scholarly journals A hydrophobic network: Intersubunit and intercapsomer interactions stabilizing the bacteriophage P22 capsid

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kunica Asija ◽  
Carolyn M. Teschke

AbstractdsDNA tailed phages and herpesviruses assemble their capsids using coat proteins that have the ubiquitous HK97 fold. Though this fold is common, we do not have a thorough understanding of the different ways viruses adapt it to maintain stability in various environments. The HK97-fold E-loop, which connects adjacent subunits at the outer periphery of capsomers, has been implicated in capsid stability. Here we show that in bacteriophage P22, residue W61 at the tip of the E-loop plays a role in stabilizing procapsids and in maturation. We hypothesize that a hydrophobic pocket is formed by residues I366 and W410 in the P-domain of a neighboring subunit within a capsomer, into which W61 fits like a peg. In addition, W61 likely bridges to residues A91 and L401 in P-domain loops of an adjacent capsomer, thereby linking the entire capsid together with a network of hydrophobic interactions. There is conservation of this hydrophobic network in the distantly related P22-like phages, indicating that this structural feature is likely important for stabilizing this family of phages. Thus, our data shed light on one of the varied elegant mechanisms used in nature to consistently build stable viral genome containers through subtle adaptation of the HK97 fold.IMPORTANCESimilarities in assembly reactions and coat protein structures of the dsDNA tailed phages and herpesviruses make phages ideal models to understand capsid assembly and identify potential targets for antiviral drug discovery. The coat protein E-loops of these viruses are involved in both intra-and intercapsomer interactions. In phage P22, hydrophobic interactions peg the coat protein subunits together within a capsomer, where the E-loop hydrophobic residue W61 of one subunit packs into a pocket of hydrophobic residues I366 and W410 of the adjacent subunit. W61 also makes hydrophobic interactions with A91 and L401 of a subunit in an adjacent capsomer. We show these intra-and intercapsomer hydrophobic interactions form a network crucial to capsid stability and proper assembly.

2019 ◽  
Vol 93 (14) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kunica Asija ◽  
Carolyn M. Teschke

ABSTRACTDouble-stranded DNA (dsDNA) tailed phages and herpesviruses assemble their capsids using coat proteins that have the ubiquitous HK97 fold. Though this fold is common, we do not have a thorough understanding of the different ways viruses adapt it to maintain stability in various environments. The HK97-fold E-loop, which connects adjacent subunits at the outer periphery of capsomers, has been implicated in capsid stability. Here, we show that in bacteriophage P22, residue W61 at the tip of the E-loop plays a role in stabilizing procapsids and in maturation. We hypothesize that a hydrophobic pocket is formed by residues I366 and W410 in the P domain of a neighboring subunit within a capsomer, into which W61 fits like a peg. In addition, W61 likely bridges to residues A91 and L401 in P-domain loops of an adjacent capsomer, thereby linking the entire capsid together with a network of hydrophobic interactions. There is conservation of this hydrophobic network in the distantly related P22-like phages, indicating that this structural feature is likely important for stabilizing this family of phages. Thus, our data shed light on one of the varied elegant mechanisms used in nature to consistently build stable viral genome containers through subtle adaptation of the HK97 fold.IMPORTANCESimilarities in assembly reactions and coat protein structures of the dsDNA tailed phages and herpesviruses make phages ideal models to understand capsid assembly and identify potential targets for antiviral drug discovery. The coat protein E-loops of these viruses are involved in both intra- and intercapsomer interactions. In phage P22, hydrophobic interactions peg the coat protein subunits together within a capsomer, where the E-loop hydrophobic residue W61 of one subunit packs into a pocket of hydrophobic residues I366 and W410 of the adjacent subunit. W61 also makes hydrophobic interactions with A91 and L401 of a subunit in an adjacent capsomer. We show these intra- and intercapsomer hydrophobic interactions form a network crucial to capsid stability and proper assembly.


Identification of the genes and proteins involved in phage P22 formation has permitted a detailed analysis of particle assembly, revealing some unexpected aspects. The polymerization of the major coat protein (gene 5 product) into an organized capsid is directed by a scaffolding protein (gene 8 product) which is absent from mature phage. The resulting capsid structure (prohead) is the precursor for DNA encapsidation. All of the scaffolding protein exits from the prohead in association with DNA packaging. These molecules then recycle, directing further rounds of prohead assembly. The structure of the prohead has been studied by electron microscopy of thin sections of phage infected cells, and by low angle X-ray scattering of concentrated particles. The results show that the prohead is a double shell structure, or a ball within a shell. The inner ball or shell is composed of the scaffolding protein while the outer shell is composed of coat protein. The conversion from prohead to mature capsid is associated with an expansion of the coat protein shell. It is possible that the scaffolding protein molecules exit through the capsid lattice. When DNA encapsidation within infected cells is blocked by mutation, scaffolding protein is trapped in proheads and cannot recycle. Under these conditions, the rate of synthesis of gp8 increases, so that normal proheads continue to form. These results suggest that free scaffolding protein negatively regulates its own further synthesis, providing a coupling between protein synthesis and protein assembly.


