Open AccessDefects in Virion Production Caused by Mutations Affecting the C-Terminal Portion of the Moloney Murine Leukemia Virus Capsid Protein
Author(s) -
Margaret Q. Wang,
Stephen P. Goff
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of virology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.617
H-Index - 292
eISSN - 1070-6321
pISSN - 0022-538X
DOI - 10.1128/jvi.77.5.3339-3344.2003
Subject(s) - biology , capsid , murine leukemia virus , virology , virus , mutation , microbiology and biotechnology , group specific antigen , genetics , gammaretrovirus , gene
The capsid (CA) domain of the Moloney murine leukemia virus (Mo-MuLV) Gag protein has a unique carboxy terminus with a highly charged arginine-rich sequence. Mutant viruses harboring arginine-to-alanine mutations affecting this region of CA displayed significant defects in virion release, and the few viral particles produced were noninfectious. The interaction between the mutant Gag precursors was affected, as judged by the yeast two-hybrid assay. The results suggest that the unique carboxy terminus of CA in the Mo-MuLV plays an important role in Gag-Gag association during virion production.