Intracellular interactions between APOBEC3G, RNA, and HIV-1 Gag: APOBEC3G multimerization is dependent on its association with RNA

Design of Vif-Derived Peptide Inhibitors with Anti-HIV-1 Activity by Interrupting Vif-CBFβ Interaction

One of the major functions of the accessory protein Vif of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is to induce the degradation of APOBEC3 (A3) family proteins by recruiting a Cullin5-ElonginB/C-CBFβ E3 ubiquitin ligase complex to facilitate viral replication. Therefore, the interactions between Vif and the E3 complex proteins are promising targets for the development of novel anti-HIV-1 drugs. Here, peptides are designed for the Vif-CBFβ interaction based on the sequences of Vif mutants with higher affinity for CBFβ screened by a yeast surface display platform. We identified two peptides, VMP-63 and VMP-108, that could reduce the infectivity of HIV-1 produced from A3G-positive cells with IC50 values of 49.4 μM and 55.1 μM, respectively. They protected intracellular A3G from Vif-mediated degradation in HEK293T cells, consequently increasing A3G encapsulation into the progeny virions. The peptides could rapidly enter cells after addition to HEK293T cells and competitively inhibit the binding of Vif to CBFβ. Homology modeling analysis demonstrated the binding advantages of VMP-63 and VMP-108 with CBFβ over their corresponding wild-type peptides. However, only VMP-108 effectively restricted long-term HIV-1 replication and protected A3 functions in non-permissive T lymphocytes. Our findings suggest that competitive Vif-derived peptides targeting the Vif-CBFβ interaction are promising for the development of novel therapeutic strategies for acquired immune deficiency syndrome.

Partitioning of ribonucleoprotein complexes from the cellular actin cortex

The cell cortex plays a crucial role in cell mechanics, signaling, and development. However, little is known about the influence of the cortical meshwork on the spatial distribution of cytoplasmic biomolecules. Here, we describe a fluorescence microscopy method with the capacity to infer the intracellular distribution of labeled biomolecules with subresolution accuracy. Unexpectedly, we find that RNA binding proteins are partially excluded from the cytoplasmic volume adjacent to the plasma membrane that corresponds to the actin cortex. Complementary diffusion measurements of RNA-protein complexes suggest that a rudimentary model based on excluded volume interactions can explain this partitioning effect. Our results suggest the actin cortex meshwork may play a role in regulating the biomolecular content of the volume immediately adjacent to the plasma membrane.

HIV-1 Gag and Vpr impair the inflammasome activation and contribute to the establishment of chronic infection in human primary macrophages

The successful establishment of HIV-1 infection is related to inflammasome blocking or inactivation, which can result in the viral evasion of the immune responses and formation of reservoirs in several tissues. In this sense, we aimed to evaluate the viral and cellular mechanisms activated during HIV-1 infection in human primary macrophages that allow an effective viral replication in these cells. We found that resting HIV-1-infected macrophages, but not those activated in classical or alternative patterns, released IL-1β and other pro-inflammatory cytokines, and showed increased CXCL10 expression, without changes in the NLRP3, AIM2 or RIG-I inflammasome pathways. Also, similar levels of Casp-1, phosphorylated NF-κB (p65) and NLRP3 proteins were found in uninfected and HIV-1-infected macrophages. Likewise, no alterations were detected in ASC specks released in the culture supernatant after HIV-1 infection, suggesting that macrophages remain viable after infection. Using in silico prediction studies, we found that the HIV-1 proteins Gag and Vpr interact with several host proteins. Comparable levels of trans-LTB4 were found in the supernatants of uninfected and HIV-1-infected macrophages, whereas ROS production was impaired in infected cells, which was not reversed after the PMA stimulus. Immunofluorescence analysis showed structural alterations in the mitochondrial architecture and an increase of BIM in the cytoplasm of infected cells. Our data suggest that HIV-1 proteins Gag and Vpr, through interacting with cellular proteins in the early steps of infection, preclude the inflammasome activation and the development of effective immune responses, thus allowing the establishment of the infection.

Advances in HIV-1 Assembly

The assembly of HIV-1 particles is a concerted and dynamic process that takes place on the plasma membrane of infected cells. An abundance of recent discoveries has advanced our understanding of the complex sequence of events leading to HIV-1 particle assembly, budding, and release. Structural studies have illuminated key features of assembly and maturation, including the dramatic structural transition that occurs between the immature Gag lattice and the formation of the mature viral capsid core. The critical role of inositol hexakisphosphate (IP6) in the assembly of both the immature and mature Gag lattice has been elucidated. The structural basis for selective packaging of genomic RNA into virions has been revealed. This review will provide an overview of the HIV-1 assembly process, with a focus on recent advances in the field, and will point out areas where questions remain that can benefit from future investigation.

HIV-1 Vif gained breadth in APOBEC3G specificity after cross-species transmission of its precursors

APOBEC3G (A3G) is a host-encoded cytidine deaminase that potently restricts retroviruses, such as HIV-1, and depends on its ability to package into virions. As a consequence of this, HIV-1 protein Vif has evolved to antagonize human A3G by targeting it for ubiquitination and subsequent degradation. There is an ancient arms-race between Vif and A3G highlighted by amino acids 128 and 130 in A3G that have evolved under positive selection due to Vif-mediated selective pressure in Old World primates. Nonetheless, not all possible amino acid combinations at these sites have been sampled by nature and it is not clear the evolutionary potential of species to resist Vif antagonism. To explore the evolutionary space of positively selected sites in the Vif-binding region of A3G, we designed a combinatorial mutagenesis screen to introduce all 20 amino acids at sites 128 and 130. Our screen uncovered mutants of A3G with several interesting phenotypes, including loss of antiviral activity and resistance of Vif antagonism. However, HIV-1 Vif exhibited remarkable flexibility in antagonizing A3G 128 and 130 mutants, which significantly reduces viable Vif resistance strategies for hominid primates. Importantly, we find that broadened Vif specificity was conferred through Loop 5 adaptations that were required for cross-species adaptation from Old World monkey A3G to hominid A3G. Our evidence suggests that Vif adaptation to novel A3G interfaces during cross-species transmission may train Vif towards broadened specificity that can further facilitate cross-species transmissions and raise the barrier to host resistance. Importance APOBEC3G (A3G) is an antiviral protein that potently restricts retroviruses like HIV. In turn, the HIV-1 protein Vif has evolved to antagonize A3G through degradation. Two rapidly evolving sites in A3G confer resistance to unadapted Vif and act as a barrier to cross-species transmission of retroviruses. We recently identified a single amino acid mutation in an SIV Vif that contributed to the cross-species origins of SIV infecting chimpanzee, and ultimately the HIV-1 pandemic. This mutation broadened specificity of this Vif to both antagonize the A3G of its host while simultaneously overcoming the A3G barrier in the great apes. In this work, we explore the evolutionary space of human A3G at these rapidly evolving sites to understand if the broadened Vif specificity gained during cross-species transmission confers an advantage to HIV-1 Vif in its host-virus arms race with A3G.

A Background Assessable and Correctable Bimolecular Fluorescence Complementation System for Nanoscopic Single-Molecule Imaging of Intracellular Protein-Protein Interactions

Bimolecular Fluorescence Complementation (BiFC) is a versatile approach for intracellular analysis of protein-protein interactions (PPIs), but the tendency of the split fluorescent protein (FP) fragments to self-assemble when brought into close proximity of each other by random collision can lead to generation of false-positive signals that hamper high-definition imaging of PPIs occurring on the nanoscopic level. While it is thought that expressing the fusion proteins at a low level can remove false positives without impacting specific signals, there has been no effective strategy to test this possibility. Here, we present a system capable of assessing and removing BiFC false positives, termed Background Assessable and Correctable-BiFC (BAC-BiFC), in which one of the split FP fragments is fused with an optically distinct FP that serves as a reference marker, and the single-cell fluorescence ratio of the BiFC signal to the reference signal is used to gauge an optimal transfection condition. We showed that when BAC-BiFC is designed to image PPIs regulating Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 (HIV-1) assembly, the fluorescence ratio could decrease with decreasing probe quantity, and ratios approaching the limit of detection could allow physiologically relevant characterization of the assembly process on the nanoscale by single-molecule localization microscopy (SMLM). With much improved clarity, previously undescribed features of HIV-1 assembly were revealed.

