The N-terminal proline-rich domain of ␥-zein (Zera) plays an important role in protein body (PB) formation not only in the original host (maize seeds) but in a broad spectrum of eukaryotic cells. However, the elements within the Zera sequence that are involved in the biogenesis of PBs have not been clearly identified. Here, we focused on amino acid sequence motifs that could be involved in Zera oligomerization, leading to PB-like structures in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. By using fusions of Zera with fluorescent proteins, we found that the lack of the repeat region (PPPVHL) 8 of Zera resulted in the secretion of the fusion protein but that this repeat by itself did not form PBs. Although the repeat region containing eight units was the most efficient for Zera self-assembly, shorter repeats of 4 -6 units still formed small multimers. Based on site-directed mutagenesis of Zera cysteine residues and analysis of multimer formation, we conclude that the two N-terminal Cys residues of Zera (Cys 7 and Cys 9 ) are critical for oligomerization. Immunoelectron microscopy and confocal studies on PB development over time revealed that early, small, Zera-derived oligomers were sequestered in buds along the rough ER and that the mature size of the PBs could be attained by both cross-linking of preformed multimers and the incorporation of new chains of Zera fusions synthesized by active membrane-bound ribosomes. Based on these results and on the behavior of the Zera structure determined by molecular dynamics simulation studies, we propose a model of Zera-induced PB biogenesis.The mechanisms by which prolamins, which lack the ER 3 retention (H/K)DEL motif, are retained and assembled in the ER-derived PBs are only partially understood. Different factors act as determinants of PB biogenesis, some of them derived from cis-cargo properties and others with a cellular trans-origin (1). It has been proposed that the physico-chemical properties of prolamins, such as hydrophobicity and disulfide bond formation, promote specific interactions resulting in the formation of large self-assemblies that are responsible for their retention in the ER and PB formation (2-4). These polymers could be excluded because of their size from being carried by the COP II vesicles that transport cargo proteins to the Golgi complex (5). However, the generic COPII vesicles are flexible enough for large cargo loading, including that of procollagen (more than 300 nm in size) (6) and the collagen VII trimer (900 kDa) (7).In maize, four distinct types of prolamins (␣-, ␤-, ␥-, and ␦-zein) coexist in the PBs (8) and play distinct roles in PB formation. Recently, maize storage protein mutants created through RNAi showed that ␥-RNAi maize mutant lines exhibited slightly altered protein body formation and that a more drastic effect was observed in the ␤-␥ combined mutant, where protein bodies showed an irregular shape, particularly in their periphery (9).Various studies on zein accumulation in heterologous expression systems suggest that ␥-zein and ␤-zein mediate t...

BackgroundHuman papillomaviruses (HPV) are the causative agents of cervical cancer in women, which results in over 250 000 deaths per year. Presently there are two prophylactic vaccines on the market, protecting against the two most common high-risk HPV types 16 and 18. These vaccines remain very expensive and are not generally affordable in developing countries where they are needed most. Additionally, there remains a need to treat women that are already infected with HPV, and who have high-grade lesions or cervical cancer.MethodsIn this paper, we characterize the immunogenicity of a therapeutic vaccine that targets the E7 protein of the most prevalent high-risk HPV - type 16 – the gene which has previously been shown to be effective in DNA vaccine trials in mice. The synthetic shuffled HPV-16 E7 (16E7SH) has lost its transforming properties but retains all naturally-occurring CTL epitopes. This was genetically fused to Zera®, a self-assembly domain of the maize γ-zein able to induce the accumulation of recombinant proteins into protein bodies (PBs), within the endoplasmic reticulum in a number of expression systems.ResultsHigh-level expression of the HPV 16E7SH protein fused to Zera® in plants was achieved, and the protein bodies could be easily and cost-effectively purified. Immune responses comparable to the 16E7SH DNA vaccine were demonstrated in the murine model, with the protein vaccine successfully inducing a specific humoral as well as cell mediated immune response, and mediating tumour regression.ConclusionsThe fusion of 16E7SH to the Zera® peptide was found to enhance the immune responses, presumably by means of a more efficient antigen presentation via the protein bodies. Interestingly, simply mixing the free PBs and 16E7SH also enhanced immune responses, indicating an adjuvant activity for the Zera® PBs.

No abstract