Gα q Directly Activates p63RhoGEF and Trio via a Conserved Extension of the Dbl Homology-associated Pleckstrin Homology Domain

The coordinated cross-talk from heterotrimeric G proteins to Rho GTPases is essential during a variety of physiological processes. Emerging data suggest that members of the Gα12/13 and Gαq/11 families of heterotrimeric G proteins signal downstream to RhoA via distinct pathways. Although studies have elucidated mechanisms governing Gα12/13-mediated RhoA activation, proteins that functionally couple Gαq/11 to RhoA activation have remained elusive. Recently, the Dbl-family guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) p63RhoGEF/GEFT has been described as a novel mediator of Gαq/11 signaling to RhoA based on its ability to synergize with Gαq/11 resulting in enhanced RhoA signaling in cells. We have used biochemical/biophysical approaches with purified protein components to better understand the mechanism by which activated Gαq directly engages and stimulates p63RhoGEF. Basally, p63RhoGEF is autoinhibited by the Dbl homology (DH)-associated pleckstrin homology (PH) domain; activated Gαq relieves this autoinhibition by interacting with a highly conserved C-terminal extension of the PH domain. This unique extension is conserved in the related Dbl-family members Trio and Kalirin and we show that the C-terminal Rho-specific DH-PH cassette of Trio is similarly activated by Gαq

RhoA Activates Purified Phospholipase C-ϵ by a Guanine Nucleotide-dependent Mechanism

Phospholipase C-epsilon (PLC-epsilon) is a recently identified PLC isoform activated by subunits of heterotrimeric G proteins (Galpha(12), Galpha(13), and Gbetagamma) as well as by the low molecular weight GTPases, Rho and Ras. To define the enzymatic activity and substrate specificity of PLC-epsilon as well as its potential direct activation by Rho family GTPases, a major fragment of PLC-epsilon encompassing the catalytic core (EF-hand repeats through the tandem Ras-associating domains; approximately 118 kDa) was purified to near homogeneity and assayed after reconstitution under various conditions. Similar to the enzymatic profiles of previously purified PLC-beta isozymes, the purified fragment of PLC-epsilon maximally hydrolyzed phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate at a rate of approximately 10 mumol/mg of protein/min, exhibited phospholipase activity dependent on the concentration of free calcium, and favored phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate as substrate relative to other phosphoinositides. Furthermore, in mixed detergent phospholipid micelles, RhoA stimulated the phospholipase activity of the PLC-epsilon fragment in both a concentration-dependent and guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate)-dependent manner. This activation was abolished by the deletion of a unique approximately 65 amino acid-insert within the catalytic core of PLC-epsilon. Although Rac1 activated purified PLC-beta2ina guanine nucleotide-dependent manner, Rac1 failed to promote guanine nucleotide-dependent activation of purified PLC-epsilon. These results indicate that PLC-epsilon is a direct downstream effector for RhoA and that RhoA-dependent activation of PLC-epsilon depends on a unique insert within the catalytic core of the phospholipase

Crystal structure of the multifunctional Gβ5–RGS9 complex

Regulators of G-protein signaling (RGS) proteins enhance the intrinsic GTPase activity of G protein α (Gα) subunits and are vital for proper signaling kinetics downstream of G protein–coupled receptors (GPCRs). R7 subfamily RGS proteins specifically and obligately dimerize with the atypical G protein β5 (Gβ5) subunit through an internal G protein γ (Gγ)-subunit–like (GGL) domain. Here we present the 1.95-Å crystal structure of the Gβ5–RGS9 complex, which is essential for normal visual and neuronal signal transduction. This structure reveals a canonical RGS domain that is functionally integrated within a molecular complex that is poised for integration of multiple steps during G-protein activation and deactivation

General and Versatile Autoinhibition of PLC Isozymes

Phospholipase C (PLC) isozymes are directly activated by heterotrimeric G proteins and Ras-like GTPases to hydrolyze phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate into the second messengers diacylglycerol and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate. Although PLCs play central roles in myriad signaling cascades, the molecular details of their activation remain poorly understood. As described here, the crystal structure of PLC-β2 illustrates occlusion of the active site by a loop separating the two halves of the catalytic TIM barrel. Removal of this insertion constitutively activates PLC-β2 without ablating its capacity to be further stimulated by classical G protein modulators. Similar regulation occurs in other PLC members, and a general mechanism of interfacial activation at membranes is presented that provides a unifying framework for PLC activation by diverse stimuli

Auto-inhibition of the Dbl Family Protein Tim by an N-terminal Helical Motif

Dbl-related oncoproteins are guanine nucleotide exchange factors specific for Rho-family GTPases and typically possess tandem Dbl homology (DH) and pleckstrin homology domains that act in concert to catalyze exchange. Because the ability of many Dbl-family proteins to catalyze exchange is constitutively activated by truncations N-terminal to their DH domains, it has been proposed that the activity of Dbl-family proteins is regulated by auto-inhibition. However, the exact mechanisms of regulation of Dbl-family proteins remain poorly understood. Here we show that the Dbl-family protein, Tim, is auto-inhibited by a short, helical motif immediately N-terminal to its DH domain, which directly occludes the catalytic surface of the DH domain to prevent GTPase activation. Similar to the distantly related Vav isozymes, auto-inhibition of Tim is relieved by truncation, mutation, or phosphorylation of the auto-inhibitory helix. A peptide comprising the helical motif inhibits the exchange activity of Tim in vitro. Furthermore, substitutions within the most highly conserved surface of the DH domain designed to disrupt interactions with the auto-inhibitory helix also activate the exchange process

A Live-Attenuated HSV-2 ICP0− Virus Elicits 10 to 100 Times Greater Protection against Genital Herpes than a Glycoprotein D Subunit Vaccine

