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Baby J, Gull B, Ahmad W, Abdul Baki H, Abdul Khader T, Panicker NG, Akhlaq S, Rizvi TA, Mustafa F. The Host miR-17-92 Cluster Negatively Regulates Mouse Mammary Tumor Virus (MMTV) Replication Primarily via Cluster Member miR-92a. J Mol Biol 2024:168738. [PMID: 39117177 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2024.168738] [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: 02/15/2024] [Revised: 08/01/2024] [Accepted: 08/01/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024]
Abstract
The mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) is a well-known cause of breast cancer in mice. Previously, we have shown that MMTV dysregulates expression of the host miR-17-92 cluster in MMTV-infected mammary glands and MMTV-induced tumors. This cluster, better known as oncomiR-1, is frequently dysregulated in cancers, particularly breast cancer. In this study, our aim was to uncover a functional interaction between MMTV and the cluster. Our results reveal that MMTV expression led to dysregulation of the cluster in both mammary epithelial HC11 and HEK293T cells with the expression of miR-92a cluster member being affected the most. Conversely, overexpression of the whole or partial cluster significantly repressed MMTV expression. Notably, overexpression of cluster member miR-92a alone repressed MMTV expression to the same extent as overexpression of the complete/partial cluster. Inhibition of miR-92a led to nearly a complete restoration of MMTV expression, while deletion/substitution of the miR-92a seed sequence rescued MMTV expression. Dual luciferase assays identified MMTV genomic RNA as the potential target of miR-92a. These results show that the miR-17-92 cluster acts as part of the cell's well-known miRNA-based anti-viral response to thwart incoming MMTV infection. Thus, this study provides the first evidence highlighting the biological significance of host miRNAs in regulating MMTV replication and potentially influencing tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmin Baby
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine & Health Sciences (CMHS), United Arab Emirates (UAE) University, Al Ain, UAE.
| | - Bushra Gull
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine & Health Sciences (CMHS), United Arab Emirates (UAE) University, Al Ain, UAE.
| | - Waqar Ahmad
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine & Health Sciences (CMHS), United Arab Emirates (UAE) University, Al Ain, UAE.
| | - Hala Abdul Baki
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine & Health Sciences (CMHS), United Arab Emirates (UAE) University, Al Ain, UAE.
| | - Thanumol Abdul Khader
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine & Health Sciences (CMHS), United Arab Emirates (UAE) University, Al Ain, UAE; ASPIRE Research Institute in Precision Medicine, Abu Dhabi, UAE.
| | - Neena G Panicker
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine & Health Sciences (CMHS), United Arab Emirates (UAE) University, Al Ain, UAE.
| | - Shaima Akhlaq
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine & Health Sciences (CMHS), United Arab Emirates (UAE) University, Al Ain, UAE.
| | - Tahir A Rizvi
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine & Health Sciences (CMHS), United Arab Emirates (UAE) University, Al Ain, UAE; Zayed Center for Health Sciences (ZCHS), UAE University, Al Ain, UAE; ASPIRE Research Institute in Precision Medicine, Abu Dhabi, UAE.
| | - Farah Mustafa
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine & Health Sciences (CMHS), United Arab Emirates (UAE) University, Al Ain, UAE; Zayed Center for Health Sciences (ZCHS), UAE University, Al Ain, UAE; ASPIRE Research Institute in Precision Medicine, Abu Dhabi, UAE.
