dUTPase and nucleocapsid polypeptides of the Mason-Pfizer monkey virus form a fusion protein in the virion with homotrimeric organization and low catalytic efficiency

Viral dUTPases: Modulators of Innate Immunity

Most free-living organisms encode for a deoxyuridine triphosphate nucleotidohydrolase (dUTPase; EC 3.6.1.23). dUTPases represent a family of metalloenzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of dUTP to dUMP and pyrophosphate, preventing dUTP from being incorporated into DNA by DNA polymerases, maintaining a low dUTP/dTTP pool ratio and providing a necessary precursor for dTTP biosynthesis. Thus, dUTPases are involved in maintaining genomic integrity by preventing the uracilation of DNA. Many DNA-containing viruses, which infect mammals also encode for a dUTPase. This review will summarize studies demonstrating that, in addition to their classical enzymatic activity, some dUTPases possess novel functions that modulate the host innate immune response.

Fullerene Derivatives Prevent Packaging of Viral Genomic RNA into HIV-1 Particles by Binding Nucleocapsid Protein

Fullerene derivatives with hydrophilic substituents have been shown to exhibit a range of biological activities, including antiviral ones. For a long time, the anti-HIV activity of fullerene derivatives was believed to be due to their binding into the hydrophobic pocket of HIV-1 protease, thereby blocking its activity. Recent work, however, brought new evidence of a novel, protease-independent mechanism of fullerene derivatives' action. We studied in more detail the mechanism of the anti-HIV-1 activity of N,N-dimethyl[70]fulleropyrrolidinium iodide fullerene derivatives. By using a combination of in vitro and cell-based approaches, we showed that these C₇₀ derivatives inhibited neither HIV-1 protease nor HIV-1 maturation. Instead, our data indicate effects of fullerene C₇₀ derivatives on viral genomic RNA packaging and HIV-1 cDNA synthesis during reverse transcription-without impairing reverse transcriptase activity though. Molecularly, this could be explained by a strong binding affinity of these fullerene derivatives to HIV-1 nucleocapsid domain, preventing its proper interaction with viral genomic RNA, thereby blocking reverse transcription and HIV-1 infectivity. Moreover, the fullerene derivatives' oxidative activity and fluorescence quenching, which could be one of the reasons for the inconsistency among reported anti-HIV-1 mechanisms, are discussed herein.

Characterization and in vitro assembly of tick-borne encephalitis virus C protein

Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV), a member of flaviviruses, represents a serious health threat by causing human encephalitis mainly in central and eastern Europe, Russia, and northeastern Asia. As no specific therapy is available, there is an urgent need to understand all steps of the TBEV replication cycle at the molecular level. One of the critical events is the packaging of flaviviral genomic RNA by TBEV C protein to form a nucleocapsid. We purified recombinant TBEV C protein and used a combination of physical-chemical approaches, such as size-exclusion chromatography, circular dichroism, NMR spectroscopies, and transmission electron microscopy, to analyze its structural stability and its ability to dimerize/oligomerize. We compared the ability of TBEV C protein to assemble in vitro into a nucleocapsid-like structure with that of dengue C protein.

Insights into the molecular and biological features of the dUTPase-related gene of bovine immunodeficiency virus

This study was stimulated by our previous research of the dUTPase-related protein from bovine immunodeficiency virus (BIV) (Voronin et al., 2014). Despite the lack of detectable enzymatic BIV dUTPase activity (both of the recombinant protein and in virions), mutating the dUTPase gene was deleterious to viral production. However, cDNA synthesis and integration were apparently unaffected. Consequently, we have studied here two important issues. First, we showed that in cDNA produced by the dUTPase-mutated virions, the incidence of mutations was not higher than that found in wild-type BIV-infected cells. Second, single mutations, introduced in preserved dUTPase residues Asp48 and Asn57 (in the putative dUTPase active site or close to it), have led to abortive BIV infections (except for the conservative Asp48Glu mutation). Therefore, we postulate that the BIV dUTPase-related protein has a critical role in retroviral replication at steps that take place after viral cDNA synthesis and integration.

