scholarly journals HDV Can Constrain HBV Genetic Evolution in HBsAg: Implications for the Identification of Innovative Pharmacological Targets

Viruses ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 363 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luna Colagrossi ◽  
Romina Salpini ◽  
Rossana Scutari ◽  
Luca Carioti ◽  
Arianna Battisti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Virus Assembly ◽  
Lower Percentage ◽  
Genetic Evolution ◽  
Hepatic Decompensation ◽  
Variable Regions ◽  
Conserved Residues ◽  
C Terminus ◽  
Pharmacological Targets ◽  
Amino Acid Variability ◽  
Hdv Infection

Chronic HBV + HDV infection is associated with greater risk of liver fibrosis, earlier hepatic decompensation, and liver cirrhosis hepatocellular carcinoma compared to HBV mono-infection. However, to-date no direct anti-HDV drugs are available in clinical practice. Here, we identified conserved and variable regions in HBsAg and HDAg domains in HBV + HDV infection, a critical finding for the design of innovative therapeutic agents. The extent of amino-acid variability was measured by Shannon-Entropy (Sn) in HBsAg genotype-d sequences from 31 HBV + HDV infected and 62 HBV mono-infected patients (comparable for demographics and virological-parameters), and in 47 HDAg genotype-1 sequences. Positions with Sn = 0 were defined as conserved. The percentage of conserved HBsAg-positions was significantly higher in HBV + HDV infection than HBV mono-infection (p = 0.001). Results were confirmed after stratification for HBeAg-status and patients’ age. A Sn = 0 at specific positions in the C-terminus HBsAg were correlated with higher HDV-RNA, suggesting that conservation of these positions can preserve HDV-fitness. Conversely, HDAg was characterized by a lower percentage of conserved-residues than HBsAg (p < 0.001), indicating higher functional plasticity. Furthermore, specific HDAg-mutations were significantly correlated with higher HDV-RNA, suggesting a role in conferring HDV replicative-advantage. Among HDAg-domains, only the virus-assembly signal exhibited a high genetic conservation (75% of conserved-residues). In conclusion, HDV can constrain HBsAg genetic evolution to preserve its fitness. The identification of conserved regions in HDAg poses the basis for designing innovative targets against HDV-infection.

scholarly journals The Amino Acids Motif -32GSSYN36- in the Catalytic Domain of E. coli Flavorubredoxin NO Reductase Is Essential for Its Activity

Catalysts ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 926
Author(s):  
Maria C. Martins ◽  
Susana F. Fernandes ◽  
Bruno A. Salgueiro ◽  
Jéssica C. Soares ◽  
Célia V. Romão ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Catalytic Domain ◽  
Reductase Activity ◽  
Conserved Residues ◽  
Mutant Proteins ◽  
E Coli ◽  
C Terminus ◽  
Bona Fide ◽  
Oxygen Reductase ◽  
Soluble Enzymes

Flavodiiron proteins (FDPs) are a family of modular and soluble enzymes endowed with nitric oxide and/or oxygen reductase activities, producing N2O or H2O, respectively. The FDP from Escherichia coli, which, apart from the two core domains, possesses a rubredoxin-like domain at the C-terminus (therefore named flavorubredoxin (FlRd)), is a bona fide NO reductase, exhibiting O2 reducing activity that is approximately ten times lower than that for NO. Among the flavorubredoxins, there is a strictly conserved amino acids motif, -G[S,T]SYN-, close to the catalytic diiron center. To assess its role in FlRd’s activity, we designed several site-directed mutants, replacing the conserved residues with hydrophobic or anionic ones. The mutants, which maintained the general characteristics of the wild type enzyme, including cofactor content and integrity of the diiron center, revealed a decrease of their oxygen reductase activity, while the NO reductase activity—specifically, its physiological function—was almost completely abolished in some of the mutants. Molecular modeling of the mutant proteins pointed to subtle changes in the predicted structures that resulted in the reduction of the hydration of the regions around the conserved residues, as well as in the elimination of hydrogen bonds, which may affect proton transfer and/or product release.

scholarly journals Prospective Characterization of Full-Length Hepatitis C Virus NS5A Quasispecies during Induction and Combination Antiviral Therapy

