Probing the ability of the coat and vertex protein of the membrane-containing bacteriophage PRD1 to display a meningococcal epitope

An Extended Loop of the Pup Ligase, PafA, Mediates Interaction with Protein Targets

Pupylation, the bacterial equivalent of ubiquitylation, involves the conjugation of a prokaryotic ubiquitin-like protein (Pup) to protein targets. In contrast to the ubiquitin system, where many ubiquitin ligases exist, a single bacterial ligase, PafA, catalyzes the conjugation of Pup to a wide array of protein targets. As mediators of target recognition by PafA have not been identified, it would appear that PafA alone determines pupylation target selection. Previous studies indicated that broad specificity and promiscuity are indeed inherent PafA characteristics that probably dictate which proteins are selected for degradation by the Pup-proteasome system. Nonetheless, despite the canonical role played by PafA in the Pup-proteasome system, the molecular mechanism that dictates target binding by PafA remains uncharacterized since the discovery of this enzyme about a decade ago. In this study, we report the identification of PafA residues involved in the binding of protein targets. Initially, docking analysis predicted the residues on PafA with high potential for target binding. Mutational and biochemical approaches subsequently confirmed these predictions and identified a series of additional residues located on an extended loop at the edge of the PafA active site. Mutating residues in this loop rendered PafA defective in the pupylation of a wide variety of protein targets but not in its catalytic mechanism, suggesting an important role for this extended loop in the binding of protein targets. As such, these findings pave the way toward an understanding of the molecular determinants that dictate the broad substrate specificity of PafA.

A kinetic model for the prevalence of mono- over poly-pupylation

Bacteria belonging to the phyla Actinobacteria and Nitrospira possess proteasome cores homologous to the eukaryotic 20S proteasome particle. In these bacteria, the cytoplasmic signal for proteasomal degradation is a small protein termed Pup (prokaryotic ubiquitin-like protein). PafA, the only known Pup ligase, conjugates Pup to lysine side chains of target proteins. In contrast to the eukaryotic ubiquitin-proteasome system, where poly-ubiquitin chains are the principal tags for proteasomal degradation, mono-Pup moieties are almost exclusively observed in vivo and are sufficient as degradation tags. Although Pup presents lysines, raising the possibility of poly-Pup chain assembly, these do not predominate. At present, the factors promoting the distinct predominance of mono- over poly-pupylation remain poorly understood. To address this issue, we conducted a detailed biochemical analysis characterizing the pupylation of model proteins in vitro. We found that Pup can indeed serve as a pupylation target for PafA either in its free form or when already conjugated to proteins, thus allowing for the formation of poly-Pup chains. However, our results indicate that pupylation of an already pupylated protein is unlikely to occur due to low affinity of PafA for such species. This alone prevents predominance of poly- over mono-pupylation in vitro. This effect is likely to be magnified in vivo by the combination of PafA kinetics with the high abundance of non-pupylated proteins. Overall, this work provides a kinetic explanation for the prevalence of mono- rather than poly-pupylation in vivo, and sheds light on PafA substrate specificity.

Familial relationships in hyperthermo- and acidophilic archaeal viruses

Archaea often live in extreme, harsh environments such as acidic hot springs and hypersaline waters. To date, only two icosahedrally symmetric, membrane-containing archaeal viruses, SH1 and Sulfolobus turreted icosahedral virus (STIV), have been described in detail. We report the sequence and three-dimensional structure of a third such virus isolated from a hyperthermoacidophilic crenarchaeon, Sulfolobus strain G4ST-2. Characterization of this new isolate revealed it to be similar to STIV on the levels of genome and structural organization. The genome organization indicates that these two viruses have diverged from a common ancestor. Interestingly, the prominent surface turrets of the two viruses are strikingly different. By sequencing and mass spectrometry, we mapped several large insertions and deletions in the known structural proteins that could account for these differences and showed that both viruses can infect the same host. A combination of genomic and proteomic analyses revealed important new insights into the structural organization of these viruses and added to our limited knowledge of archaeal virus life cycles and host-cell interactions.

