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Ke Z, Zhang H, Wang Y, Wang J, Peng F, Wang J, Liu X, Hu H, Li Y. N-terminus of SARS-CoV-2 nonstructural protein 3 interrupts RNA-driven phase separation of N protein by displacing RNA. J Biol Chem 2024:107828. [PMID: 39341499 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.107828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Revised: 09/09/2024] [Accepted: 09/11/2024] [Indexed: 10/01/2024] Open
Abstract
The connection between SARS-CoV-2 replication-transcription complexes (RTCs) and nucleocapsid (N) protein is critical for regulating genomic RNA replication and virion packaging over the viral life cycle. However, the mechanism that dynamically regulates genomic RNA packaging and replication remains elusive. Here, we demonstrate that the N-terminal domain (NTD) of SARS-CoV-2 nonstructural protein 3 (Nsp3), a core component of viral RTCs, binds N protein and displaces RNA in a concentration-dependent manner. This interaction disrupts liquid-liquid phase separation of N protein driven by N protein-RNA interactions which is crucial for virion packaging and viral replication. We also report a high-resolution crystal structure of the Nsp3 ubiquitin-like domain 1 (Ubl1) at 1.49 Å, which reveals abundant negative charges on the protein surface. Sequence and structural analyses identify several conserved motifs at the Ubl1-N protein interface and a previously unexplored highly negative groove, providing insights into the molecular mechanism of Ubl1-mediated modulation of N protein-RNA binding. Our findings elucidate the mechanism of dynamic regulation of SARS-CoV-2 genomic RNA replication and packaging over the viral life cycle. Targeting the conserved Ubl1-N protein interaction hotspots also promises to aid in the development of broad-spectrum antivirals against pathogenic coronaviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zunhui Ke
- Department of Blood Transfusion, Wuhan Children's Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Haoran Zhang
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College and State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 13 Hangkong Road, Wuhan, China
| | - Yu Wang
- Division of Life Science, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jingning Wang
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College and State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 13 Hangkong Road, Wuhan, China
| | - Fei Peng
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College and State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 13 Hangkong Road, Wuhan, China
| | - Jia Wang
- Department of Blood Transfusion, Wuhan Children's Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaotian Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China.
| | - Hongbing Hu
- Department of Blood Transfusion, Wuhan Children's Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, China.
| | - Yan Li
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College and State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 13 Hangkong Road, Wuhan, China; Department of Pediatrics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No.1095 Jie Fang Avenue, Wuhan, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Drug Target Research and Pharmacodynamic Evaluation, Wuhan, China; Tongji-Rongcheng Center for Biomedicine, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
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2
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Focosi D, Spezia PG, Maggi F. Subsequent Waves of Convergent Evolution in SARS-CoV-2 Genes and Proteins. Vaccines (Basel) 2024; 12:887. [PMID: 39204013 PMCID: PMC11358953 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines12080887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2024] [Revised: 08/02/2024] [Accepted: 08/03/2024] [Indexed: 09/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Beginning in 2022, following widespread infection and vaccination among the global population, the SARS-CoV-2 virus mainly evolved to evade immunity derived from vaccines and past infections. This review covers the convergent evolution of structural, nonstructural, and accessory proteins in SARS-CoV-2, with a specific look at common mutations found in long-lasting infections that hint at the virus potentially reverting to an enteric sarbecovirus type.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniele Focosi
- North-Western Tuscany Blood Bank, Pisa University Hospital, 56124 Pisa, Italy;
| | - Pietro Giorgio Spezia
- Laboratory of Virology and Laboratory of Biosecurity, National Institute of Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani—IRCCS, 00149 Rome, Italy;
| | - Fabrizio Maggi
- Laboratory of Virology and Laboratory of Biosecurity, National Institute of Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani—IRCCS, 00149 Rome, Italy;
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3
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Zhang F, Chai C, Niu R, Diao Y, Zhou Y, Zhang J, Feng L, Yao C, Wu Y, Ma Y, Zan X, Wang W. Genetic characterization of bovine coronavirus strain isolated in Inner Mongolia of China. BMC Vet Res 2024; 20:209. [PMID: 38760785 PMCID: PMC11102244 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-024-04046-3] [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: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bovine coronavirus (BCoV) is implicated in severe diarrhea in calves and contributes to the bovine respiratory disease complex; it shares a close relationship with human coronavirus. Similar to other coronaviruses, remarkable variability was found in the genome and biology of the BCoV. In 2022, samples of feces were collected from a cattle farm. A virus was isolated from 7-day-old newborn calves. In this study, we present the genetic characteristics of a new BCoV isolate. The complete genomic, spike protein, and nucleocapsid protein gene sequences of the BCoV strain, along with those of other coronaviruses, were obtained from the GenBank database. Genetic analysis was conducted using MEGA7.0 and the Neighbor-Joining (NJ) method. The reference strains' related genes were retrieved from GenBank for comparison and analysis using DNAMAN. RESULTS The phylogenetic tree and whole genome consistency analysis showed that it belonged to the GIIb subgroup, which is epidemic in Asia and America, and was quite similar to the Chinese strains in the same cluster. Significantly, the S gene was highly consistent with QH1 (MH810151.1) isolated from yak. This suggests that the strain may have originated from interspecies transmission involving mutations of wild strains. The N gene was conserved and showed high sequence identity with the epidemic strains in China and the USA. CONCLUSIONS Genetic characterization suggests that the isolated strain could be a new mutant from a wild-type lineage, which is in the same cluster as most Chinese epidemic strains but on a new branch.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, 010030, China
- Veterinary Research Institute, Inner Mongolia Academy of Agricultural & Animal Husbandry Sciences, Hohhot, 010031, China
| | - Chunxia Chai
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, 010030, China
| | - Rui Niu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, 010030, China
| | - Yun Diao
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, 010030, China
| | - Yanyan Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, 010030, China
| | - Jinlong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, 010030, China
| | - Lin Feng
- Helinger County Bureau of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Hohhot, 011500, China
| | - Chunming Yao
- Helinger County Bureau of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Hohhot, 011500, China
| | - Youzhi Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, 010030, China
| | - Yanhua Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, 010030, China
| | - Xiaohui Zan
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, 010030, China
| | - Wei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, 010030, China.
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4
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Zhang J, Shi H, Zhang L, Feng T, Chen J, Zhang X, Ji Z, Jing Z, Zhu X, Liu D, Yang X, Zeng M, Shi D, Feng L. Swine acute diarrhea syndrome coronavirus nucleocapsid protein antagonizes the IFN response through inhibiting TRIM25 oligomerization and functional activation of RIG-I/TRIM25. Vet Res 2024; 55:44. [PMID: 38589930 PMCID: PMC11000385 DOI: 10.1186/s13567-024-01303-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Swine acute diarrhea syndrome coronavirus (SADS-CoV), an emerging Alpha-coronavirus, brings huge economic loss in swine industry. Interferons (IFNs) participate in a frontline antiviral defense mechanism triggering the activation of numerous downstream antiviral genes. Here, we demonstrated that TRIM25 overexpression significantly inhibited SADS-CoV replication, whereas TRIM25 deficiency markedly increased viral yield. We found that SADS-CoV N protein suppressed interferon-beta (IFN-β) production induced by Sendai virus (SeV) or poly(I:C). Moreover, we determined that SADS-CoV N protein interacted with RIG-I N-terminal two caspase activation and recruitment domains (2CARDs) and TRIM25 coiled-coil dimerization (CCD) domain. The interaction of SADS-CoV N protein with RIG-I and TRIM25 caused TRIM25 multimerization inhibition, the RIG-I-TRIM25 interaction disruption, and consequent the IRF3 and TBK1 phosphorylation impediment. Overexpression of SADS-CoV N protein facilitated the replication of VSV-GFP by suppressing IFN-β production. Our results demonstrate that SADS-CoV N suppresses the host IFN response, thus highlighting the significant involvement of TRIM25 in regulating antiviral immune defenses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiyu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xiangfang District, Haping Road 678, Harbin, 150069, China
| | - Hongyan Shi
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xiangfang District, Haping Road 678, Harbin, 150069, China
| | - Liaoyuan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xiangfang District, Haping Road 678, Harbin, 150069, China
| | - Tingshuai Feng
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xiangfang District, Haping Road 678, Harbin, 150069, China
| | - Jianfei Chen
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xiangfang District, Haping Road 678, Harbin, 150069, China
| | - Xin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xiangfang District, Haping Road 678, Harbin, 150069, China
| | - Zhaoyang Ji
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xiangfang District, Haping Road 678, Harbin, 150069, China
| | - Zhaoyang Jing
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xiangfang District, Haping Road 678, Harbin, 150069, China
| | - Xiaoyuan Zhu
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xiangfang District, Haping Road 678, Harbin, 150069, China
| | - Dakai Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xiangfang District, Haping Road 678, Harbin, 150069, China
| | - Xiaoman Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xiangfang District, Haping Road 678, Harbin, 150069, China
| | - Miaomiao Zeng
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xiangfang District, Haping Road 678, Harbin, 150069, China
| | - Da Shi
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xiangfang District, Haping Road 678, Harbin, 150069, China.
| | - Li Feng
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Xiangfang District, Haping Road 678, Harbin, 150069, China.
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5
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Kubinski HC, Despres HW, Johnson BA, Schmidt MM, Jaffrani SA, Mills MG, Lokugamage K, Dumas CM, Shirley DJ, Estes LK, Pekosz A, Crothers JW, Roychoudhury P, Greninger AL, Jerome KR, Di Genova BM, Walker DH, Ballif BA, Ladinsky MS, Bjorkman PJ, Menachery VD, Bruce EA. Variant mutation in SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid enhances viral infection via altered genomic encapsidation. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.08.584120. [PMID: 38559000 PMCID: PMC10979914 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.08.584120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
The evolution of SARS-CoV-2 variants and their respective phenotypes represents an important set of tools to understand basic coronavirus biology as well as the public health implications of individual mutations in variants of concern. While mutations outside of Spike are not well studied, the entire viral genome is undergoing evolutionary selection, particularly the central disordered linker region of the nucleocapsid (N) protein. Here, we identify a mutation (G215C), characteristic of the Delta variant, that introduces a novel cysteine into this linker domain, which results in the formation of a disulfide bond and a stable N-N dimer. Using reverse genetics, we determined that this cysteine residue is necessary and sufficient for stable dimer formation in a WA1 SARS-CoV-2 background, where it results in significantly increased viral growth both in vitro and in vivo. Finally, we demonstrate that the N:G215C virus packages more nucleocapsid per virion and that individual virions are larger, with elongated morphologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah C. Kubinski
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington VT, 05405, USA
| | - Hannah W. Despres
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington VT, 05405, USA
| | - Bryan A. Johnson
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
- Institute for Human Infection and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
- Center for Tropical Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Madaline M. Schmidt
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington VT, 05405, USA
| | - Sara A. Jaffrani
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington VT, 05405, USA
| | - Margaret G. Mills
- Virology Division, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle WA 98195, USA
| | - Kumari Lokugamage
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Caroline M. Dumas
- Department of Biology, University of Vermont 109 Carrigan Drive, 120A Marsh Life Sciences, Burlington VT 05404, USA
| | - David J. Shirley
- Faraday, Inc. Data Science Department. Burlington VT, 05405, USA
| | - Leah K. Estes
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Andrew Pekosz
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jessica W. Crothers
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Robert Larner, MD College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA
| | - Pavitra Roychoudhury
- Virology Division, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle WA 98195, USA
| | - Alexander L. Greninger
- Virology Division, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle WA 98195, USA
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle WA 98109, USA
| | - Keith R. Jerome
- Virology Division, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle WA 98195, USA
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle WA 98109, USA
| | - Bruno Martorelli Di Genova
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington VT, 05405, USA
| | - David H. Walker
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Bryan A. Ballif
- Department of Biology, University of Vermont 109 Carrigan Drive, 120A Marsh Life Sciences, Burlington VT 05404, USA
| | - Mark S. Ladinsky
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA. 91125, USA
| | - Pamela J. Bjorkman
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA. 91125, USA
| | - Vineet D. Menachery
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
- World Reference Center of Emerging Viruses and Arboviruses, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
- Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Emily A. Bruce
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington VT, 05405, USA
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6
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Ye M, Zhu H, Yang Z, Gao Y, Bai J, Jiang P, Liu X, Wang X. Identification of Three Novel Linear B-Cell Epitopes in Non-Structural Protein 3 of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus Using Monoclonal Antibodies. Viruses 2024; 16:424. [PMID: 38543789 PMCID: PMC10975687 DOI: 10.3390/v16030424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 02/25/2024] [Accepted: 03/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) is a highly pathogenic swine coronavirus that causes diarrhea and high mortality in piglets, resulting in significant economic losses within the global swine industry. Nonstructural protein 3 (Nsp3) is the largest in coronavirus, playing critical roles in viral replication, such as the processing of polyproteins and the formation of replication-transcription complexes (RTCs). In this study, three monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), 7G4, 5A3, and 2D7, targeting PEDV Nsp3 were successfully generated, and three distinct linear B-cell epitopes were identified within these mAbs by using Western blotting analysis with 24 truncations of Nsp3. The epitope against 7G4 was located on amino acids 31-TISQDLLDVE-40, the epitope against 5A3 was found on amino acids 141-LGIVDDPAMG-150, and the epitope against 2D7 was situated on amino acids 282-FYDAAMAIDG-291. Intriguingly, the epitope 31-TISQDLLDVE-40 recognized by the mAb 7G4 appears to be a critical B-cell linear epitope due to its high antigenic index and exposed location on the surface of Nsp3 protein. In addition, bioinformatics analysis unveiled that these three epitopes were highly conserved in most genotypes of PEDV. These findings present the first characterization of three novel linear B-cell epitopes in the Nsp3 protein of PEDV and provide potential tools of mAbs for identifying host proteins that may facilitate viral infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingjun Ye
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Diagnostics and Immunology, Ministry of Agriculture, MOE International Joint Collaborative Research Laboratory for Animal Health & Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China; (M.Y.); (H.Z.); (Z.Y.); (Y.G.); (J.B.); (P.J.); (X.L.)
