scholarly journals Substrate Specificity of SARS-CoV-2 Nsp10-Nsp16 Methyltransferase

Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 1722
Author(s):  
Roberto Benoni ◽  
Petra Krafcikova ◽  
Marek R. Baranowski ◽  
Joanna Kowalska ◽  
Evzen Boura ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Substrate Specificity ◽  
Causative Agent ◽  
Immune Reaction ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Innate Immune ◽  
Alternative Technique ◽  
Isotope Labelling ◽  
Mtase Activity ◽  
Ic50 Value ◽  
Labelling Method

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic exemplifies the general need to better understand viral infections. The positive single-strand RNA genome of its causative agent, the SARS coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), encodes all viral enzymes. In this work, we focused on one particular methyltransferase (MTase), nsp16, which, in complex with nsp10, is capable of methylating the first nucleotide of a capped RNA strand at the 2′-O position. This process is part of a viral capping system and is crucial for viral evasion of the innate immune reaction. In light of recently discovered non-canonical RNA caps, we tested various dinucleoside polyphosphate-capped RNAs as substrates for nsp10-nsp16 MTase. We developed an LC-MS-based method and discovered four types of capped RNA (m7Gp3A(G)- and Gp3A(G)-RNA) that are substrates of the nsp10-nsp16 MTase. Our technique is an alternative to the classical isotope labelling approach for the measurement of 2′-O-MTase activity. Further, we determined the IC50 value of sinefungin to illustrate the use of our approach for inhibitor screening. In the future, this approach may be an alternative technique to the radioactive labelling method for screening inhibitors of any type of 2′-O-MTase.

scholarly journals Substrate specificity of SARS-CoV-2 nsp10-nsp16 methyltransferase

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberto Benoni ◽  
Petra Krafcikova ◽  
Marek R. Baranowski ◽  
Joanna Kowalska ◽  
Evzen Boura ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Substrate Specificity ◽  
Causative Agent ◽  
Immune Reaction ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Innate Immune ◽  
Single Strand ◽  
Sars Coronavirus ◽  
Isotope Labelling ◽  
Inhibitor Screening ◽  
Mtase Activity

AbstractThe ongoing COVID-19 pandemic exemplifies the general need to better understand viral infections. The positive single strand RNA genome of its causative agent, the SARS coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) encodes all viral enzymes. In this work, we focus on one particular methyltransferase (MTase), nsp16, which in complex with nsp10 is capable of methylating the first nucleotide of a capped RNA strand at the 2′-O position. This process is part of a viral capping system and is crucial for viral evasion of the innate immune reaction. In light of recently discovered non-canonical RNA caps, we tested various dinucleoside polyphosphate-capped RNAs as substrates for nsp10-nsp16 MTase. We developed an LC-MS-based method and discovered five types of capped RNA (m7Gp3A(G)-, Gp3A(G)- and Gp4A-RNA) that are substrates of the nsp10-nsp16 MTase. Our technique is an alternative to the classical isotope labelling approach for measurement of 2′-O-MTase activity. Further, we determined the IC50 value of sinefungin (286 ± 66 nM) to illustrate the value of our approach for inhibitor screening. In the future, this approach can be used for screening inhibitors of any type of 2′-O-MTase.

scholarly journals The L1-dependant and Pol III transcribed Alu retrotransposon, from its discovery to innate immunity

2021 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 2775-2789
Author(s):  
Ludwig Stenz
Keyword(s):  
Human Genome ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Innate Immune ◽  
De Novo Mutation ◽  
Neuronal Diversity ◽  
Alu Sequences ◽  
Pol Iii ◽  
The Brain

AbstractThe 300 bp dimeric repeats digestible by AluI were discovered in 1979. Since then, Alu were involved in the most fundamental epigenetic mechanisms, namely reprogramming, pluripotency, imprinting and mosaicism. These Alu encode a family of retrotransposons transcribed by the RNA Pol III machinery, notably when the cytosines that constitute their sequences are de-methylated. Then, Alu hijack the functions of ORF2 encoded by another transposons named L1 during reverse transcription and integration into new sites. That mechanism functions as a complex genetic parasite able to copy-paste Alu sequences. Doing that, Alu have modified even the size of the human genome, as well as of other primate genomes, during 65 million years of co-evolution. Actually, one germline retro-transposition still occurs each 20 births. Thus, Alu continue to modify our human genome nowadays and were implicated in de novo mutation causing diseases including deletions, duplications and rearrangements. Most recently, retrotransposons were found to trigger neuronal diversity by inducing mosaicism in the brain. Finally, boosted during viral infections, Alu clearly interact with the innate immune system. The purpose of that review is to give a condensed overview of all these major findings that concern the fascinating physiology of Alu from their discovery up to the current knowledge.

scholarly journals Strategy of Human Cytomegalovirus To Escape Interferon Beta-Induced APOBEC3G Editing Activity

2018 ◽  
Vol 92 (19) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Pautasso ◽  
Ganna Galitska ◽  
Valentina Dell'Oste ◽  
Matteo Biolatti ◽  
Rachele Cagliani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Cytomegalovirus ◽  
Hot Spots ◽  
Interferon Beta ◽  
Hcmv Infection ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Innate Immune ◽  
Mutational Robustness ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Hcmv Replication ◽  
Apobec3 Family

