scholarly journals Glycine 184 in Nonstructural Protein NS1 Determines the Virulence of Influenza A Virus Strain PR8 without Affecting the Host Interferon Response

2010 ◽  
Vol 84 (24) ◽  
pp. 12761-12770 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabine Steidle ◽  
Luis Martínez-Sobrido ◽  
Markus Mordstein ◽  
Stefan Lienenklaus ◽  
Adolfo García-Sastre ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Influenza A Virus ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Reverse Genetics ◽  
Rna Binding ◽  
Nonstructural Protein ◽  
Interferon Response ◽  
Binding Motif ◽  
Ns1 Protein ◽  
Viral Virulence ◽  
Functional Rna

ABSTRACT The nonstructural protein NS1 of influenza A virus counteracts the interferon (IFN) system and thereby promotes viral replication. NS1 has acquired different mechanisms to limit induction of IFN. It prevents double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) and RIG-I-mediated activation of interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3), and it blocks posttranscriptional processing of cellular mRNAs by binding to the cleavage and polyadenylation specificity factor (CPSF). Using a mouse-adapted A/PR/8/34 virus and reverse genetics to introduce specific mutations in NS1 which eliminate one or both functions, we determined the relative contributions of these two activities of NS1 to viral virulence in mice. We found that a functional RNA-binding motif was required for IFN suppression and virulence. Restoration of CPSF binding in the NS1 protein of wild-type A/PR/8/34 virus, which cannot bind CPSF due to mutations in the central binding motif at positions 103 and 106, resulted in enhanced virulence. Surprisingly, if CPSF binding was abolished by substituting glycine for arginine at position 184 in the classical NS1-CPSF binding motif, the mutant virus replicated much more slowly in mice, although the mutated NS1 protein continued to repress the IFN response very efficiently. Our results show that a functional RNA-binding motif is decisive for NS1 of A/PR/8/34 virus to suppress IFN induction. They further demonstrate that in addition to its contribution to CPSF binding, glycine 184 strongly influences viral virulence by an unknown mechanism which does not involve the IFN system.

scholarly journals Nuclear and Nucleolar Targeting of Influenza A Virus NS1 Protein: Striking Differences between Different Virus Subtypes

2007 ◽  
Vol 81 (11) ◽  
pp. 5995-6006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krister Melén ◽  
Leena Kinnunen ◽  
Riku Fagerlund ◽  
Niina Ikonen ◽  
Karen Y. Twu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Host Cell ◽  
Influenza A Virus ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Rna Binding ◽  
Nonstructural Protein ◽  
Ns1 Protein ◽  
Nonstructural Protein 1 ◽  
Importin Α ◽  
Localization Signal ◽  
Ns1a Protein

ABSTRACT Influenza A virus nonstructural protein 1 (NS1A protein) is a virulence factor which is targeted into the nucleus. It is a multifunctional protein that inhibits host cell pre-mRNA processing and counteracts host cell antiviral responses. We show that the NS1A protein can interact with all six human importin α isoforms, indicating that the nuclear translocation of NS1A protein is mediated by the classical importin α/β pathway. The NS1A protein of the H1N1 (WSN/33) virus has only one N-terminal arginine- or lysine-rich nuclear localization signal (NLS1), whereas the NS1A protein of the H3N2 subtype (Udorn/72) virus also has a second C-terminal NLS (NLS2). NLS1 is mapped to residues 35 to 41, which also function in the double-stranded RNA-binding activity of the NS1A protein. NLS2 was created by a 7-amino-acid C-terminal extension (residues 231 to 237) that became prevalent among human influenza A virus types isolated between the years 1950 to 1987. NLS2 includes basic amino acids at positions 219, 220, 224, 229, 231, and 232. Surprisingly, NLS2 also forms a functional nucleolar localization signal NoLS, a function that was retained in H3N2 type virus NS1A proteins even without the C-terminal extension. It is likely that the evolutionarily well-conserved nucleolar targeting function of NS1A protein plays a role in the pathogenesis of influenza A virus.

