Mutational analysis of simian virus 40 T-antigen primosome activities in viral DNA replication

Structural basis for the interaction of a hexameric replicative helicase with the regulatory subunit of human DNA polymerase α-primase

DNA polymerase α-primase (Pol-prim) plays an essential role in eukaryotic DNA replication, initiating synthesis of the leading strand and of each Okazaki fragment on the lagging strand. Pol-prim is composed of a primase heterodimer that synthesizes an RNA primer, a DNA polymerase subunit that extends the primer, and a regulatory B-subunit (p68) without apparent enzymatic activity. Pol-prim is thought to interact with eukaryotic replicative helicases, forming a dynamic multiprotein assembly that displays primosome activity. At least three subunits of Pol-prim interact physically with the hexameric replicative helicase SV40 large T antigen, constituting a simple primosome that is active in vitro. However, structural understanding of these interactions and their role in viral chromatin replication in vivo remains incomplete. Here, we report the detailed large T antigen-p68 interface, as revealed in a co-crystal structure and validated by site-directed mutagenesis, and we demonstrate its functional importance in activating the SV40 primosome in cell-free reactions with purified Pol-prim, as well as in monkey cells in vivo.

Eukaryotic single-stranded DNA binding proteins: central factors in genome stability

The single-stranded DNA binding proteins (SSBs) are required to maintain the integrity of the genome in all organisms. Replication protein A (RPA) is a nuclear SSB protein found in all eukaryotes and is required for multiple processes in DNA metabolism such as DNA replication, DNA repair, DNA recombination, telomere maintenance and DNA damage signalling. RPA is a heterotrimeric complex, binds ssDNA with high affinity, and interacts specifically with multiple proteins to fulfil its function in eukaryotes. RPA is phosphorylated in a cell cycle and DNA damage-dependent manner with evidence suggesting that phosphorylation has an important function in modulating the cellular DNA damage response. Considering the DNA-binding properties of RPA a mechanism of "molecular counting" to initiate DNA damage-dependent signalling is discussed. Recently a human homologue to the RPA2 subunit, called RPA4, was discovered and RPA4 can substitute for RPA2 in the RPA complex resulting in an "alternative" RPA (aRPA), which can bind to ssDNA with similar affinity as canonical RPA. Additional human SSBs, hSSB1 and hSSB2, were recently identified, with hSSB1 being localized in the nucleus and having implications in DNA repair. Mitochondrial SSBs (mtSSBs) have been found in all eukaryotes studied. mtSSBs are related to prokaryotic SSBs and essential to main the genome stability in eukaryotic mitochondria. Recently human mtSSB was identified as a novel binding partner of p53 and that it is able to stimulate the intrinsic exonuclease activity of p53. These findings and recent results associated with mutations in RPA suggest a link of SSBs to cancer.

Model for T-antigen-dependent melting of the simian virus 40 core origin based on studies of the interaction of the beta-hairpin with DNA

The interaction of simian virus 40 (SV40) T antigen (T-ag) with the viral origin has served as a model for studies of site-specific recognition of a eukaryotic replication origin and the mechanism of DNA unwinding. These studies have revealed that a motif termed the "beta-hairpin" is necessary for assembly of T-ag on the SV40 origin. Herein it is demonstrated that residues at the tip of the "beta-hairpin" are needed to melt the origin-flanking regions and that the T-ag helicase domain selectively assembles around one of the newly generated single strands in a manner that accounts for its 3'-to-5' helicase activity. Furthermore, T-ags mutated at the tip of the "beta-hairpin" are defective for oligomerization on duplex DNA; however, they can assemble on hybrid duplex DNA or single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) substrates provided the strand containing the 3' extension is present. Collectively, these experiments indicate that residues at the tip of the beta-hairpin generate ssDNA in the core origin and that the ssDNA is essential for subsequent oligomerization events.

Structural mechanism of RPA loading on DNA during activation of a simple pre-replication complex

We report that during activation of the simian virus 40 (SV40) pre-replication complex, SV40 T antigen (Tag) helicase actively loads replication protein A (RPA) on emerging single-stranded DNA (ssDNA). This novel loading process requires physical interaction of Tag origin DNA-binding domain (OBD) with the RPA high-affinity ssDNA-binding domains (RPA70AB). Heteronuclear NMR chemical shift mapping revealed that Tag-OBD binds to RPA70AB at a site distal from the ssDNA-binding sites and that RPA70AB, Tag-OBD, and an 8-nucleotide ssDNA form a stable ternary complex. Intact RPA and Tag also interact stably in the presence of an 8-mer, but Tag dissociates from the complex when RPA binds to longer oligonucleotides. Together, our results imply that an allosteric change in RPA quaternary structure completes the loading reaction. A mechanistic model is proposed in which the ternary complex is a key intermediate that directly couples origin DNA unwinding to RPA loading on emerging ssDNA.

Crystal structure of SV40 large T-antigen bound to p53: interplay between a viral oncoprotein and a cellular tumor suppressor

The transformation potential of Simian Virus 40 depends on the activities of large T-antigen (LTag), which interacts with several cellular tumor suppressors including the important "guardian" of the genome, p53. Inhibition of p53 function by LTag is necessary for both efficient viral replication and cellular transformation. We determined the crystal structure of LTag in complex with p53. The structure reveals an unexpected hexameric complex of LTag binding six p53 monomers. Structure-guided mutagenesis of LTag and p53 residues supported the p53-LTag interface defined by the complex structure. The structure also shows that LTag binding induces dramatic conformational changes at the DNA-binding area of p53, which is achieved partially through an unusual "methionine switch" within p53. In the complex structure, LTag occupies the whole p53 DNA-binding surface and likely interferes with formation of a functional p53 tetramer. In addition, we showed that p53 inhibited LTag helicase function through direct complex formation.

