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Madhugiri R, Nguyen HV, Slanina H, Ziebuhr J. Alpha- and betacoronavirus cis-acting RNA elements. Curr Opin Microbiol 2024; 79:102483. [PMID: 38723345 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2024.102483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2024] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
Coronaviruses have exceptionally large RNA genomes and employ multiprotein replication/transcription complexes to orchestrate specific steps of viral RNA genome replication and expression. Most of these processes involve viral cis-acting RNA elements that are engaged in vital RNA-RNA and/or RNA-protein interactions. Over the past years, a large number of studies provided interesting new insight into the structures and, to a lesser extent, functions of specific RNA elements for representative coronaviruses, and there is evidence to suggest that (a majority of) these RNA elements are conserved across genetically divergent coronavirus genera. It is becoming increasingly clear that at least some of these elements do not function in isolation but operate through complex and highly dynamic RNA-RNA interactions. This article reviews structural and functional aspects of cis-acting RNA elements conserved in alpha- and betacoronavirus 5'- and 3'-terminal genome regions, focusing on their critical roles in viral RNA synthesis and gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramakanth Madhugiri
- Institute of Medical Virology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Hoang Viet Nguyen
- Institute of Medical Virology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Heiko Slanina
- Institute of Medical Virology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - John Ziebuhr
- Institute of Medical Virology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany.
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2
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Ziesel A, Jabbari H. Unveiling hidden structural patterns in the SARS-CoV-2 genome: Computational insights and comparative analysis. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0298164. [PMID: 38574063 PMCID: PMC10994416 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0298164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19, is known to exhibit secondary structures in its 5' and 3' untranslated regions, along with the frameshifting stimulatory element situated between ORF1a and 1b. To identify additional regions containing conserved structures, we utilized a multiple sequence alignment with related coronaviruses as a starting point. We applied a computational pipeline developed for identifying non-coding RNA elements. Our pipeline employed three different RNA structural prediction approaches. We identified forty genomic regions likely to harbor structures, with ten of them showing three-way consensus substructure predictions among our predictive utilities. We conducted intracomparisons of the predictive utilities within the pipeline and intercomparisons with four previously published SARS-CoV-2 structural datasets. While there was limited agreement on the precise structure, different approaches seemed to converge on regions likely to contain structures in the viral genome. By comparing and combining various computational approaches, we can predict regions most likely to form structures, as well as a probable structure or ensemble of structures. These predictions can be used to guide surveillance, prophylactic measures, or therapeutic efforts. Data and scripts employed in this study may be found at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8298680.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison Ziesel
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Hosna Jabbari
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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3
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Liao Y, Wang H, Liao H, Sun Y, Tan L, Song C, Qiu X, Ding C. Classification, replication, and transcription of Nidovirales. Front Microbiol 2024; 14:1291761. [PMID: 38328580 PMCID: PMC10847374 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1291761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Nidovirales is one order of RNA virus, with the largest single-stranded positive sense RNA genome enwrapped with membrane envelope. It comprises four families (Arterividae, Mesoniviridae, Roniviridae, and Coronaviridae) and has been circulating in humans and animals for almost one century, posing great threat to livestock and poultry,as well as to public health. Nidovirales shares similar life cycle: attachment to cell surface, entry, primary translation of replicases, viral RNA replication in cytoplasm, translation of viral proteins, virion assembly, budding, and release. The viral RNA synthesis is the critical step during infection, including genomic RNA (gRNA) replication and subgenomic mRNAs (sg mRNAs) transcription. gRNA replication requires the synthesis of a negative sense full-length RNA intermediate, while the sg mRNAs transcription involves the synthesis of a nested set of negative sense subgenomic intermediates by a discontinuous strategy. This RNA synthesis process is mediated by the viral replication/transcription complex (RTC), which consists of several enzymatic replicases derived from the polyprotein 1a and polyprotein 1ab and several cellular proteins. These replicases and host factors represent the optimal potential therapeutic targets. Hereby, we summarize the Nidovirales classification, associated diseases, "replication organelle," replication and transcription mechanisms, as well as related regulatory factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Liao
- Department of Avian Diseases, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Huan Wang
- Department of Avian Diseases, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Huiyu Liao
- Department of Avian Diseases, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Yingjie Sun
- Department of Avian Diseases, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Lei Tan
- Department of Avian Diseases, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Cuiping Song
- Department of Avian Diseases, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Xusheng Qiu
- Department of Avian Diseases, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Chan Ding
- Department of Avian Diseases, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, China
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4
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Lu S, Luo S, Liu C, Li M, An X, Li M, Hou J, Fan H, Mao P, Tong Y, Song L. Induction of significant neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 by a highly attenuated pangolin coronavirus variant with a 104nt deletion at the 3'-UTR. Emerg Microbes Infect 2023; 12:2151383. [PMID: 36453209 PMCID: PMC9769135 DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2022.2151383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 related coronaviruses (SARS-CoV-2r) from Guangdong and Guangxi pangolins have been implicated in the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 and future pandemics. We previously reported the culture of a SARS-CoV-2r GX_P2V from Guangxi pangolins. Here we report the GX_P2V isolate rapidly adapted to Vero cells by acquiring two genomic mutations: an alanine to valine substitution in the nucleoprotein and a 104-nucleotide deletion in the hypervariable region (HVR) of the 3'-terminus untranslated region (3'-UTR). We further report the characterization of the GX_P2V variant (renamed GX_P2V(short_3UTR)) in in vitro and in vivo infection models. In cultured Vero, BGM and Calu-3 cells, GX_P2V(short_3UTR) had similar robust replication kinetics, and consistently produced minimum cell damage. GX_P2V(short_3UTR) infected golden hamsters and BALB/c mice but was highly attenuated. Golden hamsters infected intranasally had a short duration of productive infection in pulmonary, not extrapulmonary, tissues. These productive infections induced neutralizing antibodies against pseudoviruses of GX_P2V and SARS-CoV-2. Collectively, our data show that the GX_P2V(short_3UTR) is highly attenuated in in vitro and in vivo infection models. Attenuation of the variant is likely partially due to the 104-nt deletion in the HVR in the 3'-UTR. This study furthers our understanding of pangolin coronaviruses pathogenesis and provides novel insights for the design of live attenuated vaccines against SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanshan Lu
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Shengdong Luo
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Chang Liu
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Muli Li
- Department of Pathology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital & Shenzhen Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Shenzhen, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiaoping An
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Mengzhe Li
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jun Hou
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Huahao Fan
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, People’s Republic of China,Huahao Fan Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Panyong Mao
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, People’s Republic of China,Panyong Mao Department of Infectious Diseases, Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yigang Tong
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, People’s Republic of China,Yigang Tong Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Lihua Song
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, People’s Republic of China, Lihua Song Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
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Lin CH, Hsieh FC, Chang YC, Yang CY, Hsu HW, Yang CC, Tam HMH, Wu HY. Targeting the conserved coronavirus octamer motif GGAAGAGC is a strategy for the development of coronavirus vaccine. Virol J 2023; 20:267. [PMID: 37968733 PMCID: PMC10652495 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-023-02231-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Coronaviruses are pathogens of humans and animals that cause widespread and costly diseases. The development of effective strategies to combat the threat of coronaviruses is therefore a top priority. The conserved coronavirus octamer motif 5'GGAAGAGC3' exists in the 3' untranslated region of all identified coronaviruses. In the current study, we aimed to examine whether targeting the coronavirus octamer motif GGAAGAGC is a promising approach to develop coronavirus vaccine. METHODS Plaque assays were used to determine the titers of mouse hepatitis virus (MHV)-A59 octamer mutant (MHVoctm) and wild-type (wt) MHV-A59 (MHVwt). Western blotting was used for the determination of translation efficiency of MHVoctm and MHVwt. Plaque assays and RT-qPCR were employed to examine whether MHVoctm was more sensitive to interferon treatment than MHVwt. Weight loss, clinical signs, survival rate, viral RNA detection and histopathological examination were used to evaluate whether MHVoctm was a vaccine candidate against MHVwt infection in BALB/c mice. RESULTS In this study, we showed that (i) the MHVoctm with mutation of coronavirus octamer was able to grow to high titers but attenuated in mice, (ii) with the reduced multiplicity of infection (MOI), the difference in gene expression between MHVoctm and MHVwt became more evident in cultured cells, (iii) MHVoctm was more sensitive to interferon treatment than MHVwt and (iv) mice inoculated with MHVoctm were protected from MHVwt infection. CONCLUSIONS Based on the results obtained from cultured cells, it was suggested that the synergistic effects of octamer mutation, multiplicity of infection and immune response may be a mechanism explaining the distinct phenotypes of octamer-mutated coronavirus in cell culture and mice. In addition, targeting the conserved coronavirus octamer motif is a strategy for development of coronavirus vaccine. Since the conserved octamer exists in all coronaviruses, this strategy of targeting the conserved octamer motif can also be applied to other human and animal coronaviruses for the development of coronavirus vaccines, especially the emergence of novel coronaviruses such as SARS-CoV-2, saving time and cost for vaccine development and disease control.
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Grants
- 109-2313-B-005 -013 -MY3, 110-2327-B-005 -003, 111-2327-B-005 -003 and 112-2313-B-005-041 National Science and Technology Council, Taiwan, R.O.C.
- 109-2313-B-005 -013 -MY3, 110-2327-B-005 -003, 111-2327-B-005 -003 and 112-2313-B-005-041 National Science and Technology Council, Taiwan, R.O.C.
- 109-2313-B-005 -013 -MY3, 110-2327-B-005 -003, 111-2327-B-005 -003 and 112-2313-B-005-041 National Science and Technology Council, Taiwan, R.O.C.
- 109-2313-B-005 -013 -MY3, 110-2327-B-005 -003, 111-2327-B-005 -003 and 112-2313-B-005-041 National Science and Technology Council, Taiwan, R.O.C.
- 109-2313-B-005 -013 -MY3, 110-2327-B-005 -003, 111-2327-B-005 -003 and 112-2313-B-005-041 National Science and Technology Council, Taiwan, R.O.C.
- 109-2313-B-005 -013 -MY3, 110-2327-B-005 -003, 111-2327-B-005 -003 and 112-2313-B-005-041 National Science and Technology Council, Taiwan, R.O.C.
- 109-2313-B-005 -013 -MY3, 110-2327-B-005 -003, 111-2327-B-005 -003 and 112-2313-B-005-041 National Science and Technology Council, Taiwan, R.O.C.
- 109-2313-B-005 -013 -MY3, 110-2327-B-005 -003, 111-2327-B-005 -003 and 112-2313-B-005-041 National Science and Technology Council, Taiwan, R.O.C.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ching-Hung Lin
- Graduate Institute of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, 40227, Taiwan
| | - Feng-Cheng Hsieh
- Graduate Institute of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, 40227, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Chia Chang
- Graduate Institute of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, 40227, Taiwan
| | - Cheng-Yao Yang
- Graduate Institute of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, 40227, Taiwan
| | - Hsuan-Wei Hsu
- Graduate Institute of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, 40227, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Chun Yang
- Graduate Institute of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, 40227, Taiwan
| | - Hon-Man-Herman Tam
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, 40227, Taiwan
| | - Hung-Yi Wu
- Graduate Institute of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, 40227, Taiwan.
