scholarly journals In vitro functional analysis of gRNA sites regulating assembly of hepatitis B virus

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nikesh Patel ◽  
Sam Clark ◽  
Eva U. Weiß ◽  
Carlos P. Mata ◽  
Jen Bohon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Core Protein ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Sequence Structure ◽  
Stem Loop ◽  
Vitro Assay ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Cryo Electron Microscopy ◽  
B Virus

AbstractThe roles of RNA sequence/structure motifs, Packaging Signals (PSs), for regulating assembly of an HBV genome transcript have been investigated in an efficient in vitro assay containing only core protein (Cp) and RNA. Variants of three conserved PSs, within the genome of a strain not used previously, preventing correct presentation of a Cp-recognition loop motif are differentially deleterious for assembly of nucleocapsid-like particles (NCPs). Cryo-electron microscopy reconstruction of the T = 4 NCPs formed with the wild-type gRNA transcript, reveal that the interior of the Cp shell is in contact with lower resolution density, potentially encompassing the arginine-rich protein domains and gRNA. Symmetry relaxation followed by asymmetric reconstruction reveal that such contacts are made at every symmetry axis. We infer from their regulation of assembly that some of these contacts would involve gRNA PSs, and confirmed this by X-ray RNA footprinting. Mutation of the ε stem-loop in the gRNA, where polymerase binds in vivo, produces a poor RNA assembly substrate with Cp alone, largely due to alterations in its conformation. The results show that RNA PSs regulate assembly of HBV genomic transcripts in vitro, and therefore may play similar roles in vivo, in concert with other molecular factors.

scholarly journals In vitro Functional Analysis of pgRNA Sites Regulating Assembly of Hepatitis B Virus

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nikesh Patel ◽  
Sam Clark ◽  
Eva U. Weiß ◽  
Carlos P. Mata ◽  
Jen Bohon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Symmetry Axis ◽  
Core Protein ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Sequence Structure ◽  
Stem Loop ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Cryo Electron Microscopy ◽  
B Virus

AbstractThe roles of RNA sequence/structure motifs, Packaging Signals (PSs), for regulating assembly of an HBV genome transcript have been investigated in an efficient in vitro assay containing only core protein (Cp) and RNA. Variants of three conserved PSs, within the genome of a strain not used previously, preventing correct presentation of a Cp-recognition loop motif are differentially deleterious for assembly of nucleocapsid-like particles (NCPs). Cryo-electron microscopy reconstruction of the T=4 NCPs formed with the wild-type gRNA transcript, reveal that the interior of the Cp shell is in contact with lower resolution density, potentially encompassing the arginine-rich protein domains and gRNA. Symmetry-relaxation of this reconstruction reveals that such contacts are made at every symmetry axis. We infer from their regulation of assembly that some of these contacts would involve gRNA PSs, and confirmed this by X-ray RNA footprinting. Mutation of the ε stem-loop in the gRNA, where polymerase binds in vivo, produces a poor RNA assembly substrate with Cp alone, largely due to alterations in its conformation. The results show that RNA PSs regulate assembly of HBV genomic transcripts in vitro, and therefore may play similar roles in vivo, in concert with other molecular factors.

scholarly journals Direct Interaction between the Subunit RAP30 of Transcription Factor IIF (TFIIF) and RNA Polymerase Subunit 5, Which Contributes to the Association between TFIIF and RNA Polymerase II

2001 ◽  
Vol 276 (15) ◽  
pp. 12266-12273 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenxiang Wei ◽  
Dorjbal Dorjsuren ◽  
Yong Lin ◽  
Weiping Qin ◽  
Takahiro Nomura ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Rna Polymerase Ii ◽  
Middle Part ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Binding Region ◽  
Pol Ii ◽  
Transcription Factor Iif ◽  
B Virus

The general transcription factor IIF (TFIIF) assembled in the initiation complex, and RAP30 of TFIIF, have been shown to associate with RNA polymerase II (pol II), although it remains unclear which pol II subunit is responsible for the interaction. We examined whether TFIIF interacts with RNA polymerase II subunit 5 (RPB5), the exposed domain of which binds transcriptional regulatory factors such as hepatitis B virus X protein and a novel regulatory protein, RPB5-mediating protein. The results demonstrated that RPB5 directly binds RAP30in vitrousing purified recombinant proteins andin vivoin COS1 cells transiently expressing recombinant RAP30 and RPB5. The RAP30-binding region was mapped to the central region (amino acids (aa) 47–120) of RPB5, which partly overlaps the hepatitis B virus X protein-binding region. Although the middle part (aa 101–170) and the N-terminus (aa 1–100) of RAP30 independently bound RPB5, the latter was not involved in the RPB5 binding when RAP30 was present in TFIIF complex. Scanning of the middle part of RAP30 by clustered alanine substitutions and then point alanine substitutions pinpointed two residues critical for the RPB5 binding inin vitroandin vivoassays. Wild type but not mutants Y124A and Q131A of RAP30 coexpressed with FLAG-RAP74 efficiently recovered endogenous RPB5 to the FLAG-RAP74-bound anti-FLAG M2 resin. The recovered endogenous RPB5 is assembled in pol II as demonstrated immunologically. Interestingly, coexpression of the central region of RPB5 and wild type RAP30 inhibited recovery of endogenous pol II to the FLAG-RAP74-bound M2 resin, strongly suggesting that the RAP30-binding region of RPB5 inhibited the association of TFIIF and pol II. The exposed domain of RPB5 interacts with RAP30 of TFIIF and is important for the association between pol II and TFIIF.

