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Journal of Virology, August 2006, p. 7807-7815, Vol. 80, No. 16
0022-538X/06/$08.00+0 doi:10.1128/JVI.00198-06
Copyright © 2006, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.
Department of Biochemistry and Cancer Biology, Medical University of Ohio, 3035 Arlington Ave., Toledo, Ohio 43614-5804
Received 27 January 2006/ Accepted 31 May 2006
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In 1965, a contaminating virus was identified in human and simian adenoviral preparations. Due to its inability to replicate in the absence of adenovirus, this defective parvovirus was named adeno-associated virus (AAV). Subsequent studies identified additional helper viruses, including herpes simplex virus (1, 4, 5), cytomegalovirus (22), and human papillomavirus (35). The AAV serotype 2 (AAV2) single-stranded DNA genome encodes four nonstructural replication proteins (Rep78, Rep68, Rep52, and Rep40) and three structural capsid (Cap) proteins (reviewed in reference 24). As their names suggest, Rep proteins are essential for the replication of AAV DNA. In addition to the helicase activity common to all four Rep proteins, Rep78 and Rep68 exhibit endonuclease activity and modulate AAV transcription.
Even though AAV requires the assistance of a helper virus, it inhibits Ad replication during coinfection. Previous studies document up to a 100-fold decrease in Ad production and up to a 10-fold decrease in Ad DNA replication in the presence of AAV (6, 8, 21). Although the effects of AAV on Ad transcription during coinfection have not been thoroughly studied, there is a growing body of evidence suggesting that Ad gene expression may be transcriptionally regulated by AAV Rep proteins (14, 19, 25). For example, many of the proteins known to interact with Rep proteins are involved in RNA transcription or its regulation (e.g., HMG1, PC4, SP1, and TBP) (13, 17, 26, 27, 32, 36). Additionally, previous reports indicate that the interactions with the carboxyl terminus of Rep78 and Rep52 inhibit cyclic AMP-dependent PKA and its homolog, PrKX (10, 14). By inhibiting PKA and PrKX, Rep78/52 may decrease expression of downstream cyclic AMP-inducible genes, including Ad E1a, E3, and E4. Furthermore, our laboratory has previously reported that Rep proteins decrease E2a protein and steady-state mRNA levels but not mRNA stability (19, 25). The effects of AAV and its Rep proteins during coinfection on the expression of other Ad genes are unknown.
Although it has been known for almost 40 years that AAV inhibits Ad propagation, the details of this interaction remain unclear. Before the mechanisms of AAV-mediated inhibition can be fully understood, it is essential that we obtain fundamental knowledge about Ad gene expression in the presence of AAV. In this study, we examined AAV's effects on Ad production, DNA replication, and the expression of mRNA and proteins from individual transcription units. We also conducted a temporal analysis of Ad mRNA levels during coinfection and explored the relationship between decreased Ad E2A and E4 gene expression and the inhibition of Ad DNA replication. These studies provide the groundwork for mechanistic studies and offer new insight into the interactions between AAV and Ad.
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The pCDMRep plasmids contain wild-type and purine nucleotide binding (PNB) site mutant Rep genes cloned in the pCDM8 vector (Invitrogen) and expressed under the control of the cytomegalovirus promoter (25, 39). Plasmids pCDMRep78G and pCDMRep68G contain a methionine-to-glycine mutation in the Rep52/40 initiation codon (9). Plasmid pNTC244 contains the complete AAV2 genome cloned in a pUC derivative, pTZ19U (9).
AAV was generated by pNTC244 transfection of Ad5-infected HeLa monolayers as previously reported (7). AAV was purified over CsCl or by heparin-agarose chromatography and titered by indirect immunofluorescence or by limiting dilution assays (6, 20). Frank Graham generously provided AdlacZ5, an Ad5-based vector in which 1.88 kb of the E3 gene (nucleotides [nt] 28592 to 30470) is replaced by the Escherichia coli lacZ gene (23). Wild-type Ad5, which was originally obtained from the ATCC, and AdlacZ5 were propagated, purified, and titered as previously reported (38). The AAV2-based recombinant vector vAVluc, which contains a luciferase gene in place of the Rep genes, was generated as previously described (31).
