Adenovirus E1A interacts directly with, and regulates the level of expression of, the immunoproteasome component MECL1

Proteasomes represent the major non-lysosomal mechanism responsible for the degradation of proteins. Following interferon γ treatment 3 proteasome subunits are replaced producing immunoproteasomes. Adenovirus E1A interacts with components of the 20S and 26S proteasome and can affect presentation of peptides. In light of these observations we investigated the relationship of AdE1A to the immunoproteasome. AdE1A interacts with the immunoproteasome subunit, MECL1. In contrast, AdE1A binds poorly to the proteasome β2 subunit which is replaced by MECL1 in the conversion of proteasomes to immunoproteasomes. Binding sites on E1A for MECL1 correspond to the N-terminal region and conserved region 3. Furthermore, AdE1A causes down-regulation of MECL1 expression, as well as LMP2 and LMP7, induced by interferon γ treatment during Ad infections or following transient transfection. Consistent with previous reports AdE1A reduced IFNγ-stimulated STAT1 phosphorylation which appeared to be responsible for its ability to reduce expression of immunoproteasome subunits.

Transcriptional control by adenovirus E1A conserved region 3 via p300/CBP

The human adenovirus type 5 (HAdV-5) E1A 13S oncoprotein is a potent regulator of gene expression and is used extensively as a model for transcriptional activation. It possesses two independent transcriptional activation domains located in the N-terminus/conserved region (CR) 1 and CR3. The protein acetyltransferase p300 was previously identified by its association with the N-terminus/CR1 portion of E1A and this association is required for oncogenic transformation by E1A. We report here that transcriptional activation by 13S E1A is inhibited by co-expression of sub-stoichiometric amounts of the smaller 12S E1A isoform, which lacks CR3. Transcriptional inhibition by E1A 12S maps to the N-terminus and correlates with the ability to bind p300/CBP, suggesting that E1A 12S is sequestering this limiting factor from 13S E1A. This is supported by the observation that the repressive effect of E1A 12S is reversed by expression of exogenous p300 or CBP, but not by a CBP mutant lacking actyltransferase activity. Furthermore, we show that transcriptional activation by 13S E1A is greatly reduced by siRNA knockdown of p300 and that CR3 binds p300 independently of the well-characterized N-terminal/CR1-binding site. Importantly, CR3 is also required to recruit p300 to the adenovirus E4 promoter during infection. These results identify a new functionally significant interaction between E1A CR3 and the p300/CBP acetyltransferases, expanding our understanding of the mechanism by which this potent transcriptional activator functions.

C-terminal-binding protein interacting protein binds directly to adenovirus early region 1A through its N-terminal region and conserved region 3

C-terminal-binding protein interacting protein (CtIP) was first isolated as a binding partner of C-terminal-binding protein (CtBP). It is considered to contribute to the transcriptional repression and cell cycle regulatory properties of the retinoblastoma (Rb) family of proteins and to have a role in the cellular response to DNA damage. Here, we have shown that CtIP is a novel target for the adenovirus oncoprotein early region 1A (AdE1A). AdE1A associates with CtIP in both Ad5E1-transformed cells and Ad5-infected cells and binds directly in glutathione-S-transferase pull-down assays. Two binding sites have been mapped on Ad5E1A - the N-terminal alpha-helical region (residues 1-30) and conserved region 3 (CR3) - the transcriptional activation domain. CtIP can bind AdE1A and CtBP independently, raising the possibility that ternary complexes exist in Ad-transformed and -infected cells. Significantly, reduction of CtIP expression with small interfering RNAs results in reduction of the ability of a Gal4 DNA-binding domain-CR3 construct to transactivate a Gal 4-responsive luciferase reporter and this effect is reversed by reduction of CtBP expression. Therefore, in this model, CtIP acts as a transcriptional co-activator of AdE1A when dissociated from CtBP, through the action of AdE1A. These data are consistent with observations that CtIP expression is induced by AdE1A during viral infection and that reduction of CtIP expression with RNA interference can retard virus replication. In addition, AdE1A causes disruption of the CtIP/Rb complex during viral infection by its interaction with CtIP, possibly contributing to transcriptional derepression.

