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Isoelectric points of polypeptides of standard poliovirus particles of different serological types and of empty capsids and dense particles of poliovirus type 1.

The isoelectric points of polypeptides of standard and dense poliovirus particles and of empty capsids have been determined by isoelectric focusing in urea and by two-dimensional analysis. Comparing virus strains belonging to the three serological types of poliovirus, differences in the pI of some, but not all of the structural polypeptides are found. The pI of polypeptides of dense particles and of empty capsids are identical with those of standard particles. Polypeptide VPo present in empty capsids has a pI between those of VP4 and VP2.

Capsid

Cell-free translation of simian virus 40 16S and 19S L-strand-specific mRNA classes to simian virus 40 major VP-1 and minor VP-2 and VP-3 capsid proteins.

Simian virus 40 capsid proteins VP-1, VP-2, and VP-3 have been synthesized in wheat germ and reticulocyte cell-free systems in response to either poly(A)-containing mRNA from the cytoplasm of infected cells or viral RNA purified by hybridization to simian virus 40 DNA linked to Sepharose. All three viral polypeptides synthesized in vitro are specifically immunoprecipitated with anti-simian virus 40 capsid serum. VP-2 and VP-3 are related by tryptic peptide mapping to each other but not to VP-1. The most abundant class of L-strand-specific viral mRNA, the 16S species, codes for the major capsid protein. The relatively minor 19S class directs the cell-free synthesis of VP-1, VP-2, and VP-3. Whether the 19S RNA represents more than one distinct species of mRNA is not yet clear. VP-1 mRNA can be isolated from the cytoplasm, detergent-washed nuclei, and the nuclear wash fraction. The mRNA from the nuclear wash fraction is enriched for VP-2 mRNA when compared to other viral or cellular polypeptides.

Capsid

Capsid protein precursor is one of two initiated products of translation of poliovirus RNA in vitro.

Previous studies in our laboratory have demonstrated that cell-free systems translating the Mahoney strain of poliovirus type I RNA utilize two unique initiation sites. In this study, defective-interfering particles of poliovirus, which contain deletions in the region encoding the capsid proteins, are shown to initiate translation of proteins in vitro at these same two sites. Both the standard virus and the defective-interfering virus RNA direct the synthesis of two polypeptides labeled with n-formyl-methionine (fmet) at their amino termini. The size of the smaller fmet polypeptide synthesized in vitro by the defective virus appears identical in size to that of the standard virus. However, the larger-molecular-weight fmet polypeptide is reduced in size from 115,000 to 69,000 daltons. This correlates exactly with the reduced size of the precursor to the capsid proteins synthesized by the defective virus in vivo and with the size of the deletion in the defective virus RNA (1,200 bases). This provides genetic evidence that the 115,000-dalton fmet polypeptide synthesized into vitro by the standard virus is NCVP1a, the precursor to the coat proteins. Although the identity of the small (5,000 to 10,000 daltons) fmet polypeptide is not clear, several lines of evidence enable us to exclude the possibility that it is VP4, the smallest viral capsid protein.

Capsid

Proteolysis of the major capsid protein T4 bacteriophage polyheads limited by quaternary structure.

Bacteriophage T4 carrying an amber mutation in gene 22 plus an amber mutation in gene 21 form aberrant, tubular structures termed rough polyheads, instead of complete phage when they infect Escherichia coli B. These rough polyheads consist almost entirely of the major capsid protein in its uncleaved form (gp23). When rough polyheads are treated under mild conditions with any of the five proteases, trypsin, chymotrypsin, thermolysin, pronase, or the protease from Staphylococcus aureus V8, the gp23 is rapidly hydrolyzed at a limited number of peptide bonds. In contrast, cleaved capsid protein (gp23) in mature phage capsids is completely resistant to proteolysis under the same conditions. A major project in this laboratory requires determining the primary structure of gp23, a large protein (Mr = 58,000) quite rich in those amino acids at which cleavages are achieved by conventional means. Recovery of peptides from the complex mixtures resulting from such cleavages proved to be extremely difficult. The limited proteolysis of gp23 in rough polyheads had yielded a set of large, easily purified fragments which are greatly simplifying the task of determining the primary structure of this protein.

