scholarly journals In situ Alphavirus Assembly and Budding Mechanism Revealed by Cellular CryoET

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Chmielewski ◽  
Michael F. Schmid ◽  
Graham Simmons ◽  
Jing Jin ◽  
Wah Chiu
Keyword(s):  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Electron Tomography ◽  
Lateral Interactions ◽  
Virus Budding ◽  
Structural Mechanism ◽  
Infected Cells ◽  
Assembly Intermediate ◽  
Envelope Layer

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is an alphavirus and the etiological agent for debilitating arthritogenic disease in humans. Previous studies with purified virions or budding mutants have not resolved the structural mechanism of alphavirus assembly in situ. Here we used cryogenic electron tomography (cryoET) imaging of CHIKV-infected human cells and subvolume classification to resolve distinct assembly intermediate conformations. These structures revealed that particle formation is driven by the spike envelope layer. Additionally, we showed that asymmetric immature nucleocapsids (NCs) provide scaffolds to trigger assembly of the icosahedral spike lattice, which progressively transforms immature NCs into icosahedral cores during virus budding. Further, cryoET of the infected cells treated with neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) showed that NAb-induced blockage of CHIKV assembly was achieved by preventing spike-spike lateral interactions that are required to bend the plasma membrane around NC cores. These findings provide molecular mechanisms for designing antivirals targeting spike-driven assembly/budding of viruses.

scholarly journals In situ Alphavirus Assembly and Budding Mechanism Revealed by Cellular CryoET

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Chmielewski ◽  
Michael Schmid ◽  
Graham Simmons ◽  
Jing Jin ◽  
Wah Chiu
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Electron Tomography ◽  
Virus Budding ◽  
Enveloped Virus ◽  
Infected Cells ◽  
Membrane Bending ◽  
Average Structures

Abstract Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a representative alphavirus causing debilitating arthritogenic disease in humans. Alphavirus particles assemble into two icosahedral protein layers: the glycoprotein spike shell embedded in a lipid envelope and the inner nucleocapsid (NC) core. In contrast to matrix-driven assembly of some enveloped viruses, the assembly/budding process of two-layered icosahedral particles remains poorly understood. Here we used cryogenic electron tomography (cryoET) to capture snapshots of the CHIKV assembly process in infected human cells. Subvolume classification of the snapshots revealed 12 intermediate structures, representing different stages of assembly/budding at the plasma membrane. Further subtomogram average structures ranging from subnanometer to nanometer resolutions show that immature, non-icosahedral NCs function as rough scaffolds to trigger icosahedral assembly of the glycoprotein spike lattice, which in turn progressively transforms the underlying NCs into icosahedral cores during budding. Here we resolve a long-standing mechanistic question about the role of spikes and NCs in assembly of two-layered icosahedral shells. Further, data of CHIKV-infected cells treated with budding-inhibiting antibodies shows that spacing spikes apart to prevent their lateral interactions prevents the plasma membrane bending around NC cores, thus blocking virus budding. These findings provide the molecular details of icosahedral enveloped virus formation and antibodies against assembly/budding.

scholarly journals Assembly intermediates of orthoreovirus captured in the cell

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geoff Sutton ◽  
Dapeng Sun ◽  
Xiaofeng Fu ◽  
Abhay Kotecha ◽  
Corey W. Hecksel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electron Tomography ◽  
Molecular Assembly ◽  
Molecular Structures ◽  
Virus Family ◽  
Mammalian Orthoreovirus ◽  
Infected Cells ◽  
Dsrna Viruses ◽  
Assembly Intermediate ◽  
Assembly Pathways

Traditionally molecular assembly pathways for viruses have been inferred from high resolution structures of stable intermediates purified in vitro, and from low resolution images of cell sections as well as from genetic approaches including conditionally lethal mutants. Here, we directly visualise a previously unsuspected ‘single shelled’ icosahedral intermediate for a mammalian orthoreovirus, in addition to the expected virions, in cryo-preserved infected cells by cryo-electron tomography of cellular lamellae1,2. Particle classification and averaging yielded structures at resolutions as high as 5.6 Å, sufficient to identify secondary structural elements and place known molecular structures, allowing us to produce an atomic model of the intermediate, comprising 120 copies of protein λ1 and 120 copies of σ2. This λ1 shell is in a ‘collapsed’ form compared to the mature virions, with the molecules pushed inwards at the icosahedral 5-folds by ~100 Å. This grossly indented shell, although produced by a mammalian reovirus, is reminiscent of the first assembly intermediate of prokaryotic dsRNA viruses belonging to a different virus family3, adding weight to the supposition that these diverse viruses share a common ancestor, and suggesting mechanisms for the assembly of viruses of the Reoviridae. Such methodology holds enormous promise for the dissection of the replication cycle of many viruses.

