The protein covalently linked to the 5' termini of the DNA of Bacillus subtilis phage phi 29 is involved in the initiation of DNA replication

Characterization and purification of a phage phi 29-encoded DNA polymerase required for the initiation of replication

The phage phi 29 protein p2, required for the formation of the protein p3-dAMP initiation complex, has been purified from Escherichia coli cells harboring a gene 2-containing recombinant plasmid. The purified protein p2, of molecular weight 68,000, had a specific DNA polymerase activity that elongated the p3-dAMP initiation complex when phi 29 DNA-protein p3 was used as template. In addition, the purified protein p2 was active in catalyzing the initiation reaction when complemented with phi 29 mutant sus2-infected Bacillus subtilis or plasmid-containing E. coli extracts providing protein p3, in the presence of phi 29 DNA-protein p3 as template. However, when purified protein p3 was used in the complementation assay, a very low amount of initiation complex was formed; addition of extracts from uninfected B. subtilis or E. coli strongly stimulated the initiation reaction, indicating that, in addition to proteins p2 and p3 and the phi 29 DNA-protein p3 template, some host factor(s) is required for the formation of the p3-dAMP initiation complex. The results show that phage phi 29 encodes a DNA polymerase that is required at the initiation step of protein-primed DNA synthesis.

Bacteriophage phi 29 DNA replication in vitro: participation of the terminal protein and the gene 2 product in elongation

From phi 29-infected Bacillus subtilis cells, we have isolated a protein fraction which promotes in vitro replication of phi 29 DNA. This fraction catalyses both initiation and elongation, indicating that it contains the product of gene 3 (tp: terminal protein) and the product of gene 2 (gp2: probably a DNA polymerase), since initiation requires the two products (Blanco et al. 1983; Matsumoto et al. 1983). The fractions isolated from cells infected with temperature-sensitive (ts) mutants of gene 2 and gene 3 were thermolabile in both the initiation and elongation assays. When the pre-initiated material from the ts fractions of each mutant was heat-inactivated and mixed no complementation, restoring the elongation activity, was found. These results indicate: (i) tp and gp2 participate not only in the initiation but also in the elongation of phi 29 DNA replication, (ii) they probably function in tight physical association with each other.

Cloning and expression of gene 2, required for the protein-primed initiation of the Bacillus subtilis phage phi 29 DNA replication

A phi 29 DNA fragment containing gene 2, coding for a phi 29-specific DNA polymerase required for the formation of the terminal protein p3-dAMP initiation complex, the first step in phi 29 DNA replication, has been cloned in plasmid pPLc28 under the control of the pL promoter of bacteriophage lambda. Four polypeptides of Mr 68 000, 5800 and 3400 and less than 2000 were labelled with [35S]methionine after heat induction. The protein of Mr 68 000 had the size expected for protein p2 and it accounted for about 2% of the de novo synthesized protein. Protein p2 synthesized in Escherichia coli was shown to be stable and biologically active. Its enzymatic activity could be assayed by the in vitro formation of the protein p3-dAMP initiation complex when complemented with extracts from Bacillus subtilis infected with a phi 29sus2 mutant or with extracts from E. coli harbouring gene 3-containing recombinant plasmids. Moreover, protein p2-containing E. coli extracts could catalyze the initiation reaction in vitro when complemented with highly purified protein p3.

Antibodies specific for the phi 29 terminal protein inhibit the initiation of DNA replication in vitro

The phi 29 DNA-terminal protein serves as a primer for the initiation of DNA replication by covalently binding the first nucleotide in the DNA chain. Two distinct antibodies were used for functional analysis of this protein. One antibody was raised against sonicated phi 29 DNA-protein complex isolated from phage virions (anti-TP). The other antibody was raised against a conjugate of bovine serum albumin and a synthetic peptide corresponding to the carboxy-terminal of the phi 29 terminal protein (anti-gp3C), which was predicted from the nucleotide sequence of phi 29 DNA. Both antibodies react with native phi 29 terminal protein as determined by immunoprecipitation and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Both antibodies specifically inhibit the complex-forming reaction between the phi 29 terminal protein and dAMP, the first nucleotide of phi 29 DNA.

