Identification of Novel Adhesins of M. tuberculosis H37Rv Using Integrated Approach of Multiple Computational Algorithms and Experimental Analysis

Pathogenic bacteria interacting with eukaryotic host express adhesins on their surface. These adhesins aid in bacterial attachment to the host cell receptors during colonization. A few adhesins such as Heparin binding hemagglutinin adhesin (HBHA), Apa, Malate Synthase of M. tuberculosis have been identified using specific experimental interaction models based on the biological knowledge of the pathogen. In the present work, we carried out computational screening for adhesins of M. tuberculosis. We used an integrated computational approach using SPAAN for predicting adhesins, PSORTb, SubLoc and LocTree for extracellular localization, and BLAST for verifying non-similarity to human proteins. These steps are among the first of reverse vaccinology. Multiple claims and attacks from different algorithms were processed through argumentative approach. Additional filtration criteria included selection for proteins with low molecular weights and absence of literature reports. We examined binding potential of the selected proteins using an image based ELISA. The protein Rv2599 (membrane protein) binds to human fibronectin, laminin and collagen. Rv3717 (N-acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine amidase) and Rv0309 (L,D-transpeptidase) bind to fibronectin and laminin. We report Rv2599 (membrane protein), Rv0309 and Rv3717 as novel adhesins of M. tuberculosis H37Rv. Our results expand the number of known adhesins of M. tuberculosis and suggest their regulated expression in different stages.     

Analysis of intraviral protein-protein interactions of the SARS coronavirus ORFeome

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) genome is predicted to encode 14 functional open reading frames, leading to the expression of up to 30 structural and non-structural protein products. The functions of a large number of viral ORFs are poorly understood or unknown. In order to gain more insight into functions and modes of action and interaction of the different proteins, we cloned the viral ORFeome and performed a genome-wide analysis for intraviral protein interactions and for intracellular localization. 900 pairwise interactions were tested by yeast-two-hybrid matrix analysis, and more than 65 positive non-redundant interactions, including six self interactions, were identified. About 38% of interactions were subsequently confirmed by CoIP in mammalian cells. Nsp2, nsp8 and ORF9b showed a wide range of interactions with other viral proteins. Nsp8 interacts with replicase proteins nsp2, nsp5, nsp6, nsp7, nsp8, nsp9, nsp12, nsp13 and nsp14, indicating a crucial role as a major player within the replication complex machinery. It was shown by others that nsp8 is essential for viral replication in vitro, whereas nsp2 is not. We show that also accessory protein ORF9b does not play a pivotal role for viral replication, as it can be deleted from the virus displaying normal plaque sizes and growth characteristics in Vero cells. However, it can be expected to be important for the virus-host interplay and for pathogenicity, due to its large number of interactions, by enhancing the global stability of the SARS proteome network, or play some unrealized role in regulating protein-protein interactions. The interactions identified provide valuable material for future studies.     

Alternative proteolytic processing of the arterivirus replicase ORF1a polyprotein: evidence that NSP2 acts as a cofactor for the NSP4 serine protease.

The C-terminal half of the replicase ORF1a polyprotein of the arterivirus equine arteritis virus is processed by a chymotrypsinlike serine protease (SP) (E. J. Snijder et al., J. Biol. Chem. 271:4864-4871, 1996) located in nonstructural protein 4 (nsp4). Three probable SP cleavage sites had previously been identified in the ORF1a protein. Their proteolysis explained the main processing products generated from the C-terminal part of the ORF1a protein in infected cells (E. J. Snijder et al., J. Virol. 68:5755-5764, 1994). By using sequence comparison, ORF1a expression systems, and site-directed mutagenesis, we have now identified two additional SP cleavage sites: Glu-1430 / Gly and Glu-1452 / Ser. This means that the ORF1a protein can be cleaved into eight processing end products: nsp1 to nsp8. By microsequence analysis of the nsp5 and nsp7 N termini, we have now formally confirmed the specificity of the SP for Glu / (Gly/Ser) substrates. Importantly, our studies revealed that the C-terminal half of the ORF1a protein (nsp3-8) can be processed by the SP following two alternative pathways, which appear to be mutually exclusive. In the majority of the nsp3-8 precursors the SP cleaves the nsp4/5 site, yielding nsp3-4 and nsp5-8. Subsequently, the latter product is cleaved at the nsp7/8 site only, whereas the newly identified nsp5/6 and nsp6/7 sites appear to be inaccessible to the protease. In the alternative proteolytic cascade, which is used at a low but significant level in infected cells, it is the nsp4/5 site which remains uncleaved, while the nsp5/6 and nsp6/7 sites are processed to yield a set of previously unnoticed processing products. Coexpression studies revealed that nsp3-8 has to interact with cleaved nsp2 to allow processing of the nsp4/5 junction, the first step of the major processing pathway. When the nsp2 cofactor is absent, the nsp4/5 site cannot be processed and nsp3-8 is processed following the alternative, minor pathway.     

Effect of overexpression of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Pad1p on the resistance to phenylacrylic acids and lignocellulose hydrolysates under aerobic and oxygen-limited conditions

Lignocellulose hydrolysates, obtained by acid hydrolysis for production of bioethanol, contain, in addition to fermentable sugars, compounds that inhibit the fermenting micro-organism. One approach to alleviate the inhibition problem is to use genetic engineering to introduce increased tolerance. Phenylacrylic acid decarboxylase (Pad1p) catalyses a decarboxylation step, by which aromatic carboxylic acids are converted to the corresponding vinyl derivatives. Pad1p-overexpressing Saccharomyces cerevisiae was cultivated in synthetic medium in the presence of model compounds, ferulic acid [(2 E)-3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)prop-2-enoic acid] and cinnamic acid [(2 E)-3-phenylprop-2-enoic acid], as well as in a dilute acid hydrolysate of spruce to examine the resistance against fermentation inhibitors. Overexpression of S. cerevisiae phenylacrylic acid decarboxylase (Pad1p) resulted in an improved growth rate and ethanol productivity in the presence of ferulic acid, cinnamic acid, and in a dilute acid hydrolysate of spruce. Vinyl guaiacol (2-methoxy-4-vinylphenol) was identified as a major metabolite of ferulic acid, and dihydroferulic acid [3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)propanoic acid] was detected under oxygen-limited conditions. Styrene (vinylbenzene) and dihydrocinnamic acid (3-phenylpropanoic acid) were identified as metabolites of cinnamic acid. Transformants overexpressing Pad1p had the ability to convert ferulic and cinnamic acid at a faster rate than a control transformant (PAD(C)) not overexpressing Pad1p. This enabled faster growth for Pad1p-overexpressing transformants under both aerobic and oxygen-limited conditions. Pad1p activity was also studied using non-growing cells. The overexpressing transformants showed approximately tenfold higher activity than PAD(C). The Pad1p overexpressing transformants also showed a 22-25% faster glucose consumption rate, a 40-45% faster mannose consumption rate, and a 24-29% faster ethanol production rate in the dilute acid hydrolysate of spruce.     

Proteolytic processing of the replicase ORF1a protein of equine arteritis virus.

To study the proteolytic processing of the equine arteritis virus (EAV) replicase open reading frame 1a (ORF1a) protein, specific antisera were raised in rabbits, with six synthetic peptides and a bacterial fusion protein as antigens. The processing of the EAV ORF1a product in infected cells was analyzed with Western blot (immunoblot) and immunoprecipitation techniques. Additional information was obtained from transient expression of ORF1a cDNA constructs. The 187-kDa ORF1a protein was found to be subject to at least five proteolytic cleavages. The processing scheme, which covers the entire ORF1a protein, results in cleavage products of approximately 29, 61, 22, 31, 41, and 3 kDa, which were named nonstructural proteins (nsps) 1 through 6, respectively. Pulse-chase experiments revealed that the cleavages at the nsp1/2 and nsp2/3 junctions are the most rapid processing steps. The remaining nsp3456 precursor is first cleaved at the nsp4/5 site. Final processing of the nsp34 and nsp56 intermediates is extremely slow. As predicted from previous in vitro translation experiments (E. J. Snijder, A. L. M. Wassenaar, and W. J. M. Spaan, J. Virol. 66:7040-7048, 1992), a cysteine protease domain in nsp1 was shown to be responsible for the nsp1/2 cleavage. The other processing steps are carried out by the putative EAV serine protease in nsp4 and by a third protease, which remains to be identified.     

1H, 13C, 15N resonance assignments of murine hepatitis virus nonstructural protein 3a

Nonstructural protein (nsp) 3 is the largest of 16 nsps translated from the murine hepatitis virus (MHV) genome. The N-terminal most domain of nsp3, nsp3a, has been identified by reverse genetics as a likely binding partner of MHV nucleocapsid protein. Here we report the backbone and side chain resonance assignments of MHV nsp3a (residues 1-114).     

Amyloid adhesins are abundant in natural biofilms

Surface-associated amyloid fibrils have been described by bacteria in the family Enterbacteriaceae, but it is unknown to what extent amyloid adhesins are present in natural biofilms. In this study, amyloid adhesins were specifically stained with Thioflavin T and two conformationally specific antibodies targeting amyloid fibrils. These three independent detection methods were each combined with fluorescence in situ hybridization using fluorescently labelled oligonucleotide probes in order to link phenotype with identity. Escherichia coli mutants with and without amyloid adhesins (curli) served as controls. In biofilms from four different natural habitats, bacteria producing extracellular amyloid adhesins were identified within several phyla: Proteobacteria (Alpha-, Beta-, Gamma- and Deltaproteobacteria), Bacteriodetes, Chloroflexi and Actinobacteria, and most likely also in other phyla. Quantification of the microorganisms producing amyloid adhesins showed that they constituted at least 5-40% of all prokaryotes present in the biofilms, depending on the habitat. Particularly in drinking water biofilms, a high number of amyloid-positive bacteria were identified. Production of amyloids was confirmed by environmental isolates belonging to the Gammaproteobacteria, Bacteriodetes, Firmicutes and Actinobacteria. The new approach is a very useful tool for further culture-independent studies in mixed microbial communities, where the abundance and diversity of bacteria expressing amyloid adhesins seems much greater than hitherto anticipated.     

Coronavirus Nsp10, a Critical Co-factor for Activation of Multiple Replicative Enzymes

The RNA-synthesizing machinery of the severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus (SARS-CoV) is composed of 16 non-structural proteins (nsp1–16) encoded by ORF1a/1b. The 148-amino acid nsp10 subunit contains two zinc fingers and is known to interact with both nsp14 and nsp16, stimulating their respective 3′-5′ exoribonuclease and 2′-O-methyltransferase activities. Using alanine-scanning mutagenesis, in cellulo bioluminescence resonance energy transfer experiments, and in vitro pulldown assays, we have now identified the key residues on the nsp10 surface that interact with nsp14. The functional consequences of mutations introduced at these positions were first evaluated biochemically by monitoring nsp14 exoribonuclease activity. Disruption of the nsp10-nsp14 interaction abrogated the nsp10-driven activation of the nsp14 exoribonuclease. We further showed that the nsp10 surface interacting with nsp14 overlaps with the surface involved in the nsp10-mediated activation of nsp16 2′-O-methyltransferase activity, suggesting that nsp10 is a major regulator of SARS-CoV replicase function. In line with this notion, reverse genetics experiments supported an essential role of the nsp10 surface that interacts with nsp14 in SARS-CoV replication, as several mutations that abolished the interaction in vitro yielded a replication-negative viral phenotype. In contrast, mutants in which the nsp10-nsp16 interaction was disturbed proved to be crippled but viable. These experiments imply that the nsp10 surface that interacts with nsp14 and nsp16 and possibly other subunits of the viral replication complex may be a target for the development of antiviral compounds against pathogenic coronaviruses.     

与PRRSV nsp11互作的宿主细胞蛋白鉴定及生物信息学分析

【目的】研究猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒(Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus,PRRSV)nsp11与宿主细胞蛋白之间的相互作用,对于揭示nsp11在病毒复制过程中发挥的功能至关重要。【方法】在病毒感染细胞的基础上,利用nsp11的单克隆抗体,采用免疫沉淀结合串联质谱的方法,筛选与PRRSV nsp11相互作用的宿主细胞蛋白,并对所筛选出的宿主细胞蛋白进行了GO注释、COG注释和KEGG代谢通路注释;选取筛选出的宿主细胞蛋白IRAK1,利用免疫共沉淀技术和激光共聚焦技术鉴定其与nsp11之间的相互作用。【结果】与空白对照组相比,病毒感染组中出现3条差异带;经质谱分析共筛选得到了201个与nsp11相互作用的宿主细胞蛋白,分别与蛋白质代谢、细胞信号通路转导以及病原致病性等密切相关;在生物信息学分析的基础上,实验验证了nsp11确与宿主细胞蛋白IRAK1进行相互作用。【结论】鉴定出与PRRSV nsp11相互作用的宿主细胞蛋白,生物信息学分析显示它们在病毒的复制和致病过程中发挥重要作用。研究结果为探究nsp11的生物学功能指明了方向,也为研究宿主细胞蛋白与病毒蛋白间的相互作用及其调控病毒复制和致病性的分子机制奠定了基础。     

Identification of Nonstructural Protein 8 as the N-Terminus of the RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is a member within the family Arteriviridae of the order Nidovirales. Replication of this positive-stranded RNA virus within the host cell involves expression of viral replicase proteins encoded by two ORFs, namely ORF1 a and ORF1 b. In particular, translation of ORF1 b depends on a-1-ribosomal frameshift strategy. Thus, nonstructural protein 9 (nsp9), the first protein within ORF1 b that specifies the function of the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, is expressed as the C-terminal extension of nsp8, a small nsp that is encoded by ORF1 a. However, it has remained unclear whether the mature form of nsp9 in virus-infected cells still retains nsp8,addressing which is clearly critical to understand the biological function of nsp9. By taking advantage of specific antibodies to both nsp8 and nsp9, we report the following findings. (1) In infected cells, PRRSV nsp9 was identified as a major product with a size between 72 and 95 k Da (72–95 KDa form), which exhibited the similar mobility on the gel to the in vitro expressed nsp8–9 ORF1 b, but not the ORF1 b-coded portion (nsp9 ORF1 b). (2) The antibodies to nsp8, but not to nsp7 or nsp10, could detect a major product that had the similar mobility to the 72–95 KDa form of nsp9. Moreover, nsp9 could be co-immunoprecipitated by antibodies to nsp8, and vice versa. (3) Neither nsp4 nor nsp2 PLP2 was able to cleave nsp8–nsp9 in vitro. Together, our studies provide experimental evidence to suggest that nsp8 is an N-terminal extension of nsp9.Our findings here paves way for further charactering the biological function of PRRSV nsp9.     

