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Peng Q, Yuan B, Cheng J, Wang M, Gao S, Bai S, Zhao X, Qi J, Gao GF, Shi Y. Molecular mechanism of de novo replication by the Ebola virus polymerase. Nature 2023; 622:603-610. [PMID: 37699521 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06608-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023]
Abstract
Non-segmented negative-strand RNA viruses, including Ebola virus (EBOV), rabies virus, human respiratory syncytial virus and pneumoviruses, can cause respiratory infections, haemorrhagic fever and encephalitis in humans and animals, and are considered a substantial health and economic burden worldwide1. Replication and transcription of the viral genome are executed by the large (L) polymerase, which is a promising target for the development of antiviral drugs. Here, using the L polymerase of EBOV as a representative, we show that de novo replication of L polymerase is controlled by the specific 3' leader sequence of the EBOV genome in an enzymatic assay, and that formation of at least three base pairs can effectively drive the elongation process of RNA synthesis independent of the specific RNA sequence. We present the high-resolution structures of the EBOV L-VP35-RNA complex and show that the 3' leader RNA binds in the template entry channel with a distinctive stable bend conformation. Using mutagenesis assays, we confirm that the bend conformation of the RNA is required for the de novo replication activity and reveal the key residues of the L protein that stabilize the RNA conformation. These findings provide a new mechanistic understanding of RNA synthesis for polymerases of non-segmented negative-strand RNA viruses, and reveal important targets for the development of antiviral drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Peng
- International Institute of Vaccine Research and Innovation (iVac), Savaid Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogen Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Bin Yuan
- International Institute of Vaccine Research and Innovation (iVac), Savaid Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogen Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jinlong Cheng
- International Institute of Vaccine Research and Innovation (iVac), Savaid Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogen Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Min Wang
- International Institute of Vaccine Research and Innovation (iVac), Savaid Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogen Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Siwei Gao
- International Institute of Vaccine Research and Innovation (iVac), Savaid Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogen Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Suran Bai
- International Institute of Vaccine Research and Innovation (iVac), Savaid Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogen Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xuejin Zhao
- International Institute of Vaccine Research and Innovation (iVac), Savaid Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogen Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jianxun Qi
- International Institute of Vaccine Research and Innovation (iVac), Savaid Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogen Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
- Beijing Life Science Academy, Beijing, China.
| | - George F Gao
- International Institute of Vaccine Research and Innovation (iVac), Savaid Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogen Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
- Beijing Life Science Academy, Beijing, China.
- Center for Influenza Research and Early-warning (CASCIRE), CAS-TWAS Center of Excellence for Emerging Infectious Disease (CEEID), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
- Research Unit of Adaptive Evolution and Control of Emerging Viruses, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
| | - Yi Shi
- International Institute of Vaccine Research and Innovation (iVac), Savaid Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogen Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
- Beijing Life Science Academy, Beijing, China.
- Center for Influenza Research and Early-warning (CASCIRE), CAS-TWAS Center of Excellence for Emerging Infectious Disease (CEEID), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
- Research Unit of Adaptive Evolution and Control of Emerging Viruses, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
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Hufsky F, Abecasis AB, Babaian A, Beck S, Brierley L, Dellicour S, Eggeling C, Elena SF, Gieraths U, Ha AD, Harvey W, Jones TC, Lamkiewicz K, Lovate GL, Lücking D, Machyna M, Nishimura L, Nocke MK, Renard BY, Sakaguchi S, Sakellaridi L, Spangenberg J, Tarradas-Alemany M, Triebel S, Vakulenko Y, Wijesekara RY, González-Candelas F, Krautwurst S, Pérez-Cataluña A, Randazzo W, Sánchez G, Marz M. The International Virus Bioinformatics Meeting 2023. Viruses 2023; 15:2031. [PMID: 37896809 PMCID: PMC10612056 DOI: 10.3390/v15102031] [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: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The 2023 International Virus Bioinformatics Meeting was held in Valencia, Spain, from 24-26 May 2023, attracting approximately 180 participants worldwide. The primary objective of the conference was to establish a dynamic scientific environment conducive to discussion, collaboration, and the generation of novel research ideas. As the first in-person event following the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, the meeting facilitated highly interactive exchanges among attendees. It served as a pivotal gathering for gaining insights into the current status of virus bioinformatics research and engaging with leading researchers and emerging scientists. The event comprised eight invited talks, 19 contributed talks, and 74 poster presentations across eleven sessions spanning three days. Topics covered included machine learning, bacteriophages, virus discovery, virus classification, virus visualization, viral infection, viromics, molecular epidemiology, phylodynamic analysis, RNA viruses, viral sequence analysis, viral surveillance, and metagenomics. This report provides rewritten abstracts of the presentations, a summary of the key research findings, and highlights shared during the meeting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska Hufsky
- European Virus Bioinformatics Center, 07743 Jena, Germany (A.B.A.); (L.B.); (S.D.); (C.E.); (S.F.E.); (T.C.J.); (K.L.); (G.L.L.); (M.K.N.); (B.Y.R.); (F.G.-C.); (A.P.-C.); (W.R.); (G.S.)
