scholarly journals Development of an HTS Assay for the Search of Anti-influenza Agents Targeting the Interaction of Viral RNA with the NS1 Protein

2008 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 581-590 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta Maroto ◽  
Yolanda Fernandez ◽  
Juan Ortin ◽  
Fernando Pelaez ◽  
M. Angerles Cabello
Keyword(s):  
Influenza A Virus ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Cytopathic Effect ◽  
Nonstructural Protein ◽  
Specific Interaction ◽  
Chemical Compounds ◽  
Viral Rna ◽  
Ns1 Protein ◽  
Rna Molecules ◽  
Novel Target

The NS1 protein is a nonstructural protein encoded by the influenza A virus. It is responsible for many alterations produced in the cellular metabolism upon infection by the virus and for modulation of virus virulence. The NS1 protein is able to perform a large variety of functions due to its ability to bind various types of RNA molecules, from both viral and nonviral origin, and to interact with several cell factors. With the aim of exploring whether the binding of NS1 protein to viral RNA (vRNA) could constitute a novel target for the search of anti-influenza drugs, a filter-binding assay measuring the specific interaction between the recombinant His-NS1 protein from influenza A virus and a radiolabeled model vRNA ( 32P-vNSZ) was adapted to a format suitable for screening and easy automation. Flashplate® technology (PerkinElmer, Waltham, MA), either in 96- or 384-well plates, was used. The Flashplate® wells were precoated with the recombinant His-NS1 protein, and the binding of His-NS1 to a 35S-vNSZ probe was measured. A pilot screening of a collection of 27,520 mixtures of synthetic chemical compounds was run for inhibitors of NS1 binding to vRNA. We found 3 compounds in which the inhibition of NS1 binding to vRNA, observed at submicromolar concentrations, was correlated with a reduction of the cytopathic effect during the infection of cell cultures with influenza virus. These results support the hypothesis that the binding of NS1 to vRNA could be a novel target for the development of anti-influenza drugs. ( Journal of Biomolecular Screening 2008:581-590)

scholarly journals Unexpected Functional Divergence of Bat Influenza Virus NS1 Proteins

2017 ◽  
Vol 92 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannah L. Turkington ◽  
Mindaugas Juozapaitis ◽  
Nikos Tsolakos ◽  
Eugenia Corrales-Aguilar ◽  
Martin Schwemmle ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Influenza A Virus ◽  
Virulence Factor ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Nonstructural Protein ◽  
Functional Divergence ◽  
Protein A ◽  
Regulatory Subunit ◽  
Ns1 Protein ◽  
Influenza A Viruses ◽  
Hydrophobic Patch

ABSTRACT Recently, two influenza A virus (FLUAV) genomes were identified in Central and South American bats. These sequences exhibit notable divergence from classical FLUAV counterparts, and functionally, bat FLUAV glycoproteins lack canonical receptor binding and destroying activity. Nevertheless, other features that distinguish these viruses from classical FLUAVs have yet to be explored. Here, we studied the viral nonstructural protein NS1, a virulence factor that modulates host signaling to promote efficient propagation. Like all FLUAV NS1 proteins, bat FLUAV NS1s bind double-stranded RNA and act as interferon antagonists. Unexpectedly, we found that bat FLUAV NS1s are unique in being unable to bind host p85β, a regulatory subunit of the cellular metabolism-regulating enzyme, phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K). Furthermore, neither bat FLUAV NS1 alone nor infection with a chimeric bat FLUAV efficiently activates Akt, a PI3K effector. Structure-guided mutagenesis revealed that the bat FLUAV NS1-p85β interaction can be reengineered (in a strain-specific manner) by changing two to four NS1 residues (96L, 99M, 100I, and 145T), thereby creating a hydrophobic patch. Notably, ameliorated p85β-binding is insufficient for bat FLUAV NS1 to activate PI3K, and a chimeric bat FLUAV expressing NS1 with engineered hydrophobic patch mutations exhibits cell-type-dependent, but species-independent, propagation phenotypes. We hypothesize that bat FLUAV hijacking of PI3K in the natural bat host has been selected against, perhaps because genes in this metabolic pathway were differentially shaped by evolution to suit the unique energy use strategies of this flying mammal. These data expand our understanding of the enigmatic functional divergence between bat FLUAVs and classical mammalian and avian FLUAVs. IMPORTANCE The potential for novel influenza A viruses to establish infections in humans from animals is a source of continuous concern due to possible severe outbreaks or pandemics. The recent discovery of influenza A-like viruses in bats has raised questions over whether these entities could be a threat to humans. Understanding unique properties of the newly described bat influenza A-like viruses, such as their mechanisms to infect cells or how they manipulate host functions, is critical to assess their likelihood of causing disease. Here, we characterized the bat influenza A-like virus NS1 protein, a key virulence factor, and found unexpected functional divergence of this protein from counterparts in other influenza A viruses. Our study dissects the molecular changes required by bat influenza A-like virus NS1 to adopt classical influenza A virus properties and suggests consequences of bat influenza A-like virus infection, potential future evolutionary trajectories, and intriguing virus-host biology in bat species.

