scholarly journals Arenavirus nucleoprotein localizes to mitochondria

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesca Baggio ◽  
Udo Hetzel ◽  
Lisbeth Nufer ◽  
Anja Kipar ◽  
Jussi Hepojoki
Keyword(s):  
Mitochondrial Targeting ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Immune Electron Microscopy ◽  
Isolated Mitochondria ◽  
Mitochondrial Functions ◽  
Cellular Factors ◽  
Infected Cells ◽  
Targeting Signal ◽  
Mitochondria Targeting

ABSTRACTViruses need cells to replicate and, therefore, ways to counteract the host’s immune response. Mitochondria play central roles in mediating innate immunity, hence some viruses have developed mechanisms to alter mitochondrial functions. Herein we show that arenavirus nucleoprotein (NP) enters the mitochondria of infected cells and affects their morphological integrity. We initially demonstrate electron-dense inclusions within mitochondria of reptarenavirus infected cells and hypothesized that these represent viral NP. Software predictions then serve to identify a putative N-terminal mitochondrial targeting signal (MTS) in arenavirus NPs; however, comparisons of wild-type and N-terminus mutated NPs suggest MTS-independent mitochondrial entry. NP does not enter isolated mitochondria, indicating that translocation requires additional cellular factors or conditions. Immune electron microscopy finally confirms the presence of NP within the mitochondria both in vitro and in infected animals. We hypothesize that mitochondria targeting might complement the known interferon antagonist functions of NP or alter the cell’s metabolic state.

scholarly journals A subpopulation of arenavirus nucleoprotein localizes to mitochondria

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesca Baggio ◽  
Udo Hetzel ◽  
Lisbeth Nufer ◽  
Anja Kipar ◽  
Jussi Hepojoki
Keyword(s):  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Cytoplasmic Inclusion ◽  
Mitochondrial Morphology ◽  
Cellular Functions ◽  
Cellular Defense ◽  
Mitochondrial Functions ◽  
Infected Cells ◽  
Cytoplasmic Inclusion Bodies ◽  
Targeting Signal

AbstractViruses need cells for their replication and, therefore, ways to hijack cellular functions. Mitochondria play fundamental roles within the cell in metabolism, immunity and regulation of homeostasis due to which some viruses aim to alter mitochondrial functions. Herein we show that the nucleoprotein (NP) of arenaviruses enters the mitochondria of infected cells, affecting the mitochondrial morphology. Reptarenaviruses cause boid inclusion body disease (BIBD) that is characterized, especially in boas, by the formation of cytoplasmic inclusion bodies (IBs) comprising reptarenavirus NP within the infected cells. We initiated this study after observing electron-dense material reminiscent of IBs within the mitochondria of reptarenavirus infected boid cell cultures in an ultrastructural study. We employed immuno-electron microscopy to confirm that the mitochondrial inclusions indeed contain reptarenavirus NP. Mutations to a putative N-terminal mitochondrial targeting signal (MTS), identified via software predictions in both mamm- and reptarenavirus NPs, did not affect the mitochondrial localization of NP, suggesting that it occurs independently of MTS. In support of MTS-independent translocation, we did not detect cleavage of the putative MTSs of arenavirus NPs in reptilian or mammalian cells. Furthermore, in vitro translated NPs could not enter isolated mitochondria, suggesting that the translocation requires cellular factors or conditions. Our findings suggest that MTS-independent mitochondrial translocation of NP is a shared feature among arenaviruses. We speculate that by targeting the mitochondria arenaviruses aim to alter mitochondrial metabolism and homeostasis or affect the cellular defense.

scholarly journals Cleavage between Replicase Proteins p28 and p65 of Mouse Hepatitis Virus Is Not Required for Virus Replication

2004 ◽  
Vol 78 (11) ◽  
pp. 5957-5965 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark R. Denison ◽  
Boyd Yount ◽  
Sarah M. Brockway ◽  
Rachel L. Graham ◽  
Amy C. Sims ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rna Synthesis ◽  
Hepatitis Virus ◽  
Mouse Hepatitis Virus ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Virus Growth ◽  
Amino Terminal ◽  
Normal Expression ◽  
Infected Cells ◽  
Critical Residues

