Regulation of p53 levels by the E1B 55-kilodalton protein and E4orf6 in adenovirus-infected cells

Two distinct activities contribute to the oncogenic potential of the adenovirus type 5 E4orf6 protein

Previous studies have shown that the adenovirus type 5 (Ad5) E4orf6 gene product displays features of a viral oncoprotein. It initiates focal transformation of primary rat cells in cooperation with Ad5 E1 genes and confers multiple additional transformed properties on E1-expressing cells, including profound morphological alterations and dramatically accelerated tumor growth in nude mice. It has been reported that E4orf6 binds to p53 and, in the presence of the Ad5 E1B-55kDa protein, antagonizes p53 stability by targeting the tumor suppressor protein for active degradation. In the present study, we performed a comprehensive mutant analysis to assign transforming functions of E4orf6 to distinct regions within the viral polypeptide and to analyze a possible correlation between E4orf6-dependent p53 degradation and oncogenesis. Our results show that p53 destabilization maps to multiple regions within both amino- and carboxy-terminal parts of the viral protein and widely cosegregates with E4orf6-dependent acceleration of tumor growth, indicating that both effects are related. In contrast, promotion of focus formation and morphological transformation require only a carboxy-terminal segment of the E4 protein. Thus, these effects are completely independent of p53 stability, but may involve other interactions with the tumor suppressor. Our results demonstrate that at least two distinct activities contribute to the oncogenic potential of Ad5 E4orf6. Although genetically separable, both activities are largely mediated through a novel highly conserved, cysteine-rich motif and a recently described arginine-faced amphipathic alpha helix, which resides within a carboxy-terminal "oncodomain" of the viral protein.

Genetic analysis of a potential zinc-binding domain of the adenovirus E4 34k protein

E4 34k, the product of adenovirus early region 4 (E4) open reading frame 6, modulates viral late gene expression, viral DNA replication, apoptosis, double strand break repair, and transformation through multiple interactions with components in infected and transformed cells. Conservation of several cysteine and histidine residues among E4 34k sequences from a variety of adenovirus serotypes suggests the presence of a zinc binding domain important for function. Consistent with the hypothesis that E4 34k is a zinc metalloprotein, zinc binding by baculovirus-expressed E4 34k protein was demonstrated in a zinc blotting assay. To investigate the relationship between the potential zinc-binding region and E4 34k function, a series of mutant genes containing single amino acid substitutions at each of the conserved cysteine and histidine residues in E4 34k were constructed. The mutant proteins were examined for the ability to complement the late protein synthetic defect of an E4 deletion mutant, to physically interact with the viral E1b 55-kDa protein (E1b 55k) and cellular p53 protein, to relocalize E1b 55k, and to destabilize the p53 protein. These analyses identified a subset of cysteine and histidine residues required for stimulation of late gene expression, physical interaction with E1b 55k, and p53 destabilization. These data suggest that a zinc-binding domain participates in the formation of the E4 34k-E1b 55k physical complex and that the complex is required in late gene expression and for p53 destabilization.

Activation of apoptosis and its inhibition

The induction of apoptosis, or controlled cell death, by various stimuli has been shown to activate a cascade of endoproteases, called caspases, that cleave numerous cellular proteins necessary for cellular homeostasis. This review discusses this family of proteases together with a variety of mammalian and viral regulatory proteins that act to control this activation.

The adenovirus type 5 E1B-55K oncoprotein is a highly active shuttle protein and shuttling is independent of E4orf6, p53 and Mdm2

The E1B-55K and E4orf6 oncoproteins of adenovirus type 5 are involved in the export of viral mRNAs. Previously, it was suggested that a complex composed of E1B-55K and E4orf6 serves as a nucleocytoplasmic transporter for viral mRNAs in which the E4orf6 protein directs both nuclear import and export. We now demonstrate that the E1B-55K protein itself shuttles efficiently in the absence of E4orf6. In addition, E1B-55K trafficking was independent of the defined shuttle proteins Mdm2 or p53, which interacts with E1B-55K. The identified N-terminal E1B-55K leucine-rich nuclear-export signal (NES) conferred rapid nuclear export even in a heterologous system in contrast to the postulated E4orf6NES. Interestingly, although shuttling was blocked by inhibitors of the CRM1 mediated export pathway, E1B-55K inhibited neither the activity nor the trafficking of the retroviral shuttle proteins HIV-1 Rev and HTLV-1 Rex. In contrast, Rev or Rex blocked the nuclear export of E1B-55K, most likely by competing for essential export factors. Our results provide new insights into the regulation of the adenovirus mRNA export system and the processes of adenovirus mediated transformation. Oncogene (2000) 19, 850 - 857.

Analysis of JNK, Mdm2 and p14(ARF) contribution to the regulation of mutant p53 stability

Identification of Mdm2 and JNK as proteins that target degradation of wt p53 prompted us to examine their effect on mutant p53, which exhibits a prolonged half-life. Of five mutant p53 forms studied for association with the targeting molecules, two no longer bound to Mdm2 and JNK. Three mutant forms, which exhibit high expression levels, showed lower affinity for association with Mdm2 and JNK in concordance with greater affinity to p14(ARF), which is among the stabilizing p53 molecules. Monitoring mutant p53 stability in vitro confirmed that, while certain forms of mutant p53 are no longer affected by either JNK or Mdm2, others are targeted for degradation by JNK/Mdm2, albeit at lower efficiency when compared with wt p53. Expression of wt p53 in tumor cells revealed a short half-life, suggesting that the targeting molecules are functional. Forced expression of mutant p53 in p53 null cells confirmed pattern of association with JNK/Mdm2 and prolonged half-life, as found in the tumor cells. Over-expression of Mdm2 in either tumor (which do express endogenous functional Mdm2) or in p53 null cells decreased the stability of mutant p53 suggesting that, despite its expression, Mdm2/JNK are insufficient (amount/affinity) for targeting mutant p53 degradation. Based on both in vitro and in vivo analyses, we conclude that the prolonged half-life of mutant p53 depends on the nature of the mutation, which either alters association with targeting molecules, ratio between p53 and targeting/stabilizing molecules or targeting efficiency.