Insights into the Structures and Multimeric Status of APOBEC Proteins Involved in Viral Restriction and Other Cellular Functions

Apolipoprotein B mRNA editing catalytic polypeptide-like (APOBEC) proteins belong to a family of deaminase proteins that can catalyze the deamination of cytosine to uracil on single-stranded DNA or/and RNA. APOBEC proteins are involved in diverse biological functions, including adaptive and innate immunity, which are critical for restricting viral infection and endogenous retroelements. Dysregulation of their functions can cause undesired genomic mutations and RNA modification, leading to various associated diseases, such as hyper-IgM syndrome and cancer. This review focuses on the structural and biochemical data on the multimerization status of individual APOBECs and the associated functional implications. Many APOBECs form various multimeric complexes, and multimerization is an important way to regulate functions for some of these proteins at several levels, such as deaminase activity, protein stability, subcellular localization, protein storage and activation, virion packaging, and antiviral activity. The multimerization of some APOBECs is more complicated than others, due to the associated complex RNA binding modes.

Interactions of APOBEC3s with DNA and RNA

APOBEC3 enzymes are key enzymes in our innate immune system regulating antiviral response in HIV and unfortunately adding diversity in cancer as they deaminate cytosine. Seven unique single and double domain APOBEC3s provide them with unique activity and specificity profiles for this deamination. Recent crystal and NMR structures of APOBEC3 complexes are unraveling the variety of epitopes involved in binding nucleic acids, including at the catalytic site, elsewhere on the catalytic domain and in the inactive N-terminal domain. The interplay between these diverse interactions is critical to uncovering the mechanisms by which APOBEC3s recognize and process their substrates.

Crystal Structure of a Soluble APOBEC3G Variant Suggests ssDNA to Bind in a Channel that Extends between the Two Domains

APOBEC3G (A3G) is a single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) cytosine deaminase that can restrict HIV-1 infection by mutating the viral genome. A3G consists of a non-catalytic N-terminal domain (NTD) and a catalytic C-terminal domain (CTD) connected by a short linker. While the CTD catalyzes cytosine deamination, the NTD is believed to provide additional affinity for ssDNA. Structures of both A3G domains have been solved individually; however, a full-length A3G structure has been challenging. Recently, crystal structures of full-length rhesus macaque A3G variants were solved which suggested dimerization mechanisms and RNA binding surfaces, whereas the dimerization appeared to compromise catalytic activity. We determined the crystal structure of a soluble variant of human A3G (sA3G) at 2.5 Å and from these data generated a model structure of wild-type A3G. This model demonstrated that the NTD was rotated 90° relative to the CTD along the major axis of the molecule, an orientation that forms a positively charged channel connected to the CTD catalytic site, consisting of NTD loop-1 and CTD loop-3. Structure-based mutations, in vitro deamination and DNA binding assays, and HIV-1 restriction assays identify R24, located in the NTD loop-1, as essential to a critical interaction with ssDNA. Furthermore, sA3G was shown to bind a deoxy-cytidine dinucleotide near the catalytic Zn²⁺, yet not in the catalytic position, where the interactions between deoxy-cytidines and CTD loop-1 and loop-7 residues were different from those formed with substrate. These new interactions suggest a mechanism explaining why A3G exhibits a 3' to 5' directional preference in processive deamination.

Structural Insights into APOBEC3-Mediated Lentiviral Restriction

Mammals have developed clever adaptive and innate immune defense mechanisms to protect against invading bacterial and viral pathogens. Human innate immunity is continuously evolving to expand the repertoire of restriction factors and one such family of intrinsic restriction factors is the APOBEC3 (A3) family of cytidine deaminases. The coordinated expression of seven members of the A3 family of cytidine deaminases provides intrinsic immunity against numerous foreign infectious agents and protects the host from exogenous retroviruses and endogenous retroelements. Four members of the A3 proteins-A3G, A3F, A3H, and A3D-restrict HIV-1 in the absence of virion infectivity factor (Vif); their incorporation into progeny virions is a prerequisite for cytidine deaminase-dependent and -independent activities that inhibit viral replication in the host target cell. HIV-1 encodes Vif, an accessory protein that antagonizes A3 proteins by targeting them for polyubiquitination and subsequent proteasomal degradation in the virus producing cells. In this review, we summarize our current understanding of the role of human A3 proteins as barriers against HIV-1 infection, how Vif overcomes their antiviral activity, and highlight recent structural and functional insights into A3-mediated restriction of lentiviruses.

Structural Determinants of the APOBEC3G N-Terminal Domain for HIV-1 RNA Association

APOBEC3G (A3G) is a cellular protein that inhibits HIV-1 infection through virion incorporation. The interaction of the A3G N-terminal domain (NTD) with RNA is essential for A3G incorporation in the HIV-1 virion. The interaction between A3G-NTD and RNA is not completely understood. The A3G-NTD is also recognized by HIV-1 Viral infectivity factor (Vif) and A3G-Vif binding leads to A3G degradation. Therefore, the A3G-Vif interaction is a target for the development of antiviral therapies that block HIV-1 replication. However, targeting the A3G-Vif interactions could disrupt the A3G-RNA interactions that are required for A3G's antiviral activity. To better understand A3G-RNA binding, we generated in silico docking models to simulate the RNA-binding propensity of A3G-NTD. We simulated the A3G-NTD residues with high RNA-binding propensity, experimentally validated our prediction by testing A3G-NTD mutations, and identified structural determinants of A3G-RNA binding. In addition, we found a novel amino acid residue, I26 responsible for RNA interaction. The new structural insights provided here will facilitate the design of pharmaceuticals that inhibit A3G-Vif interactions without negatively impacting A3G-RNA interactions.

Regulation of Antiviral Innate Immunity Through APOBEC Ribonucleoprotein Complexes

The DNA mutagenic enzyme known as APOBEC3G (A3G) plays a critical role in innate immunity to Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 (HIV-1 ). A3G is a zinc-dependent enzyme that mutates select deoxycytidines (dC) to deoxyuridine (dU) through deamination within nascent single stranded DNA (ssDNA) during HIV reverse transcription. This activity requires that the enzyme be delivered to viral replication complexes by redistributing from the cytoplasm of infected cells to budding virions through what appears to be an RNA-dependent process. Once inside infected cells, A3G must bind to nascent ssDNA reverse transcripts for dC to dU base modification gene editing. In this chapter we will discuss data indicating that ssDNA deaminase activity of A3G is regulated by RNA binding to A3G and ribonucleoprotein complex formation along with evidence suggesting that RNA-selective interactions with A3G are temporally and mechanistically important in this process.

The rabbit as an orthologous small animal model for APOBEC3A oncogenesis

APOBEC3 are cytidine deaminases that convert cytidine to uridine residues. APOBEC3A and APOBEC3B enzymes able to target genomic DNA are involved in oncogenesis of a sizeable proportion of human cancers. While the APOBEC3 locus is conserved in mammals, it encodes from 1–7 genes. APOBEC3A is conserved in most mammals, although absent in pigs, cats and throughout Rodentia whereas APOBEC3B is restricted to the Primate order. Here we show that the rabbit APOBEC3 locus encodes two genes of which APOBEC3A enzyme is strictly orthologous to human APOBEC3A. The rabbit enzyme is expressed in the nucleus and the cytoplasm, it can deaminate cytidine, 5-methcytidine residues, nuclear DNA and induce double-strand DNA breaks. The rabbit APOBEC3A enzyme is negatively regulated by the rabbit TRIB3 pseudokinase protein which is guardian of genome integrity, just like its human counterpart. This indicates that the APOBEC3A/TRIB3 pair is conserved over approximately 100 million years. The rabbit APOBEC3A gene is widely expressed in rabbit tissues, unlike human APOBEC3A. These data demonstrate that rabbit could be used as a small animal model for studying APOBEC3 driven oncogenesis.

