Proteins of vesicular stomatitis virus. IV. A comparison of tryptic peptides of the vesicular stomatitis group of rhabdoviruses

Localization of T helper cell epitopes in the vesicular stomatitis virus: the nucleoprotein is responsible for serotype cross-reactive T help

The glycoprotein (G) of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) is known to contain the biologically relevant sites for virus-neutralizing antibodies as well as T helper (Th) cell epitopes. The capacity of other VSV proteins to elicit potent Th cell responses has not yet been investigated. Additionally, a short-lived cross-reactivity between the two serologically distinct VSV serotypes Indiana (IND) and New Jersey (NJ) on the T helper cell level has been reported. Here we address the question of whether the VSV nucleoprotein (N) or matrix protein (M) can elicit T help to VSV-G-specific B cells and which of the VSV proteins contains the elements responsible for the IND/NJ cross-reactivity. The N, G, and M of the VSV Indiana serotype produced in a recombinant baculovirus system were assayed for the ability to activate VSV-specific Th cells to induce immunoglobulin class switch of neutralizing antibody responses in vivo in C57BL/6 (H-2b) mice. All three VSV-IND proteins helped in the production of neutralizing IgG antibodies to the homologous VSV-Indiana serotype but only VSV-IND N was able to trigger an IgG response to the heterologous VSV-New Jersey serotype. This data suggest that Th epitope(s) in the VSV-IND N are responsible for the observed cross-reactivity of T helper cells.

Myelin-associated glycoprotein is phosphorylated by protein kinase C

The myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) is a neural recognition molecule involved in heterophilic interactions between myelin-forming cells and neurons. To characterize the molecular mechanisms underlying post-translational modifications which may be instrumental in signal transduction following the recognition event, we have studied the stimuli leading to modification of 32P-orthophosphate incorporation into MAG in cultures of oligodendrocytes or transformed differentiated Schwann cells. Here we show that in oligodendrocytes both the 67 and 72 kD isoforms of MAG were phosphorylated exclusively on serine, while in the transformed Schwann cells only the 67 kD isoform was found to be present and phosphorylated. The phorbol ester phorbol-12-myristoyl-13-acetate (PMA) did not affect biosynthesis of the protein backbone, but enhanced incorporation of phosphate by a factor of 2-3, indicating the involvement of protein kinase C. Exclusive phosphorylation of serine residues was also observed, when purified MAG was incubated with protein kinase C in the presence of [gamma-32P]ATP. In searching for the physiological stimuli which may trigger phosphorylation of MAG, cultures of oligodendrocytes were exposed to extracellular signals, such as coculture with dorsal root ganglion and spinal cord neurons carrying the MAG receptor, to membrane fractions of these neurons, monoclonal MAG antibody 513 binding to the recognition site of MAG, or platelet-derived growth factor. None of these additives modified the phosphorylation of MAG. These observations point to the possibility that phosphorylation of MAG is controlled by yet unknown intracellular cues rather than by extracellular signals interacting with cell surface receptors of oligodendrocytes.

Tyrosine phosphorylation of biliary glycoprotein, a cell adhesion molecule related to carcinoembryonic antigen

Biliary-glycoprotein (BGP), a cell adhesion molecule related to carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), has been shown to exist as several alternatively spliced isoforms. Here we show that BGPa and BGPb are phosphorylated in the chronic myelogenous leukaemia cell line KG-1, which constitutively expresses several BGP isoforms, and Chinese hamster LR-73 cells transfected with the cDNAs encoding BGPa and BGPb. The phosphorylation can be augmented with the protein tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor ammonium vanadate and with TPA (an activator of protein kinase C). Phospho-amino acid analysis of phosphorylated BGPs demonstrated that phosphorylation occurs on serine, threonine and tyrosine residues. Phosphorylation reactions carried out in in vitro membrane preparations from KG-1 cells revealed a close association of BGP proteins with membrane associated protein tyrosine kinases. These observations suggest an association of BGP proteins with signal transduction molecules which is regulated by alternative splicing of the cytoplasmic domain.

Phosphorylation of myelin-associated glycoprotein in vivo and in vitro occurs only in the cytoplasmic domain of the large isoform

Myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) was radioactively labelled with 32P both in intact brain and in myelin membrane preparations. Chemical deglycosylation of the phosphorylated products revealed that only one of the MAG isoforms (L-MAG) is labelled in vitro. Furthermore, the phosphorylation events in vivo and in vitro are confined to the cytoplasmic portion of the L-MAG isoform. Tryptic mapping of L-MAG labelled both in vivo and in vitro revealed that the majority of the sites phosphorylated in intact brain are also phosphorylated in myelin membrane preparations; however, the extent of phosphorylation at individual sites is variable. The results demonstrate that partially purified myelin membrane preparations can be used to study the enzymes responsible for MAG phosphorylation and dephosphorylation events in vivo.

