scholarly journals Mutagenesis of the NS2B-NS3-Mediated Cleavage Site in the Flavivirus Capsid Protein Demonstrates a Requirement for Coordinated Processing

1999 ◽  
Vol 73 (10) ◽  
pp. 8083-8094 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sean M. Amberg ◽  
Charles M. Rice
Keyword(s):  
Cleavage Site ◽  
Yellow Fever Virus ◽  
Core Protein ◽  
Biological Significance ◽  
Full Length ◽  
Signal Peptidase ◽  
Amino Terminus ◽  
Efficient Production

ABSTRACT Analysis of flavivirus polyprotein processing has revealed the presence of a substrate for the virus-encoded NS2B-NS3 protease at the carboxy-terminal end of the C (capsid or core) protein. Cleavage at this site has been implicated in the efficient generation of the amino terminus of prM via signal peptidase cleavage. Yellow fever virus has four basic residues (Arg-Lys-Arg-Arg) in the P1 through P4 positions of this cleavage site. Multiple alanine substitutions were made for these residues in order to investigate the substrate specificity and biological significance of this cleavage. Mutants were analyzed by several methods: (i) a cell-free trans processing assay for direct analysis of NS2B-NS3-mediated cleavage; (ii) a transprocessing assay in BHK-21 cells, using a C-prM polyprotein, for analysis of prM production; (iii) an infectivity assay of full-length transcripts to determine plaque-forming ability; and (iv) analysis of proteins expressed from full-length transcripts to assess processing in the context of the complete genome. Mutants that exhibited severe defects in processing in vitro and in vivo were incapable of forming plaques. Mutants that contained two adjacent basic residues within the P1 through P4 region were processed more efficiently in vitro and in vivo, and transcripts bearing these mutations were fully infectious. Furthermore, two naturally occurring plaque-forming revertants were analyzed and shown to have restored protein processing phenotypes in vivo. Finally, the efficient production of prM was shown to be dependent on the proteolytic activity of NS3. These data support a model of two coordinated cleavages, one that generates the carboxy terminus of C and another that generates the amino terminus of prM. A block in the viral protease-mediated cleavage inhibits the production of prM by the signal peptidase, inhibits particle release, and eliminates plaque formation.

Loss of Clotting Function in Mice Expressing a Mutant Form of Fibrinogen Lacking the α Chain Thrombin Cleavage Site

Blood ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 112 (11) ◽  
pp. 394-394
Author(s):  
Matthew Flick ◽  
Joni M. Ullman ◽  
Joseph S. Palumbo ◽  
Eric S. Mullins ◽  
Keith W Kombrink ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cleavage Site ◽  
Biological Significance ◽  
Perinatal Period ◽  
Soluble Form ◽  
Mutant Form ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Thrombin Cleavage ◽  
Polymer Formation

