NMR structure of the N-terminal J domain of murine polyomavirus T antigens- Implications for DnaJ-like domains and for mutations of T antigens

The NMR structure of the N-terminal, DnaJ-like domain of murine polyomaviru s tumor antigens (PyJ) has been determined to high precision, with root mea n square -deviations to the mean structure of 0.38 Angstrom for backbone at oms and 0.94 Angstrom for all heavy atoms of ordered residues 5-41 and 50-6 9, PyJ possesses a three-helix fold, in which anti-parallel helices II and III are bridged by helix I, similar to the four-helix fold of the J domains of DnaJ and human DnaJ-1. PyJ differs significantly in the lengths of N te rminus, helix I, and helix III. The universally conserved HPD motif appears to form a His-Pro C-cap of helix II. Helix I features a stabilizing Schell man C-cap that is probably conserved universally among J domains. On the he lix II surface where positive charges of other J domains have been implicat ed in binding of hsp70s, PyJ contains glutamine residues. Nonetheless, chim eras that replace the J domain of DnaJ with PyJ function like wild-type Dna J in promoting growth of Escherichia coli. This activity can be modulated b y mutations of at least one of these glutamines. T antigen mutations report ed to impair cellular transformation by the virus, presumably via interacti ons with PP2A, cluster in the hydrophobic folding core and at the extreme N terminus, remote from the HPD loop.