Modeling the Embrace of a Mutator: APOBEC Selection of Nucleic Acid Ligands

The 11-member APOBEC (apolipoprotein B mRNA editing catalytic polypeptide-like) family of zinc-dependent cytidine deaminases bind to RNA and single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) and, in specific contexts, modify select (deoxy)cytidines to (deoxy)uridines. In this review, we describe advances made through high-resolution co-crystal structures of APOBECs bound to mono- or oligonucleotides that reveal potential substrate-specific binding sites at the active site and non-sequence-specific nucleic acid binding sites distal to the active site. We also discuss the effect of APOBEC oligomerization on functionality. Future structural studies will need to address how ssDNA binding away from the active site may enhance catalysis and the mechanism by which RNA binding may modulate catalytic activity on ssDNA.

APOBEC proteins catalyze deamination of cytidine or deoxycytidine in either a sequence-specific or semi-specific manner on either DNA or RNA.

APOBECs each possess the cytidine deaminase core fold, but sequence and structural differences among loops surrounding the zinc-dependent active site impart differences in sequence-dependent target preferences, binding affinity, catalytic rate, and regulation of substrate access to the active site among the 11 family members.

APOBECs also regulate the deamination reaction through additional nucleic acid substrate binding sites located within surface grooves or patches of positive electrostatic potential that are distal to the active site but may do so nonspecifically.

Binding of nonsubstrate RNA and RNA-mediated oligomerization by APOBECs that deaminate ssDNA downregulates catalytic activity but also controls APOBEC subcellular or virion localization.

The presence of a second, though noncatalytic, cytidine deaminase domain for some APOBECs and the ability of some APOBECs to oligomerize add additional molecular surfaces for positive or negative regulation of catalysis through nucleic acid binding.

Mechanisms of HIV-1 Control

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

HIV-1 infection is of global importance, and still incurs substantial morbidity and mortality. Although major pharmacologic advances over the past two decades have resulted in remarkable HIV-1 control, a cure is still forthcoming. One approach to a cure is to exploit natural mechanisms by which the host restricts HIV-1. Herein, we review past and recent discoveries of HIV-1 restriction factors, a diverse set of host proteins that limit HIV-1 replication at multiple levels, including entry, reverse transcription, integration, translation of viral proteins, and packaging and release of virions.

RECENT FINDINGS

Recent studies of intracellular HIV-1 restriction have offered unique molecular insights into HIV-1 replication and biology. Studies have revealed insights of how restriction factors drive HIV-1 evolution. Although HIV-1 restriction factors only partially control the virus, their importance is underscored by their effect on HIV-1 evolution and adaptation. The list of host restriction factors that control HIV-1 infection is likely to expand with future discoveries. A deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms of regulation by these factors will uncover new targets for therapeutic control of HIV-1 infection.

Dimerization regulates both deaminase-dependent and deaminase-independent HIV-1 restriction by APOBEC3G

APOBEC3G (A3G) is a human enzyme that inhibits human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infectivity, in the absence of the viral infectivity factor Vif, through deoxycytidine deamination and a deamination-independent mechanism. A3G converts from a fast to a slow binding state through oligomerization, which suggests that large A3G oligomers could block HIV-1 reverse transcriptase-mediated DNA synthesis, thereby inhibiting HIV-1 replication. However, it is unclear how the small number of A3G molecules found in the virus could form large oligomers. Here we measure the single-stranded DNA binding and oligomerization kinetics of wild-type and oligomerization-deficient A3G, and find that A3G first transiently binds DNA as a monomer. Subsequently, A3G forms N-terminal domain-mediated dimers, whose dissociation from DNA is reduced and their deaminase activity inhibited. Overall, our results suggest that the A3G molecules packaged in the virion first deaminate viral DNA as monomers before dimerizing to form multiple enzymatically deficient roadblocks that may inhibit reverse transcription.

APOBEC3G inhibits HIV-1 viral replication via catalytic and non-catalytic processes. Here the authors show that APOBEC3G binds single-stranded DNA as an active deaminase monomer, subsequently forming catalytic-inactive dimers that block reverse transcriptase-mediated DNA synthesis.

DNA mutagenic activity and capacity for HIV-1 restriction of the cytidine deaminase APOBEC3G depend on whether DNA or RNA binds to tyrosine 315

APOBEC3G (A3G) belongs to the AID/APOBEC protein family of cytidine deaminases (CDA) that bind to nucleic acids. A3G mutates the HIV genome by deamination of dC to dU, leading to accumulation of virus-inactivating mutations. Binding to cellular RNAs inhibits A3G binding to substrate single-stranded (ss) DNA and CDA activity. Bulk RNA and substrate ssDNA bind to the same three A3G tryptic peptides (amino acids 181-194, 314-320, and 345-374) that form parts of a continuously exposed protein surface extending from the catalytic domain in the C terminus of A3G to its N terminus. We show here that the A3G tyrosines 181 and 315 directly cross-linked ssDNA. Binding experiments showed that a Y315A mutation alone significantly reduced A3G binding to both ssDNA and RNA, whereas Y181A and Y182A mutations only moderately affected A3G nucleic acid binding. Consistent with these findings, the Y315A mutant exhibited little to no deaminase activity in an Escherichia coli DNA mutator reporter, whereas Y181A and Y182A mutants retained ∼50% of wild-type A3G activity. The Y315A mutant also showed a markedly reduced ability to assemble into viral particles and had reduced antiviral activity. In uninfected cells, the impaired RNA-binding capacity of Y315A was evident by a shift of A3G from high-molecular-mass ribonucleoprotein complexes to low-molecular-mass complexes. We conclude that Tyr-315 is essential for coordinating ssDNA interaction with or entry to the deaminase domain and hypothesize that RNA bound to Tyr-315 may be sufficient to competitively inhibit ssDNA deaminase-dependent antiviral activity.

RNA binding to APOBEC deaminases; Not simply a substrate for C to U editing

Apolipoprotein B mRNA Editing Catalytic Polypeptide-like 1 or APOBEC1 was discovered in 1993 as the zinc-dependent cytidine deaminase responsible for the production of an in frame stop codon in apoB mRNA through modification of cytidine at nucleotide position 6666 to uridine. At the time of this discovery there was much speculation concerning the mechanism of base modification RNA editing which has been rekindled by the discovery of multiple C to U RNA editing events in the 3′ UTRs of mRNAs and the finding that other members of the APOBEC family while able to bind RNA, have the biological function of being DNA mutating enzymes. Current research is addressing the mechanism for these nucleotide modification events that appear not to adhere to the mooring sequence-dependent model for APOBEC1 involving the assembly of a multi protein containing editosome. This review will summarize our current understanding of the structure and function of APOBEC proteins and examine how RNA binding to them may be a regulatory mechanism.

Functions and Malfunctions of Mammalian DNA-Cytosine Deaminases

The AID/APOBEC family enzymes convert cytosines in single-stranded DNA to uracils, causing base substitutions and strand breaks. They are induced by cytokines produced during the body's inflammatory response to infections, and they help combat infections through diverse mechanisms. AID is essential for the maturation of antibodies and causes mutations and deletions in antibody genes through somatic hypermutation (SHM) and class-switch recombination (CSR) processes. One member of the APOBEC family, APOBEC1, edits mRNA for a protein involved in lipid transport. Members of the APOBEC3 subfamily in humans (APOBEC3A, APOBEC3B, APOBEC3C, APOBEC3D, APOBEC3F, APOBEC3G, and APOBEC3H) inhibit infections of viruses such as HIV-1, HBV, and HCV, and retrotransposition of endogenous retroelements through mutagenic and nonmutagenic mechanisms. There is emerging consensus that these enzymes can cause mutations in the cellular genome at replication forks or within transcription bubbles depending on the physiological state of the cell and the phase of the cell cycle during which they are expressed. We describe here the state of knowledge about the structures of these enzymes, regulation of their expression, and both the advantageous and deleterious consequences of their expression, including carcinogenesis. We highlight similarities among them and present a holistic view of their regulation and function.