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Jiang H, Joshi A, Gan T, Janowski AB, Fujii C, Bricker TL, Darling TL, Harastani HH, Seehra K, Chen H, Tahan S, Jung A, Febles B, Blatter JA, Handley SA, Parikh BA, Wang D, Boon ACM. The Highly Conserved Stem-Loop II Motif Is Dispensable for SARS-CoV-2. J Virol 2023; 97:e0063523. [PMID: 37223945 PMCID: PMC10308922 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00635-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The stem-loop II motif (s2m) is an RNA structural element that is found in the 3' untranslated region (UTR) of many RNA viruses, including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Though the motif was discovered over 25 years ago, its functional significance is unknown. In order to understand the importance of s2m, we created viruses with deletions or mutations of the s2m by reverse genetics and also evaluated a clinical isolate harboring a unique s2m deletion. Deletion or mutation of the s2m had no effect on growth in vitro or on growth and viral fitness in Syrian hamsters in vivo. We also compared the secondary structure of the 3' UTR of wild-type and s2m deletion viruses using selective 2'-hydroxyl acylation analyzed by primer extension and mutational profiling (SHAPE-MaP) and dimethyl sulfate mutational profiling and sequencing (DMS-MaPseq). These experiments demonstrate that the s2m forms an independent structure and that its deletion does not alter the overall remaining 3'-UTR RNA structure. Together, these findings suggest that s2m is dispensable for SARS-CoV-2. IMPORTANCE RNA viruses, including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), contain functional structures to support virus replication, translation, and evasion of the host antiviral immune response. The 3' untranslated region of early isolates of SARS-CoV-2 contained a stem-loop II motif (s2m), which is an RNA structural element that is found in many RNA viruses. This motif was discovered over 25 years ago, but its functional significance is unknown. We created SARS-CoV-2 with deletions or mutations of the s2m and determined the effect of these changes on viral growth in tissue culture and in rodent models of infection. Deletion or mutation of the s2m element had no effect on growth in vitro or on growth and viral fitness in Syrian hamsters in vivo. We also observed no impact of the deletion on other known RNA structures in the same region of the genome. These experiments demonstrate that s2m is dispensable for SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongbing Jiang
- School of Public Health (Shenzhen), Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Astha Joshi
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Tianyu Gan
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Andrew B. Janowski
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Chika Fujii
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Traci L. Bricker
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Tamarand L. Darling
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Houda H. Harastani
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Kuljeet Seehra
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Hongwei Chen
- School of Public Health (Shenzhen), Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Stephen Tahan
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Ana Jung
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Binita Febles
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Joshua A. Blatter
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Scott A. Handley
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Bijal A. Parikh
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - David Wang
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Adrianus C. M. Boon
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
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7
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Khan D, Terenzi F, Liu G, Ghosh PK, Ye F, Nguyen K, China A, Ramachandiran I, Chakraborty S, Stefan J, Khan K, Vasu K, Dong F, Willard B, Karn J, Gack MU, Fox PL. A viral pan-end RNA element and host complex define a SARS-CoV-2 regulon. Nat Commun 2023; 14:3385. [PMID: 37296097 PMCID: PMC10250186 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39091-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of COVID-19, generates multiple protein-coding, subgenomic RNAs (sgRNAs) from a longer genomic RNA, all bearing identical termini with poorly understood roles in regulating viral gene expression. Insulin and interferon-gamma, two host-derived, stress-related agents, and virus spike protein, induce binding of glutamyl-prolyl-tRNA synthetase (EPRS1), within an unconventional, tetra-aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase complex, to the sgRNA 3'-end thereby enhancing sgRNA expression. We identify an EPRS1-binding sarbecoviral pan-end activating RNA (SPEAR) element in the 3'-end of viral RNAs driving agonist-induction. Translation of another co-terminal 3'-end feature, ORF10, is necessary for SPEAR-mediated induction, independent of Orf10 protein expression. The SPEAR element enhances viral programmed ribosomal frameshifting, thereby expanding its functionality. By co-opting noncanonical activities of a family of essential host proteins, the virus establishes a post-transcriptional regulon stimulating global viral RNA translation. A SPEAR-targeting strategy markedly reduces SARS-CoV-2 titer, suggesting a pan-sarbecoviral therapeutic modality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debjit Khan
- Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Fulvia Terenzi
- Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - GuanQun Liu
- Florida Research and Innovation Center, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Port St. Lucie, FL, 34987, USA
| | - Prabar K Ghosh
- Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Fengchun Ye
- Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
| | - Kien Nguyen
- Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
| | - Arnab China
- Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Iyappan Ramachandiran
- Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Shruti Chakraborty
- Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Jennifer Stefan
- Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Krishnendu Khan
- Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Kommireddy Vasu
- Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Franklin Dong
- Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Belinda Willard
- Lerner Research Institute Proteomics and Metabolomics Core, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Jonathan Karn
- Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
| | - Michaela U Gack
- Florida Research and Innovation Center, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Port St. Lucie, FL, 34987, USA
| | - Paul L Fox
- Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA.
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8
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Jiang H, Joshi A, Gan T, Janowski AB, Fujii C, Bricker TL, Darling TL, Harastani HH, Seehra K, Chen H, Tahan S, Jung A, Febles B, Blatter JA, Handley SA, Parikh BA, Wang D, Boon ACM. The highly conserved stem-loop II motif is dispensable for SARS-CoV-2. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.15.532878. [PMID: 36993345 PMCID: PMC10055069 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.15.532878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
The stem-loop II motif (s2m) is a RNA structural element that is found in the 3' untranslated region (UTR) of many RNA viruses including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Though the motif was discovered over twenty-five years ago, its functional significance is unknown. In order to understand the importance of s2m, we created viruses with deletions or mutations of the s2m by reverse genetics and also evaluated a clinical isolate harboring a unique s2m deletion. Deletion or mutation of the s2m had no effect on growth in vitro , or growth and viral fitness in Syrian hamsters in vivo . We also compared the secondary structure of the 3' UTR of wild type and s2m deletion viruses using SHAPE-MaP and DMS-MaPseq. These experiments demonstrate that the s2m forms an independent structure and that its deletion does not alter the overall remaining 3'UTR RNA structure. Together, these findings suggest that s2m is dispensable for SARS-CoV-2. IMPORTANCE RNA viruses, including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) contain functional structures to support virus replication, translation and evasion of the host antiviral immune response. The 3' untranslated region of early isolates of SARS-CoV-2 contained a stem-loop II motif (s2m), which is a RNA structural element that is found in many RNA viruses. This motif was discovered over twenty-five years ago, but its functional significance is unknown. We created SARS-CoV-2 with deletions or mutations of the s2m and determined the effect of these changes on viral growth in tissue culture and in rodent models of infection. Deletion or mutation of the s2m element had no effect on growth in vitro , or growth and viral fitness in Syrian hamsters in vivo . We also observed no impact of the deletion on other known RNA structures in the same region of the genome. These experiments demonstrate that the s2m is dispensable for SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongbing Jiang
- School of Public Health (Shenzhen), Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Astha Joshi
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Tianyu Gan
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Andrew B Janowski
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Chika Fujii
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Traci L Bricker
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Tamarand L Darling
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Houda H. Harastani
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Kuljeet Seehra
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Hongwei Chen
- School of Public Health (Shenzhen), Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Stephen Tahan
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Ana Jung
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Binita Febles
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Joshua A Blatter
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Scott A Handley
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Bijal A Parikh
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - David Wang
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Address correspondence to: Adrianus Boon (), Washington University School of Medicine, 660 Euclid Avenue, Campus Box 8051, St Louis MO 63110 USA. or David Wang (), Washington University School of Medicine, 425 S Euclid Avenue, Campus Box 8230, St Louis MO 63110 USA
| | - Adrianus CM Boon
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Lead contact
- Address correspondence to: Adrianus Boon (), Washington University School of Medicine, 660 Euclid Avenue, Campus Box 8051, St Louis MO 63110 USA. or David Wang (), Washington University School of Medicine, 425 S Euclid Avenue, Campus Box 8230, St Louis MO 63110 USA
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9
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Abstract
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious airborne viral pneumonia caused by a novel virus belonging to the family coronaviridae. On February 11, 2019, the Internal Committee on Taxonomy of Virus (ICTV) announced the name of the novel virus as "severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). One of the proteins present on its membrane i.e. the Spike protein is responsible for the attachment of the virus to the host. It spreads through the salivary droplets released when an infected person sneezes or coughs. The best way to slow down the disease is by protecting self by washing hands and using the disinfectant. Most of the infected people experience mild to moderate breathing issues. Serious illness might develop in people with underlying cardiovascular problems, diabetes and other immuno-compromised diseases. To date, there is no effective medicine available in the market which is effective in COVID-19. However, healthcare professionals are using ritonavir, flavipiravir, lopinavir, hydroxychloroquine and remdesivir. Along with the medicines, some countries are using convalescent plasma and mesenchymal stem cells for treatment. Till date, it has claimed millions of death worldwide. In this detailed review, we have discussed the structure of SARS-CoV-2, essential proteins, its lifecycle, transmission, symptoms, pathology, clinical features, diagnosis, prevention, treatment and epidemiology of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heena Rehman
- Department of Biochemistry, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, India
| | - Md Iftekhar Ahmad
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Shri Gopichand College of Pharmacy, Baghpat, India
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10
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Khan SR, Sakib S, Rahman MS, Samee MAH. DeepBend: An interpretable model of DNA bendability. iScience 2023; 26:105945. [PMID: 36866046 PMCID: PMC9971889 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.105945] [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: 08/19/2022] [Revised: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The bendability of genomic DNA impacts chromatin packaging and protein-DNA binding. However, we do not have a comprehensive understanding of the motifs influencing DNA bendability. Recent high-throughput technologies such as Loop-Seq offer an opportunity to address this gap but the lack of accurate and interpretable machine learning models still remains. Here we introduce DeepBend, a convolutional neural network model with convolutions designed to directly capture the motifs underlying DNA bendability and their periodic occurrences or relative arrangements that modulate bendability. DeepBend consistently performs on par with alternative models while giving an extra edge through mechanistic interpretations. Besides confirming the known motifs of DNA bendability, DeepBend also revealed several novel motifs and showed how the spatial patterns of motif occurrences influence bendability. DeepBend's genome-wide prediction of bendability further showed how bendability is linked to chromatin conformation and revealed the motifs controlling the bendability of topologically associated domains and their boundaries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samin Rahman Khan
- Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Sadman Sakib
- Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - M. Sohel Rahman
- Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka, Bangladesh,Corresponding author
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11
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Girgis S, Xu Z, Oikonomopoulos S, Fedorova AD, Tchesnokov EP, Gordon CJ, Schmeing TM, Götte M, Sonenberg N, Baranov PV, Ragoussis J, Hobman TC, Pelletier J. Evolution of naturally arising SARS-CoV-2 defective interfering particles. Commun Biol 2022; 5:1140. [PMID: 36302891 PMCID: PMC9610340 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-04058-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Defective interfering (DI) particles arise during virus propagation, are conditional on parental virus for replication and packaging, and interfere with viral expansion. There is much interest in developing DIs as anti-viral agents. Here we characterize DI particles that arose following serial passaging of SARS-CoV-2 at high multiplicity of infection. The prominent DIs identified have lost ~84% of the SARS-CoV-2 genome and are capable of attenuating parental viral titers. Synthetic variants of the DI genomes also interfere with infection and can be used as conditional, gene delivery vehicles. In addition, the DI genomes encode an Nsp1-10 fusion protein capable of attenuating viral replication. These results identify naturally selected defective viral genomes that emerged and stably propagated in the presence of parental virus. Genomes from defective interfering (DI) particles following serial passaging of SARS-CoV-2 reveal a fusion protein that attenuates viral replication. Synthetic, recombinant DI genomes are designed to interfere with SARS-CoV-2 replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samer Girgis
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3G 1Y6, Canada
| | - Zaikun Xu
- Department of Cell Biology, U Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2H7, Canada
| | - Spyros Oikonomopoulos
- McGill Genome Centre, Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Alla D Fedorova
- School of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.,SFI Centre for Research Training in Genomics Data Science, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Egor P Tchesnokov
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2E1, Canada
| | - Calvin J Gordon
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2E1, Canada
| | - T Martin Schmeing
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3G 1Y6, Canada
| | - Matthias Götte
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2E1, Canada
| | - Nahum Sonenberg
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3G 1Y6, Canada.,Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, Montreal, QC, H3A 1A3, Canada
| | - Pavel V Baranov
- School of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Jiannis Ragoussis
- McGill Genome Centre, Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.,Department of Bioengineering, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Tom C Hobman
- Department of Cell Biology, U Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2H7, Canada. .,Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2E1, Canada. .,Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology, U Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2E1, Canada. .,Women & Children's Health Research Institute, U Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 1C9, Canada.
| | - Jerry Pelletier
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3G 1Y6, Canada. .,Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, Montreal, QC, H3A 1A3, Canada. .,Department of Oncology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3A 1G5, Canada.
