Direct Binding of Retromer to Human Papillomavirus Type 16 Minor Capsid Protein L2 Mediates Endosome Exit during Viral Infection

Trafficking of human papillomaviruses to the Golgi apparatus during virus entry requires retromer, an endosomal coat protein complex that mediates the vesicular transport of cellular transmembrane proteins from the endosome to the Golgi apparatus or the plasma membrane. Here we show that the HPV16 L2 minor capsid protein is a retromer cargo, even though L2 is not a transmembrane protein. We show that direct binding of retromer to a conserved sequence in the carboxy-terminus of L2 is required for exit of L2 from the early endosome and delivery to the trans-Golgi network during virus entry. This binding site is different from known retromer binding motifs and can be replaced by a sorting signal from a cellular retromer cargo. Thus, HPV16 is an unconventional particulate retromer cargo, and retromer binding initiates retrograde transport of viral components from the endosome to the trans-Golgi network during virus entry. We propose that the carboxy-terminal segment of L2 protein protrudes through the endosomal membrane and is accessed by retromer in the cytoplasm.     

Common Neutralization Epitope in Minor Capsid Protein L2 of Human Papillomavirus Types 16 and 6

Studies of virus neutralization by antibody are a prerequisite for development of a prophylactic vaccine strategy against human papillomaviruses (HPVs). Using HPV16 and -6 pseudovirions capable of inducing beta-galactosidase in infected monkey COS-1 cells, we examined the neutralizing activity of mouse monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) that recognize surface epitopes in HPV16 minor capsid protein L2. Two MAbs binding to a synthetic peptide with the HPV16 L2 sequence of amino acids (aa) 108 to 120 were found to inhibit pseudoinfections with HPV16 as well as HPV6. Antisera raised by immunizing BALB/c mice with the synthetic peptide had a cross-neutralizing activity similar to that of the MAb. The data indicate that HPV16 and -6 have a common cross-neutralization epitope (located within aa 108 to 120 of L2 in HPV16), suggesting that this epitope may be shared by other genital HPVs.     

The Carboxyl-Terminal Region of the Human Papillomavirus Type 16 E1 Protein Determines E2 Protein Specificity during DNA Replication

The mechanism of DNA replication is conserved among papillomaviruses. The virus-encoded E1 and E2 proteins collaborate to target the origin and recruit host DNA replication proteins. Expression vectors of E1 and E2 proteins support homologous and heterologous papillomaviral origin replication in transiently transfected cells. Viral proteins from different genotypes can also collaborate, albeit with different efficiencies, indicating a certain degree of specificity in E1-E2 interactions. We report that, in the assays of our study, the human papillomavirus type 11 (HPV-11) E1 protein functioned with the HPV-16 E2 protein, whereas the HPV-16 E1 protein exhibited no detectable activity with the HPV-11 E2 protein. Taking advantage of this distinction, we used chimeric E1 proteins to delineate the E1 protein domains responsible for this specificity. Hybrids containing HPV-16 E1 amino-terminal residues up to residue 365 efficiently replicated either viral origin in the presence of either E2 protein. The reciprocal hybrids containing amino-terminal HPV-11 sequences exhibited a high activity with HPV-16 E2 but no activity with HPV-11 E2. Reciprocal hybrid proteins with the carboxyl-terminal 44 residues from either E1 had an intermediate property, but both collaborated more efficiently with HPV-16 E2 than with HPV-11 E2. In contrast, chimeras with a junction in the putative ATPase domain showed little or no activity with either E2 protein. We conclude that the E1 protein consists of distinct structural and functional domains, with the carboxyl-terminal 284 residues of the HPV-16 E1 protein being the primary determinant for E2 specificity during replication, and that chimeric exchanges in or bordering the ATPase domain inactivate the protein.     

Cyclophilins Facilitate Dissociation of the Human Papillomavirus Type 16 Capsid Protein L1 from the L2/DNA Complex following Virus Entry

Human papillomaviruses (HPV) are composed of the major and minor capsid proteins, L1 and L2, that encapsidate a chromatinized, circular double-stranded DNA genome. At the outset of infection, the interaction of HPV type 16 (HPV16) (pseudo)virions with heparan sulfate proteoglycans triggers a conformational change in L2 that is facilitated by the host cell chaperone cyclophilin B (CyPB). This conformational change results in exposure of the L2 N terminus, which is required for infectious internalization. Following internalization, L2 facilitates egress of the viral genome from acidified endosomes, and the L2/DNA complex accumulates at PML nuclear bodies. We recently described a mutant virus that bypasses the requirement for cell surface CyPB but remains sensitive to cyclosporine for infection, indicating an additional role for CyP following endocytic uptake of virions. We now report that the L1 protein dissociates from the L2/DNA complex following infectious internalization. Inhibition and small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated knockdown of CyPs blocked dissociation of L1 from the L2/DNA complex. In vitro, purified CyPs facilitated the dissociation of L1 pentamers from recombinant HPV11 L1/L2 complexes in a pH-dependent manner. Furthermore, CyPs released L1 capsomeres from partially disassembled HPV16 pseudovirions at slightly acidic pH. Taken together, these data suggest that CyPs mediate the dissociation of HPV L1 and L2 capsid proteins following acidification of endocytic vesicles.     

用昆虫-杆状病毒系统表达的HPV6型L1蛋白检测尖锐湿疣患者血清中抗体

用杆状病毒表达系统表达人乳头瘤病毒6型（human papillomavirus type 6,HPV6）主要衣壳蛋白（major capsid protein,L1）作为抗原,对尖锐湿疣（condyloma acuminata,CA）患者抗体进行检测。采用昆虫杆状病毒系统表达HPV6L1蛋白,通过镍柱亲和层析法获得纯化抗原;以酶联免疫吸附试验（enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay,ELISA）检测30例CA、20例献血员和10例儿童血清中的HPV6 LI IgG抗体。感染重组杆状病毒的昆虫细胞经SDS-PAGE和Western blot检测,在大约55kD处有明显的外源蛋白表达条带。ELISA结果显示,CA组的血清阳性率为66．7％（20／30）,献血员组的阳性率为15％（3／20）,两组之间有显著性差异（P〈0．05）。22例HPV6型感染的CA患者有15例血清阳性（68．2％）,6例HPV11型CA患者4例阳性（66．7％）,1例混合感染者为阳性,1例HPV16型患者为阴性。女性CA患者的血清抗体阳性率高于男性（P=0．0052）。本研究建立的ELISA体系具有敏感性和针对低危型HPV感染的特异性。这不仅对于HPV血清流行病学研究是有价值的,而且对于临床诊断HPV感染可能具有一定的应用价值。     

利用昆虫-杆状病毒表达系统表达人乳头瘤病毒16/18/33/58亚型L1蛋白

目的:通过昆虫-杆状病毒表达系统获得人乳头瘤病毒(HPV)16/18/33/58亚型的主要衣壳蛋白L1。方法:克隆了HPV16/18/33/58亚型的L1蛋白基因,并采用密码子优化策略进行改造(记为HPV16/18/33/58亚型mL1),将优化基因片段插入pFastBac Dual载体获得重组载体,转化大肠杆菌DH10Bac感受态细胞后得到重组Bacmid,转染昆虫Sf9细胞,Western印迹和SDS-PAGE检测重组蛋白的表达。结果:获得了表达HPV16/18/33/58亚型mL1蛋白的重组杆状病毒;Western印迹和SDS-PAGE分析表明该重组杆状病毒感染昆虫Sf9细胞后表达mL1蛋白,且mL1蛋白主要分布在细胞中;优化了蛋白表达时间和感染复数,获得目的蛋白mL1的高效表达。结论:多个亚型HPV L1蛋白的克隆表达,为中国优势血清型疫苗的研制奠定了基础。