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Wang X, Chen Y, Qi C, Li F, Zhang Y, Zhou J, Wu H, Zhang T, Qi A, Ouyang H, Xie Z, Pang D. Mechanism, structural and functional insights into nidovirus-induced double-membrane vesicles. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1340332. [PMID: 38919631 PMCID: PMC11196420 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1340332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
During infection, positive-stranded RNA causes a rearrangement of the host cell membrane, resulting in specialized membrane structure formation aiding viral genome replication. Double-membrane vesicles (DMVs), typical structures produced by virus-induced membrane rearrangements, are platforms for viral replication. Nidoviruses, one of the most complex positive-strand RNA viruses, have the ability to infect not only mammals and a few birds but also invertebrates. Nidoviruses possess a distinctive replication mechanism, wherein their nonstructural proteins (nsps) play a crucial role in DMV biogenesis. With the participation of host factors related to autophagy and lipid synthesis pathways, several viral nsps hijack the membrane rearrangement process of host endoplasmic reticulum (ER), Golgi apparatus, and other organelles to induce DMV formation. An understanding of the mechanisms of DMV formation and its structure and function in the infectious cycle of nidovirus may be essential for the development of new and effective antiviral strategies in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Wang
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Yiwu Chen
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Chunyun Qi
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Feng Li
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Yuanzhu Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Jian Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Heyong Wu
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Tianyi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Aosi Qi
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Hongsheng Ouyang
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
- Chongqing Research Institute, Jilin University, Chongqing, China
- Center for Animal Science and Technology Research, Chongqing Jitang Biotechnology Research Institute Co., Ltd, Chongqing, China
| | - Zicong Xie
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
- Chongqing Research Institute, Jilin University, Chongqing, China
| | - Daxin Pang
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
- Chongqing Research Institute, Jilin University, Chongqing, China
- Center for Animal Science and Technology Research, Chongqing Jitang Biotechnology Research Institute Co., Ltd, Chongqing, China
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2
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Li H, Schneider T, Tan Y, Zhang D. Ribonuclease T2 represents a distinct circularly permutated version of the BECR RNases. Protein Sci 2023; 32:e4531. [PMID: 36477982 PMCID: PMC9793965 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4531] [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: 08/08/2022] [Revised: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Detection of homologous relationships among proteins and understanding their mechanisms of diversification are major topics in the fields of protein science, bioinformatics, and phylogenetics. Recent developments in sequence/profile-based and structural similarity-based methods have greatly facilitated the unification and classification of many protein families into superfamilies or folds, yet many proteins remain unclassified in current protein databases. As one of the three earliest identified RNases in biology, ribonuclease T2, also known as RNase I in Escherichia coli, RNase Rh in fungi, or S-RNase in plant, is thought to be an ancient RNase family due to its widespread distribution and distinct structure. In this study, we present evidence that RNase T2 represents a circularly permutated version of the BECR (Barnase-EndoU-Colicin E5/D-RelE) fold RNases. This subtle relationship cannot be detected by traditional methods such as sequence/profile-based comparisons, structure-similarity searches, and circular permutation detections. However, we were able to identify the structural similarity using rational reconstruction of a theoretical RNase T2 ancestor via a reverse circular permutation process, followed by structural modeling using AlphaFold2, and structural comparisons. This relationship is further supported by the fact that RNase T2 and other typical BECR RNases, namely Colicin D, RNase A, and BrnT, share similar catalytic site configurations, all involving an analogous set of conserved residues on the α0 helix and the β4 strand of the BECR fold. This study revealed a hidden root of RNase T2 in bacterial toxin systems and demonstrated that reconstruction and modeling of ancestral topology is an effective strategy to identify remote relationship between proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Li
- Department of BiologyCollege of Arts & Sciences, Saint Louis UniversitySaint LouisMissouriUSA
| | - Theresa Schneider
- Department of BiologyCollege of Arts & Sciences, Saint Louis UniversitySaint LouisMissouriUSA
| | - Yongjun Tan
- Department of BiologyCollege of Arts & Sciences, Saint Louis UniversitySaint LouisMissouriUSA
| | - Dapeng Zhang
- Department of BiologyCollege of Arts & Sciences, Saint Louis UniversitySaint LouisMissouriUSA
- Program of Bioinformatics and Computational BiologySchool of Science and Engineering, Saint Louis UniversitySaint LouisMissouriUSA
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3
