Morphogenesis of human adenovirus type 2: sequence of entry of proteins into previral and viral particles

Biological features of fowl adenovirus serotype-4

Fowl adenovirus serotype 4 (FAdV-4) is highly pathogenic to broilers aged 3 to 5 weeks and has caused considerable economic loss in the poultry industry worldwide. FAdV-4 is the causative agent of hydropericardium-hepatitis syndrome (HHS) or hydropericardium syndrome (HPS). The virus targets mainly the liver, and HPS symptoms are observed in infected chickens. This disease was first reported in Pakistan but has now spread worldwide, and over time, various deletions in the FAdV genome and mutations in its major structural proteins have been detected. This review provides detailed information about FAdV-4 genome organization, physiological features, epidemiology, coinfection with other viruses, and host immune suppression. Moreover, we investigated the role and functions of important structural proteins in FAdV-4 pathogenesis. Finally, the potential regulatory effects of FAdV-4 infection on ncRNAs are also discussed.

Adenoviral E4 34K protein interacts with virus packaging components and may serve as the putative portal

Studies on dsDNA bacteriophages have revealed that a DNA packaging complex assembles at a special vertex called the 'portal vertex' and consists of a portal, a DNA packaging ATPase and other components. AdV protein IVa2 is presumed to function as a DNA packaging ATPase. However, a protein that functions as a portal is not yet identified in AdVs. To identify the AdV portal, we performed secondary structure analysis on a set of AdV proteins and compared them with the clip region of the portal proteins of bacteriophages phi29, SPP1 and T4. Our analysis revealed that the E4 34K protein of HAdV-C5 contains a region of strong similarity with the clip region of the known portal proteins. E4 34K was found to be present in empty as well as mature AdV particles. In addition, E4 34K co-immunoprecipitates and colocalizes with AdV packaging proteins. Immunogold electron microscopy demonstrated that E4 34K is located at a single site on the virus surface. Finally, tertiary structure prediction of E4 34K and its comparison with that of single subunits of Phi29, SPP1 and T4 portal proteins revealed remarkable similarity. In conclusion, our results suggest that E4 34K is the putative AdV portal protein.

Components of Adenovirus Genome Packaging

Adenoviruses (AdVs) are icosahedral viruses with double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) genomes. Genome packaging in AdV is thought to be similar to that seen in dsDNA containing icosahedral bacteriophages and herpesviruses. Specific recognition of the AdV genome is mediated by a packaging domain located close to the left end of the viral genome and is mediated by the viral packaging machinery. Our understanding of the role of various components of the viral packaging machinery in AdV genome packaging has greatly advanced in recent years. Characterization of empty capsids assembled in the absence of one or more components involved in packaging, identification of the unique vertex, and demonstration of the role of IVa2, the putative packaging ATPase, in genome packaging have provided compelling evidence that AdVs follow a sequential assembly pathway. This review provides a detailed discussion on the functions of the various viral and cellular factors involved in AdV genome packaging. We conclude by briefly discussing the roles of the empty capsids, assembly intermediates, scaffolding proteins, portal vertex and DNA encapsidating enzymes in AdV assembly and packaging.

Interaction between hexon and L4-100K determines virus rescue and growth of hexon-chimeric recombinant Ad5 vectors

The immunogenicity of recombinant adenovirus serotype 5 (rAd5) vectors has been shown to be suppressed by neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) directed primarily against hexon hypervariable regions (HVRs). Preexisting immunity can be circumvented by replacing HVRs of rAd5 hexon with those derived from alternate adenovirus serotypes. However, chimeric modification of rAd5 hexon HVRs tends to cause low packaging efficiency or low proliferation of rAd5 vectors, but the related mechanism remains unclear. In this study, several Ad5-based vectors with precise replacement of HVRs with those derived from Ad37 and Ad43 were generated. We first observed that a HVR-exchanged rAd5 vector displayed a higher efficacy of the recombinant virus rescue and growth improvement compared with the rAd5 vector, although most hexon-chimeric rAd5 vectors constructed by us and other groups have proven to be nonviable or growth defective. We therefore evaluated the structural stability of the chimeric hexons and their interactions with the L4-100K chaperone. We showed that the viability of hexon-chimeric Ad5 vectors was not attributed to the structural stability of the chimeric hexon, but rather to the hexon maturation which was assisted by L4-100K. Our results suggested that the intricate interaction between hexon and L4-100K would determine the virus rescue and proliferation efficiency of hexon-chimeric rAd5 vectors.