- RNA Bioinformatics and High-Throughput Analysis, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, 07743 Jena, Germany;
| | - Ana B. Abecasis
- European Virus Bioinformatics Center, 07743 Jena, Germany (A.B.A.); (L.B.); (S.D.); (C.E.); (S.F.E.); (T.C.J.); (K.L.); (G.L.L.); (M.K.N.); (B.Y.R.); (F.G.-C.); (A.P.-C.); (W.R.); (G.S.)
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, GHTM, Associate Laboratory in Translation and Innovation towards Global Health, LA-REAL, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, IHMT, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, UNL, Rua da Junqueira 100, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Artem Babaian
- European Virus Bioinformatics Center, 07743 Jena, Germany (A.B.A.); (L.B.); (S.D.); (C.E.); (S.F.E.); (T.C.J.); (K.L.); (G.L.L.); (M.K.N.); (B.Y.R.); (F.G.-C.); (A.P.-C.); (W.R.); (G.S.)
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A1, Canada
| | - Sebastian Beck
- Leibniz Institute of Virology, Department Viral Zoonoses—One Health, 20251 Hamburg, Germany;
| | - Liam Brierley
- European Virus Bioinformatics Center, 07743 Jena, Germany (A.B.A.); (L.B.); (S.D.); (C.E.); (S.F.E.); (T.C.J.); (K.L.); (G.L.L.); (M.K.N.); (B.Y.R.); (F.G.-C.); (A.P.-C.); (W.R.); (G.S.)
- Department of Health Data Science, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GF, UK
| | - Simon Dellicour
- European Virus Bioinformatics Center, 07743 Jena, Germany (A.B.A.); (L.B.); (S.D.); (C.E.); (S.F.E.); (T.C.J.); (K.L.); (G.L.L.); (M.K.N.); (B.Y.R.); (F.G.-C.); (A.P.-C.); (W.R.); (G.S.)
- Spatial Epidemiology Lab (SpELL), Université Libre de Bruxelles, CP160/12, 50 av. FD Roosevelt, 1050 Bruxelles, Belgium
- Laboratory for Clinical and Epidemiological Virology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, KU Leuven, University of Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Christian Eggeling
- European Virus Bioinformatics Center, 07743 Jena, Germany (A.B.A.); (L.B.); (S.D.); (C.E.); (S.F.E.); (T.C.J.); (K.L.); (G.L.L.); (M.K.N.); (B.Y.R.); (F.G.-C.); (A.P.-C.); (W.R.); (G.S.)
- Institute of Applied Optics and Biophysics, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Max-Wien-Platz 1, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Santiago F. Elena
- European Virus Bioinformatics Center, 07743 Jena, Germany (A.B.A.); (L.B.); (S.D.); (C.E.); (S.F.E.); (T.C.J.); (K.L.); (G.L.L.); (M.K.N.); (B.Y.R.); (F.G.-C.); (A.P.-C.); (W.R.); (G.S.)
- Institute for Integrative Systems Biology (I2SysBio), CSIC-Universitat de Valencia, Catedratico Agustin Escardino 9, 46980 Valencia, Spain
| | - Udo Gieraths
- Institute of Virology, Charité, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Anh D. Ha
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Will Harvey
- The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH25 9RG, UK
| | - Terry C. Jones
- European Virus Bioinformatics Center, 07743 Jena, Germany (A.B.A.); (L.B.); (S.D.); (C.E.); (S.F.E.); (T.C.J.); (K.L.); (G.L.L.); (M.K.N.); (B.Y.R.); (F.G.-C.); (A.P.-C.); (W.R.); (G.S.)
- Institute of Virology, Charité, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, UK
| | - Kevin Lamkiewicz
- European Virus Bioinformatics Center, 07743 Jena, Germany (A.B.A.); (L.B.); (S.D.); (C.E.); (S.F.E.); (T.C.J.); (K.L.); (G.L.L.); (M.K.N.); (B.Y.R.); (F.G.-C.); (A.P.-C.); (W.R.); (G.S.)