The nuclear export signal within the E4orf6 protein of adenovirus type 5 supports virus replication and cytoplasmic accumulation of viral mRNA

During the late phase of adenovirus infection, viral mRNA is efficiently transported from the nucleus to the cytoplasm while most cellular mRNA species are retained in the nucleus. Two viral proteins, E1B-55 kDa and E4orf6, are both necessary for these effects. The E4orf6 protein of adenovirus type 5 binds and relocalizes E1B-55 kDa, and the complex of the two proteins was previously shown to shuttle continuously between the nucleus and cytoplasm. Nucleocytoplasmic transport of the complex is achieved by a nuclear export signal (NES) within E4orf6. Mutation of this signal sequence severely reduces the ability of the E1B-55 kDa-E4orf6 complex to leave the nucleus. Here, we examined the role of functional domains within E4orf6 during virus infection. E4orf6 or mutants derived from it were transiently expressed, followed by infection with recombinant adenovirus lacking the E4 region and determination of virus yield. An arginine-rich putative alpha helix near the carboxy terminus of E4orf6 contributes to E1B-55 kDa binding and relocalization as well as to the synthesis of viral DNA, mRNA, and proteins. Further mutational analysis revealed that mutation of the NES within E4orf6 considerably reduces its ability to support virus production. The same effect was observed when nuclear export was blocked with a competitor. Further, a functional NES within E4orf6 contributed to the efficiency of late virus protein synthesis and viral DNA replication, as well as total and cytoplasmic accumulation of viral late mRNA. Our data support the view that NES-mediated nucleocytoplasmic shuttling strongly enhances most, if not all, intracellular activities of E4orf6 during the late phase of adenovirus infection.

E1B 55-kilodalton oncoproteins of adenovirus types 5 and 12 inactivate and relocalize p53, but not p51 or p73, and cooperate with E4orf6 proteins to destabilize p53

The p53 tumor suppressor protein represents a target for viral and cellular oncoproteins, including adenovirus gene products. Recently, it was discovered that several proteins with structural and functional homologies to p53 exist in human cells. Two of them were termed p51 and p73. We have shown previously that the E1B 55-kDa protein (E1B-55 kDa) of adenovirus type 5 (Ad5) binds and inactivates p53 but not p73. Further, p53 is rapidly degraded in the presence of E1B-55 kDa and the E4orf6 protein of this virus. Here, it is demonstrated that p51 does not detectably associate with E1B-55 kDa. While p53 is relocalized to the cytoplasm by E1B-55 kDa, p51's location is unaffected. Finally, p51 retains its full transcriptional activity in the presence of E1B-55 kDa. Apparently, p51 does not represent a target of Ad5 E1B-55 kDa, suggesting that the functions of p51 are distinct from p53-like tumor suppression. E1B-55 kDa from highly oncogenic adenovirus type 12 (Ad12) was previously shown to surpass the oncogenic activity of Ad5 E1B-55 kDa in various assay systems, raising the possibility that Ad12 E1B-55 kDa might target a broader range of p53-like proteins. However, we show here that Ad12 E1B-55 kDa also inhibits p53's transcriptional activity without measurably affecting p73 or p51. Moderate inhibition of p51's transcriptional activity was observed in the presence of the E4orf6 proteins from Ad5 and Ad12. p53 and Ad12-E1B-55 kDa colocalize in the nucleus and also in cytoplasmic clusters when transiently coexpressed. Finally, E1B-55 kDa and E4orf6 of Ad12 mediate rapid degradation of p53 with an efficiency comparable to that of the Ad5 proteins in human and rodent cells. Our results suggest that E1B-55 kDa of either virus type has similar effects on p53 but does not affect p73 and p51.

Interaction between the HPV-16 E2 transcriptional activator and p53

The HPV-16 E2 protein is a major regulator of viral DNA replication and gene expression. Through interactions with the viral origin binding protein, E1, it localizes E1 to the origin of replication and stimulates the initiation of viral DNA replication. However, several recent reports have described a number of diverse activities of E2 relating to the induction of apoptosis through both p53 dependent and independent mechanisms, and to induction of growth arrest in both the G1 and G2M phases of the cell cycle. Recent studies have also shown that p53 can specifically inhibit HPV DNA replication, albeit through an unknown mechanism. Since p53 has been described in the replication centres of Herpes Viruses, Adenovirus and SV40 we decided to investigate whether any of the above activities of E2 may be related to an association with p53. We show, in a series of in vitro assays, specific interaction between p53 and HPV-16 E2 via residues in the carboxy terminal half of the E2 protein. Mutational analysis of p53 indicates that sequences in both the DNA binding and oligomerization domains are essential for the interaction, and a mutant of p53 which is unable to bind E2 is also unable to inhibit HPV DNA replication. Finally, using an inducible system of p53 expression we also show that E2 will complex with p53 in vivo. These results raise the intriguing possibility that p53 may also be involved in HPV DNA replication centres, and also provides explanations for some of the diverse activities reported for the HPV E2 proteins.

