scholarly journals Modification of picornavirus genomic RNA using ‘click’ chemistry shows that unlinking of the VPg peptide is dispensable for translation and replication of the incoming viral RNA

2013 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 2473-2482 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martijn A. Langereis ◽  
Qian Feng ◽  
Frank H. T. Nelissen ◽  
Richard Virgen-Slane ◽  
Gerbrand J. van der Heden van Noort ◽  
...  

Abstract Picornaviruses constitute a large group of viruses comprising medically and economically important pathogens such as poliovirus, coxsackievirus, rhinovirus, enterovirus 71 and foot-and-mouth disease virus. A unique characteristic of these viruses is the use of a viral peptide (VPg) as primer for viral RNA synthesis. As a consequence, all newly formed viral RNA molecules possess a covalently linked VPg peptide. It is known that VPg is enzymatically released from the incoming viral RNA by a host protein, called TDP2, but it is still unclear whether the release of VPg is necessary to initiate RNA translation. To study the possible requirement of VPg release for RNA translation, we developed a novel method to modify the genomic viral RNA with VPg linked via a ‘non-cleavable’ bond. We coupled an azide-modified VPg peptide to an RNA primer harboring a cyclooctyne [bicyclo[6.1.0]nonyne (BCN)] by a copper-free ‘click’ reaction, leading to a VPg-triazole-RNA construct that was ‘non-cleavable’ by TDP2. We successfully ligated the VPg-RNA complex to the viral genomic RNA, directed by base pairing. We show that the lack of VPg unlinkase does not influence RNA translation or replication. Thus, the release of the VPg from the incoming viral RNA is not a prerequisite for RNA translation or replication.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lidia Lasecka-Dykes ◽  
Fiona Tulloch ◽  
Peter Simmonds ◽  
Garry A. Luke ◽  
Paolo Ribeca ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTRNA structure plays a crucial role in the replication of positive sense RNA viruses and can form functional elements within the untranslated regions (UTRs) and the protein coding sequences (or open reading frames (ORFs)). While RNA structures in the UTRs of several picornaviruses have been functionally characterised, the roles of putative RNA structures predicted for the ORF remain largely undefined. Here we have undertaken a bioinformatic analysis of the foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) genome and predicted the existence of 53 evolutionarily conserved RNA structures within the ORF. Forty-five (45) of these structures were located in the regions encoding the non-structural proteins (nsps). To investigate if the structures in the regions encoding the nsps are required for FMDV replication we used a mutagenesis method, CDLR mapping, where sequential coding segments were shuffled to minimise RNA secondary structures while preserving protein coding, native dinucleotide frequencies and codon usage. To examine the impact of these changes on replicative fitness, mutated sequences were inserted into an FMDV sub-genomic replicon. We found that three of the RNA structures, all at the 3’ termini of the FMDV ORF, were critical for replicon replication. Contrastingly, disruption of the other 42 conserved RNA structures that lie within the regions encoding the nsps had no effect on replicon replication, suggesting that these structures are not required for initiating translation or replication of viral RNA. Conserved RNA structures that are not essential for virus replication could provide ideal targets for the rational attenuation of a wide range of FMDV strains.IMPORTANCESome RNA structures formed by the genomes of RNA viruses are critical for viral replication. Our study shows that of 45 conserved RNA structures located within the regions of the foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) genome that encode the non-structural proteins, only three are essential for replication of an FMDV sub-genomic replicon. Replicons replication is only dependent on their RNA translation and synthesis; thus, our results suggest that the three RNA structures are critical for either initiation of viral RNA translation and/or viral RNA synthesis. Although further studies are required to identify if the remaining 42 RNA structures have other roles in virus replication or transmission, they may provide ideal targets for the rational large-scale attenuation of a wide range of FMDV strains. FMDV causes a highly contagious disease posing a constant threat to global livestock industries. Such weakened FMDV strains could be investigated as live-attenuated vaccines or could enhance biosecurity of conventional inactivated vaccine production.