The RNA Binding Specificity of Human APOBEC3 Proteins Resembles That of HIV-1 Nucleocapsid

The APOBEC3 (A3) cytidine deaminases are antiretroviral proteins, whose targets include human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1). Their incorporation into viral particles is critical for antiviral activity and is driven by interactions with the RNA molecules that are packaged into virions. However, it is unclear whether A3 proteins preferentially target RNA molecules that are destined to be packaged and if so, how. Using cross-linking immunoprecipitation sequencing (CLIP-seq), we determined the RNA binding preferences of the A3F, A3G and A3H proteins. We found that A3 proteins bind preferentially to RNA segments with particular properties, both in cells and in virions. Specifically, A3 proteins target RNA sequences that are G-rich and/or A-rich and are not scanned by ribosomes during translation. Comparative analyses of HIV-1 Gag, nucleocapsid (NC) and A3 RNA binding to HIV-1 RNA in cells and virions revealed the striking finding that A3 proteins partially mimic the RNA binding specificity of the HIV-1 NC protein. These findings suggest a model for A3 incorporation into HIV-1 virions in which an NC-like RNA binding specificity is determined by nucleotide composition rather than sequence. This model reconciles the promiscuity of A3 RNA binding that has been observed in previous studies with a presumed advantage that would accompany selective binding to RNAs that are destined to be packaged into virions.

APOBEC3DE Antagonizes Hepatitis B Virus Restriction Factors APOBEC3F and APOBEC3G

The APOBEC3 locus consists of seven genes (A3A-A3C, A3DE, A3F-A3H) that encode DNA cytidine deaminases. These enzymes deaminate single-stranded DNA, the result being DNA peppered with CG →TA mutations preferentially in the context of 5'TpC with the exception of APOBEC3G (A3G), which prefers 5'CpC dinucleotides. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA is vulnerable to genetic editing by APOBEC3 cytidine deaminases, A3G being a major restriction factor. APOBEC3DE (A3DE) stands out in that it is catalytically inactive due to a fixed Tyr320Cys substitution in the C-terminal domain. As A3DE is closely related to A3F and A3G, which can form homo- and heterodimers and multimers, the impact of A3DE on HBV replication via modulation of other APOBEC3 restriction factors was investigated. A3DE binds to itself, A3F, and A3G and antagonizes A3F and, to a lesser extent, A3G restriction of HBV replication. A3DE suppresses A3F and A3G from HBV particles, leading to enhanced HBV replication. Ironically, while being part of a cluster of innate restriction factors, the A3DE phenotype is proviral. As the gorilla genome encodes the same Tyr320Cys substitution, this proviral phenotype seems to have been selected for.

The APOBEC Protein Family: United by Structure, Divergent in Function

The APOBEC (apolipoprotein B mRNA editing catalytic polypeptide-like) family of proteins have diverse and important functions in human health and disease. These proteins have an intrinsic ability to bind to both RNA and single-stranded (ss) DNA. Both function and tissue-specific expression varies widely for each APOBEC protein. We are beginning to understand that the activity of APOBEC proteins is regulated through genetic alterations, changes in their transcription and mRNA processing, and through their interactions with other macromolecules in the cell. Loss of cellular control of APOBEC activities leads to DNA hypermutation and promiscuous RNA editing associated with the development of cancer or viral drug resistance, underscoring the importance of understanding how APOBEC proteins are regulated.

Structural and functional assessment of APOBEC3G macromolecular complexes

There are eleven members in the human APOBEC family of proteins that are evolutionarily related through their zinc-dependent cytidine deaminase domains. The human APOBEC gene clusters arose on chromosome 6 and 22 through gene duplication and divergence to where current day APOBEC proteins are functionally diverse and broadly expressed in tissues. APOBEC serve enzymatic and non enzymatic functions in cells. In both cases, formation of higher-order structures driven by APOBEC protein-protein interactions and binding to RNA and/or single stranded DNA are integral to their function. In some circumstances, these interactions are regulatory and modulate APOBEC activities. We are just beginning to understand how macromolecular interactions drive processes such as APOBEC subcellular compartmentalization, formation of holoenzyme complexes, gene targeting, foreign DNA restriction, anti-retroviral activity, formation of ribonucleoprotein particles and APOBEC degradation. Protein-protein and protein-nucleic acid cross-linking methods coupled with mass spectrometry, electrophoretic mobility shift assays, glycerol gradient sedimentation, fluorescence anisotropy and APOBEC deaminase assays are enabling mapping of interacting surfaces that are essential for these functions. The goal of this methods review is through example of our research on APOBEC3G, describe the application of cross-linking methods to characterize and quantify macromolecular interactions and their functional implications. Given the homology in structure and function, it is proposed that these methods will be generally applicable to the discovery process for other APOBEC and RNA and DNA editing and modifying proteins.

Functional requirements of AID's higher order structures and their interaction with RNA-binding proteins

Activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID) is essential for the somatic hypermutation (SHM) and class-switch recombination (CSR) of Ig genes. Although both the N and C termini of AID have unique functions in DNA cleavage and recombination, respectively, during SHM and CSR, their molecular mechanisms are poorly understood. Using a bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) assay combined with glycerol gradient fractionation, we revealed that the AID C terminus is required for a stable dimer formation. Furthermore, AID monomers and dimers form complexes with distinct heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins (hnRNPs). AID monomers associate with DNA cleavage cofactor hnRNP K whereas AID dimers associate with recombination cofactors hnRNP L, hnRNP U, and Serpine mRNA-binding protein 1. All of these AID/ribonucleoprotein associations are RNA-dependent. We propose that AID's structure-specific cofactor complex formations differentially contribute to its DNA-cleavage and recombination functions.

RNA binding to APOBEC3G induces the disassembly of functional deaminase complexes by displacing single-stranded DNA substrates

APOBEC3G (A3G) DNA deaminase activity requires a holoenzyme complex whose assembly on nascent viral reverse transcripts initiates with A3G dimers binding to ssDNA followed by formation of higher-order A3G homo oligomers. Catalytic activity is inhibited when A3G binds to RNA. Our prior studies suggested that RNA inhibited A3G binding to ssDNA. In this report, near equilibrium binding and gel shift analyses showed that A3G assembly and disassembly on ssDNA was an ordered process involving A3G dimers and multimers thereof. Although, fluorescence anisotropy showed that A3G had similar nanomolar affinity for RNA and ssDNA, RNA stochastically dissociated A3G dimers and higher-order oligomers from ssDNA, suggesting a different modality for RNA binding. Mass spectrometry mapping of A3G peptides cross-linked to nucleic acid suggested ssDNA only bound to three peptides, amino acids (aa) 181-194 in the N-terminus and aa 314-320 and 345-374 in the C-terminus that were part of a continuous exposed surface. RNA bound to these peptides and uniquely associated with three additional peptides in the N- terminus, aa 15-29, 41-52 and 83-99, that formed a continuous surface area adjacent to the ssDNA binding surface. The data predict a mechanistic model of RNA inhibition of ssDNA binding to A3G in which competitive and allosteric interactions determine RNA-bound versus ssDNA-bound conformational states.

Characterization of the Catalytic Domain of Human APOBEC3B and the Critical Structural Role for a Conserved Methionine

Human APOBEC3B deaminates cytosines in DNA and belongs to the AID/APOBEC family of enzymes. These proteins are involved in innate and adaptive immunity and may cause mutations in a variety of cancers. To characterize its ability to convert cytosines into uracils, we tested several derivatives of APOBEC3B gene for their ability to cause mutations in Escherichia coli. Through this analysis, a methionine residue at the junction of the amino-terminal domain (NTD) and the carboxy-terminal domain (CTD) was found to be essential for high mutagenicity. Properties of mutants with substitutions at this position, examination of existing molecular structures of APOBEC3 family members and molecular modeling suggest that this residue is essential for the structural stability of this family of proteins. The APOBEC3B CTD with the highest mutational activity was purified to homogeneity and its kinetic parameters were determined. Size-exclusion chromatography of the CTD monomer showed that it is in equilibrium with its dimeric form and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight analysis of the protein suggested that the dimer may be quite stable. The partially purified NTD did not show intrinsic deamination activity and did not enhance the activity of the CTD in biochemical assays. Finally, APOBEC3B was at least 10-fold less efficient at mutating 5-methylcytosine (5mC) to thymine than APOBEC3A in a genetic assay and was at least 10-fold less efficient at deaminating 5mC compared to C in biochemical assays. These results shed light on the structural organization of APOBEC3B catalytic domain, its substrate specificity and its possible role in causing genome-wide mutations.

