Morphology and Physical Properties of Staphylococcus Bacteriophage P11-M15

The Group B Staphylococcus phage P11-M15 is shown to be 51% protein and 49% deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). The intact virion has a molecular weight of 66.7 x 10(6) daltons. The purified viral DNA has a molecular weight of 32.7 x 10(6) daltons. The intact virion is shown to be composed of a polyhedral head which is attached at one of its vertices to a flexible tail having helical symmetry. The tail structure is terminated by a complex baseplate which has sixfold symmetry. The virion contains a single molecule of double-stranded DNA which has no apparent single-strand nicks or single-stranded terminal redundancies.     

Structural studies of retroviruses: characterization of oligomeric complexes of murine and feline leukemia virus envelope and core components formed upon cross-linking.

To examine the protein proximity and subunit organization of type C retroviruses, preparations of AKR murine leukemia virus were treated with bifunctional cross-linking reagents and analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The cross-linked components obtained were characterized by immunoprecipitation with monospecific antisera against purified viral proteins, followed by SDS-PAGE analysis both before and after cleavage of the cross-links. With these procedures, complexes of both viral envelope and core components were identified. The major envelope subunit obtained was a large (apparent molecular weight of 450,000 to 500,000), glycosylated complex, composed of four to six gp70-p15(E) subunits. This complex was detected over a 100-fold range of cross-linker concentration and thus seems to represent a particularly stable viral substructure. The cross-linked complexes of the core proteins consisted of oligomers of p30 dimers, suggesting that the p30 dimer is a basic structural unit of the viral core. When virion preparations, which had previously been disrupted with the nonionic detergent Nonidet P-40, were cross-linked, the envelope complex was still observed, indicating that this structure is stable in the presence of Nonidet P-40. A similar envelope structure was observed for feline leukemia virus, suggesting that such a complex may be a conserved feature of oncornavirus structure.     

Determination of the molecular weight of DNA-bound protein(s) responsible for gel electrophoretic mobility shift of linear DNA fragments examplified with purified viral myb protein.

A protein-DNA complex has less gel electrophoretic mobility than the free DNA fragment. One parameter for the degree of retardation of a linear DNA fragment in a protein-DNA complex is the molecular weight of the bound protein(s). The quotient of the migration distances of free DNA (m) and protein-DNA complex (m') is a function of the molecular weight (MW) of the bound protein(s). Based on the evaluation of the lac repressor induced mobility shift of a 203 bp DNA fragment containing the lac operator in a 5% non-denaturating polyacrylamide gel a direct proportionality could be shown between (m/m'-1) and MW with the proportionality factor K = 215 kDa. The factor K depends on the acrylamide concentration in the gel, getting lower values with increasing acrylamide concentrations. A calculation is given to determine the molecular weight of DNA-binding factors responsible for the decreased electrophoretic mobility of a linear DNA fragment. As an example this calculation was used in order to analyse DNA-binding of the isolated viral myb protein. It could be demonstrated that the viral myb protein binds to DNA as a monomer and as a dimer.     

The major polypeptides of the murine-mammary-tumor virus isolated by plant-lectin affinity chromatography.

Solubilized polypeptides of the murine mammary tumor virus (MuMT virus) were chromatographed on a column of immobilised concanavalin A. The unbound viral material was rechromatographed on phosphocellulose, resulting in the isolation of the major proteins with a molecular weight of 28000 (p28) and 12000 (p12) respectively. The adsorbed glycopolypeptides after elution with methyl alpha-D-mannopyranoside were subjected to gel filtration. The major glycoprotein with a molecular weight of 52000 (gp52) was obtained in an almost pure form. However, a considerable part of gp52 elutes together with a glycoprotein with a molecular weight of 36000 (gp36), suggesting that in addition to the free form of gp52 a complex exists of gp52 plus gp36.     

Rous sarcoma virus p19 and gp35 can be chemically crosslinked to high molecular weight complexes. An insight into virus assembly

We have used the method of chemical crosslinking in order to determine the spatial interactions between components of Rous sarcoma virus. A high molecular weight complex formed by crosslinking has been isolated by ultracentrifugation on sucrose density gradients containing 0.1% (w/v) sodium dodecyl sulphate. This complex is composed of the two viral glycoproteins gp85 and gp35, the gag protein p19, and the viral RNA. Two types of bonding are important for the formation and stability of the complex: first, native disulphide bonds between gp85 and gp35 and between individual p19 molecules; and second, hetero-crosslinking between gp35 and p19 as well as homo-crosslinking between p19. Although viral RNA is quantitatively present in the complex, experiments with RNase treatment show that it is not essential for its formation or stability. A small amount of lipid is present in the complex and appears to be crosslinked to p19. In vitro-labelling of purified virus with the lipophilic photoactivatable reagent [125I] iodonaphthylazide resulted in the labelling of gp35 and p19/23. In vivo-labelling of virus with [3H]palmitate resulted in only gp35 becoming labelled. These results substantiate the membrane association of these proteins. The significance of the interactions in the high molecular weight complex for the stability of the virus and, by implication, the role which they may play in viral assembly are discussed.     

