Arabinosylnucleoside 5'-triphosphate inhibits DNA primase of calf thymus

It has been shown that DNA primase activity is tightly associated with 10S DNA polymerase alpha from calf thymus and that the ribonucleotide-dependent DNA synthesis is more sensitive to araCTP than DNA-primed DNA synthesis (Yoshida, S., et al. (1983) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 741, 348-357). Here we measured DNA primase activity using poly(dT) template or M13 bacteriophage single-stranded DNA template and primer RNA synthesis was coupled to the reaction by Escherichia coli DNA polymerase I Klenow fragment. By this method, the primer RNA synthesis can be measured independently of the associating DNA polymerase alpha. Using poly(dT) template, it was found that arabinosyladenine 5'-triphosphate (araATP) strongly inhibited DNA primase in competition with rATP. The apparent Ki for araATP was 21 microM and the ratio of Ki/Km (for rATP) was as low as 0.015. With poly(dI, dT) or M13 DNA, it was shown that araCTP also inhibited DNA primase in the similar manner. Product analysis using [alpha-32P]rATP showed that araATP inhibited the elongation of primer RNA. However, it is not likely that arabinosylnucleotides act as chain-terminators, since incubation of primer RNA with araATP did not abolish its priming activity. From these results, it is suggested that arabinosylnucleotide inhibits the initiation as well as elongation of Okazaki fragments in mammalian cells.

The primase activity of DNA polymerase alpha from calf thymus

The nearly homogeneous 9 S DNA polymerase alpha from calf thymus contains a primase activity that allows priming of DNA synthesis on single-stranded templates in the presence of ribonucleoside triphosphates. Both on synthetic and natural single-stranded templates, RNA primers of 8-15 nucleotides in length are formed. In the absence of dNTPs, primers of some hundred nucleotides in length are observable. ATP and/or GTP are required for the priming reaction. UTP and CTP cannot initiate the RNA synthesis. M13 single-stranded DNA can be converted to the nicked double helical form upon primase-primed replication by the 9 S enzyme. Priming occurs mostly at specific sites on the M13 genome and replication products of up to 6000 nucleotides in length are formed. In the presence of the single-stranded DNA binding protein from Escherichia coli, specificity of priming is strongly increased. The primase is inhibited by salt and actinomycin; it is insensitive to alpha-amanitin and N-ethylmaleimide. Due to the strong complex formation between DNA polymerase and primase, it has not been possible to separate the two activities of the multisubunit 9 S enzyme.

Influence of membrane (M) protein on influenza A virus virion transcriptase activity in vitro and its susceptibility to rimantadine

The transcriptase activity of influenza A virus ribonucleoproteins was inhibited by 42 to 49% in vitro in the presence of membrane (M) protein. The addition of M protein to the system of ribonucleoprotein preparations isolated from rimantadine-sensitive or rimantadine-resistant influenza virus strains, as well as the addition of M protein isolated from a sensitive strain, in the presence of rimantadine further inhibited the transcriptase activity of such complexes by approximately 40%. In the system containing the same ribonucleoprotein preparations, but with M protein isolated from a rimantadine-resistant influenza virus strain, the transcriptase activity was not sensitive to rimantadine. The data show that M protein can influence the activity of influenza A virus virion transcriptase and that the susceptibility of influenza virus to rimantadine may be due to the peculiarities of M protein.

Reversible inactivation of tRNA nucleotidyltransferase from baker's yeast by tRNAPhe containing iodoacetamide-alkylated 2-thiocytidine in normal and additional positions

2-Thiocytidine 5'-triphosphate, s2CTP, is able to replace CTP as a substrate for tRNA nucleotidyltransferase. s2CMP can be incorporated into both cytidine sites of the C-C-A terminus common to all tRNAs, and in the absence of ATP into at least two additional positions. This was shown by alkylation of the 2-thiocytidine residues with iodo[14C]acetamide, total nucleoside analysis, microgel electrophoresis and analysis of RNase T1 fragments of these tRNAs. The incorporation of the 3'-terminal AMP is not influenced by the additional s2CMP residues at pH 9.0. However, at pH 7.6 the additional s2CMP residues are hydrolysed and AMP can be incorporated into the normal position. Two different tRNAs with terminal 2-thiocytidine alkylated by iodoacetamide inhibit tRNA nucleotidyltransferase. This inhibition is significantly slower if an elongated species is used compared to a tRNA with alkylated 2-thiocytidine in the normal position 75. The addition of 2-mercaptoethanol reactivates the enzyme and leads to a cytidine containing tRNA. This reaction identifies the attacking nucleophile of the enzyme as cysteine residue, which is probably identical to a cysteine residue found in a similar experiment reported previously. The mechanism of the enzymatic and chemical reactions is discussed.

