3D visualization of HIV transfer at the virological synapse between dendritic cells and T cells

The efficiency of HIV infection is greatly enhanced when the virus is delivered at conjugates between CD4+ T cells and virus-bearing antigen-presenting cells such as macrophages or dendritic cells via specialized structures known as virological synapses. Using ion abrasion SEM, electron tomography, and superresolution light microscopy, we have analyzed the spatial architecture of cell-cell contacts and distribution of HIV virions at virological synapses formed between mature dendritic cells and T cells. We demonstrate the striking envelopment of T cells by sheet-like membrane extensions derived from mature dendritic cells, resulting in a shielded region for formation of virological synapses. Within the synapse, filopodial extensions emanating from CD4+ T cells make contact with HIV virions sequestered deep within a 3D network of surface-accessible compartments in the dendritic cell. Viruses are detected at the membrane surfaces of both dendritic cells and T cells, but virions are not released passively at the synapse; instead, virus transfer requires the engagement of T-cell CD4 receptors. The relative seclusion of T cells from the extracellular milieu, the burial of the site of HIV transfer, and the receptor-dependent initiation of virion transfer by T cells highlight unique aspects of cell-cell HIV transmission.

Crystal Structures of the histidine acid phosphatase from Francisella tularensis provide insight into substrate recognition

Histidine acid phosphatases catalyze the transfer of a phosphoryl group from phosphomonoesters to water at acidic pH using an active-site histidine. The histidine acid phosphatase from the category A pathogen Francisella tularensis (FtHAP) has been implicated in intramacrophage survival and virulence, motivating interest in understanding the structure and mechanism of this enzyme. Here, we report a structure-based study of ligand recognition by FtHAP. The 1.70-A-resolution structure of FtHAP complexed with the competitive inhibitor l(+)-tartrate was solved using single-wavelength anomalous diffraction phasing. Structures of the ligand-free enzyme and the complex with inorganic phosphate were determined at resolutions of 1.85 and 1.70 A, respectively. The structure of the Asp261Ala mutant enzyme complexed with the substrate 3'-AMP was determined at 1.50 A resolution to gain insight into substrate recognition. FtHAP exhibits a two-domain fold similar to that of human prostatic acid phosphatase, consisting of an alpha/beta core domain and a smaller domain that caps the core domain. The structures show that the core domain supplies the phosphoryl binding site, catalytic histidine (His17), and an aspartic acid residue (Asp261) that protonates the leaving group, while the cap domain contributes residues that enforce substrate preference. FtHAP and human prostatic acid phosphatase differ in the orientation of the crucial first helix of the cap domain, implying differences in the substrate preferences of the two enzymes. 3'-AMP binds in one end of a 15-A-long tunnel, with the adenine clamped between Phe23 and Tyr135, and the ribose 2'-hydroxyl interacting with Gln132. The importance of the clamp is confirmed with site-directed mutagenesis; mutation of Phe23 and Tyr135 individually to Ala increases K(m) by factors of 7 and 10, respectively. The structural data are consistent with a role for FtHAP in scavenging phosphate from small molecules present in host macrophage cells.

Characterization of a unique class C acid phosphatase from Clostridium perfringens

Clostridium perfringens is a gram-positive anaerobe and a pathogen of medical importance. The detection of acid phosphatase activity is a powerful diagnostic indicator of the presence of C. perfringens among anaerobic isolates; however, characterization of the enzyme has not previously been reported. Provided here are details of the characterization of a soluble recombinant form of this cell-associated enzyme. The denatured enzyme was approximately 31 kDa and a homodimer in solution. It catalyzed the hydrolysis of several substrates, including para-nitrophenyl phosphate, 4-methylumbelliferyl phosphate, and 3' and 5' nucleoside monophosphates at pH 6. Calculated K(m)s ranged from 0.2 to 0.6 mM with maximum velocity ranging from 0.8 to 1.6 micromol of P(i)/s/mg. Activity was enhanced in the presence of some divalent cations but diminished in the presence of others. Wild-type enzyme was detected in all clinical C. perfringens isolates tested and found to be cell associated. The described enzyme belongs to nonspecific acid phosphatase class C but is devoid of lipid modification commonly attributed to this class.

