scholarly journals Triaryl Pyrazoline Compound Inhibits Flavivirus RNA Replication

2006 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
pp. 1320-1329 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesc Puig-Basagoiti ◽  
Mark Tilgner ◽  
Brett M. Forshey ◽  
Sean M. Philpott ◽  
Noel G. Espina ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rna Synthesis ◽  
Hepatitis Virus ◽  
Rna Replication ◽  
Viral Rna ◽  
Luciferase Reporter ◽  
Stable Cell Line ◽  
Selection Marker ◽  
Viral Translation ◽  
Flavivirus Infection

ABSTRACT Triaryl pyrazoline {[5-(4-chloro-phenyl)-3-thiophen-2-yl-4,5-dihydro-pyrazol-1-yl]-phenyl-methanone} inhibits flavivirus infection in cell culture. The inhibitor was identified through high-throughput screening of a compound library using a luciferase-expressing West Nile (WN) virus infection assay. The compound inhibited an epidemic strain of WN virus without detectable cytotoxicity (a 50% effective concentration of 28 μM and a compound concentration of ≥300 μM required to reduce 50% cell viability). Besides WN virus, the compound also inhibited other flaviviruses (dengue, yellow fever, and St. Louis encephalitis viruses), an alphavirus (Western equine encephalitis virus), a coronavirus (mouse hepatitis virus), and a rhabdovirus (vesicular stomatitis virus). However, the compound did not suppress an orthomyxovirus (influenza virus) or a retrovirus (human immunodeficiency virus type 1). Mode-of-action analyses in WN virus showed that the compound did not inhibit viral entry or virion assembly but specifically suppressed viral RNA synthesis. To examine the mechanism of inhibition of dengue virus, we developed two replicon systems for dengue type 1 virus: (i) a stable cell line that harbored replicons containing a luciferase reporter and a neomycin phosphotransferase selection marker and (ii) a luciferase-expressing replicon that could differentiate between viral translation and RNA replication. Analyses of the compound in the dengue type 1 virus replicon systems showed that it weakly suppressed viral translation but significantly inhibited viral RNA synthesis. Overall, the results demonstrate that triaryl pyrazoline exerts a broad spectrum of antiflavivirus activity through potent inhibition of viral RNA replication. This novel inhibitor could be developed for potential treatment of flavivirus infection.

scholarly journals RNA Replication of Mouse Hepatitis Virus Takes Place at Double-Membrane Vesicles

2002 ◽  
Vol 76 (8) ◽  
pp. 3697-3708 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rainer Gosert ◽  
Amornrat Kanjanahaluethai ◽  
Denise Egger ◽  
Kurt Bienz ◽  
Susan C. Baker
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Rna Synthesis ◽  
Hepatitis Virus ◽  
Mouse Hepatitis Virus ◽  
Membrane Vesicles ◽  
Rna Replication ◽  
Viral Rna ◽  
Double Membrane ◽  
Ultrastructural Studies ◽  
Infected Cells

ABSTRACT The replication complexes (RCs) of positive-stranded RNA viruses are intimately associated with cellular membranes. To investigate membrane alterations and to characterize the RC of mouse hepatitis virus (MHV), we performed biochemical and ultrastructural studies using MHV-infected cells. Biochemical fractionation showed that all 10 of the MHV gene 1 polyprotein products examined pelleted with the membrane fraction, consistent with membrane association of the RC. Furthermore, MHV gene 1 products p290, p210, and p150 and the p150 cleavage product membrane protein 1 (MP1, also called p44) were resistant to extraction with Triton X-114, indicating that they are integral membrane proteins. The ultrastructural analysis revealed double-membrane vesicles (DMVs) in the cytoplasm of MHV-infected cells. The DMVs were found either as separate entities or as small clusters of vesicles. To determine whether MHV proteins and viral RNA were associated with the DMVs, we performed immunocytochemistry electron microscopy (IEM). We found that the DMVs were labeled using an antiserum directed against proteins derived from open reading frame 1a of MHV. By electron microscopy in situ hybridization (ISH) using MHV-specific RNA probes, DMVs were highly labeled for both gene 1 and gene 7 sequences. By combined ISH and IEM, positive-stranded RNA and viral proteins localized to the same DMVs. Finally, viral RNA synthesis was detected by labeling with 5-bromouridine 5′-triphosphate. Newly synthesized viral RNA was found to be associated with the DMVs. We conclude from these data that the DMVs carry the MHV RNA replication complex and are the site of MHV RNA synthesis.

