Co-evolution analysis to predict protein–protein interactions within influenza virus envelope

Interactions between integral membrane proteins hemagglutinin (HA), neuraminidase (NA), M2 and membrane-associated matrix protein M1 of influenza A virus are thought to be crucial for assembly of functionally competent virions. We hypothesized that the amino acid residues located at the interface of two different proteins are under physical constraints and thus probably co-evolve. To predict co-evolving residue pairs, the EvFold ( http://evfold.org ) program searching the (nontransitive) Direct Information scores was applied for large samplings of amino acid sequences from Influenza Research Database ( http://www.fludb.org/ ). Having focused on the HA, NA, and M2 cytoplasmic tails as well as C-terminal domain of M1 (being the less conserved among the protein domains) we captured six pairs of correlated positions. Among them, there were one, two, and three position pairs for HA–M2, HA–M1, and M2–M1 protein pairs, respectively. As expected, no co-varying positions were found for NA–HA, NA–M1, and NA–M2 pairs obviously due to high conservation of the NA cytoplasmic tail. The sum of frequencies calculated for two major amino acid patterns observed in pairs of correlated positions was up to 0.99 meaning their high to extreme evolutionary sustainability. Based on the predictions a hypothetical model of pair-wise protein interactions within the viral envelope was proposed.

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Sequence Characterization of matrix protein (M1) in influenza A viruses (H1, H3 and H5)

Microbiology Research ◽

10.4081/mr.2011.e16 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

pp. 16

Author(s):

Jun Zhang ◽

Xiao Ling Yu ◽

Lei Xu ◽

Fang Zhi Li ◽

Yong Gang Li

Keyword(s):

Amino Acid ◽

Nuclear Localization Signal ◽

Influenza A ◽

Matrix Protein ◽

Amino Acid Sequences ◽

Influenza A Viruses ◽

Sequence Characterization ◽

Matrix Protein M1 ◽

Localization Signal

<p><strong> </strong>This study brings the analysis of amino acid sequences of matrix protein (M1) from the influenza virus A (H1N1, H3N2 and H5N1) during 2007-2208. 741 sequences of M1 were compared, of them, H1N1 388; H3N2 251 and H5N1 102. Even though, the M1 is relatively conserved among the influenza A viruses, we found some variations in the M1 among the viruses, H1N1, H3N2 and H5N1. The nuclear localization signal at amino acid 101 to 105 is RKLKR for H1N1 and H3N2, but for H5N1 is KKLKR. All differences of amino acid in M1 of H1, H3 and H5 were listed. 80 sequences of M1 of H1N1 H3N2 and H5N1 were used for phylogenetic analysis. There is no reasontantment found in the M1 among these subtypes. Further study is needed to study the differences of the function of M1 among H1N1, H3N2 and H5N1. The M1 of H5N1 may contribute to the high pathogenesis to this virus.</p>

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Identification of the domains of the influenza A virus M1 matrix protein required for NP binding, oligomerization and incorporation into virions

Journal of General Virology ◽

10.1099/vir.0.82809-0 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 88 (8) ◽

pp. 2280-2290 ◽

Cited By ~ 109

Author(s):

Sarah L. Noton ◽

Elizabeth Medcalf ◽

Dawn Fisher ◽

Anne E. Mullin ◽

Debra Elton ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Influenza A Virus ◽

Protein Interactions ◽

Influenza A ◽

Matrix Protein ◽

Fluorescent Protein ◽

Viral Envelope ◽

Major Protein ◽

Middle Domain ◽

Self Association

The matrix (M1) protein of influenza A virus is a multifunctional protein that plays essential structural and functional roles in the virus life cycle. It drives virus budding and is the major protein component of the virion, where it forms an intermediate layer between the viral envelope and integral membrane proteins and the genomic ribonucleoproteins (RNPs). It also helps to control the intracellular trafficking of RNPs. These roles are mediated primarily via protein–protein interactions with viral and possibly cellular proteins. Here, the regions of M1 involved in binding the viral RNPs and in mediating homo-oligomerization are identified. In vitro, by using recombinant proteins, it was found that the middle domain of M1 was responsible for binding NP and that this interaction did not require RNA. Similarly, only M1 polypeptides containing the middle domain were able to bind to RNP–M1 complexes isolated from purified virus. When M1 self-association was examined, all three domains of the protein participated in homo-oligomerization although, again, the middle domain was dominant and self-associated efficiently in the absence of the N- and C-terminal domains. However, when the individual fragments of M1 were tagged with green fluorescent protein and expressed in virus-infected cells, microscopy of filamentous particles showed that only full-length M1 was incorporated into budding virions. It is concluded that the middle domain of M1 is primarily responsible for binding NP and self-association, but that additional interactions are required for efficient incorporation of M1 into virus particles.

