scholarly journals Proteolytic processing of Semliki Forest virus-specific non-structural polyprotein by nsP2 protease

2001 ◽  
Vol 82 (4) ◽  
pp. 765-773 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andres Merits ◽  
Lidia Vasiljeva ◽  
Tero Ahola ◽  
Leevi Kääriäinen ◽  
Petri Auvinen
Keyword(s):  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Active Sites ◽  
Insect Cells ◽  
Semliki Forest Virus ◽  
Point Mutations ◽  
Proteolytic Processing ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
In Trans ◽  
Polyprotein Precursor

The RNA replicase proteins of Semliki Forest virus (SFV) are translated as a P1234 polyprotein precursor that contains two putative autoproteases. Point mutations introduced into the predicted active sites of both proteases nsP2 (P2) and nsP4 (P4), separately or in combination, completely abolished virus replication in mammalian cells. The effects of these mutations on polyprotein processing were studied by in vitro translation and by expression of wild-type polyproteins P1234, P123, P23, P34 and their mutated counterparts in insect cells using recombinant baculoviruses. A mutation in the catalytic site of the P2 protease, C478A, (P2CA) completely abolished the processing of P12CA34, P12CA3 and P2CA3. Co-expression of P23 and P12CA34 in insect cells resulted in in trans cleavages at the P2/3 and P3/4 sites. Co-expression of P23 and P34 resulted in cleavage at the P3/4 site. In contrast, a construct with a mutation in the active site of the putative P4 protease, D6A, (P1234DA) was processed like the wild-type protein. P34 or its truncated forms were not processed when expressed alone. In insect cells, P4 was rapidly destroyed unless an inhibitor of proteosomal degradation was used. It is concluded that P2 is the only protease needed for the processing of SFV polyprotein P1234. Analysis of the cleavage products revealed that P23 or P2 could not cleave the P1/2 site in trans.

scholarly journals Kenyan Plasmodium falciparum Field Isolates: Correlation between Pyrimethamine and Chlorcycloguanil Activity In Vitro and Point Mutations in the Dihydrofolate Reductase Domain

1998 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 164-169 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Nzila-Mounda ◽  
E. K. Mberu ◽  
C. H. Sibley ◽  
C. V. Plowe ◽  
P. A. Winstanley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plasmodium Falciparum ◽  
Dihydrofolate Reductase ◽  
Drug Response ◽  
Point Mutations ◽  
Distinct Group ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Field Isolates ◽  
Vitro Data ◽  
In Vitro Data

ABSTRACT Sixty-nine Kenyan Plasmodium falciparum field isolates were tested in vitro against pyrimethamine (PM), chlorcycloguanil (CCG), sulfadoxine (SD), and dapsone (DDS), and their dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) genotypes were determined. The in vitro data show that CCG is more potent than PM and that DDS is more potent than SD. DHFR genotype is correlated with PM and CCG drug response. Isolates can be classified into three distinct groups based on their 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50s) for PM and CCG (P< 0.01) and their DHFR genotypes. The first group consists of wild-type isolates with mean PM and CCG IC50s of 3.71 ± 6.94 and 0.24 ± 0.21 nM, respectively. The second group includes parasites which all have mutations at codon 108 alone or also at codons 51 or 59 and represents one homogeneous group for which 25- and 6-fold increases in PM and CCG IC50s, respectively, are observed. Parasites with mutations at codons 108, 51, and 59 (triple mutants) form a third distinct group for which nine- and eightfold increases in IC50s, respectively, of PM and CCG compared to the second group are observed. Surprisingly, there is a significant decrease (P < 0.01) of SD and DDS susceptibility in these triple mutants. Our data show that more than 92% of Kenyan field isolates have undergone at least one point mutation associated with a decrease in PM activity. These findings are of great concern because they may indicate imminent PM-SD failure, and there is no affordable antimalarial drug to replace PM-SD (Fansidar).

scholarly journals Molecular Basis of In Vivo Resistance to Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine in African Adult Patients Infected withPlasmodium falciparum Malaria Parasites

1998 ◽  
Vol 42 (7) ◽  
pp. 1811-1814 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leonardo K. Basco ◽  
Rachida Tahar ◽  
Pascal Ringwald
Keyword(s):  
Dihydrofolate Reductase ◽  
Point Mutations ◽  
Gene Mutations ◽  
Adult Patients ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Dihydropteroate Synthase ◽  
Reductase Gene ◽  
Parasite Populations

ABSTRACT In vitro sulfadoxine and pyrimethamine resistance has been associated with point mutations in the dihydropteroate synthase and dihydrofolate reductase domains, respectively, but the in vivo relevance of these point mutations has not been well established. To analyze the correlation between genotype and phenotype, 10 Cameroonian adult patients were treated with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine and followed up for 28 days. After losses to follow-up (n = 1) or elimination of DNA samples due to mixed parasite populations with pyrimethamine-sensitive and pyrimethamine-resistant profiles (n = 3), parasite genomic DNA from day 0 blood samples of six patients were analyzed by DNA sequencing. Three patients who were cured had isolates characterized by a wild-type or mutant dihydrofolate reductase gene (with one or two mutations) and a wild-type dihydropteroate synthase gene. Three other patients who failed to respond to sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine treatment carried isolates with triple dihydrofolate reductase gene mutations and either a wild-type or a mutant dihydropteroate synthase gene. Three dihydrofolate reductase gene codons (51, 59, and 108) may be reliable genetic markers that can accurately predict the clinical outcome of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine treatment in Africa.

Translation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: initiation factor 4E-dependent cell-free system

1989 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 4467-4472
Author(s):  
M Altmann ◽  
N Sonenberg ◽  
H Trachsel
Keyword(s):  
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Point Mutations ◽  
Translation Initiation Factor ◽  
Apparent Temperature ◽  
Initiation Factor ◽  
Temperature Sensitive ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Free System ◽  
Gal1 Promoter

The gene encoding translation initiation factor 4E (eIF-4E) from Saccharomyces cerevisiae was randomly mutagenized in vitro. The mutagenized gene was reintroduced on a plasmid into S. cerevisiae cells having their only wild-type eIF-4E gene on a plasmid under the control of the regulatable GAL1 promoter. Transcription from the GAL1 promoter (and consequently the production of wild-type eIF-4E) was then shut off by plating these cells on glucose-containing medium. Under these conditions, the phenotype conferred upon the cells by the mutated eIF-4E gene became apparent. Temperature-sensitive S. cerevisiae strains were identified by replica plating. The properties of one strain, 4-2, were further analyzed. Strain 4-2 has two point mutations in the eIF-4E gene. Upon incubation at 37 degrees C, incorporation of [35S]methionine was reduced to 15% of the wild-type level. Cell-free translation systems derived from strain 4-2 were dependent on exogenous eIF-4E for efficient translation of certain mRNAs, and this dependence was enhanced by preincubation of the extract at 37 degrees C. Not all mRNAs tested required exogenous eIF-4E for translation.

Functional interaction between p21rap1A and components of the budding pathway in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

1992 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 4084-4092
Author(s):  
P C McCabe ◽  
H Haubruck ◽  
P Polakis ◽  
F McCormick ◽  
M A Innis
Keyword(s):  
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Bound States ◽  
Yeast Cells ◽  
Temperature Sensitive ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Amino Terminal ◽  
Loop Region

The rap1A gene encodes a 21-kDa, ras-related GTP-binding protein (p21rap1A) of unknown function. A close structural homolog of p21rap1A (65% identity in the amino-terminal two-thirds) is the RSR1 gene product (Rsr1p) of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Although Rsr1p is not essential for growth, its presence is required for nonrandom selection of bud sites. To assess the similarity of these proteins at the functional level, wild-type and mutant forms of p21rap1A were tested for complementation of activities known to be fulfilled by Rsr1p. Expression of p21rap1A, like multicopy expression of RSR1, suppressed the conditional lethality of a temperature-sensitive cdc24 mutation. Point mutations predicted to affect the localization of p21rap1A or its ability to cycle between GDP and GTP-bound states disrupted suppression of cdc24ts, while other mutations in the 61-65 loop region improved suppression. Expression of p21rap1A could not, however, suppress the random budding phenotype of rsr1 cells. p21rap1A also apparently interfered with the normal activity of Rsrlp, causing random budding in diploid wild-type cells, suggesting an inability of p21rap1A to interact appropriately with Rsr1p regulatory proteins. Consistent with this hypothesis, we found an Rsr1p-specific GTPase-activating protein (GAP) activity in yeast membranes which was not active toward p21rap1A, indicating that p21rap1A may be predominantly GTP bound in yeast cells. Coexpression of human Rap1-specific GAP suppressed the random budding due to expression of p21rap1A or its derivatives, including Rap1AVal-12. Although Rap1-specific GAP stimulated the GTPase of Rsr1p in vitro, it did not dominantly interfere with Rsr1p function in vivo. A chimera consisting of Rap1A1-165::Rsr1p166-272 did not exhibit normal Rsr1p function in the budding pathway. These results indicated that p21rap1A and Rsr1p share at least partial functional homology, which may have implications for p21rap1A function in mammalian cells.

scholarly journals Conserved Motifs within Ebola and Marburg Virus VP40 Proteins Are Important for Stability, Localization, and Subsequent Budding of Virus-Like Particles

2009 ◽  
Vol 84 (5) ◽  
pp. 2294-2303 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuliang Liu ◽  
Luis Cocka ◽  
Atsushi Okumura ◽  
Yong-An Zhang ◽  
J. Oriol Sunyer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Self Assembly ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Intracellular Localization ◽  
Gel Filtration ◽  
Point Mutations ◽  
Marburg Virus ◽  
Structure Stability ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Virus Like Particles

ABSTRACT The filovirus VP40 protein is capable of budding from mammalian cells in the form of virus-like particles (VLPs) that are morphologically indistinguishable from infectious virions. Ebola virus VP40 (eVP40) contains well-characterized overlapping L domains, which play a key role in mediating efficient virus egress. L domains represent only one component required for efficient budding and, therefore, there is a need to identify and characterize additional domains important for VP40 function. We demonstrate here that the 96LPLGVA101 sequence of eVP40 and the corresponding 84LPLGIM89 sequence of Marburg virus VP40 (mVP40) are critical for efficient release of VP40 VLPs. Indeed, deletion of these motifs essentially abolished the ability of eVP40 and mVP40 to bud as VLPs. To address the mechanism by which the 96LPLGVA101 motif of eVP40 contributes to egress, a series of point mutations were introduced into this motif. These mutants were then compared to the eVP40 wild type in a VLP budding assay to assess budding competency. Confocal microscopy and gel filtration analyses were performed to assess their pattern of intracellular localization and ability to oligomerize, respectively. Our results show that mutations disrupting the 96LPLGVA101 motif resulted in both altered patterns of intracellular localization and self-assembly compared to wild-type controls. Interestingly, coexpression of either Ebola virus GP-WT or mVP40-WT with eVP40-ΔLPLGVA failed to rescue the budding defective eVP40-ΔLPLGVA mutant into VLPs; however, coexpression of eVP40-WT with mVP40-ΔLPLGIM successfully rescued budding of mVP40-ΔLPLGIM into VLPs at mVP40-WT levels. In sum, our findings implicate the LPLGVA and LPLGIM motifs of eVP40 and mVP40, respectively, as being important for VP40 structure/stability and budding.

scholarly journals 8-AZAGUANINE RESISTANCE IN MAMMALIAN CELLS I. HYPOXANTHINE-GUANINE PHOSPHORIBOSYLTRANSFERASE

Genetics ◽  
1972 ◽  
Vol 72 (2) ◽  
pp. 239-252 ◽  
Author(s):  
F D Gillin ◽  
D J Roufa ◽  
A L Beaudet ◽  
C T Caskey
Keyword(s):  
Nucleic Acid ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Chinese Hamster ◽  
Acid Synthesis ◽  
Ethyl Methanesulfonate ◽  
Nucleic Acid Synthesis ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Chinese Hamster Cells ◽  
Hypoxanthine Guanine Phosphoribosyltransferase

ABSTRACT Chinese hamster cells were treated with ethyl methanesulfonate or N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine, and mutants resistant to 8-azaguanine were selected and characterized. Hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase activity of sixteen mutants is extremely negative, making them suitable for reversion to HGPRTase+. Ten of the extremely negative mutants revert at a frequency higher than 10-7 suggesting their point mutational character. The remaining mutants have demonstrable HGPRTase activity and are not useful for reversion analysis. Five of these mutants have &lt; 2% HGPRTase and are presumably also HGPRTase point mutants. The remaining 14 mutants utilize exogenous hypoxanthine for nucleic acid synthesis poorly, and possess 20-150% of wild-type HGPRTase activity in in vitro. Their mechanism of 8-azaguanine resistance is not yet defined.