Detection of antibodies specific to the non-structural proteins of fowl adenoviruses in infected chickens but not in vaccinated chickens

Antibodies specific to the non-structural proteins of viruses are detected in virus-infected animals and show promise as a reliable diagnostic marker for virus infections. We examined the potential use of two non-structural proteins of fowl adenovirus (FAdV)-based, 100K and 33K, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) in the diagnosis of FAdVs. We cloned and expressed the 100K and 33K non-structural protein genes of the FAdVs in the pGEX-4T-1 plasmid vector. Purified 100K and 33K proteins alone or in combination were used as antigens in ELISAs. Antibodies specific to the 100K and 33K non-structural proteins were detected in chickens experimentally infected with FAdVs, but not in chickens vaccinated with inactivated FAdVs. In contrast, the agar gel precipitation (AGP) test detected FAdV-specific antibodies in 70.3% of the vaccinated chickens, suggesting that the non-structural protein-based ELISA could be used in the differential diagnosis of infected and vaccinated chickens. To further validate the 100K and 33K-based ELISA (100K-33K-ELISA) method, we compared its sensitivity and specificity with that of a whole virus-based ELISA and an AGP test in detecting FAdV-specific antibodies in 350 field samples. The results showed that the 100K-33K-ELISA exhibited a higher sensitivity than the AGP test and a comparable sensitivity and specificity to the whole virus ELISA. Overall, the 100K-33K-ELISA method is sensitive, specific and can be used to distinguish an acute FAdV infection from an inactivated virus-based vaccination response.

Faithful chaperones

This review describes the properties of some rare eukaryotic chaperones that each assist in the folding of only one target protein. In particular, we describe (1) the tubulin cofactors, (2) p47, which assists in the folding of collagen, (3) α-hemoglobin stabilizing protein (AHSP), (4) the adenovirus L4-100 K protein, which is a chaperone of the major structural viral protein, hexon, and (5) HYPK, the huntingtin-interacting protein. These various-sized proteins (102–1,190 amino acids long) are all involved in the folding of oligomeric polypeptides but are otherwise functionally unique, as they each assist only one particular client. This raises a question regarding the biosynthetic cost of the high-level production of such chaperones. As the clients of faithful chaperones are all abundant proteins that are essential cellular or viral components, it is conceivable that this necessary metabolic expenditure withstood evolutionary pressure to minimize biosynthetic costs. Nevertheless, the complexity of the folding pathways in which these chaperones are involved results in error-prone processes. Several human disorders associated with these chaperones are discussed.

The 100K-chaperone protein from adenovirus serotype 2 (Subgroup C) assists in trimerization and nuclear localization of hexons from subgroups C and B adenoviruses

Recombinant hexons from subgroup C adenoviruses (Ad2 and Ad5) and from a member of subgroup B (Ad3) adenoviruses have been expressed in insect cells. When expressed alone, all three hexons were found to be insoluble and accumulated as inclusion bodies in the cytoplasm. However, co-expression of recombinant Ad2, Ad5 or Ad3 hexon with Ad2 L4-100K protein resulted in the formation of soluble trimeric hexons. EM analysis of hexons revealed that they were indistinguishable from native hexon capsomers isolated from Ad2-infected human cells, or released from partially disrupted adenovirions. This suggests that 100K acts as a chaperone for hexon folding and self-assembly into capsomer in insect cells. Since 100K protein assists in the trimerization of subgroup C hexon, and of subgroup B hexon protein, it implies that it functions in a manner that is both homo- and heterotypic. During the course of recombinant protein expression, the 100K protein was found in association with hexon monomers and trimers within the cytoplasm. In the nucleus, however, 100K was found in complexes with hexon trimers exclusively. EM observation of purified 100K protein samples showed a dumb-bell-shaped molecule compatible with a monomeric protein. EM analysis of hexon-100K protein complexes showed that interaction of hexon with the 100K protein occurred via one of the globular domains of the 100K protein molecule. Our data confirm the role of the 100K protein as a scaffold protein for hexon, and provide evidence suggesting its function in hexon nuclear import in insect cells.

