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Kaur J, Sharma A, Mundlia P, Sood V, Pandey A, Singh G, Barnwal RP. RNA-Small-Molecule Interaction: Challenging the "Undruggable" Tag. J Med Chem 2024. [PMID: 38498010 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c01354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
RNA targeting, specifically with small molecules, is a relatively new and rapidly emerging avenue with the promise to expand the target space in the drug discovery field. From being "disregarded" as an "undruggable" messenger molecule to FDA approval of an RNA-targeting small-molecule drug Risdiplam, a radical change in perspective toward RNA has been observed in the past decade. RNAs serve important regulatory functions beyond canonical protein synthesis, and their dysregulation has been reported in many diseases. A deeper understanding of RNA biology reveals that RNA molecules can adopt a variety of structures, carrying defined binding pockets that can accommodate small-molecule drugs. Due to its functional diversity and structural complexity, RNA can be perceived as a prospective target for therapeutic intervention. This perspective highlights the proof of concept of RNA-small-molecule interactions, exemplified by targeting of various transcripts with functional modulators. The advent of RNA-oriented knowledge would help expedite drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaskirat Kaur
- Department of Biophysics, Panjab University, Chandigarh 160014, India
| | - Akanksha Sharma
- Department of Biophysics, Panjab University, Chandigarh 160014, India
- University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Panjab University, Chandigarh 160014, India
| | - Poonam Mundlia
- Department of Biophysics, Panjab University, Chandigarh 160014, India
| | - Vikas Sood
- Department of Biochemistry, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi 110062, India
| | - Ankur Pandey
- Department of Chemistry, Panjab University, Chandigarh 160014, India
| | - Gurpal Singh
- University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Panjab University, Chandigarh 160014, India
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2
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Bajpai PS, Collignon L, Sølund C, Madsen LW, Christensen PB, Øvrehus A, Weis N, Holmbeck K, Fahnøe U, Bukh J. Full-length sequence analysis of hepatitis C virus genotype 3b strains and development of an in vivo infectious 3b cDNA clone. J Virol 2023; 97:e0092523. [PMID: 38092564 PMCID: PMC10734419 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00925-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/22/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE HCV genotype 3b is a difficult-to-treat subtype, associated with accelerated progression of liver disease and resistance to antivirals. Moreover, its prevalence has significantly increased among persons who inject drugs posing a serious risk of transmission in the general population. Thus, more genetic information and antiviral testing systems are required to develop novel therapeutic options for this genotype 3 subtype. We determined the complete genomic sequence and complexity of three genotype 3b isolates, which will be beneficial to study its biology and evolution. Furthermore, we developed a full-length in vivo infectious cDNA clone of genotype 3b and showed its robustness and genetic stability in human-liver chimeric mice. This is, to our knowledge the first reported infectious cDNA clone of HCV genotype 3b and will provide a valuable tool to evaluate antivirals and neutralizing antibodies in vivo, as well as in the development of infectious cell culture systems required for further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priyanka Shukla Bajpai
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre, Denmark
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Laura Collignon
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre, Denmark
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Christina Sølund
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre, Denmark
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre, Denmark
| | - Lone Wulff Madsen
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
- Clinical Institute, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Peer Brehm Christensen
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
- Clinical Institute, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Anne Øvrehus
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
- Clinical Institute, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Nina Weis
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kenn Holmbeck
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre, Denmark
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ulrik Fahnøe
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre, Denmark
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jens Bukh
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre, Denmark
- Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre, Denmark
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3
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Ariza-Mateos A, Briones C, Perales C, Bayo-Jiménez MT, Domingo E, Gómez J. Viruses as archaeological tools for uncovering ancient molecular relationships. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2023; 1529:3-13. [PMID: 37801367 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.15071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/08/2023]
Abstract
The entry of a virus into the host cell always implies the alteration of certain intracellular molecular relationships, some of which may involve the recovery of ancient cellular activities. In this sense, viruses are archaeological tools for identifying unexpressed activities in noninfected cells. Among these, activities that hinder virus propagation may represent cellular defense mechanisms, for example, activities that mutagenize the viral genome such as ADAR-1 or APOBEC activities. Instead, those that facilitate virus propagation can be interpreted as the result of viral adaptation to-or mimicking-cellular structures, enabling the virus to perform anthropomorphic activities, including hijacking, manipulating, and reorganizing cellular factors for their own benefit. The alternative we consider here is that some of these second set of cellular activities were already in the uninfected cell but silenced, under the negative control of the cell or lineage, and that they represent a necessary precondition for viral infection. For example, specifically loading an amino acid at the 3'-end of the mRNA of some plant viruses by aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases has proved essential for virus infection despite this reaction not occurring with cellular mRNAs. Other activities of this type are discussed here, together with the biological context in which they acquire a coherent meaning, that is, genetic latency and molecular conflict.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ascensión Ariza-Mateos
- Laboratory of RNA Archaeology, Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina "López-Neyra" (CSIC), Granada, Spain
| | - Carlos Briones
- Department of Molecular Evolution, Centro de Astrobiología (CSIC-INTA), Madrid, Spain
| | - Celia Perales
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - María Teresa Bayo-Jiménez
- Laboratory of RNA Archaeology, Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina "López-Neyra" (CSIC), Granada, Spain
| | - Esteban Domingo
- Centro de Biología Molecular "Severo Ochoa" (CSIC-UAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Jordi Gómez
- Laboratory of RNA Archaeology, Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina "López-Neyra" (CSIC), Granada, Spain
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4
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Sherlock ME, Langeberg CJ, Segar KE, Kieft JS. A conserved class of viral RNA structures regulate translation reinitiation through dynamic ribosome interactions. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.29.560040. [PMID: 37808774 PMCID: PMC10557763 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.29.560040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Certain viral RNAs encode proteins downstream of the main protein coding region, expressed through "termination-reinitiation" events, dependent on RNA structure. RNA elements located upstream of the first stop codon within these viral mRNAs bind the ribosome, preventing ribosome recycling and inducing reinitiation. We used bioinformatic methods to identify new examples of viral reinitiation-stimulating RNAs and experimentally verified their secondary structure and function. We determined the structure of a representative viral RNA-ribosome complex using cryoEM. 3D classification and variability analyses reveal that the viral RNA structure can sample a range of conformations while remaining tethered to the ribosome, which enabling the ribosome to find a reinitiation start site within a limited range of mRNA sequence. Evaluating the conserved features and constraints of this entire RNA class in the context of the cryoEM reconstruction provides insight into mechanisms enabling reinitiation, a translation regulation strategy employed by many other viral and eukaryotic systems.
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5
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Manna S, Sontakke VA, Srivatsan SG. Incorporation and Utility of a Responsive Ribonucleoside Analogue in Probing the Conformation of a Viral RNA Motif by Fluorescence and 19 F NMR Spectroscopy. Chembiochem 2021; 23:e202100601. [PMID: 34821449 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202100601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Revised: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Development of versatile probes that can enable the study of different conformations and recognition properties of therapeutic nucleic acid motifs by complementing biophysical techniques can greatly aid nucleic acid analysis and therapy. Here, we report the design, synthesis and incorporation of an environment-sensitive ribonucleoside analogue, which serves as a two-channel biophysical platform to investigate RNA structure and recognition by fluorescence and 19 F NMR spectroscopy techniques. The nucleoside analogue is based on a 5-fluorobenzofuran-uracil core and its fluorescence and 19 F NMR chemical shifts are highly sensitive to changes in solvent polarity and viscosity. Notably, the modified ribonucleotide and phosphoramidite substrates can be efficiently incorporated into RNA oligonucleotides (ONs) by in vitro transcription and standard solid-phase ON synthesis protocol, respectively. Fluorescence and 19 F readouts of the nucleoside incorporated into model RNA ONs are sensitive to the neighbouring base environment. The responsiveness of the probe was aptly utilized in detecting and quantifying the metal ion-induced conformational change in an internal ribosome entry site RNA motif of hepatitis C virus, which is an important therapeutic target. Taken together, our probe is a good addition to the nucleic acid analysis toolbox with the advantage that it can be used to study nucleic acid conformation and recognition simultaneously by two biophysical techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sudeshna Manna
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune, 411008, India
| | - Vyankat A Sontakke
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune, 411008, India
| | - Seergazhi G Srivatsan
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune, 411008, India
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6
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N6-methyladenosine modification of HCV RNA genome regulates cap-independent IRES-mediated translation via YTHDC2 recognition. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2022024118. [PMID: 33649237 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2022024118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections are associated with the risk of progression to fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. The HCV RNA genome is translated by an internal ribosome entry site (IRES)-dependent mechanism. The structure and function of the HCV IRES have been investigated by both biological and biophysical criteria. Recently, the role of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) in cellular RNA and viral transcripts has been intensely investigated. The HCV RNA genome is m6A-methylated, and this modification regulates the viral life cycle. In this study, we investigated the role of m6A modification of the HCV genome in the IRES-dependent translation function by mutating m6A consensus motifs (DRACH) within the IRES element in stem-loop III and IV regions and studied their effect on translation initiation. There are several DRACH motifs within the IRES element. Of these, the DRACH motif at nucleotide (nt) 329-333, located about 7 nt upstream of initiator AUG (iAUG) codon, regulates IRES-mediated translation initiation. Mutational analysis showed that m6A methylation of the adenosine at nt 331 is essential for the IRES-dependent translation. m6A reader protein YTHDC2, containing the RNA helicase domain, recognizes m6A-methylated adenosine at nt 331 and, in concert with the cellular La antigen, supports HCV IRES-dependent translation. The RNA helicase dead YTHDC2 (E332Q) mutant failed to stimulate HCV translation initiation. This report highlights the functional roles of m6A modification and YTHDC2 in the HCV IRES-dependent translation initiation, thus offering alternative therapeutic avenues to interfere with the infectious process.