The effect of CtBP1 binding on the structure of the C-terminal region of adenovirus 12 early region 1A

Adenovirus early region 1A (AdE1A) binds to the C-terminal binding protein 1 (CtBP1) primarily through a highly conserved PXDLS motif located close to its C-terminus. Purified synthetic peptides equivalent to this region of AdE1A have been shown to form a series of beta-turns. In this present study the effect of CtBP1 binding on the conformation of C-terminal region of Ad12E1A has been investigated. Using one- and two-dimensional (1)H NMR spectroscopy, the conformation of 20-residue peptides equivalent to amino acids I(241)-V(260) and E(247)-N(266) of Ad12E1A were examined in the absence of CtBP1. Whilst the latter peptide forms a series of beta-turns in its C-terminal half as reported previously, the former peptide is alpha-helical over the region D(243)-Q(253). Upon interaction with CtBP1 the conformation of the backbone in the region (255)PVDLCVK(261) of the Ad12E1A E(247)-N(266) peptide reorganises from a predominately beta-turn to an alpha-helical conformation. This structural isomerisation is characterised by a shift upfield of 0.318 ppm for the delta-CH(3) proton resonance of V(256). 2-D NOESY experiments showed new signals in the amide-alpha region which correlate to transferred NOEs from the protein to the peptide residues E(251), V(256) and K(261). In further analyses the contribution of individual amino acids within the sequence (254)VPVDLS(259) was assessed for their importance in determining structure and consequently affinity of the peptide for CtBP. It has been concluded that Ad12E1A residues (255)P-V(260) serve initially as a recognition site for CtBP and then as an anchor through a beta-turns-->alpha-helix conformational rearrangement. In addition it has been predicted that regions N-terminal to the PXDLS motif in AdE1As from different virus serotypes and from mammalian proteins form alpha-helices.

Acetylation at a lysine residue adjacent to the CtBP binding motif within adenovirus 12 E1A causes structural disruption and limited reduction of CtBP binding

C-terminal binding protein (CtBP) has been shown to bind to a highly conserved five-amino-acid motif (PXDLS) located very close to the C-terminus of adenovirus early region 1A proteins. It has also been demonstrated that amino acids C-terminal and N-terminal to this original proposed binding site contribute to the interaction. However, conflicting evidence has been presented to show that acetylation of an adjacent lysine residue in Ad5E1A may or may not influence binding. It has now been demonstrated here that acetylation of a lysine, equivalent to position 261 in Ad12 E1A and position 285 in Ad5E1A, in a synthetic peptide disrupts the binding to CtBP1 and CtBP2 and alters the K(i) of the peptide, indicative of a reduction in the affinity of the peptide for CtBP1 and CtBP2, but only to a rather limited extent (less than 2-fold). The solution structures of synthetic peptides equivalent to wild-type and acetylated forms of the Ad12 E1A peptide have been determined by proton NMR spectroscopy. The wild-type form of the peptide adopts a series of beta-turns over the region Val(254)-Arg(262). Within the acetylated isoform, the beta-turn conformation is less extensive, Val(260)-Arg(262) adopting a random confirmation. We conclude that secondary structure (beta-turns) and an appropriate series of amino acid side chains over an extended binding site (PXDLSXK) are necessary for recognition by CtBP, acetylation of lysine interfering with both of these features, but not to such an extent as to totally inhibit interaction. Moreover, it is possible that the beta-turn conformation at the C-terminus of AdE1A contributes to binding to alpha importin and nuclear import. Acetylation of lysine (261) could disrupt interaction through structural destabilization as well as charge neutralization and subsequent nuclear localization.

Roles for APIS and the 20S proteasome in adenovirus E1A-dependent transcription

We have determined distinct roles for different proteasome complexes in adenovirus (Ad) E1A-dependent transcription. We show that the 19S ATPase, S8, as a component of 19S ATPase proteins independent of 20S (APIS), binds specifically to the E1A transactivation domain, conserved region 3 (CR3). Recruitment of APIS to CR3 enhances the ability of E1A to stimulate transcription from viral early gene promoters during Ad infection of human cells. The ability of CR3 to stimulate transcription in yeast is similarly dependent on the functional integrity of yeast APIS components, Sug1 and Sug2. The 20S proteasome is also recruited to CR3 independently of APIS and the 26S proteasome. Chromatin immunoprecipitation reveals that E1A, S8 and the 20S proteasome are recruited to both Ad early region gene promoters and early region gene sequences during Ad infection, suggesting their requirement in both transcriptional initiation and elongation. We also demonstrate that E1A CR3 transactivation and degradation sequences functionally overlap and that proteasome inhibitors repress E1A transcription. Taken together, these data demonstrate distinct roles for APIS and the 20S proteasome in E1A-dependent transactivation.

The APC/C and CBP/p300 cooperate to regulate transcription and cell-cycle progression

The anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C) is a multicomponent E3 ubiquitin ligase that, by targeting protein substrates for 26S proteasome-mediated degradation through ubiquitination, coordinates the temporal progression of eukaryotic cells through mitosis and the subsequent G1 phase of the cell cycle. Other functions of the APC/C are, however, less well defined. Here we show that two APC/C components, APC5 and APC7, interact directly with the coactivators CBP and p300 through protein-protein interaction domains that are evolutionarily conserved in adenovirus E1A. This interaction stimulates intrinsic CBP/p300 acetyltransferase activity and potentiates CBP/p300-dependent transcription. We also show that APC5 and APC7 suppress E1A-mediated transformation in a CBP/p300-dependent manner, indicating that these components of the APC/C may be targeted during cellular transformation. Furthermore, we establish that CBP is required in APC/C function; specifically, gene ablation of CBP by RNA-mediated interference markedly reduces the E3 ubiquitin ligase activity of the APC/C and the progression of cells through mitosis. Taken together, our results define discrete roles for the APC/C-CBP/p300 complexes in growth regulation.

