In vitro complementation as an assay for purification of adenovirus DNA replication proteins

Mutations of the precursor to the terminal protein of adenovirus serotypes 2 and 5

Using a series of transient expression plasmids and adenovirus-specific DNA replication assays for both initiation and elongation, we measured the relative activities of mutant polypeptides of the precursor to the terminal protein (pTP) in vitro. Mutations that removed two to six amino acids of the amino terminus gradually decreased pTP activity; a deletion of 18 amino acids was completely inactive. Replacement of cysteine at residue 8 with a serine had little effect on pTP activity. Two amino-terminal in-frame linker insertion mutant polypeptides previously characterized in vivo as either replication defective or temperature sensitive had considerable activity at the permissive temperature in vitro. For one mutant pTP with a temperature-sensitive phenotype in vivo, elongation activity was decreased more than initiation in vitro, suggesting a role for this protein after the initiation step. Replacement mutations of serine 580, the site of covalent attachment of dCTP, completely abolished pTP function for both initiation and elongation.

Replication and maintenance of the Kluyveromyces linear pGKL plasmids

Two new linear plasmids, pK192L (4.9 kb) and pK192S (2.4 kb), were isolated from a Kluyveromyces lactis killer strain carrying pGKL1 and pGKL2. pK192L was a deletion plasmid of pGKL1, derived from a part of the ORF1, and had a palindrome structure of a 215 bp unique sequence flanked by 2.35 bp inverted repeats. pK192S was a hairpin plasmid produced by self-annealing of a single-stranded pK192L DNA. In genetic analysis, pK192L and pK192S always coexisted and replicated in cells harboring pGKL2 and pGKL1, in contrast to other pGKL1-derived deletion plasmids, such as F1, F2 and pGKLIS, which could replicate in cells carrying pGKL2 only. Based on these and other lines of evidence, it was concluded that the reason for the pGKL1 dependent replication of the pK192L/S plasmids was the absence of the intact pGKL1-ORF1 gene and that the ORF1 function was necessary for the replication of the pGKL1 genome. This finding is in good agreement with a recent view reporting that ORF1 may encode a DNA polymerase of pGKL1. In a separate experiment, four new linear plasmids were isolated from a Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain carrying pGKL1 and pGKL2. Structural analysis showed that they consisted of two pairs of hairpin-palindrome type plasmids, each derived from different parts of pGKL2, respectively. pGKL1 stability replicated in cells carrying both these pGKL2 derived deletion plasmids.

Palindrome-hairpin linear plasmids possessing only a part of the ORF1 gene of the yeast killer plasmid pGKL1

The yeast Kluyveromyces lactis harboring linear DNA plasmids pGKL1 and pGKL2 exhibits killer and killer-resistant phenotypes. Two new linear plasmids pK192L and pK192S were found in the weak killer mutant KUV192 induced by UV irradiation. pK192S was always accompanied by pK192L in subclones of KUV192. Both plasmids were derived from pGKL1 by deletion of the large right part of it. pK192L was 4.9 kb in size and had a palindromic structure consisting of 2.35 kb inverted terminal repetitions and a 215 base unique sequence. Analysis of denatured and renatured DNA strands suggested that pK192S was a hairpin-like form of pK192L. The pK192 plasmids were maintained only in cells haboring either pGKL1 or pGKL1Sin addition to pGKL2 and completed with pFKL1 or pGKL1S for their maintenance. Since no complete ORF1 was conserved in pK192 plasmids, these results lead to the conclusion that the ORF1 gene is necessary for the replication and/or maintenance of pGKL1.

Cellular transformation by adenovirus type 5 is influenced by the viral DNA polymerase

Early region 2B (E2B) of the group C adenoviruses encodes a number of proteins, including the 140-kilodalton DNA polymerase, which plays a role in the initiation of viral DNA replication. Temperature-sensitive (ts) mutants with mutations mapping to E2B are conditionally defective for both DNA replication in human cells and transformation of rat cells. Nucleotide sequence analysis shows that the E2B mutant ts36 possesses a single point mutation specific to the viral DNA polymerase; this transition of a C to a T at position 7623 changes leucine residue 249 in the polymerase to a phenylalanine. A wild-type (ts+) revertant possesses a codon specifying the original leucine at position 249. Phenotypic analysis of revertant and wild-type viruses derived by marker rescue from ts36 shows that these variants are wild type for both viral DNA replication and transformation. Thus, the single point mutation in the polymerase gene of ts36 is responsible for both defects.