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12
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Alemrajabi M, Macias Calix K, Assis R. Epistasis-Driven Evolution of the SARS-CoV-2 Secondary Structure. J Mol Evol 2022; 90:429-437. [PMID: 36178491 PMCID: PMC9523185 DOI: 10.1007/s00239-022-10073-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Epistasis is an evolutionary phenomenon whereby the fitness effect of a mutation depends on the genetic background in which it arises. A key source of epistasis in an RNA molecule is its secondary structure, which contains functionally important topological motifs held together by hydrogen bonds between Watson–Crick (WC) base pairs. Here we study epistasis in the secondary structure of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) by examining properties of derived alleles arising from substitution mutations at ancestral WC base-paired and unpaired (UP) sites in 15 conserved topological motifs across the genome. We uncover fewer derived alleles and lower derived allele frequencies at WC than at UP sites, supporting the hypothesis that modifications to the secondary structure are often deleterious. At WC sites, we also find lower derived allele frequencies for mutations that abolish base pairing than for those that yield G·U “wobbles,” illustrating that weak base pairing can partially preserve the integrity of the secondary structure. Last, we show that WC sites under the strongest epistatic constraint reside in a three-stemmed pseudoknot motif that plays an essential role in programmed ribosomal frameshifting, whereas those under the weakest epistatic constraint are located in 3’ UTR motifs that regulate viral replication and pathogenicity. Our findings demonstrate the importance of epistasis in the evolution of the SARS-CoV-2 secondary structure, as well as highlight putative structural and functional targets of different forms of natural selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahsa Alemrajabi
- Department of Physics, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, 33431, USA
| | - Ksenia Macias Calix
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, 33431, USA
| | - Raquel Assis
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, 33431, USA.
- Institute for Human Health and Disease Intervention, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, 33431, USA.
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13
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Gumna J, Antczak M, Adamiak RW, Bujnicki JM, Chen SJ, Ding F, Ghosh P, Li J, Mukherjee S, Nithin C, Pachulska-Wieczorek K, Ponce-Salvatierra A, Popenda M, Sarzynska J, Wirecki T, Zhang D, Zhang S, Zok T, Westhof E, Miao Z, Szachniuk M, Rybarczyk A. Computational Pipeline for Reference-Free Comparative Analysis of RNA 3D Structures Applied to SARS-CoV-2 UTR Models. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23179630. [PMID: 36077037 PMCID: PMC9455975 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23179630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Revised: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
RNA is a unique biomolecule that is involved in a variety of fundamental biological functions, all of which depend solely on its structure and dynamics. Since the experimental determination of crystal RNA structures is laborious, computational 3D structure prediction methods are experiencing an ongoing and thriving development. Such methods can lead to many models; thus, it is necessary to build comparisons and extract common structural motifs for further medical or biological studies. Here, we introduce a computational pipeline dedicated to reference-free high-throughput comparative analysis of 3D RNA structures. We show its application in the RNA-Puzzles challenge, in which five participating groups attempted to predict the three-dimensional structures of 5'- and 3'-untranslated regions (UTRs) of the SARS-CoV-2 genome. We report the results of this puzzle and discuss the structural motifs obtained from the analysis. All simulated models and tools incorporated into the pipeline are open to scientific and academic use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julita Gumna
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, 61-704 Poznan, Poland
| | - Maciej Antczak
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, 61-704 Poznan, Poland
- Institute of Computing Science, Poznan University of Technology, 60-965 Poznan, Poland
| | - Ryszard W. Adamiak
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, 61-704 Poznan, Poland
- Institute of Computing Science, Poznan University of Technology, 60-965 Poznan, Poland
| | - Janusz M. Bujnicki
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Protein Engineering, International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw, 02-109 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Shi-Jie Chen
- Department of Physics, Department of Biochemistry, Institute for Data Science and Informatics, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Feng Ding
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
| | - Pritha Ghosh
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Protein Engineering, International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw, 02-109 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Jun Li
- Department of Physics, Department of Biochemistry, Institute for Data Science and Informatics, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Sunandan Mukherjee
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Protein Engineering, International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw, 02-109 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Chandran Nithin
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Protein Engineering, International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw, 02-109 Warsaw, Poland
- Laboratory of Computational Biology, Faculty of Chemistry, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, University of Warsaw, 02-089 Warsaw, Poland
| | | | - Almudena Ponce-Salvatierra
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Protein Engineering, International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw, 02-109 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Mariusz Popenda
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, 61-704 Poznan, Poland
| | - Joanna Sarzynska
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, 61-704 Poznan, Poland
| | - Tomasz Wirecki
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Protein Engineering, International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw, 02-109 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Dong Zhang
- Department of Physics, Department of Biochemistry, Institute for Data Science and Informatics, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Sicheng Zhang
- Department of Physics, Department of Biochemistry, Institute for Data Science and Informatics, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Tomasz Zok
- Institute of Computing Science, Poznan University of Technology, 60-965 Poznan, Poland
| | - Eric Westhof
- Architecture et Réactivité de l’ARN, Université de Strasbourg, Institut de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire du CNRS, 67084 Strasbourg, France
| | - Zhichao Miao
- Translational Research Institute of Brain and Brain-Like Intelligence, Department of Anesthesiology, Shanghai Fourth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200081, China
- Correspondence: (Z.M.); (A.R.)
| | - Marta Szachniuk
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, 61-704 Poznan, Poland
- Institute of Computing Science, Poznan University of Technology, 60-965 Poznan, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Rybarczyk
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, 61-704 Poznan, Poland
- Institute of Computing Science, Poznan University of Technology, 60-965 Poznan, Poland
- Correspondence: (Z.M.); (A.R.)
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14
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Lessons Learned and Yet-to-Be Learned on the Importance of RNA Structure in SARS-CoV-2 Replication. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2022; 86:e0005721. [PMID: 35862724 PMCID: PMC9491204 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.00057-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2, the etiological agent responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, is a member of the virus family Coronaviridae, known for relatively extensive (~30-kb) RNA genomes that not only encode for numerous proteins but are also capable of forming elaborate structures. As highlighted in this review, these structures perform critical functions in various steps of the viral life cycle, ultimately impacting pathogenesis and transmissibility. We examine these elements in the context of coronavirus evolutionary history and future directions for curbing the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and other potential human coronaviruses. While we focus on structures supported by a variety of biochemical, biophysical, and/or computational methods, we also touch here on recent evidence for novel structures in both protein-coding and noncoding regions of the genome, including an assessment of the potential role for RNA structure in the controversial finding of SARS-CoV-2 integration in “long COVID” patients. This review aims to serve as a consolidation of previous works on coronavirus and more recent investigation of SARS-CoV-2, emphasizing the need for improved understanding of the role of RNA structure in the evolution and adaptation of these human viruses.
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15
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Hu Y, Xie X, Yang L, Wang A. A Comprehensive View on the Host Factors and Viral Proteins Associated With Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus Infection. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:762358. [PMID: 34950116 PMCID: PMC8688245 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.762358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV), a coronavirus pathogen of the pig intestinal tract, can cause fatal watery diarrhea in piglets, thereby causing huge economic losses to swine industries around the world. The pathogenesis of PEDV has intensively been studied; however, the viral proteins of PEDV and the host factors in target cells, as well as their interactions, which are the foundation of the molecular mechanisms of viral infection, remain to be summarized and updated. PEDV has multiple important structural and functional proteins, which play various roles in the process of virus infection. Among them, the S and N proteins play vital roles in biological processes related to PEDV survival via interacting with the host cell proteins. Meanwhile, a number of host factors including receptors are required for the infection of PEDV via interacting with the viral proteins, thereby affecting the reproduction of PEDV and contributing to its life cycle. In this review, we provide an updated understanding of viral proteins and host factors, as well as their interactions in terms of PEDV infection. Additionally, the effects of cellular factors, events, and signaling pathways on PEDV infection are also discussed. Thus, these comprehensive and profound insights should facilitate for the further investigations, control, and prevention of PEDV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Hu
- Laboratory of Animal Disease Prevention and Control and Animal Model, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Engineering in Animal Vaccines, College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China
| | - Xiaohong Xie
- Hunan Engineering Research Center of Livestock and Poultry Health Care, Colleges of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China
| | - Lingchen Yang
- Laboratory of Animal Disease Prevention and Control and Animal Model, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Engineering in Animal Vaccines, College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China
| | - Aibing Wang
- Laboratory of Animal Disease Prevention and Control and Animal Model, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Protein Engineering in Animal Vaccines, College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China.,PCB Biotechnology, LLC, Rockville, MD, United States
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16
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Hegde S, Tang Z, Zhao J, Wang J. Inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 by Targeting Conserved Viral RNA Structures and Sequences. Front Chem 2021; 9:802766. [PMID: 35004621 PMCID: PMC8733332 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2021.802766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The ongoing COVID-19/Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome CoV-2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has become a significant threat to public health and has hugely impacted societies globally. Targeting conserved SARS-CoV-2 RNA structures and sequences essential for viral genome translation is a novel approach to inhibit viral infection and progression. This new pharmacological modality compasses two classes of RNA-targeting molecules: 1) synthetic small molecules that recognize secondary or tertiary RNA structures and 2) antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) that recognize the RNA primary sequence. These molecules can also serve as a "bait" fragment in RNA degrading chimeras to eliminate the viral RNA genome. This new type of chimeric RNA degrader is recently named ribonuclease targeting chimera or RIBOTAC. This review paper summarizes the sequence conservation in SARS-CoV-2 and the current development of RNA-targeting molecules to combat this virus. These RNA-binding molecules will also serve as an emerging class of antiviral drug candidates that might pivot to address future viral outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Jingxin Wang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, United States
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17
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Zhang Y, Huang K, Xie D, Lau JY, Shen W, Li P, Wang D, Zou Z, Shi S, Ren H, Wang Y, Mao Y, Jin M, Kudla G, Zhao Z. In vivo structure and dynamics of the SARS-CoV-2 RNA genome. Nat Commun 2021; 12:5695. [PMID: 34584097 PMCID: PMC8478942 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-25999-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 RNA structure and their functional relevance are largely unknown. Here we develop a simplified SPLASH assay and comprehensively map the in vivo RNA-RNA interactome of SARS-CoV-2 genome across viral life cycle. We report canonical and alternative structures including 5'-UTR and 3'-UTR, frameshifting element (FSE) pseudoknot and genome cyclization in both cells and virions. We provide direct evidence of interactions between Transcription Regulating Sequences, which facilitate discontinuous transcription. In addition, we reveal alternative short and long distance arches around FSE. More importantly, we find that within virions, while SARS-CoV-2 genome RNA undergoes intensive compaction, genome domains remain stable but with strengthened demarcation of local domains and weakened global cyclization. Taken together, our analysis reveals the structural basis for the regulation of replication, discontinuous transcription and translational frameshifting, the alternative conformations and the maintenance of global genome organization during the whole life cycle of SARS-CoV-2, which we anticipate will help develop better antiviral strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Zhang
- Beijing institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
| | - Kun Huang
- Unit of Animal Infectious Diseases, National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Dejian Xie
- Wuhan Frasergen Bioinformatics Co., Ltd, Wuhan, China
| | - Jian You Lau
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Wenlong Shen
- Beijing institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
| | - Ping Li
- Beijing institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
| | - Dong Wang
- Department of Microbiology, University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, China
| | - Zhong Zou
- Unit of Animal Infectious Diseases, National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Shu Shi
- Beijing institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China
| | | | | | - Youzhi Mao
- Wuhan Frasergen Bioinformatics Co., Ltd, Wuhan, China
| | - Meilin Jin
- Unit of Animal Infectious Diseases, National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China.
| | - Grzegorz Kudla
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK.
| | - Zhihu Zhao
- Beijing institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China.
