The crystal structure of the varicella-zoster Orf24-Orf27 nuclear egress complex spotlights multiple determinants of herpesvirus subfamily specificity.

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is a human pathogen from the α-subfamily of herpesviruses. The VZV Orf24-Orf27 complex represents the essential viral core nuclear egress complex (NEC) that orchestrates the egress of the preassembled virus capsids from the nucleus. While previous studies have primarily emphasized that the architecture of core NEC complexes is highly conserved among herpesviruses, the present report focuses on subfamily-specific structural and functional features that help explain the differences in the autologous versus nonautologous interaction patterns observed for NEC formation across herpesviruses. Here, we describe the crystal structure of the Orf24-Orf27 complex at 2.1 Å resolution. Coimmunoprecipitation and confocal imaging data show that Orf24-Orf27 complex formation displays some promiscuity in a herpesvirus subfamily-restricted manner. At the same time, analysis of thermodynamic parameters of NEC formation of three prototypical α-, ß-, and γ herpesviruses, i.e., VZV, human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), revealed highly similar binding affinities for the autologous interaction with specific differences in enthalpy and entropy. Computational alanine scanning, structural comparisons, and mutational data highlight intermolecular interactions shared among α-herpesviruses that are clearly distinct from those seen in ß- and γ-herpesviruses, including a salt bridge formed between Orf24-Arg167 and Orf27-Asp126. This interaction is located outside of the hook-into-groove interface and contributes significantly to the free energy of complex formation. Combined, these data explain distinct properties of specificity and permissivity so far observed in herpesviral NEC interactions. These findings will prove valuable in attempting to target multiple herpesvirus core NECs with selective or broad-acting drug candidates.

High-resolution crystal structures of two prototypical ß- and γ-herpesviral nuclear egress complexes unravel the determinants of subfamily specificity.

Herpesviruses uniquely express two essential nuclear egress-regulating proteins forming a heterodimeric basic structure of the nuclear egress complex (core NEC). These core NECs serve as a hexameric lattice-structured platform for capsid docking and recruit viral and cellular NEC-associated factors that jointly exert nuclear lamina- and membrane-rearranging functions (multicomponent NEC). Here, we report the X-ray structures of ß- and γ-herpesvirus core NECs obtained through an innovative recombinant expression strategy based on NEC-hook::NEC-groove protein fusion constructs. This approach yielded the first structure of γ-herpesviral core NEC, namely the 1.56 Å structure of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) BFRF1-BFLF2, as well as an increased resolution 1.48 Å structure of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) pUL50-pUL53. Detailed analysis of these structures revealed that the prominent hook segment is absolutely required for core NEC formation and contributes approximately 80% of the interaction surface of the globular domains of NEC proteins. Moreover, using HCMV::EBV hook domain swap constructs, computational prediction of the roles of individual hook residues for binding, and quantitative binding assays with synthetic peptides presenting the HCMV- and EBV-specific NEC hook sequences, we characterized the unique hook-into-groove NEC interaction at various levels. Although the overall physicochemical characteristics of the protein interfaces differ considerably in these ß- and γ-herpesvirus NECs, the binding free energy contributions of residues displayed from identical positions are similar. In summary, the results of our study reveal critical details of the molecular mechanism of herpesviral NEC interactions and highlight their potential as an antiviral drug target.

Structural and functional characterization of SiiA, an auxiliary protein from the SPI4-encoded type 1 secretion system from Salmonella enterica.

Salmonella invasion is mediated by a concerted action of the Salmonella pathogenicity island 4 (SPI4)-encoded type one secretion system (T1SS) and the SPI1-encoded type three secretion system (T3SS-1). The SPI4-encoded T1SS consists of five proteins (SiiABCDF) and secretes the giant adhesin SiiE. Here, we investigated structure-function relationships in SiiA, a non-canonical T1SS subunit. We show that SiiA consists of a membrane domain, an intrinsically disordered periplasmic linker region and a folded globular periplasmic domain (SiiA-PD). The crystal structure of SiiA-PD displays homology to that of MotB and other peptidoglycan (PG)-binding domains. SiiA-PD binds PG in vitro, albeit at an acidic pH, only. Mutation of Arg162 impedes PG binding of SiiA and reduces Salmonella invasion efficacy. SiiA forms a complex with SiiB at the inner membrane (IM), and the observed SiiA-MotB homology is paralleled by a predicted SiiB-MotA homology. We show that, similar to MotAB, SiiAB translocates protons across the IM. Mutating Asp13 in SiiA impairs proton translocation. Overall, SiiA shares numerous properties with MotB. However, MotAB uses the proton motif force (PMF) to energize the bacterial flagellum, it remains to be shown how usage of the PMF by SiiAB assists T1SS function and Salmonella invasion.