ABSTRACT The p28 and p65 proteins of mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) are the most amino-terminal protein domains of the replicase polyprotein. Cleavage between p28 and p65 has been shown to occur in vitro at cleavage site 1 (CS1), 247Gly↓Val248, in the polyprotein. Although critical residues for CS1 cleavage have been mapped in vitro, the requirements for cleavage have not been studied in infected cells. To define the determinants of CS1 cleavage and the role of processing at this site during MHV replication, mutations and deletions were engineered in the replicase polyprotein at CS1. Mutations predicted to allow cleavage at CS1 yielded viable virus that grew to wild-type MHV titers and showed normal expression and processing of p28 and p65. Mutant viruses containing predicted noncleaving mutations or a CS1 deletion were also viable but demonstrated delayed growth kinetics, reduced peak titers, decreased RNA synthesis, and small plaques compared to wild-type controls. No p28 or p65 was detected in cells infected with predicted noncleaving CS1 mutants or the CS1 deletion mutant; however, a new protein of 93 kDa was detected. All introduced mutations and the deletion were retained during repeated virus passages in culture, and no phenotypic reversion was observed. The results of this study demonstrate that cleavage between p28 and p65 at CS1 is not required for MHV replication. However, proteolytic separation of p28 from p65 is necessary for optimal RNA synthesis and virus growth, suggesting important roles for these proteins in the formation or function of viral replication complexes.

scholarly journals An Antiviral Peptide Inhibitor That Is Active against Picornavirus 2A Proteinases but Not Cellular Caspases

2006 ◽  
Vol 80 (19) ◽  
pp. 9619-9627 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luiza Deszcz ◽  
Regina Cencic ◽  
Carla Sousa ◽  
Ernst Kuechler ◽  
Tim Skern
Keyword(s):  
Initiation Factor ◽  
Caspase Inhibitor ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Caspase 9 ◽  
General Caspase Inhibitor ◽  
Infected Cells ◽  
Antiviral Peptide ◽  
Specific Inhibitors

ABSTRACT The replication of many viruses is absolutely dependent on proteolytic cleavage. Infected cells also use this biological mechanism to induce programmed cell death in response to viral infection. Specific inhibitors for both viral and cellular proteases are therefore of vital importance. We have recently shown that the general caspase inhibitor zVAD.fmk inhibits not only caspases, but also the 2A pro of human rhinoviruses (HRVs) (L. Deszcz, J. Seipelt, E. Vassilieva, A. Roetzer, and E. Kuechler, FEBS Lett. 560:51-55, 2004). Here, we describe a derivative of zVAD.fmk that inhibits HRV2 2A pro but that has no effect on caspase 9. This gain in specificity was achieved by replacing the aspartic acid of zVAD.fmk with methionine to generate zVAM.fmk. Methionine was chosen because an oligopeptide with methionine at the P1 position was a much better substrate than an oligopeptide with an alanine residue, which is found at the P1 position of the wild-type HRV2 2A pro cleavage site. zVAM.fmk inhibits the replication of HRV type 2 (HRV2), HRV14, and HRV16. In contrast to zVAD.fmk, however, zVAM.fmk did not inhibit apoptosis induced by puromycin in HeLa cells. zVAM.fmk inhibited in vitro the intermolecular cleavage of eukaryotic initiation factor 4GI (eIF4GI) by HRV2 2A pro at nanomolar concentrations. However, much higher concentrations of zVAM.fmk were required to inhibit HRV14 2A pro cleavage of eIF4GI. In contrast, intramolecular self-processing of HRV14 2A pro was much more susceptible to inhibition by zVAM.fmk than that of HRV2 2A pro , suggesting that zVAM.fmk inhibits HRV2 and HRV14 replication by targeting different reactions of the same proteinase.

scholarly journals Trypanosome Alternative Oxidase Possesses both an N-Terminal and Internal Mitochondrial Targeting Signal

