The host structural maintenance of chromosomes 5/6 complex (Smc5/6) suppresses hepatitis B virus (HBV) transcription. HBV counters this restriction by expressing the X protein (HBx), which redirects the cellular DNA damage-binding protein 1 (DDB1)-containing E3 ubiquitin ligase to target Smc5/6 for degradation. However, the details of how HBx modulates the interaction between DDB1 and Smc5/6 remain to be determined. In this study, we performed biophysical analyses of recombinant HBx and functional analysis of HBx mutants in HBV-infected primary human hepatocytes (PHH) to identify key regions and residues that are required for HBx function. We determined that recombinant HBx is soluble and exhibits stoichiometric zinc binding when expressed in the presence of DDB1. Mass spectrometry-based hydrogen-deuterium exchange and cysteine-specific chemical footprinting of the HBx:DDB1 complex identified several HBx cysteine residues (located between amino acids 61 and 137) that are likely involved in zinc binding. These cysteine residues did not form disulfide bonds in HBx expressed in human cells. In line with the biophysical data, functional analysis demonstrated that HBx amino acids 45 to 140 are required for Smc6 degradation and HBV transcription in PHH. Furthermore, site-directed mutagenesis determined that C61, C69, C137, and H139 are necessary for HBx function, although they are likely not essential for DDB1 binding. This CCCH motif is highly conserved in HBV as well as in the X proteins from various mammalian hepadnaviruses. Collectively, our data indicate that the essential HBx cysteine and histidine residues form a zinc-binding motif that is required for HBx function.IMPORTANCE The structural maintenance of chromosomes 5/6 complex (Smc5/6) is a host restriction factor that suppresses HBV transcription. HBV counters this restriction by expressing HBV X protein (HBx), which redirects a host ubiquitin ligase to target Smc5/6 for degradation. Despite this recent advance in understanding HBx function, the key regions and residues of HBx required for Smc5/6 degradation have not been determined. In the present study, we performed biochemical, biophysical, and cell-based analyses of HBx. By doing so, we mapped the minimal functional region of HBx and identified a highly conserved CCCH motif in HBx that is likely responsible for coordinating zinc and is essential for HBx function. We also developed a method to produce soluble recombinant HBx protein that likely adopts a physiologically relevant conformation. Collectively, this study provides new insights into the HBx structure-function relationship and suggests a new approach for structural studies of this enigmatic viral regulatory protein.

• MeSH
• aminokyselinové motivy MeSH
• aminokyseliny MeSH
• DNA vazebné proteiny metabolismus   MeSH
• hepatitida B metabolismus   virologie   MeSH
• interakce hostitele a patogenu MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• rekombinantní fúzní proteiny MeSH
• sekvence aminokyselin MeSH
• trans-aktivátory chemie   metabolismus   MeSH
• vazba proteinů MeSH
• vazebná místa MeSH
• virus hepatitidy B fyziologie   MeSH
• zinek metabolismus   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural MeSH

Retroviruses assemble and bud from infected cells in an immature form and require proteolytic maturation for infectivity. The CA (capsid) domains of the Gag polyproteins assemble a protein lattice as a truncated sphere in the immature virion. Proteolytic cleavage of Gag induces dramatic structural rearrangements; a subset of cleaved CA subsequently assembles into the mature core, whose architecture varies among retroviruses. Murine leukemia virus (MLV) is the prototypical γ-retrovirus and serves as the basis of retroviral vectors, but the structure of the MLV CA layer is unknown. Here we have combined X-ray crystallography with cryoelectron tomography to determine the structures of immature and mature MLV CA layers within authentic viral particles. This reveals the structural changes associated with maturation, and, by comparison with HIV-1, uncovers conserved and variable features. In contrast to HIV-1, most MLV CA is used for assembly of the mature core, which adopts variable, multilayered morphologies and does not form a closed structure. Unlike in HIV-1, there is similarity between protein-protein interfaces in the immature MLV CA layer and those in the mature CA layer, and structural maturation of MLV could be achieved through domain rotations that largely maintain hexameric interactions. Nevertheless, the dramatic architectural change on maturation indicates that extensive disassembly and reassembly are required for mature core growth. The core morphology suggests that wrapping of the genome in CA sheets may be sufficient to protect the MLV ribonucleoprotein during cell entry.

