Induction of heat shock proteins during the growth of Aedes albopictus cells

Insights into the structure and function of the C-terminus of SGTs (small glutamine-rich TPR-containing proteins): A study of the Aedes aegypti homolog

SGTs (small glutamine-rich TPR-containing proteins) are dimeric proteins that belong to the class of co-chaperones characterized by the presence of TPR domains (containing tetratricopeptide repeats). Human (SGTA) and yeast (Sgt2) SGTs are characterized by three distinct domains: an N-terminal dimerization domain, a central TPR-domain important for binding to other proteins (chaperones included) and a C-terminal domain involved in hydrophobic interactions. Both these SGTs are involved in the cellular PQC (protein quality control) system, as they interact with chaperones and have functions that aid stress recovery. However, there are differences between them, such as structural features and binding specificities, that could be better understood if other orthologous proteins were studied. Therefore, we produced and characterized a putative SGT protein, designated AaSGT, from the mosquito Aedes aegypti, which is a vector of several diseases, such as dengue and Zika. The protein was produced as a folded dimer which was stable up to 40 °C and was capable of binding to AaHsp90 and fully protecting a model protein, α-synuclein, from aggregation. The conformation of AaSGT was investigated by biophysical tools and small angle X-ray scattering, which showed that the protein had an elongated conformation and that its C-terminal domain was mainly disordered. The results with a C-terminal deletion mutant supported these observations. Altogether, these results are consistent with those from other functional SGT proteins and add to the understanding of the PQC system in Aedes aegypti, an important aim that may help to develop inhibitory strategies against this vector of neglected diseases.

Heat shock protein 90 kDa (Hsp90) from Aedes aegypti has an open conformation and is expressed under heat stress

Cellular proteostasis is maintained by a system consisting of molecular chaperones, heat shock proteins (Hsps) and proteins involved with degradation. Among the proteins that play important roles in the function of this system is Hsp90, which acts as a node of this network, interacting with at least 10% of the proteome. Hsp90 is ATP-dependent, participates in critical cell events and protein maturation and interacts with large numbers of co-chaperones. The study of Hsp90 orthologs is justified by their differences in ATPase activity levels and conformational changes caused by Hsp90 interaction with nucleotides. This study reports the characterization of Hsp90 from Aedes aegypti, a vector of several diseases in many regions of the planet. Aedes aegypti Hsp90, AaHsp90, was cloned, purified and characterized for its ATPase and chaperone activities and structural conformation. These parameters indicate that it has the characteristics of eukaryotic Hsp90s and resembles orthologs from yeast rather than from human. Finally, constitutive and increased stress expression in Aedes cells was confirmed. Taken together, the results presented here help to understand the relationship between structure and function in the Hsp90 family and have strong potential to form the basis for studies on the network of chaperone and Hsps in Aedes.

INHIBITION OF MAYARO VIRUS REPLICATION BY PROSTAGLANDIN A1 IN Aedes albopictus CELLS

Prostaglandin A1 (PGA1) inhibits Mayaro virus replication in Aedes albopictus cells at nontoxic doses to uninfected cells. At 10 µg/ml, PGA1 decreases virus production by 90%. The presence of PGA1 during virus adsorption, with no treatment after infection, reduces virus yield by 41%. Antiviral activity is observed even when treatment starts at one or two hours post-infection. However, in cells pre-treated with PGA1 during 24 hours, virus replication is not impaired. Thus, events ocurring during initial stages of infection and after virus adsorption and penetration must be the target of PGA1 action. SDS-PAGE analysis of 35S-methionine labelled proteins shows that PGA1 inhibits the synthesis of viral proteins and induces the synthesis of polypeptides with molecular weight of 70 kDa, 57 kDa and 23 kDa. In cells pre-treated with actinomycin D the induction of those proteins is suppressed. In addition, actinomycin D treatment prevents PGA1antiviral activity, indicating that PGA1-induced stress proteins are probably involved in this mechanism.