Ras regulates sympathetic neuron survival by suppressing the p53-mediated cell death pathway

In this report, we examine how the Ras protein regulates neuronal survival, focusing on sympathetic neurons. Adenovirus-expressed constitutively activated Ras (RasV12) enhanced survival and the phosphorylation of Akt (protein kinase B) and MAP kinase (MAPK), two targets of Ras activity. Functional inhibition of endogenous Ras by adenovirus-expressed dominant-inhibitory Ras (N17Ras) decreased nerve growth factor (NGF)-dependent survival and both Akt and MAPK phosphorylation as well. To determine the signaling pathways through which Ras mediates survival, we used Ras effector mutants and pharmacological inhibitors that selectively suppress phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K)/Akt or MAP kinase kinase (MEK)/MAPK pathways. The Ras effector mutant Ras(V12)Y40C, which selectively stimulates PI3-K and Akt, rescued survival in the absence of NGF, and the PI3-K inhibitor LY 294002 inhibited both Ras- and NGF-dependent survival. Ras(V12)T(35)S, which activates MEK/MAPK but not PI3-K/Akt, was less effective at rescuing survival, whereas the MEK inhibitor PD 098059 also partially suppressed Ras-dependent survival. To investigate the mechanisms by which Ras suppresses neuronal death, we examined whether Ras functions by inhibiting the proapoptotic p53 pathway (Jun-N-terminal kinase/p53/BAX) that is necessary for neuronal death after NGF withdrawal and p75NTR activation. We found that RasV12 suppressed c-jun, BAX, and p53 levels, whereas inhibition of NGF-induced Ras-survival activity via N17Ras increased the levels of these proteins. Furthermore, the E1B55K protein, which suppresses p53 activity, blocked N17Ras-induced neuronal death. Together, these results indicate that Ras is, in part, both necessary and sufficient for survival of sympathetic neurons and that this effect is mediated by activation of both the PI3-K- and MEK-signaling cascades, which in turn suppress a proapoptotic p53 pathway.

Overexpression of cyclin A inhibits augmentation of recombinant adeno-associated virus transduction by the adenovirus E4orf6 protein

The 34-kDa product of adenovirus E4 region open reading frame 6 (E4orf6) dramatically enhances transduction by recombinant adeno-associated virus vectors (rAAV). This is achieved by promoting the conversion of incoming single-stranded viral genomes into transcriptionally competent duplex molecules. The molecular mechanism for enhancing second-strand synthesis is not fully understood. In this study, we analyzed the cellular consequences of E4orf6 expression and the requirements for efficient rAAV transduction mediated by E4orf6. Expression of E4orf6 in 293 cells led to an inhibition of cell cycle progression and an accumulation of cells in S phase. This was preceded by specific degradation of cyclin A and p53, while the levels of other proteins involved in cell cycle control remained unchanged. In addition, the kinase activity of cdc2 was inhibited. We further showed that p53 expression is not necessary or inhibitory for augmentation of rAAV transduction by E4orf6. However, overexpression of cyclin A inhibited E4orf6-mediated enhancement of rAAV transduction. A cyclin A mutant incapable of recruiting protein substrates for cdk2 was unable to inhibit E4orf6-mediated augmentation. In addition, we created an E4orf6 mutant that is selectively defective in rAAV augmentation of transduction. Based on these findings, we suggest that cyclin A degradation represents a viral mechanism to disrupt cell cycle progression, resulting in enhanced viral transduction. Understanding the cellular pathways used during transduction will increase the utility of rAAV vectors in a wide range of gene therapy applications.

Ras regulates sympathetic neuron survival by suppressing the p53-mediated cell death pathway

In this report, we examine how the Ras protein regulates neuronal survival, focusing on sympathetic neurons. Adenovirus-expressed constitutively activated Ras (RasV12) enhanced survival and the phosphorylation of Akt (protein kinase B) and MAP kinase (MAPK), two targets of Ras activity. Functional inhibition of endogenous Ras by adenovirus-expressed dominant-inhibitory Ras (N17Ras) decreased nerve growth factor (NGF)-dependent survival and both Akt and MAPK phosphorylation as well. To determine the signaling pathways through which Ras mediates survival, we used Ras effector mutants and pharmacological inhibitors that selectively suppress phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K)/Akt or MAP kinase kinase (MEK)/MAPK pathways. The Ras effector mutant Ras(V12)Y40C, which selectively stimulates PI3-K and Akt, rescued survival in the absence of NGF, and the PI3-K inhibitor LY 294002 inhibited both Ras- and NGF-dependent survival. Ras(V12)T(35)S, which activates MEK/MAPK but not PI3-K/Akt, was less effective at rescuing survival, whereas the MEK inhibitor PD 098059 also partially suppressed Ras-dependent survival. To investigate the mechanisms by which Ras suppresses neuronal death, we examined whether Ras functions by inhibiting the proapoptotic p53 pathway (Jun-N-terminal kinase/p53/BAX) that is necessary for neuronal death after NGF withdrawal and p75NTR activation. We found that RasV12 suppressed c-jun, BAX, and p53 levels, whereas inhibition of NGF-induced Ras-survival activity via N17Ras increased the levels of these proteins. Furthermore, the E1B55K protein, which suppresses p53 activity, blocked N17Ras-induced neuronal death. Together, these results indicate that Ras is, in part, both necessary and sufficient for survival of sympathetic neurons and that this effect is mediated by activation of both the PI3-K- and MEK-signaling cascades, which in turn suppress a proapoptotic p53 pathway.

Viruses and apoptosis

Successful viral replication requires not only the efficient production and spread of progeny, but also evasion of host defense mechanisms that limit replication by killing infected cells. In addition to inducing immune and inflammatory responses, infection by most viruses triggers apoptosis or programmed cell death of the infected cell. This cell response often results as a compulsory or unavoidable by-product of the action of critical viral replicative functions. In addition, some viruses seem to use apoptosis as a mechanism of cell killing and virus spread. In both cases, successful replication relies on the ability of certain viral products to block or delay apoptosis until sufficient progeny have been produced. Such proteins target a variety of strategic points in the apoptotic pathway. In this review we summarize the great amount of recent information on viruses and apoptosis and offer insights into how this knowledge may be used for future research and novel therapies.

