Induction of 2'5'-oligoadenylate synthetase activity and a new protein by chick interferon

Induction and maintenance of 2',5'-oligoadenylate synthetase in interferon-treated chicken embryo cells

Treatment of primary cultures of chicken embryo cells with homologous interferon results in a substantial increase in the level of 2',5'-oligoadenylate synthetase activity that can be detected in cell extracts. This increase can be prevented by inhibitors of RNA or protein synthesis and is thus thought to represent the induction of an interferon-inducible gene, perhaps the 2',5'-oligoadenylate synthetase gene itself. To examine this response in greater detail, we studied its kinetics under the following conditions: (i) cessation of interferon treatment after different lengths of time, (ii) delayed inhibition of RNA or protein synthesis, and (iii) combinations of these treatments. The results showed that in cells treated continuously with interferon, the enzyme level reached a peak after 9 h of treatment and then decreased with a half-life of about 30 h, despite the continued presence of interferon. Removal of interferon during induction reduced the peak level of activity that was attained and somewhat accelerated its decline but did not otherwise affect the time-course of the response. On the other hand, removal of interferon after maximum induction clearly accelerated the decay of enzyme activity. This process could be delayed by inhibitors of protein synthesis, which effectively stabilized the induced enzyme. This behavior is reminiscent of other inducible enzymes, such as the steroid-induced tyrosine aminotransferase, and suggests that the level of 2',5'-oligoadenylate synthetase, which is also inducible by steroid hormones in some cell types, is subject to similar control mechanisms.

Inhibition by interferon of biochemical transformation induced by cloned herpesvirus thymidine kinase genes

To learn whether interferon could prevent the biochemical transformations induced by cloned herpesvirus thymidine kinase (TK) genes, LM(TK-) mouse fibroblast cultures were pretreated for 24 h with 2.4-40 international units (I.U.)/ml mouse alpha + beta interferon, and subsequently transformed to the TK+ phenotype with recombinant plasmids containing the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) TK gene (pAGO and pMH110) and the marmoset herpesvirus (MarHV) TK gene (pMAR035). Mouse alpha + beta interferon inhibited transformation and the inhibition was interferon dose-dependent. Transformation was also inhibited when LM(TK-) cells were pretreated for 2-5 h with 40 I.U./ml interferon. Maximal inhibitions of TK+ colony formation were observed following a 9-20 h pretreatment period with interferon. In contrast, 40 I.U./ml interferon treatment for 20 h did not reduce the rate or extent of LM(TK-) cell growth. Experiments in which cultures were first treated with plasmid pAGO and only afterwards treated with interferon also showed that, as the interferon concentration used, interferon did not inhibit the outgrowth of transformated colonies. Enzyme assays showed that pretreatment with interferon inhibited the induction of TK activity in cells that had been transfected with pAGO DNA.

Control of the ppp(a2'p)nA system in HeLa cells. Effects of interferon and virus infection

HeLa cells have an unusually high level of ppp(A2'p)nA synthetase (n = 2 to greater than or equal to 4) even in the absence of interferon treatment. In accord with this ppp(A2'p)nA and ppp(A2'p)nA-mediated ribosomal RNA cleavage occur naturally in response to encephalomyocarditis virus infection in control as well as in interferon-treated cells. Despite this, in the absence of interferon treatment, encephalomyocarditis virus grows well in these cells. A possible explanation for this paradox is that the ppp(A2'p)nA dependent RNase is lost or inactivated at later times post-infection in control but not in interferon-treated cells. It appears, therefore, to be the prevention by interferon of the virus-mediated inhibition of the ppp(A2'p)n-dependent nuclease rather than the absolute level or induction of the ppp(A2'p)nA synthetase which is crucial for the activity of the ppp(A2'p)nA system in HeLa cells. These results provide evidence for a further level of control in the ppp(A2'p)nA system and show that limited ppp(A2'p)nA-mediated ribosomal RNA cleavage alone is not sufficient to cause an inhibition of virus growth.