2014 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 539-547 ◽  
Author(s):  
VaNae Hamilton ◽  
Ujjal K. Singha ◽  
Joseph T. Smith ◽  
Ebony Weems ◽  
Minu Chaudhuri
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Alternative Oxidase ◽  
Heterologous Protein ◽  
Amino Acid Residues ◽  
Mitochondrial Targeting ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Targeting Signal ◽  
Internal Signal ◽  
Trypanosome Alternative Oxidase

ABSTRACTRecognition of mitochondrial targeting signals (MTS) by receptor translocases of outer and inner membranes of mitochondria is one of the prerequisites for import of nucleus-encoded proteins into this organelle. The MTS for a majority of trypanosomatid mitochondrial proteins have not been well defined. Here we analyzed the targeting signal for trypanosome alternative oxidase (TAO), which functions as the sole terminal oxidase in the infective form ofTrypanosoma brucei. Deleting the first 10 of 24 amino acids predicted to be the classical N-terminal MTS of TAO did not affect its import into mitochondriain vitro. Furthermore, ectopically expressed TAO was targeted to mitochondria in both forms of the parasite even after deletion of first 40 amino acid residues. However, deletion of more than 20 amino acid residues from the N terminus reduced the efficiency of import. These data suggest that besides an N-terminal MTS, TAO possesses an internal mitochondrial targeting signal. In addition, both the N-terminal MTS and the mature TAO protein were able to target a cytosolic protein, dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), to aT. bruceimitochondrion. Further analysis identified a cryptic internal MTS of TAO, located within amino acid residues 115 to 146, which was fully capable of targeting DHFR to mitochondria. The internal signal was more efficient than the N-terminal MTS for import of this heterologous protein. Together, these results show that TAO possesses a cleavable N-terminal MTS as well as an internal MTS and that these signals act together for efficient import of TAO into mitochondria.

scholarly journals Characterization of the Vaccinia Virus A35R Protein and Its Role in Virulence

2006 ◽  
Vol 80 (1) ◽  
pp. 306-313 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel L. Roper
Keyword(s):  
Vaccinia Virus ◽  
Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis ◽  
Sodium Dodecyl ◽  
Normal Growth ◽  
Protein Band ◽  
Mutant Virus ◽  
Translation System ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Infected Cells

ABSTRACT The vaccinia virus A35R gene is highly conserved among poxviruses and encodes a previously uncharacterized hydrophobic acidic protein. Western blotting with anti-A35R peptide antibodies indicated that the protein is expressed early in infection and resolved as a single sharp band of ∼23 kDa, slightly higher than the 20 kDa predicted from its sequence. The protein band appeared to be the same molecular weight on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, whether expressed in an in vitro transcription/translation system without microsomes or expressed in infected cells, suggesting that it was not glycosylated. A mutant virus with the A35R gene deleted (vA35Δ) formed wild-type-sized plaques on all cell lines tested (human, monkey, mouse, and rabbit); thus, A35R is not required for replication and does not appear to be a host range gene. Although the A35R protein is hydrophobic, it is unlikely to be an integral membrane protein, as it partitioned to the aqueous phase during TX-114 partitioning. The protein could not be detected in virus-infected cell supernatants. A35R localized intracellularly to the virus factories, where the first stages of morphogenesis occur. The vA35Δ mutant formed near-normal levels of the various morphogenic stages of infectious virus particles and supported normal acid-induced fusion of virus-infected cells. Despite normal growth and morphogenesis in vitro, the vA35Δ mutant virus was attenuated in intranasal challenge of mice compared to wild-type and A35R rescue virus. Thus, the intracellular A35R protein plays a role in virulence. The A35R has little homology to any protein outside of poxviruses, suggesting a novel virulence mechanism.

scholarly journals Pet secretion, internalization and induction of cell death during infection of epithelial cells by enteroaggregative Escherichia coli

Microbiology ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 155 (9) ◽  
pp. 2895-2906 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miguel Betancourt-Sanchez ◽  
Fernando Navarro-Garcia
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Cell Death ◽  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Morphological Changes ◽  
Eukaryotic Cell ◽  
Transcriptional Level ◽  
Cell Detachment ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Infected Cells

In an in vitro model using HEp-2 cells treated with purified plasmid-encoded toxin (Pet), we have identified morphological changes characterized by cell rounding and detachment after toxin internalization; these changes progress to cell death. However, these effects have not yet been shown to occur during the infection of epithelial cells by enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC). Here, we show that the secretion of Pet by EAEC is regulated at the transcriptional level, since secretion was inhibited in eukaryotic cell culture medium, although Pet was efficiently secreted in the same medium supplemented with tryptone. Inefficient secretion of Pet by EAEC in DMEM prevented cell detachment, whereas efficient Pet secretion in DMEM/tryptone increased cell detachment in a HEp-2 cell adherence assay. Interestingly, Pet toxin was efficiently delivered to epithelial cells, since it was internalized into epithelial cells infected with EAEC at similar concentrations to those obtained by using 37 μg ml−1 purified Pet protein. Additionally, Pet was not internalized when the epithelial cells were infected with a pet clone, HB101(pCEFN1), unlike the wild-type strain, which has a high adherence capability. There is a correlation between Pet secretion by EAEC, the internalization of Pet into epithelial cells, cell detachment and cell death in EAEC-infected cells. The ratio between live and dead cells decreased in cells treated with wild-type EAEC in comparison with cells treated with an isogenic mutant in the pet gene, whereas the effects were restored by complementing the mutant with the pet gene. All these data indicate that Pet is an important virulence factor in the pathogenesis of EAEC infection.

scholarly journals Revealing the host antiviral protein ZAP-S as an inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 programmed ribosomal frameshifting

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthias Michael Zimmer ◽  
Anuja Nitin Kibe ◽  
Ulfert Rand ◽  
Lukas Pekarek ◽  
Luca Cicin-Sain ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Single Molecule ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Specific Inhibitor ◽  
Antiviral Protein ◽  
Ribosomal Frameshifting ◽  
Reading Frame ◽  
Rna Molecules ◽  
Cellular Factors ◽  
Infected Cells

Programmed ribosomal frameshifting (PRF) is a fundamental gene expression event in many viruses including SARS-CoV-2, which allows production of essential structural and replicative enzymes from an alternative reading frame. Despite the importance of PRF for the viral life cycle, it is still largely unknown how and to what extent cellular factors alter mechanical properties of frameshifting RNA molecules and thereby impact virulence. This prompted us to comprehensively dissect the interplay between the host proteome and the SARS-CoV-2 frameshift element. Here, we reveal that zinc-finger antiviral protein (ZAP-S) is a direct and specific regulator of PRF in SARS-CoV-2 infected cells. ZAP-S overexpression strongly impairs frameshifting and viral replication. Using in vitro ensemble and single-molecule techniques, we further demonstrate that ZAP-S directly interacts with the SARS-CoV-2 RNA and ribosomes and interferes with the folding of the frameshift RNA. Together these data illuminate ZAP-S as de novo host-encoded specific inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 frameshifting and expand our understanding of RNA-based gene regulation.

A mutation at the ATP-binding site of pp60v-src abolishes kinase activity, transformation, and tumorigenicity

1985 ◽  
Vol 5 (7) ◽  
pp. 1772-1779
Author(s):  
M A Snyder ◽  
J M Bishop ◽  
J P McGrath ◽  
A D Levinson
Keyword(s):  
Binding Site ◽  
Kinase Activity ◽  
Atp Binding ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Dependent Protein Kinase ◽  
Atp Binding Site ◽  
Specific Immunoglobulin ◽  
Dependent Protein ◽  
Infected Cells

We constructed a mutant, called RSV-SF2, at the ATP-binding site of pp60v-src. In this mutant, lysine-295 is replaced with methionine. SF2 pp60v-src was found to have a half-life similar to that of wild-type pp60v-src and was localized in the membranous fraction of the cell. Rat cells expressing SF2 pp60v-src were morphologically untransformed and do not form tumors. The SF2 pp60v-src isolated from these cells lacked kinase activity with either specific immunoglobulin or other substrates, and expression of SF2 pp60v-src failed to cause an increase of total phosphotyrosine in the proteins of infected cells. Wild-type pp60v-src was phosphorylated on serine and tyrosine in infected cells, and the analogous phosphorylations could also be carried out in vitro. Phosphorylation of serine was catalyzed by a cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase, and phosphorylation of tyrosine was perhaps catalyzed by pp60v-src itself. By contrast, SF2 pp60v-src could not be phosphorylated on serine or tyrosine either in infected cells or in vitro. These findings strengthen the belief that the phosphotransferase activity of pp60v-src is required for neoplastic transformation by the protein and suggest that the binding of ATP to pp60v-src elicits an allosteric change required for phosphorylation of serine in the protein.

scholarly journals Targeting of NH2-terminal–processed Microsomal Protein to Mitochondria: A Novel Pathway for the Biogenesis of Hepatic Mitochondrial P450MT2

1997 ◽  
Vol 139 (3) ◽  
pp. 589-599 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sankar Addya ◽  
Hindupur K. Anandatheerthavarada ◽  
Gopa Biswas ◽  
Shripad V. Bhagwat ◽  
Jayati Mullick ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transmembrane Domain ◽  
Signal Sequence ◽  
Limited Proteolysis ◽  
Membrane Insertion ◽  
Sequence Motif ◽  
Specific Marker ◽  
Mitochondrial Targeting ◽  
Targeting Signal ◽  
Er Membrane

Cytochrome P4501A1 is a hepatic, microsomal membrane–bound enzyme that is highly induced by various xenobiotic agents. Two NH2-terminal truncated forms of this P450, termed P450MT2a and MT2b, are also found localized in mitochondria from β-naphthoflavone–induced livers. In this paper, we demonstrate that P4501A1 has a chimeric NH2-terminal signal that facilitates the targeting of the protein to both the ER and mitochondria. The NH2-terminal 30–amino acid stretch of P4501A1 is thought to provide signals for ER membrane insertion and also stop transfer. The present study provides evidence that a sequence motif immediately COOH-terminal (residues 33–44) to the transmembrane domain functions as a mitochondrial targeting signal under both in vivo and in vitro conditions, and that the positively charged residues at positions 34 and 39 are critical for mitochondrial targeting. Results suggest that 25% of P4501A1 nascent chains, which escape ER membrane insertion, are processed by a liver cytosolic endoprotease. We postulate that the NH2-terminal proteolytic cleavage activates a cryptic mitochondrial targeting signal. Immunofluorescence microscopy showed that a portion of transiently expressed P4501A1 is colocalized with the mitochondrial-specific marker protein cytochrome oxidase subunit I. The mitochondrial-associated MT2a and MT2b are localized within the inner membrane compartment, as tested by resistance to limited proteolysis in both intact mitochondria and mitoplasts. Our results therefore describe a novel mechanism whereby proteins with chimeric signal sequence are targeted to the ER as well as to the mitochondria.

FINE STRUCTURAL CHANGES IN ISOLATED MITOCHONDRIA OF HEALTHY AND VIRUS-INFECTED VICIA FABA L.

1966 ◽  
Vol 44 (8) ◽  
pp. 1017-1024 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Weintraub ◽  
H. W. J. Ragetli ◽  
V. T. John
Keyword(s):  
Structural Changes ◽  
Broad Bean ◽  
Plant Mitochondria ◽  
Yellow Mosaic Virus ◽  
Normal Appearance ◽  
Isolated Mitochondria ◽  
Vicia Faba L ◽  
Infected Cells

Mitochondria within leaf cells of healthy broad bean had the normal appearance of plant mitochondria, while within cells infected with bean yellow mosaic virus they had matrices that were electron-opaque and cristae that were swollen and angular. However, upon isolation, mitochondria from healthy broad bean cells became indistinguishable from either mitochondria in situ in virus-infected cells, or from mitochondria in vitro isolated from virus-infected cells. Cristae of the isolated mitochondria were greatly inflated, while the matrices were reduced to a thin network in which spherical substructural components, 130–140 A in diameter, were visible. These changes in isolated healthy mitochondria could not be prevented by the use of tannin inhibitors. No significant differences were found in the succinoxidase activities of the isolated healthy and infected mitochondria.

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