scholarly journals Efficacies of Entecavir against Lamivudine-Resistant Hepatitis B Virus Replication and Recombinant Polymerases In Vitro

2002 ◽  
Vol 46 (8) ◽  
pp. 2525-2532 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Levine ◽  
D. Hernandez ◽  
G. Yamanaka ◽  
S. Zhang ◽  
R. Rose ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis B Virus ◽  
Hepatitis B ◽  
Cross Resistance ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Resistance Mutations ◽  
Hbv Replication ◽  
B Virus ◽  
Inhibition Studies

ABSTRACT Entecavir (ETV) is a potent and selective inhibitor of hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication in vitro and in vivo that is currently in clinical trials for the treatment of chronic HBV infections. A major limitation of the current HBV antiviral therapy, lamivudine (3TC), is the emergence of drug-resistant HBV in a majority of treated patients due to specific mutations in the nucleotide binding site of HBV DNA polymerase (HBV Pol). To determine the effects of 3TC resistance mutations on inhibition by ETV triphosphate (ETV-TP), a series of in vitro studies were performed. The inhibition of wild-type and 3TC-resistant HBV Pol by ETV-TP was measured using recombinant HBV nucleocapsids, and compared to that of 3TC-TP. These enzyme inhibition studies demonstrated that ETV-TP is a highly potent inhibitor of wild-type HBV Pol and is 100- to 300-fold more potent than 3TC-TP against 3TC-resistant HBV Pol. Cell culture assays were used to gauge the potential for antiviral cross-resistance of 3TC-resistant mutants to ETV. Results demonstrated that ETV inhibited the replication of 3TC-resistant HBV, but 20- to 30-fold higher concentrations were required. To gain further perspective regarding the potential therapeutic use of ETV, its phosphorylation was examined in hepatoma cells treated with extracellular concentrations representative of drug levels in plasma in ETV-treated patients. At these concentrations, intracellular ETV-TP accumulated to levels expected to inhibit the enzyme activity of both wild-type and 3TC-resistant HBV Pol. These findings are predictive of potent antiviral activity of ETV against both wild-type and 3TC-resistant HBV.

scholarly journals Functional Expression of Nramp1 In Vitro in the Murine Macrophage Line RAW264.7

1999 ◽  
Vol 67 (5) ◽  
pp. 2225-2232 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory Govoni ◽  
François Canonne-Hergaux ◽  
Cheryl G. Pfeifer ◽  
Sandra L. Marcus ◽  
Scott D. Mills ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antibacterial Activity ◽  
Functional Expression ◽  
Integral Membrane Protein ◽  
Biochemical Properties ◽  
Raw264.7 Cells ◽  
Temperature Sensitive ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Vitro Assay

ABSTRACT Mutations at the Nramp1 locus in vivo cause susceptibility to infection by unrelated intracellular microbes.Nramp1 encodes an integral membrane protein abundantly expressed in the endosomal-lysosomal compartment of macrophages and is recruited to the phagosomal membrane following phagocytosis. The mechanism by which Nramp1 affects the biochemical properties of the phagosome to control microbial replication is unknown. To devise an in vitro assay for Nramp1 function, we introduced a wild-typeNramp1G169 cDNA into RAW 264.7 macrophages (which bear a homozygous mutant Nramp1D169 allele and thus are permissive to replication of specific intracellular parasites). Recombinant Nramp1 was expressed in a membranous compartment in RAW264.7 cells and was recruited to the membrane ofSalmonella typhimurium and Yersinia enterocolitica containing phagosomes. Evaluation of the antibacterial activity of RAW264.7 transfectants showed that expression of the recombinant Nramp1 protein abrogated intracellular replication of S. typhimurium. Studies with a replication-defectiveS. typhimurium mutant suggest that this occurs through an enhanced bacteriostatic activity. The effect of Nramp1 expression was specific, since (i) it was not seen in RAW264.7 transfectants overexpressing the closely related Nramp2 protein, and (ii) control RAW264.7 cells, Nramp1, and Nramp2 transfectants could all efficiently kill a temperature-sensitive, replication-defective mutant of S. typhimurium. Finally, increased antibacterial activity of the Nramp1 RAW264.7 transfectants was linked to increased phagosomal acidification, a distinguishing feature of primary macrophages expressing a wild-type Nramp1 allele. Together, these results indicate that transfection of Nramp1 cDNAs in the RAW264.7 macrophage cell line can be used as a direct assay to study both Nramp1 function and mechanism of action as well as to identify structure-function relationships in this protein.

