scholarly journals Nonspecific Nucleoside Triphosphatase P4 of Double-Stranded RNA Bacteriophage φ6 Is Required for Single-Stranded RNA Packaging and Transcription

2002 ◽  
Vol 76 (20) ◽  
pp. 10122-10127 ◽  
Author(s):  
Markus J. Pirttimaa ◽  
Anja O. Paatero ◽  
Mikko J. Frilander ◽  
Dennis H. Bamford

ABSTRACT Bacteriophage φ6 has a segmented double-stranded RNA genome. The genomic single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) precursors are packaged into a preformed protein capsid, the polymerase complex, composed of viral proteins P1, P2, P4, and P7. Packaging of the genomic precursors is an energy-dependent process requiring nucleoside triphosphates. Protein P4, a nonspecific nucleoside triphosphatase, has previously been suggested to be the prime candidate for the viral packaging engine, based on its location at the vertices of the viral capsid and its biochemical characteristics. In this study we were able to obtain stable polymerase complex particles that are completely devoid of P4. Such particles were not able to package ssRNA segments and did not display RNA polymerase (either minus- or plus-strand synthesis) activity. Surprisingly, a mutation in P4, S250Q, which reduced the level of P4 in the particles to about 10% of the wild-type level, did not affect RNA packaging activity or change the kinetics of packaging. Moreover, such particles displayed minus-strand synthesis activity. However, no plus-strand synthesis was observed, suggesting that P4 has a role in the plus-strand synthesis reaction also.

Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 1096
Author(s):  
Timothy W. Thoner ◽  
Xiang Ye ◽  
John Karijolich ◽  
Kristen M. Ogden

Packaging of segmented, double-stranded RNA viral genomes requires coordination of viral proteins and RNA segments. For mammalian orthoreovirus (reovirus), evidence suggests either all ten or zero viral RNA segments are simultaneously packaged in a highly coordinated process hypothesized to exclude host RNA. Accordingly, reovirus generates genome-containing virions and “genomeless” top component particles. Whether reovirus virions or top component particles package host RNA is unknown. To gain insight into reovirus packaging potential and mechanisms, we employed next-generation RNA-sequencing to define the RNA content of enriched reovirus particles. Reovirus virions exclusively packaged viral double-stranded RNA. In contrast, reovirus top component particles contained similar proportions but reduced amounts of viral double-stranded RNA and were selectively enriched for numerous host RNA species, especially short, non-polyadenylated transcripts. Host RNA selection was not dependent on RNA abundance in the cell, and specifically enriched host RNAs varied for two reovirus strains and were not selected solely by the viral RNA polymerase. Collectively, these findings indicate that genome packaging into reovirus virions is exquisitely selective, while incorporation of host RNAs into top component particles is differentially selective and may contribute to or result from inefficient viral RNA packaging.


2015 ◽  
Vol 90 (2) ◽  
pp. 1144-1147 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eleonore Ostermann ◽  
Gabriele Warnecke ◽  
Zoe Waibler ◽  
Wolfram Brune

Murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) proteins m142 and m143 are essential for viral replication. They bind double-stranded RNA and prevent protein kinase R-induced protein synthesis shutoff. Whether the two viral proteins have additional functions such as their homologs in human cytomegalovirus do remained unknown. We show that MCMV m142 and m143 knockout mutants attain organ titers equivalent to those attained by wild-type MCMV inPkrknockout mice, suggesting that these viral proteins do not encode additional PKR-independent functions relevant for pathogenesisin vivo.


Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 996
Author(s):  
Jenni Virtanen ◽  
Ruut Uusitalo ◽  
Essi M. Korhonen ◽  
Kirsi Aaltonen ◽  
Teemu Smura ◽  
...  

