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Jayawardena TU, Merindol N, Liyanage NS, Desgagné-Penix I. Unveiling Amaryllidaceae alkaloids: from biosynthesis to antiviral potential - a review. Nat Prod Rep 2024; 41:721-747. [PMID: 38131392 DOI: 10.1039/d3np00044c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Covering: 2017 to 2023 (now)Amaryllidaceae alkaloids (AAs) are a unique class of specialized metabolites containing heterocyclic nitrogen bridging that play a distinct role in higher plants. Irrespective of their diverse structures, most AAs are biosynthesized via intramolecular oxidative coupling. The complex organization of biosynthetic pathways is constantly enlightened by new insights owing to the advancement of natural product chemistry, synthetic organic chemistry, biochemistry, systems and synthetic biology tools and applications. These promote novel compound identification, trace-level metabolite quantification, synthesis, and characterization of enzymes engaged in AA catalysis, enabling the recognition of biosynthetic pathways. A complete understanding of the pathway benefits biotechnological applications in the long run. This review emphasizes the structural diversity of the AA specialized metabolites involved in biogenesis although the process is not entirely defined yet. Moreover, this work underscores the pivotal role of synthetic and enantioselective studies in justifying biosynthetic conclusions. Their prospective candidacy as lead constituents for antiviral drug discovery has also been established. However, a complete understanding of the pathway requires further interdisciplinary efforts in which antiviral studies address the structure-activity relationship. This review presents current knowledge on the topic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thilina U Jayawardena
- Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Physics, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC, G8Z 4M3, Canada.
| | - Natacha Merindol
- Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Physics, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC, G8Z 4M3, Canada.
| | - Nuwan Sameera Liyanage
- Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Physics, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC, G8Z 4M3, Canada.
| | - Isabel Desgagné-Penix
- Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Physics, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC, G8Z 4M3, Canada.
- Plant Biology Research Group, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC, Canada
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2
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Luwanski K, Hlushchenko V, Popenda M, Zok T, Sarzynska J, Martsich D, Szachniuk M, Antczak M. RNAspider: a webserver to analyze entanglements in RNA 3D structures. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:W663-W669. [PMID: 35349710 PMCID: PMC9252836 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Advances in experimental and computational techniques enable the exploration of large and complex RNA 3D structures. These, in turn, reveal previously unstudied properties and motifs not characteristic for small molecules with simple architectures. Examples include entanglements of structural elements in RNA molecules and knot-like folds discovered, among others, in the genomes of RNA viruses. Recently, we presented the first classification of entanglements, determined by their topology and the type of entangled structural elements. Here, we introduce RNAspider - a web server to automatically identify, classify, and visualize primary and higher-order entanglements in RNA tertiary structures. The program applies to evaluate RNA 3D models obtained experimentally or by computational prediction. It supports the analysis of uncommon topologies in the pseudoknotted RNA structures. RNAspider is implemented as a publicly available tool with a user-friendly interface and can be freely accessed at https://rnaspider.cs.put.poznan.pl/.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamil Luwanski
- Institute of Computing Science and European Centre for Bioinformatics and Genomics, Poznan University of Technology, Piotrowo 2, 60-965 Poznan, Poland
| | - Vladyslav Hlushchenko
- Institute of Computing Science and European Centre for Bioinformatics and Genomics, Poznan University of Technology, Piotrowo 2, 60-965 Poznan, Poland
| | - Mariusz Popenda
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704 Poznan, Poland
| | - Tomasz Zok
- Institute of Computing Science and European Centre for Bioinformatics and Genomics, Poznan University of Technology, Piotrowo 2, 60-965 Poznan, Poland
| | - Joanna Sarzynska
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704 Poznan, Poland
| | - Daniil Martsich
- Institute of Computing Science and European Centre for Bioinformatics and Genomics, Poznan University of Technology, Piotrowo 2, 60-965 Poznan, Poland
| | - Marta Szachniuk
- Institute of Computing Science and European Centre for Bioinformatics and Genomics, Poznan University of Technology, Piotrowo 2, 60-965 Poznan, Poland
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704 Poznan, Poland
| | - Maciej Antczak
- Institute of Computing Science and European Centre for Bioinformatics and Genomics, Poznan University of Technology, Piotrowo 2, 60-965 Poznan, Poland
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704 Poznan, Poland
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3
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Ren PX, Shang WJ, Yin WC, Ge H, Wang L, Zhang XL, Li BQ, Li HL, Xu YC, Xu EH, Jiang HL, Zhu LL, Zhang LK, Bai F. A multi-targeting drug design strategy for identifying potent anti-SARS-CoV-2 inhibitors. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2022; 43:483-493. [PMID: 33907306 PMCID: PMC8076879 DOI: 10.1038/s41401-021-00668-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, is threatening public health, and there is no effective treatment. In this study, we have implemented a multi-targeted anti-viral drug design strategy to discover highly potent SARS-CoV-2 inhibitors, which simultaneously act on the host ribosome, viral RNA as well as RNA-dependent RNA polymerases, and nucleocapsid protein of the virus, to impair viral translation, frameshifting, replication, and assembly. Driven by this strategy, three alkaloids, including lycorine, emetine, and cephaeline, were discovered to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 with EC50 values of low nanomolar levels potently. The findings in this work demonstrate the feasibility of this multi-targeting drug design strategy and provide a rationale for designing more potent anti-virus drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng-Xuan Ren
- School of Life Science and Technology, and Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Wei-Juan Shang
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Wan-Chao Yin
- CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Huan Ge
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Lin Wang
- School of Life Science and Technology, and Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Xiang-Lei Zhang
- School of Life Science and Technology, and Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Bing-Qian Li
- School of Life Science and Technology, and Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China
- Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Hong-Lin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Ye-Chun Xu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Eric H Xu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Hua-Liang Jiang
- School of Life Science and Technology, and Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Li-Li Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China.