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Krishnan A, Ali LM, Prabhu SG, Pillai VN, Chameettachal A, Vivet-Boudou V, Bernacchi S, Mustafa F, Marquet R, Rizvi TA. Identification of a putative Gag binding site critical for feline immunodeficiency virus genomic RNA packaging. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2023; 30:68-88. [PMID: 37914398 PMCID: PMC10726167 DOI: 10.1261/rna.079840.123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
The retroviral Gag precursor plays a central role in the selection and packaging of viral genomic RNA (gRNA) by binding to virus-specific packaging signal(s) (psi or ψ). Previously, we mapped the feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) ψ to two discontinuous regions within the 5' end of the gRNA that assumes a higher order structure harboring several structural motifs. To better define the region and structural elements important for gRNA packaging, we methodically investigated these FIV ψ sequences using genetic, biochemical, and structure-function relationship approaches. Our mutational analysis revealed that the unpaired U85CUG88 stretch within FIV ψ is crucial for gRNA encapsidation into nascent virions. High-throughput selective 2' hydroxyl acylation analyzed by primer extension (hSHAPE) performed on wild type (WT) and mutant FIV ψ sequences, with substitutions in the U85CUG88 stretch, revealed that these mutations had limited structural impact and maintained nucleotides 80-92 unpaired, as in the WT structure. Since these mutations dramatically affected packaging, our data suggest that the single-stranded U85CUG88 sequence is important during FIV RNA packaging. Filter-binding assays performed using purified FIV Pr50Gag on WT and mutant U85CUG88 ψ RNAs led to reduced levels of Pr50Gag binding to mutant U85CUG88 ψ RNAs, indicating that the U85CUG88 stretch is crucial for ψ RNA-Pr50Gag interactions. Delineating sequences important for FIV gRNA encapsidation should enhance our understanding of both gRNA packaging and virion assembly, making them potential targets for novel retroviral therapeutic interventions, as well as the development of FIV-based vectors for human gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anjana Krishnan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences (CMHS), United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Lizna M Ali
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences (CMHS), United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Suresha G Prabhu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences (CMHS), United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Vineeta N Pillai
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences (CMHS), United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Akhil Chameettachal
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences (CMHS), United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Valérie Vivet-Boudou
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Architecture et Réactivité de l'ARN, UPR 9002, 67084 Strasbourg cedex, France
| | - Serena Bernacchi
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Architecture et Réactivité de l'ARN, UPR 9002, 67084 Strasbourg cedex, France
| | - Farah Mustafa
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine and Health Sciences (CMHS), United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
- Zayed bin Sultan Center for Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
- ASPIRE Research Institute in Precision Medicine, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Roland Marquet
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Architecture et Réactivité de l'ARN, UPR 9002, 67084 Strasbourg cedex, France
| | - Tahir A Rizvi
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences (CMHS), United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
- Zayed bin Sultan Center for Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
- ASPIRE Research Institute in Precision Medicine, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
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Hochman J, Braitbard O. Life after Cleavage: The Story of a β-Retroviral (MMTV) Signal Peptide-From Murine Lymphoma to Human Breast Cancer. Viruses 2022; 14:v14112435. [PMID: 36366533 PMCID: PMC9694287 DOI: 10.3390/v14112435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Revised: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
An increasing body of evidence in recent years supports an association of the betaretrovirus mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) with human breast cancer. This is an issue that still raises heated controversy. We have come to address this association using the signal peptide p14 of the MMTV envelope precursor protein as a key element of our strategy. In addition to its signal peptide function, p14 has some significant post endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-targeting characteristics: (1) it localizes to nucleoli where it binds key proteins (RPL5 and B23) involved (among other activities) in the regulation of nucleolar stress response, ribosome biogenesis and p53 stabilization; (2) p14 is a nuclear export factor; (3) it is expressed on the cell surface of infected cells, and as such, is amenable to, and successfully used, in preventive vaccination against experimental tumors that harbor MMTV; (4) the growth of such