A glycerophospholipid-specific pocket in the RVFV class II fusion protein drives target membrane insertion.

The Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is transmitted by infected mosquitoes, causing severe disease in humans and livestock across Africa. We determined the x-ray structure of the RVFV class II fusion protein Gc in its postfusion form and in complex with a glycerophospholipid (GPL) bound in a conserved cavity next to the fusion loop. Site-directed mutagenesis and molecular dynamics simulations further revealed a built-in motif allowing en bloc insertion of the fusion loop into membranes, making few nonpolar side-chain interactions with the aliphatic moiety and multiple polar interactions with lipid head groups upon membrane restructuring. The GPL head-group recognition pocket is conserved in the fusion proteins of other arthropod-borne viruses, such as Zika and chikungunya viruses, which have recently caused major epidemics worldwide.

Two-dimensional structure of the native light-harvesting complex LH2 from Rubrivivax gelatinosus and of a truncated form.

The light-harvesting complex LH2 of Rubrivivax gelatinosus has an oligomeric structure built from alpha-beta heterodimers containing three bacteriochlorophylls and one carotenoid each. The alpha subunit (71 residues) presents a C-terminal hydrophobic extension (residues 51-71) which is prone to attack by an endogenous protease. This extension can also be cleaved by a mild thermolysin treatment, as demonstrated by electrophoresis and by matrix-assisted laser desorption-time of flight mass spectrometry. This cleavage does not affect the pigment binding sites as shown by absorption spectroscopy. Electron microscopy was used to investigate the structures of the native and thermolysin cleaved forms of the complexes. Two-dimensional crystals of the reconstituted complexes were examined after negative staining and cryomicroscopy. Projection maps at 10 A resolution were calculated, demonstrating the nonameric ring-like organization of alpha-beta subunits. The cleaved form presents the same structural features. We conclude that the LH2 complex is structurally homologous to the Rhodopseudomonas acidophila LH2. The hydrophobic C-terminal extension does not fold back in the membrane, but lays out on the periplasmic surface of the complex.

Use of octyl beta-thioglucopyranoside in two-dimensional crystallization of membrane proteins.

A great interest exists in producing and/or improving two-dimensional (2D) crystals of membrane proteins amenable to structural analysis by electron crystallography. Here we report on the use of the detergent n-octyl beta-d-thioglucopyranoside in 2D crystallization trials of membrane proteins with radically different structures including FhuA from the outer membrane of Escherichia coli, light-harvesting complex II from Rubrivivax gelatinosus, and Photosystem I from cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. We have analyzed by electron microscopy the structures reconstituted after detergent removal from lipid-detergent or lipid-protein-detergent micellar solutions containing either only n-octyl beta-d-thioglucopyranoside or n-octyl beta-d-thioglucopyranoside in combination with other detergents commonly used in membrane protein biochemistry. This allowed the definition of experimental conditions in which the use of n-octyl beta-d-thioglucopyranoside could induce a considerable increase in the size of reconstituted membrane structures, up to several micrometers. An other important feature was that, in addition to reconstitution of membrane proteins into large bilayered structures, this thioglycosylated detergent also was revealed to be efficient in crystallization trials, allowing the proteins to be analyzed in large coherent two-dimensional arrays. Thus, inclusion of n-octyl beta-d-thioglucopyranoside in 2D crystallization trials appears to be a promising method for the production of large and coherent 2D crystals that will be valuable for structural analysis by electron crystallography and atomic force microscopy.

Early endosomes are required for major histocompatiblity complex class II transport to peptide-loading compartments.

Antigen presentation to CD4(+) T lymphocytes requires transport of newly synthesized major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules to the endocytic pathway, where peptide loading occurs. This step is mediated by a signal located in the cytoplasmic tail of the MHC class II-associated Ii chain, which directs the MHC class II-Ii complexes from the trans-Golgi network (TGN) to endosomes. The subcellular machinery responsible for the specific targeting of MHC class II molecules to the endocytic pathway, as well as the first compartments these molecules enter after exit from the TGN, remain unclear. We have designed an original experimental approach to selectively analyze this step of MHC class II transport. Newly synthesized MHC class II molecules were caused to accumulate in the Golgi apparatus and TGN by incubating the cells at 19 degrees C, and early endosomes were functionally inactivated by in vivo cross-linking of transferrin (Tf) receptor-containing endosomes using Tf-HRP complexes and the HRP-insoluble substrate diaminobenzidine. Inactivation of Tf-containing endosomes caused a marked delay in Ii chain degradation, peptide loading, and MHC class II transport to the cell surface. Thus, early endosomes appear to be required for delivery of MHC class II molecules to the endocytic pathway. Under cross-linking conditions, most alphabetaIi complexes accumulated in tubules and vesicles devoid of gamma-adaptin and/or mannose-6-phosphate receptor, suggesting an AP1-independent pathway for the delivery of newly synthesized MHC class II molecules from the TGN to endosomes.

