Purification of Turnip Mosaic Potyvirus Viral Protein Genome-Linked Proteinase Expressed in Escherichia coli and Development of a Quantitative Assay for Proteolytic Activity

Arabidopsis thaliana class II poly(A)-binding proteins are required for efficient multiplication of turnip mosaic virus

The poly(A)-binding protein (PABP) is an important translation initiation factor that binds to the polyadenylated 3' end of mRNA. We have previously shown that PABP2 interacts with the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) and VPg-Pro of turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) within virus-induced vesicles. At least eight PABP isoforms are produced in Arabidopsis thaliana, three of which (PABP2, PABP4 and PABP8) are highly and broadly expressed and probably constitute the bulk of PABP required for cellular functions. Upon TuMV infection, an increase in protein and mRNA expression from PAB2, PAB4 and PAB8 genes was recorded. In vitro binding assays revealed that RdRp and the viral genome-linked protein (VPg-Pro) interact preferentially with PABP2 but are also capable of interaction with one or both of the other class II PABPs (i.e. PABP4 and PABP8). To assess whether PABP is required for potyvirus replication, A. thaliana single and double pab knockouts were isolated and inoculated with TuMV. All lines showed susceptibility to TuMV. However, when precise monitoring of viral RNA accumulation was performed, it was found to be reduced by 2.2- and 3.5-fold in pab2 pab4 and pab2 pab8 mutants, respectively, when compared with wild-type plants. PABP levels were most significantly reduced in the membrane-associated fraction in both of these mutants. TuMV mRNA levels thus correlated with cellular PABP concentrations in these A. thaliana knockout lines. These data provide further support for a role of PABP in potyvirus replication.

Purification of viral genome-linked protein VPg from potato virus A-infected plants reveals several post-translationally modified forms of the protein

In order to be able to analyse post-translational modifications and protein interactions of viral genome-linked protein VPg taking place during potato virus A (PVA) infection, an affinity tag-based purification system was developed by inserting a sequence encoding a six-histidine and haemagglutinin (HisHA) tag to the 3' end of the VPg coding sequence within the infectious cDNA clone of PVA. The engineered virus was fully functional and the HisHA tag-encoding sequence remained stable in the PVA genome throughout the infection process. Purification under denaturing conditions resulted in a protein sample that contained multiple VPg and NIa forms carrying post-translational modifications that altered their isoelectric points. Non-modified tagged VPg (pI 8) was a minor product in the protein sample derived from total leaf proteins, but when the replication-associated membranes were used as starting material, its relative amount increased. Further characterization demonstrated that some of the PVA VPg isoforms were modified by multiple phosphorylation events. Purity of the proteins derived from the native purifications with either of the tags was evaluated. A clearly purer VPg sample was obtained by performing tandem affinity purification utilizing both tags sequentially. NIb, CI and HC-Pro co-purified in an affinity-tagged VPg-dependent manner, indicating that the system was able to isolate protein complexes operating during PVA infection.

The poly(A) binding protein is internalized in virus-induced vesicles or redistributed to the nucleolus during turnip mosaic virus infection

Poly(A) binding protein 2 (PABP2) of Arabidopsis thaliana was previously shown to interact with VPg-Pro of turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) and may consequently play an important role during infection. Subcellular fractionation experiments revealed that PABP2 was predominantly a cytoplasmic soluble protein in healthy plants. However, in TuMV-infected plants, a subpopulation of PABP2 was membrane associated or was localized in the nucleus. Confocal microscopy experiments indicated that PABP2 was partially retargeted to the nucleolus in the presence of TuMV VPg-Pro. In addition, the membrane association of PABP2 during TuMV infection resulted from the internalization of the host protein in 6K-VPg-Pro-induced vesicles, as shown by a combination of confocal microscopy and sucrose gradient fractionation experiments. This redistribution of an important translation initiation factor to the nucleolus and to membrane structure likely underlies two important processes of the TuMV replication cycle.

The VPgPro protein of Turnip mosaic virus: in vitro inhibition of translation from a ribonuclease activity

A role for viral encoded genome-linked (VPg) proteins in translation has often been suggested because of their covalent attachment to the 5′ end of the viral RNA, reminiscent of the cap structure normally present on most eukaryotic mRNAs. We tested the effect of Turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) VPgPro on translation of reporter RNAs in in vitro translation systems. The presence of VPgPro in either wheat germ extract or rabbit reticulocyte lysate systems lead to inhibition of translation. The inhibition did not appear to be mediated by the interaction of VPg with the eIF(iso)4E translation initiation factor since a VPg mutant that does not interact with eIF(iso)4E still inhibited translation. Monitoring the fate of RNAs revealed that they were degraded as a result of addition of TuMV VPgPro or of Norwalk virus (NV) VPg protein. The RNA degradation was not the result of translation being arrested and was heat labile and partially EDTA sensitive. The capacity of TuMV VPgPro and of (NV) VPg to degrade RNA suggests that these proteins have a ribonucleolytic activity which may contribute to the host RNA translation shutoff associated with many virus infections.