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Using Alphafold2 to Predict the Structure of the Gp5/M Dimer of Porcine Respiratory and Reproductive Syndrome Virus. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232113209. [DOI: 10.3390/ijms232113209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Revised: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus is a positive-stranded RNA virus of the family Arteriviridae. The Gp5/M dimer, the major component of the viral envelope, is required for virus budding and is an antibody target. We used alphafold2, an artificial-intelligence-based system, to predict a credible structure of Gp5/M. The short disulfide-linked ectodomains lie flat on the membrane, with the exception of the erected N-terminal helix of Gp5, which contains the antibody epitopes and a hypervariable region with a changing number of carbohydrates. The core of the dimer consists of six curved and tilted transmembrane helices, and three are from each protein. The third transmembrane regions extend into the cytoplasm as amphiphilic helices containing the acylation sites. The endodomains of Gp5 and M are composed of seven β-strands from each protein, which interact via β-strand seven. The area under the membrane forms an open cavity with a positive surface charge. The M and Orf3a proteins of coronaviruses have a similar structure, suggesting that all four proteins are derived from the same ancestral gene. Orf3a, like Gp5/M, is acylated at membrane-proximal cysteines. The role of Gp5/M during virus replication is discussed, in particular the mechanisms of virus budding and models of antibody-dependent virus neutralization.
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4
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Dolan KA, Dutta M, Kern DM, Kotecha A, Voth GA, Brohawn SG. Structure of SARS-CoV-2 M protein in lipid nanodiscs. eLife 2022; 11:e81702. [PMID: 36264056 PMCID: PMC9642992 DOI: 10.7554/elife.81702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 encodes four structural proteins incorporated into virions, spike (S), envelope (E), nucleocapsid (N), and membrane (M). M plays an essential role in viral assembly by organizing other structural proteins through physical interactions and directing them to sites of viral budding. As the most abundant protein in the viral envelope and a target of patient antibodies, M is a compelling target for vaccines and therapeutics. Still, the structure of M and molecular basis for its role in virion formation are unknown. Here, we present the cryo-EM structure of SARS-CoV-2 M in lipid nanodiscs to 3.5 Å resolution. M forms a 50 kDa homodimer that is structurally related to the SARS-CoV-2 ORF3a viroporin, suggesting a shared ancestral origin. Structural comparisons reveal how intersubunit gaps create a small, enclosed pocket in M and large open cavity in ORF3a, consistent with a structural role and ion channel activity, respectively. M displays a strikingly electropositive cytosolic surface that may be important for interactions with N, S, and viral RNA. Molecular dynamics simulations show a high degree of structural rigidity in a simple lipid bilayer and support a role for M homodimers in scaffolding viral assembly. Together, these results provide insight into roles for M in coronavirus assembly and structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly A Dolan
- Biophysics Graduate Group, University of California, BerkeleyBerkeleyUnited States
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, and California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences (QB3), University of California, BerkeleyBerkeleyUnited States
| | - Mandira Dutta
- Department of Chemistry, Chicago Center for Theoretical Chemistry, Institute for Biophysical Dynamics, and James Franck Institute, The University of ChicagoChicagoUnited States
| | - David M Kern
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, and California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences (QB3), University of California, BerkeleyBerkeleyUnited States
| | - Abhay Kotecha
- Materials and Structural Analysis Division, Thermo Fisher ScientificEindhovenNetherlands
| | - Gregory A Voth
- Department of Chemistry, Chicago Center for Theoretical Chemistry, Institute for Biophysical Dynamics, and James Franck Institute, The University of ChicagoChicagoUnited States
| | - Stephen G Brohawn
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, and California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences (QB3), University of California, BerkeleyBerkeleyUnited States
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5
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Structure of SARS-CoV-2 membrane protein essential for virus assembly. Nat Commun 2022; 13:4399. [PMID: 35931673 PMCID: PMC9355944 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32019-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The coronavirus membrane protein (M) is the most abundant viral structural protein and plays a central role in virus assembly and morphogenesis. However, the process of M protein-driven virus assembly are largely unknown. Here, we report the cryo-electron microscopy structure of the SARS-CoV-2 M protein in two different conformations. M protein forms a mushroom-shaped dimer, composed of two transmembrane domain-swapped three-helix bundles and two intravirion domains. M protein further assembles into higher-order oligomers. A highly conserved hinge region is key for conformational changes. The M protein dimer is unexpectedly similar to SARS-CoV-2 ORF3a, a viral ion channel. Moreover, the interaction analyses of M protein with nucleocapsid protein (N) and RNA suggest that the M protein mediates the concerted recruitment of these components through the positively charged intravirion domain. Our data shed light on the M protein-driven virus assembly mechanism and provide a structural basis for therapeutic intervention targeting M protein. M protein plays essential roles in virus assembly and morphogenesis. Here, authors reveal two cryo-EM structures of M protein from SARS-CoV-2 that suggest conformational dynamics of M protein and its role in virus assembly.
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6
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Aravind L, Iyer LM, Burroughs AM. Discovering Biological Conflict Systems Through Genome Analysis: Evolutionary Principles and Biochemical Novelty. Annu Rev Biomed Data Sci 2022; 5:367-391. [PMID: 35609893 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-biodatasci-122220-101119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Biological replicators, from genes within a genome to whole organisms, are locked in conflicts. Comparative genomics has revealed a staggering diversity of molecular armaments and mechanisms regulating their deployment, collectively termed biological conflict systems. These encompass toxins used in inter- and intraspecific interactions, self/nonself discrimination, antiviral immune mechanisms, and counter-host effectors deployed by viruses and intragenomic selfish elements. These systems possess shared syntactical features in their organizational logic and a set of effectors targeting genetic information flow through the Central Dogma, certain membranes, and key molecules like NAD+. These principles can be exploited to discover new conflict systems through sensitive computational analyses. This has led to significant advances in our understanding of the biology of these systems and furnished new biotechnological reagents for genome editing, sequencing, and beyond. We discuss these advances using specific examples of toxins, restriction-modification, apoptosis, CRISPR/second messenger-regulated systems, and other enigmatic nucleic acid-targeting systems. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Biomedical Data Science, Volume 5 is August 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Aravind
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA;
| | - Lakshminarayan M Iyer
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA;
| | - A Maxwell Burroughs
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA;
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7
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Forni D, Cagliani R, Molteni C, Arrigoni F, Mozzi A, Clerici M, De Gioia L, Sironi M. Homology-based classification of accessory proteins in coronavirus genomes uncovers extremely dynamic evolution of gene content. Mol Ecol 2022; 31:3672-3692. [PMID: 35575901 PMCID: PMC9328142 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Revised: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Coronaviruses (CoVs) have complex genomes that encode a fixed array of structural and nonstructural components, as well as a variety of accessory proteins that differ even among closely related viruses. Accessory proteins often play a role in the suppression of immune responses and may represent virulence factors. Despite their relevance for CoV phenotypic variability, information on accessory proteins is fragmentary. We applied a systematic approach based on homology detection to create a comprehensive catalogue of accessory proteins encoded by CoVs. Our analyses grouped accessory proteins into 379 orthogroups and 12 super‐groups. No orthogroup was shared by the four CoV genera and very few were present in all or most viruses in the same genus, reflecting the dynamic evolution of CoV genomes. We observed differences in the distribution of accessory proteins in CoV genera. Alphacoronaviruses harboured the largest diversity of accessory open reading frames (ORFs), deltacoronaviruses the smallest. However, the average number of accessory proteins per genome was highest in betacoronaviruses. Analysis of the evolutionary history of some orthogroups indicated that the different CoV genera adopted similar evolutionary strategies. Thus, alphacoronaviruses and betacoronaviruses acquired phosphodiesterases and spike‐like accessory proteins independently, whereas horizontal gene transfer from reoviruses endowed betacoronaviruses and deltacoronaviruses with fusion‐associated small transmembrane (FAST) proteins. Finally, analysis of accessory ORFs in annotated CoV genomes indicated ambiguity in their naming. This complicates cross‐communication among researchers and hinders automated searches of large data sets (e.g., PubMed, GenBank). We suggest that orthogroup membership is used together with a naming system to provide information on protein function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego Forni
- Scientific Institute IRCCS E. MEDEA, Bioinformatics, Bosisio Parini, Italy
| | - Rachele Cagliani
- Scientific Institute IRCCS E. MEDEA, Bioinformatics, Bosisio Parini, Italy
| | - Cristian Molteni
- Scientific Institute IRCCS E. MEDEA, Bioinformatics, Bosisio Parini, Italy
| | - Federica Arrigoni
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milan-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandra Mozzi
- Scientific Institute IRCCS E. MEDEA, Bioinformatics, Bosisio Parini, Italy
| | - Mario Clerici
- Department of Physiopathology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.,Don C. Gnocchi Foundation ONLUS, IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Luca De Gioia
