Phosphorylation of serine residue 89 of human adenovirus E1A proteins is responsible for their characteristic electrophoretic mobility shifts, and its mutation affects biological function

Regulation of Cx37 channel and growth-suppressive properties by phosphorylation

Growth suppression mediated by connexin 37 (Cx37; also known as GJA4) requires interaction between its C-terminus and functional pore-forming domain. Using rat insulinoma cells, we show that Cx37 induces cell death and cell cycle arrest, and slowed cell cycling. Whether differential phosphorylation might regulate intramolecular interactions, and consequently the growth-suppressive phenotype, is unknown. Protein kinase C inhibition increased the open state probability of low-conductance gap junction channels (GJChs) and reduced GJCh closed state probability. Substituting alanine at serine residues 275, 302 and 328 eliminated Cx37-induced cell death, supported proliferation and reduced the GJCh closed state probability. With additional alanine for serine substitutions at residues 285, 319, 321 and 325, Cx37-induced cell death was eliminated and the growth arrest period prolonged, and GJCh closed state probability was restored. With aspartate substitution at these seven sites, apoptosis was induced and the open state probability of large conductance GJChs (and hemichannels) was increased. These data suggest that differential phosphorylation of the C-terminus regulates channel conformation and, thereby, cell cycle progression and cell survival.

Phosphosite-Specific Antibodies: A Brief Update on Generation and Applications

Phosphate addition is a posttranslational modification of proteins, and this modification can affect the activity and other properties of intracellular proteins. Different animal species can be used to generate phosphosite-specific antibodies as either polyclonals or monoclonals, and each approach offers its own benefits and disadvantages. The validation of phosphosite-specific antibodies requires multiple techniques and tactics to demonstrate their specificity. These antibodies can be used in arrays, flow cytometry, and imaging platforms. The specificity of phosphosite-specific antibodies is vital for their use in proteomics and profiling of disease.

Protein Mobility Shifts Contribute to Gel Electrophoresis Liquid Chromatography Analysis

Profiling of cellular and subcellular proteomes by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (MS) after fractionation by SDS-PAGE is referred to as GeLC (gel electrophoresis liquid chromatography)-MS. The GeLC approach decreases complexity within individual MS analyses by size fractionation with SDS-PAGE. SDS-PAGE is considered an excellent fractionation technique for intact proteins because of good resolution for proteins of all sizes, isoelectric points, and hydrophobicities. Additional information derived from the mobility of the intact proteins is available after an SDS-PAGE fractionation, but that information is usually not incorporated into the proteomic analysis. Any chemical or proteolytic modification of a protein that changes the mobility of that protein in the gel can be detected. The ability of SDS-PAGE to resolve proteins with chemical modifications has not been widely utilized within profiling experiments. In this work, we examined the ability of the GeLC-MS approach to help identify proteins that were modified after a small hairpin RNA-dependent knockdown in an experiment using stable isotope labeling by amino acids in cell culture-based quantitation.

Regulation of human adenovirus alternative RNA splicing by the adenoviral L4-33K and L4-22K proteins

Adenovirus makes extensive use of alternative RNA splicing to produce a complex set of spliced viral mRNAs. Studies aimed at characterizing the interactions between the virus and the host cell RNA splicing machinery have identified three viral proteins of special significance for the control of late viral gene expression: L4-33K, L4-22K, and E4-ORF4. L4-33K is a viral alternative RNA splicing factor that controls L1 alternative splicing via an interaction with the cellular protein kinases Protein Kinase A (PKA) and DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK). L4-22K is a viral transcription factor that also has been implicated in the splicing of a subset of late viral mRNAs. E4-ORF4 is a viral protein that binds the cellular protein phosphatase IIA (PP2A) and controls Serine/Arginine (SR)-rich protein activity by inducing SR protein dephosphorylation. The L4-33K, and most likely also the L4-22K protein, are highly phosphorylated in vivo. Here we will review the function of these viral proteins in the post-transcriptional control of adenoviral gene expression and further discuss the significance of potential protein kinases phosphorylating the L4-33K and/or L4-22K proteins.