• MeSH
• elektronová kryomikroskopie MeSH
• genové produkty gag chemie   genetika   ultrastruktura   MeSH
• HEK293 buňky MeSH
• HIV-1 chemie   genetika   ultrastruktura   MeSH
• kapsida chemie   ultrastruktura   MeSH
• krystalografie rentgenová MeSH
• kvarterní struktura proteinů MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• molekulární modely MeSH
• myši MeSH
• proteinové domény MeSH
• sekvence aminokyselin MeSH
• sekvenční homologie aminokyselin MeSH
• tomografie elektronová MeSH
• virion chemie   genetika   ultrastruktura   MeSH
• virové plášťové proteiny chemie   genetika   ultrastruktura   MeSH
• virus myší leukemie chemie   genetika   ultrastruktura   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• myši MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural MeSH
• srovnávací studie MeSH

Matrix proteins (MAs) play a key role in the transport of retroviral proteins inside infected cells and in the interaction with cellular membranes. In most retroviruses, retroviral MAs are N-terminally myristoylated. This modification serves as a membrane targeting signal and also as an anchor for membrane interaction. The aim of this work was to characterize the interactions anchoring retroviral MA at the plasma membrane of infected cell. To address this issue, we compared the structures and membrane affinity of the Mason-Pfizer monkey virus (M-PMV) wild-type MA with its two budding deficient double mutants, that is, T41I/T78I and Y28F/Y67F. The structures of the mutants were determined using solution NMR spectroscopy, and their interactions with water-soluble phospholipids were studied. Water-soluble phospholipids are widely used models for studying membrane interactions by solution NMR spectroscopy. However, this approach might lead to artificial results due to unnatural hydrophobic interactions. Therefore, we used a new approach based on the measurement of the loss of the (1)H NMR signal intensity of the protein sample induced by the addition of the liposomes containing phospholipids with naturally long fatty acids. HIV-1 MA was used as a positive control because its ability to interact with liposomes has already been described. We found that in contrast to HIV-1, the M-PMV MA interacted with the liposomes differently and much weaker. In our invivo experiments, the M-PMV MA did not co-localize with lipid rafts. Therefore, we concluded that M-PMV might adopt a different membrane binding mechanism than HIV-1.

• MeSH
• buněčná membrána metabolismus   MeSH
• fosfolipidy metabolismus   MeSH
• liposomy metabolismus   MeSH
• magnetická rezonanční spektroskopie MeSH
• Masonův-Pfizerův opičí virus fyziologie   MeSH
• mastné kyseliny metabolismus   MeSH
• missense mutace MeSH
• mutantní proteiny chemie   metabolismus   MeSH
• proteiny virové matrix chemie   metabolismus   MeSH
• uvolnění viru z buňky * MeSH
• vazba proteinů MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

The assembly of immature retroviral particles is initiated in the cytoplasm by the binding of the structural polyprotein precursor Gag with viral genomic RNA. The protein interactions necessary for assembly are mediated predominantly by the capsid (CA) and nucleocapsid (NC) domains, which have conserved structures. In contrast, the structural arrangement of the CA-NC connecting region differs between retroviral species. In HIV-1 and Rous sarcoma virus, this region forms a rod-like structure that separates the CA and NC domains, whereas in Mason-Pfizer monkey virus, this region is densely packed, thus holding the CA and NC domains in close proximity. Interestingly, the sequence connecting the CA and NC domains in gammaretroviruses, such as murine leukemia virus (MLV), is unique. The sequence is called a charged assembly helix (CAH) due to a high number of positively and negatively charged residues. Although both computational and deletion analyses suggested that the MLV CAH forms a helical conformation, no structural or biochemical data supporting this hypothesis have been published. Using an in vitro assembly assay, alanine scanning mutagenesis, and biophysical techniques (circular dichroism, NMR, microcalorimetry, and electrophoretic mobility shift assay), we have characterized the structure and function of the MLV CAH. We provide experimental evidence that the MLV CAH belongs to a group of charged, E(R/K)-rich, single α-helices. This is the first single α-helix motif identified in viral proteins.