scholarly journals Assembly intermediates of orthoreovirus captured in the cell

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Geoff Sutton ◽  
Dapeng Sun ◽  
Xiaofeng Fu ◽  
Abhay Kotecha ◽  
Corey W. Hecksel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electron Tomography ◽  
Molecular Assembly ◽  
Structural Elements ◽  
Cryo Electron Tomography ◽  
Mammalian Orthoreovirus ◽  
Infected Cells ◽  
Dsrna Viruses ◽  
Assembly Intermediate ◽  
Assembly Pathways ◽  
Secondary Structural Elements

Abstract Traditionally, molecular assembly pathways for viruses are inferred from high resolution structures of purified stable intermediates, low resolution images of cell sections and genetic approaches. Here, we directly visualise an unsuspected ‘single shelled’ intermediate for a mammalian orthoreovirus in cryo-preserved infected cells, by cryo-electron tomography of cellular lamellae. Particle classification and averaging yields structures to 5.6 Å resolution, sufficient to identify secondary structural elements and produce an atomic model of the intermediate, comprising 120 copies each of protein λ1 and σ2. This λ1 shell is ‘collapsed’ compared to the mature virions, with molecules pushed inwards at the icosahedral fivefolds by ~100 Å, reminiscent of the first assembly intermediate of certain prokaryotic dsRNA viruses. This supports the supposition that these viruses share a common ancestor, and suggests mechanisms for the assembly of viruses of the Reoviridae. Such methodology holds promise for dissecting the replication cycle of many viruses.

scholarly journals HP1 drives de novo 3D genome reorganization in early Drosophila embryos

Nature ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fides Zenk ◽  
Yinxiu Zhan ◽  
Pavel Kos ◽  
Eva Löser ◽  
Nazerke Atinbayeva ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genome Organization ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
High Throughput Sequencing ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Early Embryo ◽  
Heterochromatin Protein ◽  
Chromosome Conformation ◽  
3D Genome ◽  
Genome Reorganization

AbstractFundamental features of 3D genome organization are established de novo in the early embryo, including clustering of pericentromeric regions, the folding of chromosome arms and the segregation of chromosomes into active (A-) and inactive (B-) compartments. However, the molecular mechanisms that drive de novo organization remain unknown1,2. Here, by combining chromosome conformation capture (Hi-C), chromatin immunoprecipitation with high-throughput sequencing (ChIP–seq), 3D DNA fluorescence in situ hybridization (3D DNA FISH) and polymer simulations, we show that heterochromatin protein 1a (HP1a) is essential for de novo 3D genome organization during Drosophila early development. The binding of HP1a at pericentromeric heterochromatin is required to establish clustering of pericentromeric regions. Moreover, HP1a binding within chromosome arms is responsible for overall chromosome folding and has an important role in the formation of B-compartment regions. However, depletion of HP1a does not affect the A-compartment, which suggests that a different molecular mechanism segregates active chromosome regions. Our work identifies HP1a as an epigenetic regulator that is involved in establishing the global structure of the genome in the early embryo.

Herpesvirus-Associated Proliferative Skin Disease in Frogs and Toads: Proposed Pathogenesis

2021 ◽  
pp. 030098582110063
Author(s):  
Francesco C. Origgi ◽  
Patricia Otten ◽  
Petra Lohmann ◽  
Ursula Sattler ◽  
Thomas Wahli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Rana Temporaria ◽  
Skin Lesions ◽  
Bufo Bufo ◽  
Careful Examination ◽  
Altered Expression ◽  
Expression Of Genes ◽  
Cell Remodeling ◽  
Tissue Changes

A comparative study was carried out on common and agile frogs ( Rana temporaria and R. dalmatina) naturally infected with ranid herpesvirus 3 (RaHV3) and common toads ( Bufo bufo) naturally infected with bufonid herpesvirus 1 (BfHV1) to investigate common pathogenetic pathways and molecular mechanisms based on macroscopic, microscopic, and ultrastructural pathology as well as evaluation of gene expression. Careful examination of the tissue changes, supported by in situ hybridization, at different stages of development in 6 frogs and 14 toads revealed that the skin lesions are likely transient, and part of a tissue cycle necessary for viral replication in the infected hosts. Transcriptomic analysis, carried out on 2 naturally infected and 2 naïve common frogs ( Rana temporaria) and 2 naturally infected and 2 naïve common toads ( Bufo bufo), revealed altered expression of genes involved in signaling and cell remodeling in diseased animals. Finally, virus transcriptomics revealed that both RaHV3 and BfHV1 had relatively high expression of a putative immunomodulating gene predicted to encode a decoy receptor for tumor necrosis factor in the skin of the infected hosts. Thus, the comparable lesions in infected frogs and toads appear to reflect a concerted epidermal and viral cycle, with presumptive involvement of signaling and gene remodeling host and immunomodulatory viral genes.

scholarly journals A cryo–electron tomography workflow reveals protrusion-mediated shedding on injured plasma membrane

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (13) ◽  
pp. eabc6345
Author(s):  
Shrawan Kumar Mageswaran ◽  
Wei Yuan Yang ◽  
Yogaditya Chakrabarty ◽  
Catherine M. Oikonomou ◽  
Grant J. Jensen
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Electron Tomography ◽  
Membrane Damage ◽  
Light And Electron Microscopy ◽  
Actin Dynamics ◽  
Endosomal Sorting ◽  
Plasma Membrane Damage ◽  
Cryo Electron Tomography ◽  
Vacuolar Protein

Cryo–electron tomography (cryo-ET) provides structural context to molecular mechanisms underlying biological processes. Although straightforward to implement for studying stable macromolecular complexes, using it to locate short-lived structures and events can be impractical. A combination of live-cell microscopy, correlative light and electron microscopy, and cryo-ET will alleviate this issue. We developed a workflow combining the three to study the ubiquitous and dynamic process of shedding in response to plasma membrane damage in HeLa cells. We found filopodia-like protrusions enriched at damage sites and acting as scaffolds for shedding, which involves F-actin dynamics, myosin-1a, and vacuolar protein sorting 4B (a component of the ‘endosomal sorting complex required for transport’ machinery). Overall, shedding is more complex than current models of vesiculation from flat membranes. Its similarities to constitutive shedding in enterocytes argue for a conserved mechanism. Our workflow can also be adapted to study other damage response pathways and dynamic cellular events.

scholarly journals High-resolution view of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase initiation complexes and inhibition by NNRTI drugs

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Betty Ha ◽  
Kevin P. Larsen ◽  
Jingji Zhang ◽  
Ziao Fu ◽  
Elizabeth Montabana ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reverse Transcriptase ◽  
Viral Entry ◽  
Reverse Transcription ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Dissociation Kinetics ◽  
Structural Mechanism ◽  
Medium Resolution ◽  
Kinetics Of ◽  
Hiv 1

AbstractReverse transcription of the HIV-1 viral RNA genome (vRNA) is an integral step in virus replication. Upon viral entry, HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) initiates from a host tRNALys3 primer bound to the vRNA genome and is the target of key antivirals, such as non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs). Initiation proceeds slowly with discrete pausing events along the vRNA template. Despite prior medium-resolution structural characterization of reverse transcriptase initiation complexes (RTICs), higher-resolution structures of the RTIC are needed to understand the molecular mechanisms that underlie initiation. Here we report cryo-EM structures of the core RTIC, RTIC–nevirapine, and RTIC–efavirenz complexes at 2.8, 3.1, and 2.9 Å, respectively. In combination with biochemical studies, these data suggest a basis for rapid dissociation kinetics of RT from the vRNA–tRNALys3 initiation complex and reveal a specific structural mechanism of nucleic acid conformational stabilization during initiation. Finally, our results show that NNRTIs inhibit the RTIC and exacerbate discrete pausing during early reverse transcription.

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