scholarly journals Cryo-EM structure and in vitro DNA packaging of a thermophilic virus with supersized T=7 capsids

2019 ◽  
Vol 116 (9) ◽  
pp. 3556-3561 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oliver W. Bayfield ◽  
Evgeny Klimuk ◽  
Dennis C. Winkler ◽  
Emma L. Hesketh ◽  
Maria Chechik ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Conformational Changes ◽  
Structural Integrity ◽  
Thermus Thermophilus ◽  
Dna Packaging ◽  
Dna Viruses ◽  
Portal Protein ◽  
Single Vertex ◽  
Double Stranded Dna ◽  
Β Sheets

Double-stranded DNA viruses, including bacteriophages and herpesviruses, package their genomes into preformed capsids, using ATP-driven motors. Seeking to advance structural and mechanistic understanding, we established in vitro packaging for a thermostable bacteriophage, P23-45 of Thermus thermophilus. Both the unexpanded procapsid and the expanded mature capsid can package DNA in the presence of packaging ATPase over the 20 °C to 70 °C temperature range, with optimum activity at 50 °C to 65 °C. Cryo-EM reconstructions for the mature and immature capsids at 3.7-Å and 4.4-Å resolution, respectively, reveal conformational changes during capsid expansion. Capsomer interactions in the expanded capsid are reinforced by formation of intersubunit β-sheets with N-terminal segments of auxiliary protein trimers. Unexpectedly, the capsid has T=7 quasi-symmetry, despite the P23-45 genome being twice as large as those of known T=7 phages, in which the DNA is compacted to near-crystalline density. Our data explain this anomaly, showing how the canonical HK97 fold has adapted to double the volume of the capsid, while maintaining its structural integrity. Reconstructions of the procapsid and the expanded capsid defined the structure of the single vertex containing the portal protein. Together with a 1.95-Å resolution crystal structure of the portal protein and DNA packaging assays, these reconstructions indicate that capsid expansion affects the conformation of the portal protein, while still allowing DNA to be packaged. These observations suggest a mechanism by which structural events inside the capsid can be communicated to the outside.

scholarly journals Inherited dysfunctional platelet P2Y12 receptor mutations associated with bleeding disorders

2016 ◽  
Vol 36 (04) ◽  
pp. 279-283 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Lecchi ◽  
Eti Femia ◽  
Silvia Paoletta ◽  
Arnaud Dupuis ◽  
Philippe Ohlmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Conformational Changes ◽  
Structural Integrity ◽  
Present Report ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Receptor Expression ◽  
Severe Bleeding ◽  
Modelling Studies ◽  
Agonist And Antagonist ◽  
High Concentrations

SummaryThe platelet adenosine 5’-diphosphate (ADP) receptor P2Y12 (P2Y12R) plays a critical role in platelet aggregation. The present report illustrates an update of dysfunctional platelet P2Y12R mutations diagnosed with congenital lifelong bleeding problems. Described patients with heterozygous or homozygous substitution in the P2Y12R gene and qualitative abnormalities of the platelet P2Y12R are summarized. Recently, a further dysfunctional variant of P2Y12R has been identified in two brothers who presented with a lifelong severe bleeding disorder. During in vitro aggregation studies, the patient´s platelets show a markedly reduced and rapid reversible ADP-promoted aggregation. A homozygous c.561T>A substitution that changes the codon for His187 to Gln (p.His187Gln) in the P2Y12R gene has been identified. This mutation causes no change in receptor expression but decreases the affinity of the ligand for the receptor, even at high concentrations. Structure modelling studies indicated that the p.His187Gln mutation, located in the fifth transmembrane spanning domain (TM5), impairs conformational changes of the receptor. Structural integrity of the TM5 region is necessary for agonist and antagonist binding and for correct receptor function.

scholarly journals NMR structure of a vestigial nuclease provides insight into the evolution of functional transitions in viral dsDNA packaging motors

