The genome of Pseudomonas aeruginosa contains at least three genes encoding eukaryotic-type Ser/Thr protein kinases, one of which, ppkA, has been implicated in P. aeruginosa virulence. Together with the adjacent pppA phosphatase gene, they belong to the type VI secretion system (H1-T6SS) locus, which is important for bacterial pathogenesis. To determine the biological function of this protein pair, we prepared a pppA-ppkA double mutant and characterised its phenotype and transcriptomic profiles.

Human APOBEC3A (A3A) is a single-domain cytidine deaminase that converts deoxycytidine residues to deoxyuridine in single-stranded DNA (ssDNA). It inhibits a wide range of viruses and endogenous retroelements such as LINE-1, but it can also edit genomic DNA, which may play a role in carcinogenesis. Here, we extend our recent findings on the NMR structure of A3A and report structural, biochemical and cell-based mutagenesis studies to further characterize A3A's deaminase and nucleic acid binding activities. We find that A3A binds ssRNA, but the RNA and DNA binding interfaces differ and no deamination of ssRNA is detected. Surprisingly, with only one exception (G105A), alanine substitution mutants with changes in residues affected by specific ssDNA binding retain deaminase activity. Furthermore, A3A binds and deaminates ssDNA in a length-dependent manner. Using catalytically active and inactive A3A mutants, we show that the determinants of A3A deaminase activity and anti-LINE-1 activity are not the same. Finally, we demonstrate A3A's potential to mutate genomic DNA during transient strand separation and show that this process could be counteracted by ssDNA binding proteins. Taken together, our studies provide new insights into the molecular properties of A3A and its role in multiple cellular and antiviral functions.

The matrix (MA) domain of HIV-1 Gag plays key roles in membrane targeting of Gag, and envelope (Env) glycoprotein incorporation into virions. Although a trimeric MA structure has been available since 1996, evidence for functional MA trimers has been elusive. The mechanism of HIV-1 Env recruitment into virions likewise remains unclear. Here, we identify a point mutation in MA that rescues the Env incorporation defects imposed by an extensive panel of MA and Env mutations. Mapping the mutations onto the putative MA trimer reveals that the incorporation-defective mutations cluster at the tips of the trimer, around the perimeter of a putative gap in the MA lattice into which the cytoplasmic tail of gp41 could insert. By contrast, the rescue mutation is located at the trimer interface, suggesting that it may confer rescue of Env incorporation via modification of MA trimer interactions, a hypothesis consistent with additional mutational analysis. These data strongly support the existence of MA trimers in the immature Gag lattice and demonstrate that rescue of Env incorporation defects is mediated by modified interactions at the MA trimer interface. The data support the hypothesis that mutations in MA that block Env incorporation do so by imposing a steric clash with the gp41 cytoplasmic tail, rather than by disrupting a specific MA-gp41 interaction. The importance of the trimer interface in rescuing Env incorporation suggests that the trimeric arrangement of MA may be a critical factor in permitting incorporation of Env into the Gag lattice.

The HIV-1 capsid protein consists of two independently folded domains connected by a flexible peptide linker (residues 146-150), the function of which remains to be defined. To investigate the role of this region in virus replication, we made alanine or leucine substitutions in each linker residue and two flanking residues. Three classes of mutants were identified: (i) S146A and T148A behave like wild type (WT); (ii) Y145A, I150A, and L151A are noninfectious, assemble unstable cores with aberrant morphology, and synthesize almost no viral DNA; and (iii) P147L and S149A display a poorly infectious, attenuated phenotype. Infectivity of P147L and S149A is rescued specifically by pseudotyping with vesicular stomatitis virus envelope glycoprotein. Moreover, despite having unstable cores, these mutants assemble WT-like structures and synthesize viral DNA, although less efficiently than WT. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that the linker region is essential for proper assembly and stability of cores and efficient replication.

Human APOBEC3A is a single-stranded DNA cytidine deaminase that restricts viral pathogens and endogenous retrotransposons, and has a role in the innate immune response. Furthermore, its potential to act as a genomic DNA mutator has implications for a role in carcinogenesis. A deeper understanding of APOBEC3A's deaminase and nucleic acid-binding properties, which is central to its biological activities, has been limited by the lack of structural information. Here we report the nuclear magnetic resonance solution structure of APOBEC3A and show that the critical interface for interaction with single-stranded DNA substrates includes residues extending beyond the catalytic centre. Importantly, by monitoring deaminase activity in real time, we find that A3A displays similar catalytic activity on APOBEC3A-specific TTCA- or A3G-specific CCCA-containing substrates, involving key determinants immediately 5' of the reactive C. Our results afford novel mechanistic insights into APOBEC3A-mediated deamination and provide the structural basis for further molecular studies.

