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Kordys M, Urbanowicz A. 3D Puzzle at the Nanoscale-How do RNA Viruses Self-Assemble their Capsids into Perfectly Ordered Structures. Macromol Biosci 2024:e2400088. [PMID: 38864315 DOI: 10.1002/mabi.202400088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024]
Abstract
The phenomenon of RNA virus self-organization, first observed in the mid-20th century in tobacco mosaic virus, is the subject of extensive research. Efforts to comprehend this process intensify due to its potential for producing vaccines or antiviral compounds as well as nanocarriers and nanotemplates. However, direct observation of the self-assembly is hindered by its prevalence within infected host cells. One of the approaches involves in vitro and in silico research using model viruses featuring a ssRNA(+) genome enclosed within a capsid made up of a single type protein. While various pathways are proposed based on these studies, their relevance in vivo remains uncertain. On the other hand, the development of advanced microscopic methods provide insights into the events within living cells, where following viral infection, specialized compartments form to facilitate the creation of nascent virions. Intriguingly, a growing body of evidence indicates that the primary function of packaging signals in viral RNA is to effectively initiate the virion self-assembly. This is in contrast to earlier opinions suggesting a role in marking RNA for encapsidation. Another noteworthy observation is that many viruses undergo self-assembly within membraneless liquid organelles, which are specifically induced by viral proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martyna Kordys
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego Str. 12/14, Poznan, 61-704, Poland
| | - Anna Urbanowicz
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego Str. 12/14, Poznan, 61-704, Poland
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2
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Sabsay KR, te Velthuis AJW. Negative and ambisense RNA virus ribonucleocapsids: more than protective armor. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2023; 87:e0008223. [PMID: 37750733 PMCID: PMC10732063 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.00082-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/27/2023] Open
Abstract
SUMMARYNegative and ambisense RNA viruses are the causative agents of important human diseases such as influenza, measles, Lassa fever, and Ebola hemorrhagic fever. The viral genome of these RNA viruses consists of one or more single-stranded RNA molecules that are encapsidated by viral nucleocapsid proteins to form a ribonucleoprotein complex (RNP). This RNP acts as protection, as a scaffold for RNA folding, and as the context for viral replication and transcription by a viral RNA polymerase. However, the roles of the viral nucleoproteins extend beyond these functions during the viral infection cycle. Recent advances in structural biology techniques and analysis methods have provided new insights into the formation, function, dynamics, and evolution of negative sense virus nucleocapsid proteins, as well as the role that they play in host innate immune responses against viral infection. In this review, we discuss the various roles of nucleocapsid proteins, both in the context of RNPs and in RNA-free states, as well as the open questions that remain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly R. Sabsay
- Lewis Thomas Laboratory, Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
| | - Aartjan J. W. te Velthuis
- Lewis Thomas Laboratory, Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
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3
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Wang Y, Ling X, Zhang C, Zou J, Luo B, Luo Y, Jia X, Jia G, Zhang M, Hu J, Liu T, Wang Y, Lu K, Li D, Ma J, Liu C, Su Z. Modular characterization of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein domain functions in nucleocapsid-like assembly. MOLECULAR BIOMEDICINE 2023; 4:16. [PMID: 37211575 DOI: 10.1186/s43556-023-00129-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/23/2023] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 and its variants, with the Omicron subvariant XBB currently prevailing the global infections, continue to pose threats on public health worldwide. This non-segmented positive-stranded RNA virus encodes the multi-functional nucleocapsid protein (N) that plays key roles in viral infection, replication, genome packaging and budding. N protein consists of two structural domains, NTD and CTD, and three intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) including the NIDR, the serine/arginine rich motif (SRIDR), and the CIDR. Previous studies revealed functions of N protein in RNA binding, oligomerization, and liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS), however, characterizations of individual domains and their dissected contributions to N protein functions remain incomplete. In particular, little is known about N protein assembly that may play essential roles in viral replication and genome packing. Here, we present a modular approach to dissect functional roles of individual domains in SARS-CoV-2 N protein that reveals inhibitory or augmented modulations of protein assembly and LLPS in the presence of viral RNAs. Intriguingly, full-length N protein (NFL) assembles into ring-like architecture whereas the truncated SRIDR-CTD-CIDR (N182-419) promotes filamentous assembly. Moreover, LLPS droplets of NFL and N182-419 are significantly enlarged in the presence of viral RNAs, and we observed filamentous structures in the N182-419 droplets using correlative light and electron microscopy (CLEM), suggesting that the formation of LLPS droplets may promote higher-order assembly of N protein for transcription, replication and packaging. Together this study expands our understanding of the multiple functions of N protein in SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Wang
- The State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Frontiers Medical Center of Tianfu Jincheng Laboratory, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics and Department of Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610044, Sichuan, China
