scholarly journals Inducible Yeast System for Viral RNA Recombination Reveals Requirement for an RNA Replication Signal on Both Parental RNAs

2006 ◽  
Vol 80 (17) ◽  
pp. 8316-8328 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hernan Garcia-Ruiz ◽  
Paul Ahlquist
Keyword(s):  
Rna Replication ◽  
Brome Mosaic Virus ◽  
Yeast Cells ◽  
Replication Proteins ◽  
Rna Recombination ◽  
Subgenomic Rna ◽  
Positive Strand ◽  
Positive Strand Rna ◽  
Rna Promoter ◽  
Derivatives Of

ABSTRACT To facilitate RNA recombination studies, we tested whether Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which supports brome mosaic virus (BMV) replication, also supports BMV RNA recombination. Yeast strains expressing BMV RNA replication proteins 1a and 2apol were engineered to transiently coexpress two independently inducible, overlapping, nonreplicating derivatives of BMV genomic RNA3. B3Δ3′ lacked the coat protein gene and negative-strand RNA promoter. B3Δ5′ lacked the positive-strand RNA promoter and had the coat gene replaced by the selectable URA3 gene. After 12 to 72 h of induction, B3Δ3′ and B3Δ5′ transcription was repressed and Ura+ yeast cells were selected. All Ura+ cells contained recombinant RNA3 replicons expressing URA3. Most replicons arose by intermolecular homologous recombination between B3Δ3′ and B3Δ5′. Such recombinants were isolated only when 1a and 2apol were expressed and after transient transcription of both B3Δ3′ and B3Δ5′, showing that recombination occurred at the RNA, not DNA, level. A minority of URA3-expressing replicons were derived from B3Δ5′, independently of B3Δ3′, by 5′ truncation and modification, generating novel positive-strand promoters and demonstrating that BMV can give rise to subgenomic RNA replicons. Intermolecular B3Δ3′-B3Δ5′ recombination occurred only when both parental RNAs bore a functional, cis-acting template recognition and recruitment element targeting viral RNAs to replication complexes. The results imply that recombination occurred in RNA replication complexes to which parental RNAs were independently recruited. Moreover, the ability to obtain intermolecular recombinants at precisely measurable, reproducible frequencies, to control genetic background and induction conditions, and other features of this system will facilitate further studies of virus and host functions in RNA recombination.

scholarly journals 5′ cis Elements Direct Nodavirus RNA1 Recruitment to Mitochondrial Sites of Replication Complex Formation

2009 ◽  
Vol 83 (7) ◽  
pp. 2976-2988 ◽  
Author(s):  
Priscilla M. Van Wynsberghe ◽  
Paul Ahlquist
Keyword(s):  
Complex Formation ◽  
Mutational Analysis ◽  
Protein A ◽  
Rna Replication ◽  
Viral Rna ◽  
Yeast Cells ◽  
Positive Strand ◽  
Replication Complex ◽  
Negative Strand ◽  
Positive Strand Rna

ABSTRACT Positive-strand RNA viruses replicate their genomes on intracellular membranes, usually in conjunction with virus-induced membrane rearrangements. For the nodavirus flock house virus (FHV), we recently showed that multifunctional FHV replicase protein A induces viral RNA template recruitment to a membrane-associated state, but the site(s) and function of this recruitment were not determined. By tagging viral RNA with green fluorescent protein, we show here in Drosophila cells that protein A recruits FHV RNA specifically to the outer mitochondrial membrane sites of RNA replication complex formation. Using Drosophila cells and yeast cells, which also support FHV replication, we also defined the cis-acting regions that direct replication and template recruitment for FHV genomic RNA1. RNA1 nucleotides 68 to 205 were required for RNA replication and directed efficient protein A-mediated RNA recruitment in both cell types. RNA secondary structure prediction, structure probing, and phylogenetic comparisons in this region identified two stable, conserved stem-loops with nearly identical loop sequences. Further mutational analysis showed that both stem-loops and certain flanking sequences were required for RNA1 recruitment, negative-strand synthesis, and subsequent positive-strand amplification in yeast and Drosophila cells. Thus, we have shown that protein A recruits RNA1 templates to mitochondria, as expected for RNA replication, and identified a new RNA1 cis element that is necessary and sufficient for RNA1 template recognition and recruitment to these mitochondrial membranes for negative-strand RNA1 synthesis. These results establish RNA recruitment to the sites of replication complex formation as an essential, distinct, and selective early step in nodavirus replication.