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bryon P. Mahler ◽  
Pawel J. Bujalowski ◽  
Huzhang Mao ◽  
Erik A. Dill ◽  
Paul J. Jardine ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Conformational Changes ◽  
Molecular Motors ◽  
Solution Structure ◽  
Nuclease Activity ◽  
Structural Basis ◽  
Binding Assays ◽  
Dna Viruses ◽  
Double Stranded Dna ◽  
Fluorescence Binding ◽  
Insight Into

SummaryDouble-stranded DNA viruses use ATP-powered molecular motors to package their genomes. To do so, these motors must efficiently transition between initiation, translocation, and termination modes. Here, we report structural and biophysical analyses of the C-terminal domain of the bacteriophage phi29 ATPase (CTD) that suggest a structural basis for these functional transitions. Sedimentation experiments show that the inter-domain linker in the full-length protein promotes dimerization and thus may play a role in assembly of the functional motor. The NMR solution structure of the CTD indicates it is a vestigial nuclease domain that likely evolved from conserved nuclease domains in phage terminases. Despite the loss of nuclease activity, fluorescence binding assays confirm the CTD retains its DNA binding capabilities and fitting the CTD into cryoEM density of the phi29 motor shows that the CTD directly binds DNA. However, the interacting residues differ from those identified by NMR titration in solution, suggesting that packaging motors undergo conformational changes to transition between initiation, translocation, and termination.

scholarly journals An RNA Domain Imparts Specificity and Selectivity to a Viral DNA Packaging Motor

2015 ◽  
Vol 89 (24) ◽  
pp. 12457-12466 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Zhao ◽  
Paul J. Jardine ◽  
Shelley Grimes
Keyword(s):  
Viral Genome ◽  
Virus Assembly ◽  
Molecular Motor ◽  
Protein A ◽  
Dna Packaging ◽  
Viral Dna ◽  
High Biological Activity ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Double Stranded Dna

ABSTRACTDuring assembly, double-stranded DNA viruses, including bacteriophages and herpesviruses, utilize a powerful molecular motor to package their genomic DNA into a preformed viral capsid. An integral component of the packaging motor in theBacillus subtilisbacteriophage ϕ29 is a viral genome-encoded pentameric ring of RNA (prohead RNA [pRNA]). pRNA is a 174-base transcript comprised of two domains, domains I and II. Early studies initially isolated a 120-base form (domain I only) that retains high biological activityin vitro; hence, no function could be assigned to domain II. Here we define a role for this domain in the packaging process. DNA packaging using restriction digests of ϕ29 DNA showed that motors with the 174-base pRNA supported the correct polarity of DNA packaging, selectively packaging the DNA left end. In contrast, motors containing the 120-base pRNA had compromised specificity, packaging both left- and right-end fragments. The presence of domain II also provides selectivity in competition assays with genomes from related phages. Furthermore, motors with the 174-base pRNA were restrictive, in that they packaged only one DNA fragment into the head, whereas motors with the 120-base pRNA packaged several fragments into the head, indicating multiple initiation events. These results show that domain II imparts specificity and stringency to the motor during the packaging initiation events that precede DNA translocation. Heteromeric rings of pRNA demonstrated that one or two copies of domain II were sufficient to impart this selectivity/stringency. Although ϕ29 differs from other double-stranded DNA phages in having an RNA motor component, the function provided by pRNA is carried on the motor protein components in other phages.IMPORTANCEDuring virus assembly, genome packaging involves the delivery of newly synthesized viral nucleic acid into a protein shell. In the double-stranded DNA phages and herpesviruses, this is accomplished by a powerful molecular motor that translocates the viral DNA into a preformed viral shell. A key event in DNA packaging is recognition of the viral DNA among other nucleic acids in the host cell. Commonly, a DNA-binding protein mediates the interaction of viral DNA with the motor/head shell. Here we show that for the bacteriophage ϕ29, this essential step of genome recognition is mediated by a viral genome-encoded RNA rather than a protein. A domain of the prohead RNA (pRNA) imparts specificity and stringency to the motor by ensuring the correct orientation of DNA packaging and restricting initiation to a single event. Since this assembly step is unique to the virus, DNA packaging is a novel target for the development of antiviral drugs.