Protease-sensitive transfection of Streptococcus pneumoniae with bacteriophage Cp-1 DNA

The transfecting activity of pneumococcal phage Cp-1 DNA was destroyed by treatment with proteolytic enzymes, although these enzymes did not affect transfection with bacteriophage Dp-4 DNA. This transfection was stimulated by calcium ions. Protease-treated Cp-1 DNA competes for binding and uptake with transforming pneumococcal DNA as well as with transfecting Dp-4 DNA to approximately the same extent as does untreated Cp-1 DNA. In addition, [3H]thymidine-labeled Cp-1 DNA, treated with proteases or untreated, was absorbed with the same efficiency. These data suggest that uptake of Cp-1 DNA is not affected by protease treatment. [3H]thymidine-labeled Cp-1 DNA showed remarkable resistance against surface nuclease activity of competent wild-type cells. The monomeric form of the Cp-1 DNA-protein complex showed a linear dose response in transfection.

Initiation of phage phi 29 DNA replication by the terminal protein modified at the carboxyl end

A mutant at the carboxyl end of the terminal protein, p3, of phage phi 29 DNA has been constructed by inserting an containing the stop translation codon TGA in the three possible reading frames, immediately downstream of a phage phi 29 DNA fragment coding for all but the last five amino acids of protein p3. The activity in the formation of the p3-dAMP initiation complex in vitro of this mutant as well as another one previously isolated, also mutated at the carboxyl end, have been tested. The results obtained suggest that an intact carboxyl end in the phage phi 29 terminal protein is essential for its normal primer function in DNA replication.

Pneumococcal bacteriophage Cp-1 contains a protein bound to the 5' termini of its DNA

The genome of the pneumococcal bacteriophage Cp-1 has been isolated as a DNA-protein complex. The transfecting activity of this complex is destroyed by treatment with proteolytic enzymes. The DNA-protein complexes do not enter into agarose or acrylamide gels and are retained on glass fiber filters. The protein is specifically associated with the two 5' termini of Cp-1 DNA on the basis of experiments carried out with restriction endonucleases, exonucleases, and radioactive labeling with [gamma-32P]ATP and polynucleotide kinase. The protein component, iodinated in vitro with 125I, has a molecular weight of 28,000 determined by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The protein remains associated with the Cp-1 DNA after thermal or alkali denaturation, incubation with 6 M guanidinium chloride or 8 M urea, and boiling in 2% SDS, 2% mercaptoethanol, and 6 M urea. When the complex was incubated in 1 M sodium hydroxide or 2.5 M piperidine only a partial breakage of the DNA-protein bond was observed. These results indicate that the 28,000-Da protein is covalently bound to the 5' termini of the DNA.

In vitro initiation of bacteriophage phi 29 and M2 DNA replication: genes required for formation of a complex between the terminal protein and 5'dAMP

Cell-free extracts prepared from phi 29 and M2-infected Bacillus subtilis cells catalyse the formation of complexes between terminal protein and [alpha-32P]-dAMP in the presence of [alpha-32P]-dATP, MgCl2, ATP, and phage DNA with terminal protein covalently linked at both the 5'ends. The complex formation does not take place when proteinase K-treated DNA is added or when uninfected extract is used. The phi 29 complex thus formed is smaller than the M2 complex, primarily due to the different molecular weights of the respective terminal proteins. Extracts prepared from cells infected with suppressor-sensitive mutants of genes 2 or 3 of phi 29 or genes G or E of M2 do not support complex formation. When the pair of extracts of phi 29 or M2-infected cells are mixed, however, formation of the complex takes place as a result of in vitro complementation. These results indicate that the complex formation observed in vitro reflects in vivo initiation of phage DNA replication. The product of gene 2 of phi 29 may be the enzyme that catalyses formation of the complex.