Infectivity and expression of the early adenovirus proteins are important regulators of wild-type and DeltaE1B adenovirus replication in human cells

An adenovirus mutant lacking the expression of the large E1B protein (DeltaE1B) has been reported to replicate selectively in cells lacking the expression of functionally wild-type (wt) p53. Based on these results the DeltaE1B or ONYX-015 virus has been proposed to be an oncolytic virus which might be useful to treat p53-deficient tumors. Recently however, contradictory results have been published indicating that p53-dependent cell death is required for productive adenovirus infection. Since there is an urgent need for new methods to treat aggressive, mutant p53-expressing primary tumors and their metastases we carefully examined adenovirus replication in human cells to determine whether or not the DeltaE1B virus can be used for tumor therapy. The results we present here show that not all human tumor cell lines take up adenovirus efficiently. In addition, we observed inhibition of the expression of adenovirus early proteins in tumor cells. We present evidence that these two factors rather than the p53 status of the cell determine whether adenovirus infection results in lytic cell death. Furthermore, the results we obtained by infecting a panel of different tumor cell lines show that viral spread of the DeltaE1B is strongly inhibited in almost all p53-proficient and -deficient cell lines compared to the wt virus. We conclude that the efficiency of the DeltaE1B virus to replicate efficiently in tumor cells is determined by the ability to infect cells and to express the early adenovirus proteins rather than the status of p53.

Roles for the E4 orf6, orf3, and E1B 55-kilodalton proteins in cell cycle-independent adenovirus replication

Adenoviruses bearing lesions in the E1B 55-kDa protein (E1B 55-kDa) gene are restricted by the cell cycle such that mutant virus growth is most impaired in cells infected during G(1) and least restricted in cells infected during S phase (F. D. Goodrum and D. A. Ornelles, J. Virol. 71:548-561, 1997). A similar defect is reported here for E4 orf6-mutant viruses. An E4 orf3-mutant virus was not restricted for growth by the cell cycle. However, orf3 was required for enhanced growth of an E4 orf6-mutant virus in cells infected during S phase. The cell cycle restriction may be linked to virus-mediated mRNA transport because both E1B 55-kDa- and E4 orf6-mutant viruses are defective at regulating mRNA transport at late times of infection. Accordingly, the cytoplasmic-to-nuclear ratio of late viral mRNA was reduced in G(1) cells infected with the mutant viruses compared to that in G(1) cells infected with the wild-type virus. By contrast, this ratio was equivalent among cells infected during S phase with the wild-type or mutant viruses. Furthermore, cells infected during S phase with the E1B 55-kDa- or E4 orf6-mutant viruses synthesized more late viral protein than did cells infected during G(1). However, the total amount of cytoplasmic late viral mRNA was greater in cells infected during G(1) than in cells infected during S phase with either the wild-type or mutant viruses, indicating that enhanced transport of viral mRNA in cells infected during S phase cannot account for the difference in yields in cells infected during S phase and in cells infected during G(1). Thus, additional factors affect the cell cycle restriction. These results indicate that the E4 orf6 and orf3 proteins, in addition to the E1B 55-kDa protein, may cooperate to promote cell cycle-independent adenovirus growth.

p53-Independent and -dependent requirements for E1B-55K in adenovirus type 5 replication

The adenovirus type 5 mutant dl1520 was engineered previously to be completely defective for E1B-55K functions. Recently, this mutant (also known as ONYX-015) has been suggested to replicate preferentially in p53(-) and some p53(+) tumor cell lines but to be attenuated in primary cultured cells (C. Heise, A. Sampson-Johannes, A. Williams, F. McCormick, D. D. F. Hoff, and D. H. Kirn, Nat. Med. 3:639-645, 1997). It has been suggested that dl1520 might be used as a "magic bullet" that could selectively lyse tumor cells without harm to normal tissues. However, we report here that dl1520 replication is independent of p53 genotype and occurs efficiently in some primary cultured human cells, indicating that the mutant virus does not possess a tumor selectivity. Although it was not the sole host range determinant, p53 function did reduce dl1520 replication when analyzed in a cell line expressing temperature-sensitive p53 (H1299-tsp53) (K. L. Fries, W. E. Miller, and N. Raab-Traub, J. Virol. 70:8653-8659, 1996). As found earlier for other E1B-55K mutants in HeLa cells (Y. Ho, R. Galos, and J. Williams, Virology 122:109-124, 1982), dl1520 replication was temperature dependent in H1299 cells. When p53 function was restored at low temperature in H1299-tsp53 cells, it imposed a modest defect in viral DNA replication and accumulation of late viral cytoplasmic mRNA. However, in both H1299 and H1299-tsp53 cells, the defect in late viral protein synthesis appeared to be much greater than could be accounted for by the modest defects in late viral mRNA levels. We therefore propose that in addition to countering p53 function and modulating viral and cellular mRNA nuclear transport, E1B-55K also stimulates late viral mRNA translation.

An arginine-faced amphipathic alpha helix is required for adenovirus type 5 e4orf6 protein function

A region in the carboxy terminus of the protein encoded by open reading frame 6 in early region 4 (E4orf6) of adenovirus type 5 was determined to be required for directing nuclear localization of the E1B 55-kDa protein and for efficient virus replication. A peptide encompassing this region, corresponding to amino acids 239 through 255 of the E4orf6 protein, was analyzed by circular dichroism spectroscopy. The peptide showed evidence of self-interaction and displayed the characteristic spectra of an amphipathic alpha helix in the helix-stabilizing solvent trifluoroethanol. Disrupting the integrity of this alpha helix in the E4orf6 protein by proline substitutions or by removing amino acids 241 through 250 abolished its ability to direct the E1B 55-kDa protein to the nucleus when both proteins were transiently expressed in HeLa cells. Expression of E4orf6 variants that failed to direct nuclear localization of the E1B 55-kDa protein failed to enhance replication of the E4 mutant virus, dl1014, whereas expression of the wild-type E4orf6 protein restored growth of dl1014 to near-wild-type levels. These results suggest that the E4orf6 protein contains an arginine-faced, amphipathic alpha helix that is critical for a functional interaction with the E1B 55-kDa protein in the cell and for the function of the E4orf6 protein during a lytic infection.

