Lec 12: Retroviruses Flashcards

1
Q

Retrovirus classes =

A

Class VI & VII

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

The discovery of retroviruses challenged

A

the traditional central dogma.

DNA –> RNA –> Protein

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Reverse transcription happens not only in…

but also in…

A

…RNA viruses,

…DNA viruses!

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

HIVs are

A

retroviruses

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Retroviruses may cause

A

cancer

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Retreovirus infection has been found in

A

all classes of vertebrates, including fish, amphibians, birds and mammals.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Endogenous retroviruses:

A

as normal genetic elements in their chromosomal DNA

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Exogenous retroviruses:

A

horizontally-transmitted infectious RNA-containing viruses which are transmitted from human-to-human (e.g. HIV and human T cell leukemia virus, HTLV)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

In general, endogenous human retroviruses are

A

not pathogenic and many of them are not complete viruses

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

The human genome contains between 100–1,000 copies of…

However, some…

A

…endogenous viruses and many of them have become pseudogenes or have various defects
…are complete viruses and the genes of some are transcribed and make virus-encoded proteins

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

In a latent herpesvirus infection…

A

multiple genome is switched off during latency, but a few regions are transcribed and a few RNAs are synthesized; some viruses also synthesize a few proteins.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

No virus proteins are required to maintain

A

latency in cells that do not divide, so none are produced in neurons latently infected with HSV-1.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Virus RNAs synthesized during latency are known as

A

latency associated transcripts (LATs).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

The LATs undergo…

the greater the degree to which the host is…

A

…splicing, and at least one of them plays a role in inhibiting apoptosis, thereby ensuring the survival of the neurone with its latent HSV-1 infection.
…immunocompromised, the greater the likelihood of reactivation.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

latency associated transcripts (LATs) =

A

Virus RNAs synthesized during latency

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Retroviruses exist in 2 forms:

A
  1. ) RNA-containing virions which bud from a producing cell and can infect another cell,
  2. ) DNA proviruses which may be active or silent.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Proviruses exist…

A

…naturally in most vertebrates, as well as some non-vertebrates, and are present in the germ line as “normal” genes.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Retrovirus virion contains…

present as…

A

…2 copies of the RNA genome
(t.f. virion = diploid)
…a dimer, formed by base pairing between complementary sequences

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

tRNAs from ____ ____ function as _______.

A

host cells

primers

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

cool retrovirus complex

A

kissing-loop complex

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

A number of protein species are…
The most abundant protein is…
Other proteins,…

A

…associated with the RNA
…the nucleocapsid (NC) protein, which coats the RNA.
…present in much smaller amounts, have enzyme activities.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

The genes encoding the retrovirus proteins are organized in…

A

3 major regions of the genome:

  1. ) gag (group-specific antigen) = internal structural proteins.
  2. ) pol (polymerase) = enzymes
  3. ) env (envelope) = envelope proteins.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Retrovirus Attachment and entry:
mostly by…
some by…

A

mostly by = fusion

some by = endocytosis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Retrovirus Attachment and entry 2 steps:

A
  1. ) The virion contents released into the cytoplasm loses some proteins.
  2. ) The contents undergo modification to form a reverse transcription complex.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

Reverse transcription takes place

A

within the reverse transcription complex.

26
Q
(Reverse transcription)
primer for (−) DNA synthesis =
primer for (+) DNA synthesis =
A
(-) = tRNA bound to the genome
(+) = a polypurine tract (PPT) in the virus genome
27
Q

polypurine tract (PPT) =

A

a sequence made up entirely, or almost entirely, of purine residues (in the virus genome.)

28
Q

Purines =

Pyrimidines =

A
Purines = A / G
Pyrimidines = C / U / T
29
Q
PBS:
PPT: 
R: 
U3: 
U5:
A
PBS: primer binding site. 
PPT: polypurine tract 
R: repeat sequence.
U3: unique sequence at 3' end of genome.
U5: unique sequence at 5' end of genome.
30
Q

Reverse Transcription Steps: (8)

A
  1. ) A copy of the virus genome with a tRNA bound at the PBS.
  2. ) Reverse transcriptase begins (−) DNA synthesis @ 3’ end of the tRNA.
  3. ) The RNase H digests the RNA from the RNA-DNA duplex. The (−) DNA attaches at the 3’ end of either the same strand or the 2nd copy of the genome.
  4. ) Elongation of the (−) DNA continues, while the RNase H degrades the template RNA from the 3’ end as far as the PPT.
  5. ) Synthesis of (+) DNA begins.
  6. ) Remaining RNA is degraded.
  7. ) The (+) DNA detaches from the 5 end of the (−) DNA template and attaches at the 3 end.
  8. ) Synthesis of both DNA strands is completed.
31
Q

(Reverse Transcription)

During synthesis of the two DNA strands…

A

each detaches from its template and re-attaches at the other end of the template through base pairing.

