Production and characterization of monoclonal antibodies against the two subunits proteins B1 and B2 of Escherichia coli ribonucleotide reductase

The anaerobic ribonucleoside triphosphate reductase from Escherichia coli requires S-adenosylmethionine as a cofactor

Extracts from anaerobically grown Escherichia coli contain an oxygen-sensitive activity that reduces CTP to dCTP in the presence of NADPH, dithiothreitol, Mg2+ ions, and ATP, different from the aerobic ribonucleoside diphosphate reductase (2'-deoxyribonucleoside-diphosphate: oxidized-thioredoxin 2'-oxidoreductase, EC 1.17.4.1) present in aerobically grown E. coli. After fractionation, the activity required at least five components, two heat-labile protein fractions and several low molecular weight fractions. One protein fraction, suggested to represent the actual ribonucleoside triphosphate reductase was purified extensively and on denaturing gel electrophoresis gave rise to several defined protein bands, all of which were stained by a polyclonal antibody against one of the two subunits (protein B1) of the aerobic reductase but not by monoclonal anti-B1 antibodies. Peptide mapping and sequence analyses revealed partly common structures between two types of protein bands but also suggested the presence of an additional component. Obviously, the preparations are heterogeneous and the structure of the reductase is not yet established. The second, crude protein fraction is believed to contain several ancillary enzymes required for the reaction. One of the low molecular weight components is S-adenosylmethionine; a second component is a loosely bound metal. We propose that S-adenosylmethionine together with a metal participates in the generation of the radical required for the reduction of carbon 2' of the ribosyl moiety of CTP.

Evidence for a new ribonucleotide reductase in anaerobic E. coli

E. coli conditional iron-containing ribonucleotide reductase (Fe-RR) mutant and wild type strains grew anaerobically under conditions when Fe-RR was absent or inhibited. Furthermore, a B12-independent, hydroxyurea-resistant RR activity, unaffected by monoclonal antibodies against either subunit B1 or B2 of Fe-RR, was partially purified from anaerobically grown mutant and wild-type E. coli. These findings indicate that E. coli has a second RR representative of a new class of RRs and that this is the first report where both in vivo and in vitro evidence is presented. It is probable that other facultative anaerobes also have two different RRs such that an optimal supply of deoxyribonucleotides is maintained under all growth conditions.

Ribonucleotide reductase of Escherichia coli. Cross-linking agents as probes of quaternary and quinary structure

The quaternary structure of ribonucleotide reductase of Escherichia coli was investigated, with the use of purified B1 and B2 proteins and bifunctional cross-linking agents. The holoenzyme is known to be an alpha 2 beta 2 tetramer consisting of two dimeric proteins: B1 (alpha 2) and B2 (beta 2). The cross-linking data support a model in which both of the beta subunits interact closely with only one of the two alpha subunits. Some of the interactions involving B2 were localized to the C terminus of the protein by use of truncated B2 protein (beta',beta'), a proteolytic cleavage product of B2 in which the 30 carboxy-terminal residues are missing from each of the beta subunits. Other interactions were indicated by the ability of glutaredoxin, but not thioredoxin, to inhibit some of the cross-linking reactions. We also asked whether ribonucleotide reductase interacts closely with other proteins inside the cell, by adding cross-linkers directly to suspensions of whole bacteria. Proteins in extracts of these cross-linked bacteria were resolved electrophoretically and probed with a monoclonal antibody to the B1 protein. High-molecular-mass products were detected, supporting the utility of this method for identifying intracellular interactions among enzymes of DNA precursor biosynthesis.

Identification of viral polypeptides involved in pseudorabies virus ribonucleotide reductase activity

We studied pseudorabies virus-induced ribonucleotide reductase and found that it exhibited biochemical properties very similar to those of herpes simplex virus reductase. A polyclonal rabbit antiserum (P9) directed against the carboxy terminus of subunit H2 polypeptide (38,000 daltons) of herpes simplex virus reductase neutralized the pseudorabies virus reductase, as well as the herpes simplex virus isozyme. This serum recognized two pseudorabies virus-specified polypeptides of 34,000 and 110,000 daltons, which may represent the two subunits of the enzyme. Furthermore, as already shown for herpes simplex virus reductase (E. A. Cohen, P. Gaudreau, P. Brazeau, and Y. Langelier, Nature [London] 321:441-443, 1986), we show that the nonapeptide itself specifically inhibited pseudorabies reductase activity.

Neutralization of herpes simplex virus ribonucleotide reductase activity by an oligopeptide-induced antiserum directed against subunit H2

Herpes simplex virus type 1 ribonucleotide reductase is associated with two polypeptides of apparent molecular weights 136,000 and 38,000. The two polypeptides form a tight complex and, therefore, are often coprecipitated by monoclonal antibodies. We report here that immunoglobulins G purified from polyclonal rabbit antisera (P9) raised against a nonapeptide corresponding to the carboxy terminus of the 38,000-dalton polypeptide specifically neutralize the herpes simplex virus ribonucleotide reductase activity. We suggest that the P9 immunoglobulin G neutralizes the reductase activity by impairing the association of the two subunits (H1 and H2) of the enzyme.