Accumulation of p53 in response to adenovirus early region 1A sensitizes human cells to tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced apoptosis

Many tumor cells are resistant to tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha)-induced apoptosis. Adenovirus early region 1A (AdE1A) sensitizes the otherwise resistant cells to TNFalpha. AdE1A also stabilizes the p53 protein. The present study demonstrates a correlation between AdE1A-induced sensitization and stabilization of p53 in TNFalpha-induced apoptosis since the N-terminal and CR2 regions, the binding sites for CBP/p300, Rb and 26S proteasome regulatory components, are required for both these actions of AdE1A. TNFalpha does not induce apoptosis and AdE1A fails to sensitize TNFalpha cytotoxicity in p53-negative cells. However, introduction of exogenous p53 overcomes the cellular resistance to TNFalpha toxicity and enhances AdE1A sensitization, demonstrating that AdE1A sensitizes TNFalpha-induced apoptosis by its stabilization of p53. A proteasome inhibitor, lactacystin, enhances TNFalpha cytotoxicity in p53-positive and -negative cells, suggesting that accumulation of cellular proteins other than p53 might also regulate the cellular response to TNFalpha signaling.

Recruitment of CBP/p300, TATA-binding protein, and S8 to distinct regions at the N terminus of adenovirus E1A

The N-terminal region of the adenovirus (Ad) 12S E1A gene product targets several cellular proteins that are essential for the induction of S phase, cellular immortalization, cellular transformation, transcriptional repression, and transcriptional activation. The precise binding sites for these proteins, however, remain to be resolved. We therefore undertook an extensive site-directed mutagenesis approach to generate specific point mutants and to precisely map the binding sites for CBP, p300, TATA-binding protein (TBP), S4, S8, hGcn5, P/CAF, and Ran within the first 30 amino acids of the Ad5 12S E1A protein. We determined that although common residues within the N-terminal region can form partial binding sites for these proteins, point mutants were also generated that could discriminate between binding sites. These data indicate that AdE1A can target each of these proteins individually through distinct binding sites. It was evident, however, that the mutation of specific hydrophobic residues typically had the greatest effect upon AdE1A's ability to bind individual partners. Indeed, the mutation of L at positions 19 and 20 eliminated the ability of AdE1A to interact with any of the N-terminal binding proteins studied here. Interestingly, although TBP and S8 or CBP/p300 can exist as functional complexes, RNA interference revealed that the recruitment of either TBP, S8, or CBP/p300 to AdE1A was not dependent upon the expression of the other proteins. These data further indicate that AdE1A can target individual partner proteins in vivo and that it does not necessarily recruit these proteins indirectly as components of larger macromolecular complexes. Finally, we took advantage of the fine-mapping data to ascertain which proteins were targeted during the transformation process. Consistent with previous studies, CBP/p300 was found to be targeted by AdE1A during this process, although our data suggest that binding to other N-terminal proteins is also important for transformation.

The interaction of the hnRNP family member E1B-AP5 with p53

Adenovirus early region 1B-associated protein 5, E1B-AP5, a member of the heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein (hnRNP) family, was originally isolated on the basis of its ability to bind to the adenovirus 5 early region1B55K protein. Here, it has been demonstrated that E1B-AP5 interacts with mutant and wild-type p53 from human cells in pull-down assays using GST-E1B-AP5. This interaction has been confirmed by co-immunoprecipitation studies and pull-down experiments with in vitro translated E1B-AP5 and GST-p53. The binding site for E1B-AP5 has been mapped to the C-terminal region of p53. In reciprocal experiments, it has been shown that several regions of E1B-AP5 bound to p53 although it is probable that a major site of interaction is located between amino acids 395 and 732 of E1B-AP5. In reporter assays, E1B-AP5 inhibited p53 transcriptional activity although not as efficiently as the Ad5E1B55K protein. Transfection of E1B-AP5 into human tumour cells affected the cellular response to UV radiation, such that, although p53 expression was induced, little change in the level of p53-inducible genes could be observed.

