ABSTRACT
Although replication-incompetent herpes simplex virus (HSV) vectors have the capability to express foreign genes, successful development of these vectors for gene delivery would require that expression of the foreign gene be regulated. To investigate the feasibility of obtaining inducible expression of a foreign gene in such a vector, a replication-incompetent HSV vector, vd120/LTR beta, was developed that used the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) long terminal repeat (LTR) to express the Escherichia coli lacZ gene. Examination of lacZ expression from the HIV-1 LTR in vd120/LTR beta-infected cells indicated that the LTR was active as a promoter under both replicating and nonreplicating conditions, although expression of lacZ under nonreplicating conditions was approximately 4-fold lower. In addition, the LTR expressed lacZ in a manner distinct from that of well-characterized HSV-1 promoters of each temporal class. The effect of the HIV-1 regulatory protein Tat on expression from the LTR in vd120/LTR beta was examined by infection of two different HeLa-derived cell lines that constitutively expressed Tat, HL2/3, and HLtat. Compared to infection of HeLa cells, lacZ expression from vd120/LTR beta-infected HL2/3 and HLtat cells increased from 4- to 24-fold, depending on the multiplicity of vector infection. Sustained expression of lacZ from the LTR in vd120/LTR beta-infected cells was not observed even in the continuous presence of Tat, although vector could be recovered for up to 5 days after infection. However, the amount of recoverable vector decreased during this time, suggesting that cellular cytotoxicity may account for some of the decrease in Tat-mediated expression from the LTR.
Subject(s)
Defective Viruses/genetics , Gene Expression Regulation, Viral , Genetic Vectors , HIV Long Terminal Repeat , Herpesvirus 1, Human/genetics , Animals , Cell Line , Chlorocebus aethiops , Defective Viruses/physiology , Gene Deletion , Gene Products, tat/genetics , Gene Products, tat/metabolism , Genes, Reporter , HeLa Cells , Herpesvirus 1, Human/physiology , Humans , Immediate-Early Proteins/genetics , Lac Operon , Vero Cells , Virus Replication , beta-Galactosidase/metabolismABSTRACT
Brefeldin A (BFA) has been used extensively to study the intracellular transport and processing of proteins and sphingolipids because of its dramatic alteration of the structural and functional organization of the Golgi. We have examined the effect of BFA on the synthesis of galactosylceramide sulfate (SGalCer) and its immediate precursor galactosylceramide (GalCer) in an immortalized Schwann cell line (S16) to determine the intracellular sites of synthesis of these two related glycolipids. During a 6-h labeling period, a dose-dependent inhibition of [35S]sulfate incorporation into SGalCer was observed with 95% inhibition occurring at 0.5 microgram/ml BFA. Labeling of newly synthesized galactosphingolipids with [3H]-palmitic acid for 6 h in the presence of BFA resulted in increased incorporation of label into GalCer containing nonhydroxy fatty acids (NFA-GalCer) to 162% of control values, whereas labeling of GalCer containing 2-hydroxy fatty acids (HFA-GalCer) was reduced to 63% of control. After 24 h, these values were at 366 and 91%, respectively. These results indicate that at least some of the HFA-GalCer was initially synthesized at a location distal to the BFA block and separate from the site of NFA-GalCer synthesis. Examination of [3H]palmitic acid incorporation into free ceramides showed an increase of 133 and 161% for hydroxy and nonhydroxy fatty acid ceramides, respectively, in cells treated for 6 h with BFA in comparison with levels found in untreated control cells, indicating that BFA did not block fatty acid 2-hydroxylation or the formation of HFA ceramide.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