Sensing of biomolecular interactions using fluorescence complementing systems in living cells

Sensing biomolecule interactions in living cells allows for a deeper understanding of the mechanisms governing biological processes, and has increasing significance for improvements in clinical diagnosis. It is now possible by using molecular biosensors. One method involving molecular biosensors is called molecular fluorescence complementation, usually referred to as BiFC (bimolecular fragment/fluorescence complementary/complementation) or TriFC (trimolecular fragment complementary/complementation). This complementation method is based on the principle that two non-fluorescent fragments of a fluorescent protein are brought into sufficient lyclose proximity, upon which they are reconstructed so that fluorescence is re-established. This process relies on the interaction between the two fusion partners, which normally are proteins. This method is simple, noninvasive, sensitive, and does not require specialized tools, hence being available to most standard laboratories. Here, we selectively describe three relevant examples, although many other molecular interactions have been shown to work with this method. Recent developments of this method include multicolor BiFC, which allows for simultaneous detection of multi-biomolecule interactions, RNA-protein interactions, far red and near infrared sensing systems for deep tissue imaging. Challenges in the utilization of this method are discussed. Given the current rate of technological advancements, we believe that fluorescence fragment complementing systems have the potential to be utilized across a wide range of areas, including in routine research and clinical diagnosis.

Host APOBEC3G protein inhibits HCV replication through direct binding at NS3

Human APOBEC3G (hA3G) is a cytidine deaminase that restricts replication of certain viruses. We have previously reported that hA3G was a host restriction factor against hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication, and hA3G stabilizers showed a significant inhibitory activity against HCV. However, the molecular mechanism of hA3G against HCV remains unknown. We show in this study that hA3G’s C-terminal directly binds HCV non-structural protein NS3 at its C-terminus, which is responsible for NS3’s helicase and NTPase activity. Binding of hA3G to the C-terminus of NS3 reduced helicase activity, and therefore inhibited HCV replication. The anti-HCV mechanism of hA3G appeared to be independent of its deamination activity. Although early stage HCV infection resulted in an increase in host hA3G as an intracellular response against HCV replication, hA3G was gradually diminished after a long-term incubation, suggesting an unknown mechanism(s) that protects HCV NS3 from inactivation by hA3G. The process represents, at least partially, a cellular defensive mechanism against HCV and the action is mediated through a direct interaction between host hA3G and HCV NS3. We believe that understanding of the antiviral mechanism of hA3G against HCV might open an interesting avenue to explore hA3G stabilizers as a new class of anti-HCV agents.

Sequence and structural determinants of human APOBEC3H deaminase and anti-HIV-1 activities

BACKGROUND

Human APOBEC3H (A3H) belongs to the A3 family of host restriction factors, which are cytidine deaminases that catalyze conversion of deoxycytidine to deoxyuridine in single-stranded DNA. A3 proteins contain either one (A3A, A3C, A3H) or two (A3B, A3D, A3F, A3G) Zn-binding domains. A3H has seven haplotypes (I-VII) that exhibit diverse biological phenotypes and geographical distribution in the human population. Its single Zn-coordinating deaminase domain belongs to a phylogenetic cluster (Z3) that is different from the Z1- and Z2-type domains in other human A3 proteins. A3H HapII, unlike A3A or A3C, has potent activity against HIV-1. Here, we sought to identify the determinants of A3H HapII deaminase and antiviral activities, using site-directed sequence- and structure-guided mutagenesis together with cell-based, biochemical, and HIV-1 infectivity assays.

RESULTS

We have constructed a homology model of A3H HapII, which is similar to the known structures of other A3 proteins. The model revealed a large cluster of basic residues (not present in A3A or A3C) that are likely to be involved in nucleic acid binding. Indeed, RNase A pretreatment of 293T cell lysates expressing A3H was shown to be required for detection of deaminase activity, indicating that interaction with cellular RNAs inhibits A3H catalytic function. Similar observations have been made with A3G. Analysis of A3H deaminase substrate specificity demonstrated that a 5' T adjacent to the catalytic C is preferred. Changing the putative nucleic acid binding residues identified by the model resulted in reduction or abrogation of enzymatic activity, while substituting Z3-specific residues in A3H to the corresponding residues in other A3 proteins did not affect enzyme function. As shown for A3G and A3F, some A3H mutants were defective in catalysis, but retained antiviral activity against HIV-1vif (-) virions. Furthermore, endogenous reverse transcription assays demonstrated that the E56A catalytic mutant inhibits HIV-1 DNA synthesis, although not as efficiently as wild type.

CONCLUSIONS

The molecular and biological activities of A3H are more similar to those of the double-domain A3 proteins than to those of A3A or A3C. Importantly, A3H appears to use both deaminase-dependent and -independent mechanisms to target reverse transcription and restrict HIV-1 replication.

Structure-guided analysis of the human APOBEC3-HIV restrictome

Human APOBEC3 (A3) proteins are host-encoded intrinsic restriction factors that inhibit the replication of many retroviral pathogens. Restriction is believed to occur as a result of the DNA cytosine deaminase activity of the A3 proteins; this activity converts cytosines into uracils in single-stranded DNA retroviral replication intermediates. A3 proteins are also equipped with deamination-independent means to restrict retroviruses that work cooperatively with deamination-dependent restriction pathways. A3 proteins substantially bolster the intrinsic immune system by providing a powerful block to the transmission of retroviral pathogens; however, most retroviruses are able to subvert this replicative restriction in their natural host. HIV-1, for instance, evades A3 proteins through the activity of its accessory protein Vif. Here, we summarize data from recent A3 structural and functional studies to provide perspectives into the interactions between cellular A3 proteins and HIV-1 macromolecules throughout the viral replication cycle.

The multifaceted roles of RNA binding in APOBEC cytidine deaminase functions

Cytidine deaminases have important roles in the regulation of nucleoside/deoxynucleoside pools for DNA and RNA synthesis. The APOBEC family of cytidine deaminases (named after the first member of the family that was described, Apolipoprotein B mRNA Editing Catalytic Subunit 1, also known as APOBEC1 or A1) is a fascinating group of mutagenic proteins that use RNA and single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) as substrates for their cytidine or deoxycytidine deaminase activities. APOBEC proteins and base-modification nucleic acid editing have been the subject of numerous publications, reviews, and speculation. These proteins play diverse roles in host cell defense, protecting cells from invading genetic material, enabling the acquired immune response to antigens and changing protein expression at the level of the genetic code in mRNA or DNA. The amazing power these proteins have for interphase cell functions relies on structural and biochemical properties that are beginning to be understood. At the same time, the substrate selectivity of each member in the family and their regulation remains to be elucidated. This review of the APOBEC family will focus on an open question in regulation, namely what role the interactions of these proteins with RNA have in editing substrate recognition or allosteric regulation of DNA mutagenic and host-defense activities.