2016 ◽  
Vol 90 (15) ◽  
pp. 6864-6883 ◽  
Author(s):  
Morgan R. Herod ◽  
Cristina Ferrer-Orta ◽  
Eleni-Anna Loundras ◽  
Joseph C. Ward ◽  
Nuria Verdaguer ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTThePicornaviridaeis a large family of positive-sense RNA viruses that contains numerous human and animal pathogens, including foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV). The picornavirus replication complex comprises a coordinated network of protein-protein and protein-RNA interactions involving multiple viral and host-cellular factors. Many of the proteins within the complex possess multiple roles in viral RNA replication, some of which can be provided intrans(i.e., via expression from a separate RNA molecule), while others are required incis(i.e., expressed from the template RNA molecule).In vitrostudies have suggested that multiple copies of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) 3D are involved in the viral replication complex. However, it is not clear whether all these molecules are catalytically active or what other function(s) they provide. In this study, we aimed to distinguish between catalytically active 3D molecules and those that build a replication complex. We report a novel nonenzymaticcis-acting function of 3D that is essential for viral-genome replication. Using an FMDV replicon in complementation experiments, our data demonstrate that thiscis-acting role of 3D is distinct from the catalytic activity, which is predominantlytransacting. Immunofluorescence studies suggest that bothcis- andtrans-acting 3D molecules localize to the same cellular compartment. However, our genetic and structural data suggest that 3D interacts inciswith RNA stem-loops that are essential for viral RNA replication. This study identifies a previously undescribed aspect of picornavirus replication complex structure-function and an important methodology for probing such interactions further.IMPORTANCEFoot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) is an important animal pathogen responsible for foot-and-mouth disease. The disease is endemic in many parts of the world with outbreaks within livestock resulting in major economic losses. Propagation of the viral genome occurs within replication complexes, and understanding this process can facilitate the development of novel therapeutic strategies. Many of the nonstructural proteins involved in replication possess multiple functions in the viral life cycle, some of which can be supplied to the replication complex from a separate genome (i.e., intrans) while others must originate from the template (i.e., incis). Here, we present an analysis ofcisandtransactivities of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase 3D. We demonstrate a novelcis-acting role of 3D in replication. Our data suggest that this role is distinct from its enzymatic functions and requires interaction with the viral genome. Our data further the understanding of genome replication of this important pathogen.


Molecules ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (13) ◽  
pp. 2360 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sonia de Castro ◽  
Cristina Ferrer-Orta ◽  
Alberto Mills ◽  
Gloria Fernández-Cureses ◽  
Federico Gago ◽  
...  

Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) is an RNA virus belonging to the Picornaviridae family that contains three small viral proteins (VPgs), named VPg1, VPg2 and VPg3, linked to the 5′-end of the viral genome. These VPg proteins act as primers for RNA replication, which is initiated by the consecutive binding of two UMP molecules to the hydroxyl group of Tyr3 in VPg. This process, termed uridylylation, is catalyzed by the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase named 3Dpol. 5-Fluorouridine triphosphate (FUTP) is a potent competitive inhibitor of VPg uridylylation. Peptide analysis showed FUMP covalently linked to the Tyr3 of VPg. This fluorouridylylation prevents further incorporation of the second UMP residue. The molecular basis of how the incorporated FUMP blocks the incorporation of the second UMP is still unknown. To investigate the mechanism of inhibition of VPg uridylylation by FUMP, we have prepared a simplified 15-mer model of VPg1 containing FUMP and studied its x-ray crystal structure in complex with 3Dpol. Unfortunately, the fluorouridylylated VPg1 was disordered and not visible in the electron density maps; however, the structure of 3Dpol in the presence of VPg1-FUMP showed an 8 Å movement of the β9-α11 loop of the polymerase towards the active site cavity relative to the complex of 3Dpol with VPg1-UMP. The conformational rearrangement of this loop preceding the 3Dpol B motif seems to block the access of the template nucleotide to the catalytic cavity. This result may be useful in the design of new antivirals against not only FMDV but also other picornaviruses, since all members of this family require the uridylylation of their VPg proteins to initiate the viral RNA synthesis.