scholarly journals Lattice Transformations and Subunit Conformational Changes in Phage Capsid Maturation

2005 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 99-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
David C. Gossard ◽  
Jonathan King
Keyword(s):  
Conformational Changes ◽  
Genomic Dna ◽  
General Feature ◽  
Structural Data ◽  
Dna Packaging ◽  
Double Stranded Dna ◽  
Virus Life Cycle ◽  
Phage Capsid ◽  
Capsid Maturation ◽  
Mature Virus

A general feature of the pathways for the assembly of double-stranded DNA phages and viruses is the assembly of coat and scaffolding subunits into a precursor shell or procapsid, followed by packaging of the genomic DNA into the shell. Coupled to this DNA packaging process is the loss of the scaffolding subunits and expansion and re-organization of the procapsid lattice to the lattice of the mature virus. Such lattice transitions have also been observed with adenoviruses and herpesviruses. In re-organizing into the mature capsid lattice, each subunit of the precursor lattice must change its conformation, or its relationship with its neighbours, or both. We briefly review here recent structural data for phages P22 and HK97, and describe the motions and conformational changes associated with this lattice transition. Possible functions of such constrained transformations within the virus life-cycle are discussed.

scholarly journals Architect of Virus Assembly: the Portal Protein Nucleates Procapsid Assembly in Bacteriophage P22

2019 ◽  
Vol 93 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tina Motwani ◽  
Carolyn M. Teschke
Keyword(s):  
Virus Assembly ◽  
Genetic Material ◽  
Scaffolding Protein ◽  
Scaffolding Proteins ◽  
Bacteriophage P22 ◽  
Particle Assembly ◽  
Portal Protein ◽  
Double Stranded Dna ◽  
Dsdna Viruses

ABSTRACTTailed double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) bacteriophages, herpesviruses, and adenoviruses package their genetic material into a precursor capsid through a dodecameric ring complex called the portal protein, which is located at a unique 5-fold vertex. In several phages and viruses, including T4, Φ29, and herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1), the portal forms a nucleation complex with scaffolding proteins (SPs) to initiate procapsid (PC) assembly, thereby ensuring incorporation of only one portal ring per capsid. However, for bacteriophage P22, the role of its portal protein in initiation of procapsid assembly is unclear. We have developed anin vitroP22 assembly assay where portal protein is coassembled into procapsid-like particles (PLPs). Scaffolding protein also catalyzes oligomerization of monomeric portal protein into dodecameric rings, possibly forming a scaffolding protein-portal protein nucleation complex that results in one portal ring per P22 procapsid. Here, we present evidence substantiating that the P22 portal protein, similarly to those of other dsDNA viruses, can act as an assembly nucleator. The presence of the P22 portal protein is shown to increase the rate of particle assembly and contribute to proper morphology of the assembled particles. Our results highlight a key function of portal protein as an assembly initiator, a feature that is likely conserved among these classes of dsDNA viruses.IMPORTANCEThe existence of a single portal ring is essential to the formation of infectious virions in the tailed double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) phages, herpesviruses, and adenoviruses and, as such, is a viable antiviral therapeutic target. How only one portal is selectively incorporated at a unique vertex is unclear. In many dsDNA viruses and phages, the portal protein acts as an assembly nucleator. However, early work on phage P22 assemblyin vivoindicated that the portal protein did not function as a nucleator for procapsid (PC) assembly, leading to the suggestion that P22 uses a unique mechanism for portal incorporation. Here, we show that portal protein nucleates assembly of P22 procapsid-like particles (PLPs). Addition of portal rings to an assembly reaction increases the rate of formation and yield of particles and corrects improper particle morphology. Our data suggest that procapsid assembly may universally initiate with a nucleation complex composed minimally of portal and scaffolding proteins (SPs).

scholarly journals Conformational Transitions of Double-Stranded DNA in Thin Films

