The antiherpes drug (E)-5-(2-bromovinyl)-2'-deoxyuridine (BVdU) interferes with formation of N-linked and of O-linked oligosaccharides of the herpes simplex virus type 1 glycoprotein C

New Virus-Selective Inhibitor of Terminal Glycosylation Increasing Immunological Reactivity of a Viral Glycoprotein

In previous reports we have shown that certain nucleoside analogues may be phosphorylated by herpesvirus-specified thymidine kinases, thereby acquiring an ability to act as virus-selective inhibitors of terminal glycosylation. In the present paper we report that the antiviral nucleoside analogue 5-propyl-2′-deoxyuridine induced a pattern of glycosylation inhibition, which resulted in an increased availability of the HSV-1-specified glycoprotein gC-1 for neutralizing antibodies. This effect, which was absent in cells infected with a thymidine kinase-deficient HSV mutant, was correlated with a decrease in the proportion of highly branched N-linked oligosaccharides associated with gC-1.

Simplified procedure for fractionation and structural characterisation of complex mixtures of N-linked glycans, released from HIV-1 gp120 and other highly glycosylated viral proteins

HIV-1 gp120 is heavily glycosylated containing 24 N-glycosylation sites, and this makes elucidation of the significance of glycans at individual glycosylation sites a difficult task. A procedure is described where a complex mixture of biologically radiolabelled glycans of gp120, derived from a relatively small number of virus-infected cells may be characterized by a combination of N-glycanase release, single lectin separation, and normal phase HPLC (NP-HPLC). The method was applied in analysis of three N-linked glycosylation sites essential for the in vivo priming of T-cells, specific for an epitope in their vicinity (Sjölander, S., Bolmstedt, A., Akerblom, 1996. Virology 215, 124-133.). The carbohydrate compositions of wild type gp120 and of mutant variants gp120 lacking one, two, or all of these three active N-linked glycans were analysed. Cells were infected with r-vaccinia virus expressing wild-type gp120 or mutated gp120, or were infected with HIV-1BRU (wild type) or mutant virus variants. HIV-1 glycoproteins were purified by immunosorbent affinity chromatography and released glycans were separated on lectins, then analysed with NP-HPLC. Our data showed that the structural composition of glycans occupying two of the three glycosylation sites was heterogeneous but the site located adjacent to the T-cell epitope was equipped with one large, high mannose-type structure (> 11 units) with the capacity to cover a substantial part of the gp120 surface.

5-Propyl-2-deoxyuridine induced interference with glycosylation in herpes simplex virus infected cells. Nature of PdU-induced modifications of N-linked glycans

In herpes simplex virus-infected (HSV) cells, the antiviral nucleoside analogue 5-n-propyl-2'-deoxyuridine (PdU) may, under certain circumstances, induce a pattern of interference with late steps in formation of N-linked glycans, resulting in increased availability of viral glycoproteins for neutralizing antibodies. The PdU-induced changes in N-linked glycans, released by pronase digestion of the HSV-specified glycoprotein gC-1, were investigated by using lectin affinity chromatography and Bio-Gel P6 gel filtration of glycans, radiolabelled with [3H]galactose or [3H]glucosamine. PdU-treatment of HSV-infected cells totally inhibited addition of sialic acid and reduced the amount of galactose incorporated into N-linked glycans by 70%. In addition, the PDU-treatment caused a decrease in oligosaccharides with affinity for Phaseoulus vulgaris leuco-agglutinin and erythro-agglutinin, and an increase in Lens culinaris lectin (LCA)-binding oligosaccharides, suggesting a PdU-induced shift from multi-branched to moderately branched structures. This shift was also found in HSV-infected B16 mouse melanoma cells, where the large content of multi-branched oligosaccharides contributes to the metastatic potential. The LCA-binding glycans from PdU-treated cells were smaller and contained less galactose units than corresponding structures from untreated cells. In a cell-free system, PdU 5'-monophosphate inhibited the translocation of UDP-GlcNAc, and, to a smaller extent, also the translocation of UDP-galactose into Golgi vesicles, suggesting that nucleotide sugar translocation is one important target for the PdU-induced interference with glycosylation in HSV-infected cells.