Expression, purification and crystallization of class C acid phosphatases from Francisella tularensis and Pasteurella multocida

Class C nonspecific acid phosphatases are bacterial enzymes that are secreted across the cytoplasmic membrane and hydrolyze a variety of phosphomonoesters at acidic pH. These enzymes are of interest for the development of improved vaccines and clinical diagnostic methods. In one case, the category A pathogen Francisella tularensis, the class C phosphatase plays a role in bacterial fitness. Here, the cloning, expression, purification and crystallization methods for the class C acid phosphatases from F. tularensis and Pasteurella multocida are reported. Crystals of the F. tularensis enzyme diffracted to 2.0 A resolution and belonged to space group C222(1), with one enzyme molecule in the asymmetric unit. Crystals of the P. multocida enzyme diffracted to 1.85 A resolution and belonged to space group C2, with three molecules in the asymmetric unit. Diffraction patterns from crystals of the P. multocida enzyme exhibited multiple interpenetrating reciprocal-space lattices, indicating epitaxial twinning. Despite this aberrance, autoindexing was robust and the data could be satisfactorily processed to 1.85 A resolution using MOSFLM and SCALA.

Structure of recombinant Haemophilus influenzae e (P4) acid phosphatase reveals a new member of the haloacid dehalogenase superfamily

Lipoprotein e (P4) from Haemophilus influenzae belongs to the "DDDD" superfamily of phosphohydrolases and is the prototype of class C nonspecific acid phosphatases. P4 is also a component of a H. influenzae vaccine. We report the crystal structures of recombinant P4 in the ligand-free and tungstate-inhibited forms, which are the first structures of a class C phosphatase. P4 has a two-domain architecture consisting of a core alpha/beta domain and a smaller alpha domain. The core domain features a five-stranded beta-sheet flanked by helices on both sides that is reminiscent of the haloacid dehalogenase superfamily. The alpha domain appears to be unique and plays roles in substrate binding and dimerization. The active site is solvent accessible and located in a cleft between the two domains. The structure shows that P4 is a metalloenzyme and that magnesium is the most likely metal ion in the crystalline recombinant enzyme. The ligands of the metal ion are the carboxyl groups of the first and third Asp residues of the DDDD motif, the backbone carbonyl of the second Asp of the DDDD motif, and two water molecules. The structure of the tungstate-bound enzyme suggests that Asp64 is the nucleophile that attacks the substrate P atom. Dimerization appears to be important for catalysis because intersubunit contacts stabilize the active site. Analysis of the structural context of mutations engineered for vaccine studies shows that the most promising mutations are located in the dimer interface. This observation suggests a structure-based vaccine design strategy in which the dimer interface is disrupted in order to expose epitopes that are buried in dimeric P4.

Structure of Francisella tularensis AcpA

AcpA is a respiratory burst-inhibiting acid phosphatase from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Category A bioterrorism agent Francisella tularensis and prototype of a superfamily of acid phosphatases and phospholipases C. We report the 1.75-A resolution crystal structure of AcpA complexed with the inhibitor orthovanadate, which is the first structure of any F. tularensis protein and the first for any member of this superfamily. The core domain is a twisted 8-stranded beta-sheet flanked by three alpha-helices on either side, with the active site located above the carboxyl-terminal edge of the beta-sheet. This architecture is unique among acid phosphatases and resembles that of alkaline phosphatase. Unexpectedly, the active site features a serine nucleophile and metal ion with octahedral coordination. Structure-based sequence analysis of the AcpA superfamily predicts that the hydroxyl nucleophile and metal center are also present in AcpA-like phospholipases C. These results imply a phospholipase C catalytic mechanism that is radically different from that of zinc metallophospholipases.

Cloning, purification and crystallization of Bacillus anthracis class C acid phosphatase

Cloning, expression, purification and crystallization studies of a recombinant class C acid phosphatase from the Category A pathogen Bacillus anthracis are reported. Large diffraction-quality crystals were grown in the presence of HEPES and Jeffamine ED-2001 at pH 7.0. The crystals belong to space group P2(1)2(1)2(1), with unit-cell parameters a = 53.4, b = 90.1, c = 104.2 angstroms. The asymmetric unit is predicted to contain two protein molecules with a solvent content of 38%. Two native data sets were collected from the same crystal before and after flash-annealing. The first data set had a mosaicity of 1.6 degrees and a high-resolution limit of 1.8 angstroms. After flash-annealing, the apparent mosaicity decreased to 0.9 degrees and the high-resolution limit of usable data increased to 1.6 angstroms. This crystal form is currently being used to determine the structure of B. anthracis class C acid phosphatase with experimental phasing techniques.

