Ty1 in vitro integration: effects of mutations in cis and in trans

Ty1 integrase overexpression leads to integration of non-Ty1 DNA fragments into the genome of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The integrase of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae retrotransposon Ty1 integrates Ty1 cDNA into genomic DNA likely via a transesterification reaction. Little is known about the mechanisms ensuring that integrase does not integrate non-Ty DNA fragments. In an effort to elucidate the conditions under which Ty1 integrase accepts non-Ty DNA as substrate, PCR fragments encompassing a selectable marker gene were transformed into yeast strains overexpressing Ty1 integrase. These fragments do not exhibit similarity to Ty1 cDNA except for the presence of the conserved terminal dinucleotide 5'-TG-CA-3'. The frequency of fragment insertion events increased upon integrase overexpression. Characterization of insertion events by genomic sequencing revealed that most insertion events exhibited clear hallmarks of integrase-mediated reactions, such as 5 bp target site duplication and target site preferences. Alteration of the terminal dinucleotide abolished the suitability of the PCR fragments to serve as substrates. We hypothesize that substrate specificity under normal conditions is mainly due to compartmentalization of integrase and Ty cDNA, which meet in virus-like particles. In contrast, recombinant integrase, which is not confined to virus-like particles, is able to accept non-Ty DNA, provided that it terminates in the proper dinucleotide sequence.

Correct integration of model substrates by Ty1 integrase

The retrovirus-like mobile genetic element of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Ty1, transposes to new genomic locations via the element-encoded integrase (IN). Here we report that purified recombinant IN catalyzed correct integration of a linear DNA into a supercoiled target plasmid. Ty1 virus-like particles (VLPs) integrated donor DNA more efficiently than IN. VLP and IN-mediated insertions occurred at random sites in the target. Mg(2+) was preferred over Mn(2+) for correct integration, and neither cation enhanced nonspecific nuclease activity of IN. Products consistent with correct integration events were also obtained by Southern analysis. Recombinant IN and VLPs utilized many, but not all, linear donor fragments containing non-Ty1 ends, including a U3 mutation which has been shown to be defective for transposition in vivo. Together, our results suggest that IN is sufficient for Ty1 integration in vitro and IN interacts with exogenous donors less stringently than with endogenous elements.

Reverse transcription of a self-primed retrotransposon requires an RNA structure similar to the U5-IR stem-loop of retroviruses

An inverted repeat (IR) within the U5 region of the Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) mRNA forms a structure composed of a 7-bp stem and a 5-nucleotide (nt) loop. This U5-IR structure has been shown to be required for the initiation of reverse transcription. The mRNA of Tf1, long terminal repeat-containing retrotransposon from fission yeast (Schizosaccharomyces pombe) contains nucleotides with the potential to form a U5-IR stem-loop that is strikingly similar to that of RSV. The putative U5-IR stem-loop of Tf1 consists of a 7-bp stem and a 25-nt loop. Results from mutagenesis studies indicate that the U5-IR stem-loop in the mRNA of Tf1 does form and that it is required for Tf1 transposition. Although the loop is required for transposition, we were surprised that the specific sequence of the nucleotides within the loop was unimportant for function. Additional investigation indicates that the loss of transposition activity due to a reduction in the loop size to 6 nt could be rescued by increasing the GC content of the stem. This result indicates that the large loop in the Tf1 mRNA relative to that of the RSV allows the formation of the relatively weak U5-IR stem. The levels of Tf1 proteins expressed and the amounts of Tf1 RNA packaged into the virus-like particles were not affected by mutations in the U5-IR structure. However, all of the mutations in the U5-IR structure that caused defects in transposition produced low amounts of reverse transcripts. A unique feature in the initiation of Tf1 reverse transcription is that, instead of a tRNA, the first 11 nt of the Tf1 mRNA serve as the minus-strand primer. Analysis of the 5' end of Tf1 mRNA revealed that the mutations in the U5-IR stem-loop that resulted in defects in reverse transcription caused a reduction in the cleavage activity required to generate the Tf1 primer. Our results indicate that the U5-IR stems of Tf1 and RSV are conserved in size, position, and function.

