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Isolation of human cytomegalovirus intranuclear capsids, characterization of their protein constituents, and demonstration that the B-capsid assembly protein is also abundant in noninfectious enveloped particles.

Two types of intranuclear capsids have been recovered from human cytomegalovirus (HCMV, strain AD169)-infected cells. By analogy with strain Colburn (simian CMV) particles, these have been designated as A- and B-capsids. Both types of capsids are composed of proteins with molecular weights of 153,000 (major capsid protein), 34,000 (minor capsid protein), 28,000, and 11,000 (smallest capsid protein). In addition to these species, B-capsids contain a 36,000-molecular-weight (36K) protein which has been designated as the HCMV "assembly protein," based on its similarities to counterparts in strain Colburn CMV (i.e., 37K protein) and herpes simplex virus (i.e., VP22a/p40/NC-3/ICP35e). Peptide comparisons established that the assembly protein of HCMV B-capsids and the 36K protein that distinguishes HCMV noninfectious enveloped particles from virions are the same, providing direct evidence that noninfectious enveloped particles are enveloped B-capsids.

Capsid↗

Analysis of capsid formation of human polyomavirus JC (Tokyo-1 strain) by a eukaryotic expression system: splicing of late RNAs, translation and nuclear transport of major capsid protein VP1, and capsid assembly.

Human polyomavirus JC (JCV) can encode the three capsid proteins VP1, VP2, and VP3, downstream of the agnoprotein in the late region. JCV virions are identified in the nucleus of infected cells. In this study, we have elucidated unique features of JCV capsid formation by using a eukaryotic expression system. Structures of JCV polycistronic late RNAs (M1 to M4 and possibly M5 and M6) generated by alternative splicing were determined. VP1 would be synthesized from M2 RNA, and VP2 and VP3 would be synthesized from M1 RNA. The presence of the open reading frame of the agnoprotein or the leader sequence (nucleotides 275 to 409) can decrease the expression level of VP1. VP1 was efficiently transported to the nucleus in the presence of VP2 and VP3 but distributed both in the cytoplasm and in the nucleus in their absence. Mutation analysis indicated that inefficiency in nuclear transport of VP1 is due to the unique structure in the N-terminal sequence, KRKGERK. Within the nucleus, VP1 was localized discretely and identified as speckles in the presence of VP2 and VP3 but distributed diffusely in their absence. These results suggest that VP1 was efficiently transported to the nucleus and localized in the discrete subnuclear regions, possibly with VP2 and VP3. By electron microscopy, recombinant virus particles were identified in the nucleus, and their intranuclear distribution was consistent with distribution of speckles. This system provides a useful model with which to understand JCV capsid formation and the structures and functions of the JCV capsid proteins.

Alternative Splicing↗

Identification of precursor to cytomegalovirus capsid assembly protein and evidence that processing results in loss of its carboxy-terminal end.

The 37-kilodalton (kDa) assembly protein of cytomegalovirus (strain Colburn) B capsids is shown to have a 40-kDa precursor. Pulse-chase radiolabeling experiments revealed that conversion of the precursor to the product was slow, requiring over 6 h for completion, and correlated with movement from the cytoplasmic to the nuclear fraction of Nonidet P-40-disrupted cells. Of these two proteins, only the 40-kDa precursor was synthesized in vitro from infected-cell RNA, consistent with its being the primary translation product. Amino acid sequence data obtained from CNBr-treated, high-performance liquid chromatography-purified assembly protein indicated that precursor translation begins at the first of two closely spaced potential initiation sites and that precursor maturation involves the loss of at least 32 amino acids from its carboxy-terminal end. It is also shown by immunological cross-reactivity and peptide similarity that three low-abundance B-capsid proteins (i.e., the 45-kilodalton [45K], 39K, and 38K proteins) are closely related to the assembly protein; the nature of this relatedness is discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Myristate modification does not function as a membrane association signal during poliovirus capsid assembly.

The myristate moiety is required for poliovirus assembly. Unlike most other myristoyl-modified proteins, which are membrane associated, no specific membrane association of the poliovirus capsid proteins or assembly intermediates was observed. Furthermore, no apparent differences in membrane association of wild-type and myristoylation deficient mutant viruses could be detected in this analysis. Thus, during poliovirus assembly, the myristate modification is not required as a membrane targeting signal but is more likely involved in structural interactions between protomer subunits.

Capsid↗

Identification of rotavirus VP6 residues located at the interface with VP2 that are essential for capsid assembly and transcriptase activity.

Rotavirus has a complex triple-layered icosahedral capsid. The external layer consists of VP7 and VP4, the intermediate layer consists of VP6 trimers, and the internal layer consists of VP2. Double-layered particles (DLP) derived from the virus by solubilization of VP4 and VP7 are transcriptionally competent and extrude capped mRNA from their vertices. Analysis of the pseudoatomic model of the VP6 layer, obtained by placing the atomic structure of VP6 into electron microscopy reconstructions of the DLP, has identified the regions of the protein involved in interactions with the internal layer. To study the role of VP6 both in the assembly of DLP and in transcription, 13 site-specific substitution mutations of VP6, targeting the contacts between the two inner layers, were constructed and expressed in the baculovirus system. The effects of these mutations on VP6 expression, trimerization, and formation of macromolecular assemblies were investigated. Using either in vitro reconstituted DLP derived from purified viral cores and recombinant VP6 or in vivo self-assembled virus-like particles resulting from the coexpression of VP2 and VP6 in the baculovirus-Sf9 system (VLP2/6), we have identified the amino acids essential for recovery of transcription or assembly. All VP6 mutants formed stable trimers which, like wild-type VP6, assembled into tubular structures. The ability of VP6 to interact with VP2 was examined by several assays, including electron microscopy, coimmunoprecipitation, purification of VLP2/6, and monitoring of the transcriptase activity of reconstituted DLP. Of the 13 VP6 mutants examined, 3 were unable to assemble with VP2 and 3 others partially assembled. These mutants either did not rescue the transcriptase activity of core particles or did so only marginally. Four mutants as well as the wild-type VP6 assembled and transcribed very well. Three mutants assembled well on cores but, surprisingly, did not rescue the transcriptase activity of reconstituted DLP. Our results indicate that hydrophobic interactions between VP6 and VP2 residues are responsible for the stability of the DLP. They also show that subtle electrostatic interactions between VP6 and the underlying transcriptase machinery can be essential for mRNA synthesis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Mutations in the putative calcium-binding domain of polyomavirus VP1 affect capsid assembly.

Calcium ions appear to play a major role in maintaining the structural integrity of the polyomavirus and are likely involved in the processes of viral uncoating and assembly. Previous studies demonstrated that a VP1 fragment extending from Pro-232 to Asp-364 has calcium-binding capabilities. This fragment contains an amino acid stretch from Asp-266 to Glu-277 which is quite similar in sequence to the amino acids that make up the calcium-binding EF hand structures found in many proteins. To assess the contribution of this domain to polyomavirus structural integrity, the effects of mutations in this region were examined by transfecting mutated viral DNA into susceptible cells. Immunofluorescence studies indicated that although viral protein synthesis occurred normally, infective viral progeny were not produced in cells transfected with polyomavirus genomes encoding either a VP1 molecule lacking amino acids Thr-262 through Gly-276 or a VP1 molecule containing a mutation of Asp-266 to Ala. VP1 molecules containing the deletion mutation were unable to bind 45Ca in an in vitro assay. Upon expression in Escherichia coli and purification by immunoaffinity chromatography, wild-type VP1 was isolated as pentameric, capsomere-like structures which could be induced to form capsid-like structures upon addition of CaCl2, consistent with previous studies. However, although VP1 containing the point mutation was isolated as pentamers which were indistinguishable from wild-type VP1 pentamers, addition of CaCl2 did not result in their assembly into capsid-like structures. Immunogold labeling and electron microscopy studies of transfected mammalian cells provided in vivo evidence that a mutation in this region affects the process of viral assembly.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Molecular organization of Mason-Pfizer monkey virus capsids assembled from Gag polyprotein in Escherichia coli.

We describe the results of a study by electron microscopy and image processing of Gag protein shells-immature capsids--of Mason-Pfizer monkey virus assembled in Escherichia coli from two truncated forms of the Gag precursor: Deltap4Gag, in which the C-terminal p4Gag was deleted, and Pro(-)CA.NC, in which the N-terminal peptides and proline 1 of the CA domain were deleted. Negative staining of capsids revealed small patches of holes forming a trigonal or hexagonal pattern most clearly visible on occasional tubular forms. The center-to-center spacing of holes in the network was 7.1 nm in Deltap4Gag capsids and 7.4 nm in Pro(-)CA.NC capsids. Image processing of Deltap4Gag tubes revealed a hexagonal network of holes formed by six subunits with a single subunit shared between rings. This organization suggests that the six subunits are contributed by three trimers of the truncated Gag precursor. Similar molecular organization was observed in negatively stained Pro(-)CA.NC capsids. Shadowed replicas of freeze-etched capsids produced by either construct confirmed the presence of a hexagonal network of holes with a similar center-to-center spacing. We conclude that the basic building block of the cage-like network is a trimer of the Deltap4Gag or Pro(-)CA.NC domains. In addition, our results point to a key role of structurally constrained CA domain in the trimeric interaction of the Gag polyprotein.

Animals↗

A tiling approach to virus capsid assembly explaining a structural puzzle in virology.

A novel approach for the description of the protein stoichiometry of viral capsids, that is the protein shells protecting the viral genome, is introduced based on tiling theory. This approach generalizes Caspar-Klug theory of quasi-equivalence to account also for non-quasi-equivalent subunit arrangements in icosahedral virus capsids that have been observed experimentally but are not covered by the Caspar-Klug approach. In particular, the new approach is used to explain the structure of polyoma virus, Simian Virus 40 and L-A virus capsids, which are considered structural puzzles in view of Caspar-Klug theory.

Capsid↗

The pH dependence of HIV-1 capsid assembly and its interaction with cyclophilin A.

Immature HIV-1 virions have spherical cores which become conical due to cleavage of the capsid domain of Gag. Here, we have used an immature form of capsid and show by electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy and single angle light scattering that it aggregates to spherical cores resembling immature virions at high ionic strengths and at pH values above 6. Dynamic angle light scattering of the dissociated protein shows structural changes that promote oligomerization above pH 6. We then examined the role of the required host protein cyclophilin A on assembly. Cyclophilin A is incorporated into virions at a 1:10 cyclophilin A/capsid ratio. We find that although cyclophilin A does not affect the oligomerization rate or stability of immature capsid cores, it does bind strongly to immature capsid at physiological stoichiometry above pH 6. This association serves as an entry route of cyclophilin A into HIV-1 virions.

Capsid↗

The NS2 polypeptide of parvovirus MVM is required for capsid assembly in murine cells.

Mutants of minute virus of mice (MVM) which express truncated forms of the NS2 polypeptide are known to exhibit a host range defect, replicating productively in transformed human cells but not in cells from their normal murine host. To explore this deficiency we generated viruses with translation termination codons at various positions in the second exon of NS2. In human cells these mutants were viable, but showed a late defect in progeny virion release which put them at a selective disadvantage compared to the wildtype. In murine cells, however, duplex viral DNA amplification was reduced to 5% of wildtype levels and single-strand DNA synthesis was undetectable. These deficiencies could not be attributed to a failure to initiate infection or to a generalized defect in viral gene expression, since the viral replicator protein NS1 was expressed to normal or elevated levels early in infection. In contrast, truncated NS2 gene products failed to accumulate, so that each mutant exhibited a similar NS2-null phenotype. Expression of the capsid polypeptides VP1 and VP2 and their subsequent assembly into intact particles were examined in detail. Synchronized infected cell populations labeled under pulse-chase conditions were analyzed by differential immunoprecipitation of native or denatured extracts using antibodies which discriminated between intact particles and isolated polypeptide chains. These analyses showed that at early times in infection, capsid protein synthesis and stability were normal, but particle assembly was impaired. Unassembled VP proteins were retained in the cell for several hours, but as the unprocessed material accumulated, capsid protein synthesis progressively diminished, so that at later times relatively few VP molecules were synthesized. Thus in NS2-null infections of mouse cells there is a major primary defect in the folding or assembly processes required for effective capsid production.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Physical mapping and nucleotide sequence of a herpes simplex virus type 1 gene required for capsid assembly.

In this report, we describe some phenotypic properties of a temperature-sensitive mutant of herpes simplex type 1 (HSV-1) and present data concerning the physical location and nucleotide sequence of the genomic region harboring the mutation. The effect of shifts from the permissive to the nonpermissive temperature on infectious virus production by the mutant A44ts2 indicated that the mutated function is necessary throughout, or late in, the growth cycle. At the nonpermissive temperature, no major differences were detected in viral DNA or protein synthesis with respect to the parent A44ts+. On the other hand, electron microscopy of mutant-infected cells revealed that neither viral capsids nor capsid-related structures were assembled at the nonpermissive temperature. Additional analyses employing the Hirt extraction procedure showed that A44ts2 is also unable to mature replicated viral DNA into unit-length molecules under nonpermissive conditions. The results of marker rescue experiments with intact A44ts2 DNA and cloned restriction fragments of A44ts+ placed the lesion in the coordinate interval 0.553 to 0.565 (1,837 base pairs in region UL) of the HSV-1 physical map. No function has previously been assigned to this region, although it is known to be transcribed into two 5' coterminal mRNAs which code in vitro for a 54,000-molecular-weight polypeptide (K. P. Anderson, R. J. Frink, G. B. Devi, B. H. Gaylord, R. H. Costa, and E. K. Wagner, J. Virol. 37:1011-1027, 1981). We sequenced the interval 0.551 to 0.565 and found an open reading frame (ORF) for a 50,175-molecular-weight polypeptide. The predicted product of this ORF exhibits strong homology with the product of varicella-zoster virus ORF20 and lower, but significant, homology with the product of Epstein-Barr virus BORF1. For the three viruses, the corresponding ORFs lie just upstream of the gene coding for the large subunit of viral ribonucleotide reductase. The ORF described here corresponds to the ORF designated UL38 in the recently published nucleotide sequence of the HSV-1 UL region (D. J. McGeoch, M. A. Dalrymple, A. J. Davison, A. Dolan, M. C. Frame, D. McNab, L. J. Perry, J. E. Scott, and P. Taylor, J. Gen. Virol. 69:1531-1574, 1988).

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Picornaviral capsid assembly: similarity of rhinovirus and enterovirus precursor subunits.

Cytoplasmic extracts of rhinovirus 1A-infected HeLa cells, pulsed 15 min with [3H]leucine, contained a 13S subunit which was rich in the capsid precursor, peptide 92. After a 30-min chase, most of the capsid-related protein sedimented in a 14S peak that contained equimolar amounts of the capsid peptides epsilon, alpha, and gamma, and some residual chain 92. The 14S subunit could be dissociated at pH 4.8 into 6S subunits containing only epsilon, alpha, and gamma chains in equal proportions, indicating that the 14S subunit is an oligomer of (epsilon gamma alpha) protomers. These subunits resemble subunits previously identified in the assembly of enteroviruses. These observations support the idea that rhinovirus assembly is basically similar to that of enteroviruses. Comparative studies on the peptide stoichiometry of the virion and the capsid precursor subunits indicate that rhinovirus 1A can contain as many as 11 immature protomers per virion.

Capsid↗

Capsid assembly in a family of animal viruses primes an autoproteolytic maturation that depends on a single aspartic acid residue.

Maturation of noninfectious nodavirus provirions occurs by autoproteolytic cleavage of most of the 180 copies of the alpha-protein that make up the icosahedral capsid. This maturation, which is much slower than viral assembly, produces an infectious particle that is more stable than the provirion and makes viral uncoating thermodynamically distinct from assembly, allowing assembly and (a time-delayed) uncoating to occur under similar conditions. The results of structural, computational, and molecular genetic studies suggest that maturation depends both on intrasubunit strain, produced during assembly, and on a critical aspartic acid residue. This residue lies in a hydrophobic pocket that is stabilized by intersubunit contacts. It is close to the scissile bond and exhibits an environmentally elevated pKa. The apparent involvement of a single acidic residue in the hydrolytic cleavage of a peptide bond contrasts with the involvement of 2 such residues in acid proteases.

Aspartic Acid↗

T=1 capsid structures of Sesbania mosaic virus coat protein mutants: determinants of T=3 and T=1 capsid assembly.

Sesbania mosaic virus particles consist of 180 coat protein subunits of 29kDa organized on a T=3 icosahedral lattice. N-terminal deletion mutants of coat protein that lack 36 (CP-NDelta36) and 65 (CP-NDelta65) residues from the N terminus, when expressed in Escherichia coli, produced similar T=1 capsids of approximate diameter 20nm. In contrast to the wild-type particles, these contain only 60 copies of the truncated protein subunits (T=1). CP-NDelta65 lacks the "beta-annulus" believed to be responsible for the error-free assembly of T=3 particles. Though the CP-NDelta36 mutant has the beta-annulus segment, it does not form a T=3 capsid, presumably because it lacks an arginine-rich motif found close to the amino terminus. Both CP-NDelta36 and CP-NDelta65 T=1 capsids retain many key features of the T=3 quaternary structure. Calcium binding geometries at the coat protein interfaces in these two particles are also nearly identical. When the conserved aspartate residues that coordinate the calcium, D146 and D149 in the CP-NDelta65, were mutated to asparagine (CP-NDelta65-D146N-D149N), the subunits assembled into T=1 particles but failed to bind calcium ions. The structure of this mutant revealed particles that were slightly expanded. The analysis of the structures of these mutant capsids suggests that although calcium binding contributes substantially to the stability of T=1 particles, it is not mandatory for their assembly. In contrast, the presence of a large fraction of the amino-terminal arm including sequences that precede the beta-annulus and the conserved D149 appear to be indispensable for the error-free assembly of T=3 particles.

Binding Sites↗

Adeno-associated Virus (AAV) Capsid Chimeras with Enhanced Infectivity Reveal a Core Element in the AAV Genome Critical for both Cell Transduction and Capsid Assembly.

Adeno-associated viruses (AAV) have attracted significant attention in the field of gene and cell therapy due to highly effective delivery of therapeutic genes into human cells. The ability to generate recombinant AAV vectors compromised of unique or substituted protein sequences has led to the development of capsid variants with improved therapeutic properties. Seeking novel AAV vectors capable of enhanced transduction for therapeutic applications, we have developed a series of unique capsid variants termed AAV X-Vivo (AAV-XV) derived from chimeras of AAV12 VP1/2 sequences and the VP3 sequence of AAV6. These AAV variants showed enhanced infection of human primary T cells, hematopoietic stem cells, and neuronal cell lines over wildtype parental viruses, and superiority over AAV6 for genomic integration of DNA sequences by AAV alone or in combination with CRISPR gene editing. AAV-XV variants demonstrate transduction efficiency equivalent to AAV6 at multiplicities of infection 2 logs lower, enabling T cell engineering at low AAV doses. The protein coding sequence of these novel AAV chimeras revealed disruptions within the assembly-activating protein (AAP) which likely accounted for observed lower virus yield. A series of genome alterations, reverting the AAP sequence back to wildtype AAV6, had a negative impact on the enhanced transduction seen with AAV-VX, indicating overlapping functions within this sequence for both viral assembly and effective T cell transduction. Our findings show these AAV-XV variants are highly efficient at cell transduction at low dose and demonstrates the importance of the AAP coding region in both viral particle assembly and cell infection.IMPORTANCE A major hurdle to the therapeutic potential of AAV in gene therapy lies in achieving clinically meaningful AAV doses, and secondarily, ability to manufacture commercially viable titers of AAV to support this. By virtue of neutralizing antibodies against AAV that impede patient repeat-dosing, the dose of AAV for in vivo gene delivery has been high, which has resulted in unfortunate recent safety concerns and deaths in patients given higher-dose AAV gene therapy. We have generated new AAV variants possessing unique combinations of capsid proteins for gene and cell therapy applications termed AAV-XV, which have high levels of cell transduction and gene delivery at lower MOI. Furthermore, we demonstrate a novel finding, and an important consideration for recombinant AAV design, that a region of the AAV genome encoding the capsid viral protein and AAP is critical for both virus yield and the enhancement of infection/transduction.

Journal Article↗

Functional dissection of the major structural protein of bluetongue virus: identification of key residues within VP7 essential for capsid assembly.

A lattice of VP7 trimers forms the surface of the icosahedral bluetongue virus (BTV) core. To investigate the role of VP7 oligomerization in core assembly, a series of residues for substitution were predicted based on crystal structures of BTV type 10 VP7 molecule targeting the monomer-monomer contacts within the trimer. Seven site-specific substitution mutations of VP7 have been created using cDNA clones and were employed to produce seven recombinant baculoviruses. The effects of these mutations on VP7 solubility, ability to trimerize and formation of core-like particles (CLPs) in the presence of the scaffolding VP3 protein, were investigated. Of the seven VP7 mutants examined, three severely affected the stability of CLP, while two other mutants had lesser effect on CLP stability. Only one mutant had no apparent effect on the formation of the stable capsid. One mutant in which the conserved tyrosine at residue 271 (lower domain helix 6) was replaced by arginine formed insoluble aggregates, implying an effect in the folding of the molecule despite the prediction that such a change would be accommodated. All six soluble VP7 mutants were purified, and their ability to trimerize was examined. All mutants, including those that did not form stable CLPs, assembled into stable trimers, implying that single substitution may not be sufficient to perturb the complex monomer-monomer contacts, although subtle changes within the VP7 trimer could destabilize the core. The study highlights some of the key residues that are crucial for BTV core assembly and illustrates how the structure of VP7 in isolation underrepresents the dynamic nature of the assembly process at the biological level.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The molecular basis of HIV capsid assembly--five years of progress.

The assembly of HIV is relatively poorly investigated when compared with the process of virus entry. Yet a detailed understanding of the mechanism of assembly is fundamental to our knowledge of the complete life cycle of this virus and also has the potential to inform the development of new antiviral strategies. The repeated multiple interaction of the basic structural unit, Gag, might first appear to be little more than concentration dependent self-assembly but the precise mechanisms emerging for HIV are far from simple. Gag interacts not only with itself but also with host cell lipids and proteins in an ordered and stepwise manner. It binds both the genomic RNA and the virus envelope protein and must do this at an appropriate time and place within the infected cell. The assembled virus particle must successfully release from the cell surface and, whilst being robust enough for transmission between hosts, must nonetheless be primed for rapid disassembly when infection occurs. Our current understanding of these processes and the domains of Gag involved at each stage is the subject of this review.

Capsid↗

Implications for viral capsid assembly from crystal structures of HIV-1 Gag(1-278) and CA(N)(133-278).

Gag, the major structural protein of retroviruses such as HIV-1, comprises a series of domains connected by flexible linkers. These domains drive viral assembly by mediating multiple interactions between adjacent Gag molecules and by binding to viral genomic RNA and host cell membranes. Upon viral budding, Gag is processed by the viral protease to liberate distinct domains as separate proteins. The first two regions of Gag are MA, a membrane-binding module, and CA, which is a two-domain protein that makes important Gag-Gag interactions, forms the cone-shaped outer shell of the core (the capsid) in the mature HIV-1 particle, and makes an important interaction with the cellular protein cyclophilin A (CypA). Here, we report crystal structures of the mature CA N-terminal domain (CA(N)(133-278)) and a MA-CA(N) fusion (Gag(1-278)) at resolutions/R(free) values of 1.9 A/25.7% and 2.2 A/25.8%, respectively. Consistent with earlier studies, a comparison of these structures indicates that processing at the MA-CA junction causes CA to adopt an N-terminal beta-hairpin conformation that seems to be required for capsid morphology and viral infectivity. In contrast with an NMR study (Tang, C., et al. (2002) Nat. Struct. Biol. 9, 537-543), structural overlap reveals only small relative displacements for helix 6, which is located between the beta-hairpin and the CypA-binding loop. These observations argue against the proposal that CypA binding is coupled with beta-hairpin formation and support an earlier surface plasmon resonance study (Yoo, S., et al. (1997) J. Mol. Biol. 269, 780-795), which concluded that beta-hairpin formation and CypA-binding are energetically independent events.

Amino Acid Sequence↗