Antibodies. Polyclonal antibody against E2a protein and antiserum specific for E4orf6/7 protein were generously provided by Arnold Berk and Tom Shenk, respectively. Affinity-purified, polyclonal AAV Rep- and Cap-specific antibodies were obtained from rabbits immunized with E. coli-expressed recombinant Rep and Cap proteins and probed with anti-rabbit (31340; Pierce) alkaline phosphatase-conjugated secondary antibody. Commercially available primary antibodies specific for hexon (12-6235-1; American Research) and E1a (DP11; Oncogene) proteins were used in conjunction with anti-goat (SC-2022; Santa Cruz) and anti-mouse (31320; Pierce) alkaline phosphatase-conjugated secondary antibodies.
ß-Galactosidase assays. Assays to detect the ß-galactosidase (ß-gal) activity of the AdlacZ5 vector were conducted using the Galacto-Star system (Tropix) with minor modifications of the manufacturer's instructions. After AdlacZ5-infected HeLa cells were pelleted and resuspended in Tropix lysis buffer, 30-µl aliquots of the lysates were combined with 100 µl of the Galacto-Star substrate. The samples were incubated for 20 min at room temperature and assayed for ß-gal activity using a Lumat LB 9600 luminometer (Berthold Technologies).
AAV and AdlacZ5 primary and secondary coinfections. Primary coinfections were conducted in 24-well tissue culture (TC) plates containing 70 to 90% confluent HeLa cells. Immediately prior to infection, the medium was replaced with 0.2 ml serum-free medium. The monolayers were infected with increasing infectious units (IU) of AAV and incubated for 1 h at 37°C. Cells were then infected with AdlacZ5 for 1 h, and the infectious medium was replaced with 0.5 ml complete medium per well. Cells were harvested at 48 hpi and assayed for ß-gal activity as described above. Aliquots of the harvested cultures were reserved for secondary infections.
Secondary infections were conducted in 48-well TC plates containing 70 to 90% confluent HeLa cells. Prior to inoculation, the medium was replaced with 100 µl of serum-free medium supplemented with 25 mg/ml heparin to block secondary AAV infection. Each well was inoculated with 50 µl of culture lysate from the primary infection. The cells were incubated for 1 h at 37°C, and the medium was replaced with 200 µl of complete medium. Cells were harvested at 24 hpi and assayed for ß-gal activity. Three or more replicates of coinfection experiments were performed.
Plasmid transfections. Approximately 9 x 104 HeLa cells were seeded into each well of 24-well tissue culture plates and incubated overnight at 37°C. On the next day, the cells were transfected with 0.8 µg plasmid DNA and 3 µl of Lipofectamine 2000 (Invitrogen) following the manufacturer's recommendations. During the transfection, each well contained 400 µl serum-free medium supplemented with 0.1% bovine serum albumin. Inclusion of bovine serum albumin minimizes the toxic effects of the Lipofectamine reagent without altering transfection efficiency (12). After 4 h of incubation at 37°C, the cells were infected with AdlacZ5 at a multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 1 and were incubated for 1 h. The inoculum was replaced with 500 µl of complete medium. Cells were harvested at 48 hpi and assayed for ß-gal activity. Aliquots of the harvested cultures were used as inocula in secondary infections, which were conducted as described above.
Immunoblot analysis. HeLa cells were coinfected in 10-cm2 plates with AAV (0, 1, 10, 100, or 1,000 IU) and AdlacZ5 (MOI, 5 or 10) as described above. Cells were harvested at 48 hpi, pelleted by centrifugation, and resuspended in 4 ml phosphate-buffered saline containing 1.5 mM MgCl2. The cell suspension was aliquoted such that 0.5 ml was utilized for ß-gal assays to verify AdlacZ5 infections, 1.5 ml was assayed by immunoblotting, and 2 ml was reserved for Southern analysis. Protein levels of the immunoblot aliquots were measured spectrophotometrically using a detergent-competent Bio-Rad system (catalog no. 500-0113). Samples containing equal amounts of protein were resolved by 10% sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, transferred to nitrocellulose membranes, and probed with the appropriate antibodies.
Southern blot analysis. Hirt extraction (18) and Southern analysis were performed on the reserved aliquots as previously described (2). Equal levels of DNA, as determined by A260 spectrophotometric measurements, were resolved on 1% agarose gels, transferred to a nitrocellulose membrane, and hybridized overnight at 42°C with 32P-labeled probes specific for Ad or AAV. The AAV Cap hybridization probe was a HindIII restriction fragment from the pNTC244 plasmid from nt 1883 to 4675 of the AAV2 genome. The Ad hexon hybridization probe was generated via PCR amplification of nt 21081 to 21679 of the Ad5 genome. Blots were washed, and DNA levels in each sample were quantified using a Molecular Dynamics Storm 840 PhosphorImager and ImageQuant 5.0 software.