| | - Huixin Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Diagnostics and Immunology, Ministry of Agriculture, MOE International Joint Collaborative Research Laboratory for Animal Health & Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China; (M.Y.); (H.Z.); (Z.Y.); (Y.G.); (J.B.); (P.J.); (X.L.)
| | - Zhen Yang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Diagnostics and Immunology, Ministry of Agriculture, MOE International Joint Collaborative Research Laboratory for Animal Health & Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China; (M.Y.); (H.Z.); (Z.Y.); (Y.G.); (J.B.); (P.J.); (X.L.)
| | - Yanni Gao
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Diagnostics and Immunology, Ministry of Agriculture, MOE International Joint Collaborative Research Laboratory for Animal Health & Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China; (M.Y.); (H.Z.); (Z.Y.); (Y.G.); (J.B.); (P.J.); (X.L.)
| | - Juan Bai
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Diagnostics and Immunology, Ministry of Agriculture, MOE International Joint Collaborative Research Laboratory for Animal Health & Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China; (M.Y.); (H.Z.); (Z.Y.); (Y.G.); (J.B.); (P.J.); (X.L.)
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Ping Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Diagnostics and Immunology, Ministry of Agriculture, MOE International Joint Collaborative Research Laboratory for Animal Health & Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China; (M.Y.); (H.Z.); (Z.Y.); (Y.G.); (J.B.); (P.J.); (X.L.)
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Xing Liu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Diagnostics and Immunology, Ministry of Agriculture, MOE International Joint Collaborative Research Laboratory for Animal Health & Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China; (M.Y.); (H.Z.); (Z.Y.); (Y.G.); (J.B.); (P.J.); (X.L.)
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Xianwei Wang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Diagnostics and Immunology, Ministry of Agriculture, MOE International Joint Collaborative Research Laboratory for Animal Health & Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China; (M.Y.); (H.Z.); (Z.Y.); (Y.G.); (J.B.); (P.J.); (X.L.)
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
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7
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Eltayeb A, Al-Sarraj F, Alharbi M, Albiheyri R, Mattar EH, Abu Zeid IM, Bouback TA, Bamagoos A, Uversky VN, Rubio-Casillas A, Redwan EM. Intrinsic factors behind long COVID: IV. Hypothetical roles of the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein and its liquid-liquid phase separation. J Cell Biochem 2024; 125:e30530. [PMID: 38349116 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.30530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
When the SARS-CoV-2 virus infects humans, it leads to a condition called COVID-19 that has a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations, from no symptoms to acute respiratory distress syndrome. The virus initiates damage by attaching to the ACE-2 protein on the surface of endothelial cells that line the blood vessels and using these cells as hosts for replication. Reactive oxygen species levels are increased during viral replication, which leads to oxidative stress. About three-fifths (~60%) of the people who get infected with the virus eradicate it from their body after 28 days and recover their normal activity. However, a large fraction (~40%) of the people who are infected with the virus suffer from various symptoms (anosmia and/or ageusia, fatigue, cough, myalgia, cognitive impairment, insomnia, dyspnea, and tachycardia) beyond 12 weeks and are diagnosed with a syndrome called long COVID. Long-term clinical studies in a group of people who contracted SARS-CoV-2 have been contrasted with a noninfected matched group of people. A subset of infected people can be distinguished by a set of cytokine markers to have persistent, low-grade inflammation and often self-report two or more bothersome symptoms. No medication can alleviate their symptoms efficiently. Coronavirus nucleocapsid proteins have been investigated extensively as potential drug targets due to their key roles in virus replication, among which is their ability to bind their respective genomic RNAs for incorporation into emerging virions. This review highlights basic studies of the nucleocapsid protein and its ability to undergo liquid-liquid phase separation. We hypothesize that this ability of the nucleocapsid protein for phase separation may contribute to long COVID. This hypothesis unlocks new investigation angles and could potentially open novel avenues for a better understanding of long COVID and treating this condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed Eltayeb
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Faisal Al-Sarraj
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mona Alharbi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Raed Albiheyri
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Centre of Excellence in Bionanoscience Research, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Immunology Unit, King Fahad Medical Research Centre, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ehab H Mattar
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Isam M Abu Zeid
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Thamer A Bouback
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Atif Bamagoos
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Vladimir N Uversky
- Department of Molecular Medicine and USF Health Byrd Alzheimer's Research Institute, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
- Pushchino Scientific Center for Biological Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow Region, Russia
| | - Alberto Rubio-Casillas
- Autlan Regional Hospital, Health Secretariat, Autlan, Jalisco, Mexico
- Biology Laboratory, Autlan Regional Preparatory School, University of Guadalajara, Autlan, Jalisco, Mexico
| | - Elrashdy M Redwan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Centre of Excellence in Bionanoscience Research, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
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8
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Eltayeb A, Al-Sarraj F, Alharbi M, Albiheyri R, Mattar E, Abu Zeid IM, Bouback TA, Bamagoos A, Aljohny BO, Uversky VN, Redwan EM. Overview of the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 260:129523. [PMID: 38232879 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.129523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/13/2024] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Since the emergence of SARS-CoV in 2003, researchers worldwide have been toiling away at deciphering this virus's biological intricacies. In line with other known coronaviruses, the nucleocapsid (N) protein is an important structural component of SARS-CoV. As a result, much emphasis has been placed on characterizing this protein. Independent research conducted by a variety of laboratories has clearly demonstrated the primary function of this protein, which is to encapsidate the viral genome. Furthermore, various accounts indicate that this particular protein disrupts diverse intracellular pathways. Such observations imply its vital role in regulating the virus as well. The opening segment of this review will expound upon these distinct characteristics succinctly exhibited by the N protein. Additionally, it has been suggested that the N protein possesses diagnostic and vaccine capabilities when dealing with SARS-CoV. In light of this fact, we will be reviewing some recent headway in the use cases for N protein toward clinical purposes within this article's concluding segments. This forward movement pertains to both developments of COVID-19-oriented therapeutic targets as well as diagnostic measures. The strides made by medical researchers offer encouragement, knowing they are heading toward a brighter future combating global pandemic situations such as these.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed Eltayeb
- Department of Biological Science, Faculty of Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 80203, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Faisal Al-Sarraj
- Department of Biological Science, Faculty of Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 80203, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mona Alharbi
- Department of Biological Science, Faculty of Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 80203, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Raed Albiheyri
- Department of Biological Science, Faculty of Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 80203, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia; Centre of Excellence in Bionanoscience Research, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ehab Mattar
- Department of Biological Science, Faculty of Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 80203, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Isam M Abu Zeid
- Department of Biological Science, Faculty of Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 80203, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia; Princess Dr. Najla Bint Saud Al-Saud Center for Excellence Research in Biotechnology, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 80200, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Thamer A Bouback
- Department of Biological Science, Faculty of Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 80203, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia; Princess Dr. Najla Bint Saud Al-Saud Center for Excellence Research in Biotechnology, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 80200, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Atif Bamagoos
- Department of Biological Science, Faculty of Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 80203, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Bassam O Aljohny
- Department of Biological Science, Faculty of Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 80203, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Vladimir N Uversky
- Department of Molecular Medicine and USF Health Byrd Alzheimer's Research Institute, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA.
| | - Elrashdy M Redwan
- Department of Biological Science, Faculty of Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 80203, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia; Centre of Excellence in Bionanoscience Research, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; Therapeutic and Protective Proteins Laboratory, Protein Research Department, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute, City for Scientific Research and Technology Applications, New Borg EL-Arab, 21934 Alexandria, Egypt.
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9
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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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10
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Salazar-Ardiles C, Asserella-Rebollo L, Cornejo C, Arias D, Vasquez-Muñoz M, Toledo C, Andrade DC. Molecular diagnostic approaches for SARS-CoV-2 detection and pathophysiological consequences. Mol Biol Rep 2023; 50:10367-10382. [PMID: 37817022 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-023-08844-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2, a novel coronavirus within the Coronaviridae family, is the causative agent behind the respiratory ailment referred to as COVID-19. Operating on a global scale, COVID-19 has led to a substantial number of fatalities, exerting profound effects on both public health and the global economy. The most frequently reported symptoms encompass fever, cough, muscle or body aches, loss of taste or smell, headaches, and fatigue. Furthermore, a subset of individuals may manifest more severe symptoms, including those consistent with viral pneumonitis, which can be so profound as to result in fatalities. Consequently, this situation has spurred the rapid advancement of disease diagnostic technologies worldwide. Predominantly employed in diagnosing COVID-19, the real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR has been the foremost diagnostic method, effectively detecting SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA. As the pandemic has evolved, antigen and serological tests have emerged as valuable diagnostic tools. Antigen tests pinpoint specific viral proteins of SARS-CoV-2, offering swift results, while serological tests identify the presence of antibodies in blood samples. Additionally, there have been notable strides in sample collection methods, notably with the introduction of saliva-based tests, presenting a non-invasive substitute to nasopharyngeal swabs. Given the ongoing mutations in SARS-CoV-2, there has been a continuous need for genomic surveillance, encompassing full genome sequencing and the identification of new variants through Illumina technology and, more recently, nanopore metagenomic sequencing (SMTN). Consequently, while diagnostic testing methods for COVID-19 have experienced remarkable progress, no test is flawless, and there exist limitations with each technique, including sensitivity, specificity, sample collection, and the minimum viral load necessary for accurate detection. These aspects are comprehensively addressed within this current review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila Salazar-Ardiles
- Exercise Applied Physiology Laboratory, Centro de Investigación en Fisiología y Medicina de Altura (FIMEDALT), Biomedical Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad de Antofagasta, Av. Universidad de Antofagasta #02800, Antofagasta, Chile
| | | | - Carlos Cornejo
- Exercise Applied Physiology Laboratory, Centro de Investigación en Fisiología y Medicina de Altura (FIMEDALT), Biomedical Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad de Antofagasta, Av. Universidad de Antofagasta #02800, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - Dayana Arias
- Exercise Applied Physiology Laboratory, Centro de Investigación en Fisiología y Medicina de Altura (FIMEDALT), Biomedical Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad de Antofagasta, Av. Universidad de Antofagasta #02800, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - Manuel Vasquez-Muñoz
- Dirección de Docencia de Especialidades Médicas, Dirección de Postgrado, Facultad de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Mayor, Santiago, Chile
| | - Camilo Toledo
- Laboratory of Cardiorespiratory and Sleep Physiology, Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - David C Andrade
- Exercise Applied Physiology Laboratory, Centro de Investigación en Fisiología y Medicina de Altura (FIMEDALT), Biomedical Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad de Antofagasta, Av. Universidad de Antofagasta #02800, Antofagasta, Chile.