PRISEs (progesterone 5ß-reductase and/or iridoid synthase-like 1,4-enone reductases): Catalytic and substrate promiscuity allows for realization of multiple pathways in plant metabolism.

PRISEs (progesterone 5ß-reductase and/or iridoid synthase-like 1,4-enone reductases) are involved in cardenolide and iridoid biosynthesis. We here investigated a PRISE (rAtSt5ßR) from Arabidopsis thaliana, a plant producing neither cardenolides nor iridoids. The structure of rAtSt5ßR was elucidated with X-ray crystallography and compared to the known structures of PRISEs from Catharanthus roseus (rCrISY) and Digitalis lanata (rDlP5ßR). The three enzymes show a high degree of sequence and structure conservation in the active site. Amino acids previously considered to allow discrimination between progesterone 5ß-reductase and iridoid synthase were interchanged among rAtSt5ßR, rCrISY and rDlP5ßR applying site-directed mutagenesis. Structural homologous substitutions had different effects, and changes in progesterone 5ß-reductase and iridoid synthase activity were not correlated in all cases. Our results help to explain fortuitous emergence of metabolic pathways and product accumulation. The fact that PRISEs are found ubiquitously in spermatophytes insinuates that PRISEs might have a more general function in plant metabolism such as, for example, the detoxification of reactive carbonyl species.

Crystal Structure of the Extracellular Domain of the Human Dendritic Cell Surface Marker CD83.

CD83 is a type-I membrane protein and an efficient marker for identifying mature dendritic cells. Whereas membrane-bound, full-length CD83 co-stimulates the immune system, a soluble variant (sCD83), consisting of the extracellular domain only, displays strong immune-suppressive activities. Besides a prediction that sCD83 adopts a V-set Ig-like fold, however, little is known about the molecular architecture of CD83 and the mechanism by which CD83 exerts its function on dendritic cells and additional immune cells. Here, we report the crystal structure of human sCD83 up to a resolution of 1.7Å solved in three different crystal forms. Interestingly, ß-strands C', C″, and D that are typical for V-set Ig-domains could not be traced in sCD83. Mass spectrometry analyses, limited proteolysis experiments, and bioinformatics studies show that the corresponding segment displays enhanced main-chain accessibility, extraordinary low sequence conservation, and a predicted high disorder propensity. Chimeric proteins with amino acid swaps in this segment show unaltered immune-suppressive activities in a TNF-α assay when compared to wild-type sCD83. This strongly indicates that this segment does not participate in the biological activity of CD83. The crystal structure of CD83 shows the recurrent formation of dimers and trimers in the various crystal forms and reveals strong structural similarities between sCD83 and B7 family members and CD48, a signaling lymphocyte activation molecule family member. This suggests that CD83 exerts its immunological activity by mixed homotypic and heterotypic interactions as typically observed for proteins present in the immunological synapse.

Expression, crystallization and structure elucidation of γ-terpinene synthase from Thymus vulgaris.

The biosynthesis of γ-terpinene, a precursor of the phenolic isomers thymol and carvacrol found in the essential oil from Thymus sp., is attributed to the activitiy of γ-terpinene synthase (TPS). Purified γ-terpinene synthase from T. vulgaris (TvTPS), the Thymus species that is the most widely spread and of the greatest economical importance, is able to catalyze the enzymatic conversion of geranyl diphosphate (GPP) to γ-terpinene. The crystal structure of recombinantly expressed and purified TvTPS is reported at 1.65 Šresolution, confirming the dimeric structure of the enzyme. The putative active site of TvTPS is deduced from its pronounced structural similarity to enzymes from other species of the Lamiaceae family involved in terpenoid biosynthesis: to (+)-bornyl diphosphate synthase and 1,8-cineole synthase from Salvia sp. and to (4S)-limonene synthase from Mentha spicata.

Crystal Structure of the Human Cytomegalovirus pUL50-pUL53 Core Nuclear Egress Complex Provides Insight into a Unique Assembly Scaffold for Virus-Host Protein Interactions.

Nuclear replication of cytomegalovirus relies on elaborate mechanisms of nucleocytoplasmic egress of viral particles. Thus, the role of two essential and conserved viral nuclear egress proteins, pUL50 and pUL53, is pivotal. pUL50 and pUL53 heterodimerize and form a core nuclear egress complex (NEC), which is anchored to the inner nuclear membrane and provides a scaffold for the assembly of a multimeric viral-cellular NEC. Here, we report the crystal structure of the pUL50-pUL53 heterodimer (amino acids 1-175 and 50-292, respectively) at 2.44 Å resolution. Both proteins adopt a globular fold with mixed α and ß secondary structure elements. pUL53-specific features include a zinc-binding site and a hook-like N-terminal extension, the latter representing a hallmark element of the pUL50-pUL53 interaction. The hook-like extension (amino acids 59-87) embraces pUL50 and contributes 1510 Å(2) to the total interface area (1880 Å(2)). The pUL50 structure overall resembles the recently published NMR structure of the murine cytomegalovirus homolog pM50 but reveals a considerable repositioning of the very C-terminal α-helix of pUL50 upon pUL53 binding. pUL53 shows structural resemblance with the GHKL domain of bacterial sensory histidine kinases. A close examination of the crystal structure indicates partial assembly of pUL50-pUL53 heterodimers to hexameric ring-like structures possibly providing additional scaffolding opportunities for NEC. In combination, the structural information on pUL50-pUL53 considerably improves our understanding of the mechanism of HCMV nuclear egress. It may also accelerate the validation of the NEC as a unique target for developing a novel type of antiviral drug and improved options of broad-spectrum antiherpesviral therapy.

Endothelium-protective sphingosine-1-phosphate provided by HDL-associated apolipoprotein M.

Protection of the endothelium is provided by circulating sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), which maintains vascular integrity. We show that HDL-associated S1P is bound specifically to both human and murine apolipoprotein M (apoM). Thus, isolated human ApoM(+) HDL contained S1P, whereas ApoM(-) HDL did not. Moreover, HDL in Apom(-/-) mice contains no S1P, whereas HDL in transgenic mice overexpressing human apoM has an increased S1P content. The 1.7-Å structure of the S1P-human apoM complex reveals that S1P interacts specifically with an amphiphilic pocket in the lipocalin fold of apoM. Human ApoM(+) HDL induced S1P(1) receptor internalization, downstream MAPK and Akt activation, endothelial cell migration, and formation of endothelial adherens junctions, whereas apoM(-) HDL did not. Importantly, lack of S1P in the HDL fraction of Apom(-/-) mice decreased basal endothelial barrier function in lung tissue. Our results demonstrate that apoM, by delivering S1P to the S1P(1) receptor on endothelial cells, is a vasculoprotective constituent of HDL.

Serendipitous fatty acid binding reveals the structural determinants for ligand recognition in apolipoprotein M.

Apolipoprotein M (ApoM) is a 25-kDa HDL-associated apolipoprotein and a member of the lipocalin family of proteins. Mature apoM retains its signal peptide, which serves as a lipid anchor attaching apoM to the lipoproteins, thereby keeping it in the circulation. Studies in mice have suggested apoM to be antiatherogenic, but its physiological function is yet unknown. We have now determined the 1.95 A resolution crystal structure of recombinant human apoM expressed in Escherichia coli and made the unexpected discovery that apoM, although refolded from inclusion bodies, was in complex with fatty acids containing 14, 16 or 18 carbon atoms. ApoM displays the typical lipocalin fold characterised by an eight-stranded antiparallel beta-barrel that encloses an internal ligand-binding pocket. The crystal structures of two different complexes provide a detailed picture of the ligand-binding determinants of apoM. Additional fatty acid- and lipid-binding studies with apoM and the mutants apoM(W47F) and apoM(W100F) showed that sphingosine-1-phosphate is able to displace the bound fatty acids and efficiently quenched the intrinsic fluorescence with an IC(50) of 0.90 muM. Whereas the fatty acids bound in the crystal structure could be a mere consequence of recombinant protein production, the observed binding of sphingosine-1-phosphate might provide a key to a better understanding of the physiological function of apoM.

A protein functional leap: how a single mutation reverses the function of the transcription regulator TetR.

Today's proteome is the result of innumerous gene duplication, mutagenesis, drift and selection processes. Whereas random mutagenesis introduces predominantly only gradual changes in protein function, a case can be made that an abrupt switch in function caused by single amino acid substitutions will not only considerably further evolution but might constitute a prerequisite for the appearance of novel functionalities for which no promiscuous protein intermediates can be envisaged. Recently, tetracycline repressor (TetR) variants were identified in which binding of tetracycline triggers the repressor to associate with and not to dissociate from the operator DNA as in wild-type TetR. We investigated the origin of this activity reversal by limited proteolysis, CD spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. We show that the TetR mutant Leu17Gly switches its function via a disorder-order mechanism that differs completely from the allosteric mechanism of wild-type TetR. Our study emphasizes how single point mutations can engender unexpected leaps in protein function thus enabling the appearance of new functionalities in proteins without the need for promiscuous intermediates.