Anomalous behavior of the major avian myeloblastosis virus glycoprotein in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate.

The sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) complex of the major glycoprotein of avian myeloblastosis virus exhibited an anomalously low free electrophoretic mobility compared with those of non-glycosylated protein standards. The apparent molecular weight of the glycoprotein calculated from the relation between log molecular weight and electrophoretic mobility depended on the acrylamide concentration and reached a lower limit of 80,000. The molecular weight was also estimated from the retardation coefficients of protein standards and the viral glycoprotein. This method yielded a molecular weight of 64,000 for the avian myeloblastosis virus glycoprotein. When gel chromatography in SDS was used to determine the apparent molecular weight of the glycoprotein from its hydrodynamic properties alone, the estimated value was 50,000. The generally assigned value of 80,000 daltons for the avian myeloblastosis virus major glycoprotein, as determined by SDS electrophoresis, may be an overestimate due to its relatively low free electrophoretic mobility and peculiar conformation in SDS.     

Physical mapping of a temperature-sensitive mutation of human cytomegalovirus by marker rescue

Physical mapping of a temperature-sensitive (ts) mutation of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) strain AD-169 was attempted here using cloned HindIII restriction endonuclease fragments and the mutant virus. The DNA-positive mutant tested (HCMV ts 1585) was successfully rescued by viral DNA sequences between 0.277 and 0.303 map units. The product of this gene is apparently a structural protein of molecular weight 40,000. Marker rescue could thus be used to establish the physical location of essential HCMV genes, even if the viral DNA molecule is extremely large and complex.     

RD-114, baboon, and woolly monkey viral RNA's compared in size and structure.

The molecular weights, subunit compositions, and secondary structure patterns of the RNAs from an endogenous baboon virus and from a woolly monkey sarcoma virus were examined and compared to the properties of the RNA of RD-114, an endogenous feline virus. The high molecular weight RNA extracted from each of these three viruses has a sedimentation coefficient of 52S, and a molecular length, measured by electron microscopy, of 16-20 kb (kb=kilobase, 1000 nucleotides). Each such RNA is a dimer, containing two monomer subunits of 8-10 kb in length (molecular weight 3 X 10(6) daltons). The two monomer subunits are joined at their non-poly(A) ends in a structure called the dimer linkage structure. The appearance of this structure is somewhat different for the different viruses. The dimer linkage dissociates at temperature estimated to be 87 degrees C in aqueous 0.1M Na+ for RD-114 and baboon viral RNAs, but at the lower temperature of 66 degrees C for woolly monkey RNA. All three viral RNAs have two large loops of similar size and position symmetrically placed on either side of the dimer linkage structure. Since the baboon virus is partially related to RD-114, and the woolly monkey virus is unrelated to either of the other two, the dimer linkage and symmetrical loops are surprisingly similar and may well be common features of type C virus RNAs.     

Formation and structure of infectious DNA of spleen necrosis virus.

The kinetics of formation and the structure of infectious DNA of spleen necrosis virus were determined. Nonintegrated infectious viral DNA first appeared 18 to 24 h after infection of dividing cells and persisted for more than 14 days. The nonintegrated infectious viral DNA was in the form of either a double-stranded linear DNA with a molecular weight of 6 X 10(6), detected in both the cytoplasm and nucleus, or a closed circular DNA of the same molecular weight, detected primarily in the nucleus. Integrated infectious viral DNA appeared soon after the nonintegrated infectious viral DNA and was the predominant form of infectious viral DNA late after infection. Integration of the spleen necrosis virus DNA into the chicken cell genome was demonstrated by three independent criteria. Nucleic acid hybridization indicated that the linear infectious viral DNA had a 5- to 10-fold higher specific infectivity than either the closed circular or integrated infectious viral DNA. Infectious viral DNA did not appear in infected stationary cells, indicating some cellular influence on the formation of infectious viral DNA.     

The HIV-1 passage from cytoplasm to nucleus: the process involving a complex exchange between the components of HIV-1 and cellular machinery to access nucleus and successful integration

The human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) synthesizes its genomic DNA in cytoplasm as soon as it enters the cell. The newly synthesized DNA remains associated with viral/cellular proteins as a high molecular weight pre-integration complex (PIC), which precludes passive diffusion across intact nuclear membrane. However, HIV-1 successfully overcomes nuclear membrane barrier by actively delivering its DNA into nucleus with the help of host nuclear import machinery. Such ability allows HIV-1 to productively infect non-dividing cells as well as dividing cells at interphase. Further, HIV-1 nuclear import is also found important for the proper integration of viral DNA. Thus, nuclear import plays a crucial role in establishment of infection and disease progression. While several viral components, including matrix, viral protein R, integrase, capsid, and central DNA flap are implicated in HIV-1 nuclear import, their molecular mechanism remains poorly understood. In this review, we will elaborate the role of individual viral factors and some of current insights on their molecular mechanism(s) associated with HIV-1 nuclear import. In addition, we will discuss the importance of nuclear import for subsequent step of viral DNA integration. Hereby we aim to further our understanding on molecular mechanism of HIV-1 nuclear import and its potential usefulness for anti-HIV-1 strategies.     

