Serine phosphorylation in the NH2 terminus of p53 facilitates transactivation.

Murine tumor suppressor p53 is phosphorylated in the NH2-terminal transactivating domain at serines 9, 18, and 37. Change of any one of these serines to either alanine or aspartic acid did not alter p53 suppression of transformation of rat embryo fibroblasts by activated ras and E1A. Change of any two of these serines to alanines, however, led to a significant decrease in suppressor function. Substitution of alanines for all three serines caused the most severe loss of suppression and also reduced transactivation functions. The triple substitution had no apparent effects on intracellular accumulation or localization of p53, oligomerization, DNA binding, or interaction with the TFIID TATA-binding protein. In contrast, triple substitution of aspartic acid for serines 9, 18, and 37 had minimal effects on suppression and transactivation by p53. These results argue strongly that phosphorylation of serines 9, 18, and 37 facilitates the suppression and transactivation functions of p53.

pAd5-Blue: direct ligation system for engineering recombinant adenovirus constructs.

We have engineered a new vector that makes use of direct ligation for the generation of replication-defective recombinant adenovirus constructs. In the pAd5-Blue vector, unique yet common restriction endonuclease sites exist, that allow cloning in a directional manner of a gene of interest under control of a cytomegalovirus promoter, upstream of a simian virus 40 polyadenylation signal. The insertion of the new gene replaces the beta-galactosidase alpha gene fragment in the pAd5-Blue vector, allowing the identification of recombinants in bacterial culture by the selection of white colonies. Plasmid DNA from white colonies is digested with PacI and transfected into 293 cells, resulting in the generation of a homogenous population of adenovirus containing the gene of interest. The pAd5-Blue vector system does not rely on recombination either in mammalian or bacterial cells. Furthermore, because of compatible overhangs, the variety of restriction endonucleases that can be used to generate the inserted gene gives flexibility to the process for greater ease of use. The system is quick and straightforward, allowing the generation of recombinant adenoviruses within three weeks of obtaining an appropriate insert. This new vector should greatly enhance the ease and speed with which new recombinant adenovirus constructs can be made.

Engineering better vaccines for foot-and-mouth disease.

Although efficacious and safe, current vaccines for FMD suffer from drawbacks. Among these are that the immune response to the vaccine interferes with the ability to detect vaccinated animals that have subsequently become infected and could carry and shed the virus, creating an obstacle to re-instating disease-free status to countries/regions that vaccinate to control outbreaks. Multiple diagnostic tests are available to identify animals that have been infected with FMDV by detection of antibodies to viral non-structural proteins (NSP) that are present in low concentration in traditional vaccines and are poorly immunogenic in vaccine preparations. However, these tests are not 100% reliable. To circumvent this problem, we have developed a new generation of vaccines that express the "empty capsid" subunit of the virus, in the absence of one of the most immunogenic NSPs, 3Dpol. Here we describe delivery of the empty capsid subunits by recombinant replication-defective human adenovirus type 5 (Ad5). These Ad5-vectored empty capsid vaccines can protect pigs from FMDV challenge as early as 7 days post-vaccination. A second problem with current FMD vaccines is that they do not induce protective immunity quickly, a drawback that is likely to be shared by our Ad5-vectored empty capsid vaccine. To overcome this problem, we have developed a prophylactic antiviral treatment consisting of an Ad5 encoding porcine interferon alpha (pIFNalpha). Administration of Ad5-pIFNalpha protects swine from FMD as early as one day post-administration. The combination of this antiviral treatment and the empty capsid subunit vaccine should induce rapid and complete protection from FMD, and could overcome current diagnostic problems.

A single locus on human chromosome 21 directs the expression of a receptor for adenovirus type 2 in mouse A9 cells.

The receptors on human cells which mediate adsorption of adenoviruses have not been identified. We found that murine A9 cells and Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells failed to bind significant levels of radiolabeled adenovirus type 2 (Ad2) virions but that derivatives of these cells carrying human chromosome 21 exhibited high levels of virus binding that was specific for the viral fiber protein. G418-resistant A9 cell transformants expressing Ad2 receptors were detected at a frequency of about 10(-4) following cotransfection with high-molecular-weight DNAs from mouse cells containing human chromosome 21 and plasmid DNA containing a neomycin resistance gene. The Ad2 receptors on the transformed A9 cells were similar to those on human cells with respect to their concentration on the cell membrane, their affinity for the viral fiber protein, and their ability to direct virus into cells along a pathway leading to delivery of the viral DNA genome into the cell nucleus. Furthermore, identical human DNA fragments were present in three independent mouse cell transformants expressing Ad2 receptors, supporting the conclusion that these human DNA fragments correspond to a gene or locus on chromosome 21 that directs the expression of Ad2 receptors in these cells.

Development of replication-defective adenovirus serotype 5 containing the capsid and 3C protease coding regions of foot-and-mouth disease virus as a vaccine candidate.

