Activation of the superoxide-generating NADPH oxidase by chimeric proteins consisting of segments of the cytosolic component p67(phox) and the small GTPase Rac1.

Activation of the superoxide (O2(-))-generating NADPH oxidase of phagocytes is the consequence of the assembly of a membrane-associated flavocytochrome b(559) with the cytosolic proteins p47(phox) and p67(phox) and the small GTPase Rac (1 or 2). We proposed that Rac1 serves as a membrane-targeting molecule for p67(phox). This hypothesis was tested by constructing recombinant chimeric proteins, joining various functional domains of p67(phox) and Rac1, and expressing these in Escherichia coli. Chimeras were assayed for the ability to support O2(-) production by phagocyte membranes in an amphiphile-activated cell-free system in the presence or absence of p47(phox). A chimera consisting of p67(phox) truncated at residue 212 and fused to a full-length Rac1 [p67(phox)(1-212)-Rac1(1-192)] was a potent NADPH oxidase activator. A p67(phox)(1-212)-Rac1(178-192) chimera, to which Rac1 contributed only the C-terminal polybasic domain, was a weaker but consistent activator. Chimeras comprising the full length of Rac1 bound GTP/GDP, like bona fide GTPases. The activity of p67(phox)-Rac1 chimeras was dependent on the presence of the tetratricopeptide repeat and activation domains, in the p67(phox) segment, and on an intact polybasic region, at the C terminus of the Rac1 segment, but not on the insert region of Rac1. Partial activation by chimeras, in the GTP-bound form, was also possible in the absence of p47(phox). Evidence is offered in support of the proposal that the GTP- and GDP-bound forms of chimera p67(phox)(1-212)-Rac1(1-192) have distinct conformations, corresponding to the presence and absence of intrachimeric bonds, respectively.

The E2 protein of human papillomavirus type 16 is translated from a variety of differentially spliced polycistronic mRNAs.

The major regulation protein of human papillomavirus (HPV) transcription is the viral E2 protein. Previous studies have identified a variety of alternatively spliced mRNAs containing multiple open reading frames (ORFs) encoding the E2 protein of HPV type 16. In these mRNAs the E2 ORF is contained as an internal ORF. In the present study, the translational capacities of three mRNA species starting at the p97 promoter and containing the 880/2581, 880/2708 and 226/2708 splice junctions upstream of the E2 ORF were investigated. Partial cDNAs spanning the E2 ORF and the related upstream ORFs were synthesized and assessed for E2 protein translation in vivo, in COS cells, and in vitro, in cell-free systems. Results of these analyses indicated that E2 protein was translated from all three mRNAs. Translation efficiency of E2 from the natural polycistronic templates was lower compared with that from a synthetic monocistronic control. Translation from the d-type bicistronic template (226/2708) was more efficient than that from the a-type (880/2708) and a'-type (880/2561) polycistronic templates. Further investigation of the translation of proteins encoded by the ORFs preceding the E2 ORF showed that a- and a'-type templates served for translation mainly of E7 but also of E61, while the d-type template served for translation of E6IV. Overall, the translation data support the suggestion that the corresponding mRNAs may function as polycistronic transcripts.

The E6 variant proteins E6I-E6IV of human papillomavirus 16: expression in cell free systems and bacteria and study of their interaction with p53.

Several species of alternatively spliced mRNAs are transcribed from the E6 gene region of human papillomavirus (HPV) 16. These have the coding capacity for either the full length E6 of 151 amino acids (aa) or four truncated variants, E6I-E6IV, of 43-64 aa. As the first step to identify the putative E6 variants and their functions, we generated cDNAs corresponding to the various E6 open reading frames (ORF) and examined their expression employing in vitro transcription/translation systems and the bacterial pET system. In wheat germ extract, in vitro translation resulted in the production of all five proteins, E6 and E6I-E6IV. These proteins were also expressed as stable fusion proteins from the pET16b and pET17 x b vectors in Escherichia coli. Mobilites of the E6 variant proteins on SDS-acrylamide gels were consistent with their predicted sizes. The authenticity of the synthesized proteins was confirmed by immunoprecipitation with specific antibodies directed against epitopes in the N-terminal portion of E6 as well as antibodies raised against the individual variant proteins produced in E. coli. In rabbit reticulocyte lysate, however, only the full length E6 and the E6IV variant were synthesized. This could be due to inefficient translation as well as lower stability of the short variants. E6I-III, in reticulocyte lysate (RTL). The ability of the E6 variants to associate with p53 and target its proteolytic degradation in vitro, was examined in coimmunoprecipitation assays, using in vitro synthesized proteins and monoclonal antibodies to p53. Results of these assays indicated that only the full length E6 efficiently binds to and promotes the degradation of p53. The E6 variants E6I-E6IV, although able to associate with p53 at a low efficiency, were unable to target its degradation.

Human papillomavirus type 16 expresses a variety of alternatively spliced mRNAs putatively encoding the E2 protein.

The full-length E2 protein of human papillomavirus type 16 is believed to act as a trans-repressor of the viral p97 promoter. Previous reports have provided evidence that transcripts with the potential to encode the E2 protein contain the 880/2708 splice junction. We have further analyzed the structure of the E2-encoding transcripts. Employing the RNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique and analyses of the RNA PCR products by Southern blot hybridization and DNA sequencing, we revealed the existence of a variety of alternatively spliced mRNAs, with the capacity to encode the full-length E2 protein. Two novel splice junctions were identified at nucleotides 880/2581 and 226/2708. E2 mRNAs characterized by the 880/2581 splice junction contain sequences from the E1 orf predicted to encode a truncated E1 polypeptide consisting mainly of the C terminal amino acids. Transcripts with the 226/2708 splice junction could encode a novel E6 protein, designated E6IV, containing C terminal amino acids derived from an out-of-frame region of the E1 ORF. Three different E6-E7 exons were identified in mRNAs containing the 880/2708 and the 880/2581 splice junctions, namely, E6-E7, E6I-E7, E6II-E7. The E6I-E7 mRNAs are the most abundant. Expression of the various E2 mRNAs was detected in human keratinocytes immortalized by HPV16, in cervical tumors, and in carcinoma cell lines.

Expression and splicing patterns of human papillomavirus type-16 mRNAs in pre-cancerous lesions and carcinomas of the cervix, in human keratinocytes immortalized by HPV 16, and in cell lines established from cervical cancers.

We have analysed the splicing patterns of human papillomavirus (HPV) type-16 mRNAs in a human epithelial cell line immortalized by HPV 16 (HPKII), in cell lines established from cervical carcinomas (SiHa and CaSki) and in pre-invasive and invasive carcinomas of the cervix. The presence of mRNA species previously described, which could encode the E6, E6I, E6II, E6III, E7, E2, E2C, E4, E5 and L1 proteins, was determined, using the RNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique with primers that flank unique splice sites. The state of the viral DNA in the tumor biopsies was established by Southern blot analysis. The various HPV 16 transcripts could be detected in cell lines and in tumor biopsies. The size of the RNA PCR products were in agreement with the previously mapped splice sites. The full range of transcripts was revealed in the HPKII cell line and in a number of pre-invasive carcinomas. Messenger RNAs which could encode the E6III, E4 and E5 proteins were most prevalent in all types of tumor. The overall results of DNA and RNA analyses in cell lines and tumor specimens indicate that (1) expression of either of the early or late transcripts studied is not specifically related to (a) tumor stage or (b) the physical state of the viral genome; and (2) alterations in the splicing patterns of HPV 16 transcripts may not be involved in tumor progression.