Partial purification and characterization of a cellular protein that binds to the SV40 core origin of DNA replication

A monkey cell factor that interacts specifically with double- and single-stranded DNA sequences in the early domain of the simian virus 40 (SV40) core origin of replication was identified using gel-retention assays. The protein was enriched over 1200-fold using ion-exchange and affinity chromatography on single-strand DNA cellulose. Binding of protein to mutant origin DNA restriction fragments was correlated with replication activity of the mutant DNAs. Exonuclease footprint experiments on single-stranded DNA revealed prominent pause sites in the early domain of the core origin. The results suggest that this cellular protein may be involved in SV40 DNA replication.     

The unwinding of duplex regions in DNA by the simian virus 40 large tumor antigen-associated DNA helicase activity

The DNA helicase activity associated with purified simian virus 40 (SV40) large tumor (T) antigen has been examined. A variety of DNA substrates were used to characterize this ATP-dependent activity. Linear single-stranded M13 DNA containing short duplex regions at both ends was used to show that SV40 T antigen helicase displaced the short, annealed fragment by unwinding in a 3' to 5' direction. Three different partial duplex structures consisting of 71-, 343-, and 851-nucleotide long fragments annealed to M13 single-stranded circular DNA were used to show that SV40 T antigen can readily unwind short and long duplex regions with almost equal facility. ATP and MgCl2 were required for this reaction. With the exception of GTP, dGTP, and CTP, the other common nucleoside triphosphates substituted for ATP with varied efficiency, while adenosine 5'-O-(thiotriphosphate) was inactive. The T antigen helicase activity was also examined using completely duplex DNA fragments (approximately 300 base pairs) with or without the SV40 origin sequence as substrates. In reactions containing small amounts (0.6 ng) of DNA, the ATP-dependent unwinding of duplex DNA fragments occurred with no dependence on the origin sequence. This reaction was stimulated 5- to 6-fold by the addition of the Escherichia coli single-stranded DNA-binding protein. When competitor DNA was added so that the ratio of SV40 T antigen to DNA was reduced 1000-fold, only DNA fragments containing a functional SV40 origin of replication were unwound. This reaction was dependent on ATP, MgCl2, and a DNA-binding protein, and was stimulated by inorganic phosphate or creatine phosphate. The origin sequence requirements for the unwinding reaction were the same as those for replication (the 64-base pair sequence present at T antigen binding site 2). Thus, under specified conditions, only duplex DNA fragments containing an intact SV40 core origin were unwound. In contrast, unwinding of partially duplex segments of DNA flanked by single-stranded regions can occur with no sequence specificity.     

Partial purification and characterization of a cellular protein that binds to the SV40 core origin of DNA replication

A monkey cell factor that interacts specifically with double- and single-stranded DNA sequences in the early domain of the simian virus 40 (SV40) core origin of replication was identified using gel-retention assays. The protein was enriched over 1200-fold using ion-exchange and affinity chromatography on single-strand DNA cellulose. Binding of protein to mutant origin DNA restriction fragments was correlated with replication activity of the mutant DNAs. Exonuclease footprint experiments on single-stranded DNA revealed prominent pause sites in the early domain of the core origin. The results suggest that this cellular protein may be involved in SV40 DNA replication.     

Purification of the simian virus 40 (SV40) T antigen DNA-binding domain and characterization of its interactions with the SV40 origin.

To better define protein-DNA interactions at a eukaryotic origin, the domain of simian virus 40 (SV40) large T antigen that specifically interacts with the SV40 origin has been purified and its binding to DNA has been characterized. Evidence is presented that the affinity of the purified T antigen DNA-binding domain for the SV40 origin is comparable to that of the full-length T antigen. Furthermore, stable binding of the T antigen DNA-binding domain to the SV40 origin requires pairs of pentanucleotide recognition sites separated by approximately one turn of a DNA double helix and positioned in a head-to-head orientation. Although two pairs of pentanucleotides are present in the SV40 origin, footprinting and band shift experiments indicate that binding is limited to dimer formation on a single pair of pentanucleotides. Finally, it is demonstrated that the T antigen DNA-binding domain interacts poorly with single-stranded DNA.     