In vivo, villin is required for Ca(2+)-dependent F-actin disruption in intestinal brush borders.

Villin is an actin-binding protein localized in intestinal and kidney brush borders. In vitro, villin has been demonstrated to bundle and sever F-actin in a Ca(2+)-dependent manner. We generated knockout mice to study the role of villin in vivo. In villin-null mice, no noticeable changes were observed in the ultrastructure of the microvilli or in the localization and expression of the actin-binding and membrane proteins of the intestine. Interestingly, the response to elevated intracellular Ca(2+) differed significantly between mutant and normal mice. In wild-type animals, isolated brush borders were disrupted by the addition of Ca(2+), whereas Ca(2+) had no effect in villin-null isolates. Moreover, increase in intracellular Ca(2+) by serosal carbachol or mucosal Ca(2+) ionophore A23187 application abolished the F-actin labeling only in the brush border of wild-type animals. This F-actin disruption was also observed in physiological fasting/refeeding experiments. Oral administration of dextran sulfate sodium, an agent that causes colonic epithelial injury, induced large mucosal lesions resulting in a higher death probability in mice lacking villin, 36 +/- 9.6%, compared with wild-type mice, 70 +/- 8.8%, at day 13. These results suggest that in vivo, villin is not necessary for the bundling of F-actin microfilaments, whereas it is necessary for the reorganization elicited by various signals. We postulate that this property might be involved in cellular plasticity related to cell injury.

GTP-bound forms of rab6 induce the redistribution of Golgi proteins into the endoplasmic reticulum.

rab6 is a ubiquitous ras-like GTPase involved in intra-Golgi transport. We have studied at both morphological and biochemical levels the behavior of Golgi resident proteins in HeLa cells overexpressing wild-type rab6 and GTP- and GDP-bound mutants of rab6 (rab6 Q72L and rab6 T27N, respectively). We show that wild-type rab6 and rab6 Q72L overexpression induces the redistribution of the trans-Golgi protein beta-1,4-galactosyltransferase into the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and allows the addition of sialylated O-glycans on an ER-retained protein, the major histocompatibility complex class II-associated invariant chain. Remarkably, rab6 Q72L effects, which require the integrity of microtubules, were almost indistinguishable from those induced by brefeldin A, a fungic metabolite that causes a mixing of Golgi and ER membranes. In contrast, overexpression of rab6 T27N does not cause the redistribution of Golgi proteins, but inhibits basal O-glycosylation of the major histocompatibility complex class II-associated invariant chain.

Cytopathic effect in human papillomavirus type 1-induced inclusion warts: in vitro analysis of the contribution of two forms of the viral E4 protein.

Myrmecia warts induced by human papillomavirus type 1 (HPV1) are characterized by abundant eosinophilic inclusions associated with HPV1 E4 gene products. The major HPV1 E4 proteins are a 17-kilodalton (kDa) E1-E4 fusion protein and a 16-kDa species lacking the five E1 amino acids and a few E4 residues. To study the contribution of E4 proteins to the formation of myrmecia inclusions, we used a previously designed transient expression system in the rabbit VX2-R keratinocyte line. We find that the E1-E4 and an E4 protein without the E1 residues (E4-3200) form eosinophilic inclusions. Ultrastructural and immunoelectron microscopic studies show that the electron-dense, keratohyalin-like myrmecia inclusions are recognized by anti-E4 antibodies. They are associated with tonofilament bundles at their periphery in the cytoplasm or free of filaments in the nucleus. The E1-E4 inclusions formed in vitro are also homogeneously electron dense, and are usually associated with tonofilaments at their periphery in the cytoplasm and free of filaments in the nucleus. The E4-3200 inclusions are exclusively cytoplasmic and heterogeneously electron dense, with a fibrillar structure made of entangled 10-nm filaments. The expression of either protein in VX2-R cells does not result in the collapse of the cytokeratin network, as shown by immunofluorescence double-labeling experiments. This is in contrast to data reported for the HPV16 E1-E4 protein. Our findings indicate that the E1-E4 protein by itself accounts for the formation of myrmecia inclusions, and suggest that the five N-terminal E1 amino acids play a major role in the interaction of E4 proteins with intermediate filaments.