| | - Lei-Ke Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, China.
| | - Fang Bai
- School of Life Science and Technology, and Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China.
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4
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Quemener AM, Centomo ML, Sax SL, Panella R. Small Drugs, Huge Impact: The Extraordinary Impact of Antisense Oligonucleotides in Research and Drug Development. Molecules 2022; 27:536. [PMID: 35056851 PMCID: PMC8781596 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27020536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Revised: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) are an increasingly represented class of drugs. These small sequences of nucleotides are designed to precisely target other oligonucleotides, usually RNA species, and are modified to protect them from degradation by nucleases. Their specificity is due to their sequence, so it is possible to target any RNA sequence that is already known. These molecules are very versatile and adaptable given that their sequence and chemistry can be custom manufactured. Based on the chemistry being used, their activity may significantly change and their effects on cell function and phenotypes can differ dramatically. While some will cause the target RNA to decay, others will only bind to the target and act as a steric blocker. Their incredible versatility is the key to manipulating several aspects of nucleic acid function as well as their process, and alter the transcriptome profile of a specific cell type or tissue. For example, they can be used to modify splicing or mask specific sites on a target. The entire design rather than just the sequence is essential to ensuring the specificity of the ASO to its target. Thus, it is vitally important to ensure that the complete process of drug design and testing is taken into account. ASOs' adaptability is a considerable advantage, and over the past decades has allowed multiple new drugs to be approved. This, in turn, has had a significant and positive impact on patient lives. Given current challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, it is necessary to find new therapeutic strategies that would complement the vaccination efforts being used across the globe. ASOs may be a very powerful tool that can be used to target the virus RNA and provide a therapeutic paradigm. The proof of the efficacy of ASOs as an anti-viral agent is long-standing, yet no molecule currently has FDA approval. The emergence and widespread use of RNA vaccines during this health crisis might provide an ideal opportunity to develop the first anti-viral ASOs on the market. In this review, we describe the story of ASOs, the different characteristics of their chemistry, and how their characteristics translate into research and as a clinical tool.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anais M. Quemener
- University Rennes, CNRS, IGDR (Institute of Genetics and Development of Rennes)-UMR 6290, F-35000 Rennes, France;
| | - Maria Laura Centomo
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, 10124 Turin, Italy;
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Desert Research Institute, Reno, NV 89512, USA;
| | - Scott L. Sax
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Desert Research Institute, Reno, NV 89512, USA;
| | - Riccardo Panella
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Desert Research Institute, Reno, NV 89512, USA;
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5
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Sanbonmatsu K. Getting to the bottom of lncRNA mechanism: structure-function relationships. Mamm Genome 2021; 33:343-353. [PMID: 34642784 PMCID: PMC8509902 DOI: 10.1007/s00335-021-09924-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
While long non-coding RNAs are known to play key roles in disease and development, relatively few structural studies have been performed for this important class of RNAs. Here, we review functional studies of long non-coding RNAs and expose the need for high-resolution 3-D structural studies, discussing the roles of long non-coding RNAs in the cell and how structure–function relationships might be used to elucidate further understanding. We then describe structural studies of other classes of RNAs using chemical probing, nuclear magnetic resonance, small-angle X-ray scattering, X-ray crystallography, and cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM). Next, we review early structural studies of long non-coding RNAs to date and describe the way forward for the structural biology of long non-coding RNAs in terms of cryo-EM.