scholarly journals Flock House Virus RNA Replicates on Outer Mitochondrial Membranes in Drosophila Cells

2001 ◽  
Vol 75 (23) ◽  
pp. 11664-11676 ◽  
Author(s):  
David J. Miller ◽  
Michael D. Schwartz ◽  
Paul Ahlquist
Keyword(s):  
Rna Viruses ◽  
Rna Virus ◽  
Protein A ◽  
Rna Replication ◽  
Yeast Cells ◽  
Flock House Virus ◽  
Mitochondrial Membranes ◽  
Positive Strand ◽  
Positive Strand Rna Virus ◽  
Positive Strand Rna

ABSTRACT The identification and characterization of host cell membranes essential for positive-strand RNA virus replication should provide insight into the mechanisms of viral replication and potentially identify novel targets for broadly effective antiviral agents. The alphanodavirus flock house virus (FHV) is a positive-strand RNA virus with one of the smallest known genomes among animal RNA viruses, and it can replicate in insect, plant, mammalian, and yeast cells. To investigate the localization of FHV RNA replication, we generated polyclonal antisera against protein A, the FHV RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, which is the sole viral protein required for FHV RNA replication. We detected protein A within 4 h after infection ofDrosophila DL-1 cells and, by differential and isopycnic gradient centrifugation, found that protein A was tightly membrane associated, similar to integral membrane replicase proteins from other positive-strand RNA viruses. Confocal immunofluorescence microscopy and virus-specific, actinomycin D-resistant bromo-UTP incorporation identified mitochondria as the intracellular site of protein A localization and viral RNA synthesis. Selective membrane permeabilization and immunoelectron microscopy further localized protein A to outer mitochondrial membranes. Electron microscopy revealed 40- to 60-nm membrane-bound spherical structures in the mitochondrial intermembrane space of FHV-infected cells, similar in ultrastructural appearance to tombusvirus- and togavirus-induced membrane structures. We concluded that FHV RNA replication occurs on outer mitochondrial membranes and shares fundamental biochemical and ultrastructural features with RNA replication of positive-strand RNA viruses from other families.

scholarly journals Interactions between Brome Mosaic Virus RNAs and Cytoplasmic Processing Bodies

2007 ◽  
Vol 81 (18) ◽  
pp. 9759-9768 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carla J. Beckham ◽  
Heather R. Light ◽  
T. Amar Nissan ◽  
Paul Ahlquist ◽  
Roy Parker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mosaic Virus ◽  
Rna Replication ◽  
Brome Mosaic Virus ◽  
Yeast Cells ◽  
Processing Bodies ◽  
Genomic Rnas ◽  
Replication Complex ◽  
P Bodies ◽  
Body Component ◽  
Positive Strand Rna

ABSTRACT Cytoplasmic processing bodies are sites where nontranslating mRNAs accumulate for different fates, including decapping and degradation, storage, or returning to translation. Previous work has also shown that the Lsm1-7p complex, Dhh1p, and Pat1p, which are all components of P bodies, are required for translation and subsequent recruitment to replication of the plant virus brome mosaic virus (BMV) genomic RNAs when replication is reproduced in yeast cells. To better understand the role of P bodies in BMV replication, we examined the subcellular locations of BMV RNAs in yeast cells. We observed that BMV genomic RNA2 and RNA3 accumulated in P bodies in a manner dependent on cis-acting RNA replication signals, which also directed nonviral RNAs to P bodies. Furthermore, the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase coimmunoprecipitates and shows partial colocalization with the P-body component Lsm1p. These observations suggest that the accumulation of BMV RNAs in P bodies may be an important step in RNA replication complex assembly for BMV, and possibly for other positive-strand RNA viruses.

scholarly journals Brome Mosaic Virus RNA Replication Proteins 1a and 2a Colocalize and 1a Independently Localizes on the Yeast Endoplasmic Reticulum

1999 ◽  
Vol 73 (12) ◽  
pp. 10303-10309 ◽  
Author(s):  
María Restrepo-Hartwig ◽  
Paul Ahlquist
Keyword(s):  
Endoplasmic Reticulum ◽  
Mosaic Virus ◽  
Plant Cells ◽  
Rna Replication ◽  
Brome Mosaic Virus ◽  
Viral Rna ◽  
Replication Proteins ◽  
Replication Complex ◽  
Virus Rna ◽  
Positive Strand Rna

ABSTRACT The universal membrane association of positive-strand RNA virus RNA replication complexes is implicated in their function, but the intracellular membranes used vary among viruses. Brome mosaic virus (BMV) encodes two mutually interacting RNA replication proteins: 1a, which contains RNA capping and helicase-like domains, and the polymerase-like 2a protein. In cells from the natural plant hosts of BMV, 1a and 2a colocalize on the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). 1a and 2a also direct BMV RNA replication and subgenomic mRNA synthesis in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, but whether the distribution of 1a, 2a, and active replication complexes in yeast duplicates that in plant cells has not been determined. For yeast expressing 1a and 2a and replicating BMV genomic RNA3, we used double-label confocal immunofluorescence to define the localization of 1a, 2a, and viral RNA and to explore the determinants of replication complex targeting. As in plant cells, 1a and 2a colocalized on and were retained on the yeast ER, with no detectable accumulation in the Golgi apparatus. 1a and 2a were distributed over most of the ER surface, with strongest accumulation on the perinuclear ER. In vivo labeling with bromo-UTP showed that the sites of 1a and 2a accumulation were the sites of nascent viral RNA synthesis. In situ hybridization showed that completed viral RNA products accumulated predominantly in the immediate vicinity of replication complexes but that some, possibly more mature cells also accumulated substantial viral RNA in the surrounding cytoplasm distal to replication complexes. Additionally, we find that 1a localizes to the ER when expressed in the absence of other viral factors. These results show that BMV RNA replication in yeast duplicates the normal localization of replication complexes, reveal the intracellular distribution of RNA replication products, and show that 1a is at least partly responsible for the ER localization and retention of the RNA replication complex.

scholarly journals Brome Mosaic Virus Polymerase-Like Protein 2a Is Directed to the Endoplasmic Reticulum by Helicase-Like Viral Protein 1a

2000 ◽  
Vol 74 (9) ◽  
pp. 4310-4318 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianbo Chen ◽  
Paul Ahlquist
Keyword(s):  
Endoplasmic Reticulum ◽  
Mosaic Virus ◽  
Rna Replication ◽  
Brome Mosaic Virus ◽  
Viral Rna ◽  
Yeast Cells ◽  
Cell Fractionation ◽  
Cytoplasmic Organelle ◽  
Replication Complex ◽  
Positive Strand Rna

ABSTRACT Brome mosaic virus (BMV), a positive-strand RNA virus in the alphavirus-like superfamily, encodes RNA replication proteins 1a and 2a. 1a contains a C-terminal helicase-like domain and an N-terminal domain implicated in viral RNA capping, and 2a contains a central polymerase-like domain. 1a and 2a colocalize in an endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-associated replication complex that is the site of BMV-specific RNA-dependent RNA synthesis in plant and yeast cells. 1a also localizes to the ER in the absence of 2a or viral RNA replication templates. To investigate the determinants of 2a localization, we fused 2a to the green fluorescent protein (GFP), creating a functional GFP-2a fusion that supported BMV RNA replication and subgenomic mRNA transcription. In the absence of 1a, the GFP-2a fusion was found to be diffused throughout the cytoplasm and in punctate spots not associated with any cytoplasmic organelle so far tested. Formation of these spots was dependent on the C-terminal half of 2a and may represent aggregation of a fraction of 2a. When coexpressed with 1a, GFP-2a colocalized with 1a and ER-resident protein Kar2p in a partial or complete ring around the nucleus. Consistent with these results, cell fractionation showed that both the GFP-2a fusion and wild-type (wt) 2a remained soluble when expressed alone, while in cells coexpressing 1a, most of the GFP-2a fusion or wt 2a cofractionated with 1a in the rapidly sedimenting membrane fraction. Deletion analysis showed that the N-terminal 120-amino-acid segment of 2a, containing one of two 2a regions previously shown to interact with 1a, was necessary and sufficient for 1a-directed localization of GFP-2a derivatives to the ER. These results suggest that 1a, which also interacts independently with the ER and viral RNA, is a key organizer of RNA replication complex assembly.

scholarly journals Interactions between the Structural Domains of the RNA Replication Proteins of Plant-Infecting RNA Viruses

1998 ◽  
Vol 72 (9) ◽  
pp. 7160-7169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erin K. O’Reilly ◽  
Zhaohui Wang ◽  
Roy French ◽  
C. Cheng Kao
Keyword(s):  
Mosaic Virus ◽  
Rna Viruses ◽  
Rna Virus ◽  
Rna Replication ◽  
Brome Mosaic Virus ◽  
Replication Proteins ◽  
Mutant Proteins ◽  
Positive Strand Rna Virus ◽  
Positive Strand Rna