Photocatalytic inactivation of viruses using titanium dioxide nanoparticles and low-pressure UV light

The carcinogenic potential of chlorine disinfection by-products and recent changes in water quality regulations have led to a greater emphasis on alternative disinfection mechanisms. In this study, the efficacy of bench-scale and pilot-scale titanium dioxide (TiO(2)) photocatalytic disinfection was explored using four bacteriophages (MS2, PRD1, phi-X174, and fr). The optimized bench-scale experiments indicated that 1 mg/L of Degussa P25 TiO(2) irradiated by low-pressure ultraviolet (UV) light reduced the dose requirements for viral inactivation in comparison to UV light alone. The highest UV dose reductions for 4-log inactivation of PRD1, MS2, phi-X174, and fr were 19%, 15%, 6%, and 0%, respectively. Bench-scale photocatalysis was inhibited by limited adsorption of the viruses onto the TiO(2) nanoparticles, as indicated by the poor results for high TiO(2) concentrations. Subsequently, pilot-scale experiments were completed using the Photo-Cat Lab from Purifics. The annular reactor configuration and increased viral adsorption dramatically improved photocatalytic inactivation for samples with high TiO(2) concentrations. Using the Photo-Cat Lab, 2-log inactivation of the bacteriophages was achieved with 400 mg/L of Degussa P25 TiO(2) and a UV dose of approximately 34 mJ/cm(2) (energy consumption of 0.33 kWh/m(3))-a 700-fold decrease in energy use compared to bench-scale photocatalysis.

Tale of two spikes in bacteriophage PRD1

Structural comparisons between bacteriophage PRD1 and adenovirus have revealed an evolutionary relationship that has contributed significantly to current ideas on virus phylogeny. However, the structural organization of the receptor-binding spike complex and how the different symmetry mismatches are mediated between the spike-complex proteins are not clear. We determined the architecture of the PRD1 spike complex by using electron microscopy and three-dimensional image reconstruction of a series of PRD1 mutants. We constructed an atomic model for the full-length P5 spike protein by using comparative modeling. P5 was shown to be bound directly to the penton base protein P31. P5 and the receptor-binding protein P2 form two separate spikes, interacting with each other near the capsid shell. P5, with a tumor necrosis factor-like head domain, may have been responsible for host recognition before capture of the current receptor-binding protein P2.

Type III secretion system-associated pilus of Pseudomonas syringae as an epitope display tool

Type III secretion system-associated pili found in several plant pathogenic bacteria are required for injection of virulence proteins from bacteria into the plant cells. The possibility to use the type III secretion pilus of Pseudomonas syringae as an epitope display tool was studied. The advantage of the type III secretion pilus, compared with conventional fimbrial epitope display tools, is that the pilin subunits of the type III secretion pilus can auto-assemble into intact pili in vitro. Various peptides were inserted into the type III secretion pilin subunit, and secretion, assembly and surface properties of the modified pili were monitored. It was concluded that the outwards-projecting N-terminal region of the pilin can bear even 43 amino acids insertion. The three-dimensional structure of the epitope, however, can restrict the use of the pilus as an epitope display tool: a beta-hairpin structure was poorly tolerated.

Efficient DNA packaging of bacteriophage PRD1 requires the unique vertex protein P6

The assembly of bacteriophage PRD1 proceeds via formation of empty procapsids containing an internal lipid membrane, into which the linear double-stranded DNA genome is subsequently packaged. The packaging ATPase P9 and other putative packaging proteins have been shown to be located at a unique vertex of the PRD1 capsid. Here, we describe the isolation and characterization of a suppressor-sensitive PRD1 mutant deficient in the unique vertex protein P6. Protein P6 was found to be an essential part of the PRD1 packaging machinery; its absence leads to greatly reduced packaging efficiency. Lack of P6 was not found to affect particle assembly, because in the P6-deficient mutant infection, wild-type (wt) amounts of particles were produced, although most were empty. P6 was determined not to be a specificity factor, as the few filled particles seen in the P6-deficient infection contained only PRD1-specific DNA. The presence of P6 was not necessary for retention of DNA in the capsid once packaging had occurred, and P6-deficient DNA-containing particles were found to be stable and infectious, albeit not as infectious as wt PRD1 virions. A packaging model for bacteriophage PRD1, based on previous results and those obtained in this study, is presented.

Genome characterization of lipid-containing marine bacteriophage PM2 by transposon insertion mutagenesis

Bacteriophage PM2 presently is the only member of the Corticoviridae family. The virion consists of a protein-rich lipid vesicle, which is surrounded by an icosahedral protein capsid. The lipid vesicle encloses a supercoiled circular double-stranded DNA genome of 10,079 bp. PM2 belongs to the marine phage community and is known to infect two gram-negative Pseudoalteromonas species. In this study, we present a characterization of the PM2 genome made using the in vitro transposon insertion mutagenesis approach. Analysis of 101 insertion mutants yielded information on the essential and dispensable regions of the PM2 genome and led to the identification of several new genes. A number of lysis-deficient mutants as well as mutants displaying delayed- and/or incomplete-lysis phenotypes were identified. This enabled us to identify novel lysis-associated genes with no resemblance to those previously described from other bacteriophage systems. Nonessential genome regions are discussed in the context of PM2 genome evolution.

A snapshot of viral evolution from genome analysis of the tectiviridae family

The origin, evolution and relationships of viruses are all fascinating topics. Current thinking in these areas is strongly influenced by the tailed double-stranded (ds) DNA bacteriophages. These viruses have mosaic genomes produced by genetic exchange and so new natural isolates are quite dissimilar to each other, and to laboratory strains. Consequently, they are not amenable to study by current tools for phylogenetic analysis. Less attention has been paid to the Tectiviridae family, which embraces icosahedral dsDNA bacterial viruses with an internal lipid membrane. It includes viruses, such as PRD1, that infect Gram-negative bacteria, as well as viruses like Bam35 with Gram-positive hosts. Although PRD1 and Bam35 have closely related virion morphology and genome organization, they have no detectable sequence similarity. There is strong evidence that the Bam35 coat protein has the "double-barrel trimer" arrangement of PRD1 that was first observed in adenovirus and is predicted to occur in other viruses with large facets. It is very likely that a single ancestral virus gave rise to this very large group of viruses. The unprecedented degree of conservation recently observed for two Bam35-like tectiviruses made it important to investigate those infecting Gram-negative bacteria. The DNA sequences for six PRD1-like isolates (PRD1, PR3, PR4, PR5, L17, PR772) have now been determined. Remarkably, these bacteriophages, isolated at distinctly different dates and global locations, have almost identical genomes. The discovery of almost invariant genomes for the two main Tectiviridae groups contrasts sharply with the situation in the tailed dsDNA bacteriophages. Notably, it permits a sequence analysis of the isolates revealing that the tectiviral proteins can be dissected into a slowly evolving group descended from the ancestor, the viral self, and a more rapidly changing group reflecting interactions with the host.

Constituents of SH1, a novel lipid-containing virus infecting the halophilic euryarchaeon Haloarcula hispanica

Recent studies have indicated that a number of bacterial and eukaryotic viruses that share a common architectural principle are related, leading to the proposal of an early common ancestor. A prediction of this model would be the discovery of similar viruses that infect archaeal hosts. Our main interest lies in icosahedral double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) viruses with an internal membrane, and we now extend our studies to include viruses infecting archaeal hosts. While the number of sequenced archaeal viruses is increasing, very little sequence similarity has been detected between bacterial and eukaryotic viruses. In this investigation we rigorously show that SH1, an icosahedral dsDNA virus infecting Haloarcula hispanica, possesses lipid structural components that are selectively acquired from the host pool. We also determined the sequence of the 31-kb SH1 genome and positively identified genes for 11 structural proteins, with putative identification of three additional proteins. The SH1 genome is unique and, except for a few open reading frames, shows no detectable similarity to other published sequences, but the overall structure of the SH1 virion and its linear genome with inverted terminal repeats is reminiscent of lipid-containing dsDNA bacteriophages like PRD1.

The linear double-stranded DNA of phage Bam35 enters lysogenic host cells, but the late phage functions are suppressed

Bam35, a temperate double-stranded DNA bacteriophage with a 15-kb linear genome, infects gram-positive Bacillus thuringiensis cells. Bam35 morphology and genome organization resemble those of PRD1, a lytic phage infecting gram-negative bacteria. Bam35 and PRD1 have an outer protein coat surrounding a membrane that encloses the viral DNA. We used electrochemical methods to investigate physiological changes of the lysogenic and nonlysogenic hosts during Bam35 DNA entry and host cell lysis. During viral DNA entry, there was an early temporal decrease of membrane voltage associated with K+ efflux that took place when either lysogenic or nonlysogenic hosts were infected. Approximately 40 min postinfection, a second strong K+ efflux was registered that was proposed to be associated with the insertion of holin molecules into the plasma membrane. This phenomenon occurred only when nonlysogenic cells were infected. Lysogenic hosts rarely were observed entering the lytic cycle as demonstrated by thin-section electron microscopy.

The structure of the bacteriophage PRD1 spike sheds light on the evolution of viral capsid architecture

Comparisons of bacteriophage PRD1 and adenovirus protein structures and virion architectures have been instrumental in unraveling an evolutionary relationship and have led to a proposal of a phylogeny-based virus classification. The structure of the PRD1 spike protein P5 provides further insight into the evolution of viral proteins. The crystallized P5 fragment comprises two structural domains: a globular knob and a fibrous shaft. The head folds into a ten-stranded jelly roll beta barrel, which is structurally related to the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and the PRD1 coat protein domains. The shaft domain is a structural counterpart to the adenovirus spike shaft. The structural relationships between PRD1, TNF, and adenovirus proteins suggest that the vertex proteins may have originated from an ancestral TNF-like jelly roll coat protein via a combination of gene duplication and deletion.

The Bacillus thuringiensis linear double-stranded DNA phage Bam35, which is highly similar to the Bacillus cereus linear plasmid pBClin15, has a prophage state

Bam35, a 15-kbp double-stranded DNA phage, infects Bacillus thuringiensis. Recently, sequencing of the related Bacillus cereus revealed a 15.1-kbp linear plasmid, pBClin15. We show that pBClin15 closely resembles Bam35 and demonstrate conversion of Bam35 to a prophage. This state is common, as several B. thuringiensis strains release Bam35-related viruses.

Comparative analysis of bacterial viruses Bam35, infecting a gram-positive host, and PRD1, infecting gram-negative hosts, demonstrates a viral lineage

Extra- and intracellular viruses in the biosphere outnumber their cellular hosts by at least one order of magnitude. How is this enormous domain of viruses organized? Sampling of the virosphere has been scarce and focused on viruses infecting humans, cultivated plants, and animals as well as those infecting well-studied bacteria. It has been relatively easy to cluster closely related viruses based on their genome sequences. However, it has been impossible to establish long-range evolutionary relationships as sequence homology diminishes. Recent advances in the evaluation of virus architecture by high-resolution structural analysis and elucidation of viral functions have allowed new opportunities for establishment of possible long-range phylogenic relationships-virus lineages. Here, we use a genomic approach to investigate a proposed virus lineage formed by bacteriophage PRD1, infecting gram-negative bacteria, and human adenovirus. The new member of this proposed lineage, bacteriophage Bam35, is morphologically indistinguishable from PRD1. It infects gram-positive hosts that evolutionarily separated from gram-negative bacteria more than one billion years ago. For example, it can be inferred from structural analysis of the coat protein sequence that the fold is very similar to that of PRD1. This and other observations made here support the idea that a common early ancestor for Bam35, PRD1, and adenoviruses existed.

The unique vertex of bacterial virus PRD1 is connected to the viral internal membrane

Icosahedral double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) bacterial viruses are known to package their genomes into preformed procapsids via a unique portal vertex. Bacteriophage PRD1 differs from the more commonly known icosahedral dsDNA phages in that it contains an internal lipid membrane. The packaging of PRD1 is known to proceed via preformed empty capsids. Now, a unique vertex has been shown to exist in PRD1. We show in this study that this unique vertex extends to the virus internal membrane via two integral membrane proteins, P20 and P22. These small membrane proteins are necessary for the binding of the putative packaging ATPase P9, via another capsid protein, P6, to the virus particle.