Northern analysis. Coinfections with AdlacZ5 or Ad5 (MOI, 5) and AAV (0, 1, 10, 100, or 500 IU) were conducted as described above in 10-cm2 TC plates containing 80% confluent HeLa cells. Transfections were conducted with 12 µg pCDM8 or pCDMRep78G and 30 µl Lipofectamine 2000 in 10-cm2 TC plates containing nearly confluent HeLa cells. After being incubated for 20 to 24 h to permit Rep expression, transfected cells were infected with AdlacZ5 or Ad5 for 1 h in serum-free medium. Both coinfected and transfected/infected cells were harvested at 24 hpi. When AdlacZ5 was used, ß-gal readings were taken to verify that the infections were successful. Total RNA was isolated using TRIzol reagent (Gibco-BRL) following the manufacturer's protocol and digested with RNase-free DNase to eliminate genomic DNA contamination. A260 spectrophotometric readings were taken to determine RNA levels. Northern analysis was conducted as previously described (2). The E1a hybridization probe was a 714-bp XbaI-to-PvuII restriction endonuclease fragment from nt 626 to 1339 in the Ad5 genome. The E1B BstEII/HindII fragment corresponded to Ad5 nt 1916 to 2804. The E2a hybridization probe was a SfiI/PvuI restriction endonuclease fragment containing nt 23000 to 23505 in the Ad5 genome. The E3 probe was a 1,877-bp PCR product generated from Ad5 by using the following primers: 5'-CTAGAATCGGGGTTGGG-3' and 5'-TCTAGGGTGTCAGTCATCTCC-3'. The E4 hybridization probe was the XmaI restriction endonuclease fragment containing nt 33092 to 35354 of the Ad5 genome. The VA probe was an XbaI/NruI fragment containing nt 10580 to 11338 of Ad2. Equal amounts of RNA were separated on a 1% formaldehyde gel, transferred to a nitrocellulose membrane, hybridized to 32P-labeled probes, and exposed to film. Relative RNA levels were determined using a Molecular Dynamics Storm 840 PhosphorImager and ImageQuant 5.0 software.
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The ß-gal system was used to quantify the effects of increasing levels of AAV on Ad propagation. We conducted primary coinfections by inoculating HeLa cells with AAV (0, 1, 10, 100, 500, or 1,000 IU) and AdlacZ5 (1, 5, 10, or 100 MOIs). The cells were harvested at 48 hpi, and cell extracts were assayed for ß-gal activity. At all tested multiplicities of AdlacZ5, AAV exerts a dose-dependent inhibition of Ad-directed ß-gal activity (Fig. 1A). The largest decrease in ß-gal activity was observed with between 10 and 100 IU of AAV.
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FIG. 1. Increasing amounts of AAV resulted in decreased AdlacZ5 ß-gal activity and virus production. (A) Primary AAV and AdlacZ5 coinfections were conducted in HeLa cells, harvested at 48 hpi, and assayed for ß-gal activity. (B) Secondary infections were performed by inoculating fresh HeLa cells with 50-µl aliquots of primary coinfection cultures. Heparin was included to prevent infection with AAV. Cultures were harvested at 24 hpi and tested for ß-gal activity. In both panels, the numbers on the z axis refer to the MOIs of AdlacZ5 used in the coinfections. The numbers on the x axis indicate the IU of AAV. The ß-gal activity is expressed on the y axis as the percentage of ß-gal activity relative to that of cells infected with AdlacZ5 alone. Coinfections were conducted on 12 separate occasions.
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We next used the ß-gal system to determine whether AAV is able to inhibit Ad replication in the absence of Rep protein expression or AAV amplification. We coinfected HeLa cells with AdlacZ5 and either UV light-inactivated virus (UV-AAV), which is incapable of DNA amplification and protein expression, or the recombinant AAV vector vAVluc, which does not express AAV Rep or Cap (31). The ß-gal activity in the presence of UV-AAV or vAVluc was equivalent to that of samples lacking an AAV vector (data not shown). The inability of UV-AAV or vAVluc to decrease ß-gal activity reveals that the AAV virion alone is unable to inhibit Ad propagation. It also indicates that AAV gene expression or DNA amplification is required for the reduction of Ad replication.
