Filamin A protein interacts with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Gag protein and contributes to productive particle assembly

J Biol Chem. 2011 Aug 12;286(32):28498-510. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M111.239053. Epub 2011 Jun 24.

Abstract

HIV-1 Gag precursor directs virus particle assembly and release. In a search for Gag-interacting proteins that are involved in late stages of the HIV-1 replication cycle, we performed yeast two-hybrid screening against a human cDNA library and identified the non-muscle actin filament cross-linking protein filamin A as a novel Gag binding partner. The 280-kDa filamin A regulates cortical actin network dynamics and participates in the anchoring of membrane proteins to the actin cytoskeleton. Recent studies have shown that filamin A facilitates HIV-1 cell-to-cell transmission by binding to HIV receptors and coreceptors and regulating their clustering on the target cell surface. Here we report a novel role for filamin A in HIV-1 Gag intracellular trafficking. We demonstrate that filamin A interacts with the capsid domain of HIV-1 Gag and that this interaction is involved in particle release in a productive manner. Disruption of this interaction eliminated Gag localization at the plasma membrane and induced Gag accumulation within internal compartments. Moreover, blocking clathrin-dependent endocytic pathways did not relieve the restriction to particle release induced by filamin A depletion. These results suggest that filamin A is involved in the distinct step of the Gag trafficking pathway. The discovery of the Gag-filamin A interaction may provide a new therapeutic target for the treatment of HIV infection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Clathrin / genetics
  • Clathrin / metabolism
  • Contractile Proteins / genetics
  • Contractile Proteins / metabolism*
  • Endocytosis / genetics
  • Filamins
  • Gene Library
  • HIV Infections / genetics
  • HIV Infections / mortality*
  • HIV Infections / transmission
  • HIV-1 / pathogenicity
  • HIV-1 / physiology*
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Microfilament Proteins / genetics
  • Microfilament Proteins / metabolism*
  • Protein Transport / genetics
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae
  • Two-Hybrid System Techniques
  • Virus Assembly / drug effects
  • Virus Assembly / physiology*
  • gag Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus

Substances

  • Clathrin
  • Contractile Proteins
  • Filamins
  • Microfilament Proteins
  • gag Gene Products, Human Immunodeficiency Virus