The HIV replication inhibitor 3'-fluoro-3'-deoxythymidine blocks sialylation of N-linked oligosaccharides

The ability of 3'-fluoro-3'-deoxythymidine (FLT) to interfere with glycosylation was investigated in an experimental system, where the effects on the herpes simplex virus type 1-specified glycoprotein gC were determined. By adding FLT to HSV-infected cells after the peak of DNA synthesis, it was possible to segregate possible effects on nucleic acid metabolism from the effects on glycosylation of gC. It was found that FLT treatment of HSV-infected cells at concentrations of 20-500 micrograms/ml resulted in a significant increase in the electrophoretic mobility of gC, indicating a reduction of the amount of carbohydrates incorporated into gC. Lectin-binding assays demonstrated that the FLT treatment blocked addition of sialic acid to complex type N-linked glycans. The effects on glycosylation were observed in cells infected with an HSV mutant, deficient in thymidine kinase (TK), but not in cells infected with wild type virus. The cells infected with the wild type virus contained five times more total FLT metabolites than the cells infected with the TK-deficient mutant, whereas the latter cell type contained significantly higher amounts of unmetabolized FLT. This result indicates that FLT itself, and not a metabolite, was responsible for the effects on glycosylation.

Antigenic structure of the herpes simplex virus type 1 glycoprotein C: demonstration of a linear epitope situated in an environment of highly conformation-dependent epitopes

A continuous epitope, situated within or in close proximity to antigenic site II of the herpes simplex virus type 1-specified glycoprotein C (gC-1), was identified. The continuous linear nature of the epitope, defined by a monoclonal antibody C2H12, was established by three independent lines of evidence: (i) The epitope was detectable by immunoblot under denaturing and reducing conditions. (ii) The epitope was detectable by RIPA of extracts from TM-treated HSV-infected cells, despite the malfolding caused by this treatment. (iii) The epitope was detected in an approximately 5,000-dalton papain fragment of gC-1. A mapping analysis, primarily based on use of mutant virus, expressing truncated gC-1 molecules, suggested that the mapping position of the epitope was delimited by amino acids 120 and 230. Other epitopes of this region of gC-1 are highly conformation-dependent, and the existence of a linear epitope, accessible on native gC-1, may facilitate the elucidation of the functional anatomy of gC-1.

Asparagine-linked glycosylation of the scrapie and cellular prion proteins

Post-translational modification of the scrapie prion protein (PrP) is thought to account for the unusual features of this protein. Molecular cloning of a PrP cDNA identified two potential Asn-linked glycosylation sites. Both the scrapie (PrPSc) and cellular (PrPC) isoforms were susceptible to digestion by peptide N-glycosidase F (PNGase F) but resistant to endoglycosidase H as measured by migration in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. PNGase F digestion of PrPC yielded two proteins of Mr26K and 28K; however, the 26-k species was only a minor component. In contrast, PNGase F digestion of PrPSc yielded equimolar amounts of two proteins of Mr26K and 28K. The significance of this altered stoichiometry between the 26- and 28-kDa deglycosylated forms of PrP during scrapie infection remains to be established. Both isoforms as well as PrP 27-30, which is produced by limited proteolysis of PrPSc, exhibited a reduced number of charge isomers after PNGase F digestion. The molecular weight of PrP 27-30 was reduced from 27K-30K by PNGase F digestion to 20K-22K while anhydrous hydrogen fluoride or trifluoromethanesulfonic acid treatment reduced the molecular weight to 19K-21K and 20K-22K, respectively. Denatured PrP 27-30 was radioiodinated and then assessed for its binding to lectin columns. PrP 27-30 was bound to wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) or lentil lectins and eluted with N-acetylglucosamine or alpha-methyl-mannoside, respectively. Digestion of PrP 27-30 with sialidase prevented its binding to WGA but enhanced its binding to Ricinus communis lectin. These findings argue that PrP 27-30 probably possesses Asn-linked, complex oligosaccharides with terminal sialic acids, penultimate galactoses, and fucose residues attached to the innermost N-acetyl-glucosamine. Whether differences in Asn-linked oligosaccharide structure between PrPC and PrPSc exist and are responsible for the distinct properties displayed by these two isoforms remain to be established.

Dissecting glycoprotein biosynthesis by the use of specific inhibitors

It is possible to interfere with different steps in the dolichol pathway of protein glycosylation and in the processing of asparagine-linked oligosaccharides. Thus some clues about the role of protein-bound carbohydrate can be obtained by comparing the biochemical fates and functions of glycosylated proteins with their non-glycosylated counterparts, or with proteins exhibiting differences in the type of oligosaccharide side chains. Cells infected with enveloped viruses are good systems for studying both aspects of protein glycosylation, since they contain a limited number of different glycoproteins, often with well-defined functions. Tunicamycin, an antibiotic, as well as several sugar analogues have been found to act as inhibitors of protein glycosylation by virtue of their anti-viral properties. They interfere with various steps in the dolichol pathway resulting in a lack of functional lipid-linked oligosaccharide precursors. Compounds that interfere with oligosaccharide trimming represent a second generation of inhibitors of glycosylation. They are glycosidase inhibitors that interfere with the processing glucosidases and mannosidases and, as a result, the conversion of high-mannose into complex-type oligosaccharides is blocked. Depending upon the compound used, glycoproteins contain glucosylated-high-mannose, high-mannose or hybrid oligosaccharide structures instead of complex ones. The biological consequences of the alterations caused by the inhibitors are manifold: increased susceptibility to proteases, improper protein processing and misfolding of polypeptide chains, loss of biological activity and alteration of the site of virus-budding, to name but a few.

Inhibition of terminal N- and O-glycosylation specific for herpesvirus-infected cells: mechanism of an inhibitor of sugar nucleotide transport across Golgi membranes

The nucleoside analog (E)-5-(2-bromovinyl)-2'-deoxyuridine (BVdU) inhibited the Golgi-associated terminal glycosylation in herpes simplex virus type 1- and type 2-infected cells, specifically incorporation of galactose and sialic acid into N-linked oligosaccharides, and incorporation of sialic acid and, to a lesser extent, of galactose into O-linked oligo saccharides. This resulted in formation of viral glycoproteins with terminal GlcNAc and Fuc in N-linked oligosaccharides and terminal O-linked GalNAc. Inhibition of formation of UDP-hexoses and of acceptor glycoprotein synthesis and inhibition of cellular transport of viral glycoproteins were not observed. No evidence for the formation of a sugar nucleotide analog of BVdU was obtained. Inhibition required phosphorylation of BVdU to its 5' monophosphate (BVdUMP) by the virus-coded thymidine kinase. In a cell-free system, this monophosphate inhibited the transport of pyrimidine sugar nucleotides across Golgi membranes and, as a consequence, the incorporation of sugars into glycoproteins. Inhibition of galactosyltransferase by BVdUMP was insignificant. BVdUMP did not inhibit translocation across the Golgi membrane of purine sugar nucleotides. Inhibition of sugar nucleotide translocation represents the first target for design of virus-specific glycosylation inhibitors.

Mode of action of a new type of UDP-glucose analog against herpesvirus replication

The mode of action of a new type of UDP-glucose analog against herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) replication was examined. The analog showed good selectivity and potent activity. At 10 micrograms/ml, P-536 inhibited the formation of infectious HSV-1 by more than 90%, whereas at 100 micrograms/ml it had no cytotoxic effects, as evidenced by phase-contrast microscopy. P-536 showed a wide spectrum of action and was active against HSV-1, adenovirus type 5, vaccinia virus, poliovirus type 1, encephalomyocarditis virus, vesicular stomatitis virus, influenza virus, and measles virus, irrespective of whether these viruses have lipidic envelopes or not. P-536 clearly inhibited protein glycosylation if added at the time when late viral proteins were being synthesized. Moreover, it also interfered with the synthesis of nucleic acids and the phosphorylation of nucleosides. If P-536 was present from the beginning of infection, HSV-1 replication was blocked at an early step and the infected cells continued to synthesize cellular proteins for long periods.

Incorporation into nucleic acids of the antiherpes guanosine analog buciclovir, and effects on DNA and protein synthesis

Using cells expressing herpes simplex virus (HSV) thymidine kinase, we investigated the metabolism of the acyclic antiherpes guanosine analog buciclovir, in relation to the effects of the drug on viral DNA and protein synthesis. In these cells the predominant metabolite of buciclovir was its triphosphate, as in the HSV-1 infected Vero cells investigated in parallel. Further metabolism of buciclovir led to incorporation into RNA and DNA. Buciclovir inhibited DNA synthesis, not RNA synthesis, and prevented an increase in the size of newly synthesized DNA. To study the relative effects of BCV on cellular and viral DNA synthesis, human TK-cells transformed to a TK+ phenotype with HSV-2 DNA, were infected with HSV-1. In these HSV-1 infected cells buciclovir-triphosphate caused a preferential inhibition of viral DNA synthesis. Despite incorporation of buciclovir into RNA, and the presence of buciclovir-triphosphate from the time of infection onwards, no effect was observed on the synthesis of the beta proteins ICP-6 and ICP-8. Presumably as a consequence of inhibition of viral DNA synthesis, the synthesis of a beta gamma protein (gD) and a gamma protein (gC) were inhibited, and synthesis of the beta proteins (ICP-6 and ICP-8) was not shut-off. Glycosylation of gC that was still synthesized, was not inhibited. Thus, the biological effects of buciclovir can be explained by its inhibition of DNA synthesis.