2015 ◽  
Vol 89 (20) ◽  
pp. 10569-10579 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nadia G. D'Lima ◽  
Carolyn M. Teschke

ABSTRACTBacteriophage P22, a double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) virus, has a nonconserved 124-amino-acid accessory domain inserted into its coat protein, which has the canonical HK97 protein fold. This I domain is involved in virus capsid size determination and stability, as well as protein folding. The nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) solution structure of the I domain revealed the presence of a D-loop, which was hypothesized to make important intersubunit contacts between coat proteins in adjacent capsomers. Here we show that amino acid substitutions of residues near the tip of the D-loop result in aberrant assembly products, including tubes and broken particles, highlighting the significance of the D-loops in proper procapsid assembly. Using disulfide cross-linking, we showed that the tips of the D-loops are positioned directly across from each other both in the procapsid and the mature virion, suggesting their importance in both states. Our results indicate that D-loop interactions act as “molecular staples” at the icosahedral 2-fold symmetry axis and significantly contribute to stabilizing the P22 capsid for DNA packaging.IMPORTANCEMany dsDNA viruses have morphogenic pathways utilizing an intermediate capsid, known as a procapsid. These procapsids are assembled from a coat protein having the HK97 fold in a reaction driven by scaffolding proteins or delta domains. Maturation of the capsid occurs during DNA packaging. Bacteriophage HK97 uniquely stabilizes its capsid during maturation by intercapsomer cross-linking, but most virus capsids are stabilized by alternate means. Here we show that the I domain that is inserted into the coat protein of bacteriophage P22 is important in the process of proper procapsid assembly. Specifically, the I domain allows for stabilizing interactions across the capsid 2-fold axis of symmetry via a D-loop. When amino acid residues at the tip of the D-loop are mutated, aberrant assembly products, including tubes, are formed instead of procapsids, consequently phage production is affected, indicating the importance of stabilizing interactions during the assembly and maturation reactions.


2005 ◽  
Vol 86 (8) ◽  
pp. 2371-2377 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ganesh Shanmugam ◽  
Prasad L. Polavarapu ◽  
Amy Kendall ◽  
Gerald Stubbs

Vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) spectra in the amide I and II regions have been measured for viruses for the first time. VCD spectra were recorded for films prepared from aqueous buffer solutions and also for solutions using D2O buffers at pH 8. Investigations of four filamentous plant viruses, Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV), Papaya mosaic virus, Narcissus mosaic virus (NMV) and Potato virus X (PVX), as well as a deletion mutant of PVX, are described in this paper. The film VCD spectra of the viruses clearly revealed helical structures in the virus coat proteins; the nucleic acid bases present in the single-stranded RNA could also be characterized. In contrast, the solution VCD spectra showed the characteristic VCD bands for α-helical structures in the coat proteins but not for RNA. Both sets of results clearly indicated that the coat protein conformations are dominated by helical structures, in agreement with earlier reports. VCD results also indicated that the coat protein structures in PVX and NMV are similar to each other and somewhat different from that of TMV. The present study demonstrates the feasibility of measuring VCD spectra for viruses and extracting structural information from these spectra.


2019 ◽  
Vol 93 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Therese N. Tripler ◽  
Anne R. Kaplan ◽  
Andrei T. Alexandrescu ◽  
Carolyn M. Teschke

ABSTRACT Despite very low sequence homology, the major capsid proteins of double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) bacteriophages, some archaeal viruses, and the herpesviruses share a structural motif, the HK97 fold. Bacteriophage P22, a paradigm for this class of viruses, belongs to a phage gene cluster that contains three homology groups: P22-like, CUS-3-like, and Sf6-like. The coat protein of each phage has an inserted domain (I-domain) that is more conserved than the rest of the coat protein. In P22, loops in the I-domain are critical for stabilizing intra- and intersubunit contacts that guide proper capsid assembly. The nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) structures of the P22, CUS-3, and Sf6 I-domains reveal that they are all six-stranded, anti-parallel β-barrels. Nevertheless, significant structural differences occur in loops connecting the β-strands, in surface electrostatics used to dock the I-domains with their respective coat protein core partners, and in sequence motifs displayed on the capsid surfaces. Our data highlight the structural diversity of I-domains that could lead to variations in capsid assembly mechanisms and capsid surfaces adapted for specific phage functions. IMPORTANCE Comparative studies of protein structures often provide insights into their evolution. The HK97 fold is a structural motif used to form the coat protein shells that encapsidate the genomes of many dsDNA phages and viruses. The structure and function of coat proteins based on the HK97 fold are often embellished by the incorporation of I-domains. In the present work we compare I-domains from three phages representative of highly divergent P22-like homology groups. While the three I-domains share a six-stranded β-barrel skeleton, there are differences (i) in structure elements at the periphery of the conserved fold, (ii) in the locations of disordered loops important in capsid assembly and conformational transitions, (iii) in surfaces charges, and (iv) in sequence motifs that are potential ligand-binding sites. These structural modifications on the rudimentary I-domain fold suggest that considerable structural adaptability was needed to fulfill the versatile range of functional requirements for distinct phages.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberto Marabini ◽  
Gabriela N. Condezo ◽  
Josué Gómez-Blanco ◽  
Carmen San Martín