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7
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Lamper AM, Fleming RH, Ladd KM, Lee ASY. A phosphorylation-regulated eIF3d translation switch mediates cellular adaptation to metabolic stress. Science 2020; 370:853-856. [PMID: 33184215 DOI: 10.1126/science.abb0993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2020] [Revised: 08/20/2020] [Accepted: 09/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Shutoff of global protein synthesis is a conserved response to cellular stresses. This general phenomenon is accompanied by the induction of distinct gene programs tailored to each stress. Although the mechanisms driving repression of general protein synthesis are well characterized, how cells reprogram the translation machinery for selective gene expression remains poorly understood. Here, we found that the noncanonical 5' cap-binding protein eIF3d was activated in response to metabolic stress in human cells. Activation required reduced CK2-mediated phosphorylation near the eIF3d cap-binding pocket. eIF3d controls a gene program enriched in factors important for glucose homeostasis, including members of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway. eIF3d-directed translation adaptation was essential for cell survival during chronic glucose deprivation. Thus, this mechanism of translation reprogramming regulates the cellular response to metabolic stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam M Lamper
- Department of Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02453, USA.
| | | | - Kayla M Ladd
- Department of Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02453, USA
| | - Amy S Y Lee
- Department of Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02453, USA.
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8
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Gupta A, Bansal M. RNA-mediated translation regulation in viral genomes: computational advances in the recognition of sequences and structures. Brief Bioinform 2020; 21:1151-1163. [PMID: 31204430 PMCID: PMC7109810 DOI: 10.1093/bib/bbz054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2018] [Revised: 03/24/2019] [Accepted: 04/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA structures are widely distributed across all life forms. The global conformation of these structures is defined by a variety of constituent structural units such as helices, hairpin loops, kissing-loop motifs and pseudoknots, which often behave in a modular way. Their ubiquitous distribution is associated with a variety of functions in biological processes. The location of these structures in the genomes of RNA viruses is often coordinated with specific processes in the viral life cycle, where the presence of the structure acts as a checkpoint for deciding the eventual fate of the process. These structures have been found to adopt complex conformations and exert their effects by interacting with ribosomes, multiple host translation factors and small RNA molecules like miRNA. A number of such RNA structures have also been shown to regulate translation in viruses at the level of initiation, elongation or termination. The role of various computational studies in the preliminary identification of such sequences and/or structures and subsequent functional analysis has not been fully appreciated. This review aims to summarize the processes in which viral RNA structures have been found to play an active role in translational regulation, their global conformational features and the bioinformatics/computational tools available for the identification and prediction of these structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asmita Gupta
- Molecular Biophysics Unit, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
| | - Manju Bansal
- Molecular Biophysics Unit, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
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9
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Bera A, Lewis SM. Regulation of Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition by Alternative Translation Initiation Mechanisms and Its Implications for Cancer Metastasis. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21114075. [PMID: 32517298 PMCID: PMC7312463 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21114075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Revised: 06/03/2020] [Accepted: 06/05/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Translation initiation plays a critical role in the regulation of gene expression for development and disease conditions. During the processes of development and disease, cells select specific mRNAs to be translated by controlling the use of diverse translation initiation mechanisms. Cells often switch translation initiation from a cap-dependent to a cap-independent mechanism during epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a process that plays an important role in both development and disease. EMT is involved in tumor metastasis because it leads to cancer cell migration and invasion, and is also associated with chemoresistance. In this review we will provide an overview of both the internal ribosome entry site (IRES)-dependent and N6-methyladenosine (m6A)-mediated translation initiation mechanisms and discuss how cap-independent translation enables cells from primary epithelial tumors to achieve a motile mesenchymal-like phenotype, which in turn drives tumor metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amit Bera
- Atlantic Cancer Research Institute, Moncton, NB E1C 8X3, Canada;
| | - Stephen M. Lewis
- Atlantic Cancer Research Institute, Moncton, NB E1C 8X3, Canada;
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Université de Moncton, Moncton, NB E1A 3E9, Canada
- Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-506-869-2892
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10
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Hepatitis C Virus Translation Regulation. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21072328. [PMID: 32230899 PMCID: PMC7178104 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21072328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2020] [Revised: 03/18/2020] [Accepted: 03/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Translation of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA genome is regulated by the internal ribosome entry site (IRES), located in the 5’-untranslated region (5′UTR) and part of the core protein coding sequence, and by the 3′UTR. The 5′UTR has some highly conserved structural regions, while others can assume different conformations. The IRES can bind to the ribosomal 40S subunit with high affinity without any other factors. Nevertheless, IRES activity is modulated by additional cis sequences in the viral genome, including the 3′UTR and the cis-acting replication element (CRE). Canonical translation initiation factors (eIFs) are involved in HCV translation initiation, including eIF3, eIF2, eIF1A, eIF5, and eIF5B. Alternatively, under stress conditions and limited eIF2-Met-tRNAiMet availability, alternative initiation factors such as eIF2D, eIF2A, and eIF5B can substitute for eIF2 to allow HCV translation even when cellular mRNA translation is downregulated. In addition, several IRES trans-acting factors (ITAFs) modulate IRES activity by building large networks of RNA-protein and protein–protein interactions, also connecting 5′- and 3′-ends of the viral RNA. Moreover, some ITAFs can act as RNA chaperones that help to position the viral AUG start codon in the ribosomal 40S subunit entry channel. Finally, the liver-specific microRNA-122 (miR-122) stimulates HCV IRES-dependent translation, most likely by stabilizing a certain structure of the IRES that is required for initiation.
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11
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Romero-López C, Berzal-Herranz A. The Role of the RNA-RNA Interactome in the Hepatitis C Virus Life Cycle. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21041479. [PMID: 32098260 PMCID: PMC7073135 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21041479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2020] [Revised: 02/18/2020] [Accepted: 02/19/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
RNA virus genomes are multifunctional entities endowed with conserved structural elements that control translation, replication and encapsidation, among other processes. The preservation of these structural RNA elements constraints the genomic sequence variability. The hepatitis C virus (HCV) genome is a positive, single-stranded RNA molecule with numerous conserved structural elements that manage different steps during the infection cycle. Their function is ensured by the association of protein factors, but also by the establishment of complex, active, long-range RNA-RNA interaction networks-the so-called HCV RNA interactome. This review describes the RNA genome functions mediated via RNA-RNA contacts, and revisits some canonical ideas regarding the role of functional high-order structures during the HCV infective cycle. By outlining the roles of long-range RNA-RNA interactions from translation to virion budding, and the functional domains involved, this work provides an overview of the HCV genome as a dynamic device that manages the course of viral infection.
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12
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Chakraborty J, Kanungo A, Mahata T, Kumar K, Sharma G, Pal R, Ahammed KS, Patra D, Majhi B, Chakrabarti S, Das S, Dutta S. Quinoxaline derivatives disrupt the base stacking of hepatitis C virus-internal ribosome entry site RNA: reduce translation and replication. Chem Commun (Camb) 2019; 55:14027-14030. [PMID: 31690898 DOI: 10.1039/c9cc06531h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
RNA-biased small molecules with a monoquinoxaline core target the L-shaped structure of subdomain IIa of Hepatitis C virus internal ribosome entry site (IRES) RNA in proximity to the Mg2+ binding site. The binding event leads to the destacking of RNA bases, resulting in the inhibition of IRES-mediated translation and HCV RNA replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeet Chakraborty
- Organic and Medicinal Chemistry Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, 4 Raja S. C. Mullick Road, Kolkata 700032, West Bengal, India.
