Mechanism of interferon action: synthesis and activity of the interferon-mediated low-molecular-weight oligonucleotide from murine and human cells

The 2-5A system: modulation of viral and cellular processes through acceleration of RNA degradation

The 2-5A system is an RNA degradation pathway that can be induced by the interferons (IFNs). Treatment of cells with IFN activates genes encoding several double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-dependent synthetases. These enzymes generate 5'-triphosphorylated, 2',5'-phosphodiester-linked oligoadenylates (2-5A) from ATP. The effects of 2-5A in cells are transient since 2-5A is unstable in cells due to the activities of phosphodiesterase and phosphatase. 2-5A activates the endoribonuclease 2-5A-dependent RNase L, causing degradation of single-stranded RNA with moderate specificity. The human 2-5A-dependent RNase is an 83.5 kDa polypeptide that has little, if any, RNase activity, unless 2-5A is present. 2-5A binding to RNase L switches the enzyme from its off-state to its on-state. At least three 2',5'-linked oligoadenylates and a single 5'-phosphoryl group are required for maximal activation of the RNase. Even though the constitutive presence of 2-5A-dependent RNase is observed in nearly all mammalian cell types, cellular amounts of 2-5A-dependent mRNA and activity can increase after IFN treatment. One well-established role of the 2-5A system is as a host defense against some types of viruses. Since virus infection of cells results in the production and secretion of IFNs, and since dsRNA is both a frequent product of virus infection and an activator of 2-5A synthesis, the replication of encephalomyocarditis virus, which produces dsRNA during its life cycle, is greatly suppressed in IFN-treated cells as a direct result of RNA decay by the activated 2-5A-dependent RNase. This review covers the organic chemistry, enzymology, and molecular biology of 2-5A and its associated enzymes. Additional possible biological roles of the 2-5A system, such as in cell growth and differentiation, human immunodeficiency virus replication, heat shock, atherosclerotic plaque, pathogenesis of Type I diabetes, and apoptosis, are presented.

Mechanisms of degradation of 2'-5' oligoadenylates

We have studied the mechanisms of breakdown of 2'-5' oligoadenylates. We monitored the time-courses of degradation of ppp(A2'p5')nA (dimer to tetramer) and of 5'OH-(A2'p5')nA (dimer to pentamer) in unfractionated L1210 cell extract. The 5' triphosphorylated 2'-5' oligoadenylates are converted by a phosphatase activity. However, 2'-5' oligoadenylates are degraded mainly by phosphodiesterase activity which splits the 2'-5' phosphodiester bond sequentially at the 2' end to yield 5' AMP and one-unit-shorter oligomers. The nonlinear least-squares curve-fitting program CONSAM was used to fit these kinetics and to determine the degradation rate constant of each oligomer. Trimers and tetramers, whether 5' triphosphorylated or not, are degraded at the same rate, whereas 5' triphosphorylated dimer is rapidly hydrolyzed and 5'-OH dimer is the most stable oligomer. The interaction between degradation enzymes and the substrate strongly depends on the presence of a 5' phosphate group in the vicinity of the phosphodiester bond to be hydrolyzed; indeed, when this 5' phosphate group is present, as in pp/pA2'p5'A/or A2'/p5'A2'p5'A/, affinity is high and maximal velocity is low. Such a degradation pattern can control the concentration of 2'-5' oligoadenylates active on RNAse L either by limiting their synthesis (5' triphosphorylated dimer is the primer necessary for the formation of longer oligomers) and/or by converting them into inhibitory (e.g., monophosphorylated trimer) or inactive (e.g., nonphosphorylated oligomers) molecules.