Protein-primed initiation of phage phi 29 DNA replication

We recently reported the development of an in vitro replication system for bacteriophage phi 29 DNA. We have used this system for the isolation of replication activity associated with gene 3 protein (terminal protein) from phi 29-infected Bacillus subtilis cells. We utilized two assay systems: (i) DNA replication dependent on phi 29 DNA with the 5' end covalently linked to terminal protein (DNA-protein) and (ii) the formation of complex between the terminal protein and dAMP. The DNA-replication and the complex-forming activities were purified together through all steps. The complex of terminal protein and dAMP formed in the purified fraction was shown to serve as an effective primer for successive chain elongation in the presence of dNTPs by a pulse-chase experiment. The protein fraction purified from cells infected with a temperature-sensitive phi 29 mutant in gene 3 was thermolabile compared to the wild-type activity in the assay system for complex formation. This shows that the purified fraction having replication activity includes the gene 3 product of phi 29. Both the DNA replication and the complex formation activities are highly specific for phi 29 DNA-protein as template. The product analysis of elongated DNA revealed that the replication starts at both termini of the phi 29 genome. These results are consistent with the basic elements of the protein-priming model for the initiation of linear DNA synthesis.

Replication of origin containing adenovirus DNA fragments that do not carry the terminal protein

Nuclear extracts from adenovirus type 5 (Ad5) infected HeLa cells were used to study the template requirements for adenovirus DNA replication in vitro. When XbaI digested Ad5 DNA, containing the parental terminal protein (TP), was used as a template preferential synthesis of the terminal fragments was observed. The newly synthesized DNA was covalently bound to the 82 kD preterminal protein (pTP). Plasmid DNAs containing the Ad2 origin sequence or the Ad12 origin sequence with small deletions were analyzed for their capacity to support pTP-primed DNA replication. Circular plasmid DNAs were inactive. When plasmids were linearized to expose the adenovirus origin, both Ad2 and Ad12 TP-free fragments could support initiation and elongation similarly as Ad5 DNA-TP, although with lower efficiency. These observations indicate that the parental terminal protein is dispensable for initiation in vitro. The presence of 29 nucleotides ahead of the molecular end or a deletion of 14 base pairs extending into the conserved sequence (9-22) destroyed the template activity. DNA with a large deletion within the first 8 base pairs could still support replication while a small deletion could not. The results suggest that only G residues at a distance of 4-8 nucleotides from the start of the conserved sequence can be used as template during initiation of DNA replication.

Factors involved in the initiation of phage phi 29 DNA replication in vitro: requirement of the gene 2 product for the formation of the protein p3-dAMP complex

To study the requirements for the in vitro formation of the protein p3-dAMP complex, the first step in phi29 DNA replication, extracts from B. subtilis infected with phi29 mutants in genes 2, 3, 5, 6 and 17, involved in DNA synthesis, have been used. The formation of the initiation complex is completely dependent on the presence of a functional gene 2 product, in addition to protein p3 and phi29 DNA-protein p3 as template. ATP is also required, although it can be replaced by other nucleotides. The products of genes 5, 6 and 17 do not seem to be needed in the formation of the initiation complex. Inhibitors of the host DNA polymerase III, DNA gyrase or RNA polymerase had no effect on the formation of the protein p3-dAMP complex, suggesting that these proteins are not involved in the initiation of phi29 DNA replication. ddATP or aphidicolin, inhibitors of DNA chain elongation, had also no effect on the formation of the initiation complex.

Protein covalently bound to minus-strand DNA intermediates of duck hepatitis B virus

Analysis of duck hepatitis B viral DNA by gel electrophoresis, Southern blotting, and binding to benzoylated naphthoylated DEAE-cellulose showed that a protein is bound to the minus-strand virion DNA as well as to the full-length single strand, minus-strand species, and minus-strand DNA intermediates isolated from replicating complexes present in infected duck liver. By utilizing a modified dideoxynucleotidyl sequencing method, it was shown that the protein is covalently bound to the smallest detectable growing strands (ca. 30 bases) and that minus-strand synthesis begins at a unique site. These results support the notion that the protein may function as a primer for synthesis of the minus-strand DNA.

Cloning and expression in Escherichia coli of the gene coding for the protein linked to the ends of Bacillus subtilis phage phi 29 DNA

A phi 29 DNA fragment containing gene 3, coding for the 5'-terminal protein, and several other early genes has been cloned in a pBR322 derivative plasmid (pKC30) under the control of the pL promoter of bacteriophage lambda. Four polypeptides of Mr 27000, 18500, 17500 and 12500 were labelled with [35S]methionine after heat induction, accounting for about 15% of the de novo synthesized protein. The Mr 27000 and 12500 proteins were characterized as p3, the 5'-terminal protein, and p4, involved in the control of late transcription, respectively. Protein p3 synthesized in Escherichia coli was active in the in vitro formation of the initiation complex p3-dAMP when supplemented with extracts from Bacillus subtilis infected with a sus3 mutant.