The targeting of the proteasomal regulatory subunit S2 by adenovirus E1A causes inhibition of proteasomal activity and increased p53 expression

Although adenovirus early region 1A (AdE1A) can modulate protein expression through its interaction with transcriptional regulators it can also influence the ability of the cell to degrade proteins by binding to components of the 26 S proteasome. We demonstrate here that AdE1A interacts with the S2 subunit of the 19 S regulatory complex in addition to the ATPase subunits S4 and S8 previously identified. S2 forms complexes with both the 13 and 12 S AdE1A proteins both in vivo and in vitro. Mutational analysis has shown direct binding through a short sequence toward the N terminus of conserved region 2 of AdE1A, which encompasses the LXCXE motif, involved in interaction with the pRb family of proteins. In vivo, additional contacts are made between AdE1A and proteasomal components, as well as within the proteasome, such that deletion of the N-terminal region of E1A as well as part of conserved region 2 is required to completely disrupt S2 binding. Mutation of AdE1A, which disrupts complex formation with S2, results in the loss of its ability to stabilize the p53 protein. Similarly down-regulation of S2 expression using small interfering RNAs leads to the inhibition of p53 degradation. These effects were observed in normally growing cells and those subjected to UV irradiation. Furthermore, AdE1A had no effect on the Mdm2-mediated ubiquitination of p53. We suggest therefore that interaction of AdE1A with S2, as well as with the ATPases S4 and S8, directly causes inhibition of proteasomal activity and consequent increase in the protein levels of p53.

Transcriptional regulation of the human glycoprotein hormone common alpha subunit gene by cAMP-response-element-binding protein (CREB)-binding protein (CBP)/p300 and p53

We have investigated the functional interactions between adenovirus early region 1A (AdE1A) protein, the co-activators cAMP-response-element-binding protein (CREB)-binding protein (CBP)/p300 and SUG1, and the transcriptional repressor retinoblastoma (Rb) in mediating T3-dependent repression. Utilizing the human glycoprotein hormone common alpha-subunit (alpha-subunit) promoter and AdE1A mutants with selective binding capacity to these molecules we have determined an essential role for CBP/p300. In normal circumstances, wild-type 12 S AdE1A inhibited alpha-subunit activity. In contrast, adenovirus mutants that retain both the SUG1- and Rb-binding sites, but lack the CBP/p300-binding site, were unable to repress promoter activity. We have also identified a role for the tumour-suppressor gene product p53 in regulation of the alpha-subunit promoter. Akin to 12 S AdE1A, exogenous p53 expression repressed alpha-subunit activity. This function resided in the ability of p53 to interact with CBP/p300; an N-terminal mutant incapable of interacting with CBP/p300 did not inhibit alpha-subunit activity. Stabilization of endogenous p53 by UV irradiation also correlated positively with reduced alpha-subunit activity. Intriguingly, T3 stimulated endogenous p53 transcriptional activity, implicating p53 in T3-dependent signalling pathways. These data indicate that CBP/p300 and p53 are key regulators of alpha-subunit activity.

Caspase-mediated cleavage of adenovirus early region 1A proteins

Adenovirus 2 and 12 early region 1A (Ad2 and Ad12 E1A) proteins were cleaved during cisplatin-induced apoptosis of Ad-transformed rat and human cells. Cleavage was inhibited in the presence of caspase inhibitors such as Z-VAD-FMK. In Ad12 transformants both 13S and 12S E1A proteins were cleaved at a similar rate. In Ad2 transformants the E1A 13S component was appreciably less stable than the 12S component. In in vitro studies Ad2 and Ad12 E1A 13S and Ad2 12S proteins were rapidly cleaved by caspase 3 whereas Ad12 12S E1A and Ad12 13S E1A were rapidly degraded by caspase 7. Cleavage sites in Ad12 13S proteins for caspase 3 have been determined. Initial cleavage occurred at D24 and D150; this was followed by cleavage at D204 and D242. Caspase-3-mediated cleavage of Ad12 13S E1A destroyed its ability to bind to CBP and TBP but interaction between C terminal E1A polypeptides and CtBP was observed. During viral infection Ad5 and Ad12 E1A 12S proteins were markedly more stable than 13S proteins but no difference was observed in Ad E1A levels in the absence or presence of the caspase inhibitors Z-VAD-FMK or Z-D(OMe)-E(OMe)-V-D(OMe)-CH(2)F. Limited caspase 3 and 10 activation occurred during infection with the E1B 19K(-) virus Ad2 pm1722 but little or no activation of caspase 3 was observed during wt virus infection. Examination of protein cleavage during viral infection of A549 cells showed proteolysis of lamin B and PARP in response to Ad5 wt and Ad2 pm1722. Protein degradation in response to both viruses was partially inhibited by Z-VAD-FMK. Following infection of human skin fibroblasts lamin B was degraded, although only limited changes in PARP levels were observed. We have concluded that Ad E1A is cleaved by caspases during apoptosis but not during viral infection. However, some of the processes commonly associated with apoptosis occur during viral infection, particularly with E1B 19K(-) mutants, although apoptosis per se is not evident.