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11
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Estelle AB, Forsythe HM, Yu Z, Hughes K, Lasher B, Allen P, Reardon PN, Hendrix DA, Barbar EJ. RNA structure and multiple weak interactions balance the interplay between RNA binding and phase separation of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid. PNAS NEXUS 2023; 2:pgad333. [PMID: 37901441 PMCID: PMC10605006 DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgad333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023]
Abstract
The nucleocapsid (N) protein of SARS-CoV-2 binds viral RNA, condensing it inside the virion, and phase separating with RNA to form liquid-liquid condensates. There is little consensus on what differentiates sequence-independent N-RNA interactions in the virion or in liquid droplets from those with specific genomic RNA (gRNA) motifs necessary for viral function inside infected cells. To identify the RNA structures and the N domains responsible for specific interactions and phase separation, we use the first 1,000 nt of viral RNA and short RNA segments designed as models for single-stranded and paired RNA. Binding affinities estimated from fluorescence anisotropy of these RNAs to the two-folded domains of N (the NTD and CTD) and comparison to full-length N demonstrate that the NTD binds preferentially to single-stranded RNA, and while it is the primary RNA-binding site, it is not essential to phase separation. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy identifies two RNA-binding sites on the NTD: a previously characterized site and an additional although weaker RNA-binding face that becomes prominent when binding to the primary site is weak, such as with dsRNA or a binding-impaired mutant. Phase separation assays of nucleocapsid domains with double-stranded and single-stranded RNA structures support a model where multiple weak interactions, such as with the CTD or the NTD's secondary face promote phase separation, while strong, specific interactions do not. These studies indicate that both strong and multivalent weak N-RNA interactions underlie the multifunctional abilities of N.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aidan B Estelle
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Heather M Forsythe
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Zhen Yu
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Kaitlyn Hughes
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Brittany Lasher
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Patrick Allen
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Patrick N Reardon
- Oregon State University NMR Facility, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - David A Hendrix
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
- School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Elisar J Barbar
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
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12
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Gastelum S, Michael AF, Bolger TA. Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a research tool for RNA-mediated human disease. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. RNA 2023; 15:e1814. [PMID: 37671427 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2022] [Revised: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023]
Abstract
The budding yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, has been used for decades as a powerful genetic tool to study a broad spectrum of biological topics. With its ease of use, economic utility, well-studied genome, and a highly conserved proteome across eukaryotes, it has become one of the most used model organisms. Due to these advantages, it has been used to study an array of complex human diseases. From broad, complex pathological conditions such as aging and neurodegenerative disease to newer uses such as SARS-CoV-2, yeast continues to offer new insights into how cellular processes are affected by disease and how affected pathways might be targeted in therapeutic settings. At the same time, the roles of RNA and RNA-based processes have become increasingly prominent in the pathology of many of these same human diseases, and yeast has been utilized to investigate these mechanisms, from aberrant RNA-binding proteins in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis to translation regulation in cancer. Here we review some of the important insights that yeast models have yielded into the molecular pathology of complex, RNA-based human diseases. This article is categorized under: RNA in Disease and Development > RNA in Disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Gastelum
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Allison F Michael
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Timothy A Bolger
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
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13
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Li P, Xue B, Schnicker NJ, Wong LYR, Meyerholz DK, Perlman S. Nsp3-N interactions are critical for SARS-CoV-2 fitness and virulence. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2305674120. [PMID: 37487098 PMCID: PMC10400999 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2305674120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19 encodes at least 16 nonstructural proteins of variably understood function. Nsp3, the largest nonstructural protein contains several domains, including a SARS-unique domain (SUD), which occurs only in Sarbecovirus. The SUD has a role in preferentially enhancing viral translation. During isolation of mouse-adapted SARS-CoV-2, we isolated an attenuated virus that contained a single mutation in a linker region of nsp3 (nsp3-S676T). The S676T mutation decreased virus replication in cultured cells and primary human cells and in mice. Nsp3-S676T alleviated the SUD translational enhancing ability by decreasing the interaction between two translation factors, Paip1 and PABP1. We also identified a compensatory mutation in the nucleocapsid (N) protein (N-S194L) that restored the virulent phenotype, without directly binding to SUD. Together, these results reveal an aspect of nsp3-N interactions, which impact both SARS-CoV-2 replication and, consequently, pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengfei Li
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242
| | - Biyun Xue
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242
| | | | - Lok-Yin Roy Wong
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242
| | | | - Stanley Perlman
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242
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14
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Aloise C, Schipper JG, van Vliet A, Oymans J, Donselaar T, Hurdiss DL, de Groot RJ, van Kuppeveld FJM. SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein inhibits the PKR-mediated integrated stress response through RNA-binding domain N2b. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011582. [PMID: 37607209 PMCID: PMC10473545 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011582] [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: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The nucleocapsid protein N of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) enwraps and condenses the viral genome for packaging but is also an antagonist of the innate antiviral defense. It suppresses the integrated stress response (ISR), purportedly by interacting with stress granule (SG) assembly factors G3BP1 and 2, and inhibits type I interferon responses. To elucidate its mode of action, we systematically deleted and over-expressed distinct regions and domains. We show that N via domain N2b blocks PKR-mediated ISR activation, as measured by suppression of ISR-induced translational arrest and SG formation. N2b mutations that prevent dsRNA binding abrogate these activities also when introduced in the intact N protein. Substitutions reported to block post-translation modifications of N or its interaction with G3BP1/2 did not have a detectable additive effect. In an encephalomyocarditis virus-based infection model, N2b - but not a derivative defective in RNA binding-prevented PKR activation, inhibited β-interferon expression and promoted virus replication. Apparently, SARS-CoV-2 N inhibits innate immunity by sequestering dsRNA to prevent activation of PKR and RIG-I-like receptors. Similar observations were made for the N protein of human coronavirus 229E, suggesting that this may be a general trait conserved among members of other orthocoronavirus (sub)genera.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Aloise
- Virology Section, Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Jelle G. Schipper
- Virology Section, Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Arno van Vliet
- Virology Section, Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Judith Oymans
- Virology Section, Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Tim Donselaar
- Virology Section, Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Daniel L. Hurdiss
- Virology Section, Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Raoul J. de Groot
- Virology Section, Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Frank J. M. van Kuppeveld
- Virology Section, Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
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15
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Mao S, Cai X, Niu S, Wei J, Jiang N, Deng H, Wang W, Zhang J, Shen S, Ma Y, Wu X, Peng Q, Huang A, Wang D. TRIM21 promotes ubiquitination of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein to regulate innate immunity. J Med Virol 2023; 95:e28719. [PMID: 37185839 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.28719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2023] [Revised: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
The innate immune response is the first line of host defense against viral infections, but its role in immunity against SARS-CoV-2 remains unclear. By using immunoprecipitation coupled with mass spectroscopy, we observed that the E3 ubiquitin ligase TRIM21 interacted with the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N) protein and ubiquitinated it at Lys375 . Upon determining the topology of the TRIM21-mediated polyubiquitination chain on N protein, we then found that polyubiquitination led to tagging of the N protein for degradation by the host cell proteasome. Furthermore, TRIM21 also ubiquitinated the N proteins of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern, including Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, and Omicron together with SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV variants. Herein, we propose that ubiquitylation and degradation of the SARS-CoV-2 N protein inhibited SARS-CoV-2 viral particle assembly, by which it probably involved in preventing cytokine storm. Eventually, our study has fully revealed the association between the host innate immune system and SARS-CoV-2 N protein, which may aid in developing novel SARS-CoV-2 treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shenglan Mao
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases designated by the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xuefei Cai
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases designated by the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Siqiang Niu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jie Wei
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Zhuhai People's Hospital (Zhuhai Hospital Affiliated with Jinan University), Zhuhai, Guangdong, China
| | - Ning Jiang
- School of Basic Medical Science, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Haijun Deng
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases designated by the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Wen Wang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases designated by the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases designated by the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Shimei Shen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases designated by the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yuanyan Ma
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases designated by the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiaoli Wu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases designated by the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Qiling Peng
- School of Basic Medical Science, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Ailong Huang
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases designated by the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Deqiang Wang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases designated by the Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
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16
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Ni X, Han Y, Zhou R, Zhou Y, Lei J. Structural insights into ribonucleoprotein dissociation by nucleocapsid protein interacting with non-structural protein 3 in SARS-CoV-2. Commun Biol 2023; 6:193. [PMID: 36806252 PMCID: PMC9938351 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04570-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The coronavirus nucleocapsid (N) protein interacts with non-structural protein 3 (Nsp3) to facilitate viral RNA synthesis and stabilization. However, structural information on the N-Nsp3 complex is limited. Here, we report a 2.6 Å crystal structure of the N-terminal domain (NTD) of the N protein in complex with the ubiquitin-like domain 1 (Ubl1) of Nsp3 in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). One NTD and two Ubl1s formed a stable heterotrimer. We performed mutational analysis to reveal the key residues for this interaction. We confirmed the colocalization of SARS-CoV-2 N and Nsp3 in Huh-7 cells. N-Ubl1 interaction also exists in SARS-CoV and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus. We found that SARS-CoV-2 Ubl1 competes with RNA to bind N protein in a dose-dependent manner. Based on our results, we propose a model for viral ribonucleoprotein dissociation through N protein binding to Ubl1 of Nsp3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xincheng Ni
- grid.412901.f0000 0004 1770 1022National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan China ,grid.412901.f0000 0004 1770 1022State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan China
| | - Yinze Han
- grid.412901.f0000 0004 1770 1022National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan China ,grid.412901.f0000 0004 1770 1022State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan China
| | - Renjie Zhou
- grid.412901.f0000 0004 1770 1022National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan China ,grid.412901.f0000 0004 1770 1022State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan China
| | - Yanmei Zhou
- grid.412901.f0000 0004 1770 1022National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan China ,grid.412901.f0000 0004 1770 1022State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan China
| | - Jian Lei
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China. .,State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
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17
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Mohseni N, Royster A, Ren S, Ma Y, Pintado M, Mir M, Mir S. A novel compound targets the feline infectious peritonitis virus nucleocapsid protein and inhibits viral replication in cell culture. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:102976. [PMID: 36738790 PMCID: PMC10011503 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.102976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Revised: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a serious viral illness in cats, caused by feline coronavirus. Once a cat develops clinical FIP, the prognosis is poor. The effective treatment strategy for coronavirus infections with immunopathological complications such as SARS-CoV-2, MERS, and FIP is focused on antiviral and immunomodulatory agents to inhibit virus replication and enhance the protective immune response. In this article we report the binding and conformational alteration of feline alphacoronavirus (FCoV) nucleocapsid protein by a novel compound K31. K31 noncompetitively inhibited the interaction between the purified nucleocapsid protein and the synthetic 5' terminus of viral genomic RNA in vitro. K31 was well tolerated by cells and inhibited FCoV replication in cell culture with a selective index of 115. A single dose of K31inhibited FCoV replication to an undetectable level in 24 h post treatment. K31 did not affect the virus entry to the host cell but inhibited the postentry steps of virus replication. The nucleocapsid protein forms ribonucleocapsid in association with the viral genomic RNA that serves as a template for transcription and replication of the viral genome. Our results show that K31 treatment disrupted the structural integrity of ribonucleocapsid in virus-infected cells. After the COVID-19 pandemic, most of the antiviral drug development strategies have focused on RdRp and proteases encoded by the viral genome. Our results have shown that nucleocapsid protein is a druggable target for anticoronavirus drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nazleen Mohseni
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, California, USA
| | - Austin Royster
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, California, USA
| | - Songyang Ren
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, California, USA
| | - Yutian Ma
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, California, USA
| | - Melissa Pintado
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, California, USA
| | - Mohammad Mir
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, California, USA
| | - Sheema Mir
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, California, USA.
