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Secondary structural analysis of retrovirus integrase: characterization by circular dichroism and empirical prediction methods.

The retrovirus integrase (IN) protein is essential for integration of viral DNA into host DNA. The secondary structure of the purified IN protein from avian myeloblastosis virus was investigated by both circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy and five empirical prediction methods. The secondary structures determined from the resolving of CD spectra through a least-squares curve fitting procedure were compared with those predicted from four statistical methods, e.g., the Chou-Fasman, Garnier-Osguthorpe-Robson, Nishikawa-Ooi, and a JOINT scheme which combined all three of these methods, plus a pure a priori one, the Ptitsyn-Finkelstein method. Among all of the methods used, the Nishikawa-Ooi prediction gave the closest match in the composition of secondary structure to the CD result, although the other methods each correctly predicted one or more secondary structural group. Most of the alpha-helix and beta-sheet states predicted by the Ptitsyn-Finkelstein method were in accord with the Nishikawa-Ooi method. Secondary structural predictions by the Nishikawa-Ooi method were extended further to include IN proteins from four phylogenetic distinct retroviruses. The structural relationships between the four most conserved amino acid blocks of these IN proteins were compared using sequence homology and secondary structure predictions.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

HIV-1 integrase inhibitory substances from Coleus parvifolius.

For the purpose of discovering anti-HIV-1 agents from natural sources, water and EtOH extracts of 50 Thai plants were screened for their inhibitory activity against HIV-1 integrase (IN), an enzyme essential for viral replication. Of these plants, an EtOH extract of Coleus parvifolius Benth. (aerial parts) showed potent activity against HIV-1 IN with an IC50 value of 9.2 microg/mL. From this extract, 11 compounds were isolated and identified as luteolin 5-O-beta-d-glucopyranoside (1), luteolin (2), luteolin 7-methyl ether (3), luteolin 5-O-beta-d-glucuronide (4), 5-O-beta-d-glucopyranosyl-luteolin 7-methyl ether (5), rosmarinic acid (6), rosmarinic acid methyl ester (7), daucosterol (8), a mixture of alpha- and beta-amyrin (9, 10) and phytol (11). Of these compounds, rosmarinic acid methyl ester (7), rosmarinic acid (6), luteolin (2) and luteolin 7-methyl ether (3) exhibited inhibitory activities against HIV-1 IN with IC50 values of 3.1, 5.0, 11.0 and 11.0 microM, respectively. Among rosmarinic acid derivatives, the HIV-1 IN inhibitory activity increased in turn for a dimer (IC50 = 5.0 microM), a trimer (IC50 = 1.4 microM), and a tetramer (IC50 = 1.0 microM).

Anti-HIV Agents↗

A structural study of model peptides derived from HIV-1 integrase central domain.

The HIV-1 integrase (IN) catalyzes the integration of viral DNA in the human genome. In vitro the enzyme displays an equilibrium of monomers, dimers, tetramers and larger oligomers. However, its functional oligomeric form in vivo is not known. We report a study of the auto-associative properties of three peptides denoted K156, E156 and E159. These derive from the alpha4 helix of the IN catalytic core. The alpha4 helix is an amphipatic helix exposed at the surface of the protein and could be involved in the oligomerization process through its hydrophobic face. The peptides were obtained from the replacement of several amino acid residues by more helicogenic ones in the alpha4 helix peptide. K156 carries the basic residues Lys156 and Lys159, which have been shown important for the binding of IN to viral DNA. In E156 and E159 they are replaced with the acidic residue Glu. A fourth peptide K(E)156 obtained from the replacement of hydrophobic residues with Glu in K156 in order to abolish the auto-associative properties is used as a negative control. The capacity shown by peptides for alpha-helical formation is demonstrated by circular dichroism (CD) analysis performed in aqueous solution and in aqueous trifluoroethanol (TFE) mixtures. Both electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and glutaraldehyde chemical cross-linking show that peptides adopt different solvent-dependent equilibriums of monomers, dimers, trimers and tetramers. Oligomerization of peptides in aqueous solution is related to their ability to form helical structures. Addition of a small amount of TFE (<10%) stimulates helix stabilization and the interhelical hydrophobic contacts. Higher amounts of TFE alter the hydrophobic contacts and disrupt the oligomeric species. In addition to hydrophobic interactions, the patterns indicate that the biologically important Lys156 and Lys159 residues also participate in helix association. K(E)156 despite its ability to adopt a helical structure is unable to associate into oligomers, demonstrating the importance of hydrophobic contacts for oligomerization. Thus, the designed peptides provide us information on the functional properties of the alpha4 IN that seems to hold a dual role in DNA recognition and protein oligomerization.

Circular Dichroism↗

Lack of infectivity of HIV-1 integrase zinc finger-like domain mutant with morphologically normal maturation.

The integrase (IN) encoded by human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) is required for integration of the viral DNA into a host cell chromosome. The function of the highly conserved HHCC motif in the HIV-1 IN amino-terminal zinc finger-like domain is still unknown. In this study, we examined the effect of mutations in the HHCC motif on viral infectivity, adsorption to and entry into target cells, and morphology in the context of a full-length form of an HIV-1 molecular clone. A complete lack of infectivity and de novo synthesized viral DNA of the HHCC mutants were demonstrated in both cell-free and co-culture infection systems using MT-2 or HeLa-CD4-LTR-beta-gal as target cells. The levels of viral adsorption to and entry into the target cells were determined by measuring the cell-associated p24 level in target MT-2 cells shortly after infection. We detected comparable cell-associated p24 levels of MT-2 cells after infection with wild-type and the mutant viruses. Taken together, these results suggest that the replication of HIV-1 carrying point mutations in the HHCC motif was blocked at the step after adsorption/ entry and prior to the initiation of reverse transcription, presumably at the uncoating step. Furthermore, electron microscopy revealed that the observed complete lack of viral infectivity caused by introducing an amino acid substitution into the HHCC motif is not always accompanied by apparent abnormal morphology or maturation of virus particles.

Adsorption↗

Mapping the functional domains of bacteriophage lambda integrase protein.

Bacteriophage lambda encodes a site-specific recombination system that promotes the movement of the phage genome into and out of the host bacterial chromosome. The phage-encoded integrase (Int) is composed of 356 amino acid residues and carries out the required strand exchanges by means of a type I topoisomerase activity. Int also contains two distinct DNA-binding domains that interact with two different, specific sequences (arm-type and core-type sites) on DNA. In order to help understand the mechanism of site-specific recombination, we have used a genetic approach to isolate mutants defective in different steps in the recombination reaction. We developed a genetic screen for Int mutants that are defective in catalyzing excisive recombination in vivo. These mutants were screened for proficiency in binding to the P'123 arm-type sites using the bacteriophage P22 challenge-phage assays. In all, 78 such mutants were isolated and the mutational changes mapped and sequenced. These mutants have been further characterized (1) for their ability to bind the P'1 and P'123 arm-type sites and for their ability to form the attL complex in vivo, (2) for negative dominance in vitro, (3) for the presence of type I topoisomerase activity, and (4) for the ability to resolve artificially constructed recombination intermediates. We found that (1) residues in a stretch of 88 amino acids in the middle of the protein may be involved in Int-Int interactions, (2) a region around Arg212 is involved in the catalytic site, (3) residues near the carboxyl terminus play a role in enhancing Int binding to its arm-type sites, possibly by interacting with the small amino-terminal region that has been shown to be responsible for specific recognition of the arm-type sites, and (4) residues at the very carboxyl end of the protein may be involved in modulating the cleavage or religation activities of the Int protein.

Bacteriophage lambda↗

High-resolution structure of the catalytic domain of avian sarcoma virus integrase.

Retroviral integrase (IN) functions to insert retroviral DNA into the host cell chromosome in a highly coordinated manner. IN catalyzes two biochemically separable reactions: processing of the viral DNA ends and joining of these ends to the host DNA. Previous studies suggested that these two reactions are chemically similar and are carried out by a single active site that is characterized by a highly conserved constellation of carboxylate residues, the D,D(35)E motif. We report here the crystal structure of the isolated catalytic domain of avian sarcoma virus (ASV) IN, solved using multiwavelength anomalous diffraction data for a selenomethionine derivative and refined at 1.7 A resolution. The protein is a crystallographic dimer with each monomer featuring a five-stranded mixed beta-sheet region surrounded by five alpha-helices. Based on the general fold and the arrangement of catalytic carboxylate residues, it is apparent that ASV IN is a member of a superfamily of proteins that also includes two types of nucleases, RuvC and RNase H. The general fold and the dimer interface are similar to those of the analogous domain of HIV-1 IN, whose crystal structure has been determined at 2.5 A resolution. However, the ASV IN structure is more complete in that all three critical carboxylic acids, Asp64, Asp121 and Glu157, are ordered. The ordered active site and the considerably higher resolution of the present structure are all important to an understanding of the mechanism of retroviral DNA integration, as well as for designing antiviral agents that may be effective against HIV.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Recognition of core-type DNA sites by lambda integrase.

Escherichia coli phage lambda integrase (Int) is a 40 kilodalton, 356 amino acid residue protein, which belongs to the lambda Int family of site-specific recombinases. The amino-terminal domain (residues 1 to 64) of Int binds to "arm-type" DNA sites, distant from the sites of DNA cleavage. The carboxy-terminal fragment, termed C65 (residues 65 to 356), binds "core-type" DNA sites and catalyzes cleavage and ligation at these sites. It has been further divided into two smaller domains, encompassing residues 65 to 169 and 170 to 356, respectively. The latter has been characterized and its crystal structure has been determined. Although this domain catalyzes the cleavage and rejoining of DNA strands it, unexpectedly, does not form electrophorectically stable complexes with core-type DNA. Here we have investigated the critical features of lambda Int binding to core-type DNA sites; especially, the role of the central 65 to 169 domain. To eliminate the complexities arising from lambda Int's heterobivalency we studied Int C65, which was shown to be as competent as Int, in binding to, and cleaving, core-type sites. Zero-length UV crosslinking was used to show that Ala125 and Ala126 make close contact with bases in the core-type DNA. Modification by pyridoxal 5'-phosphate was used to identify Lys103 at the protein-DNA interface. Since both of the identified loci are in the central domain, it was cloned and purified and found to bind to core-type DNA autonomously and specifically. The synergistic roles of the catalytic and the central, or core-binding (CB), domains in the interaction with core-type DNA are discussed for (Int and related DNA recombinases.

Bacteriophage lambda↗

Selection of amino acid substitutions restoring activity of HIV-1 integrase mutated in its catalytic site using the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The integration of proviral DNA into the genome of the host cell is an essential step in the replication of retroviruses. This reaction is catalyzed by a viral-encoded enzyme, the integrase (IN). We have previously shown that human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) IN causes a lethal effect when expressed in yeast cells. This system, called yeast lethal assay, was used as a tool to study IN activity in a cellular context. The yeast lethal assay allowed the selection and characterization of mutations affecting both the lethal phenotype and the in vitro IN activities. IN mutants were produced by random PCR mutagenesis in an IN gene bearing the inactivating D116A mutation in the catalytic site. The corresponding D116A substituted IN does not lead to lethality in yeast. Subsequent selection of mutants able to restore the lethal effect of IN was carried out using the yeast lethal assay. We isolated three mutants presenting a restored phenotype. The mutated IN genes were sequenced and the corresponding proteins were purified to characterize their in vitro activities. The three mutants presented restoration of the in vitro strand transfer activity, while 3' processing was only partially restored.The three mutants differ from D116A IN by at least one amino acid substitution located in the N-terminal domain of the protein, outside of the active site. These new mutated HIV-1 INs may therefore allow a better understanding of the N-terminal domain function in the integration reaction. In addition, these results support our hypothesis that explains the lethal effect as a consequence of the nuclear damage caused by wild-type IN in yeast cells. These data also indicate that the yeast lethal assay can be used as a tool to study the retroviral integration mechanism in a cellular context and to select specific inhibitors.

Amino Acid Substitution↗

A region of a Sym plasmid of Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar phaseoli has similarity to prokaryotic insertion sequences and to eukaryotic integrases.

Near the nod and nif genes of the Sym plasmid pRP2JI of Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar phaseoli are three open reading frames whose deduced polypeptide products have similarities to those of genes in bacterial insertion sequences. The similarity of one of these ORFs was significantly greater to that of the integrase region of pol proteins of eukaryotic retroviruses and transposable elements in animals and plants than it was to the transposases of prokaryotic insertion sequences. In the noncoding region of the IS-like element, there was a sequence similar to that which had been identified close to nod genes in Azorhizobium caulinodans.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The resistance and integrase genes of pACM1, a conjugative multiple-resistance plasmid, from Klebsiella oxytoca.

pACM1 is an 85-kb conjugative plasmid from a clinical isolate of Klebsiella oxytoca that encodes resistance to beta-lactams (mediated by SHV-5 extended spectrum beta-lactamase), trimethoprim, sulfonamides, tetracycline, aminoglycosides, and mercuric chloride. The expression of the aminoglycoside resistance is difficult to detect, which could have clinical implications. A region of pACM1 containing five resistance genes and two putative integrons was characterized by restriction mapping and partial DNA sequencing. One integron appears to be class I (sull type); the second lacks a recognizable 3' conserved segment. Neither integron has the BamHI site predicted for the 5' conserved segment. Plasmids encoding SHV-5 from other bacterial strains appear to be closely related to pACM1 by restriction enzyme analysis, but have resistance/ integron regions that vary in size and content from that of pACM1. Integrase-mediated recombination might be responsible for genetic divergence in a widely distributed family of pACM1-like plasmids.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Tn4371: A modular structure encoding a phage-like integrase, a Pseudomonas-like catabolic pathway, and RP4/Ti-like transfer functions.

Tn4371 is a 55-kb catabolic transposon originally isolated from Ralstonia eutropha A5 that encodes enzymes catalyzing the complete degradation of biphenyl. Unlike previously described transposons encoding similar genes for aromatic compound degradation. Tn4371 carries a phage-like degradation, Tn4371 integrase gene and RP4/Ti-like transfer genes. Tn4371 transposition involves an excision/integration process and, consistent with this site-specific recombination mechanism, the ends of the element are transiently covalently bound. Transposition is targeted to a limited number of sites on the CH34 chromosome and pMOL30 plasmid as well as on RP4. One of these sites consists of a 5'-TTTTTCAT-3' sequence which is also present between the covalently joined ends of the transposon. Conjugative transfer of Tn4371 could not yet be demonstrated although the functionality of its transfer machinery could be established through the identification of a second transposable element, Tn-bph, which contains the right half of Tn4371, including the bph catabolic gene cluster and the identified transfer genes. Tn-bph transfers by conjugation and integrates in a new host genome independently of the larger element. Tn4371 thus appears as composite transposon combining an enteric phage-like integration system, RP4/Ti-like conjugation genes, and Pseudomonas-like catabolic genes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Coupling sequences flanking Tn916 do not determine the affinity of binding of integrase to the transposon ends and adjacent bacterial DNA.

Coupling sequences are the 6 bp flanking the conjugative transposon Tn916 and are thought to play a role in determining the frequency of conjugative transposition. The affinity of binding of a chimeric protein, which consisted of maltose binding protein fused to the carboxy-terminal DNA binding domain of Tn916 integrase (Int), to different double-stranded oligonucleotide substrates containing coupling sequences associated with high- and low-frequency conjugative transposition was measured using a competition binding assay. The relative affinity of the chimeric protein was unaffected by the nature of the coupling sequences tested. The same results were obtained when the coupling sequences were placed in a different surrounding sequence context. It therefore appears that the effects of different coupling sequences on the frequency of conjugative transposition are not due simply to differences in Int binding.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Self-limiting, cell type-dependent replication of an integrase-defective human immunodeficiency virus type 1 in human primary macrophages but not T lymphocytes.

Integration of retroviral DNA into the host cell genome, catalyzed by the integrase (IN) protein, is thought to be required for replication. We show here that one IN-minus defective mutant of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is able to replicate in macrophages but not in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs). Replication of the HIV-1 defective mutant, however, was inefficient and self-limiting. The absence of integration in the HIV-1 IN mutant in contrast to the wild-type implies that the replication of the IN mutant depends on the transcription of the extrachromosomal forms of viral DNA. In both PBLs and macrophages circular forms of DNA were detected at significant levels, indicating that the lack of a complete functional IN protein does not preclude nuclear import of HIV-1 DNA. Cell-associated p24 was absent in the IN-defective-infected PBLs, suggesting a transcriptional block of the extrachromosomal forms of HIV-1. These results show the existence of different strategies for HIV-1 replication depending upon the cell type, and indicate the necessity of integration of viral DNA for the self-maintained progression of the infection.

Cells, Cultured↗

Targeting of retroviral integrase by fusion to a heterologous DNA binding domain: in vitro activities and incorporation of a fusion protein into viral particles.

Retroviral DNA integration is catalyzed by a viral protein, the integrase (IN). IN recognizes sequences at the viral DNA ends, specifically nicks these ends (the processing reaction), and inserts them into host DNA (the joining reaction). The mechanism by which host DNA integration sites are selected is unknown, although it is clear that many regions are accessible to the retroviral integration machinery. To investigate integration site selection, and to possibly influence this process, we have used a model system in which the avian sarcoma virus (ASV) IN, and segments thereof, have been fused to the Escherichia coli LexA repressor protein DNA binding domain (DBD). We provide evidence that a variety of such IN-LexA DBD fusion proteins can be directed to cognate lexA operators in vitro. Binding of precise N- and C-terminal fusion proteins to the operators is associated with a significant increase in the joining of viral DNA to sites immediately adjacent to the lexA operator region. We also carried out domain exchange and deletion experiments which revealed that the highly conserved "zinc-finger" domain of ASV IN is not essential for processing of viral DNA ends or joining of viral DNA ends to DNA target sequences. Last, the C-terminal fusion was engineered into the viral genome and we show that this protein can be incorporated into viral particles. Our results suggest that it might be possible to augment IN function in vivo through a heterologous domain. These observations have implications for retroviral-mediated gene therapy.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Petunia vein-clearing virus: a plant pararetrovirus with the core sequences for an integrase function.

Petunia vein-clearing virus (PVCV) is a plant pararetrovirus that has some features of retrotransposons. It encapsidates dsDNA and has isometric particles and inclusion bodies similar to those of caulimoviruses. The PVCV genome of 7205 bp has two large ORFs in the transcribed strand and a methionine tRNA primer-binding site in its 663-bp intergenic region. The N-terminal position of the large protein (126 kDa) encoded by ORF I has similarity to the movement protein of caulimoviruses. Toward the C-terminus of this same polyprotein are the two distinctive sequence elements [HHCC and DD(35)E] of the integrase function of retroviruses and retrotransposons. ORF II of PVCV encodes a protein of 125 kDa with domains for an RNA-binding element, common to the gag gene of retroelements, followed by consensus sequences for an acid protease, reverse transcriptase, and ribonuclease H. Hence, the gag equivalent (capsid protein) and pol gene of PVCV are part of the same polyprotein. Phylogenetic comparison of the reverse transcriptase of PVCV with that of various other retroelements grouped PVCV between caulimoviruses and the Ty3/gypsy retrotransposons, suggesting that PVCV is a divergent member of the caulimoviruses.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A novel Vpr peptide interactor fused to integrase (IN) restores integration activity to IN-defective HIV-1 virions.

A novel approach to complement human immunodeficiency virus type I (HIV-1) integrase (IN)-defective virions has been identified. The approach involves fusion of a 23-amino-acid stretch to the N-terminus of wild-type IN and coexpression of this chimera with the IN-defective proviral template in virus producing cells. The 23-amino-acid peptide represents a Vpr "interactor," referred to as the the WxxF or WF domain, which apparently leads to docking of the domain along with the fusion partner onto HIV-1 Vpr, thus permitting virion incorporation of the chimeric protein when expressed, in trans, with other viral products. Transfection of the WF-IN expression plasmid along with HIV-1 viral clones that produce Vpr, but bear an IN mutation, results in the release of a proportion of viral particles that are competent for integration. The extent of complementation was assessed using the MAGI cell assay, where integration of viral DNA results in the eventual appearance of easily visible multinucleated blue syncytia. The efficiency of dWF-IN (double copy of WF domain) complementation is not improved markedly by incorporation of a HIV-1 protease cleavage site (PR) between the dWF domain and IN (dWF-PR-IN), unlike that observed with Vpr fusions to IN. Furthermore, the ability of Vpr-PR-IN and dWF-PR-IN to complement IN-defective proviral clones, both of which bear an intervening protease cleavage site, appear comparable. Western blotting analyses using virions isolated through sucrose cushions demonstrate clearly the incorporation of the dWF-IN fusion protein into Vpr containing HIV-1 particles but not in Vpr-deficient virions. Additional Western blotting analyses indicate that all Vpr-IN and dWF-IN chimeras, with or without a PR site, are packaged into virions. The efficiency of virion incorporation of Vpr-IN and dWF-IN chimeras appears approximately comparable by Western blotting analysis. The ability of dWF-IN to complement IN-defective proviruses with efficiency similar to that of Vpr-PR-IN and dWF-PR-IN indicates that dWF-IN retains the full complement of functions necessary for integration of proviral DNA and is likely due to the benign nature of this small domain at the amino-terminus of IN.

Artificial Gene Fusion↗

Isolation and characterization of an oligomerization-negative mutant of HIV-1 integrase.

The yeast two-hybrid method was used to screen mutagenized DNAs to isolate a variant of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 integrase (IN) that does not interact with the wild-type IN. The responsible mutation, leading to a single amino acid change (V260E) in the C-terminal domain of IN, blocks IN-IN multimerization but has only small effect on binding to a host interacting protein, INI1 (hSNF5). Binding studies in vitro confirmed the defect in multimerization of the mutant IN. Biochemical analyses of the mutant IN enzyme expressed in bacteria detected only subtle changes in its properties, suggesting that the yeast system is a sensitive reporter of correct IN conformation. Mutant virus carrying the V260E substitution was blocked in replication at the time of DNA integration, consistent with IN multimerization being important for its activity in vivo.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Retrovirus DNA termini bound by integrase communicate in trans for full-site integration in vitro.

Integration of linear retrovirus DNA involves the concerted insertion of the viral termini (full-site integration) into the host chromosome. We investigated the interactions that occur between long terminal repeat (LTR) termini bound by avian retrovirus integrase (IN) for full-site integration in vitro. Wild-type (wt) or mutant LTR donors that possess gain-of-function ("G") or loss-of-function ("L") for full-site integration activity were used. G LTR termini are characterized as having significantly higher strand transfer activity than the wt and the L LTR termini. L LTR mutations are classified as partially or extremely defective for strand transfer activity. The L mutations were further classified by their ability to either permit or block the assembly of G or wt LTR termini into nucleoprotein complexes capable of full-site strand transfer. We demonstrated that avian myeloblastosis virus IN bound to G LTR termini increased the incorporation of partially defective L LTR termini into nucleoprotein complexes that were capable of full-site integration. The observed full-site integration activity of these assembled nucleoprotein complexes appeared to be influenced by each individual IN-LTR complex in trans. In contrast, extremely defective L LTR termini exhibited the ability to effectively block the assembly of wt LTR termini into nucleoprotein complexes capable of full-site strand transfer. Data from nonspecific DNA competition experiments suggested that IN had an apparent higher affinity for G LTR donor termini than for partially defective L LTR donor termini as measured by full-site integration activity. However, assembled nucleoprotein complexes containing either two G or two L LTR donors were stable, having a similar half-life of approximately 2 h on ice. The results suggest that LTR termini bound by IN exhibit an allosteric effect to modulate full-site integration in vitro. Similar regulatory controls also appear to exist in vivo between the wt U3 and wt U5 LTR termini in retroviruses as well as purified retrovirus preintegration complexes that promoted full-site integration in vitro.

Animals↗