scholarly journals Conservation and Divergence of the I-Domain Inserted into the Ubiquitous HK97 Coat Protein Fold in P22-Like Bacteriophages

2019 ◽  
Vol 93 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Therese N. Tripler ◽  
Anne R. Kaplan ◽  
Andrei T. Alexandrescu ◽  
Carolyn M. Teschke
Keyword(s):  
Coat Protein ◽  
Protein Structures ◽  
Structural Diversity ◽  
Structural Motif ◽  
Capsid Assembly ◽  
Coat Proteins ◽  
Sequence Motifs ◽  
Functional Requirements ◽  
Phage Gene ◽  
Homology Groups

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.

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

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kunica Asija ◽  
Carolyn M. Teschke
Keyword(s):  
Coat Protein ◽  
Hydrophobic Interactions ◽  
Protein Structures ◽  
Antiviral Drug ◽  
Coat Proteins ◽  
Bacteriophage P22 ◽  
Outer Periphery ◽  
Phage P22 ◽  
P Domain ◽  
Capsid Stability

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.

Structures of plant viruses from vibrational circular dichroism

2005 ◽  
Vol 86 (8) ◽  
pp. 2371-2377 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ganesh Shanmugam ◽  
Prasad L. Polavarapu ◽  
Amy Kendall ◽  
Gerald Stubbs
Keyword(s):  
Circular Dichroism ◽  
Coat Protein ◽  
Mosaic Virus ◽  
Structural Information ◽  
Protein Structures ◽  
Plant Viruses ◽  
Vibrational Circular Dichroism ◽  
Coat Proteins ◽  
Helical Structures ◽  
Circular Dichroïsm

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.

scholarly journals A Hydrophobic Network: Intersubunit and Intercapsomer Interactions Stabilizing the Bacteriophage P22 Capsid

2019 ◽  
Vol 93 (14) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kunica Asija ◽  
Carolyn M. Teschke
Keyword(s):  
Coat Protein ◽  
Hydrophobic Interactions ◽  
Protein Structures ◽  
Antiviral Drug ◽  
Coat Proteins ◽  
Bacteriophage P22 ◽  
Outer Periphery ◽  
Phage P22 ◽  
P Domain ◽  
Capsid Stability

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.

Association of the IVR Gene with Virus Localization and Resistance

1995 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gad Loebenstein ◽  
William Dawson ◽  
Abed Gera
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Coat Protein ◽  
Plant Viruses ◽  
Full Length ◽  
N Gene ◽  
Complete Suppression ◽  
Coat Proteins ◽  
Nicotiana Glutinosa ◽  
Nicotiana Debneyi ◽  
Full Length Gene

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.

scholarly journals Assembly of Two Independent Populations of Flock House Virus Particles with Distinct RNA Packaging Characteristics in the Same Cell

2006 ◽  
Vol 81 (2) ◽  
pp. 613-619 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Arno Venter ◽  
Anette Schneemann
Keyword(s):  
Coat Protein ◽  
Rna Virus ◽  
Protein Translation ◽  
Exchange Chromatography ◽  
Coat Proteins ◽  
Flock House Virus ◽  
Rna Packaging ◽  
Virus Particles ◽  
Bipartite Genome ◽  
Positive Strand Rna

ABSTRACT Flock House virus (FHV; Nodaviridae) is a positive-strand RNA virus that encapsidates a bipartite genome consisting of RNA1 and RNA2. We recently showed that specific recognition of these RNAs for packaging into progeny particles requires coat protein translated from replicating viral RNA. In the present study, we investigated whether the entire assembly pathway, i.e., the formation of the initial nucleating complex and the subsequent completion of the capsid, is restricted to the same pool of coat protein subunits. To test this, coat proteins carrying either FLAG or hemagglutinin epitopes were synthesized from replicating or nonreplicating RNA in the same cell, and the resulting particle population and its RNA packaging phenotype were analyzed. Results from immunoprecipitation analysis and ion-exchange chromatography showed that the differentially tagged proteins segregated into two distinct populations of virus particles with distinct RNA packaging phenotypes. Particles assembled from coat protein that was translated from replicating RNA contained the FHV genome, whereas particles assembled from coat protein that was translated from nonreplicating mRNA contained random cellular RNA. These data demonstrate that only coat proteins synthesized from replicating RNA partake in the assembly of virions that package the viral genome and that RNA replication, coat protein translation, and virion assembly are processes that are tightly coupled during the life cycle of FHV.