tumors is impaired in vivo using a combination of monoclonal anti-p14 antibodies or adoptive T-cell transfer treatments; (5) p14 is a phospho-protein endogenously phosphorylated by two different serine kinases. The phosphorylation status of the two sites determines whether p14 will function in an oncogenic or tumor-suppressing capacity; (6) transcriptional activation of genes (RPL5, ErbB4) correlates with the oncogenic potential of MMTV; (7) finally, polyclonal anti-p14 antibodies have been applied in immune histochemistry analyses of breast cancer cases using formalin fixed paraffin-embedded sections, supporting the associations of MMTV with the disease. Taken together, the above findings constitute a road map towards the diagnosis and possible prevention and treatment of MMTV-associated breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob Hochman
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Science, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9190401, Israel
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +972-54-441-4370
| | - Ori Braitbard
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Science, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9190401, Israel
- Department of Bioinformatics, The Faculty of Life and Health Sciences, Jerusalem College of Technology, Jerusalem 9372115, Israel
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A Stretch of Unpaired Purines in the Leader Region of Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIV) Genomic RNA is Critical for its Packaging into Virions. J Mol Biol 2021; 433:167293. [PMID: 34624298 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2021.167293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Revised: 09/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) is an important lentivirus used as a non-human primate model to study HIV replication, and pathogenesis of human AIDS, as well as a potential vector for human gene therapy. This study investigated the role of single-stranded purines (ssPurines) as potential genomic RNA (gRNA) packaging determinants in SIV replication. Similar ssPurines have been implicated as important motifs for gRNA packaging in many retroviruses like, HIV-1, MPMV, and MMTV by serving as Gag binding sites during virion assembly. In examining the secondary structure of the SIV 5' leader region, as recently deduced using SHAPE methodology, we identified four specific stretches of ssPurines (I-IV) in the region that harbors major packaging determinants of SIV. The significance of these ssPurine motifs were investigated by mutational analysis coupled with a biologically relevant single round of replication assay. These analyses revealed that while ssPurine II was essential, the others (ssPurines I, III, & IV) did not significantly contribute to SIV gRNA packaging. Any mutation in the ssPurine II, such as its deletion or substitution, or other mutations that caused base pairing of ssPurine II loop resulted in near abrogation of RNA packaging, further substantiating the crucial role of ssPurine II and its looped conformation in SIV gRNA packaging. Structure prediction analysis of these mutants further corroborated the biological results and further revealed that the unpaired nature of ssPurine II is critical for its function during SIV RNA packaging perhaps by enabling it to function as a specific binding site for SIV Gag.
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Chameettachal A, Vivet-Boudou V, Pitchai F, Pillai V, Ali L, Krishnan A, Bernacchi S, Mustafa F, Marquet R, Rizvi T. A purine loop and the primer binding site are critical for the selective encapsidation of mouse mammary tumor virus genomic RNA by Pr77Gag. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:4668-4688. [PMID: 33836091 PMCID: PMC8096270 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2020] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Retroviral RNA genome (gRNA) harbors cis-acting sequences that facilitate its specific packaging from a pool of other viral and cellular RNAs by binding with high-affinity to the viral Gag protein during virus assembly. However, the molecular intricacies involved during selective gRNA packaging are poorly understood. Binding and footprinting assays on mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) gRNA with purified Pr77Gag along with in cell gRNA packaging study identified two Pr77Gag binding sites constituting critical, non-redundant packaging signals. These included: a purine loop in a bifurcated stem-loop containing the gRNA dimerization initiation site, and the primer binding site (PBS). Despite these sites being present on both unspliced and spliced RNAs, Pr77Gag specifically bound to unspliced RNA, since only that could adopt the native bifurcated stem-loop structure containing looped purines. These results map minimum structural elements required to initiate MMTV gRNA packaging, distinguishing features that are conserved amongst divergent retroviruses from those perhaps unique to MMTV. Unlike purine-rich motifs frequently associated with packaging signals, direct involvement of PBS in gRNA packaging has not been documented in retroviruses. These results enhance our understanding of retroviral gRNA packaging/assembly, making it not only a target for novel therapeutic interventions, but also development of safer gene therapy vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akhil Chameettachal