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milan-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Manuela Sironi
- Scientific Institute IRCCS E. MEDEA, Bioinformatics, Bosisio Parini, Italy
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8
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Hassan SS, Kodakandla V, Redwan EM, Lundstrom K, Pal Choudhury P, Abd El-Aziz TM, Takayama K, Kandimalla R, Lal A, Serrano-Aroca Á, Azad GK, Aljabali AA, Palù G, Chauhan G, Adadi P, Tambuwala M, Brufsky AM, Baetas-da-Cruz W, Barh D, Azevedo V, Bazan NG, Andrade BS, Santana Silva RJ, Uversky VN. An issue of concern: unique truncated ORF8 protein variants of SARS-CoV-2. PeerJ 2022; 10:e13136. [PMID: 35341060 PMCID: PMC8944340 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.13136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 02/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Open reading frame 8 (ORF8) shows one of the highest levels of variability among accessory proteins in Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). It was previously reported that the ORF8 protein inhibits the presentation of viral antigens by the major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I), which interacts with host factors involved in pulmonary inflammation. The ORF8 protein assists SARS-CoV-2 in evading immunity and plays a role in SARS-CoV-2 replication. Among many contributing mutations, Q27STOP, a mutation in the ORF8 protein, defines the B.1.1.7 lineage of SARS-CoV-2, engendering the second wave of COVID-19. In the present study, 47 unique truncated ORF8 proteins (T-ORF8) with the Q27STOP mutations were identified among 49,055 available B.1.1.7 SARS-CoV-2 sequences. The results show that only one of the 47 T-ORF8 variants spread to over 57 geo-locations in North America, and other continents, which include Africa, Asia, Europe and South America. Based on various quantitative features, such as amino acid homology, polar/non-polar sequence homology, Shannon entropy conservation, and other physicochemical properties of all specific 47 T-ORF8 protein variants, nine possible T-ORF8 unique variants were defined. The question as to whether T-ORF8 variants function similarly to the wild type ORF8 is yet to be investigated. A positive response to the question could exacerbate future COVID-19 waves, necessitating severe containment measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sk. Sarif Hassan
- Department of Mathematics, Pingla Thana Mahavidyalaya, Maligram, India
| | - Vaishnavi Kodakandla
- Department of Life sciences, Sophia College For Women, University of Mumbai, Mumbai, India
| | - Elrashdy M. Redwan
- Faculty of Science, Department of Biological Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | | | | | - Tarek Mohamed Abd El-Aziz
- Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
| | - Kazuo Takayama
- Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Ramesh Kandimalla
- Applied Biology, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad, India
| | - Amos Lal
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Mayo Clinic Rochester, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Ángel Serrano-Aroca
- Biomaterials and Bioengineering Lab, Centro de Investigacion Traslacional San Alberto Magno, Universidad Catolica de Valencia San Vicente Martir, Valencia, Spain
| | | | - Alaa A.A. Aljabali
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical, Yarmouk University, Irbid, Jordan
| | - Giorgio Palù
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Gaurav Chauhan
- School of Engineering and Sciences, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Monterrey, Mexico
| | - Parise Adadi
- Department of Food Science, University of Otago, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Murtaza Tambuwala
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Science, Ulster University, Coleraine, UK
| | - Adam M. Brufsky
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Wagner Baetas-da-Cruz
- Translational Laboratory in Molecular Physiology, Centre for Experimental Surgery, College of Medicine, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Debmalya Barh
- Centre for Genomics and Applied Gene Technology, Institute of Integrative Omics and 46 Applied Biotechnology (IIOAB), Nonakuri, India
| | - Vasco Azevedo
- Departamento de Genetica, Ecologia e Evolucao, Instituto de Ciencias Biologicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Nikolas G. Bazan
- Neuroscience Center of Excellence, School of Medicine, LSU Health New Orleans, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Bruno Silva Andrade
- Laboratório de Bioinformática e Química Computacional, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual do Sudoeste da Bahia, Jequié, Brazil
| | - Raner José Santana Silva
- Departamento de Ciencias Biologicas (DCB), Programa de Pos-Graduacao em Genetica e Biologia Molecular (PPGGBM), Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz (UESC), Ilheus, Brazil
| | - Vladimir N. Uversky
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, United States
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9