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13
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Mailliot J, Martin F. Viral internal ribosomal entry sites: four classes for one goal. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. RNA 2018; 9. [PMID: 29193740 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2017] [Revised: 09/19/2017] [Accepted: 10/02/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
To ensure efficient propagation, viruses need to rapidly produce viral proteins after cell entrance. Since viral genomes do not encode any components of the protein biosynthesis machinery, viral proteins must be produced by the host cell. To hi-jack the host cellular translation, viruses use a great variety of distinct strategies. Many single-stranded positive-sensed RNA viruses contain so-called internal ribosome entry sites (IRESs). IRESs are structural RNA motifs that have evolved to specific folds that recruit the host ribosomes on the viral coding sequences in order to synthesize viral proteins. In host canonical translation, recruitment of the translation machinery components is essentially guided by the 5' cap (m7 G) of mRNA. In contrast, IRESs are able to promote efficient ribosome assembly internally and in cap-independent manner. IRESs have been categorized into four classes, based on their length, nucleotide sequence, secondary and tertiary structures, as well as their mode of action. Classes I and II require the assistance of cellular auxiliary factors, the eukaryotic intiation factors (eIF), for efficient ribosome assembly. Class III IRESs require only a subset of eIFs whereas Class IV, which are the more compact, can promote translation without any eIFs. Extensive functional and structural investigations of IRESs over the past decades have allowed a better understanding of their mode of action for viral translation. Because viral translation has a pivotal role in the infectious program, IRESs are therefore attractive targets for therapeutic purposes. WIREs RNA 2018, 9:e1458. doi: 10.1002/wrna.1458 This article is categorized under: Translation > Ribosome Structure/Function Translation > Translation Mechanisms RNA Interactions with Proteins and Other Molecules > RNA-Protein Complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justine Mailliot
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, CNRS UMR7104, INSERM U964, Illkirch-Graffenstaden, France
| | - Franck Martin
- Institut de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, "Architecture et Réactivité de l'ARN" CNRS UPR9002, Université De Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
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14
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Johnson AG, Grosely R, Petrov AN, Puglisi JD. Dynamics of IRES-mediated translation. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2017; 372:rstb.2016.0177. [PMID: 28138065 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2016.0177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Viral internal ribosome entry sites (IRESs) are unique RNA elements, which use stable and dynamic RNA structures to recruit ribosomes and drive protein synthesis. IRESs overcome the high complexity of the canonical eukaryotic translation initiation pathway, often functioning with a limited set of eukaryotic initiation factors. The simplest types of IRESs are typified by the cricket paralysis virus intergenic region (CrPV IGR) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) IRESs, both of which independently form high-affinity complexes with the small (40S) ribosomal subunit and bypass the molecular processes of cap-binding and scanning. Owing to their simplicity and ribosomal affinity, the CrPV and HCV IRES have been important models for structural and functional studies of the eukaryotic ribosome during initiation, serving as excellent targets for recent technological breakthroughs in cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) and single-molecule analysis. High-resolution structural models of ribosome : IRES complexes, coupled with dynamics studies, have clarified decades of biochemical research and provided an outline of the conformational and compositional trajectory of the ribosome during initiation. Here we review recent progress in the study of HCV- and CrPV-type IRESs, highlighting important structural and dynamics insights and the synergy between cryo-EM and single-molecule studies.This article is part of the themed issue 'Perspectives on the ribosome'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex G Johnson
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.,Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Rosslyn Grosely
- Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Alexey N Petrov
- Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Joseph D Puglisi
- Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
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15
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Romero-López C, Berzal-Herranz A. The 5BSL3.2 Functional RNA Domain Connects Distant Regions in the Hepatitis C Virus Genome. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:2093. [PMID: 29163393 PMCID: PMC5671509 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.02093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2017] [Accepted: 10/12/2017] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Viral genomes are complexly folded entities that carry all the information required for the infective cycle. The nucleotide sequence of the RNA virus genome encodes proteins and functional information contained in discrete, highly conserved structural units. These so-called functional RNA domains play essential roles in the progression of infection, which requires their preservation from one generation to the next. Numerous functional RNA domains exist in the genome of the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Among them, the 5BSL3.2 domain in the cis-acting replication element (CRE) at the 3' end of the viral open reading frame has become of particular interest given its role in HCV RNA replication and as a regulator of viral protein synthesis. These functionalities are achieved via the establishment of a complex network of long-distance RNA-RNA contacts involving (at least as known to date) the highly conserved 3'X tail, the apical loop of domain IIId in the internal ribosome entry site, and/or the so-called Alt region upstream of the CRE. Changing contacts promotes the execution of different stages of the viral cycle. The 5BSL3.2 domain thus operates at the core of a system that governs the progression of HCV infection. This review summarizes our knowledge of the long-range RNA-RNA interaction network in the HCV genome, with special attention paid to the structural and functional consequences derived from the establishment of different contacts. The potential implications of such interactions in switching between the different stages of the viral cycle are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Romero-López
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina “López-Neyra”, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (IPBLN-CSIC), Granada, Spain
| | - Alfredo Berzal-Herranz
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina “López-Neyra”, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (IPBLN-CSIC), Granada, Spain
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16
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Lacerda R, Menezes J, Romão L. More than just scanning: the importance of cap-independent mRNA translation initiation for cellular stress response and cancer. Cell Mol Life Sci 2017; 74:1659-1680. [PMID: 27913822 PMCID: PMC11107732 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-016-2428-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2016] [Revised: 11/24/2016] [Accepted: 11/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The scanning model for eukaryotic mRNA translation initiation states that the small ribosomal subunit, along with initiation factors, binds at the cap structure at the 5' end of the mRNA and scans the 5' untranslated region (5'UTR) until an initiation codon is found. However, under conditions that impair canonical cap-dependent translation, the synthesis of some proteins is kept by alternative mechanisms that are required for cell survival and stress recovery. Alternative modes of translation initiation include cap- and/or scanning-independent mechanisms of ribosomal recruitment. In most cap-independent translation initiation events there is a direct recruitment of the 40S ribosome into a position upstream, or directly at, the initiation codon via a specific internal ribosome entry site (IRES) element in the 5'UTR. Yet, in some cellular mRNAs, a different translation initiation mechanism that is neither cap- nor IRES-dependent seems to occur through a special RNA structure called cap-independent translational enhancer (CITE). Recent evidence uncovered a distinct mechanism through which mRNAs containing N 6-methyladenosine (m6A) residues in their 5'UTR directly bind eukaryotic initiation factor 3 (eIF3) and the 40S ribosomal subunit in order to initiate translation in the absence of the cap-binding proteins. This review focuses on the important role of cap-independent translation mechanisms in human cells and how these alternative mechanisms can either act individually or cooperate with other cis-acting RNA regulons to orchestrate specific translational responses triggered upon several cellular stress states, and diseases such as cancer. Elucidation of these non-canonical mechanisms reveals the complexity of translational control and points out their potential as prospective novel therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafaela Lacerda
- Department of Human Genetics, Instituto Nacional de Saúde Doutor Ricardo Jorge, Av. Padre Cruz, 1649-016, Lisbon, Portugal
- Biosystems and Integrative Sciences Institute (BioISI), Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Juliane Menezes
- Department of Human Genetics, Instituto Nacional de Saúde Doutor Ricardo Jorge, Av. Padre Cruz, 1649-016, Lisbon, Portugal
- Biosystems and Integrative Sciences Institute (BioISI), Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Luísa Romão
- Department of Human Genetics, Instituto Nacional de Saúde Doutor Ricardo Jorge, Av. Padre Cruz, 1649-016, Lisbon, Portugal.
- Biosystems and Integrative Sciences Institute (BioISI), Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.
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17
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Floden EW, Khawaja A, Vopálenský V, Pospíšek M. HCVIVdb: The hepatitis-C IRES variation database. BMC Microbiol 2016; 16:187. [PMID: 27527702 PMCID: PMC4986321 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-016-0804-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2016] [Accepted: 08/04/2016] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Sequence variability in the hepatitis C virus (HCV) genome has led to the development and classification of six genotypes and a number of subtypes. The HCV 5′ untranslated region mainly comprises an internal ribosomal entry site (IRES) responsible for cap-independent synthesis of the viral polyprotein and is conserved among all HCV genotypes. Description Considering the possible high impact of variations in HCV IRES on viral protein production and thus virus replication, we decided to collect the available data on known nucleotide variants in the HCV IRES and their impact on IRES function in translation initiation. The HCV IRES variation database (HCVIVdb) is a collection of naturally occurring and engineered mutation entries for the HCV IRES. Each entry contains contextual information pertaining to the entry such as the HCV genotypic background and links to the original publication. Where available, quantitative data on the IRES efficiency in translation have been collated along with details on the reporter system used to generate the data. Data are displayed both in a tabular and graphical formats and allow direct comparison of results from different experiments. Together the data provide a central resource for researchers in the IRES and hepatitis C-oriented fields. Conclusion The collation of over 1900 mutations enables systematic analysis of the HCV IRES. The database is mainly dedicated to detailed comparative and functional analysis of all the HCV IRES domains, which can further lead to the development of site-specific drug designs and provide a guide for future experiments. HCVIVdb is available at http://www.hcvivdb.org. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12866-016-0804-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evan W Floden
- Department of Genetics & Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Viničná 5, 128 44, Prague 2, Czech Republic.,Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Dr. Aiguader 88, Barcelona, Spain.,Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Anas Khawaja
- Department of Genetics & Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Viničná 5, 128 44, Prague 2, Czech Republic
| | - Václav Vopálenský
- Department of Genetics & Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Viničná 5, 128 44, Prague 2, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Pospíšek
- Department of Genetics & Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Viničná 5, 128 44, Prague 2, Czech Republic
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18
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Hao Y, Kieft JS. Three-way junction conformation dictates self-association of phage packaging RNAs. RNA Biol 2016; 13:635-45. [PMID: 27217219 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2016.1190075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The packaging RNA (pRNA) found in the phi29 family of bacteriophage is an essential component of a powerful molecular motor used to package the phage's DNA genome into the capsid. The pRNA forms homomultimers mediated by intermolecular "kissing-loop" interactions, thus it is an example of the unusual phenomenon of a self-associating RNA that can form symmetric higher-order multimers. Previous research showed the pRNAs from phi29 family phages have diverse self-association properties and the kissing-loop interaction is not the sole structural element dictating multimerization. We found that a 3-way junction (3wj) within each pRNA, despite not making direct intermolecular contacts, plays important roles in stabilizing the intermolecular interactions and dictating the size of the multimer formed (dimer, trimer, etc.). Specifically, the 3wj in the pRNA from phage M2 appears to favor a different conformation compared to the 3wj in the phi29 pRNA, and the M2 junction facilitates formation of a higher-order multimer that is more thermostable. This behavior provides insights into the fundamental principles of RNA self-association, and additionally may be useful to engineer fine-tuned properties into pRNAs for nanotechnology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yumeng Hao
- a Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics , University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine , Aurora , CO , USA
| | - Jeffrey S Kieft
- a Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics , University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine , Aurora , CO , USA
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19
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Lozano G, Jimenez-Aparicio R, Herrero S, Martinez-Salas E. Fingerprinting the junctions of RNA structure by an open-paddlewheel diruthenium compound. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2016; 22:330-8. [PMID: 26759454 PMCID: PMC4748811 DOI: 10.1261/rna.054353.115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2015] [Accepted: 12/05/2015] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
RNA function is determined by its structural organization. The RNA structure consists of the combination of distinct secondary structure motifs connected by junctions that play an essential role in RNA folding. Selective 2'-hydroxyl acylation analyzed by primer extension (SHAPE) probing is an established methodology to analyze the secondary structure of long RNA molecules in solution, which provides accurate data about unpaired nucleotides. However, the residues located at the junctions of RNA structures usually remain undetected. Here we report an RNA probing method based on the use of a novel open-paddlewheel diruthenium (OPW-Ru) compound [Ru2Cl2(µ-DPhF)3(DMSO)] (DPhF = N,N'-diphenylformamidinate). This compound has four potential coordination sites in a singular disposition to establish covalent bonds with substrates. As a proof of concept, we have analyzed the reactivity of OPW-Ru toward RNA using two viral internal ribosome entry site (IRES) elements whose function depends on the structural organization of the molecule. Our study suggests that the compound OPW-Ru preferentially attacks at positions located one or two nucleotides away from junctions or bulges of the RNA structure. The OPW-Ru fingerprinting data differ from that obtained by other chemical reagents and provides new information about RNA structure features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gloria Lozano
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, CSIC-UAM, Madrid 28049, Spain
| | - Reyes Jimenez-Aparicio
- Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid 28040, Spain
| | - Santiago Herrero
- Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid 28040, Spain
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20
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The Coding Region of the HCV Genome Contains a Network of Regulatory RNA Structures. Mol Cell 2016; 62:111-20. [PMID: 26924328 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2016.01.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2015] [Revised: 12/22/2015] [Accepted: 01/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
RNA is a versatile macromolecule that accommodates functional information in primary sequence and secondary and tertiary structure. We use a combination of chemical probing, RNA structure modeling, comparative sequence analysis, and functional assays to examine the role of RNA structure in the hepatitis C virus (HCV) genome. We describe a set of conserved but functionally diverse structural RNA motifs that occur in multiple coding regions of the HCV genome, and we demonstrate that conformational changes in these motifs influence specific stages in the virus' life cycle. Our study shows that these types of structures can pervade a genome, where they play specific mechanistic and regulatory roles, constituting a "code within the code" for controlling biological processes.