Mechanism of interferon action: studies on the activation of protein phosphorylation and the inhibition of translation in cell-free systems

We describe the ability of reovirus messenger RNA (mRNA) to serve as a template for translation and as an activator of protein phosphorylation in cell-free extracts prepared from untreated and from interferon (IFN)-treated mouse fibroblast L cells. In vitro transcribed reovirus mRNA was purified by column chromatography on CF-11 cellulose. This procedure removed trace amounts of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) [0.01%-0.1%] present in mRNA preparations purified solely by extensive LiCl precipitation. In the absence of added dsRNA, CF-11 cellulose-purified reovirus mRNA did not detectably activate phosphorylation of either ribosome-associated protein P1 or the alpha subunit of protein synthesis initiation factor eIF-2 in S-10 extracts prepared from L cells; the CF-11 cellulose-purified reovirus mRNA was translated more efficiently than was LiCl-purified reovirus mRNA in these extracts. Highly purified CF-11 reovirus mRNA was, however, translated less efficiently by S-10 extracts prepared from IFN-treated L cells than by extracts prepared from untreated L cells, suggesting that the inefficient translation by IFN-treated extracts was an integral property of reovirus mRNA. Increasing the secondary structure of reovirus mRNA by substituting bromouridine (Br-uridine) for uridine in the mRNA caused an increased inhibition of mRNA binding to ribosomes in extracts prepared from IFN-treated as compared to untreated cells. The mechanism of inhibition of translation of CF-11 cellulose-purified reovirus mRNA in IFN-treated systems remains to be established.

Biosynthesis of reovirus-specified polypeptides: the reovirus s1 mRNA encodes two primary translation products

Reovirus serotypes 1 (Lang strain) and 3 (Dearing strain) code for a hitherto unrecognized low-molecular-weight polypeptide of Mr approximately 12,000. This polypeptide (p12) was synthesized in vitro in L-cell-free protein synthesizing systems programmed with either reovirus serotype 1 mRNA, reovirus serotype 3 mRNA, or with denatured reovirus genome double-stranded RNA, and in vivo in L-cell cultures infected with either reovirus serotype. The synthesis of p12 in vivo was insensitive to actinomycin D, and occurred at similar times after infection as the previously identified reovirus encoded lambda, mu, and sigma polypeptides. Pulse-chase experiments in vivo, and the relative kinetics of synthesis of p12 in vitro, indicate that it is a primary translation product. Fractionation of reovirus mRNAs by velocity sedimentation and translation of separated mRNAs in vitro suggests that p12 is coded for by the s1 mRNA, which also codes for the previously recognized sigma 1 polypeptide. Synthesis of both p12 and sigma 1 in vitro in L-cell-free protein synthesizing systems programmed with denatured reovirus genome double-stranded RNA also suggests that these two polypeptides can be coded by the same mRNA species. The Mr approximately 12,000 polypeptide was not a detectable structural component of purified virions, and antiserum prepared against purified reovirions did not immunoprecipitate p12. It is proposed that the Mr approximately 12,000 polypeptide encoded by the S1 genome segment be designated sigma 1bNS, and that the polypeptide previously designated sigma 1 be renamed sigma 1a.

Interferon--present and future prospects

The interferons are a group of proteins that have inspired a new era of investigation into biological modification. The interferons are now divided into subgroups characterized by chemical means and correspond to different biological responses which can be observed in terms of the inducer used, and the timing of the response. Identified originally as antiviral agents when homologous cell systems were treated prior to infection, new studies have extended these observations to place the interferons in a central role as a strong force in the regulation of immunologic responses. A marriage of interferonology and cell immunology is enlarging both our understanding of the action of these proteins and our ability to follow the course of an illness and eventually to control its outcome . Genetic engineering has provided a way to process quantities of interferon and provided the molecular sequence of all three classes of IFN including a model of the active site for IFN-alpha. The offshot of the technology developed to study the intracellular processes after interferon treatment have already led to increased sensitivity to detect virally treated diseases. Both the variety of the interferon inducers and the scope of parasites in which it can exert its influence provide a frontier of biological investigation which has at the root of its nature the very secret of life. In addition to cellular phenomena, the positive effects on tumor-bearing organisms and the ill effects on infant animals highlight the potential power of the interferons.

