Impairment of reovirus mRNA methylation in extracts of interferon-treated Ehrilich ascites tumor cells: further characteristics of the phenomenon

Captivating Perplexities of Spinareovirinae 5' RNA Caps

RNAs with methylated cap structures are present throughout multiple domains of life. Given that cap structures play a myriad of important roles beyond translation, such as stability and immune recognition, it is not surprising that viruses have adopted RNA capping processes for their own benefit throughout co-evolution with their hosts. In fact, that RNAs are capped was first discovered in a member of the Spinareovirinae family, Cypovirus, before these findings were translated to other domains of life. This review revisits long-past knowledge and recent studies on RNA capping among members of Spinareovirinae to help elucidate the perplex processes of RNA capping and functions of RNA cap structures during Spinareovirinae infection. The review brings to light the many uncertainties that remain about the precise capping status, enzymes that facilitate specific steps of capping, and the functions of RNA caps during Spinareovirinae replication.

Synthesis and Translation of Viral mRNA in Reovirus-Infected Cells: Progress and Remaining Questions

At the end of my doctoral studies, in 1988, I published a review article on the major steps of transcription and translation during the mammalian reovirus multiplication cycle, a topic that still fascinates me 30 years later. It is in the nature of scientific research to generate further questioning as new knowledge emerges. Our understanding of these fascinating viruses thus remains incomplete but it seemed appropriate at this moment to look back and reflect on our progress and most important questions that still puzzle us. It is also essential of being careful about concepts that seem so well established, but could still be better validated using new approaches. I hope that the few reflections presented here will stimulate discussions and maybe attract new investigators into the field of reovirus research. Many other aspects of the viral multiplication cycle would merit our attention. However, I will essentially limit my discussion to these central aspects of the viral cycle that are transcription of viral genes and their phenotypic expression through the host cell translational machinery. The objective here is not to review every aspect but to put more emphasis on important progress and challenges in the field.

The biology of interferon actions

The interferons comprise a group of proteins which were first identified by their ability to protect cells against virus infections. They are synthesized and secreted by a variety of cell types in response to various inducers and exert their effects in vivo by interaction with specific cellular receptors. In this sense the interferons are analogous to polypeptide hormones. In recent years it has become clear that the interferons are capable of influencing cellular physiology and behavior in a number of ways. Their effects include antiviral actions, inhibition of cell growth and proliferation, regulation of the expression of specific genes, modulation of cell differentiation and activation of various cell types in the immune system. This review aims to summarize the current state of biology of interferon actions with special emphasis on the hemopoetic system.

Induction of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase: a mechanism of the antitumor activity of interferon gamma

The antiproliferative effects of interferon alpha (IFN-alpha) and interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) were found to be cell-dependent. Among the human cell lines examined, IFN-gamma had a greater antiproliferative effect against cell lines that exhibited induction of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase, such as the KB oral carcinoma or WiDr colon adenocarcinoma, than against those that lacked the enzyme activity, such as the SW480 colon adenocarcinoma or NCI-H128 small-cell lung carcinoma. Induction of this dioxygenase showed a clear temporal relationship with increased metabolism of L-tryptophan and the depletion of this amino acid in the culture medium. While 70-80% of L-tryptophan remained in the medium of IFN-alpha- or vehicle-treated cells, virtually all of this amino acid was depleted in the medium of the IFN-gamma-treated group following 2-3 days of culture. Supplementing the growth medium with additional L-tryptophan reversed the antiproliferative effect of IFN-gamma against KB cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The antiproliferative effects of IFN-alpha and IFN-gamma on SW480 and NCI-H128 cells, which are independent of the dioxygenase activity, and the inability of added L-tryptophan to reverse the effects of IFN-gamma in WiDr cells suggest multiple mechanisms of action of the IFNs. The data show that the antiproliferative effect of IFN-gamma through induction of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase, with a consequent L-tryptophan deprivation, is an effective means of regulating cell growth.

Differential antiviral effects of interferon in three murine cell lines

Infectious leukemia virus production by two chronically infected NIH/MOL lines was strongly inhibited by interferon treatment of the cells. The corresponding degree of inhibition in JLSV-11 cells was much lower. Multiplication of encephalomyocarditis virus in all three cell lines was barely affected by interferon treatment. Replication of vesicular stomatitis virus, on the other hand, was highly sensitive to interferon in the JLSV-11 line and in one NIH/MOL line but was practically insensitive in the other NIH/MOL line. Anticellular actions of interferon were more pronounced in the JLSV-11 line than in the others. In response to interferon treatment, 2',5'-oligoadenylate synthetase activity was induced to a high level in JLSV-11 cells and to lower levels in the NIH/MOL lines. We failed to detect any 2',5'-oligoadenylate-dependent endonuclease activity in extracts of these cells. Double-stranded RNA-dependent protein kinase activity was present in extracts of interferon-treated NIH/MOL cells, but it was barely detectable in extracts of interferon-treated JLSV-11 cells. The above studies demonstrated that interferon could differentially affect the replication of three different viruses in three different cell lines, including two seemingly identical NIH/MOL lines, and that certain tentative conclusions can be drawn regarding the roles of different interferon-inducible enzyme markers in the different antiviral actions of interferons.