Molecular Basis of Salivary Proline-rich Protein and Peptide Synthesis: Cell-free Translations and Processing of Human and Macaque Statherin mRNAs and Partial Amino Acid Sequence of their Signal Peptides

1987 ◽  
Vol 66 (2) ◽  
pp. 462-466 ◽  
Author(s):  
F.G. Oppenheim ◽  
D.I. Hay ◽  
D.J. Smith ◽  
G.D. Offner ◽  
R.F. Troxler
Keyword(s):  
Calcium Phosphate ◽  
Macaca Fascicularis ◽  
Electrophoretic Analysis ◽  
Proteolytic Processing ◽  
Oral Environment ◽  
Reticulocyte Lysate ◽  
Polyprotein Precursor ◽  
Phosphate Salts ◽  
Calcium Phosphate Precipitation

Acidic proline-rich phosphoproteins and phosphopeptides are abundant components of parotid and submandibular salivary secretions in man and in the subhuman primate, Macaca fascicularis. The major acidic proline-rich proteins and the proline-rich phosphopeptide, statherin, of man and macaques have been shown to be potent inhibitors of calcium phosphate precipitation and are thought to function in the oral environment by maintaining saliva supersaturated with respect to calcium phosphate salts. Little is known about the biosynthesis of these proline-rich phosphoproteins and peptides, and the aim of the present work was to determine the structural relationship between statherin precursors and native human and macaque statherin. RNA was isolated from human submandibular gland, and poly(A+) mRNA was selected by affinity chromatography on oligo(dT) cellulose and translated in a reticulocyte lysate. Electrophoretic analysis of the translation products revealed that this mRNA directed the synthesis of a large number of polypeptides with M,s ranging from 5000 to 70,000. Immunoprecipitates, prepared with an antiserum directed against human statherin, contained a single component with a Mr of 7800, approximately 2000 daltons larger than native statherin. Radiosequencing of the in vitro precursor of statherin in immunoprecipitates demonstrated the presence of a 19-residue signal peptide. These results suggest that statherin is derived from a unique structural gene, and does not result from proteolytic processing of a large polyprotein precursor.

Abstract 1042: Viral Chemokine Modulating Protein, M-T7, Interrupts Chemokine : Glycosaminoglycan (GAG) Interaction: M-T7 Inhibitory Activity is Dependent upon Y46 and V210 aminoacid residues

Circulation ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 116 (suppl_16) ◽  
Author(s):  
Erbin Dai ◽  
Dana McIvor ◽  
Liying Liu ◽  
Ganesh Munaswamy-Ramanujam ◽  
Yunming Sun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Migration ◽  
Cell Invasion ◽  
Inhibitory Activity ◽  
Active Sites ◽  
Point Mutations ◽  
List Type ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Monocyte Activation ◽  
Cc Chemokine ◽  
Plaque Growth

Background: Chemokines bind to glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) forming gradients that direct inflammatory cell invasion. The viral chemokine modulating protein (CMP), MT-7 binds the C terminal, GAG-binding domain of chemokines and has been previously reported to significantly reduce cell invasion and plaque growth in rat aortic and renal transplant models. Two other viral CMPs, M-T1 and M3 CMPs bind the N terminal domain of chemokines that bind to cell surface receptors. To determine the role of CC chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2) and GAGs for M-T7 anti-inflammatory activity, effects of M-T7 on plaque growth were assessed after mouse CCR2 deficient (CCR2−/−) or GAG deficient (NDST1−/−) aortic allograft transplant. Mononuclear cell migration in response to MCP-1 or RANTES into mouse ascites was also tested. Active sites necessary for M-T7 inhibition of chemokine function and monocyte activation, were assessed by infusion of in the mouse cell migration and human monocyte membrane fluidity assays. Results: M-T7 significantly reduced cell migration and intimal hyperplasia in wild type CCR2+/+ (p<0.009), and CCR2−/− aortic transplants (p<0.026). M-T1 and M3 inhibited cell invasion and plaque in CCR2+/+, but not CCR2−/− mice. M-T7 inhibited plaque growth and CC chemokine (MCP-1 and RANTES)-induced cell migration in wild type mice (P<0.01), but not in NDST1−/− mice (P=0.34). Selected M-T7 point mutations Ty (Y)46A, and Val (V) 210A no longer block chemokine-induced cell migration nor monocyte activation, whereas Asn (N) 40, Asn (N) 63 and Val (V)129 retain inhibitory activity. Conclusions: M-T7 but not M-T1 nor M3, blocks cell migration and plaque growth in CCR2 deficient (CCR2−/−) mouse aortic transplant models. M-T7 loses the ability to block cell migration and plaque growth in NDST1−/−, GAG (heparan sulfate) deficient mice. Point mutations Tyr46 and Val 210 lack inflammatory for mouse and human inflammatory monocyte responses indicating that these amino acid residues on the M-T7 CMP protein are required for inhibitory activity.