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The Cytoplasmic Tail of Influenza A Virus Hemagglutinin and Membrane Lipid Composition Change the Mode of M1 Protein Association with the Lipid Bilayer

Membranes ◽

10.3390/membranes11100772 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (10) ◽

pp. 772

Author(s):

Larisa V. Kordyukova ◽

Petr V. Konarev ◽

Nataliya V. Fedorova ◽

Eleonora V. Shtykova ◽

Alexander L. Ksenofontov ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lipid Bilayer ◽

Influenza A Virus ◽

Influenza A ◽

Matrix Protein ◽

Lipid Membrane ◽

Viral Proteins ◽

Membrane Lipid ◽

Viral Envelope ◽

Virus Envelope ◽

Complementary Techniques

Influenza A virus envelope contains lipid molecules of the host cell and three integral viral proteins: major hemagglutinin, neuraminidase, and minor M2 protein. Membrane-associated M1 matrix protein is thought to interact with the lipid bilayer and cytoplasmic domains of integral viral proteins to form infectious virus progeny. We used small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and complementary techniques to analyze the interactions of different components of the viral envelope with M1 matrix protein. Small unilamellar liposomes composed of various mixtures of synthetic or “native” lipids extracted from Influenza A/Puerto Rico/8/34 (H1N1) virions as well as proteoliposomes built from the viral lipids and anchored peptides of integral viral proteins (mainly, hemagglutinin) were incubated with isolated M1 and measured using SAXS. The results imply that M1 interaction with phosphatidylserine leads to condensation of the lipid in the protein-contacting monolayer, thus resulting in formation of lipid tubules. This effect vanishes in the presence of the liquid-ordered (raft-forming) constituents (sphingomyelin and cholesterol) regardless of their proportion in the lipid bilayer. We also detected a specific role of the hemagglutinin anchoring peptides in ordering of viral lipid membrane into the raft-like one. These peptides stimulate the oligomerization of M1 on the membrane to form a viral scaffold for subsequent budding of the virion from the plasma membrane of the infected cell.

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Two amino acid residues in the matrix protein M1 contribute to the virulence difference of H5N1 avian influenza viruses in mice

Virology ◽

10.1016/j.virol.2008.11.044 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 384 (1) ◽

pp. 28-32 ◽

Cited By ~ 129

Author(s):

Shufang Fan ◽

Guohua Deng ◽

Jiasheng Song ◽

Guobin Tian ◽

Yongbing Suo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Amino Acid ◽

Avian Influenza ◽

Matrix Protein ◽

Influenza Viruses ◽

Amino Acid Residues ◽

Avian Influenza Viruses ◽

H5n1 Avian Influenza ◽

The Matrix ◽

Matrix Protein M1

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Functional Analysis of PA Binding by Influenza A Virus PB1: Effects on Polymerase Activity and Viral Infectivity

Journal of Virology ◽

10.1128/jvi.75.17.8127-8136.2001 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 75 (17) ◽

pp. 8127-8136 ◽

Cited By ~ 78

Author(s):

Daniel R. Perez ◽

Ruben O. Donis

Keyword(s):

Amino Acids ◽

Influenza Virus ◽

Amino Acid ◽

Viral Replication ◽

Influenza A Virus ◽

Influenza A ◽

Amino Acid Sequences ◽

Influenza Viruses ◽

Virus Growth ◽

Transcription And Replication

ABSTRACT Influenza A virus expresses three viral polymerase (P) subunits—PB1, PB2, and PA—all of which are essential for RNA and viral replication. The functions of P proteins in transcription and replication have been partially elucidated, yet some of these functions seem to be dependent on the formation of a heterotrimer for optimal viral RNA transcription and replication. Although it is conceivable that heterotrimer subunit interactions may allow a more efficient catalysis, direct evidence of their essentiality for viral replication is lacking. Biochemical studies addressing the molecular anatomy of the P complexes have revealed direct interactions between PB1 and PB2 as well as between PB1 and PA. Previous studies have shown that the N-terminal 48 amino acids of PB1, termed domain α, contain the residues required for binding PA. We report here the refined mapping of the amino acid sequences within this small region of PB1 that are indispensable for binding PA by deletion mutagenesis of PB1 in a two-hybrid assay. Subsequently, we used site-directed mutagenesis to identify the critical amino acid residues of PB1 for interaction with PA in vivo. The first 12 amino acids of PB1 were found to constitute the core of the interaction interface, thus narrowing the previous boundaries of domain α. The role of the minimal PB1 domain α in influenza virus gene expression and genome replication was subsequently analyzed by evaluating the activity of a set of PB1 mutants in a model reporter minigenome system. A strong correlation was observed between a functional PA binding site on PB1 and P activity. Influenza viruses bearing mutant PB1 genes were recovered using a plasmid-based influenza virus reverse genetics system. Interestingly, mutations that rendered PB1 unable to bind PA were either nonviable or severely growth impaired. These data are consistent with an essential role for the N terminus of PB1 in binding PA, P activity, and virus growth.

