Immunochemical analysis of the structure of 2',5'-oligoadenylate

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.

Accumulation of 2',5'-oligoadenylates in encephalomyocarditis virus-infected mice

Levels of 2',5'-oligoadenylates (2-5A) in various tissues of murine encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV)-infected mice were determined and compared with those found in pathogen-free mice and in mice treated with the interferon inducer poly(I).poly(C). In control, pathogen-free mice, liver, spleen, brain, and kidney tissues possessed levels of 2-5A below 1 pmol/g of tissue, demonstrating that 2-5A was not a major component of uninfected mouse tissue. All control tissues had low basal levels (0.3 to 2.0 pmol/h per g) of 2-5A synthetase, the enzyme responsible for 2-5A production. After mice were injected intravenously with the interferon inducer poly(I).poly(C), circulating interferon, 2-5A synthetase, and 2-5A were elevated with increasing doses of double-stranded RNA. The greatest response to poly(I).poly(C) occurred in the kidney, in which enzyme levels increased 5-fold and 2-5A levels increased 24-fold to 15 pmol/g. Mice that were infected with EMCV also possessed elevated levels of 2-5A and 2-5A synthetase in the four tissues examined, although the relative distribution differed from that observed with poly(I).poly(C), indicating that the interferon inducer affects the concentration and location of intracellular 2-5A. Brain, spleen, and kidney tissues from EMCV-infected mice contained seven- to eightfold more 2-5A than control tissues did. The nanomolar levels of 2-5A in the tissues of EMCV-infected mice provide evidence that 2-5A may play a role in the antiviral response in an intact animal. In both poly(I).poly(C)- and EMCV-treated mice, the levels of 2-5A recovered from the tissues were not directly proportional to the amount of 2-5A synthetase present. These results indicate that factors other than the level of 2-5A synthetase controlled the accumulation of 2-5A in tissues.

A misaligned double-stranded RNA, poly(I).poly(C12,U), induces accumulation of 2',5'-oligoadenylates in mouse tissues

2',5'-Oligoadenylate synthetase was induced 3-2000-fold in spleen, liver, kidney and brain of NIH Swiss mice injected intravenously with 2-200 micrograms of the misaligned dsRNA, poly(I).poly(C12,U). Levels of 2',5'-oligoadenylates extracted from these tissues were also elevated, although the amount of 2',5'-oligoadenylates extracted did not correlate directly with the amount of enzyme present. These results suggest that double-stranded portions of the misaligned polymer survived intracellularly and activated the 2',5'-oligoadenylate synthetase, and that the level of dsRNA may contribute to the control of 2',5'-oligoadenylate metabolism.

Functional analysis of 2-5A-dependent RNase and 2-5a using 2',5'-oligoadenylate-cellulose

2-5A is an intracellular effector that has been implicated in interferon action, hormonal regulation, and cell growth control. 2-5A action is mediated through its activation of 2-5A-dependent RNase (RNase L, RNase F). Affinity resins [2-5A-cellulose and core (2-5A)-cellulose] were chemically synthesized for purification and immobilization of 2-5A-dependent RNase from mouse L cells and rabbit reticulocyte lysates. The breakdown of poly(U)-[3'-32P]Cp to acid-soluble fragments was demonstrated using the 2-5A-dependent RNase:2-5A -cellulose complex; this activity was enhanced by adding (free) 2-5A. In contrast, RNase activity was measured from the 2-5A-dependent RNase:core (2-5A)-cellulose complex only after the addition of free 2-5A. The rabbit reticulocyte 2-5A-dependent RNase is activated only by tetramer or higher oligomers of 2-5A; therefore there was breakdown of poly(U)-[3'-32P]Cp using core (2-5A)-cellulose-bound reticulocyte 2-5A-dependent RNase after addition of tetramer 2-5A but there was no poly(U) degradation in the presence of trimer 2-5A. The absence of significant general nuclease in the assays was demonstrated by the resistance to breakdown of poly(C)-[3'-32P]Cp (not susceptible to 2-5A-dependent RNase). Moreover, core (2-5A)-cellulose was used to develop a sensitive (subnanomolar) assay for the detection of authentic 2-5A. 2-5A, or the material to be tested, was added to mouse L-cell 2-5A-dependent RNase:core (2-5A)-cellulose complex in the presence of poly(U)-[3'-32P]Cp. The concentration of 2-5A in the sample could be measured from the amount of poly(U) degradation. Several closely related analogs of 2-5A were tested and found to be completely inactive. The technology described herein may be applied to the study of the regulation of 2-5A-dependent RNase, the detection of 2-5A from cells and tissues, and other aspects of the 2-5A system.

A sensitive immunoenzymometric assay for 2',5'-oligoadenylate. Detection of elevated 2',5'-oligoadenylate synthetase in human peripheral mononuclear cells

A competition immunoenzymometric assay for 2',5'-oligoadenylate was developed and employed to measure the interferon-inducible enzyme 2',5'-oligoadenylate synthetase in cell extracts. Microtiter plates coated with a novel conjugate of p5'A2'p5'A2'p5'A and N-(2-aminoethyl)-carbamylmethylated-Ficoll (AECM-Ficoll) bound rabbit polyclonal or mouse monoclonal antibody directed against 2',5'-oligoadenylate. Binding was inhibited by soluble 2',5'-oligoadenylate. Estimates of 2',5'-oligoadenylate concentrations based on inhibition of antibody binding compared favorably with those obtained using a protein synthesis inhibition assay. Low concentrations of 2',5'-oligoadenylate synthesized in vitro by extracts of human peripheral mononuclear cells were conveniently estimated using less than or equal to 10(6) cells. Virtually identical results were obtained when either total extract or synthetase bound to poly(I) . poly(C)-agarose was used for the in vitro incubation. When peripheral mononuclear cells were incubated in vitro with interferon, the normally low levels of 2',5'-oligo(A) synthetase rose dramatically. The assay was employed to measure synthetase levels in peripheral mononuclear cells isolated from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Some of these patients were found to have elevated levels of 2',5'-oligoadenylate synthetase.