1
|
Zheng N, Liu S, Chen J, Xu Y, Cao W, Lin J, Lu G, Zhang G. SARS-CoV-2 NSP2 as a Potential Delivery Vehicle for Proteins. Mol Pharm 2024; 21:1149-1159. [PMID: 38288708 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.3c00680] [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: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
The development of biomolecule delivery systems is essential for the treatment of various diseases such as cancer, immunological diseases, and metabolic disorders. For the first time, we found that SARS-CoV-2-encoded nonstructural protein 2 (NSP2) can be secreted from the cells, where it is synthesized. Brefeldin A and H89, inhibitors of ER/Golgi secretion pathways, did not inhibit NSP2 secretion. NSP2 is likely secreted via an unconventional secretory pathway. Moreover, both secreted and purified NSP2 proteins were able to traverse the plasma membrane barrier and enter both immortalized human umbilical vein endothelial cells and tumor cell lines. After entry, the NSP2 protein was localized in only the cytoplasm. Cytochalasin D, a potent inhibitor of actin polymerization, inhibited the entry of NSP2. NSP2 can carry other molecules into cells. Burkholderia lethal factor 1, a monomeric toxin from the intracellular pathogen Burkholderia pseudomallei, has demonstrated antitumor activity by targeting host eukaryotic initiation translation factor 4A. An NSP2-BLF1 fusion protein was translocated across the cellular membranes of Huh7 cells and mediated cell killing. By using different approaches, including protein purification, chemical inhibition, and cell imaging, we confirm that NSP2 is able to deliver heterologous proteins into cells. NSP2 can act as a potential delivery vehicle for proteins.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ningze Zheng
- Institute of Human Virology, Department of Pathogen Biology and Biosecurity, and Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry of Education, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China
| | - Shurui Liu
- Institute of Human Virology, Department of Pathogen Biology and Biosecurity, and Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry of Education, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China
| | - Jianheng Chen
- Institute of Human Virology, Department of Pathogen Biology and Biosecurity, and Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry of Education, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China
| | - Yue Xu
- Institute of Human Virology, Department of Pathogen Biology and Biosecurity, and Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry of Education, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China
| | - Wenyin Cao
- Institute of Human Virology, Department of Pathogen Biology and Biosecurity, and Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry of Education, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China
| | - Jinyi Lin
- Department of Physiology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China
| | - Guang Lu
- Department of Physiology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China
| | - Guigen Zhang
- Institute of Human Virology, Department of Pathogen Biology and Biosecurity, and Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry of Education, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Zou L, Moch C, Graille M, Chapat C. The SARS-CoV-2 protein NSP2 impairs the silencing capacity of the human 4EHP-GIGYF2 complex. iScience 2022; 25:104646. [PMID: 35756894 PMCID: PMC9213009 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
There is an urgent need for a molecular understanding of how SARS-CoV-2 influences the machineries of the host cell. Herein, we focused our attention on the capacity of the SARS-CoV-2 protein NSP2 to bind the human 4EHP-GIGYF2 complex, a key factor involved in microRNA-mediated silencing of gene expression. Using in vitro interaction assays, our data demonstrate that NSP2 physically associates with both 4EHP and a central segment in GIGYF2 in the cytoplasm. We also provide functional evidence showing that NSP2 impairs the function of GIGYF2 in mediating translation repression using reporter-based assays. Collectively, these data reveal the potential impact of NSP2 on the post-transcriptional silencing of gene expression in human cells, pointing out 4EHP-GIGYF2 targeting as a possible strategy of SARS-CoV-2 to take over the silencing machinery and to suppress host defenses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Limei Zou
- Laboratoire de Biologie Structurale de la Cellule (BIOC), CNRS, Ecole polytechnique, IP Paris. F-91128 Palaiseau, France
| | - Clara Moch
- Laboratoire de Biologie Structurale de la Cellule (BIOC), CNRS, Ecole polytechnique, IP Paris. F-91128 Palaiseau, France
| | - Marc Graille
- Laboratoire de Biologie Structurale de la Cellule (BIOC), CNRS, Ecole polytechnique, IP Paris. F-91128 Palaiseau, France
| | - Clément Chapat