Induction of RNA editing at heterologous sites by sequences in apolipoprotein B mRNA

1993 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 7288-7294
Author(s):  
D M Driscoll ◽  
S Lakhe-Reddy ◽  
L M Oleksa ◽  
D Martinez
Keyword(s):  
Rna Editing ◽  
Apolipoprotein B ◽  
Point Mutations ◽  
Upstream Region ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Cross Link ◽  
Apo B ◽  
Optimal Distance ◽  
Luciferase Mrna

An RNA editing mechanism modifies apolipoprotein B (apo-B) mRNA in the intestine by converting cytosine at nucleotide (nt) 6666 to uracil. To define the sequence requirements for editing, mutant apo-B RNAs were analyzed for the ability to be edited in vitro by enterocyte extracts. Editing was detected by a sensitive and linear primer extension assay. An upstream region (nt 6648 to 6661) which affected the efficiency of editing was identified. RNAs with mutations in this efficiency sequence were edited at 22 to 160% of wild-type levels. Point mutations in a downstream 11-nt mooring sequence (nt 6671 to 6681) abolished editing, confirming previous studies (R. R. Shah, T. J. Knott, J. E. Legros, N. Navaratnam, J. C. Greeve, and J. Scott, J. Biol. Chem. 266:16301-16304, 1991). The optimal distance between the editing site and the mooring sequence is 5 nt, but a C positioned 8 nt upstream is edited even when nt 6666 contains U. The efficiency and mooring sequences were inserted individually and together adjacent to a heterologous C in apo-B mRNA. The mooring sequence alone induced editing of the C at nt 6597 both in vitro and in transfected rat hepatoma cells. Editing at nt 6597 was specific, was independent of editing at nt 6666, and was stimulated to wild-type levels when the efficiency sequence was also inserted. Introduction of the mooring sequence into a heterologous mRNA, luciferase mRNA, induced editing of an upstream cytidine. Although UV cross-linking studies have previously shown that proteins of 60 to 66 kDa cross-link to apo-B mRNA, these proteins did not cross-link to the luciferase translocation mutants.

Mutational analysis of centromere DNA from chromosome VI of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

1988 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 2523-2535
Author(s):  
J H Hegemann ◽  
J H Shero ◽  
G Cottarel ◽  
P Philippsen ◽  
P Hieter
Keyword(s):  
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Mitotic Chromosome ◽  
Mutational Analysis ◽  
Point Mutations ◽  
Vector System ◽  
Chromosome Loss ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Sequence Elements ◽  
Chromosome Fragments

Saccharomyces cerevisiae centromeres have a characteristic 120-base-pair region consisting of three distinct centromere DNA sequence elements (CDEI, CDEII, and CDEIII). We have generated a series of 26 CEN mutations in vitro (including 22 point mutations, 3 insertions, and 1 deletion) and tested their effects on mitotic chromosome segregation by using a new vector system. The yeast transformation vector pYCF5 was constructed to introduce wild-type and mutant CEN DNAs onto large, linear chromosome fragments which are mitotically stable and nonessential. Six point mutations in CDEI show increased rates of chromosome loss events per cell division of 2- to 10-fold. Twenty mutations in CDEIII exhibit chromosome loss rates that vary from wild type (10(-4)) to nonfunctional (greater than 10(-1)). These results directly identify nucleotides within CDEI and CDEIII that are required for the specification of a functional centromere and show that the degree of conservation of an individual base does not necessarily reflect its importance in mitotic CEN function.

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