High level synthesis in Escherichia coli of the Bacillus subtilis phage phi 29 proteins p3 and p4 under the control of phage lambda PL promoter

The Hind III G fragment from the Bacillus subtilis phage phi 29 DNA, inserted downstream from the bacteriophage lambda promoter PL carried by a pBR322 derivative plasmid (pPLc28), directed the synthesis in E. coli of two proteins of apparent molecular weight 27500 and 12500. With the use of the recombinants obtained with the DNA from mutants sus3(91) and sus4(56), the two proteins were identified as a modified p3 (p3'), the protein covalently linked to the 5' ends of phi 29 DNA, and p4, responsible for the phi 29 late transcription, respectively. Under the best conditions used, proteins p4 and p3' were produced in E. coli from the cloned DNA fragments in an amount corresponding to approximately 30% and 6% of total de novo protein synthesis, respectively.

Nucleotide sequence of the early genes 3 and 4 of bacteriophage phi 29

The nucleotide sequence of an early region of the phi 29 genome has been determined. The sequenced region includes genes 3 and 4, which code for the protein covalently linked to the 5' ends of phi 29 DNA and the protein involved in the control of late transcription, respectively. The position and nature of the mutations of mutants sus3(91) and sus4(56) has also been determined.

Initiation of phage phi 29 DNA replication in vitro: formation of a covalent complex between the terminal protein, p3, and 5'-dAMP

Incubation of extracts of phi 29-infected Bacillus subtilis with [alpha-32P]dATP produced a labeled protein having the electrophoretic mobility of p3, the 5'-terminal protein of phi 29 DNA. The reaction product was resistant to treatment with micrococcal nuclease, phosphatase, and RNases A and T1 and sensitive to proteinase K. Incubation of the 32P-labeled protein with piperidine under conditions in which the phi 29 DNA-protein p3 linkage is hydrolyzed released 5'-dAMP. The reaction with [alpha-32P]dATP was strongly inhibited by anti-p3 serum and required the preence of phi 29 DNA-protein p3 complex; no reaction took place with proteinase K-treated phi29 DNA. These results, together with those of acid hydrolysis and partial proteolysis, indicated that a covalent complex between protein p3 and 5'-dAMP is formed in vitro. The initiation complex (protein p3-dAMP) formed in the presence of 0.5 microM [alpha-32P]dATP can be elongated by addition of 40 microM dNTPs. Treatment with piperidine of the product elongated in the presence of 2',3'-dideoxycytidine 5'-triphosphate released the expected oligonucleotides, 9 and 12 bases long, taking into account the sequence at the left and right DNA ends, respectively.

In vitro replication of bacteriophage phi 29 DNA

We have been studying the mechanisms of linear DNA replication by using Bacillus bacteriophage phi 29 as a model system. To isolate and characterize the proteins required for phi 29 DNA replication, we have developed a cell-free replication system. A cell-free extract prepared from phi 29-infected Bacillus subtilis catalyzes the semiconservative replication of phi 29 DNA, but only if exogenous phi 29 DNA-protein complex is used as the template. This template consists of linear duplex DNA with a 30,000-dalton terminal protein attached covalently to both 5' ends. Replication starts nonsimultaneously at or near both ends of the template. The extract also catalyzes the specific binding between dATP and the phi 29 terminal protein. Thus, the in vitro system closely mimics the in vivo replication of phi 29 DNA. This system should allow characterization of the phi 29 DNA replication machinery.

Morphogenesis of bacteriophage phi 29 of Bacillus subtilis: DNA-gp3 intermediate in in vivo and in vitro assembly

The assembly of phage phi 29 occurs by a single pathway, and DNA-protein (DNA-gp3) has been shown to be an intermediate on the assembly pathway by a highly efficient in vitro complementation. At 30 degrees C, about one-half of the viral DNA synthesized was assembled into mature phage, and the absolute plating efficiency of phi 29 approached unity. DNA packaging at 45 degrees C was comparable to that at 30 degrees C, but the burst size was reduced by one-third. When cells infected with mutant ts3(132) at 30 degrees C to permit DNA synthesis were shifted to 45 degrees C before phage assembly, DNA synthesis ceased and no phage were produced. However, a variable amount of DNA packaging occurred. Superinfection by wild-type phage reinitiated ts3(132) DNA synthesis at 45 degrees C, and if native gp3 was covalently linked to this DNA during superinfection replication, it was effectively packaged and assembled. Treatment of the DNA-gp3 complex with trypsin prevented in vitro maturation of phi 29, although substantial DNA packaging occurred. A functional gp3 linked to the 5' termini of phi 29 DNA is a requirement for effective phage assembly in vivo and in vitro.

Replication of linear mitochondrial DNA from Paramecium: sequence and structure of the initiation-end crosslink

Replication of the 14-micrometer linear Paramecium mitochondrial DNA is initiated by a crosslinking of the duplex strands at the initiation end of the molecule. As a consequence of the crosslink, a head-to-head dimer molecule, or palindrome, is a replicative intermediate. The central region of the dimer molecules of two species was cloned and sequenced, In the distal regions, the sequence is palindromic as expected; however, in the central region, there is a nonpalindromic sequence that is rich in A + T and contains direct tandem repeats. It is proposed that the nonpalindromic sequence constitutes the crosslink. Implications for the replication scheme are discussed. The model is unlike any other for a linear DNA.

In vitro assembly of the Bacillus subtilis bacteriophage phi 29

In vitro assembly of the Bacillus subtilis bacteriophage phi 29 that approaches the efficiency of assembly in vivo has been demonstrated. Proheads, DNA, and gene 16 product (gp16) were essential for DNA encapsidation, and the average yield in extracts was 180 phage per prohead donor cell. The in vitro maturation was very similar to in vivo assembly in terms of yield, intermediates, and abortive structures. More that 30% of the proheads in the extract were converted to phage, and about 20% of DNA--protein extracted from phage could be repackaged. In vitro assembly was blocked by the addition of DNase I, EDTA, pyrophosphatase, or the ATP analogues adenosine 5'-[alpha, beta-methylene]triphosphate and adenosine 5'-[beta, gamma-methylene]triphosphate. Less than 1% of the proheads isolated in sucrose gradients can accept DNA--protein in packaging in vitro.

Terminal proteins and short inverted terminal repeats of the small Bacillus bacteriophage genomes

The genome of Bacillus phage phi 29 contains covalently linked protein at both ends. These DNA terminal proteins are essential for phi 29 DNA replication. We have isolated phi 29 terminal protein from each end separately and compared their two-dimensional peptide maps. Our results showed the two proteins to be identical. The DNAs of four phages examined (phi 15, Nf, M2Y, and GA-1) also contain protein at both ends of the DNA molecules. The chymotryptic peptide maps of these DNA terminal proteins have been compared with the map of the phi 29 terminal protein. Despite the similarities in molecular size, peptide maps of the terminal proteins show clear differences among the unrelated phages. These results are consistent with the idea that the terminal proteins are encoded by viral DNA rather than by the host chromosome. We have also determined the nucleotide sequences of the termini of four phage DNAs and compared them with the sequence of phi 29 DNA. The sequence data indicate that all of these phages DNA contain short inverted terminal repeats: 5'A-A-A-G-T-A for phi 29 and phi 15, 5' A-A-A-G-T-A-A-G for Nf and M2Y, and 5' A-A-A-T-A-G-A for GA-1.

Nucleotide sequences at the termini of phi 29 DNA

The nucleotide sequences of the first 422 base pairs from the left-hand end and the first 274 base pairs from the right-hand end of phi 29 DNA were determined by using the chemical degradation method of Maxam and Gilbert. The data indicate that phi 29 DNA has inverted terminal repetitions that are six base pairs long 5' (-A-A-A-G-T-A-). No perfectly self-complementary sequence exists within the terminal regions of phi 29 DNA, suggesting that DNA replication via a self-priming mechanism is improbable. The putative early promoter sequences were found in both ends of the phi 29 DNA. The results of the sequence determination are discussed in relation ship to models proposed for the mechanism of replication of linear DNA molecules.