scholarly journals The NB Protein of Influenza B Virus Is Not Necessary for Virus Replication In Vitro

2003 ◽  
Vol 77 (10) ◽  
pp. 6050-6054 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masato Hatta ◽  
Yoshihiro Kawaoka
Keyword(s):  
Cell Culture ◽  
Virus Replication ◽  
Wild Type Virus ◽  
Influenza B Virus ◽  
Influenza B ◽  
Type Virus ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
B Virus

ABSTRACT The NB protein of influenza B virus is thought to function as an ion channel and therefore would be expected to have an essential function in viral replication. Because direct evidence for its absolute requirement in the viral life cycle is lacking, we generated NB knockout viruses by reverse genetics and tested their growth properties both in vitro and in vivo. Mutants not expressing NB replicated as efficiently as the wild-type virus in cell culture, whereas in mice they showed restricted growth compared with findings for the wild-type virus. Thus, the NB protein is not essential for influenza B virus replication in cell culture but promotes efficient growth in mice.

scholarly journals 3' processing of human pre-U2 small nuclear RNA: a base-pairing interaction between the 3' extension of the precursor and an internal region.

1997 ◽  
Vol 17 (12) ◽  
pp. 7178-7185 ◽  
Author(s):  
Q Huang ◽  
M R Jacobson ◽  
T Pederson
Keyword(s):  
Rna Polymerase Ii ◽  
Small Nuclear Rna ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Base Pairing ◽  
Pairing Interaction ◽  
Stem Loop ◽  
Internal Region ◽  
Base Pairing Interaction

The spliceosomal small nuclear RNAs U1, U2, U4, and U5 are transcribed by RNA polymerase II as precursors with extensions at their 3' ends. The 3' processing of these pre-snRNAs is not understood in detail. Two pathways of pre-U2 RNA 3' processing in vitro were revealed in the present investigation by using a series of human wild-type and mutant pre-U2 RNAs. Substrates with wild-type 3' ends were initially shortened by three or four nucleotides (which is the first step in vivo), and the correct mature 3' end was then rapidly generated. In contrast, certain mutant pre-U2 RNAs displayed an aberrant 3' processing pathway typified by the persistence of intermediates representing cleavage at each internucleoside bond in the precursor 3' extension. Comparison of the wild-type and mutant pre-U2 RNAs revealed a potential base-pairing interaction between nucleotides in the precursor 3' extension and a sequence located between the Sm domain and stem-loop III of U2 RNA. Substrate processing competition experiments using a highly purified pre-U2 RNA 3' processing activity suggested that only RNAs capable of this base-pairing interaction had high affinity for the pre-U2 RNA 3' processing enzyme. The importance of this postulated base-pairing interaction between the precursor 3' extension and the internal region between the Sm domain and stem-loop III was confirmed by the results obtained with a compensatory substitution that restores the base pairing, which displayed the normal 3' processing reaction. These results implicate a precursor-specific base-paired structure involving sequences on both sides of the mature cleavage site in the 3' processing of human U2 RNA.

scholarly journals Persistence of Hepatitis B Virus DNA and the Tempos between Virion Secretion and Genome Maturation in a Mouse Model

2019 ◽  
Vol 93 (22) ◽  
Author(s):  
Szu-Yao Wu ◽  
Ya-Shu Chang ◽  
Tien-Hua Chu ◽  
Chiaho Shih
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Hepatitis B Virus ◽  
Hepatitis B ◽  
Mouse Model ◽  
Core Protein ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Viral Dna ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
B Virus

