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RNase E polypeptides lacking a carboxyl-terminal half suppress a mukB mutation in Escherichia coli.

We have isolated suppressor mutants that suppress temperature-sensitive colony formation and anucleate cell production of a mukB mutation. A linkage group (smbB) of the suppressor mutations is located in the rne/ams/hmp gene encoding the processing endoribonuclease RNase E. All of the rne (smbB) mutants code for truncated RNase E polypeptides lacking a carboxyl-terminal half. The amount of MukB protein was higher in these rne mutants than that in the rne+ strain. These rne mutants grew nearly normally in the mukB+ genetic background. The copy number of plasmid pBR322 in these rne mutants was lower than that in the rne+ isogenic strain. The results suggest that these rne mutations increase the half-lives of mukB mRNA and RNAI of pBR322, the antisense RNA regulating ColE1-type plasmid replication. We have demonstrated that the wild-type RNase E protein bound to polynucleotide phosphorylase (PNPase) but a truncated RNase E polypeptide lacking the C-terminal half did not. We conclude that the C-terminal half of RNase E is not essential for viability but plays an important role for binding with PNPase. RNase E and PNPase of the multiprotein complex presumably cooperate for effective processing and turnover of specific substrates, such as mRNAs and other RNAs in vivo.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Specific in vivo protein-protein interactions between Escherichia coli SOS mutagenesis proteins.

One of the components of the RecA-LexA-controlled SOS response in Escherichia coli cells is an inducible error-prone DNA replication pathway that results in a substantial increase in the mutation rate. It is believed that error-prone DNA synthesis is performed by a multiprotein complex that is formed by UmuC, UmuD', RecA, and probably DNA polymerase III holoenzyme. It is postulated that the formation of such a complex requires specific interactions between these proteins. We have analyzed the specific protein-protein interactions between UmuC, UmuD, and UmuD' fusion proteins, using a Saccharomyces cerevisiae two-hybrid system. In agreement with previous in vitro data, we have shown that UmuD and UmuD' are able to form both homodimers (UmuD-UmuD and UmuD'-UmuD') and a heterodimer (UmuD-UmuD'). Our data show that UmuC fusion protein is capable of interacting exclusively with UmuD' and not with UmuD. Thus, posttranslational processing of UmuD into UmuD' is a critical step in SOS mutagenesis, enabling only the latter protein to interact with UmuC. Our data seem to indicate that the integrity of the entire UmuC sequence is essential for UmuC-UmuD' heterotypic interaction. Finally, in our studies, we used three different UmuC mutant proteins: UmuC25, UmuC36, and UmuC104. We have found that UmuC25 and UmuC36 are not capable of associating with UmuD'. In contrast, UmuC104 protein interacts with UmuD' protein with an efficiency identical to that of the wild-type protein. We postulate that UmuC104 protein might be defective in interaction with another, unknown protein essential for the SOS mutagenesis pathway.

Bacterial Proteins↗

The Escherichia coli mrsC gene is required for cell growth and mRNA decay.

We have identified a gene in Escherichia coli that is required for both the normal decay of mRNA and RNA synthesis. Originally designated mrsC (mRNA stability), the mrsC505 mutation described here is, in fact, an allele of the hflB/ftsH locus (R.-F. Wang et al., J. Bacteriol. 180:1929-1938, 1998). Strains carrying the thermosensitive mrsC505 allele stopped growing soon after the temperature was shifted to 44 degrees C but remained viable for several hours. Net RNA synthesis stopped within 20 min after the shift, while DNA and protein synthesis continued for over 60 min. At 44 degrees C, the half-life of total pulse-labeled RNA rose from 2.9 min in a wild-type strain to 5.9 min in the mrsC505 single mutant. In an rne-1 mrsC505 double mutant, the average half-life was 19.8 min. Inactivating mrsC significantly increased the half-lives of the trxA, cat, secG, and kan mRNAs, particularly in an mrsC505 pnp-7 rnb-500 rne-1 multiple mutant. In addition, Northern analysis showed dramatic stabilizations of full-length mRNAs in a variety of mrsC505 multiple mutants at 44 degrees C. These results suggest that MrsC, directly or indirectly, controls endonucleolytic processing of mRNAs that may be independent of the RNase E-PNPase-RhlB multiprotein complex.

