HIV-1 Viral Infectivity Factor Recruitment of Cellular Protein
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HIV-1 Viral Infectivity Factor Recruitment of Cellular Protein Complexes to Counter Host Antiviral Response By Sean L. Evans A dissertation submitted to Johns Hopkins University in conformity with requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Baltimore, Maryland February 2014 ©2014 Sean L. Evans All Rights Reserved ABSTRACT Human cytidine deaminase apolipoprotein B mRNA-editing, enzyme-catalytic, polypeptide-like 3 (APOBEC3) proteins (e.g. APOBEC3G) provide a potent host defense against HIV, in the absence of viral infectivity factor (Vif). These antiviral proteins induce nucleotide modifications, specifically converting cytosines to uracils in newly synthesized minus-strand viral DNA during the HIV reverse transcription process, ultimately resulting in abortive viral infection. HIV must overcome this and other host defenses to successfully replicate and spread. HIV- 1 encodes the Vif protein, which binds and suppresses the antiviral effects of select APOBEC3 proteins by targeting them for degradation through the 26S proteasome enabling the virus to carry out a productive infection. Our lab was the first to demonstrate that Vif recruits cellular Cullin5 (Cul5), Elongin B (Elo B), and Elongin C (Elo C) to form a viral E3 ubiquitin ligase to target APOBEC3 proteins for polyubiquitination and degradation. Recently, we reported the direct interaction between Vif and a previously unknown binding partner and regulator of Vif-induced APOBEC3 degradation, core binding factor beta (CBF-β). This dissertation reports on the functional importance of the Vif:CBF-β interaction and characterizes this interaction using fluorescence imaging and functional assays in mammalian cells as well as in vitro over-expressed protein complex binding studies (Chapter 3). Next, the E3 ligase components that bind Vif have ii long been thought to require residues in Vif’s C-terminus, exclusively. However, this report provides evidence that the Vif:Cul5 interaction also requires a motif in Vif’s N-terminus (Chapter 4). Recognizing the importance for these multiple points of interaction between Vif and the E3 ligase, a rapid in vitro fluorescence based inhibitor assay was developed to identify small-molecule inhibitors of the Vif:CBF-β and Vif:Cul5 interaction with the ultimate goal of developing novel anti- HIV therapeutic compounds (Chapter 5). Finally, this report discusses a novel role for Vif as a transcriptional enhancer when in complex with the heterodimeric transcription factor RUNX:CBF-β. The Vif:RUNX:CBF-β complex appears to up- regulate cytokines that may facilitate HIV replication (Chapter 6). The critical role that Vif plays during HIV infection demonstrates its potential utility as a novel HIV therapeutic target. Advisor: Xiao-Fang Yu iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I must first start by acknowledging both my father and mother. To my late mother, I wish you could have been here to witness this moment in my life. You taught me how to be an independent, responsible and hard-working person, skills that have been essential for surviving graduate school and life. To my father, thank you for encouraging me to follow my dreams and interests. To both of you, thank you for providing me with a rich environment of love and resources to thrive in my pursuits. I owe you both a lifetime of gratitude for providing me the resources and support to allow me to reach this achievement in my life. To my advisor, Dr. Xiao-Fang Yu, I thank you for encouraging and fostering my scientific curiosity. I am grateful for the degree of intellectual freedom that you have afforded me. Your support has given me the ability to grow as a scientist, which I am forever grateful. In addition, I would like to thank my dissertation committee members: Drs. Egbert Hoiczyk, Alan Friedman, and Michael Matunis for your invaluable suggestions, advice and encouraging words throughout my time in graduate school. In addition, I would like to thank Drs. Amanda Brown, Andrew Pekosz and Fengyi Wan for agreeing to serve as alternate committee members. I would also like to thank the administrators who have helped me through grant applications as well as general graduate school and lab administrative items: special thanks to Patricia Bazemore, Joan Evans, and Gail O’Connor. iv To the members of the Yu lab both past and present, thank you for contributing to an environment where science and collaboration are not only possible but also enjoyable. To my colleague, mentor, and friend, Anjie Zhen, you provided the initial technical support, which provided an excellent foundation in how to successfully plan and execute experiments. Without this and your continued support after graduating, I may have never