| | - Xiaobin Ling
- The State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Frontiers Medical Center of Tianfu Jincheng Laboratory, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics and Department of Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610044, Sichuan, China
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Chong Zhang
- The State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Frontiers Medical Center of Tianfu Jincheng Laboratory, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics and Department of Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610044, Sichuan, China
| | - Jian Zou
- The State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Frontiers Medical Center of Tianfu Jincheng Laboratory, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics and Department of Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610044, Sichuan, China
| | - Bingnan Luo
- The State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Frontiers Medical Center of Tianfu Jincheng Laboratory, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics and Department of Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610044, Sichuan, China
| | - Yongbo Luo
- The State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Frontiers Medical Center of Tianfu Jincheng Laboratory, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics and Department of Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610044, Sichuan, China
| | - Xinyu Jia
- The State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Frontiers Medical Center of Tianfu Jincheng Laboratory, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics and Department of Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610044, Sichuan, China
| | - Guowen Jia
- The State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Frontiers Medical Center of Tianfu Jincheng Laboratory, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics and Department of Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610044, Sichuan, China
| | - Minghua Zhang
- College of Polymer Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, Sichuan, China
| | - Junchao Hu
- The State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Frontiers Medical Center of Tianfu Jincheng Laboratory, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics and Department of Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610044, Sichuan, China
| | - Ting Liu
- The State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Frontiers Medical Center of Tianfu Jincheng Laboratory, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics and Department of Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610044, Sichuan, China
| | - Yuanfeiyi Wang
- The State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Frontiers Medical Center of Tianfu Jincheng Laboratory, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics and Department of Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610044, Sichuan, China
| | - Kefeng Lu
- The State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Frontiers Medical Center of Tianfu Jincheng Laboratory, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics and Department of Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610044, Sichuan, China
| | - Dan Li
- Bio-X Institutes, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, China
| | - Jinbiao Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China.
| | - Cong Liu
- Interdisciplinary Research Center On Biology and Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201210, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Bio-Organic and Natural Products Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - Zhaoming Su
- The State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Frontiers Medical Center of Tianfu Jincheng Laboratory, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics and Department of Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610044, Sichuan, China.
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4
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Song X, Shan H, Zhu Y, Hu S, Xue L, Chen Y, Ding W, Niu T, Gu J, Ouyang S, Shen QT, Liu ZJ. Self-capping of nucleoprotein filaments protects the Newcastle disease virus genome. eLife 2019; 8:45057. [PMID: 31290740 PMCID: PMC6675542 DOI: 10.7554/elife.45057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2019] [Accepted: 07/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-segmented negative-strand RNA viruses, such as measles, ebola and Newcastle disease viruses (NDV), encapsidate viral genomic RNAs into helical nucleocapsids, which serve as the template for viral replication and transcription. Here, the clam-shaped nucleocapsid structure, where the NDV viral genome is sequestered, was determined at 4.8 Å resolution by cryo-electron microscopy. The clam-shaped structure is composed of two single-turn spirals packed in a back-to-back mode. This tightly packed structure functions as a seed for the assembly of a nucleocapsid from both directions, facilitating the growth of double-headed filaments with two separate RNA strings inside. Disruption of this structure by mutations in its loop interface yielded a single-headed unfunctional filament.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiyong Song
- Institute of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China.,National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Hong Shan
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yanping Zhu
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Shunlin Hu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Ling Xue
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Yong Chen
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Ding
- Center for Biological Imaging, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Tongxin Niu
- Center for Biological Imaging, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jian Gu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Songying Ouyang