scholarly journals Influenza A Virus NS1 Protein Activates the PI3K/Akt Pathway To Mediate Antiapoptotic Signaling Responses

2007 ◽  
Vol 81 (7) ◽  
pp. 3058-3067 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina Ehrhardt ◽  
Thorsten Wolff ◽  
Stephan Pleschka ◽  
Oliver Planz ◽  
Wiebke Beermann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Influenza A Virus ◽  
Virus Replication ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Glycogen Synthase ◽  
Nonstructural Protein ◽  
Akt Pathway ◽  
Ns1 Protein ◽  
Nonstructural Protein 1 ◽  
Cell Death Program ◽  
Pi3k Activation

ABSTRACT Recently we have shown that influenza A virus infection leads to activation of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway and that this cellular reaction is dependent on the expression of the viral nonstructural protein 1 (NS1). These data also suggested that PI3K activation confers a virus-supporting activity at intermediate stages of the infection cycle. So far it is not known which process is regulated by the kinase that supports virus replication. It is well established that upon infection with influenza A virus, the expression of the viral NS1 keeps the induction of beta interferon and the apoptotic response within a tolerable limit. On a molecular basis, this activity of NS1 has been suggested to preclude the activation of cellular double-stranded RNA receptors as well as impaired modulation of mRNA processing. Here we present a novel mode of action of the NS1 protein to suppress apoptosis induction. NS1 binds to and activates PI3K, which results in the activation of the PI3K effector Akt. This leads to a subsequent inhibition of caspase 9 and glycogen synthase-kinase 3β and limitation of the virus-induced cell death program. Thus, NS1 not only blocks but also activates signaling pathways to ensure efficient virus replication.

scholarly journals Multiple Anti-Interferon Actions of the Influenza A Virus NS1 Protein

2007 ◽  
Vol 81 (13) ◽  
pp. 7011-7021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Georg Kochs ◽  
Adolfo García-Sastre ◽  
Luis Martínez-Sobrido
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Influenza A Virus ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Nonstructural Protein ◽  
Influenza Pandemic ◽  
Ns1 Protein ◽  
Cellular Genes ◽  
Cellular Mrnas ◽  
Cleavage And Polyadenylation ◽  
Specificity Factor

