scholarly journals Identification of Determinants Involved in Initiation of Hepatitis C Virus RNA Synthesis by Using Intergenotypic Replicase Chimeras

2007 ◽  
Vol 81 (10) ◽  
pp. 5270-5283 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Binder ◽  
Doris Quinkert ◽  
Olga Bochkarova ◽  
Rahel Klein ◽  
Nikolina Kezmic ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Rna Synthesis ◽  
Nonstructural Protein ◽  
Negative Strand ◽  
Virus Rna ◽  
Nontranslated Region ◽  
Genotype 2 ◽  
Positive Strand Rna

ABSTRACT The 5′ nontranslated region (NTR) and the X tail in the 3′ NTR are the least variable parts of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) genome and play an important role in the initiation of RNA synthesis. By using subgenomic replicons of the HCV isolates Con1 (genotype 1) and JFH1 (genotype 2), we characterized the genotype specificities of the replication signals contained in the NTRs. The replacement of the JFH1 5′ NTR and X tail with the corresponding Con1 sequence resulted in a significant decrease in replication efficiency. Exchange of the X tail specifically reduced negative-strand synthesis, whereas substitution of the 5′ NTR impaired the generation of progeny positive strands. In search for the proteins involved in the recognition of genotype-specific initiation signals, we analyzed recombinant nonstructural protein 5B (NS5B) RNA polymerases of both isolates and found some genotype-specific template preference for the 3′ end of positive-strand RNA in vitro. To further address genotype specificity, we constructed a series of intergenotypic replicon chimeras. When combining NS3 to NS5A of Con1 with NS5B of JFH1, we observed more-efficient replication with the genotype 2a X tail, indicating that NS5B recognizes genotype-specific signals in this region. In contrast, a combination of the NS3 helicase with NS5A and NS5B was required to confer genotype specificity to the 5′ NTR. These results present the first genetic evidence for an interaction between helicase, NS5A, and NS5B required for the initiation of RNA synthesis and provide a system for the specific analysis of HCV positive- and negative-strand syntheses.

scholarly journals Quantitative Analysis of the Hepatitis C Virus Replication Complex

2005 ◽  
Vol 79 (21) ◽  
pp. 13594-13605 ◽  
Author(s):  
Doris Quinkert ◽  
Ralf Bartenschlager ◽  
Volker Lohmann
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Rna Synthesis ◽  
Nonstructural Protein ◽  
Viral Proteins ◽  
Viral Rna ◽  
Nonstructural Proteins ◽  
Positive Strand ◽  
Negative Strand

ABSTRACT The hepatitis C virus (HCV) encodes a large polyprotein; therefore, all viral proteins are produced in equimolar amounts regardless of their function. The aim of our study was to determine the ratio of nonstructural proteins to RNA that is required for HCV RNA replication. We analyzed Huh-7 cells harboring full-length HCV genomes or subgenomic replicons and found in all cases a >1,000-fold excess of HCV proteins over positive- and negative-strand RNA. To examine whether all nonstructural protein copies are involved in RNA synthesis, we isolated active HCV replication complexes from replicon cells and examined them for their content of viral RNA and proteins before and after treatment with protease and/or nuclease. In vitro replicase activity, as well as almost the entire negative- and positive-strand RNA, was resistant to nuclease treatment, whereas <5% of the nonstructural proteins were protected from protease digest but accounted for the full in vitro replicase activity. In consequence, only a minor fraction of the HCV nonstructural proteins was actively involved in RNA synthesis at a given time point but, due to the high amounts present in replicon cells, still representing a huge excess compared to the viral RNA. Based on the comparison of nuclease-resistant viral RNA to protease-resistant viral proteins, we estimate that an active HCV replicase complex consists of one negative-strand RNA, two to ten positive-strand RNAs, and several hundred nonstructural protein copies, which might be required as structural components of the vesicular compartments that are the site of HCV replication.

scholarly journals The FUSE Binding Protein Is a Cellular Factor Required for Efficient Replication of Hepatitis C Virus

2008 ◽  
Vol 82 (12) ◽  
pp. 5761-5773 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhengbin Zhang ◽  
Dylan Harris ◽  
Virendra N. Pandey
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Viral Replication ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Nonstructural Protein ◽  
Binding Protein ◽  
Cellular Factor ◽  
Nontranslated Region ◽  
Efficient Replication