A second-site suppressor of a folding defect functions via interactions with a chaperone network to improve folding and assembly in vivo

Single amino acid substitutions in a protein can cause misfolding and aggregation to occur. Protein misfolding can be rescued by second-site amino acid substitutions called suppressor substitutions (su), commonly through stabilizing the native state of the protein or by increasing the rate of folding. Here we report evidence that su substitutions that rescue bacteriophage P22 temperature-sensitive-folding (tsf) coat protein variants function in a novel way. The ability of tsf:su coat proteins to fold and assemble under a variety of cellular conditions was determined by monitoring levels of phage production. The tsf:su coat proteins were found to more effectively utilize P22 scaffolding protein, an assembly chaperone, as compared with their tsf parents. Phage-infected cells were radioactively labelled to quantify the associations between coat protein variants and folding and assembly chaperones. Phage carrying the tsf:su coat proteins induced more GroEL and GroES, and increased formation of protein:chaperone complexes as compared with their tsf parents. We propose that the su substitutions result in coat proteins that are more assembly competent in vivo because of a chaperone-driven kinetic partitioning between aggregation-prone intermediates and the final assembled state. Through more proficient use of this chaperone network, the su substitutions exhibit a novel means of suppression of a folding defect.

Characterization of Empty Capsids from a Conditionally Replicating Adenovirus for Gene Therapy

As virus vectors for gene therapy approach the goal of successful clinical treatment, it is increasingly necessary for the product to be fully characterized. Empty capsids are perhaps the main extraneous component of recombinant adenovirus (rAd) products that are purified by column chromatography. Two diverse rAd products, one a replication-defective rAd and the other a conditionally replicating rAd, show different protein compositions of their empty capsids. The empty capsid type from the replication-defective rAd carrying the gene for p53 was previously determined to have approximately 1400 copies per particle of pVIII, the precursor to the hexon-associated protein VIII (Vellekamp et al., Hum. Gene Ther. 2001;12:1923-1936). Quantification of this protein is a useful measure of the amount of empty capsids in preparations of this vector. Here we purify and characterize empty capsids from the conditionally replicating rAd. This empty capsid type lacks any appreciable amount of pVIII but contains pVI and multiple forms of the L1 52/55K protein, mostly as disulfidelinked oligomers. Empty capsid from conditionally replicating rAd present new challenges in terms of its quantification, but sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis densitometry analysis suggests that the amount of this empty capsid in a preparation, like that of rAd p53 empty capsid, declines with increased time of infection. This empty capsid demonstrates heterogeneity by anion-exchange chromatography, electron microscopy, and CsCl density gradient centrifugation.

Development and characterization of novel empty adenovirus capsids and their impact on cellular gene expression

Adenovirus (Ad) has been extensively studied as a eukaryotic viral vector. As these vectors have evolved from first-generation vectors to vectors that contain either very few or no viral genes ("gutless" Ad), significant reductions in the host innate immune response upon infection have been observed. Regardless of these vector improvements an unknown amount of toxicity has been associated with the virion structural proteins. Here we demonstrate the ability to generate high particle numbers (10(11) to 10(12)) of Ad empty virions based on a modification of Cre/lox gutless Ad vectors. Using a battery of analyses (electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, confocal images, and competition assays) we characterized this reagent and determined that it (i) makes intact virion particles, (ii) competes for receptor binding with wild-type Ad, and (iii) enters the cell proficiently, demonstrating an ability to carry out essential steps of viral entry. To further study the biological impact of these Ad empty virions on infected cells, we carried out DNA microarray analysis. Compared to that for recombinant Ad, the number of mRNAs modulated upon infection was significantly reduced but the expression signatures were similar. This reagent provides a valuable tool for studies of Ad in that researchers can examine the effect of infection in the presence of the virion capsid alone.

