Mouse polyomavirus (MPyV) is a small non-enveloped virus. Its capsid consists of 72 pentamers of the major capsid protein VP1. The central cavity of each VP1 pentamer contains one minor capsid protein, either VP2, or VP3. The minor capsid proteins are dispensable for capsid formation, but their presence is required for infection of the host cell, presumably because of their anticipated functions during virus entry. After internalization, MPyV virions traffic to endoplasmic reticulum (ER). VP2 and VP3 have been proposed to function as factors responsible for penetration of ER membranes, which is required for subsequent delivery of the viral DNA into the nucleus, a key step of the early phase of MPyV infection. Three hydrophobic domains were predicted in the sequence of VP2 and VP3. First in the unique Nterminal part of VP2, second and third in the common part of VP2 and VP3. The third domain corresponds to C-terminal VP1binding alpha-helix. It has been previously found in our laboratory, that VP2 and VP3 fused to N-terminus of EGFP, when expressed in mammalian cells, display properties similiar to the wild-type VP2 and VP3, namely affinity to intracellular membranes and high cytotoxicity. Expression plasmids carrying mutated VP2 and VP3 fused to Nterminus of EGFP were prepared to determine the hydrophobic...

Diss. (sammanfattning) Linköping : Linköpings universitet, 2006. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Amyloid is defined as extracellular protein aggregates with a characteristic fibrillar ultra-structure, Congo red affinity and a unique x-ray diffraction pattern. At present, 25 different human amyloid fibril proteins have been identified, and amyloid aggregation is associated with pathological manifestations such as Alzheimer’s disease, spongiform encephalopathy and type 2 diabetes. Amyloid aggregation triggers apoptosis by incorporation of early oligomers in cellular membranes, causing influx of ions. Amyloid is the only visible pathological islet alteration in subjects with type 2 diabetes, and islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) is the major islet amyloid fibril component. IAPP is produced by beta-cells and co-localized with insulin in the secretory granules. Both peptides are synthesised as pro-molecules and undergo proteolytic cleavage by the prohormone convertase 1/3 and 2. Although IAPP is the main amyloid constituent, both proIAPP and proIAPP processing intermediates have been identified in islet amyloid. The aim of this thesis was to study the role of impaired processing of human proIAPP in early islet amyloidogenesis. Five cell lines with individual processing properties were transfected with human proIAPP and expression, aggregation and viability were studied. Cells unable to process proIAPP into IAPP or to process proIAPP at the N-terminal processing site accumulated intracellular amyloid-like aggregates and underwent apoptosis. Further, proIAPP immunoreactivity was detected in intracellular amyloid-like aggregates in betacells from transgenic mice expressing human IAPP and in transplanted human beta-cells. ProIAPP was hypothesized to act as a nidus for further islet amyloid deposition, and to investigate this theory, amyloid-like fibrils produced from recombinant IAPP, proIAPP and insulin C-peptide/A-chain were injected in the tail vein of transgenic mice expressing the gene for human IAPP. Pancreata were recovered after 10 months and analysed for the presence of amyloid. Both IAPP and proIAPP fibrils but not des-31,32 proinsulin fibrils, caused an increase in affected islets and also an increase of the amyloid amount. This finding demonstrates a seeding capacity of proIAPP on IAPP fibrillogenesis. IAPP has been known for some time to trigger apoptosis in cultured cells, and a novel method for real time detection of apoptosis in beta-cells was developed. Aggregation of recombinant proIAPP and proIAPP processing intermediates were concluded to be inducers of apoptosis as potent as IAPP fibril formation. From the results of this study, a scenario for initial islet amyloidogenesis is proposed. Initial amyloid formation occurs intracellularly as a result of alterations in beta-cell processing capacity. When the host cell undergoes apoptosis intracellular proIAPP amyloid becomes extracellular and can act as seed for further islet amyloid deposition.