ABSTRACT Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is the leading cause of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma and one of the primary indications for liver transplantation. The molecular mechanisms underlying the actions of host factors in HCV replication remain poorly defined. FUSE (far upstream element of the c-myc proto-oncogene) binding protein (FBP) is a cellular factor that we have identified as a binder of HCV 3′ nontranslated region (3′NTR). Mapping of the binding site showed that FBP specifically interacts with the poly(U) tract within the poly(U/UC) region of the 3′NTR. Silencing of FBP expression by small interfering RNA in cells carrying HCV subgenomic replicons severely reduced viral replication, while overexpression of FBP significantly enhanced viral replication. We confirmed these observations by an in vitro HCV replication assay in the cell-free replicative lysate, which suggested that there is a direct correlation between the cellular FBP level and HCV replication. FBP immunoprecipitation coprecipitated HCV nonstructural protein 5A (NS5A), indicating that FBP interacts with HCV NS5A, which is known to function as a link between HCV translation and replication. Although FBP is mainly localized in the nucleus, we found that in MH14 cells a significant level of this protein is colocalized with NS5A in the cytosol, a site of HCV replication. While the mechanism of FBP involvement in HCV replication is yet to be delineated, our findings suggest that it may be an important regulatory component that is essential for efficient replication of HCV.

scholarly journals All Three Domains of the Hepatitis C Virus Nonstructural NS5A Protein Contribute to RNA Binding

2010 ◽  
Vol 84 (18) ◽  
pp. 9267-9277 ◽  
Author(s):  
Toshana L. Foster ◽  
Tamara Belyaeva ◽  
Nicola J. Stonehouse ◽  
Arwen R. Pearson ◽  
Mark Harris
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Rna Binding ◽  
Nonstructural Protein ◽  
Binding Capacity ◽  
Specific Interaction ◽  
Genome Replication ◽  
Mobility Shift ◽  
Positive Strand Rna

ABSTRACT The hepatitis C virus (HCV) nonstructural protein NS5A is critical for viral genome replication and is thought to interact directly with both the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, NS5B, and viral RNA. NS5A consists of three domains which have, as yet, undefined roles in viral replication and assembly. In order to define the regions that mediate the interaction with RNA, specifically the HCV 3′ untranslated region (UTR) positive-strand RNA, constructs of different domain combinations were cloned, bacterially expressed, and purified to homogeneity. Each of these purified proteins was probed for its ability to interact with the 3′ UTR RNA using filter binding and gel electrophoretic mobility shift assays, revealing differences in their RNA binding efficiencies and affinities. A specific interaction between domains I and II of NS5A and the 3′ UTR RNA was identified, suggesting that these are the RNA binding domains of NS5A. Domain III showed low in vitro RNA binding capacity. Filter binding and competition analyses identified differences between NS5A and NS5B in their specificities for defined regions of the 3′ UTR. The preference of NS5A, in contrast to NS5B, for the polypyrimidine tract highlights an aspect of 3′ UTR RNA recognition by NS5A which may play a role in the control or enhancement of HCV genome replication.

scholarly journals Evidence for Internal Initiation of RNA Synthesis by the Hepatitis C Virus RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase NS5B In Cellulo

2019 ◽  
Vol 93 (19) ◽  
Author(s):  
Philipp Schult ◽  
Maren Nattermann ◽  
Chris Lauber ◽  
Stefan Seitz ◽  
Volker Lohmann
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Rna Synthesis ◽  
Rna Viruses ◽  
Rna Replication ◽  
Rna Dependent Rna Polymerase ◽  
Internal Initiation ◽  
Positive Strand Rna

ABSTRACT Initiation of RNA synthesis by the hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) NS5B has been extensively studied in vitro and in cellulo. Intracellular replication is thought to rely exclusively on terminal de novo initiation, as it conserves all genetic information of the genome. In vitro, however, additional modes of initiation have been observed. In this study, we aimed to clarify whether the intracellular environment allows for internal initiation of RNA replication by the HCV replicase. We used a dual luciferase replicon harboring a terminal and an internal copy of the viral genomic 5′ untranslated region, which was anticipated to support noncanonical initiation. Indeed, a shorter RNA species was detected by Northern blotting with low frequency, depending on the length and sequence composition upstream of the internal initiation site. By introducing mutations at either site, we furthermore established that internal and terminal initiation shared identical sequence requirements. Importantly, lethal point mutations at the terminal site resulted exclusively in truncated replicons. In contrast, the same mutations at the internal site abrogated internal initiation, suggesting a competitive selection of initiation sites, rather than recombination or template-switching events. In conclusion, our data indicate that the HCV replicase is capable of internal initiation in its natural environment, although functional replication likely requires only terminal initiation. Since many other positive-strand RNA viruses generate subgenomic messenger RNAs during their replication cycle, we surmise that their capability for internal initiation is a common and conserved feature of viral RdRps. IMPORTANCE Many aspects of viral RNA replication of hepatitis C virus (HCV) are still poorly understood. The process of RNA synthesis is driven by the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) NS5B. Most mechanistic studies on NS5B so far were performed with in vitro systems using isolated recombinant polymerase. In this study, we present a replicon model, which allows the intracellular assessment of noncanonical modes of initiation by the full HCV replicase. Our results add to the understanding of the biochemical processes underlying initiation of RNA synthesis by NS5B by the discovery of internal initiation in cellulo. Moreover, they validate observations made in vitro, showing that the viral polymerase acts very similarly in isolation and in complex with other viral and host proteins. Finally, these observations provide clues about the evolution of RdRps of positive-strand RNA viruses, which might contain the intrinsic ability to initiate internally.

scholarly journals Mechanistic Consequences of hnRNP C Binding to Both RNA Termini of Poliovirus Negative-Strand RNA Intermediates

2010 ◽  
Vol 84 (9) ◽  
pp. 4229-4242 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth J. Ertel ◽  
Jo Ellen Brunner ◽  
Bert L. Semler
Keyword(s):  
Rna Synthesis ◽  
Cultured Cells ◽  
Wild Type Virus ◽  
Positive Strand ◽  
Negative Strand ◽  
Virus Rna ◽  
Hnrnp C ◽  
C Proteins ◽  
Positive Strand Rna

ABSTRACT The poliovirus 3′ noncoding region (3′ NCR) is necessary for efficient virus replication. A poliovirus mutant, PVΔ3′NCR, with a deletion of the entire 3′ NCR, yielded a virus that was capable of synthesizing viral RNA, albeit with a replication defect caused by deficient positive-strand RNA synthesis compared to wild-type virus. We detected multiple ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes in extracts from poliovirus-infected HeLa cells formed with a probe corresponding to the 5′ end of poliovirus negative-strand RNA (the complement of the genomic 3′ NCR), and the levels of these RNP complexes increased during the course of viral infection. Previous studies have identified RNP complexes formed with the 3′ end of poliovirus negative-strand RNA, including one that contains a 36-kDa protein later identified as heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein C (hnRNP C). We report here that the 5′ end of poliovirus negative-strand RNA is capable of interacting with endogenous hnRNP C, as well as with poliovirus nonstructural proteins. Further, we demonstrate that the addition of recombinant purified hnRNP C proteins can stimulate virus RNA synthesis in vitro and that depletion of hnRNP C proteins in cultured cells results in decreased virus yields and a correspondingly diminished accumulation of positive-strand RNAs. We propose that the association of hnRNP C with poliovirus negative-strand termini acts to stabilize or otherwise promote efficient positive-strand RNA synthesis.

scholarly journals Template Requirements for De Novo RNA Synthesis by Hepatitis C Virus Nonstructural Protein 5B Polymerase on the Viral X RNA

2002 ◽  
Vol 76 (14) ◽  
pp. 6944-6956 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meehyein Kim ◽  
Hajeong Kim ◽  
Seong-Pil Cho ◽  
Mi-Kyung Min
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Rna Synthesis ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Nonstructural Protein ◽  
Initiation Site ◽  
Viral Rna ◽  
Positive Strand ◽  
Esherichia Coli ◽  
Positive Strand Rna

ABSTRACT The hepatitis C virus (HCV)-encoded NS5B protein is an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase which plays a substantial role in viral replication. We expressed and purified the recombinant NS5B of an HCV genotype 3a from Esherichia coli, and we investigated its ability to bind to the viral RNA and its enzymatic activity. The results presented here demonstrate that NS5B interacts strongly with the coding region of positive-strand RNA, although not in a sequence-specific manner. It was also determined that more than two molecules of polymerase bound sequentially to this region with the direction 3′ to 5′. Also, we attempted to determine the initiation site(s) of de novo synthesis by NS5B on X RNA, which contains the last 98 nucleotides of HCV positive-strand RNA. The initiation site(s) on X RNA was localized in the pyrimidine-rich region of stem I. However, when more than five of the nucleotides of stem I in X RNA were deleted from the 3′ end, RNA synthesis initiated at another site of the specific ribonucleotide. Our study also showed that the efficiency of RNA synthesis, which was directed by X RNA, was maximized by the GC base pair at the penultimate position from the 3′ end of the stem. These results will provide some clues to understanding the mechanism of HCV genomic RNA replication in terms of viral RNA-NS5B interaction and the initiation of de novo RNA synthesis.

Mechanism of Zinc Ejection by Disulfiram in Nonstructural Protein 5A

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashfaq Ur Rehman ◽  
Guodong Zheng ◽  
Bozitao Zhong ◽  
Duan Ni ◽  
Jia-Yi Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Nonstructural Protein ◽  
Structural Protein ◽  
Positive Strand ◽  
Positive Strand Rna ◽  
Nonstructural Protein 5A

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a notorious member of the enveloped, positive-strand RNA flavivirus family. Non-structural protein 5A (NS5A) plays a key role in HCV replication and assembly. NS5A is...

scholarly journals In vitro hepatitis C virus infection and hepatic choline metabolism

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaelan Gobeil Odai ◽  
Conor O’Dwyer ◽  
Rineke Steenbergen ◽  
Tyler A. Shaw ◽  
Tyler M. Renner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Cultured Cells ◽  
Hcv Infection ◽  
Choline Uptake ◽  
Choline Transport ◽  
Choline Metabolism ◽  
Positive Strand Rna ◽  
Uptake And Metabolism

AbstractCholine is an essential nutrient required for normal neuronal and muscular development, as well as homeostatic regulation of hepatic metabolism. In the liver, choline is incorporated into the main eukaryotic phospholipid, phosphatidylcholine (PC) and can enter one carbon metabolism via mitochondrial oxidation. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a hepatotropic positive-strand RNA virus that similar to other positive-strand RNA viruses can impact phospholipid metabolism. In the current study we sought to interrogate the link between choline transport and early HCV infection. Namely, we aimed to investigate how HCV modulates markers of choline metabolism following in vitro infection, while subsequently assessing how the inhibition of choline uptake and metabolism upon concurrent HCV infection may alter early viral replication. Finally, we assessed whether these parameters were consistent between cells cultured in fetal bovine serum (FBS) or human serum (HS), conditions known to differentially affect in vitro HCV infection. We observed that choline transport in FBS-cultured Huh7.5 cells is facilitated by the intermediate affinity transporter choline transporter-like family (CTL), and that CTL1 expression and the incorporation of choline into PC is diminished in 24 h infected FBS-cultured cells. Reciprocally, limiting the availability of choline for PC synthesis resulted in increased HCV replication at this early stage. In chronically HS-cultured Huh7.5 cells, there were no differences in the expression of choline transporters upon HCV infection or alterations to viral replication when choline transport was inhibited compared to control treatments. However, inhibiting choline uptake and metabolism in this system significantly impaired the production of infectious virions in HS-cultured cells. These results suggest that in addition to a known role of choline kinase, the transport of choline, potentially via CTL1, might also represent an important and regulated process during HCV infection.Abstract Figure

Quantitation of hepatitis C virus RNA production in two human bone marrow-derived B-cell lines infected in vitro

1997 ◽  
Vol 148 (2) ◽  
pp. 147-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Iacovacci ◽  
L. Bertolini ◽  
A. Manzin ◽  
M.B. Valli ◽  
M. Battaglia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bone Marrow ◽  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
B Cell ◽  
Cell Lines ◽  
Human Bone ◽  
Human Bone Marrow ◽  
Hepatitis C Virus Rna ◽  
Virus Rna

scholarly journals Inhibition of Hepatitis C Virus Replication by GS-6620, a PotentC-Nucleoside Monophosphate Prodrug

2014 ◽  
Vol 58 (4) ◽  
pp. 1930-1942 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joy Y. Feng ◽  
Guofeng Cheng ◽  
Jason Perry ◽  
Ona Barauskas ◽  
Yili Xu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Nonstructural Protein ◽  
Competitive Inhibitor ◽  
High Dose ◽  
Diarrhea Virus ◽  
A Chain ◽  
Direct Acting ◽  
Hcv Ns5b

ABSTRACTAs a class, nucleotide inhibitors (NIs) of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) nonstructural protein 5B (NS5B) RNA-dependent RNA polymerase offer advantages over other direct-acting antivirals, including properties, such as pangenotype activity, a high barrier to resistance, and reduced potential for drug-drug interactions. We studied thein vitropharmacology of a novelC-nucleoside adenosine analog monophosphate prodrug, GS-6620. It was found to be a potent and selective HCV inhibitor against HCV replicons of genotypes 1 to 6 and against an infectious genotype 2a virus (50% effective concentration [EC50], 0.048 to 0.68 μM). GS-6620 showed limited activities against other viruses, maintaining only some of its activity against the closely related bovine viral diarrhea virus (EC50, 1.5 μM). The active 5′-triphosphate metabolite of GS-6620 is a chain terminator of viral RNA synthesis and a competitive inhibitor of NS5B-catalyzed ATP incorporation, withKi/Kmvalues of 0.23 and 0.18 for HCV NS5B genotypes 1b and 2a, respectively. With its unique dual substitutions of 1′-CN and 2′-C-Me on the ribose ring, the active triphosphate metabolite was found to have enhanced selectivity for the HCV NS5B polymerase over host RNA polymerases. GS-6620 demonstrated a high barrier to resistancein vitro. Prolonged passaging resulted in the selection of the S282T mutation in NS5B that was found to be resistant in both cellular and enzymatic assays (>30-fold). Consistent with itsin vitroprofile, GS-6620 exhibited the potential for potent anti-HCV activity in a proof-of-concept clinical trial, but its utility was limited by the requirement of high dose levels and pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic variability.

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