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A duplicated fold is the structural basis for polynucleotide phosphorylase catalytic activity, processivity, and regulation.

BACKGROUND: Polynucleotide phosphorylase (PNPase) is a polyribonucleotide nucleotidyl transferase (E.C.2.7.7.8) that degrades mRNA in prokaryotes. Streptomyces antibioticus PNPase also assays as a guanosine 3'-diphosphate 5'-triphosphate (pppGpp) synthetase (E.C.2.7.6.5). It may function to coordinate changes in mRNA lifetimes with pppGpp levels during the Streptomyces lifecycle. RESULTS: The structure of S. antibioticus PNPase without bound RNA but with the phosphate analog tungstate bound at the PNPase catalytic sites was determined by X-ray crystallography and shows a trimeric multidomain protein with a central channel. The structural core has a novel duplicated architecture formed by association of two homologous domains. The tungstate derivative structure reveals the PNPase active site in the second of these core domains. Structure-based sequence analysis suggests that the pppGpp synthetase active site is located in the first core domain. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first structure of a PNPase and shows the structural basis for the trimer assembly, the arrangement of accessory RNA binding domains, and the likely catalytic residues of the PNPase active site. A possible function of the trimer channel is as a contribution to both the processivity of degradation and the regulation of PNPase action by RNA structural elements.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Characterization of the Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus terminase complex component ORF29.

Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) belongs to the Gammaherpesvirinae subfamily. During the lytic phase of herpesviruses, viral capsids form in the host cell nucleus, and the replicated viral genome is packaged into these capsids. The herpesviral genome is replicated as a precursor head-to-tail concatemer consisting of tandemly repeated genomic units, each flanked by terminal repeats (TRs). The herpesvirus terminase complex packages a single genomic unit into a capsid by cleaving the TRs in the precursor genome. Although the terminase complexes of alpha- and beta-herpesviruses are well characterized, the KSHV terminase complex is poorly understood. KSHV ORF7, ORF67.5, and ORF29 are thought to be components of this complex. We previously reported that KSHV deficient in either ORF7 or ORF67.5 formed immature, soccer ball-like capsids and failed to cleave the TRs, resulting in decreased virion production. Moreover, ORF7 interacted with both ORF29 and ORF67.5; however, ORF29 and ORF67.5 did not interact with each other. Thus, although ORF7 and ORF67.5 are important for KSHV terminase function, the function of ORF29 remains largely unknown. In this study, we constructed an ORF29-deficient KSHV and analyzed its virological properties. ORF29 was found to be essential for virion production and TR cleavage. Numerous immature, soccer ball-like capsids were observed in cells harboring ORF29-deficient KSHV. The N-terminal region of ORF29 was important for its interaction with ORF7, although the full-length ORF29 was required for effective assembly of the KSHV terminase complex. Furthermore, ORF29 preferentially interacted with itself rather than with ORF7. Thus, our data show that ORF29 functions as a fundamental component of the terminase complex.IMPORTANCEBecause the role of ORF29 in the Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) terminase complex remains unknown, we constructed ORF29-deficient KSHV. Our results demonstrated that ORF29 functions as a component of the KSHV terminase and is essential for mature capsid formation, terminal repeat (TR) cleavage, and terminase complex assembly. Moreover, ORF29 strongly interacted with itself. In herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1), the terminase complex (comprising UL15, UL28, and UL33) forms a trimer, and six such trimers assemble into a hexameric ring. The HSV-1 genome passes through this ring and undergoes TR cleavage and genome packaging into a capsid. The self-interaction of ORF29 may be involved in the multimerization of the terminase complex or in the formation of the KSHV terminase ring.

Herpesvirus 8, Human↗

Biochemical characterisation of ornithine carbamoyltransferase from Pyrococcus furiosus.