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21
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Thakor N, Smith MD, Roberts L, Faye MD, Patel H, Wieden HJ, Cate JHD, Holcik M. Cellular mRNA recruits the ribosome via eIF3-PABP bridge to initiate internal translation. RNA Biol 2016; 14:553-567. [PMID: 26828225 PMCID: PMC5449081 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2015.1137419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
IRES-mediated translation of key cell fate regulating genes has been implicated in tumorigenesis. Concerted action of canonical eukaryotic initiation factors and IRES transacting factors (ITAFs) was shown to regulate cellular IRES mediated translation; however, the precise molecular mechanism of ribosome recruitment to cellular IRESes remains unclear. Here we show that the X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis (XIAP) IRES operates in an evolutionary conserved viral like mode and the structural integrity, particularly in the vicinity of AUG, is critical for ribosome recruitment. The binding of eIF3 together with PABP potentiates ribosome recruitment to the IRES. Our data support the model in which eIF3 binds directly to the XIAP IRES RNA in a structure-dependent manner and acts as a scaffold for IRES RNA, PABP and the 40S ribosome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nehal Thakor
- a Apoptosis Research Center , Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute , Ottawa , Ontario , Canada.,c Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry , Alberta RNA Research and Training Institute, University of Lethbridge , Lethbridge , AB , Canada
| | - M Duane Smith
- d Department of Molecular and Cell Biology , University of California , Berkeley , CA , USA
| | - Luc Roberts
- c Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry , Alberta RNA Research and Training Institute, University of Lethbridge , Lethbridge , AB , Canada
| | - Mame Daro Faye
- a Apoptosis Research Center , Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute , Ottawa , Ontario , Canada
| | - Harshil Patel
- c Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry , Alberta RNA Research and Training Institute, University of Lethbridge , Lethbridge , AB , Canada
| | - Hans-Joachim Wieden
- c Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry , Alberta RNA Research and Training Institute, University of Lethbridge , Lethbridge , AB , Canada
| | - Jamie H D Cate
- d Department of Molecular and Cell Biology , University of California , Berkeley , CA , USA
| | - Martin Holcik
- a Apoptosis Research Center , Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute , Ottawa , Ontario , Canada.,b Department of Pediatrics , University of Ottawa , Ottawa , Ontario , Canada
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22
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RNA–protein interaction methods to study viral IRES elements. Methods 2015; 91:3-12. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2015.06.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2015] [Revised: 06/25/2015] [Accepted: 06/30/2015] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
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23
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Angulo J, Ulryck N, Deforges J, Chamond N, Lopez-Lastra M, Masquida B, Sargueil B. LOOP IIId of the HCV IRES is essential for the structural rearrangement of the 40S-HCV IRES complex. Nucleic Acids Res 2015; 44:1309-25. [PMID: 26626152 PMCID: PMC4756818 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkv1325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2015] [Accepted: 11/11/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
As obligatory intracellular parasites, viruses rely on cellular machines to complete their life cycle, and most importantly they recruit the host ribosomes to translate their mRNA. The Hepatitis C viral mRNA initiates translation by directly binding the 40S ribosomal subunit in such a way that the initiation codon is correctly positioned in the P site of the ribosome. Such a property is likely to be central for many viruses, therefore the description of host-pathogen interaction at the molecular level is instrumental to provide new therapeutic targets. In this study, we monitored the 40S ribosomal subunit and the viral RNA structural rearrangement induced upon the formation of the binary complex. We further took advantage of an IRES viral mutant mRNA deficient for translation to identify the interactions necessary to promote translation. Using a combination of structure probing in solution and molecular modeling we establish a whole atom model which appears to be very similar to the one obtained recently by cryoEM. Our model brings new information on the complex, and most importantly reveals some structural rearrangement within the ribosome. This study suggests that the formation of a ‘kissing complex’ between the viral RNA and the 18S ribosomal RNA locks the 40S ribosomal subunit in a conformation proficient for translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenniffer Angulo
- CNRS UMR 8015, Laboratoire de cristallographie et RMN Biologiques, Université Paris Descartes, 4 avenue de l'Observatoire, 75270 Paris Cedex 06, France Laboratorio de Virología Molecular, Instituto Milenio de Inmunología e Inmunoterapia, Centro de Investigaciones Médicas, Escuela de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Marcoleta 391, Santiago, Chile
| | - Nathalie Ulryck
- CNRS UMR 8015, Laboratoire de cristallographie et RMN Biologiques, Université Paris Descartes, 4 avenue de l'Observatoire, 75270 Paris Cedex 06, France
| | - Jules Deforges
- CNRS UMR 8015, Laboratoire de cristallographie et RMN Biologiques, Université Paris Descartes, 4 avenue de l'Observatoire, 75270 Paris Cedex 06, France
| | - Nathalie Chamond
- CNRS UMR 8015, Laboratoire de cristallographie et RMN Biologiques, Université Paris Descartes, 4 avenue de l'Observatoire, 75270 Paris Cedex 06, France
| | - Marcelo Lopez-Lastra
- Laboratorio de Virología Molecular, Instituto Milenio de Inmunología e Inmunoterapia, Centro de Investigaciones Médicas, Escuela de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Marcoleta 391, Santiago, Chile
| | - Benoît Masquida
- UMR 7156 Génétique Moléculaire Génomique Microbiologie, CNRS - Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Bruno Sargueil
- CNRS UMR 8015, Laboratoire de cristallographie et RMN Biologiques, Université Paris Descartes, 4 avenue de l'Observatoire, 75270 Paris Cedex 06, France
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24
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Yamamoto H, Collier M, Loerke J, Ismer J, Schmidt A, Hilal T, Sprink T, Yamamoto K, Mielke T, Bürger J, Shaikh TR, Dabrowski M, Hildebrand PW, Scheerer P, Spahn CMT. Molecular architecture of the ribosome-bound Hepatitis C Virus internal ribosomal entry site RNA. EMBO J 2015; 34:3042-58. [PMID: 26604301 DOI: 10.15252/embj.201592469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2015] [Accepted: 10/29/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Internal ribosomal entry sites (IRESs) are structured cis-acting RNAs that drive an alternative, cap-independent translation initiation pathway. They are used by many viruses to hijack the translational machinery of the host cell. IRESs facilitate translation initiation by recruiting and actively manipulating the eukaryotic ribosome using only a subset of canonical initiation factor and IRES transacting factors. Here we present cryo-EM reconstructions of the ribosome 80S- and 40S-bound Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) IRES. The presence of four subpopulations for the 80S•HCV IRES complex reveals dynamic conformational modes of the complex. At a global resolution of 3.9 Å for the most stable complex, a derived atomic model reveals a complex fold of the IRES RNA and molecular details of its interaction with the ribosome. The comparison of obtained structures explains how a modular architecture facilitates mRNA loading and tRNA binding to the P-site. This information provides the structural foundation for understanding the mechanism of HCV IRES RNA-driven translation initiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroshi Yamamoto
- Institut für Medizinische Physik und Biophysik, Charité - Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Marianne Collier
- Institut für Medizinische Physik und Biophysik, Charité - Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Justus Loerke
- Institut für Medizinische Physik und Biophysik, Charité - Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jochen Ismer
- Institut für Medizinische Physik und Biophysik, Charité - Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Andrea Schmidt
- Institut für Medizinische Physik und Biophysik, Charité - Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Tarek Hilal
- Institut für Medizinische Physik und Biophysik, Charité - Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Thiemo Sprink
- Institut für Medizinische Physik und Biophysik, Charité - Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Kaori Yamamoto
- Institut für Medizinische Physik und Biophysik, Charité - Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Thorsten Mielke
- Institut für Medizinische Physik und Biophysik, Charité - Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany UltraStrukturNetzwerk, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jörg Bürger
- Institut für Medizinische Physik und Biophysik, Charité - Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany UltraStrukturNetzwerk, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Tanvir R Shaikh
- Structural Biology Programme, CEITEC, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Marylena Dabrowski
- Institut für Medizinische Physik und Biophysik, Charité - Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Peter W Hildebrand
- Institut für Medizinische Physik und Biophysik, Charité - Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Patrick Scheerer
- Institut für Medizinische Physik und Biophysik, Charité - Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christian M T Spahn
- Institut für Medizinische Physik und Biophysik, Charité - Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
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25
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Ruehle MD, Zhang H, Sheridan RM, Mitra S, Chen Y, Gonzalez RL, Cooperman BS, Kieft JS. A dynamic RNA loop in an IRES affects multiple steps of elongation factor-mediated translation initiation. eLife 2015; 4. [PMID: 26523395 PMCID: PMC4709265 DOI: 10.7554/elife.08146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2015] [Accepted: 11/01/2015] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Internal ribosome entry sites (IRESs) are powerful model systems to understand how the translation machinery can be manipulated by structured RNAs and for exploring inherent features of ribosome function. The intergenic region (IGR) IRESs from the Dicistroviridae family of viruses are structured RNAs that bind directly to the ribosome and initiate translation by co-opting the translation elongation cycle. These IRESs require an RNA pseudoknot that mimics a codon-anticodon interaction and contains a conformationally dynamic loop. We explored the role of this loop and found that both the length and sequence are essential for translation in different types of IGR IRESs and from diverse viruses. We found that loop 3 affects two discrete elongation factor-dependent steps in the IRES initiation mechanism. Our results show how the IRES directs multiple steps after 80S ribosome placement and highlights the often underappreciated significance of discrete conformationally dynamic elements within the context of structured RNAs. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.08146.001 Many viruses store their genetic information in the form of strands of ribonucleic acid (RNA), which contain building blocks called nucleotides. Once inside an infected cell, the virus hijacks the cellular structures that build proteins (called ribosomes), which forces the cell to start making viral proteins. Many RNA viruses manipulate the cell’s ribosomes using RNA elements called Internal Ribosome Entry Sites, or IRESs. In a family of viruses called Dicistroviridae, which infect a number of insects, a section of the IRES RNA binds directly to the ribosome. Proteins called elongation factors then trigger a series of events that lead to the cell starting to make the viral proteins. By mutating the RNA of many different Dicistroviridae viruses that infect a variety of invertebrates, Ruehle et al. have now investigated how a particular loop in the structure of the IRES helps to make cells build the viral proteins. This loop is flexible, and interacts with the ribosome to enable the IRES to move through the ribosome. Mutations that shorten the loop or alter the sequence of nucleotides in the loop prevent the occurrence of two of the steps that need to occur for the cell to make viral proteins. Both of these steps depend on elongation factors. Determining how the entire IRES might change shape as it moves through the ribosome is an important next step, since the ribosome is exquisitely sensitive to the shape and motions of its binding partners. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.08146.002
