Cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV), a plant pararetrovirus, produces polyproteins from its adjacent genes for the coat protein (ORF IV) and for enzymatic functions (ORF V). The N-terminal domain of the latter gene includes a sequence showing homology to the active site of other retroviral and acid proteases. We have now shown that this domain does indeed produce a functional aspartic protease that can process both the polyproteins. Mutations in the putative active site abolished virus infectivity. In transient expression studies in protoplasts, the N-terminal domain of ORF V was able to free active CAT enzyme from a precursor containing an N-terminal fusion of a portion of ORF IV. The junction between the two domains of this artifical polyprotein comprised sequences from the ORF IV product that had previously been shown to include a proteolytic processing site. The protease mutants were not able to free active CAT enzyme from this precursor. Direct analysis of cleavage at the same site in the ORF IV product using proteins expressed in Escherichia coli revealed the expected products. In vitro translation of a synthetic transcript covering ORF V was used to study the autocatalytic cleavage of the ORF product. Pulse -chase experiments showed that the 80 kd initial translation product was processed to yield a N-terminal doublet of polypeptides of 22 and 20 kd apparent mol. wt, which cover the protease domain. The mutants in the active site were not processed.
Adenylate cyclase activity associated with Trypanosoma cruzi sedimentable fractions was solubilized by treatment with the non-ionic detergent Lubrol PX and 0.5 M-(NH4)2SO4. The following hydrodynamic and molecular parameters were established for a partially purified enzyme-detergent complex: sedimentation coefficient 6.2 S; Stokes radius 5.65 nm; partial specific volume 0.83 ml/g; Mr 244 000; frictional ratio 1.33. A Mr of about 124 000 was calculated for the detergent-free protein from these parameters. The pI of this enzyme activity was 6.2. A monoclonal antibody to T. cruzi adenylate cyclase was obtained, which inhibited cyclase activities from several lower eukaryotic organisms. The T. cruzi adenylate cyclase was further purified by using this antibody in immunoaffinity chromatographic columns. Fractions obtained after this chromatography showed, on SDS/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis, a main polypeptide band with an apparent Mr of about 56 000, which specifically reacted with the monoclonal antibody.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.