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18
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Jahirul Islam M, Nawal Islam N, Siddik Alom M, Kabir M, Halim MA. A review on structural, non-structural, and accessory proteins of SARS-CoV-2: Highlighting drug target sites. Immunobiology 2023; 228:152302. [PMID: 36434912 PMCID: PMC9663145 DOI: 10.1016/j.imbio.2022.152302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2022] [Revised: 10/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of COVID-19, is a highly transmittable and pathogenic human coronavirus that first emerged in China in December 2019. The unprecedented outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 devastated human health within a short time leading to a global public health emergency. A detailed understanding of the viral proteins including their structural characteristics and virulence mechanism on human health is very crucial for developing vaccines and therapeutics. To date, over 1800 structures of non-structural, structural, and accessory proteins of SARS-CoV-2 are determined by cryo-electron microscopy, X-ray crystallography, and NMR spectroscopy. Designing therapeutics to target the viral proteins has several benefits since they could be highly specific against the virus while maintaining minimal detrimental effects on humans. However, for ongoing and future research on SARS-CoV-2, summarizing all the viral proteins and their detailed structural information is crucial. In this review, we compile comprehensive information on viral structural, non-structural, and accessory proteins structures with their binding and catalytic sites, different domain and motifs, and potential drug target sites to assist chemists, biologists, and clinicians finding necessary details for fundamental and therapeutic research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Jahirul Islam
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Division of Computer Aided Drug Design, The Red-Green Research Centre, BICCB, 16 Tejkunipara, Tejgaon, Dhaka 1215, Bangladesh
| | - Nafisa Nawal Islam
- Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka 1342, Bangladesh
| | - Md Siddik Alom
- Ohio State Biochemistry Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Mahmuda Kabir
- Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Dhaka, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh
| | - Mohammad A Halim
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Kennesaw State University, 370 Paulding Avenue NW, Kennesaw, GA 30144, USA
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19
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Mahdi I, Yeasmin H, Hossain I, Badhan RM, Ali MA, Kaium MA, Islam R, Sufian MA, Halim MA. Potential antiviral peptides against the nucleoprotein of SARS-CoV-2. CHEMICAL PAPERS 2023; 77:813-823. [PMID: 36213321 PMCID: PMC9531640 DOI: 10.1007/s11696-022-02514-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Nucleoprotein is a conserved structural protein of SARS-CoV-2, which is involved in several functions, including replication, packaging, and transcription. In this research, 21 antiviral peptides that are known to have inhibitory function against nucleoprotein in several other viruses, were screened computationally against the nucleoprotein of SARS-CoV-2. The complexes of five best performing peptides (AVP1142, AVP1145, AVP1148, AVP1150, AVP1155) with nucleoprotein were selected for subsequent screening via 5 ns molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. Two peptides, namely AVP1145 and AVP1155, came out as promising candidates and hence were selected for 200 ns MD simulation for further validation, incorporating a DMPC-based membrane environment. In the long MD simulation, both AVP1155 and AVP1145 utilized multiple residues-mainly aromatic, acidic, and nonpolar residues-as interacting points to remain in contact with the nucleoprotein and formed predominantly hydrogen bonds along with hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions. However, AVP1155 proved to be superior to AVP1145 when its complex with nucleoprotein was analyzed in terms of root-mean-square deviation, root-mean-square fluctuation, radius of gyration, solvent accessible surface area and free energy landscape. In a nutshell, the findings of this research may guide future studies in the development of selective peptide inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 nucleoprotein. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11696-022-02514-4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iktedar Mahdi
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Division of Computer-Aided Drug Design, The Red-Green Research Centre, BICCB, 16 Tejkunipara, Tejgaon, Dhaka, 1215 Bangladesh ,Department of Chemistry, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Humyara Yeasmin
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Division of Computer-Aided Drug Design, The Red-Green Research Centre, BICCB, 16 Tejkunipara, Tejgaon, Dhaka, 1215 Bangladesh
| | - Imtiaz Hossain
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Division of Computer-Aided Drug Design, The Red-Green Research Centre, BICCB, 16 Tejkunipara, Tejgaon, Dhaka, 1215 Bangladesh
| | - Raina Masnoon Badhan
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Division of Computer-Aided Drug Design, The Red-Green Research Centre, BICCB, 16 Tejkunipara, Tejgaon, Dhaka, 1215 Bangladesh
| | - Md. Ackas Ali
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Division of Computer-Aided Drug Design, The Red-Green Research Centre, BICCB, 16 Tejkunipara, Tejgaon, Dhaka, 1215 Bangladesh ,Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA 30144 USA
| | - Md. Abdul Kaium
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Division of Computer-Aided Drug Design, The Red-Green Research Centre, BICCB, 16 Tejkunipara, Tejgaon, Dhaka, 1215 Bangladesh
| | - Rajib Islam
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Division of Computer-Aided Drug Design, The Red-Green Research Centre, BICCB, 16 Tejkunipara, Tejgaon, Dhaka, 1215 Bangladesh
| | - Md. Abu Sufian
- School of Pharmacy, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19140 USA
| | - Mohammad A. Halim
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA 30144 USA
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20
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Chechetkin VR, Lobzin VV. Evolving ribonucleocapsid assembly/packaging signals in the genomes of the human and animal coronaviruses: targeting, transmission and evolution. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2022; 40:11239-11263. [PMID: 34338591 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2021.1958061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
A world-wide COVID-19 pandemic intensified strongly the studies of molecular mechanisms related to the coronaviruses. The origin of coronaviruses and the risks of human-to-human, animal-to-human and human-to-animal transmission of coronaviral infections can be understood only on a broader evolutionary level by detailed comparative studies. In this paper, we studied ribonucleocapsid assembly-packaging signals (RNAPS) in the genomes of all seven known pathogenic human coronaviruses, SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2, MERS-CoV, HCoV-OC43, HCoV-HKU1, HCoV-229E and HCoV-NL63 and compared them with RNAPS in the genomes of the related animal coronaviruses including SARS-Bat-CoV, MERS-Camel-CoV, MHV, Bat-CoV MOP1, TGEV and one of camel alphacoronaviruses. RNAPS in the genomes of coronaviruses were evolved due to weakly specific interactions between genomic RNA and N proteins in helical nucleocapsids. Combining transitional genome mapping and Jaccard correlation coefficients allows us to perform the analysis directly in terms of underlying motifs distributed over the genome. In all coronaviruses, RNAPS were distributed quasi-periodically over the genome with the period about 54 nt biased to 57 nt and to 51 nt for the genomes longer and shorter than that of SARS-CoV, respectively. The comparison with the experimentally verified packaging signals for MERS-CoV, MHV and TGEV proved that the distribution of particular motifs is strongly correlated with the packaging signals. We also found that many motifs were highly conserved in both characters and positioning on the genomes throughout the lineages that make them promising therapeutic targets. The mechanisms of encapsidation can affect the recombination and co-infection as well.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladimir R Chechetkin
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology of Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Vasily V Lobzin
- School of Physics, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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21
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Zhang Y, Chen Y, Zhou J, Wang X, Ma L, Li J, Yang L, Yuan H, Pang D, Ouyang H. Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus: An Updated Overview of Virus Epidemiology, Virulence Variation Patterns and Virus-Host Interactions. Viruses 2022; 14:2434. [PMID: 36366532 PMCID: PMC9695474 DOI: 10.3390/v14112434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Revised: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) is a member of the coronavirus family, causing deadly watery diarrhea in newborn piglets. The global pandemic of PEDV, with significant morbidity and mortality, poses a huge threat to the swine industry. The currently developed vaccines and drugs are only effective against the classic GI strains that were prevalent before 2010, while there is no effective control against the GII variant strains that are currently a global pandemic. In this review, we summarize the latest progress in the biology of PEDV, including its transmission and origin, structure and function, evolution, and virus-host interaction, in an attempt to find the potential virulence factors influencing PEDV pathogenesis. We conclude with the mechanism by which PEDV components antagonize the immune responses of the virus, and the role of host factors in virus infection. Essentially, this review serves as a valuable reference for the development of attenuated virus vaccines and the potential of host factors as antiviral targets for the prevention and control of PEDV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanzhu Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China
| | - Yiwu Chen
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China
| | - Jian Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China
| | - Xi Wang
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China
| | - Lerong Ma
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China
| | - Jianing Li
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China
| | - Lin Yang
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China
| | - Hongming Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China
- Chongqing Research Institute, Jilin University, Chongqing 401120, China
| | - Daxin Pang
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China
- Chongqing Research Institute, Jilin University, Chongqing 401120, China
- Chongqing Jitang Biotechnology Research Institute Co., Ltd., Chongqing 401120, China
| | - Hongsheng Ouyang
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China
- Chongqing Research Institute, Jilin University, Chongqing 401120, China
- Chongqing Jitang Biotechnology Research Institute Co., Ltd., Chongqing 401120, China
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22
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Huang N, Dong H, Shao B. Phase separation in immune regulation and immune-related diseases. J Mol Med (Berl) 2022; 100:1427-1440. [PMID: 36085373 PMCID: PMC9462646 DOI: 10.1007/s00109-022-02253-9] [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: 06/13/2022] [Revised: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Phase separation is an emerging paradigm for understanding the biochemical interactions between proteins, DNA, and RNA. Research over the past decade has provided mounting evidence that phase separation modulates a great variety of cellular activities. Particularly, phase separation is directly relevant to immune signaling, immune cells, and immune-related diseases like cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and even SARS-CoV-2. In this review, we summarized current knowledge of phase separation in immunology and emerging findings related to immune responses as they enable possible treatment approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Hao Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Bin Shao
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
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23
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Kippes O, Thorn A, Santoni G. Structural biology of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid. CRYSTALLOGR REV 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/0889311x.2022.2072835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Oliver Kippes
- Institut für Nanostruktur und Festkörperphysik, Universität Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Andrea Thorn
- Institut für Nanostruktur und Festkörperphysik, Universität Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
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24
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Johnson BA, Zhou Y, Lokugamage KG, Vu MN, Bopp N, Crocquet-Valdes PA, Kalveram B, Schindewolf C, Liu Y, Scharton D, Plante JA, Xie X, Aguilar P, Weaver SC, Shi PY, Walker DH, Routh AL, Plante KS, Menachery VD. Nucleocapsid mutations in SARS-CoV-2 augment replication and pathogenesis. PLoS Pathog 2022; 18:e1010627. [PMID: 35728038 PMCID: PMC9275689 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 40.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Revised: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
While SARS-CoV-2 continues to adapt for human infection and transmission, genetic variation outside of the spike gene remains largely unexplored. This study investigates a highly variable region at residues 203-205 in the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein. Recreating a mutation found in the alpha and omicron variants in an early pandemic (WA-1) background, we find that the R203K+G204R mutation is sufficient to enhance replication, fitness, and pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2. The R203K+G204R mutant corresponds with increased viral RNA and protein both in vitro and in vivo. Importantly, the R203K+G204R mutation increases nucleocapsid phosphorylation and confers resistance to inhibition of the GSK-3 kinase, providing a molecular basis for increased virus replication. Notably, analogous alanine substitutions at positions 203+204 also increase SARS-CoV-2 replication and augment phosphorylation, suggesting that infection is enhanced through ablation of the ancestral 'RG' motif. Overall, these results demonstrate that variant mutations outside spike are key components in SARS-CoV-2's continued adaptation to human infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryan A. Johnson
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Yiyang Zhou
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Kumari G. Lokugamage
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Michelle N. Vu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Nathen Bopp
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | | | - Birte Kalveram
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Craig Schindewolf
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Yang Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Dionna Scharton
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- World Reference Center of Emerging Viruses and Arboviruses, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Jessica A. Plante
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- World Reference Center of Emerging Viruses and Arboviruses, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Xuping Xie
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Patricia Aguilar
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Scott C. Weaver
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- World Reference Center of Emerging Viruses and Arboviruses, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- Institute for Human Infection and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Pei-Yong Shi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- World Reference Center of Emerging Viruses and Arboviruses, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- Institute for Human Infection and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- Institute for Drug Discovery, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - David H. Walker
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Andrew L. Routh
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- Institute for Human Infection and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Kenneth S. Plante
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- World Reference Center of Emerging Viruses and Arboviruses, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Vineet D. Menachery
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- World Reference Center of Emerging Viruses and Arboviruses, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
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25
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Nishikiori M, den Boon JA, Unchwaniwala N, Ahlquist P. Crowning Touches in Positive-Strand RNA Virus Genome Replication Complex Structure and Function. Annu Rev Virol 2022; 9:193-212. [PMID: 35610038 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-virology-092920-021307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Positive-strand RNA viruses, the largest genetic class of eukaryotic viruses, include coronaviruses and many other established and emerging pathogens. A major target for understanding and controlling these viruses is their genome replication, which occurs in virus-induced membrane vesicles that organize replication steps and protect double-stranded RNA intermediates from innate immune recognition. The structure of these complexes has been greatly illuminated by recent cryo-electron microscope tomography studies with several viruses. One key finding in diverse systems is the organization of crucial viral RNA replication factors in multimeric rings or crowns that among other functions serve as exit channels gating release of progeny genomes to the cytosol for translation and encapsidation. Emerging results suggest that these crowns serve additional important purposes in replication complex assembly, function, and interaction with downstream processes such as encapsidation. The findings provide insights into viral function and evolution and new bases for understanding, controlling, and engineering positive-strand RNA viruses. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Virology, Volume 9 is September 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masaki Nishikiori
- John and Jeanne Rowe Center for Research in Virology, Morgridge Institute for Research, Madison, Wisconsin, USA; .,Institute for Molecular Virology and McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Johan A den Boon
- John and Jeanne Rowe Center for Research in Virology, Morgridge Institute for Research, Madison, Wisconsin, USA; .,Institute for Molecular Virology and McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Nuruddin Unchwaniwala
- John and Jeanne Rowe Center for Research in Virology, Morgridge Institute for Research, Madison, Wisconsin, USA; .,Institute for Molecular Virology and McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.,Current affiliation: Assembly Biosciences, Inc., South San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Paul Ahlquist
- John and Jeanne Rowe Center for Research in Virology, Morgridge Institute for Research, Madison, Wisconsin, USA; .,Institute for Molecular Virology and McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
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26