APOBEC3 multimerization correlates with HIV-1 packaging and restriction activity in living cells

APOBEC3G belongs to a family of DNA cytosine deaminases that are involved in the restriction of a broad number of retroviruses including human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). Prior studies have identified two distinct mechanistic steps in Vif-deficient HIV-1 restriction: packaging into virions and deaminating viral cDNA. APOBEC3A, for example, although highly active, is not packaged and is therefore not restrictive. APOBEC3G, on the other hand, although having weaker enzymatic activity, is packaged into virions and is strongly restrictive. Although a number of studies have described the propensity for APOBEC3 oligomerization, its relevance to HIV-1 restriction remains unclear. Here, we address this problem by examining APOBEC3 oligomerization in living cells using molecular brightness analysis. We find that APOBEC3G forms high-order multimers as a function of protein concentration. In contrast, APOBEC3A, APOBEC3C and APOBEC2 are monomers at all tested concentrations. Among other members of the APOBEC3 family, we show that the multimerization propensities of APOBEC3B, APOBEC3D, APOBEC3F and APOBEC3H (haplotype II) bear more resemblance to APOBEC3G than to APOBEC3A/3C/2. Prior studies have shown that all of these multimerizing APOBEC3 proteins, but not the monomeric family members, have the capacity to package into HIV-1 particles and restrict viral infectivity. This correlation between oligomerization and restriction is further evidenced by two different APOBEC3G mutants, which are each compromised for multimerization, packaging and HIV-1 restriction. Overall, our results imply that multimerization of APOBEC3 proteins may be related to the packaging mechanism and ultimately to virus restriction.

Multiple APOBEC3 restriction factors for HIV-1 and one Vif to rule them all

Several members of the APOBEC3 family of cellular restriction factors provide intrinsic immunity to the host against viral infection. Specifically, APOBEC3DE, APOBEC3F, APOBEC3G, and APOBEC3H haplotypes II, V, and VII provide protection against HIV-1Δvif through hypermutation of the viral genome, inhibition of reverse transcription, and inhibition of viral DNA integration into the host genome. HIV-1 counteracts APOBEC3 proteins by encoding the viral protein Vif, which contains distinct domains that specifically interact with these APOBEC3 proteins to ensure their proteasomal degradation, allowing virus replication to proceed. Here, we review our current understanding of APOBEC3 structure, editing and non-editing mechanisms of APOBEC3-mediated restriction, Vif-APOBEC3 interactions that trigger APOBEC3 degradation, and the contribution of APOBEC3 proteins to restriction and control of HIV-1 replication in infected patients.

Biochemical and biological studies of mouse APOBEC3

Many murine leukemia viruses (MLVs) are partially resistant to restriction by mouse APOBEC3 (mA3) and essentially fully resistant to induction of G-to-A mutations by mA3. In contrast, Vif-deficient HIV-1 (ΔVif HIV-1) is profoundly restricted by mA3, and the restriction includes high levels of G-to-A mutation. Human APOBEC3G (hA3G), unlike mA3, is fully active against MLVs. We produced a glutathione S-transferase-mA3 fusion protein in insect cells and demonstrated that it possesses cytidine deaminase activity, as expected. This activity is localized within the N-terminal domain of this 2-domain protein; the C-terminal domain is enzymatically inactive but required for mA3 encapsidation into retrovirus particles. We found that a specific arginine residue and several aromatic residues, as well as the zinc-coordinating cysteines in the C-terminal domain, are necessary for mA3 packaging; a structural model of this domain suggests that these residues line a potential nucleic acid-binding interface. Mutation of a few potential phosphorylation sites in mA3 drastically reduces its antiviral activity by impairing either deaminase activity or its encapsidation. mA3 deaminates short single-stranded DNA oligonucleotides preferentially toward their 3' ends, whereas hA3G exhibits the opposite polarity. However, when packaged into infectious ΔVif HIV-1 virions, both mA3 and hA3G preferentially induce deaminations toward the 5' end of minus-strand viral DNA, presumably because of the sequence of events during reverse transcription in vivo. Despite the fact that mA3 in MLV particles does not induce detectable deaminations upon infection, its deaminase activity is easily detected in virus lysates. We still do not understand how MLV resists mA3-induced G-to-A mutation.

IMPORTANCE

One way that mammalian cells defend themselves against infection by retroviruses is with APOBEC3 proteins. These proteins convert cytidine bases to uridine bases in retroviral DNA. However, mouse APOBEC3 protein blocks infection by murine leukemia viruses without catalyzing this base change, and the mechanism of inhibition is not understood in this case. We have produced recombinant mouse APOBEC3 protein for the first time and characterized it here in a number of ways. Our mutational studies shed light on the mechanism by which mouse APOBEC3 protein is incorporated into retrovirus particles. While mouse APOBEC3 does not catalyze base changes in murine leukemia virus DNA, it can be recovered from these virus particles in enzymatically active form; it is still not clear why it fails to induce base changes when these viruses infect new cells.

Nuclear import of APOBEC3F-labeled HIV-1 preintegration complexes

Human cytidine deaminases APOBEC3F (A3F) and APOBEC3G (A3G) are host factors that incorporate into virions and restrict virus replication. We labeled HIV-1 particles with yellow fluorescent protein (YFP)-tagged APOBEC3 proteins and examined their association with preintegration complexes (PICs) in infected cells. Labeling of PICs with A3F-YFP, and to a lesser extent A3G-YFP, could be used to visualize PICs in the nuclei, which was dependent on nuclear pore protein Nup153 but not TNPO3. We show that reverse transcription is not required for nuclear import of PICs, indicating that a viral core uncoating event associated with reverse transcription, and the central DNA flap that forms during reverse transcription, are not required for nuclear import. We also quantify association of cytoplasmic PICs with nuclear envelope (NE) and report that capsid mutations that increase or decrease core stability dramatically reduce NE association and nuclear import of PICs. In addition, we find that nuclear PICs remain close to the NE and are not distributed throughout the nuclei. These results provide tools for tracking retroviral PICs in infected cells and reveal insights into HIV-1 replication.

The roles of APOBEC3G complexes in the incorporation of APOBEC3G into HIV-1

Background

The incorporation of human APOBEC3G (hA3G) into HIV is required for exerting its antiviral activity, therefore the mechanism underlying hA3G virion encapsidation has been investigated extensively. hA3G was shown to form low-molecular-mass (LMM) and high-molecular-mass (HMM) complexes. The function of different forms of hA3G in its viral incorporation remains unclear.

Methodology/Principal Findings

In this study, we investigated the subcellular distribution and lipid raft association of hA3G using subcellular fractionation, membrane floatation assay and pulse-chase radiolabeling experiments respectively, and studied the correlation between the ability of hA3G to form the different complex and its viral incorporation. Our work herein provides evidence that the majority of newly-synthesized hA3G interacts with membrane lipid raft domains to form Lipid raft-associated hA3G (RA hA3G), which serve as the precursor of mature HMM hA3G complex, while a minority of newly-synthesized hA3G remains in the cytoplasm as a soluble LMM form. The distribution of hA3G among the soluble LMM form, the RA LMM form and the mature forms of HMM is regulated by a mechanism involving the N-terminal part of the linker region and the C-terminus of hA3G. Mutagenesis studies reveal a direct correlation between the ability of hA3G to form the RA LMM complex and its viral incorporation.

Conclusions/Significance

Together these data suggest that the Lipid raft-associated LMM A3G complex functions as the cellular source of viral hA3G.

Atomic force microscopy studies of APOBEC3G oligomerization and dynamics

The DNA cytosine deaminase APOBEC3G (A3G) is a two-domain protein that binds single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) largely through its N-terminal domain and catalyzes deamination using its C-terminal domain. A3G is considered an innate immune effector protein, with a natural capacity to block the replication of retroviruses such as HIV and retrotransposons. However, knowledge about its biophysical properties and mechanism of interaction with DNA are still limited. Oligomerization is one of these unclear issues. What is the stoichiometry of the free protein? What are the factors defining the oligomeric state of the protein? How does the protein oligomerization change upon DNA binding? How stable are protein oligomers? We address these questions here using atomic force microscopy (AFM) to directly image A3G protein in a free-state and in complexes with DNA, and using time-lapse AFM imaging to characterize the dynamics of A3G oligomers. We found that the formation of oligomers is an inherent property of A3G and that the yield of oligomers depends on the protein concentration. Oligomerization of A3G in complexes with ssDNA follows a similar pattern: the higher the protein concentrations the larger oligomers sizes. The specificity of A3G binding to ssDNA does not depend on stoichiometry. The binding of large A3G oligomers requires a longer ssDNA substrate; therefore, much smaller oligomers form complexes with short ssDNA. A3G oligomers dissociate spontaneously into monomers and this process primarily occurs through a monomer dissociation pathway.