ABSTRACT Hepatitis B virus (HBV) core protein (HBc) accumulates frequent mutations in natural infection. Wild-type HBV is known to secrete predominantly virions containing mature DNA genome. However, a frequent naturally occurring HBc variant, I97L, changing from an isoleucine to a leucine at amino acid 97, exhibited an immature secretion phenotype in culture, which preferentially secretes virions containing immature genomes. In contrast, mutant P130T, changing from a proline to a threonine at amino acid 130, exhibited a hypermaturation phenotype by accumulating an excessive amount of intracellular fully mature DNA genome. Using a hydrodynamic delivery mouse model, we studied the in vivo behaviors of these two mutants, I97L and P130T. We detected no naked core particles in all hydrodynamically injected mice. Mutant I97L in mice exhibited pleiotropic phenotypes: (i) excessive numbers of serum HBV virions containing immature genomes, (ii) significantly reduced numbers of intracellular relaxed-circle and single-stranded DNAs, and (iii) less persistent intrahepatic and secreted HBV DNAs than wild-type HBV. These pleiotropic phenotypes were observed in both immunocompetent and immunodeficient mice. Although mutant P130T also displayed a hypermaturation phenotype in vivo, it cannot efficiently rescue the immature virion secretion of mutant I97L. Unexpectedly, the single mutant P130T exhibited in vivo a novel phenotype in prolonging the persistence of HBV genome in hepatocytes. Taken together, our studies provide a plausible rationale for HBV to regulate envelopment morphogenesis and virion secretion via genome maturity, which is likely to play an important role in the persistence of viral DNA in this mouse model. IMPORTANCE Chronic infection with human hepatitis B virus (HBV) could lead to cirrhosis and hepatoma. At present, there is no effective treatment to eradicate the virus from patients. HBV in chronic carriers does not exist as a single homogeneous population. The most frequent naturally occurring mutation in HBV core protein occurs at amino acid 97, changing an isoleucine to leucine (I97L). One dogma in the field is that only virions containing a mature genome are preferentially secreted into the medium. Here, we demonstrated that mutant I97L can secrete immature genome in mice. Although viral DNA of mutant I97L with immature genome is less persistent than wild-type HBV in time course experiments, viral DNA of mutant P130T with genome hypermaturation, surprisingly, is more persistent. Therefore, virion secretion regulated by genome maturity could influence viral persistence. It remains an open issue whether virion secretion could be a drug target for HBV therapy.

scholarly journals A human monoclonal antibody potently pan-neutralizes SARS-CoV-2 VOCs by targeting RBD invariant sites

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaofei Wang ◽  
Ao Hu ◽  
Xiangyu Chen ◽  
Yixin Zhang ◽  
Fei Yu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rational Design ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Human Monoclonal Antibody ◽  
Receptor Binding Domain ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Cryo Electron Microscopy ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Binding Epitope

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused a global pandemic of novel corona virus disease (COVID-19). The neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) targeting the receptor binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2 are among the most promising strategies to prevent and treat COVID-19. However, SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs) profoundly reduced the efficacies of most of mAbs and vaccines approved for clinical use. Herein, we demonstrated mAb 35B5 efficiently neutralizes both wild-type (WT) SARS-CoV-2 and VOCs, including B.1.617.2 (delta) variant, in vitro and in vivo. Cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) revealed that 35B5 neutralizes SARS-CoV-2 by targeting a unique epitope that avoids the prevailing mutation sites on RBD identified in circulating VOCs, providing the molecular basis for its pan-neutralizing efficacy. The 35B5-binding epitope could also be exploited for the rational design of a universal SARS-CoV-2 vaccine.

scholarly journals The novel picornavirus Equine rhinitis B virus contains a strong type II internal ribosomal entry site which functions similarly to that of Encephalomyocarditis virus

2001 ◽  
Vol 82 (9) ◽  
pp. 2257-2269 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tracey M. Hinton ◽  
Brendan S. Crabb
Keyword(s):  
Encephalomyocarditis Virus ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Type Ii ◽  
Polypyrimidine Tract ◽  
Entry Site ◽  
Stem Loop ◽  
Mammalian Expression ◽  
B Virus

Equine rhinitis B virus (ERBV) has recently been classified as an Erbovirus, a new genus in the Picornaviridae family. ERBV is distantly related to members of the Cardiovirus and Aphthovirus genera which utilize a type II internal ribosome entry sequence (IRES) to initiate translation. We show that ERBV also possesses the core stem–loop structures (H–L) of a type II IRES. The function of the ERBV IRES was characterized using bicistronic plasmids that were analysed both by transfection into BHK-21 cells and by in vitro transcription and translation in rabbit reticulocyte lysates. In both systems, a region encompassed by nucleotides (nt) 189–920 downstream of the poly(C) tract was required for maximal translation. This sequence includes stem–loops H–L as well as four additional upstream stem–loops. Nt 904 corresponds to the second of three in-frame AUG codons located immediately downstream of the polypyrimidine tract (nucleotides 869–880). Site-directed mutagenesis demonstrated that AUG2 is the major initiation codon despite the appropriate positioning of AUG1 16 nt downstream of the polypyrimidine tract. In direct IRES competition experiments, the ERBV IRES was able to compete strongly for translation factors with the IRES of Encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV). This was true when the assays were performed in vitro (with the IRESs competing either in cis or trans) and in vivo (with the IRESs competing in cis). A comparative analysis of the strength of several IRESs revealed that the ERBV IRES, like that of the EMCV, is a powerful inducer of translation and may have similar potential for use in mammalian expression systems.

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