The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Gag precursor specifically selects the unspliced viral genomic RNA (gRNA) from the bulk of cellular and spliced viral RNAs via its nucleocapsid (NC) domain and drives gRNA encapsidation at the plasma membrane (PM). To further identify the determinants governing the intracellular trafficking of Gag-gRNA complexes and their accumulation at the PM, we compared, in living and fixed cells, the interactions between gRNA and wild-type Gag or Gag mutants carrying deletions in NC zinc fingers (ZFs) or a nonmyristoylated version of Gag. Our data showed that the deletion of both ZFs simultaneously or the complete NC domain completely abolished intracytoplasmic Gag-gRNA interactions. Deletion of either ZF delayed the delivery of gRNA to the PM but did not prevent Gag-gRNA interactions in the cytoplasm, indicating that the two ZFs display redundant roles in this respect. However, ZF2 played a more prominent role than ZF1 in the accumulation of the ribonucleoprotein complexes at the PM. Finally, the myristate group, which is mandatory for anchoring the complexes at the PM, was found to be dispensable for the association of Gag with the gRNA in the cytosol.

中文翻译：

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HIV-1 Gag 前体核衣壳结构域中的两个锌指与细胞质中的基因组 RNA 相互作用等效，但与质膜上复合物的募集不同

人类免疫缺陷病毒 1 型 Gag 前体通过其核衣壳 (NC) 域从大量细胞和剪接的病毒 RNA 中特异性选择未剪接的病毒基因组 RNA (gRNA)，并驱动质膜 (PM) 上的 gRNA 衣壳化。为了进一步确定控制 Gag-gRNA 复合物的细胞内运输及其在 PM 中积累的决定因素，我们在活细胞和固定细胞中比较了 gRNA 与野生型 Gag 或携带 NC 锌指（ZF）缺失的 Gag 突变体之间的相互作用) 或非肉豆蔻酰化版本的 Gag。我们的数据显示同时删除两个 ZF 或完整的 NC 域完全消除了胞质内 Gag-gRNA 相互作用。删除任一 ZF 都会延迟 gRNA 向 PM 的递送，但并未阻止细胞质中的 Gag-gRNA 相互作用，表明这两个 ZF 在这方面发挥了冗余作用。然而，ZF2 在 PM 的核糖核蛋白复合物的积累中比 ZF1 发挥了更突出的作用。最后，肉豆蔻酸酯基团对于将复合物锚定在 PM 是必需的，被发现对于 Gag 与细胞质中的 gRNA 的结合是可有可无的。