- The Key Laboratory of Innate Immune Biology of Fujian Province, Biomedical Research Center of South China, Key Laboratory of OptoElectronic Science and Technology for Medicine of Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, China.,Provincial University Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Response and Metabolic Regulation, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Qing-Tao Shen
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhi-Jie Liu
- Institute of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China.,National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
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5
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Alvarez Paggi D, Esperante SA, Salgueiro M, Camporeale G, de Oliveira GAP, Prat Gay G. A conformational switch balances viral RNA accessibility and protection in a nucleocapsid ring model. Arch Biochem Biophys 2019; 671:77-86. [PMID: 31229488 DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2019.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2019] [Revised: 05/30/2019] [Accepted: 06/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Virus from the Mononegavirales order share common features ranging from virion structure arrangement to mechanisms of replication and transcription. One of them is the way the nucleoprotein (N) wraps and protects the RNA genome from degradation by forming a highly ordered helical nucleocapsid. However, crystal structures from numerous Mononegavirales reveal that binding to the nucleoprotein results in occluded nucleotides that hinder base pairing necessary for transcription and replication. This hints at the existence of alternative conformations of the N protein that would impact on the protein-RNA interface, allowing for transient exposure of the nucleotides without complete RNA release. Moreover, the regulation between the alternative conformations should be finely tuned. Recombinant expression of N from the respiratory syncytial virus form regular N/RNA common among all Mononegavirales, and these constitute an ideal minimal unit for investigating the mechanisms through which these structures protect RNA so efficiently while allowing for partial accessibility during transcription and replication. Neither pH nor high ionic strength could dissociate the RNA but led to irreversible aggregation of the nucleoprotein. Low concentrations of guanidine chloride dissociated the RNA moiety but leading to irreversible aggregation of the protein moiety. On the other hand, high concentrations of urea and long incubation periods were required to remove bound RNA. Both denaturants eventually led to unfolding but converged in the formation of an RNA-free β-enriched intermediate species that remained decameric even at high denaturant concentrations. Although the N-RNA rings interact with the phosphoprotein P, the scaffold of the RNA polymerase complex, this interaction did not lead to RNA dissociation from the rings in vitro. Thus, we have uncovered complex equilibria involving changes in secondary structure of N and RNA loosening, processes that must take place in the context of RNA transcription and replication, whose detailed mechanisms and cellular and viral participants need to be established.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Alvarez Paggi
- Protein Structure-Function and Engineering Laboratory, Fundación Instituto Leloir and IIBBA-CONICET, Argentina.
| | - S A Esperante
- Protein Structure-Function and Engineering Laboratory, Fundación Instituto Leloir and IIBBA-CONICET, Argentina
| | - M Salgueiro
- Protein Structure-Function and Engineering Laboratory, Fundación Instituto Leloir and IIBBA-CONICET, Argentina
| | - G Camporeale
- Protein Structure-Function and Engineering Laboratory, Fundación Instituto Leloir and IIBBA-CONICET, Argentina
| | - G A P de Oliveira
- Programa de Biologia Estrutural, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia de Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem, Centro Nacional de Ressonância Magnêtica Nuclear Jiri Jonas, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22908-0733, USA
| | - G Prat Gay
- Protein Structure-Function and Engineering Laboratory, Fundación Instituto Leloir and IIBBA-CONICET, Argentina.
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6
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Ding JN, Zhang YJ, Zhong H, Ao CC, Han JG. A simulation investigation on interaction mechanism between Ebola nucleoprotein and VP35 peptide. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2018; 36:1009-1028. [DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2017.1307143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jing-Na Ding
- National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230029, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Anqing Medical College, Anqing 246052, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yan-Jun Zhang
- National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230029, People’s Republic of China
| | - Hui Zhong
- National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230029, People’s Republic of China
| | - Cheng-Cheng Ao
- National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230029, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ju-Guang Han
- National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230029, People’s Republic of China
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7
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Filovirus proteins for antiviral drug discovery: Structure/function of proteins involved in assembly and budding. Antiviral Res 2018; 150:183-192. [DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2017.12.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2017] [Revised: 12/20/2017] [Accepted: 12/28/2017] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
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8