2000 ◽  
Vol 74 (19) ◽  
pp. 9028-9038 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.-B. Nousbaum ◽  
S. J. Polyak ◽  
S. C. Ray ◽  
D. G. Sullivan ◽  
A. M. Larson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Antiviral Therapy ◽  
Variable Region ◽  
Response To Therapy ◽  
Full Length ◽  
Variable Regions ◽  
C Terminus

ABSTRACT The hepatitis C virus (HCV) nonstructural 5A (NS5A) protein has been controversially implicated in the inherent resistance of HCV to interferon (IFN) antiviral therapy in clinical studies. In this study, the relationship between NS5A mutations and selection pressures before and during antiviral therapy and virologic response to therapy were investigated. Full-length NS5A clones were sequenced from 20 HCV genotype 1-infected patients in a prospective, randomized clinical trial of IFN induction (daily) therapy and IFN plus ribavirin combination therapy. Pretreatment NS5A nucleotide and amino acid phylogenies did not correlate with clinical IFN responses and domains involved in NS5A functions in vitro were all well conserved before and during treatment. A consensus IFN sensitivity-determining region (ISDR237–276) sequence associated with IFN resistance was not found, although the presence of Ala245 within the ISDR was associated with nonresponse to treatment in genotype 1a-infected patients (P < 0.01). There were more mutations in the 26 amino acids downstream of the ISDR required for PKR binding in pretreatment isolates from responders versus nonresponders in both HCV-1a- and HCV-1b-infected patients (P < 0.05). In HCV-1a patients, more amino acid changes were observed in isolates from IFN-sensitive patients (P < 0.001), and the mutations appeared to be concentrated in two variable regions in the C terminus of NS5A, that corresponded to the previously described V3 region and a new variable region, 310 to 330. Selection of pretreatment minor V3 quasispecies was observed within the first 2 to 6 weeks of therapy in responders but not nonresponders, whereas the ISDR and PKR binding domains did not change in either patient response group. These data suggest that host-mediated selective pressures act primarily on the C terminus of NS5A and that NS5A can perturb or evade the IFN-induced antiviral response using sequences outside of the putative ISDR. Mechanistic studies are needed to address the role of the C terminus of NS5A in HCV replication and antiviral resistance.

scholarly journals Comparative analysis of ankyrin (ANK) genes of five capripoxviruses isolate strains from Xinjiang province in China

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chuanchuan He ◽  
Jianjun Tong ◽  
Xueping Zhang ◽  
Milikaimu Tuohetiniyazi ◽  
Yu Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Host Range ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Domain Architecture ◽  
Amino Acid Sequences ◽  
Effective Prevention ◽  
Variable Regions ◽  
Sheeppox Virus ◽  
Goatpox Virus ◽  
C Terminus ◽  
And Control

Abstract Background Sheeppox and goatpox are both economically important animal diseases in which pathogens are goatpox virus (GTPV) and sheeppox virus (SPPV). They can’t cause cross-species infection between sheep and goats in general. But in recent decades, the infection of sheep by goatpox or goats by sheeppox has been reported. The literature has indicated that the occurrence of these cases has a significant and direct relationship with mutations of ankyrin genes families (ANK genes 010,138,140,141.2,145) located in two-terminal regions of capripoxvirus genomes. So it is very important to decipher these nucleotides and their coding amino acid sequences of the five genes regarded as host range and virulence factors for effective prevention and control of capripoxvirus diseases. Methods In this study, all the ankyrin genes of three goatpox virus, two sheeppox virus, and one GTPV vaccine strains from Nanjiang areas of Xinjiang province of China during 2010–2011 were collected, amplified, cloned and sequenced. The sequence of every ankyrin genes has been compared with not only sequences from six viruses but also all sequences from three species of capripoxvirus genus from Gene bank, and every ANK gene’s mutated nucleotides and amino acids have been screened, and the relationship of genetic evolution among different virus strains has been analyzed, as well as the domain architecture of these genes was forecasted and analyzed. Results The six capripoxvirus strains can be well-distinguished GTPV and SPPV based on five ANK genes’ sequence identicalness except for GTPV-SS strain, which showed higher identicalness with SPPV. The ANK gene sequence of the GTPV-SS strain was 100% identical with SPPV-M1 (ANK138,140,145) and SPPV-M2 (ANK138,145), respectively. Phylogenetically, these six capripoxvirus strains were also grouped into the same cluster of India reference strains in lineages and showed extreme identical conservative or variable regions with India capripoxvirus isolates by sequence alignment. Moreover, for the functional domains, these ANK genes of capripoxvirus except for ANK gene 145, are identical in size, and ANK genes 145 of SPPV are usually 100 bp (approximately 30 aa) longer than those of GTPV and eventually form a PRANC domain at C-terminus. Conclusions The isolated strain of GTPV-SS may be a cross-species infection or the collected material was contaminated, and the inferred Capripox outbreak in Xinjiang in 2010 can be introduced from India. ANK genes 138,140,141.2 and 145 of capripoxvirus can be used as the target genes to identify GTPV and SPPV. Moreover, the four ANK genes determining the host range are more significant than the ANK gene 010. These ANK genes play combining roles for their function.