been able to successfully finish graduate school. Additionally, there have been so many wonderful collaborators that have contributed to the work presented in this thesis: Arne Schön, Jason Huska, Qimeng Gao, Yayan Liu, and Wenyan Zhang. In addition, my time would not have been the same without Xiaohong Zhou, Xue Han, Ke Zhao, Du Juan, Wei Wei, Qimeng Gao and Haoran Guo. You have all made me feel very welcome in our little “Chinatown” lab. Finally, I would like to thank additional family members and friends who have been another source of motivation and support throughout my life and time in graduate school. To my older sister, Alecia, we have been through so much together throughout our lives, and I am so thankful that you were there next to me. To Grandma Christine, Aunts & Uncles (Linda, Velma, Audrey, Pat, Ran, and Charlie Jr.), Destiny, cousins (Dom, Demetrius, Stacie, Kevin, Jarrod, and Dorothy), nephews/nieces (Zora, Zach Jr., and Alissa Grace), Zach Sr., Vicki, Jasmin, Jie, Amy, and Melissa, you all have been my greatest allies during graduate school. Thank you all so much for your love and support! v TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................................. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ......................................................................................................... iv TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................................................. vi LIST OF TABLES .................................................................................................................... xiii LIST OF FIGURES .................................................................................................................. xiv COMMON ABBREVIATIONS ............................................................................................... xvi CHAPTER 1 ................................................................................................................................. 1 INTRODUCTION TO RETROVIRAL RESTRICTION FACTORS AND HIV COUNTER MEASURES CHAPTER 2 .............................................................................................................................. 50 GENERAL MATERIALS AND METHODS CHAPTER 3 .............................................................................................................................. 62 IDENTIFICATION OF NOVEL VIF BINDING PARTNER AND REGULATOR, CORE BINDING FACTOR BETA AND IN VITRO CHARACTERIZATION OF VIF:CBF-β:E3 LIGASE COMPLEXES CHAPTER 4 ............................................................................................................................ 101 VIF N-TERMINAL MOTIF IS REQUIRED FOR CUL5 BINDING CHAPTER 5 ............................................................................................................................ 138 vi DESIGN AND OPTIMIZATION OF IN VITRO PRIMARY HIGH-THROUGHPUT SCREEN FOR SMALL MOLECULE INHIBITORS OF VIF:CBF-β AND/OR VIF CUL5 INTERACTIONS CHAPTER 6 ............................................................................................................................ 148 NOVEL FUNCTIONS OF VIF IN COMPLEX WITH CBF-β:RUNX CHAPTER 7 ............................................................................................................................ 188 FUTURE DIRECTIONS REFERENCES ......................................................................................................................... 194 CURRICULUM VITAE ........................................................................................................... 225 vii CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION TO RETROVIRAL RESTRICTION FACTORS AND HIV COUNTER MEASURES 1.1 General Introduction 1.2 HIV Classification and Biology 1.3 HIV Transmission and Replication 1.4 Host Immune Response to HIV Infection 1.4.1 Host Intrinsic Restriction to Retroviruses and Viral Antagonism 1.5 Cellular E3 Ubiquitin Ligase 1.6 APOBEC3 and Vif 1.7 Project Goals and Aims CHAPTER 2 GENERAL MATERIALS AND METHODS 2.1 E. coli Plasmid Constructs, Expression, Purification, and Protein Visualization 2.2 Mammalian Cell Plasmid Constructs, Transfection, Expression, Immunoprecipitation and Protein Analysis 2.3 Antibodies CHAPTER 3 viii IN VITRO AND IN VIVO CHARACTERIZATION OF VIF:CBF-β:E3 LIGASE COMPLEXES Paper 1 – Zhang W., Du J., Evans SL., Yu Y., Yu X-F. T-cell differentiation factor CBF-β regulates HIV-1 Vif-mediated evasion of host restriction. Nature. Dec 2011. Paper 2 – Zhou X.*, Evans SL.*, Han X., Liu Y., Yu X-F. Characterization of the Interaction of Full Length HIV-1 Vif Protein with its Key Regulator CBF-β and CRL5 E3 Ubiquitin Ligase Components. PLoSOne. Mar 2012. 3.1 Introduction 3.1.1 Biochemical discovery of new Vif binding partner 3.1.2 Functional role in assisting Vif-induced