2003 ◽  
Vol 23 (12) ◽  
pp. 4094-4106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amine O. Noueiry ◽  
Juana Diez ◽  
Shaun P. Falk ◽  
Jianbo Chen ◽  
Paul Ahlquist

ABSTRACT Previously, we used the ability of the higher eukaryotic positive-strand RNA virus brome mosaic virus (BMV) to replicate in yeast to show that the yeast LSM1 gene is required for recruiting BMV RNA from translation to replication. Here we extend this observation to show that Lsm1p and other components of the Lsm1p-Lsm7p/Pat1p deadenylation-dependent mRNA decapping complex were also required for translating BMV RNAs. Inhibition of BMV RNA translation was selective, with no effect on general cellular translation. We show that viral genomic RNAs suitable for RNA replication were already distinguished from nonreplication templates at translation, well before RNA recruitment to replication. Among mRNA turnover pathways, only factors specific for deadenylated mRNA decapping were required for BMV RNA translation. Dependence on these factors was not only a consequence of the nonpolyadenylated nature of BMV RNAs but also involved the combined effects of the viral 5′ and 3′ noncoding regions and 2a polymerase open reading frame. High-resolution sucrose density gradient analysis showed that, while mutating factors in the Lsm1p-7p/Pat1p complex completely inhibited viral RNA translation, the levels of viral RNA associated with ribosomes were only slightly reduced in mutant yeast. This polysome association was further verified by using a conditional allele of essential translation initiation factor PRT1, which markedly decreased polysome association of viral genomic RNA in the presence or absence of an LSM7 mutation. Together, these results show that a defective Lsm1p-7p/Pat1p complex inhibits BMV RNA translation primarily by stalling or slowing the elongation of ribosomes along the viral open reading frame. Thus, factors in the Lsm1p-7p/Pat1p complex function not only in mRNA decapping but also in translation, and both translation and recruitment of BMV RNAs to viral RNA replication are regulated by a cell pathway that transfers mRNAs from translation to degradation.


1999 ◽  
Vol 73 (2) ◽  
pp. 1092-1098 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Smerdou ◽  
P. Liljeström

ABSTRACT Alphavirus expression systems based on suicidal virus particles carrying recombinant replicons have proven to be a very efficient way to deliver genes for heterologous protein expression. However, present strategies for production of such particles have biosafety limitations due to the generation, by RNA recombination, of replication-proficient viruses (RPVs). Here we describe a new packaging system for Semliki Forest virus (SFV) based on a the use of a two-helper system in which the capsid and spike proteins of the C-p62-6K-E1 polyprotein are expressed from two independent RNA molecules. The capsid gene contains a translational enhancer and therefore that sequence was also engineered in front of the spike sequence p62-6K-E1. A sequence coding for the foot-and-mouth disease virus 2A autoprotease was inserted in frame between the capsid translational enhancer and the spike genes. This allows production of the spike proteins at high levels with cotranslational removal of the enhancer sequence and normal biosynthesis of the spike complex. The autoprotease activity of the capsid protein was abolished by mutation, further increasing the biosafety of the system. Cotransfection of cells with both helper RNAs and an SFV vector replicon carrying the LacZ gene led to production of recombinant particles with titers of up to 8 × 108 particles per 106 cells. Extensive analysis failed to demonstrate the presence of any RPVs, emphasizing the high biosafety of the system based on two-helper RNAs.


Author(s):  
S. H. Wool ◽  
J. Polatnick

The Golgi apparatus was isolated from infected baby hamster kidney cells by centrifugation through discontinuous sucrose gradients. Tritium-labeled protein samples were analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic autoradiograms. Pulse-chase studies showed that the viral-induced RNA polymerase passed through the Golgi as infection progressed. Some viral coat proteins were also associated with the Golgi as were other as yet unidentified viral proteins (Fig. 1). Immune labeling of isolated and in situ Golgi confirmed the presence of viral RNA polymerase. The isolated (Fig. 2) and in situ Golgi were labeled with guinea pig antipolymerase antibody and ferritin-labeled goat anti-guinea pig sera to show the presence of viral RNA polymerase.Earlier work in this laboratory established that the RNA polymerase was bound to membranes of newly formed smooth vacuoles during infection with FMDV. The smaller protein on the gel in Fig. 1 (arrow) corresponds in size to VPg (a nonstructural protein bound to the 5' end of viral RNA) has also been shown to be membrane bound.


2013 ◽  
Vol 88 (5) ◽  
pp. 2737-2747 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. P. Gladue ◽  
V. O'Donnell ◽  
R. Baker-Bransetter ◽  
J. M. Pacheco ◽  
L. G. Holinka ◽  
...  

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