RNA and Protein Requirements for Incorporation of the Pol Protein into Foamy Virus Particles

Abstract

Foamy viruses (FVs) generate their Pol protein precursor molecule independently of the Gag protein from a spliced mRNA. This mode of expression raises the question of the mechanism of Pol protein incorporation into the viral particle (capsid). We previously showed that the packaging of (pre)genomic RNA is essential for Pol encapsidation (M. Heinkelein, C. Leurs, M. Rammling, K. Peters, H. Hanenberg, and A. Rethwilm, J. Virol. 76:10069-10073, 2002). Here, we demonstrate that distinct sequences in the RNA, which we termed Pol encapsidation sequences (PES), are required to incorporate Pol protein into the FV capsid. Two PES were found, which are contained in the previously identified cis-acting sequences necessary to transfer an FV vector. One PES is located in the U5 region of the 5' long terminal repeat and one at the 3' end of the pol gene region. Neither element has any significant effect on RNA packaging. However, deletion of either PES resulted in a significant reduction in Pol encapsidation. On the protein level, we show that only the Pol precursor, but not the individual reverse transcriptase (RT) and integrase (IN) subunits, is incorporated into FV particles. However, enzymatic activities of the protease (PR), RT, or IN are not required. Our results strengthen the view that in FVs, (pre)genomic RNA functions as a bridging molecule between Gag and Pol precursor proteins.