Production of simian virus 40 large tumor antigen in bacteria: altered DNA-binding specificity and dna-replication activity of underphosphorylated large tumor antigen

Conjugation of complex polyubiquitin chains to WRNIP1

Werner helicase interacting protein 1 (WRNIP1) is a ubiquitin-binding protein that undergoes extensive post-translational modification including ubiquitination, sumoylation, and phosphorylation. These post-translational modifications are expected to regulate the function of WRNIP1 in the DNA damage response. In this study, we use a denaturing tandem affinity purification technique along with mass spectrometry to show that, unlike most ubiquitin-binding proteins, WRNIP1 is polyubiquitinated. WRNIP1 polyubiquitination is reminiscent of the well-characterized phenomenon of the coupled monoubiquitination of ubiquitin-binding proteins in that this polyubiquitination is dependent on the presence of an intact ubiquitin-binding domain. The polyubiquitin chains conjugated to WRNIP1 are linked through lysines 11, 48, and 63. This study presents the first evidence for the conjugation of K11-K48-K63 polyubiquitin chains to a specific substrate in vivo. Polyubiquitination is likely to regulate WRNIP1's function in the DNA damage response, as UV radiation induces the hyperubiquitination of WRNIP1. Polyubiquitination with noncanonical intraubiquitin linkages may represent a unique mode of regulation of UBZ domain-containing proteins.

Chaperone proteins abrogate inhibition of the human papillomavirus (HPV) E1 replicative helicase by the HPV E2 protein

Human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA replication requires the viral origin recognition protein E2 and the presumptive viral replicative helicase E1. We now report for the first time efficient DNA unwinding by a purified HPV E1 protein. Unwinding depends on a supercoiled DNA substrate, topoisomerase I, single-stranded-DNA-binding protein, and ATP, but not an origin. Electron microscopy revealed completely unwound molecules. Intermediates contained two single-stranded loops emanating from a single protein complex, suggesting a bidirectional E1 helicase which translocated the flanking DNA in an inward direction. We showed that E2 protein partially inhibited DNA unwinding and that Hsp70 or Hsp40, which we reported previously to stimulate HPV-11 E1 binding to the origin and promote dihexameric E1 formation, apparently displaced E2 and abolished inhibition. Neither E2 nor chaperone proteins were detected in unwinding complexes. These results suggest that chaperones play important roles in the assembly and activation of a replicative helicase in higher eukaryotes. An E1 mutation in the ATP binding site caused deficient binding and unwinding of origin DNA, indicating the importance of ATP binding in efficient helicase assembly on the origin.

Phosphorylation of simian virus 40 T antigen on Thr 124 selectively promotes double-hexamer formation on subfragments of the viral core origin

Cell cycle-dependent phosphorylation of simian virus 40 (SV40) large tumor antigen (T-ag) on threonine 124 is essential for the initiation of viral DNA replication. A T-ag molecule containing a Thr-->Ala substitution at this position (T124A) was previously shown to bind to the SV40 core origin but to be defective in DNA unwinding and initiation of DNA replication. However, exactly what step in the initiation process is defective as a result of the T124A mutation has not been established. Therefore, to better understand the control of SV40 replication, we have reinvestigated the assembly of T124A molecules on the SV40 origin. Herein it is demonstrated that hexamer formation is unaffected by the phosphorylation state of Thr 124. In contrast, T124A molecules are defective in double-hexamer assembly on subfragments of the core origin containing single assembly units. We also report that T124A molecules are inhibitors of T-ag double hexamer formation. These and related studies indicate that phosphorylation of T-ag on Thr 124 is a necessary step for completing the assembly of functional double hexamers on the SV40 origin. The implications of these studies for the cell cycle control of SV40 DNA replication are discussed.

Mechanisms of simian virus 40 T-antigen activation by phosphorylation of threonine 124

Previous studies have shown that phosphorylation of simian virus 40 (SV40) T antigen at threonine 124 enhances the binding of T antigen to the SV40 core origin of replication and the unwinding of the core origin DNA via hexamer-hexamer interactions. Here, we report that threonine 124 phosphorylation enhances the interaction of T-antigen amino acids 1 to 259 and 89 to 259 with the core origin of replication. Phosphorylation, therefore, activates the minimal DNA binding domain of T antigen even in the absence of domains required for hexamer formation. Activation is mediated by only one of three DNA binding elements in the minimal DNA binding domain of T antigen. This element, including amino acids 167, 215, and 219, enhances binding to the unique arrangement of four pentanucleotides in the core origin but not to other pentanucleotide arrangements found in ancillary regions of the SV40 origin of replication. Interestingly, the same four pentanucleotides in the core origin are necessary and sufficient for phosphorylation-enhanced DNA binding. Further, we show that phosphorylation of threonine 124 promotes the assembly of high-order complexes of the minimal DNA binding domain of T antigen with core origin DNA. We propose that phosphorylation induces conformational shifts in the minimal DNA binding domain of T antigen and thereby enhances interactions among T-antigen subunits oriented by core origin pentanucleotides. Similar subunit interactions would enhance both assembly of full-length T antigen into binary hexamer complexes and origin unwinding.

T-antigen kinase inhibits simian virus 40 DNA replication by phosphorylation of intact T antigen on serines 120 and 123

Simian virus 40 (SV40) DNA replication begins after two large T-antigen hexamers assemble on the viral minimal origin of replication and locally unwind the template DNA. The activity of T antigen in this reaction is regulated by its phosphorylation state. A form of casein kinase I purified from HeLa nuclear extracts (T-antigen kinase) phosphorylates T antigen on physiologic sites and inhibits its activity in the unwinding reaction (A. Cegielska and D. M. Virshup, Mol. Cell. Biol. 13:1202-1211, 1993). Using a series of mutant T antigens expressed by recombinant baculoviruses in Sf9 cells, we find that the origin unwinding activities of both TS677-->A and TS677,679-->A are inhibited by the T-antigen kinase, as is wild-type T antigen. In contrast, mutants TS120-->A and TS123,679-->A are resistant to inhibition by the kinase. Thus, phosphorylation of serines 120 and 123 is necessary for inhibition of T-antigen activity. Previous studies of casein kinase I substrate specificity have suggested that acidic residues or a phosphorylated amino acid amino terminal to the target residue are required to create a casein kinase I recognition site. However, we find that the T-antigen kinase can add more than 3 mol of Pi per mol to full-length bacterially produced T antigen and that it inhibits the unwinding activity of p34cdc2-activated bacterially produced T antigen. Since no prior phosphorylation is present in this bacterially produced T antigen, and no acidic residues are present immediately amino terminal to serines 120 and 123, other structural elements of T antigen must contribute to the recognition signals for T-antigen kinase. In support of this conclusion, we find that while T-antigen kinase phosphorylates amino-terminal residues in bacterially produced full-length T antigen, it cannot phosphorylate bacterially produced truncated T antigen containing amino acids 1 to 259, a 17-kDa amino-terminal tryptic fragment of T antigen, nor can it phosphorylate denatured T antigen. These findings strongly suggest that the carboxy-terminal domain of T antigen is an important modifier of the recognition signals for phosphorylation of the critical amino-terminal sites by the T-antigen kinase. This conclusion is consistent with previous studies suggesting close apposition of amino- and carboxy-terminal domains of T antigen in the native protein. The three-dimensional conformation of the substrate appears to make a significant contribution to T-antigen kinase substrate specificity.

cdc2 phosphorylation of threonine 124 activates the origin-unwinding functions of simian virus 40 T antigen