Effect of prostaglandin A1 in the induction of stress proteins in Aedes albopictus cells

Prostaglandins are natural fatty acid derivatives with diverse physiological effects, including immune function and the control of cell growth. While the action of prostaglandins in the induction of stress proteins in vertebrate cells is well documented, their functions in invertebrate cells have been poorly investigated. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of prostaglandin A1 (PGA1; 0.25, 1.25 and 12.5 micrograms/ml) on protein synthesis during the growth of Aedes albopictus cells. We found that PGA1 stimulates the synthesis of several polypeptides with molecular masses of 87, 80, 70, 57, 29, 27 and 23 kDa in Aedes albopictus cells. When the proteins induced by PGA1 and those induced by heat treatment were compared by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, PGA1 was found to induce the stress proteins. The HSP70 family and the low-molecular weight polypeptides (29 and 27 kDa, respectively) were induced by PGA1 in the lag phase. We also observed that PGA1 is able to induce a 23-kDa polypeptide independently of the growth phase of the cell.

Previous heat shock treatment inhibits Mayaro virus replication in human lung adenocarcinoma (A549) cells

Human lung adenocarcinoma cells (A549) were submitted to mild or severe heat shock (42 degrees C or 44 degrees C) for 1 h, while another group of cells was double-heat-shocked (submitted to 42 degrees C for 1 h, returned to 37 degrees C for 3 h, then exposed to 44 degrees C for 1 h). After each heat treatment, the cells were infected with Mayaro virus for 24 h and incubated at 37 degrees C. The results showed that the double-heat-shocked thermotolerant cells exhibited a 10(4)-fold virus titre inhibition, despite the recovery of protein synthesis and original morphology 24 h post-infection. In contrast, cells submitted to mild or severe heat shock exhibited weaker inhibition of Mayaro virus titre (10(2)-fold). The mildly heat-shocked cells also presented a full recovery in protein synthesis, which was not observed in severely heat-shocked cells. These results indicate that exposure of A549 cells to a mild or to a double heat shock treatment before Mayaro virus infection induces an antiviral state.

Heat sensitivity and protein synthesis during heat-shock in the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta

Fifth instar larvae of the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta, tolerate 1-h exposures to temperatures as high as 42 degrees C. Above 42 degrees C, survival declines rapidly to 18% at 44 degrees C and 0% at 48 degrees C. As in other insects, the heat-shock response of Manduca sexta involves the induction of synthesis of heat-shock proteins very similar in size to the Drosophila heat-shock proteins (84, 73, 71, 27, 25, 23, and 22 kd). In the epidermis, heat-shock protein synthesis peaks at 42 degrees C, correlating with the heat sensitivity of both the tissue itself and the intact larva. Some heat-shock proteins have different isoelectric forms depending on tissue. Also, the heat-shock proteins are synthesized over a wider range of temperatures in the imaginal discs and the fat body as compared to the epidermis. In contrast to dipteran insects, Manduca sexta does not exhibit a strong repression of non-heat-shock protein synthesis under tolerable conditions.

Maintaining mosquito cell lines at high temperatures: effects on the replication of flaviviruses

The upper thermal limit for maintenance of eleven mosquito cell lines was studied. Although most cell lines could be grown at 32 degrees C to 34 degrees C, Anopheles stephensi cell line could be maintained at 37 degrees C. At higher temperatures initial growth rate was higher, but yield of cells after about a week of incubation was lower than at the standard temperature (28 degrees C). Replication of several flaviviruses in Aedes albopictus cell cultures adapted to 34.5 degrees C was faster, and viral titers were higher than at 28 degrees C.

Effect of continuous heat stress on cell growth and protein synthesis in Aedes albopictus

Aedes albopictus (clone C6/36) cells, which normally grow at 28 degrees C, were maintained at a supraoptimal temperature of 37 degrees C. The effect of continuous heat stress (37 degrees C) on cell growth was analyzed as were the modifications occurring with protein synthesis during short- and long-term heat stress. We observed that cells in lag or exponential growth phase, present inhibition of cell growth, and cells in the lag phase showed more sensitivity to death than cells growing exponentially. During the first hour of exposing the cells to 37 degrees C, they synthesized two heat shock proteins (hsps) of 82 kd and 70 kd, respectively, concomitant with inhibition of normally produced proteins at control temperature (28 degrees C). However, for incubations longer than 2 hr at 37 degrees C, a shift to the normal pattern of protein synthesis occurred. During these transitions, two other hsps of 76 kd and 90 kd were synthesized. Pulse chase experiments showed that the 70-kd hsp is stable at least for 18 hr, when the cells are returned to 28 degrees C. However, if cells were incubated at 37 degrees C, the 70-kd hsp is stable for at least 48 hr. The 70-kd hsp was localized in the cytoplasmic and in the nuclear compartment. Our results indicate a possible role of hsp 70-kd protein in the regulation of cell proliferation.