ABSTRACT The replication and pathogenicity of influenza A virus (FLUAV) are controlled in part by the alpha/beta interferon (IFN-α/β) system. This virus-host interplay is dependent on the production of IFN-α/β and on the capacity of the viral nonstructural protein NS1 to counteract the IFN system. Two different mechanisms have been described for NS1, namely, blocking the activation of IFN regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) and blocking posttranscriptional processing of cellular mRNAs. Here we directly compare the abilities of NS1 gene products from three different human FLUAV (H1N1) strains to counteract the antiviral host response. We found that A/PR/8/34 NS1 has a strong capacity to inhibit IRF3 and activation of the IFN-β promoter but is unable to suppress expression of other cellular genes. In contrast, the NS1 proteins of A/Tx/36/91 and of A/BM/1/18, the virus that caused the Spanish influenza pandemic, caused suppression of additional cellular gene expression. Thus, these NS1 proteins prevented the establishment of an IFN-induced antiviral state, allowing virus replication even in the presence of IFN. Interestingly, the block in gene expression was dependent on a newly described NS1 domain that is important for interaction with the cleavage and polyadenylation specificity factor (CPSF) component of the cellular pre-mRNA processing machinery but is not functional in A/PR/8/34 NS1. We identified the Phe-103 and Met-106 residues in NS1 as being critical for CPSF binding, together with the previously described C-terminal binding domain. Our results demonstrate the capacity of FLUAV NS1 to suppress the antiviral host defense at multiple levels and the existence of strain-specific differences that may modulate virus pathogenicity.

scholarly journals The influenza A virus NS1 protein binds small interfering RNAs and suppresses RNA silencing in plants

2004 ◽  
Vol 85 (4) ◽  
pp. 983-991 ◽  
Author(s):  
Etienne Bucher ◽  
Hans Hemmes ◽  
Peter de Haan ◽  
Rob Goldbach ◽  
Marcel Prins
Keyword(s):  
Influenza A Virus ◽  
Virus Replication ◽  
Rna Silencing ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Rna Degradation ◽  
Plant Viruses ◽  
Sequence Specificity ◽  
Ns1 Protein ◽  
Rna Molecules ◽  
Wide Range

RNA silencing comprises a set of sequence-specific RNA degradation pathways that occur in a wide range of eukaryotes, including animals, fungi and plants. A hallmark of RNA silencing is the presence of small interfering RNA molecules (siRNAs). The siRNAs are generated by cleavage of larger double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) and provide the sequence specificity for degradation of cognate RNA molecules. In plants, RNA silencing plays a key role in developmental processes and in control of virus replication. It has been shown that many plant viruses encode proteins, denoted RNA silencing suppressors, that interfere with this antiviral response. Although RNA silencing has been shown to occur in vertebrates, no relationship with inhibition of virus replication has been demonstrated to date. Here we show that the NS1 protein of human influenza A virus has an RNA silencing suppression activity in plants, similar to established RNA silencing suppressor proteins of plant viruses. In addition, NS1 was shown to be capable of binding siRNAs. The data presented here fit with a potential role for NS1 in counteracting innate antiviral responses in vertebrates by sequestering siRNAs.

scholarly journals Epigenetic Modification Is Regulated by the Interaction of Influenza A Virus Nonstructural Protein 1 with the De Novo DNA Methyltransferase DNMT3B and Subsequent Transport to the Cytoplasm for K48-Linked Polyubiquitination

2019 ◽  
Vol 93 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shi Liu ◽  
Li Liu ◽  
Gang Xu ◽  
Zhongying Cao ◽  
Qing Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Methylation ◽  
Influenza A Virus ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Dna Methyltransferase ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Epigenetic Modification ◽  
Nonstructural Protein ◽  
Ns1 Protein ◽  
Nonstructural Protein 1 ◽  
Stat Signaling