Constitutive and nitrogen catabolite repression-sensitive production of Gat1 isoforms

Nitrogen catabolite repression (NCR)-sensitive transcription is activated by Gln3 and Gat1. In nitrogen excess, Gln3 and Gat1 are cytoplasmic, and transcription is minimal. In poor nitrogen, Gln3 and Gat1 become nuclear and activate transcription. A long standing paradox has surrounded Gat1 production. Gat1 was first reported as an NCR-regulated activity mediating NCR-sensitive transcription in gln3 deletion strains. Upon cloning, GAT1 transcription was, as predicted, NCR-sensitive and Gln3- and Gat1-activated. In contrast, Western blots of Gat1-Myc(13) exhibited two constitutively produced species. Investigating this paradox, we demonstrate that wild type Gat1 isoforms (IsoA and IsoB) are initiated at Gat1 methionines 40, 95, and/or 102, but not at methionine 1. Their low level production is the same in rich and poor nitrogen conditions. When the Myc(13) tag is placed after Gat1 Ser-233, four N-terminal Gat1 isoforms (IsoC-F) are also initiated at methionines 40, 95, and/or 102. However, their production is highly NCR-sensitive, being greater in proline than glutamine medium. Surprisingly, all Gat1 isoforms produced in sufficient quantities to be confidently analyzed (IsoA, IsoC, and IsoD) require Gln3 and UASGATA promoter elements, both requirements typical of NCR-sensitive transcription. These data demonstrate that regulated Gat1 production is more complex than previously recognized, with wild type versus truncated Gat1 proteins failing to be regulated in parallel. This is the first reported instance of Gln3 UASGATA-dependent protein production failing to derepress in nitrogen poor conditions. A Gat1-lacZ ORF swap experiment indicated sequence(s) responsible for the nonparallel production are downstream of Gat1 leucine 61.

Effects of phosphorylation on the structure and backbone dynamics of the intrinsically disordered connexin43 C-terminal domain

Phosphorylation of the connexin43 C-terminal (Cx43CT) domain regulates gap junction intercellular communication. However, an understanding of the mechanisms by which phosphorylation exerts its effects is lacking. Here, we test the hypothesis that phosphorylation regulates Cx43 gap junction intercellular communication by mediating structural changes in the C-terminal domain. Circular dichroism and nuclear magnetic resonance were used to characterize the effects of phosphorylation on the secondary structure and backbone dynamics of soluble and membrane-tethered Cx43CT domains. Cx43CT phospho-mimetic isoforms, which have Asp substitutions at specific Ser/Tyr sites, revealed phosphorylation alters the α-helical content of the Cx43CT domain only when attached to the membrane. The changes in secondary structure are due to variations in the conformational preference and backbone flexibility of residues adjacent and distal to the site(s) of modification. In addition to the known direct effects of phosphorylation on molecular partner interactions, the data presented here suggest phosphorylation may also indirectly regulate binding affinity by altering the conformational preference of the Cx43CT domain.

Overview of the generation, validation, and application of phosphosite-specific antibodies

Protein phosphorylation is a universal key posttranslational modification that affects the activity and other properties of intracellular proteins. Phosphosite-specific antibodies can be produced as polyclonals or monoclonals in different animal species, and each approach offers its own benefits and disadvantages. The validation of phosphosite-specific antibodies requires multiple techniques and tactics to demonstrate their specificity. These antibodies can be used in arrays, flow cytometry, and imaging platforms. The specificity of phosphosite-specific antibodies is key for their use in proteomics and profiling of disease.

Human T-cell leukemia virus type 2 Rex carboxy terminus is an inhibitory/stability domain that regulates Rex functional activity and viral replication

