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Biomedical subjects

R S Goody

Publications and source records attributed to R S Goody.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Template. Phosphorothioate oligonucleotides duplexes as inhibitors of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase.

We have investigated the interaction between a number of 14 mers phosphorothioate oligonucleotides and HIV-1 reverse transcriptase. Two methods were used to measure the affinity of the analogs for the enzyme. In the first, the oligonucleotide or its duplex with Poly(rl) were used as inhibitors of the enzyme using Poly(rA).(dT)14 as template primer. In the second, the oligonucleotides or their duplexes were used to displace a fluorescent template primer complex of known affinity from its binding site on reverse transcriptase. The two methods gave the same relative order of affinity. Phosphorothioate oligodeoxyribonucleotides had a much higher affinity than oligo(dC)14 and it was increased on hybridization. Quantitatively similar results were obtained for S(dC)14 or its analog with bases in the alpha-configuration. Of the analogs tested, only S(dC)14 showed priming activity.

Antiviral Agents

Structure-function relationships of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase determined using monoclonal antibodies.

The reverse transcriptase (RT) of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is one of the main targets in approaches to the chemotherapy of AIDS. A detailed knowledge of structure-function relationships of this enzyme is a prerequisite for rational drug design. We have used monoclonal antibodies as tools to identify functionally important regions of the protein. The preparation of 23 murine monoclonal antibodies (mAb) against HIV-1 reverse transcriptase and their different effects on the enzyme are described. The interaction of purified mAbs with HIV-1 RT was demonstrated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Western blots, and high performance liquid chromatography size exclusion chromatography. One of the antibodies also recognized recombinant HIV-2 RT. Antibody binding epitopes on HIV-1 RT were analyzed by immunoblotting using cyanogen bromide fragmented RT, C-terminally truncated mutants, and a peptide ELISA employing 15-mer synthetic overlapping peptides spanning nearly the complete polypeptide chain. The epitopes were mapped within three domains corresponding to amino acids 200-230, 300-428, and 528-560. Two mAbs show neutralizing properties on enzymatic functions of RT. One affects the polymerase activity and to a certain degree the RNase H activity of the enzyme, whereas the other inhibits the latter activity exclusively. mAb 28, which blocks the polymerase activity, interferes with the nucleotide binding region of RT, as shown by fluorescence spectroscopy using a labeled template/primer complex. By investigating the antibody effects on dimer formation of the heterodimeric enzyme, three domains corresponding to amino acids 230-300, 350-428, and residues around amino acid 540 involved in protein-protein interactions were localized.

Antibodies, Monoclonal

Studies on the structure and mechanism of H-ras p21.

Current knowledge of the structure of H-ras p21 is reviewed with particular emphasis on the interaction between guanine nucleotides and the active site of the protein. The nature of the conformational change induced by GTP hydrolysis is discussed. The major change is seen in the region known as the effector loop (loop 2), with significant but less well-defined changes occurring in loop 4, which is implicated in the GTPase reaction. Other evidence concerning the mechanism of GTP hydrolysis and its activation by GAP (GTPase-activating protein) is also discussed. Evidence regarding the rate limiting step in the p21 GTPase reaction, and the manner in which this and possibly other steps are accelerated by GAP, is inconclusive.

Amino Acid Sequence

RNase H activity of HIV reverse transcriptases is confined exclusively to the dimeric forms.

A method for the rapid preparation of a defined substrate to monitor RNase H activity has been developed. Using this substrate, we have investigated the RNase H activities of the different forms of recombinant HIV-1 and HIV-2 reverse transcriptase (RT) in detail. As we report here, RNase H activity is associated only with the dimeric forms (p51/p66 or p66/p66) of the enzymes.

Amino Acid Sequence

Synthetic human tRNA(UUULys3) and natural bovine tRNA(UUULys3) interact with HIV-1 reverse transcriptase and serve as specific primers for retroviral cDNA synthesis.

Full-length and 5'-truncated variants of human (h) tRNA(UUULys3) were synthesized by in vitro transcription using SP6 RNA polymerase. Bovine(b) tRNA(SUULys3) was purified from calf liver. Both full-length tRNA species were shown to be biologically active in an aminoacylation assay. Gel retardation assays revealed that both full-length tRNA species, as well as a 5'-truncated h-tRNA(UUULys3) molecule containing 24 nucleotides (nt) at the 3' end (Lys24), interact with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 reverse transcriptase (RT). Competition studies with these three tRNA species demonstrate that the 3' end of h-tRNA(UUULys3) contributes to the interaction with HIV-1 RT. Escherichia coli tRNA(UUULys) and tRNA(UUCGlu2) were also able to interact with the enzyme, whereas unrelated RNA molecules such as E. coli 5S rRNA did not bind to RT. Both b-tRNA(SUULys3) and h-tRNA(UUULys3) molecules, as well as the 5'-truncated variants, could be demonstrated to prime cDNA synthesis specifically using a HIV-1 RNA template, prepared by in vitro transcription, indicating that other viral or cellular proteins are not essential for this process. E. coli tRNA(UUULys) and tRNA(UUCGlu2), although able to interact with HIV-1 RT, failed to prime retroviral transcription. Products of cDNA synthesis were characterized by polymerase chain reaction, demonstrating that at least 18 nt at the 3' ends of h-tRNA(UUULys3) and b-tRNA(SUULys3) are still present in the cDNA product, whereas the 5' ends of both primer molecules were removed by the RNase H activity of HIV-1 RT.