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Zhang J, Ejikemeuwa A, Gerzanich V, Nasr M, Tang Q, Simard JM, Zhao RY. Understanding the Role of SARS-CoV-2 ORF3a in Viral Pathogenesis and COVID-19. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:854567. [PMID: 35356515 PMCID: PMC8959714 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.854567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has shocked the world due to its persistence, COVID-19-related morbidity and mortality, and the high mutability of the virus. One of the major concerns is the emergence of new viral variants that may increase viral transmission and disease severity. In addition to mutations of spike protein, mutations of viral proteins that affect virulence, such as ORF3a, also must be considered. The purpose of this article is to review the current literature on ORF3a, to summarize the molecular actions of SARS-CoV-2 ORF3a, and its role in viral pathogenesis and COVID-19. ORF3a is a polymorphic, multifunctional viral protein that is specific to SARS-CoV/SARS-CoV-2. It was acquired from β-CoV lineage and likely originated from bats through viral evolution. SARS-CoV-2 ORF3a is a viroporin that interferes with ion channel activities in host plasma and endomembranes. It is likely a virion-associated protein that exerts its effect on the viral life cycle during viral entry through endocytosis, endomembrane-associated viral transcription and replication, and viral release through exocytosis. ORF3a induces cellular innate and pro-inflammatory immune responses that can trigger a cytokine storm, especially under hypoxic conditions, by activating NLRP3 inflammasomes, HMGB1, and HIF-1α to promote the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. ORF3a induces cell death through apoptosis, necrosis, and pyroptosis, which leads to tissue damage that affects the severity of COVID-19. ORF3a continues to evolve along with spike and other viral proteins to adapt in the human cellular environment. How the emerging ORF3a mutations alter the function of SARS-CoV-2 ORF3a and its role in viral pathogenesis and COVID-19 is largely unknown. This review provides an in-depth analysis of ORF3a protein's structure, origin, evolution, and mutant variants, and how these characteristics affect its functional role in viral pathogenesis and COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiantao Zhang
- Department of Pathology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Research and Development Service, VA Maryland Health Care System, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Amara Ejikemeuwa
- Department of Pathology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Volodymyr Gerzanich
- Research and Development Service, VA Maryland Health Care System, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Mohamed Nasr
- Drug Development and Clinical Sciences Branch, Division of AIDS, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Qiyi Tang
- Department of Microbiology, Howard University College of Medicine, Washington, DC, United States
| | - J. Marc Simard
- Department of Pathology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Research and Development Service, VA Maryland Health Care System, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Richard Y. Zhao
- Department of Pathology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Research and Development Service, VA Maryland Health Care System, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Institute of Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
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10
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Desingu PA, Nagarajan K. Omicron BA.2 lineage spreads in clusters and is concentrated in Denmark. J Med Virol 2022; 94:2360-2364. [PMID: 35150013 PMCID: PMC9088308 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.27659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Revised: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - K Nagarajan
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, Madras Veterinary College, Vepery, Chennai, 600007.,Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (TANUVAS)
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11
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Gusev E, Sarapultsev A, Solomatina L, Chereshnev V. SARS-CoV-2-Specific Immune Response and the Pathogenesis of COVID-19. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:1716. [PMID: 35163638 PMCID: PMC8835786 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23031716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 39.