Virus assembly and disassembly: the adenovirus cysteine protease as a trigger factor

Viruses are efficient carriers of genetic material between cells. They specifically recognise a target cell and utilise host functions for genome delivery to the replication site. A mature viral capsid emerging from an infected cell serves at least three distinct functions. It enables virus egress from the infected cell, protects the extracellular genome against chemical and physical stress and mediates virus entry into a non-infected cell. How can a virus particle be stably assembled in an infected cell and moments later-after passing through the extracellular milieu-be disintegrated by a non-infected cell? In this review I discuss how adenovirus, a DNA virus, recruits cellular and viral factors and makes use of its own cysteine protease to regulate capsid assembly and disassembly. Copyright 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Pulmonary inflammation induced by incomplete or inactivated adenoviral particles

One of the major obstacles to pulmonary-directed gene therapy using adenoviral vectors is the induction of inflammation. We investigated whether the adenoviral particles that constitute the initial inoculum can serve as an inflammatory stimulus, independent of their ability to express genes that they contain. Viral particles were prepared that are defective in gene expression by (i) isolating particles that have incomplete genomes by selecting those that have buoyant densities on CsCl density gradients lighter than complete viruses; and (ii) cross-linking viral DNA by exposure to ultraviolet light in the presence of 8-methoxypsoralen. The defective particles retained their icosahedral appearance when viewed by electron microscopy but lost their plaque-forming ability on 293 cells. High doses of intact, incomplete, or inactivated viral particles were instilled intratracheally into CBA/J mice, and after 6 days the amount of inflammation was quantified by counting inflammatory cells contained within lung tissue. We found that the inflammatory responses induced by the incomplete or inactivated viral vectors were quantitatively similar to those caused by intact, competent viral vectors. We conclude that high doses of adenoviral vectors that are used for gene therapy can induce pulmonary inflammation, independent of expressing the genes they contain.

Nucleation and growth phases in the polymerization of coat and scaffolding subunits into icosahedral procapsid shells

The polymerization of protein subunits into precursor shells empty of DNA is a critical process in the assembly of double-stranded DNA viruses. For the well-characterized icosahedral procapsid of phage P22, coat and scaffolding protein subunits do not assemble separately but, upon mixing, copolymerize into double-shelled procapsids in vitro. The polymerization reaction displays the characteristics of a nucleation limited reaction: a paucity of intermediate assembly states, a critical concentration, and kinetics displaying a lag phase. Partially formed shell intermediates were directly visualized during the growth phase by electron microscopy of the reaction mixture. The morphology of these intermediates suggests that assembly is a highly directed process. The initial rate of this reaction depends on the fifth power of the coat subunit concentration and the second or third power of the scaffolding concentration, suggesting that pentamer of coat protein and dimers or trimers of scaffolding protein, respectively, participate in the rate-limiting step.

Hexon trimerization occurring in an assembly-defective, 100K temperature-sensitive mutant of adenovirus 2

Analysis of 100K-defective temperature-sensitive adenovirus mutants confirmed the multifunctional character of the nonstructural, virus-coded 100K protein. In addition to its function in hexon trimerization (altered in H5ts1), and its possible direct or indirect role in hexon transport to nucleus (mutated in H2ts118), genetic and biochemical evidence was presented that 100K play some critical role in the scaffolding process of adenovirus capsid. This function appeared to be defective in H2ts107 and to map between coordinates 69.0 and 69.9, leftward from the H5ts1 lesion (70-73 map units; Arrand, 1978). This corresponded to the central domain of the 100K protein, between amino acid 300 and 400 from the N end. DNA sequencing of cloned fragments of H2ts107 DNA overlapping the mutation revealed two point mutations on the same codon at nucleotide 25,082 and 25,083 (GAC----GCA), corresponding to a nonconservative amino acid change (aspartic acid----alanine) at position 324 in the 100K sequence. 100K of adenovirus 2 wild type (WT) was found to bind in significant amounts to novobiocin-affinity column, and to be coeluted with hexon, penton, IIIa, and cellular topoisomerase II activity, by novobiocin- or ATP-Mg2+-containing buffers. H2ts107 100K also bound to novobiocin column, but the elution pattern differed from that of WT, suggesting some alteration in the affinity of the mutated 100K for novobiocin. The same behavior on affinity column as H2ts107 100K was observed for 90K, a cleavage product of the 100K, found in great abundance in H2ts107 at 39.5 degrees and corresponding to the C-terminal moiety of the 100K molecule. This implied that the "novobiocin-binding" domain of the 100K was not confined at its N terminus, and was altered in the H2ts107 mutant.