Identification of Residues of SARS-CoV nsp1 That Differentially Affect Inhibition of Gene Expression and Antiviral Signaling

An epidemic of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) led to the identification of an associated coronavirus, SARS-CoV. This virus evades the host innate immune response in part through the expression of its non-structural protein (nsp) 1, which inhibits both host gene expression and virus- and interferon (IFN)-dependent signaling. Thus, nsp1 is a promising target for drugs, as inhibition of nsp1 would make SARS-CoV more susceptible to the host antiviral defenses. To gain a better understanding of nsp1 mode of action, we generated and analyzed 38 mutants of the SARS-CoV nsp1, targeting 62 solvent exposed residues out of the 180 amino acid protein. From this work, we identified six classes of mutants that abolished, attenuated or increased nsp1 inhibition of host gene expression and/or antiviral signaling. Each class of mutants clustered on SARS-CoV nsp1 surface and suggested nsp1 interacts with distinct host factors to exert its inhibitory activities. Identification of the nsp1 residues critical for its activities and the pathways involved in these activities should help in the design of drugs targeting nsp1. Significantly, several point mutants increased the inhibitory activity of nsp1, suggesting that coronaviruses could evolve a greater ability to evade the host response through mutations of such residues.     

Temperature-sensitive mutants and revertants in the coronavirus nonstructural protein 5 protease (3CLpro) define residues involved in long-distance communication and regulation of protease activity

Positive-strand RNA virus genomes are translated into polyproteins that are processed by viral proteases to yield functional intermediate and mature proteins. Coronaviruses (CoVs) carry genes that encode an nsp5 protease (also known as 3CLpro or Mpro) responsible for 11 maturation cleavages. The nsp5 structure contains two chymotrypsin-like domains (D1 and D2) and a unique domain (D3), and forms functional dimers. However, little is known of interactions or communication across the structure of the protease during nsp5 activity. Using reverse genetic mutagenesis of the CoV murine hepatitis virus (MHV) nsp5, we identified a new temperature-sensitive (ts) mutation in D2 of nsp5 (Ser133Ala) and confirmed a ts residue in D3 (Phe219Leu). Both D2-tsS133A and D3-tsF219L were impaired for viral replication and nsp5-mediated polyprotein processing at the nonpermissive temperature. Passage of tsS133A and tsF219L at the nonpermissive temperature resulted in emergence of multiple second-site suppressor mutations, singly and in combinations. Among the second-site mutations, a D2 His134Tyr change suppressed the ts phenotype of D2-tsS133A and D3-tsF219L, as well as the previously reported D2-tsV148A. Analysis of multiple CoV nsp5 structures, and alignment of nonredundant nsp5 primary sequences, demonstrated that ts and suppressor residues are not conserved across CoVs and are physically distant (>10 Å) from each other, from catalytic and substrate-binding residues, and from the nsp5 dimer interface. These findings demonstrate that long-distance communication pathways between multiple residues and domains of nsp5 play a significant role in nsp5 activity and viral replication, suggesting possible novel targets for non-active site inhibitors of nsp5.     

Identification of the 4-hydroxycinnamate decarboxylase (PAD) gene of Klebsiella oxytoca

A 7.1-kbp DNA fragment isolated from a wild strain of Klebsiella oxytoca was sequenced, leading to the identification of 10 open-reading frames (ORFs), including a 504-bp Pad gene. The Pad gene of the Gram-negative bacterium was subsequently expressed in Escherichia coli as a chimeric Pad. The deduced amino acid (AA) sequence of the Pad gene from wild-type K. oxytoca showed approximately 50% homology to those of other bacterial PADs from Gram-positive bacilli plus a coccus. These data and a genomic library search of some gamma-proteobacteria, including E. coli and Vibrio sp., indicated that PAD of K. oxytoca is a member of the bacterial PAD family characteristic of Gram-negative bacteria. Using Pad-specific PCR primers designed from the Gram-negative bacterial Pad of K. oxytoca, Pad genes of two further strains of K. oxytoca, another wild isolate and JCM 1665 and two PAD-positive Enterobacter spp. were successfully amplified for specific Pad detection.