scholarly journals A DNA G-quadruplex/i-motif hybrid

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Betty Chu ◽  
Daoning Zhang ◽  
Paul J Paukstelis
Keyword(s):  
Tandem Repeats ◽  
Double Helix ◽  
Structural Diversity ◽  
Hybrid Structure ◽  
Structural Motif ◽  
Base Pairs ◽  
Independent Sequence ◽  
Solution Studies ◽  
G Quadruplex

Abstract DNA can form many structures beyond the canonical Watson–Crick double helix. It is now clear that noncanonical structures are present in genomic DNA and have biological functions. G-rich G-quadruplexes and C-rich i-motifs are the most well-characterized noncanonical DNA motifs that have been detected in vivo with either proscribed or postulated biological roles. Because of their independent sequence requirements, these structures have largely been considered distinct types of quadruplexes. Here, we describe the crystal structure of the DNA oligonucleotide, d(CCAGGCTGCAA), that self-associates to form a quadruplex structure containing two central antiparallel G-tetrads and six i-motif C–C+ base pairs. Solution studies suggest a robust structural motif capable of assembling as a tetramer of individual strands or as a dimer when composed of tandem repeats. This hybrid structure highlights the growing structural diversity of DNA and suggests that biological systems may harbor many functionally important non-duplex structures.

scholarly journals Accurate Representation of Protein-Ligand Structural Diversity in the Protein Data Bank (PDB)

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 2243
Author(s):  
Nicolas K. Shinada ◽  
Peter Schmidtke ◽  
Alexandre G. de Brevern
Keyword(s):  
Protein Data Bank ◽  
Protein Sequence ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Protein Structures ◽  
Structural Diversity ◽  
Data Bank ◽  
Protein Distribution ◽  
Research Areas ◽  
Identity Threshold ◽  
Protein Sequence Identity

The number of available protein structures in the Protein Data Bank (PDB) has considerably increased in recent years. Thanks to the growth of structures and complexes, numerous large-scale studies have been done in various research areas, e.g., protein–protein, protein–DNA, or in drug discovery. While protein redundancy was only simply managed using simple protein sequence identity threshold, the similarity of protein-ligand complexes should also be considered from a structural perspective. Hence, the protein-ligand duplicates in the PDB are widely known, but were never quantitatively assessed, as they are quite complex to analyze and compare. Here, we present a specific clustering of protein-ligand structures to avoid bias found in different studies. The methodology is based on binding site superposition, and a combination of weighted Root Mean Square Deviation (RMSD) assessment and hierarchical clustering. Repeated structures of proteins of interest are highlighted and only representative conformations were conserved for a non-biased view of protein distribution. Three types of cases are described based on the number of distinct conformations identified for each complex. Defining these categories decreases by 3.84-fold the number of complexes, and offers more refined results compared to a protein sequence-based method. Widely distinct conformations were analyzed using normalized B-factors. Furthermore, a non-redundant dataset was generated for future molecular interactions analysis or virtual screening studies.

scholarly journals Insights into the quaternary association of proteins through structure graphs: a case study of lectins

2005 ◽  
Vol 391 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. V. Brinda ◽  
Avadhesha Surolia ◽  
Sarawathi Vishveshwara
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Protein Structures ◽  
Present Review ◽  
Dimensional Structure ◽  
Protein Oligomerization ◽  
Amino Acid Residues ◽  
Sequence Motifs ◽  
Structural Determinants ◽  
Legume Lectin ◽  
Quaternary Structures

The unique three-dimensional structure of both monomeric and oligomeric proteins is encoded in their sequence. The biological functions of proteins are dependent on their tertiary and quaternary structures, and hence it is important to understand the determinants of quaternary association in proteins. Although a large number of investigations have been carried out in this direction, the underlying principles of protein oligomerization are yet to be completely understood. Recently, new insights into this problem have been gained from the analysis of structure graphs of proteins belonging to the legume lectin family. The legume lectins are an interesting family of proteins with very similar tertiary structures but varied quaternary structures. Hence they have become a very good model with which to analyse the role of primary structures in determining the modes of quaternary association. The present review summarizes the results of a legume lectin study as well as those obtained from a similar analysis carried out here on the animal lectins, namely galectins, pentraxins, calnexin, calreticulin and rhesus rotavirus Vp4 sialic-acid-binding domain. The lectin structure graphs have been used to obtain clusters of non-covalently interacting amino acid residues at the intersubunit interfaces. The present study, performed along with traditional sequence alignment methods, has provided the signature sequence motifs for different kinds of quaternary association seen in lectins. Furthermore, the network representation of the lectin oligomers has enabled us to detect the residues which make extensive interactions (‘hubs’) across the oligomeric interfaces that can be targetted for interface-destabilizing mutations. The present review also provides an overview of the methodology involved in representing oligomeric protein structures as connected networks of amino acid residues. Further, it illustrates the potential of such a representation in elucidating the structural determinants of protein–protein association in general and will be of significance to protein chemists and structural biologists.