Abstract The conversion of soluble fibrinogen to an insoluble fibrin matrix following thrombin cleavage of the Aα and Bβ chains is critical to hemostasis. However, even soluble fibrinogen holds potential biological significance apart from fibrin polymer formation; for example, fibrinogen contributes significantly to overall blood rheology and can engage a number of integrins (e.g., αIIbβ3), enzymes (e.g., fXIII) and matrix proteins (e.g. fibronectin). To provide a system to study mice carrying fibrinogen but no capacity for fibrin formation, we employed a gene-targeting strategy to eliminate the Aα chain thrombin cleavage site and replace it with a sequence recognized by the highly-selective alternate protease, enterokinase (P6-P1: ADDDDK). Based on the prevailing view that thrombin cleavage of the Aα chain is essential to polymer formation, we hypothesized that this mutant fibrinogen, termed FibEK, would be locked in the soluble form in vivo, but would be readily clotted in vitro by exogenous enterokinase. The FibEK allele was transmitted through the germline and supported the expected level of mRNA expression and plasma protein production. Like previously established fibrinogen-null mice, FibEK mice uniformly developed to term. However, survival beyond the perinatal period was vastly superior in mice carrying fibrinogen-EK relative to fibrinogen-null animals in the same (C57Bl/6) genetic background; ~90% of FibEK mice survive to adulthood, whereas less than 30% of fibrinogen-null mice survive the perinatal period. Consistent with our initial hypothesis, FibEK plasma was found to be unclottable following the addition of excess exogenous murine thrombin at 37°C and complementary fibrinopeptide release assays by HPLC revealed that murine thrombin is completely incapable of releasing fibrinopeptide A (FpA) from fibrinogen-EK. Murine thrombin did support quantitative FpB release from fibrinogen-EK, albeit at a slower rate than wild-type fibrinogen. No thrombin-induced fibrin polymer formation could be appreciated by standard turbidity assays in incubation mixtures containing FibEK plasma at 37°C, even after 24 hrs. In contrast, wild-type plasma supported rapid polymer formation, with turbidity peaking within minutes of thrombin addition. Interestingly, despite the complete absence of FpA release, both plasma and purified fibrinogen-EK supported the formation of small and irregular clots (characterized by thin fibrils in scanning EM) following long incubations at reduced temperatures (i.e., 24 hr at 22 °C). Unlike fibrinogen-null mice, platelet-rich plasma prepared from FibEK mice supported robust ADP-induced platelet aggregation. However, FibEK animals essentially phenocopy fibrinogen-null mice in their inability to efficiently clear the microbial pathogen S. aureus. Following intraperitoneal infection with 109 CFU of S. aureus, control mice successfully cleared >99% of the bacteria within 1 hour, whereas the number of bacteria retrieved within peritoneal lavage fluid of both FibEK and FibAα−/− mice remained similar to the original input CFU. In summary, FibEK mice provide a unique opportunity to further explore the biochemistry of thrombin-mediated clot formation in vitro and in vivo. These animals will also be a vital tool in defining the specific contribution of fibrin matrices to broad array of physiological and pathological processes in vivo.

The effects of photodynamic therapy with Photodithazine on HPV 16 E6/E7 associated cervical cancer model

2011 ◽  
Vol 15 (03) ◽  
pp. 174-180 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lan Ying Wen ◽  
Su-Mi Bae ◽  
Jin Hwan Do ◽  
Kye-Shin Park ◽  
Woong Shick Ahn
Keyword(s):  
Cervical Cancer ◽  
Photodynamic Therapy ◽  
Growth Inhibition ◽  
Biological Significance ◽  
Light Irradiation ◽  
Tumor Growth Inhibition ◽  
Cancer Model ◽  
Hpv 16

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising treatment for cancer that has been recently accepted in the clinic. In this study, we examined a biological significance of PDT with a chlorin-based photosensitizer, Photodithazine, on cervical cancer model. When human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16)- transformed mouse TC-1 cells were exposed to varied doses of Photodithazine with light irradiation (6.25 J/cm2), the significant growth inhibition of TC-1 cells was observed at 0.75 μg/mL of Photodithazine. The damaged cells by Photodithazine/PDT were categorized to be early and late apoptosis, as determined by annexin V staining. Photodithazine was primarily localized at lysosome apparatus within TC-1 cells while it was rapidly accumulated and sustained for initial 3 h in tumor tissue of TC-1 tumor bearing mice after IV injection. The tumor growth inhibition by Photodithazine/PDT with light irradiation (300 J/cm2) was examined after injection of various concentration of Photodithazine in tumor mice system. Our results show that Photodithazine/PDT might have significant advantages in the selective killing of tumor lesions in HPV 16 E6/E7 associated cervical cancer model, both in vitro and in vivo.

scholarly journals Microtubule Actin Cross-Linking Factor (Macf)

1999 ◽  
Vol 147 (6) ◽  
pp. 1275-1286 ◽  
Author(s):  
Conrad L. Leung ◽  
Dongming Sun ◽  
Min Zheng ◽  
David R. Knowles ◽  
Ronald K.H. Liem
Keyword(s):  
Calcium Binding ◽  
Coiled Coil ◽  
Specific Protein ◽  
Binding Domain ◽  
Full Length ◽  
Actin Binding ◽  
Cross Linking ◽  
Actin Binding Domain