scholarly journals Specificity of Baculovirus P6.9 Basic DNA-Binding Proteins and Critical Role of the C Terminus in Virion Formation

2010 ◽  
Vol 84 (17) ◽  
pp. 8821-8828 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manli Wang ◽  
Era Tuladhar ◽  
Shu Shen ◽  
Hualin Wang ◽  
Monique M. van Oers ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Virus Assembly ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Nucleocapsid Proteins ◽  
Double Stranded Dna ◽  
C Terminus ◽  
Sequence Elements ◽  
Eukaryotic Organisms ◽  
Dsdna Viruses ◽  
Virion Formation

ABSTRACT The majority of double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) viruses infecting eukaryotic organisms use host- or virus-expressed histones or protamine-like proteins to condense their genomes. In contrast, members of the Baculoviridae family use a protamine-like protein named P6.9. The dephosphorylated form of P6.9 binds to DNA in a non-sequence-specific manner. By using a p6.9-null mutant of Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV), we demonstrate that P6.9 is not required for viral DNA replication but is essential for the production of infectious virus. Virion production was rescued by P6.9 homologs from a number of Alpha baculovirus species and one Gammabaculovirus species but not from the genus Betabaculovirus, comprising the granuloviruses, or by the P6.9 homolog VP15 from the unrelated white spot syndrome virus of shrimp. Mutational analyses demonstrated that AcMNPV P6.9 with a conserved 11-residue deletion of the C terminus was not capable of rescuing p6.9-null AcMNPV, while a chimeric Betabaculovirus P6.9 containing the P6.9 C-terminal region of an Alphabaculovirus strain was able to do so. This implies that the C terminus of baculovirus P6.9 contains sequence elements essential for virion formation. Such elements may possibly interact with species- or genus-specific domains of other nucleocapsid proteins during virus assembly.

scholarly journals Herpes Simplex Virus Tegument Protein VP22 Contains an Internal VP16 Interaction Domain and a C-Terminal Domain That Are Both Required for VP22 Assembly into the Virus Particle

2005 ◽  
Vol 79 (20) ◽  
pp. 13082-13093 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wali Hafezi ◽  
Emmanuelle Bernard ◽  
Rachelle Cook ◽  
Gillian Elliott
Keyword(s):  
Herpes Simplex Virus ◽  
Herpes Simplex ◽  
Virus Assembly ◽  
Interaction Domain ◽  
Recombinant Viruses ◽  
Tegument Proteins ◽  
Terminal Domain ◽  
C Terminus ◽  
Simplex Virus ◽  
Mutant Forms

ABSTRACT Many steps along the herpesvirus assembly and maturation pathway remain unclear. In particular, the acquisition of the virus tegument is a poorly understood process, and the molecular interactions involved in tegument assembly have not yet been defined. Previously we have shown that the two major herpes simplex virus tegument proteins VP22 and VP16 are able to interact, although the relevance of this to virus assembly is not clear. Here we have constructed a number of recombinant viruses expressing N- and C-terminal truncations of VP22 and have used them to identify regions of the protein involved in its assembly into the virus structure. Analysis of the packaging of these VP22 variants into extracellular virions revealed that the C terminus of VP22 is absolutely required for this process, with removal of the C-terminal 89 residues abrogating its incorporation. However, while these 89 residues alone were sufficient for specific incorporation of small amounts of VP22 into the tegument, efficient packaging of VP22 to the levels of full-length protein required an additional 52 residues of the protein. Coimmunoprecipitation assays indicated that these 52 residues also contained the interaction domain for VP16. Furthermore, analysis of the subcellular localization of the mutant forms of VP22 revealed that only those truncations that were efficiently assembled formed characteristic cytoplasmic trafficking complexes, suggesting that these complexes may represent the cellular location for VP22 assembly into the virus. Taken together, these results suggest that there are two determinants involved in the packaging of VP22—a C-terminal domain and an internal VP16 interaction domain, both of which are required for the efficient recruitment of VP22 to sites of virus assembly.