Human T-cell leukemia virus (HTLV) regulatory protein, Rex, functions to increase the expression of the viral structural and enzymatic gene products. The phosphorylation of two serine residues (S151 and S153) at the C terminus is important for the function of HTLV-2 Rex (Rex-2). The Rex-2 phosphomimetic double mutant (S151D, S153D) is locked in a functionally active conformation. Since rex and tax genes overlap, Rex S151D and S153D mutants were found to alter the Tax oncoprotein coding sequence and transactivation activities. Therefore, additional Rex-2 mutants including P152D, A157D, S151Term, and S158Term were generated and characterized ("Term" indicates termination codon). All Rex-2 mutants and wild-type (wt) Rex-2 localized predominantly to the nucleus/nucleolus, but in contrast to the detection of phosphorylated and unphosphorylated forms of wt Rex-2 (p26 and p24), mutant proteins were detected as a single phosphoprotein species. We found that Rex P152D, A157D, and S158Term mutants are more functionally active than wt Rex-2 and that the Rex-2 C terminus and its specific phosphorylation state are required for stability and optimal expression. In the context of the provirus, the more active Rex mutants (A157D or S158Term) promoted increased viral protein production, increased viral infectious spread, and enhanced HTLV-2-mediated cellular proliferation. Moreover, these Rex mutant viruses replicated and persisted in inoculated rabbits despite higher antiviral antibody responses. Thus, we identified in Rex-2 a novel C-terminal inhibitory domain that regulates functional activity and is positively regulated through phosphorylation. The ability of this domain to modulate viral replication likely plays a key role in the infectious spread of the virus and in virus-induced cellular proliferation.

Modulation of telomerase promoter tumor selectivity in the context of oncolytic adenoviruses

The telomerase RNA (hTR) and reverse transcriptase (hTERT) promoters are active in most cancer cells, but not in normal cells, and are useful for transcriptional targeting in gene therapy models. Telomerase-specific conditionally replicating adenoviruses (CRAd) are attractive vectors because they should selectively lyse tumor cells. Here, we compare CRAds, in which either the hTR or hTERT promoter controls expression of the adenovirus E1A gene. In replication-defective reporter adenoviruses, the hTR promoter was up to 57-fold stronger in cancer cells than normal cells and up to 49-fold stronger than hTERT. In normal cells, hTERT promoter activity was essentially absent. Doses of telomerase-specific CRAds between 1.8 and 28 infectious units per cell efficiently killed cancer cells, but normal cells required higher doses. However, CRAd DNA replication and E1A expression were detected in both cancer and normal cells. Overall, tumor specificity of the CRAds was limited compared with nonreplicating vectors. Surprisingly, both CRAds expressed similar E1A levels and functional behavior, despite known differentials between hTR and hTERT promoter activities, suggesting that the promoters are deregulated. Rapid amplification of cDNA ends analysis of hTR-/hTERT-E1A transcripts ruled out cryptic transcription from the vector backbone. Blocking E1A translation partially restored the hTR-/hTERT-E1A mRNA differential, evidencing feedback regulation by E1A.

Differing responses of Gat1 and Gln3 phosphorylation and localization to rapamycin and methionine sulfoximine treatment in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Gln3 and Gat1/Nil1 are GATA-family transcription factors responsible for transcription of nitrogen-catabolic genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Intracellular Gln3 localization and Gln3-dependent transcription respond in parallel to the nutritional environment and inhibitors of Tor1/2 (rapamycin) and glutamine synthetase (L-methionine sulfoximine, MSX). However, detectable Gln3 phosphorylation, though influenced by nutrients and inhibitors, correlates neither with Gln3 localization nor nitrogen catabolite repression-sensitive transcription in a consistent way. To establish relationships between Gln3 and Gat1 regulation, we performed experiments parallel to those we previously reported for Gln3. Gat1 and Gln3 localization are similar during steady-state growth, being cytoplasmic and nuclear with good and poor nitrogen sources, respectively. Localization correlates with Gat1- and Gln3-mediated transcription. In contrast, three characteristics of Gat1 and Gln3 differ significantly: (i) the kinetics of their localization in response to nutritional transitions and rapamycin-treatment; (ii) their opposite responses to MSX-treatment, i.e. that cytoplasmic Gln3 becomes nuclear following MSX addition, whereas nuclear Gat1 becomes cytoplasmic; and (iii) their phosphorylation levels in the above situations. In instances where Gln3 phosphorylation can be straightforwardly demonstrated to change, Gat1 phosphorylation (in the same samples) appears invariant. The only exception was following carbon starvation, where Gat1, like Gln3, is hyperphosphorylated in a Snf1-dependent manner. However, neither carbon starvation nor MSX treatment elicits Snf1-independent Gat1 hyperphosphorylation, as observed for Gln3.

The human T-cell leukemia virus Rex protein

A critical step in the life cycle of complex retroviruses, including HTLV-1 and HTLV-2 is the ability of these viruses to adopt a mechanism by which the genome-length unspliced mRNA as well as the partially spliced mRNAs are exported from the nucleus instead of being subjected to splicing or degradation. In HTLV, this is accomplished through the expression of the viral Rex, which recognizes a specific response element on the incompletely spliced mRNAs, stabilizes them, inhibits their splicing, and utilizes the CRM1-dependent cellular pathway for transporting them from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. Rex itself is regulated by phosphorylation, which implies that proper activation of the protein in response to certain cellular cues is an important tool for the virus to ensure that specific viral gene expression is allowed only when the host cell can provide the best conditions for virion production. Having such a critical role in HTLV life cycle, Rex is indispensable for efficient viral replication, infection and spread. Indeed, Rex is considered to regulate the switch between the latent and productive phases of the HTLV life cycle. Without a functional Rex, the virus would still produce regulatory and some accessory gene products; however, structural and enzymatic post-transcriptional gene expression would be severely repressed, essentially leading to non-productive viral replication. More detailed understanding of the exact molecular mechanism of action of Rex will thus allow for better design of therapeutic drugs against Rex function and ultimately HTLV replication. Herein we summarize the progress made towards understanding Rex function and its role in the HTLV life cycle.

Comprehensive sequence analysis of the E1A proteins of human and simian adenoviruses

Despite extensive study of human adenovirus type 5 E1A, surprisingly little is known about the E1A proteins of other adenoviruses. We report here a comprehensive analysis of the sequences of 34 E1A proteins. These represent all six primate adenovirus subgroups and include all human representatives of subgroups A, C, E, and F, eight from subgroup B, nine from subgroup D, and seven simian adenovirus E1A sequences. We observed that many, but not all, functional domains identified in human adenovirus type 5 E1A are recognizably present in the other E1A proteins. Importantly, we identified highly conserved sequences without known activities or binding partners, suggesting that previously unrecognized determinants of E1A function remain to be uncovered. Overall, our analysis forms a solid foundation for future study of the activities and features of the E1A proteins of different serotypes and identifies new avenues for investigating E1A function.

Acetylation of the adenovirus-transforming protein E1A determines nuclear localization by disrupting association with importin-alpha

Posttranslational modifications may alter the biochemical functions of a protein by modifying associations with other macromolecules, allosterically altering intrinsic catalytic activities, or determining subcellular localization. The adenovirus-transforming protein E1A is acetylated by its cellular targets, the co-activators CREB-binding protein, p300, and p300/CREB-binding protein-associated factor in vitro and also in vivo at a single lysine residue (Lys(239)) within a multifunctional carboxyl-terminal domain necessary for both nuclear localization and interaction with the transcriptional co-repressor carboxyl-terminal binding protein (CtBP). In contrast to a previous report, we demonstrate that acetylation of Lys(239) does not disrupt CtBP binding and that 12 S E1A-mediated repression of CREB-binding protein-dependent transcription does not require recruitment of CtBP. Instead we find that the cytoplasmic fraction of E1-transformed 293 cells is enriched for acetylated E1A with relative exclusion from the nuclear compartment. Whereas wild type 12 S E1A binds importin-alpha 3, binding affinity was markedly reduced both by single amino acid substitution mutations and acetylation at Lys(239). This is the first demonstration that acetylation may alter nuclear partitioning by direct interference with nuclear import receptor recognition. The finding that the cytoplasmic fraction of E1A is acetylated indicates that E1A may exert its pleiotropic effects on cellular transformation in part by affecting cytoplasmic processes.

Phosphorylation of two serine residues regulates human T-cell leukemia virus type 2 Rex function

The function of the human T-cell leukemia virus (HTLV) Rex phosphoprotein is to increase the level of the viral structural and enzymatic gene products expressed from the incompletely spliced viral RNAs containing the Rex-responsive element. The phosphorylation of HTLV type 2 Rex (Rex-2), predominantly on serine residues, correlates with an altered conformation, as detected by a gel mobility shift, and is required for specific binding to its viral RNA target sequence. Thus, the phosphorylation state of Rex in the infected cell may be a switch that determines whether the virus exists in a latent or a productive state. A mutational analysis of Rex-2 that focused on serine and threonine residues was performed to identify regions or domains within Rex-2 important for function, with a specific emphasis on identifying Rex-2 phosphorylation mutants. We identified mutations near the carboxy terminus that disrupted a novel region or domain and abrogated Rex-2 function. Mutant M17 (with S151A and S153A mutations) displayed reduced phosphorylation that correlated with reduced function. Replacement of both serine residues 151 and 153 with phosphomimetic aspartic acid restored Rex-2 function and locked Rex-2 in a phosphorylated active conformation. A mutant containing threonine residues at positions 151 and 153 displayed a phenotype indistinguishable from that of wild-type Rex. Furthermore, this same mutant showed increased threonine phosphorylation and decreased serine phosphorylation, providing conclusive evidence that one or both of these residues are phosphorylated in vivo. Our results provide the first direct evidence that the phosphorylation of Rex-2 is important for function. Further understanding of HTLV Rex phosphorylation will provide insight into the regulatory control of HTLV replication and ultimately the pathobiology of HTLV.

Phosphorylation within the transactivation domain of adenovirus E1A protein by mitogen-activated protein kinase regulates expression of early region 4

A critical role of the 289-residue (289R) E1A protein of human adenovirus type 5 during productive infection is to transactivate expression of all early viral transcription. Sequences within and proximal to conserved region 3 (CR3) promote expression of these viral genes through interactions with a variety of transcription factors requiring the zinc binding motif in CR3 and in some cases a region at the carboxy-terminal end of CR3, including residues 183 to 188. It is known that 3',5' cyclic AMP (cAMP) reduces the level of phosphorylation of the 289R E1A protein through the activation of protein phosphatase 2A by the E4orf4 protein. This study was designed to identify the E1A phosphorylation sites affected by E4orf4 expression and to determine their importance in regulation of E1A activity. We report here that two previously unidentified sites at Ser-185 and Ser-188 are the targets for decreased phosphorylation in response to cAMP. At least one of these sites, presumably Ser-185, is phosphorylated in vitro by purified mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and both are hyperphosphorylated in cells which express a constitutively active form of MAPK kinase. Analysis of E1A-mediated transactivation activity indicated that elevated phosphorylation at these sites increased expression of the E4 promoter but not that of E3. We have recently shown that one or more E4 products induce cell death due to p53-independent apoptosis, and thus it seems likely that one role of the E4orf4 protein is to limit production of toxic E4 products by limiting expression of the E4 promoter.

Okadaic acid-like toxin in systemic lupus erythematosus patients: hypothesis for toxin-induced pathology, immune dysregulation, and transactivation of herpesviruses

Preliminary evidence suggests there is a toxin in the sera of systemic lupus erythematosus patients which reacts with a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit for the detection of the marine toxin, okadaic acid. Data is presented which supports the hypothesis that an okadaic acid-like toxin may be the principle agent of lymphocyte dysregulation in systemic lupus erythematosus and other immune-dysregulated states. The okadaic acid-like toxin can produce the specific abnormalities in T-lymphocyte phenotype and function typical of systemic lupus erythematosus, principally through its ability to inhibit serine/threonine phosphatases necessary for secondary signalling processes and through its ability to inhibit calcium which is crucial to protein kinase C-mediated signalling of T-lymphocytes. The disruption probably occurs through the protein tyrosine kinase p56lck pathway crucial for IL-2. Additionally, the toxin's ability to disrupt voltage-sensitive ion channels in cell membranes may be responsible for the multi-organ pathology observed in systemic lupus erythematosus patients, particularly neurological, cardiac and nephritic. Data from a different study conducted by the author suggests that latent and persistent viruses are reactivated in active lupus. This activation could be the result of the toxin's ability to act as an immune modulator, or its ability to act as a transactivating factor.