Ornithine carbamoyltransferase (OTCase) was purified to homogeneity from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus. The enzyme is a 400 +/- 20-kDa polymer of a 35-kDa subunit, in keeping with the corresponding gene sequence [Roovers, M., Hethke, C., Legrain, C., Thomm, M. & Glansdorff, N. (1997) Isolation of the gene encoding Pyrococcus furiosus ornithine cabamoyltransferase and study of its expression profile in vivo and in vitro, Eur. J. Biochem. 247, 1038-1045]. In contrast with the dodecameric catabolic OTCase of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, P. furiosus OTCase exhibits no substrate cooperativity. In keeping with other data discussed in the text, this suggests that the enzyme serves an anabolic function. Half-life estimates for the purified enzyme ranged over 21-65 min at 100 degrees C according to the experimental conditions and reached several hours in the presence of ornithine and phosphate. The stability was not markedly influenced by the protein concentration. Whereas comparative examination of OTCase sequences did not point to any outstanding feature possibly related to thermophily, modelling the enzyme on the X-ray structure of P. aeruginosa OTCase (constituted by four trimers assembled in a tetrahedral manner) suggests that the molecule is stabilized, at least in part, by a set of hydrophobic interactions at the interfaces between the trimers. The comparison between P. aeruginosa and P. furiosus OTCases suggests that two different properties, allostery and thermostability, have been engineered starting from a similar quaternary structure of high internal symmetry. Recombinant P. furiosus OTCase synthesised by Escherichia coli proved less stable than the native enzyme. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, however, an enzyme apparently identical to the native one could be obtained.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

RecA protein self-assembly. II. Analytical equilibrium ultracentrifugation studies of the entropy-driven self-association of RecA.

We have investigated the self-association of RecA protein from Escherichia coli by equilibrium ultracentrifugation. Monomeric RecA (Mr = 37,842) was observed in reversible equilibrium with trimers, hexamers and dodecamers in the presence of 1.5 M-KCl, 5 mM-Hepes, 1 mM-EDTA, 2 mM-ATP (pH 7.0) at 1 degrees C. The equilibrium was strongly temperature-dependent, with polymerization being favored as the temperature was raised from 1 degrees C 21 degrees C, and was reversible with respect to temperature. The values of both the standard enthalpy and entropy of self-association were positive, indicating that it is an entropy-driven process under these conditions. In the absence of KCl, in 50 mM-citrate, 5 mM-ATP, 5% (v/v) glycerol (pH 6.0) at 4 degrees C, only small amounts of RecA monomer could be detected, while in 10 mM-Tris-acetate, 10% glycerol (pH 7.5) at 4 degrees C, the smallest species present in significant concentration appeared to be the trimer. The majority of the species observed had molecular weights between 228,000 and 456,000, suggesting dominant stoichiometries of six to 12 monomers per oligomer. At pH 6.0, in the absence of ATP, much larger oligomers containing at least 24 monomers also appeared to be present. The data are consistent with an equilibrium mixture of monomers, trimers, hexamers, dodecamers, 24-mers and higher oligomers, with the distribution of oligomers being dependent on solution conditions. Thermodynamic analysis indicates that these oligomeric species are in reversible equilibrium with each other. It is not certain whether trimers assemble directly into hexamers, or whether disassembly into monomers is a prerequisite for the formation of higher oligomers. The possible role of higher-order RecA oligomers in the formation of RecA nucleoprotein filaments is discussed.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

In vitro oligomerization of a membrane protein complex. liposome-based reconstitution of trimeric photosystem I from isolated monomers.

Many membrane proteins can be isolated in different oligomeric forms. Photosystem I (PSI), for example, exists in cyanobacteria either as a monomeric or as a trimeric complex. Neither the factors responsible for the specific trimerization process nor its biological role are known at present. In the filamentous cyanobacterium Spirulina platensis, trimers in contrast to monomers show chlorophyll fluorescence emission at 760 nm. To investigate the oligomerization process as well as the nature of the long wavelength chlorophylls, we describe here an in vitro reconstitution procedure to assemble trimeric PS I from isolated purified PS I monomers. Monomers (and trimers) were extracted from S. platensis with n-dodecyl beta-D-maltoside and further purified by perfusion chromatography steps. The isolated complexes had the same polypeptide composition as other cyanobacteria (PsaA-PsaF and PsaI-PsaM), as determined from high resolution gels and immunoblotting. They were incorporated into proteoliposomes, which had been prepared by the detergent absorption method, starting from a phosphatidylcholine:phosphatidic acid mixture solubilized by octylglucoside. After the addition of monomeric PS I (lipid:chlorophyll, 25:1), octylglucoside was gradually removed by the stepwise addition of Biobeads. The 77 K fluorescence emission spectrum of these proteoliposomes displays a long wavelength emission at 760 nm that is characteristic of PS I trimers, which indicates for the first time the successful in vitro reconstitution of PS I trimers. In addition, a high performance liquid chromatography analysis of complexes extracted from these proteoliposomes confirms the formation of structural trimers. We also could show with this system 1) that at least one of the stromal subunits PsaC, -D, and -E is necessary for trimer formation and 2) that the extreme long wavelength emitting chlorophyll is formed as a result of trimer formation.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗

Autoxidation studies of extracellular hemoglobin of Glossoscolex paulistus at pH 9: cyanide and hydroxyl effect.