scholarly journals Mutations in the Primer Grip of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Reverse Transcriptase Impair Proviral DNA Synthesis and Virion Maturation

1998 ◽  
Vol 72 (9) ◽  
pp. 7676-7680 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiang Yu ◽  
Michele Ottmann ◽  
Christine Pechoux ◽  
Stuart Le Grice ◽  
Jean-Luc Darlix
Keyword(s):  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Reverse Transcriptase ◽  
Dna Synthesis ◽  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type ◽  
Virus Type ◽  
Virus Assembly ◽  
Conserved Residues ◽  
Proviral Dna ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus

ABSTRACT This report describes the effects of mutating highly conserved residues in the primer grip domain of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcriptase (RT) on virus formation and infectivity. Among a series of RT mutant viruses, three (M230A, L234D, and W239A) were found to be noninfectious or very poorly infectious. Our data indicate that these mutations in RT caused severe defects in proviral DNA synthesis. Interestingly, assembly and maturation of mutant virus M230A were similar to those of the wild type, while mutants L234D and W239A showed impaired maturation. The immature morphology of RT mutants L234D and W239A is due at least in part to premature cleavage of the gag-pol precursor, prior to virion budding, indicating that intracellular stability of Pr160 gag-pol is of key importance during virus assembly.

scholarly journals The Extended C-Terminal α-Helix of the HypC Chaperone Restricts Recognition of Large Subunit Precursors by the Hyp-Scaffold Machinery during [NiFe]-Hydrogenase Maturation in Escherichia coli

2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 87-97
Author(s):  
Claudia Thomas ◽  
Mandy Waclawek ◽  
Kerstin Nutschan ◽  
Constanze Pinske ◽  
R. Gary Sawers
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Large Subunit ◽  
Protein Family ◽  
Variable Regions ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Hydrogenase Maturation ◽  
C Terminus ◽  
Α Helix

Members of the HypC protein family are chaperone-like proteins that play a central role in the maturation of [NiFe]-hydrogenases (Hyd). <i>Escherichia coli</i> has a second copy of HypC, called HybG, and, as a component of the HypDEF maturation scaffold, these proteins help synthesize the NiFe-cofactor and guide the scaffold to its designated hydrogenase large subunit precursor. HypC is required to synthesize active Hyd-1 and Hyd-3, while HybG facilitates Hyd-2 and Hyd-1 synthesis. To identify determinants on HypC that allow it to discriminate against Hyd-2, we made amino acid exchanges in 3 variable regions, termed VR1, VR2, and VR3, of HypC, that make it more similar to HybG. Region VR3 includes a HypC-specific C-terminal α-helical extension, and this proved particularly important in preventing the maturation of Hyd-2 by HypC. Truncation of this extension on HypC increased Hyd-2 activity in the absence of HybG, while retaining maturation of Hyd-3 and Hyd-1. Combining this truncation with amino acid exchanges in VR1 and VR2 of HypC negatively affected the synthesis of active Hyd-1. The C-terminus of <i>E. coli</i> HypC is thus a key determinant in hindering Hyd-2 maturation, while VR1 and VR2 appear more important for Hyd-1 matu­ration.

scholarly journals Structural Peptides of a Nonenveloped Virus Are Involved in Assembly and Membrane Translocation

2005 ◽  
Vol 79 (19) ◽  
pp. 12253-12263 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christophe Chevalier ◽  
Marie Galloux ◽  
Joan Pous ◽  
Céline Henry ◽  
Jérôme Denis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Virus Assembly ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Cell Entry ◽  
Axis Formation ◽  
C Terminus ◽  
The Family ◽  
Bursal Disease ◽  
Control Virus ◽  
Nonenveloped Virus ◽  
Disordered Peptides