dUTPase: the frequently overlooked enzyme encoded by many retroviruses

Retroviruses are among the best studied viruses in last decades due to their pivotal involvement in cellular processes and, most importantly, in causing human diseases, most notably-acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) that is triggered by human immunodeficiency viruses types 1 and 2 (HIV-1 and HIV-2, respectively). Numerous studied were conducted to understand the involvement of the three cardinal retroviral enzymes, reverse transcriptase, integrase and protease, in the life cycle of the viruses. These studies have led to the development of many inhibitors of these enzymes as anti-retroviral specific drugs that are used for routine treatments of HIV/AIDS patients. Interestingly, a fourth virus-encoded enzyme, the deoxyuridine 5'-triphosphate nucleotidohydrolase (dUTPase) is also found in several major retroviral groups. The presence and the importance of this enzyme to the life cycle of retroviruses were usually overlooked by most retrovirologists, although the occurrence of dUTPases, particularly in beta-retroviruses and in non-primate retroviruses, is known for more than 20 years. Only more recently, retroviral dUTPases were brought into the limelight and were shown in several cases to be essential for viral replication. Therefore, it is likely that future studies on this enzyme will advance our knowledge to a level that will allow designing novel, specific and potent anti-dUTPase drugs that are effective in combating retroviral diseases. The aim of this review is to give concise background information on dUTPases in general and to summarize the most relevant data on retroviral dUTPases and their involvement in the replication processes and pathogenicity of the viruses, as well as in possibly-associated human diseases.

The dUTPase-related gene of bovine immunodeficiency virus is critical for viral replication, despite the lack of dUTPase activity of the encoded protein

Background

Deoxyuridine 5′-triphosphate nucleotide-hydrolases (dUTPases) are essential for maintaining low intra-cellular dUTP/dTTP ratios. Therefore, many viruses encode this enzyme to prevent dUTP incorporation into their genomes instead of dTTP. Among the lentiviruses, the non-primate viruses express dUTPases. In bovine immunodeficiency virus (BIV), the putative dUTPase protein is only 74 residues-long, compared to ~130 residues in other lentiviruses.

Results

In this study, the recombinant BIV dUTPase, as well as infectious wild-type (WT) BIV virions, were shown to lack any detectable dUTPase activity. Controls of recombinant dUTPase from equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) or of EIAV virions showed substantial dUTPase activities. To assess the importance of the dUTPase to BIV replication, we have generated virions of WT BIV or BIV with mutations in the dUTPase gene. The two mutant viral dUTPases were the double mutant D48E/N57S (in the putative enzyme active site and its vicinity) and a deletion of 36 residues. In dividing Cf2Th cells and under conditions where the WT virus was infectious and generated progeny virions, both mutant viruses were defective, as no progeny viruses were generated. Analyses of the integrated viral cDNA showed that cells infected with the mutant virions carry in their genomic DNA levels of integrated BIV DNA that are comparable to those in WT BIV-infected cells.

Conclusions

The herby presented results show that the two BIV mutants with the modified dUTPase gene could infect cells, as viral cDNA was synthesized and integrated into the host cell DNA. However, no virions were generated by cells infected by these mutants. The most likely explanation is that either the integrated cDNA of the mutants is defective (due to potential multiple mutations, introduced during reverse-transcription) or that the original dUTPase mutations have led to severe blocks in viral replication at steps post integration. These results emphasize the importance of the dUTPase-related sequence to BIV replication, despite the lack of any detectable catalytic activity.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1742-4690-11-60) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Catalytic mechanism of α-phosphate attack in dUTPase is revealed by X-ray crystallographic snapshots of distinct intermediates, 31P-NMR spectroscopy and reaction path modelling

Enzymatic synthesis and hydrolysis of nucleoside phosphate compounds play a key role in various biological pathways, like signal transduction, DNA synthesis and metabolism. Although these processes have been studied extensively, numerous key issues regarding the chemical pathway and atomic movements remain open for many enzymatic reactions. Here, using the Mason-Pfizer monkey retrovirus dUTPase, we study the dUTPase-catalyzed hydrolysis of dUTP, an incorrect DNA building block, to elaborate the mechanistic details at high resolution. Combining mass spectrometry analysis of the dUTPase-catalyzed reaction carried out in and quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) simulation, we show that the nucleophilic attack occurs at the α-phosphate site. Phosphorus-31 NMR spectroscopy ((31)P-NMR) analysis confirms the site of attack and shows the capability of dUTPase to cleave the dUTP analogue α,β-imido-dUTP, containing the imido linkage usually regarded to be non-hydrolyzable. We present numerous X-ray crystal structures of distinct dUTPase and nucleoside phosphate complexes, which report on the progress of the chemical reaction along the reaction coordinate. The presently used combination of diverse structural methods reveals details of the nucleophilic attack and identifies a novel enzyme-product complex structure.