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18
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Sreeramulu S, Richter C, Berg H, Wirtz Martin MA, Ceylan B, Matzel T, Adam J, Altincekic N, Azzaoui K, Bains JK, Blommers MJJ, Ferner J, Fürtig B, Göbel M, Grün JT, Hengesbach M, Hohmann KF, Hymon D, Knezic B, Martins JN, Mertinkus KR, Niesteruk A, Peter SA, Pyper DJ, Qureshi NS, Scheffer U, Schlundt A, Schnieders R, Stirnal E, Sudakov A, Tröster A, Vögele J, Wacker A, Weigand JE, Wirmer‐Bartoschek J, Wöhnert J, Schwalbe H. Exploring the Druggability of Conserved RNA Regulatory Elements in the SARS‐CoV‐2 Genome. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202103693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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19
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Sreeramulu S, Richter C, Berg H, Wirtz Martin MA, Ceylan B, Matzel T, Adam J, Altincekic N, Azzaoui K, Bains JK, Blommers MJJ, Ferner J, Fürtig B, Göbel M, Grün JT, Hengesbach M, Hohmann KF, Hymon D, Knezic B, Martins JN, Mertinkus KR, Niesteruk A, Peter SA, Pyper DJ, Qureshi NS, Scheffer U, Schlundt A, Schnieders R, Stirnal E, Sudakov A, Tröster A, Vögele J, Wacker A, Weigand JE, Wirmer‐Bartoschek J, Wöhnert J, Schwalbe H. Exploring the Druggability of Conserved RNA Regulatory Elements in the SARS-CoV-2 Genome. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021; 60:19191-19200. [PMID: 34161644 PMCID: PMC8426693 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202103693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Revised: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 contains a positive single-stranded RNA genome of approximately 30 000 nucleotides. Within this genome, 15 RNA elements were identified as conserved between SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2. By nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, we previously determined that these elements fold independently, in line with data from in vivo and ex-vivo structural probing experiments. These elements contain non-base-paired regions that potentially harbor ligand-binding pockets. Here, we performed an NMR-based screening of a poised fragment library of 768 compounds for binding to these RNAs, employing three different 1 H-based 1D NMR binding assays. The screening identified common as well as RNA-element specific hits. The results allow selection of the most promising of the 15 RNA elements as putative drug targets. Based on the identified hits, we derive key functional units and groups in ligands for effective targeting of the RNA of SARS-CoV-2.
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20
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RNA-Protein Interaction Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 5' and 3' Untranslated Regions Reveals a Role of Lysosome-Associated Membrane Protein-2a during Viral Infection. mSystems 2021; 6:e0064321. [PMID: 34254825 PMCID: PMC8407388 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00643-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a positive-strand RNA virus. The viral genome is capped at the 5′ end, followed by an untranslated region (UTR). There is a poly(A) tail at the 3′ end, preceded by a UTR. The self-interaction between the RNA regulatory elements present within the 5′ and 3′ UTRs and their interaction with host/virus-encoded proteins mediate the function of the 5′ and 3′ UTRs. Using an RNA-protein interaction detection (RaPID) assay coupled to liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry, we identified host interaction partners of SARS-CoV-2 5′ and 3′ UTRs and generated an RNA-protein interaction network. By combining these data with the previously known protein-protein interaction data proposed to be involved in virus replication, we generated the RNA-protein-protein interaction (RPPI) network, likely to be essential for controlling SARS-CoV-2 replication. Notably, bioinformatics analysis of the RPPI network revealed the enrichment of factors involved in translation initiation and RNA metabolism. Lysosome-associated membrane protein-2a (Lamp2a), the receptor for chaperone-mediated autophagy, is one of the host proteins that interact with the 5′ UTR. Further studies showed that the Lamp2 level is upregulated in SARS-CoV-2-infected cells and that the absence of the Lamp2a isoform enhanced the viral RNA level whereas its overexpression significantly reduced the viral RNA level. Lamp2a and viral RNA colocalize in the infected cells, and there is an increased autophagic flux in infected cells, although there is no change in the formation of autophagolysosomes. In summary, our study provides a useful resource of SARS-CoV-2 5′ and 3′ UTR binding proteins and reveals the role of Lamp2a protein during SARS-CoV-2 infection. IMPORTANCE Replication of a positive-strand RNA virus involves an RNA-protein complex consisting of viral genomic RNA, host RNA(s), virus-encoded proteins, and host proteins. Dissecting out individual components of the replication complex will help decode the mechanism of viral replication. 5′ and 3′ UTRs in positive-strand RNA viruses play essential regulatory roles in virus replication. Here, we identified the host proteins that associate with the UTRs of SARS-CoV-2, combined those data with the previously known protein-protein interaction data (expected to be involved in virus replication), and generated the RNA-protein-protein interaction (RPPI) network. Analysis of the RPPI network revealed the enrichment of factors involved in translation initiation and RNA metabolism, which are important for virus replication. Analysis of one of the interaction partners of the 5′-UTR (Lamp2a) demonstrated its role in reducing the viral RNA level in SARS-CoV-2-infected cells. Collectively, our study provides a resource of SARS-CoV-2 UTR-binding proteins and identifies an important role for host Lamp2a protein during viral infection.
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21
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Yao S, Narayanan A, Majowicz SA, Jose J, Archetti M. A synthetic defective interfering SARS-CoV-2. PeerJ 2021; 9:e11686. [PMID: 34249513 PMCID: PMC8255065 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.11686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Viruses thrive by exploiting the cells they infect, but in order to replicate and infect other cells they must produce viral proteins. As a result, viruses are also susceptible to exploitation by defective versions of themselves that do not produce such proteins. A defective viral genome with deletions in protein-coding genes could still replicate in cells coinfected with full-length viruses. Such a defective genome could even replicate faster due to its shorter size, interfering with the replication of the virus. We have created a synthetic defective interfering version of SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing the Covid-19 pandemic, assembling parts of the viral genome that do not code for any functional protein but enable the genome to be replicated and packaged. This synthetic defective genome replicates three times faster than SARS-CoV-2 in coinfected cells, and interferes with it, reducing the viral load of infected cells by half in 24 hours. The synthetic genome is transmitted as efficiently as the full-length genome, suggesting the location of the putative packaging signal of SARS-CoV-2. A version of such a synthetic construct could be used as a self-promoting antiviral therapy: by enabling replication of the synthetic genome, the virus would promote its own demise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shun Yao
- Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, United States of America
| | - Anoop Narayanan
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, United States of America
| | - Sydney A Majowicz
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, United States of America
| | - Joyce Jose
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, United States of America.,The Huck Institutes for the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, United States of America
| | - Marco Archetti
- Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, United States of America.,The Huck Institutes for the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, United States of America
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22
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Das A, Ahmed R, Akhtar S, Begum K, Banu S. An overview of basic molecular biology of SARS-CoV-2 and current COVID-19 prevention strategies. GENE REPORTS 2021; 23:101122. [PMID: 33821222 PMCID: PMC8012276 DOI: 10.1016/j.genrep.2021.101122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Revised: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) manifests as extreme acute respiratory conditions caused by a novel beta coronavirus named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) which is reported to be the seventh coronavirus to infect humans. Like other SARS-CoVs it has a large positive-stranded RNA genome. But, specific furin site in the spike protein, mutation prone and phylogenetically mess open reading frame1ab (Orf1ab) separates SARS-CoV-2 from other RNA viruses. Since the outbreak (February-March 2020), researchers, scientists, and medical professionals are inspecting all possible facts and aspects including its replication, detection, and prevention strategies. This led to the prompt identification of its basic biology, genome characterization, structural and expression based functional information of proteins, and utilization of this information in optimizing strategies to prevent its spread. This review summarizes the recent updates on the basic molecular biology of SARS-CoV-2 and prevention strategies undertaken worldwide to tackle COVID-19. This recent information can be implemented for the development and designing of therapeutics against SARS-CoV-2.
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Key Words
- AEC2, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2
- CD4 and CD8, cluster of differentiation
- CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- COVID-19, Coronavirus Diseases 2019
- GM-CSF, macrophage colony-stimulating factor
- Genome organization and expression
- HCV, hepatitis C virus
- HIV, human immune deficiency virus
- LAMP, loop mediated isothermal amplification
- MARS-CoV, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus
- Prevention strategies
- SARS-CoV-2
- SARS-CoV-2, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
- WHO, World Health Organization
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Affiliation(s)
- Ankur Das
- Department of Bioengineering and Technology, Gauhati University, Guwahati, Assam 781014, India
| | - Raja Ahmed
- Department of Bioengineering and Technology, Gauhati University, Guwahati, Assam 781014, India
| | - Suraiya Akhtar
- Department of Bioengineering and Technology, Gauhati University, Guwahati, Assam 781014, India
| | - Khaleda Begum
- Department of Bioengineering and Technology, Gauhati University, Guwahati, Assam 781014, India
| | - Sofia Banu
- Department of Bioengineering and Technology, Gauhati University, Guwahati, Assam 781014, India
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23
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Ryder SP, Morgan BR, Coskun P, Antkowiak K, Massi F. Analysis of Emerging Variants in Structured Regions of the SARS-CoV-2 Genome. Evol Bioinform Online 2021; 17:11769343211014167. [PMID: 34017166 PMCID: PMC8114311 DOI: 10.1177/11769343211014167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has motivated a widespread effort to understand its epidemiology and pathogenic mechanisms. Modern high-throughput sequencing technology has led to the deposition of vast numbers of SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences in curated repositories, which have been useful in mapping the spread of the virus around the globe. They also provide a unique opportunity to observe virus evolution in real time. Here, we evaluate two sets of SARS-CoV-2 genomic sequences to identify emerging variants within structured cis-regulatory elements of the SARS-CoV-2 genome. Overall, 20 variants are present at a minor allele frequency of at least 0.5%. Several enhance the stability of Stem Loop 1 in the 5' untranslated region (UTR), including a group of co-occurring variants that extend its length. One appears to modulate the stability of the frameshifting pseudoknot between ORF1a and ORF1b, and another perturbs a bi-ss molecular switch in the 3'UTR. Finally, 5 variants destabilize structured elements within the 3'UTR hypervariable region, including the S2M (stem loop 2 m) selfish genetic element, raising questions as to the functional relevance of these structures in viral replication. Two of the most abundant variants appear to be caused by RNA editing, suggesting host-viral defense contributes to SARS-CoV-2 genome heterogeneity. Our analysis has implications for the development of therapeutics that target viral cis-regulatory RNA structures or sequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean P Ryder
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Brittany R Morgan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Peren Coskun
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Katianna Antkowiak
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Francesca Massi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
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24
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Waqas M, Haider A, Rehman A, Qasim M, Umar A, Sufyan M, Akram HN, Mir A, Razzaq R, Rasool D, Tahir RA, Sehgal SA. Immunoinformatics and Molecular Docking Studies Predicted Potential Multiepitope-Based Peptide Vaccine and Novel Compounds against Novel SARS-CoV-2 through Virtual Screening. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 2021:1596834. [PMID: 33728324 PMCID: PMC7910514 DOI: 10.1155/2021/1596834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2020] [Revised: 08/13/2020] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Coronaviruses (CoVs) are enveloped positive-strand RNA viruses which have club-like spikes at the surface with a unique replication process. Coronaviruses are categorized as major pathogenic viruses causing a variety of diseases in birds and mammals including humans (lethal respiratory dysfunctions). Nowadays, a new strain of coronaviruses is identified and named as SARS-CoV-2. Multiple cases of SARS-CoV-2 attacks are being reported all over the world. SARS-CoV-2 showed high death rate; however, no specific treatment is available against SARS-CoV-2. METHODS In the current study, immunoinformatics approaches were employed to predict the antigenic epitopes against SARS-CoV-2 for the development of the coronavirus vaccine. Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte and B-cell epitopes were predicted for SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus protein. Multiple sequence alignment of three genomes (SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2) was used to conserved binding domain analysis. RESULTS The docking complexes of 4 CTL epitopes with antigenic sites were analyzed followed by binding affinity and binding interaction analyses of top-ranked predicted peptides with MHC-I HLA molecule. The molecular docking (Food and Drug Regulatory Authority library) was performed, and four compounds exhibiting least binding energy were identified. The designed epitopes lead to the molecular docking against MHC-I, and interactional analyses of the selected docked complexes were investigated. In conclusion, four CTL epitopes (GTDLEGNFY, TVNVLAWLY, GSVGFNIDY, and QTFSVLACY) and four FDA-scrutinized compounds exhibited potential targets as peptide vaccines and potential biomolecules against deadly SARS-CoV-2, respectively. A multiepitope vaccine was also designed from different epitopes of coronavirus proteins joined by linkers and led by an adjuvant. CONCLUSION Our investigations predicted epitopes and the reported molecules that may have the potential to inhibit the SARS-CoV-2 virus. These findings can be a step towards the development of a peptide-based vaccine or natural compound drug target against SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Waqas
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, Government College University, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Ali Haider
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, Government College University, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Abdur Rehman
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, Government College University, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Qasim
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, Government College University, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Ahitsham Umar
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, Government College University, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Sufyan
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, Government College University, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Hafiza Nisha Akram
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Asif Mir
- Department of Biological Sciences, International Islamic University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Roha Razzaq
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, Government College University, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Danish Rasool
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, Government College University, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Rana Adnan Tahir
- Department of Biosciences, COMSATS University, Sahiwal Campus, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Sheikh Arslan Sehgal
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, Government College University, Faisalabad, Pakistan
- Department of Bioinformatics, University of Okara, Okara, Pakistan
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25
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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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26
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Huston NC, Wan H, Strine MS, de Cesaris Araujo Tavares R, Wilen CB, Pyle AM. Comprehensive in vivo secondary structure of the SARS-CoV-2 genome reveals novel regulatory motifs and mechanisms. Mol Cell 2021; 81:584-598.e5. [PMID: 33444546 PMCID: PMC7775661 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2020.12.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 165] [Impact Index Per Article: 55.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Revised: 11/06/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Severe-acute-respiratory-syndrome-related coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the positive-sense RNA virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The genome of SARS-CoV-2 is unique among viral RNAs in its vast potential to form RNA structures, yet as much as 97% of its 30 kilobases have not been structurally explored. Here, we apply a novel long amplicon strategy to determine the secondary structure of the SARS-CoV-2 RNA genome at single-nucleotide resolution in infected cells. Our in-depth structural analysis reveals networks of well-folded RNA structures throughout Orf1ab and reveals aspects of SARS-CoV-2 genome architecture that distinguish it from other RNA viruses. Evolutionary analysis shows that several features of the SARS-CoV-2 genomic structure are conserved across β-coronaviruses, and we pinpoint regions of well-folded RNA structure that merit downstream functional analysis. The native, secondary structure of SARS-CoV-2 presented here is a roadmap that will facilitate focused studies on the viral life cycle, facilitate primer design, and guide the identification of RNA drug targets against COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas C Huston
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - Han Wan
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - Madison S Strine
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA; Department of Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06519, USA
| | | | - Craig B Wilen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA; Department of Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06519, USA
| | - Anna Marie Pyle
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA; Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA.