Interaction of VPg-Pro of turnip mosaic virus with the translation initiation factor 4E and the poly(A)-binding protein in planta

The viral protein linked to the genome (VPg) of Turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) interacts in vitro with the translation eukaryotic initiation factor (eIF) 4E. In the present study, we investigated the consequence of TuMV infection on eIF4E expression. Two isomers are present in plants, namely eIF4E and eIF(iso)4E. Expression of the latter was detected in both TuMV-infected and mock-inoculated Brassica perviridis plants, but expression of eIF4E was found only in infected plants. Membranes from TuMV-infected or mock-inoculated tissues were separated by sucrose gradient centrifugation and fractions were collected. Immunoblot analyses showed that 6K(2)-VPg-Pro/VPg-Pro polyproteins were associated with endoplasmic reticulum membranes and were the viral forms likely to interact with eIF(iso)4E and eIF4E. In planta interaction between 6K(2)-VPg-Pro/VPg-Pro and eIF(iso)4E/eIF4E was confirmed by co-purification by metal chelation chromatography. The poly(A)-binding protein (PABP) was also found to co-purify with VPg-Pro. Direct interaction between VPg-Pro and PABP was shown by an ELISA-based binding assay. These experiments suggest that a multi-protein complex may form around VPg-Pro of TuMV.

Expression and partial purification of recombinant tomato ringspot nepovirus 3C-like proteinase: comparison of the activity of the mature proteinase and the VPg-proteinase precursor

The 3C-like proteinase (Pro) from Tomato ringspot virus (genus Nepovirus) is responsible for the processing of the RNA1-encoded (P1) and RNA2-encoded (P2) polyproteins. Cleavage between the VPg and Pro domains is inefficient in vitro and in E. coli, resulting in the accumulation of the VPg-Pro. In this study, we have compared the trans-activity of the Pro and VPg-Pro on various P1- and P2-derived precursors. Recombinant Pro and VPg-Pro were partially purified using an E. coli expression system. A mutation of the VPg-Pro cleavage site was introduced into the VPg-Pro to prevent slow release of the Pro. The Pro was five to ten times more active than the VPg-Pro on two P2 cleavage sites (at the N- and C-termini of the movement protein domain) and was approximately two times more active than the VPg-Pro on the third P2 cleavage site (between the X3 and X4 domains). Neither the Pro nor the VPg-Pro could cleave in trans P1-derived substrates containing the three cleavage sites delineating the X1, X2, putative NTP-binding protein and VPg domains. These results are discussed in light of the possible regulation of the proteinase activity during virus replication.

Complex formation between potyvirus VPg and translation eukaryotic initiation factor 4E correlates with virus infectivity

The interaction between the viral protein linked to the genome (VPg) of turnip mosaic potyvirus (TuMV) and the translation eukaryotic initiation factor eIF(iso)4E of Arabidopsis thaliana has previously been reported. eIF(iso)4E binds the cap structure (m(7)GpppN, where N is any nucleotide) of mRNAs and has an important role in the regulation in the initiation of translation. In the present study, it was shown that not only did VPg bind eIF(iso)4E but it also interacted with the eIF4E isomer of A. thaliana as well as with eIF(iso)4E of Triticum aestivum (wheat). The interaction domain on VPg was mapped to a stretch of 35 amino acids, and substitution of an aspartic acid residue found within this region completely abolished the interaction. The cap analogue m(7)GTP, but not GTP, inhibited VPg-eIF(iso)4E complex formation, suggesting that VPg and cellular mRNAs compete for eIF(iso)4E binding. The biological significance of this interaction was investigated. Brassica perviridis plants were infected with a TuMV infectious cDNA (p35Tunos) and p35TuD77N, a mutant which contained the aspartic acid substitution in the VPg domain that abolished the interaction with eIF(iso)4E. After 20 days, plants bombarded with p35Tunos showed viral symptoms, while plants bombarded with p35TuD77N remained symptomless. These results suggest that VPg-eIF(iso)4E interaction is a critical element for virus production.

Proteinases Involved in Plant Virus Genome Expression

This chapter discusses the proteinases involved in plant virus genome expression. The chapter focuses on virus-encoded proteinases. It gives an overall view of the use of proteolytic processing by different plant virus groups for the expression of their genomes. It also discusses that the development of full-length cDNA clones from which infectious transcripts can be produced either in vitro or in vivo, has facilitated the functional analysis of the plant virus proteinases. In spite of the high specificity of the viral proteinases, cellular substrates for animal virus proteinases have been described in this chapter. The activity of the viral proteinases can interfere with important cellular processes to favor virus replication. The recent use of proteinase inhibitors in AIDS therapy has emphasized the convenience of virus-encoded proteinases as targets of antiviral action. A mutant protein able to inhibit the activity of the TEV proteinase by manipulation of the α₂-macroglobulin bait region was designed by Van Rompaey.

Viral cysteine proteinases

Dozens of novel cysteine proteinases have been identified in positive single-stranded RNA viruses and, for the first time, in large double-stranded DNA viruses. The majority of these proteins are distantly related to papain or chymotrypsin and may be direct descendants of primordial proteolytic enzymes. Virus genome synthesis and expression, virion formation, virion entry into the host cell, as well as cellular architecture and functioning can be under the control of viral cysteine proteinases during infection. RNA virus proteinases mediate their liberation from giant multidomain precursors in which they tend to occupy conserved positions. These proteinases possess a narrow substrate specificity, can cleave in cis and in trans, and may also have additional, nonproteolytic functions. The mechanisms of catalysis, substrate recognition and RNA binding were highlighted by the recent analysis of the three-dimensional structure of the chymotrypsin-like cysteine proteinases of two RNA viruses.