Identification of diverse full-length endogenous betaretroviruses in megabats and microbats

BACKGROUND

Betaretroviruses infect a wide range of species including primates, rodents, ruminants, and marsupials. They exist in both endogenous and exogenous forms and are implicated in animal diseases such as lung cancer in sheep, and in human disease, with members of the human endogenous retrovirus-K (HERV-K) group of endogenous betaretroviruses (βERVs) associated with human cancers and autoimmune diseases. To improve our understanding of betaretroviruses in an evolutionarily distinct host species, we characterized βERVs present in the genomes and transcriptomes of mega- and microbats, which are an important reservoir of emerging viruses.

RESULTS

A diverse range of full-length βERVs were discovered in mega- and microbat genomes and transcriptomes including the first identified intact endogenous retrovirus in a bat. Our analysis revealed that the genus Betaretrovirus can be divided into eight distinct sub-groups with evidence of cross-species transmission. Betaretroviruses are revealed to be a complex retrovirus group, within which one sub-group has evolved from complex to simple genomic organization through the acquisition of an env gene from the genus Gammaretrovirus. Molecular dating suggests that bats have contended with betaretroviral infections for over 30 million years.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study reveals that a diverse range of betaretroviruses have circulated in bats for most of their evolutionary history, and cluster with extant betaretroviruses of divergent mammalian lineages suggesting that their distribution may be largely unrestricted by host species barriers. The presence of βERVs with the ability to transcribe active viral elements in a major animal reservoir for viral pathogens has potential implications for public health.

Cellular response to efficient dUTPase RNAi silencing in stable HeLa cell lines perturbs expression levels of genes involved in thymidylate metabolism

dUTPase is involved in preserving DNA integrity in cells. We report an efficient dUTPase silencing by RNAi-based system in stable human cell line. Repression of dUTPase induced specific expression level increments for thymidylate kinase and thymidine kinase, and also an increased sensitization to 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine and 5-fluoro-uracil. The catalytic mechanism of dUTPase was investigated for 5-fluoro-dUTP. The 5F-substitution on the uracil ring of the substrate did not change the kinetic mechanism of dUTP hydrolysis by dUTPase. Results indicate that RNAi silencing of dUTPase induces a complex cellular response wherein sensitivity towards fluoropyrimidines and gene expression levels of related enzymes are both modulated.

Calpain-catalyzed proteolysis of human dUTPase specifically removes the nuclear localization signal peptide

Background

Calpain proteases drive intracellular signal transduction via specific proteolysis of multiple substrates upon Ca²⁺-induced activation. Recently, dUTPase, an enzyme essential to maintain genomic integrity, was identified as a physiological calpain substrate in Drosophila cells. Here we investigate the potential structural/functional significance of calpain-activated proteolysis of human dUTPase.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Limited proteolysis of human dUTPase by mammalian m-calpain was investigated in the presence and absence of cognate ligands of either calpain or dUTPase. Significant proteolysis was observed only in the presence of Ca(II) ions, inducing calpain action. The presence or absence of the dUTP-analogue α,β-imido-dUTP did not show any effect on Ca²⁺-calpain-induced cleavage of human dUTPase. The catalytic rate constant of dUTPase was unaffected by calpain cleavage. Gel electrophoretic analysis showed that Ca²⁺-calpain-induced cleavage of human dUTPase resulted in several distinctly observable dUTPase fragments. Mass spectrometric identification of the calpain-cleaved fragments identified three calpain cleavage sites (between residues ⁴SE⁵; ⁷TP⁸; and ³¹LS³²). The cleavage between the ³¹LS³² peptide bond specifically removes the flexible N-terminal nuclear localization signal, indispensable for cognate localization.

Conclusions/Significance

Results argue for a mechanism where Ca²⁺-calpain may regulate nuclear availability and degradation of dUTPase.

Keeping uracil out of DNA: physiological role, structure and catalytic mechanism of dUTPases

The thymine-uracil exchange constitutes one of the major chemical differences between DNA and RNA. Although these two bases form the same Watson-Crick base pairs with adenine and are equivalent for both information storage and transmission, uracil incorporation in DNA is usually a mistake that needs to be excised. There are two ways for uracil to appear in DNA: thymine replacement and cytosine deamination. Most DNA polymerases readily incorporate dUMP as well as dTMP depending solely on the availability of the d(U/T)TP building block nucleotides. Cytosine deamination results in mutagenic U:G mismatches that must be excised. The repair system, however, also excises U from U:A "normal" pairs. It is therefore crucial to limit thymine-replacing uracils.dUTP is constantly produced in the pyrimidine biosynthesis network. To prevent uracil incorporation into DNA, representatives of the dUTP nucleotidohydrolase (dUTPase) enzyme family eliminate excess dUTP. This Account describes recent studies that have provided important detailed insights into the structure and function of these essential enzymes.dUTPases typically possess exquisite specificity and display an intriguing homotrimer active site architecture. Conserved residues from all three monomers contribute to each of the three active sites within the dUTPase. Although even dUTPases from evolutionarily distant species possess similar structural and functional traits, in a few cases, a monomer dUTPase mimics the trimer structure through an unusual folding pattern. Catalysis proceeds by way of an SN2 mechanism; a water molecule initiates in-line nucleophilic attack. The dUTPase binding pocket is highly specific for uracil. Phosphate chain coordination involves Mg2+ and is analogous to that of DNA polymerases. Because of conformational changes in the enzyme during catalysis, most crystal structures have not resolved the residues in the C-terminus. However, recent high-resolution structures are beginning to provide in-depth structural information about this region of the protein.The dUTPase family of enzymes also shows promise as novel targets for anticancer and antimicrobial therapies. dUTPase is upregulated in human tumor cells. In addition, dUTPase inhibitors could also fight infectious diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis. In these respective pathogens, Plasmodium falciparum and Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the biosynthesis of dTMP relies exclusively on dUTPase activity.

Interacting partners of M-PMV nucleocapsid-dUTPase

The nucleocapsid-dUTPase protein of Mason-Pfizer monkey virus is a truly bifunctional fusion enzyme. The exact role of this fusion protein in the viral life cycle is unclear. To explore its function, we started to identify interacting protein partners of the enzyme in vitro. Three viral proteins, integrase, capsid and nucleocapsid, were found to be capable of physical interaction with NC-dUTPase. Integrase protein is an important component within the preintegration complex; therefore the present results also suggest that NC-dUTPase might be associated with this complex.

Flexible segments modulate co-folding of dUTPase and nucleocapsid proteins

The homotrimeric fusion protein nucleocapsid (NC)-dUTPase combines domains that participate in RNA/DNA folding, reverse transcription, and DNA repair in Mason-Pfizer monkey betaretrovirus infected cells. The structural organization of the fusion protein remained obscured by the N- and C-terminal flexible segments of dUTPase and the linker region connecting the two domains that are invisible in electron density maps. Small-angle X-ray scattering reveals that upon oligonucleotide binding the NC domains adopt the trimeric symmetry of dUTPase. High-resolution X-ray structures together with molecular modeling indicate that fusion with NC domains dramatically alters the conformation of the flexible C-terminus by perturbing the orientation of a critical β-strand. Consequently, the C-terminal segment is capable of double backing upon the active site of its own monomer and stabilized by non-covalent interactions formed with the N-terminal segment. This co-folding of the dUTPase terminal segments, not observable in other homologous enzymes, is due to the presence of the fused NC domain. Structural and genomic advantages of fusing the NC domain to a shortened dUTPase in betaretroviruses and the possible physiological consequences are envisaged.