Molecular and biological characterization of cottontail rabbit papillomavirus variant DNA sequences integrated in the VX7 carcinoma.

The transplantable VX7 carcinoma was derived from a tumor induced by a recoverable strain of cottontail rabbit papillomavirus (CRPV) able to replicate in domestic rabbits. Low levels of late viral gene expression have been retained through serial propagation in rabbits. We have cloned and characterized the three major types of CRPV sequences integrated in this tumor, a genome-length 8-kb DNA molecule and two rearranged 9- and 3.8-kb molecules. The VX7 8-kb DNA displays only a few differences in its restriction map, when compared to the wild-type (wt) CRPV DNA. The VX7 9- and 3.8-kb DNAs derive from the VX7 8-kb DNA since they share the same restriction site polymorphism. The VX7 9-kb DNA contains a duplication of the E6 open reading frame. The VX7 3.8-kb DNA results from the deletion of most of the E region and the insertion, between the borders of the deletion, of 174-nucleotide-long segment of the long control region potentially driving the expression of a truncated L2 protein. Both VX7 9- and 3.8-kb species potentially allow the expression of abnormal E6 fusion proteins. Nineteen point mutations were detected in the 3.8-kb DNA, compared to the wt CRPV DNA. None of these molecules were able to induce warts in domestic rabbits, in contrast to wt CRPV DNA. Furthermore, when cloned VX7 DNAs were inoculated together with wt CRPV DNA, none of the VX7 CRPV sequences, as identifiable by their specific restriction enzyme cleavage patterns, could be detected in the resulting warts. This suggests that CRPV sequences integrated in the VX7 carcinoma are no longer able to replicate as episomes, which might be a prerequisite for the production of warts.

Expression of the human papillomavirus type 16 genome in SK-v cells, a line derived from a vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia.

The SK-v cells, established from a premalignant vulvar lesion, contain human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV-16) sequences integrated at a single cellular site and derive from a cell clone present in vivo. Transcription of the HPV-16 genome in SK-v cells was analysed by cDNA heteroduplex mapping and sequencing, and by RNase mapping. Viral sequences were shown to be transcribed into virus-cell fusion messengers. The two major transcripts have a coding capacity for a truncated E6 protein, an E7 protein and an E1-E4 fusion protein, but differ in their 3' virus-cell junction. Minor transcripts have a coding capacity for a full-length E6 protein and another truncated version of E6. The transcription pattern in the E6-E7 region was found to be the same both in SK-v cells and in CaSki cells, a line derived from an invasive cervical carcinoma. Immunoprecipitation experiments showed that the E6 protein (18K) and, predominantly, the E7 protein (20K) are expressed in SK-v cells as in CaSki cells. The E7 protein was found in a two- to threefold lower amount in SK-v cells, but showing the same half-life (about 1 h).

Two new human papillomavirus types (HPV54 and 55) characterized from genital tumours illustrate the plurality of genital HPVs.