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences (CMHS), United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Valérie Vivet-Boudou
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Architecture et Réactivité de l’ARN, UPR 9002, Strasbourg, France
| | - Fathima Nuzra Nagoor Pitchai
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences (CMHS), United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Vineeta N Pillai
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences (CMHS), United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Lizna Mohamed Ali
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences (CMHS), United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Anjana Krishnan
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences (CMHS), United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Serena Bernacchi
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Architecture et Réactivité de l’ARN, UPR 9002, Strasbourg, France
| | - Farah Mustafa
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine and Health Sciences (CMHS), United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
- Zayed Center for Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, United Arab Emirates
| | - Roland Marquet
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Architecture et Réactivité de l’ARN, UPR 9002, Strasbourg, France
| | - Tahir A Rizvi
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences (CMHS), United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
- Zayed Center for Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, United Arab Emirates
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6
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Ali LM, Pitchai FNN, Vivet-Boudou V, Chameettachal A, Jabeen A, Pillai VN, Mustafa F, Marquet R, Rizvi TA. Role of Purine-Rich Regions in Mason-Pfizer Monkey Virus (MPMV) Genomic RNA Packaging and Propagation. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:595410. [PMID: 33250884 PMCID: PMC7674771 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.595410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2020] [Accepted: 09/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
A distinguishing feature of the Mason-Pfizer monkey virus (MPMV) packaging signal RNA secondary structure is a single-stranded purine-rich sequence (ssPurines) in close vicinity to a palindromic stem loop (Pal SL) that functions as MPMV dimerization initiation site (DIS). However, unlike other retroviruses, MPMV contains a partially base-paired repeat sequence of ssPurines (bpPurines) in the adjacent region. Both purine-rich sequences have earlier been proposed to act as potentially redundant Gag binding sites to initiate the process of MPMV genomic RNA (gRNA) packaging. The objective of this study was to investigate the biological significance of ssPurines and bpPurines in MPMV gRNA packaging by systematic mutational and biochemical probing analyses. Deletion of either ssPurines or bpPurines individually had no significant effect on MPMV gRNA packaging, but it was severely compromised when both sequences were deleted simultaneously. Selective 2′ hydroxyl acylation analyzed by primer extension (SHAPE) analysis of the mutant RNAs revealed only mild effects on structure by deletion of either ssPurines or bpPurines, while the structure was dramatically affected by the two simultaneous deletions. This suggests that ssPurines and bpPurines play a redundant role in MPMV gRNA packaging, probably as Gag binding sites to facilitate gRNA capture and encapsidation. Interestingly, the deletion of bpPurines revealed an additional severe defect on RNA propagation that was independent of the presence or absence of ssPurines or the gRNA structure of the region. These findings further suggest that the bpPurines play an additional role in the early steps of MPMV replication cycle that is yet to be identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lizna Mohamed Ali
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Fathima Nuzra Nagoor Pitchai
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Valérie Vivet-Boudou
- Architecture et Réactivité de l'ARN, UPR 9002, IBMC, CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Akhil Chameettachal
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Ayesha Jabeen
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Vineeta N Pillai
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Farah Mustafa
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.,Zayed Center for Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Roland Marquet
- Architecture et Réactivité de l'ARN, UPR 9002, IBMC, CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Tahir A Rizvi
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.,Zayed Center for Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
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Singh GB, Byun H, Ali AF, Medina F, Wylie D, Shivram H, Nash AK, Lozano MM, Dudley JP. A Protein Antagonist of Activation-Induced Cytidine Deaminase Encoded by a Complex Mouse Retrovirus. mBio 2019; 10:e01678-19. [PMID: 31409681 PMCID: PMC6692512 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01678-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2019] [Accepted: 07/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Complex human-pathogenic retroviruses cause high morbidity and mortality worldwide, but resist antiviral drugs and vaccine development due to evasion of the immune response. A complex retrovirus, mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV), requires replication in B and T lymphocytes for mammary gland transmission and is antagonized by the innate immune restriction factor murine Apobec3 (mA3). To determine whether the regulatory/accessory protein Rem affects innate responses to MMTV, a splice-donor mutant (MMTV-SD) lacking Rem expression was injected into BALB/c mice. Mammary tumors induced by MMTV-SD had a lower proviral load, lower incidence, and longer latency than mammary tumors induced by wild-type MMTV (MMTV-WT). MMTV-SD proviruses had many G-to-A mutations on the proviral plus strand, but also C-to-T transitions within WRC motifs. Similarly, a lymphomagenic MMTV variant lacking Rem expression showed decreased proviral loads and increased WRC motif mutations relative to those in wild-type-virus-induced tumors, consistent with activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID) mutagenesis in lymphoid cells. These mutations are typical of the Apobec family member AID, a B-cell-specific mutagenic protein involved in antibody variable region hypermutation. In contrast, mutations in WRC motifs and proviral loads were similar in MMTV-WT and MMTV-SD proviruses from tumors in AID-insufficient mice. AID was not packaged in MMTV virions. Rem coexpression in transfection experiments led to AID proteasomal degradation. Our data suggest that rem specifies a human-pathogenic immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Vif-like protein that inhibits AID and antagonizes innate immunity during MMTV replication in lymphocytes.IMPORTANCE Complex retroviruses, such as human-pathogenic immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), cause many human deaths. These retroviruses produce lifelong infections through viral proteins that interfere with host immunity. The complex retrovirus mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) allows for studies of host-pathogen interactions not possible in humans. A mutation preventing expression of the MMTV Rem protein in two different MMTV strains decreased proviral loads in tumors and increased viral genome mutations typical of an evolutionarily ancient enzyme, AID. Although the presence of AID generally improves antibody-based immunity, it may contribute to human cancer progression. We observed that coexpression of MMTV Rem and AID led to AID destruction. Our results suggest that Rem is the first known protein inhibitor of AID and that further experiments could lead to new disease treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gurvani B Singh
- Dept. of Molecular Biosciences, LaMontagne Center for Infectious Disease, and Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Hyewon Byun
- Dept. of Molecular Biosciences, LaMontagne Center for Infectious Disease, and Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Almas F Ali
- Dept. of Molecular Biosciences, LaMontagne Center for Infectious Disease, and Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Frank Medina
- Dept. of Molecular Biosciences, LaMontagne Center for Infectious Disease, and Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Dennis Wylie
- Computational Biology and Bioinformatics and Center for Biomedical Research Support, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Haridha Shivram
- Dept. of Molecular Biosciences, LaMontagne Center for Infectious Disease, and Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Andrea K Nash
- Dept. of Molecular Biosciences, LaMontagne Center for Infectious Disease, and Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Mary M Lozano
- Dept. of Molecular Biosciences, LaMontagne Center for Infectious Disease, and Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Jaquelin P Dudley
- Dept. of Molecular Biosciences, LaMontagne Center for Infectious Disease, and Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
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8
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Kalloush RM, Vivet-Boudou V, Ali LM, Pillai VN, Mustafa F, Marquet R, Rizvi TA. Stabilizing role of structural elements within the 5´ Untranslated Region (UTR) and gag sequences in Mason-Pfizer monkey virus (MPMV) genomic RNA packaging. RNA Biol 2019; 16:612-625. [PMID: 30773097 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2019.1572424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The Mason-Pfizer monkey virus (MPMV) genomic RNA (gRNA) packaging signal is a highly-structured element with several stem-loops held together by two phylogenetically conserved long-range interactions (LRIs) between U5 and gag complementary sequences. These LRIs play a critical role in maintaining the structure of the 5´ end of the MPMV gRNA. Thus, one could hypothesize that the overall RNA secondary structure of this region is further architecturally held together by three other stem loops (SL3, Gag SL1, and Gag SL2) comprising of sequences from the distal parts of the 5´untranslated region (5' UTR) to ~ 120 nucleotides into gag, excluding gag sequences involved in forming the U5-Gag LRIs. To provide functional evidence for the biological significance of these stem loops during gRNA encapsidation, these structural motifs were mutated and their effects on MPMV RNA packaging and propagation were tested in a single round trans-complementation assay. The mutant RNA structures were further studied by high throughput SHAPE (hSHAPE) assay. Our results reveal that sequences involved in forming these three stem loops do not play crucial roles at an individual level during MPMV gRNA packaging or propagation. Further structure-function analysis indicates that the U5-Gag LRIs have a more important architectural role in stabilizing the higher order structure of the 5´ UTR than the three stem loops which have a more secondary and perhaps indirect role in stabilizing the overall RNA secondary structure of the region. Our work provides a better understanding of the molecular interactions that take place during MPMV gRNA packaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rawan M Kalloush