- RNA Bioinformatics and High-Throughput Analysis, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, 07743 Jena, Germany;
| | - Gabriel L. Lovate
- European Virus Bioinformatics Center, 07743 Jena, Germany (A.B.A.); (L.B.); (S.D.); (C.E.); (S.F.E.); (T.C.J.); (K.L.); (G.L.L.); (M.K.N.); (B.Y.R.); (F.G.-C.); (A.P.-C.); (W.R.); (G.S.)
- RNA Bioinformatics and High-Throughput Analysis, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, 07743 Jena, Germany;
| | - Dominik Lücking
- Max-Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Celsiusstraße 1, 28359 Bremen, Germany
| | - Martin Machyna
- Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Host-Pathogen-Interactions, 63225 Langen, Germany
| | - Luca Nishimura
- European Virus Bioinformatics Center, 07743 Jena, Germany (A.B.A.); (L.B.); (S.D.); (C.E.); (S.F.E.); (T.C.J.); (K.L.); (G.L.L.); (M.K.N.); (B.Y.R.); (F.G.-C.); (A.P.-C.); (W.R.); (G.S.)
- Department of Genetics, School of Life Science, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies (SOKENDAI), Mishima 411-8540, Japan
- Human Genetics Laboratory, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima 411-8540, Japan
| | - Maximilian K. Nocke
- European Virus Bioinformatics Center, 07743 Jena, Germany (A.B.A.); (L.B.); (S.D.); (C.E.); (S.F.E.); (T.C.J.); (K.L.); (G.L.L.); (M.K.N.); (B.Y.R.); (F.G.-C.); (A.P.-C.); (W.R.); (G.S.)
- Department for Molecular & Medical Virology, Ruhr University Bochum, 44801 Bochum, Germany
| | - Bernard Y. Renard
- European Virus Bioinformatics Center, 07743 Jena, Germany (A.B.A.); (L.B.); (S.D.); (C.E.); (S.F.E.); (T.C.J.); (K.L.); (G.L.L.); (M.K.N.); (B.Y.R.); (F.G.-C.); (A.P.-C.); (W.R.); (G.S.)
- Digital Engineering Faculty, Hasso Plattner Institute, University of Potsdam, 14482 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Shoichi Sakaguchi
- Department of Microbiology and Infection Control, Faculty of Medicine, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Osaka 569-8686, Japan;
| | - Lygeri Sakellaridi
- Institute for Virology and Immunobiology, University of Würzburg, Versbacher Str. 7, 97078 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Jannes Spangenberg
- European Virus Bioinformatics Center, 07743 Jena, Germany (A.B.A.); (L.B.); (S.D.); (C.E.); (S.F.E.); (T.C.J.); (K.L.); (G.L.L.); (M.K.N.); (B.Y.R.); (F.G.-C.); (A.P.-C.); (W.R.); (G.S.)
- RNA Bioinformatics and High-Throughput Analysis, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, 07743 Jena, Germany;
| | - Maria Tarradas-Alemany
- Computational Genomics Lab., Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, Institut de Biomedicina UB (IBUB), Universitat de Barcelona (UB), 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sandra Triebel
- European Virus Bioinformatics Center, 07743 Jena, Germany (A.B.A.); (L.B.); (S.D.); (C.E.); (S.F.E.); (T.C.J.); (K.L.); (G.L.L.); (M.K.N.); (B.Y.R.); (F.G.-C.); (A.P.-C.); (W.R.); (G.S.)
- RNA Bioinformatics and High-Throughput Analysis, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, 07743 Jena, Germany;
| | - Yulia Vakulenko
- Martsinovsky Institute of Medical Parasitology, Tropical and Vector Borne Diseases, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Rajitha Yasas Wijesekara
- Institute for Bioinformatics, University of Medicine Greifswald, Felix-Hausdorff-Str. 8, 17475 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Fernando González-Candelas
- European Virus Bioinformatics Center, 07743 Jena, Germany (A.B.A.); (L.B.); (S.D.); (C.E.); (S.F.E.); (T.C.J.); (K.L.); (G.L.L.); (M.K.N.); (B.Y.R.); (F.G.-C.); (A.P.-C.); (W.R.); (G.S.)
- Institute for Integrative Systems Biology (I2SysBio), CSIC-Universitat de Valencia, Catedratico Agustin Escardino 9, 46980 Valencia, Spain
- Joint Research Unit “Infection and Public Health” FISABIO, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Sarah Krautwurst
- RNA Bioinformatics and High-Throughput Analysis, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, 07743 Jena, Germany;
| | - Alba Pérez-Cataluña
- European Virus Bioinformatics Center, 07743 Jena, Germany (A.B.A.); (L.B.); (S.D.); (C.E.); (S.F.E.); (T.C.J.); (K.L.); (G.L.L.); (M.K.N.); (B.Y.R.); (F.G.-C.); (A.P.-C.); (W.R.); (G.S.)
