Combination of deep XLMS with deep learning reveals an ordered rearrangement and assembly of a major protein component of the vaccinia virion.

IMPORTANCE: An outstanding problem in the understanding of poxvirus biology is the molecular structure of the mature virion. Via deep learning methods combined with chemical cross-linking mass spectrometry, we have addressed the structure and assembly pathway of P4a, a key poxvirus virion core component.

Deconstructing Allograft Adipose and Fascia Matrix: Fascia Matrix Improves Angiogenesis, Volume Retention, and Adipogenesis in a Rodent Model.

BACKGROUND: Autologous fat grafting is commonly used for soft-tissue repair (approximately 90,000 cases per year in the United States), but outcomes are limited by volume loss (20% to 80%) over time. Human allograft adipose matrix (AAM) stimulates de novo adipogenesis in vivo, but retention requires optimization. The extracellular matrix derived from superficial fascia, interstitial within the adipose layer, is typically removed during AAM processing. Thus, fascia, which contains numerous important proteins, might cooperate with AAM to stimulate de novo adipogenesis, improving long-term retention compared to AAM alone. METHODS: Human AAM and fascia matrix proteins (back and upper leg regions) were identified by mass spectrometry and annotated by gene ontology. A three-dimensional in vitro angiogenesis assay was performed. Finally, AAM and/or fascia (1 mL) was implanted into 6- to 8-week-old male Fischer rats. After 8 weeks, the authors assessed graft retention by gas pycnometry and angiogenesis (CD31) and adipocyte counts (hematoxylin and eosin) histologically. RESULTS: Gene ontology annotation revealed an angiogenic enrichment pattern unique to the fascia, including lactadherin, collagen alpha-3(V) chain, and tenascin-C. In vitro, AAM stimulated 1.0 ± 0.17 angiogenic sprouts per bead. The addition of fascia matrix increased sprouting by 88% (2.0 ± 0.12; P < 0.001). A similar angiogenic response (CD31) was observed in vivo. Graft retention volume was 25% (0.25 ± 0.13) for AAM, significantly increasing to 60% (0.60 ± 0.14) for AAM/fascia ( P < 0.05). De novo adipogenesis was 12% (12.4 ± 7.4) for AAM, significantly increasing to 51% (51.2 ± 8.0) for AAM/fascia ( P < 0.001) by means of adipocyte quantification. CONCLUSIONS: Combining fascia matrix with AAM improves angiogenesis and adipogenesis compared to AAM alone in rats. These preliminary in vitro and pilot animal studies should be further validated before definitive clinical adoption. CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: When producing an off-the-shelf adipose inducing product by adding a connective tissue fascial component (that is normally discarded) to the mix of adipose matrix, vasculogenesis is increased and, thus, adipogenesis and graft survival is improved. This is a significant advance in this line of product.

Non-Apoptotic Caspase Activity Preferentially Targets a Novel Consensus Sequence Associated With Cytoskeletal Proteins in the Developing Auditory Brainstem.

The auditory brainstem relies on precise circuitry to facilitate sound source localization. In the chick, the development of this specialized circuitry requires non-apoptotic activity of caspase-3, for which we previously identified several hundred proteolytic substrates. Here we tested whether the sequence of the caspase cleavage site differentially encodes proteolytic preference in apoptotic and non-apoptotic contexts. We constructed a consensus sequence for caspase activity in the non-apoptotic chick auditory brainstem comprising the four residues N-terminal to the cleavage site: IX(G/R)D↓ where X represents no significant enrichment and ↓ represents the cleavage site. We identified GO terms significantly enriched among caspase substrates containing motifs found in the above consensus sequence. (G/R)D↓ was associated with the term "Structural Constituent of Cytoskeleton" (SCoC), suggesting that SCoC proteins may be specifically targeted by caspase activity during non-apoptotic developmental processes. To ascertain whether this consensus sequence was specific to the non-apoptotic auditory brainstem at embryonic day (E) 10, we used protein mass spectrometry of brainstems harvested at a time when auditory brainstem neurons undergo apoptotic cell death (E13). The apoptotic motif VD was significantly enriched among E13 cleavage sites, indicating that motif preference at the P2 subsite had shifted toward the canonical caspase consensus sequence. Additionally, Monte Carlo simulations revealed that only the GD motif was associated with SCoC substrates in the apoptotic auditory brainstem, indicating that GD encodes specificity for SCoC proteins in both non-apoptotic and apoptotic contexts, despite not being preferred in the latter. Finally, to identify candidate human non-apoptotic consensus sequences, we used Monte Carlo analyses to determine motifs and motif pairs associated with SCoC caspase substrates in the Degrabase, a database of cleavage sites in human apoptotic cell lines. We found 11 motifs significantly associated with SCoC proteolysis, including IXXD and GD. We employed a stepwise method to select motif pairs that optimized SCoC specificity for a given coverage of SCoC cleavage events, yielding 11 motif pairs likely to be preferred in SCoC-directed human non-apoptotic caspase consensus sequences. GD + IXXD was among these motif pairs, suggesting a conservation of non-apoptotic consensus sites among vertebrates.

Caspase-3 Cleaves Extracellular Vesicle Proteins During Auditory Brainstem Development.

Sound localization requires extremely precise development of auditory brainstem circuits, the molecular mechanisms of which are largely unknown. We previously demonstrated a novel requirement for non-apoptotic activity of the protease caspase-3 in chick auditory brainstem development. Here, we used mass spectrometry to identify proteolytic substrates of caspase-3 during chick auditory brainstem development. These auditory brainstem caspase-3 substrates were enriched for proteins previously shown to be cleaved by caspase-3, especially in non-apoptotic contexts. Functional annotation analysis revealed that our caspase-3 substrates were also enriched for proteins associated with several protein categories, including proteins found in extracellular vesicles (EVs), membrane-bound nanoparticles that function in intercellular communication. The proteome of EVs isolated from the auditory brainstem was highly enriched for our caspase-3 substrates. Additionally, we identified two caspase-3 substrates with known functions in axon guidance, namely Neural Cell Adhesion Molecule (NCAM) and Neuronal-glial Cell Adhesion Molecule (Ng-CAM), that were found in auditory brainstem EVs and expressed in the auditory pathway alongside cleaved caspase-3. Taken together, these data suggest a novel developmental mechanism whereby caspase-3 influences auditory brainstem circuit formation through the proteolytic cleavage of extracellular vesicle (EV) proteins.

Induction of protection in mice against a respiratory challenge by a vaccine formulated with exosomes isolated from Chlamydia muridarum infected cells.

The goal of this study was to determine if exosomes, isolated from Chlamydia muridarum infected HeLa cells (C. muridarum-exosomes), induce protective immune responses in mice following vaccination using CpG plus Montanide as adjuvants. Exosomes, collected from uninfected HeLa cells and PBS, formulated with the same adjuvants, were used as negative controls. Mass spectrometry analyses identified 113 C. muridarum proteins in the C. muridarum-exosome preparation including the major outer membrane protein and the polymorphic membrane proteins. Vaccination with C. muridarum-exosomes elicited robust humoral and cell-mediated immune responses to C. muridarum elementary bodies. Following vaccination, mice were challenged intranasally with C. muridarum. Compared to the negative controls, mice immunized with C. muridarum-exosomes were significantly protected as measured by changes in body weight, lungs' weight, and number of inclusion forming units recovered from lungs. This is the first report, of a vaccine formulated with Chlamydia exosomes, shown to elicit protection against a challenge.

Structure-Based Deep Mining Reveals First-Time Annotations for 46 Percent of the Dark Annotation Space of the 9,671-Member Superproteome of the Nucleocytoplasmic Large DNA Viruses.

We conducted an exhaustive search for three-dimensional structural homologs to the proteins of 20 key phylogenetically distinct nucleocytoplasmic DNA viruses (NCLDV). Structural matches covered 429 known protein domain superfamilies, with the most highly represented being ankyrin repeat, P-loop NTPase, F-box, protein kinase, and membrane occupation and recognition nexus (MORN) repeat. Domain superfamily diversity correlated with genome size, but a diversity of around 200 superfamilies appeared to correlate with an abrupt switch to paralogization. Extensive structural homology was found across the range of eukaryotic RNA polymerase II subunits and their associated basal transcription factors, with the coordinated gain and loss of clusters of subunits on a virus-by-virus basis. The total number of predicted endonucleases across the 20 NCLDV was nearly quadrupled from 36 to 132, covering much of the structural and functional diversity of endonucleases throughout the biosphere in DNA restriction, repair, and homing. Unexpected findings included capsid protein-transcription factor chimeras; endonuclease chimeras; enzymes for detoxification; antimicrobial peptides and toxin-antitoxin systems associated with symbiosis, immunity, and addiction; and novel proteins for membrane abscission and protein turnover.IMPORTANCE We extended the known annotation space for the NCLDV by 46%, revealing high-probability structural matches for fully 45% of the 9,671 query proteins and confirming up to 98% of existing annotations per virus. The most prevalent protein families included ankyrin repeat- and MORN repeat-containing proteins, many of which included an F-box, suggesting extensive host cell modulation among the NCLDV. Regression suggested a minimum requirement for around 36 protein structural superfamilies for a viable NCLDV, and beyond around 200 superfamilies, genome expansion by the acquisition of new functions was abruptly replaced by paralogization. We found homologs to herpesvirus surface glycoprotein gB in cytoplasmic viruses. This study provided the first prediction of an endonuclease in 10 of the 20 viruses examined; the first report in a virus of a phenolic acid decarboxylase, proteasomal subunit, or cysteine knot (defensin) protein; and the first report of a prokaryotic-type ribosomal protein in a eukaryotic virus.

Vaccinia Virus Ankyrin-Repeat/F-Box Protein Targets Interferon-Induced IFITs for Proteasomal Degradation.

IFITs are interferon-induced proteins that can bind 5'-triphosphate or ribose-unmethylated capped ends of mRNA to inhibit translation. Although some viruses avoid IFITs by synthesizing RNAs with eukaryotic-like caps, no viral proteins were known to antagonize IFITs. We show that the N- and C-terminal portions of C9, a protein required for vaccinia virus to resist the human type I interferon-induced state, bind IFITs and ubiquitin regulatory complexes, respectively. Together, the two C9 domains target IFITs for proteasomal degradation, thereby providing interferon resistance similar to that also achieved by knockout of IFITs. Furthermore, ectopic expression of C9 rescues the interferon sensitivity of a vaccinia virus mutant with an inactivated cap 1-specific ribose-methyltransferase that is otherwise unable to express early proteins. In contrast, the C9-deletion mutant expresses early proteins but is blocked by IFITs at the subsequent genome uncoating/replication step. Thus, poxviruses use mRNA cap methylation and proteosomal degradation to defeat multiple antiviral activities of IFITs.

Stable native RIP9 complexes associate with C-to-U RNA editing activity, PPRs, RIPs, OZ1, ORRM1 and ISE2.

The mitochondrial and chloroplast mRNAs of the majority of land plants are modified through cytidine to uridine (C-to-U) RNA editing. Previously, forward and reverse genetic screens demonstrated a requirement for pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) proteins for RNA editing. Moreover, chloroplast editing factors OZ1, RIP2, RIP9 and ORRM1 were identified in co-immunoprecipitation (co-IP) experiments, albeit the minimal complex sufficient for editing activity was never deduced. The current study focuses on isolated, intact complexes that are capable of editing distinct sites. Peak editing activity for four sites was discovered in size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) fractions ≥ 670 kDa, while fractions estimated to be approximately 413 kDa exhibited the greatest ability to convert a substrate containing the editing site rps14 C80. RNA content peaked in the ≥ 670 kDa fraction. Treatment of active chloroplast extracts with RNase A abolished the relationship of editing activity with high-MW fractions, suggesting a structural RNA component in native complexes. By immunoblotting, RIP9, OTP86, OZ1 and ORRM1 were shown to be present in active gel filtration fractions, though OZ1 and ORRM1 were mainly found in low-MW inactive fractions. Active editing factor complexes were affinity-purified using anti-RIP9 antibodies, and orthologs to putative Arabidopsis thaliana RNA editing factor PPR proteins, RIP2, RIP9, RIP1, OZ1, ORRM1 and ISE2 were identified via mass spectrometry. Western blots from co-IP studies revealed the mutual association of OTP86 and OZ1 with native RIP9 complexes. Thus, RIP9 complexes were discovered to be highly associated with C-to-U RNA editing activity and other editing factors indicative of their critical role in vascular plant editosomes.

The Vaccinia virion: Filling the gap between atomic and ultrastructure.