Interferon-dependent induction of mRNA for the major histocompatibility antigens in human fibroblasts and lymphoblastoid cells

In human cells treated with interferons, there is an increase in the amount of HLA-A,B,C and beta 2-microglobulin exposed on the cell surface. We have used a cloned HLA-A,B,C cDNA probe to demonstrate by molecular hybridization that this effect of interferon is preceded by a large increase in the amount of HLA mRNA in the cell. This effect was found in five different human cell lines, with purified leukocyte and fibroblast interferons. The increase in HLA mRNA is comparable in its kinetics and dose-response to the induction of (2'-5') oligo(A) synthetase mRNA by interferons. Therefore, interferons seem to activate at least two cellular genes which have different biochemical functions.

Structural requirements of (2'-5') oligoadenylate for protein synthesis inhibition in human fibroblasts

The structural requirements of (2'-5')-oligoadenylic acid (pppA(2'p5'A)x, X greater than or equal to 1 or (2'-5'An) for inhibition of protein synthesis in cells were examined with a modified calcium-coprecipitation technique, using a series of trinucleotide analogs (pppA2'p5'A2'p5'N, N=rC, rG, rU, T, dC, dG, dA). In this system both the degree and the duration of the inhibition of protein synthesis were dependent on the added concentration of (2'-5')A3. Of all the heterotrimers, only the deoxy A derivative was active as an inhibitor of protein synthesis, while the other members of the analog series were found to have no inhibitory effects. In competition experiments between (2'-5')A3 and the non-active analogs, three heterotrimers were shown to reduce the activity of (2'-5')A3 in protein inhibition. In contrast, the dephosphorylated (2'-5')A3 had no inhibitory effect and was not effective in blocking (2'-5')A3. These results indicate that the 5'-terminal triphosphate is important for binding of (2'-5')A3 to the site of (2'-5')An action and the adenine base at the 2'-terminus is important for activating the machinery responsible for protein synthesis inhibition in the cells, most likely the (2'-5')An-activated nuclease.

Interferon enhances the amount of membrane-bound beta2-microglobulin and its release from human Burkitt cells

Human leukocytes interferon (HuIFN-A) increased the amount of beta2-microglobulin on the surface of human Burkitt lymphoma cells (Ramos) and also increased the amount released into the culture medium. The effect was observed 1 h after addition of IFN. These results suggest that the increase in beta2-microglobulin on the cell surface of IFN-treated cells is not due to a decreased shedding of antigen from the cell surface, nor an "unmasking" of surface antigen, but rather to an increased synthesis of antigen.

Lack of systematic correlation between the interferon mediated antiviral state and the levels of 2-5A synthetase and protein kinase in three different types of murine cells

The levels of two dsRNA-dependent enzyme activities, the pppA(2'p5'A)n synthetase (2-5A synthetase) and protein kinase were investigated in control and interferon-treated murine cells: L-929, K/Balb and NIH/3T3. Treatment of these cells with interferon resulted both in the establishment of the antiviral response and the development of anticellular effects. This latter was observed 3 days after treatment with interferon. The levels of 2-5A synthetase and protein kinase in control and interferon-treated cells seemed to vary from one cell type to the other. In L-929 cells, both the 2-5A synthetase and protein kinase were induced by interferon as has been shown previously. On the other hand, treatment of NIH/3T3 cells with interferon resulted in the induction of 2-5A synthetase in the absence of any enhanced protein kinase activity. This lack of protein kinase in interferon-treated NIH/3T3 cells was not due to the presence of high levels of protein phosphatases. A third type of mouse cells, K/Balb cells, contained very high levels of 2-5A synthetase in the absence of any apparent resistance to virus infection. On treatment with interferon the level of 2-5A synthetase in K/Balb cells remained constant while the protein kinase activity was enhanced by several fold. Both control and interferon-treated K/Balb cells showed similar sensitivity to the action of exogenous 2-5A thus suggesting that the 2-5A system (the 2-5A dependent nuclease and the phosphodiesterase which degrades 2-5A) was not altered on treatment with interferon. The significance of these results in relation to the mechanism of action of interferon is discussed.