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The review aims to consolidate research findings on the molecular mechanisms and virulence and pathogenicity characteristics of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) causative agent, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), and their relevance to four typical stages in the development of acute viral infection. These four stages are invasion; primary blockade of antiviral innate immunity; engagement of the virus's protection mechanisms against the factors of adaptive immunity; and acute, long-term complications of COVID-19. The invasion stage entails the recognition of the spike protein (S) of SARS-CoV-2 target cell receptors, namely, the main receptor (angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, ACE2), its coreceptors, and potential alternative receptors. The presence of a diverse repertoire of receptors allows SARS-CoV-2 to infect various types of cells, including those not expressing ACE2. During the second stage, the majority of the polyfunctional structural, non-structural, and extra proteins SARS-CoV-2 synthesizes in infected cells are involved in the primary blockage of antiviral innate immunity. A high degree of redundancy and systemic action characterizing these pathogenic factors allows SARS-CoV-2 to overcome antiviral mechanisms at the initial stages of invasion. The third stage includes passive and active protection of the virus from factors of adaptive immunity, overcoming of the barrier function at the focus of inflammation, and generalization of SARS-CoV-2 in the body. The fourth stage is associated with the deployment of variants of acute and long-term complications of COVID-19. SARS-CoV-2's ability to induce autoimmune and autoinflammatory pathways of tissue invasion and development of both immunosuppressive and hyperergic mechanisms of systemic inflammation is critical at this stage of infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evgenii Gusev
- Laboratory of Immunology of Inflammation, Institute of Immunology and Physiology, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Science, 620049 Ekaterinburg, Russia
| | - Alexey Sarapultsev
- Laboratory of Immunology of Inflammation, Institute of Immunology and Physiology, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Science, 620049 Ekaterinburg, Russia
- Russian-Chinese Education and Research Center of System Pathology, South Ural State University, 454080 Chelyabinsk, Russia
| | - Liliya Solomatina
- Laboratory of Immunology of Inflammation, Institute of Immunology and Physiology, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Science, 620049 Ekaterinburg, Russia
| | - Valeriy Chereshnev
- Laboratory of Immunology of Inflammation, Institute of Immunology and Physiology, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Science, 620049 Ekaterinburg, Russia
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Schneider T, Tan Y, Li H, Fisher JS, Zhang D. Photoglobin, a distinct family of non-heme binding globins, defines a potential photosensor in prokaryotic signal transduction systems. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2022; 20:261-273. [PMID: 35024098 PMCID: PMC8717448 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2021.12.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2021] [Revised: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Globins constitute an ancient superfamily of proteins, exhibiting enormous structural and functional diversity, as demonstrated by many heme-binding families and two non-heme binding families that were discovered in bacterial stressosome component RsbR and in light-harvesting phycobiliproteins (phycocyanin) in cyanobacteria and red algae. By comprehensively exploring the globin repertoire using sensitive computational analyses of sequences, structures, and genomes, we present the identification of the third family of non-heme binding globins—the photoglobin. By conducting profile-based comparisons, clustering analyses, and structural modeling, we demonstrate that photoglobin is related to, but distinct from, the phycocyanin family. Photoglobin preserves a potential ligand-binding pocket, whose residue configuration closely resembles that of phycocyanin, indicating that photoglobin potentially binds to a comparable linear tetrapyrrole. By exploring the contextual information provided by the photoglobin’s domain architectures and gene-neighborhoods, we found that photoglobin is frequently associated with the B12-binding light sensor domain and many domains typical of prokaryotic signal transduction systems. Structural modeling using AlphaFold2 demonstrated that photoglobin and B12-binding domains form a structurally conserved hub among different domain architecture contexts. Based on these strong associations, we predict that the coupled photoglobin and B12-binding domains act as a light-sensing regulatory bundle, with each domain sensing different wavelengths of light resulting in switch-like regulation of downstream signaling effectors. Thus, based on the above lines of evidence, we present a distinct non-heme binding globin family and propose that it may define a new type of light sensor, by means of a linear tetrapyrrole, in complex prokaryotic signal transduction systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theresa Schneider
- Department of Biology, College of Arts & Sciences, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, MO 63105, United States
| | - Yongjun Tan
- Department of Biology, College of Arts & Sciences, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, MO 63105, United States
| | - Huan Li
- Department of Biology, College of Arts & Sciences, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, MO 63105, United States
| | - Jonathan S Fisher
- Department of Biology, College of Arts & Sciences, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, MO 63105, United States
| | - Dapeng Zhang
- Department of Biology, College of Arts & Sciences, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, MO 63105, United States.,Program of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, College of Arts & Sciences, Saint Louis University, MO 63103, United States
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13
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Hassan SS, Kodakandla V, Redwan EM, Lundstrom K, Pal Choudhury P, Abd El-Aziz TM, Takayama K, Kandimalla R, Lal A, Serrano-Aroca Á, Azad GK, Aljabali AAA, Palù G, Chauhan G, Adadi P, Tambuwala M, Brufsky AM, Baetas-da-Cruz W, Barh D, Azevedo V, Bazan NG, Andrade BS, Santana Silva RJ, Uversky VN. An issue of concern: unique truncated ORF8 protein variants of SARS-CoV-2. PeerJ 2022. [PMID: 35341060 DOI: 10.1101/2021.05.25.445557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Open reading frame 8 (ORF8) shows one of the highest levels of variability among accessory proteins in Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). It was previously reported that the ORF8 protein inhibits the presentation of viral antigens by the major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I), which interacts with host factors involved in pulmonary inflammation. The ORF8 protein assists SARS-CoV-2 in evading immunity and plays a role in SARS-CoV-2 replication. Among many contributing mutations, Q27STOP, a mutation in the ORF8 protein, defines the B.1.1.7 lineage of SARS-CoV-2, engendering the second wave of COVID-19. In the present study, 47 unique truncated ORF8 proteins (T-ORF8) with the Q27STOP mutations were identified among 49,055 available B.1.1.7 SARS-CoV-2 sequences. The results show that only one of the 47 T-ORF8 variants spread to over 57 geo-locations in North America, and other continents, which include Africa, Asia, Europe and South America. Based on various quantitative features, such as amino acid homology, polar/non-polar sequence homology, Shannon entropy conservation, and other physicochemical properties of all specific 47 T-ORF8 protein variants, nine possible T-ORF8 unique variants were defined. The question as to whether T-ORF8 variants function similarly to the wild type ORF8 is yet to be investigated. A positive response to the question could exacerbate future COVID-19 waves, necessitating severe containment measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sk Sarif Hassan
- Department of Mathematics, Pingla Thana Mahavidyalaya, Maligram, India
| | - Vaishnavi Kodakandla
- Department of Life sciences, Sophia College For Women, University of Mumbai, Mumbai, India
| | - Elrashdy M Redwan
- Faculty of Science, Department of Biological Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | | | | | - Tarek Mohamed Abd El-Aziz
- Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
| | - Kazuo Takayama
- Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Ramesh Kandimalla
- Applied Biology, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad, India
| | - Amos Lal
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Mayo Clinic Rochester, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Ángel Serrano-Aroca
- Biomaterials and Bioengineering Lab, Centro de Investigacion Traslacional San Alberto Magno, Universidad Catolica de Valencia San Vicente Martir, Valencia, Spain
| | | | - Alaa A A Aljabali
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical, Yarmouk University, Irbid, Jordan
| | - Giorgio Palù
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Gaurav Chauhan
- School of Engineering and Sciences, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Monterrey, Mexico
| | - Parise Adadi
- Department of Food Science, University of Otago, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Murtaza Tambuwala
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Science, Ulster University, Coleraine, UK
| | - Adam M Brufsky
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Wagner Baetas-da-Cruz
- Translational Laboratory in Molecular Physiology, Centre for Experimental Surgery, College of Medicine, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Debmalya Barh
- Centre for Genomics and Applied Gene Technology, Institute of Integrative Omics and 46 Applied Biotechnology (IIOAB), Nonakuri, India
| | - Vasco Azevedo
- Departamento de Genetica, Ecologia e Evolucao, Instituto de Ciencias Biologicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Nikolas G Bazan
- Neuroscience Center of Excellence, School of Medicine, LSU Health New Orleans, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Bruno Silva Andrade
- Laboratório de Bioinformática e Química Computacional, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual do Sudoeste da Bahia, Jequié, Brazil
| | - Raner José Santana Silva
- Departamento de Ciencias Biologicas (DCB), Programa de Pos-Graduacao em Genetica e Biologia Molecular (PPGGBM), Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz (UESC), Ilheus, Brazil
| | - Vladimir N Uversky