We have investigated the molecular-level structure of the Vaccinia virion in situ by protein-protein chemical crosslinking, identifying 4609 unique-mass crosslink ions at an effective FDR of 0.33%, covering 2534 unique pairs of crosslinked protein positions, 625 of which were inter-protein. The data were statistically non-random and rational in the context of known structures, and showed biological rationality. Crosslink density strongly tracked the individual proteolytic maturation products of p4a and p4b, the two major virion structural proteins, and supported the prediction of transmembrane domains within membrane proteins. A clear sub-network of four virion structural proteins provided structural insights into the virion core wall, and proteins VP8 and A12 formed a strongly-detected crosslinked pair with an apparent structural role. A strongly-detected sub-network of membrane proteins A17, H3, A27 and A26 represented an apparent interface of the early-forming virion envelope with structures added later during virion morphogenesis. Protein H3 seemed to be the central hub not only for this sub-network but also for an 'attachment protein' sub-network comprising membrane proteins H3, ATI, CAHH(D8), A26, A27 and G9. Crosslinking data lent support to a number of known interactions and interactions within known complexes. Evidence is provided for the membrane targeting of genome telomeres. In covering several orders of magnitude in protein abundance, this study may have come close to the bottom of the protein-protein crosslinkome of an intact organism, namely a complex animal virus.

Multisubunit DNA-Dependent RNA Polymerases from Vaccinia Virus and Other Nucleocytoplasmic Large-DNA Viruses: Impressions from the Age of Structure.

The past 17 years have been marked by a revolution in our understanding of cellular multisubunit DNA-dependent RNA polymerases (MSDDRPs) at the structural level. A parallel development over the past 15 years has been the emerging story of the giant viruses, which encode MSDDRPs. Here we link the two in an attempt to understand the specialization of multisubunit RNA polymerases in the domain of life encompassing the large nucleocytoplasmic DNA viruses (NCLDV), a superclade that includes the giant viruses and the biochemically well-characterized poxvirus vaccinia virus. The first half of this review surveys the recently determined structural biology of cellular RNA polymerases for a microbiology readership. The second half discusses a reannotation of MSDDRP subunits from NCLDV families and the apparent specialization of these enzymes by virus family and by subunit with regard to subunit or domain loss, subunit dissociability, endogenous control of polymerase arrest, and the elimination/customization of regulatory interactions that would confer higher-order cellular control. Some themes are apparent in linking subunit function to structure in the viral world: as with cellular RNA polymerases I and III and unlike cellular RNA polymerase II, the viral enzymes seem to opt for speed and processivity and seem to have eliminated domains associated with higher-order regulation. The adoption/loss of viral RNA polymerase proofreading functions may have played a part in matching intrinsic mutability to genome size.

Protein Primary Structure of the Vaccinia Virion at Increased Resolution

Here we examine the protein covalent structure of the vaccinia virus virion. Within two virion preparations, >88% of the theoretical vaccinia virus-encoded proteome was detected with high confidence, including the first detection of products from 27 open reading frames (ORFs) previously designated "predicted," "uncharacterized," "inferred," or "hypothetical" polypeptides containing as few as 39 amino acids (aa) and six proteins whose detection required nontryptic proteolysis. We also detected the expression of four short ORFs, each of which was located within an ORF ("ORF-within-ORF"), including one not previously recognized or known to be expressed. Using quantitative mass spectrometry (MS), between 58 and 74 proteins were determined to be packaged. A total of 63 host proteins were also identified as candidates for packaging. Evidence is provided that some portion of virion proteins are "nicked" via a combination of endoproteolysis and concerted exoproteolysis in a manner, and at sites, independent of virus origin or laboratory procedures. The size of the characterized virion phosphoproteome was doubled from 189 (J. Matson, W. Chou, T. Ngo, and P. D. Gershon, Virology 452-453:310-323, 2014, doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.virol.2014.01.012) to 396 confident, unique phosphorylation sites, 268 of which were within the packaged proteome. This included the unambiguous identification of phosphorylation "hot spots" within virion proteins. Using isotopically enriched ATP, 23 sites of intravirion kinase phosphorylation were detected within nine virion proteins, all at sites already partially occupied within the virion preparations. The clear phosphorylation of proteins RAP94 and RP19 was consistent with the roles of these proteins in intravirion early gene transcription. In a blind search for protein modifications, cysteine glutathionylation and O-linked glycosylation featured prominently. We provide evidence for the phosphoglycosylation of vaccinia virus proteins. IMPORTANCE: Poxviruses are among the most complex and irregular virions, about whose internal structure little is known. To better understand poxvirus virion structure, imaging should be supplemented with other tools. Here, we provide a deep study of the covalent structure of the vaccinia virus virion using the various tools of contemporary mass spectrometry.