Premium
Lethal neurotoxicity in mice of the basic domains of HIV and SIV Rev proteins Study of these regions by circular dichroism
Author(s) -
Mabrouk Kamel,
Van Rietschoten Jurphaas,
Vives Eric,
Darbon Hervé,
Rochat Hervé,
Sabatier Jean-Marc
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/0014-5793(91)80898-d
Subject(s) - neurotoxicity , circular dichroism , in vivo , chemistry , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , tropism , peptide , biology , stereochemistry , biochemistry , virology , toxicity , virus , genetics , organic chemistry
We have recently reported a basic domain‐mediated neurotoxic activity of HIV‐1 Tat [1991, J. Virol. 65, 961–965]. Here we have tested the neurotoxicity in vivo of several Rev‐related synthetic peptides and found that only those mimicking the basic regions of Rev from HIV‐1, HIV‐2 and SIV were lethal to mice. In contrast, the homologous domain of HTLV‐1 Rex was found to be inactive for lethal activity. Analysis of the tropism of these peptides for phospholipids has demonstrated a direct interaction of the basic domain‐containing peptides, except Rex, with acidic — but not neutral — phospholipids. As determined by circular dichroism, a possible correlation between the conformation of the basic regions and the toxicity is discussed.