Amino Acid Sequence

Identification of a viral protein involved in post-translational maturation of the encephalomyocarditis virus capsid precursor.

Translation of encephalomyocarditis virus RNA in a cell-free system from uninfected Krebs ascites cells results in the synthesis of a major polypeptide product with a molecular weight of approximately 112,000. In contrast, when the viral RNA is translated in a cell-free system from virus-infected cells, this polypeptide is absent and the largest polypeptide produced has a molecular weight of about 100,000. This latter polypeptide comigrates on sodium dodecyl sulfate-gels with in vivo virus capsid precursor A, and the two have identical patterns of CNBr-generated peptides. A polypeptide having a molecular weight of 12,500 is also a major translation product in the system from infected cells (but not from uninfected cells). This polypeptide appears to be generated by cleavage of the NH-2-terminal portion of the viral RNA-dependent polypeptides by a proteolytic activity present in the infected cell-free system. This proteolytic activity copurifies with the 23,000-molecular weight viral capsid protein gamma, found in infected cells, through chromatography on DEAE-cellulose and cellulose phosphate. This suggests that gamma is itself a proteolytic enzyme involved in maturation of the viral capsid precursor.

Animals

Polyoma virus strain with enhanced synthesis of capsid protein.

A study of the immunochemical characteristics and the synthesis of the capsid proteins of two polyoma virus strains (3049 and 1pS) was carried out to determine the mechanism responsible for the unique accumulation of those structural polypeptides in the cytoplasm of cells infected with the 3049 strain. Antisera prepared against disaggregated virus peptides and whole virus were used to measure the quantity of virus-specific antigens in cells infected by the two strains by using an indirect radioimmunoassay technique. The 3049-infected mouse embryo cells were found to contain several-fold more antibody-binding material than those infected with the 1pS strain. Furthermore, the cytoplasmic fraction of 3049-infected cells also contained more antibody-binding activity, supporting the hypothesis that the phenotype of the 3049 virus (cytoplasmic capsid protein) was a reflection of the increased synthesis of the capsid polypeptides.

Amanitins

4D-DIA proteomics reveals distinct proteolytic landscapes induced by mechanical stress, Agrobacterium, and a viral capsid precursor.

Nicotiana benthamiana is a widely used platform for plant molecular farming, yet recombinant protein yields are frequently compromised by the host's innate defense mechanisms, particularly proteolytic degradation. While the general effects of Agroinfiltration are known, the distinct contributions of mechanical injury, bacterial perception, and product-specific stress remain poorly resolved. Here we utilized high-depth 4D-DIA proteomics to dissect the host response across three dimensions: physical stress (buffer infiltration), pathogen-associated stress (Agrobacterium), and product-associated stress (GFP vs. the FMDV capsid precursor P1_2A). We demonstrate that buffer infiltration is not a neutral event but an independent inducer of cell wall remodeling and oxidative stress. By filtering out these background effects, we defined a core Agrobacterium-responsive proteome characterized by a growth-defense trade-off. We also expanded the known protease repertoire of N. benthamiana to 1,505 enzymes through improved genomic annotation. We found that the expression of the FMDV capsid precursor P1_2A was associated with a distinct and more pronounced protease profile compared to soluble GFP, characterized by the upregulation of subtilases and cysteine proteases. These findings suggest that host proteolytic responses vary with the recombinant cargo, a factor worth considering when designing engineering strategies for the production of complex biopharmaceuticals in plants.

Proteomics

A directed evolution approach to select for novel Adeno-associated virus capsids on an HIV-1 producer T cell line.

A directed evolution approach was used to select for Adeno-associated virus (AAV) capsids that would exhibit more tropism toward an HIV-1 producer T cell line with the long-term goal of developing improved gene transfer vectors. A library of AAV variants was used to infect H9 T cells previously infected or uninfected by HIV-1 followed by AAV amplification with wild-type adenovirus. Six rounds of biological selection were performed, including negative selection and diversification after round three. The H9 T cells were successfully infected with all three wild-type viruses (AAV, adenovirus, and HIV-1). Four AAV cap mutants best representing the small number of variants emerging after six rounds of selection were chosen for further study. These mutant capsids were used to package an AAV vector and subsequently used to infect H9 cells that were previously infected or uninfected by HIV-1. A quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay was performed to measure cell-associated AAV genomes. Two of the four cap mutants showed a significant increase in the amount of cell-associated genomes as compared to wild-type AAV2. This study shows that directed evolution can be performed successfully to select for mutants with improved tropism for a T cell line in the presence of HIV-1.