Interferon-mediated antiviral state in human MRC5 cells in the absence of detectable levels of 2-5A synthetase and protein kinase

Treatment of human HeLa and MRC5 cells with human alpha (leukocyte) and beta (fibroblast) interferon results in the development of an antiviral state against two types of viruses: vesicular stomatitis virus (rhabdovirus) and encephalomyocarditis virus (picornavirus). These cells, however, differ in their ability to synthesize the two double-stranded (ds) RNA-dependent enzymatic activities, pppA(2'p5'A)n synthetase (2-5A synthetase) and protein kinase which have been reported to be induced in several cell lines by interferon. Both the 2-5A synthetase and the protein kinase are enhanced by several fold in HeLa cells on treatment with interferon. In contrast, neither the 2-5A synthetase nor the protein kinase can be detected in MRC5 cell treated or not treated with interferon. The lack of detection of the 2-5A synthetase in MRC5 cells is not associated with the absence of the other components of the 2-5A system (2-5A dependent nuclease and 2'-phosphodiesterase). We have previously shown that MRC5 cells are sensitive to the action of 2-5A and furthermore the inhibitory action of 2-5A on these cells is transient. Mixing experiments between HeLa and MRC5 cell fractions after partial purification on columns of poly(I).poly(C)-Sepharose, showed that the absence of detection of the protein kinase activity in MRC5 cells cannot be attributed to the presence of phosphatases or other inhibitors of phosphorylation in control or interferon-treated MRC5 cell extracts. In addition, we show that the interferon-mediated protein kinase activity in HeLa cell extracts can be precipitated by treatment at pH 5, a procedure which leads to an enhanced level of detectable protein kinase activity in general. Once again, however, MRC5 cell extracts fail to show any interferon-mediated protein kinase activity. These results suggest that either the two enzyme activities are not necessary for the development of the antiviral response induced by interferon or the intracellular events leading to the establishment of the antiviral state vary from one cell system to the other.

Effects of interferon on sensitive and resistant L1210 cell lines

L1210 cells resistant to the antiviral and anticellular effects of interferon are not inducible for the 2,5A synthetase and for the protein kinase activities. Cloning of one resistant L1210 strain has revealed heterogeneity of the cell population with respect to their antiviral and anticellular response as well as protein kinase and 2,5A synthetase inducibility. The defect in the response of truly interferon-resistant L1210 cells appears to reside at an early step of interferon action.

Radioimmune, radiobinding and HPLC analysis of 2-5A and related oligonucleotides from intact cells

The enzyme (2-5A synthetase) which synthesizes ppp(A2'p)nA where n=2 to 4 (collectively referred to as 2-5A) is widely distributed in a variety of cells and tissues in amounts which increase response to interferon and vary with growth and hormone status. 2-5A activates a nuclease which inhibits protein synthesis. The non-phosphorylated 'core' of 2-5A ((A2'p)nA, n=2 to 4) can inhibit DNA synthesis and cell growth. Here we describe convenient and sensitive radioimmune (RI) and radiobinding (RB) assays for core and 2-5A. In combination with more satisfactory high performance liquid chromatography (HPCL) methods using reverse-phase C18 columns, these assays have been used to detect core and 2-5A in crude extracts from interferon-treated cells. The novel 2-5A synthetase products NAD2'p5' A2'p5'A and A5'p45'A2'p5'A2'p5'A (ref. 13), which can also be detected using the RB assay, were not found in significant amounts. The natural occurrence of core has not been described previously.

Interferon-dependent induction of mRNA activity for (2'-5')oligo-isoadenylate synthetase

At least three different enzymes involved in the regulation of protein synthesis are induced in a variety of cells by interferon (IFN). Sensitive assays for these enzymes have been developed and used to establish the specificity, dose dependence and time course of their induction by IFN. One of these enzymes, the oligo-isoadenylate synthetase E, whose product (2'-5')pppApApA activates the latent ribonuclease F, is increased over 50-fold after IFN treatment. We describe here the assay for an mRNA from IFN-treated mouse L cells, that produces oligo-isoadenylate synthetase activity when injected into Xenopus oocytes. This mRNA is found in the cells only after exposure to IFN. The mRNA increases in mouse L cells with the same time course as the enzyme activity itself. In particular, there is a 3-h lag period between IFN addition and the onset of enzyme and mRNA accumulation. Using anti-IFN antibodies, we show that during this lag period the continued interaction of IFN with the cells is necessary for the full induction of the oligo-isoadenylate synthetase.