The complex oligomeric assembly of the hemoglobin subunits may influence the autoxidation rate. To understand this relation, the rate of autoxidation was studied at pH 9.0, where the Glossoscolex paulistus Hemoglobin (GpHb) dissociates. At alkaline pH, this hemoglobin is dissociated into monomers, trimers and tetramers, allowing the study of the integral protein and monomer subunit autoxidation on independent experiments. The autoxidation rate was evaluated in the presence and absence of cyanide (CN(-)), a strong field ligand to the ferric ion. The oxidation kinetic was monitored using the UV-vis absorption at 415 nm, and resulted in: i) bi-exponential kinetics for the whole hemoglobin (indicating a fast and a slow oxidative process) and ii) mono-exponential for the monomer (indicating a single process). To understand the specific characteristics of each autoxidation process, Arrhenius plots allowed the determination of the activation energy. The experimental results indicate for the whole hemoglobin in the absence of CN(-) an activation energy of 150 +/- 10 kJ mol(-1) for the fast and the slow processes. Under the same conditions the monomer displayed an activation energy of 160 +/- 10 kJ mol(-1), very close to the value obtained for the integral protein. The pseudo-second order rate constant for the whole protein autoxidation by CN(-) showed two different behaviors characterized by a rate constant k(CN1)' = 0.11 +/- 0.02 s(-1) mol(-1) L for CN(-) concentrations lower than 0.012 mol L(-1); and k(CN1)" = 0.76 +/- 0.04 s(-1) mol(-1) L at higher concentrations for the fast process, while the slow process remain constant with k(CN2) = 0.033 +/- 0.002 s(-1) mol(-1) L. The monomer has a characteristic rate constant of 0.041 +/- 0.002 s(-1) mol(-1) L for all cyanide concentrations. Comparing the results for the slow process of the whole hemoglobin and the oxidation of the monomer, it is possible to infer that the slow process has a strong contribution of the monomer in the whole hemoglobin kinetic. Moreover, as disulfide linkers sustain the trimer assembly, cooperativity may explain the higher kinetic constant for this subunit.

Animals↗

Membrane-mediated assembly of annexins studied by site-directed spin labeling.

Annexins are soluble proteins that bind to membranes in the presence of Ca2+. Crystal structures have been determined for some soluble forms, but little is known about the important membrane-bound state. We employed site-directed spin labeling to demonstrate that 1) annexin XII assumes a trimer configuration similar to the crystal structure when bound to bilayers under physiological conditions; 2) trimer assembly on bilayers is remarkably rapid, occurring on a millisecond time scale, whereas subunit exchange requires hours; and 3) different annexins can mix to form heterotrimers. The rapid assembly and heterotrimer formation have important implications concerning the cellular functions of annexins.

Annexins↗

Role of individual oligosaccharide chains in antigenic properties, intracellular transport, and biological activities of influenza C virus hemagglutinin-esterase protein.

The hemagglutinin-esterase (HE) glycoprotein of influenza C virus is composed of three domains: a stem domain active in membrane fusion (F), an acetylesterase domain (E), and a receptor-binding domain (R). The protein contains eight N-linked glycosylation sites, four (positions 26, 395, 552, and 603) in the F domain, three (positions 61, 131, and 144) in the E domain, and one (position 189) in the R domain. Here, we investigated the role of the individual oligosaccharide chains in antigenic properties, intracellular transport, and biological activities of the HE protein by eliminating each of the glycosylation sites by site-specific mutagenesis. Comparison of electrophoretic mobility between the wild-type and the mutant proteins showed that while seven of the glycosylation sites are used, one (position 131) is not. Analysis of reactivity of the mutants with anti-HE monoclonal antibodies demonstrated that glycosylation at position 144 is essential for the formation of conformation-dependent epitopes. It was also evident that glycosylation at the two sites in the F domain (positions 26 and 603), in addition to that in the E domain (position 144), is required for the HE molecule to be transported from the endoplasmic reticulum and that mutant HEs lacking one of these three sites failed to undergo the trimer assembly. Removal of an oligosaccharide chain at position 144 or 189 resulted in a decrease in the esterase activity. By contrast, two mutants lacking an oligosaccharide chain at position 26 or 603, which were defective not only in cell surface expression but in trimerization, possessed full-enzyme activity, suggesting that the HE monomers present within the cell have acetylesterase activity. Fusion activity of cells expressing each of mutant HEs was found to be comparable with the ability of the protein to be transported to the cell surface, suggesting that there is no specific oligosaccharide chain that plays a critical role in promoting membrane fusion.

Acetylesterase↗

Atomic structure of the cubic core of the pyruvate dehydrogenase multienzyme complex.

The highly symmetric pyruvate dehydrogenase multienzyme complexes have molecular masses ranging from 5 to 10 million daltons. They consist of numerous copies of three different enzymes: pyruvate dehydrogenase, dihydrolipoyl transacetylase, and lipoamide dehydrogenase. The three-dimensional crystal structure of the catalytic domain of Azotobacter vinelandii dihydrolipoyl transacetylase has been determined at 2.6 angstrom (A) resolution. Eight trimers assemble as a hollow truncated cube with an edge of 125 A, forming the core of the multienzyme complex. Coenzyme A must enter the 29 A long active site channel from the inside of the cube, and lipoamide must enter from the outside. The trimer of the catalytic domain of dihydrolipoyl transacetylase has a topology identical to chloramphenicol acetyl transferase. The atomic structure of the 24-subunit cube core provides a framework for understanding all pyruvate dehydrogenase and related multienzyme complexes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Polar networks control oligomeric assembly in membranes.

Polar interactions have a profound influence on membrane stability and structure. A membrane-solubilized GCN4 peptide, MS-1, is used to study the impact of polar networks. Amide functionalities from amino acid side chains have been shown to promote peptide oligomerization, but lacked specificity. Herein, the hydrogen bonding interactions of an Asn side chain are coupled with the hydroxyl of Ser or Thr to generate a polar network. Analytical ultracentrifugation and fluorescence resonance energy transfer studies indicate that a trimer assembly is established where each membrane-embedded hydrogen bond contributes 1 kcal mol-1.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Oligomeric structure of virion-associated and soluble forms of the simian immunodeficiency virus envelope protein in the prefusion activated conformation.

The envelope proteins (env) of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) and HIV type 1 assemble to form noncovalently associated oligomers in the endoplasmic reticulum. After cleavage in a Golgi compartment, oligomeric env complexes are transported to the surface of infected cells, where incorporation into budding virions can occur. Difficulties in obtaining adequate quantities of virions retaining env, as well as the unstable nature and hydrophobicity of the oligomer, may account for the absence of previous biophysical studies to determine the oligomeric valency of membrane-associated env. The aim of this study was to evaluate the oligomeric state of SIV env before membrane-fusion activation. Virion-associated env, obtained by crosslinking and detergent extraction, and non-crosslinked secreted env ectodomain (recombinant gp140) were purified by lentil-lectin chromatography and gel filtration as single predominant species. Sedimentation equilibrium-derived mass values for both forms of SIV env were close to those predicted for trimeric assemblies. Determination of the mass of individual molecules by scanning transmission electron microscopy confirmed that SIV virion-associated env and gp140 formed largely homogeneous populations of trimers. Furthermore, a triangular or tri-lobed morphology was clearly visualized in a subset of the trimers.

Biopolymers↗

Structural characterization of a paramagnetic metal-ion-assembled three-stranded alpha-helical coiled coil.

A helical peptide designed to present an all-leucine core upon folding has been shown to exhibit concentration-dependent helicity and to exist as an ill-defined equilibrium population of oligomers. In marked contrast, an identical peptide covalently modified with a 2,2'-bipyridyl group at the N terminus forms a stable three-stranded parallel coiled coil in the presence of transition metal ions. We have employed paramagnetic Ni(2+) and Co(2+) ions to stabilize the trimeric assembly and to exploit their shift and relaxation properties in NMR structural studies. We find that metal-ion binding and helix-bundle folding are tightly coupled. Surprisingly, the three-helix bundle exhibits a dynamic N-terminal region, and a well-structured C-terminal half. The spectra indicate the presence of a dual conformation for the bundle extending from the N terminus to residue 12. The structure of the two isomeric forms has been ascertained from interpretation of NOEs in the Ni(II) complex and (1)H pseudocontact shifts in the Co(II) complex. Two different facial isomers with distinct susceptibility tensors were identified. The bulky leucine side chain at position 3 in the peptide chain appears to play a role in the conformational variation at the N terminus.

2,2'-Dipyridyl↗

Structure of the trigonal crystal form of bovine annexin IV.

The structure of a trigonal crystal form of N-terminally truncated [des-(1-9)] bovine annexin IV, an annexin variant that exhibits the distinctive property of binding both phospholipids and carbohydrates in a Ca2+-dependent manner, has been determined at 3 A (0.3 nm) resolution -space group: R3; cell parameters: a=b=118.560 (8) A and c=82.233 (6) A-. The overall structure of annexin IV, crystallized in the absence of Ca2+ ions, is highly homologous to that of the other known members of the annexin family. The trimeric assembly in the trigonal crystals of annexin IV is quite similar to that found previously in non-isomorphous crystals of human, chicken and rat annexin V and to the subunit arrangement in half of the hexamer of hydra annexin XII. Moreover, it resembles that found in two-dimensional crystals of human annexin V bound to phospholipid monolayers. The propensity of several annexins to generate similar trimeric arrays supports the hypothesis that trimeric complexes of such annexins, including annexin IV, may represent the functional units that interact with membranes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Target molecular weight of the gastric (H+ + K+)-ATPase functional and structural molecular size.

The state of assembly of the (H+ + K+)-ATPase in purified hog gastric mucosa membranes was studied by target size analysis applied to radiation-induced enzyme inactivation and polypeptide degradation data. Radiation inactivated the Mg2+-ATPase, K+-stimulated ATPase, and p-nitrophenyl phosphatase activities of the membrane preparation with a dose dependence characteristic of a target size of 270,000-daltons. Radiation also bleached the major 100,000-dalton sodium dodecyl sulfate-gel electrophoresis band of this preparation, indicating a radiation-induced degradation. This apparent polypeptide degradation exhibited a dose dependency corresponding to a target size of 250,000 daltons in situ. It is suggested that the gastric ATPase is a trimeric assembly of the 100,000-dalton polypeptides.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

Aberrant signal peptide cleavage of collagen X in Schmid metaphyseal chondrodysplasia. Implications for the molecular basis of the disease.

Schmid metaphyseal chondrodysplasia results from mutations in the collagen X (COL10A1) gene. With the exception of two cases, the known mutations are clustered in the C-terminal nonhelical (NC1) domain of the collagen X. In vitro and cell culture studies have shown that the NC1 mutations result in impaired collagen X trimer assembly and secretion. In the two other cases, missense mutations that alter Gly(18) at the -1 position of the putative signal peptide cleavage site were identified (Ikegawa, S., Nakamura, K., Nagano, A., Haga, N., and Nakamura, Y. (1997) Hum. Mutat. 9, 131-135). To study their impact on collagen X biosynthesis using in vitro cell-free translation in the presence of microsomes, and cell transfection assays, these two mutations were created in COL10A1 by site-directed mutagenesis. The data suggest that translocation of the mutant pre-alpha1(X) chains into the microsomes is not affected, but cleavage of the signal peptide is inhibited, and the mutant chains remain anchored to the membrane of microsomes. Cell-free translation and transfection studies in cells showed that the mutant chains associate into trimers but cannot form a triple helix. The combined effect of both the lack of signal peptide cleavage and helical configuration is impaired secretion. Thus, despite the different nature of the NC1 and signal peptide mutations in collagen X, both result in impaired collagen X secretion, probably followed by intracellular retention and degradation of mutant chains, and causing the Schmid metaphyseal chondrodysplasia phenotype.

Animals↗

Role of conserved glycosylation sites in maturation and transport of influenza A virus hemagglutinin.

The role of three N-linked glycans which are conserved among various hemagglutinin (HA) subtypes of influenza A viruses was investigated by eliminating the conserved glycosylation (cg) sites at asparagine residues 12 (cg1), 28 (cg2), and 478 (cg3) by site-directed mutagenesis. An additional mutant was constructed by eliminating the cg3 site and introducing a novel site 4 amino acids away, at position 482. Expression of the altered HA proteins in eukaryotic cells by a panel of recombinant vaccinia viruses revealed that rates and efficiency of intracellular transport of HA are dependent upon both the number of conserved N-linked oligosaccharides and their respective positions on the polypeptide backbone. Glycosylation at two of the three sites was sufficient for maintenance of transport of the HA protein. Conserved glycosylation at either the cg1 or cg2 site alone also promoted efficient transport of HA. However, the rates of transport of these mutants were significantly reduced compared with the wild-type protein or single-site mutants of HA. The transport of HA proteins lacking all three conserved sites or both amino-terminally located sites was temperature sensitive, implying that a polypeptide folding step had been affected. Analysis of trimer assembly by these mutants indicated that the presence of a single oligosaccharide in the stem domain of the HA molecule plays an important role in preventing aggregation of molecules in the endoplasmic reticulum, possibly by maintaining the hydrophilic properties of this domain. The conformational change observed after loss of all three conserved oligosaccharides also resulted in exposure of a normally mannose-rich oligosaccharide at the tip of the large stem helix that allowed its conversion to a complex type of structure. Evidence was also obtained suggesting that carbohydrate-carbohydrate interactions between neighboring oligosaccharides at positions 12 and 28 influence the accessibility of the cg2 oligosaccharide for processing enzymes. We also showed that terminal glycosylation of the cg3 oligosaccharide is site specific, since shifting of this site 4 amino acids away, to position 482, yielded an oligosaccharide that was arrested in the mannose-rich form. In conclusion, carbohydrates at conserved positions not only act synergistically by promoting and stabilizing a conformation compatible with transport, they also enhance trimerization and/or folding rates of the HA protein.

Biological Transport↗

Allophycocyanin: trimers, monomers, subunits, and homodimers.

Allophycocyanin is a photosynthetic light-harvesting pigment-protein complex located in the phycobilisomes of cyanobacteria and red algae. Using dynamic light scattering and circular dichroism, solutions of purified allophycocyanin were shown to consist of homogeneous trimers (alpha3beta3) with a nonspherical shape over a very wide range of protein concentrations at pH 6.0 and 20 degrees C. Deconvolutions of the visible circular dichroism spectrum of the trimer were carried out for the first determination of the individual spectra of all six-component chromophores. The chromophores were shown to be in different microenvironments that helped determine the spectrum of the trimer. Monomers (alpha beta) that were formed in either the presence of 0.50M NaSCN or at 45 degrees C were shown to be completely reversible to trimers. However, subunits (alpha and beta) that were formed in either the presence of 8M urea or at 60 degrees C, using spectroscopy and gel-filtration column chromatography, were observed to only partially reconstitute trimers. Homodimers (alpha2 and/or beta2) formed during the regeneration of trimers. The homodimer, which was detected for the first time when both subunits were present, was shown to be in equilibrium with its subunits. Unlike the trimer situation, subunits were found to fully reconstitute monomers in the presence of 0.50M NaSCN. These results suggest a route to trimer assembly from subunits with monomers serving as intermediaries and the homodimers forming in a nonproductive step that did not interfere with the overall assembly scheme.

Chromatography, Gel↗

Mutations blocking the transport of the influenza virus hemagglutinin between the rough endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi apparatus.

Mutants ts1 and ts227 of fowl plague virus have a temperature-sensitive defect in the transport of the hemagglutinin from the rough endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi apparatus. The primary structure of the hemagglutinin of the mutants and of a number of revertants derived from them has been analysed by nucleotide sequencing. The transport block of the hemagglutinin of ts227 can be attributed to a single amino acid exchange. It involves the replacement of aspartic acid at position 457 by asparagine thereby introducing a new glycosylation site which appears to be located in a cryptic position in the lower part of the hemagglutinin stalk. Attachment of carbohydrate to this site is temperature-dependent. At permissive temperature only a small fraction of the monomers (approximately 30%) is glycosylated in this position, whereas at nonpermissive temperature this is the case with all subunits. The data suggest that under the latter conditions the new oligosaccharide interferes by steric hindrance with the trimerization of the hemagglutinin. The hemagglutinin of ts1 has an essential amino acid exchange at position 275 where serine is replaced by glycine. This substitution may increase the flexibility of the molecule in the hinge region between the globular domain and the stalk. The exchange of a conserved glutamic acid residue at position 398 that is involved in the interaction between different monomers contributes also to the structural instability of the ts1 hemagglutinin. These observations support the notion that the transport of the hemagglutinin from the rough endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi apparatus depends on trimer assembly.

Animals↗