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6
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Roman C, Lewicka A, Koirala D, Li NS, Piccirilli JA. The SARS-CoV-2 Programmed -1 Ribosomal Frameshifting Element Crystal Structure Solved to 2.09 Å Using Chaperone-Assisted RNA Crystallography. ACS Chem Biol 2021; 16:1469-1481. [PMID: 34328734 PMCID: PMC8353986 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.1c00324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The programmed -1 ribosomal frameshifting element (PFSE) of SARS-CoV-2 is a well conserved structured RNA found in all coronaviruses' genomes. By adopting a pseudoknot structure in the presence of the ribosome, the PFSE promotes a ribosomal frameshifting event near the stop codon of the first open reading frame Orf1a during translation of the polyprotein pp1a. Frameshifting results in continuation of pp1a via a new open reading frame, Orf1b, that produces the longer pp1ab polyprotein. Polyproteins pp1a and pp1ab produce nonstructural proteins NSPs 1-10 and NSPs 1-16, respectively, which contribute vital functions during the viral life cycle and must be present in the proper stoichiometry. Both drugs and sequence alterations that affect the stability of the -1 programmed ribosomal frameshifting element disrupt the stoichiometry of the NSPs produced, which compromise viral replication. For this reason, the -1 programmed frameshifting element is considered a promising drug target. Using chaperone assisted RNA crystallography, we successfully crystallized and solved the three-dimensional structure of the PFSE. We observe a three-stem H-type pseudoknot structure with the three stems stacked in a vertical orientation stabilized by two triple base pairs at the stem 1/stem 2 and stem 1/stem 3 junctions. This structure provides a new conformation of PFSE distinct from the bent conformations inferred from midresolution cryo-EM models and provides a high-resolution framework for mechanistic investigations and structure-based drug design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Roman
- Department
of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The
University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
| | - Anna Lewicka
- Department
of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The
University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
| | - Deepak Koirala
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC), Baltimore, Maryland 21250, United States
| | - Nan-Sheng Li
- Department
of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The
University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
| | - Joseph A. Piccirilli
- Department
of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The
University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
- Department
of Chemistry, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
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7
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Structural dynamics of single SARS-CoV-2 pseudoknot molecules reveal topologically distinct conformers. Nat Commun 2021; 12:4749. [PMID: 34362921 PMCID: PMC8346527 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-25085-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The RNA pseudoknot that stimulates programmed ribosomal frameshifting in SARS-CoV-2 is a possible drug target. To understand how it responds to mechanical tension applied by ribosomes, thought to play a key role during frameshifting, we probe its structural dynamics using optical tweezers. We find that it forms multiple structures: two pseudoknotted conformers with different stability and barriers, and alternative stem-loop structures. The pseudoknotted conformers have distinct topologies, one threading the 5′ end through a 3-helix junction to create a knot-like fold, the other with unthreaded 5′ end, consistent with structures observed via cryo-EM and simulations. Refolding of the pseudoknotted conformers starts with stem 1, followed by stem 3 and lastly stem 2; Mg2+ ions are not required, but increase pseudoknot mechanical rigidity and favor formation of the knot-like conformer. These results resolve the SARS-CoV-2 frameshift signal folding mechanism and highlight its conformational heterogeneity, with important implications for structure-based drug-discovery efforts. The RNA pseudoknot of SARS-CoV-2 promotes -1 programmed ribosomal frameshifting. Here the authors use single molecule force spectroscopy to study the folding of this pseudoknot, showing that it forms at least two different pseudoknot conformers with distinct fold topologies.
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8
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Schlick T, Zhu Q, Dey A, Jain S, Yan S, Laederach A. To Knot or Not to Knot: Multiple Conformations of the SARS-CoV-2 Frameshifting RNA Element. J Am Chem Soc 2021; 143:11404-11422. [PMID: 34283611 PMCID: PMC8315264 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.1c03003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 frameshifting RNA element (FSE) is an excellent target for therapeutic intervention against Covid-19. This small gene element employs a shifting mechanism to pause and backtrack the ribosome during translation between Open Reading Frames 1a and 1b, which code for viral polyproteins. Any interference with this process has a profound effect on viral replication and propagation. Pinpointing the structures adapted by the FSE and associated structural transformations involved in frameshifting has been a challenge. Using our graph-theory-based modeling tools for representing RNA secondary structures, "RAG" (RNA-As-Graphs), and chemical structure probing experiments, we show that the 3-stem H-type pseudoknot (3_6 dual graph), long assumed to be the dominant structure, has a viable alternative, an HL-type 3-stem pseudoknot (3_3) for longer constructs. In addition, an unknotted 3-way junction RNA (3_5) emerges as a minor conformation. These three conformations share Stems 1 and 3, while the different Stem 2 may be involved in a conformational switch and possibly associations with the ribosome during translation. For full-length genomes, a stem-loop motif (2_2) may compete with these forms. These structural and mechanistic insights advance our understanding of the SARS-CoV-2 frameshifting process and concomitant virus life cycle, and point to three avenues of therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamar Schlick
- Department of Chemistry, New York University, 100 Washington Square East, Silver Building, New York, New York 10003, United States
- Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, New York University, 251 Mercer Street, New York, New York 10012, United States
- New York University-East China Normal University Center for Computational Chemistry, New York University-Shanghai, Shanghai 200062, P. R. China
| | - Qiyao Zhu
- Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, New York University, 251 Mercer Street, New York, New York 10012, United States
| | - Abhishek Dey
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
| | - Swati Jain
- Department of Chemistry, New York University, 100 Washington Square East, Silver Building, New York, New York 10003, United States
| | - Shuting Yan
- Department of Chemistry, New York University, 100 Washington Square East, Silver Building, New York, New York 10003, United States
| | - Alain Laederach
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States
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9
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Zhang F, Wang Z, Vijver MG, Peijnenburg WJGM. Probing nano-QSAR to assess the interactions between carbon nanoparticles and a SARS-CoV-2 RNA fragment. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2021; 219:112357. [PMID: 34044308 PMCID: PMC8133531 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2021.112357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2021] [Revised: 05/16/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
The coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is rampant in the world and is a serious threat to global health. The SARS-CoV-2 RNA has been detected in various environmental media, which speeds up the pace of the virus becoming a global biological pollutant. Because many engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) are capable of inducing anti-microbial activity, ENMs provide excellent solutions to overcome the virus pandemic, for instance by application as protective coatings, biosensors, or nano-agents. To tackle some mechanistic issues related to the impact of ENMs on SARS-CoV-2, we investigated the molecular interactions between carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) and a SARS-CoV-2 RNA fragment (i.e., a model molecule of frameshift stimulation element from the SARS-CoV-2 RNA genome) using molecular mechanics simulations. The interaction affinity between the CNPs and the SARS-CoV-2 RNA fragment increased in the order of fullerenes < graphenes < carbon nanotubes. Furthermore, we developed quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) models to describe the interactions of 17 different types of CNPs from three dimensions with the SARS-CoV-2 RNA fragment. The QSAR models on the interaction energies of CNPs with the SARS-CoV-2 RNA fragment show high goodness-of-fit and robustness. Molecular weight, surface area, and the sum of degrees of every carbon atom were found to be the primary structural descriptors of CNPs determining the interactions. Our research not only offers a theoretical insight into the adsorption/separation and inactivation of SARS-CoV-2, but also allows to design novel ENMs which act efficiently on the genetic material RNA of SARS-CoV-2. This contributes to minimizing the challenge of time-consuming and labor-intensive virus experiments under high risk of infection, whilst meeting our precautionary demand for options to handle any new versions of the coronavirus that might emerge in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan Zhang
- Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML), Leiden University, Leiden 2300 RA, The Netherlands
| | - Zhuang Wang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Collaborative Innovation Center of Atmospheric Environment and Equipment Technology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment Monitoring and Pollution Control, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing 210044, PR China
| | - Martina G Vijver
- Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML), Leiden University, Leiden 2300 RA, The Netherlands.
| | - Willie J G M Peijnenburg
- Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML), Leiden University, Leiden 2300 RA, The Netherlands; Centre for Safety of Substances and Products, National Institute of Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven 3720 BA, The Netherlands.
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10
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Affiliation(s)
- Rhiju Das
- Departments of Biochemistry and Physics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
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11
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Ferreira I, Slott S, Astakhova K, Weber G. Complete Mesoscopic Parameterization of Single LNA Modifications in DNA Applied to Oncogene Probe Design. J Chem Inf Model 2021; 61:3615-3624. [PMID: 34251211 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.1c00470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The use of mesoscopic models to describe the thermodynamic properties of locked nucleic acid (LNA)-modified nucleotides can provide useful insights into their properties, such as hydrogen-bonding and stacking interactions. In addition, the mesoscopic parameters can be used to optimize LNA insertion in probes, to achieve accurate melting temperature predictions, and to obtain duplex opening profiles at the base-pair level. Here, we applied this type of model to parameterize a large set of melting temperatures for LNA-modified sequences, from published sources, covering all possible nearest-neighbor configurations. We have found a very large increase in Morse potentials, which indicates very strong hydrogen bonding as the main cause of improved LNA thermodynamic stability. LNA-modified adenine-thymine (AT) was found to have similar hydrogen bonding to unmodified cytosine-guanine (CG) base pairs, while for LNA CG, we found exceptionally large hydrogen bonding. In contrast, stacking interactions, which were thought to be behind the stability of LNA, were similar to unmodified DNA in most cases. We applied the new LNA parameters to the design of BRAF, KRAS, and EGFR oncogene variants by testing all possible LNA modifications. Selected sequences were then synthesized and had their hybridization temperatures measured, achieving a prediction accuracy within 1 °C. We performed a detailed base-pair opening analysis to discuss specific aspects of these probe hybridizations that may be relevant for probe design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Izabela Ferreira
- Departamento de Física, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.,Programa Interunidades de Pós-Graduação em Bioinformática, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Sofie Slott
- Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet, Bygning 207, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Kira Astakhova
- Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet, Bygning 207, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Gerald Weber
- Departamento de Física, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
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12
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Restriction of SARS-CoV-2 replication by targeting programmed -1 ribosomal frameshifting. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2023051118. [PMID: 34185680 PMCID: PMC8256030 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2023051118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
A large variety of RNA viruses, including the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, contain specific RNA structures that promote programmed ribosomal frameshifting (PRF) to regulate viral gene expression. From a high-throughput compound screen, we identified a PRF inhibitor for SARS-CoV-2 and found that it substantially impeded viral replication in cultured cells. Interestingly, the compound could target not only SARS-CoV-2 but also other coronaviruses that use similar RNA structures to promote frameshifting. These results suggest targeting PRF is a plausible, effective, and broad-spectrum antiviral strategy for SARS-CoV-2 and other coronaviruses. Translation of open reading frame 1b (ORF1b) in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) requires a programmed −1 ribosomal frameshift (−1 PRF) promoted by an RNA pseudoknot. The extent to which SARS-CoV-2 replication may be sensitive to changes in −1 PRF efficiency is currently unknown. Through an unbiased, reporter-based high-throughput compound screen, we identified merafloxacin, a fluoroquinolone antibacterial, as a −1 PRF inhibitor for SARS-CoV-2. Frameshift inhibition by merafloxacin is robust to mutations within the pseudoknot region and is similarly effective on −1 PRF of other betacoronaviruses. Consistent with the essential role of −1 PRF in viral gene expression, merafloxacin impedes SARS-CoV-2 replication in Vero E6 cells, thereby providing proof-of-principle for targeting −1 PRF as a plausible and effective antiviral strategy for SARS-CoV-2 and other coronaviruses.