The crystal structure of progesterone 5beta-reductase from Digitalis lanata defines a novel class of short chain dehydrogenases/reductases.

Progesterone 5beta-reductase (5beta-POR) catalyzes the stereospecific reduction of progesterone to 5beta-pregnane-3,20-dione and is a key enzyme in the biosynthetic pathway of cardenolides in Digitalis (foxglove) plants. Sequence considerations suggested that 5beta-POR is a member of the short chain dehydrogenase/reductase (SDR) family of proteins but at the same time revealed that the sequence motifs that in standard SDRs contain the catalytically important residues are missing. Here we present crystal structures of 5beta-POR from Digitalis lanata in complex with NADP(+) at 2.3A and without cofactor bound at 2.4A resolution together with a model of a ternary complex consisting of 5beta-POR, NADP(+), and progesterone. Indeed, 5beta-POR displays the fold of an extended SDR. The architecture of the active site is, however, unprecedented because none of the standard catalytic residues are structurally conserved. A tyrosine (Tyr-179) and a lysine residue (Lys-147) are present in the active site, but they are displayed from novel positions and are part of novel sequence motifs. Mutating Tyr-179 to either alanine or phenylalanine completely abolishes the enzymatic activity. We propose that the distinct topology reflects the fact that 5beta-POR reduces a conjugated double bond in a steroid substrate via a 1-4 addition mechanism and that this requires a repositioning of the catalytically important residues. Our observation that the sequence motifs that line the active site are conserved in a number of bacterial and plant enzymes of yet unknown function leads us to the proposition that 5beta-POR defines a novel class of SDRs.

Crystal structure analysis and solution studies of human Lck-SH3; zinc-induced homodimerization competes with the binding of proline-rich motifs.

In cytosolic Src-type tyrosine kinases the Src-type homology 3 (SH3) domain binds to an internal proline-rich motif and the presence or the absence of this interaction modulates the kinase enzymatic activity. The Src-type kinase Lck plays an important role during T-cell activation and development, since it phosphorylates the T-cell antigen receptor in an early step of the activation pathway. We have determined the crystal structure of the SH3 domain from Lck kinase at a near-atomic resolution of 1.0 A. Unexpectedly, the Lck-SH3 domain forms a symmetrical homodimer in the crystal and the dimer comprises two identical zinc-binding sites in the interface. The atomic interactions formed across the dimer interface resemble strikingly those observed between SH3 domains and their canonical proline-rich ligands, since almost identical residues participate in both contacts. Ultracentrifugation experiments confirm that in the presence of zinc ions, the Lck-SH3 domain also forms dimers in solution. The Zn(2+) dissociation constant from the Lck-SH3 dimer is estimated to be lower than 100 nM. Moreover, upon addition of a proline-rich peptide with a sequence corresponding to the recognition segment of the herpesviral regulatory protein Tip, competition between zinc-induced homodimerization and binding of the peptide can be detected by both fluorescence spectroscopy and analytical ultracentrifugation. These results suggest that in vivo, too, competition between Lck-SH3 homodimerization and binding of regulatory proline-rich sequence motifs possibly represents a novel mechanism by which kinase activity is modulated. Because the residues that form the zinc-binding site are highly conserved among Lck orthologues but not in other Src-type kinases, the mechanism might be peculiar to Lck and to its role in the initial steps of T-cell activation.

Crystallization and preliminary crystallographic analysis of selenomethionine-labelled progesterone 5beta-reductase from Digitalis lanata Ehrh.

Progesterone 5beta-reductase (5beta-POR) catalyzes the reduction of progesterone to 5beta-pregnane-3,20-dione and is the first stereospecific enzyme in the putative biosynthetic pathway of Digitalis cardenolides. Selenomethionine-derivatized 5beta-POR from D. lanata was successfully overproduced and crystallized. The crystals belong to space group P4(3)2(1)2, with unit-cell parameters a = 71.73, c = 186.64 A. A MAD data set collected at 2.7 A resolution allowed the identification of six out of eight possible Se-atom positions. A first inspection of the MAD-phased electron-density map shows that 5beta-POR is a Rossmann-type reductase and the quality of the map is such that it is anticipated that a complete atomic model of 5beta-POR will readily be built.