scholarly journals Structural basis of ribosomal frameshifting during translation of the SARS-CoV-2 RNA genome

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pramod R. Bhatt ◽  
Alain Scaiola ◽  
Gary Loughran ◽  
Marc Leibundgut ◽  
Annika Kratzel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Viral Proteins ◽  
Viral Rna ◽  
Structural Basis ◽  
Rna Dependent Rna Polymerase ◽  
Ribosomal Frameshifting ◽  
Infected Cells ◽  
Rna Genome ◽  
Exit Tunnel ◽  
Viral Polyprotein

AbstractProgrammed ribosomal frameshifting is the key event during translation of the SARS-CoV-2 RNA genome allowing synthesis of the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and downstream viral proteins. Here we present the cryo-EM structure of the mammalian ribosome in the process of translating viral RNA paused in a conformation primed for frameshifting. We observe that the viral RNA adopts a pseudoknot structure lodged at the mRNA entry channel of the ribosome to generate tension in the mRNA that leads to frameshifting. The nascent viral polyprotein that is being synthesized by the ribosome paused at the frameshifting site forms distinct interactions with the ribosomal polypeptide exit tunnel. We use biochemical experiments to validate our structural observations and to reveal mechanistic and regulatory features that influence the frameshifting efficiency. Finally, a compound previously shown to reduce frameshifting is able to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 replication in infected cells, establishing coronavirus frameshifting as target for antiviral intervention.

scholarly journals Structural basis of ribosomal frameshifting during translation of the SARS-CoV-2 RNA genome

Science ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. eabf3546
Author(s):  
Pramod R. Bhatt ◽  
Alain Scaiola ◽  
Gary Loughran ◽  
Marc Leibundgut ◽  
Annika Kratzel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Viral Rna ◽  
Structural Basis ◽  
Rna Dependent Rna Polymerase ◽  
Ribosomal Frameshifting ◽  
Cryo Electron Microscopy ◽  
Ribosomal Tunnel ◽  
Rna Genome ◽  
Viral Polyprotein

Programmed ribosomal frameshifting is a key event during translation of the SARS-CoV-2 RNA genome allowing synthesis of the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and downstream proteins. Here we present the cryo-electron microscopy structure of a translating mammalian ribosome primed for frameshifting on the viral RNA. The viral RNA adopts a pseudoknot structure that lodges at the entry to the ribosomal mRNA channel to generate tension in the mRNA and promote frameshifting, whereas the nascent viral polyprotein forms distinct interactions with the ribosomal tunnel. Biochemical experiments validate the structural observations and reveal mechanistic and regulatory features that influence frameshifting efficiency. Finally, we compare compounds previously shown to reduce frameshifting with respect to their ability to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 replication, establishing coronavirus frameshifting as a target for antiviral intervention.

scholarly journals Complementary Mutations in the N and L Proteins for Restoration of Viral RNA Synthesis

2018 ◽  
Vol 92 (22) ◽  
Author(s):  
Weike Li ◽  
Ryan H. Gumpper ◽  
Yusuf Uddin ◽  
Ingeborg Schmidt-Krey ◽  
Ming Luo
Keyword(s):  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Conformational Changes ◽  
Rna Synthesis ◽  
Large Subunit ◽  
Viral Rna ◽  
Structural Motif ◽  
General Mechanism ◽  
Rna Dependent Rna Polymerase ◽  
N Protein ◽  
Rna Genome

ABSTRACTDuring viral RNA synthesis by the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (vRdRp) of vesicular stomatitis virus, the sequestered RNA genome must be released from the nucleocapsid in order to serve as the template. Unveiling the sequestered RNA by interactions of vRdRp proteins, the large subunit (L) and the phosphoprotein (P), with the nucleocapsid protein (N) must not disrupt the nucleocapsid assembly. We noticed that a flexible structural motif composed of an α-helix and a loop in the N protein may act as the access gate to the sequestered RNA. This suggests that local conformational changes in this structural motif may be induced by interactions with the polymerase to unveil the sequestered RNA, without disrupting the nucleocapsid assembly. Mutations of several residues in this structural motif—Glu169, Phe171, and Leu174—to Ala resulted in loss of viral RNA synthesis in a minigenome assay. After implementing these mutations in the viral genome, mutant viruses were recovered by reverse genetics and serial passages. Sequencing the genomes of the mutant viruses revealed that compensatory mutations in L, P, and N were required to restore the viral viability. Corresponding mutations were introduced in L, P, and N, and their complementarity to the N mutations was confirmed by the minigenome assay. Introduction of the corresponding mutations is also sufficient to rescue the mutant viruses. These results suggested that the interplay of the N structural motif with the L protein may play a role in accessing the nucleotide template without disrupting the overall structure of the nucleocapsid.IMPORTANCEDuring viral RNA synthesis of a negative-strand RNA virus, the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (vRdRp) must gain access to the sequestered RNA in the nucleocapsid to use it as the template, but at the same time may not disrupt the nucleocapsid assembly. Our structural and mutagenesis studies showed that a flexible structural motif acts as a potential access gate to the sequestered RNA and plays an essential role in viral RNA synthesis. Interactions of this structural motif within the vRdRp may be required for unveiling the sequestered RNA. This mechanism of action allows the sequestered RNA to be released locally without disrupting the overall structure of the nucleocapsid. Since this flexible structural motif is present in the N proteins of many NSVs, release of the sequestered RNA genome by local conformational changes in the N protein may be a general mechanism in NSV viral RNA synthesis.