Xyloadenosine analogue of (A2'p)2A inhibits replication of herpes simplex viruses 1 and 2

Molecules of the structure ppp(A2'p)2A containing a 2' leads to 5' phosphodiester bond, commonly abbreviated as 2-5A, are synthesized in interferon-treated virally-infected cells and have been implicated in several systems as contributing to interferon's antiviral activity. The 2-5A binds to and subsequently activates an endogenous endonuclease, ultimately resulting in degradation of RNA. We have been interested in the use of 2-5A analogues to achieve antiviral activity without the use of interferon. For this approach to be successful, analogues must be synthesized with an increased stability (native 2-5A is rapidly degraded by cellular phosphodiesterases) and with increased ability to enter intact cells. Removal of the highly-negative charged 5' terminal phosphates from ppp(A2'p)2A results in formation of the 'core' species, (A2'p)2A, which should be able to penetrate intact cells more readily. While Kimchi et al. have shown that 2-5A core has an antimitogenic effect in mouse spleen lymphocytes and 3T3 fibroblasts, Williams and Kerr have reported lack of antiviral activity against Semliki Forest virus or encephalomyocarditis virus by exogenously-administered 2-5A core. We have previously determined that (xyloA2'p)2xyloA (abbreviated as xylo 2-5A core), the xyloadenosine analogue of the 5'-terminally dephosphorylated 2-5A core, is over 100 times more stable than the parent 2-5A core species. We now report that this xylo 2-5A core inhibits replication of herpes simplex viruses 1 and 2 in vitro, with greater than 100 times the activity of the parent 2-5A core. The mechanism of antiviral action of the 2-5A core analogue appears to involve a pathway different from that activated by the parent 5' triphosphorylated 2-5A species.

Human IFN alpha alters phosphorylation of ribosomal proteins

Incubation of HeLa cells with human alpha interferon (HuIFN-alpha) resulted in increased phosphorylation of total ribosomal proteins (ribosome-associated and ribosome structural proteins) above that found for cells incubated in medium alone. Maximum phosphorylation of these proteins occurred with 4000 units/ml of HuIFN-alpha, 1-2 h of incubation of cells with HuIFN-alpha and a 32P pulse period of 1 h. Fractionation of total ribosomal proteins into ribosome-associated and 80S ribosomal structural proteins showed that the interferon-induced increase in phosphorylation was associated only with a 36K ribosome-associated polypeptide and phosphorylation of 80S ribosomal structural proteins was inhibited in interferon-treated cells. The level of inhibition of phosphorylation of ribosomal structural proteins in large and small subunits in interferon-treated cells was 14-19% and 76-81%, respectively. The inhibition of phosphorylation of ribosomal structural proteins persisted for 24 h following an initial 2 h of incubation of cells with interferon. Interferon treatment inhibited phosphorylation of several proteins associated with purified 80S ribosomes. Interferon treatment considerably reduced yields of coxsackievirus B3 in HeLa cells, but had little to no effect on rates of protein synthesis during 10 h of incubation of cells with interferon. The results show that interferon induces rapid (within 1 h) phosphorylation-dephosphorylation reactions involving ribosome-associated and ribosomal structural proteins of HeLa cells.

A mouse cell line, which is unprotected by interferon against lytic virus infection, lacks ribonuclease F activity

A mouse cell line, NIH 3T3, does not respond to some of the activities of interferon. Even after treatment with high concentrations of interferon the replication of lytic viruses, such as encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) and vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) is not inhibited in these cells. In contrast, interferon treatment of these same cells results in the inhibition of Moloney murine leukemia virus (MMuLV) production. We have analyzed enzymatic pathways which are induced by interferon in these cells. After interferon treatment, the level of the (2'-5')oligoadenylate [(2'-5)An] synthetase activity and the phosphorylation of the 67000-dalton protein (P1) are enhanced in NIH 3T3 cells to approximately the same level as interferon-sensitive mouse L-cells. Moreover, NIH 3T3 and L-cells, contain approximately the same levels of enzymes which inactivate (2'-5')An. Both exogenously added (2'-5')A3 or double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) failed to inhibit protein synthesis in NIH 3T3 extracts even though they were potent inhibitors of L-cell extract-directed protein synthesis. Direct measurements of the (2'-5')An-dependent ribonuclease F (RNase F) failed to detect such activity in NIH 3T3 cells. Our results, therefore, suggest that the presence of RNase F activity is necessary for the interferon-induced antiviral activity against EMCV and against VSV. The induction of protein kinase activity by interferon treatment of NIH 3T3 cells appears to have no direct effect on EMCV and VSV replication.

