Retroviruses: Structure and Function Flashcards
What are endogenous retroviruses?
remnants of historical infection, usually incomplete genomes which are transmitted in the germline
How much of the human genome do endogenous retroviruses make up?
8-12%
What is the common mechanism of replication of all retroviruses?
integrate into the host genome via reverse transcriptase
Give an example of insertional mutagenesis involving retroviruses?
in SCID gene therapy patients using retroviruses some patients got leukaemia as a result
How was retroviral taxonomy originally carried out?
based on morphology- size; shape of core; length of spikes, under electron microscopy
What are the gag proteins?
matrix; capsid; nucleocapsid
What are the structural components of a virion?
gag proteins; env proteins; lipid envelope
Where does the membrane envelope of a virion derive from?
host cell plasma membrane during virion production
What lines the membrane envelope?
gag-encoded matrix protein
What are the 2 env encoded glycoproteins?
transmembrane compoenet and surface component
What si the function of the TM env encoded glycoprotein?
contains peptide that promotes fusion of virion memrbane with target cell membrane
How is the SU glycoprotein attached to TM?
non-covalently
What is the virion core?
round or triangular structure somposed of gag-encoded capsid protein
What is found within the virion core?
2 copies of viral genomic RNA coated by gag-encoded nucleocapsid protein and pol-encoded enzymes
What are the 2 types of retroviral genome?
simple and complex
Rather than morphology, how are retroviruses now classified?
according to their genome organisation (simple/complex) and sequence analysis
Give an exmample of a virus with a simple genome?
murine leukaemia virus
What makes up a simple retrovirus genome?
LTRs at either end with gag, pol and env genes in between
What is a major determinant of virus phenotype?
virus envelope protein
What are the 6 additional genes that HIV possesses in addition to the simple genome?
Vpr; Rev; Vif; Tat; Vpu and Nef
Which of the 6 extra genes that HIV-1 has are absolutely essential for replication?
Tat and Rev
How are the simple genes encoded?
as polyproteins which have to then be cut down to size
What 4 proteins are encoded by HIV pol?
reverse transcriptase; protease; integrase and RNAase
What is the function of RNAase encoded by HIV?
eliminates RNA