Sequence-specific interactions between cellular DNA-binding proteins and the adenovirus origin of DNA replication

The adenovirus origin of DNA replication contains three functionally distinct sequence domains (A, B, and C) that are essential for initiation of DNA synthesis. Previous studies have shown that domain B contains the recognition site for nuclear factor I (NF-I), a cellular protein that is required for optimal initiation. In the studies reported here, we used highly purified NF-I, prepared by DNA recognition site affinity chromatography (P. J. Rosenfeld and T. J. Kelly, Jr., J. Biol. Chem. 261:1398-1408, 1986), to investigate the cellular protein requirements for initiation of viral DNA replication. Our data demonstrate that while NF-I is essential for efficient initiation in vitro, other cellular factors are required as well. A fraction derived from HeLa cell nuclear extract (BR-FT fraction) was shown to contain all the additional cellular proteins required for the complete reconstitution of the initiation reaction. Analysis of this complementing fraction by a gel electrophoresis DNA-binding assay revealed the presence of two site-specific DNA-binding proteins, ORP-A and ORP-C, that recognized sequences in domains A and C, respectively, of the viral origin. Both proteins were purified by DNA recognition site affinity chromatography, and the boundaries of their binding sites were defined by DNase I footprint analysis. Additional characterization of the recognition sequences of ORP-A, NF-I, and ORP-C was accomplished by determining the affinity of the proteins for viral origins containing deletion and base substitution mutations. ORP-C recognized a sequence between nucleotides 41 and 51 of the adenovirus genome, and analysis of mutant origins indicated that efficient initiation of replication is dependent on the presence of a high-affinity ORP-C-binding site. The ORP-A recognition site was localized to the first 12 base pairs of the viral genome within the minimal origin of replication. These data provide evidence that the initiation of adenovirus DNA replication involves multiple protein-DNA interactions at the origin.

Adenovirus origin of DNA replication: sequence requirements for replication in vitro

The initiation of adenovirus DNA takes place at the termini of the viral genome and requires the presence of specific nucleotide sequence elements. To define the sequence organization of the viral origin, we tested a large number of deletion, insertion, and base substitution mutants for their ability to support initiation and replication in vitro. The data demonstrate that the origin consists of at least three functionally distinct domains, A, B, and C. Domain A (nucleotides 1 to 18) contains the minimal sequence sufficient for origin function. Domains B (nucleotides 19 to 40) and C (nucleotides 41 to 51) contain accessory sequences that significantly increase the activity of the minimal origin. The presence of domain B increases the efficiency of initiation by more than 10-fold in vitro, and the presence of domains B and C increases the efficiency of initiation by more than 30-fold. Mutations that alter the distance between the minimal origin and the accessory domains by one or two base pairs dramatically decrease initiation efficiency. This critical spacing requirement suggests that there are specific interactions between the factors that recognize the two regions.

Adenovirus origin of DNA replication: sequence requirements for replication in vitro

The initiation of adenovirus DNA takes place at the termini of the viral genome and requires the presence of specific nucleotide sequence elements. To define the sequence organization of the viral origin, we tested a large number of deletion, insertion, and base substitution mutants for their ability to support initiation and replication in vitro. The data demonstrate that the origin consists of at least three functionally distinct domains, A, B, and C. Domain A (nucleotides 1 to 18) contains the minimal sequence sufficient for origin function. Domains B (nucleotides 19 to 40) and C (nucleotides 41 to 51) contain accessory sequences that significantly increase the activity of the minimal origin. The presence of domain B increases the efficiency of initiation by more than 10-fold in vitro, and the presence of domains B and C increases the efficiency of initiation by more than 30-fold. Mutations that alter the distance between the minimal origin and the accessory domains by one or two base pairs dramatically decrease initiation efficiency. This critical spacing requirement suggests that there are specific interactions between the factors that recognize the two regions.