Distinct regulation of p53 and p73 activity by adenovirus E1A, E1B, and E4orf6 proteins

Multiple adenovirus (Ad) early proteins have been shown to inhibit transcription activation by p53 and thereby to alter its normal biological functioning. Since these Ad proteins affect the activity of p53 via different mechanisms, we examined whether this inhibition is target gene specific. In addition, we analyzed whether the same Ad early proteins have a comparable effect on transcription activation by the recently identified p53 homologue p73. Our results show that the large E1B proteins very efficiently inhibited the activity of p53 on the Bax, p21(Waf1), cyclin G, and MDM2 reporter constructs but had no effect on the activation of the same reporter constructs by p73, with the exception of some inhibition of the Bax promoter by Ad12 E1B. The repressive effect of the E1A proteins on p53 activity is less than that seen with the large E1B proteins, but the E1A proteins inhibit the activity of both p53 and p73. We could not detect significant inhibition of p53 functions by E4orf6, but a clear repression of the transcription activation by p73 by this Ad early protein was observed. In addition, we found that stable expression of the Ad5 E1A and that of the E1B protein both caused increased p73 protein expression. The large E1B and the E4orf6 proteins together do not target the p73 protein for rapid degradation after adenoviral infection, as has previously been found for the p53 protein, probably because the large E1B protein does not interact with p73. Our results suggest that the p53 and p73 proteins are both inactivated after Ad infection and transformation but via distinct mechanisms.

An inhibitor of nuclear export activates the p53 response and induces the localization of HDM2 and p53 to U1A-positive nuclear bodies associated with the PODs

Leptomycin B is a cytotoxin which directly interacts with and inhibits the action of CRM1, an essential mediator of the nuclear exit of proteins containing nuclear export signals (NES) of the HIV1 REV type. We show that addition of leptomycin B to human primary fibroblasts increased the levels of the p53 tumor suppressor protein. This was accompanied by the induction of p53-dependent transcriptional activity in cultured cells and an increase in the levels of the products of two p53-responsive genes, the p21(CIP1/WAF1) and HDM2 proteins. Leptomycin B induced the accumulation of p53 and HDM2 in the nucleus and the appearance of discrete nuclear aggregates containing both proteins. It has been reported that the transcriptional activity of p53 is modulated by its interaction with the HDM2 protein which also targets p53 for rapid degradation. Using a model cell line conditionally expressing MDM2, the murine analogue of HDM2, we present evidence indicating that leptomycin B abrogates MDM2's role in p53 degradation and that the accumulation of p53 in distinct nuclear bodies is mediated by MDM2. Since HDM2 has recently been shown to contain a functional NES of the REV type, the most likely explanation for our results is that the effect of leptomycin B on HDM2 and p53 is due to the inhibition of nuclear export. The ability to visualize sites where p53 and HDM2 colocalize provides a new approach to study the association between the two proteins in vivo. These p53/HDM2-positive nuclear foci were found to also contain the U1A snRNP A and to be juxtaposed to the PML oncogenic domains.

Adenovirus type 5 E4orf3 protein relieves p53 inhibition by E1B-55-kilodalton protein

The E1B-55-kDa protein of adenovirus type 5 and the p53 tumor suppressor gene product form a complex that localizes to the cytoplasm, thereby downregulating p53's transcriptional activity. The E4orf6 protein binds and relocalizes E1B-55-kDa, and the proteins act synergistically to inactivate p53. We show that another adenovirus E4 gene product, E4orf3, is also sufficient to relocalize E1B-55-kDa from the cytoplasm to the nucleus. Both proteins are then found in discrete nuclear structures (tracks) that are known to contain components of the promyelocytic leukemia-associated nuclear structure. Simultaneously, p53 is dissociated from E1B-55-kDa and is found evenly distributed over the nucleoplasm. In the presence of E4orf3, p53-dependent transcriptional activity is no longer repressed by E1B-55-kDa. When E1B-55-kDa is coexpressed with E4orf3 and E4orf6, E1B-55-kDa is found to colocalize with E4orf6 rather than E4orf3. In parallel, p53 is inhibited and degraded by the combination of E1B-55-kDa and E4orf6, regardless of coexpressed E4orf3. This suggests that the effects of E4orf6 on E1B-55-kDa overrule the actions of E4orf3. When cells are infected with virus expressing E4orf3 but not E4orf6, E1B is found in the cell nucleus and p53 enters the virus replication centers. After infection with wild-type adenovirus, E4orf3 is expressed before E4orf6 and E1B temporarily colocalizes with E4orf3 in nuclear tracks before associating with E4orf6. We propose that during adenovirus infection, the E4orf3 protein transiently liberates p53 from its association with E1B-55-kDa. Subsequently, p53 is inactivated and degraded by the combination of E1B-55-kDa and E4orf6.