ABSTRACT The influenza virus nonstructural protein 1 (NS1) is a nonstructural protein that plays a major role in antagonizing host interferon responses during infection. However, a clear role for the NS1 protein in epigenetic modification has not been established. In this study, NS1 was found to regulate the expression of some key regulators of JAK-STAT signaling by inhibiting the DNA methylation of their promoters. Furthermore, DNA methyltransferase 3B (DNMT3B) is responsible for this process. Upon investigating the mechanisms underlying this event, NS1 was found to interact with DNMT3B but not DNMT3A, leading to the dissociation of DNMT3B from the promoters of the corresponding genes. In addition, the interaction between NS1 and DNMT3B changed the localization of DNMT3B from the nucleus to the cytosol, resulting in K48-linked ubiquitination and degradation of DNMT3B in the cytosol. We conclude that NS1 interacts with DNMT3B and changes its localization to mediate K48-linked polyubiquitination, subsequently contributing to the modulation of the expression of JAK-STAT signaling suppressors. IMPORTANCE The nonstructural protein 1 (NS1) of the influenza A virus (IAV) is a multifunctional protein that counters cellular antiviral activities and is a virulence factor. However, the involvement of NS1 in DNA methylation during IAV infection has not been established. Here, we reveal that the NS1 protein binds the cellular DNMT3B DNA methyltransferase, thereby inhibiting the methylation of the promoters of genes encoding suppressors of JAK-STAT signaling. As a result, these suppressor genes are induced, and JAK-STAT signaling is inhibited. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the NS1 protein transports DNMT3B to the cytoplasm for ubiquitination and degradation. Thus, we identify the NS1 protein as a potential trigger of the epigenetic deregulation of JAK-STAT signaling suppressors and illustrate a novel mechanism underlying the regulation of host immunity during IAV infection.

PI3K signalling during influenza A virus infections

2007 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 186-187 ◽  
Author(s):  
B.G. Hale ◽  
R.E. Randall
Keyword(s):  
Influenza A Virus ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Pi3k Pathway ◽  
Regulatory Subunit ◽  
Ns1 Protein ◽  
Virus Infections ◽  
Influenza A Viruses ◽  
Pi3k Signalling ◽  
Novel Target ◽  
Phosphoinositide 3 Kinase

Recent work has demonstrated that the PI3K (phosphoinositide 3-kinase) signalling pathway is important for efficient influenza A virus replication. Activation of PI3K in virus-infected cells is mediated by the viral NS1 protein, which binds directly to the p85β regulatory subunit of PI3K and causes the PI3K-dependent phosphorylation of Akt (protein kinase B). Given that recombinant influenza A viruses unable to activate PI3K signalling are attenuated in tissue culture, the PI3K pathway could be a novel target for the development of future anti-influenza drugs.

scholarly journals Nuclear and Nucleolar Targeting of Influenza A Virus NS1 Protein: Striking Differences between Different Virus Subtypes

2007 ◽  
Vol 81 (11) ◽  
pp. 5995-6006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krister Melén ◽  
Leena Kinnunen ◽  
Riku Fagerlund ◽  
Niina Ikonen ◽  
Karen Y. Twu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Host Cell ◽  
Influenza A Virus ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Rna Binding ◽  
Nonstructural Protein ◽  
Ns1 Protein ◽  
Nonstructural Protein 1 ◽  
Importin Α ◽  
Localization Signal ◽  
Ns1a Protein

ABSTRACT Influenza A virus nonstructural protein 1 (NS1A protein) is a virulence factor which is targeted into the nucleus. It is a multifunctional protein that inhibits host cell pre-mRNA processing and counteracts host cell antiviral responses. We show that the NS1A protein can interact with all six human importin α isoforms, indicating that the nuclear translocation of NS1A protein is mediated by the classical importin α/β pathway. The NS1A protein of the H1N1 (WSN/33) virus has only one N-terminal arginine- or lysine-rich nuclear localization signal (NLS1), whereas the NS1A protein of the H3N2 subtype (Udorn/72) virus also has a second C-terminal NLS (NLS2). NLS1 is mapped to residues 35 to 41, which also function in the double-stranded RNA-binding activity of the NS1A protein. NLS2 was created by a 7-amino-acid C-terminal extension (residues 231 to 237) that became prevalent among human influenza A virus types isolated between the years 1950 to 1987. NLS2 includes basic amino acids at positions 219, 220, 224, 229, 231, and 232. Surprisingly, NLS2 also forms a functional nucleolar localization signal NoLS, a function that was retained in H3N2 type virus NS1A proteins even without the C-terminal extension. It is likely that the evolutionarily well-conserved nucleolar targeting function of NS1A protein plays a role in the pathogenesis of influenza A virus.