AAV-mediated inhibition of Ad DNA synthesis. Previous studies indicate that Ad DNA synthesis is inhibited up to 10-fold in the presence of AAV. To determine whether inhibition of Ad DNA synthesis is also dose dependent, we conducted Southern analysis of viral DNA isolated from coinfections. This also served as verification that the reduced ß-gal activity above was due to decreased Ad production, which would yield fewer genomes, and not inhibition of lacZ gene expression. HeLa cells were coinfected with increasing IU of AAV and 1, 5, or 10 MOIs of AdlacZ5. The cultures were harvested at 48 hpi, and viral DNA was isolated. Southern hybridization analysis revealed dramatic effects of AAV on Ad DNA replication, as shown in Fig. 2. PhosphorImager analysis revealed a 10- to 40-fold inhibition of Ad DNA synthesis. The maximum level of inhibition is evident when AAV is present at 100 IU, regardless of the amount of Ad (Fig. 2, top panels, lanes 4). One possible explanation is that AAV may target a cellular factor(s) that is titrated out when the amount of AAV reaches the level of 100 infectious units per cell. The increasing levels of AAV also resulted in a modest decrease in AAV replicative-form DNA. This phenomenon, known as autoinhibition, has been observed previously and is believed to result from defective interfering particles that are more abundant at higher viral concentrations (6).
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FIG. 2. Steady-state AdlacZ5 DNA levels decreased during coinfections. Southern analysis was conducted using HeLa cells coinfected with increasing amounts of AAV and 1, 5, or 10 MOIs of AdlacZ5, as denoted above the panels. Whole-cell DNA was isolated at 48 hpi and analyzed by Southern hybridization. The membranes shown above the lane numbers were surveyed with an Ad-specific probe, while the lower membranes were assayed with an AAV-specific probe. Autoradiography was conducted for visualization. In all panels, the DNA in lane 1 was harvested from cells infected with AdlacZ5 alone. Lanes 2 to 6 contain DNA from cells that were coinfected with AdlacZ5 and 1, 10, 100, 500, and 1,000 IU of AAV, respectively. RFd indicates AAV replicative-form dimer. RFm indicates replicative-form monomer, and SS indicates single-stranded AAV genome.
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FIG. 3. Increasing titers of AAV reduced Ad steady-state transcripts to various degrees. Northern analysis was conducted using total mRNA harvested at 24 hpi from HeLa cells infected with AdlacZ5 (MOI, 5) and AAV (0, 1, 10, 100, or 500 IU). To assay E3 expression, Ad5 was used in place of AdlacZ5. Equal amounts of RNA were separated by 1% formaldehyde agarose gel electrophoresis, analyzed by Northern hybridization, and visualized by autoradiography. To confirm equal loading, ribosomal 28S and 18S bands were visualized by ethidium bromide staining. A representative gel is shown. Locations of size standards in kilobases are labeled on the right. AAV transcripts are labeled according to their promoter of origin.
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The unique effects of AAV on E3 expression suggest that AAV induces Ad-specific inhibition and not global effects within the cell. For example, AAV could generate a degrading cellular environment or exert widespread effects on cellular and viral transcription. To confirm that AAV did not mediate global effects on gene expression, we probed the Northern membranes above for cellular GAPDH (glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase) transcripts. As shown in a representative blot in Fig. 3, GAPDH levels remained constant in the presence of increasing amounts of AAV, indicating that the inhibition of Ad transcription is not global in nature.
The levels of AAV Rep and Cap mRNAs were also examined. There was a slight increase in Rep and Cap mRNAs as IU of AAV increased from 1 to 10. However, we observed a decrease in AAV gene expression when input AAV was 100 IU or greater. Similar to the reduction in AAV replicative-form DNA described above, the decrease in AAV transcripts is likely due to autoinhibition (6).