Transforming potential of the adenovirus type 5 E4orf3 protein

Previous observations that the adenovirus type 5 (Ad5) E4orf6 and E4orf3 gene products have redundant effects in viral lytic infection together with the recent findings that E4orf6 possesses transforming potential prompted us to investigate the effect of E4orf3 expression on the transformation of primary rat cells in combination with adenovirus E1 oncogene products. Our results demonstrate for the first time that E4orf3 can cooperate with adenovirus E1A and E1A plus E1B proteins to transform primary baby rat kidney cells, acting synergistically with E4orf6 in the presence of E1B gene products. Transformed rat cells expressing E4orf3 exhibit morphological alterations, higher growth rates and saturation densities, and increased tumorigenicity compared with transformants expressing E1 proteins only. Consistent with previous results for adenovirus-infected cells, the E4orf3 protein is immunologically restricted to discrete nuclear structures known as PML oncogenic domains (PODs) in transformed rat cells. As opposed to E4orf6, the ability of E4orf3 to promote oncogenic cell growth is probably not linked to a modulation of p53 functions and stability. Instead, our results indicate that the transforming activities of E4orf3 are due to combinatorial effects that involve the binding to the adenovirus 55-kDa E1B protein and the colocalization with PODs independent from interactions with the PML gene product. These data fit well with a model in which the reorganization of PODs may trigger a cascade of processes that cause uncontrolled cell proliferation and neoplastic growth. In sum, our results provide strong evidence for the idea that interactions with PODs by viral proteins are linked to oncogenic transformation.

Analysis of synthesis, stability, phosphorylation, and interacting polypeptides of the 34-kilodalton product of open reading frame 6 of the early region 4 protein of human adenovirus type 5

The 34-kDa early-region 4 open reading frame 6 (E4orf6) product of human adenovirus type 5 forms complexes with both the cellular tumor suppressor p53 and the viral E1B 55-kDa protein (E1B-55kDa). E4orf6 can inhibit p53 transactivation activity, as can E1B-55kDa, and in combination these viral proteins cause the rapid turnover of p53. In addition, E4orf6-55kDa complexes play a critical role at later times in the regulation of viral mRNA transport and shutoff of host cell protein synthesis. In the present study, we have further characterized some of the biological properties of E4orf6. Analysis of extracts from infected cells by Western blotting indicated that E4orf6, like E1A and E1B products, is present at high levels until very late times, suggesting that it is available to act throughout the infectious cycle. This pattern is similar to that of E4orf4 but differs markedly from that of another E4 product, E4orf6/7, which is present only transiently. Synthesis of E4orf6 is maximal at early stages but ceases completely with the onset of shutoff of host protein synthesis; however, it was found that unlike E4orf6/7, E4orf6 is very stable, thus allowing high levels to be maintained even at late times. E4orf6 was shown to be phosphorylated at low levels. Coimmunoprecipitation studies in cells lacking p53 indicated that E4orf6 interacts with a number of other proteins. Five of these were shown to be viral or virally induced proteins ranging in size from 102 to 27 kDa, including E1B-55kDa. One such species, of 72 kDa, was shown not to represent the E2 DNA-binding protein and thus remains to be identified. Another appeared to be the L4 100-kDa nonstructural adenovirus late product, but it appeared to be present nonspecifically and not as part of an E4orf6 complex. Apart from p53, three additional cellular proteins, of 84, 19, and 14 kDa were detected by using an adenovirus vector that expresses only E4orf6. The 19-kDa species and a 16-kDa cellular protein were also shown to interact with E4orf6/7. It is possible that complex formation with these viral and cellular proteins plays a role in one or more of the biological activities associated with E4orf6 and E4orf6/7.

The adenovirus E4orf6 protein contributes to malignant transformation by antagonizing E1A-induced accumulation of the tumor suppressor protein p53

The adenovirus type 5 (Ad5) E4orf6 protein promotes focus formation of primary baby rat kidney (BRK) cells in cooperation with Ad5 E1 proteins. This activity is most likely related to the ability of the E4orf6 protein to bind to p53 and modulate its tumor suppressor functions. In this study we report that transformed BRK cells that stably express E4orf6 in addition to E1A and E1B (ABS cells) displayed multiple additional properties commonly associated with a high grade of oncogenic transformation compared to cells expressing only E1A and E1B (AB cells). These properties included morphological alterations, markedly enhanced growth rates and growth to much higher saturation densities. Following injection into nude mice ABS-derived tumors exhibited accelerated growth and, based on histopathological criteria, proofed to be much more malignant compared to tumors generated by AB cells. Interestingly, these highly transformed properties of ABS cells correlated with a dramatic reduction of p53 steady-state levels which inversely correlated with E4orf6 expression. From these results we conclude that expression of the Ad5 E4orf6 protein (i) confers additional transformed in vitro properties to primary rat cells expressing the Ad5 E1 proteins, and (ii) increases the tumorigenic and malignant potential of these cells in vivo. Our data suggest that the Ad5 E4orf6 protein enhances the intrinsic ability of E1-transformed rat cells to grow in a neoplastic state by completely inactivating p53 tumor suppressor function in combination with the E1A and E1B proteins.

p53 is essential for developmental neuron death as regulated by the TrkA and p75 neurotrophin receptors

Naturally occurring sympathetic neuron death is the result of two apoptotic signaling events: one normally suppressed by NGF/TrkA survival signals, and a second activated by the p75 neurotrophin receptor. Here we demonstrate that the p53 tumor suppressor protein, likely as induced by the MEKK-JNK pathway, is an essential component of both of these apoptotic signaling cascades. In cultured neonatal sympathetic neurons, p53 protein levels are elevated in response to both NGF withdrawal and p75NTR activation. NGF withdrawal also results in elevation of a known p53 target, the apoptotic protein Bax. Functional ablation of p53 using the adenovirus E1B55K protein inhibits neuronal apoptosis as induced by either NGF withdrawal or p75 activation. Direct stimulation of the MEKK-JNK pathway using activated MEKK1 has similar effects; p53 and Bax are increased and the subsequent neuronal apoptosis can be rescued by E1B55K. Expression of p53 in sympathetic neurons indicates that p53 functions downstream of JNK and upstream of Bax. Finally, when p53 levels are reduced or absent in p53+/- or p53-/- mice, naturally occurring sympathetic neuron death is inhibited. Thus, p53 is an essential common component of two receptor-mediated signal transduction cascades that converge on the MEKK-JNK pathway to regulate the developmental death of sympathetic neurons.