Persistence of vesicular stomatitis virus in cloned interleukin-2-dependent natural killer cell lines

We have investigated virus-lymphocyte interactions by using cloned subpopulations of interleukin-2-dependent effector lymphocytes maintained in vitro. Cloned lines of H-2-restricted hapten- or virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) and alloantigen-specific CTL were resistant to productive infection by vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV). In contrast, cloned lines of natural killer (NK) cells were readily and persistently infected by VSV, a virus which is normally highly cytolytic. VSV-infected NK cells continued to proliferate, express viral surface antigen, and produce infectious virus. Furthermore, persistently infected NK cells showed no marked alteration of normal cellular morphology and continued to lyse NK-sensitive target cells albeit at a slightly but significantly reduced level. The persistence of VSV in NK cells did not appear to be caused by the generation of temperature-sensitive viral mutants, defective interfering particles, or interferon. Consequently, studies comparing the intracellular synthesis and maturation of VSV proteins in infected NK and mouse L cells were conducted. In contrast to L cells, in which host cell protein synthesis was essentially totally inhibited by infection, the infection of NK cells caused no marked diminution in the synthesis of host cell proteins. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of immunoprecipitates of viral proteins from infected cells showed that the maturation rate and size of VSV surface G glycoprotein were comparable in L cells and NK cells. Nucleocapsid (N) protein synthesis also appeared to be unaffected in NK cells. In contrast, the viral proteins NS and M appeared to be selectively degraded in NK cell extracts. Mixing experiments suggested that a protease in NK cells was responsible for the selective breakdown of VSV NS protein. Finally, VSV-infected NK cells were resistant to lysis by virus-specific CTL, suggesting that persistently infected NK cells may harbor virus and avoid cell-mediated immune destruction in an immunocompetent host.

Monoclonal antibodies to the M protein of vesicular stomatitis virus (Indiana serotype) and to a cDNA M gene expression product

Twenty-nine independent hybridomas producing monoclonal antibodies to the matrix (M) protein of vesicular stomatitis virus (Indiana serotype) were prepared by fusion of SP2/0 myeloma cells with spleen lymphocytes obtained from BALB/c mice which had been immunized with the purified M protein. The specific reactivity of each monoclonal antibody was determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and a competitive binding assay. Most of the antibodies were of the immunoglobulin G2a and G2b isotypes, although some were immunoglobulin M. By measuring the competitive binding of 125I-antibody, we identified four antigenic determinants in the M protein of the virus; two of these determinants, however, exhibited a large degree of overlap. Western blot analysis revealed little or no cross-reactivity of the antibodies with other viral proteins or with the M protein of the New Jersey serotype. Prolonged trypsin proteolysis removed the first 43 amino acids from the amino-terminal region of the M protein, but it retained its reactivity with monoclonal antibodies to each epitope, except for diminished reactivity with one. To aid in future mapping of these epitopes, we inserted a cDNA clone of the mRNA encoding the M protein of vesicular stomatitis virus into an inducible lac expression vector; the M protein produced in the JM103 strain of Escherichia coli under induced conditions was found to be approximately the same size as native M protein and was recognized by the monoclonal antibodies. These monoclonal antibodies and the cDNA clone should be useful for studying the role of M protein in virus maturation and the regulation of viral transcription.

Phosphorylation sites on phosphoprotein NS of vesicular stomatitis virus

The phosphoprotein NS of vesicular stomatitis virus which accumulates within the infected cell cytoplasm is phosphorylated at multiple serine and threonine residues (G. M. Clinton and A. S. Huang, Virology 108:510-514, 1981; Hsu et al., J. Virol. 43:104-112, 1982). Using incomplete chemical cleavage at tryptophan residues, we mapped the major phosphorylation sites to the amino-terminal half of the protein. Analysis of phosphate-labeled tryptic peptides suggests that essentially all of the label is within the large trypsin-resistant fragment predicted from the sequence of Gallione et al. (J. Virol. 39:52-529, 1981). A similar result has been obtained for NS protein isolated from the virus particle by C.-H. Hsu and D. W. Kingsbury (J. Biol. Chem., in press). Analysis of phosphodipeptides utilizing the procedures of C. E. Jones and M. O. J. Olson (Int. J. Pept. Protein Res. 16:135-142, 1980) enabled us to detect as many as six distinct phosphate-containing dipeptides. From these studies, together with the known sequence data, we conclude that the major phosphate residues on cytoplasmic NS protein are located in the amino third of the NS molecule and most probably between residues 35 and 106, inclusive. The studies also provide formal chemical proof that NS protein has a structure consistent with a monomer of the sequence of Gallione et al. as modified by J. K. Rose (personal communication). The low electrophoretic mobility of this protein on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis is not therefore due to dimerization.