Animals

Cryo-electron microscopy of vitrified muscle samples.

A great deal of information on the 3-dimensional structure of the protein assemblies involved in muscle contraction has been obtained using conventional transmission electron microscopy. In recent years, developments in cryo-electron microscopy have facilitated work with fully hydrated, non-chemically fixed specimens. It is shown how this technique can be used to visualize muscle sarcomere filaments in quasi-native conditions, to access hitherto inaccessible states of the crossbridge cycle, and to obtain new high resolution structural information on their 3-dimensional protein structure. A short introduction to the crossbridge cycle and its biochemically accessible states illustrates the problems amenable to studies using the electron microscope, as well as the possibilities offered by cryo-microscopy on vitrified samples. Work on vitrified cryo-sections and myosin filament suspensions demonstrates the accessibility of crossbridge states and gives implications on the gross structural features of myosin filaments. Recent studies on actin filaments and myosin (S1) decorated actin filaments provide the first high resolution data on vitrified samples. The use of photolabile nucleotide precursors allows the trapping of short lived states in the millisecond time range, thereby visualizing intermediate states of the crossbridge cycle.

Animals

Is there a rate-limiting step before GTP cleavage by H-ras p21?

A slow fluorescence change of the complex between ras p21 and the fluorescent GTP analogue 2'(3')-O-(N-methylanthraniloyl)guanosine 5'-triphosphate (mGTP) has been postulated to be a signal arising from a step which is rate limiting and precedes the actual GTP hydrolysis reaction [Neal, S. E., Eccleston, J. F., & Webb, M. R. (1990) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 87, 3562-3565]. We have now shown that the rate of the fluorescence change is accelerated by GTPase-activating protein (GAP) in the same manner as that of the GTP cleavage reaction. In contrast, a faster fluorescence change of smaller amplitude seen in the complex between p21 and the uncleavable 2'(3')-O-(N-methylanthraniloyl)guanosine 5'-O-(beta,gamma-imidotriphosphate) (mGppNHp) is not affected by GAP. The corresponding fluorescent derivative of guanosine 5'-O-(gamma-thiotriphosphate) (mGTP gamma S) shows a very slow fluorescence change after binding to p21, and this rate is also accelerated significantly by GAP. Hydrolysis of GTP gamma S is similarly slow, and it is accelerated by GAP in a similar manner to the fluorescence change. The results are interpreted to indicate that the fluorescence change occurs either at the hydrolysis step or on release of inorganic phosphate or thiophosphate but does not occur in a rate-limiting step preceding hydrolysis.

Fluorescent Dyes

Factors contributing to the inhibition of HIV reverse transcriptase by chain-terminating nucleotides in vitro and in vivo.

Arguments are presented leading to the conclusion that two major factors contribute to the potency of inhibition of DNA-polymerase activity by chain-terminating nucleotides. The relative significance of these factors varies with the reaction conditions, particularly with the length of the template and the concentration ratio of enzyme (reverse transcriptase or other DNA polymerase) to primer. It is concluded that potent inhibition of HIV-reverse transcriptase activity under typical in vitro and in vivo conditions arises from different features of the interaction of chain terminators with the enzyme. A new method of testing for the parameter important under in vivo conditions is suggested.

HIV

p21 with a phenylalanine 28----leucine mutation reacts normally with the GTPase activating protein GAP but nevertheless has transforming properties.

The H-ras gene product p21H has been mutated at Phe-28, which makes a hydrophobic interaction with the guanine base of bound GDP/GTP. The mutation Phe-28----Leu drastically increases nucleotide dissociation rates without affecting association rates. This is due to a perturbed binding of base, alpha- and beta-phosphate, and Mg2+, as evidenced from 31P NMR and fluorescence measurements. The region around the gamma-phosphate appears normal. The affinity of Mg2+ for both the di- and the triphosphate conformation of the mutant was also measured by fluorescence. The association constant is 3.5 x 10(7) M-1 for the Gpp(NH)p complex, 500 times higher than for the GDP form. The mutation does not change appreciably the intrinsic or the GTPase activating protein (GAP)-stimulated GTPase. The mutated protein induces neurite differentiation however when pressure-loaded into PC12 cells, which is equivalent to transformation of NIH 3T3 cells. This shows that p21 (F28L) is converted to the GDP bound form by GAP but is transforming because the high dissociation rate for nucleotides leads to a protein predominantly in the active GTP bound form.