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Affiliation(s)
- Marisa D Ruehle
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, Aurora, United States
| | - Haibo Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Ryan M Sheridan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, Aurora, United States
| | - Somdeb Mitra
- Department of Chemistry, Columbia University, New York, United States
| | - Yuanwei Chen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Ruben L Gonzalez
- Department of Chemistry, Columbia University, New York, United States
| | - Barry S Cooperman
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Jeffrey S Kieft
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, Aurora, United States.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, Aurora, United States
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26
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Mauro VP, Matsuda D. Translation regulation by ribosomes: Increased complexity and expanded scope. RNA Biol 2015; 13:748-55. [PMID: 26513496 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2015.1107701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The primary function of ribosomes is to decode mRNAs into polypeptide chains; however, this description is overly simplistic. Accumulating evidence shows that ribosomes themselves can affect the relative efficiency with which various mRNAs are translated and indicates that these effects can be modulated by ribosome heterogeneity. The notion that ribosomes have regulatory capabilities was elaborated more than a decade ago in the ribosome filter hypothesis. Various lines of evidence support this idea and have shown that the translation of some mRNAs is affected by discrete binding interactions with rRNA or ribosomal proteins. Recent work from our laboratory has demonstrated that base-pairing of the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) internal ribosome entry site (IRES) to 18S rRNA is required for IRES function, but only in the context of more complex ribosomal interactions. The HCV IRES provides an example of the ribosome filter that involves multiple binding interactions between mRNAs and ribosomal subunits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent P Mauro
- a Promosome, LLC , San Diego , CA , USA.,b The Scripps Research Institute , La Jolla , CA , USA
| | - Daiki Matsuda
- b The Scripps Research Institute , La Jolla , CA , USA
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27
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Conformational flexibility of viral RNA switches studied by FRET. Methods 2015; 91:35-39. [PMID: 26381686 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2015.09.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2015] [Revised: 09/10/2015] [Accepted: 09/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The function of RNA switches involved in the regulation of transcription and translation relies on their ability to adopt different, structurally well-defined states. A new class of ligand-responsive RNA switches, which we recently discovered in positive strand RNA viruses, are distinct from conventional riboswitches. The viral switches undergo large conformational changes in response to ligand binding while retaining the same secondary structure in their free and ligand-bound forms. Here, we describe FRET experiments to study folding and ligand binding of the viral RNA switches. In addition to reviewing previous approaches involving RNA model constructs which were directly conjugated with fluorescent dyes, we outline the design and application of new modular constructs for FRET experiments, in which dye labeling is achieved by hybridization of a core RNA switch module with universal DNA fluorescent probes. As an example, folding and ligand binding of the RNA switch from the internal ribosome entry site of hepatitis C virus is studied comparatively with conventional and modular FRET constructs.
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Joseph AP, Bhat P, Das S, Srinivasan N. Re-analysis of cryoEM data on HCV IRES bound to 40S subunit of human ribosome integrated with recent structural information suggests new contact regions between ribosomal proteins and HCV RNA. RNA Biol 2015; 11:891-905. [PMID: 25268799 DOI: 10.4161/rna.29545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
In this study, we combine available high resolution structural information on eukaryotic ribosomes with low resolution cryo-EM data on the Hepatitis C Viral RNA (IRES) human ribosome complex. Aided further by the prediction of RNA-protein interactions and restrained docking studies, we gain insights on their interaction at the residue level. We identified the components involved at the major and minor contact regions, and propose that there are energetically favorable local interactions between 40S ribosomal proteins and IRES domains. Domain II of the IRES interacts with ribosomal proteins S5 and S25 while the pseudoknot and the downstream domain IV region bind to ribosomal proteins S26, S28 and S5. We also provide support using UV cross-linking studies to validate our proposition of interaction between the S5 and IRES domains II and IV. We found that domain IIIe makes contact with the ribosomal protein S3a (S1e). Our model also suggests that the ribosomal protein S27 interacts with domain IIIc while S7 has a weak contact with a single base RNA bulge between junction IIIabc and IIId. The interacting residues are highly conserved among mammalian homologs while IRES RNA bases involved in contact do not show strict conservation. IRES RNA binding sites for S25 and S3a show the best conservation among related viral IRESs. The new contacts identified between ribosomal proteins and RNA are consistent with previous independent studies on RNA-binding properties of ribosomal proteins reported in literature, though information at the residue level is not available in previous studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnel Praveen Joseph
- Molecular Biophysics Unit. Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India; Present address: Science and Technology Facilities Council, RAL, Harwell, Didcot, UK
| | - Prasanna Bhat
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
| | - Saumitra Das
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
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Nawtaisong P, Fraser ME, Carter JR, Fraser MJ. Trans-splicing group I intron targeting hepatitis C virus IRES mediates cell death upon viral infection in Huh7.5 cells. Virology 2015; 481:223-34. [PMID: 25840398 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2015.02.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2014] [Revised: 11/25/2014] [Accepted: 02/09/2015] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
The HCV-IRES sequence is vital for both protein translation and genome replication and serves as a potential target for anti-HCV therapy. We constructed a series of anti-HCV group I introns (αHCV-GrpIs) to attack conserved target sites within the HCV IRES. These αHCV-GrpIs were designed to mediate a trans-splicing reaction that replaces the viral RNA genome downstream of the 5' splice site with a 3' exon that encodes an apoptosis-inducing gene. Pro-active forms of the apoptosis inducing genes BID, Caspase 3, Caspase 8, or tBax were modified by incorporation of the HCV NS5A/5B cleavage sequence in place of their respective endogenous cleavage sites to ensure that only HCV infected cells would undergo apoptosis following splicing and expression. Huh7.5 cells transfected with each intron were challenged at MOI 0.1 with HCV-Jc1FLAG2 which expresses a Gaussia Luciferase (GLuc) marker. Virus-containing supernatants were then assayed for GLuc expression as a measure of viral replication inhibition. Cellular extracts were analyzed for the presence of correct splice products by RT-PCR and DNA sequencing. We also measured levels of Caspase 3 activity as a means of quantifying apoptotic cell death. Each of these αHCV-GrpI introns was able to correctly splice their 3' apoptotic exons onto the virus RNA genome at the targeted Uracil, and resulted in greater than 80% suppression of the GLuc marker. A more pronounced suppression effect was observed with TCID₅₀ virus titrations, which demonstrated that these αHCV-GrpIs were able to suppress viral replication by more than 2 logs, or greater than 99%. Robust activation of the apoptotic factor within the challenged cells was evidenced by a significant increase of Caspase 3 activity upon viral infection compared to non-challenged cells. This novel genetic intervention tool may prove beneficial in certain HCV subjects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pruksa Nawtaisong
- Department of Biological Sciences, Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, United States
| | - Mark E Fraser
- Department of Biological Sciences, Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, United States
| | - James R Carter
- Department of Biological Sciences, Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, United States
| | - Malcolm J Fraser
- Department of Biological Sciences, Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, United States.
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Sharma SD, Kraft JJ, Miller WA, Goss DJ. Recruitment of the 40S ribosome subunit to the 3'-untranslated region (UTR) of a viral mRNA, via the eIF4 complex, facilitates cap-independent translation. J Biol Chem 2015; 290:11268-81. [PMID: 25792742 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m115.645002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2015] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Barley yellow dwarf virus mRNA, which lacks both cap and poly(A) tail, has a translation element (3'-BTE) in its 3'-UTR essential for efficient translation initiation at the 5'-proximal AUG. This mechanism requires eukaryotic initiation factor 4G (eIF4G), subunit of heterodimer eIF4F (plant eIF4F lacks eIF4A), and 3'-BTE-5'-UTR interaction. Using fluorescence anisotropy, SHAPE (selective 2'-hydroxyl acylation analyzed by primer extension) analysis, and toeprinting, we found that (i) 40S subunits bind to BTE (Kd = 350 ± 30 nm), (ii) the helicase complex eIF4F-eIF4A-eIF4B-ATP increases 40S subunit binding (Kd = 120 ± 10 nm) to the conserved stem-loop I of the 3'-BTE by exposing more unpaired bases, and (iii) long distance base pairing transfers this complex to the 5'-end of the mRNA, where translation initiates. Although 3'-5' interactions have been recognized as important in mRNA translation, barley yellow dwarf virus employs a novel mechanism utilizing the 3'-UTR as the primary site of ribosome recruitment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sohani Das Sharma
- From the Department of Chemistry, Hunter College and the Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, New York 10065 and
| | | | - W Allen Miller
- the Departments of Plant Pathology and Microbiology and Biochemistry, Biophysics, Molecular Biology, and Microbiology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011
| | - Dixie J Goss
- From the Department of Chemistry, Hunter College and the Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, New York 10065 and
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31
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Sagan SM, Chahal J, Sarnow P. cis-Acting RNA elements in the hepatitis C virus RNA genome. Virus Res 2015; 206:90-8. [PMID: 25576644 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2014.12.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2014] [Revised: 12/12/2014] [Accepted: 12/24/2014] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a rapidly increasing global health problem with an estimated 170 million people infected worldwide. HCV is a hepatotropic, positive-sense RNA virus of the family Flaviviridae. As a positive-sense RNA virus, the HCV genome itself must serve as a template for translation, replication and packaging. The viral RNA must therefore be a dynamic structure that is able to readily accommodate structural changes to expose different regions of the genome to viral and cellular proteins to carry out the HCV life cycle. The ∼ 9600 nucleotide viral genome contains a single long open reading frame flanked by 5' and 3' non-coding regions that contain cis-acting RNA elements important for viral translation, replication and stability. Additional cis-acting RNA elements have also been identified in the coding sequences as well as in the 3' end of the negative-strand replicative intermediate. Herein, we provide an overview of the importance of these cis-acting RNA elements in the HCV life cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Selena M Sagan
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Jasmin Chahal
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Peter Sarnow
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States.