Phosphorylation of simian virus 40 (SV40) T antigen on threonine 124 activates viral DNA replication in vivo and in vitro. We have manipulated the modification of T-antigen residue 124 both genetically and biochemically and have investigated individual replication functions of T antigen under conditions suitable for in vitro DNA replication. We find that the hexamer assembly, helicase, DNA polymerase alpha-binding, and transcriptional-autoregulation functions are independent of phosphorylation of threonine 124. In contrast, neither T antigen with an alanine mutation of threonine 124 made in human cells nor unphosphorylated T antigen made in Escherichia coli binds the SV40 replication origin as stably as phosphorylated wild-type T antigen does. Furthermore, modification of threonine 124 is essential for complete unwinding of the SV40 replication origin. We conclude that phosphorylation of threonine 124 enhances specific interactions of T antigen with SV40 origin DNA. Our findings do not exclude the possibility that phosphorylation of threonine 124 may affect additional undefined steps in DNA replication. We also show that DNase footprinting and KMnO4 modification assays are not as stringent as immunoprecipitation and origin-dependent strand displacement assays for detecting defects in the origin-binding and -unwinding functions of T antigen. Differences in the assays may explain discrepancies in previous reports on the role of T-antigen phosphorylation in DNA binding.

The E1 protein of bovine papilloma virus 1 is an ATP-dependent DNA helicase

For efficient DNA replication of papillomaviruses, only two viral-encoded proteins, E1 and E2, are required. Other proteins and factors are provided by the host cell. E2 is an enhancer of both transcription and replication and is known to help E1 bind cooperatively to the origin of DNA replication. E1 is sufficient for replication in extracts prepared from permissive cells, but the activity is enhanced by E2. Here we show that purified E1 can act as an ATP-dependent DNA helicase. To measure this activity, we have used strand displacement, unwinding of topologically constrained DNA, denaturation of duplex fragments, and electron microscopy. The ability of E1 to unwind circular DNA is found to be independent of origin-specific viral DNA sequences under a variety of experimental conditions. In unfractionated cellular extracts, E1-dependent viral DNA replication is origin-dependent, but at elevated E1 concentrations, replication can occur on non-origin-containing DNA templates. This conversion from an origin-dependent replication system to a nonspecific initiator system is discussed in the context of the current understanding of the initiation of chromosomal DNA replication.

Mechanism of activation of simian virus 40 DNA replication by protein phosphatase 2A

The catalytic subunit of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2Ac) stimulates the initiation of replication of simian virus 40 DNA in vitro by dephosphorylating T antigen at specific phosphoserine residues (K. H. Scheidtmann, D. M. Virshup, and T. J. Kelly, J. Virol. 65:2098-2101, 1991). To better define the biochemical mechanism responsible for this stimulation, we investigated the effect of PP2Ac on the interaction of T antigen with wild-type and mutant origins of replication. Analysis of the binding of T antigen to the wild-type origin as a function of protein concentration revealed that binding occurs in two relatively discrete steps: the assembly of a T-antigen hexamer on one half-site of the origin, followed by the assembly of the second hexamer on the other half-site. The major effect of PP2Ac was to stimulate binding of the second hexamer, so that the binding reaction became much more cooperative. This observation suggests that dephosphorylation of T antigen by PP2Ac primarily affects interactions between the two hexamers bound to the origin. Pretreatment with PP2Ac increased the ability of the bound T antigen to unwind the origin of replication but had no effect on the intrinsic helicase activity of the protein. Thus, dephosphorylation of PP2Ac appears to increase the efficiency of the initial opening of the origin by T antigen. An insertion mutation at the dyad axis in the simian virus 40 origin, which altered the structural relationship of the two halves of the origin, abolished the effect of the phosphatase on the cooperativity of binding and completely prevented origin unwinding. These findings suggest that the ability of T antigen to open the viral origin of DNA replication is critically dependent on the appropriate functional interactions between T-antigen hexamers and that these interactions are regulated by the phosphorylation state of the viral initiator protein.