Animals

Expression of the heterodimeric form of human immunodeficiency virus type 2 reverse transcriptase in Escherichia coli and characterization of the enzyme.

A system for the expression of recombinant human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2) reverse transcriptase (RT) in Escherichia coli has been developed, which allows purification of the heterodimeric form of the enzyme as well as the separate purification of the two subunits. It is shown that equilibrium formation between monomeric and homodimeric forms of the recombinant 66- and 51-kDa subunits is considerably more rapid than in the case of the corresponding homodimeric forms of HIV-1 RT. In accordance with our previously published studies on HIV-1 RT (Restle, T., Müller, B., and Goody, R.S. (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 8986-8988) RNA-dependent DNA polymerase activity of the HIV-2 RT preparations can be exactly correlated to their dimer content. No significant heterodimer formation can be observed upon coexpression of the 66-kDa subunit of HIV-2 RT with the 51-kDa subunit of HIV-1 RT in the same cell, indicating differences in the dimerization domains of the two proteins. Recombinant HIV-2 RT is not recognized by a set of 23 monoclonal antibodies raised against HIV-1 RT, although it shows weak cross-reactivity with sera from HIV-1-infected patients.

Chromatography, Gel

Time-resolved cryo-electron microscopic study of the dissociation of actomyosin induced by photolysis of photolabile nucleotides.

The rapid release of a substrate or other ligand from photolabile precursors in a thin layer suspension of biological specimens followed by rapid freezing provides a method of trapping and visualizing short-lived states in a dynamic system. We demonstrate here the first successful application of this method to study the interaction of actin filaments with myosin subfragment 1 (S1) after release of nucleotides. The results obtained suggest that structural changes in actin filaments occur as a result of interaction with S1.

Actins

Interaction of fluorescently labeled dideoxynucleotides with HIV-1 reverse transcriptase.

Succinylfluorescein-labeled dideoxyTTP has been used as a substrate for reverse transcriptase from HIV-1. On addition to the 3'-end of a primer molecule, there is a reduction of fluorescence yield of a factor of ca. 4. Release of a fluorescent DNA/DNA primer/template duplex from its complex with reverse transcriptase results in a reduction of fluorescence by a further factor of 2. The fluorescent nucleotide is incorporated somewhat less efficiently than 3'-azidoTMP and TMP, which show similar incorporation kinetics. Fluorescent chain-terminated primers have been used to investigate the interaction of normal and chain-terminated primer/template complexes with reverse transcriptase. The dissociation constant of a 36/18-mer was 0.65 nM, whereas that of the same complex after the addition of the fluorescent chain-terminating nucleotide to the primer was 3 nM at 25 degrees C. The rate of dissociation of the latter complex from the enzyme was 0.04 s-1. This was decreased by a factor of ca. 10 at high concentrations (greater than 200 microM) of the nucleotide triphosphate complementary to the next position of the template. The results obtained suggest that potent inhibition of reverse transcriptase activity in in vitro assays results from formation of a slowly dissociating complex between the enzyme and chain-terminated primer/template complexes. However, arguments are presented that lead to the conclusion that this is not the mode of inhibition in cells invaded by HIV. At the prevailing relative concentrations in this situation, chain termination resulting in incomplete transcription is likely to be the major factor.

Binding, Competitive

Time-resolved X-ray diffraction studies on stretch-activated insect flight muscle.

The specific feature of stretch activation of the indirect flight muscle of the tropical waterbug Lethocerus was used to correlate mechanical and structural aspects of muscle contraction. The time courses of the changes in intensities of the strongest equatorial reflections, the (10) and (20) and of the first meridional reflection at 14.5 nm-1 were monitored using synchrotron radiation as a high intensity X-ray source. The ratio of the intensities of the equatorial reflections, (I20/I10), which reflects the mass distribution within the filament lattice array, increases by about 10% relative to the Ca(2+)-activated level when a rapid stretch is imposed, compared with a 200% change seen when fibres change from the relaxed to the rigor state, while the spacing of the lattice planes decreases by about 1%. The intensity of the first meridional reflection at 14.5 nm-1 decreases by about 35% during stretch activation with a slightly faster time course than the delayed tension increase. The results suggest that the average structure of cycling crossbridges is different from that present in the rigor state.

Actin Cytoskeleton

Dynamic X-ray diffraction measurements following photolytic relaxation and activation of skinned rabbit psoas fibres.