scholarly journals Taxonomy of Phleboviruses, Emphasizing Those That Are Sandfly-Borne

Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 918
Author(s):  
Charles H. Calisher ◽  
Mattia Calzolari
Keyword(s):  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Ribonucleic Acid ◽  
Messenger Rna ◽  
Scientific Literature ◽  
International Committee ◽  
Viral Rna ◽  
Rna Dependent Rna Polymerase ◽  
Rna Genome

Sandfly-borne phleboviruses (phylum Negarnavaricota, realm Riboviria, kingdom Orthornavirae, genus Phlebovirus) comprise three genome segments of ribonucleic acid (RNA) and which encode an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, which they use to transcribe the viral RNA genome into messenger RNA and to replicate the genome. At least some of these viruses cause mild 3-day fevers in humans but some also have been associated with more severe illnesses in humans. The 67 recognized phleboviruses are listed here in a table composed by the authors from International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses reports as well as the scientific literature.

scholarly journals Role of Enteroviral RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase in Regulation of MDA5-Mediated Beta Interferon Activation

2019 ◽  
Vol 93 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rei-Lin Kuo ◽  
Chi-Jene Chen ◽  
Robert Y. L. Wang ◽  
Hsing-I Huang ◽  
Ya-Han Lin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Neurological Complications ◽  
Innate Immune ◽  
Viral Rna ◽  
Type I ◽  
Caspase Activation ◽  
Promoter Activation ◽  
Rna Dependent Rna Polymerase ◽  
Beta Interferon ◽  
Infected Cells

ABSTRACT Infection by enteroviruses can cause severe neurological complications in humans. The interactions between the enteroviral and host proteins may facilitate the virus replication and be involved in the pathogenicity of infected individuals. It has been shown that human enteroviruses possess various mechanisms to suppress host innate immune responses in infected cells. Previous studies showed that infection by enterovirus 71 (EV71) causes the degradation of MDA5, which is a critical cytoplasmic pathogen sensor in the recognition of picornaviruses for initiating transcription of type I interferons. In the present study, we demonstrated that the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP; also denoted 3Dpol) encoded by EV71 interacts with the caspase activation and recruitment domains (CARDs) of MDA5 and plays a role in the inhibition of MDA5-mediated beta interferon (IFN-β) promoter activation and mRNA expression. In addition, we found that the 3Dpol protein encoded by coxsackievirus B3 also interacted with MDA5 and downregulated the antiviral signaling initiated by MDA5. These findings indicate that enteroviral RdRP may function as an antagonist against the host antiviral innate immune response. IMPORTANCE Infection by enteroviruses causes severe neurological complications in humans. Human enteroviruses possess various mechanisms to suppress the host type I interferon (IFN) response in infected cells to establish viral replication. In the present study, we found that the enteroviral 3Dpol protein (or RdRP), which is a viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase for replicating viral RNA, plays a role in the inhibition of MDA5-mediated beta interferon (IFN-β) promoter activation. We further demonstrated that enteroviral 3Dpol protein interacts with the caspase activation and recruitment domains (CARDs) of MDA5. These findings indicate that enteroviral RdRP functions as an antagonist against the host antiviral response.

scholarly journals Structural Basis for the Inhibition of the RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase from SARS-CoV-2 by Remdesivir

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wanchao Yin ◽  
Chunyou Mao ◽  
Xiaodong Luan ◽  
Dan-Dan Shen ◽  
Qingya Shen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Complex Structure ◽  
Antiviral Drug ◽  
Viral Rna ◽  
Chain Elongation ◽  
Structural Basis ◽  
Rna Dependent Rna Polymerase ◽  
Working Mechanism ◽  
Primer Rna

The pandemic of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by SARS-CoV-2 has become a global crisis. The replication of SARS-CoV-2 requires the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), a direct target of the antiviral drug, Remdesivir. Here we report the structure of the SARS-CoV-2 RdRp either in the apo form or in complex with a 50-base template-primer RNA and Remdesivir at a resolution range of 2.5-2.8 Å. The complex structure reveals that the partial double-stranded RNA template is inserted into the central channel of the RdRp where Remdesivir is incorporated into the first replicated base pair and terminates the chain elongation. Our structures provide critical insights into the working mechanism of viral RNA replication and a rational template for drug design to combat the viral infection.

scholarly journals Structural basis for inhibition of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase from SARS-CoV-2 by remdesivir

Science ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 368 (6498) ◽  
pp. 1499-1504 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wanchao Yin ◽  
Chunyou Mao ◽  
Xiaodong Luan ◽  
Dan-Dan Shen ◽  
Qingya Shen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Complex Structure ◽  
Antiviral Drug ◽  
Viral Rna ◽  
Chain Elongation ◽  
Structural Basis ◽  
Rna Dependent Rna Polymerase ◽  
Double Stranded Rna ◽  
Cryo Electron Microscopy ◽  
Primer Rna

The pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has become a global crisis. Replication of SARS-CoV-2 requires the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) enzyme, a target of the antiviral drug remdesivir. Here we report the cryo–electron microscopy structure of the SARS-CoV-2 RdRp, both in the apo form at 2.8-angstrom resolution and in complex with a 50-base template-primer RNA and remdesivir at 2.5-angstrom resolution. The complex structure reveals that the partial double-stranded RNA template is inserted into the central channel of the RdRp, where remdesivir is covalently incorporated into the primer strand at the first replicated base pair, and terminates chain elongation. Our structures provide insights into the mechanism of viral RNA replication and a rational template for drug design to combat the viral infection.

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