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S M Kingsman

Publications and source records attributed to S M Kingsman.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Symmetry, flexibility and permeability in the structure of yeast retrotransposon virus-like particles.

The virus-like particles (VLPs) of the yeast retrotransposon Ty are genetically, structurally and functionally analogous to retroviral nucleocapsids or cores. Like retroviral cores Ty-VLPs package and possibly promote the enzyme activities for reverse transcription and integration, as well as encapsulating the RNA that is the intermediate in retrotransposition. Here we show that Ty-VLPs assemble into symmetrical structures across a broad distribution of particle sizes. This spread of sizes violates the principle of quasi-equivalent packing. In addition, RNase accessibility experiments suggest that these particles form an open structure that does not protect the encapsulated RNA. These features distinguish Ty-VLPs from typical spherical viral capsids in both structure and function.

DNA Transposable Elements↗
PubMed1992

An adenosine at position 27 in the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 trans-activation response element is not critical for transcriptional or translational activation by Tat.

Tat protein binds to the trans-activation response (TAR) element of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 RNAs and activates gene expression at the level of transcription in mammalian cell lines and translation in Xenopus oocytes. Certain residues within TAR are important for Tat binding in vitro, including residue A-27, which appears to be able to be modified in a Tat-dependent manner in Xenopus oocytes (L. Sharmeen, B. Bass, N. Sonenberg, H. Weintraub, and M. Groudine, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88:8096-8100, 1991). Activation by Tat in oocytes occurs via a covalent modification of TAR-containing RNA. We have found that in both mammalian cells and Xenopus oocytes, conversion of A-27.U-38 or C-27.G-38 or C-27.G-38 reduces activation. However, conversion to G-27.U-38 or G-27.C-38 had little or no effect on activation, and in oocytes, these mutant RNAs were still covalently modified. These data exclude a specific role for the adenosine at residue 27 for Tat activation but suggest a requirement for a purine at this position.

Adenosine↗
PubMed1991

Blocking of Tat-dependent HIV-1 RNA modification by an inhibitor of RNA polymerase II processivity.

Human immunodeficiency virus gene expression is regulated transcriptionally and post-transcriptionally by the virally encoded tat protein (Tat). Tat functions through an RNA target sequence located in the untranslated region at the 5' end of viral transcripts. In Xenopus oocytes, translation of RNA containing the target sequence is specifically activated by Tat. This activation only occurs if the RNA is injected into the nucleus, and might be due to Tat-dependent, nucleus-specific chemical modification of the RNA which somehow facilitates translation. Here we demonstrate that Tat activation of its target RNA in the nucleus involves a Tat-dependent covalent modification. The modified RNA is competent for translation after reinjection into either the nucleus or the cytoplasm in the absence of Tat. Furthermore, we find that the nucleoside analogue 5,6-dichloro-1-beta-D-ribofuranosylbenzimidazole, which inhibits processivity of RNA polymerase II (ref. 9), blocks this Tat-dependent modification.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Transcriptional activation by upstream activator sequences requires distinct interactions with downstream elements in the yeast TRP1 promoter.

The interactions between different upstream activator sequences (UAS) and the downstream transcriptional elements of the TRP1 promoter were studied. We have inserted the UAS from the PGK gene into a series of TRP1 promoter deletions such that the PGK UAS is positioned at various distances upstream from or replaces the TRP1 UAS (UAST1). We show that activation of the TRP1 transcription unit I by the PGK UAS shows a marked position dependence, which is solely a function of the position of the PGKUAS relative to sequences involved in the determination of the RNA initiation sites in the TRP1 promoter. No cooperative activation is seen when both UASs are present in the promoter; the PGK UAS is dominant and is not repressed by the TRP1 negative element. In addition, we show that the PGK and TRP1 UASs interact differently with TATA sequence at the TRP1 RNA initiation site. Our results suggest that these UASs are functionally distinct because they use different mechanisms for activating heterologous promoters.

Aldose-Ketose Isomerases↗
PubMed1991

Retroelement particles as purification, presentation and targeting vehicles.

The manipulation of retrotransposon and retroviral particles to carry biologically active molecules is becoming feasible. In addition, recent experiments suggest that it may be possible to target these engineered particles to specific cell types. This has implications for gene therapy, biological drug delivery and vaccine design.

Antigens↗
PubMed1991

Induction of high-titer neutralizing antibodies, using hybrid human immunodeficiency virus V3-Ty viruslike particles in a clinically relevant adjuvant.

The localization of neutralization determinants within the envelope glycoproteins of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has been largely achieved by immunizing small animals in conjunction with Freund's adjuvant. However, for eventual use in humans, candidate HIV vaccine components must also be efficacious in a nontoxic formulation. We describe here the production of hybrid Ty viruslike particles carrying the major neutralizing domain of HIV and demonstrate the induction of high-titer virus-neutralizing antibodies and an HIV-specific T-cell proliferative response after immunization in conjunction with aluminum hydroxide. As aluminum hydroxide and aluminum phosphate are the only adjuvants currently licensed for use in humans, these observations have implications for the development of an effective vaccine against HIV.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

Phosphorylation influences the binding of the yeast RAP1 protein to the upstream activating sequence of the PGK gene.

