Positive and negative host factors for Sendai virus transcription and their organ distribution in rat

Host factors and measles virus replication

This review takes a general approach to describing host cell factors that facilitate measles virus (MeV) infection and replication. It relates our current understanding of MeV entry receptors, with emphasis on how these host cell surface proteins contribute to pathogenesis within its host. The roles of SLAM/CD150 lymphocyte receptor and the newly discovered epithelial receptor PVRL4/nectin-4 are highlighted. Host cell factors such as HSP72, Prdx1, tubulin, casein kinase, and actin, which are known to impact viral RNA synthesis and virion assembly, are also discussed. Finally the review describes strategies used by measles virus to circumvent innate immunity and confound the effects of interferon within the host cell. Proteomic studies and genome wide RNAi screens will undoubtedly advance our knowledge in the future.

RNA viruses redirect host factors to better amplify their genome

This chapter provides an updated view of the host factors that are, at present, believed to participate in replication/transcription of RNA viruses. One of the major hurdles faced when attempting to identify host factors specifically involved in viral RNA replication/transcription is how to discriminate these factors from those involved in translation. Several of the host factors shown to affect viral RNA synthesis are factors known to be involved in protein synthesis, for example, translation factors. In addition, some of the factors identified to date appear to influence viral RNA amplification as well as viral protein synthesis, and translation and replication are frequently tightly associated. Several specific host factors actively participating in viral RNA transcription/replication have been identified and the regions of host protein/replicase or host protein/viral RNA interaction have been determined. The chapter centers exclusively on those factors that appear functionally important for viral amplification. It presents a list of the viruses for which a specific host factor associates with the polymerase, affecting viral genome amplification. It also indicates the usually accepted cell function of the factor and the viral polymerase or polymerase subunit to which the host factor binds.

3-nitrotyrosine attenuates respiratory syncytial virus infection in human bronchial epithelial cell line

3-nitrotyrosine (NO2Tyr), an L-tyrosine derivative during nitrative stress, can substitute the COOH-terminal tyrosine of alpha-tubulin, posttranslationally altering microtubular functions. Because infection of the cells by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) may require intact microtubules, we tested the hypothesis that NO2Tyr would inhibit RSV infection and intracellular signaling via nitrotyrosination of alpha-tubulin. A human bronchial epithelial cell line (BEAS-2B) was incubated with RSV with or without NO2Tyr. The release of chemokines and viral particles and activation of interferon regulatory factor-3 (IRF-3) were measured. Incubation with NO2Tyr increased nitrotyrosinated alpha-tubulin, and NO2Tyr colocalized with microtubules. RSV-infected cells released viral particles, RANTES, and IL-8 in a time- and dose-dependent manner, and intracellular RSV proteins coprecipitated with alpha-tubulin. NO2Tyr attenuated the RSV-induced release of RANTES, IL-8, and viral particles by 50-90% and decreased alpha-tubulin-associated RSV proteins. 3-chlorotyrosine, another L-tyrosine derivative, had no effects. NO2Tyr also inhibited the RSV-induced shift of the unphosphorylated form I of IRF-3 to the phosphorylated form II. Pre-exposure of the cells to NO(2) (0.15 ppm, 4 h), which produced diffuse protein tyrosine nitration, did not affect RSV-induced release of RANTES, IL-8, or viral particles. NO2Tyr did not affect the potential of viral spreading to the neighboring cells since the RSV titers were not decreased when the uninfected cells were cocultured with the preinfected cells in NO2Tyr-containing medium. These results indicate that NO2Tyr, by replacing the COOH-terminal tyrosine of alpha-tubulin, attenuated RSV infection, and the inhibition appeared to occur at the early stages of RSV infection.

Identification of Hsp90 as a stimulatory host factor involved in influenza virus RNA synthesis

Efficient transcription and replication of the influenza virus genome are dependent upon host-derived factors. Using an in vitro RNA synthesis system, we have purified and identified Hsp90 as one of the host factors that stimulate viral RNA polymerase activity. Hsp90 interacted with the PB2 subunit of the viral RNA polymerase through the amino-terminal chaperone domain and the middle region containing a highly acidic domain. The acidic middle region was also responsible for its stimulatory activity. We found that a portion of Hsp90 is re-localized to the cell nucleus after viral infection. A PB2 fragment containing a Hsp90 binding domain inhibited viral gene expression in a dominant-negative manner. These results suggest that Hsp90 is a host factor for the influenza virus RNA polymerase.