ABSTRACT Brome mosaic virus (BMV), a positive-strand RNA virus, encodes two replication proteins: the 2a protein, which contains polymerase-like sequences, and the 1a protein, with N-terminal putative capping and C-terminal helicase-like sequences. These two proteins are part of a multisubunit complex which is necessary for viral RNA replication. We have previously shown that the yeast two-hybrid assay consistently duplicated results obtained from in vivo RNA replication assays and biochemical assays of protein-protein interaction, thus permitting the identification of additional interacting domains. We now map an interaction found to take place between two 1a proteins. Using previously characterized 1a mutants, a perfect correlation was found between the in vivo phenotypes of these mutants and their abilities to interact with wild-type 1a (wt1a) and each other. Western blot analysis revealed that the stabilities of many of the noninteracting mutant proteins were similar to that of wt1a. Deletion analysis of 1a revealed that the N-terminal 515 residues of the 1a protein are required and sufficient for 1a-1a interaction. This intermolecular interaction between the putative capping domain and itself was detected in another tripartite RNA virus, cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), suggesting that the 1a-1a interaction is a feature necessary for the replication of tripartite RNA viruses. The boundaries for various activities are placed in the context of the predicted secondary structures of several 1a-like proteins of members of the alphavirus-like superfamily. Additionally, we found a novel interaction between the putative capping and helicase-like portions of the BMV and CMV 1a proteins. Our cumulative data suggest a working model for the assembly of the BMV RNA replicase.

scholarly journals A Brome Mosaic Virus Intergenic RNA3 Replication Signal Functions with Viral Replication Protein 1a To Dramatically Stabilize RNA In Vivo

1999 ◽  
Vol 73 (4) ◽  
pp. 2622-2632 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael L. Sullivan ◽  
Paul Ahlquist
Keyword(s):  
Mosaic Virus ◽  
Rna Virus ◽  
Rna Polymerase Iii ◽  
Rna Replication ◽  
Brome Mosaic Virus ◽  
Positive Strand ◽  
Signal Functions ◽  
Positive Strand Rna Virus ◽  
Positive Strand Rna

ABSTRACT Brome mosaic virus (BMV), a positive-strand RNA virus in the alphavirus-like superfamily, encodes two RNA replication proteins. The 1a protein has putative helicase and RNA-capping domains, whereas 2a contains a polymerase-like domain. Saccharomyces cerevisiae expressing 1a and 2a is capable of replicating a BMV RNA3 template produced by in vivo transcription of a DNA copy of RNA3. Although insufficient for RNA3 replication, the expression of 1a protein alone results in a dramatic and specific stabilization of the RNA3 template in yeast. As one step toward understanding 1a-induced stabilization of RNA3, the interactions involved, and its possible relation to RNA replication, we have identified thecis-acting sequences required for this effect. We find that 1a-induced stabilization is mediated by a 150- to 190-base segment of the RNA3 intergenic region corresponding to a previously identified enhancer of RNA3 replication. Moreover, this segment is sufficient to confer 1a-induced stability on a heterologous β-globin RNA. Within this intergenic segment, partial deletions that inhibited 1a-induced stabilization in yeast expressing 1a alone resulted in parallel decreases in the levels of negative- and positive-strand RNA3 replication products in yeast expressing 1a and 2a. In particular, a small deletion encompassing a motif corresponding to the box B element of RNA polymerase III promoters dramatically reduced the ability of RNAs to respond to 1a or 1a and 2a. These and other findings suggest that 1a-induced stabilization likely reflects an early template selection step in BMV RNA replication.

scholarly journals Yeast Lsm1p-7p/Pat1p Deadenylation-Dependent mRNA-Decapping Factors Are Required for Brome Mosaic Virus Genomic RNA Translation

2003 ◽  
Vol 23 (12) ◽  
pp. 4094-4106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amine O. Noueiry ◽  
Juana Diez ◽  
Shaun P. Falk ◽  
Jianbo Chen ◽  
Paul Ahlquist
Keyword(s):  
Mosaic Virus ◽  
Rna Replication ◽  
Brome Mosaic Virus ◽  
Open Reading Frame ◽  
Viral Rna ◽  
Genomic Rna ◽  
Reading Frame ◽  
Mrna Decapping ◽  
Rna Translation ◽  
Positive Strand Rna