Role of the membrane (M) protein in endogenous inhibition of in vitro transcription by vesicular stomatitis virus

An endogenous transcriptase inhibitor active at high concentrations of vesicular stomatitis (VS) virus was present in trypsinized whole virions but was absent from ribonucleoprotein cores containing only the L, N, and NS proteins. Poly(L-glutamic acid) effectively reversed the transcriptase inhibition. Transcription under noninhibited, inhibited, and poly(L-glutamic acid)-reversed conditions did not appear to greatly affect the nature of the RNA transcription product. The VS virion matrix (M) protein was purified to greater than 98% homogeneity and was found to have an isoelectric point of approximately 9.0. Purified M protein inhibited transcription by ribonucleoprotein cores, an effect that was partially reversed by poly(L-glutamic acid). Two group III temperature-sensitive (ts) mutants of VS virus (tsO23 and ts G31) with lesions in the M protein exhibited little or no endogenous inhibitor activity compared with two wild-type strains and a group V mutant (tsO45) with a lesion in the G protein. The data presented strongly suggest that the virion M protein is responsible for the endogenous inhibition of in vitro RNA synthesis seen at high concentrations of VS virus.

Inhibition of primase, the dnaG protein of Escherichia coli by 2'-deoxy-2'-azidocytidine triphosphate

2'-Deoxy-2'-azidocytidine-5'-triphosphate was investigated as an inhibitor in two reconstructed enzyme systems which catalyze the replication of two viral DNAs. During replication of the duplex replicative form of phiX174 DNA, DNA polymerase III holoenzyme was weakly inhibited and inhibition was reversed by dCTP. A more pronounced inhibition, not reversed by either dCTP or CTP, was observed during replication of the single-stranded DNA of the bacteriophage G4, a close relative of phiX174. This effect depended on the incorporation of 2'-deoxy-2'-azidocytidine-5'-triphosphate by primase (dnaG protein) which synthesizes a 29-residue RNA primer at the unique origin of bacteriophage G4 DNA replication. Extension of the primer strand, terminated by 2'-deoxy-2'-azidocytidine-5'-triphosphate is then severely inhibited. Primase was also inhibited by the 2'-deoxy-2'-azido derivatives of ATP, GTP, and UTP.

Ribonucleotidyl transferase in preparations of partially purified DNA polymerase alpha of the sea urchin

Three ribonucleotidyl transferase types have been described in the sea urchin: riboadenylate trnasferase, the DNA dependent RNA polymerases, and a DNA polymerase associated ribonucleotidyl transferase (Biochemistry 15:3106-3113, 1976). In the present work this latter ribonucleotidyl transferase was found to purify with DNA polymerase alpha through phosphocellulose, DEAE-Sephadex and DNA cellulose and to cosediment at 6.5 S. This ribonucleotidyl transferase was active with Mn+2, but not Mg+2, on calf thymus DNA and poly(dC). Other synthetic templates elicited DNA polymerase alpha but no ribonucleotidyl transferase activity. From alkaline hydrolysates of the poly(dC) directed GTP polymerization, we found Goh and Gp in a ratio of 1:16 indicating an average chain length of 17 residues after a 20 min reaction. Co-polymerization of GTP (5 micrometer) and dGTP (10 micrometer) yielded a non-random distribution of the ribonucleotide in the deoxyribonucleotide. The properties of this urchin ribonucleotidyl transferase are unlike any previously described eukaryotic transferase and the data is discussed with reference to the known properties of E. coli DNA polymerase I and the primase.

Kinetic mechanism of tRNA nucleotidyltransferase from Escherichia coli

A kinetic analysis of the incorporation of AMP into tRNA lacking the 3'-terminal residue by tRNA nucleotidyltransferase (EC 2.2.7.25) from Escherichia coli is presented. Initial velocity studies demonstrate that the mechanism is sequential and that high concentrations of tRNA give rise to substrate inhibition which is noncompetitive with respect to ATP. In addition, the substrate inhibition is more pronounced in the presence of pyrophosphate, which suggests the formation of an inhibitory enzyme-pyrophosphate-tRNA complex. Noncompetitive product inhibition is observed between all possible pairs of substrates and products. ADP and alpha,beta-methylene adenosine triphosphate are competitive dead end inhibitors of ATP, while the latter is a noncompetitive dead end inhibitor of the tRNA substrate. A nonrapid equilibrium random mechanism is proposed which is consistent with these data and offers an explanation for the noncompetitive substrate inhibition by tRNA.

Preferential inhibition by poly(adenylic acid) of minus-strand synthesis by bacteriophage Qbeta ribonucleic acid replicase

Among the homopolymers examined, poly(A) was found to inhibit preferentially the synthesis of the minus strand by bacteriophage Qbeta RNA replicase in the presence of host factor. A specific interaction of poly(A) with the host factor is suggested to be a principal cause for the observed preferential inhibition by poly(A) of the host-factor-requiring Qbeta RNA replicase reaction.

Inhibition of transfer ribonucleic acid nucleotidyl transferase (EC 2.7.7.25) from Ehrlich tumor cells by proflavine sulfate and ethidium bromide

Transfer RNA nucleotidyl transferase from Ehrlich tumor cells was inhibited by proflavine sulfate and ethidium bromide but not by actinomycin D, chromomycin, rifamycin SV, rifampin, daunomycin, or alpha-amanitin. Complete inhibition of nucleotidyl transferase activity was attained at a final concentration of 1 mmol/1 proflavine sulfate, while 2 mmol/1 ethidium bromide was required to completely inhibit the enzyme. CMP incorporation into tRNA was more sensitive to both proflavine sulfate and ethidium bromide than was AMP incorporation.

In vivo activity of an inhibitor of influenza virus-induced ribonucleic acid polymerase

We have examined and compared the effects of monovalent and divalent cation salts on dihydrostreptomycin (DSM) action against Mycobacterium smegmatis. The Sauton synthetic liquid medium used was supplemented with test salts on the basis of ionic strength (μ). Turbidimetric growth experiments showed that 0.02 M MgSO₄ (μ = 0.08) prevented growth inhibition by 0.1 μg of dihydrostreptomycin per ml, but 0.02 M NaCl (μ = 0.02) did not. However, at molarities equivalent to μ = 0.08, four monovalent cation salts, including NaCl, Na₂SO₄, NH₄Cl, and (NH₄)₂SO₄, all prevented inhibition by dihydrostreptomycin. When magnesium and sodium salts were compared at μ = 0.02, 0.04, and 0.05, two distinct growth protective patterns were seen. These data were indicative of two different mechanisms of dihydrostreptomycin antagnosim by salts; the first being divalent cation and concentration dependent, and the second being nonspecific and ionic strength dependent. Viability studies supported the existence of two mechanisms.

Virucidal effect of sodium p-chloromercuribenzoate on influenza viruses attributable to inhibition of virus particle-associated RNA-dependent RNA polymerase

Sodium p-chloromercuribenzoate (PCMB) caused a noticeable reduction of infectivity of prototype strains of type A and Lee strain of type B influenza viruses at concentrations of 100 and 200 mug/ml, respectively, after an incubation at 37 C for 60 min. The virucidal effect on A/AA/2/60 (H2N2) strain was dependent on the concentration of the drug and temperature as well as on the time of incubation. The reagent exerted this effect at a concentration which induced little change in the hemagglutinating and neuraminidase activities of the virus. PCMB inhibited by 50% the virus particle-associated RNA polymerase activity of all prototype strains of type A influenza virus at about 2 mug/ml and that of Lee strain of type B influenza virus at 8.5 mug/ml. Other sulfhydryl reagent such as phenylmercuric nitrate also exhibited virucidal effect on A/AA/2/60 virus which paralleled their inhibition of the virus particle-associated RNA polymerase activity. From these results it was considered likely that the virucidal action of PCMB on influenza viruses was attributable to inhibition of the virus particle-associated RNA polymerase activity.

Conversion of phiX174 and fd single-stranded DNA to replicative forms in extracts of Escherichia coli

varphiX174 and M13 (fd) single-stranded circular DNAs are converted to their replicative forms by extracts of E. coli pol A1 cells. We find that the varphiX174 DNA-dependent reaction requires Mg(++), ATP, and all four deoxynucleoside triphosphates, but not CTP, UTP, or GTP. This reaction also involves the products of the dnaC, dnaD, dnaE (DNA polymerase III), and dnaG genes, but not that of dnaF (ribonucleotide reductase). The in vitro conversion of fd single-stranded DNA to the replicative form requires all four ribonucleoside triphosphates, Mg(++), and all four deoxynucleoside triphosphates. The reaction involves the product of gene dnaE but not those of genes dnaC, dnaD, dnaF, or dnaG. The reaction with fd DNA is inhibited by rifampicin or antibody to RNA polymerase, while the reaction with varphiX174 DNA is not affected by either. With the varphiX174 DNA-dependent reaction, activities have been detected that specifically complement extracts of dnaA, dnaB, dnaC, dnaD, or dnaG mutants.