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13
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Schlick T, Zhu Q, Dey A, Jain S, Yan S, Laederach A. To knot or not to knot: Multiple conformations of the SARS-CoV-2 frameshifting RNA element. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2021:2021.03.31.437955. [PMID: 33821274 PMCID: PMC8020974 DOI: 10.1101/2021.03.31.437955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 frameshifting RNA element (FSE) is an excellent target for therapeutic intervention against Covid-19. This small gene element employs a shifting mechanism to pause and backtrack the ribosome during translation between Open Reading Frames 1a and 1b, which code for viral polyproteins. Any interference with this process has profound effect on viral replication and propagation. Pinpointing the structures adapted by the FSE and associated structural transformations involved in frameshifting has been a challenge. Using our graph-theory-based modeling tools for representing RNA secondary structures, "RAG" (RNA-As-Graphs), and chemical structure probing experiments, we show that the 3-stem H-type pseudoknot (3_6 dual graph), long assumed to be the dominant structure has a viable alternative, an HL-type 3-stem pseudoknot (3_3) for longer constructs. In addition, an unknotted 3-way junction RNA (3_5) emerges as a minor conformation. These three conformations share Stems 1 and 3, while the different Stem 2 may be involved in a conformational switch and possibly associations with the ribosome during translation. For full-length genomes, a stem-loop motif (2_2) may compete with these forms. These structural and mechanistic insights advance our understanding of the SARS-CoV-2 frameshifting process and concomitant virus life cycle, and point to three avenues of therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamar Schlick
- Department of Chemistry, 100 Washington Square East, Silver Building, New York University, New York, NY 10003 U.S.A
- Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, New York University, 251 Mercer St., New York, NY 10012 U.S.A
- NYU-ECNU Center for Computational Chemistry, NYU Shanghai, Shanghai 200062, P.R. China
| | - Qiyao Zhu
- Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, New York University, 251 Mercer St., New York, NY 10012 U.S.A
| | - Abhishek Dey
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
| | - Swati Jain
- Department of Chemistry, 100 Washington Square East, Silver Building, New York University, New York, NY 10003 U.S.A
| | - Shuting Yan
- Department of Chemistry, 100 Washington Square East, Silver Building, New York University, New York, NY 10003 U.S.A
| | - Alain Laederach
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
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14
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Cao C, Cai Z, Xiao X, Rao J, Chen J, Hu N, Yang M, Xing X, Wang Y, Li M, Zhou B, Wang X, Wang J, Xue Y. The architecture of the SARS-CoV-2 RNA genome inside virion. Nat Commun 2021; 12:3917. [PMID: 34168138 PMCID: PMC8225788 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-22785-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 carries the largest single-stranded RNA genome and is the causal pathogen of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. How the SARS-CoV-2 RNA genome is folded in the virion remains unknown. To fill the knowledge gap and facilitate structure-based drug development, we develop a virion RNA in situ conformation sequencing technology, named vRIC-seq, for probing viral RNA genome structure unbiasedly. Using vRIC-seq data, we reconstruct the tertiary structure of the SARS-CoV-2 genome and reveal a surprisingly "unentangled globule" conformation. We uncover many long-range duplexes and higher-order junctions, both of which are under purifying selections and contribute to the sequential package of the SARS-CoV-2 genome. Unexpectedly, the D614G and the other two accompanying mutations may remodel duplexes into more stable forms. Lastly, the structure-guided design of potent small interfering RNAs can obliterate the SARS-CoV-2 in Vero cells. Overall, our work provides a framework for studying the genome structure, function, and dynamics of emerging deadly RNA viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changchang Cao
- Key Laboratory of RNA Biology, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhaokui Cai
- Key Laboratory of RNA Biology, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xia Xiao
- National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens and Christophe Mérieux Laboratory, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Jian Rao
- National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens and Christophe Mérieux Laboratory, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Juan Chen
- Key Laboratory of RNA Biology, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Naijing Hu
- Key Laboratory of RNA Biology, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Minnan Yang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaorui Xing
- CAS Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yongle Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Manman Li
- School of Life Sciences, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, China
| | - Bing Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiangxi Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jianwei Wang
- National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens and Christophe Mérieux Laboratory, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
- Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease Pathogenomics, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
| | - Yuanchao Xue
- Key Laboratory of RNA Biology, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
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15
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Bottaro S, Bussi G, Lindorff-Larsen K. Conformational Ensembles of Noncoding Elements in the SARS-CoV-2 Genome from Molecular Dynamics Simulations. J Am Chem Soc 2021; 143:8333-8343. [PMID: 34039006 PMCID: PMC8188756 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.1c01094] [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: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The 5' untranslated region (UTR) of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) genome is a conserved, functional and structured genomic region consisting of several RNA stem-loop elements. While the secondary structure of such elements has been determined experimentally, their three-dimensional structures are not known yet. Here, we predict structure and dynamics of five RNA stem loops in the 5'-UTR of SARS-CoV-2 by extensive atomistic molecular dynamics simulations, more than 0.5 ms of aggregate simulation time, in combination with enhanced sampling techniques. We compare simulations with available experimental data, describe the resulting conformational ensembles, and identify the presence of specific structural rearrangements in apical and internal loops that may be functionally relevant. Our atomic-detailed structural predictions reveal a rich dynamics in these RNA molecules, could help the experimental characterization of these systems, and provide putative three-dimensional models for structure-based drug design studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandro Bottaro
- Structural
Biology and NMR Laboratory & Linderstrøm-Lang Centre for
Protein Science, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Ole Maaløes Vej 5, DK-2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Giovanni Bussi
- Scuola
Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Via Bonomea 265, 34136, Trieste, Italy
| | - Kresten Lindorff-Larsen
- Structural
Biology and NMR Laboratory & Linderstrøm-Lang Centre for
Protein Science, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Ole Maaløes Vej 5, DK-2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
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16
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Bhatt PR, Scaiola A, Loughran G, Leibundgut M, Kratzel A, Meurs R, Dreos R, O'Connor KM, McMillan A, Bode JW, Thiel V, Gatfield D, Atkins JF, Ban N. Structural basis of ribosomal frameshifting during translation of the SARS-CoV-2 RNA genome. Science 2021; 372:1306-1313. [PMID: 34029205 PMCID: PMC8168617 DOI: 10.1126/science.abf3546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 145] [Impact Index Per Article: 48.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Revised: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Programmed ribosomal frameshifting is a key event during translation of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA genome that allows synthesis of the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and downstream proteins. Here, we present the cryo-electron microscopy structure of a translating mammalian ribosome primed for frameshifting on the viral RNA. The viral RNA adopts a pseudoknot structure that lodges at the entry to the ribosomal messenger RNA (mRNA) channel to generate tension in the mRNA and promote frameshifting, whereas the nascent viral polyprotein forms distinct interactions with the ribosomal tunnel. Biochemical experiments validate the structural observations and reveal mechanistic and regulatory features that influence frameshifting efficiency. Finally, we compare compounds previously shown to reduce frameshifting with respect to their ability to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 replication, establishing coronavirus frameshifting as a target for antiviral intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pramod R Bhatt
- Department of Biology, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,School of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University College Cork, Cork T12 XF62, Ireland.,School of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork T12 K8AF, Ireland
| | - Alain Scaiola
- Department of Biology, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Gary Loughran
- School of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University College Cork, Cork T12 XF62, Ireland
| | - Marc Leibundgut
- Department of Biology, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Annika Kratzel
- Institute of Virology and Immunology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Romane Meurs
- Center for Integrative Genomics, Génopode, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - René Dreos
- Center for Integrative Genomics, Génopode, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Kate M O'Connor
- School of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University College Cork, Cork T12 XF62, Ireland
| | - Angus McMillan
- Laboratorium für Organische Chemie, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jeffrey W Bode
- Laboratorium für Organische Chemie, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Volker Thiel
- Institute of Virology and Immunology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - David Gatfield
- Center for Integrative Genomics, Génopode, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - John F Atkins
- School of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University College Cork, Cork T12 XF62, Ireland. .,School of Microbiology, University College Cork, Cork T12 K8AF, Ireland.,MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge CB2 0QH, UK
| | - Nenad Ban
- Department of Biology, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
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17
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Rangan R, Watkins AM, Chacon J, Kretsch R, Kladwang W, Zheludev IN, Townley J, Rynge M, Thain G, Das R. De novo 3D models of SARS-CoV-2 RNA elements from consensus experimental secondary structures. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:3092-3108. [PMID: 33693814 PMCID: PMC8034642 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Revised: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The rapid spread of COVID-19 is motivating development of antivirals targeting conserved SARS-CoV-2 molecular machinery. The SARS-CoV-2 genome includes conserved RNA elements that offer potential small-molecule drug targets, but most of their 3D structures have not been experimentally characterized. Here, we provide a compilation of chemical mapping data from our and other labs, secondary structure models, and 3D model ensembles based on Rosetta's FARFAR2 algorithm for SARS-CoV-2 RNA regions including the individual stems SL1-8 in the extended 5' UTR; the reverse complement of the 5' UTR SL1-4; the frameshift stimulating element (FSE); and the extended pseudoknot, hypervariable region, and s2m of the 3' UTR. For eleven of these elements (the stems in SL1-8, reverse complement of SL1-4, FSE, s2m and 3' UTR pseudoknot), modeling convergence supports the accuracy of predicted low energy states; subsequent cryo-EM characterization of the FSE confirms modeling accuracy. To aid efforts to discover small molecule RNA binders guided by computational models, we provide a second set of similarly prepared models for RNA riboswitches that bind small molecules. Both datasets ('FARFAR2-SARS-CoV-2', https://github.com/DasLab/FARFAR2-SARS-CoV-2; and 'FARFAR2-Apo-Riboswitch', at https://github.com/DasLab/FARFAR2-Apo-Riboswitch') include up to 400 models for each RNA element, which may facilitate drug discovery approaches targeting dynamic ensembles of RNA molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramya Rangan
- Biophysics Program, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Andrew M Watkins
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford CA 94305, USA
| | - Jose Chacon
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford CA 94305, USA
| | - Rachael Kretsch
- Biophysics Program, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Wipapat Kladwang