scholarly journals Formation of the Poliovirus Replication Complex Requires Coupled Viral Translation, Vesicle Production, and Viral RNA Synthesis

2000 ◽  
Vol 74 (14) ◽  
pp. 6570-6580 ◽  
Author(s):  
Denise Egger ◽  
Natalya Teterina ◽  
Ellie Ehrenfeld ◽  
Kurt Bienz
Keyword(s):  
Viral Protein ◽  
Rna Synthesis ◽  
Binding Proteins ◽  
Membrane Binding ◽  
Rna Replication ◽  
Viral Rna ◽  
Viral Protein Synthesis ◽  
Viral Translation ◽  
Replication Complex ◽  
Viral Membrane

ABSTRACT Poliovirus (PV) infection induces the rearrangement of intracellular membranes into characteristic vesicles which assemble into an RNA replication complex. To investigate this transformation, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membranes in HeLa cells were modified by the expression of different cellular or viral membrane-binding proteins. The membrane-binding proteins induced two types of membrane alterations, i.e., extended membrane sheets and vesicles similar to those found during a PV infection. Cells expressing membrane-binding proteins were superinfected with PV and then analyzed for virus replication, location of membranes, viral protein, and RNA by immunofluorescence and fluorescent in situ hybridization. Cultures expressing cellular or viral membrane-binding proteins, but not those expressing soluble proteins, showed a markedly reduced ability to support PV replication as a consequence of the modification of ER membranes. The altered membranes, regardless of their morphology, were not used for the formation of viral replication complexes during a subsequent PV infection. Specifically, membrane sheets were not substrates for PV-induced vesicle formation, and, surprisingly, vesicles induced by and carrying one or all of the PV replication proteins did not contribute to replication complexes formed by the superinfecting PV. The formation of replication complexes required active viral RNA replication. The extensive alterations induced by membrane-binding proteins in the ER resulted in reduced viral protein synthesis, thus affecting the number of cells supporting PV multiplication. Our data suggest that a functional replication complex is formed in cis, in a coupled process involving viral translation, membrane modification and vesicle budding, and viral RNA synthesis.

scholarly journals Distinct Poly(rC) Binding Protein KH Domain Determinants for Poliovirus Translation Initiation and Viral RNA Replication

2002 ◽  
Vol 76 (23) ◽  
pp. 12008-12022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brandon L. Walter ◽  
Todd B. Parsley ◽  
Ellie Ehrenfeld ◽  
Bert L. Semler
Keyword(s):  
Translation Initiation ◽  
Rna Synthesis ◽  
Rna Binding ◽  
Binding Protein ◽  
Rna Replication ◽  
Viral Rna ◽  
Host Protein ◽  
Loop Structure ◽  
Stem Loop ◽  
Stem Loop Structure

