Extended binding sites of cyclophilin as revealed by the interaction with HIV-1 Gag polyprotein derived oligopeptides

Regulation of peptide bond cis/trans isomerization by enzyme catalysis and its implication in physiological processes

In some cases, the slow rotational movement underlying peptide bond cis/trans isomerizations is found to control the biological activity of proteins. Peptide bond cis/trans isomerases as cyclophilins, Fk506-binding proteins, parvulins, and bacterial hsp70 generally assist in the interconversion of the polypeptide substrate cis/trans isomers, and rate acceleration is the dominating mechanism of action in cells. We present evidence disputing the hypothesis that some of the molecular properties of these proteins play an auxiliary role in enzyme function.

The pH dependence of HIV-1 capsid assembly and its interaction with cyclophilin A

Immature HIV-1 virions have spherical cores which become conical due to cleavage of the capsid domain of Gag. Here, we have used an immature form of capsid and show by electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy and single angle light scattering that it aggregates to spherical cores resembling immature virions at high ionic strengths and at pH values above 6. Dynamic angle light scattering of the dissociated protein shows structural changes that promote oligomerization above pH 6. We then examined the role of the required host protein cyclophilin A on assembly. Cyclophilin A is incorporated into virions at a 1:10 cyclophilin A/capsid ratio. We find that although cyclophilin A does not affect the oligomerization rate or stability of immature capsid cores, it does bind strongly to immature capsid at physiological stoichiometry above pH 6. This association serves as an entry route of cyclophilin A into HIV-1 virions.

Design of a Gag pentapeptide analogue that binds human cyclophilin A more efficiently than the entire capsid protein: new insights for the development of novel anti-HIV-1 drugs

Cyclophilin A (hCyp-18), a ubiquitous cytoplasmic peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans isomerase (PPIase), orchestrates HIV-1 core packaging. hCyp-18, incorporated into the virion, enables core uncoating and RNA release and consequently plays a critical role in the viral replication process. hCyp-18 specifically interacts with a single exposed loop of the Gag polyprotein capsid domain via a network of nine hydrogen bonds which mainly implicates a 7-mer fragment of the loop. As previously reported, the corresponding linear heptapeptide Ac-Val-His-Ala-Gly-Pro-Ile-Ala-NH(2) (2) binds to hCyp-18 with a low affinity (IC(50) = 850 +/- 220 microM) but a potentially useful selectivity for hCyp-18 relative to hFKBP-12, another abundant PPIase. On the basis of X-ray structures of Gag fragments:hCyp-18 complexes, we generated a series of modified peptides in order to probe the determinants of the interaction and hence to select a peptidic ligand displaying a higher affinity than the capsid domain of Gag. We synthesized a series of heptapeptides to test the energetic contribution of amino acids besides the Gly-Pro moiety. In particular the importance of the histidine residue for the interaction was underscored. We also investigated the influence of N- and C-terminal modifications. Hexapeptides containing either deaminovaline (Dav) in place of the N-terminal valine or substitution of the C-terminal alanine amide with a benzylamide group displayed increased affinities. Combination of both modifications gave the most potent competitor Dav-His-Ala-Gly-Pro-Ile-NHBn (28) which has a higher affinity for hCyp-18 (K(d) = 3 +/- 0.5 microM) than the entire capsid protein (K(d) = 16 +/- 4 microM) and a very low affinity for hFKBP-12. Some of our results strongly suggest that the title compound is not a substrate of hCyp-18 and interacts preferentially in the trans conformation.

HIV-1 Gag shares a signature motif with annexin (Anx7), which is required for virus replication

Genetic and biochemical analyses of the Gag protein of HIV-1 indicate a crucial role for this protein in several functions related to viral replication, including viral assembly. It has been suggested that Gag may fulfill some of the functions by recruiting host cellular protein(s). In our effort to identify structural and functional homologies between Gag and cellular cytoskeletal and secretory proteins involved in transport, we observed that HIV-1 Gag contains a unique PGQM motif in the capsid region. This motif was initially noted in the regulatory domain of synexin the membrane fusion protein of Xenopus laevis. To evaluate the functional significance of the highly conserved PGQM motif, we introduced alanine (A) in place of individual residues of the PGQM and deleted the motif altogether in a Gag expression plasmid and in an HIV-1 proviral DNA. The proviral DNA containing mutations in the PGQM motif showed altered expression, assembly, and release of viral particles in comparison to parental (NL4-3) DNA. When tested in multiple- and single-round replication assays, the mutant viruses exhibited distinct replication phenotypes; the viruses containing the A for the G and Q residues failed to replicate, whereas A in place of the P and M residues did not inhibit viral replication. Deletion of the tetrapeptide also resulted in the inhibition of replication. These results suggest that the PGQM motif may play an important role in the infection process of HIV-1 by facilitating protein-protein interactions between viral and/or viral and cellular proteins.