ABSTRACT The capsid of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV), a nonenveloped virus of the family Birnaviridae, has a T=13l icosahedral shell constituted by a single protein, VP2, and several disordered peptides, all derived from the precursor pVP2. In this study, we show that two of the peptides, pep11 and pep46, control virus assembly and cell entry. Deletion of pep11 or even simple substitution of most of its residues blocks the capsid morphogenesis. Removal of pep46 also prevents capsid assembly but leads to the formation of subviral particles formed by unprocessed VP2 species. Fitting with the VP2 atomic model into three-dimensional reconstructions of these particles demonstrates that the presence of uncleaved pep46 causes a steric hindrance at the vertices, blocking fivefold axis formation. Mutagenesis of the pVP2 maturation sites confirms that C terminus processing is necessary for VP2 to acquire the correct icosahedral architecture. All peptides present on virions are accessible to proteases or biochemical labeling. One of them, pep46, is shown to induce large structural rearrangements in liposomes and to destabilize target membranes, demonstrating its implication in cell entry.

Rescue of protein splicing activity from a Magnetospirillum magnetotacticum intein-like element

2004 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 250-254 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.W. Southworth ◽  
J. Yin ◽  
F.B. Perler
Keyword(s):  
Protein Gene ◽  
Peptide Bond ◽  
Hypothetical Protein ◽  
The Self ◽  
Side Chain ◽  
Protein Splicing ◽  
Conserved Residues ◽  
C Terminus ◽  
Signature Sequences ◽  
Magnetospirillum Magnetotacticum

The self-catalytic protein splicing mechanism is mediated by the intein plus the first amino acid following the intein C-terminus (termed the +1 residue). Although polymorphisms of conserved residues elsewhere in inteins have been widely reported, no splicing-competent intein has been observed without a Ser, Thr or Cys in this functionally essential +1 position. This residue is the nucleophile in two steps of the protein splicing pathway: ligation of the extein fragments during transesterification and formation of a peptide bond between the exteins by an acyl rearrangement. An intein-like element in a hypothetical protein (gene Magn8951) from Magnetospirillum magnetotacticum has all intein signature sequences except the +1 residue, where it has a Tyr. Although the Tyr side-chain hydroxyl can potentially mediate the transesterification reaction, an acyl shift has never been observed with this residue. When the activities of this bacterial intein-like element were studied, protein splicing was not observed and N-terminal cleavage predominated. Mutation of Tyr+1 to Phe or Ala indicated that the Tyr side-chain hydroxyl was not necessary for N-terminal cleavage. Protein splicing activity could be rescued by ‘reversion’ of Tyr+1 to Cys.

scholarly journals Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-Bisphosphate Mediates the Targeting of the Exocyst to the Plasma Membrane for Exocytosis in Mammalian Cells

2007 ◽  
Vol 18 (11) ◽  
pp. 4483-4492 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianglan Liu ◽  
Xiaofeng Zuo ◽  
Peng Yue ◽  
Wei Guo
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Direct Interaction ◽  
Secretory Vesicles ◽  
Vesicular Stomatitis Virus Glycoprotein ◽  
Conserved Residues ◽  
Vesicle Tethering ◽  
C Terminus ◽  
Evolutionarily Conserved ◽  
Vesicular Stomatitis

The exocyst is an evolutionarily conserved octameric protein complex that tethers post-Golgi secretory vesicles at the plasma membrane for exocytosis. To elucidate the mechanism of vesicle tethering, it is important to understand how the exocyst physically associates with the plasma membrane (PM). In this study, we report that the mammalian exocyst subunit Exo70 associates with the PM through its direct interaction with phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P2). Furthermore, we have identified key conserved residues at the C-terminus of Exo70 that are crucial for the interaction of Exo70 with PI(4,5)P2. Disrupting Exo70-PI(4,5)P2 interaction abolished the membrane association of Exo70. We have also found that wild-type Exo70 but not the PI(4,5)P2-binding–deficient Exo70 mutant is capable of recruiting other exocyst components to the PM. Using the ts045 vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein trafficking assay, we demonstrate that Exo70-PI(4,5)P2 interaction is critical for the docking and fusion of post-Golgi secretory vesicles, but not for their transport to the PM.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document