Protein kinase activity associated with immunoprecipitates of the vesicular stomatitis virus phosphoprotein NS

Monospecific antisera prepared to denatured N and NS proteins of the Indiana serotype of VSV were used to investigate the protein associations in extracts of virus-infected cells. Complexes precipitated from the cytoplasm of infected cells with either anti-N or anti-NS serum both contained N and NS proteins but could be differentiated by the absence of any trace of M protein in the complexes precipitated with anti-NS serum. Immunoprecipitation with anti-NS serum of NS protein from the soluble cytoplasmic protein pool always resulted in coprecipitation of N protein suggesting a possible functional association of these proteins in the soluble fraction. The association of protein kinase activity with complexes containing NS protein was demonstrated by the phosphorylation of NS serine residues when immunoprecipitates containing NS protein were incubated with [32P]ATP in vitro. In protein aggregates precipitated with antibody after high salt dissociation of viral proteins it was also possible to demonstrate the presence of a c-src-like protein kinase activity as previously shown by G.M. Clinton, N.G. Guerina, H. Guo, and H.S. Huang (J. Biol. Chem. 257, 3313-3319 (1982) ).

Viral membrane glycoproteins: comparison of the amino terminal amino acid sequences of the precursor and mature glycoproteins of three serotypes of vesicular stomatitis virus

The NH2-terminal amino acid sequences of the envelope glycoproteins and the in vitro synthesized, nonglycosylated precursors of the glycoproteins of three serotypes, namely Indiana (Toronto), Cocal, and New Jersey (Concan) of vesicular stomatitis virus were determined. A comparison of the sequences showed little homology in the signal peptides present in the nonglycosylated precursors except for their high hydrophobic amino acid content. In contrast, the NH2-terminal amino acid sequences of the mature envelope glycoproteins revealed extensive homology suggesting that this region is conserved and may be involved in essential biological function(s) of the rhabdovirus.

Nucleotide sequence of a cDNA clone encoding the entire glycoprotein from the New Jersey serotype of vesicular stomatitis virus

The nucleotide sequence of the mRNA encoding the glycoprotein from the New Jersey serotype of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) was determined from a cDNA clone containing the entire coding region. The sequence of 12 5'-terminal noncoding nucleotides present in the mRNA but not in the cDNA clone was determined from a primer extended to the 5' terminus of the mRNA. The mRNA is 1,573 nucleotides long (excluding polyadenylic acid) and encodes a protein of 517 amino acids. Only six nucleotides occur between the translation termination codon and the polyadenylic acid. Short homologies between the untranslated termini of this mRNA and the mRNAs of the Indiana serotype were found. The predicted protein sequence was compared with that of the glycoprotein of the Indiana serotype of VSV and with the glycoprotein of rabies virus, using a computer program which determines optimal alignment. An amino acid identity of 50.9% was found for the two VSV serotypes. Approximately 20% identity was found between the rabies virus and VSV New Jersey glycoproteins. The positions and sizes of the transmembrane domains, the signal sequences, and the glycosylation sites are identical in both VSV serotypes. Two of five serine residues which were possible esterification sites for palmitate in the glycoprotein from the Indiana serotype are changed to glycine residues in the glycoprotein from the New Jersey serotype. Because the glycoprotein of the New Jersey serotype does not contain esterified palmitate, we suggest that one or both of these residues are the probable esterification sites in the glycoprotein from the Indiana serotype.

Linear mapping of tryptophan residues in Vesiculovirus M and N proteins by partial chemical cleavage

Nonlimit chemical cleavage at tryptophan residues of protein labeled at the amino terminus afforded a simple procedure for generating specific fragments and for mapping tryptophan positions. A comparison of the matrix (M) and nucleocapsid (N) proteins of four members of the Vesiculovirus group by this procedure suggests considerable conservation of tryptophan number and location in the four serotypes examined.

Characterization of vesicular stomatitis virus mutants by partial proteolysis

Structural proteins of temperature-sensitive (ts) mutants of vesicular stomatitis virus, Indiana serotype, were compared with those of wild-type and revertant virions by electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gels of partial digests with Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease. Mutants of complementation groups III (tsG31 and tsG33), II (tsG22), and IV (tsG41) differed from the wild-type virion in peptide profiles of their M, NS, and N proteins, respectively. The differences were only detectable over a narrow range of enzyme-substrate ratios and were due to peptides transiently generated during incomplete digestion. Proteins of revertants to tsG31, tsG22, and tsG41 exhibited the wild-type virion peptide pattern, indicating that reversion had restored their original conformation. However, in the case of tsG22, the NS peptide profile reverted to the wild-type phenotype only partially, suggesting that a silent mutation might have taken place during either the original chemical mutagenesis or the following repeated laboratory passages. The apparent alteration in protein conformation and its restoration upon reversion of the mutants indicated that the lesions of groups III and IV were located in the M and N proteins, respectively. Moreover, for the first time, the site of mutation of group II could be positively identified as the NS protein cistron.