Identification of regions of the SV40 genome which contain preferred SV40 T antigen-binding sites.

SV40 T antigen binds to SV40 DNA. Using a series of purified SV40 DNA restriction fragments, we have obtained evidence indicating that the antigen preferentially binds to three specific regions. These binding regions are contained within Endo R-Hin d(II + III) A, B, and C.     

Complete enzymatic synthesis of DNA containing the SV40 origin of replication

The replication of simian virus 40 origin-containing DNA has been reconstituted in vitro with SV40 large T antigen and purified proteins isolated from HeLa cells. Covalently closed circular DNA (RF I') daughter molecules are formed in the presence of T antigen, a single-stranded DNA binding protein and DNA polymerase alpha-primase complex, together with ribonuclease H, DNA ligase, topoisomerase II, and a double-stranded specific exonuclease that has been purified to homogeneity. The 44-kDa exonuclease-digested oligo(rA) annealed to poly(dT) in the 5'----3' direction. DNA ligase and the 5'----3' exonuclease were essential for RF I' formation. Covalently closed circular duplex DNA and full length linear single-stranded DNA were detected by alkaline gel electrophoresis as products of the complete system. DNA replication in the absence of either DNA ligase or the 5'----3' exonuclease yielded DNA products that were half length (approximately 1500 nucleotides) and smaller Okazaki-like fragments (approximately 200 nucleotides). Hybridization experiments showed that the longer chains were synthesized from the leading strand template, while the small products were synthesized from the lagging strand template. These results suggest that the RNA primers attached to 5' ends of replicated DNA are completely removed by the 5'----3' exonuclease, with the assistance of RNase H.     

A stretch of "late" SV40 viral DNA about 400 bp long which includes the origin of replication is specifically exposed in SV40 minichromosomes.

Examination of DNA fragments produced from either formaldehyde-fixed or unfixed SV40 minichromosomes by multiple-cut restriction endonucleases has led to the following major results: Exhaustive digestion of unfixed minichromosomes with Hae III generated all ten major limit-digest DNA fragments as well as partial cleavage products. In striking contrast to this result, Hae III acted on formaldehyde-fixed minichromosomes to yield only one of the limit-digest fragments, F, which is located in the immediate vicinity of the origin of replication, spanning nucleotides 5169 and 250 on the DNA sequence map of Reddy et al. (1978). This 300 base pair (bp) fragment was released as naked DNA from formaldehyde-fixed, Hae III-digested minichromosomes following treatment either by pronase-SDS or by SDS alone. In the latter case, the remainder of the minichromosome retained its compact configuration as assayed by both sedimentational and electrophoretic methods. In minichromosomes, the F fragment is therefore not only accessible to Hae III at its ends, but is also neither formaldehyde cross-linked into any SDS-resistant nucleoprotein structure nor topologically "locked" within the compact minichromosomal particle. This same fragment was preferentially produced during the early stages of digestion of unfixed minichromosomes with Hae III, and its final yield in the exhaustive Hae III digest was significantly higher than that of other limit-digest fragments. Similar results were obtained upon digestion of either unfixed or formaldehyde-fixed minichromosomes with Alu I. In particular, of approximately twenty major limit-digest DNA fragments, only two fragments (F and P, encompassing nucleotides 5146 to 190, and 190 to 325, respectively) were produced by Alu I from the formaldehyde-fixed minichromosomes. All other restriction endonucleases tested (Mbo I, Mbo II, Hind III, Hin II+III and Hinf I), for which there are no closely spaced recognition sequences in the above mentioned regions of the SV40 genome, did not produce any significant amount of limit-digest DNA fragments from formaldehyde-fixed minichromosomes. These findings, taken together with our earlier data on the preferential exposure of the origin of replication in SV40 minichromosomes (Varshavsky, Sundin and Bohn, 1978), strongly suggest that a specific region of the "late" SV40 DNA approximately 400 bp long is uniquely exposed in the compact minichromosome. It is of interest that, in addition to the origin of replication, this region contains binding sites for T antigen (Tjian, 1977), specific tandem repeated sequences and apparently also the promoters for synthesis of late SV40 mRNAs (Fiers et al., 1978; Reddy et al., 1978).     