Nucleotide sequence at the termini of the DNA of Bacillus subtilis phage phi 29

Phage phi 29 DNA cannot be phosphorylated with polynucleotide kinase and [gamma-32P]ATP because of the presence of a viral protein covalently linked to the 5' termini. The 5' ends can, however, be made susceptible to phosphorylation by treatment with alkali and alkaline phosphatase. Restriction fragments Hpa II C and Hpa II F, corresponding to the right and left ends of phi 29 DNA, respectively, were labeled at the 5' ends with polynucleotide kinase and [gamma-32P]ATP or at the 3' ends with terminal transferase and [alpha-32P]ATP or [alpha-32P]cordycepin 5'-triphosphate. After a secondary cleavage of the labeled fragments, the sequence of the first 150-180 nucleotides at the termini of phi 29 DNA was determined by the method of Maxam and Gilbert. The ends of phi 29 DNA are flush, and a six-nucleotides-long inverted terminal repetition was found. The functional implications of the sequences determined are discussed.

Identification of the gene and mRNA for the adenovirus terminal protein precursor

The precursor of the 55K adenovirus terminal protein is an 87K protein that is covalently linked to viral DNA. This protein is likely to be identical to the 80,000 dalton protein described by Challberg et al. (1980). The mRNA for the 87K terminal protein precursor, like that for the E2-72K DNA binding protein, is detectable at both early and late times of infection, and its production is sensitive to protein synthesis inhibition (Lewis and Mathews, 1980). The 87K protein, together with proteins of 105,000 and 75,000 daltons, are translated from leftward transcribed (1-strand) messenger RNAs that are complementary to the viral genome between positions 11.2 and 31.5. Additional hybridization to the region between coordinates 37.3 and 41 suggests that the RNA body is spliced to sequences mapping farther right in the genome. Electron microscopic heteroduplex analysis has revealed a family of 1-strand RNAs that probably encode these proteins. The RNA bodies extend from coordinated 30, 26 and 23 to 11.1, with leaders at 39, 68.5 and 75 map units, defining a new adenovirus early region. These RNAs and region E2 RNAs share the first leader and presumably the same promoter, and may be coordinately expressed. Virions of the protease-deficient adenovirus 2 mutant ts1 grown at the restrictive temperature contain only the 87K form; when grown at the permissive temperature they contain both the 87K and 55K forms, and an additional 62K form; wild-type virions contain only the 55K form. Peptide analysis shows all these proteins to be related. The DNA-protein complex containing the 87K form is active as a template for viral DNA replication in vitro. This data supports a model of adenovirus DNA replication in which the 87K terminal protein precursor is the primary translation product and primes DNA synthesis. The 87K precursor is processed curing virus maturation to the 55K terminal protein, possibly via a 62K intermediate form, by the virus-specified Ad2ts1 protease.

Protein p3 is linked to the DNA of phage phi 29 through a phosphoester bond between serine and 5'-dAMP

To investigate the role of protein p3 in bacteriophage phi 29 initiation of replication, we have studied the nature of the covalent linkage between protein p3 and phi 29 DNA. The protein-DNA compound was digested with micrococcal nuclease and pronase resulting in a nucleotidyl-peptide that was further digested by alkaline phosphatase and snake venom phosphodiesterase yielding 5'-dAMP. The DNA-protein linkage is sensitive to alkali. Treatment of the nucleotidyl-peptide with 0.1 M NaOH at 37 degrees C for 3 hr after phosphatase digestion released 5'-dAMP. Hydrolysis of the nucleotidyl-peptide with 5.8 M HCl at 110 degrees C for 90 min yielded O-phosphoserine. These results, together with the sensitivity of the DNA-protein linkage to snake venom phosphodiesterase and its resistance to hydroxylamine, indicate that protein p3 is covalently linked to phi 29 DNA through a phosphoester bond between L-serine and 5'-dAMP, namely a O,5'-deoxyadenylyl-L-serine bond.