- Laboratoire de Biologie Structurale de la Cellule (BIOC), CNRS, Ecole polytechnique, IP Paris. F-91128 Palaiseau, France
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Matusewicz L, Golec M, Czogalla A, Kuliczkowski K, Konka A, Zembala-John J, Sikorski AF. COVID-19 therapies: do we see substantial progress? Cell Mol Biol Lett 2022; 27:42. [PMID: 35641916 PMCID: PMC9152818 DOI: 10.1186/s11658-022-00341-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The appearance of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) and its spread all over the world is the cause of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, which has recently resulted in almost 400 million confirmed cases and 6 million deaths, not to mention unknown long-term or persistent side effects in convalescent individuals. In this short review, we discuss approaches to treat COVID-19 that are based on current knowledge of the mechanisms of viral cell receptor recognition, virus–host membrane fusion, and inhibition of viral RNA and viral assembly. Despite enormous progress in antiviral therapy and prevention, new effective therapies are still in great demand.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lucyna Matusewicz
- Department of Cytobiochemistry, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wrocław, ul. F. Joliot Curie 14a, 50-383, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Marlena Golec
- Silesian Park of Medical Technology Kardio-Med Silesia, ul. M. Curie-Skłodowskiej 10c, 41-800, Zabrze, Poland
| | - Aleksander Czogalla
- Department of Cytobiochemistry, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wrocław, ul. F. Joliot Curie 14a, 50-383, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Kazimierz Kuliczkowski
- Silesian Park of Medical Technology Kardio-Med Silesia, ul. M. Curie-Skłodowskiej 10c, 41-800, Zabrze, Poland
| | - Adam Konka
- Silesian Park of Medical Technology Kardio-Med Silesia, ul. M. Curie-Skłodowskiej 10c, 41-800, Zabrze, Poland
| | - Joanna Zembala-John
- Chair and Department of Medicine and Environmental Epidemiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Zabrze, Medical University of Silesia, H. Jordana 19, 41-800, Zabrze, Poland.,Acellmed Ltd., M. Curie-Skłodowskiej 10C, 41-800, Zabrze, Poland
| | - Aleksander F Sikorski
- Research and Development Centre, Regional Specialist Hospital, Kamieńskiego 73a, 51-154, Wroclaw, Poland. .,Acellmed Ltd., M. Curie-Skłodowskiej 10C, 41-800, Zabrze, Poland.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Tenchov R, Zhou QA. Intrinsically Disordered Proteins: Perspective on COVID-19 Infection and Drug Discovery. ACS Infect Dis 2022; 8:422-432. [PMID: 35196007 PMCID: PMC8887652 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.2c00031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2, millions of patients have been diagnosed and many of them have died from the disease worldwide. The identification of novel therapeutic targets are of utmost significance for prevention and treatment of COVID-19. SARS-CoV-2 is a single-stranded RNA virus with a 30 kb genome packaged into a membrane-enveloped virion, transcribing several tens of proteins. The belief that the amino acid sequence of proteins determines their 3D structure which, in turn, determines their function has been a central principle of molecular biology for a long time. Recently, it has been increasingly realized, however, that there is a large group of proteins that lack a fixed or ordered 3D structure, yet they exhibit important biological activities─so-called intrinsically disordered proteins and protein regions (IDPs/IDRs). Disordered regions in viral proteins are generally associated with viral infectivity and pathogenicity because they endow the viral proteins the ability to easily and promiscuously bind to host proteins; therefore, the proteome of SARS-CoV-2 has been thoroughly examined for intrinsic disorder. It has been recognized that, in fact, the SARS-CoV-2 proteome exhibits significant levels of structural order, with only the nucleocapsid (N) structural protein and two of the nonstructural proteins being highly disordered. The spike (S) protein of SARS-CoV-2 exhibits significant levels of structural order, yet its predicted percentage of intrinsic disorder is still higher than that of the spike protein of SARS-CoV. Noteworthy, however, even though IDPs/IDRs are not common in the SARS-CoV-2 proteome, the existing ones play major roles in the functioning and virulence of the virus and are thus promising drug targets for rational antiviral drug design. Presented here is a COVID-19 perspective on the intrinsically disordered proteins, summarizing recent results on the SARS-CoV-2 proteome disorder features, their physiological and pathological relevance, and their prominence as prospective drug target sites.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rumiana Tenchov
- CAS, a division of the American Chemical Society,
Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
| | | |
Collapse
|