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray studies of dUTPase from Mason-Pfizer monkey retrovirus

Deoxyuridine 5'-triphosphate nucleotidohydrolase from Mason-Pfizer monkey retrovirus (M-PMV dUTPase) is a betaretroviral member of the dUTPase enzyme family. In the mature M-PMV virion, this enzyme is present as the C-terminal domain of the fusion protein nucleocapsid-dUTPase. The homotrimeric organization characteristic of dUTPases is retained in this bifunctional fusion protein. The fusion protein supposedly plays a role in adequate localization of dUTPase activity in the vicinity of nucleic acids during reverse transcription and integration. Here, the nucleocapsid-free dUTPase (48 426 Da) was cocrystallized with a dUTP substrate analogue using the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method. The obtained crystals belong to the primitive hexagonal space group P6(3), with unit-cell parameters a = 60.6, b = 60.6, c = 63.6 angstroms, alpha = 90, beta = 90, gamma = 120 degrees. Native and PtCl4-derivative data sets were collected using synchrotron radiation to 1.75 and 2.3 angstroms, respectively. Phasing was successfully performed by isomorphous replacement combined with anomalous scattering.

Structural Insights into the Catalytic Mechanism of Phosphate Ester Hydrolysis by dUTPase

dUTPase is essential to keep uracil out of DNA. Crystal structures of substrate (dUTP and alpha,beta-imino-dUTP) and product complexes of wild type and mutant dUTPases were determined to reveal how an enzyme responsible for DNA integrity functions. A kinetic analysis of wild type and mutant dUTPases was performed to obtain relevant mechanistic information in solution. Substrate hydrolysis is shown to be initiated via in-line nucleophile attack of a water molecule oriented by an activating conserved aspartate residue. Substrate binding in a catalytically competent conformation is achieved by (i) multiple interactions of the triphosphate moiety with catalysis-assisting Mg2+, (ii) a concerted motion of residues from three conserved enzyme motifs as compared with the apoenzyme, and (iii) an intricate hydrogen-bonding network that includes several water molecules in the active site. Results provide an understanding for the catalytic role of conserved residues in dUTPases.

Developmental regulation of dUTPase in Drosophila melanogaster

dUTPase prevents uracil incorporation into DNA by strict regulation of the cellular dUTP:dTTP ratio. Lack of the enzyme initiates thymineless cell death, prompting studies on enzyme regulation. We investigated expression pattern and localization of Drosophila dUTPase. Similarly to human, two isoforms of the fly enzyme were identified at both mRNA and protein levels. During larval stages, a drastic decrease of dUTPase expression was demonstrated at the protein level. In contrast, dUTPase mRNAs display constitutive character throughout development. A putative nuclear localization signal was identified in one of the two isoforms. However, immunohistochemistry of ovaries and embryos did not show a clear correlation between the presence of this signal and subcellular localization of the protein, suggesting that the latter may be perturbed by additional factors. Results are in agreement with a multilevel regulation of dUTPase in the Drosophila proteome, possibly involving several interacting protein partners of the enzyme. Using independent approaches, the existence of such macromolecular partners was verified.

Altered active site flexibility and a structural metal-binding site in eukaryotic dUTPase: kinetic characterization, folding, and crystallographic studies of the homotrimeric Drosophila enzyme

dUTPase is responsible for preventive DNA repair via exclusion of uracil. Developmental regulation of the Drosophila enzyme is suggested to be involved in thymine-less apoptosis. Here we show that in addition to conserved dUTPase sequence motifs, the gene of Drosophila enzyme codes for a unique Ala-Pro-rich segment. Kinetic and structural analyses of the recombinant protein and a truncation mutant show that the Ala-Pro segment is flexible and has no regulatory role in vitro. The homotrimer enzyme unfolds reversibly as a trimeric entity with a melting temperature of 54 degrees C, 23 degrees C lower than Escherichia coli dUTPase. In contrast to the bacterial enzyme, Mg(2+) binding modulates conformation of fly dUTPase, as identified by spectroscopy and by increment in melting temperature. A single well folded, but inactive, homotrimeric core domain is generated through three distinct steps of limited trypsinolysis. In fly, but not in bacterial dUTPase, binding of the product dUMP induces protection against proteolysis at the tryptic site reflecting formation of the catalytically competent closed conformer. Crystallographic analysis argues for the presence of a stable monomer of Drosophila dUTPase in crystal phase. The significant differences between prototypes of eukaryotic and prokaryotic dUTPases with respect to conformational flexibility of the active site, substrate specificity, metal ion binding, and oligomerization in the crystal phase are consistent with alteration of the catalytic mechanism and hydropathy of subunit interfaces.