Yeast repressor activator protein 1 (RAP1) binds in vitro to specific DNA sequences that are found in diverse genetic elements. Expression of the yeast phosphoglycerate kinase gene (PGK) requires the binding of RAP1 to the activator core sequence within the upstream activating sequence (UAS) of PGK. A DNA fragment Z+ which contains the activator core sequence of the PGK(UAS) has been shown to bind RAP1. Here we report that phosphatase treatment of RAP1 affected its binding to the PGK(UAS) but that this depended on the nature of the sequence flanking the 5' end of the activator core sequence. When the sequence flanking the 5' end of the activator core sequence was different from the PGK RAP1-binding site, phosphatase treatment of RAP1 decreased its binding to the DNA. When the 5' end of the binding site was a match to the PGK RAP1-binding site dephosphorylation of RAP1 increased RAP1 binding to the DNA. These observations were reproduced when the minimal functional DNA-binding domain of the RAP1 protein was used, implicating a phosphorylation-dependent binding of RAP1. This is the first evidence for phosphorylation-dependent binding of RAP1.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

Purification and secondary structure determination of simian immunodeficiency virus p27.

We have developed a novel method for the expression and purification of p27, the major core protein of simian immunodeficiency virus. Circular dichroism measurements of purified p27 were used to determine the relative amounts of alpha-helix, beta-sheet and unordered secondary structural elements. These empirically determined values appear to be inconsistent with previously published theoretical models based on homology comparisons.

Circular Dichroism↗
PubMed1990

ARS binding factor 1 binds adjacent to RAP1 at the UASs of the yeast glycolytic genes PGK and PYK1.

The UAS of the yeast gene encoding the glycolytic enzyme phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK) contains several different sequence elements involved in transcriptional activation. These elements include the activator core sequence, which is bound by the RAP1 protein, and three copies of the pentamer sequence 5' CTTCC 3'. Upstream of the activator core sequence is a region (Yfp), identified as the site of a strong DNA-protein interaction. The Yfp region contains the consensus binding site for the factor ABF1. We have purified the Y protein, which binds to the Yfp region, to homogeneity. The Y protein migrates as a doublet on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with an apparent molecular weight of 125 KDa. These properties are similar to those of ABF1. ABF1 synthesised in vitro bound strongly to the Yfp region and formed a gel retardation complex of identical mobility to the complex formed by the Y protein. UAS1 of the pyruvate kinase gene (PYK1) promoter contains a RAP1 binding site and single copy of the CTTCC sequence. We have now identified an ABF1 binding site close to the RAP1 binding site and CTTCC sequence in the PYK1 promoter. This site is strongly bound by ABF1 in vitro. The organisation of the PGK and PYK1 UASs is thus similar to each other and to the transcriptional silencer HMR(E) which also contains these sequences.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1990

A nuclear translational block imposed by the HIV-1 U3 region is relieved by the Tat-TAR interaction.

Replication of HIV-1 depends on the viral Tat protein, which functions via a target sequence, TAR, present in the proviral long terminal repeat (LTR) and at the 5' end of viral mRNAs. We have shown that Tat potentiates the expression of TAR-containing RNAs, but only when Tat and the TAR-containing RNA are present in the nucleus. We now show that a small change in the TAR loop abolishes nuclear potentiation by Tat. Furthermore, the HIV-1 U3 region induces expression incompetence in mRNA synthesized by this promoter. RNAs of identical structure are, however, translated efficiently when produced from the CMV-IE promoter. The Tat-TAR system appears, therefore, to rescue the expression potential of HIV-1 LTR-directed RNA.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Characterisation of the DNA binding domain of the yeast RAP1 protein.

The 827 amino acid yeast RAP1 protein interacts with DNA to regulate gene expression at numerous unrelated loci in the yeast genome. By a combination of amino, carboxy and internal deletions, we have defined an internal 235 amino acid fragment of the yeast RAP1 protein that can bind efficiently to the RAP1 binding site of the PGK Upstream Activation Sequence (UAS). This domain spans residues 361 to 596 of the full length protein and lacks any homology to the DNA binding 'zinc finger' or 'helix-turn-helix' structural motifs. All the RAP1 binding sites we have tested bind domain 361-596, arguing that RAP1 binds all its chromosomal sites via this domain. The domain could not be further reduced in size suggesting that it represents the minimal functional DNA binding domain. The relevance of potential regions of secondary structure within the minimal binding domain is discussed.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1990

HIV p24-specific helper T cell clones from immunized primates recognize highly conserved regions of HIV-1.