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Ribeiro-Filho HV, Jara GE, Batista FAH, Schleder GR, Costa Tonoli CC, Soprano AS, Guimarães SL, Borges AC, Cassago A, Bajgelman MC, Marques RE, Trivella DBB, Franchini KG, Figueira ACM, Benedetti CE, Lopes-de-Oliveira PS. Structural dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein induced by RNA binding. PLoS Comput Biol 2022; 18:e1010121. [PMID: 35551296 PMCID: PMC9129039 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1010121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Revised: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The nucleocapsid (N) protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the causal agent of COVID-19, is a multifunction phosphoprotein that plays critical roles in the virus life cycle, including transcription and packaging of the viral RNA. To play such diverse roles, the N protein has two globular RNA-binding modules, the N- (NTD) and C-terminal (CTD) domains, which are connected by an intrinsically disordered region. Despite the wealth of structural data available for the isolated NTD and CTD, how these domains are arranged in the full-length protein and how the oligomerization of N influences its RNA-binding activity remains largely unclear. Herein, using experimental data from electron microscopy and biochemical/biophysical techniques combined with molecular modeling and molecular dynamics simulations, we show that, in the absence of RNA, the N protein formed structurally dynamic dimers, with the NTD and CTD arranged in extended conformations. However, in the presence of RNA, the N protein assumed a more compact conformation where the NTD and CTD are packed together. We also provided an octameric model for the full-length N bound to RNA that is consistent with electron microscopy images of the N protein in the presence of RNA. Together, our results shed new light on the dynamics and higher-order oligomeric structure of this versatile protein. The nucleocapsid (N) protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus plays an essential role in virus particle assembly as it specifically binds to and wraps the virus genomic RNA into a well-organized structure known as the ribonucleoprotein. Understanding how the N protein wraps around the virus RNA is critical for the development of strategies to inhibit virus assembly within host cells. One of the limitations regarding the molecular structure of the ribonucleoprotein, however, is that the N protein has several unstructured and mobile regions that preclude the resolution of its full atomic structure. Moreover, the N protein can form higher-order oligomers, both in the presence and absence of RNA. Here we employed computational methods, supported by experimental data, to simulate the N protein structural dynamics in the absence and presence of RNA. Our data suggest that the N protein forms structurally dynamic dimers in the absence of RNA, with its structured N- and C-terminal domains oriented in extended conformations. In the presence of RNA, however, the N protein assumes a more compact conformation. Our model for the oligomeric structure of the N protein bound to RNA helps to understand how N protein dimers interact to each other to form the ribonucleoprotein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helder Veras Ribeiro-Filho
- Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory, Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Gabriel Ernesto Jara
- Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory, Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), Campinas, Brazil
| | | | - Gabriel Ravanhani Schleder
- Brazilian Nanotechnology National Laboratory, Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Celisa Caldana Costa Tonoli
- Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory, Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Adriana Santos Soprano
- Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory, Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Samuel Leite Guimarães
- Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory, Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Antonio Carlos Borges
- Brazilian Nanotechnology National Laboratory, Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Alexandre Cassago
- Brazilian Nanotechnology National Laboratory, Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Marcio Chaim Bajgelman
- Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory, Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Rafael Elias Marques
- Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory, Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), Campinas, Brazil
| | | | - Kleber Gomes Franchini
- Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory, Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), Campinas, Brazil
| | | | - Celso Eduardo Benedetti
- Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory, Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), Campinas, Brazil
- * E-mail: (CEB); (PSLO)
| | - Paulo Sergio Lopes-de-Oliveira
- Brazilian Biosciences National Laboratory, Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM), Campinas, Brazil
- * E-mail: (CEB); (PSLO)
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27
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Johnson BA, Zhou Y, Lokugamage KG, Vu MN, Bopp N, Crocquet-Valdes PA, Kalveram B, Schindewolf C, Liu Y, Scharton D, Plante JA, Xie X, Aguilar P, Weaver SC, Shi PY, Walker DH, Routh AL, Plante KS, Menachery VD. Nucleocapsid mutations in SARS-CoV-2 augment replication and pathogenesis. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2022:2021.10.14.464390. [PMID: 34671771 PMCID: PMC8528077 DOI: 10.1101/2021.10.14.464390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
While SARS-CoV-2 continues to adapt for human infection and transmission, genetic variation outside of the spike gene remains largely unexplored. This study investigates a highly variable region at residues 203-205 in the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein. Recreating a mutation found in the alpha and omicron variants in an early pandemic (WA-1) background, we find that the R203K+G204R mutation is sufficient to enhance replication, fitness, and pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2. The R203K+G204R mutant corresponds with increased viral RNA and protein both in vitro and in vivo . Importantly, the R203K+G204R mutation increases nucleocapsid phosphorylation and confers resistance to inhibition of the GSK-3 kinase, providing a molecular basis for increased virus replication. Notably, analogous alanine substitutions at positions 203+204 also increase SARS-CoV-2 replication and augment phosphorylation, suggesting that infection is enhanced through ablation of the ancestral 'RG' motif. Overall, these results demonstrate that variant mutations outside spike are key components in SARS-CoV-2's continued adaptation to human infection. AUTHOR SUMMARY Since its emergence, SARS-CoV-2 has continued to adapt for human infection resulting in the emergence of variants with unique genetic profiles. Most studies of genetic variation have focused on spike, the target of currently available vaccines, leaving the importance of variation elsewhere understudied. Here, we characterize a highly variable motif at residues 203-205 in nucleocapsid. Recreating the prominent nucleocapsid R203K+G204R mutation in an early pandemic background, we show that this mutation is alone sufficient to enhance SARS-CoV-2 replication and pathogenesis. We also link augmentation of SARS-CoV-2 infection by the R203K+G204R mutation to its modulation of nucleocapsid phosphorylation. Finally, we characterize an analogous alanine double substitution at positions 203-204. This mutant was found to mimic R203K+G204R, suggesting augmentation of infection occurs by disrupting the ancestral sequence. Together, our findings illustrate that mutations outside of spike are key components of SARS-CoV-2's adaptation to human infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryan A. Johnson
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch; Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Yiyang Zhou
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch; Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Kumari G. Lokugamage
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch; Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Michelle N. Vu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch; Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Nathen Bopp
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch; Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | | | - Birte Kalveram
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch; Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Craig Schindewolf
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch; Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Yang Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch; Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Dionna Scharton
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch; Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- World Reference Center of Emerging Viruses and Arboviruses, University of Texas Medical Branch; Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Jessica A. Plante
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch; Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- World Reference Center of Emerging Viruses and Arboviruses, University of Texas Medical Branch; Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Xuping Xie
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch; Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Patricia Aguilar
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch; Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch; Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Scott C. Weaver
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch; Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- Institute for Human Infection and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch; Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- World Reference Center of Emerging Viruses and Arboviruses, University of Texas Medical Branch; Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch; Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Pei-Yong Shi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch; Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- Institute for Human Infection and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch; Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- World Reference Center of Emerging Viruses and Arboviruses, University of Texas Medical Branch; Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch; Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- Institute for Drug Discovery, University of Texas Medical Branch; Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - David H. Walker
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch; Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch; Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Andrew L. Routh
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch; Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- Institute for Human Infection and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch; Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Kenneth S. Plante
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch; Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- World Reference Center of Emerging Viruses and Arboviruses, University of Texas Medical Branch; Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Vineet D. Menachery
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch; Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- Institute for Human Infection and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch; Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch; Galveston, Texas, United States of America
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28
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Alam ASMRU, Islam OK, Hasan MS, Islam MR, Mahmud S, Al‐Emran HM, Jahid IK, Crandall KA, Hossain MA. Dominant clade-featured SARS-CoV-2 co-occurring mutations reveal plausible epistasis: An in silico based hypothetical model. J Med Virol 2022; 94:1035-1049. [PMID: 34676891 PMCID: PMC8661685 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.27416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Revised: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has evolved into eight fundamental clades with four of these clades (G, GH, GR, and GV) globally prevalent in 2020. To explain plausible epistatic effects of the signature co-occurring mutations of these circulating clades on viral replication and transmission fitness, we proposed a hypothetical model using in silico approach. Molecular docking and dynamics analyses showed the higher infectiousness of a spike mutant through more favorable binding of G614 with the elastase-2. RdRp mutation p.P323L significantly increased genome-wide mutations (p < 0.0001), allowing for more flexible RdRp (mutated)-NSP8 interaction that may accelerate replication. Superior RNA stability and structural variation at NSP3:C241T might impact protein, RNA interactions, or both. Another silent 5'-UTR:C241T mutation might affect translational efficiency and viral packaging. These four G-clade-featured co-occurring mutations might increase viral replication. Sentinel GH-clade ORF3a:p.Q57H variants constricted the ion-channel through intertransmembrane-domain interaction of cysteine(C81)-histidine(H57). The GR-clade N:p.RG203-204KR would stabilize RNA interaction by a more flexible and hypo-phosphorylated SR-rich region. GV-clade viruses seemingly gained the evolutionary advantage of the confounding factors; nevertheless, N:p.A220V might modulate RNA binding with no phenotypic effect. Our hypothetical model needs further retrospective and prospective studies to understand detailed molecular events and their relationship to the fitness of SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ovinu Kibria Islam
- Department of MicrobiologyJashore University of Science and TechnologyJashoreBangladesh
| | - Md. Shazid Hasan
- Department of MicrobiologyJashore University of Science and TechnologyJashoreBangladesh
| | - Mir Raihanul Islam
- Division of Poverty, Health, and NutritionInternational Food Policy Research InstituteBangladesh
| | - Shafi Mahmud
- Department Genetic Engineering and BiotechnologyUniversity of RajshahiRajshahiBangladesh
| | - Hassan M. Al‐Emran
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringJashore University of Science and TechnologyJashoreBangladesh
| | - Iqbal Kabir Jahid
- Department of MicrobiologyJashore University of Science and TechnologyJashoreBangladesh
| | - Keith A. Crandall
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Computational Biology Institute, Milken Institute School of Public HealthThe George Washington UniversityWashington DCUSA
| | - M. Anwar Hossain
- Office of the Vice ChancellorJashore University of Science and TechnologyJashoreBangladesh
- Department of MicrobiologyUniversity of DhakaDhakaBangladesh
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29
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Bessa LM, Guseva S, Camacho-Zarco AR, Salvi N, Maurin D, Perez LM, Botova M, Malki A, Nanao M, Jensen MR, Ruigrok RWH, Blackledge M. The intrinsically disordered SARS-CoV-2 nucleoprotein in dynamic complex with its viral partner nsp3a. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabm4034. [PMID: 35044811 PMCID: PMC8769549 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abm4034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
The processes of genome replication and transcription of SARS-CoV-2 represent important targets for viral inhibition. Betacoronaviral nucleoprotein (N) is a highly dynamic cofactor of the replication-transcription complex (RTC), whose function depends on an essential interaction with the amino-terminal ubiquitin-like domain of nsp3 (Ubl1). Here, we describe this complex (dissociation constant - 30 to 200 nM) at atomic resolution. The interaction implicates two linear motifs in the intrinsically disordered linker domain (N3), a hydrophobic helix (219LALLLLDRLNQL230) and a disordered polar strand (243GQTVTKKSAAEAS255), that mutually engage to form a bipartite interaction, folding N3 around Ubl1. This results in substantial collapse in the dimensions of dimeric N, forming a highly compact molecular chaperone, that regulates binding to RNA, suggesting a key role of nsp3 in the association of N to the RTC. The identification of distinct linear motifs that mediate an important interaction between essential viral factors provides future targets for development of innovative strategies against COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Serafima Guseva
- Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, IBS, F-38000 Grenoble, France
| | | | - Nicola Salvi
- Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, IBS, F-38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Damien Maurin
- Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, IBS, F-38000 Grenoble, France
| | | | - Maiia Botova
- Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, IBS, F-38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Anas Malki
- Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, IBS, F-38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Max Nanao
- Structural Biology Group, European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, F-38000 Grenoble, France
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30
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Wang F, Wang M, Zhang L, Cheng M, Li M, Zhu J. Generation and functional analysis of single chain variable fragments (scFvs) targeting the nucleocapsid protein of Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2022; 106:995-1009. [PMID: 35024918 PMCID: PMC8755980 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-021-11722-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Revised: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 11/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Abstract Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) is the causative agent of porcine epidemic diarrhea, which can cause death in suckling piglets. Vaccines confer only partial protection against new mutant strains, whereas antibodies targeting virus-encoded proteins may be effective prophylactics. In this study, we constructed a recombinant single chain variable fragment (scFv) library from the spleens of two pigs immunized with a recombinant PEDV nucleocapsid (N) protein. Among the positive clones directed against PEDV N protein isolated from the library, four scFvs that showed higher affinity for N were functionally analyzed. These scFvs specifically bound to the PEDV N protein, but not to the transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) N protein. Their framework regions were highly conserved, whereas their complementarity-determining regions displayed clear diversity. An immunofluorescence assay showed the co-localization of the four scFvs with PEDV N protein in cells. They significantly suppressed PEDV replication, detected with reverse transcription (RT)-quantitative PCR (qPCR; P < 0.01). Two of them significantly reduced the viral titer at 48 hpi and 72 hpi (P < 0.05). In addition, they observably suppressed the production of viral protein at 72 hpi. The expression of interferons, interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3), and IRF7 was assessed with RT-qPCR, which indicated that PEDV dramatically suppressed the transcription of interferon-λ1 and IRF7 and that the scFvs significantly upregulated their expression (P < 0.05). These findings facilitated the investigation of the mechanism by which PEDV evaded the host immune response and suggested that these porcine scFvs were potential candidate agents for the prevention and treatment of porcine diarrhea caused by PEDV. Key points • Four scFvs targeting PEDV N protein were generated from porcine spleens • These scFvs co-localized with PEDV N protein and suppressed PEDV replication • These scFvs significantly upregulated IFN-λ1 expression Graphical abstract ![]()
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00253-021-11722-z.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengqing Wang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai JiaoTong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Man Wang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai JiaoTong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai JiaoTong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Manling Cheng
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai JiaoTong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Mei Li
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai JiaoTong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Jianguo Zhu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai JiaoTong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200240, China.