32
Q

Integration of the provirus happens when…

For most retroviruses…

A

…the provirus is transported to the nucleus as a pre-integration complex.
…this can occur only if the cell goes into mitosis.

33
Q

What is likely necessary for the pre-integration complex to enter the nucleus?
What does this mean?
HIV, however, can…

A
  • mitosis-induced breakdown of the nuclear membranes
  • there can be a productive infection only in dividing cells.

…productively infect resting cells, as the pre-integration complexes of these viruses are able to enter intact nuclei.

34
Q

One viral protein still associated with the provirus is called

A

integrase

35
Q

integrase function =

therefore making it…

A

= cuts the DNA of a cell chromosome and seals the provirus into the gap
…a multifunctional enzyme!

36
Q

The integrated provirus genes may…

or there may be…

A

…be expressed immediately = productive infection

…little or no expression = latent infection.

37
Q

If a latently infected cell divides

A

the provirus is copied along with the cell genome and each of the daughter cells has a copy of the provirus.

38
Q

(Retrovirus Transcription and genome replication)
What is synthesized?
and how will it function?

A

Genome-length RNAs are synthesized.
Some will function as mRNAs (green) while some will become the genomes of progeny virions (blue) (these RNAs are identical)

39
Q

(Assembly and release of virions)
Some retroviruses form…
But most retroviruses…

A

…immature particles in the cytoplasm that are then transported to the plasma membrane
…assemble their components on the inner surface of the plasma membrane

40
Q

most retroviruses assemble their components on

A

the inner surface of the plasma membrane

41
Q

Two copies of the genome associate with

A

cell tRNAs and with Gag & Gag–Pol proteins.

42
Q

The immature retrovirus virion acquires its envelope by

A

budding from the cell surface

43
Q

Retrovirus classification depends on

A

the complexity of their genomes

44
Q

The simple retroviruses have only…

or in some cases…

A

…the 3 standard retrovirus genes (gag, pol, env), or in some cases
…one additional gene, called an oncogene because its expression might result in its host cell developing into a tumour cell.

45
Q

oncogene =

A

gene who’s expression might result in its host cell developing into a tumour cell.

46
Q

An example of an oncogene is

A

src in the genome of Rous sarcoma virus, which infects chickens.

47
Q

The complex retroviruses have

A

additional genes, the products of which have a variety of functions in the replication cycle (ex: HIV)

48
Q

Some genetically modified retroviruses are used as

A

gene vectors
to introduce genes into a variety of cell types, where the genes are expressed at high levels after integration into the cell genomes.

49
Q

(Retroviruses as gene vectors)

Purpose of gene delivery: (3)

A
  1. ) Study the function of specific genes in lab
  2. ) Treat genetic disorders
  3. ) Treat cancers.
50
Q

murine leukaemia virus =

A

Lentiviral vectors have also been developed, they can deliver genes into non-dividing cells and tissues.

51
Q

retroviral vectors can successfully treat

A

Patients with the genetic disorder X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency (X-SCID, an immunodeficiency disorder in which the body produces very little T cells and NK cells)

52
Q

The genomes of vertebrate animals contain

A

retroviral sequences

53
Q

The genomes of most of these endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) are

A

defective

54
Q

Human genome has almost 100K

A

human ERV (HERV) sequences.

55
Q

Some ERVs are closely related to

A

normal retroviruses (exogenous retroviruses).

56
Q

ERVs =

A

endogenous retrovirusew

57
Q

It is highly likely that ERVs originated as a result of…

If one of these cells with an integrated provirus survived to be involved in the reproductive process, then…

A

…exogenous retroviruses infecting germ line cells (sperm and/or egg).
…each cell in the body of the offspring would contain a copy of the provirus.

58
Q

Most ERVs are defective, so they do not

A

normally replicate

59
Q

Missing ERV functions may be supplied by

A

another ERV or an exogenous retrovirus, so some ERVs can replicate.

60
Q

Some ERVs are not

A

defective;

they have an intact genome and can initiate a productive infection.

61
Q

Some ERVs do not replicate in…

Ex: ?

A

…cells of the species in which they occur, but are able to replicate in the cells of other species.
Ex: some mouse ERVs and some pig ERVs can replicate in human cells – RISK in cross species organ transplantation.

62
Q

ERV Concerns:

A

there may be a risk of transmitting retroviruses from pigs into humans if pigs are used as sources of cells, tissues and organs because of shortages of their human counterparts for transplant purposes.