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 2360
Author(s):  
Kristina Serec ◽  
Nikola Šegedin ◽  
Maria Krajačić ◽  
Sanja Dolanski Babić
Keyword(s):  
Thin Films ◽  
Conformational Changes ◽  
Conformational Transitions ◽  
Ambient Conditions ◽  
Band Shape ◽  
Double Stranded Dna ◽  
Analysis Of Dynamics ◽  
Fitting In

Conformational transitions of double-stranded DNA in different environments have long been studied as vital parts of both in vitro and in vivo processes. In this study, utilizing Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), we provide detailed analysis of dynamics of A- to B-form transitions in DNA thin films of different hydrated states based on a statistical analysis of a substantial number of spectra and band shape analysis (peak fitting) in both the phosphate (1150–1000 cm−1) and sugar–phosphate (900–750 cm−1) region. Hydration of DNA thin films is systematically controlled by the time spent in the desiccator chamber (from 3 min to 40 min) allowing conformation and hydration signatures, in addition to variations due to ambient conditions, to be resolved in the spectra. Conformation transition from A-form to more ordered B-form is observed if sufficient time in the desiccator chamber is allowed and is confirmed by changes on the bands at ≈890, 860, 837, and 805 cm−1. Phosphate vibrations at ≈1230 cm−1 and 1089 cm−1, and backbone vibrations at ≈1030 cm−1 and 765 cm−1 were found to be sensitive to changes in hydration rather than conformation. Additionally, we found that spectral variations caused by ambient conditions can be significantly reduced without inducing conformational changes, which serves as a good basis for quality assurance.

scholarly journals Intravirion DNA Can Access the Space Occupied by the Bacteriophage P22 Ejection Proteins

Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 1504
Author(s):  
Justin C. Leavitt ◽  
Eddie B. Gilcrease ◽  
Brianna M. Woodbury ◽  
Carolyn M. Teschke ◽  
Sherwood R. Casjens
Keyword(s):  
Dna Packaging ◽  
Bacteriophage P22 ◽  
Portal Protein ◽  
Dna Molecule ◽  
Double Stranded Dna ◽  
Phage P22

Tailed double-stranded DNA bacteriophages inject some proteins with their dsDNA during infection. Phage P22 injects about 12, 12, and 30 molecules of the proteins encoded by genes 7, 16 and 20, respectively. After their ejection from the virion, they assemble into a trans-periplasmic conduit through which the DNA passes to enter the cytoplasm. The location of these proteins in the virion before injection is not well understood, although we recently showed they reside near the portal protein barrel in DNA-filled heads. In this report we show that when these proteins are missing from the virion, a longer than normal DNA molecule is encapsidated by the P22 headful DNA packaging machinery. Thus, the ejection proteins occupy positions within the virion that can be occupied by packaged DNA when they are absent.

scholarly journals Portal Protein: The Orchestrator of Capsid Assembly for the dsDNA Tailed Bacteriophages and Herpesviruses

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 141-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Corynne L. Dedeo ◽  
Gino Cingolani ◽  
Carolyn M. Teschke
Keyword(s):  
Drug Target ◽  
Sequence Similarity ◽  
Antiviral Drug ◽  
Viral Assembly ◽  
Dna Packaging ◽  
Capsid Assembly ◽  
Portal Protein ◽  
Ring Assembly ◽  
Double Stranded Dna

Tailed, double-stranded DNA bacteriophages provide a well-characterized model system for the study of viral assembly, especially for herpesviruses and adenoviruses. A wealth of genetic, structural, and biochemical work has allowed for the development of assembly models and an understanding of the DNA packaging process. The portal complex is an essential player in all aspects of bacteriophage and herpesvirus assembly. Despite having low sequence similarity, portal structures across bacteriophages share the portal fold and maintain a conserved function. Due to their dynamic role, portal proteins are surprisingly plastic, and their conformations change for each stage of assembly. Because the maturation process is dependent on the portal protein, researchers have been working to validate this protein as a potential antiviral drug target. Here we review recent work on the role of portal complexes in capsid assembly, including DNA packaging, as well as portal ring assembly and incorporation and analysis of portal structures.

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