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford CA 94305, USA
| | - Ivan N Zheludev
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford CA 94305, USA
| | | | - Mats Rynge
- Information Sciences Institute, University of Southern California, Marina Del Rey, CA 90292, USA
| | - Gregory Thain
- Department of Computer Sciences, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI 53706 USA
| | - Rhiju Das
- Biophysics Program, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford CA 94305, USA
- Department of Physics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
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18
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Torabi SF, Chen YL, Zhang K, Wang J, DeGregorio SJ, Vaidya AT, Su Z, Pabit SA, Chiu W, Pollack L, Steitz JA. Structural analyses of an RNA stability element interacting with poly(A). Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:e2026656118. [PMID: 33785601 PMCID: PMC8040590 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2026656118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Cis-acting RNA elements are crucial for the regulation of polyadenylated RNA stability. The element for nuclear expression (ENE) contains a U-rich internal loop flanked by short helices. An ENE stabilizes RNA by sequestering the poly(A) tail via formation of a triplex structure that inhibits a rapid deadenylation-dependent decay pathway. Structure-based bioinformatic studies identified numerous ENE-like elements in evolutionarily diverse genomes, including a subclass containing two ENE motifs separated by a short double-helical region (double ENEs [dENEs]). Here, the structure of a dENE derived from a rice transposable element (TWIFB1) before and after poly(A) binding (∼24 kDa and ∼33 kDa, respectively) is investigated. We combine biochemical structure probing, small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), and cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) to investigate the dENE structure and its local and global structural changes upon poly(A) binding. Our data reveal 1) the directionality of poly(A) binding to the dENE, and 2) that the dENE-poly(A) interaction involves a motif that protects the 3'-most seven adenylates of the poly(A). Furthermore, we demonstrate that the dENE does not undergo a dramatic global conformational change upon poly(A) binding. These findings are consistent with the recently solved crystal structure of a dENE+poly(A) complex [S.-F. Torabi et al., Science 371, eabe6523 (2021)]. Identification of additional modes of poly(A)-RNA interaction opens new venues for better understanding of poly(A) tail biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyed-Fakhreddin Torabi
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06536
- HHMI, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06536
| | - Yen-Lin Chen
- School of Applied and Engineering Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
| | - Kaiming Zhang
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
- James H. Clark Center, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Jimin Wang
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06536
| | - Suzanne J DeGregorio
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06536
- HHMI, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06536
| | - Anand T Vaidya
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06536
- HHMI, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06536
- Tata Institute of Fundamental Research Centre for Interdisciplinary Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, 10 500046 Hyderabad, India
| | - Zhaoming Su
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
- James H. Clark Center, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Suzette A Pabit
- School of Applied and Engineering Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
| | - Wah Chiu
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305;
- James H. Clark Center, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
- Division of CryoEM and Bioimaging, Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource, Stanford Linear Accelerator Center National Accelerator Laboratory, Stanford University, Menlo Park, CA 94025
| | - Lois Pollack
- School of Applied and Engineering Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853;
| | - Joan A Steitz
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06536;
- HHMI, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06536
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19
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Manfredonia I, Incarnato D. Structure and regulation of coronavirus genomes: state-of-the-art and novel insights from SARS-CoV-2 studies. Biochem Soc Trans 2021; 49:341-352. [PMID: 33367597 PMCID: PMC7925004 DOI: 10.1042/bst20200670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2020] [Revised: 12/08/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Coronaviruses (CoV) are positive-sense single-stranded RNA viruses, harboring the largest viral RNA genomes known to date. Apart from the primary sequence encoding for all the viral proteins needed for the generation of new viral particles, certain regions of CoV genomes are known to fold into stable structures, controlling several aspects of CoV life cycle, from the regulation of the discontinuous transcription of subgenomic mRNAs, to the packaging of the genome into new virions. Here we review the current knowledge on CoV RNA structures, discussing it in light of the most recent discoveries made possible by analyses of the SARS-CoV-2 genome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilaria Manfredonia
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute (GBB), University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Danny Incarnato
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute (GBB), University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands
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20
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Abstract
Novel RNA motif design is of great practical importance for technology and medicine. Increasingly, computational design plays an important role in such efforts. Our coarse-grained RAG (RNA-As-Graphs) framework offers strategies for enumerating the universe of RNA 2D folds, selecting "RNA-like" candidates for design, and determining sequences that fold onto these candidates. In RAG, RNA secondary structures are represented as tree or dual graphs. Graphs with known RNA structures are called "existing", and the others are labeled "hypothetical". By using simplified features for RNA graphs, we have clustered the hypothetical graphs into "RNA-like" and "non-RNA-like" groups and proposed RNA-like graphs as candidates for design. Here, we propose a new way of designing graph features by using Fiedler vectors. The new features reflect graph shapes better, and they lead to a more clustered organization of existing graphs. We show significant increases in K-means clustering accuracy by using the new features (e.g., up to 95% and 98% accuracy for tree and dual graphs, respectively). In addition, we propose a scoring model for top graph candidate selection. This scoring model allows users to set a threshold for candidates, and it incorporates weighing of existing graphs based on their corresponding number of known RNAs. We include a list of top scored RNA-like candidates, which we hope will stimulate future novel RNA design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiyao Zhu
- Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, New York University, New York, New York 10012, United States
| | - Tamar Schlick
- Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, New York University, New York, New York 10012, United States
- Department of Chemistry, New York University, New York, New York 10003, United States
- NYU-ECNU Center for Computational Chemistry, NYU Shanghai, Shanghai 200062, P. R. China
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21
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Manfredonia I, Nithin C, Ponce-Salvatierra A, Ghosh P, Wirecki TK, Marinus T, Ogando NS, Snijder E, van Hemert MJ, Bujnicki JM, Incarnato D. Genome-wide mapping of SARS-CoV-2 RNA structures identifies therapeutically-relevant elements. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 48:12436-12452. [PMID: 33166999 PMCID: PMC7736786 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaa1053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 157] [Impact Index Per Article: 39.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2020] [Revised: 10/13/2020] [Accepted: 10/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 is a betacoronavirus with a linear single-stranded, positive-sense RNA genome, whose outbreak caused the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The ability of coronaviruses to rapidly evolve, adapt, and cross species barriers makes the development of effective and durable therapeutic strategies a challenging and urgent need. As for other RNA viruses, genomic RNA structures are expected to play crucial roles in several steps of the coronavirus replication cycle. Despite this, only a handful of functionally-conserved coronavirus structural RNA elements have been identified to date. Here, we performed RNA structure probing to obtain single-base resolution secondary structure maps of the full SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus genome both in vitro and in living infected cells. Probing data recapitulate the previously described coronavirus RNA elements (5' UTR and s2m), and reveal new structures. Of these, ∼10.2% show significant covariation among SARS-CoV-2 and other coronaviruses, hinting at their functionally-conserved role. Secondary structure-restrained 3D modeling of these segments further allowed for the identification of putative druggable pockets. In addition, we identify a set of single-stranded segments in vivo, showing high sequence conservation, suitable for the development of antisense oligonucleotide therapeutics. Collectively, our work lays the foundation for the development of innovative RNA-targeted therapeutic strategies to fight SARS-related infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilaria Manfredonia
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute (GBB), University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Chandran Nithin
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Protein Engineering, International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw, ul. Ks. Trojdena 4, 02-109 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Almudena Ponce-Salvatierra
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Protein Engineering, International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw, ul. Ks. Trojdena 4, 02-109 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Pritha Ghosh
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Protein Engineering, International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw, ul. Ks. Trojdena 4, 02-109 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Tomasz K Wirecki
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Protein Engineering, International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw, ul. Ks. Trojdena 4, 02-109 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Tycho Marinus
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute (GBB), University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Natacha S Ogando
- Molecular Virology Laboratory, Department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Eric J Snijder
- Molecular Virology Laboratory, Department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Martijn J van Hemert
- Molecular Virology Laboratory, Department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Janusz M Bujnicki
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Protein Engineering, International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw, ul. Ks. Trojdena 4, 02-109 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Danny Incarnato
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute (GBB), University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG, Groningen, the Netherlands
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22
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Sun Y, Abriola L, Surovtseva YV, Lindenbach BD, Guo JU. Restriction of SARS-CoV-2 Replication by Targeting Programmed -1 Ribosomal Frameshifting In Vitro. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2020:2020.10.21.349225. [PMID: 33106809 PMCID: PMC7587830 DOI: 10.1101/2020.10.21.349225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Translation of open reading frame 1b (ORF1b) in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) requires programmed -1 ribosomal frameshifting (-1 PRF) promoted by an RNA pseudoknot. The extent to which SARS-CoV-2 replication may be sensitive to changes in -1 PRF efficiency is currently unknown. Through an unbiased, reporter-based high-throughput compound screen, we identified merafloxacin, a fluoroquinolone antibacterial, as a -1 PRF inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2. Frameshift inhibition by merafloxacin is robust to mutations within the pseudoknot region and is similarly effective on -1 PRF of other beta coronaviruses. Importantly, frameshift inhibition by merafloxacin substantially impedes SARS-CoV-2 replication in Vero E6 cells, thereby providing the proof of principle of targeting -1 PRF as an effective antiviral strategy for SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Sun
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Laura Abriola
- Yale Center for Molecular Discovery, Yale University, West Haven, CT, USA
| | | | - Brett D. Lindenbach
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Junjie U. Guo
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
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