title: The phosphoprotein (P) and L binding sites reside in the N-terminus of the L subunit of the measles virus RNA polymerase.
abstract: Measles virus encodes an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase composed of the L and P proteins. Recent studies have shown that the L proteins of both Sendai virus and parainfluenza virus 3 form an L-L complex [Cevik, B., Smallwood, S., Moyer, S.A., 2003. The oligomerization domain resides at the very Nterminus of the Sendai virus L RNA polymerase protein. Virology 313, 525-536.; Smallwood, S., Moyer, S.A., 2004. The L polymerase protein of parainfluenza virus 3 forms anoligomer and can interact with the heterologous Sendai virus L, P and C proteins. Virology 318, 439-450.; Smallwood, S., Cevik, B., Moyer, S.A., 2002. Intragenic complementation and oligomerization of the L subunit of the Sendai virus RNA polymerase. Virology 304, 235-245.]. Using differentially tagged L proteins, we show here that measles L also forms an oligomer and the L-L binding site resides in the N-terminal 408 amino acids overlapping the P binding site in the same region of L. To identify amino acids important for binding P and L, site-directed mutagenesis of the L-408 protein was performed. Seven of twelve mutants in L-408 were unable to form a complex with measles P while the remainder did bind at least some P. In contrast, all of the mutants retained the ability to form the L-L complex, so different amino acids are involved in the L and P binding sites on L. Four of the 408 mutations defective in P binding were inserted into the full-length measles L protein and all retained L-L complex formation, but did not bind P. Full-length L mutants that did not bind P were also inactive in viral RNA synthesis, showing a direct correlation between P-L complex formation and activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
authors.forename: Bayram
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cevik
authors.forename: David E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Holmes
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vrotsos
authors.forename: Joyce A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Feller
authors.forename: Sherin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Smallwood
authors.forename: Sue A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Moyer
mesh_terms: D001665:Binding Sites; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015967:Gene Expression Regulation, Viral; D006801:Humans; D008459:Measles virus / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C055859:P protein, Sendai virus; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D014764:Viral Proteins; C064365:L protein, Sendai virus; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases