Conditional lethal mutants of vesicular stomatitis virus. II. Synthesis of virus-specific polypeptides in nonpermissive cells infected with "RNA-" host-restricted mutants

Identification of a new region in the vesicular stomatitis virus L polymerase protein which is essential for mRNA cap methylation

The vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) L polymerase protein possesses two methyltransferase (MTase) activities, which catalyze the methylation of viral mRNA cap structures at the guanine-N7 and 2'-O-adenosine positions. To identify L sequences required for the MTase activities, we analyzed a host range (hr) and temperature-sensitive (ts) mutant of VSV, hr8, which was defective in mRNA cap methylation. Sequencing hr8 identified five amino acid substitutions, all residing in the L protein. Recombinant VSV were generated with each of the identified L mutations, and the presence of a single G1481R substitution in L, located between conserved domains V and VI, was sufficient to produce a dramatic reduction (about 90%) in overall mRNA methylation. Cap analysis showed residual guanine-N7 methylation and reduced 2'-O-adenosine methylation, identical to that of the original hr8 virus. When recombinant viruses were tested for virus growth under conditions that were permissive and nonpermissive for the hr8 mutant, the same single L mutation, G1481R, was solely responsible for both the hr and ts phenotypes. A spontaneous suppressor mutant of the rG1481R virus that restored both growth on nonpermissive cells and cap methylation was identified and mapped to a single change, L1450I, in L. Site-directed mutagenesis of the region between domains V and VI, amino acids 1419-1672 of L, followed by the rescue of recombinant viruses identified five additional virus mutants, K1468A, R1478A/D1479A, G1481A, G1481N, and G1672A, that were all hr and defective in mRNA cap methylation. Thus, in addition to the previously characterized domain VI [Grdzelishvili, V.Z., Smallwood, S., Tower, D., Hall, R.L., Hunt, D.M., Moyer, S.A., 2005. A single amino acid change in the L-polymerase protein of vesicular stomatitis virus completely abolishes viral mRNA cap methylation. J. Virol. 79, 7327-7337; Li, J., Fontaine-Rodriguez, E.C., Whelan, S.P., 2005. Amino acid residues within conserved domain VI of the vesicular stomatitis virus large polymerase protein essential for mRNA cap methyltransferase activity. J. Virol. 79, 13373-13384], a new region between L amino acids 1450-1481 was identified which is critical for mRNA cap methylation.

Amino acid residues within conserved domain VI of the vesicular stomatitis virus large polymerase protein essential for mRNA cap methyltransferase activity

During mRNA synthesis, the polymerase of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) copies the genomic RNA to produce five capped and polyadenylated mRNAs with the 5'-terminal structure 7mGpppA(m)pApCpApGpNpNpApUpCp. The 5' mRNA processing events are poorly understood but presumably require triphosphatase, guanylyltransferase, [guanine-N-7]- and [ribose-2'-O]-methyltransferase (MTase) activities. Consistent with a role in mRNA methylation, conserved domain VI of the 241-kDa large (L) polymerase protein shares sequence homology with a bacterial [ribose-2'-O]-MTase, FtsJ/RrmJ. In this report, we generated six L gene mutations to test this homology. Individual substitutions to the predicted MTase active-site residues K1651, D1762, K1795, and E1833 yielded viruses with pinpoint plaque morphologies and 10- to 1,000-fold replication defects in single-step growth assays. Consistent with these defects, viral RNA and protein synthesis was diminished. In contrast, alteration of residue G1674 predicted to bind the methyl donor S-adenosylmethionine did not significantly perturb viral growth and gene expression. Analysis of the mRNA cap structure revealed that alterations to the predicted active site residues decreased [guanine-N-7]- and [ribose-2'-O]-MTase activity below the limit of detection of our assay. In contrast, the alanine substitution at G1674 had no apparent consequence. These data show that the predicted MTase active-site residues K1651, D1762, K1795, and E1833 within domain VI of the VSV L protein are essential for mRNA cap methylation. A model of mRNA processing consistent with these data is presented.

A single amino acid change in the L-polymerase protein of vesicular stomatitis virus completely abolishes viral mRNA cap methylation

The vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) RNA polymerase synthesizes viral mRNAs with 5'-cap structures methylated at the guanine-N7 and 2'-O-adenosine positions (7mGpppA(m)). Previously, our laboratory showed that a VSV host range (hr) and temperature-sensitive (ts) mutant, hr1, had a complete defect in mRNA cap methylation and that the wild-type L protein could complement the hr1 defect in vitro. Here, we sequenced the L, P, and N genes of mutant hr1 and found only two amino acid substitutions, both residing in the L-polymerase protein, which differentiate hr1 from its wild-type parent. These mutations (N505D and D1671V) were introduced separately and together into the L gene, and their effects on VSV in vitro transcription and in vivo chloramphenicol acetyltransferase minigenome replication were studied under conditions that are permissive and nonpermissive for hr1. Neither L mutation significantly affected viral RNA synthesis at 34 degrees C in permissive (BHK) and nonpermissive (HEp-2) cells, but D1671V reduced in vitro transcription and genome replication by about 50% at 40 degrees C in both cell lines. Recombinant VSV bearing each mutation were isolated, and the hr and ts phenotypes in infected cells were the result of a single D1671V substitution in the L protein. While the mutations did not significantly affect mRNA synthesis by purified viruses, 5'-cap analyses of product mRNAs clearly demonstrated that the D1671V mutation abrogated all methyltransferase activity. Sequence analysis suggests that an aspartic acid at amino acid 1671 is a critical residue within a putative conserved S-adenosyl-l-methionine-binding domain of the L protein.

The vesicular stomatitis virus L protein possesses the mRNA methyltransferase activities

We have previously shown that the vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) host range mutant, hr 1, is completely defective for the mRNA methyltransferase activities, but can synthesize full-length, unmethylated mRNAs in vitro [S. M. Horikami and S. A. Moyer (1982). Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 79, 7694-7698] and in vivo [S. M. Horikami, F. De Ferra, and S. A. Moyer (1984). Virology 138, 1-15]. Here we have used the hr 1 mutant to identify the viral protein which possesses the methyltransferase activities. The wild-type VSV L and NS proteins, subunits of the viral RNA polymerase, were separately purified and added to high salt dissociated mutant hr 1 nucleocapsids for in vitro transcription reactions. The results show that the purified wild-type L protein, but not the NS protein, restores methylation and thus possesses the viral mRNA methyltransferase activities.

Transcriptionally defective nucleocapsids of vesicular stomatitis virus from cells treated with indomethacin

Indomethacin blocks the biosynthesis of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) at the level of primary transcription, RNA replication, and protein synthesis (P. K. Mukherjee and R. W. Simpson (1985), Virology 140, 188-191). Nucleocapsids of infecting virus particles recovered from indomethacin-treated cells were analyzed for in vitro transcriptase activity. Incorporation of [3H]UTP in mixtures containing nucleocapsids from HEp-2 cells pretreated with 10(-3) M indomethacin was inhibited approximately 80% compared to control reactions containing nucleocapsids from untreated infected cells. The level of inhibition of in vitro transcriptase activity of viral nucleocapsids from drug-treated cultures varied according to the cell line used for infection. After indomethacin removal, cells regained their ability to produce enzymatically competent viral-transcribing complexes unless they were subsequently exposed to metabolic inhibitors such as actinomycin D or alpha-amanitin. Enzymatically defective nucleocapsids from indomethacin-treated cells showed enhanced in vitro transcriptase activity in the presence of modulators of prostaglandins and cyclic nucleotides. Electrophoretic analysis of product from in vitro transcriptase reactions revealed that these defective nucleocapsids are unable to synthesize VSV messenger RNA or normal size leader RNA species but only smaller transcripts of undetermined identity.

Characterization of the infections of permissive and nonpermissive cells by host range mutants of vesicular stomatitis virus defective in RNA methylation

Two host range mutants of VSV, hr 1 and hr 8, which, unlike the wild-type virus, have a mRNA methylation defect and direct the in vitro synthesis of full-length capped but unmethylated viral mRNAs have been described previously (S.M. Horikami and S.A. Moyer, 1982, Proc. Natl, Acad. Sci. USA 79, 7694-7698). It is shown that the in vivo nonpermissive infection of HEp-2 cells by either of these two mutants is characterized by the reduced synthesis of full-length mRNAs at levels characteristic of primary transcription and the total lack of synthesis of genome-length RNA. The VSV mRNAs synthesized by either mutant in HEp-2 cells are not translated either in vivo or in vitro in mRNA-dependent rabbit reticulocyte lysates. Subsequent isolation and analysis of the mRNAs from infected HEp-2 cells has shown that the 5' termini of the messages contain a cap structure which is guanylylated, but unmethylated (GpppA), a finding that might account for the lack of translatability. Hence these mutants are unable to properly methylate mRNAs whether they are synthesized in vitro or in vivo within nonpermissively infected cells. It is also shown that unlike hr 1, the undermethylation of mRNA synthesized by hr 8 is partially reversible by the addition of high levels of AdoMet in vitro. It is interesting to note, therefore, that permissive baby hamster kidney (BHK) cells have a 10-fold higher level of endogenous AdoMet than the nonpermissive HEp-2 cells. Unlike singly infected cells, the coinfection of HEp-2 cells with either hr mutant and a poxvirus yields a permissive infection for these two host range mutants. Analysis of the VSV mRNAs produced in vivo under the conditions of rescue reveals the presence of fully methylated caps (7mGppp(m)Am), suggesting that poxvirus may rescue the mutants by converting the VSV mRNAs to a translationally active form due to methylation by the cytoplasmic poxvirus mRNA methyltransferase enzymes. Both mutants are, however, able to grow normally in permissive BHK cells. An analysis of the translationally active mRNAs from infected permissive cells shows the presence primarily of a 5'-monomethylated cap, 7mGpppA. Finally, we have examined the nonpermissive infections of two other host range mutants of VSV (hr 5 and hr 7). Unlike mutants hr 1 and hr 8 described above, these two mutants synthesize mRNA in HEp-2 cells which is translated both in vivo and in vitro.