Species-specific functional interactions of DNA polymerase alpha-primase with simian virus 40 (SV40) T antigen require SV40 origin DNA.

Physical and functional interactions of simian virus 40 (SV40) and polyomavirus large-T antigens with DNA polymerase alpha-primase were analyzed to elucidate the molecular basis for the species specificity of polymerase alpha-primase in viral DNA replication. SV40 T antigen associated more efficiently with polymerase alpha-primase in crude human extracts than in mouse extracts, while polyomavirus T antigen interacted preferentially with polymerase alpha-primase in mouse extracts. The apparent species specificity of complex formation was not observed when purified polymerase alpha-primases were substituted for the crude extracts. Several functional interactions between T antigen and purified polymerase alpha-primase, including stimulation of primer synthesis and primer elongation on M13 DNA in the presence or absence of the single-stranded DNA binding protein RP-A, also proved to be independent of the species from which polymerase alpha-primase had been purified. However, the human DNA polymerase alpha-primase was specifically required for primosome assembly and primer synthesis on SV40 origin DNA in the presence of T antigen and RP-A.     

Mutation of the cyclin-dependent kinase phosphorylation site in simian virus 40 (SV40) large T antigen specifically blocks SV40 origin DNA unwinding.

A mutant simian virus 40 (SV40) large tumor (T) antigen bearing alanine instead of threonine at residue 124 (T124A) failed to replicate SV40 DNA in infected monkey cells (J. Schneider and E. Fanning, J. Virol. 62:1598-1605, 1988). We investigated the biochemical properties of T124A T antigen in greater detail by using purified protein from a baculovirus expression system. Purified T124A is defective in SV40 DNA replication in vitro, but does bind specifically to the viral origin under the conditions normally used for DNA replication. The mutant protein forms double-hexamer complexes at the origin in an ATP-dependent fashion, although the binding reaction requires somewhat higher protein concentrations than the wild-type protein. Binding of T124A protein results in local distortion of the origin DNA similar to that observed with the wild-type protein. These findings indicate that the replication defect of T124A protein is not due to failure to recognize and occupy the origin. Under some conditions T124A is capable of unwinding short origin DNA fragments. However, the mutant protein is almost completely defective in unwinding of circular plasmid DNA molecules containing the SV40 origin. Since the helicase activity of T124A is essentially identical to that of the wild-type protein, we conclude that the mutant is defective in the initial opening of the duplex at the origin, possibly as a result of altered hexamer-hexamer interactions. The phenotype of T124A suggests a possible role for phosphorylation of threonine 124 by cyclin-dependent kinases in controlling the origin unwinding activity of T antigen in infected cells.     

DNA helicase and duplex DNA fragment unwinding activities of polyoma and simian virus 40 large T antigen display similarities and differences.

We have characterized the biochemical activities of purified polyoma (Py) large T antigen (T Ag) that was capable of mediating the replication of a plasmid containing the Py origin (ori(+) DNA) in mouse cell extracts. We report here that like the T Ag encoded by simian virus 40 (SV40), Py T Ag has DNA helicase and double-stranded DNA fragment unwinding activities. Py T Ag displaced DNA fragments greater than 1,600 nucleotides which were annealed to complementary sequences in single-stranded M13 by translocating in the 3' to 5' direction. Both helicase and double-stranded DNA fragment unwinding reactions were completely dependent upon NTP hydrolysis, displaying a strong preference for ATP and dATP. At low T Ag concentrations, significantly more Py ori(+) DNA fragment was unwound compared with a fragment lacking the replication origin. However, at higher ratios of Py T Ag to DNA, equivalent to those used in replication reactions, unwinding of both ori-containing and -lacking fragments was equally efficient. This is in contrast to SV40 T Ag which exhibited a more stringent requirement for SV40 origin sequences under similar conditions. Furthermore, some of the nucleotides that supported the helicase and unwinding activities of Py T Ag were different from those for the same SV40 T Ag reactions. We have also observed that in contrast to the very poor replication of linear SV40 ori(+) DNA by SV40 T Ag in human cell extracts, linear Py ori(+) DNA was replicated efficiently in mouse cell extracts by Py T Ag. However, despite the fact that linear Py ori(+), SV40 ori(+), and ori(-) DNA fragments could be unwound with comparable efficiency by Py T Ag, only fragments containing the Py replication origin were replicated in vitro. These results suggest that the initiation of DNA synthesis at the Py origin of replication requires features in addition to unwinding of the template.     

Protein-induced bending of the simian virus 40 origin of replication

A 3.5 S protein, isolated from mammalian nuclei, specifically binds to DNA fragments containing the simian virus 40 (SV40) origin of replication. Two distinct nucleoprotein complexes are formed, a complex with high electrophoretic mobility carrying probably only one protein molecule, and a complex with reduced electrophoretic mobility carrying probably two protein molecules per DNA fragment. Band shift competition as well as methylation interference assays locate the binding site of the protein in the A + T-rich "late" region of the origin between SV40 nucleotides 13 and 35. The late origin binding (LOB) protein and T antigen bind simultaneously to adjacent sites in the origin. Using circularly permuted DNA fragments of identical lengths we show that the LOB protein induces pronounced bending of the origin fragment. The bending center maps at the 5' end of the adenine tract with one bound protein molecule and at the 3' end when two LOB proteins are bound to one origin fragment.     

Simian virus 40 large T antigen DNA helicase. Characterization of the ATPase-dependent DNA unwinding activity and its substrate requirements

The ATPase of SV40 large T antigen (T antigen) which is essential for the replication of SV40 minichromosomes was recently shown to be functionally related to a newly discovered DNA helicase activity. The T antigen helicase unwinds DNA duplices of several kilobase pairs in a reaction depending on the presence of hydrolyzable ribo- or deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates. The in vitro rate of movement through duplex DNA was found to be about 100 base pairs/min at 37 degrees C. For DNA unwinding, T antigen requires a 3'-single strand extension of a partially double-stranded substrate and invades the double strand section processively, in a 3' to 5' direction. The minimum length of the single-stranded tail was determined to be less than 5 nucleotides. Unwinding studies in the presence of the Escherichia coli single strand-specific DNA-binding protein and competition experiments indicate that T antigen helicase binds preferentially at the single-stranded/double-stranded DNA junction. This DNA structure is therefore proposed to serve as an entry site for the T antigen helicase. Previously reported data suggest that T antigen is the replicative helicase of the SV40 minichromosome. The results presented here are consistent with these findings and imply that T antigen migrates actively and processively along the template for the leading strand.     

Denaturation of the simian virus 40 origin of replication mediated by human replication protein A.

The initiation of simian virus 40 (SV40) replication requires recognition of the viral origin of replication (ori) by SV40 T antigen, followed by denaturation of ori in a reaction dependent upon human replication protein A (hRPA). To understand how origin denaturation is achieved, we constructed a 48-bp SV40 "pseudo-origin" with a central 8-nucleotide (nt) bubble flanked by viral sequences, mimicking a DNA structure found within the SV40 T antigen-ori complex. hRPA bound the pseudo-origin with similar stoichiometry and an approximately fivefold reduced affinity compared to the binding of a 48-nt single-stranded DNA molecule. The presence of hRPA not only distorted the duplex DNA flanking the bubble but also resulted in denaturation of the pseudo-origin substrate in an ATP-independent reaction. Pseudo-origin denaturation occurred in 7 mM MgCl2, distinguishing this reaction from Mg2+-independent DNA-unwinding activities previously reported for hRPA. Tests of other single-stranded DNA-binding proteins (SSBs) revealed that pseudo-origin binding correlates with the known ability of these SSBs to support the T-antigen-dependent origin unwinding activity. Our results suggest that hRPA binding to the T antigen-ori complex induces the denaturation of ori including T-antigen recognition sequences, thus releasing T antigen from ori to unwind the viral DNA. The denaturation activity of hRPA has the potential to play a significant role in other aspects of DNA metabolism, including DNA repair.     