- a Department of Microbiology & Immunology College of Medicine and Health Sciences , United Arab Emirates University , Al Ain , United Arab Emirates (UAE)
| | - Valérie Vivet-Boudou
- b CNRS, Architecture et Réactivité de l'ARN, UPR , Université de Strasbourg , Strasbourg , France
| | - Lizna M Ali
- a Department of Microbiology & Immunology College of Medicine and Health Sciences , United Arab Emirates University , Al Ain , United Arab Emirates (UAE)
| | - Vineeta N Pillai
- a Department of Microbiology & Immunology College of Medicine and Health Sciences , United Arab Emirates University , Al Ain , United Arab Emirates (UAE)
| | - Farah Mustafa
- c Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine and Health Sciences , United Arab Emirates University , Al Ain , United Arab Emirates (UAE)
| | - Roland Marquet
- b CNRS, Architecture et Réactivité de l'ARN, UPR , Université de Strasbourg , Strasbourg , France
| | - Tahir A Rizvi
- a Department of Microbiology & Immunology College of Medicine and Health Sciences , United Arab Emirates University , Al Ain , United Arab Emirates (UAE)
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9
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Akhlaq S, Panicker NG, Philip PS, Ali LM, Dudley JP, Rizvi TA, Mustafa F. A cis-Acting Element Downstream of the Mouse Mammary Tumor Virus Major Splice Donor Critical for RNA Elongation and Stability. J Mol Biol 2018; 430:4307-4324. [PMID: 30179605 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2018.08.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2018] [Revised: 08/28/2018] [Accepted: 08/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) encodes a functional signal peptide, a cleavage product of envelope and Rem proteins. Signal peptide interacts with a 3' cis-acting RNA element, the Rem-responsive element (RmRE), to facilitate expression of both unspliced genomic (gRNA) and spliced mRNAs. An additional RmRE has been proposed at the 5' end of the genome, facilitating nuclear export of the unspliced gRNA, whereas the 3' RmRE could facilitate translation of all other mRNAs, including gRNA. RESULTS To address this hypothesis, a series of mutations were introduced into a 24-nt region found exclusively in the unspliced gRNA. Mutant clones using MMTV or human cytomegalovirus promoters were tested in both transient and stable transfections to determine their effect on gRNA nuclear export, stability, and translation. Nuclear export of the gRNA was affected only in a small mutant subset in stably transfected Jurkat T cells. Quantitative real-time RT-PCR of actinomycin D-treated cells expressing MMTV revealed that multiple mutants were severely compromised for RNA expression and stability. Both genomic and spliced nuclear RNAs were reduced, leading to abrogation of Gag and Env protein expressed from unspliced and spliced mRNAs, respectively. RT-PCRs with multiple primer pairs indicated failure to elongate genomic MMTV transcripts beyond ~500 nt compared to the wild type in a cell line-dependent manner. CONCLUSIONS MMTV contains a novel cis-acting element downstream of the major splice donor critical for facilitating MMTV gRNA elongation and stability. Presence of a mirror repeat within the element may represent important viral/host factor binding site(s) within MMTV gRNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaima Akhlaq
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, UAE University, Tawam Hospital Complex, P.O. Box 17666, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.
| | - Neena G Panicker
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, UAE University, Tawam Hospital Complex, P.O. Box 17666, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.
| | - Pretty S Philip
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, UAE University, Tawam Hospital Complex, P.O. Box 17666, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.
| | - Lizna M Ali
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, UAE University, Tawam Hospital Complex, P.O. Box 17666, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.
| | - Jaquelin P Dudley
- LaMontagne Center for Infectious Diseases, The University of Texas at Austin, 100 East 24th Street, NHB 2.616, Austin, TX 78712, USA.
| | - Tahir A Rizvi
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, UAE University, Tawam Hospital Complex, P.O. Box 17666, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.
| | - Farah Mustafa
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, UAE University, Tawam Hospital Complex, P.O. Box 17666, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.