Increasing evidence suggests that some newly emerged SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VoCs) resist neutralization by antibodies elicited by the early-pandemic wild-type virus. We applied neutralization tests to paired recoveree sera (n = 38) using clinical isolates representing the first wave (D614G), VoC1, and VoC2 lineages (B.1.1.7 and B 1.351). Neutralizing antibodies inhibited contemporary and VoC1 lineages, whereas inhibition of VoC2 was reduced 8-fold, with 50% of sera failing to show neutralization. These results provide evidence for the increased potential of VoC2 to reinfect previously SARS-CoV-infected individuals. The kinetics of NAbs in different patients showed similar decline against all variants, with generally low initial anti-B.1.351 responses becoming undetectable, but with anti-B.1.1.7 NAbs remaining detectable (>20) for months after acute infection.


Genetics ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 155 (2) ◽  
pp. 721-731 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teresa D Shippy ◽  
Jianhua Guo ◽  
Susan J Brown ◽  
Richard W Beeman ◽  
Robin E Denell

Abstract The Tribolium castaneum homeotic gene maxillopedia (mxp) is the ortholog of Drosophila proboscipedia (pb). Here we describe and classify available mxp alleles. Larvae lacking all mxp function die soon after hatching, exhibiting strong transformations of maxillary and labial palps to legs. Hypomorphic mxp alleles produce less severe transformations to leg. RNA interference with maxillopedia double-stranded RNA results in phenocopies of mxp mutant phenotypes ranging from partial to complete transformations. A number of gain-of-function (GOF) mxp alleles have been isolated based on transformations of adult antennae and/or legs toward palps. Finally, we have characterized the mxp expression pattern in wild-type and mutant embryos. In normal embryos, mxp is expressed in the maxillary and labial segments, whereas ectopic expression is observed in some GOF variants. Although mxp and Pb display very similar expression patterns, pb null embryos develop normally. The mxp mutant larval phenotype in Tribolium is consistent with the hypothesis that an ancestral pb-like gene had an embryonic function that was lost in the lineage leading to Drosophila.


2007 ◽  
Vol 176 (3) ◽  
pp. 263-268 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam C. Smith ◽  
Won Do Heo ◽  
Virginie Braun ◽  
Xiuju Jiang ◽  
Chloe Macrae ◽  
...  

Members of the Rab guanosine triphosphatase (GTPase) family are key regulators of membrane traffic. Here we examined the association of 48 Rabs with model phagosomes containing a non-invasive mutant of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium). This mutant traffics to lysosomes and allowed us to determine which Rabs localize to a maturing phagosome. In total, 18 Rabs associated with maturing phagosomes, each with its own kinetics of association. Dominant-negative mutants of Rab23 and 35 inhibited phagosome–lysosome fusion. A large number of Rab GTPases localized to wild-type Salmonella-containing vacuoles (SCVs), which do not fuse with lysosomes. However, some Rabs (8B, 13, 23, 32, and 35) were excluded from wild-type SCVs whereas others (5A, 5B, 5C, 7A, 11A, and 11B) were enriched on this compartment. Our studies demonstrate that a complex network of Rab GTPases controls endocytic progression to lysosomes and that this is modulated by S. Typhimurium to allow its intracellular growth.


2014 ◽  
Vol 58 (9) ◽  
pp. 5297-5305 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiffany R. Keepers ◽  
Marcela Gomez ◽  
Chris Celeri ◽  
Wright W. Nichols ◽  
Kevin M. Krause

ABSTRACTAvibactam, a non-β-lactam β-lactamase inhibitor with activity against extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs), KPC, AmpC, and some OXA enzymes, extends the antibacterial activity of ceftazidime against most ceftazidime-resistant organisms producing these enzymes. In this study, the bactericidal activity of ceftazidime-avibactam against 18Pseudomonas aeruginosaisolates and 15Enterobacteriaceaeisolates, including wild-type isolates and ESBL, KPC, and/or AmpC producers, was evaluated. Ceftazidime-avibactam MICs (0.016 to 32 μg/ml) were lower than those for ceftazidime alone (0.06 to ≥256 μg/ml) against all isolates except for 2P. aeruginosaisolates (1blaVIM-positive isolate and 1blaOXA-23-positive isolate). The minimum bactericidal concentration/MIC ratios of ceftazidime-avibactam were ≤4 for all isolates, indicating bactericidal activity. Human serum and human serum albumin had a minimal effect on ceftazidime-avibactam MICs. Ceftazidime-avibactam time-kill kinetics were evaluated at low MIC multiples and showed time-dependent reductions in the number of CFU/ml from 0 to 6 h for all strains tested. A ≥3-log10decrease in the number of CFU/ml was observed at 6 h for allEnterobacteriaceae, and a 2-log10reduction in the number of CFU/ml was observed at 6 h for 3 of the 6P. aeruginosaisolates. Regrowth was noted at 24 h for some of the isolates tested in time-kill assays. These data demonstrate the potent bactericidal activity of ceftazidime-avibactam and support the continued clinical development of ceftazidime-avibactam as a new treatment option for infections caused byEnterobacteriaceaeandP. aeruginosa, including isolates resistant to ceftazidime by mechanisms dependent on avibactam-sensitive β-lactamases.


1991 ◽  
Vol 174 (6) ◽  
pp. 1629-1637 ◽  
Author(s):  
J H Cox ◽  
J R Bennink ◽  
J W Yewdell

The E3/19K glycoprotein of adenovirus functions to diminish recognition of adenovirus-infected cells by major histocompatibility complex class I-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) by binding intracellular class I molecules and preventing them from reaching the plasma membrane. In the present study we have characterized the nature of the interaction between E3/19K and the H-2Kd (Kd) molecule. An E3/19K molecule genetically engineered to terminate six residues from its normal COOH terminus (delta E19), was found to associate with Kd in a manner indistinguishable from wild-type E3/19K. Unlike E3/19K, however, delta E19 was transported through the Golgi complex to the plasma membrane, where it could be detected biochemically and immunocytochemically using a monoclonal antibody specific for the lumenal domain of E3/19K. Importantly, delta E19 also differed from E3/19K in being unable to prevent the presentation of Kd-restricted viral proteins to CTLs. This is unlikely to be due to delta E19 having a lower avidity for Kd than E3/19K, since delta E19 was able to compete with E3/19K for Kd binding, both physically, and functionally in nullifying the E3/19K blockade of antigen presentation. These findings indicate that the ability of E3/19K to block antigen presentation is due solely to its ability to retain newly synthesized class I molecules in the endoplasmic reticulum.


Molecules ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (11) ◽  
pp. 2839 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jia-qing Yan ◽  
Yu-he Yuan ◽  
Shi-feng Chu ◽  
Guo-hui Li ◽  
Nai-hong Chen

Genetic studies have revealed that rare mutations and multiplications of the gene locus in α-synuclein (α-syn) are implicated in the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, the pathological effects of α-syn are still obscure. The neurotoxicity of α-syn is mainly determined by its protein levels, which depend on a balance between synthesis and degradation. Therefore, verifying the possible routes contributing to the clearance of α-syn is important for PD therapy. In this study, we established stable lines overexpressing human wild-type (WT) and E46K mutant α-syn in rat PC12 cells and investigated the degradation pathways of α-syn by using a panel of inhibitors and inducers of lysosome and proteasome function. We also monitored the degradation kinetics of α-syn by using cycloheximide to block protein synthesis. Our data showed that both proteasome and chaperon-mediated autophagy (CMA) are responsible for the degradation of the WT α-syn. Meanwhile, E46K mutant α-syn is mainly degraded by the proteasome and macroautophagy pathway. Compared with the WT protein, E46K mutant α-syn turned over more slowly in PC12 cells. In addition, overexpression of E46K mutant α-syn increased vulnerability of PC12 cells to apoptosis insults when compared with WT α-syn. Our findings may verify the possible routes contributing to the degradation of the E46K mutant α-syn.


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