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27
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Zhao J, Qiu J, Aryal S, Hackett JL, Wang J. The RNA Architecture of the SARS-CoV-2 3'-Untranslated Region. Viruses 2020; 12:E1473. [PMID: 33371200 PMCID: PMC7766253 DOI: 10.3390/v12121473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Revised: 12/11/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is responsible for the current COVID-19 pandemic. The 3' untranslated region (UTR) of this β-CoV contains essential cis-acting RNA elements for the viral genome transcription and replication. These elements include an equilibrium between an extended bulged stem-loop (BSL) and a pseudoknot. The existence of such an equilibrium is supported by reverse genetic studies and phylogenetic covariation analysis and is further proposed as a molecular switch essential for the control of the viral RNA polymerase binding. Here, we report the SARS-CoV-2 3' UTR structures in cells that transcribe the viral UTRs harbored in a minigene plasmid and isolated infectious virions using a chemical probing technique, namely dimethyl sulfate (DMS)-mutational profiling with sequencing (MaPseq). Interestingly, the putative pseudoknotted conformation was not observed, indicating that its abundance in our systems is low in the absence of the viral nonstructural proteins (nsps). Similarly, our results also suggest that another functional cis-acting element, the three-helix junction, cannot stably form. The overall architectures of the viral 3' UTRs in the infectious virions and the minigene-transfected cells are almost identical.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junxing Zhao
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66047, USA; (J.Z.); (S.A.)
| | - Jianming Qiu
- Department of Microbiology, Molecular Genetics & Immunology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas, KS 66160, USA;
| | - Sadikshya Aryal
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66047, USA; (J.Z.); (S.A.)
| | | | - Jingxin Wang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66047, USA; (J.Z.); (S.A.)
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28
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Wacker A, Weigand JE, Akabayov SR, Altincekic N, Bains JK, Banijamali E, Binas O, Castillo-Martinez J, Cetiner E, Ceylan B, Chiu LY, Davila-Calderon J, Dhamotharan K, Duchardt-Ferner E, Ferner J, Frydman L, Fürtig B, Gallego J, Grün JT, Hacker C, Haddad C, Hähnke M, Hengesbach M, Hiller F, Hohmann KF, Hymon D, de Jesus V, Jonker H, Keller H, Knezic B, Landgraf T, Löhr F, Luo L, Mertinkus KR, Muhs C, Novakovic M, Oxenfarth A, Palomino-Schätzlein M, Petzold K, Peter SA, Pyper DJ, Qureshi NS, Riad M, Richter C, Saxena K, Schamber T, Scherf T, Schlagnitweit J, Schlundt A, Schnieders R, Schwalbe H, Simba-Lahuasi A, Sreeramulu S, Stirnal E, Sudakov A, Tants JN, Tolbert BS, Vögele J, Weiß L, Wirmer-Bartoschek J, Wirtz Martin MA, Wöhnert J, Zetzsche H. Secondary structure determination of conserved SARS-CoV-2 RNA elements by NMR spectroscopy. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 48:12415-12435. [PMID: 33167030 PMCID: PMC7736788 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaa1013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2020] [Revised: 09/08/2020] [Accepted: 10/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The current pandemic situation caused by the Betacoronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (SCoV2) highlights the need for coordinated research to combat COVID-19. A particularly important aspect is the development of medication. In addition to viral proteins, structured RNA elements represent a potent alternative as drug targets. The search for drugs that target RNA requires their high-resolution structural characterization. Using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, a worldwide consortium of NMR researchers aims to characterize potential RNA drug targets of SCoV2. Here, we report the characterization of 15 conserved RNA elements located at the 5' end, the ribosomal frameshift segment and the 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) of the SCoV2 genome, their large-scale production and NMR-based secondary structure determination. The NMR data are corroborated with secondary structure probing by DMS footprinting experiments. The close agreement of NMR secondary structure determination of isolated RNA elements with DMS footprinting and NMR performed on larger RNA regions shows that the secondary structure elements fold independently. The NMR data reported here provide the basis for NMR investigations of RNA function, RNA interactions with viral and host proteins and screening campaigns to identify potential RNA binders for pharmaceutical intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Wacker
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Max-von-Laue-Strasse 7, 60438 Frankfurt/M., Germany
| | - Julia E Weigand
- Department of Biology, Technical University of Darmstadt, Schnittspahnstrasse 10, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Sabine R Akabayov
- Faculty of Chemistry, Weizmann Institute of Science, 7610001 Rehovot, Israel
| | - Nadide Altincekic
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Max-von-Laue-Strasse 7, 60438 Frankfurt/M., Germany
| | - Jasleen Kaur Bains
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Max-von-Laue-Strasse 7, 60438 Frankfurt/M., Germany
| | - Elnaz Banijamali
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institute, Biomedicum 9B, Solnavägen 9, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Oliver Binas
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Max-von-Laue-Strasse 7, 60438 Frankfurt/M., Germany
| | | | - Erhan Cetiner
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Max-von-Laue-Strasse 7, 60438 Frankfurt/M., Germany
| | - Betül Ceylan
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Max-von-Laue-Strasse 7, 60438 Frankfurt/M., Germany
| | - Liang-Yuan Chiu
- Department of Chemistry, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | | | | | | | - Jan Ferner
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Max-von-Laue-Strasse 7, 60438 Frankfurt/M., Germany
| | - Lucio Frydman
- Faculty of Chemistry, Weizmann Institute of Science, 7610001 Rehovot, Israel
| | - Boris Fürtig
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Max-von-Laue-Strasse 7, 60438 Frankfurt/M., Germany
| | - José Gallego
- School of Medicine, Catholic University of Valencia, C/Quevedo 2, 46001 Valencia, Spain
| | - J Tassilo Grün
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Max-von-Laue-Strasse 7, 60438 Frankfurt/M., Germany
| | - Carolin Hacker
- Signals GmbH & Co. KG, Graf-von-Stauffenberg-Allee 83, 60438 Frankfurt/M, Germany
| | - Christina Haddad
- Department of Chemistry, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Martin Hähnke
- Signals GmbH & Co. KG, Graf-von-Stauffenberg-Allee 83, 60438 Frankfurt/M, Germany
| | - Martin Hengesbach
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Max-von-Laue-Strasse 7, 60438 Frankfurt/M., Germany
| | - Fabian Hiller
- Signals GmbH & Co. KG, Graf-von-Stauffenberg-Allee 83, 60438 Frankfurt/M, Germany
| | - Katharina F Hohmann
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Max-von-Laue-Strasse 7, 60438 Frankfurt/M., Germany
| | - Daniel Hymon
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Max-von-Laue-Strasse 7, 60438 Frankfurt/M., Germany
| | - Vanessa de Jesus
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Max-von-Laue-Strasse 7, 60438 Frankfurt/M., Germany
| | - Henry Jonker
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Max-von-Laue-Strasse 7, 60438 Frankfurt/M., Germany
| | | | - Bozana Knezic
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Max-von-Laue-Strasse 7, 60438 Frankfurt/M., Germany
| | - Tom Landgraf
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Max-von-Laue-Strasse 7, 60438 Frankfurt/M., Germany
| | - Frank Löhr
- Institute of Biophysical Chemistry, Center for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Strasse 7, 60438 Frankfurt/M., Germany
| | - Le Luo
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institute, Biomedicum 9B, Solnavägen 9, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Klara R Mertinkus
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Max-von-Laue-Strasse 7, 60438 Frankfurt/M., Germany
| | - Christina Muhs
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Max-von-Laue-Strasse 7, 60438 Frankfurt/M., Germany
| | - Mihajlo Novakovic
- Faculty of Chemistry, Weizmann Institute of Science, 7610001 Rehovot, Israel
| | - Andreas Oxenfarth
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Max-von-Laue-Strasse 7, 60438 Frankfurt/M., Germany
| | | | - Katja Petzold
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institute, Biomedicum 9B, Solnavägen 9, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Stephen A Peter
- Department of Biology, Technical University of Darmstadt, Schnittspahnstrasse 10, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Dennis J Pyper
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Max-von-Laue-Strasse 7, 60438 Frankfurt/M., Germany
| | - Nusrat S Qureshi
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Max-von-Laue-Strasse 7, 60438 Frankfurt/M., Germany
| | - Magdalena Riad
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institute, Biomedicum 9B, Solnavägen 9, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Christian Richter
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Max-von-Laue-Strasse 7, 60438 Frankfurt/M., Germany
| | - Krishna Saxena
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Max-von-Laue-Strasse 7, 60438 Frankfurt/M., Germany
| | - Tatjana Schamber
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Max-von-Laue-Strasse 7, 60438 Frankfurt/M., Germany
| | - Tali Scherf
- Faculty of Chemistry, Weizmann Institute of Science, 7610001 Rehovot, Israel
| | - Judith Schlagnitweit
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institute, Biomedicum 9B, Solnavägen 9, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Robbin Schnieders
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Max-von-Laue-Strasse 7, 60438 Frankfurt/M., Germany
| | - Harald Schwalbe
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Max-von-Laue-Strasse 7, 60438 Frankfurt/M., Germany
| | - Alvaro Simba-Lahuasi
- School of Medicine, Catholic University of Valencia, C/Quevedo 2, 46001 Valencia, Spain
| | - Sridhar Sreeramulu
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Max-von-Laue-Strasse 7, 60438 Frankfurt/M., Germany
| | - Elke Stirnal
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Max-von-Laue-Strasse 7, 60438 Frankfurt/M., Germany
| | - Alexey Sudakov
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Max-von-Laue-Strasse 7, 60438 Frankfurt/M., Germany
| | | | - Blanton S Tolbert
- Department of Chemistry, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | | | | | - Julia Wirmer-Bartoschek
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Max-von-Laue-Strasse 7, 60438 Frankfurt/M., Germany
| | - Maria A Wirtz Martin
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Max-von-Laue-Strasse 7, 60438 Frankfurt/M., Germany
| | | | - Heidi Zetzsche
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Max-von-Laue-Strasse 7, 60438 Frankfurt/M., Germany
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29
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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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30
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Ancar R, Li Y, Kindler E, Cooper DA, Ransom M, Thiel V, Weiss SR, Hesselberth JR, Barton DJ. Physiologic RNA targets and refined sequence specificity of coronavirus EndoU. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2020; 26:1976-1999. [PMID: 32989044 PMCID: PMC7668261 DOI: 10.1261/rna.076604.120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Accepted: 09/12/2020] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Coronavirus EndoU inhibits dsRNA-activated antiviral responses; however, the physiologic RNA substrates of EndoU are unknown. In this study, we used mouse hepatitis virus (MHV)-infected bone marrow-derived macrophage (BMM) and cyclic phosphate cDNA sequencing to identify the RNA targets of EndoU. EndoU targeted viral RNA, cleaving the 3' side of pyrimidines with a strong preference for U ↓ A and C ↓ A sequences (endoY ↓ A). EndoU-dependent cleavage was detected in every region of MHV RNA, from the 5' NTR to the 3' NTR, including transcriptional regulatory sequences (TRS). Cleavage at two CA dinucleotides immediately adjacent to the MHV poly(A) tail suggests a mechanism to suppress negative-strand RNA synthesis and the accumulation of viral dsRNA. MHV with EndoU (EndoUmut) or 2'-5' phosphodiesterase (PDEmut) mutations provoked the activation of RNase L in BMM, with corresponding cleavage of RNAs by RNase L. The physiologic targets of EndoU are viral RNA templates required for negative-strand RNA synthesis and dsRNA accumulation. Coronavirus EndoU cleaves U ↓ A and C ↓ A sequences (endoY ↓ A) within viral (+) strand RNA to evade dsRNA-activated host responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Ancar
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Program in Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora 80045, Colorado, USA
| | - Yize Li
- Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
| | - Eveline Kindler
- Institute of Virology and Immunology IVI, 3001 Bern and 3147 Mittelhausern, Switzerland
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Daphne A Cooper
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado 80045, USA
| | - Monica Ransom
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Program in Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora 80045, Colorado, USA
| | - Volker Thiel
- Institute of Virology and Immunology IVI, 3001 Bern and 3147 Mittelhausern, Switzerland
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Susan R Weiss
- Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
| | - Jay R Hesselberth
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Program in Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora 80045, Colorado, USA