Properties of 2'5' oligoadenylate synthetase

2'5' Oligoadenylate synthetase has been purified from rabbit reticulocyte lysate to a specific activity of 37 units per mg protein (1 unit incorporates 1 nmole of AMP residue into oligoadenylate per min at 37 degrees C) by DEAE-cellulose and rI:rC-agarose chromatography and (NH4)2SO4 precipitations. For this a rapid and quantitative assay was developed, based on TLC with PEI-cellulose. In a single step ATP and the 2'5' oligoadenylates (pppA(2p5A)n 1 less than n less than 14) are separated. The enzyme showed the following properties: a pH optimum around 8, a Mg++ requirement with full activation at 20 mM, no effect of KCl between 25 and 100 mM but complete inactivation at 120 mM, 30% stimulation by 10% ethanol, and a half-life at 52 degrees C of around 5 min. The maximum yield of the reaction ws 95% conversion of ATP into 2'5' oligoadenylates. The mechanism of elongation is not processive. Kinetic studies on the formation of different oligomeric intermediates suggest a mechanism of a dissipative nature. The products are mainly dimers, trimers and tetramers. The longest oligomer seen had about 15 AMP residues. The enzyme has no absolute substrate specificity for ATP, GTP, or UTP can also be incorporated, in the presence of ATP, by the enzyme into a co-oligonucleotide containing A and G or A and U. The enzyme can also add one unit of GMP or UMP onto a primer 2'5'pppApA or pppApApA.

Differential efficacies of human type I and type II interferons as antiviral and antiproliferative agents

Treatment of human fibroblast FS-4 cultures with human type II interferon preparations induced the synthesis of at least four proteins that were similar in size to four of the five proteins induced by type I interferons (Mr 120,000, 88,000, 67,000, and 56,000). However, the Mr 67,000 and 56,000 proteins were induced more strongly by type II than by type I interferon, and a counterpart of a Mr 80,000 protein induced by type I interferons was not noticeably induced by type II interferon preparations. We therefore compared type I and type II interferons for relative antiviral activities against different viruses (vesicular stomatitis, encephalomyocarditis, and vaccinia viruses and reovirus) and for cell growth-inhibitory activities on various cell types. The replication of vesicular stomatitis and encephalomyocarditis viruses was inhibited more strongly by type I interferon, whereas reovirus and vaccinia virus showed greater sensitivity to type II interferon preparations. This indicates that viruses may differ in their sensitivity to human type I and type II interferons and that the antiviral mechanisms induced by type I and type II interferons may have significant differences. The type I and type II interferons may have significant differences. The type I and type II interferons may also differ in their efficacies as antiproliferative agents. Type II interferon preparations at 2.5 units/ml inhibited the incorporatin of [3H]thymidine to a greater extent than did type I interferon at 400 units/ml. (For both type I and type II interferons, the unit of interferon activity was defined as the concentration that decreased the yield of vesicular stomatitis virus by 50% in FS-4 cultures.) Furthermore, whereas type II interferon preparations had a reversible cytostatic effect on normal human fibroblasts at 10 units/ml, the transformed cells tested (HeLa, osteosarcoma, U-amnion) showed extensive cell death, thus indicating that it may have a cytocidal effect on certain tumor cells. It appears that human type II interferon (or a factor present in these preparations) may be a potent antitumor agent.

Induction, purification, and properties of 2'5' oligoadenylate synthetase

The results presented above relate to several aspects of the 2-5A system. A simple but insensitive radiochemical assay fro 2-5A and its synthetase is described. Progress towards the molecular characterization of the synthetase suggested that it is composed of a single 56,000 dalton polypeptide chain that is synthesized in response to IF treatment. Degradation of 2-5A occurs at the same rapid rate in extracts of IF-treated and untreated chick cells. However, this breakdown can be inhibited by its end-product, 5'AMP, or by the activated synthetase which can further elongate 2-5A and thereby protect it from degradation. The direction of elongation is from the 5' to the 2' terminus. Molecules other than 2-5A can act as substrates fro 2'-adenylation by the activated synthetase. These include some dinucleoside monophosphates, ADP-ribose and NAD+, and methylene-bridged analogues of ATP. The methylene-bridged analogues of 2-5A that are synthesized in the latter case retain some of the biological activity of authentic 2-5A, indicating that cleavage of the 5'-terminal phosphate group(s) is not involved in the mechanism of nuclease activation by 2-5A.