Invading the yeast nucleus: a nuclear localization signal at the C terminus of Ty1 integrase is required for transposition in vivo

Retrotransposon Ty1 faces a formidable cell barrier during transposition--the yeast nuclear membrane which remains intact throughout the cell cycle. We investigated the mechanism by which transposition intermediates are transported from the cytoplasm (the presumed site of Ty1 DNA synthesis) to the nucleus, where they are integrated into the genome. Ty1 integrase has a nuclear localization signal (NLS) at its C terminus. Both full-length integrase and a C-terminal fragment localize to the nucleus. C-terminal deletion mutants in Ty1 integrase were used to map the putative NLS to the last 74 amino acid residues of integrase. Mutations in basic segments within this region decreased retrotransposition at least 50-fold in vivo. Furthermore, these mutant integrase proteins failed to localize to the nucleus. Production of virus-like particles, reverse transcriptase activity, and complete in vitro Ty1 integration resembled wild-type levels, consistent with failure of the mutant integrases to enter the nucleus.

A Ty1 integrase nuclear localization signal required for retrotransposition

Ty1 retrotransposition in Saccharomyces cerevisiae requires integrase (IN)-mediated insertion of Ty1 cDNA into the host genome. The transposition components are assembled in the cytoplasm and must cross the nuclear envelope to reach the genomic target, since, unlike animal cell nuclear membranes, the yeast cell nuclear membrane remains intact throughout the cell cycle. We have identified a bipartite nuclear localization signal (NLS) in IN required for Ty1 transposition (Ty1 IN) that directs IN to the nucleus. Mutations in the NLS that specifically abolish nuclear localization inactivate transpositional integration but do not affect reverse transcription, protein processing, or catalytic activity in vitro. No additional Ty1-encoded proteins are required for IN nuclear localization. Intragenic complementation experiments suggest that Ty1 IN functions as a multimer and contains two distinct domains, one required for integration and the other for nuclear localization. Nuclear targeting of the preintegration complex by an IN NLS may prove to be a general strategy used by retrotransposons and retroviruses that infect nondividing cells.

Retrovirus-like end processing of the tobacco Tnt1 retrotransposon linear intermediates of replication

The tobacco retrotransposon Tnt1 can transpose through an RNA intermediate in the heterologous host Arabidopsis thaliana. We report here the identification and characterization of extrachromosomal linear and circular DNA forms of Tnt1 in this heterologous host. Our results demonstrate that Tnt1 linear intermediates possess two extra base pairs at each end compared with Tnt1's integrated forms. Prior to integration into the host genome, the two terminal nucleotides at the 3' end of these linear intermediates are removed, as in the case of the yeast Ty3 retrotransposon and of retroviruses. Our data, together with those from recent studies of Ty3, reinforce the idea that 3' dinucleotide cleavage is not restricted to retroviral integrases and is probably a feature shared by many different retrotransposons' enzymes.

A critical proteolytic cleavage site near the C terminus of the yeast retrotransposon Ty1 Gag protein

Cleavage of the Gag and Gag-Pol polyprotein precursors is a critical step in proliferation of retroviruses and retroelements. The Ty1 retroelement of Saccharomyces cerevisiae forms virus-like particles (VLPs) made of the Gag protein. Ty1 Gag is not obviously homologous to the Gag proteins of retroviruses. The apparent molecular mass of Gag is reduced from 58 to 54 kDa during particle maturation. Antibodies raised against the C-terminal peptide of Gag react with the 58-kDa polypeptide but not with the 54-kDa one, indicating that Gag is proteolytically processed at the C terminus. A protease cleavage site between positions 401 and 402 of the Gag precursor was defined by carboxy-terminal sequencing of the processed form of Gag. Certain deletion and substitution mutations in the C terminus of the Gag precursor result in particles that are two-thirds the diameter of the wild-type VLPs. While the Ty1 protease is active in these mutants, their transposition rates are decreased 20-fold compared with that of wild-type Ty1. Thus, the Gag C-terminal portion, released in the course of particle maturation, probably plays a significant role in VLP morphogenesis and Ty1 transposition.