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, United States
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14
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Tan Y, Wang C, Schneider T, Li H, de Souza RF, Tang X, Swisher Grimm KD, Hsieh TF, Wang X, Li X, Zhang D. Comparative Phylogenomic Analysis Reveals Evolutionary Genomic Changes and Novel Toxin Families in Endophytic Liberibacter Pathogens. Microbiol Spectr 2021; 9:e0050921. [PMID: 34523996 PMCID: PMC8557891 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00509-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Liberibacter pathogens are the causative agents of several severe crop diseases worldwide, including citrus Huanglongbing and potato zebra chip. These bacteria are endophytic and nonculturable, which makes experimental approaches challenging and highlights the need for bioinformatic analysis in advancing our understanding about Liberibacter pathogenesis. Here, we performed an in-depth comparative phylogenomic analysis of the Liberibacter pathogens and their free-living, nonpathogenic, ancestral species, aiming to identify major genomic changes and determinants associated with their evolutionary transitions in living habitats and pathogenicity. Using gene neighborhood analysis and phylogenetic classification, we systematically uncovered, annotated, and classified all prophage loci into four types, including one previously unrecognized group. We showed that these prophages originated through independent gene transfers at different evolutionary stages of Liberibacter and only the SC-type prophage was associated with the emergence of the pathogens. Using ortholog clustering, we vigorously identified two additional sets of genomic genes, which were either lost or gained in the ancestor of the pathogens. Consistent with the habitat change, the lost genes were enriched for biosynthesis of cellular building blocks. Importantly, among the gained genes, we uncovered several previously unrecognized toxins, including new toxins homologous to the EspG/VirA effectors, a YdjM phospholipase toxin, and a secreted endonuclease/exonuclease/phosphatase (EEP) protein. Our results substantially extend the knowledge of the evolutionary events and potential determinants leading to the emergence of endophytic, pathogenic Liberibacter species, which will facilitate the design of functional experiments and the development of new methods for detection and blockage of these pathogens. IMPORTANCELiberibacter pathogens are associated with several severe crop diseases, including citrus Huanglongbing, the most destructive disease to the citrus industry. Currently, no effective cure or treatments are available, and no resistant citrus variety has been found. The fact that these obligate endophytic pathogens are not culturable has made it extremely challenging to experimentally uncover the genes/proteins important to Liberibacter pathogenesis. Further, earlier bioinformatics studies failed to identify key genomic determinants, such as toxins and effector proteins, that underlie the pathogenicity of the bacteria. In this study, an in-depth comparative genomic analysis of Liberibacter pathogens along with their ancestral nonpathogenic species identified the prophage loci and several novel toxins that are evolutionarily associated with the emergence of the pathogens. These results shed new light on the disease mechanism of Liberibacter pathogens and will facilitate the development of new detection and blockage methods targeting the toxins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongjun Tan
- Department of Biology, College of Arts & Sciences, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Cindy Wang
- Department of Biology, College of Arts & Sciences, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Theresa Schneider
- Department of Biology, College of Arts & Sciences, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Huan Li
- Department of Biology, College of Arts & Sciences, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Robson Francisco de Souza
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Xueming Tang
- School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Kylie D. Swisher Grimm
- United States Department of Agriculture—Agricultural Research Service, Temperate Tree Fruit and Vegetable Research Unit, Prosser, Washington, USA
| | - Tzung-Fu Hsieh
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
- Plants for Human Health Institute, North Carolina State University, Kannapolis, North Carolina, USA
| | - Xu Wang
- Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, USA
- Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, USA
- HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, Huntsville, Alabama, USA
| | - Xu Li
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
- Plants for Human Health Institute, North Carolina State University, Kannapolis, North Carolina, USA
| | - Dapeng Zhang
- Department of Biology, College of Arts & Sciences, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Program, College of Arts & Sciences, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
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