Methanosarcina acetivorans flap endonuclease 1 activity is inhibited by a cognate single-stranded-DNA-binding protein

The oligonucleotide/oligosaccharide-binding (OB) fold is central to the architecture of single-stranded- DNA-binding proteins, which are polypeptides essential for diverse cellular processes, including DNA replication, repair, and recombination. In archaea, single-stranded DNA-binding proteins composed of multiple OB folds and a zinc finger domain, in a single polypeptide, have been described. The OB folds of these proteins were more similar to their eukaryotic counterparts than to their bacterial ones. Thus, the archaeal protein is called replication protein A (RPA), as in eukaryotes. Unlike most organisms, Methanosarcina acetivorans harbors multiple functional RPA proteins, and it was our interest to determine whether the different proteins play different roles in DNA transactions. Of particular interest was lagging-strand DNA synthesis, where recently RPA has been shown to regulate the size of the 5' region cleaved during Okazaki fragment processing. We report here that M. acetivorans RPA1 (MacRPA1), a protein composed of four OB folds in a single polypeptide, inhibits cleavage of a long flap (20 nucleotides) by M. acetivorans flap endonuclease 1 (MacFEN1). To gain a further insight into the requirement of the different regions of MacRPA1 on its inhibition of MacFEN1 endonuclease activity, N-terminal and C-terminal truncated derivatives of the protein were made and were biochemically and biophysically analyzed. Our results suggested that MacRPA1 derivatives with at least three OB folds maintained the properties required for inhibition of MacFEN1 endonuclease activity. Despite these interesting observations, further biochemical and genetic analyses are required to gain a deeper understanding of the physiological implications of our findings.

Insights into hRPA32 C-terminal domain--mediated assembly of the simian virus 40 replisome

Simian virus 40 (SV40) provides a model system for the study of eukaryotic DNA replication, in which the viral protein, large T antigen (Tag), marshals human proteins to replicate the viral minichromosome. SV40 replication requires interaction of Tag with the host single-stranded DNA-binding protein, replication protein A (hRPA). The C-terminal domain of the hRPA32 subunit (RPA32C) facilitates initiation of replication, but whether it interacts with Tag is not known. Affinity chromatography and NMR revealed physical interaction between hRPA32C and the Tag origin DNA-binding domain, and a structural model of the complex was determined. Point mutations were then designed to reverse charges in the binding sites, resulting in substantially reduced binding affinity. Corresponding mutations introduced into intact hRPA impaired initiation of replication and primosome activity, implying that this interaction has a critical role in assembly and progression of the SV40 replisome.

A dominant-negative mutant of human DNA helicase B blocks the onset of chromosomal DNA replication

A cDNA encoding a human ortholog of mouse DNA helicase B, which may play a role in DNA replication, has been cloned and expressed as a recombinant protein. The predicted human DNA helicase B (HDHB) protein contains conserved helicase motifs (superfamily 1) that are strikingly similar to those of bacterial recD and T4 dda proteins. The HDHB gene is expressed at low levels in liver, spleen, kidney, and brain and at higher levels in testis and thymus. Purified recombinant HDHB hydrolyzed ATP and dATP in the presence of single-stranded DNA, displayed robust 5'-3' DNA helicase activity, and interacted physically and functionally with DNA polymerase alpha-primase. HDHB proteins with mutations in the Walker A or B motif lacked ATPase and helicase activity but retained the ability to interact with DNA polymerase alpha-primase, suggesting that the mutants might be dominant over endogenous HDHB in human cells. When purified HDHB protein was microinjected into the nucleus of cells in early G(1), the mutant proteins inhibited DNA synthesis, whereas the wild type protein had no effect. Injection of wild type or mutant protein into cells at G(1)/S did not prevent DNA synthesis. The results suggest that HDHB function is required for S phase entry.

Role of the p68 subunit of human DNA polymerase alpha-primase in simian virus 40 DNA replication

DNA polymerase alpha-primase (pol-prim) is a heterotetramer with DNA polymerase and primase activities. The polymerase (p180) and primase (p48 and p58) subunits synthesize primers and extend them, but the function of the remaining subunit (p68) is poorly understood. Genetic studies in yeast suggested an essential role for the p68 ortholog in early S phase prior to the hydroxyurea-sensitive step, possibly a regulatory role in initiation of DNA replication, but found no evidence for an essential function of p68 later in S phase. To investigate whether the human p68 subunit has an essential role in DNA replication, we examined the ability of a purified trimeric human pol-prim lacking p68 to initiate simian virus 40 DNA replication in vitro and to synthesize and elongate primers on single-stranded DNA in the presence of T antigen and replication protein A (RPA). Both activities of trimeric pol-prim were defective, but activity was recovered upon addition of separately purified p68. Phosphorylation of p68 by cyclin A-dependent protein kinase also inhibited both activities of pol-prim. The data strongly suggest that the p68 subunit is required for priming activity of pol-prim in the presence of RPA and T antigen, both during initiation at the origin and during lagging strand replication.