- VISAFELab, Department of Preservation and Food Safety Technologies, Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology, IATA-CSIC, 46980 Valencia, Spain
| | - Walter Randazzo
- European Virus Bioinformatics Center, 07743 Jena, Germany (A.B.A.); (L.B.); (S.D.); (C.E.); (S.F.E.); (T.C.J.); (K.L.); (G.L.L.); (M.K.N.); (B.Y.R.); (F.G.-C.); (A.P.-C.); (W.R.); (G.S.)
- VISAFELab, Department of Preservation and Food Safety Technologies, Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology, IATA-CSIC, 46980 Valencia, Spain
| | - Gloria Sánchez
- European Virus Bioinformatics Center, 07743 Jena, Germany (A.B.A.); (L.B.); (S.D.); (C.E.); (S.F.E.); (T.C.J.); (K.L.); (G.L.L.); (M.K.N.); (B.Y.R.); (F.G.-C.); (A.P.-C.); (W.R.); (G.S.)
- VISAFELab, Department of Preservation and Food Safety Technologies, Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology, IATA-CSIC, 46980 Valencia, Spain
| | - Manja Marz
- European Virus Bioinformatics Center, 07743 Jena, Germany (A.B.A.); (L.B.); (S.D.); (C.E.); (S.F.E.); (T.C.J.); (K.L.); (G.L.L.); (M.K.N.); (B.Y.R.); (F.G.-C.); (A.P.-C.); (W.R.); (G.S.)
- RNA Bioinformatics and High-Throughput Analysis, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, 07743 Jena, Germany;
- German Center for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
- Michael Stifel Center Jena, Ernst-Abbe-Platz 2, 07743 Jena, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence Balance of the Microverse, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, 07745 Jena, Germany
- Leibniz Institute for Age Research—Fritz Lippman Institute, 07745 Jena, Germany
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Bach S, Demper JC, Klemm P, Schlereth J, Lechner M, Schoen A, Kämper L, Weber F, Becker S, Biedenkopf N, Hartmann RK. Identification and characterization of short leader and trailer RNAs synthesized by the Ebola virus RNA polymerase. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1010002. [PMID: 34699554 PMCID: PMC8547711 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcription of non-segmented negative sense (NNS) RNA viruses follows a stop-start mechanism and is thought to be initiated at the genome’s very 3’-end. The synthesis of short abortive leader transcripts (leaderRNAs) has been linked to transcription initiation for some NNS viruses. Here, we identified the synthesis of abortive leaderRNAs (as well as trailer RNAs) that are specifically initiated opposite to (anti)genome nt 2; leaderRNAs are predominantly terminated in the region of nt ~ 60–80. LeaderRNA synthesis requires hexamer phasing in the 3’-leader promoter. We determined a steady-state NP mRNA:leaderRNA ratio of ~10 to 30-fold at 48 h after Ebola virus (EBOV) infection, and this ratio was higher (70 to 190-fold) for minigenome-transfected cells. LeaderRNA initiation at nt 2 and the range of termination sites were not affected by structure and length variation between promoter elements 1 and 2, nor the presence or absence of VP30. Synthesis of leaderRNA is suppressed in the presence of VP30 and termination of leaderRNA is not mediated by cryptic gene end (GE) signals in the 3’-leader promoter. We further found different genomic 3’-end nucleotide requirements for transcription versus replication, suggesting that promoter recognition is different in the replication and transcription mode of the EBOV polymerase. We further provide evidence arguing against a potential role of EBOV leaderRNAs as effector molecules in innate immunity. Taken together, our findings are consistent with a model according to which leaderRNAs are abortive replicative RNAs whose synthesis is not linked to transcription initiation. Rather, replication and transcription complexes are proposed to independently initiate RNA synthesis at separate sites in the 3’-leader promoter, i.e., at the second nucleotide of the genome 3’-end and at the more internally positioned transcription start site preceding the first gene, respectively, as reported for Vesicular stomatitis virus. The RNA polymerase (RdRp) of Ebola virus (EBOV) initiates RNA synthesis at the 3’-leader promoter of its encapsidated, non-segmented negative sense (NNS) RNA genome, either at the penultimate 3’-end position of the genome in the replicative mode or more internally (position 56) at the transcription start site (TSS) in its transcription mode. Here we identified the synthesis of abortive replicative RNAs that are specifically initiated opposite to genome nt 2 (termed leaderRNAs) and predominantly terminated in the region of nt ~ 60–80 near the TSS. The functional role of abortive leaderRNA synthesis is still enigmatic; a role in interferon induction could be excluded. Our findings indirectly link leaderRNA termination to nucleoprotein (NP) availability for encapsidation of nascent replicative RNA or to NP removal from the template RNA. Our findings further argue against the model that leaderRNA synthesis is a prerequisite for each transcription initiation event at the TSS. Rather, our findings are in line with the existence of distinct replicase and transcriptase complexes of RdRp that interact differently with the 3’-leader promoter and intiate RNA synthesis independently at different sites (position 2 or 56 of the genome), mechanistically similar to another NNS virus, Vesicular stomatitis virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Bach