We cloned and characterized a full-length cDNA of mouse actin cross-linking family 7 (mACF7) by sequential rapid amplification of cDNA ends–PCR. The completed mACF7 cDNA is 17 kb and codes for a 608-kD protein. The closest relative of mACF7 is the Drosophila protein Kakapo, which shares similar architecture with mACF7. mACF7 contains a putative actin-binding domain and a plakin-like domain that are highly homologous to dystonin (BPAG1-n) at its NH2 terminus. However, unlike dystonin, mACF7 does not contain a coiled–coil rod domain; instead, the rod domain of mACF7 is made up of 23 dystrophin-like spectrin repeats. At its COOH terminus, mACF7 contains two putative EF-hand calcium-binding motifs and a segment homologous to the growth arrest–specific protein, Gas2. In this paper, we demonstrate that the NH2-terminal actin-binding domain of mACF7 is functional both in vivo and in vitro. More importantly, we found that the COOH-terminal domain of mACF7 interacts with and stabilizes microtubules. In transfected cells full-length mACF7 can associate not only with actin but also with microtubules. Hence, we suggest a modified name: MACF (microtubule actin cross-linking factor). The properties of MACF are consistent with the observation that mutations in kakapo cause disorganization of microtubules in epidermal muscle attachment cells and some sensory neurons.

scholarly journals ADP-Ribose-1"-Monophosphatase: a Conserved Coronavirus Enzyme That Is Dispensable for Viral Replication in Tissue Culture

2005 ◽  
Vol 79 (20) ◽  
pp. 12721-12731 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ákos Putics ◽  
Witold Filipowicz ◽  
Jonathan Hall ◽  
Alexander E. Gorbalenya ◽  
John Ziebuhr
Keyword(s):  
Active Site ◽  
Biological Significance ◽  
Virus Titer ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Replicase Gene ◽  
Active Site Residues ◽  
Nonstructural Proteins ◽  
Trna Splicing

ABSTRACT Replication of the ∼30-kb plus-strand RNA genome of coronaviruses and synthesis of an extensive set of subgenome-length RNAs are mediated by the replicase-transcriptase, a membrane-bound protein complex containing several cellular proteins and up to 16 viral nonstructural proteins (nsps) with multiple enzymatic activities, including protease, polymerase, helicase, methyltransferase, and RNase activities. To get further insight into the replicase gene-encoded functions, we characterized the coronavirus X domain, which is part of nsp3 and has been predicted to be an ADP-ribose-1"-monophosphate (Appr-1"-p) processing enzyme. Bacterially expressed forms of human coronavirus 229E (HCoV-229E) and severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus X domains were shown to dephosphorylate Appr-1"-p, a side product of cellular tRNA splicing, to ADP-ribose in a highly specific manner. The enzyme had no detectable activity on several other nucleoside phosphates. Guided by the crystal structure of AF1521, an X domain homolog from Archaeoglobus fulgidus, potential active-site residues of the HCoV-229E X domain were targeted by site-directed mutagenesis. The data suggest that the HCoV-229E replicase polyprotein residues, Asn 1302, Asn 1305, His 1310, Gly 1312, and Gly 1313, are part of the enzyme's active site. Characterization of an Appr-1"-pase-deficient HCoV-229E mutant revealed no significant effects on viral RNA synthesis and virus titer, and no reversion to the wild-type sequence was observed when the mutant virus was passaged in cell culture. The apparent dispensability of the conserved X domain activity in vitro indicates that coronavirus replicase polyproteins have evolved to include nonessential functions. The biological significance of the novel enzymatic activity in vivo remains to be investigated.

Transcriptional activation by herpes simplex virus type 1 VP16 in vitro and its inhibition by oligopeptides

1994 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 3484-3493
Author(s):  
T J Wu ◽  
G Monokian ◽  
D F Mark ◽  
C R Wobbe
Keyword(s):  
Herpes Simplex Virus ◽  
Herpes Simplex ◽  
Transcriptional Activation ◽  
Deletion Mutant ◽  
Full Length ◽  
Early Gene ◽  
Immediate Early ◽  
Simplex Virus