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31
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Chechetkin VR, Lobzin VV. Ribonucleocapsid assembly/packaging signals in the genomes of the coronaviruses SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2: detection, comparison and implications for therapeutic targeting. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2022; 40:508-522. [PMID: 32901577 PMCID: PMC7544952 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2020.1815581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2020] [Accepted: 08/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The genomic ssRNA of coronaviruses is packaged within a helical nucleocapsid. Due to transitional symmetry of a helix, weakly specific cooperative interaction between ssRNA and nucleocapsid proteins leads to the natural selection of specific quasi-periodic assembly/packaging signals in the related genomic sequence. Such signals coordinated with the nucleocapsid helical structure were detected and reconstructed in the genomes of the coronaviruses SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2. The main period of the signals for both viruses was about 54 nt, that implies 6.75 nt per N protein. The complete coverage of the ssRNA genome of length about 30,000 nt by the nucleocapsid would need 4.4 × 103 N proteins, that makes them the most abundant among the structural proteins. The repertoires of motifs for SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 were divergent but nearly coincided for different isolates of SARS-CoV-2. We obtained the distributions of assembly/packaging signals over the genomes with nonoverlapping windows of width 432 nt. Finally, using the spectral entropy, we compared the load from point mutations and indels during virus age for SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2. We found the higher mutational load on SARS-CoV. In this sense, SARS-CoV-2 can be treated as a 'newborn' virus. These observations may be helpful in practical medical applications and are of basic interest. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladimir R. Chechetkin
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology of
Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow,
Russia
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32
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Koetzner CA, Hurst-Hess KR, Kuo L, Masters PS. Analysis of a crucial interaction between the coronavirus nucleocapsid protein and the major membrane-bound subunit of the viral replicase-transcriptase complex. Virology 2021; 567:1-14. [PMID: 34933176 PMCID: PMC8669624 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2021.12.004] [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] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Revised: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The coronavirus nucleocapsid (N) protein comprises two RNA-binding domains connected by a central spacer, which contains a serine- and arginine-rich (SR) region. The SR region engages the largest subunit of the viral replicase-transcriptase, nonstructural protein 3 (nsp3), in an interaction that is essential for efficient initiation of infection by genomic RNA. We carried out an extensive genetic analysis of the SR region of the N protein of mouse hepatitis virus in order to more precisely define its role in RNA synthesis. We further examined the N-nsp3 interaction through construction of nsp3 mutants and by creation of an interspecies N protein chimera. Our results indicate a role for the central spacer as an interaction hub of the N molecule that is partially regulated by phosphorylation. These findings are discussed in relation to the recent discovery that nsp3 forms a molecular pore in the double-membrane vesicles that sequester the coronavirus replicase-transcriptase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheri A Koetzner
- Laboratory of Viral Replication and Vector Biology, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Slingerlands, NY, 12159, USA
| | - Kelley R Hurst-Hess
- Laboratory of Viral Replication and Vector Biology, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Slingerlands, NY, 12159, USA
| | - Lili Kuo
- Laboratory of Viral Replication and Vector Biology, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Slingerlands, NY, 12159, USA
| | - Paul S Masters
- Laboratory of Viral Replication and Vector Biology, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Slingerlands, NY, 12159, USA; Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Public Health, State University of New York, Albany, NY, 12208, USA.
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33
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Xia J, Tang W, Wang J, Lai D, Xu Q, Huang R, Hu Y, Gong X, Fan J, Shu Q, Xu J. SARS-CoV-2 N Protein Induces Acute Lung Injury in Mice via NF-ĸB Activation. Front Immunol 2021; 12:791753. [PMID: 34950152 PMCID: PMC8688532 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.791753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Infection of SARS-CoV-2 may cause acute respiratory syndrome. It has been reported that SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein (N-protein) presents early in body fluids during infection. The direct involvement of N-protein in lung injury is poorly understood. Methods Recombinant N-protein was pretreated with polymyxin B, a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-neutralizing agent. C57BL/6, C3H/HeJ (resistant to LPS), and C3H/HeN (control for C3H/HeJ) mice were exposed to N-protein via intratracheal administration to examine acute lung injury. In vitro, bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) were cultured with N-protein to study phosphorylation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-ĸB) p65, macrophage polarization, and expression of proinflammatory cytokines. Results N-protein produced acute lung injury in C57BL/6 mice, with elevated protein permeability, total cell count, neutrophil infiltration, and proinflammatory cytokines in the bronchioalveolar lavage. N-protein also induced lung injury in both C3H/HeJ and C3H/HeN mice, indicating that the effect could not be attributed to the LPS contamination. N-protein triggered phosphorylation of NF-ĸB p65 in vitro, which was abolished by both N-protein denaturation and treatment with an antibody for N-protein, demonstrating that the effect is N-protein specific. In addition, N-protein promoted M1 macrophage polarization and the expression of proinflammatory cytokines, which was also blocked by N-protein denaturation and antibody for N-protein. Furthermore, N-protein induced NF-ĸB p65 phosphorylation in the lung, while pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate, an NF-ĸB inhibitor, alleviated the effect of N-protein on acute lung injury. Conclusions SARS-CoV-2 N-protein itself is toxic and induces acute lung injury in mice. Both N-protein and NF-ĸB pathway may be therapeutic targets for treating multi-organ injuries in Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Xia
- The Children’s Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine and National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, China
| | - Wenqi Tang
- The Children’s Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine and National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jiangmei Wang
- The Children’s Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine and National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, China
| | - Dengming Lai
- The Children’s Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine and National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, China
| | - Qi Xu
- Hangzhou Medical College of Bioengineering, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ruoqiong Huang
- The Children’s Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine and National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yaoqin Hu
- The Children’s Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine and National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiaojue Gong
- The Children’s Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine and National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jiajie Fan
- The Children’s Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine and National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, China
| | - Qiang Shu
- The Children’s Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine and National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jianguo Xu
- The Children’s Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine and National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, China
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34
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Prates-Syed WA, Chaves LCS, Crema KP, Vuitika L, Lira A, Côrtes N, Kersten V, Guimarães FEG, Sadraeian M, Barroso da Silva FL, Cabral-Marques O, Barbuto JAM, Russo M, Câmara NOS, Cabral-Miranda G. VLP-Based COVID-19 Vaccines: An Adaptable Technology against the Threat of New Variants. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:1409. [PMID: 34960155 PMCID: PMC8708688 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9121409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Revised: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Virus-like particles (VLPs) are a versatile, safe, and highly immunogenic vaccine platform. Recently, there are developmental vaccines targeting SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19. The COVID-19 pandemic affected humanity worldwide, bringing out incomputable human and financial losses. The race for better, more efficacious vaccines is happening almost simultaneously as the virus increasingly produces variants of concern (VOCs). The VOCs Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta share common mutations mainly in the spike receptor-binding domain (RBD), demonstrating convergent evolution, associated with increased transmissibility and immune evasion. Thus, the identification and understanding of these mutations is crucial for the production of new, optimized vaccines. The use of a very flexible vaccine platform in COVID-19 vaccine development is an important feature that cannot be ignored. Incorporating the spike protein and its variations into VLP vaccines is a desirable strategy as the morphology and size of VLPs allows for better presentation of several different antigens. Furthermore, VLPs elicit robust humoral and cellular immune responses, which are safe, and have been studied not only against SARS-CoV-2 but against other coronaviruses as well. Here, we describe the recent advances and improvements in vaccine development using VLP technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wasim A. Prates-Syed
- Department of Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo (ICB/USP), São Paulo 05508000, SP, Brazil; (W.A.P.-S.); (K.P.C.); (L.V.); (A.L.); (N.C.); (V.K.); (O.C.-M.); (J.A.M.B.); (M.R.); (N.O.S.C.)
- Institute of Research and Education in Child Health (PENSI), São Paulo 01228200, SP, Brazil
| | - Lorena C. S. Chaves
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Emory University, Claudia Nance Rollins Building, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA;
| | - Karin P. Crema
- Department of Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo (ICB/USP), São Paulo 05508000, SP, Brazil; (W.A.P.-S.); (K.P.C.); (L.V.); (A.L.); (N.C.); (V.K.); (O.C.-M.); (J.A.M.B.); (M.R.); (N.O.S.C.)
- Institute of Research and Education in Child Health (PENSI), São Paulo 01228200, SP, Brazil
| | - Larissa Vuitika
- Department of Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo (ICB/USP), São Paulo 05508000, SP, Brazil; (W.A.P.-S.); (K.P.C.); (L.V.); (A.L.); (N.C.); (V.K.); (O.C.-M.); (J.A.M.B.); (M.R.); (N.O.S.C.)
| | - Aline Lira
- Department of Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo (ICB/USP), São Paulo 05508000, SP, Brazil; (W.A.P.-S.); (K.P.C.); (L.V.); (A.L.); (N.C.); (V.K.); (O.C.-M.); (J.A.M.B.); (M.R.); (N.O.S.C.)
- Institute of Research and Education in Child Health (PENSI), São Paulo 01228200, SP, Brazil
| | - Nelson Côrtes
- Department of Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo (ICB/USP), São Paulo 05508000, SP, Brazil; (W.A.P.-S.); (K.P.C.); (L.V.); (A.L.); (N.C.); (V.K.); (O.C.-M.); (J.A.M.B.); (M.R.); (N.O.S.C.)
- Institute of Research and Education in Child Health (PENSI), São Paulo 01228200, SP, Brazil
| | - Victor Kersten
- Department of Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo (ICB/USP), São Paulo 05508000, SP, Brazil; (W.A.P.-S.); (K.P.C.); (L.V.); (A.L.); (N.C.); (V.K.); (O.C.-M.); (J.A.M.B.); (M.R.); (N.O.S.C.)
| | | | - Mohammad Sadraeian
- São Carlos Institute of Physics, IFSC-USP, São Carlos 13566590, SP, Brazil; (F.E.G.G.); (M.S.)
- Institute for Biomedical Materials & Devices (IBMD), Faculty of Science, University of Technology, Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Fernando L. Barroso da Silva
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto 14040903, SP, Brazil;
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engeneering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - Otávio Cabral-Marques
- Department of Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo (ICB/USP), São Paulo 05508000, SP, Brazil; (W.A.P.-S.); (K.P.C.); (L.V.); (A.L.); (N.C.); (V.K.); (O.C.-M.); (J.A.M.B.); (M.R.); (N.O.S.C.)
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analyses, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508000, SP, Brazil
- Network of Immunity in Infection, Malignancy and Autoimmunity (NIIMA), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Children’s Medical Center, Tehran 1419733151, Iran
| | - José A. M. Barbuto
- Department of Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo (ICB/USP), São Paulo 05508000, SP, Brazil; (W.A.P.-S.); (K.P.C.); (L.V.); (A.L.); (N.C.); (V.K.); (O.C.-M.); (J.A.M.B.); (M.R.); (N.O.S.C.)
- Laboratory of Medical Investigation in Pathogenesis and Targeted Therapy in Onco-Immuno-Hematology (LIM-31), Department of Hematology, Hospital das Clínicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 0124690, SP, Brazil
| | - Momtchilo Russo
- Department of Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo (ICB/USP), São Paulo 05508000, SP, Brazil; (W.A.P.-S.); (K.P.C.); (L.V.); (A.L.); (N.C.); (V.K.); (O.C.-M.); (J.A.M.B.); (M.R.); (N.O.S.C.)
| | - Niels O. S. Câmara
- Department of Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo (ICB/USP), São Paulo 05508000, SP, Brazil; (W.A.P.-S.); (K.P.C.); (L.V.); (A.L.); (N.C.); (V.K.); (O.C.-M.); (J.A.M.B.); (M.R.); (N.O.S.C.)
| | - Gustavo Cabral-Miranda
- Department of Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo (ICB/USP), São Paulo 05508000, SP, Brazil; (W.A.P.-S.); (K.P.C.); (L.V.); (A.L.); (N.C.); (V.K.); (O.C.-M.); (J.A.M.B.); (M.R.); (N.O.S.C.)