ABSTRACT Previously, we used the ability of the higher eukaryotic positive-strand RNA virus brome mosaic virus (BMV) to replicate in yeast to show that the yeast LSM1 gene is required for recruiting BMV RNA from translation to replication. Here we extend this observation to show that Lsm1p and other components of the Lsm1p-Lsm7p/Pat1p deadenylation-dependent mRNA decapping complex were also required for translating BMV RNAs. Inhibition of BMV RNA translation was selective, with no effect on general cellular translation. We show that viral genomic RNAs suitable for RNA replication were already distinguished from nonreplication templates at translation, well before RNA recruitment to replication. Among mRNA turnover pathways, only factors specific for deadenylated mRNA decapping were required for BMV RNA translation. Dependence on these factors was not only a consequence of the nonpolyadenylated nature of BMV RNAs but also involved the combined effects of the viral 5′ and 3′ noncoding regions and 2a polymerase open reading frame. High-resolution sucrose density gradient analysis showed that, while mutating factors in the Lsm1p-7p/Pat1p complex completely inhibited viral RNA translation, the levels of viral RNA associated with ribosomes were only slightly reduced in mutant yeast. This polysome association was further verified by using a conditional allele of essential translation initiation factor PRT1, which markedly decreased polysome association of viral genomic RNA in the presence or absence of an LSM7 mutation. Together, these results show that a defective Lsm1p-7p/Pat1p complex inhibits BMV RNA translation primarily by stalling or slowing the elongation of ribosomes along the viral open reading frame. Thus, factors in the Lsm1p-7p/Pat1p complex function not only in mRNA decapping but also in translation, and both translation and recruitment of BMV RNAs to viral RNA replication are regulated by a cell pathway that transfers mRNAs from translation to degradation.

scholarly journals NS5A Domain 1 and Polyprotein Cleavage Kinetics Are Critical for Induction of Double-Membrane Vesicles Associated with Hepatitis C Virus Replication

mBio ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Inés Romero-Brey ◽  
Carola Berger ◽  
Stephanie Kallis ◽  
Androniki Kolovou ◽  
David Paul ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Rna Viruses ◽  
Nonstructural Protein ◽  
Membrane Vesicles ◽  
Rna Replication ◽  
Concerted Action ◽  
Double Membrane ◽  
Positive Strand ◽  
Positive Strand Rna

ABSTRACTInduction of membrane rearrangements in the cytoplasm of infected cells is a hallmark of positive-strand RNA viruses. These altered membranes serve as scaffolds for the assembly of viral replication factories (RFs). We have recently shown that hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection induces endoplasmic reticulum-derived double-membrane vesicles (DMVs) representing the major constituent of the RF within the infected cell. RF formation requires the concerted action of nonstructural action of nonstructural protein (NS)3, -4A, protein (NS)3 -4A, -4B, -5A, and -5B. Although the sole expression of NS5A is sufficient to induce DMV formation, its efficiency is very low. In this study, we dissected the determinants within NS5A responsible for DMV formation and found that RNA-binding domain 1 (D1) and the amino-terminal membrane anchor are indispensable for this process. In contrast, deletion of NS5A D2 or D3 did not affect DMV formation but disrupted RNA replication and virus assembly, respectively. To identifycis- andtrans-acting factors of DMV formation, we established atranscleavage assay. We found that induction of DMVs requires full-length NS3, whereas a helicase-lacking mutant was unable to trigger DMV formation in spite of efficient polyprotein cleavage. Importantly, a mutation accelerating cleavage kinetics at the NS4B-5A site diminished DMV formation, while the insertion of an internal ribosome entry site mimicking constitutive cleavage at this boundary completely abolished this process. These results identify key determinants governing the biogenesis of the HCV RF with possible implications for our understanding of how RFs are formed in other positive-strand RNA viruses.IMPORTANCELike all positive-strand RNA viruses, hepatitis C virus (HCV) extensively reorganizes intracellular membranes to allow efficient RNA replication. Double-membrane vesicles (DMVs) that putatively represent sites of HCV RNA amplification are induced by the concerted action of viral and cellular factors. However, the contribution of individual proteins to this process remains poorly understood. Here we identify determinants in the HCV replicase that are required for DMV biogenesis. Major contributors to this process are domain 1 of nonstructural protein 5A and the helicase domain of nonstructural protein 3. In addition, efficient DMV induction depends onciscleavage of the viral polyprotein, as well as tightly regulated cleavage kinetics. These results identify key determinants governing the biogenesis of the HCV replication factory with possible implications for our understanding of how this central compartment is formed in other positive-strand RNA viruses.

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