Ad protein levels in the presence of AAV. Previous reports indicate that Rep proteins are capable of inhibiting Ad protein translation during plasmid transfections (25, 33, 34). We therefore conducted an immunoblot analysis to determine whether AAV exerts translational effects on Ad gene expression during coinfection. HeLa cell monolayers were coinfected with increasing levels of wild-type AAV and 5 or 10 MOIs of AdlacZ5. The cultures were harvested at 24 hpi and tested for ß-gal activity to verify that inhibition was observed. After cellular extracts were prepared, equal amounts of total protein were analyzed by immunoblot analyses to determine the effects of AAV on Ad protein expression. As shown in Fig. 4, increasing amounts of AAV resulted in a dose-dependent decrease in Ad protein expression. E1a and E2a protein levels were reduced one- to twofold and two- to threefold, respectively. The effects of AAV on E4orf6/7 resulted in a more pronounced 10- to 12-fold decrease. We also looked at hexon levels as a representative protein that is produced from the Ad major late promoter. Ad hexon levels were reduced approximately 17-fold. Similar to AAV mRNA levels, Rep and Cap protein levels decreased in coinfections with high titers of AAV. For all Ad genes tested, the steady-state protein levels corresponded with mRNA levels. This suggests that AAV Rep proteins do not exert significant translational modulation during coinfection.
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FIG. 4. Levels of Ad proteins during coinfection with AAV parallel mRNA levels. Immunoblot analyses were conducted using lysates from HeLa cells coinfected with AAV and AdlacZ5. Cultures were harvested at 48 hpi, and infection was verified by ß-gal activity. Equal amounts of protein were separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and probed with antibodies specific to Ad or AAV proteins, as denoted to the left of the images. Lane 1 is from AdlacZ5-infected cells (MOI, 5 or 10). Lanes 2 to 5 are from cells coinfected with AdlacZ5 and AAV (1, 10, 100, and 500 IU, respectively). The uppermost band in the Rep panel, which is labeled with an asterisk, indicates a nonspecific interaction.
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The temporal effects of AAV on Ad RNA levels are presented in Fig. 5. We were unable to identify any viral mRNAs at 3 hpi. Although E1A is the first Ad gene to be expressed during an infection, E1a mRNAs do not accumulate early in the infection due to a short half-life (37). As a result, E1A mRNA was visible at 6 hpi only following overexposure of the blot. Coinfecting AAV induced a significant decrease in E1B mRNA beginning at 9 hpi. E3 also demonstrated a slight decrease in mRNA at 9 and 12 hpi. However, this early E3 inhibition was minor compared to the pronounced effects observed at 24 hpi. E2A and E4 mRNA levels were unaffected prior to the 24-hpi time point. Expression of E1A and VA transcripts was inhibited throughout the course of the study. The levels of GAPDH transcripts remained constant throughout the infection, indicating that AAV does not exert global effects within the cell. Similar to what we observed with Ad, the earliest time point at which we observed AAV mRNA transcripts was 6 hpi.
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FIG. 5. The temporal expression of mRNA for Ad transcription units varied in response to coinfecting AAV. HeLa cells were infected with Ad5 (MOI, 5) in the presence or absence of AAV (100 IU). Cultures were harvested at various times ranging from 3 to 24 hpi. Equal amounts of total RNA were resolved by electrophoresis in 1% formaldehyde gels and transferred to nitrocellulose membranes. Northern hybridization analysis was conducted using probes specific for the indicated Ad or AAV transcripts. Visualization and quantitation were conducted with autoradiography and PhosphorImager analysis. Membranes were subsequently stripped and probed with a GAPDH-specific probe to confirm equal loading. A representative GAPDH blot is shown. Molecular size markers (kb) are shown to the right of the blots. AAV transcripts are labeled according to their promoter of origin.
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To determine whether Rep expression alone is able to inhibit Ad early-phase gene expression, we induced Rep expression by plasmid transfection, initiated Ad infection, and analyzed the effects on Ad mRNA levels by using Northern analysis. To this end, we first used the ß-gal assay described above to verify that transfected Rep proteins are capable of inhibiting Ad production. HeLa cells were transfected with the pCDMRep series of plasmids, which express the Rep proteins from the cytomegalovirus promoter (25, 39). We also tested plasmids that express mutant Rep proteins lacking the PNB site. The cultures were infected with AdlacZ5, incubated for 48 h, harvested, and tested for ß-gal activity. Immunoblot analysis confirmed that equal amounts of all Rep proteins were expressed following plasmid transfections (data not shown). Aliquots of these cultures were also used to inoculate fresh HeLa cells in order to eliminate Rep-mediated effects on ß-gal activity and measure the amount of infectious virus produced during the primary transfection assay. The ß-gal activity of pCDM8-transfected control cells was set at 100%. The ß-gal activity of Rep-transfected cells was expressed as the percentage relative to that of pCDM8-transfected cells. The results of both the primary transfection and secondary infection indicate that Rep78 expression mediated the largest reduction in Ad replication (Fig. 6). Rep68 and Rep52 had an intermediate effect, and Rep40 caused no inhibition. The PNB mutant versions of the Rep proteins were as effective as the wild-type proteins, suggesting that AAV-mediated inhibition of Ad production may not require ATPase or helicase activity. These results also indicate that Rep expression alone is sufficient to inhibit Ad propagation. The differences in inhibition of Ad replication mediated by Rep78 and AAV may be due to the inherent differences between plasmid transfections and virus infections. In a plasmid transfection, there are no AAV replication or transcription centers that may alter Ad replication indirectly. Another possibility is that full inhibition of Ad replication may require one or more of the other Rep proteins.