Large T-antigen mutants define multiple steps in the initiation of simian virus 40 DNA replication.

The biochemical activities of a series of transformation-competent, replication-defective large T-antigen point mutants were examined. The assays employed reflect partial reactions required for the in vitro replication of simian virus 40 (SV40) DNA. Mutants which failed to bind specifically to SV40 origin sequences bound efficiently to single-stranded DNA and exhibited nearly wild-type levels of helicase activity. A mutation at proline 522, however, markedly reduced ATPase, helicase, and origin-specific unwinding activities. This mutant bound specifically to the SV40 origin of replication, but under certain conditions it was defective in binding to both single-stranded DNA and the partial duplex helicase substrate. This suggests that additional determinants outside the amino-terminal-specific DNA-binding domain may be involved in nonspecific binding of T antigen to single-stranded DNA and demonstrates that origin-specific DNA binding can be separated from binding to single-stranded DNA. A mutant containing a lesion at residue 224 retained nearly wild-type levels of helicase activity and recognized SV40 origin sequences, yet it failed to function in an origin-specific unwinding assay. This provides evidence that origin recognition and helicase activities are not sufficient for unwinding to occur. The distribution of mutant phenotypes reflects the complex nature of the initiation reaction and the multiplicity of functions provided by large T antigen.     

Immunoprecipitation of SV40 replicating minichromosomes complexed with bacteriophage T4 gene 32 protein.

Simian Virus 40 (SV40) DNA replication is a useful model to study eukaryotic cell DNA replication because it encodes only one replication protein and its genome has a nucleoprotein structure ('minichromosome') indistinguishable from cellular chromatin. Late after infection SV40 replicating DNA molecules represent about 5% of total viral minichromosomes. Since gene 32 protein (P32) from bacteriophage T4 interacts with single-stranded DNA and SV40 replication complexes are expected to contain single-stranded regions at the replication forks, we asked whether P32 might be used to isolate replicating SV40 minichromosomes. When nuclear extracts from SV40 infected cells were treated sequentially with P32 and anti-P32 antibodies, pulse-labeled minichromosomes were selectively immunoprecipitated. Agarose gel electrophoresis analysis confirmed that immunoprecipitated material corresponded to SV40 replicative intermediates. Protein analysis of the pelleted material revealed several proteins of viral and cellular origin. Among them, T antigen and histones were found to be complexed with at least other three proteins from cellular origin, to the replicative complexes. Additionally, anti-P32 antibodies were able to detect three cellular proteins of approximately 70, 32 and 13 kDa in western blots. These proteins could correspond to those found as part of an eukaryotic multisubunit single-stranded DNA binding protein. The use of P32 and anti-P32 antibodies thus allows the separation of replicating from mature SV40 minichromosomes and can constitute a novel method to enrich and to study replicative active chromatin.     