Cyclin-dependent kinases phosphorylate the adenovirus E1A protein, enhancing its ability to bind pRb and disrupt pRb-E2F complexes

The adenovirus E1A protein of 243 amino acids has been shown to affect a variety of cellular functions, most notably the immortalization of primary cells and the promotion of quiescent cells into S phase. The activity of E1A is derived, in part, from its association with various cellular proteins, many of which play important roles in regulating cell cycle progression. E1A is known to have multiple sites of phosphorylation. It has been suggested that cell cycle-dependent phosphorylation may also control some of E1A's functions. We find now that immune complexes of cyclin-dependent kinases such as cdk4, cdk2, and cdc2 are all capable of phosphorylating E1A in vitro. Additionally, the sites on E1A phosphorylated by these kinases in vitro are similar to the E1A sites phosphorylated in vivo. We have also found that a phosphorylated E1A is far more efficient than an unphosphorylated E1A in associating with pRB and in disrupting E2F/DP-pRB complexes as well. On the basis of our findings and the differences in timing and expression levels of the various cyclins regulating cdks, we suggest that E1A functions at different control points in the cell cycle and that phosphorylation controls, to some extent, its biological functions.

The human cytomegalovirus 86-kilodalton immediate-early 2 protein: synthesis as a precursor polypeptide and interaction with a 75-kilodalton protein of probable viral origin

The immediate-early 2 (IE2) 86-kDa polypeptide, a major immediate-early gene product of human cytomegalovirus, regulates transcription both positively and negatively. We report two new properties of the IE2 86-kDa polypeptide in infected cells. Immunoprecipitation of infected cell proteins from human embryonic lung cells by antipeptide or monoclonal antibodies specific for IE2 epitopes revealed three closely migrating polypeptide species. The slowest, p86, behaved as expected for the mature 86-kDa IE2 polypeptide. The middle species, p80, was immunoprecipitated from denatured as well as native samples and labeled to steady state rapidly. Pulse-chase analysis demonstrated directly that p80 was a metabolic precursor to p86. The fastest-migrating species, p75, was not detected by probing blots of the immunoprecipitated proteins with IE2-specific antisera; p75 was not precipitated from denatured protein samples; and the products of partial proteolysis of p75 were distinct from those of p86. These properties established p75 as an unrelated coprecipitated polypeptide complexed with p86. The p75 proteins coprecipitated from cells infected with two different strains of human cytomegalovirus, AD169 and Towne, had different mobilities. p75 was detected as early as 6 h and as late as 72 h after infection, but it was not synthesized in cells released from a cycloheximide block. Thus, it is likely that p75 is an early viral protein.

Expression and biochemical properties of a protein serine/threonine phosphatase encoded by bacteriophage lambda

The predicted amino acid sequence encoded by the open reading frame 221 (orf221) of bacteriophage lambda exhibited a high degree of similarity to the catalytic subunits of a variety of protein serine/threonine phosphatases belonging to PP1, PP2A, and PP2B groups. Cloning and expression of the orf221 gene in Escherichia coli provided direct evidence that the gene codes for a protein serine/threonine phosphatase. The single-subunit recombinant enzyme was purified in soluble form and shown to possess a unique repertoire of biochemical properties--e.g., an absolute requirement for Mn2+, resistance to okadaic acid, inhibitors 1 and 2, and ability to dephosphorylate casein, adenovirus E1A proteins, and the alpha subunit of phosphorylase kinase. No phosphotyrosine phosphatase activity was observed. Mutational and biochemical analyses identified the conserved residues 73-77 and Cys138 to be important for activity. The name PP-lambda is proposed for this unusual prokaryotic enzyme.

Expression, purification, and functional characterization of adenovirus 5 and 12 E1A proteins produced in insect cells

The 12 S and 13 S E1A cDNAs from both the Adenovirus (Ad) nononcogenic type 5 and the oncogenic type 12 were overexpressed in an insect cell/baculovirus system. Upon infection of Spodoptera frugiperda cells, the production of E1A proteins reached a level of about 15 micrograms/10(6) cells. The E1A proteins are highly soluble and apparently are processed authentically. They are readily recognized by various antibodies and display phosphorylation patterns similar to those of E1A proteins synthesized in mammalian cells. Single-step immunoaffinity chromatography was used to purify the Ad5 E1A proteins to near homogeneity under nondenaturing conditions. The Ad5 and Ad12 E1A proteins are able to form complexes with the retinoblastoma susceptibility gene product (Rb) and other cellular proteins. Interestingly, the presence of a cellular extract seems to be a prerequisite for association between highly purified E1A and Rb polypeptides.