Abnormal behavior of interferon-induced enzymatic activities in an interferon-resistant cell line

Interferon induces two double-stranded RNA-dependent enzymatic activities: an oligoisoadenylate synthetase that converts ATP to ppp(A2'p)n5'A, and a protein phosphokinase. We have explored the level and inducibility of these two enzymes in a human cell line (HEC-1) totally insensitive to both the antiviral and the anticellular actions of interferon. The activities of both enzymes are high in untreated cells and only minor changes occur after treatment with interferon, even at high concentrations. Interferon-treated HEC-1 cells do not contain an inhibitor of the oligoisoadenylate synthetase activity. The products of this HEC-1 oligoisoadenylate synthetase consist mainly of dimers, trimers, and tetramers as found in other cell lines after interferon treatment. The synthetase level is unaffected by treating the cells with anti-interferon antiserum, indicating that the results cannot be explained by a spontaneous low production of interferon by these cells. Furthermore, virus multiplication is not inhibited, even after treatment with interferon. These observations suggest that either the two enzymatic activities do not suffice for the establishment of an antiviral state in vivo or that a regulatory control mechanism, lost in these cells and common for both enzymes, is required for the expression of the antiviral action of interferon. This might explain both the constitutivity of the two enzymes and the interferon resistance observed.

Elongation mechanism and substrate specificity of 2',5'-oligoadenylate synthetase

2',5'-Oligoadenylate synthetase has been purified from a rabbit reticulocyte lysate to a high degree of purity. The enzyme contained no detectable interfering activities that could degrade the nucleoside triphosphate substrate or the oligomeric products. Two basic properties of this enzyme have been examined: the elongation mechanism for the synthesis of oligoadenylates and the substrate specificity for nucleotides. Kinetic studies on the formation of different oligomeric intermediates show that the dimer pppA2'p5'A is the first product to accumulate in predominant proportion during the first period of reaction; the trimer and other longer oligomers appear after a lag phase. The amount of the trimer increases at the expense of the dimer. Preformed dimers and trimers added to the incubation mixture were readily incorporated into higher oligomers, suggesting the free access of these dimers and trimers to the active center after the onset of polymerization of ATP. The results indicate clearly that the enzyme catalyzes the de novo synthesis of the oligonucleotide from ATP and that the mechanism of elongation of the 2',5'-oligonucleotides catalyzed by the enzyme is not processive. Polymerization of a mixture of ATP and another nucleoside triphosphate shows that the enzyme is not only an ATP polymerase. The 2',5'-oligoadenylate synthetase is in fact a 2',5'-nucleotidyltransferase that catalyzes the formation of co-oligonucleotides. However, the purified reticulocyte enzyme catalyzed only the addition of one unit of GMP, UMP, CMP, 2'-dAMP, 3'-dAMP, dCMP, dGMP, or TMP to the 2'-OH end of a preformed oligoadenylate. A procedure for the separation of 2',5'-oligonucleotides with or without the 5'triphosphate end also is described.

Synthesis of new proteins associated with the induction of interferon in human fibroblast cells