Mechanism of activation of simian virus 40 DNA replication by protein phosphatase 2A

The catalytic subunit of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2Ac) stimulates the initiation of replication of simian virus 40 DNA in vitro by dephosphorylating T antigen at specific phosphoserine residues (K. H. Scheidtmann, D. M. Virshup, and T. J. Kelly, J. Virol. 65:2098-2101, 1991). To better define the biochemical mechanism responsible for this stimulation, we investigated the effect of PP2Ac on the interaction of T antigen with wild-type and mutant origins of replication. Analysis of the binding of T antigen to the wild-type origin as a function of protein concentration revealed that binding occurs in two relatively discrete steps: the assembly of a T-antigen hexamer on one half-site of the origin, followed by the assembly of the second hexamer on the other half-site. The major effect of PP2Ac was to stimulate binding of the second hexamer, so that the binding reaction became much more cooperative. This observation suggests that dephosphorylation of T antigen by PP2Ac primarily affects interactions between the two hexamers bound to the origin. Pretreatment with PP2Ac increased the ability of the bound T antigen to unwind the origin of replication but had no effect on the intrinsic helicase activity of the protein. Thus, dephosphorylation of PP2Ac appears to increase the efficiency of the initial opening of the origin by T antigen. An insertion mutation at the dyad axis in the simian virus 40 origin, which altered the structural relationship of the two halves of the origin, abolished the effect of the phosphatase on the cooperativity of binding and completely prevented origin unwinding. These findings suggest that the ability of T antigen to open the viral origin of DNA replication is critically dependent on the appropriate functional interactions between T-antigen hexamers and that these interactions are regulated by the phosphorylation state of the viral initiator protein.

Nonspecific DNA binding activity of simian virus 40 large T antigen: evidence for the cooperation of two regions for full activity

We generated a series of COOH-terminal truncated simian virus 40 large tumor (T) antigens by using oligonucleotide-directed site-specific mutagenesis. The mutant proteins [T(1-650) to T(1-516)] were expressed in insect cells infected with recombinant baculoviruses. T(1-623) and shorter proteins [T(1-621) to T(1-516)] appeared to be structurally changed in a region between residues 269 and 522, as determined by increased sensitivities to trypsin digestion and by altered reactivities to several monoclonal antibodies. These same mutant proteins bound significantly less nonorigin plasmid DNA (15%) and calf thymus DNA (25%) than longer proteins [T(1-625) to T(1-708)]. However, all mutant T antigens exhibited a nearly wild-type level of viral origin-specific DNA binding and binding to a helicase substrate DNA. This indicated that binding to origin and helicase substrate DNAs is separable from about 85% of nonspecific binding to double-stranded DNA. As an independent confirmation that a region distinct from the origin-binding domain (amino acids 147 to 247) is involved in nonspecific DNA binding, we found that up to 96% of this latter activity was specifically inhibited in wild-type T antigen by several monoclonal antibodies which collectively bind to the region between residues 269 and 522. In order to investigate the relationship between the origin-binding domain and the second region, we performed origin-specific DNA binding assays with increasing amounts of calf thymus DNA as competitor. The results suggest that this second region is not an independent nonspecific DNA binding domain. Rather, it most likely cooperates with the origin-binding domain to give rise to wild-type levels of nonspecific DNA binding. Our results further suggest that most of the nonspecific binding to double-stranded DNA is involved in a function other than direct recognition and binding to the pentanucleotides at the replication origin on simian virus 40 DNA.

Activation of simian virus 40 transcription in vitro by T antigen

Simian virus 40 is repressed when the viral early gene product large tumor antigen (TAg) binds to specific sites within the viral origin and DNA replication ensues. Late transcription is activated by TAg, even in the absence of viral DNA replication. We show here that TAg produced in human 293 cells can selectively activate Simian virus 40 transcription in a cell-free system. In the absence of DNA binding by TAg, early and late transcription are both activated, as they are in vivo, suggesting that the effect might be mediated by a cellular component(s) utilized by both the early and late promoters. When TAg binds to the viral origin of replication, early transcription is repressed but the late promoter activation is unaffected. Various preparations of TAg differed in their activities, with some able both to bind DNA and to activate transcription and others able to do only one or the other. Since these variations might be explained by variable amounts of associated factors that copurified with TAg, we asked whether a bacterially derived protein could regulate transcription. An NH2-terminal 272-amino-acid fragment of TAg, produced in Escherichia coli as a glutathione S-transferase fusion protein, retains the ability to activate transcription in vitro, similar to that of the full-length protein. Structural features of this region that might be important are discussed.

A deletion in the simian virus 40 large T antigen impairs lytic replication in monkey cells in vivo but enhances DNA replication in vitro: new complementation function of T antigen

We describe a new complementation function within the simian virus 40 (SV40) A gene. This function is required for viral DNA replication and virus production in vivo but, surprisingly, does not affect any of the intrinsic enzymatic functions of T antigen directly required for in vitro DNA replication. Other well-characterized SV40 T-antigen mutants, whether expressed stably from integrated genomes or in cotransfection experiments, complement these mutants for in vivo DNA replication and plaque formation. These new SV40 mutants were isolated and cloned from human cells which stably carry the viral DNA. The alteration in the large-T-antigen gene was shown by marker rescue and nucleotide sequence analysis to be a deletion of 322 bp spanning the splice-donor site of the first exon, creating a 14-amino-acid deletion in the large T antigen. The mutant gene was expressed in H293 human cells from an adenovirus vector, and the protein was purified by immunoaffinity chromatography. The mutant protein directs greater levels of DNA replication in vitro than does the wild-type protein. Moreover, the mutant protein reduces the lag time for in vitro DNA synthesis and can be diluted to lower levels than wild-type T antigen and still promote good replication, which is in clear contrast to the in vivo situation. These biochemical features of the protein are independent of the source of the cellular replication factors (i.e., HeLa, H293, COS 7, or CV1 cells) and the cells from which the T antigens were purified. The mutant T antigen does not transform Rat-2 cells. Several different models which might reconcile the differences observed in vivo and in vitro are outlined. We propose that the function of T antigen affected prepares cells for SV40 replication by activation of a limiting cellular replication factor. Furthermore, a link between the induction of a cellular replication factor and transformation by SV40 is discussed.

The human DNA-activated protein kinase phosphorylates simian virus 40 T antigen at amino- and carboxy-terminal sites

Protein phosphorylation modulates the functions of simian virus 40 large T antigen (TAg) in productive and transforming infections. We recently described a DNA-activated protein kinase (DNA-PK) that efficiently phosphorylates TAg and several other nuclear, DNA-binding proteins in vitro (S.P. Lees-Miller, Y.-R. Chen, and C. W. Anderson, Mol. Cell. Biol. 10:6472-6481, 1990). In this report, we show by direct amino acid sequence analysis that DNA-PK phosphorylates TAg strongly at Ser-677, a residue known to be important for TAg interaction with origin site I and for transformation. We propose that DNA-PK may modulate the role of TAg in repressing early viral transcription and cell transformation, but a role for DNA-PK in regulating simian virus 40 DNA synthesis is not excluded. DNA-PK also phosphorylates Ser-665, and Ser-667, and one or more serines between amino acids 110 and 131. At least six serines, Ser-111, Ser-112, Ser-120, Ser-665, Ser-667, and Ser-677, are phosphorylated in TAg purified from baculovirus vector-infected insect cells.

Variable effects of phosphorylation of Pit-1 dictated by the DNA response elements

Pit-1, a tissue-specific POU domain transcription factor, is required for the activation of the prolactin, growth hormone, and Pit-1 promoters that confer regulation by epidermal growth factor, adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP), and phorbol esters. Pit-1 is phosphorylated in pituitary cells at two distinct sites in response to phorbol esters and cAMP. Phosphorylation of Pit-1 modifies its conformation on DNA recognition elements and results in increased binding at certain sites and decreased binding at other sites, dependent on DNA sequences adjacent to the core Pit-1 binding motif. One residue (Thr220), located in the POU homeodomain within a sequence conserved throughout the POU-domain family, confers these responses.

Phenotype-specific phosphorylation of simian virus 40 tsA mutant large T antigens in tsA N-type and A-type transformants

To identify molecular differences between simian virus 40 (SV40) tsA58 mutant large tumor antigen (large T) in cells of tsA58 N-type transformants [FR(tsA58)A cells], which revert to the normal phenotype after the cells are shifted to the nonpermissive growth temperature, and mutant large T in tsA58 A-type transformants [FR(tsA58)57 cells], which maintain their transformed phenotype after the temperature shift, we asked whether the biological activity of these mutant large T antigens at the nonpermissive growth temperature might correlate with phosphorylation at specific sites. At the permissive growth temperature, the phosphorylation patterns of the mutant large T proteins in FR(tsA58)A (N-type) cells and in FR(tsA58)57 (A-type) cells were largely indistinguishable from that of wild-type large T in FR(wt648) cells. After a shift to the nonpermissive growth temperature, no significant changes in the phosphorylation patterns of wild-type large T in FR(wt648) or of mutant large T in FR(tsA58)57 (A-type) cells were observed. In contrast, the phosphorylation pattern of mutant large T in FR(tsA58)A (N-type) cells changed in a characteristic manner, leading to an apparent underphosphorylation at specific sites. Phosphorylation of the cellular protein p53 was analyzed in parallel. Characteristic differences in the phosphorylation pattern of p53 were observed when cells of N-type and A-type transformants were kept at 39 degrees C as opposed to 32 degrees C. However, these differences did not relate to the different phenotypes of FR(tsA58)A (N-type) and FR(tsA58)57 (A-type) cells at the nonpermissive growth temperature. Our results, therefore, suggest that phosphorylation of large T at specific sites correlates with the transforming activity of tsA mutant large T in SV40 N-type and A-type transformants. This conclusion was substantiated by demonstrating that the biological properties as well as the phosphorylation patterns of SV40 tsA28 mutant large T in cells of SV40 tsA28 N-type and A-type transformants were similar to those in FR(tsA58)A (N-type) and in FR(tsA58)57 (A-type) cells, respectively. The phenotype-specific phosphorylation of tsA mutant large T in tsA A-type transformants probably is a cellular process induced during establishment of SV40 tsA A-type transformants, since tsA28 A-type transformant cells could be obtained by a large-T-dependent in vitro progression of cells of the tsA28 N-type transformant tsA28.3 (M. Osborn and K. Weber, J. Virol. 15:636-644, 1975).

Mutual functional antagonism of the simian virus 40 T antigen and the hepatitis B virus trans activator

The hepatitis B virus X protein (pX) trans activates transcription of a wide variety of viral and cellular genes, apparently by interacting with multiple cellular transcription factors. It has been shown previously that the simian virus 40 early-region gene products (large-T and small-t antigens) prevent trans activation by pX. We show here that this phenomenon can be ascribed solely to the large-T antigen and that T antigen binds to pX in vitro. Mapping studies reveal that the region of large-T antigen around residues 125 and 126 is critical for this binding and also for the ability of T antigen to prevent trans activation by pX. Furthermore, pX in turn interferes with two of the known functions of T antigen, transcriptional trans activation and simian virus 40 DNA replication. We propose that pX and T antigen inactivate each other by forming a nonfunctional complex in vivo.

The finger domain of simian virus 40 large T antigen controls DNA-binding specificity

The specificity and regulation of protein-DNA interactions play a crucial role in all aspects of communication between genotype and phenotype in a cell. The large T antigen of simian virus 40 binds to identical, yet quite differently arranged, pentanucleotide motifs in the simian virus 40 control region, sites I and II. Wild-type T antigen preferentially binds site I. We demonstrate that a bacterial peptide encoding residues 1 to 259 (T260) includes the essential amino acids required for binding to both DNA sites but predominantly binds site II. However, a longer peptide (residues 1 to 369; T370) binds almost exclusively to site I. Thus, the addition of amino acids 260 to 369 to the T260 peptide results in the loss of site II binding. This region includes a single putative metal-binding region, and mutation of T370 at either conserved cysteine of the finger results in equal but inefficient binding to both sites. While no metal binding has been shown to be directly associated with this sequence, these results suggest a novel, perhaps structural, function for such a finger motif, since this domain of T antigen appears to play a crucial role in modulating the DNA-binding behavior of T-antigen peptides.

Cell cycle control of DNA replication by a homologue from human cells of the p34cdc2 protein kinase

The regulation of DNA replication during the eukaryotic cell cycle was studied in a system where cell free replication of simian virus 40 (SV40) DNA was used as a model for chromosome replication. A factor, RF-S, was partially purified from human S phase cells based on its ability to activate DNA replication in extracts from G1 cells. RF-S contained a human homologue of the Schizosaccharomyces pombe p34cdc2 kinase, and this kinase was necessary for RF-S activity. The limiting step in activation of the p34 kinase at the G1 to S transition may be its association with a cyclin since addition of cyclin A to a G1 extract was sufficient to start DNA replication. These observations suggest that the role of p34cdc2 in controlling the start of DNA synthesis has been conserved in evolution.

Casein kinase II phosphorylates DNA-polymerase-alpha--DNA-primase without affecting its basic enzymic properties

Immunoaffinity-purified DNA-polymerase-alpha--DNA-primase complex from calf thymus was phosphorylated in vitro by highly purified casein kinase II from the same tissue. Specific phosphorylation of the DNA-polymerizing alpha subunit and the primase-associated gamma subunit was observed. About 1 mol phosphate/mol polymerase--primase was incorporated. Despite this effect, neither the DNA polymerase nor the DNA primase activity were changed after phosphorylation by casein kinase II. Furthermore, dephosphorylation of polymerase--primase with alkaline phosphatase did not change the polymerase or the primase activity to a significant extent. Moreover, both alkaline phosphatase and casein kinase II had no effect on the processivity of DNA synthesis and on the lengths and amounts of primers formed by the DNA primase. Because DNA polymerase alpha maintained all its basic properties even after extensive treatment with alkaline phosphatase, it is unlikely that phosphorylation has a direct influence on the activities of the DNA-polymerase-alpha--DNA-primase complex. The possible influence of post-translational phosphorylation on the formation of a complex of polymerase alpha and its accessory proteins is discussed.

Identification of a 68-kilodalton nuclear ATP-binding phosphoprotein encoded by bovine papillomavirus type 1

E1 is the largest open reading frame (ORF) of bovine papillomavirus type 1 (BPV-1) and is highly conserved among all papillomaviruses, maintaining its size, amino acid composition, and location in the viral genome with respect to other early genes. Multiple viral replication functions have been mapped to the E1 ORF of BPV-1, and evidence suggested that more than one protein was encoded by this ORF. We previously identified a small protein (M) whose gene consists of two exons, one encoded by the 5' end of the E1 ORF. We show here that a 68-kilodalton (kDa) phosphoprotein made from the E1 ORF can be detected in BPV-1-transformed cells, and we present evidence that this protein is encoded by sequences colinear with the entire E1 ORF. The full-length E1 protein immunoprecipitated from virally transformed cells and identified by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis comigrates with a protein expressed from a recombinant DNA construct capable of producing only the complete E1 protein. In addition, two different antisera directed against polypeptides encoded from either the 3' or the 5' end of the E1 ORF both recognize the full-length E1 product. A mutation converting the first methionine codon in the ORF to an isoleucine codon abolishes BPV-1 plasmid replication and E1 protein production. Consistent with the notion that this methionine codon is the start site for E1, a mutant with a termination codon placed after the splice donor at nucleotide 1235 in E1 produces a truncated protein with the molecular mass predicted from the primary sequence as well as the previously identified M protein. When visualized by immunostaining, the E1 protein expressed in COS cells is localized to the cell nucleus. A high degree of similarity exists between the BPV-1 E1 protein and polyomavirus and simian virus 40 large-T antigens in regions of the T antigens that bind ATP. We show by ATP affinity labeling that the E1 protein produced in COS cells binds ATP and that this activity is abolished by a point mutation which converts the codon for proline 434 to serine. Furthermore, this mutation renders the viral genome defective for DNA replication, suggesting that the ATP-binding activity of E1 is necessary for its putative role in viral DNA replication.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Altered phosphorylation pattern of simian virus 40 T antigen expressed in insect cells by using a baculovirus vector