Enolase, a cellular glycolytic enzyme, is required for efficient transcription of Sendai virus genome

Cellular proteins (host factors) may play key roles in transcription of Sendai virus (SeV) genome. We have previously shown that the host factor activity, which stimulates in vitro mRNA synthesis of SeV, from bovine brain comprises at least three complementary factors, and two of them were identified as tubulin and phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK). Here the third host factor activity was further resolved into two complementary factors, and one of them was purified to an almost single polypeptide chain with an apparent M(r) of 52,000 (p52) and was identified as a glycolytic enzyme, enolase. Recombinant human alpha-enolase, as did p52, acted synergistically with other three host factors to stimulate SeV mRNA synthesis. West-Western blot analysis demonstrated that tubulin specifically binds enolase as well as PGK, suggesting that these two glycolytic enzymes regulate SeV transcription through their interactions with tubulin.

Specific phosphorylated forms of glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase associate with human parainfluenza virus type 3 and inhibit viral transcription in vitro

We previously reported specific interaction of cellular glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), the key glycolytic enzyme, and La protein, the RNA polymerase III transcription factor, with the cis-acting RNAs of human parainfluenza virus type 3 (HPIV3) and packaging of these proteins within purified virions (B. P. De, S. Gupta, H. Zhao, J. Z. Drazba, and A. K. Banerjee, J. Biol. Chem. 271:24728-24735, 1996). To gain further insight into these molecular interactions, we analyzed the virion-associated GAPDH and La protein using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting. The GAPDH was resolved into two major and one minor molecular species migrating in the pI range of 7.6 to 8.3, while the La protein was resolved into five molecular species in the pI range of 6.8 to 7.5. The GAPDH isoforms present in the virions were also detected in the cytoplasmic fraction of CV-1 cell extract, albeit as minor species. On the other hand, the multiple molecular forms of La protein as seen within the virions were readily detected in the total CV-1 cell extract. Further analysis of virion-associated GAPDH by in vivo labeling with [(32)P]orthophosphate revealed the presence of multiple phosphorylated species. The phosphorylated species were able to bind specifically to the viral cis-acting 3' genome sense RNA but failed to bind to the leader sense RNA, as determined by gel mobility shift assay. In contrast, the La protein isoforms present within the virions were not phosphorylated and bound to the viral cis-acting RNAs in a phosphorylation-independent manner. The GAPDH isoforms purified from the CV-1 cell cytoplasmic fraction inhibited viral transcription in vitro. Consistent with this, flag-tagged recombinant GAPDH synthesized by using the vaccinia virus expression system also inhibited viral transcription. Together, these data indicate that specific phosphorylated forms of GAPDH associate with HPIV3 and are involved in the regulation of virus gene expression.

Involvement of a cellular glycolytic enzyme, phosphoglycerate kinase, in Sendai virus transcription

In vitro mRNA synthesis of Sendai virus is almost entirely dependent on the addition of cellular proteins (host factors). Previous studies indicated that the host factor activity from bovine brain was resolved into at least two complementary fractions, one of which may be tubulin. In this study, the host factor activity that stimulates the transcription in the presence of tubulin was further purified from bovine brain. This fraction was found to contain at least two complementary factors, and one of them was purified to a single polypeptide chain with an apparent M(r) of 46,000 (p46). From the amino acid sequence, biochemical, and immunological analyses, p46 was identified as a glycolytic enzyme, phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK). Purified native PGK from rabbit and yeast, and a recombinant human PGK substituted for p46. Although, as previously suggested, tubulin was involved in the transcription initiation complex formation by being integrated into the complex, p46 and its complementary factor had little effect on the complex formation. On the other hand, when p46 and the complementary factor were added to the RNA chain elongation reaction from the isolated initiation complex formed with tubulin, mRNA synthesis was dramatically stimulated. The enzymatic activity per se of PGK did not seem to be required for its activity. West-Western blot analysis showed that PGK could directly interact with tubulin. These data suggest that PGK stimulates Sendai virus mRNA synthesis at the elongation step, probably through its interaction with tubulin in the initiation complex.

Role of cellular actin in the gene expression and morphogenesis of human respiratory syncytial virus

Cytoskeletal protein actin and nonactin cellular proteins were essential for human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) gene expression. In vitro, specific antibodies against actin inhibited RSV transcription, whereas antibodies against other cytoskeletal proteins had little or no effect. Affinity purified cellular actin or bacterially expressed recombinant actin activated RSV transcription. However, optimal transcription required additional cellular protein(s) that appeared to function as accessory factor(s) for actin. In the absence of actin, these proteins did not activate viral transcription. Purified viral nucleocapsids contained actin, but no cytokeratin, tubulin, or vimentin. Cytochalasin D or DNasel--agents that destabilize actin polymers--had little effect on RSV transcription. RSV infection itself seemed to alter the structure of the cellular actin filaments. Treatment of infected cells with cytochalasin D produced a more severe disruption of the filaments and drastically reduced the production of infectious virus particles but still had little effect on intracellular synthesis of viral macromolecules. Thus actin seems to serve a dual role in RSV life cycle: its monomeric form as well as polymeric form activate viral transcription, while only the microfilament form may take part in viral morphogenesis and/or budding.