Glycoprotein D (gD-2) is the entry receptor of herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2), and is the immunogen in the pharmaceutical industry's lead HSV-2 vaccine candidate. Efforts to prevent genital herpes using gD-2 subunit vaccines have been ongoing for 20 years at a cost in excess of $100 million. To date, gD-2 vaccines have yielded equivocal protection in clinical trials. Therefore, using a small animal model, we sought to determine if a live-attenuated HSV-2 ICP0− virus would elicit better protection against genital herpes than a gD-2 subunit vaccine. Mice immunized with gD-2 and a potent adjuvant (alum+monophosphoryl lipid A) produced high titers of gD-2 antibody. While gD-2-immunized mice possessed significant resistance to HSV-2, only 3 of 45 gD-2-immunized mice survived an overwhelming challenge of the vagina or eyes with wild-type HSV-2 (MS strain). In contrast, 114 of 115 mice immunized with a live HSV-2 ICP0− virus, 0ΔNLS, survived the same HSV-2 MS challenges. Likewise, 0ΔNLS-immunized mice shed an average 125-fold less HSV-2 MS challenge virus per vagina relative to gD-2-immunized mice. In vivo imaging demonstrated that a luciferase-expressing HSV-2 challenge virus failed to establish a detectable infection in 0ΔNLS-immunized mice, whereas the same virus readily infected naïve and gD-2-immunized mice. Collectively, these results suggest that a HSV-2 vaccine might be more likely to prevent genital herpes if it contained a live-attenuated HSV-2 virus rather than a single HSV-2 protein

The UL13 and US3 Protein Kinases of Herpes Simplex Virus 1 Cooperate to Promote the Assembly and Release of Mature, Infectious Virions

<div><p>Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) encodes two <i>bona fide</i> serine/threonine protein kinases, the <i>US3</i> and <i>UL13</i> gene products. HSV-1 ΔUS3 mutants replicate with wild-type efficiency in cultured cells, and HSV-1 ΔUL13 mutants exhibit <10-fold reduction in infectious viral titers. Given these modest phenotypes, it remains unclear how the US3 and UL13 protein kinases contribute to HSV-1 replication. In the current study, we designed a panel of HSV-1 mutants, in which portions of <i>UL13</i> and <i>US3</i> genes were replaced by expression cassettes encoding mCherry protein or green fluorescent protein (GFP), respectively, and analyzed DNA replication, protein expression, and spread of these mutants in several cell types. Loss of US3 function alone had largely negligible effect on viral DNA accumulation, gene expression, virion release, and spread. Loss of UL13 function alone also had no appreciable effects on viral DNA levels. However, loss of UL13 function did result in a measurable decrease in the steady-state levels of two viral glycoproteins (gC and gD), release of total and infectious virions, and viral spread. Disruption of both genes did not affect the accumulation of viral DNA, but resulted in further reduction in gC and gD steady-state levels, and attenuation of viral spread and infectious virion release. These data show that the UL13 kinase plays an important role in the late phase of HSV-1 infection, likely by affecting virion assembly and/or release. Moreover, the data suggest that the combined activities of the US3 and UL13 protein kinases are critical to the efficient assembly and release of infectious virions from HSV-1-infected cells.</p></div

Viral DNA accumulation during the infection with HSV-1 KOS or <i>HSV-1</i> kinase mutants.

<p>(A) Vero cells were inoculated with wild type HSV-1 KOS or HSV-1 <i>ΔUS3</i>, <i>ΔUL13</i>, and <i>ΔUL13/ΔUS3</i> mutants at an MOI of 2.5 pfu per cell. At indicated time points, lysates were prepared and blotted onto a nylon membrane. The accumulation of viral DNA was assayed by hybridization to a ³²P-labeled <i>US6</i>-specific oligonucleotide probe. ACV-treated KOS served as a negative control. (B) Relative intensity of hybridization signals was quantified by phosphorimager analysis. Results are shown as fold change in hybridization signal intensity relative to the background ± standard deviation (SD) of two duplicate infections.</p

Analysis of extracellular viral particles in supernatants of Vero cells infected with HSV-1 kinase mutants.

<p>(A) Vero cells were inoculated as described in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0131420#pone.0131420.g003" target="_blank">Fig 3</a>. At 18 hours post-inoculation, the supernatants were collected and extracellular virions were purified on discontinuous sucrose gradients. Levels of total viral antigen in fractions collected from these gradients were assayed by ELISA using HRP-conjugated pan anti-HSV-1 antibody. Results are presented as intensity of OD₆₅₅ absorbance levels relative to the uninfected Vero cells in three independent experiments. (B) 100 μl from each fraction in 25–35% and 35–45% sucrose range were pooled in viral infectivity in these pools was measured by plaque assays on Vero cells. Results presented as the mean virus yield ± SD (n = 2; ***—<i>p</i><0.001).</p

Expression of viral proteins in Vero cells infected with HSV-1 KOS or <i>ΔUS3</i> and <i>ΔUL13</i> mutants.

<p>(A) Vero cells were inoculated in duplicates as described in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0131420#pone.0131420.g003" target="_blank">Fig 3</a>. At 14 hours post-inoculation, whole-cell lysates were prepared and resolved by SDS-PAGE followed by immunoblot analyses with respective antibodies. Each lane contains an amount of lysate equal to 10⁵ cells. Levels of β-actin served as a loading control. (B) The relative intensity of signals was quantified by densitometry using ImageJ [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0131420#pone.0131420.ref106" target="_blank">106</a>]. Results are shown for proteins whose levels of expression changed substantially as percent change in signal intensity relative to the wild type (HSV-1 KOS) (set to 100) ± SD of the duplicate infections.</p