Fig. 7

Most Gag chimeras containing HERV-K CA colocalize with HIV-1 Gag at the plasma membrane (PM). HeLa cells coexpressing YFP-tagged HERV-K Gag, MLV Gag or chimeric Gag (green) and mRFP-tagged HIV-1 Gag (red) proteins were examined using fluorescence microscopy at 16 h after cotransfection (a). Images acquired at the mid-section of the cells. b The R strength of correlation between fluorescence intensities of pairs of indicated Gag-fluorescent protein chimeras was calculated for cells coexpressing these Gag proteins. Data from 11 to 33 cells are shown as means ± standard error of the mean (SEM). P values were determined using a Student’s t test. *P < 0.01; ***P < 0.0001; n.s. not significant. c For the analysis of HIV-1 Gag localization patterns, we acquired images of 11–33 cells per condition at the middle and top focal plains. If Gag puncta distributes over the half of the circumference of a cell, the cell is classified as “PM (High signals)”. If Gag distributes less than the half of the cell circumference, the cell is classified as “PM (Low signals)”. If there is no Gag-puncta signal at the plasma membrane and in the cytosol in both top and middle focal plains of a cell, the cell is classified as “Cytosol”. If there is Gag puncta in the cytoplasm in the middle focal plain, it is classified as “Intra + PM”. Data from 11 to 33 cells are shown