Gag protein from human immunodeficiency virus type 1 assembles in the absence of cyclophilin A

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) replication requires coordinated activities of host and viral factors. We reported previously that interactions of the host factor cyclophilin A with HIV-1 Gag polyproteins affected Gag processing and maturation of virus particles (Streblow et al., 1998. Virology 245, 197-202). We now use in vitro translation and physical analysis of Gag structures to refine our understanding of how cyclophilin A affects HIV-1 replication. Gag assembled into oligomeric structures in vitro in the presence or absence of cyclophilin A, and proteins synthesized under the two conditions were equally susceptible to cleavage by exogenous HIV-1 protease. These and previous data show that Cyclophilin A is required at a step between Gag assembly and Gag processing/virion morphogenesis. Cyclophilin A may be required for Gag conformational changes subsequent to assembly, that are required for efficient dimerization and activation of the viral protease.

The mode of action of peptidyl prolyl cis/trans isomerases in vivo: binding vs. catalysis

Polypeptides often display proline-mediated conformational substates that are prone to isomer-specific recognition and function. Both possibilities can be of biological significance. Distinct families of peptidyl prolyl cis/trans isomerases (PPIases) evolved proved to be highly specific for proline moieties arranged in a special context of subsites. Structural and chemical features of molecules specifically bound to the active site of PPIases served to improve catalysis of prolyl isomerization rather than ground state binding. For example, results inferred from receptor Ser/Thr or Tyr phosphorylation in the presence of site-directed FKBP12 mutant proteins provided evidence for the crucial role of the enzymatic activity in downregulating function of FKBP12.

A protease-free assay for peptidyl prolyl cis/trans isomerases using standard peptide substrates

Peptidyl prolyl cis/trans isomerases (PPIases) are ubiquitous and abundant enzymes catalyzing peptide bond cis/trans isomerization adjacent to proline in peptides and proteins. An uncoupled protease-free assay of PPIase activity has been developed using the standard tetrapeptide substrates of the proteolytically coupled test system. Differences in the UV/vis absorption spectra of cis and trans conformations of Suc-Ala-Xaa-Pro-Phe-(Y-) anilide (Xaa = Ala, Leu, Phe; Y = 4-nitro, 2,4-difluoro) were exploited to monitor the time course of the cis/trans isomerization subsequent to a solvent jump from 0.47 M LiCl/trifluoroethanol into aqueous solution. The utility of the assay has been demonstrated by the determination of the Michaelis-Menten constants of cytosolic cyclophilin (Cyp18) and of the proteolytically sensitive FK506-binding protein-like PPIase SlyD from Escherichia coli. Furthermore, similar inhibition constants were estimated for the reversible inhibition of human Cyp18 by cyclosporin A (CsA) with both the proteolytically coupled and the novel uncoupled PPIase assay.

Modular structure of the trigger factor required for high activity in protein folding

The Escherichia coli trigger factor is a peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans isomerase (PPIase) which catalyzes proline-limited protein folding extremely well. It has been found associated with nascent protein chains as well as with the chaperone GroEL. The trigger factor utilizes protein regions outside the central catalytic domain for catalyzing refolding of unfolded proteins efficiently. Here we produced several fragments which encompass individual domains or combinations of the middle FKBP-like domain (M) with the N-terminal (N) and C-terminal (C) regions, respectively. These fragments appear to be stably folded. They show ordered structure and cooperative urea-induced unfolding transitions, and the far-UV CD spectrum of the intact trigger factor is well represented by the sum of the spectra of the fragments. This suggests that the native trigger factor shows a modular structure, which is composed of three fairly independent folding units. In the intact protein there is a slight mutual stabilization of these units. The high enzymatic activity in protein folding could not be restored by fusing alternatively the N or the C-terminal regions to the catalytic domain (in NM and MC constructs, respectively). Surprisingly, the high folding activity of the intact trigger factor has been regained partially by functional complementation of the overlapping NM and MC constructs.

HIV protease substrate conformation: modulation by cyclophilin A

Cyclophilin A (CyPA), a cytosolic peptidyl-prolyl trans-cis isomerase can accelerate the trans-cis isomerization of Xxx-Pro peptide bonds. One- and two-dimensional 1H-NMR spectroscopy were used to determine that the heptapeptide Ser-Gln-Asn-Tyr-Pro-Ile-Val, a model peptide of an HIV-1 protease cleavage site in the gag polyprotein of HIV-1, is a substrate for CyPA. Experiments revealed a slow exchange about the Tyr-Pro peptide bond with 30 +/- 5% in the cis conformation (pH 1-9). While the interconversion rate is too slow to measure by kinetic NMR methods in the absence of CyPA, these methods, saturation transfer and NOE experiments, established that CyPA enhanced the rate of trans-cis interconversion, a process inhibited by cyclosporin A (CsA). With a substrate:CyPA ratio of 40:1, an interconversion rate of 2.5 s(-1) at 25 degrees C was observed.