HIV-1 particle production is driven by the Gag precursor protein Pr55(Gag). Despite significant progress in defining both the viral and cellular determinants of HIV-1 assembly and release, the trafficking pathway used by Gag to reach its site of assembly in the infected cell remains to be elucidated. The Gag trafficking itinerary in primary monocyte-derived macrophages is especially poorly understood. To define the site of assembly and characterize the Gag trafficking pathway in this physiologically relevant cell type, we have made use of the biarsenical-tetracysteine system. A small tetracysteine tag was introduced near the C-terminus of the matrix domain of Gag. The insertion of the tag at this position did not interfere with Gag trafficking, virus assembly or release, particle infectivity, or the kinetics of virus replication. By using this in vivo detection system to visualize Gag trafficking in living macrophages, Gag was observed to accumulate both at the plasma membrane and in an apparently internal compartment that bears markers characteristic of late endosomes or multivesicular bodies. Significantly, the internal Gag rapidly translocated to the junction between the infected macrophages and uninfected T cells following macrophage/T-cell synapse formation. These data indicate that a population of Gag in infected macrophages remains sequestered internally and is presented to uninfected target cells at a virological synapse.

Macroautophagy/autophagy is a catabolic process by which cytosolic content is engulfed, degraded and recycled. It has been implicated as a critical pathway in advanced stages of cancer, as it maintains tumor cell homeostasis and continuous growth by nourishing hypoxic or nutrient-starved tumors. Autophagy also supports alternative cellular trafficking pathways, providing a mechanism of non-canonical secretion of inflammatory cytokines. This opens a significant therapeutic opportunity for using autophagy inhibitors in cancer and acute inflammatory responses. Here we developed a high throughput compound screen to identify inhibitors of protein-protein interaction (PPI) in autophagy, based on the protein-fragment complementation assay (PCA). We chose to target the ATG12-ATG3 PPI, as this interaction is indispensable for autophagosome formation, and the analyzed structure of the interaction interface predicts that it may be amenable to inhibition by small molecules. We screened 41,161 compounds yielding 17 compounds that effectively inhibit the ATG12-ATG3 interaction in the PCA platform, and which were subsequently filtered by their ability to inhibit autophagosome formation in viable cells. We describe a lead compound (#189) that inhibited GFP-fused MAP1LC3B/LC3B (microtubule associated protein 1 light chain 3 beta) puncta formation in cells with IC50 value corresponding to 9.3 μM. This compound displayed a selective inhibitory effect on the growth of autophagy addicted tumor cells and inhibited secretion of IL1B/IL-1β (interleukin 1 beta) by macrophage-like cells. Compound 189 has the potential to be developed into a therapeutic drug and its discovery documents the power of targeting PPIs for acquiring specific and selective compound inhibitors of autophagy.Abbreviations: ANOVA: analysis of variance; ATG: autophagy related; CQ: chloroquine; GFP: green fluorescent protein; GLuc: Gaussia Luciferase; HEK: human embryonic kidney; IL1B: interleukin 1 beta; LPS: lipopolysaccharide; MAP1LC3B/LC3B: microtubule associated protein 1 light chain 3 beta; PCA: protein-fragment complementation assay; PDAC: pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma; PMA: phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate; PPI: protein-protein interaction. VCL: vinculin.

HIV-1 CRF07_BC is one of the most common circulating recombinant forms (CRFs) in China and is becoming increasingly prevalent especially in HIV-infected men who have sex with men (MSM). The reason why this strain expanded so quickly in China remains to be defined. We previously observed that individuals infected with HIV-1 CRF07_BC showed slower disease progression than those infected with HIV-1 subtype B or CRF01_AE. CRF07_BC viruses carry two unique mutations in the p6Gag protein: insertion of PTAPPE sequences downstream of the original Tsg101 binding domain, and deletion of a seven-amino-acid sequence (30PIDKELY36) that partially overlaps with the Alix binding domain. In this study, we confirmed the enhanced transmission capability of CRF07_BC over HIV-1 subtype B or CRF01_AE by constructing HIV-1 transmission networks to quantitatively evaluate the growth rate of transmission clusters of different HIV-1 genotypes. We further determined lower virus infectivity and slower replication of CRF07_BC with aforementioned PTAPPE insertion (insPTAP) and/or PIDKELY deletion (Δ7) in the p6Gag protein, which in turn may increase the pool of people infected with CRF07_BC and the risk of HIV-1 transmission. These new features of CRF07_BC may explain its quick spread and will help adjust prevention strategy of HIV-1 epidemic. IMPORTANCE HIV-1 CRF07_BC is one of the most common circulating recombinant forms (CRFs) in China. The question is why and how CRF07_BC expanded so rapidly remains unknown. To address the question, we explored the transmission capability of CRF07_BC by constructing HIV-1 transmission networks to quantitatively evaluate the growth rate of transmission clusters of different HIV-1 genotypes. We further characterized the role of two unique mutations in CRF07_BC, PTAPPE insertion (insPTAP) and/or PIDKELY deletion (Δ7) in the p6Gag in virus replication. Our results help define the molecular mechanism regarding the association between the unique mutations and the slower disease progression of CRF07_BC as well as the quick spread of CRF07_BC in China.