The antiviral action of interferon

On interferon treatment cells develop an antiviral state. This requires time and RNA and protein synthesis. At least six polypeptides and two enzymes have been reported to be synthesized in increased amounts in response to interferon and a multiplicity of effects have been attributed to it. Interferon has been reported to inhibit virus growth at the level of the uncoating of the virus, virus RNA and protein synthesis and virus maturation. This has led to the acceptance of a multisite model for interferon action. The evidence for this and for the role of two known interferon-mediated enzymes, the 2-5A synthetase and protein kinase, are reviewed.

Presence of double stranded regions of viral RNA in infected cells

Ribonuclease treatment of rhinovirus-infected human embryo lung cells after cell disruption reveals that double stranded RNA is present in the preparation before nucleic acids are extracted with phenol. This shows that the hydrogen bonding between complementary molecules of viral RNA which occurs in infected cells is not a result of the extraction of RNA with phenol.

Accumulation of newly synthesized mRNAs in response to human fibroblast (beta) interferon

Treatment of human fibroblast cells with human fibroblast (beta)interferon for up to 8 hr resulted in the accumulation of at least four mRNAs. The mRNAs were isolated from cellular polysomes and characterized by stimulation of translation in a wheat germ cell-free protein synthesis system. The mRNAs appear as early as 2 hr after exposure to interferon and can be translated in vitro into proteins having molecular weights of 61,000, 62,000, 64,000, and 68,000. The response is not elicited by mouse interferon or insulin and does not occur in the presence of actinomycin D. Chase experiments indicated that the induced mRNAs remain ribosome-associated for at least 3 hr after their synthesis. The appearance of the induced mRNAs correlated directly with the onset of an antiviral state. Velocity sedimentation of the induced mRNAs on sucrose gradients demonstrated that each of the four induced proteins are encoded by different-sized mRNAs.

Inhibition of vaccinia mRNA methylation by 2',5'-linked oligo(adenylic acid) triphosphate

Extracts of interferon-treated cells synthesize unique 2',5'-linked oligo(adenylic acid) 5'-phosphates in the presence of ATP and double-stranded RNA. 2',5'-linked oligo(adenylic acid) 5'-triphosphate inhibits protein synthesis at nanomolar concentrations by activating RNase. We have observed that oligo(adenylic acid) 5'-monophosphate and 5'-triphosphate are potent inhibitors of vaccinia mRNA methylation in vitro. Both the methylation of mRNA methylation is not due to degradation of the mRNA. Inhibition of the 5'-terminal guanine at the 7 position and the 2'-O-ribose methylation of the penultimate nucleoside are inhibited. Such inhibition of the requisite modification of the 5' terminus of mRNA by 2',5'-linked oligo(adenylic acids) may be a mechanism of interferon action against both DNA and RNA viruses in which mRNAs derived from them are capped.

Double-stranded RNA and the enzymology of interferon action

Extracts from interferon-treated, not virus-infected Ehrlich ascites tumor cells differ in various biochemical characteristics from extracts of control cells. We studied three enzymes whose level is enhanced in cells upon treatment with IF and which are causing some of the differences. (2'-5')(A)n synthetase, an enzyme converting ATP into a series of (2'-5') linked oligoadenylates ((2'-5')(An)) in the presence of dsRNA was purified to homogeneity and characterized. The second enzyme, RNase L, a latent endonuclease, which can be activated by (2'-5')(A)n to cleave single-stranded RNAs, was purified several hundredfold. The activation of this enzyme is reversible and is lost upon removal of (2'-5')(A)n. The activation is not accompanied by a large change in shape of conformation of the enzyme. The third enzyme is a protein kinase which if activated by dsRNA can phosphorylate the peptide chain initiation factor eIF-2 and a protein designated P1 of 67,000 daltons. This enzyme was purified several thousandfold. The most highly purified preparation consists of three proteins with P1 as the most abundant component.

Virus-specific effects of interferon in embryonal carcinoma cells

Embryonal carcinoma (EC) cells are susceptible to infection by a variety of viruses, but do not become resistant to infection by Semliki Forest virus or vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) on treatment with interferon. These observations have led to the conclusion that interferon does not induce an antiviral state in EC cells. We report here, however, that EC cells treated with interferon become resistant to infection by two picornaviruses and two ts mutants of VSV, whereas they remain sensitive to wild-type VSV, Sindbis and influenza virus infectin. These results suggest that a partial antiviral state is induced in EC cells by interferon and that the induced antiviral protein(s) interferes with the replication of specific viruses. A significant common feature of these viruses is their replication through structures containing double-stranded RNA (dsRNA).