The genomes of two new human papillomavirus (HPV) types, named HPV54 and HPV55, were cloned from penile lesions of 2 patients. HPV54 was isolated from a verrucous carcinoma (Buschke-Löwenstein tumour) together with full-length HPV6 genomes and HPV6 DNA molecules with a deletion of about 0.3 kb located in the non-coding region. HPV55 was isolated from a condyloma acuminatum. No cross-hybridization was observed between HPV54 DNA and the DNAs of the known cutaneous and genital HPVs by blot hybridization experiments performed under stringent conditions. In contrast, significant cross-hybridization was detected between HPV55 DNA and the DNA of HPV13, associated with benign oral lesions, and, to a lesser extent, with the DNAs of HPV6, 11, and 44, associated with benign genital proliferative lesions. The DNA sequence homology between HPV55 and HPV6, 11, and 13 was estimated at 12%, 12%, and 20%, respectively, by hybridization in liquid phase at saturation, followed by nuclease S1 analysis. The physical maps of HPV54 and 55 were aligned with the genetic maps of HPV16 and 11, respectively, by heteroduplex mapping and partial DNA sequencing. HPV54 is thus only weakly related to the known HPVs, while HPV55 represents an additional HPV6-related HPV type. HPV54 and HPV55 are uncommon genital HPV types since, in a survey of a large series of specimens of benign, pre-malignant or malignant anogenital and orolaryngeal tumours, HPV54 was not detected, and HPV55 was found in another case of condyloma acuminatum.

Plurality of genital human papillomaviruses: characterization of two new types with distinct biological properties.

The genomes of two new genital human papillomavirus (HPV) types, tentatively named HPVs 39 and 42, have been cloned from biopsy specimens of penile Bowenoid papules and vulvar papillomas, respectively. Blot hybridization experiments, performed under stringent conditions (Tm -10 degrees), have revealed no cross-hybridization between the DNAs of HPVs 39 and 42, and between these DNAs and those of other genital and cutaneous HPVs. A significant cross-hybridization has been observed between the DNA of HPV42 and that of HPV32, the latter being associated with oral focal epithelial hyperplasia. The fraction of HPV32 and HPV42 hybrid molecules resistant to nuclease S1 treatment after hybridization in liquid phase at saturation has been evaluated to 20%, supporting the view that these HPVs constitute distinct types. In addition to HPV42 DNA, a 6.8-kb BamHI fragment, cross-hybridizing with HPV39 DNA, has been cloned from the vulvar papilloma DNA preparation. The cross-hybridization has been evaluated to 16%, pointing to the existence of an additional HPV39-related type. Electron microscope analysis of heteroduplex molecules formed between HPV32 and HPV42 DNAs showed paired regions over about 60 and 87% of their genome lenghts under stringent (Tm -18 degrees) and nonstringent (Tm -42 degrees) conditions, respectively. The 6.8-kb HPV DNA and HPV39 DNA formed paired regions over about 63 and 95% of the 6.8-kb fragment length at Tm -18 degrees and Tm -26 degrees, respectively. These data point to greater DNA sequence homologies than anticipated from the percentages of nuclease S1 resistance. Heteroduplex mapping has allowed the alignment of the physical maps of HPV39 and 42 DNAs and of the 6.8-kb HPV DNA with the map of the open reading frames of the HPV16 genome. So far, HPV42 has been detected only in benign genital lesions showing usually no cell atypia. HPV39 has been detected in a few cases of intraepithelial neoplasias and invasive carcinomas of the uterine cervix. The viral DNA sequences have been found integrated into the cell genome in all four HPV39-associated cervical cancers of our series. It seems most likely that HPV42 belongs to the low-risk group of genital HPVs, while HPV39 represents a potentially oncogenic genital HPV type.

A new type of human papillomavirus associated with oral focal epithelial hyperplasia.

Lesions from 10 patients suffering from focal epithelial hyperplasia (FEH) of the oral mucosa, including those of 4 Greenlandic Eskimos, were investigated for the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA sequences by blot hybridization experiments. Two distinct HPVs were detected in the DNA extracted from these lesions, and their genomes were molecularly cloned and characterized. One of these HPVs, detected in 4 patients, was found to be identical with HPV13, whose association with FEH was already known. The other one, detected in 6 patients, was only weakly related to HPV13 and to the other HPVs associated with lesions of the mucous membranes, and constituted a new HPV type, tentatively named HPV32. Lesions from other types of oral papillomas, obtained from 14 additional patients, were also analyzed. Human papillomavirus DNA sequences were detected in the DNA preparations extracted from 5 specimens: HPV6 DNA in a condyloma and in a papilloma, 2 as yet uncharacterized HPV DNAs in 2 papillomas, and HPV32 DNA in a papilloma which showed histologic similarities to FEH. Thus, it seems likely that FEH of the oral mucosa is a disease associated with 2 specific HPVs--HPV13 and HPV32.