Capsid

Complete genome characterization, phylogenetic analysis, and capsid P2 variation of a goose astrovirus genotype 2 isolate from Guizhou, China.

Goose astrovirus genotype 2 (GAstV-2) is associated with gout and renal disease in goslings, but its occurrence in Guizhou Province remains poorly documented. We isolated a GAstV-2 strain, designated GZJP2024, from goslings with visceral gout on a farm in Jinping County, Guizhou Province, China. PCR detected GAstV-2 but not goose parvovirus, goose reovirus, Tembusu virus, fowl adenovirus, or goose astrovirus genotype 1. Serial passage in goose embryos produced mortality and hemorrhagic lesions during the third passage. Whole-genome sequencing yielded a 7,251-nt genome containing three overlapping open reading frames (ORF1a, ORF1b, and ORF2). Sequence identity and phylogenetic analyses assigned GZJP2024 to the GAstV-2 lineage. ORF1b was the most conserved coding region, whereas ORF2 was more variable. Comparison with consensus sequences from representative GAstV-2 strains identified five amino acid substitutions in ORF1a and ten in ORF2. Four ORF2 substitutions (E456D, L540Q, S608T, and A614T) occurred in the capsid P2 domain and overlapped or neighbored predicted B-cell epitope-rich regions. Template-based mapping placed E456D, S608T, and A614T on exposed regions of a spike-like capsid structure. These findings document a GAstV-2 isolate from a gout-affected goose farm in Guizhou and provide sequence data for future regional surveillance.

Capsid P2

Studies of virus structure by laser-Raman spectroscopy. Turnip yellow mosaic virus and capsids.

Laser-Raman spectroscopy of the turnip yellow mosaic virus (TYMV) and its capsid indicate the following features of the structure and assembly of the virion. The secondary structure of coat-protein molecules in TYMV is comprised of 9 +/- 5% alpha-helix, 43 +/- 6% beta-sheet, and 48 +/- 6% irregular conformation and is not altered by the removal of the RNA from the capsid. Introduction of as many as 200 chain scissions per RNA molecule also does not affect the overall secondary structure of the encapsulated RNA, which is 77 +/- 5% in the A-helix form. Tryptophan and cysteine residues of the coat protein appear to be in contact with the solvent, while only one of three tyrosines per coat protein is available for hydrogen bonding of its p-hydroxyl group with H2O molecules. Both cytosine and adenine residues of TYMV RNA are protonated in substantial numbers near pH 4.5, suggesting elevation of their respective pKa values within the virion. The Raman data are consistent with chemical evidence favoring interaction between protonated bases of RNA and amino acid side chains of coat protein in TYMV.

Capsid

In Vivo Selection Yields AAV-B1 Capsid for Central Nervous System and Muscle Gene Therapy.

Adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors have shown promise as a platform for gene therapy of neurological disorders. Achieving global gene delivery to the central nervous system (CNS) is key for development of effective therapies for many of these diseases. Here we report the isolation of a novel CNS tropic AAV capsid, AAV-B1, after a single round of in vivo selection from an AAV capsid library. Systemic injection of AAV-B1 vector in adult mice and cat resulted in widespread gene transfer throughout the CNS with transduction of multiple neuronal subpopulations. In addition, AAV-B1 transduces muscle, β-cells, pulmonary alveoli, and retinal vasculature at high efficiency. This vector is more efficient than AAV9 for gene delivery to mouse brain, spinal cord, muscle, pancreas, and lung. Together with reduced sensitivity to neutralization by antibodies in pooled human sera, the broad transduction profile of AAV-B1 represents an important improvement over AAV9 for CNS gene therapy.

Animals

Natural history of eukaryotic DNA viruses with double jelly-roll major capsid proteins.