The relative amounts of translatable cellular mRNAs and newly synthesized cellular proteins were examined in poly(I) x poly(C)-induced human fibroblast cells early during induction. At this time interferon and interferon mRNA synthesis are maximal and cells have not acquired their antiviral thesis are maximal and cells have not acquired their antiviral state. Translation of the mRNA from poly(I) x poly(C)-induced cells in a wheat germ cell-free system led to the synthesis of a [35S]methionine-labeled 22,000-dalton protein that is precipitated by antiserum to highly purified human fibroblast interferon. The synthesis of this protein was detected only with the mRNA preparations that, when translated in Xenopus oocytes, coded for the synthesis of biologically active human interferon. Two-dimensional gel analysis of the [35S]methionine-labeled polypeptides translated from the total mRNA of the induced and uninduced cells revealed the presence of 23 new proteins that were translated from mRNAs of the induced cells but not from the mRNAs of the controls. These polypeptides ranged from 15,000 to 70,000 daltons. Thirteen of these proteins were detected in induced cells labeled with [35S]methionine. It is concluded that, in human fibroblasts, poly(I) x poly(C) induces, in addition to interferon, the synthesis of a variety of "interferon-associated" proteins.

2'5' oligoadenylate synthetase, an interferon induced enzyme: direct assay methods for the products, 2'5' oligoadenylates and 2'5' co-oligonucleotides

The interferon induced enzyme 2'5' oligoadenylate synthetase produces 2'5' pppA(pA)n the first discovered natural nucleotide with a 2'5' linkage. We describe a direct assay of this enzyme based on separation by thin layer chromatography (TLC) of the substrate ATP and the products 2'5' pppA(pA)n (n larger than or equal to 1). This technique presents obvious advantages compared to the currently used methods. Moreover the enzyme uses other nucleotides as substrates forming co-oligonucleotides 2'5 pppA(pA)n pN (N = U,G,C,dA,dG,dT and dC). Additional procedures are described using different developing solvent systems for the separation of the core-2'5' oligonucleotides (2'5' A(pA)npN) containing AMP-residues entirely and those with another nucleotide at the 2' end.

Interferon-induced proteins in human fibroblasts and development of the antiviral state

Treatment of human fibroblasts with interferon induces the synthesis of several proteins, as detected by incorporation of [35S]methionine followed by analysis of cell extracts by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The induction of these proteins had features in common with the development of the antiviral effect of interferon, such as (i) sensitivity to actinomycin D and cycloheximide when these compounds were added together with interferon, (ii) insensitivity to actinomycin D if the actinomycin D was added 2 h after the addition of interferon, (iii) similar dependence on interferon concentration, and (iv) species specificity for interferon. When interferon treatment was given in the presence of cycloheximide and actinomycin D was added before the removal of cycloheximide, all four proteins were induced, thus suggesting that their inductions are coordinated. Labeling for 2-h periods at varying time intervals after the addition of interferon revealed that the synthesis of these proteins was induced within a few hours, peaked at different time intervals, and was soon followed by a marked decline, suggesting that the mRNA's for these proteins have short half-lives. Moreover, this decline occurred despite the fact that the cells were continuously exposed to interferon, and there was no measurable loss of interferon activity in the medium. This suggests that the induction of these proteins is transient and is apparently subject to further control.

Kinetics of decay in the expression of interferon-dependent mRNAs responsible for resistance to virus

We used 5,6-dichloro-beta D-ribofuranosyl-benzimidazole (DRB), a selective and reversible inhibitor of mRNA production, to investigate the regulation of the pathway leading to resistance to viruses in cells treated with interferon (IF). DRB allows initiation of transcription but promotes premature termination of the nucleotide chains, so that it abolishes interferon-dependent protection against viruses. When the DRB is removed, synthesis of complete mRNAs can resume. Mouse L-929 cells were exposed to 100 microM DRB before and during a 1-hr pulse of IF followed by treatment with antibody to IF to prevent cell-to-cell spread of IF after that time. At different intervals thereafter the cells were washed and the DRB was replaced by medium; after further incubation, the cells were infected with vesicular stomatitis virus. Resistance to virus was inversely proportional to the duration of the block imposed by DRB. When the DRB was removed soon after the IF pulse, substantial protection from virus ensued, but none developed when removal of the DRB was deferred for 5-6 hr. Cells exposed to DRB for 5 hr, then pulsed with IF for 1 hr, still mounted a strong antiviral response. The data show that the ability of cells to resist viral infection decays within 5-6 hr after treatment with IF. Whether the decay is due to shutoff of transcription of mRNAs, or to their destruction or degradation, or whether regulation takes place at one or more subsequent steps in the antiviral pathway, remains to be determined.