p53 status does not determine outcome of E1B 55-kilodalton mutant adenovirus lytic infection

The ability of the adenovirus type 5 E1B 55-kDa mutants dl1520 and dl338 to replicate efficiently and independently of the cell cycle, to synthesis viral DNA, and to lyse infected cells did not correlate with the status of p53 in seven cell lines examined. Rather, cell cycle-independent replication and virus-induced cell killing correlated with permissivity to viral replication. This correlation extended to S-phase HeLa cells, which were more susceptible to virus-induced cell killing by the E1B 55-kDa mutant virus than HeLa cells infected during G1. Wild-type p53 had only a modest effect on E1B mutant virus yields in H1299 cells expressing a temperature-sensitive p53 allele. The defect in E1B 55-kDa mutant virus replication resulting from reduced temperature was as much as 10-fold greater than the defect due to p53 function. At 39 degreesC, the E1B 55-kDa mutant viruses produced wild-type yields of virus and replicated independently of the cell cycle. In addition, the E1B 55-kDa mutant viruses directed the synthesis of late viral proteins to levels equivalent to the wild-type virus level at 39 degreesC. We have previously shown that the defect in mutant virus replication can also be overcome by infecting HeLa cells during S phase. Taken together, these results indicate that the capacity of the E1B 55-kDa mutant virus to replicate independently of the cell cycle does not correlate with the status of p53 but is determined by yet unidentified mechanisms. The cold-sensitive nature of the defect of the E1B 55-kDa mutant virus in both late gene expression and cell cycle-independent replication leads us to speculate that these functions of the E1B 55-kDa protein may be linked.

Human T-cell lymphotropic/leukemia virus type 1 Tax abrogates p53-induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis through its CREB/ATF functional domain

Human T-cell lymphotropic/leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) transforms human T cells in vitro, and Tax, a potent transactivator of viral and cellular genes, plays a key role in cell immortalization. Tax activity is mediated by interaction with cellular transcription factors including members of the CREB/ATF family, the NF-kappaB/c-Rel family, serum response factor, and the coactivators CREB binding protein-p300. Although p53 is usually not mutated in HTLV-1-infected T cells, its half-life is increased and its function is impaired. Here we report that transient coexpression of p53 and Tax results in the suppression of p53 transcriptional activity. Expression of Tax abrogates p53-induced G1 arrest in the Calu-6 cell line and prevents the apoptosis induced by overexpressing p53 in the HeLa/Tat cell line. The Tax mutants M22 and G148V, which selectively activate the CREB/ATF pathway, exert these same biological effects on p53 function. In contrast, the NF-kappaB-active Tax mutant M47 has no effect on p53 activity in any of these systems. Consistent with the negative effect of Tax on p53, no activity on a p53-responsive promoter was observed upon transfection of HTLV-1-infected T-cell lines. The p53 protein is expressed at high levels in the nucleus, and nuclear extracts of HTLV-1-infected T cells bind constitutively to a DNA oligonucleotide containing the p53 response element, indicating that Tax does not interfere with p53 binding to DNA. Tax is able to suppress the transactivation function of p53 in three different cell lines, and this suppression required Tax-mediated activation of the CREB/ATF, but not the NF-kappaB/c-Rel, pathway. Tax and the active Tax mutants were able to abrogate the G1 arrest and apoptosis induced by p53, and this effect does not correlate with an altered localization of nuclear p53 or with the disruption of p53-DNA complexes. The suppression of p53 activity by Tax could be important in T-cell immortalization induced by HTLV-1.

Inactivation of p53 but not p73 by adenovirus type 5 E1B 55-kilodalton and E4 34-kilodalton oncoproteins

The adenovirus E1B 55-kDa and E4 34-kDa oncoproteins bind and inactivate the p53 tumor suppressor gene product, resulting in cell transformation. A recently discovered cellular protein, p73, shows extensive similarities to p53 in structure and function. Here we show that the simultaneous transient expression of E1B 55-kDa and E4 34-kDa proteins is sufficient to drastically shorten the intracellular half-life of p53, leading to strongly reduced steady-state p53 levels. Concomitantly, the E1B 55-kDa and E4 34-kDa proteins act synergistically to inactivate the transcriptional activity of p53. Mutational analysis suggests that physical interactions between the E1B 55-kDa protein and p53 and between the E1B 55-kDa and E4 34-kDa proteins are both required for p53 degradation. In contrast, the ability of p53 to interact with the cellular mdm2 oncoprotein or with its cognate DNA element appears to be dispensable for its destabilization by adenovirus gene products. The adenovirus E1B 55-kDa protein did not detectably interact with p73 and failed to inhibit p73-mediated transcription; also, the E1B 55-kDa and E4 34-kDa proteins did not promote p73 degradation. When five amino acids near the amino termini were exchanged at corresponding positions between p53 and p73, this rendered p53 resistant and p73 susceptible to complex formation and inactivation by the E1B 55-kDa protein. Our results suggest that while p53 inactivation is a central step in virus-induced tumor development, efficient transformation can occur without targeting p73.

E1B 55-kilodalton-associated protein: a cellular protein with RNA-binding activity implicated in nucleocytoplasmic transport of adenovirus and cellular mRNAs

The adenovirus type 5 (Ad5) early 1B 55-kDa protein (E1B-55kDa) is a multifunctional phosphoprotein that regulates viral DNA replication and nucleocytoplasmic RNA transport in lytically infected cells. In addition, E1B-55kDa provides functions required for complete oncogenic transformation of rodent cells in cooperation with the E1A proteins. Using the far-Western technique, we have isolated human genes encoding E1B-55kDa-associated proteins (E1B-APs). The E1B-AP5 gene encodes a novel nuclear RNA-binding protein of the heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein (hnRNP) family that is highly related to hnRNP-U/SAF-A. Immunoprecipitation experiments indicate that two distinct segments in the 55-kDa polypeptide which partly overlap regions responsible for p53 binding are required for complex formation with E1B-AP5 in Ad-infected cells and that this protein interaction is modulated by the adenovirus E4orf6 protein. Expression of E1B-AP5 efficiently interferes with Ad5 E1A/E1B-mediated transformation of primary rat cells. Furthermore, stable expression of E1B-AP5 in Ad-infected cells overcomes the E1B-dependent inhibition of cytoplasmic host mRNA accumulation. These data suggest that E1B-AP5 might play a role in RNA transport and that this function is modulated by E1B-55kDa in Ad-infected cells.