• MeSH
• mutageneze MeSH
• myši MeSH
• proteinové domény MeSH
• sekundární struktura proteinů MeSH
• virové plášťové proteiny chemie   genetika   MeSH
• virus myší leukemie chemie   genetika   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• myši MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

• MeSH
• antiretrovirové látky farmakologie   chemická syntéza   terapeutické užití   MeSH
• chronická hepatitida B * farmakoterapie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• přehodnocení terapeutických indikací léčivého přípravku MeSH
• tenofovir terapeutické užití   MeSH
• virus hepatitidy B genetika   růst a vývoj   účinky léků   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH

BACKGROUND: Myristoylation of the matrix (MA) domain mediates the transport and binding of Gag polyproteins to the plasma membrane (PM) and is required for the assembly of most retroviruses. In betaretroviruses, which assemble immature particles in the cytoplasm, myristoylation is dispensable for assembly but is crucial for particle transport to the PM. Oligomerization of HIV-1 MA stimulates the transition of the myristoyl group from a sequestered to an exposed conformation, which is more accessible for membrane binding. However, for other retroviruses, the effect of MA oligomerization on myristoyl group exposure has not been thoroughly investigated. RESULTS: Here, we demonstrate that MA from the betaretrovirus mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) forms dimers in solution and that this process is stimulated by its myristoylation. The crystal structure of N-myristoylated MMTV MA, determined at 1.57 Å resolution, revealed that the myristoyl groups are buried in a hydrophobic pocket at the dimer interface and contribute to dimer formation. Interestingly, the myristoyl groups in the dimer are mutually swapped to achieve energetically stable binding, as documented by molecular dynamics modeling. Mutations within the myristoyl binding site resulted in reduced MA dimerization and extracellular particle release. CONCLUSIONS: Based on our experimental, structural, and computational data, we propose a model for dimerization of MMTV MA in which myristoyl groups stimulate the interaction between MA molecules. Moreover, dimer-forming MA molecules adopt a sequestered conformation with their myristoyl groups entirely buried within the interaction interface. Although this differs from the current model proposed for lentiviruses, in which oligomerization of MA triggers exposure of myristoyl group, it appears convenient for intracellular assembly, which involves no apparent membrane interaction and allows the myristoyl group to be sequestered during oligomerization.

• MeSH
• biologické modely MeSH
• buněčné linie MeSH
• krysa rodu rattus MeSH
• krystalografie rentgenová MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• molekulární modely MeSH
• multimerizace proteinu * MeSH
• posttranslační úpravy proteinů * MeSH
• proteiny virové matrix chemie   metabolismus   MeSH
• simulace molekulární dynamiky MeSH
• virus myšího tumoru prsní žlázy chemie   fyziologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• krysa rodu rattus MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

The matrix protein (MA) of the Mason-Pfizer monkey virus (M-PMV) plays a key role in the transport and budding of immature retroviral particles from the host cell. Natural N-terminal myristoylation of MA is essential for the targeting of the particles to the plasma membrane and participates in the interaction of MA with membranes phospholipids. The mutation Y28F/Y67F in MA reduces budding and thus causes the accumulation of viral particles under the cytoplasmic membrane. To investigate the impact of Y28F/Y67F mutation on the structure of MA, we prepared this protein in amount and quality suitable for NMR spectroscopy. We report backbone, side-chain and myristoyl residue assignments of the Y28F/Y67F mutant of the M-PMV matrix protein, which will be used to study the interaction with membrane phospholipids and to determine the structure of the mutant matrix protein.

• MeSH
• kyselina myristová metabolismus   MeSH
• Masonův-Pfizerův opičí virus metabolismus   MeSH
• mutantní proteiny chemie   MeSH
• nukleární magnetická rezonance biomolekulární * MeSH
• proteiny virové matrix chemie   MeSH
• protonová magnetická rezonanční spektroskopie MeSH
• sekundární struktura proteinů MeSH
• spektrometrie hmotnostní - ionizace laserem za účasti matrice MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

We identified breast cancer-associated protein (BCA3) as a novel binding partner of Mason-Pfizer monkey virus (MPMV) protease (PR). The interaction was confirmed by co-immunoprecipitation and immunocolocalization of MPMV PR and BCA3. Full-length but not C-terminally truncated BCA3 was incorporated into MPMV virions. We ruled out the potential role of the G-patch domain, a glycine-rich domain located at the C terminus of MPMV PR, in BCA3 interaction and virion incorporation. Expression of BCA3 did not affect MPMV particle release and proteolytic processing; however, it slightly increased MPMV infectivity.