Effect of organic ligands with conjugated π-bonds on the structure of iodine-α-dextrin complexes

Using X-ray data for iodine-α-dextrin complexes and the results of quantum chemical ab initio restricted Hartree-Fock/3-21G(**) level calculations, a model of drug active complex (AC) Armenicum with anti-HIV action was proposed. It was suggested that the drug AC contains molecular iodine allocated inside of α-dextrin helix and coordinated by lithium halogenides and a protein component of lymphocyte ribosomes. The electronic structure of I(2) in this complex differs from its characteristics in complexes with organic ligands or the free I(2) . In the considered ACs, the molecular iodine displays acceptor (donor) properties toward the α-dextrins (lithium halogenides). A mechanism of Armenicum anti-HIV action is suggested. Under the influence of molecular iodine-containing drug AC, the structure of HIV DNA is modified-it becomes more π-donor-active against proteins and peptide nucleotides of viral DNA form a stable complex with molecular iodine and lithium halogenides.     

Characterization of the noncovalent complex of human immunodeficiency virus glycoprotein 120 with its cellular receptor CD4 by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry.

The initial event in infection by the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is the interaction of the viral envelope glycoprotein (HIV-gp120) with its primary cellular receptor, the glycoprotein CD4. Molecular structure information about the HIV-gp120/CD4 complex can provide information relevant to an understanding of the basic processes occurring in HIV infection and to development of therapies that can inhibit AIDS. Previous studies by sugar gradient sedimentation of the interaction of HIV-gp120 with a cytoplasmic domain truncated soluble CD4 (sCD4) suggested that a one-to-one complex was formed. The stoichiometry, however, of the sCD4/HIV-gp120 complex remained to be confirmed by an independent method because (i) recent X-ray examination revealed dimerization of sCD4 and (ii) the low resolution and low accuracy of molecular weight determination by sugar gradient sedimentation can lead to artifactual data. Therefore, in this study matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) was used to determine the molecular mass of the complex of fully glycosylated HIV-gp120 and sCD4. A mass of 145 kDa was measured, which is exactly the sum of the molecular masses of one HIV-gp120 and one sCD4 molecule. Complexes of higher order of stoichiometry were not detected. Identical results were obtained by chemically cross-linking the HIV-gp120/sCD4 complex with subsequent analysis by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and MALDI-MS. This study confirms the earlier suggestions of the stoichiometry of the sCD4/HIV-gp120 complex in solution and also demonstrates the potential of MALDI-MS in investigations of specific noncovalent complexes of glycoproteins.     

Structural Proteins of Rabies Virus

Purified rabies virions, unlabeled or labeled with radioactive amino acids or d-glucosamine, were dissociated into their polypeptides by treatment with sodium dodecyl sulfate in a reducing environment and fractionated by electroiphoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate-containing polyacrylamide gel. The molecular weights of individual polypeptides were estimated by comparison of their rate of migration with that of protein markers of known molecular weight. Purified viral nucleocapsid and a mixture of envelope components, isolated from virions disrupted by sodium deoxycholate, were analyzed by the same procedure. The number of molecules per virion of each polypeptide was estimated from the proportions of the separated components, the known molecular weight of the viral ribonucleic acid, and the chemical composition of the nucleocapsid. The protein moiety of the nucleocapsid particle was estimated to consist of 1,713 molecules of a major polypeptide (molecular weight, 62,000 daltons) and 76 molecules of a minor polypeptide (molecular weight, 55,000 daltons). In addition to 1,783 molecules of a glycoprotein component (molecular weight, 80,000 daltons), the viral envelope contains 789 and 1,661 molecules, respectively, of two other polypeptides (molecular weight, 40,000 and 25,000 daltons).     

Stable association of viral protein VP1 with simian virus 40 DNA.

Mild dissociation of simian virus 40 particles releases a 110S virion core nucleoprotein complex containing histones and the three viral proteins VP1, VP2, and VP3. The association of viral protein VP1 within this nucleoprotein complex is mediated at least partially through a strong interaction with the viral DNA. Treatment of the virion-derived 110S nucleoprotein complex with 0.25% Sarkosyl dissociated VP2, VP3, and histones, leaving a stable VP1-DNA complex. The VP1-DNA complex had a sedimentation value of 30S and a density of 1.460 g/cm3. The calculated molecular weight of the complex was 7.9 x 10(6), with an average of 100 VP1 molecules per DNA. Agarose gel electrophoresis of the VP1-DNA complex demonstrated that VP1 is associated not only with form I and form II simian virus 40 DNAs but also with form III simian virus 40 DNA generated by cleavage with EcoRI.