Sequence-specific interactions between cellular DNA-binding proteins and the adenovirus origin of DNA replication

The adenovirus origin of DNA replication contains three functionally distinct sequence domains (A, B, and C) that are essential for initiation of DNA synthesis. Previous studies have shown that domain B contains the recognition site for nuclear factor I (NF-I), a cellular protein that is required for optimal initiation. In the studies reported here, we used highly purified NF-I, prepared by DNA recognition site affinity chromatography (P. J. Rosenfeld and T. J. Kelly, Jr., J. Biol. Chem. 261:1398-1408, 1986), to investigate the cellular protein requirements for initiation of viral DNA replication. Our data demonstrate that while NF-I is essential for efficient initiation in vitro, other cellular factors are required as well. A fraction derived from HeLa cell nuclear extract (BR-FT fraction) was shown to contain all the additional cellular proteins required for the complete reconstitution of the initiation reaction. Analysis of this complementing fraction by a gel electrophoresis DNA-binding assay revealed the presence of two site-specific DNA-binding proteins, ORP-A and ORP-C, that recognized sequences in domains A and C, respectively, of the viral origin. Both proteins were purified by DNA recognition site affinity chromatography, and the boundaries of their binding sites were defined by DNase I footprint analysis. Additional characterization of the recognition sequences of ORP-A, NF-I, and ORP-C was accomplished by determining the affinity of the proteins for viral origins containing deletion and base substitution mutations. ORP-C recognized a sequence between nucleotides 41 and 51 of the adenovirus genome, and analysis of mutant origins indicated that efficient initiation of replication is dependent on the presence of a high-affinity ORP-C-binding site. The ORP-A recognition site was localized to the first 12 base pairs of the viral genome within the minimal origin of replication. These data provide evidence that the initiation of adenovirus DNA replication involves multiple protein-DNA interactions at the origin.

Purification of a cellular, double-stranded DNA-binding protein required for initiation of adenovirus DNA replication by using a rapid filter-binding assay

A rapid and quantitative nitrocellulose filter-binding assay is described for the detection of nuclear factor I, a HeLa cell sequence-specific DNA-binding protein required for the initiation of adenovirus DNA replication. In this assay, the abundant nonspecific DNA-binding activity present in unfractionated HeLa nuclear extracts was greatly reduced by preincubation of these extracts with a homopolymeric competitor DNA. Subsequently, specific DNA-binding activity was detected as the preferential retention of a labeled 48-base-pair DNA fragment containing a functional nuclear factor I binding site compared with a control DNA fragment to which nuclear factor I did not bind specifically. This specific DNA-binding activity was shown to be both quantitative and time dependent. Furthermore, the conditions of this assay allowed footprinting of nuclear factor I in unfractionated HeLa nuclear extracts and quantitative detection of the protein during purification. Using unfrozen HeLa cells and reagents known to limit endogenous proteolysis, nuclear factor I was purified to near homogeneity from HeLa nuclear extracts by a combination of standard chromatography and specific DNA affinity chromatography. Over a 400-fold purification of nuclear factor I, on the basis of the specific activity of both sequence-specific DNA binding and complementation of adenovirus DNA replication in vitro, was affected by this purification. The most highly purified fraction was greatly enriched for a polypeptide of 160 kilodaltons on silver-stained sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels. Furthermore, this protein cosedimented with specific DNA-binding activity on glycerol gradients. That this fraction indeed contained nuclear factor I was demonstrated by both DNase I footprinting and its function in the initiation of adenovirus DNA replication. Finally, the stoichiometry of specific DNA binding by nuclear factor I is shown to be most consistent with 2 mol of the 160-kilodalton polypeptide binding per mol of nuclear factor I-binding site.

Template requirements for in vivo replication of adenovirus DNA

The adenovirus (Ad) DNA origin of replication was defined through an analysis of the DNA sequences necessary for the replication of plasmid DNAs with purified viral and cellular proteins. Results from several laboratories have shown that the origin consists of two functionally distinct domains: a 10-base-pair sequence present in the inverted terminal repetition (ITR) of all human serotypes and an adjacent sequence constituting the binding site for a cellular protein, nuclear factor I. To determine whether the same nucleotide sequences are necessary for origin function in vivo, we developed an assay for the replication of plasmid DNAs transfected into Ad5-infected cells. The assay is similar to that described by Hay et al. (J. Mol. Biol. 175:493-510, 1984). With this assay, plasmid DNA replication is dependent upon prior infection of cells with virus and only occurs with linear DNA molecules containing viral terminal sequences at each end. Replicated DNA is resistant to digestion with lambda-exonuclease, suggesting that a protein is covalently bound at both termini. A plasmid containing only the first 67 base pairs of the Ad2 ITR replicates as well as plasmids containing the entire ITR. Deletions or point mutations which reduce the binding of nuclear factor I to DNA in vitro reduce the efficiency of plasmid replication in vivo. A point mutation within the 10-base-pair conserved sequence has a similar effect upon replication. These results suggest that the two sequence domains of the Ad origin identified by in vitro studies are in fact important for viral DNA replication in infected cells. In addition, we found that two separate point mutations which lie outside these two sequence domains, and which have little or no effect upon DNA replication in vitro, also reduce the apparent efficiency of plasmid replication in vivo. Thus, there may be elements of the Ad DNA origin of replication which have not yet been identified by in vitro studies.

Template requirements for in vivo replication of adenovirus DNA

The adenovirus (Ad) DNA origin of replication was defined through an analysis of the DNA sequences necessary for the replication of plasmid DNAs with purified viral and cellular proteins. Results from several laboratories have shown that the origin consists of two functionally distinct domains: a 10-base-pair sequence present in the inverted terminal repetition (ITR) of all human serotypes and an adjacent sequence constituting the binding site for a cellular protein, nuclear factor I. To determine whether the same nucleotide sequences are necessary for origin function in vivo, we developed an assay for the replication of plasmid DNAs transfected into Ad5-infected cells. The assay is similar to that described by Hay et al. (J. Mol. Biol. 175:493-510, 1984). With this assay, plasmid DNA replication is dependent upon prior infection of cells with virus and only occurs with linear DNA molecules containing viral terminal sequences at each end. Replicated DNA is resistant to digestion with lambda-exonuclease, suggesting that a protein is covalently bound at both termini. A plasmid containing only the first 67 base pairs of the Ad2 ITR replicates as well as plasmids containing the entire ITR. Deletions or point mutations which reduce the binding of nuclear factor I to DNA in vitro reduce the efficiency of plasmid replication in vivo. A point mutation within the 10-base-pair conserved sequence has a similar effect upon replication. These results suggest that the two sequence domains of the Ad origin identified by in vitro studies are in fact important for viral DNA replication in infected cells. In addition, we found that two separate point mutations which lie outside these two sequence domains, and which have little or no effect upon DNA replication in vitro, also reduce the apparent efficiency of plasmid replication in vivo. Thus, there may be elements of the Ad DNA origin of replication which have not yet been identified by in vitro studies.

Purification of a cellular, double-stranded DNA-binding protein required for initiation of adenovirus DNA replication by using a rapid filter-binding assay

A rapid and quantitative nitrocellulose filter-binding assay is described for the detection of nuclear factor I, a HeLa cell sequence-specific DNA-binding protein required for the initiation of adenovirus DNA replication. In this assay, the abundant nonspecific DNA-binding activity present in unfractionated HeLa nuclear extracts was greatly reduced by preincubation of these extracts with a homopolymeric competitor DNA. Subsequently, specific DNA-binding activity was detected as the preferential retention of a labeled 48-base-pair DNA fragment containing a functional nuclear factor I binding site compared with a control DNA fragment to which nuclear factor I did not bind specifically. This specific DNA-binding activity was shown to be both quantitative and time dependent. Furthermore, the conditions of this assay allowed footprinting of nuclear factor I in unfractionated HeLa nuclear extracts and quantitative detection of the protein during purification. Using unfrozen HeLa cells and reagents known to limit endogenous proteolysis, nuclear factor I was purified to near homogeneity from HeLa nuclear extracts by a combination of standard chromatography and specific DNA affinity chromatography. Over a 400-fold purification of nuclear factor I, on the basis of the specific activity of both sequence-specific DNA binding and complementation of adenovirus DNA replication in vitro, was affected by this purification. The most highly purified fraction was greatly enriched for a polypeptide of 160 kilodaltons on silver-stained sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels. Furthermore, this protein cosedimented with specific DNA-binding activity on glycerol gradients. That this fraction indeed contained nuclear factor I was demonstrated by both DNase I footprinting and its function in the initiation of adenovirus DNA replication. Finally, the stoichiometry of specific DNA binding by nuclear factor I is shown to be most consistent with 2 mol of the 160-kilodalton polypeptide binding per mol of nuclear factor I-binding site.

Adenoviral early region 4 is required for efficient viral DNA replication and for late gene expression

H2dl808 is a defective deletion mutant of human adenovirus 2 lacking most of transcriptional early region 4. Although the mutant can be grown in the complementing cell line W162, it is defective in human cell lines normally used to propagate adenovirus. In such nonpermissive cells, H2dl808 exhibits a severe defect in late gene expression, accumulating very small amounts of viral late messages and producing correspondingly small amounts of viral late proteins. H2dl808 also exhibits a defect in viral DNA synthesis: 24 h after infection, H2dl808-infected nonpermissive cells contain five- to sevenfold less viral DNA than those cells infected with wild-type adenovirus. H2dl808-infected nonpermissive cells eventually accumulate a significant amount of viral DNA. However, the rate of synthesis of viral proteins late in mutant infection remains much lower than that observed in wild-type infection at a time when DNA accumulation is comparable. Thus, the mutant's late protein synthesis defect is probably not due solely to its reduced accumulation of viral DNA. Finally, H2dl808 is much less efficient than wild-type virus in the inhibition of host cell protein synthesis in infections of nonpermissive cells. These observations imply roles for early region 4 products in several aspects of the viral growth cycle, including DNA replication, late gene expression, and host cell shutoff.

Site-specific DNA binding of nuclear factor I: analyses of cellular binding sites

Nuclear factor I is a cellular site-specific DNA-binding protein required for the efficient in vitro replication of adenovirus DNA. We have characterized human DNA sequences to which nuclear factor I binds. Three nuclear factor I binding sites (FIB sites), isolated from HeLa cell DNA, each contain the sequence TGG(N)6-7GCCAA. Comparison with other known and putative FIB sites suggests that this sequence is important for the binding of nuclear factor I. Nuclear factor I protects a 25- to 30-base-pair region surrounding this sequence from digestion by DNase I. Methylation protection studies suggest that nuclear factor I interacts with guanine residues within the TGG(N)6-7GCCAA consensus sequence. One binding site (FIB-2) contained a restriction endonuclease HaeIII cleavage site (GGCC) at the 5' end of the GCCAA motif. Digestion of FIB-2 with HaeIII abolished the binding of nuclear factor I. Southern blot analyses indicate that the cellular FIB sites described here are present within single-copy DNA in the HeLa cell genome.

The 140-kDa adenovirus DNA polymerase is recognized by antibodies to Escherichia coli-synthesized determinants predicted from an open reading frame on the adenovirus genome

Sequence studies of the adenovirus 2 genome have revealed the presence of a large open reading frame (ORF) from 22.9 to 14.2 map units that is believed to encode most of the adenovirus DNA polymerase (Ad Pol). An 838-base-pair fragment (19.6-17.3 map units) containing approximately 25% of this ORF has been cloned and expressed in a beta-galactosidase-chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (lacZ-CAT) expression vector under the control of the trp-lac hybrid promoter. This recombinant vector directed the synthesis of a 58-kDa lacZ-Ad Pol-CAT fusion protein that has CAT activity. This fusion protein was easily purified by affinity chromatography in which chloramphenicol, the substrate for CAT, was covalently bound to a matrix. Antisera were prepared against the purified 58-kDa lacZ-Ad Pol-CAT fusion protein and were found to react specifically with the 140-kDa Ad Pol by ELISA and immunoblot analysis. In addition, these antisera recognized 120- and 29-kDa polypeptides in immunoblot analysis of partially purified terminal protein precursor (pTP)-Ad Pol complex. The exact nature of the 120- and 29-kDa polypeptides is not known, but they may be breakdown products of Ad Pol. Although the lacZ-Ad Pol-CAT fusion protein is not active in any of the Ad Pol enzymatic reactions, antibody against the prokaryotic fusion protein should be useful for screening bacteria harboring plasmids that have been constructed to express the entire Ad Pol ORF.

Site-specific DNA binding of nuclear factor I: analyses of cellular binding sites

Nuclear factor I is a cellular site-specific DNA-binding protein required for the efficient in vitro replication of adenovirus DNA. We have characterized human DNA sequences to which nuclear factor I binds. Three nuclear factor I binding sites (FIB sites), isolated from HeLa cell DNA, each contain the sequence TGG(N)6-7GCCAA. Comparison with other known and putative FIB sites suggests that this sequence is important for the binding of nuclear factor I. Nuclear factor I protects a 25- to 30-base-pair region surrounding this sequence from digestion by DNase I. Methylation protection studies suggest that nuclear factor I interacts with guanine residues within the TGG(N)6-7GCCAA consensus sequence. One binding site (FIB-2) contained a restriction endonuclease HaeIII cleavage site (GGCC) at the 5' end of the GCCAA motif. Digestion of FIB-2 with HaeIII abolished the binding of nuclear factor I. Southern blot analyses indicate that the cellular FIB sites described here are present within single-copy DNA in the HeLa cell genome.

Expression in Escherichia coli of a fusion protein product containing a region of the adenovirus DNA polymerase

The bulk of an open reading frame extending from map coordinates 23.3 to 14.2 in region E2b of the adenoviral genome has been cloned and expressed from a chimeric plasmid in Escherichia coli. The cloning strategy used created a fusion protein of 124,000 daltons, which contained greater than 98% adenovirus-encoded sequences. Antiserum raised against this protein reacted with the authentic 140,000-dalton adenovirus DNA polymerase. Another serum raised against a synthetic hexapeptide whose sequence corresponded to the predicted carboxyl terminus of adenovirus-encoded DNA polymerase also reacted with the fusion protein and authentic adenovirus DNA polymerase. These results demonstrate that the cloned region of DNA encodes the adenovirus DNA polymerase.

The interplay between host and viral genes in adenovirus gene expression

Only the left end of adenovirus DNA comprising the early E1A and E1B regions is required for transformation of rodent cells and for tumorigenicity in mice and rats. The E1A early region encodes a protein which probably indirectly through a cellular component controls mRNA expression from at least four other early regions at the transcriptional or post-transcriptional level. Viral early proteins also combine with or control the expression of the cellular transplantation antigens to prepare the host cell for tumor rejection or alternatively to suppress the cellular immune response. DNA replication of the viral genome requires three virus-coded proteins and two cellular proteins and is the first mammalian system where DNA can be efficiently replicated in an in vitro system. Adenovirus late expression is also subject to cellular controls since the virus uses the host cell machinery for transcription and splicing. A late translational control has also been identified which is mediated by a small virus coded RNA (VAI RNA) transcribed by the cellular polymerase III. The viral RNA is probably complexed with a cellular protein when exerting its effect. All these control mechanisms, involving both viral and cellular genes, are now being dissected, and several of the molecules involved have been identified.

Independent mutations in Ad2ts111 cause degradation of cellular DNA and defective viral DNA replication

An adenovirus mutant, Ad2ts111, has previously been shown to be temperature sensitive for viral DNA replication in vivo and also to induce degradation of cellular DNA. Soluble nuclear extracts prepared from Ad2ts111-infected HeLa cells grown at either the permissive (32 degrees C) or the nonpermissive (39.5 degrees C) temperature are thermolabile for elongation but not for initiation of DNA replication in vitro. Adenovirus single-stranded-DNA-binding protein purified from wild-type-infected cells can complement these extracts at the restrictive temperature in vitro. The DNA-binding protein synthesized in Ad2ts111-infected cells is stable at the nonpermissive temperature and is phosphorylated, as is the wild-type protein. In contrast, the mutant DNA-binding protein synthesized in Ad5ts125-infected cells is unstable. Ad2ts111 and Ad5ts125 do not complement each other for virus growth in vivo. These results suggest that Ad2ts111 contains a mutation in the DNA-binding protein that affects viral DNA synthesis. Finally, we demonstrated that, unlike viral DNA synthesis, the induction of cellular DNA degradation in Ad2ts111-infected cells is not temperature sensitive and that this phenotype is a result of a mutation in early region 1 on the virus genome. Thus, the two phenotypes displayed in Ad2ts111-infected cells, namely, the temperature-sensitive replication of viral DNA and the degradation of cell DNA, are the result of two separate mutations.