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FIG. 6. AAV Rep proteins inhibit AdlacZ5 production to different degrees. (A) HeLa cells were transfected with pCDMRep constructs, as indicated on the x axis, and subsequently infected with AdlacZ5. Cell lysates were tested for ß-gal activity at 48 hpi. (B) Aliquots (50 µl) from transfected cultures were used to inoculate fresh HeLa cells. The secondary infections were harvested at 24 hpi and tested for ß-gal activity. The ß-gal activity of the pCDM8 empty vector control (not shown) was set at 100%. Relative ß-gal activities of samples that were transfected with wild-type Rep and PNB mutant plasmids are shown in black and gray, respectively. Error bars represent the standard deviations from six experiments conducted in triplicate (n = 18).
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FIG. 7. AAV Rep proteins decreased E2A and E4 mRNA transcript levels during the late phase of Ad infection. HeLa cells were transfected with pCDMRep78G or the empty vector pCDM8, as indicated at the top of the figure. After being incubated for 20 to 24 h to permit Rep expression, the cells were infected with 5 MOIs of Ad5. Infected cultures were harvested at 6, 9, 12, or 24 hpi. Uninfected (Uninf) cells were harvested at 24 hpi. Total RNA was prepared, and equal amounts were analyzed by Northern analysis. Equal loading was confirmed by ethidium bromide staining of rRNA as well as GAPDH analysis (not shown). Western analysis was conducted with samples harvested at 6 hpi to confirm Rep78 expression (not shown). Locations of size standards are noted in kilobases.
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FIG. 8. Coinfection with AAV did not reduce E2A or E4 transcript levels in the absence of DNA replication. HeLa cells were infected with Ad5 in the presence (+) or absence () of coinfecting AAV, as indicated above the top panel. HU was added to the medium at 6, 9, or 12 hpi. Untreated controls were also included. All cultures were harvested at 24 hpi, total RNA and viral DNA were prepared. (A) Equal amounts of RNA were subjected to Northern analysis using Ad E2A- and E4-specific probes. GAPDH and rRNA analyses confirmed equal loading (not shown). Molecular size markers are given in kilobases. (B) Viral DNA was isolated and analyzed by Southern hybridizations with a radiolabeled Ad DNA probe.
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Using a readily assayable Ad5 vector that expresses the E. coli lacZ gene in place of the E3 gene, we demonstrate that coinfection of 1 to 1,000 IU of AAV limits Ad replication and virus production. Depending on viral titers, Ad DNA levels in coinfected cells were decreased 10- to 40-fold. This inhibition was greater than what we have previously observed (19). The difference is likely due to the larger AAV-to-Ad ratios used in this work. Control experiments demonstrated that Ad replication was not inhibited by UV-inactivated AAV or a recombinant AAV vector lacking Rep and Cap genes. Therefore, either an AAV gene product or viral DNA amplification is responsible for the inhibition.
Northern and immunoblot analyses of Ad gene expression in the presence of increasing levels of AAV indicate that expression of all early transcription units was affected by coinfecting AAV, albeit to different degrees. We observed a modest decrease in E1A RNA and protein levels and confirmed a previously observed two- to fourfold diminution of E2a expression during coinfection (19). E1B and VA RNAs were inhibited at an intermediate level. However, E1B transcripts commonly increased with 1 IU of AAV and decreased linearly with additional AAV. The largest decrease in early gene expression was observed for the E4 gene. The eightfold decrease in total E4 mRNA levels is corroborated by a comparable decrease in E4orf6/7 protein, which we have used as a representative protein from the E4 gene. Although the aforementioned genes are inhibited to various degrees, they all display a linear dose dependency. E3 mRNA transcripts, however, exhibit a distinctive pattern in which the smaller transcripts are more strongly inhibited than the larger ones. The mechanisms responsible for this unique response to AAV remain to be explored.