scholarly journals Development of an HTS Assay for the Search of Anti-influenza Agents Targeting the Interaction of Viral RNA with the NS1 Protein

2008 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 581-590 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta Maroto ◽  
Yolanda Fernandez ◽  
Juan Ortin ◽  
Fernando Pelaez ◽  
M. Angerles Cabello
Keyword(s):  
Influenza A Virus ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Cytopathic Effect ◽  
Nonstructural Protein ◽  
Specific Interaction ◽  
Chemical Compounds ◽  
Viral Rna ◽  
Ns1 Protein ◽  
Rna Molecules ◽  
Novel Target

The NS1 protein is a nonstructural protein encoded by the influenza A virus. It is responsible for many alterations produced in the cellular metabolism upon infection by the virus and for modulation of virus virulence. The NS1 protein is able to perform a large variety of functions due to its ability to bind various types of RNA molecules, from both viral and nonviral origin, and to interact with several cell factors. With the aim of exploring whether the binding of NS1 protein to viral RNA (vRNA) could constitute a novel target for the search of anti-influenza drugs, a filter-binding assay measuring the specific interaction between the recombinant His-NS1 protein from influenza A virus and a radiolabeled model vRNA ( 32P-vNSZ) was adapted to a format suitable for screening and easy automation. Flashplate® technology (PerkinElmer, Waltham, MA), either in 96- or 384-well plates, was used. The Flashplate® wells were precoated with the recombinant His-NS1 protein, and the binding of His-NS1 to a 35S-vNSZ probe was measured. A pilot screening of a collection of 27,520 mixtures of synthetic chemical compounds was run for inhibitors of NS1 binding to vRNA. We found 3 compounds in which the inhibition of NS1 binding to vRNA, observed at submicromolar concentrations, was correlated with a reduction of the cytopathic effect during the infection of cell cultures with influenza virus. These results support the hypothesis that the binding of NS1 to vRNA could be a novel target for the development of anti-influenza drugs. ( Journal of Biomolecular Screening 2008:581-590)

scholarly journals Unexpected Functional Divergence of Bat Influenza Virus NS1 Proteins

2017 ◽  
Vol 92 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannah L. Turkington ◽  
Mindaugas Juozapaitis ◽  
Nikos Tsolakos ◽  
Eugenia Corrales-Aguilar ◽  
Martin Schwemmle ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Influenza A Virus ◽  
Virulence Factor ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Nonstructural Protein ◽  
Functional Divergence ◽  
Protein A ◽  
Regulatory Subunit ◽  
Ns1 Protein ◽  
Influenza A Viruses ◽  
Hydrophobic Patch

ABSTRACT Recently, two influenza A virus (FLUAV) genomes were identified in Central and South American bats. These sequences exhibit notable divergence from classical FLUAV counterparts, and functionally, bat FLUAV glycoproteins lack canonical receptor binding and destroying activity. Nevertheless, other features that distinguish these viruses from classical FLUAVs have yet to be explored. Here, we studied the viral nonstructural protein NS1, a virulence factor that modulates host signaling to promote efficient propagation. Like all FLUAV NS1 proteins, bat FLUAV NS1s bind double-stranded RNA and act as interferon antagonists. Unexpectedly, we found that bat FLUAV NS1s are unique in being unable to bind host p85β, a regulatory subunit of the cellular metabolism-regulating enzyme, phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K). Furthermore, neither bat FLUAV NS1 alone nor infection with a chimeric bat FLUAV efficiently activates Akt, a PI3K effector. Structure-guided mutagenesis revealed that the bat FLUAV NS1-p85β interaction can be reengineered (in a strain-specific manner) by changing two to four NS1 residues (96L, 99M, 100I, and 145T), thereby creating a hydrophobic patch. Notably, ameliorated p85β-binding is insufficient for bat FLUAV NS1 to activate PI3K, and a chimeric bat FLUAV expressing NS1 with engineered hydrophobic patch mutations exhibits cell-type-dependent, but species-independent, propagation phenotypes. We hypothesize that bat FLUAV hijacking of PI3K in the natural bat host has been selected against, perhaps because genes in this metabolic pathway were differentially shaped by evolution to suit the unique energy use strategies of this flying mammal. These data expand our understanding of the enigmatic functional divergence between bat FLUAVs and classical mammalian and avian FLUAVs. IMPORTANCE The potential for novel influenza A viruses to establish infections in humans from animals is a source of continuous concern due to possible severe outbreaks or pandemics. The recent discovery of influenza A-like viruses in bats has raised questions over whether these entities could be a threat to humans. Understanding unique properties of the newly described bat influenza A-like viruses, such as their mechanisms to infect cells or how they manipulate host functions, is critical to assess their likelihood of causing disease. Here, we characterized the bat influenza A-like virus NS1 protein, a key virulence factor, and found unexpected functional divergence of this protein from counterparts in other influenza A viruses. Our study dissects the molecular changes required by bat influenza A-like virus NS1 to adopt classical influenza A virus properties and suggests consequences of bat influenza A-like virus infection, potential future evolutionary trajectories, and intriguing virus-host biology in bat species.

scholarly journals Influenza A Virus NS1 Protein Activates the PI3K/Akt Pathway To Mediate Antiapoptotic Signaling Responses

2007 ◽  
Vol 81 (7) ◽  
pp. 3058-3067 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina Ehrhardt ◽  
Thorsten Wolff ◽  
Stephan Pleschka ◽  
Oliver Planz ◽  
Wiebke Beermann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Influenza A Virus ◽  
Virus Replication ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Glycogen Synthase ◽  
Nonstructural Protein ◽  
Akt Pathway ◽  
Ns1 Protein ◽  
Nonstructural Protein 1 ◽  
Cell Death Program ◽  
Pi3k Activation

ABSTRACT Recently we have shown that influenza A virus infection leads to activation of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway and that this cellular reaction is dependent on the expression of the viral nonstructural protein 1 (NS1). These data also suggested that PI3K activation confers a virus-supporting activity at intermediate stages of the infection cycle. So far it is not known which process is regulated by the kinase that supports virus replication. It is well established that upon infection with influenza A virus, the expression of the viral NS1 keeps the induction of beta interferon and the apoptotic response within a tolerable limit. On a molecular basis, this activity of NS1 has been suggested to preclude the activation of cellular double-stranded RNA receptors as well as impaired modulation of mRNA processing. Here we present a novel mode of action of the NS1 protein to suppress apoptosis induction. NS1 binds to and activates PI3K, which results in the activation of the PI3K effector Akt. This leads to a subsequent inhibition of caspase 9 and glycogen synthase-kinase 3β and limitation of the virus-induced cell death program. Thus, NS1 not only blocks but also activates signaling pathways to ensure efficient virus replication.

scholarly journals Influenza A virus NS1 protein activates the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway by direct interaction with the p85 subunit of PI3K

2007 ◽  
Vol 88 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yeun-Kyung Shin ◽  
Qiang Liu ◽  
Suresh K. Tikoo ◽  
Lorne A. Babiuk ◽  
Yan Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Influenza A Virus ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Mutant Virus ◽  
Akt Pathway ◽  
Binding Motif ◽  
Ns1 Protein ◽  
Phosphatidylinositol 3 Kinase ◽  
Binding Motifs ◽  
Sh2 Domains ◽  
Phosphatidylinositol 3

Influenza A virus infection activates the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway, but the mechanism is not clear. Here, it is reported that influenza A virus NS1 protein is responsible for PI3K/Akt pathway activation. It was demonstrated that the NS1 protein interacts with the p85 regulatory subunit of PI3K via direct binding to the SH3 and C-terminal SH2 domains of p85. Consensus binding motifs for SH3 and SH2 domains were found in influenza A virus NS1, namely an SH2-binding motif (YXXXM) at aa 89, SH3-binding motif 1 (PXXP) around aa 164 and SH3-binding motif 2 around aa 212. Mutant virus encoding NS1 protein with mutations in the SH-binding motifs failed to interact with SH domains of p85 and did not activate the PI3K/Akt pathway. The mutant virus is attenuated in Madin–Darby canine kidney cells. Our study has established a novel function of NS1: by interacting with p85 via the SH-binding motifs, NS1 can activate the PI3K/Akt pathway.

scholarly journals The accumulation of influenza A virus segment 7 spliced mRNAs is regulated by the NS1 protein

2012 ◽  
Vol 93 (1) ◽  
pp. 113-118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole C. Robb ◽  
Ervin Fodor
Keyword(s):  
Influenza Virus ◽  
Viral Infection ◽  
Influenza A Virus ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Rna Binding ◽  
Mrna Splicing ◽  
Ns1 Protein ◽  
Binding Ability ◽  
Alternatively Spliced ◽  
Transcription And Replication

The influenza A virus M1 mRNA is alternatively spliced to produce M2 mRNA, mRNA3, and in some cases, M4 mRNA. Splicing of influenza mRNAs is carried out by the cellular splicing machinery and is thought to be regulated, as both spliced and unspliced mRNAs encode proteins. In this study, we used radioactively labelled primers to investigate the accumulation of spliced and unspliced M segment mRNAs in viral infection and ribonucleoprotein (RNP) reconstitution assays in which only the minimal components required for transcription and replication to occur were expressed. We found that co-expression of the viral NS1 protein in an RNP reconstitution assay altered the accumulation of spliced mRNAs compared with when it was absent, and that this activity was dependent on the RNA-binding ability of NS1. These findings suggest that the NS1 protein plays a role in the regulation of splicing of influenza virus M1 mRNA.

scholarly journals Functional Replacement of the Carboxy-Terminal Two-Thirds of the Influenza A Virus NS1 Protein with Short Heterologous Dimerization Domains

2002 ◽  
Vol 76 (24) ◽  
pp. 12951-12962 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiuyan Wang ◽  
Christopher F. Basler ◽  
Bryan R. G. Williams ◽  
Robert H. Silverman ◽  
Peter Palese ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Influenza A Virus ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Rna Binding ◽  
Influenza Viruses ◽  
Ns1 Protein ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Dimerization Domain ◽  
Carboxy Terminal

ABSTRACT The NS1 protein of influenza A/WSN/33 virus is a 230-amino-acid-long protein which functions as an interferon alpha/beta (IFN-α/β) antagonist by preventing the synthesis of IFN during viral infection. In tissue culture, the IFN inhibitory function of the NS1 protein has been mapped to the RNA binding domain, the first 73 amino acids. Nevertheless, influenza viruses expressing carboxy-terminally truncated NS1 proteins are attenuated in mice. Dimerization of the NS1 protein has previously been shown to be essential for its RNA binding activity. We have explored the ability of heterologous dimerization domains to functionally substitute in vivo for the carboxy-terminal domains of the NS1 protein. Recombinant influenza viruses were generated that expressed truncated NS1 proteins of 126 amino acids, fused to 28 or 24 amino acids derived from the dimerization domains of either the Saccharomyces cerevisiae PUT3 or the Drosophila melanogaster Ncd (DmNcd) proteins. These viruses regained virulence and lethality in mice. Moreover, a recombinant influenza virus expressing only the first 73 amino acids of the NS1 protein was able to replicate in mice lacking three IFN-regulated antiviral enzymes, PKR, RNaseL, and Mx, but not in wild-type (Mx-deficient) mice, suggesting that the attenuation was mainly due to an inability to inhibit the IFN system. Remarkably, a virus with an NS1 truncated at amino acid 73 but fused to the dimerization domain of DmNcd replicated and was also highly pathogenic in wild-type mice. These results suggest that the main biological function of the carboxy-terminal region of the NS1 protein of influenza A virus is the enhancement of its IFN antagonist properties by stabilizing the NS1 dimeric structure.

scholarly journals SH3 Binding Motif 1 in Influenza A Virus NS1 Protein Is Essential for PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathway Activation

2007 ◽  
Vol 81 (23) ◽  
pp. 12730-12739 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yeun-Kyung Shin ◽  
Yang Li ◽  
Qiang Liu ◽  
Deborah H. Anderson ◽  
Lorne A. Babiuk ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Signaling Pathway ◽  
Influenza A Virus ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Akt Signaling ◽  
Regulatory Subunit ◽  
Akt Pathway ◽  
Binding Motif ◽  
Ns1 Protein ◽  
Akt Signaling Pathway

ABSTRACT Recent studies have demonstrated that influenza A virus infection activates the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling pathway by binding of influenza NS1 protein to the p85 regulatory subunit of PI3K. Our previous study proposed that two polyproline motifs in NS1 (amino acids 164 to 167 [PXXP], SH3 binding motif 1, and amino acids 213 to 216 [PPXXP], SH3 binding motif 2) may mediate binding to the p85 subunit of PI3K. Here we performed individual mutational analyses on these two motifs and demonstrated that SH3 binding motif 1 contributes to the interactions of NS1 with p85β, whereas SH3 binding motif 2 is not required for this process. Mutant viruses carrying NS1 with mutations in SH3 binding motif 1 failed to interact with p85β and induce the subsequent activation of PI3K/Akt pathway. Mutant virus bearing mutations in SH3 binding motif 2 exhibited similar phenotype as the wild-type (WT) virus. Furthermore, viruses with mutations in SH3 binding motif 1 induced more severe apoptosis than did the WT virus. Our data suggest that SH3 binding motif 1 in NS1 protein is required for NS1-p85β interaction and PI3K/Akt activation. Activation of PI3K/Akt pathway is beneficial for virus replication by inhibiting virus induced apoptosis through phosphorylation of caspase-9.

scholarly journals A Novel Role for PDZ-Binding Motif of Influenza A Virus Nonstructural Protein 1 in Regulation of Host Susceptibility to Postinfluenza Bacterial Superinfections

2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 131-143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelly Shepardson ◽  
Kyle Larson ◽  
Hanbyul Cho ◽  
Laura Logan Johns ◽  
Zeynep Malkoc ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Influenza A Virus ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Nonstructural Protein ◽  
Host Susceptibility ◽  
Binding Motif ◽  
Nonstructural Protein 1

scholarly journals Multiple Anti-Interferon Actions of the Influenza A Virus NS1 Protein

2007 ◽  
Vol 81 (13) ◽  
pp. 7011-7021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Georg Kochs ◽  
Adolfo García-Sastre ◽  
Luis Martínez-Sobrido
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Influenza A Virus ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Nonstructural Protein ◽  
Influenza Pandemic ◽  
Ns1 Protein ◽  
Cellular Genes ◽  
Cellular Mrnas ◽  
Cleavage And Polyadenylation ◽  
Specificity Factor

ABSTRACT The replication and pathogenicity of influenza A virus (FLUAV) are controlled in part by the alpha/beta interferon (IFN-α/β) system. This virus-host interplay is dependent on the production of IFN-α/β and on the capacity of the viral nonstructural protein NS1 to counteract the IFN system. Two different mechanisms have been described for NS1, namely, blocking the activation of IFN regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) and blocking posttranscriptional processing of cellular mRNAs. Here we directly compare the abilities of NS1 gene products from three different human FLUAV (H1N1) strains to counteract the antiviral host response. We found that A/PR/8/34 NS1 has a strong capacity to inhibit IRF3 and activation of the IFN-β promoter but is unable to suppress expression of other cellular genes. In contrast, the NS1 proteins of A/Tx/36/91 and of A/BM/1/18, the virus that caused the Spanish influenza pandemic, caused suppression of additional cellular gene expression. Thus, these NS1 proteins prevented the establishment of an IFN-induced antiviral state, allowing virus replication even in the presence of IFN. Interestingly, the block in gene expression was dependent on a newly described NS1 domain that is important for interaction with the cleavage and polyadenylation specificity factor (CPSF) component of the cellular pre-mRNA processing machinery but is not functional in A/PR/8/34 NS1. We identified the Phe-103 and Met-106 residues in NS1 as being critical for CPSF binding, together with the previously described C-terminal binding domain. Our results demonstrate the capacity of FLUAV NS1 to suppress the antiviral host defense at multiple levels and the existence of strain-specific differences that may modulate virus pathogenicity.

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