- Institut für Pharmazeutische Chemie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Jana-Christin Demper
- Institut für Pharmazeutische Chemie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Paul Klemm
- Zentrum für Synthetische Mikrobiologie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Julia Schlereth
- Institut für Pharmazeutische Chemie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Marcus Lechner
- Zentrum für Synthetische Mikrobiologie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Andreas Schoen
- Institut für Virologie, Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen, Gießen, Germany
| | - Lennart Kämper
- Institut für Virologie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Friedemann Weber
- Institut für Virologie, Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen, Gießen, Germany
| | - Stephan Becker
- Institut für Virologie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Nadine Biedenkopf
- Institut für Virologie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
- * E-mail: (NB); (RKH)
| | - Roland K. Hartmann
- Institut für Pharmazeutische Chemie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
- * E-mail: (NB); (RKH)
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Bach S, Demper JC, Grünweller A, Becker S, Biedenkopf N, Hartmann RK. Regulation of VP30-Dependent Transcription by RNA Sequence and Structure in the Genomic Ebola Virus Promoter. J Virol 2021; 95:JVI.02215-20. [PMID: 33268520 PMCID: PMC8092829 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.02215-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 11/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Viral transcription and replication of Ebola virus (EBOV) is balanced by transcription factor VP30, an RNA binding protein. An RNA hairpin at the transcription start site (TSS) of the first gene (NP hairpin) in the 3'-leader promoter is thought to mediate the VP30 dependency of transcription. Here, we investigated the constraints of VP30 dependency using a series of monocistronic minigenomes with sequence, structure and length deviations from the native NP hairpin. Hairpin stabilizations decreased while destabilizations increased transcription in the absence of VP30, but in all cases, transcription activity was higher in the presence versus absence of VP30. This also pertains to a mutant that is unable to form any RNA secondary structure at the TSS, demonstrating that the activity of VP30 is not simply determined by the capacity to form a hairpin structure at the TSS. Introduction of continuous 3'-UN5 hexamer phasing between promoter elements PE1 and PE2 by a single point mutation in the NP hairpin boosted VP30-independent transcription. Moreover, this point mutation, but also hairpin stabilizations, impaired the relative increase of replication in the absence of VP30. Our results suggest that the native NP hairpin is optimized for tight regulation by VP30 while avoiding an extent of hairpin stability that impairs viral transcription, as well as for enabling the switch from transcription to replication when VP30 is not part of the polymerase complex.IMPORTANCE A detailed understanding is lacking how the Ebola virus (EBOV) protein VP30 regulates activity of the viral polymerase complex. Here, we studied how RNA sequence, length and structure at the transcription start site (TSS) in the 3'-leader promoter influence the impact of VP30 on viral polymerase activity. We found that hairpin stabilizations tighten the VP30 dependency of transcription but reduce transcription efficiency and attenuate the switch to replication in the absence of VP30. Upon hairpin destabilization, VP30-independent transcription - already weakly detectable at the native promoter - increases, but never reaches the same extent as in the presence of VP30. We conclude that the native hairpin structure involving the TSS (i) establishes an optimal balance between efficient transcription and tight regulation by VP30, (ii) is linked to hexamer phasing in the promoter, and (iii) favors the switch to replication when VP30 is absent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Bach
- Institut für Pharmazeutische Chemie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marbacher Weg 6, 35037 Marburg, Germany
| | - Jana-Christin Demper
- Institut für Pharmazeutische Chemie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marbacher Weg 6, 35037 Marburg, Germany
| | - Arnold Grünweller
- Institut für Pharmazeutische Chemie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marbacher Weg 6, 35037 Marburg, Germany
| | - Stephan Becker
- Institut für Virologie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Hans-Meerwein-Str. 2, 35043 Marburg
| | - Nadine Biedenkopf
- Institut für Virologie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Hans-Meerwein-Str. 2, 35043 Marburg
| | - Roland K Hartmann
- Institut für Pharmazeutische Chemie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marbacher Weg 6, 35037 Marburg, Germany
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