scholarly journals Mutational Analysis of the Rubella Virus Nonstructural Polyprotein and Its Cleavage Products in Virus Replication and RNA Synthesis

2000 ◽  
Vol 74 (11) ◽  
pp. 5133-5141 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuying Liang ◽  
Shirley Gillam
Keyword(s):  
Virus Replication ◽  
Rubella Virus ◽  
Rna Synthesis ◽  
Rnase Protection Assay ◽  
Viral Rna ◽  
Nonstructural Proteins ◽  
Rnase Protection ◽  
Positive Strand ◽  
Negative Strand ◽  
Positive Strand Rna

ABSTRACT Rubella virus nonstructural proteins, translated from input genomic RNA as a p200 polyprotein and subsequently processed into p150 and p90 by an intrinsic papain-like thiol protease, are responsible for virus replication. To examine the effect of p200 processing on virus replication and to study the roles of nonstructural proteins in viral RNA synthesis, we introduced into a rubella virus infectious cDNA clone a panel of mutations that had variable defective effects on p200 processing. The virus yield and viral RNA synthesis of these mutants were examined. Mutations that completely abolished (C1152S and G1301S) or largely abolished (G1301A) cleavage of p200 resulted in noninfectious virus. Mutations that partially impaired cleavage of p200 (R1299A and G1300A) decreased virus replication. An RNase protection assay revealed that all of the mutants synthesized negative-strand RNA as efficiently as the wild type does but produced lower levels of positive-strand RNA. Our results demonstrated that processing of rubella virus nonstructural protein is crucial for virus replication and that uncleaved p200 could function in negative-strand RNA synthesis, whereas the cleavage products p150 and p90 are required for efficient positive-strand RNA synthesis.

scholarly journals Structural and functional characterization of the coxsackievirus B3 CRE(2C): role of CRE(2C) in negative- and positive-strand RNA synthesis

2006 ◽  
Vol 87 (1) ◽  
pp. 103-113 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark J. M. van Ooij ◽  
Dorothee A. Vogt ◽  
Aniko Paul ◽  
Christian Castro ◽  
Judith Kuijpers ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rna Synthesis ◽  
Rna Replication ◽  
Coxsackievirus B3 ◽  
Viral Rna ◽  
Free System ◽  
Positive Strand ◽  
Negative Strand ◽  
Cell Extracts ◽  
Positive Strand Rna

A stem–loop element located within the 2C-coding region of the coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) genome has been proposed to function as a cis-acting replication element (CRE). It is shown here that disruption of this structure indeed interfered with viral RNA replication in vivo and abolished uridylylation of VPg in vitro. Site-directed mutagenesis demonstrated that the previously proposed enteroviral CRE consensus loop sequence, R1NNNAAR2NNNNNNR3, is also applicable to CVB3 CRE(2C) and that a positive correlation exists between the ability of CRE(2C) mutants to serve as template in the uridylylation reaction and the capacity of these mutants to support viral RNA replication. To further investigate the effects of the mutations on negative-strand RNA synthesis, an in vitro translation/replication system containing HeLa S10 cell extracts was used. Similar to the results observed for poliovirus and rhinovirus, it was found that a complete disruption of the CRE(2C) structure interfered with positive-strand RNA synthesis, but not with negative-strand synthesis. All CRE(2C) point mutants affecting the enteroviral CRE consensus loop, however, showed a marked decrease in efficiency to induce negative-strand synthesis. Moreover, a transition (A5G) regarding the first templating adenosine residue in the loop was even unable to initiate complementary negative-strand synthesis above detectable levels. Taken together, these results indicate that the CVB3 CRE(2C) is not only required for the initiation of positive-strand RNA synthesis, but also plays an essential role in the efficient initiation of negative-strand RNA synthesis, a conclusion that has not been reached previously by using the cell-free system.

scholarly journals Poliovirus cis-Acting Replication Element-Dependent VPg Uridylylation Lowers the Km of the Initiating Nucleoside Triphosphate for Viral RNA Replication

2008 ◽  
Vol 82 (19) ◽  
pp. 9400-9408 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin P. Steil ◽  
David J. Barton
Keyword(s):  
Rna Synthesis ◽  
Rna Replication ◽  
Viral Rna ◽  
Nucleoside Triphosphate ◽  
Independent Manner ◽  
Positive Strand ◽  
Negative Strand ◽  
Phosphodiester Bond ◽  
Low Concentrations ◽  
Positive Strand Rna