- Institute of Research and Education in Child Health (PENSI), São Paulo 01228200, SP, Brazil
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35
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Sun Z, Zheng X, Ji F, Zhou M, Su X, Ren K, Li L. Mass Spectrometry Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid Protein Reveals Camouflaging Glycans and Unique Post-Translational Modifications. INFECTIOUS MICROBES & DISEASES 2021; 3:149-157. [PMID: 38630108 PMCID: PMC8454284 DOI: 10.1097/im9.0000000000000071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Revised: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The devastating coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has prompted worldwide efforts to study structural biological traits of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and its viral components. Compared to the Spike protein, which is the primary target for currently available vaccines or antibodies, knowledge about other virion structural components is incomplete. Using high-resolution mass spectrometry, we report a comprehensive post-translational modification (PTM) analysis of nucleocapsid phosphoprotein (NCP), the most abundant structural component of the SARS-CoV-2 virion. In addition to phosphoryl groups, we show that the SARS-CoV-2 NCP is decorated with a variety of PTMs, including N-glycans and ubiquitin. Based on newly identified PTMs, refined protein structural models of SARS-CoV-2 NCP were proposed and potential immune recognition epitopes of NCP were aligned with PTMs. These data can facilitate the design of novel vaccines or therapeutics targeting NCP, as valuable alternatives to the current vaccination and treatment paradigm that is under threat of the ever-mutating SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeyu Sun
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiaoqin Zheng
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Feiyang Ji
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Menghao Zhou
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiaoling Su
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Keyi Ren
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Lanjuan Li
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
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36
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Wang S, Dai T, Qin Z, Pan T, Chu F, Lou L, Zhang L, Yang B, Huang H, Lu H, Zhou F. Targeting liquid-liquid phase separation of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein promotes innate antiviral immunity by elevating MAVS activity. Nat Cell Biol 2021; 23:718-732. [PMID: 34239064 DOI: 10.1038/s41556-021-00710-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 164] [Impact Index Per Article: 54.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Patients with Coronavirus disease 2019 exhibit low expression of interferon-stimulated genes, contributing to a limited antiviral response. Uncovering the underlying mechanism of innate immune suppression and rescuing the innate antiviral response remain urgent issues in the current pandemic. Here we identified that the dimerization domain of the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein (SARS2-NP) is required for SARS2-NP to undergo liquid-liquid phase separation with RNA, which inhibits Lys63-linked poly-ubiquitination and aggregation of MAVS and thereby suppresses the innate antiviral immune response. Mice infected with an RNA virus carrying SARS2-NP exhibited reduced innate immunity, an increased viral load and high morbidity. Notably, we identified SARS2-NP acetylation at Lys375 by host acetyltransferase and reported frequently occurring acetylation-mimicking mutations of Lys375, all of which impaired SARS2-NP liquid-liquid phase separation with RNA. Importantly, a peptide targeting the dimerization domain was screened out to disrupt the SARS2-NP liquid-liquid phase separation and demonstrated to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 replication and rescue innate antiviral immunity both in vitro and in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuai Wang
- Institutes of Biology and Medical Science, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Tong Dai
- Institutes of Biology and Medical Science, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Ziran Qin
- Institutes of Biology and Medical Science, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Ting Pan
- Center for Infection and Immunity Studies, School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Feng Chu
- Institutes of Biology and Medical Science, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Lingfeng Lou
- Institutes of Biology and Medical Science, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Long Zhang
- MOE Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis and Protection and Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Bing Yang
- MOE Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis and Protection and Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and the Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Huizhe Huang
- Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Chonqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Huasong Lu
- MOE Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis and Protection and Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Fangfang Zhou
- Institutes of Biology and Medical Science, Soochow University, Suzhou, China.
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37
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Singh A, Gupta V. SARS-CoV-2 therapeutics: how far do we stand from a remedy? Pharmacol Rep 2021; 73:750-768. [PMID: 33389724 PMCID: PMC7778692 DOI: 10.1007/s43440-020-00204-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2020] [Revised: 11/20/2020] [Accepted: 11/29/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 has affected millions worldwide and has posed an immediate need for effective pharmacological interventions. Ever since the outbreak was declared, the medical fraternity across the world is facing a unique situation of offering assistance and simultaneously generating reliable data with high-quality evidence to extend the scope of finding a treatment. With no proven vaccine or other interventions available hitherto, there is a frenzied urgency of sharing preliminary data from laboratories and trials to shape a global response against the virus. Several clinical trials with investigational and approved repurposed therapeutics have shown promising results. This review aims to compile the information of the reported molecules approved for emergency use and those under clinical trials and still others with good results in the studies conducted so far. Being an RNA virus, SARS-CoV-2 is prone to mutation; thus, the possibility of gaining resistance to available drugs is high. Consequently, a cocktail therapy based on drug interaction with different stages of its replicative cycle is desirable to reduce the chances of evolving drug resistance. Since this virus encodes several proteins, including 16 nonstructural and 4 structural proteins, this review also offers an insight into potential drug targets within SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anurag Singh
- Department of Microbiology, Ram Lal Anand College, University of Delhi, Benito Juarez Road, New Delhi, 110021, India
| | - Vandana Gupta
- Department of Microbiology, Ram Lal Anand College, University of Delhi, Benito Juarez Road, New Delhi, 110021, India.
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38
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Cubuk J, Alston JJ, Incicco JJ, Singh S, Stuchell-Brereton MD, Ward MD, Zimmerman MI, Vithani N, Griffith D, Wagoner JA, Bowman GR, Hall KB, Soranno A, Holehouse AS. The SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein is dynamic, disordered, and phase separates with RNA. Nat Commun 2021; 12:1936. [PMID: 33782395 PMCID: PMC8007728 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21953-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 286] [Impact Index Per Article: 95.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N) protein is an abundant RNA-binding protein critical for viral genome packaging, yet the molecular details that underlie this process are poorly understood. Here we combine single-molecule spectroscopy with all-atom simulations to uncover the molecular details that contribute to N protein function. N protein contains three dynamic disordered regions that house putative transiently-helical binding motifs. The two folded domains interact minimally such that full-length N protein is a flexible and multivalent RNA-binding protein. N protein also undergoes liquid-liquid phase separation when mixed with RNA, and polymer theory predicts that the same multivalent interactions that drive phase separation also engender RNA compaction. We offer a simple symmetry-breaking model that provides a plausible route through which single-genome condensation preferentially occurs over phase separation, suggesting that phase separation offers a convenient macroscopic readout of a key nanoscopic interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmine Cubuk
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Center for Science and Engineering of Living Systems (CSELS), Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Jhullian J Alston
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Center for Science and Engineering of Living Systems (CSELS), Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - J Jeremías Incicco
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Center for Science and Engineering of Living Systems (CSELS), Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Sukrit Singh
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Center for Science and Engineering of Living Systems (CSELS), Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Melissa D Stuchell-Brereton
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Center for Science and Engineering of Living Systems (CSELS), Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Michael D Ward
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Center for Science and Engineering of Living Systems (CSELS), Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Maxwell I Zimmerman
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Center for Science and Engineering of Living Systems (CSELS), Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Neha Vithani
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Center for Science and Engineering of Living Systems (CSELS), Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Daniel Griffith
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Center for Science and Engineering of Living Systems (CSELS), Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Jason A Wagoner
- Laufer Center for Physical and Quantitative Biology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Gregory R Bowman
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Center for Science and Engineering of Living Systems (CSELS), Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Kathleen B Hall
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Andrea Soranno
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
- Center for Science and Engineering of Living Systems (CSELS), Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA.
| | - Alex S Holehouse
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
- Center for Science and Engineering of Living Systems (CSELS), Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA.
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39
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Zhou Z, Sun Y, Xu J, Tang X, Zhou L, Li Q, Lan T, Ma J. Swine Acute Diarrhea Syndrome Coronavirus Nucleocapsid Protein Antagonizes Interferon- β Production via Blocking the Interaction Between TRAF3 and TBK1. Front Immunol 2021; 12:573078. [PMID: 33692778 PMCID: PMC7937869 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.573078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Swine acute diarrhea syndrome coronavirus (SADS-CoV), first discovered in 2017, is a porcine enteric coronavirus that can cause acute diarrhea syndrome (SADS) in piglets. Here, we studied the role of SADS-CoV nucleocapsid (N) protein in innate immunity. Our results showed that SADS-CoV N protein could inhibit type I interferon (IFN) production mediated by Sendai virus (Sev) and could block the phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3). Simultaneously, the IFN-β promoter activity mediated by TANK binding kinase 1 (TBK1) or its upstream molecules in the RLRs signal pathway was inhibited by SADS-CoV N protein. Further investigations revealed that SADS-CoV N protein could counteract interaction between TNF receptor-associated factor 3 (TRAF3) and TBK1, which led to reduced TBK1 activation and IFN-β production. Our study is the first report of the interaction between SADS-CoV N protein and the host antiviral innate immune responses, and the mechanism utilized by SADS-CoV N protein provides a new insight of coronaviruses evading host antiviral innate immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhihai Zhou
- College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Health Aquaculture and Environmental Control, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuan Sun
- College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Health Aquaculture and Environmental Control, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jingya Xu
- College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Health Aquaculture and Environmental Control, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoyu Tang
- College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Health Aquaculture and Environmental Control, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ling Zhou
- College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Health Aquaculture and Environmental Control, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qianniu Li
- College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Health Aquaculture and Environmental Control, Guangzhou, China
| | - Tian Lan
- College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Health Aquaculture and Environmental Control, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jingyun Ma
- College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Animal Health Aquaculture and Environmental Control, Guangzhou, China
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40
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Chowdhury UF, Sharif Shohan MU, Hoque KI, Beg MA, Sharif Siam MK, Moni MA. A computational approach to design potential siRNA molecules as a prospective tool for silencing nucleocapsid phosphoprotein and surface glycoprotein gene of SARS-CoV-2. Genomics 2021; 113:331-343. [PMID: 33321203 PMCID: PMC7832576 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2020.12.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2020] [Revised: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
An outbreak, caused by an RNA virus, SARS-CoV-2 named COVID-19 has become pandemic with a magnitude which is daunting to all public health institutions in the absence of specific antiviral treatment. Surface glycoprotein and nucleocapsid phosphoprotein are two important proteins of this virus facilitating its entry into host cell and genome replication. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) is a prospective tool of the RNA interference (RNAi) pathway for the control of human viral infections by suppressing viral gene expression through hybridization and neutralization of target complementary mRNA. So, in this study, the power of RNA interference technology was harnessed to develop siRNA molecules against specific target genes namely, nucleocapsid phosphoprotein gene and surface glycoprotein gene. Conserved sequence from 139 SARS-CoV-2 strains from around the globe was collected to construct 78 siRNA that can inactivate nucleocapsid phosphoprotein and surface glycoprotein genes. Finally, based on GC content, free energy of folding, free energy of binding, melting temperature, efficacy prediction and molecular docking analysis, 8 siRNA molecules were selected which are proposed to exert the best action. These predicted siRNAs should effectively silence the genes of SARS-CoV-2 during siRNA mediated treatment assisting in the response against SARS-CoV-2.
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MESH Headings
- Argonaute Proteins/chemistry
- Argonaute Proteins/genetics
- Base Composition
- COVID-19/therapy
- COVID-19/virology
- Computational Chemistry
- Coronavirus Nucleocapsid Proteins/genetics
- Drug Design
- Evolution, Molecular
- Gene Expression Regulation, Viral/drug effects
- Genetic Therapy/methods
- Humans
- Molecular Docking Simulation
- Pandemics
- Phosphoproteins/genetics
- Phylogeny
- RNA Folding
- RNA Interference
- RNA, Messenger/antagonists & inhibitors
- RNA, Messenger/genetics
- RNA, Small Interfering/chemistry
- RNA, Small Interfering/pharmacology
- RNA, Small Interfering/therapeutic use
- RNA, Viral/antagonists & inhibitors
- RNA, Viral/genetics
- SARS-CoV-2/drug effects
- SARS-CoV-2/genetics
- Sequence Alignment
- Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/genetics
- Thermodynamics
- COVID-19 Drug Treatment
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Affiliation(s)
- Umar Faruq Chowdhury
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | | | - Kazi Injamamul Hoque
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Mirza Ashikul Beg
- Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | | | - Mohammad Ali Moni
- WHO Collaborating Centre for eHealth, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, Australia.
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41
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Cubuk J, Alston JJ, Incicco JJ, Singh S, Stuchell-Brereton MD, Ward MD, Zimmerman MI, Vithani N, Griffith D, Wagoner JA, Bowman GR, Hall KB, Soranno A, Holehouse AS. The SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein is dynamic, disordered, and phase separates with RNA. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2020:2020.06.17.158121. [PMID: 32587966 PMCID: PMC7310622 DOI: 10.1101/2020.06.17.158121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/11/2023]
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N) protein is an abundant RNA binding protein critical for viral genome packaging, yet the molecular details that underlie this process are poorly understood. Here we combine single-molecule spectroscopy with all-atom simulations to uncover the molecular details that contribute to N protein function. N protein contains three dynamic disordered regions that house putative transiently-helical binding motifs. The two folded domains interact minimally such that full-length N protein is a flexible and multivalent RNA binding protein. N protein also undergoes liquid-liquid phase separation when mixed with RNA, and polymer theory predicts that the same multivalent interactions that drive phase separation also engender RNA compaction. We offer a simple symmetry-breaking model that provides a plausible route through which single-genome condensation preferentially occurs over phase separation, suggesting that phase separation offers a convenient macroscopic readout of a key nanoscopic interaction.