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Evolution and Adaptation of the Avian H7N9 Virus into the Human Host

Microorganisms ◽

10.3390/microorganisms8050778 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (5) ◽

pp. 778

Author(s):

Andrew T. Bisset ◽

Gerard F. Hoyne

Keyword(s):

Amino Acid ◽

Avian Influenza ◽

Influenza A ◽

Amino Acid Sequences ◽

Influenza Viruses ◽

Amino Acid Substitutions ◽

Upper Respiratory Tract ◽

Viral Polymerase ◽

Evolutionary Changes ◽

Avian Origin

Influenza viruses arise from animal reservoirs, and have the potential to cause pandemics. In 2013, low pathogenic novel avian influenza A(H7N9) viruses emerged in China, resulting from the reassortment of avian-origin viruses. Following evolutionary changes, highly pathogenic strains of avian influenza A(H7N9) viruses emerged in late 2016. Changes in pathogenicity and virulence of H7N9 viruses have been linked to potential mutations in the viral glycoproteins hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA), as well as the viral polymerase basic protein 2 (PB2). Recognizing that effective viral transmission of the influenza A virus (IAV) between humans requires efficient attachment to the upper respiratory tract and replication through the viral polymerase complex, experimental evidence demonstrates the potential H7N9 has for increased binding affinity and replication, following specific amino acid substitutions in HA and PB2. Additionally, the deletion of extended amino acid sequences in the NA stalk length was shown to produce a significant increase in pathogenicity in mice. Research shows that significant changes in transmissibility, pathogenicity and virulence are possible after one or a few amino acid substitutions. This review aims to summarise key findings from that research. To date, all strains of H7N9 viruses remain restricted to avian reservoirs, with no evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission, although mutations in specific viral proteins reveal the efficacy with which these viruses could evolve into a highly virulent and infectious, human-to-human transmitted virus.

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Lack of association between amino acid sequences of the bovine leukemia virus envelope and varying stages of infection in dairy cattle

Virus Research ◽

10.1016/j.virusres.2020.197866 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 278 ◽

pp. 197866

Author(s):

Fernando Cerón Téllez ◽

Ana Silvia González Méndez ◽

Jorge Luis Tórtora Pérez ◽

Elizabeth Loza-Rubio ◽

Hugo Ramírez Álvarez

Keyword(s):

Amino Acid ◽

Dairy Cattle ◽

Bovine Leukemia Virus ◽

Leukemia Virus ◽

Amino Acid Sequences ◽

Virus Envelope

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Molecular Characterization of a Novel Avian Influenza A (H2N9) Strain Isolated from Wild Duck in Korea in 2018

Viruses ◽

10.3390/v11111046 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (11) ◽

pp. 1046 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Seon-Ju Yeo ◽

Duc-Duong Than ◽

Hong-Seog Park ◽

Haan Woo Sung ◽

Hyun Park

Keyword(s):

Influenza Virus ◽

Amino Acid ◽

Avian Influenza ◽

Avian Influenza Virus ◽

Influenza A ◽

Matrix Protein ◽

Sequence Similarity ◽

Wild Birds ◽

Structural Protein ◽

Wild Duck

A novel avian influenza virus (A/wild duck/Korea/K102/2018) (H2N9) was isolated from wild birds in South Korea in 2018, and phylogenetic and molecular analyses were conducted on complete gene sequences obtained by next-generation sequencing. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) genes of the A/wild duck/Korea/K102/2018 (H2N9) virus belonged to the Eurasian countries, whereas other internal genes (polymerase basic protein 1 (PB1), PB2, nucleoprotein (NP), polymerase acidic protein (PA), matrix protein (M), and non-structural protein (NS)) belonged to the East Asian countries. A monobasic amino acid (PQIEPR/GLF) at the HA cleavage site, E627 in the PB2 gene, and no deletion of the stalk region in the NA gene indicated that the A/wild duck/Korea/K102/2018 (H2N9) isolate was a typical low pathogenicity avian influenza (LPAI). Nucleotide sequence similarity analysis of HA revealed that the highest homology (98.34%) is to that of A/duck/Mongolia/482/2015 (H2N3), and amino acid sequence of NA was closely related to that of A/duck/Bangladesh/8987/2010 (H10N9) (96.45%). In contrast, internal genes showed homology higher than 98% compared to those of other isolates derived from duck and wild birds of China or Japan in 2016–2018. The newly isolated A/wild duck/Korea/K102/2018 (H2N9) strain is the first reported avian influenza virus in Korea, and may have evolved from multiple genotypes in wild birds and ducks in Mongolia, China, and Japan.

