A tale of the unexpected

Human-Phosphate-Binding-Protein inhibits HIV-1 gene transcription and replication

The Human Phosphate-Binding protein (HPBP) is a serendipitously discovered lipoprotein that binds phosphate with high affinity. HPBP belongs to the DING protein family, involved in various biological processes like cell cycle regulation. We report that HPBP inhibits HIV-1 gene transcription and replication in T cell line, primary peripherical blood lymphocytes and primary macrophages. We show that HPBP is efficient in naïve and HIV-1 AZT-resistant strains. Our results revealed HPBP as a new and potent anti HIV molecule that inhibits transcription of the virus, which has not yet been targeted by HAART and therefore opens new strategies in the treatment of HIV infection.

Stabilization of the active form(s) of human paraoxonase by human phosphate-binding protein

While there is a consensus that human PON1 (paraoxonase-1) has a protective role, its primary biological function remains unclear. A protective role against poisoning by organophosphates [OPs (organophosphorus compounds)] drove earlier works. Clinical interest has recently focused on a protective role of PON1 against vascular diseases. PON1 resides mainly on HDL (high-density lipoprotein) particles, and converging recent works show that both its activities and stability dramatically depend on this versatile and dynamic molecular environment. The discovery that HPBP (human phosphate-binding protein) has a firm tendency to associate with PON1 has steered new directions for characterizing PON1 functional state(s). Storage stability studies provided evidence that HPBP is involved in maintaining physiologically active PON1 conformation(s). Thermal stability studies showed that human PON1 is remarkably thermostable and that its association with HPBP strongly contributes to slowing down the denaturation rate. A hybrid PON1, displaying mutations that stabilized recombinant enzyme expressed in Escherichia coli, was shown to be more thermostable than natural human PON1. Predictably, its stability was unaffected by the presence of HPBP. Synergistic efforts on characterizing natural PON1 and rPON1 (recombinant PON1) provide information for the design of future stable mutants of PON1-based bioscavengers to be used as safe and effective countermeasures to challenge OPs. Maintaining a stable environment for such administrable human rPON1 should, at least, preserve the anti-atherogenic activity of the enzyme.

Human paraoxonase: A promising approach for pre-treatment and therapy of organophosphorus poisoning

The limited efficiency of medical countermeasures against poisoning by nerve agent justifies efforts to find new prophylactic means and new antidotes. The concept of bioscavengers has emerged as an alternative approach to pharmacological pre- and post-exposure treatments. Catalytic scavengers are enzymes displaying a turnover with OPs as substrates, allowing rapid and efficient protection using administration of small doses. Several reasons have endorsed human paraoxonase (PON1) to be a pertinent candidate as catalytic bioscavenger. The physiological function of PON1 has not yet been unambiguously identified. Considered as a promiscuous enzyme, PON1 appears to be primarily a lactonase and also displays an anti-atherogenic activity closely linked to its localization on HDL particles. A HDL-associated phosphate transporter termed human phosphate binding protein (HPBP) was found to be a partner of natural human PON. In the absence of its natural environment (or mimicry by detergents), human PON1 is unstable and tends to aggregate. Converging data indicate that both the activity and the stability of PON1 are dramatically dependent on the HDL component molecular environment, including HPBP. Therefore, biochemical and physiological characterization of PON1-HPBP complexes, the environment allowing retaining functional enzyme state(s), and the thermal and storage stability of PON1 are mandatory. Synergistic efforts on characterization of recombinant hybrid PON1 expressed in E. coli and natural human PON1 provide information for the future rational design of stable mutants of PON1-based catalytic scavengers to be used as safe and effective countermeasures to OP intoxication.

Découverte et structure cristallographique d’une apolipoprotéine humaine

We report the serendipitous discovery of a human plasma phosphate binding protein (HPBP). This 38 kDa protein is co-purified with paraoxonase (PON1). The association between HPON1 and HPBP is modulated by phosphate and calcium concentrations. The HPBP X-ray structure solved at 1.9 A resolution is similar to the prokaryotic phosphate solute-binding proteins (SBPs) associated with ATP binding cassette transmembrane transporters, though phosphate-SBPs have never been characterized or predicted from nucleic acid databases in eukaryotes. However, HPBP belongs to the family of ubiquitous eukaryotic proteins named DING, meaning that phosphate-SBPs are also widespread in eukaryotes. The absence of complete genes for eukaryotic phosphate-SBP from databases is intriguing, but the astonishing 90% sequence conservation of genes between evolutionary distant species suggests that the corresponding proteins play an important function. HPBP is the first identified transporter capable of binding phosphate ions in human plasma. Thus it is thought to become a new predictor and a potential therapeutic agent for phosphate-related diseases such as atherosclerosis.