Crystallization of recombinant Haemophilus influenzae e (P4) acid phosphatase

Haemophilus influenzae infects the upper respiratory tract of humans and can cause infections of the middle ear, sinuses and bronchi. The virulence of the pathogen is thought to involve a group of surface-localized macromolecular components that mediate interactions at the host-pathogen interface. One of these components is lipoprotein e (P4), which is a class C acid phosphatase and a potential vaccine candidate for nontypeable H. influenzae infections. This paper reports the crystallization of recombinant e (P4) and the acquisition of a 1.7 angstroms resolution native X-ray diffraction data set. The space group is P4(2)2(1)2, with unit-cell parameters a = 65.6, c = 101.4 angstroms, one protein molecule per asymmetric unit and 37% solvent content. This is the first report of the crystallization of a class C acid phosphatase.

Characterization of recombinant Francisella tularensis acid phosphatase A

Francisella tularensis is the etiologic agent of the potentially fatal human disease tularemia and is capable of survival and multiplication within professional phagocytes of the host. While the mechanisms that allow intracellular survival of the bacterium are only now beginning to be elucidated at the molecular level, previous work demonstrated that F. tularensis produces copious levels of an acid phosphatase which in crude and purified form affected the dose-dependent abrogation of the respiratory burst of stimulated neutrophils. The work presented here was undertaken to provide a source of recombinant F. tularensis acid phosphatase for detailed biochemical, biological, and structural studies. Results from this work are consistent with the ability to generate milligram amounts of recombinant enzyme whose attributes are demonstrably equivalent to those of the native enzyme. Such properties include molecular mass, broad substrate specificity, sensitivity and resistance to various inhibitors, pH optimum, and reactivity with rabbit polyclonal antibody to the native enzyme.

Crystallization of a newly discovered histidine acid phosphatase from Francisella tularensis

Francisella tularensis is a highly infectious bacterial pathogen that is considered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to be a potential bioterrorism weapon. Here, the crystallization of a 37.2 kDa phosphatase encoded by the genome of F. tularensis subsp. holarctica live vaccine strain is reported. This enzyme shares 41% amino-acid sequence identity with Legionella pneumophila major acid phosphatase and contains the RHGXRXP motif that is characteristic of the histidine acid phosphatase family. Large diffraction-quality crystals were grown in the presence of Tacsimate, HEPES and PEG 3350. The crystals belong to space group P4(1)2(1)2, with unit-cell parameters a = 61.96, c = 210.78 A. The asymmetric unit is predicted to contain one protein molecule, with a solvent content of 53%. A 1.75 A resolution native data set was recorded at beamline 4.2.2 of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Advanced Light Source. Molecular-replacement trials using the human prostatic acid phosphatase structure as the search model (28% amino-acid sequence identity) did not produce a satisfactory solution. Therefore, the structure of F. tularensis histidine acid phosphatase will be determined by multiwavelength anomalous dispersion phasing using a selenomethionyl derivative.

Crystallization of AcpA, a respiratory burst-inhibiting acid phosphatase from Francisella tularensis

Francisella tularensis is a highly infectious bacterial pathogen that is classified as a Category A Pathogen by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Here, we report crystallization of a recombinant form of F. tularensis AcpA, a unique and highly expressed acid phosphatase that is thought to play a role in intracellular survival by inhibiting the host respiratory burst. Three crystal forms have been obtained, with form III being the most suitable for high-resolution structure determination. Form III crystals were grown in the presence of PEG 1500 and the competitive inhibitor sodium orthovanadate (5 mM). The space group is C222(1) with unit cell parameters a=112.1 A, b=144.4 A, c=123.9 A. The asymmetric unit is predicted to contain two protein molecules and 43% solvent. A 1.75-A native data set was recorded at beamline 8.3.1 of the Advanced Light Source. To our knowledge, this is the first report of high-resolution crystals of any F. tularensis protein.