Interferon, double-stranded RNA, and RNA degradation: activation of an endonuclease by (2'-5')An

Among the mediators of interferon action are one enzyme that is activated by double-stranded RNA to convert ATP to (2'-5')An and a second enzyme, an endonuclease, that is activated by (2'-5')An to cleave single-stranded RNA. The binding of (2'-5')An to the endonuclease (partially purified from mouse Ehrlich ascites tumor cells) is revealed by its retention on nitrocellulose filters. This can serve as the basis for an assay of the enzyme. Activation of the enzyme is reversible and is lost upon removal of (2'-5')An:gel filtration of activated endonuclease on Sephacryl S-200 results in an inactive enzyme. The enzyme can be activated again, however, by addition of (2'-5')An. The elution volume of the nonactivated endonuclease from Sephadex G-200 indicates that its molecular weight is 185,000, unusually large for a nuclease. The elution volume of the maximally activated endonuclease from Sephadex G-200 equilibrated with (2'-5')An is not detectably different from that of enzyme that had not been previously activated that was passed through Sephadex G-200 not equilibrated with (2'-5')An. This indicates that the activation does not result in a large change in the size or conformation of the enzyme.

Impairment of reovirus mRNA 'cap' methylation in interferon-treated mouse L929 cells

Reovirus mRNAs synthesized in vitro by the virionassociated enzyme have a 5' 'cap 1' structure (m7G(5')ppp(5')GmpCp...). However, about one third to one half of the reovirus mRNAs formed in mouse L929 cells have a 5' 'cap 2' structure (m7G(5')ppp(5')GmpCmp...) and the rest have a 5' 'cap 1' structure. The finding that virus mRNA 'cap' methylation is impaired in extracts of interferon-treated cells prompted us to study the effect of interferon on virus mRNA 'cap' methylation in vivo. Using labeling with [3H]-guanosine and dual labeling with [3H]methionine and [14C]uridine we compared the 5' structures of reovirus mRNAs accumulating between 5 and 11 h after infection in: L929 cells treated with 390 to 2600 U/ml of a partially purified mouse interferon preparation and untreated L929 cells. The treatment resulted in a 70 to 98% decrease in the 24 h virus yield and in a 50 to 55% decrease in the label accumulated in virus mRNAs. The 'capping' of virus mRNAs and the methylation of their 5' terminal and adjacent G residues were not diminished in interferon-treated cells. However, the percent of 'cap 2' termini was 36 to 47% lower in virus mRNAs from interferon-treated cells than in virus mRNAs from control cells. The interferon treatment did not result in the appearance of additional methylated nucleotides in the virus mRNAs.

Metabolic stability of 2' 5'oligo (A) and activity of 2' 5'oligo (A)-dependent endonuclease in extracts of interferon-treated and control HeLa cells

Extracts of interferon-treated HeLa cells adsorbed to poly(I) . poly(C)-agarose have been used to synthesize 2'5'oligo(A). This oligonucleotide has been characterized by enzymatic digestion with alkaline phosphatase, snake venom phosphodiesterase, T2 ribonuclease and chromatography on DEAE, and PEI-cellulose. The oligonucleotide inhibits protein synthesis in vitro and activates an endonuclease present in extracts of control and interferon-treated cells. The metabolic stability of 2'5'oligo(A) has been investigated in these cell extracts. The oligonucleotide undergoes rapid degradation, particularly in the absence of ATP and of an energy regenerating system. Furthermore, the 2'5'oligo(A)-activated endonuclease reverts to an inactive state under these conditions, but can be reactivated upon further addition of 2'5'oligo(A). A possible role for the degradation of 2'5'oligo(A) in the mechanism of interferon action is discussed.

Isolation of two interferon-induced translational inhibitors: a protein kinase and an oligo-isoadenylate synthetase

Large-scale purification of translational inhibitors present in interferon-treated mouse L cells, but not in untreated cells, led to the isolation of two interferon-induced activities. One is a protein kinase system that is activatable by double-stranded RNA and ATP and that phosphorylates a Mr 67,000 protein and the smallest subunit of eukaryotic initiation factor-2. The purified protein kinase is a strong translational inhibitor. The second activity is an enzyme that, with double-stranded RNA, slowly polymerizes ATP into oligoadenylate with a 2'-5' phosphodiester linkage. The oligo-isoadenylate in turn activates a potent inhibitor of mRNA translation.

RNA methylation in vaccinia virus-infected chick embryo fibroblasts treated with homologous interferon

Interferon-pretreatment of vaccinia-infected chick embryo fibroblasts resulted in a greater than 50% decrease in ribose methylation of the penultimate "cap" nucleotide in virus-specific mRNA. However, in contrast to results obtained with cell-free systems, in intact infected cells there was (a) no detectable reduction in methylation of the 5'-ultimate m7G of viral mRNA; (b) a virus specificity of the interferon-induced change in mRNA "CAP"-methylation seems unlikely and (c) analysis of the ribosomal and transfer RNA fractions isolated from interferon-treated and control cells revealed identical patterns of methylated nucleotides. Thus, the interferon-induced change in methylation is specific for mRNA "CAPS".