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10
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Pitchai FNN, Ali L, Pillai VN, Chameettachal A, Ashraf SS, Mustafa F, Marquet R, Rizvi TA. Expression, purification, and characterization of biologically active full-length Mason-Pfizer monkey virus (MPMV) Pr78 Gag. Sci Rep 2018; 8:11793. [PMID: 30087395 PMCID: PMC6081465 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-30142-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2018] [Accepted: 07/20/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
MPMV precursor polypeptide Pr78Gag orchestrates assembly and packaging of genomic RNA (gRNA) into virus particles. Therefore, we have expressed recombinant full-length Pr78Gag either with or without His6-tag in bacterial as well as eukaryotic cultures and purified the recombinant protein from soluble fractions of the bacterial cultures. The recombinant Pr78Gag protein has the intrinsic ability to assemble in vitro to form virus like particles (VLPs). Consistent with this observation, the recombinant protein could form VLPs in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes. VLPs formed in eukaryotic cells by recombinant Pr78Gag with or without His6-tag can encapsidate MPMV transfer vector RNA, suggesting that the inclusion of the His6-tag to the full-length Pr78Gag did not interfere with its expression or biological function. This study demonstrates the expression and purification of a biologically active, recombinant Pr78Gag, which should pave the way to study RNA-protein interactions involved in the MPMV gRNA packaging process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fathima Nuzra Nagoor Pitchai
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Lizna Ali
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Vineeta Narayana Pillai
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Akhil Chameettachal
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Syed Salman Ashraf
- Department of Chemistry, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Farah Mustafa
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Roland Marquet
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Architecture et Réactivité de l'ARN, UPR, 9002, Strasbourg, France.
| | - Tahir Aziz Rizvi
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.
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11
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Mustafa F, Vivet-Boudou V, Jabeen A, Ali LM, Kalloush RM, Marquet R, Rizvi TA. The bifurcated stem loop 4 (SL4) is crucial for efficient packaging of mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) genomic RNA. RNA Biol 2018; 15:1047-1059. [PMID: 29929424 PMCID: PMC6161677 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2018.1486661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Packaging the mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) genomic RNA (gRNA) requires the entire 5' untranslated region (UTR) in conjunction with the first 120 nucleotides of the gag gene. This region includes several palindromic (pal) sequence(s) and stable stem loops (SLs). Among these, stem loop 4 (SL4) adopts a bifurcated structure consisting of three stems, two apical loops, and an internal loop. Pal II, located in one of the apical loops, mediates gRNA dimerization, a process intricately linked to packaging. We thus hypothesized that the bifurcated SL4 structure could constitute the major gRNA packaging determinant. To test this hypothesis, the two apical loops and the flanking sequences forming the bifurcated SL4 were individually mutated. These mutations all had deleterious effects on gRNA packaging and propagation. Next, single and compensatory mutants were designed to destabilize then recreate the bifurcated SL4 structure. A structure-function analysis using bioinformatics predictions and RNA chemical probing revealed that mutations that led to the loss of the SL4 bifurcated structure abrogated RNA packaging and propagation, while compensatory mutations that recreated the native SL4 structure restored RNA packaging and propagation to wild type levels. Altogether, our results demonstrate that SL4 constitutes the principal packaging determinant of MMTV gRNA. Our findings further suggest that SL4 acts as a structural switch that can not only differentiate between RNA for translation versus packaging/dimerization, but its location also allows differentiation between spliced and unspliced RNAs during gRNA encapsidation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farah Mustafa
- a Department of Biochemistry , College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University , Al Ain , UAE
| | - Valérie Vivet-Boudou
- b Université de Strasbourg , CNRS, Architecture et Réactivité de l'ARN , Strasbourg , France
| | - Ayesha Jabeen
- c Department of Microbiology & Immunology , College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University , Al Ain , UAE
| | - Lizna M Ali
- c Department of Microbiology & Immunology , College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University , Al Ain , UAE
