Association of ERK2 mitogen-activated protein kinase with human immunodeficiency virus particles

Abstract

Here we report the presence of a protein kinase activity associated with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) particles. We observed phosphorylation of five major proteins by the endogenous protein kinase activity. Phosphoamino acid analysis revealed phosphorylated serine and threonine residues. In addition, we observed autophosphorylation of two proteins in the presence of gamma-ATP in an in-gel phosphorylation assay. These two proteins are not linked by a disulfide bond, suggesting that two different protein kinases are associated with HIV-1 virions. Our results indicate the presence of ERK2 mitogen-activated protein kinase and of a 53,000-molecular-weight protein kinase associated with virions. Moreover, the use of different HIV strains derived from T cells and promonocytic cells, as well as the use of human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 particles, demonstrates that ERK2 is strongly associated with retrovirus particles in a cell-independent manner. Exogenous substrates, such as histone proteins, and a viral substrate, such as Gag protein, are phosphorylated by virus-associated protein kinases.