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García-Sacristán A, Moreno M, Ariza-Mateos A, López-Camacho E, Jáudenes RM, Vázquez L, Gómez J, Martín-Gago JÁ, Briones C. A magnesium-induced RNA conformational switch at the internal ribosome entry site of hepatitis C virus genome visualized by atomic force microscopy. Nucleic Acids Res 2014; 43:565-80. [PMID: 25510496 PMCID: PMC4288189 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gku1299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The 5' untranslated region of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genomic RNA contains an internal ribosome entry site (IRES) element, composed of domains II-IV, which is required for cap-independent translation initiation. Little information on the 3D structure of the whole functional HCV IRES is still available. Here, we use atomic force microscopy to visualize the HCV IRES conformation in its natural sequence context, which includes the upstream domain I and the essential, downstream domains V and VI. The 574 nt-long molecule analyzed underwent an unexpected, Mg(2+)-induced switch between two alternative conformations: from 'open', elongated morphologies at 0-2 mM Mg(2+) concentration to a 'closed', comma-shaped conformation at 4-6 mM Mg(2+). This sharp transition, confirmed by gel-shift analysis and partial RNase T1 cleavage, was hindered by the microRNA miR-122. The comma-shaped IRES-574 molecules visualized at 4-6 mM Mg(2+) in the absence of miR-122 showed two arms. Our data support that the first arm would contain domain III, while the second one would be composed of domains (I-II)+(V-VI) thanks to a long-range RNA interaction between the I-II spacer and the basal region of domain VI. This reinforces the previously described structural continuity between the HCV IRES and its flanking domains I, V and VI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana García-Sacristán
- Department of Molecular Evolution, Centro de Astrobiología (CSIC-INTA), Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid 28850, Spain Centro de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas, (CIBERehd), Spain
| | - Miguel Moreno
- Department of Molecular Evolution, Centro de Astrobiología (CSIC-INTA), Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid 28850, Spain
| | - Ascensión Ariza-Mateos
- Centro de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas, (CIBERehd), Spain Laboratory of RNA Archaeology, Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina 'López-Neyra' (CSIC), Parque Tecnológico Ciencias de la Salud, Armilla, Granada 18016, Spain
| | - Elena López-Camacho
- Department of Molecular Evolution, Centro de Astrobiología (CSIC-INTA), Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid 28850, Spain Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid (CSIC), Cantoblanco, Madrid 28049, Spain
| | - Rosa M Jáudenes
- Department of Molecular Evolution, Centro de Astrobiología (CSIC-INTA), Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid 28850, Spain
| | - Luis Vázquez
- Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid (CSIC), Cantoblanco, Madrid 28049, Spain
| | - Jordi Gómez
- Centro de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas, (CIBERehd), Spain Laboratory of RNA Archaeology, Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina 'López-Neyra' (CSIC), Parque Tecnológico Ciencias de la Salud, Armilla, Granada 18016, Spain
| | - José Ángel Martín-Gago
- Department of Molecular Evolution, Centro de Astrobiología (CSIC-INTA), Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid 28850, Spain Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid (CSIC), Cantoblanco, Madrid 28049, Spain
| | - Carlos Briones
- Department of Molecular Evolution, Centro de Astrobiología (CSIC-INTA), Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid 28850, Spain Centro de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas, (CIBERehd), Spain
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Cantara WA, Olson ED, Musier-Forsyth K. Progress and outlook in structural biology of large viral RNAs. Virus Res 2014; 193:24-38. [PMID: 24956407 PMCID: PMC4252365 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2014.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2014] [Revised: 06/11/2014] [Accepted: 06/12/2014] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
The field of viral molecular biology has reached a precipice for which pioneering studies on the structure of viral RNAs are beginning to bridge the gap. It has become clear that viral genomic RNAs are not simply carriers of hereditary information, but rather are active players in many critical stages during replication. Indeed, functions such as cap-independent translation initiation mechanisms are, in some cases, primarily driven by RNA structural determinants. Other stages including reverse transcription initiation in retroviruses, nuclear export and viral packaging are specifically dependent on the proper 3-dimensional folding of multiple RNA domains to recruit necessary viral and host factors required for activity. Furthermore, a large-scale conformational change within the 5'-untranslated region of HIV-1 has been proposed to regulate the temporal switch between viral protein synthesis and packaging. These RNA-dependent functions are necessary for replication of many human disease-causing viruses such as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-associated coronavirus, West Nile virus, and HIV-1. The potential for antiviral development is currently hindered by a poor understanding of RNA-driven molecular mechanisms, resulting from a lack of structural information on large RNAs and ribonucleoprotein complexes. Herein, we describe the recent progress that has been made on characterizing these large RNAs and provide brief descriptions of the techniques that will be at the forefront of future advances. Ongoing and future work will contribute to a more complete understanding of the lifecycles of retroviruses and RNA viruses and potentially lead to novel antiviral strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Karin Musier-Forsyth
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Center for Retrovirus Research, Center for RNA Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, United States
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Boerneke MA, Dibrov SM, Gu J, Wyles DL, Hermann T. Functional conservation despite structural divergence in ligand-responsive RNA switches. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2014; 111:15952-7. [PMID: 25349403 PMCID: PMC4234586 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1414678111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
An internal ribosome entry site (IRES) initiates protein synthesis in RNA viruses, including the hepatitis C virus (HCV). We have discovered ligand-responsive conformational switches in viral IRES elements. Modular RNA motifs of greatly distinct sequence and local secondary structure have been found to serve as functionally conserved switches involved in viral IRES-driven translation and may be captured by identical cognate ligands. The RNA motifs described here constitute a new paradigm for ligand-captured switches that differ from metabolite-sensing riboswitches with regard to their small size, as well as the intrinsic stability and structural definition of the constitutive conformational states. These viral RNA modules represent the simplest form of ligand-responsive mechanical switches in nucleic acids.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jing Gu
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
| | - David L Wyles
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, and
| | - Thomas Hermann
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Center for Drug Discovery Innovation, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093
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35
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Structural studies of a double-stranded RNA from trypanosome RNA editing by small-angle X-ray scattering. Methods Mol Biol 2014; 1240:165-89. [PMID: 25352145 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-1896-6_13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/21/2023]
Abstract
We used small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) to evaluate the solution structure of a double-stranded RNA with 32 base pairs. We wanted to compare the solution structure to the crystal structure to assess the impact of the crystal lattice on the overall conformation of the RNA. The RNA was designed to self-anneal and form a head-to-head fusion of two identical mRNA/oligo(U) tail domains (the U-helix) from a trypanosome RNA editing substrate formed by the annealing of a guide RNA to a pre-edited mRNA. This substrate is from the U insertion/deletion RNA editing system of trypanosomes. Each strand in the fusion RNA had 16 purines from the pre-mRNA followed by 16 uracils (Us) from the U-tail at the 3' end of the guide RNA. The strands were designed to form a double helix with blunt ends, but each strand had the potential to form hairpins and single-stranded RNA helices. Hairpins could form by the 3' oligouridylate tract folding back to hybridize with the 5' oligopurine tract and forming an intervening loop. Single-stranded helices could form by the stacking of bases in the polypurine tract. Some of the 16 Us 3' to the polypurine tract may have been unstacked and in random coils. Our SAXS studies showed that the RNA formed a mix of single-stranded structures in the absence of MgCl2. In the presence of MgCl2 at concentrations similar to those in the crystal, the solution structure was consistent with the double-stranded, blunt-ended structure, in agreement with the crystal structure. Here we describe the preparation of RNA samples, data collection with an in-house SAXS instrument designed for biological samples, and the processing and modeling of the scattering data.
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Khawaja A, Vopalensky V, Pospisek M. Understanding the potential of hepatitis C virus internal ribosome entry site domains to modulate translation initiation via their structure and function. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-RNA 2014; 6:211-24. [PMID: 25352252 PMCID: PMC4361049 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2014] [Revised: 08/31/2014] [Accepted: 09/02/2014] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Translation initiation in the hepatitis C virus (HCV) occurs through a cap-independent mechanism that involves an internal ribosome entry site (IRES) capable of interacting with and utilizing the eukaryotic translational machinery. In this review, we focus on the structural configuration of the different HCV IRES domains and the impact of IRES primary sequence variations on secondary structure conservation and function. In some cases, multiple mutations, even those scattered across different domains, led to restoration of the translational activity of the HCV IRES, although the individual occurrences of these mutations were found to be deleterious. We propose that such observation may be attributed to probable long-range inter- and/or intra-domain functional interactions. The precise functioning of the HCV IRES requires the specific interaction of its domains with ribosomal subunits and a subset of eukaryotic translation initiation factors (eIFs). The structural conformation, sequence preservation and variability, and translational machinery association with the HCV IRES regions are also thoroughly discussed, along with other factors that can affect and influence the formation of translation initiation complexes. WIREs RNA 2015, 6:211–224. doi: 10.1002/wrna.1268
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Affiliation(s)
- Anas Khawaja
- Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Prague 2, Czech Republic
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Base pairing between hepatitis C virus RNA and 18S rRNA is required for IRES-dependent translation initiation in vivo. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2014; 111:15385-9. [PMID: 25313046 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1413472111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Degeneracy in eukaryotic translation initiation is evident in the initiation strategies of various viruses. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) provides an exceptional example--translation of the HCV RNA is facilitated by an internal ribosome entry site (IRES) that can autonomously bind a 40S ribosomal subunit and accurately position it at the initiation codon. This binding involves both ribosomal protein and 18S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) interactions. In this study, we evaluate the functional significance of the rRNA interaction and show that HCV IRES activity requires a 3-nt Watson-Crick base-pairing interaction between the apical loop of subdomain IIId in the IRES and helix 26 in 18S rRNA. Mutations of these nucleotides in either RNA dramatically disrupted IRES activity. The activities of the mutated HCV IRESs could be restored by compensatory mutations in the 18S rRNA. The effects of the 18S rRNA mutations appeared to be specific inasmuch as ribosomes containing these mutations did not support translation mediated by the wild-type HCV IRES, but did not block translation mediated by the cap structure or other viral IRESs. The present study provides, to our knowledge, the first functional demonstration of mRNA-rRNA base pairing in mammalian cells. By contrast with other rRNA-binding sites in mRNAs that can enhance translation as independent elements, e.g., the Shine-Dalgarno sequence in prokaryotes, the rRNA-binding site in the HCV IRES functions as an essential component of a more complex interaction.
