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Characterization of a monothiol glutaredoxin encoded by Chlorella virus PBCV-1.

ABSTRACT: Annotation of the 330-kb Chlorella virus PBCV-1 genome identified a 237 nucleotide gene (a438l) that codes for a protein with approximately 35% amino acid identity to glutaredoxins (Grx) found in other organisms. The PBCV-1 protein resembles classical Grxs in both size (9 kDa) and location of the active site (N-terminus). However, the PBCV-1 Grx is unusual because it contains a monothiol active site (CPYS) rather than the typical dithiol active site (CPYC). To examine this unique active site, four site-specific mutants (CPYC, CPYA, SPYC, and SPYS) were constructed to determine if the N-terminal cysteine is necessary for enzyme activity. Wild type and both mutants containing N-terminal cysteines catalyzed the reduction of disulfides in a coupled system with GSH, NADPH, and glutathione reductase. However, both mutants with an altered N-terminal cysteine were inactive. The grx gene is common in the Chlorella viruses. Molecular phylogenetic analyses of the PBCV-1 enzyme support its relatedness to those from other Chlorella viruses and yet demonstrate the divergence of the Grx molecule.

SUBMITTER: Fitzgerald LA

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2898178 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Characterization of a monothiol glutaredoxin encoded by Chlorella virus PBCV-1.

Fitzgerald Lisa A LA Zhang Yuanzheng Y Lewis Gentry G Van Etten James L JL

Virus genes 20090821 3

Annotation of the 330-kb Chlorella virus PBCV-1 genome identified a 237 nucleotide gene (a438l) that codes for a protein with approximately 35% amino acid identity to glutaredoxins (Grx) found in other organisms. The PBCV-1 protein resembles classical Grxs in both size (9 kDa) and location of the active site (N-terminus). However, the PBCV-1 Grx is unusual because it contains a monothiol active site (CPYS) rather than the typical dithiol active site (CPYC). To examine this unique active site, fo ...[more]

PMID: 19697117

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Project description:Paramecium bursaria chlorella virus (PBCV-1), a member of the family Phycodnaviridae, is a large dsDNA, plaque-forming virus that infects the unicellular green alga Chlorella NC64A. The 331 kb PBCV-1 genome is predicted to encode 365 proteins and 11 tRNAs. To follow global transcription during PBCV-1 replication, a microarray containing 50-mer probes to the PBCV-1 365 protein-encoding genes (CDS) was constructed. Competitive hybridization experiments were conducted employing cDNA from poly A-containing RNA obtained from cells at seven time points after virus infection. The results led to the following conclusions: i) the PBCV-1 replication cycle is temporally programmed and regulated; ii) 360 (99%) of the arrayed PBCV-1 CDSs are expressed at some time in the virus life cycle in the laboratory; iii) 227 (62%) of the CDSs are expressed before virus DNA synthesis begins; iv) these 227 CDSs were grouped into two classes: 127 transcripts disappear prior to initiation of virus DNA synthesis (considered early) and 100 transcripts are still detected after virus DNA synthesis begins (considered early/late); v) 133 (36%) of the CDSs are expressed after virus DNA synthesis begins (considered late); vi) expression of most late CDSs is inhibited by adding the DNA replication inhibitor aphidicolin prior to virus infection. This study provides the first comprehensive evaluation of virus gene expression during the PBCV-1 lifecycle. Time course analysis of chlorella virus PBCV-1: cDNAs from poly A-containing RNAs isolated from cells at seven times after PBCV-1 infection (20, 40, 60, 90, 120, 240, 360 min p.i.) were competitively hybridized against a reference sample on the microarrays. Three independent biological replica, four technical replica of the genome per array. Time course analysis of chlorella virus PBCV-1 gene expression in the presence of aphidicolin: cDNAs from poly A-containing RNAs isolated from aphidicolin-treated cells at seven times after PBCV-1 infection (20, 40, 60, 90, 120, 240, 360 min p.i.) were competitively hybridized against non-treated, infected samples from the same time points. Three independent biological replica, four technical replica of the genome per array.

Project description:The acquisition of iron and the maintenance of iron homeostasis are important aspects of virulence for the pathogenic fungus Cryptococcus neoformans In this study, we characterized the role of the monothiol glutaredoxin Grx4 in iron homeostasis and virulence in C. neoformans Monothiol glutaredoxins are important regulators of iron homeostasis because of their conserved roles in [2Fe-2S] cluster sensing and trafficking. We initially identified Grx4 as a binding partner of Cir1, a master regulator of iron-responsive genes and virulence factor elaboration in C. neoformans We confirmed that Grx4 binds Cir1 and demonstrated that iron repletion promotes the relocalization of Grx4 from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. We also found that a grx4 mutant lacking the GRX domain displayed iron-related phenotypes similar to those of a cir1Δ mutant, including poor growth upon iron deprivation. Importantly, the grx4 mutant was avirulent in mice, a phenotype consistent with observed defects in the key virulence determinants, capsule and melanin, and poor growth at 37°C. A comparative transcriptome analysis of the grx4 mutant and the WT strain under low-iron and iron-replete conditions confirmed a central role for Grx4 in iron homeostasis. Dysregulation of iron-related metabolism was consistent with grx4 mutant phenotypes related to oxidative stress, mitochondrial function, and DNA repair. Overall, the phenotypes of the grx4 mutant lacking the GRX domain and the transcriptome sequencing (RNA-Seq) analysis of the mutant support the hypothesis that Grx4 functions as an iron sensor, in part through an interaction with Cir1, to extensively regulate iron homeostasis.IMPORTANCE Fungal pathogens cause life-threatening diseases in humans, particularly in immunocompromised people, and there is a tremendous need for a greater understanding of pathogenesis to support new therapies. One prominent fungal pathogen, Cryptococcus neoformans, causes meningitis in people suffering from HIV/AIDS. In the present study, we focused on characterizing mechanisms by which C. neoformans senses iron availability because iron is both a signal and a key nutrient for proliferation of the pathogen in vertebrate hosts. Specifically, we characterized a monothiol glutaredoxin protein, Grx4, that functions as a sensor of iron availability and interacts with regulatory factors to control the ability of C. neoformans to cause disease. Grx4 regulates key virulence factors, and a mutant is unable to cause disease in a mouse model of cryptococcosis. Overall, our study provides new insights into nutrient sensing and the role of iron in the pathogenesis of fungal diseases.

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Characterization of a monothiol glutaredoxin encoded by Chlorella virus PBCV-1.

Publications

Characterization of a monothiol glutaredoxin encoded by Chlorella virus PBCV-1.

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