ABSTRACT Initiation of RNA synthesis by RNA-dependent RNA polymerases occurs when a phosphodiester bond is formed between the first two nucleotides in the 5′ terminus of product RNA. The concentration of initiating nucleoside triphosphates (NTPi) required for RNA synthesis is typically greater than the concentration of NTPs required for elongation. VPg, a small viral protein, is covalently attached to the 5′ end of picornavirus negative- and positive-strand RNAs. A cis-acting replication element (CRE) within picornavirus RNAs serves as a template for the uridylylation of VPg, resulting in the synthesis of VPgpUpUOH. Mutations within the CRE RNA structure prevent VPg uridylylation. While the tyrosine hydroxyl of VPg can prime negative-strand RNA synthesis in a CRE- and VPgpUpUOH-independent manner, CRE-dependent VPgpUpUOH synthesis is absolutely required for positive-strand RNA synthesis. As reported herein, low concentrations of UTP did not support negative-strand RNA synthesis when CRE-disrupting mutations prevented VPg uridylylation, whereas correspondingly low concentrations of CTP or GTP had no negative effects on the magnitude of CRE-independent negative-strand RNA synthesis. The experimental data indicate that CRE-dependent VPg uridylylation lowers the Km of UTP required for viral RNA replication and that CRE-dependent VPgpUpUOH synthesis was required for efficient negative-strand RNA synthesis, especially when UTP concentrations were limiting. By lowering the concentration of UTP needed for the initiation of RNA replication, CRE-dependent VPg uridylylation provides a mechanism for a more robust initiation of RNA replication.

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 5′-Terminal Region of the Aichi Virus Genome Encodes cis-Acting Replication Elements Required for Positive- and Negative-Strand RNA Synthesis

2005 ◽  
Vol 79 (11) ◽  
pp. 6918-6931 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shigeo Nagashima ◽  
Jun Sasaki ◽  
Koki Taniguchi
Keyword(s):  
Rna Synthesis ◽  
Rna Replication ◽  
Virus Genome ◽  
Encephalomyocarditis Virus ◽  
Viral Rna ◽  
Aichi Virus ◽  
Pseudoknot Structure ◽  
Positive Strand ◽  
Negative Strand ◽  
Positive Strand Rna

ABSTRACT Aichi virus is a member of the family Picornaviridae. It has already been shown that three stem-loop structures (SL-A, SL-B, and SL-C, from the 5′ end) formed at the 5′ end of the genome are critical elements for viral RNA replication. In this study, we further characterized the 5′-terminal cis-acting replication elements. We found that an additional structural element, a pseudoknot structure, is formed through base-pairing interaction between the loop segment of SL-B (nucleotides [nt] 57 to 60) and a sequence downstream of SL-C (nt 112 to 115) and showed that the formation of this pseudoknot is critical for viral RNA replication. Mapping of the 5′-terminal sequence of the Aichi virus genome required for RNA replication using a series of Aichi virus-encephalomyocarditis virus chimera replicons indicated that the 5′-end 115 nucleotides including the pseudoknot structure are the minimum requirement for RNA replication. Using the cell-free translation-replication system, we examined the abilities of viral RNAs with a lethal mutation in the 5′-terminal structural elements to synthesize negative- and positive-strand RNAs. The results showed that the formation of three stem-loops and the pseudoknot structure at the 5′ end of the genome is required for negative-strand RNA synthesis. In addition, specific nucleotide sequences in the stem of SL-A or its complementary sequences at the 3′ end of the negative-strand were shown to be critical for the initiation of positive-strand RNA synthesis but not for that of negative-strand synthesis. Thus, the 5′ end of the Aichi virus genome encodes elements important for not only negative-strand synthesis but also positive-strand synthesis.

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 Strand-Specific RNA Synthesis Defects in a Poliovirus with a Mutation in Protein 3A

2003 ◽  
Vol 77 (23) ◽  
pp. 12679-12691 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalya L. Teterina ◽  
Mario S. Rinaudo ◽  
Ellie Ehrenfeld
Keyword(s):  
Rna Synthesis ◽  
Binding Activity ◽  
Viral Rna ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Positive Strand ◽  
Polyprotein Processing ◽  
Delayed Onset ◽  
Methionine Residue ◽  
Cell Extracts ◽  
Positive Strand Rna

ABSTRACT Substitution of a methionine residue at position 79 in poliovirus protein 3A with valine or threonine caused defective viral RNA synthesis, manifested as delayed onset and reduced yield of viral RNA, in HeLa cells transfected with a luciferase-containing replicon. Viruses containing these same mutations produced small or minute plaques that generated revertants upon further passage, with either wild-type 3A sequences or additional nearby compensating mutations. Translation and polyprotein processing were not affected by the mutations, and 3AB proteins containing the altered amino acids at position 79 showed no detectable loss of membrane-binding activity. Analysis of individual steps of viral RNA synthesis in HeLa cell extracts that support translation and replication of viral RNA showed that VPg uridylylation and negative-strand RNA synthesis occurred normally from mutant viral RNA; however, positive-strand RNA synthesis was specifically reduced. The data suggest that a function of viral protein 3A is required for positive-strand RNA synthesis but not for production of negative strands.

scholarly journals Partially Uncleaved Alphavirus Replicase Forms Spherule Structures in the Presence and Absence of RNA Template

2017 ◽  
Vol 91 (18) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kirsi Hellström ◽  
Katri Kallio ◽  
Age Utt ◽  
Tania Quirin ◽  
Eija Jokitalo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rna Viruses ◽  
Viral Rna ◽  
Nonstructural Proteins ◽  
Complex Assembly ◽  
Positive Strand ◽  
Replication Complex ◽  
Active Replication ◽  
Replicase Proteins ◽  
Polyprotein Precursor ◽  
Positive Strand Rna

ABSTRACT Alphaviruses are positive-strand RNA viruses expressing their replicase as a polyprotein, P1234, which is cleaved to four final products, nonstructural proteins nsP1 to nsP4. The replicase proteins together with viral RNA and host factors form membrane invaginations termed spherules, which act as the replication complexes producing progeny RNAs. We have previously shown that the wild-type alphavirus replicase requires a functional RNA template and active polymerase to generate spherule structures. However, we now find that specific partially processed forms of the replicase proteins alone can give rise to membrane invaginations in the absence of RNA or replication. The minimal requirement for spherule formation was the expression of properly cleaved nsP4, together with either uncleaved P123 or with the combination of nsP1 and uncleaved P23. These inactive spherules were morphologically less regular than replication-induced spherules. In the presence of template, nsP1 plus uncleaved P23 plus nsP4 could efficiently assemble active replication spherules producing both negative-sense and positive-sense RNA strands. P23 alone did not have membrane affinity, but could be recruited to membrane sites in the presence of nsP1 and nsP4. These results define the set of viral components required for alphavirus replication complex assembly and suggest the possibility that it could be reconstituted from separately expressed nonstructural proteins. IMPORTANCE All positive-strand RNA viruses extensively modify host cell membranes to serve as efficient platforms for viral RNA replication. Alphaviruses and several other groups induce protective membrane invaginations (spherules) as their genome factories. Most positive-strand viruses produce their replicase as a polyprotein precursor, which is further processed through precise and regulated cleavages. We show here that specific cleavage intermediates of the alphavirus replicase can give rise to spherule structures in the absence of viral RNA. In the presence of template RNA, the same intermediates yield active replication complexes. Thus, partially cleaved replicase proteins play key roles that connect replication complex assembly, membrane deformation, and the different stages of RNA synthesis.

scholarly journals Characterization of an Autonomous Subgenomic Pestivirus RNA Replicon

1998 ◽  
Vol 72 (3) ◽  
pp. 2364-2372 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sven-Erik Behrens ◽  
Claus W. Grassmann ◽  
Heinz-Jürgen Thiel ◽  
Gregor Meyers ◽  
Norbert Tautz
Keyword(s):  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Rna Replication ◽  
Full Length ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Rnase Protection ◽  
Positive Strand ◽  
Negative Strand ◽  
Diarrhea Virus ◽  
Positive Strand Rna

ABSTRACT As an initial approach to define the requirements for the replication of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV), a member of theFlaviviridae family with a positive-strand RNA genome, full-length genomic and subgenomic RNAs were originated by in vitro transcription of diverse BVDV cDNA constructs and transfected into eucaryotic host cells. RNA replication was measured either directly by an RNase protection method or by monitoring the synthesis of viral protein. When full-length BVDV cRNA was initially applied, the synthesis of negative-strand RNA intermediates as well as progeny positive-strand RNA was detected posttransfection in the cytoplasm of the host cells. Compared to the negative-strand RNA intermediate, an excess of positive-strand RNA was synthesized. Surprisingly, a subgenomic RNA molecule, DI9c, corresponding to a previously characterized defective interfering particle, was found to support both steps of RNA replication in the absence of a helper virus as well, thus functioning as an autonomous replicon. DI9c comprises the 5′ and 3′ untranslated regions of the BVDV genome and the coding regions of the autoprotease Npro and the nonstructural proteins NS3, NS4A, NS4B, NS5A, and NS5B. Most interestingly, the NS2 polypeptide was thus determined to be nonessential for RNA replication. As expected, deletion of the genomic 3′ end as well as abolition of the catalytic function of the virus-encoded serine protease resulted in DI9c molecules that were unable to replicate. Deletion of the entire Npro gene also destroyed the ability of DI9c molecules to replicate. On the other hand, DI9c derivatives in which the 5′ third of the Npro gene was fused to a ubiquitin gene, allowing the proteolytic release of NS3 in trans, turned out to be replication competent. These results suggest that the RNA sequence located at the 5′ end of the open reading frame exerts an essential role during BVDV replication. Replication of DI9c and DI9c derivatives was found not to be limited to host cells of bovine origin, indicating that cellular factors functioning as potential parts of the viral replication machinery are well conserved between different mammalian cells. Our data provide an important step toward the ready identification and characterization of viral factors and genomic elements involved in the life cycle of pestiviruses. The implications for other Flaviviridae and, in particular, the BVDV-related human hepatitis C virus are discussed.