Phosphorylation of adenovirus E1A proteins by the p34cdc2 protein kinase

Adenovirus early region 1A (E1A) products are phosphorylated nuclear oncoproteins which appear to derive transforming activity largely through interactions with cellular proteins including the tumor suppressor p105/Rb-1 and cyclin A (p60cycA), a regulatory subunit associated with p34cdc2 and the related protein kinase p33cdk2. We have identified several sites of phosphorylation on E1A proteins previously and showed that phosphorylation at Ser-89 alters electrophoretic mobility significantly and affects E1A-mediated transforming activity to some extent. We now report that both Ser-89 and Ser-219, the major E1A phosphorylation site, were phosphorylated in vitro by p34cdc2 purified from HeLa cells. We also found that E1A proteins seemed to be phosphorylated at the highest levels in vivo in mitotic cells which express maximal levels of p34cdc2 kinase activity. Thus, in addition to forming complexes with p60cycA, a regulator of p34cdc2 and related kinases, and p105/Rb-1 which exhibits cell cycle-dependent phosphorylation, E1A proteins seem to be substrates for p34cdc2. These data suggested that a link could exist between phosphorylation, cell cycle progression, and the regulation of transforming activity of E1A proteins.

Retinoic acid receptor gamma: specific immunodetection and phosphorylation

Synthetic peptides corresponding to cDNA-deduced amino acid sequences unique to the human and mouse retinoic acid receptor gamma 1 (hRAR-gamma 1 and mRAR-gamma 1, respectively) were used to generate anti-RAR-gamma 1 antibodies. Four mAbs were selected, which were directed against peptides found in region A1 (Ab1 gamma (A1)), region F (Ab2 gamma (mF) and Ab4 gamma (hF)) and region D2 (Ab5 gamma (D2)). These antibodies specifically immunoprecipitated and recognized by Western blotting RAR-gamma 1 proteins in COS-1 cells transfected with expression vectors containing the RAR-gamma 1 cDNAs. They all reacted with both human and mouse RAR-gamma 1 proteins, except Ab4 gamma (hF) that was specific for hRAR-gamma 1. Rabbit polyclonal antibodies, directed against a peptide from the mRAR-gamma 1 F region were also obtained (RP gamma (mF)) and found to be specific for mouse RAR-gamma 1 protein. Furthermore, in gel retardation/shift assays the antibodies specifically retarded the migration of complexes obtained with a RA response element (RARE). Antibodies raised against regions D2 and F also recognized the RAR-gamma 2 isoform which differs from RAR-gamma 1 only in the A region. On the other hand, antibodies directed against the A1 region of RAR-gamma 1 (Ab1 gamma (A1)) only reacted with the RAR-gamma 1 protein. The antibodies characterized here allowed us to detect the presence of mRAR-gamma 1 and gamma 2 isoforms in mouse embryos and F9 embryonal carcinoma cells nuclear extracts. They were also used to demonstrate that the mRAR-gamma 1 protein can be phosphorylated and that the phosphorylation occurs mainly in the NH2-terminal A/B region.

Expression and interactions of human adenovirus oncoproteins

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The degradation sequence of adenovirus E1A consists of the amino-terminal tetrapeptide Met-Arg-His-Ile

The adenovirus E1A gene product is a potent transcriptional activator and nuclear oncoprotein. Like other regulatory proteins, E1A has a short half-life, in the range of 30 to 120 min. This short half-life, which was measured in cells synthesizing E1A, is not observed in cells injected with E1A protein made in bacteria or in vitro. In these cases, E1A is essentially refractory to degradation. In an attempt to reconcile this apparent paradox, we suggested that E1A was marked for degradation during its synthesis. Furthermore, we showed that a domain in the amino terminus of E1A was required for rapid degradation in cells translating E1A mRNA (J. M. Slavicek, N. C. Jones, and J. D. Richter, EMBO J. 7:3171-3180, 1988). In this study, we have used Xenopus laevis oocytes injected with mRNAs encoding altered E1A proteins to show that the amino-terminal tetrapeptide Met-Arg-His-Ile is required for E1A degradation. Even conservative amino acid substitutions in this degradation sequence render it nonfunctional. This degradation sequence can function as a transferable signal, since it induces instability when fused to another normally stable protein. Furthermore, the degradation sequence requires a proximity of no more than six residues from the amino terminus for activity. These data suggest that a trans-acting factor recognizes the amino terminus of E1A during the translation of its message to mark the protein for subsequent destruction.