Blotting, Northern↗

In vitro characterization of peptidoglycan-associated lipoprotein (PAL)-peptidoglycan and PAL-TolB interactions.

The Tol-peptidoglycan-associated lipoprotein (PAL) system of Escherichia coli is a multiprotein complex of the envelope involved in maintaining outer membrane integrity. PAL and the periplasmic protein TolB, two components of this complex, are interacting with each other, and they have also been reported to interact with OmpA and the major lipoprotein, two proteins interacting with the peptidoglycan. All these interactions suggest a role of the Tol-PAL system in anchoring the outer membrane to the peptidoglycan. Therefore, we were interested in better understanding the interaction between PAL and the peptidoglycan. We designed an in vitro interaction assay based on the property of purified peptidoglycan to be pelleted by ultracentrifugation. Using this assay, we showed that a purified PAL protein interacted in vitro with pure peptidoglycan. A peptide competition experiment further demonstrated that the region from residues 89 to 130 of PAL was sufficient to bind the peptidoglycan. Moreover, the fact that this same region of PAL was also binding to TolB suggested that these two interactions were exclusive. Indeed, the TolB-PAL complex appeared not to be associated with the peptidoglycan. This led us to the conclusion that PAL may exist in two forms in the cell envelope, one bound to TolB and the other bound to the peptidoglycan.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Feruloyl esterase activity of the Clostridium thermocellum cellulosome can be attributed to previously unknown domains of XynY and XynZ.

The cellulosome of Clostridium thermocellum is a multiprotein complex with endo- and exocellulase, xylanase, beta-glucanase, and acetyl xylan esterase activities. XynY and XynZ, components of the cellulosome, are composed of several domains including xylanase domains and domains of unknown function (UDs). Database searches revealed that the C- and N-terminal UDs of XynY and XynZ, respectively, have sequence homology with the sequence of a feruloyl esterase of strain PC-2 of the anaerobic fungus Orpinomyces. Purified cellulosomes from C. thermocellum were found to hydrolyze FAXX (O-(5-O-[(E)-feruloyl]-alpha-L-arabinofuranosyl)-(1-->3)-O-beta-D- xyl opyranosyl-(1-->4)-D-xylopyranose) and FAX(3) (5-O-[(E)-feruloyl]-[O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->2)]-O-alpha-L- arabinofuranosyl-[1-->3])-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->4)-D-xylopyranose) , yielding ferulic acid as a product, indicating that they have feruloyl esterase activity. Nucleotide sequences corresponding to the UDs of XynY and XynZ were cloned into Escherichia coli, and the expressed proteins hydrolyzed FAXX and FAX(3). The recombinant feruloyl esterase domain of XynZ alone (FAE(XynZ)) and with the adjacent cellulose binding domain (FAE-CBD(XynZ)) were characterized. FAE-CBD(XynZ) had a molecular mass of 45 kDa that corresponded to the expected product of the 1,203-bp gene. K(m) and V(max) values for FAX(3) were 5 mM and 12.5 U/mg, respectively, at pH 6.0 and 60 degrees C. PAX(3), a substrate similar to FAX(3) but with a p-coumaroyl group instead of a feruloyl moiety was hydrolyzed at a rate 10 times slower. The recombinant enzyme was active between pH 3 to 10 with an optimum between pH 4 to 7 and at temperatures up to 70 degrees C. Treatment of Coastal Bermuda grass with the enzyme released mainly ferulic acid and a lower amount of p-coumaric acid. FAE(XynZ) had similar properties. Removal of the 40 C-terminal amino acids, residues 247 to 286, of FAE(XynZ) resulted in protein without activity. Feruloyl esterases are believed to aid in a release of lignin from hemicellulose and may be involved in lignin solubilization. The presence of feruloyl esterase in the C. thermocellum cellulosome together with its other hydrolytic activities demonstrates a powerful enzymatic potential of this organelle in plant cell wall decomposition.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Identification of XcpZ domains required for assembly of the secreton of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Most of the exoproteins secreted by Pseudomonas aeruginosa are transported via the type II secretion system. This machinery, which is widely conserved in gram-negative bacteria, consists of 12 Xcp proteins organized as a multiprotein complex, also called the secreton. We previously reported that the mutual stabilization of XcpZ and XcpY plays an important role in the assembly of the secreton. In this study, we engineered variant XcpZ proteins by using linker insertion mutagenesis. We identified three distinct regions of XcpZ required for both the stabilization of XcpY and the functionality of the secreton. Interestingly, we also demonstrated that another component of the machinery, XcpP, can modulate the stabilizing activity of XcpZ on XcpY.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Three-dimensional electron microscopic imaging of membrane invaginations in Escherichia coli overproducing the chemotaxis receptor Tsr.