scholarly journals Poliovirus cre(2C)-Dependent Synthesis of VPgpUpU Is Required for Positive- but Not Negative-Strand RNA Synthesis

2003 ◽  
Vol 77 (9) ◽  
pp. 5136-5144 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Joan Morasco ◽  
Nidhi Sharma ◽  
Jessica Parilla ◽  
James B. Flanegan
Keyword(s):  
Rna Synthesis ◽  
Rna Replication ◽  
Viral Rna ◽  
Positive Strand ◽  
Negative Strand ◽  
Replication Model ◽  
Covalently Linked

ABSTRACT The cre(2C) hairpin is a cis-acting replication element in poliovirus RNA and serves as a template for the synthesis of VPgpUpU. We investigated the role of the cre(2C) hairpin on VPgpUpU synthesis and viral RNA replication in preinitiation RNA replication complexes isolated from HeLa S10 translation-RNA replication reactions. cre(2C) hairpin mutations that block VPgpUpU synthesis in reconstituted assays with purified VPg and poliovirus polymerase were also found to completely inhibit VPgpUpU synthesis in preinitiation replication complexes. Surprisingly, blocking VPgpUpU synthesis by mutating the cre(2C) hairpin had no significant effect on negative-strand synthesis but completely inhibited positive-strand synthesis. Negative-strand RNA synthesized in these reactions immunoprecipitated with anti-VPg antibody and demonstrated that it was covalently linked to VPg. This indicated that VPg was used to initiate negative-strand RNA synthesis, although the cre(2C)-dependent synthesis of VPgpUpU was inhibited. Based on these results, we concluded that the cre(2C)-dependent synthesis of VPgpUpU was required for positive- but not negative-strand RNA synthesis. These findings suggest a replication model in which negative-strand synthesis initiates with VPg uridylylated in the 3′ poly(A) tail in virion RNA and positive-strand synthesis initiates with VPgpUpU synthesized on the cre(2C) hairpin. The pool of excess VPgpUpU synthesized on the cre(2C) hairpin should support high levels of positive-strand synthesis and thereby promote the asymmetric replication of poliovirus RNA.

scholarly journals Mutation of Host dnaJ Homolog Inhibits Brome Mosaic Virus Negative-Strand RNA Synthesis

2003 ◽  
Vol 77 (5) ◽  
pp. 2990-2997 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuriko Tomita ◽  
Tomomitsu Mizuno ◽  
Juana Díez ◽  
Satoshi Naito ◽  
Paul Ahlquist ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mosaic Virus ◽  
Rna Synthesis ◽  
Brome Mosaic Virus ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Positive Strand ◽  
Replication Complex ◽  
Negative Strand ◽  
Rna Accumulation ◽  
Positive Strand Rna ◽  
Mutant Cells

ABSTRACT The replication of positive-strand RNA viruses involves not only viral proteins but also multiple cellular proteins and intracellular membranes. In both plant cells and the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, brome mosaic virus (BMV), a member of the alphavirus-like superfamily, replicates its RNA in endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-associated complexes containing viral 1a and 2a proteins. Prior to negative-strand RNA synthesis, 1a localizes to ER membranes and recruits both positive-strand BMV RNA templates and the polymerase-like 2a protein to ER membranes. Here, we show that BMV RNA replication in S. cerevisiae is markedly inhibited by a mutation in the host YDJ1 gene, which encodes a chaperone Ydj1p related to Escherichia coli DnaJ. In the ydj1 mutant, negative-strand RNA accumulation was inhibited even though 1a protein associated with membranes and the positive-strand RNA3 replication template and 2a protein were recruited to membranes as in wild-type cells. In addition, we found that in ydj1 mutant cells but not wild-type cells, a fraction of 2a protein accumulated in a membrane-free but insoluble, rapidly sedimenting form. These and other results show that Ydj1p is involved in forming BMV replication complexes active in negative-strand RNA synthesis and suggest that a chaperone system involving Ydj1p participates in 2a protein folding or assembly into the active replication complex.

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