The early region 4 orf4 protein of human adenovirus type 5 induces p53-independent cell death by apoptosis

Previous studies by our group showed that infection of human and rodent cells by human adenovirus type 5 (Ad5) results in the induction of p53-independent apoptosis and cell death that are dependent upon transactivation of early region 4 (E4). To identify which E4 products are involved, studies were conducted with p53-deficient human SAOS-2 cells infected with various Ad5 E4 mutants. An E4orf6-deficient mutant was defective in cell killing, whereas another that expressed only E4orf6 and E4orf4 killed like wild-type virus, suggesting that E4orf6 may be responsible for cytotoxicity; however, a mutant expressing only E4orf4 induced high levels of cell death, indicating that this E4 product may also be able to induce cytotoxicity. To define the E4 cell death-inducing functions more precisely, cDNAs encoding individual E4 products were introduced into cells by DNA transfection in the absence of other Ad5 proteins. In cotransfections with a cDNA encoding firefly luciferase, enzymatic activity was high in all cases except with E4orf4, where luciferase levels were less than 20% of those in controls. In addition, drug selection of several cell types following transfection with retroviral vector DNA encoding individual E4 products as well as puromycin resistance yielded a large number of cell colonies except when E4orf4 was expressed. These data demonstrated that E4orf4 is the only E4 product capable of independent cell killing. Cell death induced by E4orf4 was due to apoptosis, as evidenced by 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining of cell nuclei in E4orf4-expressing cells. Thus, although E4orf6 may play some role, these results suggested that E4orf4 may be the major E4 product responsible for induction of p53-independent apoptosis.

JNK targets p53 ubiquitination and degradation in nonstressed cells

In this study we elucidated the role of nonactive JNK in regulating p53 stability. The amount of p53-JNK complex was inversely correlated with p53 level. A peptide corresponding to the JNK binding site on p53 efficiently blocked ubiquitination of p53. Similarly, p53 lacking the JNK binding site exhibits a longer half-life than p53(wt). Outcompeting JNK association with p53 increased the level of p53, whereas overexpression of a phosphorylation mutant form of JNK inhibited p53 accumulation. JNK-p53 and Mdm2-p53 complexes were preferentially found in G0/G1 and S/G2M phases of the cell cycle, respectively. Altogether, these data indicate that JNK is an Mdm2-independent regulator of p53 stability in nonstressed cells.

Apoptosis regulators from DNA viruses

The past year has seen an considerable expansion in knowledge about the field of apoptosis modulators expressed by DNA viruses. These diverse classes of virus-encoded regulators include caspase inhibitors, signal transduction effectors, Bcl-2 homologs, cell cycle control proteins, transcriptional regulators, reactive oxide scavengers, kinases, 'death factors' and novel host-range proteins.

Li-Fraumeni syndrome and the role of the p53 tumor suppressor gene in cancer susceptibility

Mutation of the tumor suppressor gene p53 is a molecular genetic event frequently observed in human cancer, and inactivating missense mutations usually are accompanied by the resultant overexpression of mutant p53 protein. In gynecologic cancers, p53 is also often altered; the frequency varies depending on types of cancers and where they develop. Further, human papillomavirus oncoproteins that inactivate p53 and Rb proteins play important roles in the development of several gynecologic cancers. Individuals who are heterozygous for germline mutations of the p53 gene are strongly predisposed to a variety of cancers. The identification of these individuals may have profound value in the future when therapies or chemopreventive agents specific for the p53 alteration are available. The role of p53 tumor suppressor gene in gynecologic cancers and heritable cancer susceptibility syndromes including Li-Fraumeni and Lynch II syndromes is an active and important area of study.

Accumulation of p53 induced by the adenovirus E1A protein requires regions involved in the stimulation of DNA synthesis

It has been known for some time that expression of the 243-residue (243R) human adenovirus type 5 (Ad5) early region 1A (E1A) protein causes an increase in the level of the cellular tumor suppressor p53 and induction of p53-dependent apoptosis. Deletion of a portion of conserved region 1 (CR1) had been shown to prevent apoptosis, suggesting that binding of p300 and/or the pRB retinoblastoma tumor suppressor and related proteins might be implicated. To examine the mechanism of the E1A-induced accumulation of p53, cells were infected with viruses expressing E1A-243R containing various deletions which have well-characterized effects on p300 and pRB binding. It was found that in human HeLa cells and rodent cells, complex formation with p300 but not pRB was required for the rise in p53 levels. However, in other human cell lines, including MRC-5 cells, E1A proteins which were able to form complexes with either p300 or pRB induced a significant increase in p53 levels. Only E1A mutants defective in binding both classes of proteins were unable to stimulate p53 accumulation. This same pattern was also apparent in p53-null mouse cells coinfected by Ad5 mutants and an adenovirus vector expressing either wild-type or mutant human p53 under a cytomegalovirus promoter, indicating that the difference in importance of pRB binding may relate to differences between rodent and human p53 expression. The increase in p53 levels correlated well with the induction of apoptosis and, as shown previously, with the stimulation of cellular DNA synthesis. Thus, it is possible that the accumulation of p53 is induced by the induction of unscheduled DNA synthesis by E1A proteins and that increased levels of p53 then activate cell death pathways.