Electron tomography is a powerful method for determining the three-dimensional structures of large macromolecular assemblies, such as cells, organelles, and multiprotein complexes, when crystallographic averaging methods are not applicable. Here we used electron tomographic imaging to determine the molecular architecture of Escherichia coli cells engineered to overproduce the bacterial chemotaxis receptor Tsr. Tomograms constructed from fixed, cryosectioned cells revealed that overproduction of Tsr led to formation of an extended internal membrane network composed of stacks and extended tubular structures. We present an interpretation of the tomogram in terms of the packing arrangement of Tsr using constraints derived from previous X-ray and electron-crystallographic studies of receptor clusters. Our results imply that the interaction between the cytoplasmic ends of Tsr is likely to stabilize the presence of the membrane networks in cells overproducing Tsr. We propose that membrane invaginations that are potentially capable of supporting axial interactions between receptor clusters in apposing membranes could also be present in wild-type E. coli and that such receptor aggregates could play an important role in signal transduction during bacterial chemotaxis.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Assembly of double-shelled, viruslike particles of bluetongue virus by the simultaneous expression of four structural proteins.

Bluetongue is a disease of ruminants. The etiologic agent is bluetongue virus (BTV), a gnat-transmitted member of the Orbivirus genus of the Reoviridae. The virus has a genome of 10 double-stranded RNA species L1 to L3, M4 to M6, S7 to S10). The L2 and M5 genes of BTV which encode the outer capsid proteins VP2 and VP5, respectively, were inserted into a recombinant baculovirus downstream of duplicated copies of the baculovirus polyhedrin promoter. Insect cells coinfected with this virus plus a recombinant baculovirus expressing the two major core proteins VP3 and VP7 of BTV (T.J. French and P. Roy, J. Virol. 64:1530-1536, 1990) synthesized noninfectious, double-shelled, viruslike particles. When purified, these particles were found to have the same size and appearance as authentic BTV virions and exhibited high levels of hemagglutination activity. Antibodies raised to the expressed particles contained high titers of neutralizing activity against the homologous BTV serotype. The assembly of these bluetongue viruslike particles after the simultaneous expression of four separate proteins is indicative of the potential of this technology for the production of a new generation of viral vaccines and for the study of complex, multiprotein structures.

Animals↗

Distinct regions in human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I tax mediate interactions with activator protein CREB and basal transcription factors.

Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) transactivator Tax augments transcription from three (cyclic AMP response element (CRE)-containing 21-bp repeats in the viral long terminal repeat and several other cis regulatory elements, including the NF-kappa B binding sites and the serum response element. Tax does not bind DNA directly; rather, it acts via cellular sequence-specific DNA binding proteins to stimulate transcription. We have shown recently that Tax forms multiprotein complexes with the heterodimeric and homodimeric forms of a ubiquitous cellular transcription factor, CREB (CRE binding protein). In vitro selection for preferred Tax-CREB binding sites indicates that the Tax-CREB complex exhibits greatly increased DNA recognition specificity and assembles preferentially on CRE motifs, TGACGT/C, flanked by long runs of G (5') and/or C (3') residues, as found in the HTLV-I 21-bp repeats. The indirect tethering of Tax to the 21-bp repeats via CREB is crucial for Tax transactivation. We now report the domain organization of Tax by characterizing its mutants. Tax mutants with alterations in the NH2 terminus, including three deletion mutants, Tax(6-353), Tax(21-353), and Tax(89-353), and two amino acid substitution mutants, M1 (H3S) and M7 (C29A, P30S), all failed to interact with CREB in vitro. In contrast, a short COOH-terminal deletion, Tax(1-319), and a Tax mutant with amino acid substitutions near the COOH end, M47 (L319R, L320S), were able to interact with CREB and the 21-bp repeats to assemble ternary Tax-CREB-DNA complexes. As demonstrated earlier, M1, M7, and M47 all failed to transactivate the HTLV-I long terminal repeat. Our data indicate that the defects in M1 and M7 result from an inability to interact with CREB. In contrast, the COOH-terminal mutations in M47 most likely inactivated the transactivation domain of Tax. As anticipated, a Tax mutant, M22 (G137A, L138S) which activated transcription from the 21-bp repeats with reduced capacity and was defective in trans activating the NF-kappa B binding sites, continued to interact with CREB in vitro, albeit with a lower level of efficiency. Finally, a glutathione S-transferase (GST)-Tax fusion protein with the GST moiety fused to the NH2 terminus of Tax failed to interact with CREB. Removal of the GST domain from GST-Tax by thrombin restores Tax's ability to assemble a ternary Tax-CREB-21-bp-repeat complex.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PITALRE, the catalytic subunit of TAK, is required for human immunodeficiency virus Tat transactivation in vivo.

The human cdc2-related kinase PITALRE is the catalytic component of TAK, the Tat-associated kinase. Previously, we have proposed that TAK is a cellular factor that mediates Tat transactivation function. Here we demonstrate that transient overexpression of PITALRE specifically squelches Tat-1 activation of both a transfected and an integrated human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) long terminal repeat (LTR), suggesting that PITALRE mediates Tat function as a multiprotein complex. A catalytic mutant of PITALRE, D167N, was found to be more efficient than wild-type PITALRE in squelching Tat transactivation. Neither wild-type PITALRE nor D167N was able to squelch transactivation of the human T-cell leukemia type 1 LTR by the Tax protein. Additionally, we show that artificial targeting of PITALRE to a nascent RNA element, in the absence of Tat, activated HIV-1 LTR expression. These results indicate that a PITALRE-containing complex mediates transactivation by Tat and suggest that Tat proteins function by localizing such a PITALRE-containing complex to the site of the transcribing provirus.

Artificial Gene Fusion↗

The herpesvirus transactivator VP16 mimics a human basic domain leucine zipper protein, luman, in its interaction with HCF.

In human cells infected with herpes simplex virus (HSV), viral gene expression is initiated by the virion protein VP16. VP16 does not bind DNA directly but forms a multiprotein complex on the viral immediate-early gene promoters with two cellular proteins: the POU domain protein Oct-1 and host cell factor (HCF; also called C1, VCAF, and CFF). Despite its apparent role in stabilizing the VP16-induced transcription complex, the natural biological role of HCF is unclear. Only recently HCF has been implicated in control of the cell cycle. To determine the role of HCF in cells and answer why HSV has evolved an HCF-dependent mechanism for the initiation of the lytic cycle, we identified the first human ligand for HCF (R. Lu et al., Mol. Cell. Biol. 17:5117-5126, 1997). This protein, Luman, is a member of the CREB/ATF family of transcription factors that can activate transcription from promoters containing cyclic AMP response elements (CRE). Here we provide evidence that Luman and VP16 share two important structural features: an acidic activation domain and a common mechanism for binding HCF. We found that Luman, its homolog in Drosophila, dCREB-A (also known as BBF-2), and VP16 bind to HCF by a motif, (D/E)HXY(S/A), present in all three proteins. In addition, a mutation (P134S) in HCF that prevents VP16 binding also abolishes its binding to Luman and dCREB-A. We also show that while interaction with HCF is not required for the ability of Luman to activate transcription when tethered to the GAL4 promoter, it appears to be essential for Luman to activate transcription through CRE sites. These data suggest that the HCF-Luman interaction may represent a conserved mechanism for transcriptional regulation in metazoans, and HSV mimics this interaction with HCF to monitor the physiological state of the host cell.

Animals↗

Silencing of the Epstein-Barr virus latent membrane protein 1 gene by the Max-Mad1-mSin3A modulator of chromatin structure.

The tumor-associated latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) gene in the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) genome is activated by EBV-encoded proteins and cellular factors that are part of general signal transduction pathways. As previously demonstrated, the proximal region of the LMP1 promoter regulatory sequence (LRS) contains a negative cis element with a major role in EBNA2-mediated regulation of LMP1 gene expression in B cells. Here, we show that this silencing activity overlaps with a transcriptional enhancer in an LRS sequence that contains an E-box-homologous motif. Mutation of the putative repressor binding site relieved the repression both in a promoter-proximal context and in a complete LRS context, indicating a functional role of the repressor. Gel retardation assays showed that members of the basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor family, including Max, Mad1, USF, E12, and E47, and the corepressor mSin3A bound to the E-box-containing sequence. The enhancer activity correlated with the binding of USF. Moreover, the activity of the LMP1 promoter in reporter constructs was upregulated by overexpression of USF1 and USF2a, and the transactivation was inhibited by the concurrent expression of Max and Mad1. This suggests that Max-Mad1-mediated anchorage of a multiprotein complex including mSin3A and histone deacetylases to the E-box site constitutes the basis for the repression. Removal of acetyl moieties from histones H3 and H4 should result in a chromatin structure that is inaccessible to transcription factors. Accordingly, inhibition of deacetylase activity with trichostatin A induced expression of the endogenous LMP1 gene in EBV-transformed cells.

Base Sequence↗

Herpes simplex virus transactivator VP16 discriminates between HCF-1 and a novel family member, HCF-2.

Herpes simplex virus infection is initiated by VP16, a viral transcription factor that activates the viral immediate-early (IE) genes. VP16 does not recognize the IE gene promoters directly but instead forms a multiprotein complex with Oct-1 and HCF-1, a ubiquitous nuclear protein required for progression through the G1 phase of the cell cycle. The functional significance of recruiting HCF-1 to the VP16-induced complex is not understood. Here we describe the identification of a second HCF-like protein, designated HCF-2. HCF-2 is smaller than HCF-1 but shares three regions of strong amino acid sequence homology, including the beta-propeller domain required for association with VP16. HCF-2 is expressed in many tissues, especially the testis, and shows a more dynamic pattern of subcellular localization than HCF-1. Although HCF-2 associates with VP16 and can support complex assembly with Oct-1 and DNA, it is significantly less efficient than HCF-1. A similar preference is shown by LZIP, a cellular counterpart of VP16. Analysis of chimeric proteins showed that differences between the fifth and sixth kelch repeats of the beta-propeller domains from HCF-1 and HCF-2 dictate this selectivity. These results reveal an unexpected level of specificity in the recruitment of HCF-1 to the VP16-induced complex, paralleling the preferential selection of Oct-1 rather than the closely related POU domain protein Oct-2. Implications for regulation of the viral life cycle are discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Isolation and characterization of noncytopathic pestivirus mutants reveals a role for nonstructural protein NS4B in viral cytopathogenicity.