Mov10 and APOBEC3G localization to processing bodies is not required for virion incorporation and antiviral activity

Mov10 and APOBEC3G (A3G) localize to cytoplasmic granules called processing bodies (P bodies), incorporate into human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) virions, and inhibit viral replication. The functional relevance of Mov10/A3G P-body localization to virion incorporation and antiviral activity has not been fully explored. We found that a helicase V mutant of Mov10 exhibits significantly reduced localization to P bodies but still efficiently inhibits viral infectivity via virion incorporation. Disruption of the P bodies by DDX6 knockdown also confirmed Mov10 antiviral activity without P-body localization. In addition, overexpression of SRP19, which binds to 7SL RNA, depleted A3G from P bodies but did not affect its virion incorporation. Sucrose gradient sedimentation assays revealed that the majority of Mov10, A3G, HIV-1 RNA, and Gag formed high-molecular-mass (HMM) complexes that are converted to low-molecular-mass (LMM) complexes after RNase A treatment. In contrast, the P-body markers DCP2, LSM1, eIF4e, DDX6, and AGO1 were in LMM complexes, whereas AGO2, an effector protein of the RNA-induced silencing complex that localizes to P bodies, was present in both LMM and HMM complexes. Depletion of AGO2 indicated that RNA-induced silencing function is required for Mov10's ability to reduce Gag expression upon overexpression, but not its virion incorporation or effect on virus infectivity. We conclude that the majority of Mov10 and A3G are in HMM complexes, whereas most of the P-body markers are in LMM complexes, and that virion incorporation and the antiviral activities of Mov10 and A3G do not require their localization to P bodies.

APOBEC3 inhibits DEAD-END function to regulate microRNA activity

The RNA binding protein DEAD-END (DND1) is one of the few proteins known to regulate microRNA (miRNA) activity at the level of miRNA-mRNA interaction. DND1 blocks miRNA interaction with the 3′-untranslated region (3′-UTR) of specific mRNAs and restores protein expression. Previously, we showed that the DNA cytosine deaminase, APOBEC3 (apolipoprotein B mRNA-editing enzyme, catalytic polypeptide like 3), interacts with DND1. APOBEC3 has been primarily studied for its role in restricting and inactivating retroviruses and retroelements. In this report, we examine the significance of DND1-APOBEC3 interaction. We found that while human DND1 inhibits miRNA-mediated inhibition of P27, human APOBEC3G is able to counteract this repression and restore miRNA activity. APOBEC3G, by itself, does not affect the 3′-UTR of P27. We found that APOBEC3G also blocks DND1 function to restore miR-372 and miR-206 inhibition through the 3′-UTRs of LATS2 and CX43, respectively. In corollary experiments, we tested whether DND1 affects the viral restriction function or mutator activity of APOBEC3. We found that DND1 does not affect APOBEC3 inhibition of infectivity of exogenous retrovirus HIV (ΔVif) or retrotransposition of MusD. In addition, examination of Ter/Ter;Apobec3−/− mice, lead us to conclude that DND1 does not regulate the mutator activity of APOBEC3 in germ cells. In summary, our results show that APOBEC3 is able to modulate DND1 function to regulate miRNA mediated translational regulation in cells but DND1 does not affect known APOBEC3 function.

A Comparison of Two Single-Stranded DNA Binding Models by Mutational Analysis of APOBEC3G

APOBEC3G is the best known of several DNA cytosine deaminases that function to inhibit the replication of parasitic genetic elements including the lentivirus HIV. Several high-resolution structures of the APOBEC3G catalytic domain have been generated, but none reveal how this enzyme binds to substrate single-stranded DNA. Here, we constructed a panel of APOBEC3G amino acid substitution mutants and performed a series of biochemical, genetic, and structural assays to distinguish between “Brim” and “Kink” models for single-strand DNA binding. Each model predicts distinct sets of interactions between surface arginines and negatively charged phosphates in the DNA backbone. Concordant with both models, changing the conserved arginine at position 313 to glutamate abolished both catalytic and restriction activities. In support of the Brim model, arginine to glutamate substitutions at positions 213, 215, and 320 also compromised these APOBEC3G activities. Arginine to glutamate substitutions at Kink model residues 374 and 376 had smaller effects. These observations were supported by A3G catalytic domain-ssDNA chemical shift perturbation experiments. The overall data set is most consistent with the Brim model for single-stranded DNA binding by APOBEC3G.

Antiviral Mechanism and Biochemical Basis of the Human APOBEC3 Family

The human APOBEC3 (A3) family (A, B, C, DE, F, G, and H) comprises host defense factors that potently inhibit the replication of diverse retroviruses, retrotransposons, and the other viral pathogens. HIV-1 has a counterstrategy that includes expressing the Vif protein to abrogate A3 antiviral function. Without Vif, A3 proteins, particularly APOBEC3G (A3G) and APOBEC3F (A3F), inhibit HIV-1 replication by blocking reverse transcription and/or integration and hypermutating nascent viral cDNA. The molecular mechanisms of this antiviral activity have been primarily attributed to two biochemical characteristics common to A3 proteins: catalyzing cytidine deamination in single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) and a nucleic acid-binding capability that is specific to ssDNA or ssRNA. Recent advances suggest that unique property of A3G dimer/oligomer formations, is also important for the modification of antiviral activity. In this review article we summarize how A3 proteins, particularly A3G, inhibit viral replication based on the biochemical and structural characteristics of the A3G protein.

Direct evidence that RNA inhibits APOBEC3G ssDNA cytidine deaminase activity

APOBEC3G (A3G) is a deoxycytidine deaminase active on ssDNA substrates. In HIV infected cells A3G interacted with reverse transcription complexes where its activity as a deoxycytidine deaminase led to mutation of the viral genome. A3G not only bound ssDNA, but it also had an intrinsic ability to bind RNA. In many cell types that can support HIV replication, A3G ssDNA deaminase activity was suppressed and the enzyme resided in high molecular mass, ribonucleoprotein complexes associated with cytoplasmic P-bodies and stress granules. Using a defined in vitro system, we show that RNA alone was sufficient to suppress A3G deaminase activity and did so in an RNA concentration-dependent manner. RNAs of diverse sequences and as short as 25nt were effective inhibitors. Native PAGE analyses showed that RNA formed ribonucleoprotein complexes with A3G and in so doing prevented ssDNA substrates from binding to A3G. The data provided direct evidence that A3G binding to cellular RNAs constituted a substantial impediment to the enzyme's ability to interact with ssDNA.

Deaminase activity on single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) occurs in vitro when APOBEC3G cytidine deaminase forms homotetramers and higher-order complexes

APOBEC3G (A3G) is a cytidine deaminase that catalyzes deamination of deoxycytidine (dC) on single-stranded DNA (ssDNA). The oligomeric state of A3G required to support deaminase activity remains unknown. We show under defined in vitro conditions that full-length and native A3G formed complexes with ssDNA in an A3G concentration-dependent but temperature-independent manner. Complexes assembled and maintained at 4 °C did not have significant deaminase activity, but their enzymatic function could be restored by subsequent incubation at 37 °C. This approach enabled complexes of a defined size range to be isolated and subsequently evaluated for their contribution to enzymatic activity. The composition of A3G bound to ssDNA was determined by protein-protein chemical cross-linking. A3G-ssDNA complexes of 16 S were necessary for deaminase activity and consisted of cross-linked A3G homotetramers and homodimers. At lower concentrations, A3G only formed 5.8 S homodimers on ssDNA with low deaminase activity. Monomeric A3G was not identified in 5.8 S or 16 S complexes. We propose that deaminase-dependent antiviral activity of A3G in vivo may require a critical concentration of A3G in viral particles that will promote oligomerization on ssDNA during reverse transcription.

