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Meganck RM, Ogurlu R, Liu J, Moller-Tank S, Tse V, Blondel LO, Rosales A, Hall AC, Vincent HA, Moorman NJ, Marzluff WF, Asokan A. Sub-genomic flaviviral RNA elements increase the stability and abundance of recombinant AAV vector transcripts. J Virol 2024; 98:e0009524. [PMID: 39082815 PMCID: PMC11334430 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00095-24] [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: 01/14/2024] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 08/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Many viruses have evolved structured RNA elements that can influence transcript abundance and translational efficiency, and help evade host immune factors by hijacking cellular machinery during replication. Here, we evaluated the functional impact of sub-genomic flaviviral RNAs (sfRNAs) known to stall exoribonuclease activity, by incorporating these elements into recombinant adeno-associated viral (AAV) genome cassettes. Specifically, sfRNAs from Dengue, Zika, Japanese Encephalitis, Yellow Fever, Murray Valley Encephalitis, and West Nile viruses increased transcript stability and transgene expression compared to a conventional woodchuck hepatitis virus element (WPRE). Further dissection of engineered transcripts revealed that sfRNA elements (i) require incorporation in cis within the 3' untranslated region (UTR) of AAV genomes, (ii) require minimal dumbbell structures to exert the observed effects, and (iii) can stabilize AAV transcripts independent of 5'-3' exoribonuclease 1 (XRN1)-mediated decay. Additionally, preliminary in vivo assessment of AAV vectors bearing sfRNA elements in mice achieved increased transcript abundance and expression in cardiac tissue. Leveraging the functional versatility of engineered viral RNA elements may help improve the potency of AAV vector-based gene therapies. IMPORTANCE Viral RNA elements can hijack host cell machinery to control stability of transcripts and consequently, infection. Studies that help better understand such viral elements can provide insights into antiviral strategies and also potentially leverage these features for therapeutic applications. In this study, by incorporating structured flaviviral RNA elements into recombinant adeno-associated viral (AAV) vector genomes, we show improved AAV transcript stability and transgene expression can be achieved, with implications for gene transfer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita M. Meganck
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Gene Therapy Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Roza Ogurlu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jiacheng Liu
- Gene Therapy Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Sven Moller-Tank
- Gene Therapy Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Regeneron Pharmaceutical, Inc., Tarrytown, New York, USA
| | - Victor Tse
- Gene Therapy Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Leo O. Blondel
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Cell Biology & Physiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Alan Rosales
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Aaron C. Hall
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Heather A. Vincent
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- TorqueBio, Inc., Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Nathaniel J. Moorman
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - William F. Marzluff
- Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Aravind Asokan
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
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Shivaprasad S, Qiao W, Weng KF, Umashankar P, Carette JE, Sarnow P. CRISPR Screen Reveals PACT as a Pro-Viral Factor for Dengue Viral Replication. Viruses 2024; 16:725. [PMID: 38793607 PMCID: PMC11125577 DOI: 10.3390/v16050725] [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: 03/13/2024] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The dengue virus is a single-stranded, positive-sense RNA virus that infects ~400 million people worldwide. Currently, there are no approved antivirals available. CRISPR-based screening methods have greatly accelerated the discovery of host factors that are essential for DENV infection and that can be targeted in host-directed antiviral interventions. In the present study, we performed a focused CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Palindromic Repeats) library screen to discover the key host factors that are essential for DENV infection in human Huh7 cells and identified the Protein Activator of Interferon-Induced Protein Kinase (PACT) as a novel pro-viral factor for DENV. PACT is a double-stranded RNA-binding protein generally known to activate antiviral responses in virus-infected cells and block viral replication. However, in our studies, we observed that PACT plays a pro-viral role in DENV infection and specifically promotes viral RNA replication. Knockout of PACT resulted in a significant decrease in DENV RNA and protein abundances in infected cells, which was rescued upon ectopic expression of full-length PACT. An analysis of global gene expression changes indicated that several ER-associated pro-viral genes such as ERN1, DDIT3, HERPUD1, and EIF2AK3 are not upregulated in DENV-infected PACT knockout cells as compared to infected wildtype cells. Thus, our study demonstrates a novel role for PACT in promoting DENV replication, possibly through modulating the expression of ER-associated pro-viral genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shwetha Shivaprasad
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Stanford University SOM, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; (W.Q.); (J.E.C.); (P.S.)
- Molecular Biology and Genetics Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bengaluru 560064, Karnataka, India;
| | - Wenjie Qiao
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Stanford University SOM, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; (W.Q.); (J.E.C.); (P.S.)
| | - Kuo-Feng Weng
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Stanford University SOM, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; (W.Q.); (J.E.C.); (P.S.)
| | - Pavithra Umashankar
- Molecular Biology and Genetics Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bengaluru 560064, Karnataka, India;
| | - Jan E. Carette
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Stanford University SOM, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; (W.Q.); (J.E.C.); (P.S.)
| | - Peter Sarnow
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Stanford University SOM, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; (W.Q.); (J.E.C.); (P.S.)
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Cai J, He R, Zhang Y, Zhang P, Zhu Y, Wang D. Protocol for detecting lncRNA-protein interaction in vivo using the yeast three-hybrid assay. STAR Protoc 2024; 5:102856. [PMID: 38285736 PMCID: PMC10839528 DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2024.102856] [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] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 01/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Analyses of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA)-protein interactions provide key clues for understanding the molecular basis of lncRNA-modulated biological processes. Here, we detail a yeast three-hybrid assay to identify the lncRNA-interacting protein. We describe steps for lncRNA bait preparation, screening an RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) cDNA library, and validation of the lncRNA-RBP interaction. The assay can also be further applied to delineate the region of RBP that mediates the RNA-protein interaction. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Zhang et al.1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjing Cai
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Gene Engineering in Jiangxi Province, College of Life Science, Nanchang University, Jiangxi 330031, China
| | - Reqing He
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Gene Engineering in Jiangxi Province, College of Life Science, Nanchang University, Jiangxi 330031, China
| | - Yongdi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Gene Engineering in Jiangxi Province, College of Life Science, Nanchang University, Jiangxi 330031, China
| | - Pengxiang Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Gene Engineering in Jiangxi Province, College of Life Science, Nanchang University, Jiangxi 330031, China
| | - Youlin Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Gene Engineering in Jiangxi Province, College of Life Science, Nanchang University, Jiangxi 330031, China
| | - Dong Wang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Gene Engineering in Jiangxi Province, College of Life Science, Nanchang University, Jiangxi 330031, China.
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Chen X, Li RT, Chen RY, Shi PD, Liu ZX, Lou YN, Wu M, Zhang RR, Tang W, Li XF, Qin CF. The subgenomic flaviviral RNA suppresses RNA interference through competing with siRNAs for binding RISC components. J Virol 2024; 98:e0195423. [PMID: 38289102 PMCID: PMC10878275 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01954-23] [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] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
During the life cycle of mosquito-borne flaviviruses, substantial subgenomic flaviviral RNA (sfRNA) is produced via incomplete degradation of viral genomic RNA by host XRN1. Zika virus (ZIKV) sfRNA has been detected in mosquito and mammalian somatic cells. Human neural progenitor cells (hNPCs) in the developing brain are the major target cells of ZIKV, and antiviral RNA interference (RNAi) plays a critical role in hNPCs. However, whether ZIKV sfRNA was produced in ZIKV-infected hNPCs as well as its function remains not known. In this study, we demonstrate that abundant sfRNA was produced in ZIKV-infected hNPCs. RNA pulldown and mass spectrum assays showed ZIKV sfRNA interacted with host proteins RHA and PACT, both of which are RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC) components. Functionally, ZIKV sfRNA can antagonize RNAi by outcompeting small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) in binding to RHA and PACT. Furthermore, the 3' stem loop (3'SL) of sfRNA was responsible for RISC components binding and RNAi inhibition, and 3'SL can enhance the replication of a viral suppressor of RNAi (VSR)-deficient virus in a RHA- and PACT-dependent manner. More importantly, the ability of binding to RISC components is conversed among multiple flaviviral 3'SLs. Together, our results identified flavivirus 3'SL as a potent VSR in RNA format, highlighting the complexity in virus-host interaction during flavivirus infection.IMPORTANCEZika virus (ZIKV) infection mainly targets human neural progenitor cells (hNPCs) and induces cell death and dysregulated cell-cycle progression, leading to microcephaly and other central nervous system abnormalities. RNA interference (RNAi) plays critical roles during ZIKV infections in hNPCs, and ZIKV has evolved to encode specific viral proteins to antagonize RNAi. Herein, we first show that abundant sfRNA was produced in ZIKV-infected hNPCs in a similar pattern to that in other cells. Importantly, ZIKV sfRNA acts as a potent viral suppressor of RNAi (VSR) by competing with siRNAs for binding RISC components, RHA and PACT. The 3'SL of sfRNA is responsible for binding RISC components, which is a conserved feature among mosquito-borne flaviviruses. As most known VSRs are viral proteins, our findings highlight the importance of viral non-coding RNAs during the antagonism of host RNAi-based antiviral innate immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Chen
- Department of Virology, State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Rui-Ting Li
- Department of Virology, State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Ru-Yi Chen
- Department of Virology, State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Pan-Deng Shi
- Department of Virology, State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Zi-Xin Liu
- Department of Virology, State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Ya-Nan Lou
- Department of Virology, State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Mei Wu
- Department of Virology, State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Rong-Rong Zhang
- Department of Virology, State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Tang
- Department of Virology, State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Xiao-Feng Li
- Department of Virology, State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Cheng-Feng Qin
- Department of Virology, State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
- Research Unit of Discovery and Tracing of Natural Focus Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
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5
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Hou J, Wei Y, Zou J, Jaffery R, Sun L, Liang S, Zheng N, Guerrero AM, Egan NA, Bohat R, Chen S, Zheng C, Mao X, Yi SS, Chen K, McGrail DJ, Sahni N, Shi PY, Chen Y, Xie X, Peng W. Integrated multi-omics analyses identify anti-viral host factors and pathways controlling SARS-CoV-2 infection. Nat Commun 2024; 15:109. [PMID: 38168026 PMCID: PMC10761986 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44175-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Host anti-viral factors are essential for controlling SARS-CoV-2 infection but remain largely unknown due to the biases of previous large-scale studies toward pro-viral host factors. To fill in this knowledge gap, we perform a genome-wide CRISPR dropout screen and integrate analyses of the multi-omics data of the CRISPR screen, genome-wide association studies, single-cell RNA-Seq, and host-virus proteins or protein/RNA interactome. This study uncovers many host factors that are currently underappreciated, including the components of V-ATPases, ESCRT, and N-glycosylation pathways that modulate viral entry and/or replication. The cohesin complex is also identified as an anti-viral pathway, suggesting an important role of three-dimensional chromatin organization in mediating host-viral interaction. Furthermore, we discover another anti-viral regulator KLF5, a transcriptional factor involved in sphingolipid metabolism, which is up-regulated, and harbors genetic variations linked to COVID-19 patients with severe symptoms. Anti-viral effects of three identified candidates (DAZAP2/VTA1/KLF5) are confirmed individually. Molecular characterization of DAZAP2/VTA1/KLF5-knockout cells highlights the involvement of genes related to the coagulation system in determining the severity of COVID-19. Together, our results provide further resources for understanding the host anti-viral network during SARS-CoV-2 infection and may help develop new countermeasure strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiakai Hou
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Yanjun Wei
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jing Zou
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Roshni Jaffery
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Long Sun
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Shaoheng Liang
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Computer Science, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
- Computational Biology Department, School of Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Ningbo Zheng
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Ashley M Guerrero
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Nicholas A Egan
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Ritu Bohat
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Si Chen
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Caishang Zheng
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Xiaobo Mao
- Neuroregeneration and Stem Cell Programs, Institute for Cell Engineering, Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - S Stephen Yi
- Department of Oncology, Livestrong Cancer Institutes, and Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
- Interdisciplinary Life Sciences Graduate Programs (ILSGP) and Oden Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences (ICES), The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Ken Chen
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Daniel J McGrail
- Center for Immunotherapy and Precision Immuno-Oncology, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Nidhi Sahni
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Pei-Yong Shi
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA.
- Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA.
- Sealy Institute for Vaccine Sciences, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA.
- Sealy Center for Structural Biology & Molecular Biophysics, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA.
- Institute for Translational Science, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA.
- Sealy Institute for Drug Discovery, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA.
| | - Yiwen Chen
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
- Quantitative Sciences Program, MD Anderson Cancer Center, UT Health Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX, USA.
| | - Xuping Xie
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA.
- Sealy Institute for Drug Discovery, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA.
| | - Weiyi Peng
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA.
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Liu Y, Guan W, Liu H. Subgenomic Flaviviral RNAs of Dengue Viruses. Viruses 2023; 15:2306. [PMID: 38140548 PMCID: PMC10747610 DOI: 10.3390/v15122306] [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: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Subgenomic flaviviral RNAs (sfRNAs) are produced during flavivirus infections in both arthropod and vertebrate cells. They are undegraded products originating from the viral 3' untranslated region (3' UTR), a result of the action of the host 5'-3' exoribonuclease, Xrn1, when it encounters specific RNA structures known as Xrn1-resistant RNAs (xrRNAs) within the viral 3' UTR. Dengue viruses generate three to four distinct species of sfRNAs through the presence of two xrRNAs and two dumbbell structures (DBs). The tertiary structures of xrRNAs have been characterized to form a ringlike structure around the 5' end of the viral RNA, effectively inhibiting the activity of Xrn1. The most important role of DENV sfRNAs is to inhibit host antiviral responses by interacting with viral and host proteins, thereby influencing viral pathogenicity, replicative fitness, epidemiological fitness, and transmission. In this review, we aimed to summarize the biogenesis, structures, and functions of DENV sfRNAs, exploring their implications for viral interference.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Liu
- Hubei Jiangxia Laboratory, Wuhan 430200, China
| | - Wuxiang Guan
- Hubei Jiangxia Laboratory, Wuhan 430200, China
- Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430207, China
| | - Haibin Liu
- Hubei Jiangxia Laboratory, Wuhan 430200, China
- Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430207, China
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Dos Santos Nascimento IJ, da Silva Rodrigues ÉE, da Silva MF, de Araújo-Júnior JX, de Moura RO. Advances in Computational Methods to Discover New NS2B-NS3 Inhibitors Useful Against Dengue and Zika Viruses. Curr Top Med Chem 2022; 22:2435-2462. [PMID: 36415099 DOI: 10.2174/1568026623666221122121330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The Flaviviridae virus family consists of the genera Hepacivirus, Pestivirus, and Flavivirus, with approximately 70 viral types that use arthropods as vectors. Among these diseases, dengue (DENV) and zika virus (ZIKV) serotypes stand out, responsible for thousands of deaths worldwide. Due to the significant increase in cases, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared DENV a potential threat for 2019 due to being transmitted by infected travelers. Furthermore, ZIKV also has a high rate of transmissibility, highlighted in the outbreak in 2015, generating consequences such as Guillain-Barré syndrome and microcephaly. According to clinical outcomes, those infected with DENV can be asymptomatic, and in other cases, it can be lethal. On the other hand, ZIKV has severe neurological symptoms in newborn babies and adults. More serious symptoms include microcephaly, brain calcifications, intrauterine growth restriction, and fetal death. Despite these worrying data, no drug or vaccine is approved to treat these diseases. In the drug discovery process, one of the targets explored against these diseases is the NS2B-NS3 complex, which presents the catalytic triad His51, Asp75, and Ser135, with the function of cleaving polyproteins, with specificity for basic amino acid residues, Lys- Arg, Arg-Arg, Arg-Lys or Gln-Arg. Since NS3 is highly conserved in all DENV serotypes and plays a vital role in viral replication, this complex is an excellent drug target. In recent years, computer-aided drug discovery (CADD) is increasingly essential in drug discovery campaigns, making the process faster and more cost-effective, mainly explained by discovering new drugs against DENV and ZIKV. Finally, the main advances in computational methods applied to discover new compounds against these diseases will be presented here. In fact, molecular dynamics simulations and virtual screening is the most explored approach, providing several hit and lead compounds that can be used in further optimizations. In addition, fragment-based drug design and quantum chemistry/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) provides new insights for developing anti-DENV/ZIKV drugs. We hope that this review offers further helpful information for researchers worldwide and stimulates the use of computational methods to find a promising drug for treating DENV and ZIKV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Igor José Dos Santos Nascimento
- Department of Pharmacy, Estácio of Alagoas College, Maceió, Brazil.,Department of Pharmacy, Cesmac University Center, Maceió, Brazil.,Department of Pharmacy, Drug Development and Synthesis Laboratory, State University of Paraíba, Campina Grande, Brazil
| | | | - Manuele Figueiredo da Silva
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences Institute, Federal University of Alagoas, Maceió, Brazil
| | - João Xavier de Araújo-Júnior
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences Institute, Federal University of Alagoas, Maceió, Brazil
| | - Ricardo Olimpio de Moura
- Department of Pharmacy, Drug Development and Synthesis Laboratory, State University of Paraíba, Campina Grande, Brazil
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Hou J, Wei Y, Zou J, Jaffery R, Liang S, Zheng C, Chen K, Shi PY, Chen Y, Xie X, Peng W. Integrated multi-omics analyses identify key anti-viral host factors and pathways controlling SARS-CoV-2 infection. RESEARCH SQUARE 2022:rs.3.rs-1910932. [PMID: 36032971 PMCID: PMC9413708 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-1910932/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Host anti-viral factors are essential for controlling SARS-CoV-2 infection but remain largely unknown due to the biases of previous large-scale studies toward pro-viral host factors. To fill in this knowledge gap, we performed a genome-wide CRISPR dropout screen and integrated analyses of the multi-omics data of the CRISPR screen, genome-wide association studies, single-cell RNA-seq, and host-virus proteins or protein/RNA interactome. This study has uncovered many host factors that were missed by previous studies, including the components of V-ATPases, ESCRT, and N-glycosylation pathways that modulated viral entry and/or replication. The cohesin complex was also identified as a novel anti-viral pathway, suggesting an important role of three-dimensional chromatin organization in mediating host-viral interaction. Furthermore, we discovered an anti-viral regulator KLF5, a transcriptional factor involved in sphingolipid metabolism, which was up-regulated and harbored genetic variations linked to the COVID-19 patients with severe symptoms. Our results provide a resource for understanding the host anti-viral network during SARS-CoV-2 infection and may help develop new countermeasure strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yanjun Wei
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
| | - Jing Zou
- University of Texas Medical Branch
| | | | | | | | - Ken Chen
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
| | | | - Yiwen Chen
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
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Host cytoskeletal vimentin serves as a structural organizer and an RNA-binding protein regulator to facilitate Zika viral replication. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:2113909119. [PMID: 35193960 PMCID: PMC8872754 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2113909119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
We discovered a dual role of vimentin underlying Zika virus (ZIKV) replication. The vimentin network reorganizes to surround the replication complex. Depletion of vimentin resulted in drastic segregation of viral proteins and subsequent defective infection, indicating its function as an “organizer” that ensures the concentration of all necessary factors for high replication efficacy. With omics analysis, we prove that vimentin also functions as a “regulator” that dominates RNA-binding proteins during infection. These two roles complement one another to make an integrated view of vimentin in regulating ZIKV infection. Collectively, our study fills the long-term gap in our knowledge of the cellular function of intermediate filaments in addition to structural support and provides a potential target for ZIKV therapy. Emerging microbe infections, such as Zika virus (ZIKV), pose an increasing threat to human health. Investigations on ZIKV replication have revealed the construction of replication complexes (RCs), but the role of cytoskeleton in this process is largely unknown. Here, we investigated the function of cytoskeletal intermediate filament protein vimentin in the life cycle of ZIKV infection. Using advanced imaging techniques, we uncovered that vimentin filaments undergo drastic reorganization upon viral protein synthesis to form a perinuclear cage-like structure that embraces and concentrates RCs. Genetic removal of vimentin markedly disrupted the integrity of RCs and resulted in fragmented subcellular dispersion of viral proteins. This led to reduced viral genome replication, viral protein production, and release of infectious virions, without interrupting viral binding and entry. Furthermore, mass spectrometry and RNA-sequencing screens identified interactions and interplay between vimentin and hundreds of endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-resident RNA-binding proteins. Among them, the cytoplasmic-region of ribosome receptor binding protein 1, an ER transmembrane protein that directly binds viral RNA, interacted with and was regulated by vimentin, resulting in modulation of ZIKV replication. Together, the data in our work reveal a dual role for vimentin as a structural element for RC integrity and as an RNA-binding-regulating hub during ZIKV infection, thus unveiling a layer of interplay between Zika virus and host cell.
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