Isolates of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV), the prototype pestivirus, are divided into cytopathic (cp) and noncytopathic (ncp) biotypes according to their effect on cultured cells. The cp viruses also differ from ncp viruses by the production of viral nonstructural protein NS3. However, the mechanism by which cp viruses induce cytopathic effect in cell culture remains unknown. Here we used a genetic approach to isolate ncp variants that arose from a cp virus at low frequency. A bicistronic BVDV (cp strain NADL) was created that expressed puromycin acetyltransferase as a dominant selectable marker. This bicistronic virus exhibited slightly slower growth kinetics and smaller plaques than NADL but remained cp. A number of independent ncp variants were isolated by puromycin selection. Remarkably, these ncp variants produced NS3 and viral RNA at levels comparable to those of the cp parent. Sequence analyses uncovered no change in NS3, but for all ncp variants a Y2441C substitution at residue 15 of NS4B was found. Introduction of the Y2441C substitution into the NADL or bicistronic cp viruses reconstituted the ncp phenotype. Y2441 is highly conserved among pestiviruses and is located in a region of NS4B predicted to be on the cytosolic side of the endoplasmic reticulum membrane. Other engineered substitutions for Y2441 also affected viral cytopathogenicity and viability, with Y2441V being cp, Y2441A being ncp, and Y2441D rendering the virus unable to replicate. The ncp substitutions for Y2441 resulted in slightly increased levels of NS2-3 relative to NS3. We also showed that NS3, NS4B, and NS5A could be chemically cross-linked in NADL-infected cells, indicating that they are associated as components of a multiprotein complex. Although the mechanism remains to be elucidated, these results demonstrate that mutations in NS4B can attenuate BVDV cytopathogenicity despite NS3 production.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The p127 subunit (DDB1) of the UV-DNA damage repair binding protein is essential for the targeted degradation of STAT1 by the V protein of the paramyxovirus simian virus 5.

The V protein of simian virus 5 (SV5) blocks interferon signaling by targeting STAT1 for proteasome-mediated degradation. Here we present three main pieces of evidence which demonstrate that the p127 subunit (DDB1) of the UV damage-specific DNA binding protein (DDB) plays a central role in this degradation process. First, the V protein of an SV5 mutant which fails to target STAT1 for degradation does not bind DDB1. Second, mutations in the N and C termini of V which abolish the binding of V to DDB1 also prevent V from blocking interferon (IFN) signaling. Third, treatment of HeLa/SV5-V cells, which constitutively express the V protein of SV5 and thus lack STAT1, with short interfering RNAs specific for DDB1 resulted in a reduction in DDB1 levels with a concomitant increase in STAT1 levels and a restoration of IFN signaling. Furthermore, STAT1 is degraded in GM02415 (2RO) cells, which have a mutation in DDB2 (the p48 subunit of DDB) which abolishes its ability to interact with DDB1, thereby demonstrating that the role of DDB1 in STAT1 degradation is independent of its association with DDB2. Evidence is also presented which demonstrates that STAT2 is required for the degradation of STAT1 by SV5. These results suggest that DDB1, STAT1, STAT2, and V may form part of a large multiprotein complex which leads to the targeted degradation of STAT1 by the proteasome.

Animals↗

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Nef binds to tumor suppressor p53 and protects cells against p53-mediated apoptosis.

The nef gene product of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is important for the induction of AIDS, and key to its function is its ability to manipulate T-cell function by targeting cellular signal transduction proteins. We reported that Nef coprecipitates a multiprotein complex from cells which contains tumor suppressor protein p53. We now show that Nef interacts directly with p53. Binding assays showed that an N-terminal, 57-residue fragment of Nef (Nef 1-57) contains the p53-binding domain. Nef also interacted with p53 during HIV-1 infection in vitro. As p53 plays a critical role in the regulation of apoptosis, we hypothesized that Nef may alter this process. Nef inhibited UV light-induced, p53-dependent apoptosis in MOLT-4 cells, with Nef 1-57 being as effective as its full-length counterpart. The inhibition by Nef of p53 apoptotic function is most likely due its observed ability to decrease p53 protein half-life and, consequently, p53 DNA binding activity and transcriptional activation. These data show that HIV-1 Nef may augment HIV replication by prolonging the viability of infected cells by blocking p53-mediated apoptosis.

