scholarly journals Distinct Domains of the Influenza A Virus M2 Protein Cytoplasmic Tail Mediate Binding to the M1 Protein and Facilitate Infectious Virus Production

2006 ◽  
Vol 80 (16) ◽  
pp. 8178-8189 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew F. McCown ◽  
Andrew Pekosz
Keyword(s):  
Influenza A Virus ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Reverse Genetics ◽  
Infectious Virus ◽  
Virus Assembly ◽  
Virus Production ◽  
Cytoplasmic Tail ◽  
M2 Protein ◽  
Virus Particles ◽  
M1 Protein

ABSTRACT The cytoplasmic tail of the influenza A virus M2 protein is highly conserved among influenza A virus isolates. The cytoplasmic tail appears to be dispensable with respect to the ion channel activity associated with the protein but important for virus morphology and the production of infectious virus particles. Using reverse genetics and transcomplementation assays, we demonstrate that the M2 protein cytoplasmic tail is a crucial mediator of infectious virus production. Truncations of the M2 cytoplasmic tail result in a drastic decrease in infectious virus titers, a reduction in the amount of packaged viral RNA, a decrease in budding events, and a reduction in budding efficiency. The M1 protein binds to the M2 cytoplasmic tail, but the M1 binding site is distinct from the sequences that affect infectious virus particle formation. Influenza A virus strains A/Udorn/72 and A/WSN/33 differ in their requirements for M2 cytoplasmic tail sequences, and this requirement maps to the M1 protein. We conclude that the M2 protein is required for the formation of infectious virus particles, implicating the protein as important for influenza A virus assembly in addition to its well-documented role during virus entry and uncoating.

scholarly journals Tyrosines in the Influenza A Virus M2 Protein Cytoplasmic Tail Are Critical for Production of Infectious Virus Particles

2010 ◽  
Vol 84 (17) ◽  
pp. 8765-8776 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael L. Grantham ◽  
Shaun M. Stewart ◽  
Erin N. Lalime ◽  
Andrew Pekosz
Keyword(s):  
Influenza A Virus ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Reverse Genetics ◽  
Infectious Virus ◽  
Mdck Cells ◽  
Cytoplasmic Tail ◽  
M2 Protein ◽  
Alanine Scanning Mutagenesis ◽  
Particle Assembly ◽  
Virus Particles

ABSTRACT The cytoplasmic tail of the influenza A virus M2 protein is required for the production of infectious virions. In this study, critical residues in the M2 cytoplasmic tail were identified by single-alanine scanning mutagenesis. The tyrosine residue at position 76, which is conserved in >99% of influenza virus strains sequenced to date, was identified as being critical for the formation of infectious virus particles using both reverse genetics and a protein trans-complementation assay. Recombinant viruses encoding M2 with the Y76A mutation demonstrated replication defects in MDCK cells as well as in primary differentiated airway epithelial cell cultures, defects in the formation of filamentous virus particles, and reduced packaging of nucleoprotein into virus particles. These defects could all be overcome by a mutation of serine to tyrosine at position 71 of the M2 cytoplasmic tail, which emerged after blind passage of viruses containing the Y76A mutation. These data confirm and extend our understanding of the significance of the M2 protein for infectious virus particle assembly.

scholarly journals Mutations in the Influenza A Virus M1 Protein Enhance Virus Budding To Complement Lethal Mutations in the M2 Cytoplasmic Tail

2017 ◽  
Vol 92 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hsuan Liu ◽  
Michael L. Grantham ◽  
Andrew Pekosz
Keyword(s):  
Virus Particle ◽  
Influenza A Virus ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Infectious Virus ◽  
Virus Assembly ◽  
Virus Production ◽  
Cytoplasmic Tail ◽  
Filament Formation ◽  
Virus Budding ◽  
Virus Particles

ABSTRACTThe influenza A virus M1 and M2 proteins play important roles in virus assembly and in the morphology of virus particles. Mutations in the distal cytoplasmic tail region of M2, and in particular a tyrosine-to-alanine mutation at residue 76 (Y76A), were essential for infectious virus production and filament formation while having limited effects on total virus particle budding. Using a novel selection method, mutations at seven different M1 amino acids (residue 73, 94, 135, 136, or 138 or a double mutation, 93/244) that are not found in circulating influenza virus strains or have not been previously identified to play a role in influenza A virus assembly were found to complement the lethal M2Y76A mutation. These M1 suppressor mutations restored infectious virus production in the presence of M2Y76A and mediated increased budding and filament formation even in the absence of M2. However, the efficiency of infectious virus replication was still dependent on the presence of the distal region of the M2 cytoplasmic tail. The data suggest that influenza A virus budding and genome incorporation can occur independently and provide further support for complementary roles of the M1 and M2 proteins in virus assembly.IMPORTANCEInfluenza virus particle assembly involves the careful coordination of various viral and host factors to optimally produce infectious virus particles. We have previously identified a mutation at position 76 of the influenza A virus M2 protein that drastically reduces infectious virus production and filament formation with minimal effects on virus budding. In this work, we identified suppressor mutations in the M1 protein which complement this lethal M2 mutation by increasing the efficiency with which virus particles bud from infected cells and restoring filament formation at the infected-cell surface. M2 distal cytoplasmic domain sequences were still required for optimal infectivity. This indicates that M1 and M2 can functionally replace each other in some, but not all, aspects of virus particle assembly.

scholarly journals The Influenza A Virus M2 Cytoplasmic Tail Is Required for Infectious Virus Production and Efficient Genome Packaging

2005 ◽  
Vol 79 (6) ◽  
pp. 3595-3605 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew F. McCown ◽  
Andrew Pekosz
Keyword(s):  
Influenza A Virus ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Infectious Virus ◽  
Virus Production ◽  
Cytoplasmic Tail ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Wild Type Virus ◽  
Type Virus ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Virus Particles

ABSTRACT The M2 integral membrane protein encoded by influenza A virus possesses an ion channel activity that is required for efficient virus entry into host cells. The role of the M2 protein cytoplasmic tail in virus replication was examined by generating influenza A viruses encoding M2 proteins with truncated C termini. Deletion of 28 amino acids (M2Stop70) resulted in a virus that produced fourfold-fewer particles but >1,000-fold-fewer infectious particles than wild-type virus. Expression of the full-length M2 protein in trans restored the replication of the M2 truncated virus. Although the M2Stop70 virus particles were similar to wild-type virus in morphology, the M2Stop70 virions contained reduced amounts of viral nucleoprotein and genomic RNA, indicating a defect in vRNP packaging. The data presented indicate the M2 cytoplasmic tail plays a role in infectious virus production by coordinating the efficient packaging of genome segments into influenza virus particles.

scholarly journals Influenza A Virus M2 Protein Apical Targeting Is Required for Efficient Virus Replication

2018 ◽  
Vol 92 (22) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas Wohlgemuth ◽  
Andrew P. Lane ◽  
Andrew Pekosz
Keyword(s):  
Endoplasmic Reticulum ◽  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Influenza A Virus ◽  
Virus Replication ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Infectious Virus ◽  
Virus Assembly ◽  
Apical Plasma Membrane ◽  
M2 Protein ◽  
Particle Release

ABSTRACTThe influenza A virus (IAV) M2 protein is a multifunctional protein with critical roles in virion entry, assembly, and budding. M2 is targeted to the apical plasma membrane of polarized epithelial cells, and the interaction of the viral proteins M2, M1, HA, and NA near glycolipid rafts in the apical plasma membrane is hypothesized to coordinate the assembly of infectious virus particles. To determine the role of M2 protein apical targeting in IAV replication, a panel of M2 proteins with basolateral plasma membrane (M2-Baso) or endoplasmic reticulum (M2-ER) targeting sequences was generated. MDCK II cells stably expressing M2-Baso, but not M2-ER, complemented the replication of M2-stop viruses. However, in primary human nasal epithelial cell (hNEC) cultures, viruses encoding M2-Baso and M2-ER replicated to negligible titers compared to those of wild-type virus. M2-Baso replication was negatively correlated with cell polarization. These results demonstrate that M2 apical targeting is essential for IAV replication: targeting M2 to the ER results in a strong, cell type-independent inhibition of virus replication, and targeting M2 to the basolateral membrane has greater effects in hNECs than in MDCK cells.IMPORTANCEInfluenza A virus assembly and particle release occur at the apical membrane of polarized epithelial cells. The integral membrane proteins encoded by the virus, HA, NA, and M2, are all targeted to the apical membrane and believed to recruit the other structural proteins to sites of virus assembly. By targeting M2 to the basolateral or endoplasmic reticulum membranes, influenza A virus replication was significantly reduced. Basolateral targeting of M2 reduced the infectious virus titers with minimal effects on virus particle release, while targeting to the endoplasmic reticulum resulted in reduced infectious and total virus particle release. Therefore, altering the expression and the intracellular targeting of M2 has major effects on virus replication.

scholarly journals The Influenza Virus M2 Protein Cytoplasmic Tail Interacts with the M1 Protein and Influences Virus Assembly at the Site of Virus Budding

2008 ◽  
Vol 82 (20) ◽  
pp. 10059-10070 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin J. Chen ◽  
George P. Leser ◽  
David Jackson ◽  
Robert A. Lamb
Keyword(s):  
Influenza A ◽  
Mdck Cells ◽  
Virus Assembly ◽  
Direct Interaction ◽  
Cytoplasmic Tail ◽  
M2 Protein ◽  
Virus Budding ◽  
Mutant Proteins ◽  
Virus Like Particle ◽  
Growth Analyses

ABSTRACT The cytoplasmic tail of the influenza A virus M2 proton-selective ion channel has been shown to be important for virus replication. Previous analysis of M2 cytoplasmic tail truncation mutants demonstrated a defect in incorporation of viral RNA (vRNA) into virions, suggesting a role for M2 in the recruitment of M1-vRNA complexes. To further characterize the effect of the M2 cytoplasmic tail mutations on virus assembly and budding, we constructed a series of alanine substitution mutants of M2 with mutations in the cytoplasmic tail, from residues 71 to 97. Mutant proteins M2-Mut1 and M2-Mut2, with mutations of residues 71 to 73 and 74 to 76, respectively, appeared to have the greatest effect on virus-like particle and virus budding, showing a defect in M1 incorporation. Mutant viruses containing M2-Mut1 and M2-Mut2 failed to replicate in multistep growth analyses on wild-type (wt) MDCK cells and were able to form plaques only on MDCK cells stably expressing wt M2 protein. Compared to wt M2 protein, M2-Mut1 and M2-Mut2 were unable to efficiently coimmunoprecipitate with M1. Furthermore, statistical analysis of planar sheets of membrane from cells infected by virus containing M2-Mut1 revealed a reduction in M1-hemagglutinin (HA) and M2-HA clustering as well as a severe loss of clustering between M1 and M2. These results suggest an essential, direct interaction between the cytoplasmic tail of M2 and M1 that promotes the recruitment of the internal viral proteins and vRNA to the plasma membrane for efficient virus assembly to occur.

scholarly journals Ubiquitination of the Cytoplasmic Domain of Influenza A Virus M2 Protein is Crucial for Production of Infectious Virus Particles

2017 ◽  
pp. JVI.01972-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wen-Chi Su ◽  
Wen-Ya Yu ◽  
Shih-Han Huang ◽  
Michael M.C. Lai
Keyword(s):  
Virus Replication ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Functional Role ◽  
Infectious Virus ◽  
Virus Production ◽  
Wild Type Virus ◽  
Type Virus ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Virus Particles

Virus replication is mediated by interactions between virus and host. Here, we demonstrate that influenza A virus membrane protein 2 (M2) can be ubiquitinated. The lysine residue at position 78, which is located in the cytoplasmic domain of M2, is essential for M2 ubiquitination. An M2-K78R (Lys78→Arg78) mutant, which produces ubiquitination-deficient M2, showed a severe defect in production of infectious virus particles. M2-K78R mutant progeny contained more HA proteins, less viral RNAs and less internal viral proteins, including M1 and NP, than the wild-type virus. Furthermore, most of the M2-K78R mutant viral particles lacked viral ribonucleoproteins upon examination under electron microscopy and exhibited slightly lower densities. We also found that mutant M2 colocalized with M1 protein to a lesser extent than for wild-type virus. These findings may account for the reduced incorporation of viral ribonucleoprotein into virions. By blocking the second round of virus infection, we showed that the M2 ubiquitination-defective mutant exhibited normal level of virus replication during the first round of infection, thereby proving that M2 ubiquitination is involved in the virus production step. Finally, we found that M2-K78R mutant virus induced autophagy and apoptosis earlier than wild-type virus. Collectively, these results suggest that M2 ubiquitination plays an important role in infectious virus production by coordinating efficient packaging of the viral genome into virus particles and timing of viral-induced cell death.IMPORTANCEAnnual epidemics and recurring pandemics of influenza viruses represent a very high global health and economic burden. Influenza virus M2 protein has been extensively studied for its important roles in virus replication, particularly in viral entry and release. Rimantadine, one of the most commonly used antiviral drugs, binds to the channel lumen near the N-terminus of M2 proteins. However, viruses resistant to Rimantadine have emerged. M2 undergoes several posttranslational modifications, such as phosphorylation and palmitoylation. Here, we reveal that ubiquitination mediates the functional role of M2. A ubiquitination-deficient M2 mutant predominately produced virus particles either lacking viral ribonucleoproteins or containing smaller amounts of internal viral components, resulting in lower infectivity. Our findings offer insights into the mechanism of influenza virus morphogenesis, particularly the functional role of M1-M2 interactions in viral particle assembly, and can be applied to the development of new influenza therapies.

scholarly journals Extending the Cytoplasmic Tail of the Influenza A Virus M2 Protein Leads to Reduced Virus Replication In Vivo but Not In Vitro

2007 ◽  
Vol 82 (2) ◽  
pp. 1059-1063 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wai-Hong Wu ◽  
Andrew Pekosz
Keyword(s):  
Influenza A Virus ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Mdck Cells ◽  
Cytoplasmic Tail ◽  
M2 Protein ◽  
Coding Region ◽  
Epitope Tag ◽  
Carboxy Terminal

ABSTRACT A carboxy-terminal epitope tag introduced into the coding region of the A/WSN/33 M2 protein resulted in a recombinant virus (rWSN M2myc) which replicated to titers similar to those of the parental virus (rWSN) in MDCK cells. The rWSN M2myc virus was attenuated in its ability to induce mortality and weight loss after the intranasal inoculation of BALB/c mice, indicating that the M2 cytoplasmic tail plays a role in virus virulence. Mice infected with rWSN M2myc were completely protected from subsequent challenge with rWSN, suggesting that epitope tagging of the M2 protein may be a useful way of attenuating influenza A virus strains.

scholarly journals Effects of Antibody to the Influenza A Virus M2 Protein on M2 Surface Expression and Virus Assembly

Virology ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 212 (2) ◽  
pp. 411-421 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patsy G. Hughey ◽  
Paul C. Roberts ◽  
Leslie J. Holsinger ◽  
Suzanne L. Zebedee ◽  
Robert A. Lamb ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Influenza A Virus ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Virus Assembly ◽  
Surface Expression ◽  
M2 Protein

scholarly journals Defective Assembly of Influenza A Virus due to a Mutation in the Polymerase Subunit PA

2006 ◽  
Vol 80 (1) ◽  
pp. 252-261 ◽  
Author(s):  
John F. Regan ◽  
Yuying Liang ◽  
Tristram G. Parslow
Keyword(s):  
Influenza Virus ◽  
Influenza A Virus ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Virus Assembly ◽  
Functional Characterization ◽  
Genomic Rna ◽  
Viral Mrnas ◽  
Virus Particles ◽  
Essential Components ◽  
Viral Genomic Rna

ABSTRACT The RNA-dependent RNA polymerase of influenza A virus is composed of three subunits that together synthesize all viral mRNAs and also replicate the viral genomic RNA segments (vRNAs) through intermediates known as cRNAs. Here we describe functional characterization of 16 site-directed mutants of one polymerase subunit, termed PA. In accord with earlier studies, these mutants exhibited diverse, mainly quantitative impairments in expressing one or more classes of viral RNA, with associated infectivity defects of varying severity. One PA mutant, however, targeting residues 507 and 508, caused only modest perturbations of RNA expression yet completely eliminated the formation of plaque-forming virus. Polymerases incorporating this mutant, designated J10, proved capable of synthesizing translationally active mRNAs and of replicating diverse cRNA or vRNA templates at levels compatible with viral infectivity. Both the mutant protein and its RNA products were appropriately localized in the cytoplasm, where influenza virus assembly occurs. Nevertheless, J10 failed to generate infectious particles from cells in a plasmid-based influenza virus assembly assay, and hemagglutinating material from the supernatants of such cells contained little or no nuclease-resistant genomic RNA. These findings suggest that PA has a previously unrecognized role in assembly or release of influenza virus virions, perhaps influencing core structure or the packaging of vRNAs or other essential components into nascent influenza virus particles.

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