Host cell-induced differences in O-glycosylation of herpes simplex virus gC-1. I. Structures of nonsialylated HPA- and PNA-binding carbohydrates

Lectins with narrow oligosaccharide specificities were established as probes to study the host cell influence on the biosynthesis of O-linked oligosaccharides of the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1)-specified glycoprotein C (gC-1). We found that only gC-1 and no other glycoprotein bound to the peanut lectin (PNA), with main specificity for Gal(beta 1-3)GalNAc. Previously, we have shown that only gC-1 binds to the Helix pomatia lectin (HPA), with main specificity for terminal GalNAc. The O-linked oligosaccharides binding to PNA and HPA were released by alkaline borohydride treatment and characterized. A structural determination of these oligosaccharides showed that the HPA-binding carbohydrates were monosaccharides (GalNAc), and that the PNA-binding oligosaccharides were disaccharides with the structure Gal-GalNAc. The PNA- and HPA-binding oligosaccharides were arranged as Pronase-resistant clusters on gC-1, consisting of about seven individual, adjacent oligosaccharides. In addition to these disaccharides, Pronase-resistant PNA-binding glycopeptides of gC-1 also contained neutral trisaccharides. Larger O-linked oligosaccharides, binding to the wheat germ lectin, were found in gC-1, but not in proximity to the PNA-binding ones. It was concluded that the lectins mentioned should be useful probes in screening HSV-infected cells of different lineages for differences in processing of O-linked oligosaccharides.

Host cell-induced differences in the O-glycosylation of herpes simplex virus gC-1. II. Demonstration of cell-specific galactosyltransferase essential for formation of O-linked oligosaccharides

By using a lectin-based screening method for cell-dependent variations of O-glycosylation of viral glycoprotein, we found that O-linked oligosaccharides of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) glycoproteins in virus-infected mouse neuroblastoma (C1300) cells differed from those of HSV glycoproteins produced in other cells. Thus, O-linked oligosaccharides of HSV-1-specified glycoprotein C (gC-1), produced in GMK cells and a number of other cells, occurred mainly as trisaccharides or larger structures. In contrast, gC-1, produced in C1300 cells, contained O-linked monosaccharides and very few, if any, larger oligosaccharides of this class. A structural comparison between O-linked oligosaccharides of gC-1 from HSV-1-infected C1300 cells and from GMK cells showed that biosynthesis was interrupted prior to formation of a core disaccharide with terminal galactose, indicating a major early defect in O-glycosylation of glycoproteins in C1300 cells. A comparison of the content of galactosyltransferases between C1300 and GMK cells showed that C1300 cells lacked galactosyltransferases, including the specific enzyme engaged in formation of the core O-linked disaccharide mentioned, while other glycosyltransferases adding terminal sugars to O-linked oligosaccharides were present in equal amounts in both cell lines. These results indicated that HSV-1 is strictly dependent on host cell-specified factors for biosynthesis of O-linked oligosaccharides associated with viral glycoproteins.

Differential metabolism of (E)-5-(2-iodovinyl)-2'-deoxyuridine (IVDU) by equine herpesvirus type 1- and herpes simplex virus-infected cells

Thymidine kinase (TK) enzymes encoded by herpes simplex viruses types 1 and 2 (HSV-1, HSV-2), and equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) catalyze the phosphorylation of thymidine (dThd) and (E)-5-(2-bromovinyl)-2'-deoxyuridine (BVDU). The replication of HSV-1 is sensitive to BVDU, but the replication of HSV-2 and EHV-1 is not. To investigate the differential sensitivity of the viruses to halogenated vinyldeoxyuridine drugs, the phosphorylation of 125I-labeled (E)-5-(2-iodovinyl)-2'-deoxyuridine (IVDU) was studied. Cytosol enzymes from cells infected by HSV-2 and EHV-1 phosphorylated [125I]IVDU to the monophosphate, IVDUMP, but did not convert IVDUMP to higher di- plus triphosphates (IVDUDP plus IVDUTP) forms. In contrast, enzymes from HSV-1-infected cells converted [125I]IVDU to radioactive IVDUMP and IVDUDP plus IVDUTP. Experiments with mixtures of EHV-1- and HSV-1-induced enzymes showed that the EHV-1 enzyme did not inhibit formation of the IVDUDP plus IVDUTP by the HSV-1 enzyme. With [125I]IVDU as substrate, the Km values for the EHV-1 and HSV-1 TKs were 1.82 and 0.34 microM, respectively, and the Ki (dThd) value for the EHV-1 TK was 0.35 microM. In vivo experiments showed that HSV-1-infected cells converted IVDU to the mono- and the di- plus triphosphate forms. In contrast, EHV-1-infected cells converted IVDU to the monophosphate to a lesser extent than did HSV-1-infected cells, and did not produce the di- plus triphosphates. Thus, inefficient phosphorylation of the monophosphates probably contributes to the insensitivity of EHV-1 replication to IVDU, as it does to the insensitivity of HSV-2 replication to this drug.

Phosphorylation of nucleoside analogs by equine herpesvirus type 1 pyrimidine deoxyribonucleoside kinase

Replication of equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) was sensitive to 9-(1,3-dihydroxy-2-propoxymethyl)guanine(DHPG) but relatively resistant to E-5-(2-bromovinyl)-2'-deoxyuridine (BVDU). Likewise, plaque formation by EHV-1 was inhibited by DHPG, but not by BVDU. Plaque formation by a thymidine kinase-negative (tk-) mutant of EHV-1 was not inhibited by DHPG. In order to investigate biochemical mechanisms determining the differential sensitivity of EHV-1 to these drugs, the EHV-1-encoded thymidine kinase enzyme activity (TK)1 was partially purified from EHV-1-infected cells and analyzed. The EHV-1-induced enzyme utilized both ATP and CTP as phosphate donors and differed in relative electrophoretic mobility from the TKs of mock-infected and HSV-1-infected cells. Phosphorylation of 3H-dThd by the EHV-1 TK was inhibited by AraT, IdUrd, BVDU, and DHPG. The EHV-1 TK phosphorylated 125I-dCyd and 3H-ACV. The results indicate that EHV-1 encodes a pyrimidine deoxyribonucleoside kinase with broad nucleoside substrate specificity. These observations suggest that the failure of BVDU to inhibit EHV-1 replication is not attributable to an inability of the EHV-1 TK to phosphorylate BVDU, but may result from the incapacity of the viral TK to convert BVDU monophosphate to the triphosphate or from lack of inhibitory effect of BVDU triphosphate on viral DNA polymerase reactions.

Potential targets for antiviral chemotherapy

Serendipity and random screening have been successful in producing effective antiviral agents. The increase in our knowledge of the basic biochemistry of viral replication and of virus-host interrelationships has revealed not only an understanding of the targets upon which existing antiviral agents exert their inhibitory effect, but also has uncovered new potential targets. The hope is that such molecular understanding will afford the synthesis of compounds with selective antiviral activity. A review of various viral targets which are potentially susceptible to attack, and a few approaches for development of antiviral agents are presented.

Uridine sugar nucleotides modified in their nucleoside moieties and their effect on lipid-linked saccharide formation in vitro

Uridine diphospho glucose (UDP-Glc) and uridine diphospho N-acetylglucosamine (UDP-GlcNAc), modified in the uridine moiety by either periodate oxidation of the ribose ring or substitution at position 5 of the uracil ring with fluorine, have been tested as potential inhibitors of glucosyl monophosphoryl dolichol (Glc-P-Dol) or N,N-diacetylchitobiosyl pyrophosphoryl dolichol [GlcNAc)2-PP-Dol) assembly in chick embryo cell membranes. The periodate oxidised sugar nucleotides inhibited glycosyl transfer from their respective natural counterparts by 50% at 230 micron periodate oxidised UDP-Glc and 70 micron periodate oxidised UDP-GlcNAc respectively. Inhibition in both cases was irreversible and addition of exogenous Dol-P stimulated only the residual non-inhibited reaction. Periodate oxidised UDP-GlcNAc preferentially inhibited the transfer of GlcNAc to GlcNac-PP-Dol. The sugar nucleotide containing 5-fluorouridine were, on the other hand, alternative substrates for Glc-P-Dol or (GlcNAc)2-PP-Dol synthesis. FUDP-Glc was a good substrate for Glc-P-Dol formation; having Km and Vmax values equal to those of UDP-Glc, whereas FUDP-GlcNAc was a less efficient substrate for the formation of (GlcNAc)2-PP-Dol; having Km and Vmax values one half and one third respectively of those of UDP-GlcNAc.