Template requirements for the initiation of adenovirus DNA replication

The first step in the replication of the adenovirus genome is the covalent attachment of the 5'-terminal nucleotide, dCMP, to the virus-encoded terminal protein precursor (pTP). This reaction can be observed in vitro and has been previously shown to be dependent upon either viral DNA or linearized plasmid DNA containing viral terminal sequences. Plasmids containing deletions or point mutations within the viral terminal sequence were constructed by site-directed mutagenesis. In the case of linear double-stranded templates, pTP-dCMP formation required sequences located within the first 18 base pairs of the viral genome. This sequence contains a segment of 10 base pairs that is conserved in all human adenovirus serotypes. Point mutations within the conserved segment greatly reduced the efficiency of initiation, while a point mutation at a nonconserved position within the first 18 base pairs had little effect. Single-stranded DNAs can also support pTP-dCMP formation in vitro. In contrast to the results obtained with duplex templates, experiments with a variety of single-stranded templates, including phage M13-adenovirus recombinants, denatured plasmids, and synthetic oligodeoxynucleotides, failed to reveal any requirements for specific nucleotide sequences. With single-stranded templates containing no dG residues, the specific deoxynucleoside triphosphate requirements of the initiation reaction were altered.

Specific binding of the adenovirus terminal protein precursor-DNA polymerase complex to the origin of DNA replication

Initiation of adenovirus DNA replication is dependent on a complex of the precursor of the terminal protein and the adenovirus-coded DNA polymerase (pTP-pol complex). This complex catalyzes the formation of a covalent linkage between dCMP and pTP in the presence of a functional origin of DNA replication residing in the terminal nucleotide sequence of adenovirus DNA. We have purified the pTP-pol complex of adenovirus type 5 and studied its binding to double-stranded DNA. Using DNA-cellulose chromatography it could be shown that the pTP-pol complex has a higher affinity for adenovirus DNA than for calf thymus or pBR322 DNA. From the differential binding of the pTP-pol complex to plasmids containing adenovirus terminal sequences with different deletions, it has been concluded that a sequence of 14 nucleotide pairs at positions 9-22 plays a crucial role in the binding of pTP-pol to adenovirus DNA. This region is conserved in the DNA's of all human adenovirus serotypes and is obviously an important structural element of the adenovirus origin of DNA replication. Comparative binding studies with adenovirus DNA polymerase and pTP-pol indicated that pTP is responsible for the binding. The nature of the binding of pTP-pol to the conserved sequence will be discussed.

Initiation of adenovirus DNA replication in vitro requires a specific DNA sequence

Initiation of adenovirus DNA replication in vitro occurs on a linearized plasmid DNA containing 3,327 base pairs of the adenovirus terminal sequence. Various deletions have been constructed in the plasmid DNA and their template activities examined. Deletions from an internal restriction enzyme cleavage site that retain only 20 base pairs or more of the adenovirus terminal sequence support initiation and limited chain elongation, whereas deletions that leave 14 base pairs or less of the terminal sequence do not. On the other hand, all deletions extending from the very terminus of the adenovirus DNA destroy the template activity. The terminal 20 base pairs of adenovirus DNA contain a sequence A-T-A-A-T-A-T-A-C-C, which is perfectly conserved in the DNAs from different serotypes of human adenovirus. Base changes within the conserved sequence greatly reduce the template activity. These results suggest that the terminal 20 base pairs constitute a functional origin for the initiation of adenovirus DNA replication in vitro.