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Crystal Structure of the Marburg Virus Nucleoprotein Core Domain Chaperoned by a VP35 Peptide Reveals a Conserved Drug Target for Filovirus. J Virol 2017; 91:JVI.00996-17. [PMID: 28659479 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00996-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2017] [Accepted: 06/19/2017] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Filovirus nucleoprotein (NP), viral protein 35 (VP35), and polymerase L are essential for viral replication and nucleocapsid formation. Here, we identify a 28-residue peptide (NP binding peptide [NPBP]) from Marburg virus (MARV) VP35 through sequence alignment with previously identified Ebola virus (EBOV) NPBP, which bound to the core region (residues 18 to 344) of the N-terminal portion of MARV NP with high affinity. The crystal structure of the MARV NP core/NPBP complex at a resolution of 2.6 Å revealed that NPBP binds to the C-terminal region of the NP core via electrostatic and nonpolar interactions. Further structural analysis revealed that the MARV and EBOV NP cores hold a conserved binding pocket for NPBP, and this pocket could serve as a promising target for the design of universal drugs against filovirus infection. In addition, cross-binding assays confirmed that the NP core of MARV or EBOV can bind the NPBP from the other virus, although with moderately reduced binding affinities that result from termini that are distinct between the MARV and EBOV NPBPs.IMPORTANCE Historically, Marburg virus (MARV) has caused severe disease with up to 90% lethality. Among the viral proteins produced by MARV, NP and VP35 are both multifunctional proteins that are essential for viral replication. In its relative, Ebola virus (EBOV), an N-terminal peptide from VP35 binds to the NP N-terminal region with high affinity. Whether this is a common mechanism among filoviruses is an unsolved question. Here, we present the crystal structure of a complex that consists of the core domain of MARV NP and the NPBP peptide from VP35. As we compared MARV NPBP with EBOV NPBP, several different features at the termini were identified. Although these differences reduce the affinity of the NP core for NPBPs across genera, a conserved pocket in the C-terminal region of the NP core makes cross-species binding possible. Our results expand our knowledge of filovirus NP-VP35 interactions and provide more details for therapeutic intervention.
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9
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Banadyga L, Hoenen T, Ambroggio X, Dunham E, Groseth A, Ebihara H. Ebola virus VP24 interacts with NP to facilitate nucleocapsid assembly and genome packaging. Sci Rep 2017; 7:7698. [PMID: 28794491 PMCID: PMC5550494 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-08167-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2017] [Accepted: 07/06/2017] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Ebola virus causes devastating hemorrhagic fever outbreaks for which no approved therapeutic exists. The viral nucleocapsid, which is minimally composed of the proteins NP, VP35, and VP24, represents an attractive target for drug development; however, the molecular determinants that govern the interactions and functions of these three proteins are still unknown. Through a series of mutational analyses, in combination with biochemical and bioinformatics approaches, we identified a region on VP24 that was critical for its interaction with NP. Importantly, we demonstrated that the interaction between VP24 and NP was required for both nucleocapsid assembly and genome packaging. Not only does this study underscore the critical role that these proteins play in the viral replication cycle, but it also identifies a key interaction interface on VP24 that may serve as a novel target for antiviral therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Logan Banadyga
- Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, 59840, USA
| | - Thomas Hoenen
- Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, 59840, USA.,Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Xavier Ambroggio
- Bioinformatics and Computational Biosciences Branch, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA.,Rosetta Design Group, Burlington, VT, 05401, USA
| | - Eric Dunham
- Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, 59840, USA
| | - Allison Groseth
- Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, 59840, USA.,Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Hideki Ebihara
- Laboratory of Virology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, 59840, USA. .,Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA.
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10
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Filovirus proteins for antiviral drug discovery: Structure/function bases of the replication cycle. Antiviral Res 2017; 141:48-61. [PMID: 28192094 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2017.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2016] [Revised: 01/12/2017] [Accepted: 02/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Filoviruses are important pathogens that cause severe and often fatal hemorrhagic fever in humans, for which no approved vaccines and antiviral treatments are yet available. In an earlier article (Martin et al., Antiviral Research, 2016), we reviewed the role of the filovirus surface glycoprotein in replication and as a target for drugs and vaccines. In this review, we focus on recent findings on the filovirus replication machinery and how they could be used for the identification of new therapeutic targets and the development of new antiviral compounds. First, we summarize the recent structural and functional advances on the molecules involved in filovirus replication/transcription cycle, particularly the NP, VP30, VP35 proteins, and the "large" protein L, which harbors the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) and mRNA capping activities. These proteins are essential for viral mRNA synthesis and genome replication, and consequently they constitute attractive targets for drug design. We then describe how these insights into filovirus replication mechanisms and the structure/function characterization of the involved proteins have led to the development of new and innovative antiviral strategies that may help reduce the filovirus disease case fatality rate through post-exposure or prophylactic treatments.
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