Apoptosis↗

The oncogenic protein kinase Tpl-2/Cot contributes to Epstein-Barr virus-encoded latent infection membrane protein 1-induced NF-kappaB signaling downstream of TRAF2.

The Epstein-Barr virus-encoded latent infection membrane protein 1 (LMP1) is a pleiotropic protein, the activities of which include effects on cell transformation and phenotype, growth, and survival. The ability of LMP1 to mediate at least some of these phenomena could be attributed to the activation of the transcription factor NF-kappaB. LMP1 promotes NF-kappaB activation through the recruitment of the adapter protein TRAF2 and the formation of a dynamic multiprotein complex that includes the NF-kappaB kinase, the IkappaB kinases, and their downstream targets, IkappaBs and p105. In this study, we have identified the oncogenic kinase Tpl-2/Cot as a novel component of LMP1-induced NF-kappaB signaling. We show that Tpl-2 is expressed in primary biopsies from patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma and Hodgkin's disease, where LMP1 is also found. Inducible expression of LMP1 promotes the activation of Tpl-2, and a catalytically inactive Tpl-2 mutant suppresses LMP1-induced NF-kappaB signaling. In colocalization and coimmunoprecipitation experiments, Tpl-2 and TRAF2 were found to interact with Tpl-2 functioning downstream of TRAF2. Consistent with this observation, catalytically inactive Tpl-2 also blocked CD40-mediated NF-kappaB activation, which largely depends on TRAF2. The ability of Tpl-2 to influence LMP1-induced NF-kappaB occurs through modulation of both IkappaBalpha and p105 functions. Furthermore, Tpl-2 was found to influence the expression of angiogenic mediators, such as COX-2 in LMP1-transfected cells. These data identify Tpl-2 as a component of LMP1 signaling downstream of TRAF2 and as a modulator of LMP1-mediated effects.

3T3 Cells↗

The human polycomb group EED protein interacts with the integrase of human immunodeficiency virus type 1.

Human EED, a member of the superfamily of WD-40 repeat proteins and of the Polycomb group proteins, has been identified as a cellular partner of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) matrix (MA) protein (R. Peytavi et al., J. Biol. Chem. 274:1635-1645, 1999). In the present study, EED was found to interact with HIV-1 integrase (IN) both in vitro and in vivo in yeast. In vitro, data from mutagenesis studies, pull-down assays, and phage biopanning suggested that EED-binding site(s) are located in the C-terminal domain of IN, between residues 212 and 264. In EED, two putative discrete IN-binding sites were mapped to its N-terminal moiety, at a distance from the MA-binding site, but EED-IN interaction also required the integrity of the EED last two WD repeats. EED showed an apparent positive effect on IN-mediated DNA integration reaction in vitro, in a dose-dependent manner. In situ analysis by immunoelectron microscopy (IEM) of cellular distribution of IN and EED in HIV-1-infected cells (HeLa CD4(+) cells or MT4 lymphoid cells) showed that IN and EED colocalized in the nucleus and near nuclear pores, with maximum colocalization events occurring at 6 h postinfection (p.i.). Triple colocalizations of IN, EED, and MA were also observed in the nucleoplasm of infected cells at 6 h p.i., suggesting the ocurrence of multiprotein complexes involving these three proteins at early steps of the HIV-1 virus life cycle. Such IEM patterns were not observed with a noninfectious, envelope deletion mutant of HIV-1.

Amino Acid Sequence↗