The degradation sequence of adenovirus E1A consists of the amino-terminal tetrapeptide Met-Arg-His-Ile

The adenovirus E1A gene product is a potent transcriptional activator and nuclear oncoprotein. Like other regulatory proteins, E1A has a short half-life, in the range of 30 to 120 min. This short half-life, which was measured in cells synthesizing E1A, is not observed in cells injected with E1A protein made in bacteria or in vitro. In these cases, E1A is essentially refractory to degradation. In an attempt to reconcile this apparent paradox, we suggested that E1A was marked for degradation during its synthesis. Furthermore, we showed that a domain in the amino terminus of E1A was required for rapid degradation in cells translating E1A mRNA (J. M. Slavicek, N. C. Jones, and J. D. Richter, EMBO J. 7:3171-3180, 1988). In this study, we have used Xenopus laevis oocytes injected with mRNAs encoding altered E1A proteins to show that the amino-terminal tetrapeptide Met-Arg-His-Ile is required for E1A degradation. Even conservative amino acid substitutions in this degradation sequence render it nonfunctional. This degradation sequence can function as a transferable signal, since it induces instability when fused to another normally stable protein. Furthermore, the degradation sequence requires a proximity of no more than six residues from the amino terminus for activity. These data suggest that a trans-acting factor recognizes the amino terminus of E1A during the translation of its message to mark the protein for subsequent destruction.

Activation in vitro of RNA polymerase II and III directed transcription by baculovirus produced E1A protein

The baculovirus expression system has been successfully used to overproduce a number of different protein products. In this report we describe the construction of a recombinant baculovirus containing the adenovirus E1A 13s cDNA sequence. Infection of insect cells with this virus results in the production of phosphorylated E1A protein. The phosphorylation pattern appears to be similar to the complex pattern associated with E1A protein synthesis in mammalian cells. Purified baculovirus generated E1A protein activated transcription of specific poIIII promoters both in microinjected Xenopus laevis oocytes and in HeLa cell in vitro transcription extracts. The protein also stimulates in vitro transcription of the poIIII transcribed VA1 gene.

Mutation of the serine 312 phosphorylation site does not alter the ability of mouse p53 to inhibit simian virus 40 DNA replication in vivo

Two mutations were introduced into the wild-type mouse p53 gene by oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis. These mutations substituted alanine or aspartic acid for serine at position 312, which is constitutively phosphorylated. Phosphopeptide mapping of the mutant proteins, expressed in COS cells, confirmed the loss of phosphorylation at position 312. There were no changes in the ability of the mutant p53s to express the conformation-dependent epitope for monoclonal antibody PAb246 or to participate in complexes with the simian virus 40 (SV40) large T antigen. Replication of a plasmid containing the SV40 origin of replication was inhibited in COS cells by wild-type p53 and both of the phosphorylation site mutants with equal efficiency. A transforming mutant of p53, encoding valine at position 135, did not inhibit SV40 DNA replication in COS cells.

In vivo and in vitro models of demyelinating disease: a phosphoprotein phosphatase in host cell endosomes dephosphorylating the nucleocapsid protein of coronavirus JHM

We have identified a phosphoprotein phosphatase which dephosphorylates efficiently the NC protein of coronavirus JHM. The activity was found in L-2 murine fibroblasts, Wistar Furth rat neonatal brain extracts, Wistar Furth rat oligodendrocyte primary cells and in Roc-1 cells, an oligodendrocytic hybrid cell line. In both L-2 cells and Roc-1 cells the enzyme was found to be localized predominantly in the endosomal fraction. The enzyme is optimally active at pH 7.0 and has a requirement for Mn++ ions. This PPPase activity is distinguishable from acidic and alkaline phosphatases. In view of the specificity of the endosomal PPPase for the phosphory-lated NC protein it is hypothesized that this enzyme may have a function during early stages of coronavirus infection.