The phylum Preplasmiviricota (kingdom Bamfordvirae, realm Varidnaviria) is a broad assemblage of diverse viruses with comparatively short double-stranded DNA genomes (<50 kbp) that produce icosahedral capsids built from double jelly-roll major capsid proteins. Preplasmiviricots infect hosts from all cellular domains, testifying to their ancient origin, and, in particular, are associated with six of the seven supergroups of eukaryotes. Preplasmiviricots comprise four major groups of viruses, namely, polintons, polinton-like viruses (PLVs), virophages, and adenovirids. We used protein structure modeling and analysis to show that protein-primed DNA polymerases (pPolBs) of polintons, virophages, and cytoplasmic linear plasmids encompass an N-terminal domain homologous to the terminal proteins (TPs) of prokaryotic PRD1-like tectivirids and eukaryotic adenovirids that are involved in protein-primed replication initiation, followed by a viral ovarian tumor-like cysteine deubiquitinylase (vOTU) domain. The vOTU domain is likely responsible for the cleavage of the TP from the large pPolB polypeptide and is inactivated in adenovirids, in which TP is a separate protein. Many PLVs and transpovirons encode a distinct derivative of polinton-like pPolB that retains the TP, vOTU, and pPolB polymerization palm domains but lacks the exonuclease domain and instead contains a superfamily 1 helicase domain. Analysis of the presence/absence and inactivation of the vOTU domains and replacement of pPolB with other DNA polymerases in eukaryotic preplasmiviricots enabled us to outline a complete scenario for their origin and evolution.

Capsid Proteins

Inhibition by zinc of rhinovirus protein cleavage: interaction of zinc with capsid polypeptides.

Zinic ions rapidly inhibit virus production in HeLa cells infected with human rhinovirus type 1A and lead to the accumulation of human rhinovirus type 1A precursor polypeptides. The degree to which cleavage of these precursors is inhibited is directly dependent on the quantity of cell-associated zinc. Proteolysis resumes after the removal of zinc-containing medium, and the accumulated viral precursors are cleaved predominantly to stable virus polypeptides. The precursors stabilized at the lowest zinc levels are those that contain capsid protein sequences. Furthermore, added zinc is bound to human rhinovirus type 1A capsids and prevents them from forming crystals. Zinc-resistant mutants display antigenic alterations in coat proteins. These results suggest that zinc complexes with rhinovirus coat proteins and alters them so that they cannot function as substrates for proteases or as reactants in the assembly of the virus particles.

Capsid

Novel replicative properties of a capsid mutant of bacteriophage phi chi 174.

A capsid mutant of bacteriophage phi chi 174 demonstrates altered requirements for the conversion of viral single-stranded DNA to double-stranded replicative form DNA. In the presence of puromycin at 42 C, wild-type phi chi 174 is unable to complete this replicative event, whereas phi chi ahb is able to do so. Furthermore, in contrast to wild-type phi chi 174, formation of phi chi ahb parental replicative form DNA is sensitive to rifampin under certain experimental conditions. These data suggest that the mutant capsid proteins of phi chi ahb influence the biosynthesis of phi chi ahb complementary strand DNA.

Capsid

Cell-free synthesis of polyoma virus capsid proteins VP1 and VP2.

Polyadenylated RNA isolated from the cytoplasm of mouse 3T6 cells 28 h after infection with polyoma virus has been isolated and translated in vitro. Polyoma capsid proteins VP1 and VP2 have been identified in the cell-free product by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, specific immunoprecipitation, and tryptic peptide fingerprinting. Polyoma mRNA species have been isolated by preparative hybridization to purified viral DNA immobilized on cellulose nitrate filters and shown to code for both VP1 and VP2. These experiments establish conditions for the isolation of late polyoma mRNA and the cell-free synthesis of polyoma capsid proteins and indicate that the active mRNA species are at least partially virus coded.

Capsid

Polyoma virus complementary RNA directs the in vitro synthesis of capsid proteins VP1 and VP2.