scholarly journals Glycine 184 in Nonstructural Protein NS1 Determines the Virulence of Influenza A Virus Strain PR8 without Affecting the Host Interferon Response

2010 ◽  
Vol 84 (24) ◽  
pp. 12761-12770 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabine Steidle ◽  
Luis Martínez-Sobrido ◽  
Markus Mordstein ◽  
Stefan Lienenklaus ◽  
Adolfo García-Sastre ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Influenza A Virus ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Reverse Genetics ◽  
Rna Binding ◽  
Nonstructural Protein ◽  
Interferon Response ◽  
Binding Motif ◽  
Ns1 Protein ◽  
Viral Virulence ◽  
Functional Rna

ABSTRACT The nonstructural protein NS1 of influenza A virus counteracts the interferon (IFN) system and thereby promotes viral replication. NS1 has acquired different mechanisms to limit induction of IFN. It prevents double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) and RIG-I-mediated activation of interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3), and it blocks posttranscriptional processing of cellular mRNAs by binding to the cleavage and polyadenylation specificity factor (CPSF). Using a mouse-adapted A/PR/8/34 virus and reverse genetics to introduce specific mutations in NS1 which eliminate one or both functions, we determined the relative contributions of these two activities of NS1 to viral virulence in mice. We found that a functional RNA-binding motif was required for IFN suppression and virulence. Restoration of CPSF binding in the NS1 protein of wild-type A/PR/8/34 virus, which cannot bind CPSF due to mutations in the central binding motif at positions 103 and 106, resulted in enhanced virulence. Surprisingly, if CPSF binding was abolished by substituting glycine for arginine at position 184 in the classical NS1-CPSF binding motif, the mutant virus replicated much more slowly in mice, although the mutated NS1 protein continued to repress the IFN response very efficiently. Our results show that a functional RNA-binding motif is decisive for NS1 of A/PR/8/34 virus to suppress IFN induction. They further demonstrate that in addition to its contribution to CPSF binding, glycine 184 strongly influences viral virulence by an unknown mechanism which does not involve the IFN system.

scholarly journals Immunologic studies on the influenza A virus nonstructural protein NS1.

1982 ◽  
Vol 156 (1) ◽  
pp. 243-254 ◽  
Author(s):  
M W Shaw ◽  
E W Lamon ◽  
R W Compans
Keyword(s):  
Influenza Virus ◽  
Influenza A Virus ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Nonstructural Protein ◽  
Antigenic Drift ◽  
Ns1 Protein ◽  
Influenza A Viruses ◽  
Cytoplasmic Inclusions ◽  
Infected Cells ◽  
Virus Isolates

We purified the major influenza virus nonstructural protein, designated NS1, from cytoplasmic inclusions that were solubilized and used to raise antisera in rabbits. One of the antisera was found to be specific for NS1 by complement fixation tests and analyses of immune precipitates. Antiserum to NS1 isolated from cells infected with A/WSN/33 virus specifically precipitated NS1 from extracts of cells infected with seven distinct isolates of influenza A virus representing five different antigenic subtypes. These included A/WSN/33, A/PR/8/34, A/FW/5/50, A/USSR/90/77, A/RI/5+/57, A/Victoria/3/75, and A/Swine /1977/31; however, NS1 from cells infected with B/Lee/40 virus was not precipitated. Radioimmunoassays using radioiodinated NS1 protein from A/WSN virus-infected cells and unlabeled cytoplasmic extracts of cells infected with various strains of influenza virus as competitors indicated significant antigenic cross-reactivities for the NS1 proteins of all influenza A viruses tested. The results suggest a gradual antigenic drift over the 45 yr separating the earliest and most recent virus isolates examined. Thus, compared with the virion neuraminidase and hemagglutinin antigens, NS1 appears to be highly conserved in different influenza A virus isolates.

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