1) The ATP binding and crossbridge dissociation in muscle fibres is as fast as in solution, has a Q10 ca. 2-3, and is not measurably strain sensitive. 2) The final ADP release from the AM.ADP state achieved by adding ADP to rigor fibres must be greater than or equal to 69 sec-1 at 10 degrees C, and the combination of this rate and the ADP rebinding rate at 1 mM ADP limits the ATP induced crossbridge dissociation rate at greater than 2 mM ATP, but these kinetics were not strain sensitive. The strain sensitive steps must occur earlier on the attached pathway. 3) On activation, the equatorial changes thought to reflect crossbridge attachment are faster than tension production. The 10 intensity may change slightly ahead of the 11. This rate was not very temperature sensitive unlike the tension producing step in the mechanism. 4) The re-equilibration of equatorial intensity levels was much faster on activation from the rigor state than from the relaxed state. We conclude that crossbridges do not necessarily move far from the thin filaments when they detach in a fully activated thin filament system. 5) The 14.3 nm meridional intensity increases greater than 200% on fibre activation at 24 degrees C. The structural reorganisation of the heads responsible for this increase is associated with the tension generating step in the ATPase mechanism rather than the initial binding of bridges.

Adenosine Diphosphate

Fluorescence and NMR investigations on the ligand binding properties of adenylate kinases.

A new system for measurement of affinities of adenylate kinases (AK) for substrates and inhibitors is presented. This system is based on the use of the fluorescent ligand alpha,omega-di[(3' or 2')-O-(N-methylanthraniloyl)adenosine-5'] pentaphosphate (mAP5Am), which is an analogue of the bisubstrate inhibitor diadenosine pentaphosphate (AP5A). It allows the determination of dissociation constants for any ligand in the range of 1 x 10(-9) to 5 x 10(-2) M. Affinities for different bisubstrate inhibitors (AP4A, AP5A, AP6A) and substrates (AMP, ADP, ATP, GTP) were determined in the presence and absence of magnesium. An analysis of the binding of bisubstrate inhibitors is proposed and applied to these data. The techniques are used to describe the properties of a mutant enzyme with Gln-28----His (Q28H) prepared by site-directed mutagenesis in comparison to those of wild-type AK from Escherichia coli. This newly introduced histidine is already present in most other adenylate kinases and was regarded to be important or even essential for the catalytic reaction of AK. Temperature denaturation experiments indicate that the mutant enzyme has the same thermal stability as the wild-type enzyme and, as NMR studies indicate, also a very similar structure. However, steady-state catalytic studies and binding experiments showed that the affinities for substrates and inhibitors are elevated from 3-fold (AMP) to 5-fold (ATP) to 15-fold (AP5A) compared to those of the wild-type enzyme. Together with the results obtained by Tian et al. [Tian, G., Sanders, C. R., Kishi, F., Nakazawa, A., & Tsai, M.-D. (1988) Biochemistry 27, 5544-5552] on the effect of replacement of the conserved His-36 in the cytosolic AK (AK1) from chicken by glutamine and asparagine, this shows that residues 28 of AK from E. coli (AKec) and 36 of AK1 are situated in a comparable environment and are not essential for catalytic activity.

Adenylate Kinase

Kinetics of interaction of nucleotides with nucleotide-free H-ras p21.

A method is described for the convenient preparation of substantial quantities of nucleotide-free p21 or of 1:1 complexes with nucleotides other than GDP. The nucleotide-free protein has been used for kinetic studies of the binding of GDP and GTP, making use of the fluorescent analogues 3'-(methylanthraniloyl)-2'-deoxy-GDP and -GTP. Stopped-flow studies have led to the formulation of a two-step binding mechanism for both GDP and GTP, involving initial rapid but weak binding of the nucleotide followed by a relatively slow (10-20 s-1 at 25 degrees C; 3-5 s-1 at 5 degrees C) quasi-irreversible isomerization reaction. By use of a nonequilibrium competition method, guanosine and GMP have been shown to interact weakly but significantly with p21 (dissociation constants of 153 and 29 microM, respectively). The presence of guanosine or GMP at the active site of p21 leads to a marked stabilization of p21 against spontaneous denaturation when compared with the nucleotide- and nucleoside-free protein.

Guanosine

Dimerization of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcriptase. A target for chemotherapeutic intervention.

Recombinant human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcriptase has been used to investigate the process of dimer formation and the properties of the different mono- and dimeric forms of the enzyme. The studies show that reverse transcriptase activity is exclusively confined to the dimeric forms. As we also demonstrate, the association rate constant between the monomers is relatively low so that the dimer-monomer equilibrium is very slowly established. This offers a new and potentially interesting target for antiviral chemotherapy with presumably higher specificity than the currently used nucleoside analogs (Yarchoan, R., Mitsuya, H., Myers, C.E., and Broder, S. (1989) N. Eng. J. Med. 321, 726-738), which in their active triphosphorylated form are also inhibitors of cellular polymerases.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome