scholarly journals Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus nsp9 Dimerization Is Essential for Efficient Viral Growth

2009 ◽  
Vol 83 (7) ◽  
pp. 3007-3018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zachary J. Miknis ◽  
Eric F. Donaldson ◽  
Timothy C. Umland ◽  
Ryan A. Rimmer ◽  
Ralph S. Baric ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Viral Replication ◽  
Reverse Genetics ◽  
Rna Binding ◽  
Nonstructural Protein ◽  
Binding Activity ◽  
Nonstructural Proteins ◽  
Protein Protein Interaction ◽  
Dna Binding Activity ◽  
Fold Reduction

ABSTRACT The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) devotes a significant portion of its genome to producing nonstructural proteins required for viral replication. SARS-CoV nonstructural protein 9 (nsp9) was identified as an essential protein with RNA/DNA-binding activity, and yet its biological function within the replication complex remains unknown. Nsp9 forms a dimer through the interaction of parallel α-helices containing the protein-protein interaction motif GXXXG. In order to study the role of the nsp9 dimer in viral reproduction, residues G100 and G104 at the helix interface were targeted for mutation. Multi-angle light scattering measurements indicated that G100E, G104E, and G104V mutants are monomeric in solution, thereby disrupting the dimer. However, electrophoretic mobility assays revealed that the mutants bound RNA with similar affinity. Further experiments using fluorescence anisotropy showed a 10-fold reduction in RNA binding in the G100E and G104E mutants, whereas the G104V mutant had only a 4-fold reduction. The structure of G104E nsp9 was determined to 2.6-Å resolution, revealing significant changes at the dimer interface. The nsp9 mutations were introduced into SARS-CoV using a reverse genetics approach, and the G100E and G104E mutations were found to be lethal to the virus. The G104V mutant produced highly debilitated virus and eventually reverted back to the wild-type protein sequence through a codon transversion. Together, these data indicate that dimerization of SARS-CoV nsp9 at the GXXXG motif is not critical for RNA binding but is necessary for viral replication.

scholarly journals Reverse Genetics System Demonstrates that Rotavirus Nonstructural Protein NSP6 Is Not Essential for Viral Replication in Cell Culture

2017 ◽  
Vol 91 (21) ◽  
Author(s):  
Satoshi Komoto ◽  
Yuta Kanai ◽  
Saori Fukuda ◽  
Masanori Kugita ◽  
Takahiro Kawagishi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Culture ◽  
Viral Replication ◽  
Reverse Genetics ◽  
Nonstructural Protein ◽  
Growth Curves ◽  
Single Step ◽  
Replication Cycle ◽  
Nonstructural Proteins ◽  
Virus Growth ◽  
Severe Diarrhea

ABSTRACT The use of overlapping open reading frames (ORFs) to synthesize more than one unique protein from a single mRNA has been described for several viruses. Segment 11 of the rotavirus genome encodes two nonstructural proteins, NSP5 and NSP6. The NSP6 ORF is present in the vast majority of rotavirus strains, and therefore the NSP6 protein would be expected to have a function in viral replication. However, there is no direct evidence of its function or requirement in the viral replication cycle yet. Here, taking advantage of a recently established plasmid-only-based reverse genetics system that allows rescue of recombinant rotaviruses entirely from cloned cDNAs, we generated NSP6-deficient viruses to directly address its significance in the viral replication cycle. Viable recombinant NSP6-deficient viruses could be engineered. Single-step growth curves and plaque formation of the NSP6-deficient viruses confirmed that NSP6 expression is of limited significance for RVA replication in cell culture, although the NSP6 protein seemed to promote efficient virus growth. IMPORTANCE Rotavirus is one of the most important pathogens of severe diarrhea in young children worldwide. The rotavirus genome, consisting of 11 segments of double-stranded RNA, encodes six structural proteins (VP1 to VP4, VP6, and VP7) and six nonstructural proteins (NSP1 to NSP6). Although specific functions have been ascribed to each of the 12 viral proteins, the role of NSP6 in the viral replication cycle remains unknown. In this study, we demonstrated that the NSP6 protein is not essential for viral replication in cell culture by using a recently developed plasmid-only-based reverse genetics system. This reverse genetics approach will be successfully applied to answer questions of great interest regarding the roles of rotaviral proteins in replication and pathogenicity, which can hardly be addressed by conventional approaches.

scholarly journals Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Nonstructural Protein 2 Interacts with a Host Protein Complex Involved in Mitochondrial Biogenesis and Intracellular Signaling

2009 ◽  
Vol 83 (19) ◽  
pp. 10314-10318 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cromwell T. Cornillez-Ty ◽  
Lujian Liao ◽  
John R. Yates ◽  
Peter Kuhn ◽  
Michael J. Buchmeier
Keyword(s):  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Intracellular Signaling ◽  
Nonstructural Protein ◽  
Host Protein ◽  
Nonstructural Proteins ◽  
Host Proteins ◽  
Catalytic Activities ◽  
Nonstructural Protein 2 ◽  
Host Signaling ◽  
Prohibitin 1

ABSTRACT The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) generates 16 nonstructural proteins (nsp's) through proteolytic cleavage of a large precursor protein. Although several nsp's exhibit catalytic activities that are important for viral replication and transcription, other nsp's have less clearly defined roles during an infection. In order to gain a better understanding of their functions, we attempted to identify host proteins that interact with nsp's during SARS-CoV infections. For nsp2, we identified an interaction with two host proteins, prohibitin 1 (PHB1) and PHB2. Our results suggest that nsp2 may be involved in the disruption of intracellular host signaling during SARS-CoV infections.

scholarly journals Roles of the AX4GKS and Arginine-Rich Motifs of Hepatitis C Virus RNA Helicase in ATP- and Viral RNA-Binding Activity

2000 ◽  
Vol 74 (20) ◽  
pp. 9732-9737 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shin C. Chang ◽  
Ju-Chien Cheng ◽  
Yi-Hen Kou ◽  
Chuan-Hong Kao ◽  
Chiung-Hui Chiu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Rna Binding ◽  
Atp Hydrolysis ◽  
Nonstructural Protein ◽  
Binding Activity ◽  
Viral Rna ◽  
Atp Binding ◽  
Rna Unwinding ◽  
Arginine Rich Motif

ABSTRACT The nonstructural protein 3 (NS3) of hepatitis C virus (HCV) possesses protease, nucleoside triphosphatase, and helicase activities. Although the enzymatic activities have been extensively studied, the ATP- and RNA-binding domains of the NS3 helicase are not well-characterized. In this study, NS3 proteins with point mutations in the conserved helicase motifs were expressed inEscherichia coli, purified, and analyzed for their effects on ATP binding, RNA binding, ATP hydrolysis, and RNA unwinding. UV cross-linking experiments indicate that the lysine residue in the AX4GKS motif is directly involved in ATP binding, whereas the NS3(GR1490DT) mutant in which the arginine-rich motif (1486-QRRGRTGR-1493) was changed to QRRDTTGR bound ATP as well as the wild type. The binding activity of HCV NS3 helicase to the viral RNA was drastically reduced with the mutation at Arg1488 (R1488A) and was also affected by the K1236E substitution in the AX4GKS motif and the R1490A and GR1490DT mutations in the arginine-rich motif. Previously, Arg1490 was suggested, based on the crystal structure of an NS3-deoxyuridine octamer complex, to directly interact with the γ-phosphate group of ATP. Nevertheless, our functional analysis demonstrated the critical roles of Arg1490 in binding to the viral RNA, ATP hydrolysis, and RNA unwinding, but not in ATP binding.

DNA Binding Activity of Marine Shrimp LvProfilin

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yanisa Laoong-u-thai ◽  
Warapond Wanna ◽  
Autaipohn Kaikaew
Keyword(s):  
Dna Binding ◽  
Rna Binding ◽  
3D Structure ◽  
Binding Activity ◽  
Shrimp Farming ◽  
Binding Prediction ◽  
3D Protein Structure ◽  
Dna Binding Activity ◽  
Marine Shrimp

Shrimp farming is an important business in Thailand and worldwide. The study of molecular biology and biochemical pathway of the key molecules controlling muscle growth is an essential to improve shrimp livestock. Profilin is a pivotal protein in muscle formation, especially actin protein. Its nuclear function has been reported in many species for gene regulation. Here in this work, we characterized the function of LvProfilin, a marine shrimp profilin from Litopenaeus vannamei, both in silico and in vitro. The phylogenetic tree of LvProfilin among organisms and its 3D protein structure showed that LvProfilin was highly conserved among shrimp and arthropods. The homology modeling of its 3D structure revealed 3 alpha-helices and 6 beta-strands similar to most eukaryotic profilins. To interpret its possible function, the gene expression of LvProfilin in various tissues was performed. We found that this gene was expressed in various tissues. This result may imply that LvProfilin could share a common function in all tissues. Nuclear activity has been a promising function of LvProfilin. We performed a DNA/RNA binding prediction analysis using DRNApred. The result indicated that Lysine-90 and Threonine-91 were the putative DNA-binding sites with the probability of 63.12% and 54.16%, respectively. Its binding activity was confirmed in vitro which bound stronger to single strand DNA than double strand DNA. To our best knowledge, this is the first report of DNA binding activity of profilin in invertebrates.

scholarly journals Murine Coronavirus Ubiquitin-Like Domain Is Important for Papain-Like Protease Stability and Viral Pathogenesis

2015 ◽  
Vol 89 (9) ◽  
pp. 4907-4917 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna M. Mielech ◽  
Xufang Deng ◽  
Yafang Chen ◽  
Eveline Kindler ◽  
Dorthea L. Wheeler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Viral Replication ◽  
Protease Activity ◽  
Reverse Genetics ◽  
Hepatitis Virus ◽  
Nonstructural Protein ◽  
Viral Pathogenesis ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Viral Protease ◽  
Novel Approach ◽  
Protease Stability

ABSTRACTUbiquitin-like domains (Ubls) now are recognized as common elements adjacent to viral and cellular proteases; however, their function is unclear. Structural studies of the papain-like protease (PLP) domains of coronaviruses (CoVs) revealed an adjacent Ubl domain in severe acute respiratory syndrome CoV, Middle East respiratory syndrome CoV, and the murine CoV, mouse hepatitis virus (MHV). Here, we tested the effect of altering the Ubl adjacent to PLP2 of MHV on enzyme activity, viral replication, and pathogenesis. Using deletion and substitution approaches, we identified sites within the Ubl domain, residues 785 to 787 of nonstructural protein 3, which negatively affect protease activity, and valine residues 785 and 787, which negatively affect deubiquitinating activity. Using reverse genetics, we engineered Ubl mutant viruses and found that AM2 (V787S) and AM3 (V785S) viruses replicate efficiently at 37°C but generate smaller plaques than wild-type (WT) virus, and AM2 is defective for replication at higher temperatures. To evaluate the effect of the mutation on protease activity, we purified WT and Ubl mutant PLP2 and found that the proteases exhibit similar specific activities at 25°C. However, the thermal stability of the Ubl mutant PLP2 was significantly reduced at 30°C, thereby reducing the total enzymatic activity. To determine if the destabilizing mutation affects viral pathogenesis, we infected C57BL/6 mice with WT or AM2 virus and found that the mutant virus is highly attenuated, yet it replicates sufficiently to elicit protective immunity. These studies revealed that modulating the Ubl domain adjacent to the PLP reduces protease stability and viral pathogenesis, revealing a novel approach to coronavirus attenuation.IMPORTANCEIntroducing mutations into a protein or virus can have either direct or indirect effects on function. We asked if changes in the Ubl domain, a conserved domain adjacent to the coronavirus papain-like protease, altered the viral protease activity or affected viral replication or pathogenesis. Our studies using purified wild-type and Ubl mutant proteases revealed that mutations in the viral Ubl domain destabilize and inactivate the adjacent viral protease. Furthermore, we show that a CoV encoding the mutant Ubl domain is unable to replicate at high temperature or cause lethal disease in mice. Our results identify the coronavirus Ubl domain as a novel modulator of viral protease stability and reveal manipulating the Ubl domain as a new approach for attenuating coronavirus replication and pathogenesis.

scholarly journals Restriction of Viral Replication by Mutation of the Influenza Virus Matrix Protein

2002 ◽  
Vol 76 (24) ◽  
pp. 13055-13061 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teresa Liu ◽  
Zhiping Ye
Keyword(s):  
Influenza Virus ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Viral Replication ◽  
Zinc Finger ◽  
Nuclear Export ◽  
Matrix Protein ◽  
Reverse Genetics ◽  
Rna Binding ◽  
Viral Assembly ◽  
Zinc Finger Motif

ABSTRACT The matrix protein (M1) of influenza virus plays an essential role in viral assembly and has a variety of functions, including association with influenza virus ribonucleoprotein (RNP). Our previous studies show that the association of M1 with viral RNA and nucleoprotein not only promotes formation of helical RNP but also is required for export of RNP from the nucleus during viral replication. The RNA-binding domains of M1 have been mapped to two independent regions: a zinc finger motif at amino acid positions 148 to 162 and a series of basic amino acids (RKLKR) at amino acid positions 101 to 105, which is also involved in RNP-binding activity. To further understand the role of the RNP-binding domain of M1 in viral assembly and replication, mutations in the coding sequences of RKLKR and the zinc finger motif of M1 were constructed using a PCR technique and introduced into wild-type influenza virus by reverse genetics. Altering the zinc finger motif of M1 only slightly affected viral growth. Substitution of Arg with Ser at position 101 or 105 of RKLKR did not have a major impact on nuclear export of RNP or viral replication. In contrast, deletion of RKLKR or substitution of Lys with Asn at position 102 or 104 of RKLKR resulted in a lethal mutation. These results indicate that the RKLKR domain of M1 protein plays an important role in viral replication.

scholarly journals Fitting Pieces into the Puzzle ofPseudomonas aeruginosaType III Secretion System Gene Expression

2019 ◽  
Vol 201 (13) ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily A. Williams McMackin ◽  
Louise Djapgne ◽  
Jodi M. Corley ◽  
Timothy L. Yahr
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Protein Delivery ◽  
Rna Binding ◽  
Rna Binding Proteins ◽  
Binding Activity ◽  
Secretion Systems ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Global Regulators ◽  
Dna Binding Activity ◽  
Host Pathogen

ABSTRACTType III secretion systems (T3SS) are widely distributed in Gram-negative microorganisms and critical for host-pathogen and host-symbiont interactions with plants and animals. Central features of the T3SS are a highly conserved set of secretion and translocation genes and contact dependence wherein host-pathogen interactions trigger effector protein delivery and serve as an inducing signal for T3SS gene expression. In addition to these conserved features, there are pathogen-specific properties that include a unique repertoire of effector genes and mechanisms to control T3SS gene expression. ThePseudomonas aeruginosaT3SS serves as a model system to understand transcriptional and posttranscriptional mechanisms involved in the control of T3SS gene expression. The central regulatory feature is a partner-switching system that controls the DNA-binding activity of ExsA, the primary regulator of T3SS gene expression. Superimposed upon the partner-switching mechanism are cyclic AMP and cyclic di-GMP signaling systems, two-component systems, global regulators, and RNA-binding proteins that have positive and negative effects on ExsA transcription and/or synthesis. In the present review, we discuss advances in our understanding of how these regulatory systems orchestrate the activation of T3SS gene expression in the context of acute infections and repression of the T3SS asP. aeruginosaadapts to and colonizes the cystic fibrosis airways.

scholarly journals Phosphorylation of Bluetongue Virus Nonstructural Protein 2 Is Essential for Formation of Viral Inclusion Bodies

2005 ◽  
Vol 79 (15) ◽  
pp. 10023-10031 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jens Modrof ◽  
Kostas Lymperopoulos ◽  
Polly Roy
Keyword(s):  
Bluetongue Virus ◽  
Inclusion Bodies ◽  
Rna Binding ◽  
Nonstructural Protein ◽  
Binding Activity ◽  
Nonstructural Protein 2 ◽  
The Matrix ◽  
Infected Cells ◽  
Viral Inclusion

ABSTRACT In bluetongue virus (BTV)-infected cells, large cytoplasmic aggregates are formed, termed viral inclusion bodies (VIBs), which are believed to be the sites of viral replication and morphogenesis. The BTV nonstructural protein NS2 is the major component of VIBs. NS2 undergoes intracellular phosphorylation and possesses a strong single-stranded RNA binding activity. By changing phosphorylated amino acids to alanines and aspartates, we have mapped the phosphorylated sites of NS2 to two serine residues at positions 249 and 259. Since both of these serines are within the context of protein kinase CK2 recognition signals, we have further examined if CK2 is involved in NS2 phosphorylation by both intracellular colocalization and an in vitro phosphorylation assay. In addition, we have utilized the NS2 mutants to determine the role of phosphorylation on NS2 activities. The data obtained demonstrate that NS2 phosphorylation is not necessary either for its RNA binding properties or for its ability to interact with the viral polymerase VP1. However, phosphorylated NS2 exhibited VIB formation while unmodified NS2 failed to assemble as VIBs although smaller oligomeric forms of NS2 were readily formed. Our data reveal that NS2 phosphorylation controls VIBs formation consistent with a model in which NS2 provides the matrix for viral assembly.

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