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42
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Carlson CR, Asfaha JB, Ghent CM, Howard CJ, Hartooni N, Safari M, Frankel AD, Morgan DO. Phosphoregulation of Phase Separation by the SARS-CoV-2 N Protein Suggests a Biophysical Basis for its Dual Functions. Mol Cell 2020; 80:1092-1103.e4. [PMID: 33248025 PMCID: PMC7677695 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2020.11.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 215] [Impact Index Per Article: 53.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2020] [Revised: 10/02/2020] [Accepted: 11/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The nucleocapsid (N) protein of coronaviruses serves two major functions: compaction of the RNA genome in the virion and regulation of viral gene transcription. It is not clear how the N protein mediates such distinct functions. The N protein contains two RNA-binding domains surrounded by regions of intrinsic disorder. Phosphorylation of the central disordered region promotes the protein's transcriptional function, but the underlying mechanism is not known. Here, we show that the N protein of SARS-CoV-2, together with viral RNA, forms biomolecular condensates. Unmodified N protein forms partially ordered gel-like condensates and discrete 15-nm particles based on multivalent RNA-protein and protein-protein interactions. Phosphorylation reduces these interactions, generating a more liquid-like droplet. We propose that distinct oligomeric states support the two functions of the N protein: unmodified protein forms a structured oligomer that is suited for nucleocapsid assembly, and phosphorylated protein forms a liquid-like compartment for viral genome processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher R Carlson
- Department of Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; Tetrad Graduate Program, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Jonathan B Asfaha
- Department of Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; Tetrad Graduate Program, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Chloe M Ghent
- Department of Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Conor J Howard
- Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; Tetrad Graduate Program, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Nairi Hartooni
- Department of Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; Tetrad Graduate Program, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Maliheh Safari
- Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Alan D Frankel
- Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; Tetrad Graduate Program, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - David O Morgan
- Department of Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; Tetrad Graduate Program, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
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43
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Squeglia F, Romano M, Ruggiero A, Maga G, Berisio R. Host DDX Helicases as Possible SARS-CoV-2 Proviral Factors: A Structural Overview of Their Hijacking Through Multiple Viral Proteins. Front Chem 2020; 8:602162. [PMID: 33381492 PMCID: PMC7769135 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2020.602162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2020] [Accepted: 11/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
As intracellular parasites, viruses hijack the host cell metabolic machinery for their replication. Among other cellular proteins, the DEAD-box (DDX) RNA helicases have been shown to be hijacked by coronaviruses and to participate in essential DDX-mediated viral replication steps. Human DDX RNA helicases play essential roles in a broad array of biological processes and serve multiple roles at the virus-host interface. The viral proteins responsible for DDX interactions are highly conserved among coronaviruses, suggesting that they might also play conserved functions in the SARS-CoV-2 replication cycle. In this review, we provide an update of the structural and functional data of DDX as possible key factors involved in SARS-CoV-2 hijacking mechanisms. We also attempt to fill the existing gaps in the available structural information through homology modeling. Based on this information, we propose possible paths exploited by the virus to replicate more efficiently by taking advantage of host DDX proteins. As a general rule, sequestration of DDX helicases by SARS-CoV-2 is expected to play a pro-viral role in two ways: by enhancing key steps of the virus life cycle and, at the same time, by suppressing the host innate immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flavia Squeglia
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging (IBB-CNR), Naples, Italy
| | - Maria Romano
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging (IBB-CNR), Naples, Italy
| | - Alessia Ruggiero
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging (IBB-CNR), Naples, Italy
| | - Giovanni Maga
- Institute of Molecular Genetics (IGM-CNR), Pavia, Italy
| | - Rita Berisio
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging (IBB-CNR), Naples, Italy
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44
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Wu S, Tian C, Liu P, Guo D, Zheng W, Huang X, Zhang Y, Liu L. Effects of SARS-CoV-2 mutations on protein structures and intraviral protein-protein interactions. J Med Virol 2020; 93:2132-2140. [PMID: 33090512 PMCID: PMC7675365 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.26597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2020] [Revised: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Since 2019, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) causing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) has infected 10 millions of people across the globe, and massive mutations in virus genome have occurred during the rapid spread of this novel coronavirus. Variance in protein sequence might lead to a change in protein structure and interaction, then further affect the viral physiological characteristics, which could bring tremendous influence on the pandemic. In this study, we investigated 20 nonsynonymous mutations in the SARS‐CoV‐2 genome in which incidence rates were all ≥ 1% as of September 1st, 2020, and then modeled and analyzed the mutant protein structures. The results showed that four types of mutations caused dramatic changes in protein structures (RMSD ≥ 5.0 Å), which were Q57H and G251V in open‐reading frames 3a (ORF3a), S194L, and R203K/G204R in nucleocapsid (N). Next, we found that these mutations also affected the binding affinity of intraviral protein interactions. In addition, the hot spots within these docking mutant complexes were altered, among which the mutation Q57H was involved in both Orf3a–S and Orf3a–Orf8 protein interactions. Besides, these mutations were widely distributed all over the world, and their occurrences fluctuated as time went on. Notably, the incidences of R203K/G204R in N and Q57H in Orf3a were both over 50% in some countries. Overall, our findings suggest that SARS‐CoV‐2 mutations could change viral protein structure, binding affinity, and hot spots of the interface, thereby might have impacts on SARS‐CoV‐2 transmission, diagnosis, and treatment of COVID‐19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siqi Wu
- College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.,Key Laboratory of Data Analytics and Optimization for Smart Industry (Ministry of Education), Northeastern University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Chang Tian
- College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.,Key Laboratory of Data Analytics and Optimization for Smart Industry (Ministry of Education), Northeastern University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Panpan Liu
- College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.,Key Laboratory of Data Analytics and Optimization for Smart Industry (Ministry of Education), Northeastern University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Dongjie Guo
- College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.,Key Laboratory of Data Analytics and Optimization for Smart Industry (Ministry of Education), Northeastern University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Wei Zheng
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Xiaoqiang Huang
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Yang Zhang
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.,Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Lijun Liu
- College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.,Key Laboratory of Data Analytics and Optimization for Smart Industry (Ministry of Education), Northeastern University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
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45
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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: 121] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.3] [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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46
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Ye Q, West AMV, Silletti S, Corbett KD. Architecture and self-assembly of the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein. Protein Sci 2020; 29:1890-1901. [PMID: 32654247 PMCID: PMC7405475 DOI: 10.1002/pro.3909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 189] [Impact Index Per Article: 47.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2020] [Revised: 07/02/2020] [Accepted: 07/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-2019 pandemic is the most severe acute public health threat of the twenty-first century. To properly address this crisis with both robust testing and novel treatments, we require a deep understanding of the life cycle of the causative agent, the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. Here, we examine the architecture and self-assembly properties of the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein, which packages viral RNA into new virions. We determined a 1.4 Å resolution crystal structure of this protein's N2b domain, revealing a compact, intertwined dimer similar to that of related coronaviruses including SARS-CoV. While the N2b domain forms a dimer in solution, addition of the C-terminal spacer B/N3 domain mediates formation of a homotetramer. Using hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry, we find evidence that at least part of this putatively disordered domain is structured, potentially forming an α-helix that self-associates and cooperates with the N2b domain to mediate tetramer formation. Finally, we map the locations of amino acid substitutions in the N protein from over 38,000 SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences. We find that these substitutions are strongly clustered in the protein's N2a linker domain, and that substitutions within the N1b and N2b domains cluster away from their functional RNA binding and dimerization interfaces. Overall, this work reveals the architecture and self-assembly properties of a key protein in the SARS-CoV-2 life cycle, with implications for both drug design and antibody-based testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiaozhen Ye
- Department of Cellular and Molecular MedicineUniversity of California San DiegoLa JollaCaliforniaUSA
| | - Alan M. V. West
- Department of Cellular and Molecular MedicineUniversity of California San DiegoLa JollaCaliforniaUSA
| | - Steve Silletti
- Department of Chemistry and BiochemistryUniversity of California San DiegoLa JollaCaliforniaUSA
| | - Kevin D. Corbett
- Department of Cellular and Molecular MedicineUniversity of California San DiegoLa JollaCaliforniaUSA
- Department of Chemistry and BiochemistryUniversity of California San DiegoLa JollaCaliforniaUSA
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer ResearchLa JollaCaliforniaUSA
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47
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Nikolakaki E, Giannakouros T. SR/RS Motifs as Critical Determinants of Coronavirus Life Cycle. Front Mol Biosci 2020; 7:219. [PMID: 32974389 PMCID: PMC7471607 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2020.00219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Accepted: 08/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
SR/RS domains are found in almost all eukaryotic genomes from C. elegans to human. These domains are thought to mediate interactions between proteins but also between proteins and RNA in complex networks associated with mRNA splicing, chromatin structure, transcription, cell cycle and cell structure. A precise and tight regulation of their function is achieved through phosphorylation of a number of serine residues within the SR/RS motifs by the Serine-Arginine protein kinases (SRPKs) that lead to delicate structural alterations. Given that coronavirus N proteins also contain SR/RS domains, we formulate the hypothesis that the viruses exploit the properties of these motifs to promote unpacking of viral RNA and virion assembly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleni Nikolakaki
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Thomas Giannakouros
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, Greece
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48
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Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) belongs to the single-stranded positive-sense RNA family. The virus contains a large genome that encodes four structural proteins, small envelope (E), matrix (M), nucleocapsid phosphoprotein (N), spike (S), and 16 nonstructural proteins (nsp1-16) that together, ensure replication of the virus in the host cell. Among these proteins, the interactions of N and Nsp3 are essential that links the viral genome for processing. The N proteins reside at CoV RNA synthesis sites known as the replication-transcription complexes (RTCs). The N-terminal of N has RNA-binding domain (N-NTD), capturing the RNA genome while the C-terminal domain (N-CTD) anchors the viral Nsp3, a component of RTCs. Although the structural information has been recently released, the residues involved in contacts between N-CTD with Nsp3 are still unknown. To find the residues involved in interactions between two proteins, three-dimensional structures of both proteins were retrieved and docked using HADDOCK. Residues at N-CTD were detected in interaction with L499, R500, K501, V502, P503, T504, D505, N506, Y507, I508, T509, K529, K530K532, S533 of Nsp3 and N-NTD to synthesize SARS-CoV-2 RNA. The interaction between Nsp3 and CTD of N protein may be a potential drug target. The current study provides information for better understanding the interaction between N protein and Nsp3 that could be a possible target for future inhibitors.
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49
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SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid and Nsp3 binding: an in silico study. Arch Microbiol 2020; 203:59-66. [PMID: 32749662 PMCID: PMC7401470 DOI: 10.1007/s00203-020-01998-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Revised: 07/16/2020] [Accepted: 07/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) belongs to the single-stranded positive-sense RNA family. The virus contains a large genome that encodes four structural proteins, small envelope (E), matrix (M), nucleocapsid phosphoprotein (N), spike (S), and 16 nonstructural proteins (nsp1-16) that together, ensure replication of the virus in the host cell. Among these proteins, the interactions of N and Nsp3 are essential that links the viral genome for processing. The N proteins reside at CoV RNA synthesis sites known as the replication-transcription complexes (RTCs). The N-terminal of N has RNA-binding domain (N-NTD), capturing the RNA genome while the C-terminal domain (N-CTD) anchors the viral Nsp3, a component of RTCs. Although the structural information has been recently released, the residues involved in contacts between N-CTD with Nsp3 are still unknown. To find the residues involved in interactions between two proteins, three-dimensional structures of both proteins were retrieved and docked using HADDOCK. Residues at N-CTD were detected in interaction with L499, R500, K501, V502, P503, T504, D505, N506, Y507, I508, T509, K529, K530K532, S533 of Nsp3 and N-NTD to synthesize SARS-CoV-2 RNA. The interaction between Nsp3 and CTD of N protein may be a potential drug target. The current study provides information for better understanding the interaction between N protein and Nsp3 that could be a possible target for future inhibitors.
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50
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Barik S. Genus-specific pattern of intrinsically disordered central regions in the nucleocapsid protein of coronaviruses. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2020; 18:1884-1890. [PMID: 32765822 PMCID: PMC7366112 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2020.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2020] [Revised: 07/07/2020] [Accepted: 07/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The nucleocapsid protein (N) is an essential structural protein of the coronavirus. N protein binds RNA and also interacts with several proteins in its multitasking role. The central region of N contains segmented intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs). The IDR segments exhibit coronavirus genus-specific arrangements. They may contribute to multitasking and coronaviral host-tropism and transmission.
The nucleocapsid (N) protein is conserved in all four genera of the coronaviruses, namely alpha, beta, gamma, and delta, and is essential for genome functionality. Bioinformatic analysis of coronaviral N sequences revealed two intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) at the center of the polypeptide. While both IDR structures were found in alpha, beta, and gamma-coronaviruses, the second IDR was absent in deltacoronaviruses. Two novel coronaviruses, currently placed in the Gammacoronavirus genus, appeared intermediate in this regard, as the second IDR structure could be barely discerned with a low probability of disorder. Interestingly, these two are the only coronaviruses thus far isolated from marine mammals, namely beluga whale and bottlenose dolphin, two highly related species; the N proteins of the viruses were also virtually identical, differing by a single amino acid. These two unique viruses remain phylogenetic oddities, since gammacoronaviruses are generally avian (bird) in nature. Lastly, both IDRs, regardless of the coronavirus genus in which they occurred, were rich in Ser and Arg, in agreement with their disordered structure. It is postulated that the central IDRs make cardinal contributions in the multitasking role of the nucleocapsid protein, likely requiring structural plasticity, perhaps also impinging on coronavirus host tropism and cross-species transmission.
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