The role of amino-terminal sequences in cellular localization and antiviral activity of APOBEC3B

Human APOBEC3B (A3B) has been described as a potent inhibitor of retroviral infection and retrotransposition. However, we found that the predominantly nuclear A3B only weakly restricted infection by HIV-1, HIV-1Δvif, and human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1), while significantly inhibiting LINE-1 retrotransposition. The chimeric construct A3G/B, in which the first 60 amino acids of A3B were replaced with those of A3G, restricted HIV-1, HIV-1Δvif, and HTLV-1 infection, as well as LINE-1 retrotransposition. In contrast to the exclusively cytoplasmic A3G, which is inactive against LINE-1 retrotransposition, the A3G/B protein, while localized mainly to the cytoplasm, was also present in the nucleus. Further mutational analysis revealed that residues 18, 19, 22, and 24 in A3B were the major determinants for nuclear versus cytoplasmic localization and antiretroviral activity. HIV-1Δvif packages A3G, A3B, and A3G/B into particles with close-to-equal efficiencies. Mutation E68Q or E255Q in the active centers of A3G/B resulted in loss of the inhibitory activity against HIV-1Δvif, while not affecting activity against LINE-1 retrotransposition. The low inhibition of HIV-1Δvif by A3B correlated with a low rate of G-to-A hypermutation. In contrast, viruses that had been exposed to A3G/B showed a high number of G-to-A transitions. The mutation pattern was similar to that previously reported for A3B, with a preference for the GA context. In summary, these observations suggest that changing 4 residues in the amino terminus of A3B not only retargets the protein from the nucleus to the cytoplasm but also enhances its ability to restrict HIV while retaining inhibition of retrotransposition.

Completion of hepatitis C virus replication cycle in heterokaryons excludes dominant restrictions in human non-liver and mouse liver cell lines

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is hepatotropic and only infects humans and chimpanzees. Consequently, an immunocompetent small animal model is lacking. The restricted tropism of HCV likely reflects specific host factor requirements. We investigated if dominant restriction factors expressed in non-liver or non-human cell lines inhibit HCV propagation thus rendering these cells non-permissive. To this end we explored if HCV completes its replication cycle in heterokaryons between human liver cell lines and non-permissive cell lines from human non-liver or mouse liver origin. Despite functional viral pattern recognition pathways and responsiveness to interferon, virus production was observed in all fused cells and was only ablated when cells were treated with exogenous interferon. These results exclude that constitutive or virus-induced expression of dominant restriction factors prevents propagation of HCV in these cell types, which has important implications for HCV tissue and species tropism. In turn, these data strongly advocate transgenic approaches of crucial human HCV cofactors to establish an immunocompetent small animal model.

The barriers preventing viral transmission across species are only incompletely understood. On one hand, narrow tropism reflects dependence of viruses on host cell factors and their species-specific utilization. On the other hand, host cellular antiviral factors can preclude virus replication. These may be constitutively expressed or induced by interferon triggered upon viral infection. Although viruses have evolved strategies to cope with these “restriction factors” in their natural hosts, these mechanisms often fail in alternative host species. Consequently, restriction factors pose an important barrier to cross-species viral transmission. We investigated if virus-induced or constitutively expressed dominant restriction factors preclude HCV propagation in non-liver tissue and in non-human cells. Using cell fusions between human and mouse cells we show that HCV completes its replication cycle in these heterokaryons. Moreover, we show that the mouse cells analyzed by us are able to sense viral infection and to respond to exogenous interferon. These results rule out that constitutive or virus-induced dominant restriction factors preclude HCV propagation in these cells. These findings have implications for HCV tissue and species tropism and they raise hopes for development of immunocompetent small models for HCV by transgenesis of essential human factors and without manipulation of innate immune mechanisms.

The cellular source for APOBEC3G's incorporation into HIV-1

Background

Human APOBEC3G (hA3G) has been identified as a cellular inhibitor of HIV-1 infectivity. Viral incorporation of hA3G is an essential step for its antiviral activity. Although the mechanism underlying hA3G virion encapsidation has been investigated extensively, the cellular source of viral hA3G remains unclear.

Results

Previous studies have shown that hA3G forms low-molecular-mass (LMM) and high-molecular-mass (HMM) complexes. Our work herein provides evidence that the majority of newly-synthesized hA3G interacts with membrane lipid raft domains to form Lipid raft-associated hA3G (RA hA3G), which serve as the precursor of the mature HMM hA3G complex, while a minority of newly-synthesized hA3G remains in the cytoplasm as a soluble LMM form. The distribution of hA3G among the soluble LMM form, the RA LMM form and the mature forms of HMM is regulated by a mechanism involving the N-terminal part of the linker region and the C-terminus of hA3G. Mutagenesis studies reveal a direct correlation between the ability of hA3G to form the RA LMM complex and its viral incorporation.

Conclusions

Together these data suggest that the Lipid raft-associated LMM A3G complex functions as the cellular source of viral hA3G.

P body-associated protein Mov10 inhibits HIV-1 replication at multiple stages

Recent studies have shown that APOBEC3G (A3G), a potent inhibitor of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) replication, is localized to cytoplasmic mRNA-processing bodies (P bodies). However, the functional relevance of A3G colocalization with P body marker proteins has not been established. To explore the relationship between HIV-1, A3G, and P bodies, we analyzed the effects of overexpression of P body marker proteins Mov10, DCP1a, and DCP2 on HIV-1 replication. Our results show that overexpression of Mov10, a putative RNA helicase that was previously reported to belong to the DExD superfamily and was recently reported to belong to the Upf1-like group of helicases, but not the decapping enzymes DCP1a and DCP2, leads to potent inhibition of HIV-1 replication at multiple stages. Mov10 overexpression in the virus producer cells resulted in reductions in the steady-state levels of the HIV-1 Gag protein and virus production; Mov10 was efficiently incorporated into virions and reduced virus infectivity, in part by inhibiting reverse transcription. In addition, A3G and Mov10 overexpression reduced proteolytic processing of HIV-1 Gag. The inhibitory effects of A3G and Mov10 were additive, implying a lack of functional interaction between the two inhibitors. Small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated knockdown of endogenous Mov10 by 80% resulted in a 2-fold reduction in virus production but no discernible impact on the infectivity of the viruses after normalization for the p24 input, suggesting that endogenous Mov10 was not required for viral infectivity. Overall, these results show that Mov10 can potently inhibit HIV-1 replication at multiple stages.

Rationalisation of the differences between APOBEC3G structures from crystallography and NMR studies by molecular dynamics simulations

The human APOBEC3G (A3G) protein is a cellular polynucleotide cytidine deaminase that acts as a host restriction factor of retroviruses, including HIV-1 and various transposable elements. Recently, three NMR and two crystal structures of the catalytic deaminase domain of A3G have been reported, but these are in disagreement over the conformation of a terminal β-strand, β2, as well as the identification of a putative DNA binding site. We here report molecular dynamics simulations with all of the solved A3G catalytic domain structures, taking into account solubility enhancing mutations that were introduced during derivation of three out of the five structures. In the course of these simulations, we observed a general trend towards increased definition of the β2 strand for those structures that have a distorted starting conformation of β2. Solvent density maps around the protein as calculated from MD simulations indicated that this distortion is dependent on preferential hydration of residues within the β2 strand. We also demonstrate that the identification of a pre-defined DNA binding site is prevented by the inherent flexibility of loops that determine access to the deaminase catalytic core. We discuss the implications of our analyses for the as yet unresolved structure of the full-length A3G protein and its biological functions with regard to hypermutation of DNA.

HIV-1 Vif versus the APOBEC3 cytidine deaminases: an intracellular duel between pathogen and host restriction factors

The Vif protein of HIV is essential for the effective propagation of this pathogenic retrovirus in vivo. Vif acts by preventing virion encapsidation of two potent antiviral factors, the APOBEC3G and APOBEC3F cytidine deaminases. Decreased encapsidation in part involves Vif-mediated recruitment of a ubiquitin E3 ligase complex that promotes polyubiquitylation and proteasome-mediated degradation of APOBEC3G/F. The resultant decline in intracellular levels of these enzymes leads to decreased encapsidation of APOBECG/F into budding virions. This review discusses recent advances in our understanding of the dynamic interplay of Vif with the antiviral APOBEC3 enzymes.