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Passchier TC, White JBR, Maskell DP, Byrne MJ, Ranson NA, Edwards TA, Barr JN. The cryoEM structure of the Hendra henipavirus nucleoprotein reveals insights into paramyxoviral nucleocapsid architectures. Sci Rep 2024; 14:14099. [PMID: 38890308 PMCID: PMC11189427 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-58243-z] [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] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
We report the first cryoEM structure of the Hendra henipavirus nucleoprotein in complex with RNA, at 3.5 Å resolution, derived from single particle analysis of a double homotetradecameric RNA-bound N protein ring assembly exhibiting D14 symmetry. The structure of the HeV N protein adopts the common bi-lobed paramyxoviral N protein fold; the N-terminal and C-terminal globular domains are bisected by an RNA binding cleft containing six RNA nucleotides and are flanked by the N-terminal and C-terminal arms, respectively. In common with other paramyxoviral nucleocapsids, the lateral interface between adjacent Ni and Ni+1 protomers involves electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions mediated primarily through the N-terminal arm and globular domains with minor contribution from the C-terminal arm. However, the HeV N multimeric assembly uniquely identifies an additional protomer-protomer contact between the Ni+1 N-terminus and Ni-1 C-terminal arm linker. The model presented here broadens the understanding of RNA-bound paramyxoviral nucleocapsid architectures and provides a platform for further insight into the molecular biology of HeV, as well as the development of antiviral interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim C Passchier
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK.
- Department of Biology, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UK.
| | - Joshua B R White
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Daniel P Maskell
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Matthew J Byrne
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
- Exscientia, The Schrödinger Building Oxford Science Park, Oxford, OX4 4GE, UK
| | - Neil A Ranson
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Thomas A Edwards
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK.
- College of Biomedical Sciences, Larkin University, 18301 N Miami Avenue, Miami, FL, 33169, USA.
| | - John N Barr
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK.
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Kavčič L, Kežar A, Koritnik N, Žnidarič MT, Klobučar T, Vičič Ž, Merzel F, Holden E, Benesch JLP, Podobnik M. From structural polymorphism to structural metamorphosis of the coat protein of flexuous filamentous potato virus Y. Commun Chem 2024; 7:14. [PMID: 38233506 PMCID: PMC10794713 DOI: 10.1038/s42004-024-01100-x] [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: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/19/2024] Open
Abstract
The structural diversity and tunability of the capsid proteins (CPs) of various icosahedral and rod-shaped viruses have been well studied and exploited in the development of smart hybrid nanoparticles. However, the potential of CPs of the wide-spread flexuous filamentous plant viruses remains to be explored. Here, we show that we can control the shape, size, RNA encapsidation ability, symmetry, stability and surface functionalization of nanoparticles through structure-based design of CP from potato virus Y (PVY). We provide high-resolution insight into CP-based self-assemblies, ranging from large polymorphic or monomorphic filaments to smaller annular, cubic or spherical particles. Furthermore, we show that we can prevent CP self-assembly in bacteria by fusion with a cleavable protein, enabling controlled nanoparticle formation in vitro. Understanding the remarkable structural diversity of PVY CP not only provides possibilities for the production of biodegradable nanoparticles, but may also advance future studies of CP's polymorphism in a biological context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luka Kavčič
- Department of Molecular Biology and Nanobiotechnology, National Institute of Chemistry, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- PhD Program 'Chemical Sciences', Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Andreja Kežar
- Department of Molecular Biology and Nanobiotechnology, National Institute of Chemistry, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Neža Koritnik
- Department of Molecular Biology and Nanobiotechnology, National Institute of Chemistry, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- PhD Program 'Biomedicine', Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Magda Tušek Žnidarič
- Department of Biotechnology and Systems Biology, National Institute of Biology, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Tajda Klobučar
- Department of Molecular Biology and Nanobiotechnology, National Institute of Chemistry, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- PhD Program 'Biosciences', Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Žiga Vičič
- Department of Molecular Biology and Nanobiotechnology, National Institute of Chemistry, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Franci Merzel
- Theory Department, National Institute of Chemistry, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Ellie Holden
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Justin L P Benesch
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Marjetka Podobnik
- Department of Molecular Biology and Nanobiotechnology, National Institute of Chemistry, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
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Whitehead JD, Decool H, Leyrat C, Carrique L, Fix J, Eléouët JF, Galloux M, Renner M. Structure of the N-RNA/P interface indicates mode of L/P recruitment to the nucleocapsid of human metapneumovirus. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7627. [PMID: 37993464 PMCID: PMC10665349 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43434-5] [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] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is a major cause of respiratory illness in young children. The HMPV polymerase (L) binds an obligate cofactor, the phosphoprotein (P). During replication and transcription, the L/P complex traverses the viral RNA genome, which is encapsidated within nucleoproteins (N). An essential interaction between N and a C-terminal region of P tethers the L/P polymerase to the template. This N-P interaction is also involved in the formation of cytoplasmic viral factories in infected cells, called inclusion bodies. To define how the polymerase component P recognizes N-encapsidated RNA (N-RNA) we employed cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) and molecular dynamics simulations, coupled to activity assays and imaging of inclusion bodies in cells. We report a 2.9 Å resolution structure of a triple-complex between multimeric N, bound to both RNA and the C-terminal region of P. Furthermore, we also present cryo-EM structures of assembled N in different oligomeric states, highlighting the plasticity of N. Combined with our functional assays, these structural data delineate in molecular detail how P attaches to N-RNA whilst retaining substantial conformational dynamics. Moreover, the N-RNA-P triple complex structure provides a molecular blueprint for the design of therapeutics to potentially disrupt the attachment of L/P to its template.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jack D Whitehead
- Division of Structural Biology, The Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Hortense Decool
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, UVSQ, VIM, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Cédric Leyrat
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, INSERM, Montpellier, France
| | - Loic Carrique
- Division of Structural Biology, The Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Jenna Fix
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, UVSQ, VIM, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | | | - Marie Galloux
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, UVSQ, VIM, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France.
| | - Max Renner
- Department of Chemistry, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
- Umeå Centre for Microbial Research, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
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