scholarly journals Cysteine Residues in the Transmembrane Regions of M13 Procoat Protein Suggest that Oligomeric Coat Proteins Assemble onto Phage Progeny

2007 ◽  
Vol 189 (7) ◽  
pp. 2897-2905 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christof Nagler ◽  
Gisela Nagler ◽  
Andreas Kuhn
Keyword(s):  
Coat Protein ◽  
Leader Peptide ◽  
Cysteine Residues ◽  
Coat Proteins ◽  
Amino Acid Residues ◽  
Major Coat Protein ◽  
Phage Dna ◽  
Phage Assembly ◽  
Transmembrane Regions ◽  
Leader Peptidase

ABSTRACT The M13 phage assembles in the inner membrane of Escherichia coli. During maturation, about 2,700 copies of the major coat protein move from the membrane onto a single-stranded phage DNA molecule that extrudes out of the cell. The major coat protein is synthesized as a precursor, termed procoat protein, and inserts into the membrane via a Sec-independent pathway. It is processed by a leader peptidase from its leader (signal) peptide before it is assembled onto the phage DNA. The transmembrane regions of the procoat protein play an important role in all these processes. Using cysteine mutants with mutations in the transmembrane regions of the procoat and coat proteins, we investigated which of the residues are involved in multimer formation, interaction with the leader peptidase, and formation of M13 progeny particles. We found that most single cysteine residues do not interfere with the membrane insertion, processing, and assembly of the phage. Treatment of the cells with copper phenanthroline showed that the cysteine residues were readily engaged in dimer and multimer formation. This suggests that the coat proteins assemble into multimers before they proceed onto the nascent phage particles. In addition, we found that when a cysteine is located in the leader peptide at the −6 position, processing of the mutant procoat protein and of other exported proteins is affected. This inhibition of the leader peptidase results in death of the cell and shows that there are distinct amino acid residues in the M13 procoat protein involved at specific steps of the phage assembly process.

scholarly journals Characterization of the Bacillus subtilis Spore Morphogenetic Coat Protein CotO

2005 ◽  
Vol 187 (24) ◽  
pp. 8278-8290 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. C. McPherson ◽  
H. Kim ◽  
M. Hahn ◽  
R. Wang ◽  
P. Grabowski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bacillus Subtilis ◽  
Coat Protein ◽  
Late Phase ◽  
Coat Proteins ◽  
Outer Coat ◽  
Bacillus Subtilis Spore ◽  
Fluorescence And Electron Microscopy ◽  
Complex Protein ◽  
Bacillus Spores ◽  
Critical Model

ABSTRACT Bacillus spores are protected by a structurally and biochemically complex protein shell composed of over 50 polypeptide species, called the coat. Coat assembly in Bacillus subtilis serves as a relatively tractable model for the study of the formation of more complex macromolecular structures and organelles. It is also a critical model for the discovery of strategies to decontaminate B. anthracis spores. In B. subtilis, a subset of coat proteins is known to have important roles in assembly. Here we show that the recently identified B. subtilis coat protein CotO (YjbX) has an especially important morphogenetic role. We used electron and atomic force microscopy to show that CotO controls assembly of the coat layers and coat surface topography as well as biochemical and cell-biological analyses to identify coat proteins whose assembly is CotO dependent. cotO spores are defective in germination and partially sensitive to lysozyme. As a whole, these phenotypes resemble those resulting from a mutation in the coat protein gene cotH. Nonetheless, the roles of CotH and CotO and the proteins whose assembly they direct are not identical. Based on fluorescence and electron microscopy, we suggest that CotO resides in the outer coat (although not on the coat surface). We propose that CotO and CotH participate in a late phase of coat assembly. We further speculate that an important role of these proteins is ensuring that polymerization of the outer coat layers occurs in such a manner that contiguous shells, and not unproductive aggregates, are formed.

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