| | - David J Barton
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Program in Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado 80045, USA
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31
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Sofi MS, Hamid A, Bhat SU. SARS-CoV-2: A critical review of its history, pathogenesis, transmission, diagnosis and treatment. BIOSAFETY AND HEALTH 2020; 2:217-225. [PMID: 33196035 PMCID: PMC7648888 DOI: 10.1016/j.bsheal.2020.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2020] [Revised: 11/05/2020] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The outbreak of the deadly virus (novel coronavirus or Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2) that emerged in December 2019, remained a controversial subject of intense speculations regarding its origin, became a worldwide health problem resulting in serious coronavirus disease 2019 (acronym COVID-19). The concern regarding this new viral strain "Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2" (acronym SARS-CoV-2) and diseases it causes (COVID-19) is well deserved at all levels. The incidence of COVID-19 infection and infectious patients are increasing at a high rate. Coronaviruses (CoVs), enclosed positive-sense RNA viruses, are distinguished by club-like spikes extending from their surface, an exceptionally large genome of RNA, and a special mechanism for replication. Coronaviruses are associated with a broad variety of human and other animal diseases spanning from enteritis in cattle and pigs and upper chicken respiratory disease to extremely lethal human respiratory infections. With World Health Organization (WHO) declaring COVID-19 as pandemic, we deemed it necessary to provide a detailed review of coronaviruses discussing their history, current situation, coronavirus classification, pathogenesis, structure, mode of action, diagnosis and treatment, the effect of environmental factors, risk reduction and guidelines to understand the virus and develop ways to control it.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sami Ullah Bhat
- Corresponding author: Department of Environmental Science, School of Earth and Environmental Science, University of Kashmir, 190006, India
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32
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Ogando NS, Dalebout TJ, Zevenhoven-Dobbe JC, Limpens RWAL, van der Meer Y, Caly L, Druce J, de Vries JJC, Kikkert M, Bárcena M, Sidorov I, Snijder EJ. SARS-coronavirus-2 replication in Vero E6 cells: replication kinetics, rapid adaptation and cytopathology. J Gen Virol 2020; 101:925-940. [PMID: 32568027 PMCID: PMC7654748 DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.001453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 360] [Impact Index Per Article: 90.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The sudden emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) at the end of 2019 from the Chinese province of Hubei and its subsequent pandemic spread highlight the importance of understanding the full molecular details of coronavirus infection and pathogenesis. Here, we compared a variety of replication features of SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV and analysed the cytopathology caused by the two closely related viruses in the commonly used Vero E6 cell line. Compared to SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2 generated higher levels of intracellular viral RNA, but strikingly about 50-fold less infectious viral progeny was recovered from the culture medium. Immunofluorescence microscopy of SARS-CoV-2-infected cells established extensive cross-reactivity of antisera previously raised against a variety of non-structural proteins, membrane and nucleocapsid protein of SARS-CoV. Electron microscopy revealed that the ultrastructural changes induced by the two SARS viruses are very similar and occur within comparable time frames after infection. Furthermore, we determined that the sensitivity of the two viruses to three established inhibitors of coronavirus replication (remdesivir, alisporivir and chloroquine) is very similar, but that SARS-CoV-2 infection was substantially more sensitive to pre-treatment of cells with pegylated interferon alpha. An important difference between the two viruses is the fact that – upon passaging in Vero E6 cells – SARS-CoV-2 apparently is under strong selection pressure to acquire adaptive mutations in its spike protein gene. These mutations change or delete a putative furin-like cleavage site in the region connecting the S1 and S2 domains and result in a very prominent phenotypic change in plaque assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natacha S Ogando
- Molecular Virology Laboratory, Department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Tim J Dalebout
- Molecular Virology Laboratory, Department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Jessika C Zevenhoven-Dobbe
- Molecular Virology Laboratory, Department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Ronald W A L Limpens
- Section Electron Microscopy, Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Yvonne van der Meer
- Molecular Virology Laboratory, Department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Leon Caly
- Virus Identification Laboratory, Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, Royal Melbourne Hospital, at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Victoria, 3000, Australia
| | - Julian Druce
- Virus Identification Laboratory, Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, Royal Melbourne Hospital, at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Victoria, 3000, Australia
| | - Jutte J C de Vries
- Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Marjolein Kikkert
- Molecular Virology Laboratory, Department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Montserrat Bárcena
- Section Electron Microscopy, Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Igor Sidorov
- 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
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33
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Wang Y, Grunewald M, Perlman S. Coronaviruses: An Updated Overview of Their Replication and Pathogenesis. Methods Mol Biol 2020; 2203:1-29. [PMID: 32833200 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0900-2_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Coronaviruses (CoVs), enveloped positive-sense RNA viruses, are characterized by club-like spikes that project from their surface, an unusually large RNA genome, and a unique replication strategy. CoVs cause a variety of diseases in mammals and birds ranging from enteritis in cows and pigs, and upper respiratory tract and kidney disease in chickens to lethal human respiratory infections. Most recently, the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, which was first identified in Wuhan, China in December 2019, is the cause of a catastrophic pandemic, COVID-19, with more than 8 million infections diagnosed worldwide by mid-June 2020. Here we provide a brief introduction to CoVs discussing their replication, pathogenicity, and current prevention and treatment strategies. We will also discuss the outbreaks of the highly pathogenic Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV), which are relevant for understanding COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuhang Wang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Matthew Grunewald
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Stanley Perlman
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.
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34
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Ogando NS, Dalebout TJ, Zevenhoven-Dobbe JC, Limpens RWAL, van der Meer Y, Caly L, Druce J, de Vries JJC, Kikkert M, Bárcena M, Sidorov I, Snijder EJ. SARS-coronavirus-2 replication in Vero E6 cells: replication kinetics, rapid adaptation and cytopathology. J Gen Virol 2020; 101:925-940. [PMID: 32568027 DOI: 10.1101/2020.04.20.049924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The sudden emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) at the end of 2019 from the Chinese province of Hubei and its subsequent pandemic spread highlight the importance of understanding the full molecular details of coronavirus infection and pathogenesis. Here, we compared a variety of replication features of SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV and analysed the cytopathology caused by the two closely related viruses in the commonly used Vero E6 cell line. Compared to SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2 generated higher levels of intracellular viral RNA, but strikingly about 50-fold less infectious viral progeny was recovered from the culture medium. Immunofluorescence microscopy of SARS-CoV-2-infected cells established extensive cross-reactivity of antisera previously raised against a variety of non-structural proteins, membrane and nucleocapsid protein of SARS-CoV. Electron microscopy revealed that the ultrastructural changes induced by the two SARS viruses are very similar and occur within comparable time frames after infection. Furthermore, we determined that the sensitivity of the two viruses to three established inhibitors of coronavirus replication (remdesivir, alisporivir and chloroquine) is very similar, but that SARS-CoV-2 infection was substantially more sensitive to pre-treatment of cells with pegylated interferon alpha. An important difference between the two viruses is the fact that - upon passaging in Vero E6 cells - SARS-CoV-2 apparently is under strong selection pressure to acquire adaptive mutations in its spike protein gene. These mutations change or delete a putative furin-like cleavage site in the region connecting the S1 and S2 domains and result in a very prominent phenotypic change in plaque assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natacha S Ogando
- Molecular Virology Laboratory, Department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Tim J Dalebout
- Molecular Virology Laboratory, Department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Jessika C Zevenhoven-Dobbe
- Molecular Virology Laboratory, Department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Ronald W A L Limpens
- Section Electron Microscopy, Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Yvonne van der Meer
- Molecular Virology Laboratory, Department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Leon Caly
- Virus Identification Laboratory, Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, Royal Melbourne Hospital, at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Victoria, 3000, Australia
| | - Julian Druce
- Virus Identification Laboratory, Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, Royal Melbourne Hospital, at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Victoria, 3000, Australia
| | - Jutte J C de Vries
- Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Marjolein Kikkert
- Molecular Virology Laboratory, Department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Montserrat Bárcena
- Section Electron Microscopy, Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Igor Sidorov
- 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
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35
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Rangan R, Zheludev IN, Hagey RJ, Pham EA, Wayment-Steele HK, Glenn JS, Das R. RNA genome conservation and secondary structure in SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-related viruses: a first look. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2020; 26:937-959. [PMID: 32398273 PMCID: PMC7373990 DOI: 10.1261/rna.076141.120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 173] [Impact Index Per Article: 43.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Accepted: 05/11/2020] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
As the COVID-19 outbreak spreads, there is a growing need for a compilation of conserved RNA genome regions in the SARS-CoV-2 virus along with their structural propensities to guide development of antivirals and diagnostics. Here we present a first look at RNA sequence conservation and structural propensities in the SARS-CoV-2 genome. Using sequence alignments spanning a range of betacoronaviruses, we rank genomic regions by RNA sequence conservation, identifying 79 regions of length at least 15 nt as exactly conserved over SARS-related complete genome sequences available near the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak. We then confirm the conservation of the majority of these genome regions across 739 SARS-CoV-2 sequences subsequently reported from the COVID-19 outbreak, and we present a curated list of 30 "SARS-related-conserved" regions. We find that known RNA structured elements curated as Rfam families and in prior literature are enriched in these conserved genome regions, and we predict additional conserved, stable secondary structures across the viral genome. We provide 106 "SARS-CoV-2-conserved-structured" regions as potential targets for antivirals that bind to structured RNA. We further provide detailed secondary structure models for the extended 5' UTR, frameshifting stimulation element, and 3' UTR. Lastly, we predict regions of the SARS-CoV-2 viral genome that have low propensity for RNA secondary structure and are conserved within SARS-CoV-2 strains. These 59 "SARS-CoV-2-conserved-unstructured" genomic regions may be most easily accessible by hybridization in primer-based diagnostic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramya Rangan
- Biophysics Program, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA
| | - Ivan N Zheludev
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA
| | - Rachel J Hagey
- Departments of Medicine (Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology) and Microbiology & Immunology, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA
| | - Edward A Pham
- Departments of Medicine (Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology) and Microbiology & Immunology, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA
| | | | - Jeffrey S Glenn
- Departments of Medicine (Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology) and Microbiology & Immunology, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA
- Palo Alto Veterans Administration, Palo Alto, California 94304, USA
| | - Rhiju Das
- Biophysics Program, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA
- Department of Physics, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA
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36
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Huston NC, Wan H, de Cesaris Araujo Tavares R, Wilen C, Pyle AM. Comprehensive in-vivo secondary structure of the SARS-CoV-2 genome reveals novel regulatory motifs and mechanisms. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2020:2020.07.10.197079. [PMID: 32676598 PMCID: PMC7359520 DOI: 10.1101/2020.07.10.197079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 is the positive-sense RNA virus that causes COVID-19, a disease that has triggered a major human health and economic crisis. The genome of SARS-CoV-2 is unique among viral RNAs in its vast potential to form stable RNA structures and yet, as much as 97% of its 30 kilobases have not been structurally explored in the context of a viral infection. Our limited knowledge of SARS-CoV-2 genomic architecture is a fundamental limitation to both our mechanistic understanding of coronavirus life cycle and the development of COVID-19 RNA-based therapeutics. Here, we apply a novel long amplicon strategy to determine for the first time the secondary structure of the SARS-CoV-2 RNA genome probed in infected cells. In addition to the conserved structural motifs at the viral termini, we report new structural features like a conformationally flexible programmed ribosomal frameshifting pseudoknot, and a host of novel RNA structures, each of which highlights the importance of studying viral structures in their native genomic context. Our in-depth structural analysis reveals extensive networks of well-folded RNA structures throughout Orf1ab and reveals new aspects of SARS-CoV-2 genome architecture that distinguish it from other single-stranded, positive-sense RNA viruses. Evolutionary analysis of RNA structures in SARS-CoV-2 shows that several features of its genomic structure are conserved across beta coronaviruses and we pinpoint individual regions of well-folded RNA structure that merit downstream functional analysis. The native, complete secondary structure of SAR-CoV-2 presented here is a roadmap that will facilitate focused studies on mechanisms of replication, translation and packaging, and guide the identification of new RNA drug targets against COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas C. Huston
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Han Wan
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | | | - Craig Wilen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Anna Marie Pyle
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
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37
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Ryder SP, Morgan BR, Massi F. Analysis of Rapidly Emerging Variants in Structured Regions of the SARS-CoV-2 Genome. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2020. [PMID: 32577650 DOI: 10.1101/2020.05.27.120105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has motivated a widespread effort to understand its epidemiology and pathogenic mechanisms. Modern high-throughput sequencing technology has led to the deposition of vast numbers of SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences in curated repositories, which have been useful in mapping the spread of the virus around the globe. They also provide a unique opportunity to observe virus evolution in real time. Here, we evaluate two cohorts of SARS-CoV-2 genomic sequences to identify rapidly emerging variants within structured cis-regulatory elements of the SARS-CoV-2 genome. Overall, twenty variants are present at a minor allele frequency of at least 0.5%. Several enhance the stability of Stem Loop 1 in the 5'UTR, including a set of co-occurring variants that extend its length. One appears to modulate the stability of the frameshifting pseudoknot between ORF1a and ORF1b, and another perturbs a bi-stable molecular switch in the 3'UTR. Finally, five variants destabilize structured elements within the 3'UTR hypervariable region, including the S2M stem loop, raising questions as to the functional relevance of these structures in viral replication. Two of the most abundant variants appear to be caused by RNA editing, suggesting host-viral defense contributes to SARS-CoV-2 genome heterogeneity. This analysis has implications for the development of therapeutics that target viral cis-regulatory RNA structures or sequences, as rapidly emerging variations in these regions could lead to drug resistance.
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38
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Rangan R, Zheludev IN, Das R. RNA genome conservation and secondary structure in SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-related viruses. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2020:2020.03.27.012906. [PMID: 32511306 PMCID: PMC7217285 DOI: 10.1101/2020.03.27.012906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
As the COVID-19 outbreak spreads, there is a growing need for a compilation of conserved RNA genome regions in the SARS-CoV-2 virus along with their structural propensities to guide development of antivirals and diagnostics. Using sequence alignments spanning a range of betacoronaviruses, we rank genomic regions by RNA sequence conservation, identifying 79 regions of length at least 15 nucleotides as exactly conserved over SARS-related complete genome sequences available near the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak. We then confirm the conservation of the majority of these genome regions across 739 SARS-CoV-2 sequences reported to date from the current COVID-19 outbreak, and we present a curated list of 30 'SARS-related-conserved' regions. We find that known RNA structured elements curated as Rfam families and in prior literature are enriched in these conserved genome regions, and we predict additional conserved, stable secondary structures across the viral genome. We provide 106 'SARS-CoV-2-conserved-structured' regions as potential targets for antivirals that bind to structured RNA. We further provide detailed secondary structure models for the 5´ UTR, frame-shifting element, and 3´ UTR. Last, we predict regions of the SARS-CoV-2 viral genome have low propensity for RNA secondary structure and are conserved within SARS-CoV-2 strains. These 59 'SARS-CoV-2-conserved-unstructured' genomic regions may be most easily targeted in primer-based diagnostic and oligonucleotide-based therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramya Rangan
- Biophysics Program, Stanford University, Stanford CA 94305
| | - Ivan N. Zheludev
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford CA 94305
| | - Rhiju Das
- Biophysics Program, Stanford University, Stanford CA 94305
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford CA 94305
- Department of Physics, Stanford University, Stanford CA 94305
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39
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Lo CY, Tsai TL, Lin CN, Lin CH, Wu HY. Interaction of coronavirus nucleocapsid protein with the 5'- and 3'-ends of the coronavirus genome is involved in genome circularization and negative-strand RNA synthesis. FEBS J 2019; 286:3222-3239. [PMID: 31034708 PMCID: PMC7164124 DOI: 10.1111/febs.14863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2018] [Revised: 03/21/2019] [Accepted: 04/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Synthesis of the negative‐strand ((−)‐strand) counterpart is the first step of coronavirus (CoV) replication; however, the detailed mechanism of the early event and the factors involved remain to be determined. Here, using bovine coronavirus (BCoV)‐defective interfering (DI) RNA, we showed that (a) a poly(A) tail with a length of 15 nucleotides (nt) was sufficient to initiate efficient (−)‐strand RNA synthesis and (b) substitution of the poly(A) tail with poly(U), (C) or (G) only slightly decreased the efficiency of (−)‐strand synthesis. The findings indicate that in addition to the poly(A) tail, other factors acting in trans may also participate in (−)‐strand synthesis. The BCoV nucleocapsid (N) protein, an RNA‐binding protein, was therefore tested as a candidate. Based on dissociation constant (Kd) values, it was found that the binding affinity between N protein, but not poly(A)‐binding protein, and the 3′‐terminal 55 nt plus a poly(A), poly(U), poly(C) or poly(G) tail correlates with the efficiency of (−)‐strand synthesis. Such an association was also evidenced by the binding affinity between the N protein and 5′‐ and 3′‐terminal cis‐acting elements important for (−)‐strand synthesis. Further analysis demonstrated that N protein can act as a bridge to facilitate interaction between the 5′‐ and 3′‐ends of the CoV genome, leading to circularization of the genome. Together, the current study extends our understanding of the mechanism of CoV (−)‐strand RNA synthesis through involvement of N protein and genome circularization and thus may explain why the addition of N protein in trans is required for efficient CoV replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen-Yu Lo
- Graduate Institute of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Tsung-Lin Tsai
- Graduate Institute of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Chao-Nan Lin
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Neipu, Pingtung, Taiwan
| | - Ching-Hung Lin
- Graduate Institute of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Hung-Yi Wu
- Graduate Institute of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
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Tsai TL, Su CC, Hsieh CC, Lin CN, Chang HW, Lo CY, Lin CH, Wu HY. Gene Variations in Cis-Acting Elements between the Taiwan and Prototype Strains of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus Alter Viral Gene Expression. Genes (Basel) 2018; 9:E591. [PMID: 30501108 PMCID: PMC6316102 DOI: 10.3390/genes9120591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2018] [Revised: 11/20/2018] [Accepted: 11/26/2018] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
In 2013, the outbreak of porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) in Taiwan caused serious economic losses. In this study, we examined whether the variations of the cis-acting elements between the porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) Taiwan (TW) strain and the prototype strain CV777 alter gene expression. For this aim, we analyzed the variations of the cis-acting elements in the 5' and 3' untranslated regions (UTRs) between the PEDV TW, CV777, and other reference strains. We also determined the previously unidentified transcription regulatory sequence (TRS), a sequence motif required for coronavirus transcription, and found that a nucleotide deletion in the TW strain, in comparison with CV777 strain, immediately downstream of the leader core sequence alters the identity between the leader TRS and the body TRS. Functional analyses using coronavirus defective interfering (DI) RNA revealed that such variations in cis-acting elements for the TW strain compared with the CV777 strain have an influence on the efficiency of gene expression. The current data show for the first time the evolution of PEDV in terms of cis-acting elements and their effects on gene expression, and thus may contribute to our understanding of recent PED outbreaks worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsung-Lin Tsai
- Graduate Institute of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 40227, Taiwan.
| | - Chen-Chang Su
- Graduate Institute of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 40227, Taiwan.
| | - Ching-Chi Hsieh
- Division of Chest Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Bing Show Chwan Memorial Hospital, Changhua 505, Taiwan.
| | - Chao-Nan Lin
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Neipu, Pingtung 91201, Taiwan.
| | - Hui-Wen Chang
- Graduate Institute of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan.
| | - Chen-Yu Lo
- Graduate Institute of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 40227, Taiwan.
| | - Ching-Houng Lin
- Graduate Institute of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 40227, Taiwan.
| | - Hung-Yi Wu
- Graduate Institute of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 40227, Taiwan.
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Abstract
Coronaviruses have exceptionally large RNA genomes of approximately 30 kilobases. Genome replication and transcription is mediated by a multisubunit protein complex comprised of more than a dozen virus-encoded proteins. The protein complex is thought to bind specific cis-acting RNA elements primarily located in the 5′- and 3′-terminal genome regions and upstream of the open reading frames located in the 3′-proximal one-third of the genome. Here, we review our current understanding of coronavirus cis-acting RNA elements, focusing on elements required for genome replication and packaging. Recent bioinformatic, biochemical, and genetic studies suggest a previously unknown level of conservation of cis-acting RNA structures among different coronavirus genera and, in some cases, even beyond genus boundaries. Also, there is increasing evidence to suggest that individual cis-acting elements may be part of higher-order RNA structures involving long-range and dynamic RNA–RNA interactions between RNA structural elements separated by thousands of nucleotides in the viral genome. We discuss the structural and functional features of these cis-acting RNA elements and their specific functions in coronavirus RNA synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Madhugiri
- Institute of Medical Virology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - M Fricke
- Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - M Marz
- Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany; FLI Leibniz Institute for Age Research, Jena, Germany
| | - J Ziebuhr
- Institute of Medical Virology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany.