Rep-mediated inhibition of protein translation has previously been reported (25, 33, 34). However, these effects were observed using in vitro assays or plasmid transfections. The role of AAV-induced translational effects during coinfection has not been described. Although our experiments were not designed to quantitatively match Ad protein and mRNA levels, the correlation in levels shown here suggests that Rep-mediated posttranscriptional regulation does not play a prominent role in Ad gene expression during coinfection.
Modulation of Ad early gene expression during coinfection may occur at the level of transcription. Previous reports suggesting that Rep proteins may alter Ad transcription are bolstered by evidence that coinfecting AAV does not equally affect the expression of the early genes. Since early gene expression is required for DNA replication, inhibition of Ad early gene promoters could be responsible for decreased DNA synthesis. Neither the 10- to 12-fold decrease in E4 protein levels nor the 2- to 3-fold decrease in E2A levels alone would likely be sufficient to cause the dramatic decrease in Ad DNA synthesis. However, their additive effects could be substantial. Given the central roles of E2a and E4 proteins in Ad DNA replication, we considered the possibility that modest effects on the E2a promoter in concert with more-significant inhibition of the E4 promoter could result in reduced Ad DNA synthesis. In order for this to be true, transcriptional effects on early gene expression would have to precede the onset of DNA replication.
Time course Northern analyses (Fig. 5) indicated that only E1B was inhibited by AAV prior to 12 hpi and that this inhibition was minor compared to the dramatic late-phase inhibition of E4. We considered the possibility that under the conditions of our assays, we achieved only low levels of Rep expression during the Ad early phase. This could prevent potential AAV transcriptional effects from occurring until Rep levels increase. Therefore, we transfected HeLa cells with the pCDMRep plasmids, allowed up to 24 h to permit Rep expression, and then infected the cells with AdlacZ5. Subsequent Northern analysis indicated that even in the presence of overexpressed Rep proteins, inhibition of E2A and E4 transcription does not precede DNA replication. It is therefore unlikely that decreased early gene expression is responsible for AAV-mediated inhibition of Ad DNA synthesis. However, this does not imply that Rep does not inhibit Ad at the transcriptional level. If inhibition of DNA replication were the only means by which AAV inhibited Ad, the decrease in template would induce a proportional decrease in all transcripts. Instead, Ad early promoters are inhibited by coinfecting AAV to different degrees and at different times. The unique effects of AAV on E3 mRNAs are even more striking. Together, these data support the hypothesis that AAV also regulates Ad transcription during coinfection.
Hydroxyurea treatment of infected cultures indicated that no inhibition of E2A and E4 early gene expression was observed in the absence of DNA replication. This could imply that the reduced gene expression that we observed at 24 hpi was exclusively the result of lower levels of Ad template. Although these hypotheses appear to contradict one another, the role of AAV's effects on transcription and the reduction in DNA template may not be mutually exclusive. In blocking DNA synthesis, HU also prevents the onset of the late phase of Ad infection. The early-to-late switch in infection induces numerous changes in viral regulation. For example, there are phase-specific mechanisms that reduce early gene expression in trans during the late phase when transcription is measured per genome (15). These effects require expression from the Ad major late promoter, which does not occur in the presence of HU. It is therefore possible that coinfecting AAV exerts transcriptional effects only under late-phase conditions. Thus, although DNA synthesis likely precedes E2A and E4 inhibition, decreased template amplification may not be solely responsible for decreased early gene expression.
The purpose of this study was to observe the effects of AAV on Ad propagation, DNA replication, and gene expression. It has long been known that AAV inhibits Ad during coinfection, but the details of this interaction have not yet been closely examined. Conducting dose-response and temporal analyses revealed that the effects of AAV during coinfection vary based on the AAV-to-Ad ratio and the time point of the infection. In addition, this study suggests that AAV modulation of DNA replication occurs prior to, and independently of, the inhibition of early gene expression. While this observation invites speculation, unraveling the mechanisms of AAV-mediated inhibition remains outside the scope of this study. Nonetheless, the data presented here provide essential, fundamental knowledge that will support and guide future mechanistic studies.
This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health (AI51471 to J.P.T., GM64765 to J.P.T., and AI64129 to J.M.T.).
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