A recombinant replication-defective human adenovirus serotype 5 vector containing FMDV capsid, P1-2A, and viral 3C protease coding regions was constructed. Two viral clones were isolated, Ad5-P12X3CWT, containing the wild-type (WT) 3C protease that processes capsid polyprotein precursor into mature capsid proteins, and Ad5-P12X3CMUT, containing a point mutation in the protease coding region that inhibits processing. In 293 cells infected with either virus, synthesis of the FMDV capsid polyprotein precursor occurred, but processing of the polyprotein into structural proteins VP0, VP3, and VP1 occurred only in 3CWT virus-infected cells. Immunoprecipitation with monospecific and monoclonal antibodies indicates possible higher order structure formation in Ad5-P12X3CWT virus-infected cells. The viruses were used to elicit immune responses in mice inoculated intramuscularly (im). Only virus containing the 3CWT elicited a neutralizing antibody response. After boosting, this neutralizing antibody response increased. Swine inoculated im with Ad5-P12X3CWT virus developed a neutralizing antibody response and were either completely or partially protected from contact challenge with an animal directly inoculated with virulent FMDV. This adenovirus vector may be an efficient system for the delivery of FMDV cDNA into animals, leading to a high level of neutralizing antibody production and protection from FMDV challenge.

Immune responses and protection against foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) challenge in swine vaccinated with adenovirus-FMDV constructs.

A replication-defective adenovirus 5 encoding foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) capsid and 3C proteinase coding regions (Ad5-FMDV3CWT) was used to vaccinate swine. A single inoculation utilizing 1 x 10(8) plaque forming units (pfu) or an inoculation of 1 x 10(8) followed by a boost of 5 x 10(8) pfu Ad5-FMDV3CWT were tested, along with an inoculation and boost using an adenovirus encoding the FMDV capsid coding region and an inactive form of the 3C proteinase (Ad5-FMDV3CMUT). Sera collected from these animals were examined for the presence of FMDV-specific antibodies using immunoprecipitation, neutralization, and ELISA assays specific for IgM, IgG1 and IgG2. Efficacy studies were performed by placing the vaccinated swine in contact with an FMDV-infected swine and monitoring for signs of disease and changes in serum antibody levels. Ad5-FMDV3CMUT, which is unable to produce FMDV capsid structures, did not elicit FMDV-neutralizing antibodies or protect against FMD. Single inoculation with Ad5-FMDV3CWT generated FMDV-specific neutralizing antibodies, and reduced clinical signs in challenged swine, but failed to completely protect the majority of swine from FMD. Swine which received a primary vaccination with Ad5-FMDV3CWT followed by the boost at 4 weeks generated high levels of FMDV-neutralizing antibodies resulting in complete protection of five of the six swine and limited disease in the remaining animal. Increased efficacy of the two-dose regimen was associated with heightened levels of FMDV-specific IgG1 and IgG2 antibodies.

Early protection against homologous challenge after a single dose of replication-defective human adenovirus type 5 expressing capsid proteins of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) strain A24.

Previously we demonstrated that two doses of a replication-defective human adenovirus serotype 5 (Ad5) carrying the capsid (P1) and 3C protease coding regions of a laboratory strain of FMDV (A12) completely protected five of six swine challenged with homologous virus. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the efficacy of one dose of an Ad5-vectored vaccine expressing the P1 coding region of an FMDV field strain. A replication-defective Ad5 containing the P1 coding region of FMDV A24 and the 3C coding region of A12 (Ad5A24) was constructed and evaluated for its ability to induce neutralizing antibodies and protect swine against homologous challenge after a single vaccination. Animals were challenged 7, 14 or 42 days after vaccination. Control groups included animals inoculated with commercial vaccine or phosphate-buffered saline. All vaccinated swine were completely protected against homologous challenge at 7, 14 or 42 days after vaccination. Based on these results, we conclude that a single inoculation of Ad5-vectored vaccines could be used as a tool to control FMD in outbreak situations.

Formation of stable p53 homotetramers and multiples of tetramers.

We have used gradient gel electrophoresis and chemical cross-linking to analyze the quaternary structure of purified, wild-type, murine p53. Under nondenaturing conditions, p53 electrophoreses as tetramers and multiples of tetramers. Under denaturing conditions, fully cross-linked p53 also behaves as tetrameric structures. We confirmed the composition of the tetramers by partially cross-linking p53 and dissociating tetramers into monomers, dimers, and trimers.

p53 oligomerization and DNA looping are linked with transcriptional activation.

We examined the role of p53 oligomerization in DNA binding and in transactivation. By conventional electron microscopy (EM) and scanning transmission EM, we find that wild-type tetramers contact 18-20 bp at single or tandem 19 bp consensus sequences and also stack in apparent register, tetramer on top of tetramer. Stacked tetramers link separated DNA binding sites with DNA loops. Interestingly, the p53(1-320) segment, which lacks the C-terminal tetramerization domain, binds DNA consensus sites as stacked oligomers. Although the truncated protein binds DNA with reduced efficiency, it nevertheless induces DNA looping by self-association. p53, therefore, has a C-terminal tetramerization domain that enhances DNA binding and a non-tetrameric oligomerization domain that stacks p53 at consensus sites and loops separated consensus sites via protein-protein interactions. Using model promoters, we demonstrate that wild-type and tetramerization-deficient p53s activate transcription well when tandem consensus sites are proximal to TATA sequences and poorly when tandem sites are distal. In the presence of proximal sites, however, stimulation by distal sites increases 25-fold. Tetramerization and stacking of tetramers, therefore, provide dual mechanisms to augment the number of p53 molecules available for activation through p53 response elements. DNA looping between separated response elements further increases the concentration of local p53 by translocating distally bound protein to the promoter.