Yeast two-hybrid assay to identify host-virus interactions

Protein-Protein Interaction via Two-Hybrid Assay in Yeast

The yeast two-hybrid assay enables detecting interactions between proteins, which makes this tool of particular interest for plant-virus interaction studies. Basically, the reporter gene expression (HIS3) is activated by the binding of a transcription factor GAL4, which, like eukaryotic transcription factors, is modular in nature and consists of two structurally independent domains: DNA-binding (DB) and activation (AD) domains. The two proteins under investigation are expressed separately, one fused to the BD domain and the other to the AD domain. In the yeast strain AH109, activation of the reporter gene occurs only in cells that contain interacting proteins, reconstituting the transcription factor GAL4 which then binds to the responsive promoter and results in yeast colony growth.

Interactive host cells related to Mycoplasma suis α-enolase by yeast two-hybrid analysis

Mycoplasma suis belongs to the haemotrophic mycoplasmas, which colonise the red blood cells of a wide range of vertebrates. Adhesion to red blood cells is the crucial step in the unique lifecycle of M. suis. In addition to MSG1 protein, α-enolase is the second adhesion protein of M. suis, and may be involved in the adhesion of M. suis to porcine red blood cells (RBC). To simulate the environment of the RBC, we established the cDNA library of swine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). The yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) system was adopted to screen α-enolase interactive proteins in the PBMC line. Alignment with the NCBI database revealed four interactive proteins: beta-actin, 60S ribosomal protein L11, clusterin precursor and endonuclease/reverse transcriptase. However, the M. suis α-enolase interactive proteins in the PBMC cDNA library obtained in the current study provide valuable information about the host cell interactions of the M. suis α-enolase protein.

Virus morphogenesis in the cell: methods and observations

Viruses carry out many of their activities inside cells, where they synthesise proteins that are not incorporated into viral particles. Some of these proteins trigger signals to kidnap cell organelles and factors which will form a new macro-structure, the virus factory, that acts as a physical scaffold for viral replication and assembly. We are only beginning to envisage the extraordinary complexity of these interactions, whose characterisation is a clear experimental challenge for which we now have powerful tools. Conventional study of infection kinetics using virology, biochemistry and cell biology methods can be followed by genome-scale screening and global proteomics. These are important new technologies with which we can identify the cell factors used by viruses at different stages in their life cycle. Light microscopy, electron microscopy and electron tomography, together with labelling methods for molecular mapping in situ, show immature viral intermediates, mature virions and recruited cell elements in their natural environment. This chapter describes how these methods are being used to understand the cell biology of viral morphogenesis and suggests what they might achieve in the near future.

Interactive cellular proteins related to classical swine fever virus non-structure protein 2 by yeast two-hybrid analysis

Classical swine fever is caused by the classical swine fever virus (CSFV), which has a special affinity to endothelial cells. This fever is characterized by hemorrhage and necrosis of vascular injury. Very little information is available on the interaction between vascular endothelial cells and CSFV. In the current report, the cDNA library of swine umbilical vein endothelial cell (SUVEC) was constructed by the switching mechanism at 5' end of the RNA transcript approach. The yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) system was adopted to screen non-structure 2 protein (NS2) interactive proteins in the SUVEC line. Alignment with the NCBI database revealed 11 interactive proteins: GOPC, HNRNPH1, DNAJA1, ATP6, CSDE1, CNDP2, FANCL, TMED4, DNAJA4, MOAP1, and PNMA1. These proteins were mostly related to apoptosis, stress response and oxidation reduction, or metabolism. In the protein interaction network constructed based on proteins with NS2, the more important proteins were MOAP1, DNAJA1, GOPC, FANCL, TMED4, and CSDE1. The interactions detected by the Y2H should be regarded only as preliminary indications. However, the CSFV NS2 interactive proteins in the SUVEC cDNA library obtained in the current study provides valuable information for gaining a better understanding of the host protein-virus interactions of the CSFV NS2 protein.

Diversity in genetic in vivo methods for protein-protein interaction studies: from the yeast two-hybrid system to the mammalian split-luciferase system

The yeast two-hybrid system pioneered the field of in vivo protein-protein interaction methods and undisputedly gave rise to a palette of ingenious techniques that are constantly pushing further the limits of the original method. Sensitivity and selectivity have improved because of various technical tricks and experimental designs. Here we present an exhaustive overview of the genetic approaches available to study in vivo binary protein interactions, based on two-hybrid and protein fragment complementation assays. These methods have been engineered and employed successfully in microorganisms such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Escherichia coli, but also in higher eukaryotes. From single binary pairwise interactions to whole-genome interactome mapping, the self-reassembly concept has been employed widely. Innovative studies report the use of proteins such as ubiquitin, dihydrofolate reductase, and adenylate cyclase as reconstituted reporters. Protein fragment complementation assays have extended the possibilities in protein-protein interaction studies, with technologies that enable spatial and temporal analyses of protein complexes. In addition, one-hybrid and three-hybrid systems have broadened the types of interactions that can be studied and the findings that can be obtained. Applications of these technologies are discussed, together with the advantages and limitations of the available assays.

Interaction of the host protein NbDnaJ with Potato virus X minus-strand stem-loop 1 RNA and capsid protein affects viral replication and movement

Plant viruses must interact with host cellular components to replicate and move from cell to cell. In the case of Potato virus X (PVX), it carries stem-loop 1 (SL1) RNA essential for viral replication and movement. Using two-dimensional electrophoresis northwestern blot analysis, we previously identified several host proteins that bind to SL1 RNA. Of those, we further characterized a DnaJ-like protein from Nicotiana benthamiana named NbDnaJ. An electrophoretic mobility shift assay confirmed that NbDnaJ binds only to SL1 minus-strand RNA, and bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) indicated that NbDnaJ interacts with PVX capsid protein (CP). Using a series of deletion mutants, the C-terminal region of NbDnaJ was found to be essential for the interaction with PVX CP. The expression of NbDnaJ significantly changed upon infection with different plant viruses such as PVX, Tobacco mosaic virus, and Cucumber mosaic virus, but varied depending on the viral species. In transient experiments, both PVX replication and movement were inhibited in plants that over-expressed NbDnaJ but accelerated in plants in which NbDnaJ was silenced. In summary, we suggest that the newly identified NbDnaJ plays a role in PVX replication and movement by interacting with SL1(-) RNA and PVX CP.