Host range mutants of vesicular stomatitis virus defective in in vitro RNA methylation

The viral RNA polymerase of detergent-treated vesicular stomatitis virus normally synthesizes viral mRNAs in vitro that are both guanylylated and methylated to give 5'-terminal 7mGpppAm caps. We have characterized a virus host range mutant, hr 1, that is totally defective in vitro in the methylation of mRNA, although full-length polyadenylylated mRNAs with 5' termini of the form GpppA are synthesized in normal yields. A second mutant, hr 8, is partially defective in methylation and synthesizes mRNAs in vitro with primarily GpppA and some GpppAm 5' termini. When used for in vitro translation, the unmethylated hr 1 mutant mRNA shows, as expected, reduced synthesis of viral proteins. These data provide direct evidence that the vesicular stomatitis virus-associated methyltransferase activities are virus encoded.

Neurovirulence mutant of vesicular stomatitis virus with an altered target cell tropism in vivo

Intracerebral infection of weanling Swiss mice with a temperature-sensitive (ts) mutant of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), ts pi364, resulted in a unique neuropathological syndrome not previously described with other VSV mutants. Mice infected with wild-type VSV died from an acute encephalitis characterized by neuronal necrosis and efficient virus replication in both brain and spinal cord. In contrast, with VSV ts pi364, the most prominent histopathological feature was destruction of the ependyma of the lateral ventricles. Virus antigen was also limited to the leptomeninges and the lateral ventricles. Infected mice survived and developed hydrocephalus. Replication of ts pi364 in the brain was 10- to 100- fold less than that of wild-type VSV, and appearance of virus in the spinal cord was delayed. VSV ts pi364 was isolated from mouse cells persistently infected with VSV. Another VSV ts pi mutant, isolated from the same persistent infection, behaved in vivo like wild-type VSV, even though both mutants were very similar in plaque size, reversion frequency, cut-off temperature, and synthesis of virus-specific proteins at semipermissive temperature. These results strongly suggest that VSV ts pi364 has a second, non-ts mutation which results in a restricted target cell range in vivo; wild-type VSV can infect both neurons and ependymal cells, whereas ts pi364 does not replicate in neurons.

Host range mutants of an influenza A virus

Temperature-sensitive (ts) mutants of fowl plague virus with a ts-lesion in segment 1 (ts 3, polymerase 1 gene) or segment 2 (ts 90, transport gene) do not form plaques on MDCK cells at the permissive temperature, while the wild type and ts-mutants of other groups are able to do so. This property is correlated with the ts-lesion, since revertants for the ts-lesion of ts 3 and ts 90 again form plaques on MDCK cells. The block on MDCK cells--at least for ts3--may be located in a late function, since viral RNA polymerase and hemagglutinin are formed in almost normal yields. MDCK cells infected with ts 3 or ts 90 exhibit a retarded cytopathic effect at 33 degrees C, but no cytopathic effect at 39 degrees C, at which temperature the infected cells can be passaged and super-infected with the wild type strain. Cells surviving the infection with ts 90 at 33 degrees C sometimes grow out again to a normal monolayer. It is suggested that the spread of virus is inhibited under these conditions.

Envelope proteins of vesicular stomatitis virus: effect of temperature-sensitive mutations in complementation groups III and V

All five major viral proteins were synthesized in chicken embryo cells infected with vesicular stomatitis virus temperature-sensitive (ts) mutants of complementation groups III and V and maintained at the nonpermissive temperature. The distribution of these proteins among cytoplasmic cellular fractions separated on discontinuous sucrose gradients was identical for wild-type and tsIII-infected cells. Strikingly different patterns were observed for the G protein in gradients from cells infected by tsV mutants; very little, if any, G protein was found in the lightest fraction. Pulse and chase experiments with wild-type, virus-infected cells showed that protein G moves from the heaviest to the lightest fraction before being incorporated into the virion. After shift down to the permissive temperature (30 C), G protein synthesized at 39.6 C in tsV-infected cells became associated with the lightest cellular fraction and later with the released virions. In contrast, M protein, synthesized at 39.6 C in tsIII-infected cells, was not incorporated into the virions after shift down. These data strongly suggest, first, that M protein is encoded by the vesicular stomatitis gene III, and second, that incorporation of G protein in the lightest cellular fraction is a necessary step of vesicular stomatitis maturation. This step is impaired by tsV mutations.