Subclasses of simian virus 40 large T antigen: differential binding of two subclasses of T antigen from productively infected cells to viral and cellular DNA

Two major subclasses of simian virus 40 (SV40) large T antigen were separated by zone velocity sedimentation of crude extracts from productively infected cells. These subclasses, which have been shown to differ biologically and biochemically ( Fanning et al., 1981), sedimented at 5-6S and 14-16S. The amount of T antigen in each form was estimated by complement fixation and by immunoprecipitation of T antigen from extracts of cells chronically labeled with [35S]methionine. Each form of T antigen was tested for specific binding to end-labeled restriction fragments of SV40 DNA using an immunoprecipitation assay. The 5-6S and 14-16S forms of T antigen both bound specifically to DNA sequences in the SV40 HindIII C fragment. The sequences required for binding both forms were localized in the same 35-bp region of the origin. However, significant differences in binding activity and affinity for specific and nonspecific DNA were demonstrated. These properties suggest that T antigen subclasses may serve different functions in the lytically infected cell.     

An N-terminal deletion mutant of simian virus 40 (SV40) large T antigen oligomerizes incorrectly on SV40 DNA but retains the ability to bind to DNA polymerase alpha and replicate SV40 DNA in vitro.

A peptide encompassing the N-terminal 82 amino acids of simian virus 40 (SV40) large T antigen was previously shown to bind to the large subunit of DNA polymerase alpha-primase (I. Dornreiter, A. Höss, A. K. Arthur, and E. Fanning, EMBO J. 9:3329-3336, 1990). We report here that a mutant T antigen, T83-708, lacking residues 2 to 82 retained the ability to bind to DNA polymerase alpha-primase, implying that it carries a second binding site for DNA polymerase alpha-primase. The mutant protein also retained ATPase, helicase, and SV40 origin DNA-binding activity. However, its SV40 DNA replication activity in vitro was reduced compared with that of wild-type protein. The reduction in replication activity was accompanied by a lower DNA-binding affinity to SV40 origin sequences and aberrant oligomerization on viral origin DNA. Thus, the first 82 residues of SV40 T antigen are not strictly required for its interaction with DNA polymerase alpha-primase or for DNA replication function but may play a role in correct hexamer assembly and efficient DNA binding at the origin.     

An altered DNA conformation in origin region I is a determinant for the binding of SV40 large T antigen

Seventeen base pairs of DNA from SV40 origin region I encode a tripartite binding site for a dimeric mass of SV40 large T antigen. Two binding components are the directly repeated pentanucleotide sequences 5'-GAGGC-3'/5'-GCCTC-3'. The third component is the asymmetric sequence 5'-TTTTTTG-3'/5'-CAAAAAA-3' that separates the pentanucleotides. Nucleotide-specific features of this spacer element stabilize binding to the adjacent pentanucleotides. We report here that the spacer sequence determines a DNA conformation that correlates with high affinity binding of T antigen. The nature of the spacer sequence suggests that the DNA is bent. We propose that binding of T antigen to region I proceeds through monomer-pentanucleotide interactions and either protein-protein or protein-spacer interactions directed by the spacer-encoded structure.     

O6-methylguanine in the SV40 origin of replication inhibits binding but increases unwinding by viral large T antigen.

To study the effect of the potentially cytotoxic base O6-methylguanine (O6-meG) on the initiation of DNA replication, double-stranded oligonucleotides corresponding to the SV40 origin of replication were constructed in which O6-meG replaced guanine in one strand. Out of 14 methylated residues, 10 were present in the Binding sites for T antigen (3 in Binding Site 1 and 7 in Binding Site 2). Binding of purified T antigen to the substituted oligonucleotide was considerably reduced in comparison to the unsubstituted one, as measured by nitrocellulose filter binding. Both the ATP-dependent and ATP-independent binding of T antigen were affected by the presence of the methylated base. Band shift analysis revealed an altered pattern of delayed-migrating complexes of T antigen with the O6-meG-containing oligonucleotide. Competition experiments, in which unmodified oligonucleotides containing Binding Site 1 or 2 were included in the binding assays, indicated that the affinity of T antigen for the O6-meG modified sites was reduced. When partially duplex oligonucleotides containing either Binding Site 1 or Site 2 of the origin of replication were used as substrates for the helicase activity of T antigen, the presence of O6-meG increased the extent of T antigen catalysed displacement of single-stranded DNA fragments.