Lack of systematic correlation between the interferon mediated antiviral state and the levels of 2-5A synthetase and protein kinase in three different types of murine cells

The levels of two dsRNA-dependent enzyme activities, the pppA(2'p5'A)n synthetase (2-5A synthetase) and protein kinase were investigated in control and interferon-treated murine cells: L-929, K/Balb and NIH/3T3. Treatment of these cells with interferon resulted both in the establishment of the antiviral response and the development of anticellular effects. This latter was observed 3 days after treatment with interferon. The levels of 2-5A synthetase and protein kinase in control and interferon-treated cells seemed to vary from one cell type to the other. In L-929 cells, both the 2-5A synthetase and protein kinase were induced by interferon as has been shown previously. On the other hand, treatment of NIH/3T3 cells with interferon resulted in the induction of 2-5A synthetase in the absence of any enhanced protein kinase activity. This lack of protein kinase in interferon-treated NIH/3T3 cells was not due to the presence of high levels of protein phosphatases. A third type of mouse cells, K/Balb cells, contained very high levels of 2-5A synthetase in the absence of any apparent resistance to virus infection. On treatment with interferon the level of 2-5A synthetase in K/Balb cells remained constant while the protein kinase activity was enhanced by several fold. Both control and interferon-treated K/Balb cells showed similar sensitivity to the action of exogenous 2-5A thus suggesting that the 2-5A system (the 2-5A dependent nuclease and the phosphodiesterase which degrades 2-5A) was not altered on treatment with interferon. The significance of these results in relation to the mechanism of action of interferon is discussed.

Double-stranded RNA and the enzymology of interferon action

Extracts from interferon-treated, not virus-infected Ehrlich ascites tumor cells differ in various biochemical characteristics from extracts of control cells. We studied three enzymes whose level is enhanced in cells upon treatment with IF and which are causing some of the differences. (2'-5')(A)n synthetase, an enzyme converting ATP into a series of (2'-5') linked oligoadenylates ((2'-5')(An)) in the presence of dsRNA was purified to homogeneity and characterized. The second enzyme, RNase L, a latent endonuclease, which can be activated by (2'-5')(A)n to cleave single-stranded RNAs, was purified several hundredfold. The activation of this enzyme is reversible and is lost upon removal of (2'-5')(A)n. The activation is not accompanied by a large change in shape of conformation of the enzyme. The third enzyme is a protein kinase which if activated by dsRNA can phosphorylate the peptide chain initiation factor eIF-2 and a protein designated P1 of 67,000 daltons. This enzyme was purified several thousandfold. The most highly purified preparation consists of three proteins with P1 as the most abundant component.

Induction, purification, and properties of 2'5' oligoadenylate synthetase

The results presented above relate to several aspects of the 2-5A system. A simple but insensitive radiochemical assay fro 2-5A and its synthetase is described. Progress towards the molecular characterization of the synthetase suggested that it is composed of a single 56,000 dalton polypeptide chain that is synthesized in response to IF treatment. Degradation of 2-5A occurs at the same rapid rate in extracts of IF-treated and untreated chick cells. However, this breakdown can be inhibited by its end-product, 5'AMP, or by the activated synthetase which can further elongate 2-5A and thereby protect it from degradation. The direction of elongation is from the 5' to the 2' terminus. Molecules other than 2-5A can act as substrates fro 2'-adenylation by the activated synthetase. These include some dinucleoside monophosphates, ADP-ribose and NAD+, and methylene-bridged analogues of ATP. The methylene-bridged analogues of 2-5A that are synthesized in the latter case retain some of the biological activity of authentic 2-5A, indicating that cleavage of the 5'-terminal phosphate group(s) is not involved in the mechanism of nuclease activation by 2-5A.