VP16 is a herpes simplex virus (HSV)-encoded transcriptional activator protein that is essential for efficient viral replication and as such may be a target for novel therapeutic agents directed against viral gene expression. We have reconstituted transcriptional activation by VP16 in an in vitro system that is dependent on DNA sequences from HSV immediate-early gene promoters and on protein-protein interactions between VP16 and Oct-1 that are required for VP16 activation in vivo. Activation increased synergistically with the number of TAATGARAT elements (the cis-acting element for VP16 activation in vivo) upstream of the core promoter, and mutations of this element that reduce Oct-1 or VP16 DNA binding reduced transactivation in vitro. A VP16 insertion mutant unable to interact with Oct-1 was inactive, but, surprisingly, a deletion mutant lacking the activation domain was approximately 65% as active as the full-length protein. The activation domains of Oct-1 were necessary for activation in reactions containing the VP16 deletion mutant, and they contributed significantly to activation by full-length VP16. Addition of a GA-rich element present in many HSV immediate-early gene enhancers synergistically stimulated VP16-activated transcription. Finally, oligopeptides that are derived from a region of VP16 thought to contact a cellular factor known as HCF (host cell factor) and that inhibit efficient VP16 binding to the TAATGARAT element also specifically inhibited VP16-activated, but not basal, transcription. Amino acid substitutions in one of these peptides identified three residues that are absolutely required for inhibition and presumably for interaction of VP16 with HCF.

Progastrin1–80stimulates growth of intestinal epithelial cells in vitro via high-affinity binding sites

2003 ◽  
Vol 284 (2) ◽  
pp. G328-G339 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Singh ◽  
X. Lu ◽  
S. Cobb ◽  
B. T. Miller ◽  
N. Tarasova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Binding Sites ◽  
Intestinal Epithelial Cells ◽  
Full Length ◽  
Intestinal Epithelial ◽  
Growth Effects ◽  
High Affinity ◽  
Significant Difference

Proliferation and carcinogenesis of the large intestinal epithelial cells (IEC) cells is significantly increased in transgenic mice that overexpress the precursor progastrin (PG) peptide. It is not known if the in vivo growth effects of PG on IEC cells are mediated directly or indirectly. Full-length recombinant human PG (rhPG1–80) was generated to examine possible direct effects of PG on IEC cells. Surprisingly, rhPG (0.1–1.0 nM) was more effective than the completely processed gastrin 17 (G17) peptide as a growth factor. Even though IEC cells did not express CCK1and CCK2receptors (-R), fluorescently labeled G17 and Gly-extended G17 (G-Gly) were specifically bound to the cells, suggesting the presence of binding proteins other than CCK1-R and CCK2-R on IEC cells. High-affinity ( Kd= 0.5–1.0 nM) binding sites for125I-rhPG were discovered on IEC cells that demonstrated relative binding affinity for gastrin-like peptides in the order PG ≥ COOH-terminally extended G17 ≥ G-Gly > G17 > *CCK-8 (* significant difference; P< 0.05). In conclusion, our studies demonstrate for the first time direct growth effects of the full-length precursor peptide on IEC cells in vitro that are apparently mediated by the high-affinity PG binding sites that were discovered on these cells.

PTS 50: Past, Present and Future, or Diauxie Revisited

2015 ◽  
Vol 25 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 79-93 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph W. Lengeler
Keyword(s):  
Catabolite Repression ◽  
Biological Significance ◽  
Cellular Growth ◽  
Gram Positive ◽  
Gram Negative ◽  
Inducer Exclusion ◽  
Gram Positive Bacteria ◽  
Cellular Control

<b><i>Past:</i></b> The title ‘PTS 50 or The PTS after 50 years' relies on the first description in 1964 of the phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent carbohydrate:phosphotransferase system (PTS) by Kundig, Gosh and Roseman [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 1964;52:1067-1074]. The system comprised proteins named Enzyme I, HPr and Enzymes II, as part of a novel PTS for carbohydrates in Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, whose ‘biological significance remained unclear'. In contrast, studies which would eventually lead to the discovery of the central role of the PTS in bacterial metabolism had been published since before 1942. They are primarily linked to names like Epps and Gale, J. Monod, Cohn and Horibata, and B. Magasanik, and to phenomena like ‘glucose effects', ‘diauxie', ‘catabolite repression' and carbohydrate transport. <b><i>Present:</i></b> The pioneering work from Roseman's group initiated a flood of publications. The extraordinary progress from 1964 to this day in the qualitative and in vitro description of the genes and enzymes of the PTS, and of its multiple roles in global cellular control through ‘inducer exclusion', gene induction and ‘catabolite repression', in cellular growth, in cell differentiation and in chemotaxis, as well as the differences of its functions between Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, was one theme of the meeting and will not be treated in detail here. <b><i>Future:</i></b> At the 1988 Paris meeting entitled ‘The PTS after 25 years', Saul Roseman predicted that ‘we must describe these interactions [of the PTS components] in a quantitative way [under] in vivo conditions'. I will present some results obtained by our group during recent years on the old phenomenon of diauxie by means of very fast and quantitative tests, measured in vivo, and obtained from cultures of isogenic mutant strains growing under chemostat conditions. The results begin to hint at the problems relating to future PTS research, but also to the ‘true science' of Roseman.