• MeSH
• adaptorové proteiny signální transdukční chemie   genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• druhová specificita MeSH
• endopeptidasy chemie   genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• HEK293 buňky MeSH
• interakční proteinové domény a motivy MeSH
• jaderné proteiny chemie   genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• Masonův-Pfizerův opičí virus enzymologie   genetika   MeSH
• molekulární sekvence - údaje MeSH
• rekombinantní proteiny chemie   genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• sekvence aminokyselin MeSH
• sekvenční homologie aminokyselin MeSH
• vazba proteinů MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

BACKGROUND: Formation of a mature core is a crucial event for infectivity of retroviruses such as Mason-Pfizer monkey virus (M-PMV). The process is triggered by proteolytic cleavage of the polyprotein precursor Gag, which releases matrix, capsid (CA), and nucleocapsid proteins. Once released, CA assembles to form a mature core - a hexameric lattice protein shell that protects retroviral genomic RNA. Subtle conformational changes within CA induce the transition from the immature lattice to the mature lattice. Upon release from the precursor, the initially unstructured N-terminus of CA is refolded to form a β-hairpin stabilized by a salt bridge between the N-terminal proline and conserved aspartate. Although the crucial role of the β-hairpin in the mature core assembly has been confirmed, its precise structural function remains poorly understood. RESULTS: Based on a previous NMR analysis of the N-terminal part of M-PMV CA, which suggested the role of additional interactions besides the proline-aspartate salt bridge in stabilization of the β-hairpin, we introduced a series of mutations into the CA sequence. The effect of the mutations on virus assembly and infectivity was analyzed. In addition, the structural consequences of selected mutations were determined by NMR spectroscopy. We identified a network of interactions critical for proper formation of the M-PMV core. This network involves residue R14, located in the N-terminal β-hairpin; residue W52 in the loop connecting helices 2 and 3; and residues Q113, Q115, and Y116 in helix 5. CONCLUSION: Combining functional and structural analyses, we identified a network of supportive interactions that stabilize the β-hairpin in mature M-PMV CA.

• MeSH
• AIDS opičí genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• buněčné linie MeSH
• HEK293 buňky MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• Masonův-Pfizerův opičí virus genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• molekulární sekvence - údaje MeSH
• mutace genetika   MeSH
• sekundární struktura proteinů genetika   MeSH
• sekvence aminokyselin MeSH
• sestavení viru genetika   MeSH
• virion genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• virové plášťové proteiny metabolismus   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

BACKGROUND: Apoptosis is one of the presumptive causes of CD4+ T cell depletion during HIV infection and progression to AIDS. However, the precise role of HIV-1 in this process remains unexplained. HIV-1 protease (PR) has been suggested as a possible factor, but a direct link between HIV-1 PR enzymatic activity and apoptosis has not been established. RESULTS: Here, we show that expression of active HIV-1 PR induces death in HeLa and HEK-293 cells via the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. This conclusion is based on in vivo observations of the direct localization of HIV-1 PR in mitochondria, a key player in triggering apoptosis. Moreover, we observed an HIV-1 PR concentration-dependent decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential and the role of HIV-1 PR in activation of caspase 9, PARP cleavage and DNA fragmentation. In addition, in vitro data demonstrated that HIV-1 PR mediates cleavage of mitochondrial proteins Tom22, VDAC and ANT, leading to release of AIF and Hsp60 proteins. By using yeast two-hybrid screening, we also identified a new HIV-1 PR interaction partner, breast carcinoma-associated protein 3 (BCA3). We found that BCA3 accelerates p53 transcriptional activity on the bax promoter, thus elevating the cellular level of pro-apoptotic Bax protein. CONCLUSION: In summary, our results describe the involvement of HIV-1 PR in apoptosis, which is caused either by a direct effect of HIV-1 PR on mitochondrial membrane integrity or by its interaction with cellular protein BCA3.

• MeSH
• adaptorové proteiny signální transdukční genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• apoptóza genetika   MeSH
• buněčné linie MeSH
• CD4-pozitivní T-lymfocyty metabolismus   MeSH
• fragmentace DNA MeSH
• HEK293 buňky MeSH
• HeLa buňky MeSH
• HIV infekce genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• HIV-1 genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• HIV-proteasa genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• jaderné proteiny genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mitochondriální proteiny genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• mitochondrie genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• nádorové buněčné linie MeSH
• nádorový supresorový protein p53 genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• promotorové oblasti (genetika) genetika   MeSH
• protein X asociovaný s bcl-2 genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH