HIV-1 Nef hijacks clathrin coats by stabilizing AP-1:Arf1 polygons

Adaptor Protein Complexes in HIV-1 Pathogenesis: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Potential

Adaptor protein (AP) complexes are critical components of the cellular membrane transport machinery. They mediate cargo selection during endocytosis and intracellular vesicular trafficking. Five AP complexes have been characterized (AP1-5), and together their roles extend to diverse cellular processes including the homeostasis of membranous organelles, membrane protein turnover, and immune responses. Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 (HIV-1) and other lentiviruses co-opt these complexes to support immune evasion and the assembly of maximally infectious particles. HIV-1 Nef interacts with AP1 and AP2 to manipulate intracellular trafficking and downregulate immune-related proteins such as CD4 and MHC-I. Vpu also co-opts AP1 and AP2, modulating the innate defense protein BST2 (Tetherin) and facilitating the release of virions from infected cells. The envelope glycoprotein (Env) hijacks AP complexes to reduce its expression at the cell surface and potentially support incorporation into virus particles. Some data suggest that Gag co-opts AP3 to drive assembly at intracellular compartments. In principle, targeting the molecular interfaces between HIV-1 proteins and AP complexes is a promising therapeutic approach. Blocking these interactions should impair HIV-1's ability to produce infectious particles and evade immune defenses, leading to novel antivirals and facilitating a cure.

A structure-based mechanism for initiation of AP-3 coated vesicle formation

Adaptor protein complex-3 (AP-3) mediates cargo sorting from endosomes to lysosomes and lysosome-related organelles. Recently, it was shown that AP-3 adopts a constitutively open conformation compared to the related AP-1 and AP-2 coat complexes, which are inactive until undergoing large conformational changes upon membrane recruitment. How AP-3 is regulated is therefore an open question. To understand the mechanism of AP-3 membrane recruitment and activation, we reconstituted human AP-3 and determined multiple structures in the soluble and membrane-bound states using electron cryo-microscopy. Similar to yeast AP-3, human AP-3 is in a constitutively open conformation. To reconstitute AP-3 activation by adenosine di-phosphate (ADP)-ribosylation factor 1 (Arf1), a small guanosine tri-phosphate (GTP)ase, we used lipid nanodiscs to build Arf1-AP-3 complexes on membranes and determined three structures showing the stepwise conformational changes required for formation of AP-3 coated vesicles. First, membrane recruitment is driven by one of two predicted Arf1 binding sites, which flexibly tethers AP-3 to the membrane. Second, cargo binding causes AP-3 to adopt a fixed position and rigidifies the complex, which stabilizes binding for a second Arf1 molecule. Finally, binding of the second Arf1 molecule provides the template for AP-3 dimerization, providing a glimpse into the first step of coat polymerization. We propose coat polymerization only occurs after cargo engagement, thereby linking cargo sorting with assembly of higher-order coat structures. Additionally, we provide evidence for two amphipathic helices in AP-3, suggesting that AP-3 contributes to membrane deformation during coat assembly. In total, these data provide evidence for the first stages of AP-3-mediated vesicle coat assembly.

The WDR11 complex is a receptor for acidic-cluster-containing cargo proteins

Vesicle trafficking is a fundamental process that allows for the sorting and transport of specific proteins (i.e., "cargoes") to different compartments of eukaryotic cells. Cargo recognition primarily occurs through coats and the associated proteins at the donor membrane. However, it remains unclear whether cargoes can also be selected at other stages of vesicle trafficking to further enhance the fidelity of the process. The WDR11-FAM91A1 complex functions downstream of the clathrin-associated AP-1 complex to facilitate protein transport from endosomes to the TGN. Here, we report the cryo-EM structure of human WDR11-FAM91A1 complex. WDR11 directly and specifically recognizes a subset of acidic clusters, which we term super acidic clusters (SACs). WDR11 complex assembly and its binding to SAC-containing proteins are indispensable for the trafficking of SAC-containing proteins and proper neuronal development in zebrafish. Our studies thus uncover that cargo proteins could be recognized in a sequence-specific manner downstream of a protein coat.

A structure-based mechanism for initiation of AP-3 coated vesicle formation

Adaptor protein complex 3 (AP-3) mediates cargo sorting from endosomes to lysosomes and lysosome-related organelles. Recently, it was shown that AP-3 is in a constitutively open, active conformation compared to the related AP-1 and AP-2 coat complexes, which are inactive until undergoing large conformational changes upon membrane recruitment. How AP-3 is regulated is therefore an open question. To understand the mechanism of AP-3 membrane recruitment and activation, we reconstituted the core of human AP-3 and determined multiple structures in the soluble and membrane-bound states using electron cryo-microscopy (cryo-EM). Similar to yeast AP-3, human AP-3 is in a constitutively open conformation, with the cargo-binding domain of the μ3 subunit conformationally free. To reconstitute AP-3 activation by the small GTPase Arf1, we used lipid nanodiscs to build Arf1-AP-3 complexes on membranes and determined three structures that show the stepwise conformational changes required for formation of AP-3 coated vesicles. First, membrane-recruitment is driven by one of two predicted Arf1 binding sites on AP-3. In this conformation, AP-3 is flexibly tethered to the membrane and its cargo binding domain remains conformationally dynamic. Second, cargo binding causes AP-3 to adopt a fixed position and rigidifies the complex, which stabilizes binding for a second Arf1 molecule. Finally, binding of the second Arf1 molecule provides the template for AP-3 dimerization, providing a glimpse into the first step of coat polymerization. We propose coat polymerization only occurs after cargo engagement, thereby linking cargo sorting with assembly of higher order coat structures. Additionally, we provide evidence for two amphipathic helices in AP-3, suggesting that AP-3 contributes to membrane deformation during coat assembly. In total, these data provide evidence for the first stages of AP-3 mediated vesicle coat assembly.

HIV-1 subtypes maintain distinctive physicochemical signatures in Nef domains associated with immunoregulation

BACKGROUND

HIV subtype is associated with varied rates of disease progression. The HIV accessory protein, Nef, continues to be present during antiretroviral therapy (ART) where it has numerous immunoregulatory effects. In this study, we analyzed Nef sequences from HIV subtypes A1, B, C, and D using a machine learning approach that integrates functional amino acid information to identify if unique physicochemical features are associated with Nef functional/structural domains in a subtype-specific manner.

METHODS

2253 sequences representing subtypes A1, B, C, and D were aligned and domains with known functional properties were scored based on amino acid physicochemical properties. Following feature generation, we used statistical pruning and evolved neural networks (ENNs) to determine if we could successfully classify subtypes. Next, we used ENNs to identify the top five key Nef physicochemical features applied to specific immunoregulatory domains that differentiated subtypes. A signature pattern analysis was performed to the assess amino acid diversity in sub-domains that differentiated each subtype.

RESULTS

In validation studies, ENNs successfully differentiated each subtype at A1 (87.2%), subtype B (89.5%), subtype C (91.7%), and subtype D (85.1%). Our feature-based domain scoring, followed by t-tests, and a similar ENN identified subtype-specific domain-associated features. Subtype A1 was associated with alterations in Nef CD4 binding domain; subtype B was associated with alterations with the AP-2 Binding domain; subtype C was associated with alterations in a structural Alpha Helix domain; and, subtype D was associated with alterations in a Beta-Sheet domain.

CONCLUSIONS

Recent studies have focused on HIV Nef as a driver of immunoregulatory disease in those HIV infected and on ART. Nef acts through a complex mixture of interactions that are directly linked to the key features of the subtype-specific domains we identified with the ENN. The study supports the hypothesis that varied Nef subtypes contribute to subtype-specific disease progression.

Self-assembly and structure of a clathrin-independent AP-1:Arf1 tubular membrane coat

The adaptor protein (AP) complexes not only form the inner layer of clathrin coats but also have clathrin-independent roles in membrane traffic whose mechanisms are unknown. HIV-1 Nef hijacks AP-1 to sequester major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I), evading immune detection. We found that AP-1:Arf1:Nef:MHC-I forms a coat on tubulated membranes without clathrin and determined its structure. The coat assembles via Arf1 dimer interfaces. AP-1-positive tubules are enriched in cells upon clathrin knockdown. Nef localizes preferentially to AP-1 tubules in cells, explaining how Nef sequesters MHC-I. Coat contact residues are conserved across Arf isoforms and the Arf-dependent AP complexes AP-1, AP-3, and AP-4. Thus, AP complexes can self-assemble with Arf1 into tubular coats without clathrin or other scaffolding factors. The AP-1:Arf1 coat defines the structural basis of a broader class of tubulovesicular membrane coats as an intermediate in clathrin vesicle formation from internal membranes and as an MHC-I sequestration mechanism in HIV-1 infection.

Reconstituting and Purifying Assembly Intermediates of Clathrin Adaptors AP1 and AP2

Clathrin-coated vesicles mediate membrane cargo transportation from the plasma membrane, the trans-Golgi network, the endosome, and the lysosome. Heterotetrameric adaptor complexes 1 and 2 (AP1 and AP2) are bridges that link cargo-loaded membranes to clathrin coats. Assembly of AP2 was previously considered to be spontaneous; however, a recent study found AP2 assembly is a highly orchestrated process controlled by alpha and gamma adaptin binding protein (AAGAB). Evidence shows that AAGAB controls AP1 assembly in a similar way. Insights into the orchestrated assembly process and three-dimensional structures of assembly intermediates are only emerging. Here, we describe a protocol for reconstitution and purification of the complexes containing AAGAB and AP1 or AP2 subunits, known as AP1 and AP2 hemicomplexes. Our purification routinely yields milligrams of pure complexes suitable for structural analysis by X-ray crystallography and electron microscopy.

Flexible open conformation of the AP-3 complex explains its role in cargo recruitment at the Golgi

Vesicle formation at endomembranes requires the selective concentration of cargo by coat proteins. Conserved adapter protein complexes at the Golgi (AP-3), the endosome (AP-1), or the plasma membrane (AP-2) with their conserved core domain and flexible ear domains mediate this function. These complexes also rely on the small GTPase Arf1 and/or specific phosphoinositides for membrane binding. The structural details that influence these processes, however, are still poorly understood. Here we present cryo-EM structures of the full-length stable 300 kDa yeast AP-3 complex. The structures reveal that AP-3 adopts an open conformation in solution, comparable to the membrane-bound conformations of AP-1 or AP-2. This open conformation appears to be far more flexible than AP-1 or AP-2, resulting in compact, intermediate, and stretched subconformations. Mass spectrometrical analysis of the cross-linked AP-3 complex further indicates that the ear domains are flexibly attached to the surface of the complex. Using biochemical reconstitution assays, we also show that efficient AP-3 recruitment to the membrane depends primarily on cargo binding. Once bound to cargo, AP-3 clustered and immobilized cargo molecules, as revealed by single-molecule imaging on polymer-supported membranes. We conclude that its flexible open state may enable AP-3 to bind and collect cargo at the Golgi and could thus allow coordinated vesicle formation at the trans-Golgi upon Arf1 activation.

AAGAB is an assembly chaperone regulating AP1 and AP2 clathrin adaptors

Multimeric cargo adaptors such as AP2 play central roles in intracellular membrane trafficking. We recently discovered that the assembly of the AP2 adaptor complex, a key player in clathrin-mediated endocytosis, is a highly organized process controlled by alpha- and gamma-adaptin-binding protein (AAGAB, also known as p34). In this study, we demonstrate that besides AP2, AAGAB also regulates the assembly of AP1, a cargo adaptor involved in clathrin-mediated transport between the trans-Golgi network and the endosome. However, AAGAB is not involved in the formation of other adaptor complexes, including AP3. AAGAB promotes AP1 assembly by binding and stabilizing the γ and σ subunits of AP1, and its mutation abolishes AP1 assembly and disrupts AP1-mediated cargo trafficking. Comparative proteomic analyses indicate that AAGAB mutation massively alters surface protein homeostasis, and its loss-of-function phenotypes reflect the synergistic effects of AP1 and AP2 deficiency. Taken together, these findings establish AAGAB as an assembly chaperone for both AP1 and AP2 adaptors and pave the way for understanding the pathogenesis of AAGAB-linked diseases.

Challenges and Opportunities of Using Adoptive T-Cell Therapy as Part of an HIV Cure Strategy

HIV-infected individuals successfully controlling viral replication via antiretroviral therapy often have a compromised HIV-specific T-cell immune response due to the lack of CD4 T-cell help, viral escape, T-cell exhaustion, and reduction in numbers due to the withdrawal of cognate antigen. A successful HIV cure strategy will likely involve a durable and potent police force that can effectively recognize and eliminate remaining virus that may emerge decades after an individual undergoes an HIV cure regimen. T cells are ideally suited to serve in this role, but given the state of the HIV-specific T-cell response, it is unclear how to best restore HIV-specific T-cell activity prior initiation of a HIV cure strategy. Here, we review several strategies of generating HIV-specific T cells ex vivo that are currently being tested in the clinic and discuss how infused T cells can be part of an HIV cure strategy.

HIV-1 Hijacking of Host ATPases and GTPases That Control Protein Trafficking

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) modifies the host cell environment to ensure efficient and sustained viral replication. Key to these processes is the capacity of the virus to hijack ATPases, GTPases and the associated proteins that control intracellular protein trafficking. The functions of these energy-harnessing enzymes can be seized by HIV-1 to allow the intracellular transport of viral components within the host cell or to change the subcellular distribution of antiviral factors, leading to immune evasion. Here, we summarize how energy-related proteins deviate from their normal functions in host protein trafficking to aid the virus in different phases of its replicative cycle. Recent discoveries regarding the interplay among HIV-1 and host ATPases and GTPases may shed light on potential targets for pharmacological intervention.

Viral Interactions with Adaptor-Protein Complexes: A Ubiquitous Trait among Viral Species

Numerous viruses hijack cellular protein trafficking pathways to mediate cell entry or to rearrange membrane structures thereby promoting viral replication and antagonizing the immune response. Adaptor protein complexes (AP), which mediate protein sorting in endocytic and secretory transport pathways, are one of the conserved viral targets with many viruses possessing AP-interacting motifs. We present here different mechanisms of viral interference with AP complexes and the functional consequences that allow for efficient viral propagation and evasion of host immune defense. The ubiquity of this phenomenon is evidenced by the fact that there are representatives for AP interference in all major viral families, covered in this review. The best described examples are interactions of human immunodeficiency virus and human herpesviruses with AP complexes. Several other viruses, like Ebola, Nipah, and SARS-CoV-2, are pointed out as high priority disease-causative agents supporting the need for deeper understanding of virus-AP interplay which can be exploited in the design of novel antiviral therapies.

Characterization of SARS-CoV-2 proteins reveals Orf6 pathogenicity, subcellular localization, host interactions and attenuation by Selinexor

BACKGROUND

SARS-CoV-2 causes COVID-19 which has a widely diverse disease profile. The mechanisms underlying its pathogenicity remain unclear. We set out to identify the SARS-CoV-2 pathogenic proteins that through host interactions cause the cellular damages underlying COVID-19 symptomatology.

METHODS

We examined each of the individual SARS-CoV-2 proteins for their cytotoxicity in HEK 293 T cells and their subcellular localization in COS-7 cells. We also used Mass-Spec Affinity purification to identify the host proteins interacting with SARS-CoV-2 Orf6 protein and tested a drug that could inhibit a specific Orf6 and host protein interaction.

RESULTS

We found that Orf6, Nsp6 and Orf7a induced the highest toxicity when over-expressed in human 293 T cells. All three proteins showed membrane localization in COS-7 cells. We focused on Orf6, which was most cytotoxic and localized to the endoplasmic reticulum, autophagosome and lysosomal membranes. Proteomics revealed Orf6 interacts with nucleopore proteins (RAE1, XPO1, RANBP2 and nucleoporins). Treatment with Selinexor, an FDA-approved inhibitor for XPO1, attenuated Orf6-induced cellular toxicity in human 293 T cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study revealed Orf6 as a highly pathogenic protein from the SARS-CoV-2 genome, identified its key host interacting proteins, and Selinexor as a drug candidate for directly targeting Orf6 host protein interaction that leads to cytotoxicity.

AP-3 vesicle uncoating occurs after HOPS-dependent vacuole tethering

Heterotetrameric adapter (AP) complexes cooperate with the small GTPase Arf1 or lipids in cargo selection, vesicle formation, and budding at endomembranes in eukaryotic cells. While most AP complexes also require clathrin as the outer vesicle shell, formation of AP-3-coated vesicles involved in Golgi-to-vacuole transport in yeast has been postulated to depend on Vps41, a subunit of the vacuolar HOPS tethering complex. HOPS has also been identified as the tether of AP-3 vesicles on vacuoles. To unravel this conundrum of a dual Vps41 function, we anchored Vps41 stably to the mitochondrial outer membrane. By monitoring AP-3 recruitment, we now show that Vps41 can tether AP-3 vesicles to mitochondria, yet AP-3 vesicles can form in the absence of Vps41 or clathrin. By proximity labeling and mass spectrometry, we identify the Arf1 GTPase-activating protein (GAP) Age2 at the AP-3 coat and show that tethering, but not fusion at the vacuole can occur without complete uncoating. We conclude that AP-3 vesicles retain their coat after budding and that their complete uncoating occurs only after tethering at the vacuole.

Concanamycin A counteracts HIV-1 Nef to enhance immune clearance of infected primary cells by cytotoxic T lymphocytes

Nef is an HIV-encoded accessory protein that enhances pathogenicity by down-regulating major histocompatibility class I (MHC-I) expression to evade killing by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). A potent Nef inhibitor that restores MHC-I is needed to promote immune-mediated clearance of HIV-infected cells. We discovered that the plecomacrolide family of natural products restored MHC-I to the surface of Nef-expressing primary cells with variable potency. Concanamycin A (CMA) counteracted Nef at subnanomolar concentrations that did not interfere with lysosomal acidification or degradation and were nontoxic in primary cell cultures. CMA specifically reversed Nef-mediated down-regulation of MHC-I, but not CD4, and cells treated with CMA showed reduced formation of the Nef:MHC-I:AP-1 complex required for MHC-I down-regulation. CMA restored expression of diverse allotypes of MHC-I in Nef-expressing cells and inhibited Nef alleles from divergent clades of HIV and simian immunodeficiency virus, including from primary patient isolates. Lastly, we found that restoration of MHC-I in HIV-infected cells was accompanied by enhanced CTL-mediated clearance of infected cells comparable to genetic deletion of Nef. Thus, we propose CMA as a lead compound for therapeutic inhibition of Nef to enhance immune-mediated clearance of HIV-infected cells.

Two Functional Variants of AP-1 Complexes Composed of either γ2 or γ1 Subunits Are Independently Required for Major Histocompatibility Complex Class I Downregulation by HIV-1 Nef

The HIV-1 accessory protein Nef downregulates the cell surface expression of major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) molecules to facilitate virus spreading. The Nef-induced downregulation of MHC-I molecules such as HLA-A requires the clathrin adaptor protein 1 (AP-1) complex. The cooperative interaction of Nef, AP-1, and the cytosolic tail (CT) of HLA-A leads to a redirection of HLA-A targeting from the trans-Golgi network (TGN) to lysosomes for degradation. Although the γ-adaptin subunit of AP-1 has two distinct isoforms (γ1 and γ2), which may form two AP-1 complex variants, so far, only the importance of AP-1γ1 in MHC-I downregulation by Nef has been investigated. Here, we report that the AP-1γ2 isoform also participates in this process. We found that AP-1γ2 forms a complex with Nef and HLA-A2_CT and that this interaction depends on the Y³²⁰ residue in HLA-A2_CT and Nef expression. Moreover, Nef targets AP-1γ1 and AP-1γ2 to different compartments in T cells, and the depletion of either AP-1 variant impairs the Nef-mediated reduction of total endogenous HLA-A levels and rescues HLA-A levels on the cell surface. Finally, immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy analyses reveal that the depletion of γ2 in T cells compromises both the Nef-mediated retention of HLA-A molecules in the TGN and targeting to multivesicular bodies/late endosomes. Altogether, these results show that in addition to AP-1γ1, Nef also requires the AP-1γ2 variant for efficient MHC-I downregulation.IMPORTANCE HIV-1 Nef mediates evasion of the host immune system by inhibiting MHC-I surface presentation of viral antigens. To achieve this goal, Nef modifies the intracellular trafficking of MHC-I molecules in several ways. Despite being the subject of intense study, the molecular details underlying these modifications are not yet fully understood. Adaptor protein 1 (AP-1) plays an essential role in the Nef-mediated downregulation of MHC-I molecules such as HLA-A in different cell types. However, AP-1 has two functionally distinct variants composed of either γ1 or γ2 subunit isoforms. Because previous studies on the role of AP-1 in MHC-I downregulation by Nef focused on AP-1γ1, an important open question is the participation of AP-1γ2 in this process. Here, we show that AP-1γ2 is also essential for Nef-mediated depletion of surface HLA-A molecules in T cells. Our results indicate that Nef hijacks AP-1γ2 to modify HLA-A intracellular transport, redirecting these proteins to lysosomes for degradation.

Water in Ras Superfamily Evolution

The Ras GTPase superfamily of proteins coordinates a diverse set of cellular outcomes, including cell morphology, vesicle transport, and cell proliferation. Primary amino acid sequence analysis has identified Specificity determinant positions (SDPs) that drive diversified functions specific to the Ras, Rho, Rab, and Arf subfamilies (Rojas et al. 2012, J Cell Biol 196:189-201). The inclusion of water molecules in structural and functional adaptation is likely to be a major response to the selection pressures that drive evolution, yet hydration patterns are not included in phylogenetic analysis. This article shows that conserved crystallographic water molecules coevolved with SDP residues in the differentiation of proteins within the Ras superfamily of small GTPases. The patterns of water conservation between protein subfamilies parallel those of sequence-based evolutionary trees. Thus, hydration patterns have the potential to help elucidate functional significance in the evolution of amino acid residues observed in phylogenetic analysis of homologous proteins. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Cytomegalovirus protein m154 perturbs the adaptor protein-1 compartment mediating broad-spectrum immune evasion

Cytomegaloviruses (CMVs) are ubiquitous pathogens known to employ numerous immunoevasive strategies that significantly impair the ability of the immune system to eliminate the infected cells. Here, we report that the single mouse CMV (MCMV) protein, m154, downregulates multiple surface molecules involved in the activation and costimulation of the immune cells. We demonstrate that m154 uses its cytoplasmic tail motif, DD, to interfere with the adaptor protein-1 (AP-1) complex, implicated in intracellular protein sorting and packaging. As a consequence of the perturbed AP-1 sorting, m154 promotes lysosomal degradation of several proteins involved in T cell costimulation, thus impairing virus-specific CD8⁺ T cell response and virus control in vivo. Additionally, we show that HCMV infection similarly interferes with the AP-1 complex. Altogether, we identify the robust mechanism employed by single viral immunomodulatory protein targeting a broad spectrum of cell surface molecules involved in the antiviral immune response.

How HIV Nef Proteins Hijack Membrane Traffic To Promote Infection

The accessory protein Nef of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a primary determinant of viral pathogenesis. Nef is abundantly expressed during infection and reroutes a variety of cell surface proteins to disrupt host immunity and promote the viral replication cycle. Nef counteracts host defenses by sequestering and/or degrading its targets via the endocytic and secretory pathways. Nef does this by physically engaging a number of host trafficking proteins. Substantial progress has been achieved in identifying the targets of Nef, and a structural and mechanistic understanding of Nef's ability to command the protein trafficking machinery has recently started to coalesce. Comparative analysis of HIV and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) Nef proteins in the context of recent structural advances sheds further light on both viral evolution and the mechanisms whereby trafficking is hijacked. This review describes how advances in cell and structural biology are uncovering in growing detail how Nef subverts the host immune system, facilitates virus release, and enhances viral infectivity.

Cryo-EM of multiple cage architectures reveals a universal mode of clathrin self-assembly

Clathrin forms diverse lattice and cage structures that change size and shape rapidly in response to the needs of eukaryotic cells during clathrin-mediated endocytosis and intracellular trafficking. We present the cryo-EM structure and molecular model of assembled porcine clathrin, providing insights into interactions that stabilize key elements of the clathrin lattice, namely, between adjacent heavy chains, at the light chain-heavy chain interface and within the trimerization domain. Furthermore, we report cryo-EM maps for five different clathrin cage architectures. Fitting structural models to three of these maps shows that their assembly requires only a limited range of triskelion leg conformations, yet inherent flexibility is required to maintain contacts. Analysis of the protein-protein interfaces shows remarkable conservation of contact sites despite architectural variation. These data reveal a universal mode of clathrin assembly that allows variable cage architecture and adaptation of coated vesicle size and shape during clathrin-mediated vesicular trafficking or endocytosis.

Structural Basis for Tetherin Antagonism as a Barrier to Zoonotic Lentiviral Transmission

Tetherin is a host defense factor that physically prevents virion release from the plasma membrane. The Nef accessory protein of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) engages the clathrin adaptor AP-2 to downregulate tetherin via its DIWK motif. As human tetherin lacks DIWK, antagonism of tetherin by Nef is a barrier to simian-human transmission of non-human primate lentiviruses. To determine the molecular basis for tetherin counteraction, we reconstituted the AP-2 complex with a simian tetherin and SIV Nef and determined its structure by cryoelectron microscopy (cryo-EM). Nef refolds the first α-helix of the β2 subunit of AP-2 to a β hairpin, creating a binding site for the DIWK sequence. The tetherin binding site in Nef is distinct from those of most other Nef substrates, including MHC class I, CD3, and CD4 but overlaps with the site for the restriction factor SERINC5. This structure explains the dependence of SIVs on tetherin DIWK and consequent barrier to human transmission.

Coatopathies: Genetic Disorders of Protein Coats

Protein coats are supramolecular complexes that assemble on the cytosolic face of membranes to promote cargo sorting and transport carrier formation in the endomembrane system of eukaryotic cells. Several types of protein coats have been described, including COPI, COPII, AP-1, AP-2, AP-3, AP-4, AP-5, and retromer, which operate at different stages of the endomembrane system. Defects in these coats impair specific transport pathways, compromising the function and viability of the cells. In humans, mutations in subunits of these coats cause various congenital diseases that are collectively referred to as coatopathies. In this article, we review the fundamental properties of protein coats and the diseases that result from mutation of their constituent subunits.

Conformational regulation of AP1 and AP2 clathrin adaptor complexes

Heterotetrameric clathrin adaptor protein complexes (APs) orchestrate the formation of coated vesicles for transport among organelles of the cell periphery. AP1 binds membranes enriched for phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate, such as the trans Golgi network, while AP2 associates with phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate of the plasma membrane. At their respective membranes, AP1 and AP2 bind the cytoplasmic tails of transmembrane protein cargo and clathrin triskelions, thereby coupling cargo recruitment to coat polymerization. Structural, biochemical and genetic studies have revealed that APs undergo conformational rearrangements and reversible phosphorylation to cycle between different activity states. While membrane, cargo and clathrin have been demonstrated to promote AP activation, growing evidence supports that membrane-associated proteins such as Arf1 and FCHo also stimulate this transition. APs may be returned to the inactive state via a regulated process involving phosphorylation and a protein called NECAP. Finally, because antiviral mechanisms often rely on appropriate trafficking of membrane proteins, viruses have evolved novel strategies to evade host defenses by influencing the conformation of APs. This review will cover recent advances in our understanding of the molecular inputs that stimulate AP1 and AP2 to adopt structurally and functionally distinct configurations.

HIV-1 Nefs Are Cargo-Sensitive AP-1 Trimerization Switches in Tetherin Downregulation

The HIV accessory protein Nef counteracts immune defenses by subverting coated vesicle pathways. The 3.7 Å cryo-EM structure of a closed trimer of the clathrin adaptor AP-1, the small GTPase Arf1, HIV-1 Nef, and the cytosolic tail of the restriction factor tetherin suggested a mechanism for inactivating tetherin by Golgi retention. The 4.3 Å structure of a mutant Nef-induced dimer of AP-1 showed how the closed trimer is regulated by the dileucine loop of Nef. HDX-MS and mutational analysis were used to show how cargo dynamics leads to alternative Arf1 trimerization, directing Nef targets to be either retained at the trans-Golgi or sorted to lysosomes. Phosphorylation of the NL4-3 M-Nef was shown to regulate AP-1 trimerization, explaining how O-Nefs lacking this phosphosite counteract tetherin but most M-Nefs do not. These observations show how the higher-order organization of a vesicular coat can be allosterically modulated to direct cargoes to distinct fates.

Preexisting Virus-Specific T Lymphocytes-Mediated Enhancement of Adenovirus Infections to Human Blood CD14+ Cells

Antigen-specific T lymphocytes play a critical role in controlling viral infections. However, we report here that preexisting virus-specific T cell responses also contribute to promoting adenovirus (Ad) infection. Previously, we found that CD14+ monocytes from Ad-seropositive individuals exhibited an increased susceptibility to Ad infection, when compared with that of Ad-seronegative individuals. But the underlying mechanisms for this enhancement of viral infection are not completely clarified. In this study, we found that the efficacy of Ad infection into CD14+ monocytes was significantly decreased after CD3+ T lymphocytes depletion from PBMC samples of Ad-seropositive individuals. In contrast, adding virus-specific CD3+ T lymphocytes into PBMC samples of Ad-seronegative individuals resulted in a significant increase of infection efficacy. CD3+ T lymphocytes in PBMC samples from Ad-seropositive individuals were more sensitive to be activated by adenovirus stimulus, characterized by upregulation of multiple cytokines and activation markers and also enhancement of cell proliferation. Further studies demonstrated that GM-CSF and IL-4 can promote Ad infection by up-regulating the expression of scavenger receptor 1 (SR-A) and integrins αVβ5 receptor of CD14+ cells. And taken together, these results suggest a novel role of virus-specific T cells in mediating enhancement of viral infection, and provide insights to understand the pathogenesis and complicated interactions between viruses and host immune cells.

HIV/SIV-Nef: Pas de trois Choreographies to Evade Immunity

Nef is a major pathogenic factor of human and simian immunodeficiency viruses that hijacks protein trafficking through physical interaction with vesicle coats. This alters the subcellular localization of proteins involved in immunity and neutralizes their function. Understanding the structural bases for these interactions could reveal new targets for antiviral intervention.

Multilayered and versatile inhibition of cellular antiviral factors by HIV and SIV accessory proteins

HIV-1, the main causative agent of AIDS, and related primate lentiviruses show a striking ability to efficiently replicate throughout the lifetime of an infected host. In addition to their high variability, the acquisition of several accessory genes has enabled these viruses to efficiently evade or counteract seemingly strong antiviral immune responses. The respective viral proteins, i.e. Vif, Vpr, Vpu, Vpx and Nef, show a stunning functional diversity, acting by various mechanisms and targeting a large variety of cellular factors involved in innate and adaptive immunity. A focus of the present review is the accumulating evidence that Vpr, Vpu and Nef not only directly target cellular antiviral factors at the protein level, but also suppress their expression by modulating the activity of immune-regulatory transcription factors such as NF-κB. Furthermore, we will discuss the ability of accessory proteins to act as versatile adaptors, removing antiviral proteins from their sites of action and/or targeting them for proteasomal or endolysosomal degradation. Here, the main emphasis will be on emerging examples for functional interactions, synergisms and switches between accessory primate lentiviral proteins. A better understanding of this complex interplay between cellular immune defense mechanisms and viral countermeasures might facilitate the development of effective vaccines, help to prevent harmful chronic inflammation, and provide insights into the establishment and maintenance of latent viral reservoirs.

Contribution of the clathrin adaptor AP-1 subunit µ1 to acidic cluster protein sorting

Acidic clusters act as sorting signals for packaging cargo into clathrin-coated vesicles (CCVs), and also facilitate down-regulation of MHC-I by HIV-1 Nef. To find acidic cluster sorting machinery, we performed a gene-trap screen and identified the medium subunit (µ1) of the clathrin adaptor AP-1 as a top hit. In µ1 knockout cells, intracellular CCVs still form, but acidic cluster proteins are depleted, although several other CCV components were either unaffected or increased, indicating that cells can compensate for long-term loss of AP-1. In vitro experiments showed that the basic patch on µ1 that interacts with the Nef acidic cluster also contributes to the binding of endogenous acidic cluster proteins. Surprisingly, µ1 mutant proteins lacking the basic patch and/or the tyrosine-based motif binding pocket could rescue the µ1 knockout phenotype completely. In contrast, these mutants failed to rescue Nef-induced down-regulation of MHC class I, suggesting a possible mechanism for attacking the virus while sparing the host cell.

In vivo monitoring of the recruitment and activation of AP-1 by Arf1

AP-1 is a clathrin adaptor recruited to the trans-Golgi Network where it can interact with specific signals found in the cytosolic tail of cargo proteins to incorporate them into clathrin-coated vesicles for trafficking. The small G protein Arf1 regulates the spatiotemporal recruitment of AP-1 and also drives a conformational change favoring an interaction with cargo proteins. A recent crystal structure and in vitro experiments highlighted potential residues mediating the AP-1/Arf1 interaction and the unlocking of the complex. We have used bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET) to study the Arf1/AP-1 interaction and AP-1 conformational changes in vivo. We identified novel residues required for this interaction in addition to those predicted in the crystal structure. We also studied the conformational changes in AP-1 driven by Arf1 in live cells and found that opening of the complex is prerequisite for oligomerization. Using Arf1 knockout cells generated by CRISPR/Cas9, we demonstrated that residue 172 in Arf1 is necessary for AP-1 activation and is required for the efficient sorting of the lysosomal protein prosaposin. We have used BRET to study the in vivo activation of AP-1. The advantages of BRET include expressing full-length proteins in their native environment that have been fully post-translationally modified.

9Å structure of the COPI coat reveals that the Arf1 GTPase occupies two contrasting molecular environments

COPI coated vesicles mediate trafficking within the Golgi apparatus and between the Golgi and the endoplasmic reticulum. Assembly of a COPI coated vesicle is initiated by the small GTPase Arf1 that recruits the coatomer complex to the membrane, triggering polymerization and budding. The vesicle uncoats before fusion with a target membrane. Coat components are structurally conserved between COPI and clathrin/adaptor proteins. Using cryo-electron tomography and subtomogram averaging, we determined the structure of the COPI coat assembled on membranes in vitro at 9 Å resolution. We also obtained a 2.57 Å resolution crystal structure of βδ-COP. By combining these structures we built a molecular model of the coat. We additionally determined the coat structure in the presence of ArfGAP proteins that regulate coat dissociation. We found that Arf1 occupies contrasting molecular environments within the coat, leading us to hypothesize that some Arf1 molecules may regulate vesicle assembly while others regulate coat disassembly.

DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.26691.001

MiR-199a-5p suppresses tumorigenesis by targeting clathrin heavy chain in hepatocellular carcinoma

The deregulation of microRNA (miRNA) is frequently associated with a variety of cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this study, we investigated the expression and possible role of miR-199a-5p in HCC. The expression of miR-199a-5p was measured by quantitative RT-PCR in HCC. The effect of miR-199a-5p was evaluated by cell viability and colony formation assays in HCC cell lines and tumor cell growth assay in xenograft nude mice. Quantitative real time PCR results showed that miR-199a-5p was down-regulated in 77.9 % (67/86) of HCC tissues compared with adjacent nontumor tissues. MiR-199a-5p mimic reduced cell viability and colony formation by induction of cell arrest in HCC cell lines and inhibited tumor cell growth in xenograft nude mice, but miR-199a-5p inhibitor increased cell viability and colony formation in HCC cell lines and tumor cell growth in xenograft nude mice. Furthermore, CLTC was defined as a potential direct target of miR-199a-5p by MiRanda and TargetScan predictions. The dual-luciferase reporter gene assay results showed that CLTC was a direct target of miR-199a-5p. The use of miR-199a-5p mimic or inhibitor could decrease or increase CLTC protein levels in HCC cell lines. We conclude that the frequently down-regulated miR-199a-5p can regulate CLTC and might function as a tumor suppressor in HCC. Therefore, miR-199a-5p may serve as a useful therapeutic agent for miRNA-based HCC therapy.

S2 from equine infectious anemia virus is an infectivity factor which counteracts the retroviral inhibitors SERINC5 and SERINC3

The lentivirus equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) encodes the small protein S2, a pathogenic determinant that is important for virus replication and disease progression in horses. No molecular function had been linked to this accessory protein. We report that S2 can replace the activity of Negative factor (Nef) in HIV-1 infectivity, being required to antagonize the inhibitory activity of Serine incorporator (SERINC) proteins on Nef-defective HIV-1. Like Nef, S2 excludes SERINC5 from virus particles and requires an ExxxLL motif predicted to recruit the clathrin adaptor, Adaptor protein 2 (AP2). Accordingly, functional endocytic machinery is essential for S2-mediated infectivity enhancement, and S2-mediated enhancement is impaired by inhibitors of clathrin-mediated endocytosis. In addition to retargeting SERINC5 to a late endosomal compartment, S2 promotes host factor degradation. Emphasizing the similarity with Nef, we show that S2 is myristoylated, and, as is compatible with a crucial role in posttranslational modification, its N-terminal glycine is required for anti-SERINC5 activity. EIAV-derived vectors devoid of S2 are less susceptible than HIV-1 to the inhibitory effect of both human and equine SERINC5. We then identified the envelope glycoprotein of EIAV as a determinant that also modulates retroviral susceptibility to SERINC5, indicating that EIAV has a bimodal ability to counteract the host factor. S2 shares no sequence homology with other retroviral factors known to counteract SERINC5. Like the primate lentivirus Nef and the gammaretrovirus glycoGag, the accessory protein from EIAV is an example of a retroviral virulence determinant that independently evolved SERINC5-antagonizing activity. SERINC5 therefore plays a critical role in the interaction of the host with diverse retrovirus pathogens.

HIV-1 Nef: Taking Control of Protein Trafficking

The Nef protein of the human immunodeficiency virus is a crucial determinant of viral pathogenesis and disease progression. Nef is abundantly expressed early in infection and is thought to optimize the cellular environment for viral replication. Nef controls expression levels of various cell surface molecules that play important roles in immunity and virus life cycle, by directly interfering with the itinerary of these proteins within the endocytic and late secretory pathways. To exert these functions, Nef physically interacts with host proteins that regulate protein trafficking. In recent years, considerable progress was made in identifying host-cell-interacting partners for Nef, and the molecular machinery used by Nef to interfere with protein trafficking has started to be unraveled. Here, we briefly review the knowledge gained and discuss new findings regarding the mechanisms by which Nef modifies the intracellular trafficking pathways to prevent antigen presentation, facilitate viral particle release and enhance the infectivity of HIV-1 virions.

Recent advances in viral evasion of the MHC Class I processing pathway

T-cell mediated adaptive immunity against viruses relies on recognition of virus-derived peptides by CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells. Detection of pathogen-derived peptide-MHC-I complexes triggers CD8(+) T cells to eliminate the infected cells. Viruses have evolved several mechanisms to avoid recognition, many of which target the MHC-I antigen-processing pathway. While many immune evasion strategies have been described in the context of herpesvirus infections, it is becoming clear that this 'disguise' ability is more widespread. Here, we address recent findings in viral evasion of the MHC-I antigen presentation pathway and the impact on CD8(+) T cell responses.

Molecular Basis for the Interaction Between AP4 β4 and its Accessory Protein, Tepsin

The adaptor protein 4 (AP4) complex (ϵ/β4/μ4/σ4 subunits) forms a non-clathrin coat on vesicles departing the trans-Golgi network. AP4 biology remains poorly understood, in stark contrast to the wealth of molecular data available for the related clathrin adaptors AP1 and AP2. AP4 is important for human health because mutations in any AP4 subunit cause severe neurological problems, including intellectual disability and progressive spastic para- or tetraplegias. We have used a range of structural, biochemical and biophysical approaches to determine the molecular basis for how the AP4 β4 C-terminal appendage domain interacts with tepsin, the only known AP4 accessory protein. We show that tepsin harbors a hydrophobic sequence, LFxG[M/L]x[L/V], in its unstructured C-terminus, which binds directly and specifically to the C-terminal β4 appendage domain. Using nuclear magnetic resonance chemical shift mapping, we define the binding site on the β4 appendage by identifying residues on the surface whose signals are perturbed upon titration with tepsin. Point mutations in either the tepsin LFxG[M/L]x[L/V] sequence or in its cognate binding site on β4 abolish in vitro binding. In cells, the same point mutations greatly reduce the amount of tepsin that interacts with AP4. However, they do not abolish the binding between tepsin and AP4 completely, suggesting the existence of additional interaction sites between AP4 and tepsin. These data provide one of the first detailed mechanistic glimpses at AP4 coat assembly and should provide an entry point for probing the role of AP4-coated vesicles in cell biology, and especially in neuronal function.