journal of biological chemistry (J Biol Chem) Vol. 276 Issue 22 Pg. 19301-9 (Jun 01 2001) ISSN: 0021-9258 [Print] United States
• PMID: 11278562 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• 5' Untranslated Regions
• Capsid Proteins
• DNA, Complementary
• Gene Products, gag
• Molecular Chaperones
• NCP7 protein, Human immunodeficiency virus 1
• Nucleoproteins
• Prions
• Recombinant Proteins
• Viral Proteins
• gag Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus
• RNA
• DNA
• RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase

Topics

• 5' Untranslated Regions (metabolism)
• Amino Acid Sequence
• Animals
• Base Sequence
• Binding Sites
• Capsid (chemistry, physiology)
• Capsid Proteins
• Cattle
• Cell Line
• Cell Membrane (metabolism)
• Cytoplasm (metabolism)
• DNA (metabolism)
• DNA, Complementary (metabolism)
• Dimerization
• Escherichia coli (metabolism)
• Gene Products, gag (chemistry, physiology)
• HIV-1 (metabolism)
• Humans
• Immunohistochemistry
• Models, Biological
• Models, Genetic
• Molecular Chaperones (metabolism)
• Molecular Sequence Data
• Nucleoproteins (metabolism)
• Plasmids (metabolism)
• Prions (chemistry, physiology)
• Protein Binding
• RNA (metabolism)
• RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase (metabolism)
• Recombinant Proteins (metabolism)
• Retroviridae (genetics)
• Sheep
• Transcription, Genetic
• Transfection
• Viral Proteins
• gag Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus