ABSTRACT
The interaction between the viral protein linked to the genome (VPg) of turnip mosaic potyvirus (TuMV) and the translation eukaryotic initiation factor eIF(iso)4E of Arabidopsis thaliana has previously been reported. eIF(iso)4E binds the cap structure (m(7)GpppN, where N is any nucleotide) of mRNAs and has an important role in the regulation in the initiation of translation. In the present study, it was shown that not only did VPg bind eIF(iso)4E but it also interacted with the eIF4E isomer of A. thaliana as well as with eIF(iso)4E of Triticum aestivum (wheat). The interaction domain on VPg was mapped to a stretch of 35 amino acids, and substitution of an aspartic acid residue found within this region completely abolished the interaction. The cap analogue m(7)GTP, but not GTP, inhibited VPg-eIF(iso)4E complex formation, suggesting that VPg and cellular mRNAs compete for eIF(iso)4E binding. The biological significance of this interaction was investigated. Brassica perviridis plants were infected with a TuMV infectious cDNA (p35Tunos) and p35TuD77N, a mutant which contained the aspartic acid substitution in the VPg domain that abolished the interaction with eIF(iso)4E. After 20 days, plants bombarded with p35Tunos showed viral symptoms, while plants bombarded with p35TuD77N remained symptomless. These results suggest that VPg-eIF(iso)4E interaction is a critical element for virus production.
Subject(s)
Arabidopsis/virology , Peptide Initiation Factors/metabolism , Potyvirus/pathogenicity , Viral Core Proteins/metabolism , Amino Acid Sequence , Amino Acid Substitution , Arabidopsis/metabolism , Aspartic Acid/genetics , Binding, Competitive , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-4E , Molecular Sequence Data , Mutagenesis, Site-Directed , Potyvirus/metabolism , Protein Binding , Protein Structure, Tertiary , RNA Caps/metabolism , Sequence Analysis, Protein , Two-Hybrid System Techniques , VirulenceABSTRACT
The acetyl xylan esterase cloned homologously from Streptomyces lividans [Shareck, Biely, Morosoli and Kluepfel (1995) Gene 153, 105-109] was purified from culture filtrate of the overproducing strain S. lividans IAF43. The secreted enzyme had a molecular mass of 34 kDa and a pI of 9.0. Under the assay conditions with chemically acetylated birchwood xylan the kinetic constants of the enzyme were: specific activity, 715 units/mg, Km 7.94 mg/ml and Vmax 1977 units/mg. Optimal enzyme activity was obtained at 70 degrees C and pH 7.5. Hydrolysis assays with different acetylated substrates showed that the enzyme is specific for deacetylating the O-acetyl group of polysaccharides and is devoid of N-deacetylation activity. Sequential hydrolysis shows that its action is essential for the complete degradation of acetylated xylan by the xylanases of S. lividans.