scholarly journals Active immunization against the proregions of GDF9 or BMP15 alters ovulation rate and litter size in mice

Reproduction ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 143 (2) ◽  
pp. 195-201 ◽  
Author(s):  
C Joy McIntosh ◽  
Steve Lawrence ◽  
Peter Smith ◽  
Jennifer L Juengel ◽  
Kenneth P McNatty
Keyword(s):  
Litter Size ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor Β ◽  
Cross Reactivity ◽  
Full Length ◽  
Ovulation Rate ◽  
Corpora Lutea ◽  
Immunization Group

The transforming growth factor β (TGFB) superfamily proteins bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP15) and growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9), are essential for mammalian fertility. Recent in vitro evidence suggests that the proregions of mouse BMP15 and GDF9 interact with their mature proteins after secretion. In this study, we have actively immunized mice against these proregions to test the potential in vivo roles on fertility. Mice were immunized with either N- or C-terminus proregion peptides of BMP15 or GDF9, or a full-length GDF9 proregion protein, each conjugated to keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH). For each immunization group, ovaries were collected from ten mice for histology after immunization, while a further 20 mice were allowed to breed and litter sizes were counted. To link the ovulation and fertility data of these two experimental end points, mice were joined during the time period identified by histology as being the ovulatory period resulting in to the corpora lutea (CL) counted. Antibody titers in sera increased throughout the study period, with no cross-reactivity observed between BMP15 and GDF9 sera and antigens. Compared with KLH controls, mice immunized with the N-terminus BMP15 proregion peptide had ovaries with fewer CL (P<0.05) and produced smaller litters (P<0.05). In contrast, mice immunized with the full-length GDF9 proregion not only had more CL (P<0.01) but also had significantly smaller litter sizes (P<0.01). None of the treatments affected the number of antral follicles per ovary. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that the proregions of BMP15 and GDF9, after secretion by the oocyte, have physiologically important roles in regulating ovulation rate and litter size in mice.

scholarly journals Definition of a minimal munc18c domain that interacts with syntaxin 4

2000 ◽  
Vol 350 (3) ◽  
pp. 741-746 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julian GRUSOVIN ◽  
Violet STOICHEVSKA ◽  
Keith H. GOUGH ◽  
Katrina NUNAN ◽  
Colin W. WARD ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Protein Interaction ◽  
Full Length ◽  
Yeast Two Hybrid ◽  
Protein Protein Interaction ◽  
Interaction Studies ◽  
Syntaxin 4 ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Two Hybrid

munc18c is a critical protein involved in trafficking events associated with syntaxin 4 and which also mediates inhibitory effects on vesicle docking and/or fusion. To investigate the domains of munc18c responsible for its interaction with syntaxin 4, fragments of munc18c were generated and their interaction with syntaxin 4 examined in vivo by the yeast two-hybrid assay. In vitro protein–protein interaction studies were then used to confirm that the interaction between the proteins was direct. Full-length munc18c1–592, munc18c1–139 and munc18c1–225, but not munc18c226–592, munc18c1–100, munc18c43–139 or munc18c66–139, interacted with the cytoplasmic portion of syntaxin 4, Stx42–273, as assessed by yeast two-hybrid assay of growth on nutritionally deficient media and by β-galactosidase reporter induction. The N-terminal predicted helix-a-helix-b-helix-c region of syntaxin 4, Stx429–157, failed to interact with full-length munc18c1–592, indicating that a larger portion of syntaxin 4 is necessary for the interaction. The yeast two-hybrid results were confirmed by protein–protein interaction studies between Stx42–273 and glutathione S-transferase fusion proteins of munc18c. Full-length munc18c1–592, munc18c1–139 and munc18c1–225 interacted with Stx42–273 whereas munc18c1–100 did not, consistent with the yeast two-hybrid data. These data thus identify a region of munc18c between residues 1 and 139 as a minimal domain for its interaction with syntaxin 4.

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