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Branilović MG, Tomić S. Computational study of the structural plasticity and the ligand binding affinity of the IRES subdomain IIa. MOLECULAR BIOSYSTEMS 2014; 10:3272-9. [PMID: 25308715 DOI: 10.1039/c4mb00469h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
The internal ribosome entry site (IRES) of hepatitis C virus (HCV) drives noncanonical initiation of protein synthesis necessary for viral replication. In order to fulfil its role in HCV translation initiation its subdomain IIa should adopt an L-shaped conformation. However, according to the present knowledge, the bent topology of IIa would prevent the progression of the ribosome from initiation to productive translation. In order to be released from the ribosome, IIa should transform from the bended to an extended form. With the purpose to study the plasticity and stability of the IRES subdomain IIa we performed detailed molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of the ligand free RNA and its (native and mutated) complexes with the potential HCV inhibitors. We have shown that upon ligand removal conformation of the IIa subdomain changed from an extended into an L-shaped one during several tens of ns. Differently, binding of the benzimidazole translation inhibitors locked IIa in the extended conformation. On the other hand, the newly discovered translation inhibitor diaminopiperidine (DAP), in agreement with the experimentally based assumptions, stabilized IIa RNA in the bent conformation during MD simulations. Apparently the efficient locking of subdomain IIa in one form is one of the requirements the HCV RNA targeting drugs should fulfil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Grabar Branilović
- Laboratory for Chemical and Biological Crystallography, Division of Physical Chemistry, Ruđer Bošković Institute, HR 10002 Zagreb, P.O.B. 180, Croatia.
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Measurement of the change in twist at a helical junction in RNA using the orientation dependence of FRET. Biophys J 2014; 105:2175-81. [PMID: 24209863 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2013.09.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2013] [Revised: 09/04/2013] [Accepted: 09/23/2013] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Indocarbocyanine fluorophores attached via the 5' terminus of double-stranded nucleic acids have a strong propensity to stack onto the terminal basepair. We previously demonstrated that the efficiency of fluorescence resonance energy transfer between cyanine 3 and 5 terminally attached to duplex species exhibits a pronounced modulation with helix length. This results from a systematic variation in the orientation parameter κ(2) as the relative rotation of the fluorophore transition moments changes due to the helical geometry. Analysis of such profiles provides a rich source of orientational information. In this work, we applied this methodology to the structure of a three-way helical junction that plays an important role in the hepatitis C virus internal ribosome entry site. By comparing matched pairs of duplex and junction species, we were able to measure the change in rotation at the junction. The data reveal a 29.5° overwinding and a small axial extension. This shows the power of this approach for measuring orientational information in biologically important RNA junctions.
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Romero-López C, Berzal-Herranz A. Structure-function relationship in viral RNA genomes: The case of hepatitis C virus. World J Med Genet 2014; 4:6-18. [DOI: 10.5496/wjmg.v4.i2.6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2013] [Revised: 01/23/2014] [Accepted: 04/03/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The acquisition of a storage information system beyond the nucleotide sequence has been a crucial issue for the propagation and dispersion of RNA viruses. This system is composed by highly conserved, complex structural units in the genomic RNA, termed functional RNA domains. These elements interact with other regions of the viral genome and/or proteins to direct viral translation, replication and encapsidation. The genomic RNA of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a good model for investigating about conserved structural units. It contains functional domains, defined by highly conserved structural RNA motifs, mostly located in the 5’-untranslatable regions (5’UTRs) and 3’UTR, but also occupying long stretches of the coding sequence. Viral translation initiation is mediated by an internal ribosome entry site located at the 5’ terminus of the viral genome and regulated by distal functional RNA domains placed at the 3’ end. Subsequent RNA replication strongly depends on the 3’UTR folding and is also influenced by the 5’ end of the HCV RNA. Further increase in the genome copy number unleashes the formation of homodimers by direct interaction of two genomic RNA molecules, which are finally packed and released to the extracellular medium. All these processes, as well as transitions between them, are controlled by structural RNA elements that establish a complex, direct and long-distance RNA-RNA interaction network. This review summarizes current knowledge about functional RNA domains within the HCV RNA genome and provides an overview of the control exerted by direct, long-range RNA-RNA contacts for the execution of the viral cycle.
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Chan SW. Establishment of chronic hepatitis C virus infection: Translational evasion of oxidative defence. World J Gastroenterol 2014; 20:2785-2800. [PMID: 24659872 PMCID: PMC3961964 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i11.2785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2013] [Revised: 12/03/2013] [Accepted: 01/15/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) causes a clinically important disease affecting 3% of the world population. HCV is a single-stranded, positive-sense RNA virus belonging to the genus Hepacivirus within the Flaviviridae family. The virus establishes a chronic infection in the face of an active host oxidative defence, thus adaptation to oxidative stress is key to virus survival. Being a small RNA virus with a limited genomic capacity, we speculate that HCV deploys a different strategy to evade host oxidative defence. Instead of counteracting oxidative stress, it utilizes oxidative stress to facilitate its own survival. Translation is the first step in the replication of a plus strand RNA virus so it would make sense if the virus can exploit the host oxidative defence in facilitating this very first step. This is particularly true when HCV utilizes an internal ribosome entry site element in translation, which is distinctive from that of cap-dependent translation of the vast majority of cellular genes, thus allowing selective translation of genes under conditions when global protein synthesis is compromised. Indeed, we were the first to show that HCV translation was stimulated by an important pro-oxidant-hydrogen peroxide in hepatocytes, suggesting that HCV is able to adapt to and utilize the host anti-viral response to facilitate its own translation thus allowing the virus to thrive under oxidative stress condition to establish chronicity. Understanding how HCV translation is regulated under oxidative stress condition will advance our knowledge on how HCV establishes chronicity. As chronicity is the initiator step in disease progression this will eventually lead to a better understanding of pathogenicity, which is particularly relevant to the development of anti-virals and improved treatments of HCV patients using anti-oxidants.
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Dibrov SM, Parsons J, Carnevali M, Zhou S, Rynearson KD, Ding K, Garcia Sega E, Brunn ND, Boerneke MA, Castaldi MP, Hermann T. Hepatitis C virus translation inhibitors targeting the internal ribosomal entry site. J Med Chem 2013; 57:1694-707. [PMID: 24138284 DOI: 10.1021/jm401312n] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The internal ribosome entry site (IRES) in the 5' untranslated region (UTR) of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) genome initiates translation of the viral polyprotein precursor. The unique structure and high sequence conservation of the 5' UTR render the IRES RNA a potential target for the development of selective viral translation inhibitors. Here, we provide an overview of approaches to block HCV IRES function by nucleic acid, peptide, and small molecule ligands. Emphasis will be given to the IRES subdomain IIa, which currently is the most advanced target for small molecule inhibitors of HCV translation. The subdomain IIa behaves as an RNA conformational switch. Selective ligands act as translation inhibitors by locking the conformation of the RNA switch. We review synthetic procedures for inhibitors as well as structural and functional studies of the subdomain IIa target and its ligand complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergey M Dibrov
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego , 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
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43
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Romero-López C, Berzal-Herranz A. Unmasking the information encoded as structural motifs of viral RNA genomes: a potential antiviral target. Rev Med Virol 2013; 23:340-54. [PMID: 23983005 PMCID: PMC7169113 DOI: 10.1002/rmv.1756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2013] [Revised: 07/23/2013] [Accepted: 07/24/2013] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
RNA viruses show enormous capacity to evolve and adapt to new cellular and molecular contexts, a consequence of mutations arising from errors made by viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase during replication. Sequence variation must occur, however, without compromising functions essential for the completion of the viral cycle. RNA viruses are safeguarded in this respect by their genome carrying conserved information that does not code only for proteins but also for the formation of structurally conserved RNA domains that directly perform these critical functions. Functional RNA domains can interact with other regions of the viral genome and/or proteins to direct viral translation, replication and encapsidation. They are therefore potential targets for novel therapeutic strategies. This review summarises our knowledge of the functional RNA domains of human RNA viruses and examines the achievements made in the design of antiviral compounds that interfere with their folding and therefore their function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Romero-López
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina 'López-Neyra', IPBLN-CSIC, PTS Granada, Armilla, Granada, Spain
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44
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Structure of the full-length HCV IRES in solution. Nat Commun 2013; 4:1612. [PMID: 23511476 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms2611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2012] [Accepted: 02/15/2013] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The 5'-untranslated region of the hepatitis C virus genome contains an internal ribosome entry site (IRES) that initiates cap-independent translation of the viral RNA. Until now, the structural characterization of the entire (IRES) remained limited to cryo-electron microscopy reconstructions of the (IRES) bound to different cellular partners. Here we report an atomic model of free full-length hepatitis C virus (IRES) refined by selection against small-angle X-ray scattering data that incorporates the known structures of different fragments. We found that an ensemble of conformers reproduces small-angle X-ray scattering data better than a single structure suggesting in combination with molecular dynamics simulations that the hepatitis C virus (IRES) is an articulated molecule made of rigid parts that move relative to each other. Principal component analysis on an ensemble of physically accessible conformers of hepatitis C virus (IRES) revealed dominant collective motions in the molecule, which may underlie the conformational changes occurring in the (IRES) molecule upon formation of the initiation complex.