The phosphorylation pattern of simian virus 40 (SV40) large tumor (T) antigen purified from insect cells infected with a recombinant baculovirus was compared with that reported previously for T antigen from SV40-infected monkey cells. The specific activity of metabolic phosphate labeling of baculovirus T antigen was reduced, and the phosphopeptide map of the baculovirus protein, while qualitatively similar to that of lytic T, revealed several quantitative differences. The most striking difference was the prominence in the baculovirus map of peptides containing phosphothreonine 124. These peptides are known to arise from other phosphopeptides upon dephosphorylation of neighboring serines, suggesting that baculovirus T may be underphosphorylated at these serines and perhaps other sites. Functional assays used to further investigate the phosphorylation state of the baculovirus protein included SV40 DNA binding after enzymatic dephosphorylation with alkaline phosphatase and after phosphorylation by a murine homolog of cdc2 protein kinase. The results imply that baculovirus T antigen is underphosphorylated, in particular at those serine residues whose phosphorylation is responsible for down regulation of DNA-binding activity at site II in the core origin of DNA replication. In contrast, no evidence for a functionally significant underphosphorylation at threonine 124 could be found.

Properties of the DNA-binding domain of the simian virus 40 large T antigen

T antigen (Tag) from simian virus 40 binds specifically to two distinct sites in the viral origin of replication and to single-stranded DNA. Analysis of the protein domain responsible for these activities revealed the following. (i) The C-terminal boundary of the origin-specific and single-strand-specific DNA-binding domain is at or near amino acid 246; furthermore, the maximum of these DNA-binding activities coincides with a narrow C-terminal boundary, spanning 4 amino acids (246 to 249) and declines sharply in proteins with C termini which differ by a few (4 to 10) amino acids; (ii) a polypeptide spanning residues 132 to 246 of Tag is an independent domain responsible for origin-specific DNA binding and presumably for single-stranded DNA binding; and (iii) a comparison of identical N-terminal fragments of Tag purified from mammalian and bacterial cells revealed differential specificity and levels of activity between the two sources of protein. A role for posttranslational modification (phosphorylation) in controlling the DNA-binding activity of Tag is discussed.

Properties of the DNA-binding domain of the simian virus 40 large T antigen

T antigen (Tag) from simian virus 40 binds specifically to two distinct sites in the viral origin of replication and to single-stranded DNA. Analysis of the protein domain responsible for these activities revealed the following. (i) The C-terminal boundary of the origin-specific and single-strand-specific DNA-binding domain is at or near amino acid 246; furthermore, the maximum of these DNA-binding activities coincides with a narrow C-terminal boundary, spanning 4 amino acids (246 to 249) and declines sharply in proteins with C termini which differ by a few (4 to 10) amino acids; (ii) a polypeptide spanning residues 132 to 246 of Tag is an independent domain responsible for origin-specific DNA binding and presumably for single-stranded DNA binding; and (iii) a comparison of identical N-terminal fragments of Tag purified from mammalian and bacterial cells revealed differential specificity and levels of activity between the two sources of protein. A role for posttranslational modification (phosphorylation) in controlling the DNA-binding activity of Tag is discussed.