Polyoma virus complementary RNA, synthesized in vitro by using highly purified Escherichia coli RNA polymerase and nondefective form I polyoma DNA, was translated in a wheat germ cell-free system. Polypeptides were synthesized that comigrated on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels with the polyoma capsid proteins VP1 and VP2, although most of the cell-free products were of smaller molecular weights. The VP1-size protein specifically immunoprecipitated with anti-polyoma virus serum, and upon digestion by trypsin yielded [35S]methionine-labeled tryptic peptides that co-chromatographed with the [3H]methionine-labeled tryptic peptides of virion-derived VP1 on both cation-exchange and anion-exchange resins. The VP2-size in vitro product contained all the virion VP2 methionine-labeled tryptic peptides, as shown by cation- and anion-exchange chromatography and two-dimensional fingerprinting on cellulose. We conclude that full-length polyoma VP1 and VP2 are synthesized in response to complementary RNA and consequently that the viral capsid proteins VP1, VP2, and VP3 are entirely virus coded.

Capsid

Immune and antibody responses to an isolated capsid protein of foot-and-mouth disease virus.

The purified capsid proteins VP1, VP2, and VP3 of foot-and-mouth disease virus type A12 strain 119 emulsified with incomplete Freund's adjuvant were studied in swine and guinea pigs. Swine inoculated on days 0, 28, and 60 with 100-mug doses of VP3 were protected by day 82 against exposure to infected swine. Serums from animals inoculated with VP3 contained viral precipitating and neutralizing antibodies, but such serums recognized fewer viral antigenic determinants than did antiviral serums. Capsid proteins VP1 and VP2 did not produce detectable antiviral antibody in guinea pigs, and antiviral antibody responses in swine to a mixture of VP1, VP2, and VP3 were lower than the responses to VP3 alone. However, when swine were inoculated with VP1, VP2, and VP3 separately at different body sites, no interference with the response to VP3 was observed. Vaccine containing VP3 isolated from acetylethylenimine-treated virus appeared less protective for swine than vaccine containing VP3 from nontreated virus. Trypsinized virus, which contains the cleaved peptides VP3a and VP3b rather than intact VP3, produced approximately the same levels of antiviral antibody responses in guinea pigs as did virus. Conversely, an isolated mixture of VP3a and VP3b did not produce detectable antiviral antibody responses in guinea pigs. The VP3a-VP3b mixture did, however, sensitize guinea pigs to elicit such responses following reinoculation with a marginally effective dose of trypsinized virus.

Animals

Alternative bipartite arrangements of VP1 BR1-3 drive efficient nuclear import of AAV2 capsids.

Adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) are among the most extensively studied viral gene-therapy vectors, yet the mechanisms governing their nuclear entry remain incompletely understood. Efficient transduction requires that the AAV capsid, or its structural subunit VP1, traverse the nuclear envelope to deliver the therapeutic genome. The N-terminal region of VP1 contains three clustered basic regions (BR1-3) proposed to function as nuclear localization signals (NLSs). Here, we combine cellular, biophysical, structural, and computational modelling approaches to define the nuclear import mechanism of AAV2 VP1 at molecular resolution. We show that VP1 engages the classical importin-&#x3b1;/&#x3b2;1 (IMP&#x3b1;/&#x3b2;1) pathway and binds multiple IMP&#x3b1; paralogs with distinct affinities. Crystallographic and mutational analyses reveal that two intact BRs are required to simultaneously occupy the major and minor binding pockets of IMP&#x3b1; in a bipartite configuration. Structural data indicate that mouse IMP&#x3b1;2 (mIMP&#x3b1;2) preferentially accommodates BR1 and BR3 at these sites, however, functional studies demonstrate that mutation of individual BRs does not abolish IMP binding or nuclear accumulation. This robustness arises from the ability of BR2 to flexibly engage both binding pockets, enabling the formation of alternative bipartite arrangements (BR1-BR2, BR2-BR3, or BR1-BR3). Together, these findings reveal an unexpected versatility in how AAV2 VP1 exploits the IMP&#x3b1; binding sites, providing a structural basis for efficient capsid nuclear import. The flexibility of BR1-3 expands the current paradigm of viral NLS organization and suggests new strategies to fine-tune nuclear targeting AAV-based gene-therapy vectors.

Adeno-associated virus