AbstractLittle is known about the basic biology of non-human adenoviruses, which could be alternative vectors free of issues posed by preexisting immunity to human adenoviruses. We present the cryo-EM structure of a lizard atadenovirus, LAdV-2, at 3.4 Å resolution. This is the first high resolution structure of an adenovirus with non-mammalian host, and of an adenovirus not belonging to the Mastadenovirus genus. Atadenovirus capsids contain genus specific proteins LH3, p32k, and LH2, and are more thermostable than the more studied human adenoviruses. We find a large conformational difference in the internal vertex protein IIIa between mast- and atadenoviruses, induced by the presence of an extended polypeptide in the region. This polypeptide, as well as α-helical clusters located beneath the icosahedral facet, likely correspond to proteins LH2 and p32k. The external genus specific protein LH3, with a trimeric β-helix fold typical of bacteriophage host attachment proteins, contacts the hexon shell surface via a triskelion structure identical to that used by protein IX in human AdV, revealing a conserved capsid-binding motif and a possible gene duplication event. Altogether, this work shows how the network of minor coat proteins differs between AdV genera and relates to virus evolution and capsid stability properties.


2012 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 257-260 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandro A. Rizzo ◽  
LaTasha C. R. Fraser ◽  
Sarah R. Sheftic ◽  
Margaret M. Suhanovsky ◽  
Carolyn M. Teschke ◽  
...  

1995 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gad Loebenstein ◽  
William Dawson ◽  
Abed Gera

We have reported that localization of TMV in tobacco cultivars with the N gene, is associated with a 23 K protein (IVR) that inhibited replication of several plant viruses. This protein was also found in induced resistant tissue of Nicotiana glutinosa x Nicotiana debneyi. During the present grant we found that TMV production is enhanced in protoplasts and plants of local lesion responding tobacco cultivars exposed to 35oC, parallel to an almost complete suppression of the production of IVR. We also found that IVR is associated with resistance mechanisms in pepper cultivars. We succeeded to clone the IVR gene. In the first attempt we isolated a clone - "101" which had a specific insert of 372 bp (the full length gene for the IVR protein of 23 kD should be around 700 bp). However, attempts to isolate the full length gene did not give clear cut results, and we decided not to continue with this clone. The amino acid sequence of the N-terminus of IVR was determined and an antiserum was prepared against a synthetic peptide representing amino acids residues 1-20 of IVR. Using this antiserum as well as our polyclonal antiserum to IVR a new clone NC-330 was isolated using lamba-ZAP library. This NC-330 clone has an insert of about 1 kB with an open reading frame of 596 bp. This clone had 86.6% homology with the first 15 amino acids of the N-terminal part of IVR and 61.6% homology with the first 23 amino acids of IVR. In the QIA expression system and western blotting of the expressed protein, a clear band of about 21 kD was obtained with IVR antiserum. This clone was used for transformation of Samsun tobacco plants and we have presently plantlets which were rooted on medium containing kanamycin. Hybridization with this clone was also obtained with RNA from induced resistant tissue of Samsun NN but not with RNA from healthy control tissue of Samsun NN, or infected or healthy tissue of Samsun. This further strengthens the previous data that the NC 330 clone codes for IVR. In the U.S. it was shown that IVR is induced in plants containing the N' gene when infected with mutants of TMV that elicit the HR. This is a defined system in which the elicitor is known to be due to permutations of the coat protein which can vary in elicitor strength. The objective was to understand how IVR synthesis is induced after recognition of elicitor coat protein in the signal transduction pathway that leads to HR. We developed systems to manipulate induction of IVR by modifying the elicitor and are using these elicitor molecules to isolate the corresponding plant receptor molecules. A "far-western" procedure was developed that found a protein from N' plants that specifically bind to elicitor coat proteins. This protein is being purified and sequenced. This objective has not been completed and is still in progress. We have reported that localization of TMV in tobacco cultivars with the N gene, is associated with a 23 K protein (IVR) that inhibited replication of several plant viruses. This protein was also found in induced resistant tissue of Nicotiana glutinosa x Nicotiana debneyi.


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