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Genetic and Antigenic Evolution of European Swine Influenza A Viruses of HA-1C (Avian-Like) and HA-1B (Human-Like) Lineages in France from 2000 to 2018

Viruses ◽

10.3390/v12111304 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (11) ◽

pp. 1304

Author(s):

Amélie Chastagner ◽

Séverine Hervé ◽

Stéphane Quéguiner ◽

Edouard Hirchaud ◽

Pierrick Lucas ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Amino Acid ◽

Influenza A ◽

Phylogenetic Analyses ◽

Swine Influenza ◽

Amino Acid Sequences ◽

Antigenic Drift ◽

Influenza A Viruses ◽

Double Deletion ◽

Antigenic Evolution ◽

Amino Acid Mutations

This study evaluated the genetic and antigenic evolution of swine influenza A viruses (swIAV) of the two main enzootic H1 lineages, i.e., HA-1C (H1av) and -1B (H1hu), circulating in France between 2000 and 2018. SwIAV RNAs extracted from 1220 swine nasal swabs were hemagglutinin/neuraminidase (HA/NA) subtyped by RT-qPCRs, and 293 virus isolates were sequenced. In addition, 146 H1avNy and 105 H1huNy strains were submitted to hemagglutination inhibition tests. H1avN1 (66.5%) and H1huN2 (25.4%) subtypes were predominant. Most H1 strains belonged to HA-1C.2.1 or -1B.1.2.3 clades, but HA-1C.2, -1C.2.2, -1C.2.3, -1B.1.1, and -1B.1.2.1 clades were also detected sporadically. Within HA-1B.1.2.3 clade, a group of strains named “Δ146-147” harbored several amino acid mutations and a double deletion in HA, that led to a marked antigenic drift. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that internal segments belonged mainly to the “Eurasian avian-like lineage”, with two distinct genogroups for the M segment. In total, 17 distinct genotypes were identified within the study period. Reassortments of H1av/H1hu strains with H1N1pdm virus were rarely evidenced until 2018. Analysis of amino acid sequences predicted a variability in length of PB1-F2 and PA-X proteins and identified the appearance of several mutations in PB1, PB1-F2, PA, NP and NS1 proteins that could be linked to virulence, while markers for antiviral resistance were identified in N1 and N2. Altogether, diversity and evolution of swIAV recall the importance of disrupting the spreading of swIAV within and between pig herds, as well as IAV inter-species transmissions.

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Deep Mutational Scan of the Highly Conserved Influenza A Virus M1 Matrix Protein Reveals Substantial Intrinsic Mutational Tolerance

Journal of Virology ◽

10.1128/jvi.00161-19 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 93 (13) ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Nancy Hom ◽

Lauren Gentles ◽

Jesse D. Bloom ◽

Kelly K. Lee

Keyword(s):

Cell Culture ◽

Influenza Virus ◽

Amino Acid ◽

Viral Replication ◽

Influenza A Virus ◽

Influenza A ◽

Matrix Protein ◽

Influenza Virus Infection ◽

Sequence Diversity ◽

Virus Protein

ABSTRACTInfluenza A virus matrix protein M1 is involved in multiple stages of the viral infectious cycle. Despite its functional importance, our present understanding of this essential viral protein is limited. The roles of a small subset of specific amino acids have been reported, but a more comprehensive understanding of the relationship between M1 sequence, structure, and virus fitness remains elusive. In this study, we used deep mutational scanning to measure the effect of every amino acid substitution in M1 on viral replication in cell culture. The map of amino acid mutational tolerance we have generated allows us to identify sites that are functionally constrained in cell culture as well as sites that are less constrained. Several sites that exhibit low tolerance to mutation have been found to be critical for M1 function and production of viable virions. Surprisingly, significant portions of the M1 sequence, especially in the C-terminal domain, whose structure is undetermined, were found to be highly tolerant of amino acid variation, despite having extremely low levels of sequence diversity among natural influenza virus strains. This unexpected discrepancy indicates that not all sites in M1 that exhibit high sequence conservation in nature are under strong constraint during selection for viral replication in cell culture.IMPORTANCEThe M1 matrix protein is critical for many stages of the influenza virus infection cycle. Currently, we have an incomplete understanding of this highly conserved protein’s function and structure. Key regions of M1, particularly in the C terminus of the protein, remain poorly characterized. In this study, we used deep mutational scanning to determine the extent of M1’s tolerance to mutation. Surprisingly, nearly two-thirds of the M1 sequence exhibits a high tolerance for substitutions, contrary to the extremely low sequence diversity observed across naturally occurring M1 isolates. Sites with low mutational tolerance were also identified, suggesting that they likely play critical functional roles and are under selective pressure. These results reveal the intrinsic mutational tolerance throughout M1 and shape future inquiries probing the functions of this essential influenza A virus protein.

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