TY  - JOUR
AU  - Wei, Guochao
AU  - Kehl, Timo
AU  - Bao, Qiuying
AU  - Benner, Axel
AU  - Lei, Janet
AU  - Löchelt, Martin
TI  - The chromatin binding domain, including the QPQRYG motif, of feline foamy virus Gag is required for viral DNA integration and nuclear accumulation of Gag and the viral genome.
JO  - Virology
VL  - 524
SN  - 0042-6822
CY  - Orlando, Fla.
PB  - Academic Press
M1  - DKFZ-2018-01677
SP  - 56 - 68
PY  - 2018
AB  - The retroviral Gag protein, the major component of released particles, plays different roles in particle assembly, maturation or infection of new host cells. Here, we characterize the Gag chromatin binding site including the highly conserved QPQRYG motif of feline foamy virus, a member of the Spumaretrovirinae. Mutagenesis of critical residues in the chromatin binding site/QPQRYG motif almost completely abrogates viral DNA integration and reduces nuclear accumulation of Gag and viral DNA. Genome packaging, reverse transcription, particle release and uptake into new target cells are not affected. The integrity of the QPQRYG motif appears to be important for processes after cytosolic entry, likely influencing incoming virus capsids or disassembly intermediates but not Gag synthesized de novo in progeny virus-producing cells. According to our data, chromatin binding is a shared feature among foamy viruses but further work is needed to understand the mechanisms involved.
LB  - PUB:(DE-HGF)16
C6  - pmid:30145377
DO  - DOI:10.1016/j.virol.2018.08.007
UR  - https://inrepo02.dkfz.de/record/141146
ER  -