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Abstract
Replication of the coronavirus genome requires continuous RNA synthesis, whereas transcription is a discontinuous process unique among RNA viruses. Transcription includes a template switch during the synthesis of subgenomic negative-strand RNAs to add a copy of the leader sequence. Coronavirus transcription is regulated by multiple factors, including the extent of base-pairing between transcription-regulating sequences of positive and negative polarity, viral and cell protein-RNA binding, and high-order RNA-RNA interactions. Coronavirus RNA synthesis is performed by a replication-transcription complex that includes viral and cell proteins that recognize cis-acting RNA elements mainly located in the highly structured 5' and 3' untranslated regions. In addition to many viral nonstructural proteins, the presence of cell nuclear proteins and the viral nucleocapsid protein increases virus amplification efficacy. Coronavirus RNA synthesis is connected with the formation of double-membrane vesicles and convoluted membranes. Coronaviruses encode proofreading machinery, unique in the RNA virus world, to ensure the maintenance of their large genome size.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Sola
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CNB-CSIC), 28049 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Fernando Almazán
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CNB-CSIC), 28049 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Sonia Zúñiga
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CNB-CSIC), 28049 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Luis Enjuanes
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CNB-CSIC), 28049 Madrid, Spain;
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Fehr AR, Perlman S. Coronaviruses: an overview of their replication and pathogenesis. METHODS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY (CLIFTON, N.J.) 2015. [PMID: 25720466 DOI: 10.1007/978‐1‐4939‐2438‐7_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Coronaviruses (CoVs), enveloped positive-sense RNA viruses, are characterized by club-like spikes that project from their surface, an unusually large RNA genome, and a unique replication strategy. Coronaviruses cause a variety of diseases in mammals and birds ranging from enteritis in cows and pigs and upper respiratory disease in chickens to potentially lethal human respiratory infections. Here we provide a brief introduction to coronaviruses discussing their replication and pathogenicity, and current prevention and treatment strategies. We also discuss the outbreaks of the highly pathogenic Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and the recently identified Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV).
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony R Fehr
- Department of Microbiology, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
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Yang D, Leibowitz JL. The structure and functions of coronavirus genomic 3' and 5' ends. Virus Res 2015; 206:120-33. [PMID: 25736566 PMCID: PMC4476908 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2015.02.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 277] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2014] [Revised: 02/22/2015] [Accepted: 02/23/2015] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Coronaviruses (CoVs) are an important cause of illness in humans and animals. Most human coronaviruses commonly cause relatively mild respiratory illnesses; however two zoonotic coronaviruses, SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV, can cause severe illness and death. Investigations over the past 35 years have illuminated many aspects of coronavirus replication. The focus of this review is the functional analysis of conserved RNA secondary structures in the 5' and 3' of the betacoronavirus genomes. The 5' 350 nucleotides folds into a set of RNA secondary structures which are well conserved, and reverse genetic studies indicate that these structures play an important role in the discontinuous synthesis of subgenomic RNAs in the betacoronaviruses. These cis-acting elements extend 3' of the 5'UTR into ORF1a. The 3'UTR is similarly conserved and contains all of the cis-acting sequences necessary for viral replication. Two competing conformations near the 5' end of the 3'UTR have been shown to make up a potential molecular switch. There is some evidence that an association between the 3' and 5'UTRs is necessary for subgenomic RNA synthesis, but the basis for this association is not yet clear. A number of host RNA proteins have been shown to bind to the 5' and 3' cis-acting regions, but the significance of these in viral replication is not clear. Two viral proteins have been identified as binding to the 5' cis-acting region, nsp1 and N protein. A genetic interaction between nsp8 and nsp9 and the region of the 3'UTR that contains the putative molecular switch suggests that these two proteins bind to this region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong Yang
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Biochemistry, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Julian L Leibowitz
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology, Texas A&M University, College of Medicine, College Station, TX 77843-1114, USA.
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Abstract
Coronaviruses (CoVs), enveloped positive-sense RNA viruses, are characterized by club-like spikes that project from their surface, an unusually large RNA genome, and a unique replication strategy. Coronaviruses cause a variety of diseases in mammals and birds ranging from enteritis in cows and pigs and upper respiratory disease in chickens to potentially lethal human respiratory infections. Here we provide a brief introduction to coronaviruses discussing their replication and pathogenicity, and current prevention and treatment strategies. We also discuss the outbreaks of the highly pathogenic Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and the recently identified Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV).
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena Jane Maier
- grid.63622.330000000403887540The Pirbright Institute, Compton, United Kingdom
| | - Erica Bickerton
- grid.63622.330000000403887540The Pirbright Institute, Compton, United Kingdom
| | - Paul Britton
- grid.63622.330000000403887540The Pirbright Institute, Compton, United Kingdom
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46
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Madhugiri R, Fricke M, Marz M, Ziebuhr J. RNA structure analysis of alphacoronavirus terminal genome regions. Virus Res 2014; 194:76-89. [PMID: 25307890 PMCID: PMC7114417 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2014.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2014] [Revised: 09/30/2014] [Accepted: 10/01/2014] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Review of current knowledge of cis-acting RNA elements essential to coronavirus replication. Identification of RNA structural elements in alphacoronavirus terminal genome regions. Discussion of intra- and intergeneric conservation of genomic cis-acting RNA elements in alpha- and betacoronaviruses.
Coronavirus genome replication is mediated by a multi-subunit protein complex that is comprised of more than a dozen virally encoded and several cellular proteins. Interactions of the viral replicase complex with cis-acting RNA elements located in the 5′ and 3′-terminal genome regions ensure the specific replication of viral RNA. Over the past years, boundaries and structures of cis-acting RNA elements required for coronavirus genome replication have been extensively characterized in betacoronaviruses and, to a lesser extent, other coronavirus genera. Here, we review our current understanding of coronavirus cis-acting elements located in the terminal genome regions and use a combination of bioinformatic and RNA structure probing studies to identify and characterize putative cis-acting RNA elements in alphacoronaviruses. The study suggests significant RNA structure conservation among members of the genus Alphacoronavirus but also across genus boundaries. Overall, the conservation pattern identified for 5′ and 3′-terminal RNA structural elements in the genomes of alpha- and betacoronaviruses is in agreement with the widely used replicase polyprotein-based classification of the Coronavirinae, suggesting co-evolution of the coronavirus replication machinery with cognate cis-acting RNA elements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramakanth Madhugiri
- Institute of Medical Virology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Schubertstrasse 81, 35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - Markus Fricke
- Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Leutragraben 1, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Manja Marz
- Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Leutragraben 1, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - John Ziebuhr
- Institute of Medical Virology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Schubertstrasse 81, 35392 Giessen, Germany.
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47
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Zhao F, Han Z, Zhang T, Shao Y, Kong X, Ma H, Liu S. Genomic characteristics and changes of avian infectious bronchitis virus strain CK/CH/LDL/97I after serial passages in chicken embryos. Intervirology 2014; 57:319-30. [PMID: 25195733 PMCID: PMC7179551 DOI: 10.1159/000365193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2013] [Accepted: 06/07/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background We previously attenuated the infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) strain CK/CH/LDL/97I and found that it can convey protection against the homologous pathogenic virus. Objective To compare the full-length genome sequences of the Chinese IBV strain CK/CH/LDL/97I and its embryo-passaged, attenuated level to identify sequence substitutions responsible for the attenuation and define markers of attenuation. Methods The full-length genomes of CK/CH/LDL/97I P5 and P115 were amplified and sequenced. The sequences were assembled and compared using the MEGALIGN program (DNAStar) and a phylogenetic tree was constructed using MEGA4 software. Results The CK/CH/LDL/97I virus population contained subpopulations with a mixture of genetic mutants. Changes were observed in nsp4, nsp9, nsp11/12, nsp14, nsp15, nsp16, and ORF3a, but these did not result in amino acid substitutions or did not show functional variations. Amino acid substitutions occurred in the remaining genes between P5 and P115; most were found in the S region, and some of the nucleotide mutations resulted in amino acid substitutions. Among the 9 nsps in the ORF1 region, nsp3 contained the most nucleotide substitutions. Conclusions Sequence variations in different genes, especially the S gene and nsp3, in the genomes of CK/CH/LDL/97I viruses might contribute to differences in viral replication, pathogenicity, antigenicity, immunogenicity, and tissue tropism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Zhao
- Division of Avian Infectious Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, The Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, PR China
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Identification of cis-acting elements on positive-strand subgenomic mRNA required for the synthesis of negative-strand counterpart in bovine coronavirus. Viruses 2014; 6:2938-59. [PMID: 25080125 PMCID: PMC4147681 DOI: 10.3390/v6082938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2014] [Revised: 07/12/2014] [Accepted: 07/15/2014] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
It has been demonstrated that, in addition to genomic RNA, sgmRNA is able to serve as a template for the synthesis of the negative-strand [(−)-strand] complement. However, the cis-acting elements on the positive-strand [(+)-strand] sgmRNA required for (−)-strand sgmRNA synthesis have not yet been systematically identified. In this study, we employed real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction to analyze the cis-acting elements on bovine coronavirus (BCoV) sgmRNA 7 required for the synthesis of its (−)-strand counterpart by deletion mutagenesis. The major findings are as follows. (1) Deletion of the 5'-terminal leader sequence on sgmRNA 7 decreased the synthesis of the (−)-strand sgmRNA complement. (2) Deletions of the 3' untranslated region (UTR) bulged stem-loop showed no effect on (−)-strand sgmRNA synthesis; however, deletion of the 3' UTR pseudoknot decreased the yield of (−)-strand sgmRNA. (3) Nucleotides positioned from −15 to −34 of the sgmRNA 7 3'-terminal region are required for efficient (−)-strand sgmRNA synthesis. (4) Nucleotide species at the 3'-most position (−1) of sgmRNA 7 is correlated to the efficiency of (−)-strand sgmRNA synthesis. These results together suggest, in principle, that the 5'- and 3'-terminal sequences on sgmRNA 7 harbor cis-acting elements are critical for efficient (−)-strand sgmRNA synthesis in BCoV.
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The 3'-terminal 55 nucleotides of bovine coronavirus defective interfering RNA harbor cis-acting elements required for both negative- and positive-strand RNA synthesis. PLoS One 2014; 9:e98422. [PMID: 24852421 PMCID: PMC4031142 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0098422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2014] [Accepted: 05/02/2014] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The synthesis of the negative-strand [(−)-strand] complement of the ∼30 kilobase, positive-strand [(+)-strand] coronaviral genome is a necessary early step for genome replication. The identification of cis-acting elements required for (−)-strand RNA synthesis in coronaviruses, however, has been hampered due to insufficiencies in the techniques used to detect the (−)-strand RNA species. Here, we employed a method of head-to-tail ligation and real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) to detect and quantitate the synthesis of bovine coronavirus (BCoV) defective interfering (DI) RNA (−) strands. Furthermore, using the aforementioned techniques along with Northern blot assay, we specifically defined the cis-acting RNA elements within the 3′-terminal 55 nucleotides (nts) which function in the synthesis of (−)- or (+)-strand BCoV DI RNA. The major findings are as follows: (i) nts from -5 to -39 within the 3′-terminal 55 nts are the cis-acting elements responsible for (−)-strand BCoV DI RNA synthesis, (ii) nts from −3 to −34 within the 3′-terminal 55 nts are cis-acting elements required for (+)-strand BCoV DI RNA synthesis, and (iii) the nucleotide species at the 3′-most position (−1) is important, but not critical, for both (−)- and (+)-strand BCoV DI RNA synthesis. These results demonstrate that the 3′-terminal 55 nts in BCoV DI RNA harbor cis-acting RNA elements required for both (−)- and (+)-strand DI RNA synthesis and extend our knowledge on the mechanisms of coronavirus replication. The method of head-to-tail ligation and qRT-PCR employed in the study may also be applied to identify other cis-acting elements required for (−)-strand RNA synthesis in coronaviruses.
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Romero-López C, Berzal-Herranz A. Unmasking the information encoded as structural motifs of viral RNA genomes: a potential antiviral target. Rev Med Virol 2013; 23:340-54. [PMID: 23983005 PMCID: PMC7169113 DOI: 10.1002/rmv.1756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2013] [Revised: 07/23/2013] [Accepted: 07/24/2013] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
RNA viruses show enormous capacity to evolve and adapt to new cellular and molecular contexts, a consequence of mutations arising from errors made by viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase during replication. Sequence variation must occur, however, without compromising functions essential for the completion of the viral cycle. RNA viruses are safeguarded in this respect by their genome carrying conserved information that does not code only for proteins but also for the formation of structurally conserved RNA domains that directly perform these critical functions. Functional RNA domains can interact with other regions of the viral genome and/or proteins to direct viral translation, replication and encapsidation. They are therefore potential targets for novel therapeutic strategies. This review summarises our knowledge of the functional RNA domains of human RNA viruses and examines the achievements made in the design of antiviral compounds that interfere with their folding and therefore their function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Romero-López
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina 'López-Neyra', IPBLN-CSIC, PTS Granada, Armilla, Granada, Spain
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