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Romero-López C, Barroso-Deljesus A, García-Sacristán A, Briones C, Berzal-Herranz A. End-to-end crosstalk within the hepatitis C virus genome mediates the conformational switch of the 3'X-tail region. Nucleic Acids Res 2013; 42:567-82. [PMID: 24049069 PMCID: PMC3874160 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkt841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA genome contains multiple structurally conserved domains that make long-distance RNA-RNA contacts important in the establishment of viral infection. Microarray antisense oligonucleotide assays, improved dimethyl sulfate probing methods and 2' acylation chemistry (selective 2'-hydroxyl acylation and primer extension, SHAPE) showed the folding of the genomic RNA 3' end to be regulated by the internal ribosome entry site (IRES) element via direct RNA-RNA interactions. The essential cis-acting replicating element (CRE) and the 3'X-tail region adopted different 3D conformations in the presence and absence of the genomic RNA 5' terminus. Further, the structural transition in the 3'X-tail from the replication-competent conformer (consisting of three stem-loops) to the dimerizable form (with two stem-loops), was found to depend on the presence of both the IRES and the CRE elements. Complex interplay between the IRES, the CRE and the 3'X-tail region would therefore appear to occur. The preservation of this RNA-RNA interacting network, and the maintenance of the proper balance between different contacts, may play a crucial role in the switch between different steps of the HCV cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Romero-López
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina López-Neyra, IPBLN-CSIC, PTS Granada, Avda. del Conocimiento s/n, Armilla, 18016 Granada, Spain, Unidad de Genómica, Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina López-Neyra, IPBLN-CSIC, PTS Granada, Avda. del Conocimiento s/n, Armilla, 18016 Granada, Spain, Laboratorio de Evolución Molecular, Centro de Astrobiología (CSIC-INTA), Carretera de Ajalvir km 4, 28850 Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de enfermedades hepáticas y digestivas (CIBERehd), Spain
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Olson CM, Donovan MR, Spellberg MJ, Marr MT. The insulin receptor cellular IRES confers resistance to eIF4A inhibition. eLife 2013; 2:e00542. [PMID: 23878722 PMCID: PMC3713452 DOI: 10.7554/elife.00542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2013] [Accepted: 06/11/2013] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Under conditions of stress, such as limited growth factor signaling, translation is inhibited by the action of 4E-BP and PDCD4. These proteins, through inhibition of eIF4E and eIF4A, respectively, impair cap-dependent translation. Under stress conditions FOXO transcription factors activate 4E-BP expression amplifying the repression. Here we show that Drosophila FOXO binds the PDCD4 promoter and stimulates the transcription of PDCD4 in response to stress. We have shown previously that the 5′ UTR of the Drosophila insulin-like receptor (dINR) supports cap-independent translation that is resistant to 4E-BP. Using hippuristanol, an eIF4A inhibitor, we find that translation of dINR UTR containing transcripts are also resistant to eIF4A inhibition. In addition, the murine insulin receptor and insulin-like growth factor receptor 5′ UTRs support cap-independent translation and have a similar resistance to hippuristanol. This resistance to inhibition of eIF4E and eIF4A indicates a conserved strategy to allow translation of growth factor receptors under stress conditions. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.00542.001 Protein synthesis in eukaryotes occurs in two stages: transcription of DNA into messenger RNA (mRNA) in the nucleus, and then translation of that mRNA into a protein by ribosomes in the cytoplasm. These processes are regulated by a complex network of signaling pathways that enables cells to tailor protein synthesis to match current conditions. This involves regulating the expression of the genes that code for these proteins. When cells experience stressful events, such as a shortage of oxygen or nutrients, they reduce the synthesis of most proteins. This response is regulated, in part, by a signaling pathway known as the insulin and insulin-like receptor pathway. In particular, stressful events inhibit a protein complex called eIF4F, which normally initiates the translation of mRNA molecules by binding to a structure on one end of the mRNA called the 5′ cap. Despite this general inhibition, the production of certain other proteins—including the insulin receptor itself—is actually increased in response to stress. Olson et al. have carried out a series of experiments to explore how inhibition of the eIF4F protein complex influences the translation of the mRNA for the insulin receptor. The eIF4F complex is made up of three proteins, including one that binds to the 5′ cap and a helicase that unwinds the RNA. Previous work in the fruit fly Drosophila showed that translation of this mRNA can continue even if formation of the eIF4F complex is inhibited by targeting the cap binding protein. Olsen et al. now show that translation of this mRNA is also independent of the helicase. Instead, translation is maintained under these conditions because the insulin receptor mRNA contains a sequence called an internal ribosome entry site, which allows ribosomes to bind to the mRNA without the influence of the 5′ cap. Olson et al. reveal the details of this regulatory pathway in Drosophila and show that similar mechanisms are at work in mammalian cells, suggesting this pathway represents a crucial regulatory process that has been conserved during evolution. A key question for future research is whether other genes within the insulin and insulin-receptor like signaling pathway use this same trick to evade translational inhibitors. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.00542.002
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Affiliation(s)
- Calla M Olson
- Department of Biology and the Rosenstiel Basic Medical Sciences Research Center , Brandeis University , Waltham , United States
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47
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Sun C, Querol-Audí J, Mortimer SA, Arias-Palomo E, Doudna JA, Nogales E, Cate JHD. Two RNA-binding motifs in eIF3 direct HCV IRES-dependent translation. Nucleic Acids Res 2013; 41:7512-21. [PMID: 23766293 PMCID: PMC3753635 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkt510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The initiation of protein synthesis plays an essential regulatory role in human biology. At the center of the initiation pathway, the 13-subunit eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3 (eIF3) controls access of other initiation factors and mRNA to the ribosome by unknown mechanisms. Using electron microscopy (EM), bioinformatics and biochemical experiments, we identify two highly conserved RNA-binding motifs in eIF3 that direct translation initiation from the hepatitis C virus internal ribosome entry site (HCV IRES) RNA. Mutations in the RNA-binding motif of subunit eIF3a weaken eIF3 binding to the HCV IRES and the 40S ribosomal subunit, thereby suppressing eIF2-dependent recognition of the start codon. Mutations in the eIF3c RNA-binding motif also reduce 40S ribosomal subunit binding to eIF3, and inhibit eIF5B-dependent steps downstream of start codon recognition. These results provide the first connection between the structure of the central translation initiation factor eIF3 and recognition of the HCV genomic RNA start codon, molecular interactions that likely extend to the human transcriptome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaomin Sun
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA, Physical Biosciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA, Life Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA and Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
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Plank TDM, Whitehurst JT, Kieft JS. Cell type specificity and structural determinants of IRES activity from the 5' leaders of different HIV-1 transcripts. Nucleic Acids Res 2013; 41:6698-714. [PMID: 23661682 PMCID: PMC3711417 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkt358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Internal ribosome entry site (IRES) RNAs are important regulators of gene expression, but their diverse molecular mechanisms remain partially understood. The HIV-1 gag transcript leader contains an IRES that may be a good model for understanding the function of many other IRESs. We investigated the possibility that this IRES’ function is linked to both the structure of the RNA and its cellular environment. We find that in the context of a bicistronic reporter construct, HIV-1 gag IRES’ activity is cell type-specific, with higher activity in T-cell culture systems that model the natural target cells for HIV-1 infection. This finding underscores how an IRES may be fine tuned to function in certain cells, perhaps owing to cell type-specific protein factors. Using RNA probing and mutagenesis, we demonstrate that the HIV-1 gag IRES does not use pre-folded RNA structure to drive function, a finding that gives insight into how conformationally dynamic IRESs operate. Furthermore, we find that a common exon drives IRES activity in a diverse set of alternatively spliced transcripts. We propose a mechanism in which a structurally plastic RNA element confers the ability to initiate translation internally, and activity from this common element is modulated by 3′ nucleotides added by alternative splicing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Terra-Dawn M Plank
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado Denver, School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, 80045, USA
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Kraft JJ, Treder K, Peterson MS, Miller WA. Cation-dependent folding of 3' cap-independent translation elements facilitates interaction of a 17-nucleotide conserved sequence with eIF4G. Nucleic Acids Res 2013; 41:3398-413. [PMID: 23361463 PMCID: PMC3597692 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkt026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The 3′-untranslated regions of many plant viral RNAs contain cap-independent translation elements (CITEs) that drive translation initiation at the 5′-end of the mRNA. The barley yellow dwarf virus-like CITE (BTE) stimulates translation by binding the eIF4G subunit of translation initiation factor eIF4F with high affinity. To understand this interaction, we characterized the dynamic structural properties of the BTE, mapped the eIF4G-binding sites on the BTE and identified a region of eIF4G that is crucial for BTE binding. BTE folding involves cooperative uptake of magnesium ions and is driven primarily by charge neutralization. Footprinting experiments revealed that functional eIF4G fragments protect the highly conserved stem–loop I and a downstream bulge. The BTE forms a functional structure in the absence of protein, and the loop that base pairs the 5′-untranslated region (5′-UTR) remains solvent-accessible at high eIF4G concentrations. The region in eIF4G between the eIF4E-binding site and the MIF4G region is required for BTE binding and translation. The data support the model in which the eIF4F complex binds directly to the BTE which base pairs simultaneously to the 5′-UTR, allowing eIF4F to recruit the 40S ribosomal subunit to the 5′-end.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jelena J Kraft
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
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HCV IRES manipulates the ribosome to promote the switch from translation initiation to elongation. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2012; 20:150-8. [PMID: 23262488 PMCID: PMC3864654 DOI: 10.1038/nsmb.2465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2012] [Accepted: 11/12/2012] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The hepatitis C virus (HCV) internal ribosome entry site (IRES) drives non-canonical initiation of protein synthesis necessary for viral replication. HCV IRES functional studies have focused on 80S ribosome formation, but have not explored roles after the 80S ribosome is poised at the start codon. Here, we report that mutations of an IRES domain that docks in the 40S subunit’s decoding groove and cause only a local perturbation in IRES structure result in conformational changes in the IRES-rabbit 40S subunit complex. Functionally, we find the mutation decreases IRES activity by inhibiting the first ribosome translocation event, and modeling suggests that this effect is through an interaction with a single ribosomal protein. The HCV IRES’ ability to manipulate the ribosome provides insight into how the ribosome’s structure and function can be altered by bound RNAs, including those derived from cellular invaders.
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