We have investigated Th cell recognition of the HIV core protein p24 by using CD4+ T cell clones derived from cynomolgus macaques immunized with hybrid HIV p24: Ty virus-like particles (VLP). T cell lines from two immunized animals responded to p24: Ty-VLP, control Ty-VLP, purified p24, and whole inactivated HIV, indicating the presence of T cells specific for p24 as well as the Ty carrier protein. The HIV determinants recognized by the T cell lines were identified by using a series of overlapping peptides synthesized according to the sequence of p24. Both T cell lines recognized peptide 11 (amino acids 235-249) and peptide 14 (amino acids 265-279). In addition, one T cell line also responded to peptide 9 (amino acids 215-229). Definitive identification of two T cell epitopes on p24 was confirmed at the clonal level: from a total of four T cell clones generated from one of the T cell lines, two respond specifically to peptide 11 and two to peptide 14. The T cell clones were CD4+ and MHC class II-restricted and secreted IL-2 in response to stimulation with purified p24, inactivated HIV or a single synthetic peptide. The specificity of the Th clones for variant peptides demonstrated cross-reactivity with two simian immunodeficiency virus isolates, but only limited responses to HIV-2 sequences. However, the Th cell epitopes identified on p24 are highly conserved between 12 HIV-1 isolates and were recognized by both of the immunized primates. These sequences may therefore be useful for priming a broadly reactive immune response to HIV-1.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

Performance characteristics of a novel immunoassay based on hybrid Ty virus-like particles (Ty-VLPs): rapid differentiation between HIV-1 and HIV-2 infection.

Recombinant antigens containing all or parts of the HIV-1 proteins p24, Nef and gp41 and HIV-2 gp36 have been purified and used to develop a rapid immunoassay to detect and differentiate between HIV-1 and HIV-2 antibodies in a single test. The antigens were produced as particulate fusion proteins by exploiting the ability of a protein encoded by the yeast retrotransposon Ty to assemble into virus-like particles (Ty-VLPs). Hybrid HIV: Ty-VLPs carrying each of the antigens were applied to nitrocellulose strips at specified locations in a slot-blot format and then used to detect antibodies present in human serum and plasma samples of diverse geographical origin. Previously confirmed HIV-1- and HIV-2-positive samples were readily and reliably identified. The assay was used to identify a case of HIV-2 infection in an African woman who had been resident in the Oxford region for the last 3 years and to analyse the prevalence of anti-HIV antibodies in a longitudinal study of seroconverting patients. We also demonstrate that the assay works efficiently with whole blood.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Characterization of the transcriptional potency of sub-elements of the UAS of the yeast PGK gene in a PGK mini-promoter.

The upstream activator (UAS) of the yeast PGK gene comprises three different sequence elements. These are 1) a region of strong protein binding called the YFP, 2) three repeats of the motif CTTCC and 3) an essential activator core (AC) sequence that binds the protein RAP1. To assess the function of each of these elements in transcriptional activation we have inserted them individually and in various combinations into a PGK mini-promoter. This comprises only the transcription initiation elements from the PGK promoter and is inactive in the absence of activator sequences. None of the individual sequence elements was capable of activating the mini-promoter. However either the YFP or the CTTCC boxes in conjunction with the AC box resulted in efficient expression. Transcription levels were not however as high as when all three elements were inserted. These data suggest that the efficiency of PGK transcription depends upon the interactions between three different sequences. Furthermore while RAP1 per se is not a transcriptional activator it can associate promiscuously with other factors to create a functional transcription complex.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1989

Host-vector systems.

In 1980 it was only possible to express foreign genes in bacteria and a few easily cultured animal cells. During the subsequent eight years specialized vectors have been developed to allow the genetic manipulation of a wide range of both prokaryotes and eukaryotes. One of the major goals of biotechnology in 1980 was to use host cells as 'factories' for the production of proteins that were only available in minute quantities from natural sources. This has already lead to a new generation of pharmaceutical products. Advances in our understanding of host-vector systems have defined new goals. The basic concepts of expression vector design will be illustrated. Some of the new goals are discussed with particular reference to the exploitation of novel host-vector systems to develop vaccines and anti-viral agents against AIDS.

Cloning, Molecular↗
PubMed1989

HIV-1 TAT "activates" presynthesized RNA in the nucleus.

Replication of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) depends upon the viral TAT protein. TAT stimulates gene expression via a target response sequence (TAR) located within the HIV-1 LTR. As TAR is located in the transcribed region it could act as a signal in either the DNA, the RNA, or both. To test whether TAT acts on transcription and/or posttranscriptionally, we produced TAT in yeast and monitored its activity after microinjection into the nucleus or cytoplasm of Xenopus oocytes. The TAT protein stimulated TAR-dependent expression, but this activation was not inhibited by transcriptional inhibitors. Furthermore, TAR-containing RNA, produced in vitro, was "activated" by TAT after coinjection into oocytes. This activation only occurred, however, when the RNA was injected into the nucleus and not into the cytoplasm. Our data indicate, therefore, that in the Xenopus system TAT acts on presynthesized RNA and that the nucleus is involved in this action.

Animals↗