ABSTRACTThe apolipoprotein B editing enzyme catalytic subunit 3 (APOBEC3) is a family of DNA cytosine deaminases that mutate and inactivate viral genomes by single-strand DNA editing, thus providing an innate immune response against a wide range of DNA and RNA viruses. In particular, APOBEC3A (A3A), a member of the APOBEC3 family, is induced by human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) in decidual tissues where it efficiently restricts HCMV replication, thereby acting as an intrinsic innate immune effector at the maternal-fetal interface. However, the widespread incidence of congenital HCMV infection implies that HCMV has evolved to counteract APOBEC3-induced mutagenesis through mechanisms that still remain to be fully established. Here, we have assessed gene expression and deaminase activity of various APOBEC3 gene family members in HCMV-infected primary human foreskin fibroblasts (HFFs). Specifically, we show that APOBEC3G (A3G) gene products and, to a lesser degree, those of A3F but not of A3A, are upregulated in HCMV-infected HFFs. We also show that HCMV-mediated induction of A3G expression is mediated by interferon beta (IFN-β), which is produced early during HCMV infection. However, knockout or overexpression of A3G does not affect HCMV replication, indicating that A3G is not a restriction factor for HCMV. Finally, through a bioinformatics approach, we show that HCMV has evolved mutational robustness against IFN-β by limiting the presence of A3G hot spots in essential open reading frames (ORFs) of its genome. Overall, our findings uncover a novel immune evasion strategy by HCMV with profound implications for HCMV infections.IMPORTANCEAPOBEC3 family of proteins plays a pivotal role in intrinsic immunity defense mechanisms against multiple viral infections, including retroviruses, through the deamination activity. However, the currently available data on APOBEC3 editing mechanisms upon HCMV infection remain unclear. In the present study, we show that particularly the APOBEC3G (A3G) member of the deaminase family is strongly induced upon infection with HCMV in fibroblasts and that its upregulation is mediated by IFN-β. Furthermore, we were able to demonstrate that neither A3G knockout nor A3G overexpression appears to modulate HCMV replication, indicating that A3G does not inhibit HCMV replication. This may be explained by HCMV escape strategy from A3G activity through depletion of the preferred nucleotide motifs (hot spots) from its genome. The results may shed light on antiviral potential of APOBEC3 activity during HCMV infection, as well as the viral counteracting mechanisms under A3G-mediated selective pressure.

Orthogonal genome-wide screens of bat cells identify MTHFD1 as a target of broad antiviral therapy

2021 ◽  
Vol 118 (39) ◽  
pp. e2104759118
Author(s):  
Danielle E. Anderson ◽  
Jin Cui ◽  
Qian Ye ◽  
Baoying Huang ◽  
Ya Tan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antiviral Therapy ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Secretory Pathway ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Innate Immune ◽  
Genome Wide ◽  
Genomic Studies ◽  
Independent Screening ◽  
Endocytosis Pathway ◽  
Lower Expression

Bats are responsible for the zoonotic transmission of several major viral diseases, including those leading to the 2003 SARS outbreak and likely the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. While comparative genomics studies have revealed characteristic adaptations of the bat innate immune system, functional genomic studies are urgently needed to provide a foundation for the molecular dissection of the viral tolerance in bats. Here we report the establishment of genome-wide RNA interference (RNAi) and CRISPR libraries for the screening of the model megabat, Pteropus alecto. We used the complementary RNAi and CRISPR libraries to interrogate P. alecto cells for infection with two different viruses: mumps virus and influenza A virus, respectively. Independent screening results converged on the endocytosis pathway and the protein secretory pathway as required for both viral infections. Additionally, we revealed a general dependence of the C1-tetrahydrofolate synthase gene, MTHFD1, for viral replication in bat cells and human cells. The MTHFD1 inhibitor, carolacton, potently blocked replication of several RNA viruses, including SARS-CoV-2. We also discovered that bats have lower expression levels of MTHFD1 than humans. Our studies provide a resource for systematic inquiry into the genetic underpinnings of bat biology and a potential target for developing broad-spectrum antiviral therapy.

scholarly journals Innate Immune Responses to Highly Pathogenic Coronaviruses and Other Significant Respiratory Viral Infections

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanaa Ahmed-Hassan ◽  
Brianna Sisson ◽  
Rajni Kant Shukla ◽  
Yasasvi Wijewantha ◽  
Nicholas T. Funderburg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Responses ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Innate Immune ◽  
Innate Immune Responses ◽  
Highly Pathogenic ◽  
Respiratory Viral Infections

scholarly journals No fever and leucocytosis in response to a lipopolysaccharide challenge in an insectivorous bat

2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 20150576 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sebastian Stockmaier ◽  
Dina K. N. Dechmann ◽  
Rachel A. Page ◽  
M. Teague O'Mara
Keyword(s):  
Acute Phase ◽  
Immune Reaction ◽  
Innate Immune ◽  
Phase Reaction ◽  
First Line ◽  
Immune Genes ◽  
Lps Challenge ◽  
Genome Wide ◽  
Molossus Molossus ◽  
Fever Response

Bat immune systems may allow them to respond to zoonotic agents more efficiently than other mammals. As the first line of defence, the taxonomically conserved acute phase immune reaction of leucocytosis and fever is crucial for coping with infections, but it is unknown if this response is a key constituent to bat immunological success. We investigated the acute phase reaction to a standard lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge in Pallas's mastiff bats ( Molossus molossus ). Challenged bats lost mass, but in contrast to other mammals showed no leucocytosis or fever. There also was no influence on body temperature reduction during torpor. When compared to recent genome-wide assays for constituent immune genes, this lack of a conserved fever response to LPS contributes to a clearer understanding of the innate immune system in bat species and of the coevolution of bats with a wide diversity of pathogens.

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