ABSTRACT The limited coding capacity of picornavirus genomic RNAs necessitates utilization of host cell factors in the completion of an infectious cycle. One host protein that plays a role in both translation initiation and viral RNA synthesis is poly(rC) binding protein 2 (PCBP2). For picornavirus RNAs containing type I internal ribosome entry site (IRES) elements, PCBP2 binds the major stem-loop structure (stem-loop IV) in the IRES and is essential for translation initiation. Additionally, the binding of PCBP2 to the 5′-terminal stem-loop structure (stem-loop I or cloverleaf) in concert with viral protein 3CD is required for initiation of RNA synthesis directed by poliovirus replication complexes. PCBP1, a highly homologous isoform of PCBP2, binds to poliovirus stem-loop I with an affinity similar to that of PCBP2; however, PCBP1 has reduced affinity for stem-loop IV. Using a dicistronic poliovirus RNA, we were able to functionally uncouple translation and RNA replication in PCBP-depleted extracts. Our results demonstrate that PCBP1 rescues RNA replication but is not able to rescue translation initiation. We have also generated mutated versions of PCBP2 containing site-directed lesions in each of the three RNA-binding domains. Specific defects in RNA binding to either stem-loop I and/or stem-loop IV suggest that these domains may have differential functions in translation and RNA replication. These predictions were confirmed in functional assays that allow separation of RNA replication activities from translation. Our data have implications for differential picornavirus template utilization during viral translation and RNA replication and suggest that specific PCBP2 domains may have distinct roles in these activities.

scholarly journals Transmembrane Domains of NS2B Contribute to both Viral RNA Replication and Particle Formation in Japanese Encephalitis Virus

2016 ◽  
Vol 90 (12) ◽  
pp. 5735-5749 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiao-Dan Li ◽  
Cheng-Lin Deng ◽  
Han-Qing Ye ◽  
Hong-Lei Zhang ◽  
Qiu-Yan Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Japanese Encephalitis Virus ◽  
Japanese Encephalitis ◽  
Protease Activity ◽  
Rna Synthesis ◽  
Rna Replication ◽  
Viral Assembly ◽  
Transmembrane Domains ◽  
Viral Rna ◽  
Virion Assembly ◽  
Ns3 Protease

ABSTRACTFlavivirus nonstructural protein 2B (NS2B) is a transmembrane protein that functions as a cofactor for viral NS3 protease. The cytoplasmic region (amino acids 51 to 95) alone of NS2B is sufficient for NS3 protease activity, whereas the role of transmembrane domains (TMDs) remains obscure. Here, we demonstrate for the first time that flavivirus NS2B plays a critical role in virion assembly. Using Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) as a model, we performed a systematic mutagenesis at the flavivirus conserved residues within the TMDs of NS2B. As expected, some mutations severely attenuated (L38A and R101A) or completely destroyed (G12L) viral RNA synthesis. Interestingly, two mutations (G37L and P112A) reduced viral RNA synthesis and blocked virion assembly. None of the mutations affected NS2B-NS3 protease activity. Because mutations G37L and P112A affected virion assembly, we selected revertant viruses for these two mutants. For mutant G37L, replacement with G37F, G37H, G37T, or G37S restored virion assembly. For mutant P112A, insertion of K at position K127 (leading to K127KK) of NS2B rescued virion assembly. A biomolecular fluorescent complementation (BiFC) analysis demonstrated that (i) mutation P112A selectively weakened NS2B-NS2A interaction and (ii) the adaptive mutation K127KK restored NS2B-NS2A interaction. Collectively, our results demonstrate that, in addition to being a cofactor for NS3 protease, flavivirus NS2B also functions in viral RNA replication, as well as virion assembly.IMPORTANCEMany flaviviruses are important human pathogens. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of the viral infection cycle is essential for vaccine and antiviral development. In this study, we demonstrate that the TMDs of JEV NS2B participate in both viral RNA replication and virion assembly. A viral genetic study and a BiFC assay demonstrated that interaction between NS2B and NS2A may participate in modulating viral assembly in the flavivirus life cycle. Compensatory-mutation analysis confirmed that there was a correlation between viral assembly and NS2B-NS2A interaction. TMDs of NS2B may serve as novel antiviral targets to prevent flavivirus infection, and the structure determination of NS2B will help us to understand the functional mechanism of NS2B in viral RNA replication and assembly. The results have uncovered a new function of flavivirus NS2B in virion assembly, possibly through interaction with the NS2A protein.

scholarly journals SYNCRIP, a Member of the Heterogeneous Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein Family, Is Involved in Mouse Hepatitis Virus RNA Synthesis

2004 ◽  
Vol 78 (23) ◽  
pp. 13153-13162 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keum S. Choi ◽  
Akihiro Mizutani ◽  
Michael M. C. Lai
Keyword(s):  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Rna Synthesis ◽  
Rna Binding ◽  
Hepatitis Virus ◽  
Affinity Purification ◽  
Mouse Hepatitis Virus ◽  
Viral Rna ◽  
Negative Strand

ABSTRACT Several cellular proteins, including several heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins (hnRNPs), have been shown to function as regulatory factors for mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) RNA synthesis as a result of their binding to the 5′ and 3′ untranslated regions (UTRs) of the viral RNA. Here, we identified another cellular protein, p70, which has been shown by UV cross-linking to bind both the positive- and negative-strand UTRs of MHV RNA specifically. We purified p70 with a a one-step RNA affinity purification procedure with the biotin-labeled 5′-UTR. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI)-mass spectrometry identified it as synaptotagmin-binding cytoplasmic RNA-interacting protein (SYNCRIP). SYNCRIP is a member of the hnRNP family and localizes largely in the cytoplasm. The p70 was cross-linked to the MHV positive- or negative-strand UTR in vitro and in vivo. The bacterially expressed SYNCRIP was also able to bind to the 5′-UTR of both strands. The SYNCRIP-binding site was mapped to the leader sequence of the 5′-UTR, requiring the UCUAA repeat sequence. To investigate the functional significance of SYNCRIP in MHV replication, we expressed a full-length or a C-terminally truncated form of SYNCRIP in mammalian cells expressing the MHV receptor. The overexpression of either form of SYNCRIP inhibited syncytium formation induced by MHV infection. Furthermore, downregulation of the endogenous SYNCRIP with a specific short interfering RNA delayed MHV RNA synthesis; in contrast, overexpression or downregulation of SYNCRIP did not affect MHV translation. These results suggest that SYNCRIP may be directly involved in MHV RNA replication as a positive regulator. This study identified an additional cellular hnRNP as an MHV RNA-binding protein potentially involved in viral RNA synthesis.

scholarly journals Ebola virus inclusion body formation and RNA synthesis are controlled by a novel domain of NP interacting with VP35

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tsuyoshi Miyake ◽  
Charlotte M. Farley ◽  
Benjamin E. Neubauer ◽  
Thomas P. Beddow ◽  
Thomas Hoenen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Inclusion Body ◽  
Inclusion Bodies ◽  
Rna Synthesis ◽  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Rna Replication ◽  
Viral Rna ◽  
Central Domain ◽  
Body Formation ◽  
Inclusion Body Formation

AbstractEbola virus (EBOV) inclusion bodies (IBs) are cytoplasmic sites of nucleocapsid formation and RNA replication, housing key steps in the virus life cycle that warrant further investigation. During infection IBs display dynamic properties regarding their size and location. Also, the contents of IBs must transition prior to further viral maturation, assembly and release, implying additional steps in IB function. Interestingly, expression of the viral nucleoprotein (NP) alone is sufficient for generation of IBs, indicating that it plays an important role in IB formation during infection. In addition to NP, other components of the nucleocapsid localize to IBs, including VP35, VP24, VP30 and the RNA polymerase L. Previously we defined and solved the crystal structure of the C-terminal domain of NP (NP-Ct), but its role in virus replication remained unclear. Here we show that NP-Ct is absolutely required for IB formation when NP is expressed alone. Interestingly, we find that NP-Ct is also required for production of infectious virus-like particles and retention of viral RNA within these particles. Furthermore, co-expression of the nucleocapsid component VP35 overcomes deletion of NP-Ct in triggering IB formation, demonstrating a functional interaction between the two proteins. Of all the EBOV proteins only VP35 is able to overcome the defect in IB formation caused by deletion of NP-Ct. This effect is mediated by a novel protein-protein interaction between VP35 and NP that controls both regulation of IB formation and RNA replication itself, and which is mediated by a newly identified domain of NP, the “central domain” (CD).ImportanceInclusion bodies (IBs) are cytoplasmic sites of RNA synthesis for a variety of negative sense RNA viruses including Ebola virus. In addition to housing important steps in the viral life cycle, IBs protect new viral RNA from innate immune attack and contain specific host proteins whose function is under study. A key viral factor in Ebola virus IB formation is the nucleoprotein, NP, which also is important in RNA encapsidation and synthesis. In this study, we have identified two domains of NP that control inclusion body formation. One of these, the central domain (CD), interacts with viral protein VP35 to control both inclusion body formation and RNA synthesis. The other is the NP C-terminal domain (NP-Ct), whose function has not previously been reported. These findings contribute to a model in which NP and its interactions with VP35 link the establishment of IBs to the synthesis of viral RNA.

scholarly journals Poliovirus cre(2C)-Dependent Synthesis of VPgpUpU Is Required for Positive- but Not Negative-Strand RNA Synthesis

2003 ◽  
Vol 77 (9) ◽  
pp. 5136-5144 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Joan Morasco ◽  
Nidhi Sharma ◽  
Jessica Parilla ◽  
James B. Flanegan
Keyword(s):  
Rna Synthesis ◽  
Rna Replication ◽  
Viral Rna ◽  
Positive Strand ◽  
Negative Strand ◽  
Replication Model ◽  
Covalently Linked

ABSTRACT The cre(2C) hairpin is a cis-acting replication element in poliovirus RNA and serves as a template for the synthesis of VPgpUpU. We investigated the role of the cre(2C) hairpin on VPgpUpU synthesis and viral RNA replication in preinitiation RNA replication complexes isolated from HeLa S10 translation-RNA replication reactions. cre(2C) hairpin mutations that block VPgpUpU synthesis in reconstituted assays with purified VPg and poliovirus polymerase were also found to completely inhibit VPgpUpU synthesis in preinitiation replication complexes. Surprisingly, blocking VPgpUpU synthesis by mutating the cre(2C) hairpin had no significant effect on negative-strand synthesis but completely inhibited positive-strand synthesis. Negative-strand RNA synthesized in these reactions immunoprecipitated with anti-VPg antibody and demonstrated that it was covalently linked to VPg. This indicated that VPg was used to initiate negative-strand RNA synthesis, although the cre(2C)-dependent synthesis of VPgpUpU was inhibited. Based on these results, we concluded that the cre(2C)-dependent synthesis of VPgpUpU was required for positive- but not negative-strand RNA synthesis. These findings suggest a replication model in which negative-strand synthesis initiates with VPg uridylylated in the 3′ poly(A) tail in virion RNA and positive-strand synthesis initiates with VPgpUpU synthesized on the cre(2C) hairpin. The pool of excess VPgpUpU synthesized on the cre(2C) hairpin should support high levels of positive-strand synthesis and thereby promote the asymmetric replication of poliovirus RNA.

scholarly journals Inter-domain Flexibility of Chikungunya Virus nsP2 Helicase-Protease Differentially Influences Viral RNA Replication and Infectivity

2020 ◽  
pp. JVI.01470-20
Author(s):  
Yee-Song Law ◽  
Sainan Wang ◽  
Yaw Bia Tan ◽  
Orion Shih ◽  
Age Utt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chikungunya Virus ◽  
Rna Synthesis ◽  
Nonstructural Protein ◽  
Direct Interaction ◽  
Virus Production ◽  
Rna Replication ◽  
Full Length ◽  
Viral Rna ◽  
Viral Infectivity ◽  
Multifunctional Protein

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a mosquito-borne alphavirus responsible for chikungunya fever. Nonstructural protein 2 (nsP2), a multifunctional protein essential for viral replication, has an N-terminal helicase region (nsP2h), which as both nucleotide triphosphatase and RNA triphosphatase activities, as well as a C-terminal cysteine protease region (nsP2p), which is responsible for nonstructural polyprotein processing. The two functional units are connected through a linker of fourteen residues. Although crystal structures of the helicase and protease regions of CHIKV nsP2 have been solved separately, the conformational arrangement of the full-length nsP2 and the biological role of the linker remain elusive. Using the small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) method, we demonstrated that the full-length nsP2 is elongated and partially folded in solution. The reconstructed model of the structure of nsP2 contains a flexible inter-domain linker, and there is no direct interaction between the two structured regions. To examine the function of the inter-domain linker, we constructed and characterized a set of CHIKV mutants. The deletion of three or five amino acid residues in the linker region resulted in a modest defect in viral RNA replication and transcription but completely abolished viral infectivity. In contrast, increasing the flexibility of nsP2 by lengthening the inter-domain linker increased both genomic RNA replication and viral infectivity. The enzymatic activities of the corresponding mutant proteins were largely unaffected. This work suggests that increasing the inter-domain flexibility of nsP2 could facilitate the assembly of the replication complex (RC) with increased efficiency and promote virus production.IMPORTANCE: CHIKV nsP2 plays multiple roles in viral RNA replication and virus-host interactions. The helicase and protease regions of nsP2 are connected through a short “linker”. Here, we determined that the conformation of full-length CHIKV nsP2 is elongated and that the protein is flexible in solution. We also highlight the importance of the flexibility of the inter-domain of nsP2 on viral RNA synthesis and infectivity. CHIKV mutants harboring shortened linkers fail to produce infectious virus particles despite showing only relatively mild defects in genomic and subgenomic RNA synthesis. Mutations increasing the length of the inter-domain linker have only mild and generally beneficial impacts on virus replication. Thus, our findings link inter-domain flexibility with the regulation of viral RNA replication and infectivity of the viral genome.

scholarly journals Virus-Host Cell Interactions during Hepatitis C Virus RNA Replication: Impact of Polyprotein Expression on the Cellular Transcriptome and Cell Cycle Association with Viral RNA Synthesis

2004 ◽  
Vol 78 (3) ◽  
pp. 1513-1524 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frank Scholle ◽  
Kui Li ◽  
Francis Bodola ◽  
Masanori Ikeda ◽  
Bruce A. Luxon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Rna Synthesis ◽  
Cellular Proliferation ◽  
Rna Replication ◽  
S Phase ◽  
Viral Rna ◽  
Genome Replication ◽  
Cell Clones ◽  
Cellular Transcriptome

ABSTRACT Considerable controversy surrounds the impact of hepatitis C virus (HCV) protein expression on viability of host cells and regulation of the cell cycle. Both promotion of cellular proliferation and apoptosis have been observed in different experimental systems. To determine whether expression of the entire complement of HCV proteins in the context of ongoing viral RNA replication significantly alters the host cell transcriptome and cell cycle regulatory processes, we carried out high-density oligonucleotide microarray studies and analyzed cell cycle distributions and S-phase entry in Huh7 cell clones harboring selectable, full-length, replicating HCV RNAs that express the entire genotype 1b, HCV-N polyprotein, and clonally related cells in which all viral RNA was eliminated by prior treatment with alpha interferon. Oligonucleotide microarray analyses revealed only subtle, coordinated differences in the mRNA profiles of cells containing replicating viral RNA and their interferon-cured progeny, with variation between different cell clones having a greater influence on the cellular transcriptome than the presence or absence of replicating HCV RNA. Flow cytometric analysis demonstrated no significant differences in cell cycle distribution among populations of asynchronously growing cells of both types. Cell lines containing replicating viral RNA and their interferon-cured progeny were able to reenter the cell cycle similarly after transient G1 arrest. In contrast, although viral protein expression and genome replication did not alter cell cycle control in these cells, HCV genome replication was highly dependent on cellular proliferation, with viral RNA synthesis strongly decreased in poorly proliferating, confluent, or serum-starved cells and substantially enhanced in the S phase of the cell cycle.

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