Ty3 integrase mutants defective in reverse transcription or 3'-end processing of extrachromosomal Ty3 DNA

Ty3, a retroviruslike element in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, encodes an integrase (IN) which is essential for position-specific transposition. The Ty3 integrase contains the highly conserved His-Xaa(3-7)-His-Xaa(23-32)-Cys-Xaa(2)-Cys and Asp, Asp-Xaa(35)-Glu [D,D(35)E] motifs found in retroviral integrases. Mutations were introduced into the coding region for the Ty3 integrase to determine the effects in vivo of changes in conserved residues of the putative catalytic triad D,D(35)E and the nonconserved carboxyl-terminal region. Ty3 viruslike particles were found to be associated with significant amounts of linear DNA of the approximate size expected for a full-length reverse transcription product and with plus-strand strong-stop DNA. The full-length, preintegrative DNA has at each 3' end 2 bp that are removed prior to or during integration. Such 3'-end processing has not been observed for other retroviruslike elements. A mutation at either D-225 or E-261 of the Ty3 integrase blocked transposition and prevented processing of the 3' ends of Ty3 DNA in vivo, suggesting that the D,D(35)E region is part of the catalytic domain of Ty3 IN. Carboxyl-terminal deletions of integrase caused a dramatic reduction in the amount of Ty3 DNA in vivo and a decrease in reverse transcriptase activity in vitro but did not affect the apparent size or amount of the 55-kDa reverse transcriptase in viruslike particles. The 115-kDa viruslike particle protein, previously shown to react with antibodies to Ty3 integrase, was shown to be a reverse transcriptase-IN fusion protein. These results are consistent with a role for the integrase domain either in proper folding of reverse transcriptase or as part of a heterodimeric reverse transcriptase molecule.

In vitro integration of retrotransposon Ty1: a direct physical assay

Retrotransposon Ty1 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae inserts a double-stranded Ty1 cDNA into the yeast genome by a reaction analogous to the integration mechanism used by retroviruses. A quantitative in vitro integration assay that directly detects integrative recombination products was developed for Ty1. Blunt-ended artificial radioactive substrates bearing Ty1 termini integrate into circular or linear target DNAs. The reaction is specific for native integrase isolated in the form of virus-like particles; virus-like particles prepared from integrase mutants were completely inactive in this assay. The products are radioactive, allowing direct detection after gel electrophoresis by autoradiography. Using this simple and amenable system, we characterized the biochemical requirements of the system and the structures of the major integration products. Two classes of products were detected: those that were the result of bona fide complete integration events (concerted reactions) and single-end joinings of substrate to target (half-reactions). Additionally, we used a genetic selection scheme to identify and characterize target sites of complete integration events into a circular target plasmid; a 5-bp target site duplication flanking the inserted DNA resembling the duplication characteristic of in vivo integration was observed.

In vitro integration of retrotransposon Ty1: a direct physical assay

Retrotransposon Ty1 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae inserts a double-stranded Ty1 cDNA into the yeast genome by a reaction analogous to the integration mechanism used by retroviruses. A quantitative in vitro integration assay that directly detects integrative recombination products was developed for Ty1. Blunt-ended artificial radioactive substrates bearing Ty1 termini integrate into circular or linear target DNAs. The reaction is specific for native integrase isolated in the form of virus-like particles; virus-like particles prepared from integrase mutants were completely inactive in this assay. The products are radioactive, allowing direct detection after gel electrophoresis by autoradiography. Using this simple and amenable system, we characterized the biochemical requirements of the system and the structures of the major integration products. Two classes of products were detected: those that were the result of bona fide complete integration events (concerted reactions) and single-end joinings of substrate to target (half-reactions). Additionally, we used a genetic selection scheme to identify and characterize target sites of complete integration events into a circular target plasmid; a 5-bp target site duplication flanking the inserted DNA resembling the duplication characteristic of in vivo integration was observed.