Cyclophilin active site mutants have native prolyl isomerase activity with a protein substrate

The prolyl isomerase activity of cyclophilins is traditionally measured by an assay in which prolyl cis/trans isomerization in a chromogenic tetrapeptide is coupled with its isomer-specific cleavage by chymotrypsin. Two variants of mitochondrial cyclophilin with substitutions in the presumed active site (R73A and H144Q) are inactive in the protease-coupled assay, but show almost wild-type activity in an assay that is based on the catalysis of a proline-limited protein folding reaction. This prolyl isomerase assay is preferable, both because coupling with proteolysis is avoided and because an intact protein instead of a short peptide is used as a substrate. Possibly, some earlier conclusions about the catalytic mechanism and the involvement of the prolyl isomerase activity in the cellular function of immunophilins may need reevaluation.

Conformational state of a 25-mer peptide from the cyclophilin-binding loop of the HIV type 1 capsid protein

Recently a 25-residue part of Gag polyprotein from HIV type 1 (HIV-1) was reported to bind to the cytosolic 18 kDa cyclophilin (Cyp18) with an IC50 value of 180 microM. This peptide corresponds to the Cyp18-binding domain of HIV-1 Gag. A replacement of Gly with Ala in the cyclophilin-binding loop of HIV-1 Gag polyprotein results in the prevention of the packaging of Cyp18 into virions. We found only two conformers of this peptide among 16 possible expected conformers, owing to cis/trans isomerization of four peptidyl-prolyl bonds. Although this finding implicates the existence of a stabilizing structure, we were not able to detect secondary structure formation by 1H-NMR and CD spectroscopy. We characterized the peptide as a substrate for Cyp18 by two-dimensional exchange 1H-NMR spectroscopy. Surprisingly, we found similar binding characteristics for a peptide corresponding to 25-mer peptide containing the above-mentioned Gly to Ala substitution.

Comparative mutational analysis of peptidyl prolyl cis/trans isomerases: active sites of Escherichia coli trigger factor and human FKBP12

A low degree of amino acid sequence similarity to FK506-binding proteins (FKBPs) has been obtained for the peptidyl prolyl cis/trans isomerase (PPIase) domain of E. coli trigger factor (TF) that was thought to be significant with regard to the enzymatic properties of the bacterial enzyme. We examined whether the alteration of a negatively charged side-chain at position 37 (FKBP numbering) and a phenylalanine at position 99, both highly conserved through both types of enzymes, leads to parallel effects on the catalytic activity of both FKBP12 and TF-PPIase domain in a series of tetrapeptide substrates with different P1 subsites. For the latter enzyme, substitution of Glu178 by Val or Lys, which aligns to Asp37 in human FKBP12, enhanced the PPIase activity, whereas a strongly decreased enzymatic activity was determined for the Asp37Leu and Asp37Val variants of FKBP12. Regardless of the P1 subsite of the substrate used for the assay, mutation of Phe233Tyr generated a protein variant of the TF-PPIase domain with about 1% of the wild type PPIase activity. Dependent on the substrate nature, a moderate decrease as well as a 4.8-fold increase in k(cat)/K(M) could be determined for the corresponding Phe99Tyr FKBP12 variant. Neither of the mutations of the TF-PPIase domain was able to implant FK506 inhibition found as a major characteristic of the FKBP family of PPIases.

Cyclophilin A complexed with a fragment of HIV-1 gag protein: insights into HIV-1 infectious activity

BACKGROUND

Cyclophilin A (CyPA), a receptor of the immunosuppressive drug cyclosporin A, catalyzes the cis-trans isomerization of peptidyl-prolyl bonds and is required for the infectious activity of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). The crystal structure of CyPA complexed with a fragment of the HIV-1 gag protein should provide insights into the nature of CyPA-gag interactions and may suggest a role for CyPA in HIV-1 infectious activity.

RESULTS

The crystal structure of CyPA complexed with a 25 amino acid peptide of HIV-1 gag capsid protein (25-mer) was determined and refined to an R factor of 0.195 at 1.8 A resolution. The sequence Ala88-Gly89-Pro90-Ile91 of the gag fragment is the major portion to bind to the active site of CyPA. Two residues of the 25-mer (Pro90-Ile91) bind to CyPA in a similar manner to two residues (Pro-Phe) of the CyPA substrate, succinyl-Ala-Ala-Pro-Phe-p-nitroanilide (AAPF). However, the N-terminus of the 25-mer (Ala88-Gly89) exhibits a different hydrogen-bonding pattern and molecular conformation than AAPF. The peptidyl-prolyl bond between Gly89 and Pro90 of the 25-mer has a trans conformation, in contrast to the cis conformation observed in other known CyPA-peptide complexes. The residue preceding proline, Gly89, has an unfavorable backbone conformation usually only adopted by glycine.

CONCLUSIONS

The unfavorable backbone conformation of Gly89 of the gag 25-mer fragment suggests that binding between HIV-1 gag protein and CyPA requires a special sequence, Gly-Pro. Thus, in HIV-1 infectivity, CyPA is likely to function as a chaperone, rather than as a cis-trans isomerase. However, the observation of similarities between the C termini of the 25-mer and the substrate AAPF means that the involvement of the cis-trans isomerase activity of CyPA cannot be completely ruled out.