3rd Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections Washington, DC - January 28-February 1, 1996

Conf Retroviruses Opportunistic Infect 1996 Jan 28-Feb 1; 3rd:56 (abstract no. 21)

Zhao Y^,1,2, Cao J¹, O'Gorman MRG^1,2, Tian J¹, Yogev R^1,2
The Children's Memorial Hospital Chicago, 2 Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University Medical School.

The HIV-l vpr gene has been recentIy reported to affect the basic cellular function of human cells, including prevention of cell proliferation, changes in cell membrane structure and induction of cell cycle G2 arrest. In this study, we have used fission yeasts S. pombe as a model system to study effects of HIV-1 vpr gene expression on fission yeast cells. The vpr gene was cloned in an inducible gene expression vector pREP1, by which the vpr gene expression can be turned OFF/ON in the presence/absence of thiamine on plates and/or in growth media. When the vpr gene was OFF, the colonies containing pREPl::vpr construct appeared to be normal, i.e., large and white creamy in color. Conversely, when the vpr gene was ON, smaller and brown colonies were observed. At the cellular level, a profound polymorphic gross enlargement of the cells was observed when the vpr gene was induced. Induction of vpr gene tended to arrest the cells in G2 phase of the cell cycle as determined by Flow Cytometry analysis. Since most of the S. pombe cells normally reside in G2 phase, we first shifted the cells from G2 to G1 phase by growing them under low nitrogen environment. Induction of G2 arrest was then confirmed by inducing vpr gene expression from a predominately G1 cell population. Our results suggested that HIV-1 Vpr-induced cellular changes in S. pombe mimic those of found in human cells.

960128
21

Copyright © 1996 - Foundation for Retrovirology and Human Health . Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the Foundation for Retrovirology and Human Health.