| | - Rawan M Kalloush
- c Department of Microbiology & Immunology , College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University , Al Ain , UAE
| | - Roland Marquet
- b Université de Strasbourg , CNRS, Architecture et Réactivité de l'ARN , Strasbourg , France
| | - Tahir A Rizvi
- c Department of Microbiology & Immunology , College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University , Al Ain , UAE
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12
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Biochemical and Functional Characterization of Mouse Mammary Tumor Virus Full-Length Pr77 Gag Expressed in Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells. Viruses 2018; 10:v10060334. [PMID: 29912170 PMCID: PMC6024702 DOI: 10.3390/v10060334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2018] [Revised: 06/11/2018] [Accepted: 06/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) Pr77Gag polypeptide is an essential retroviral structural protein without which infectious viral particles cannot be formed. This process requires specific recognition and packaging of dimerized genomic RNA (gRNA) by Gag during virus assembly. Most of the previous work on retroviral assembly has used either the nucleocapsid portion of Gag, or other truncated Gag derivatives—not the natural substrate for virus assembly. In order to understand the molecular mechanism of MMTV gRNA packaging process, we expressed and purified full-length recombinant Pr77Gag-His6-tag fusion protein from soluble fractions of bacterial cultures. We show that the purified Pr77Gag-His6-tag protein retained the ability to assemble virus-like particles (VLPs) in vitro with morphologically similar immature intracellular particles. The recombinant proteins (with and without His6-tag) could both be expressed in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells and had the ability to form VLPs in vivo. Most importantly, the recombinant Pr77Gag-His6-tag fusion proteins capable of making VLPs in eukaryotic cells were competent for packaging sub-genomic MMTV RNAs. The successful expression and purification of a biologically active, full-length MMTV Pr77Gag should lay down the foundation towards performing RNA–protein interaction(s), especially for structure-function studies and towards understanding molecular intricacies during MMTV gRNA packaging and assembly processes.
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13
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Liu Y, Nikolaitchik OA, Rahman SA, Chen J, Pathak VK, Hu WS. HIV-1 Sequence Necessary and Sufficient to Package Non-viral RNAs into HIV-1 Particles. J Mol Biol 2017; 429:2542-2555. [PMID: 28673553 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2017.06.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2017] [Revised: 06/26/2017] [Accepted: 06/26/2017] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Genome packaging is an essential step to generate infectious HIV-1 virions and is mediated by interactions between the viral protein Gag and cis-acting elements in the full-length RNA. The sequence necessary and sufficient to allow RNA genome packaging into an HIV-1 particle has not been defined. Here, we used two distinct reporter systems to determine the HIV-1 sequence required for heterologous, non-viral RNAs to be packaged into viral particles. Although the 5' untranslated region (UTR) of the HIV-1 RNA is known to be important for RNA packaging, we found that its ability to mediate packaging relies heavily on the context of the downstream sequences. Insertion of the 5' UTR and the first 32-nt of gag into two different reporter RNAs is not sufficient to mediate the packaging of these RNA into HIV-1 particles. However, adding the 5' half of the gag gene to the 5' UTR strongly facilitates the packaging of two reporter RNAs; such RNAs can be packaged at >50% of the efficiencies of an HIV-1 near full-length vector. To further examine the role of the gag sequence in RNA packaging, we replaced the 5' gag sequence in the HIV-1 genome with two codon-optimized gag sequences and found that such substitutions only resulted in a moderate decrease of RNA packaging efficiencies. Taken together, these results indicated that both HIV-1 5' UTR and the 5' gag sequence are required for efficient packaging of non-viral RNA into HIV-1 particles, although the gag sequence likely plays an indirect role in genome packaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Liu
- Viral Recombination Section, HIV Dynamics and Replication Program, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Olga A Nikolaitchik
- Viral Recombination Section, HIV Dynamics and Replication Program, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Sheikh Abdul Rahman
- Viral Recombination Section, HIV Dynamics and Replication Program, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Jianbo Chen
- Viral Recombination Section, HIV Dynamics and Replication Program, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Vinay K Pathak
- Viral Mutation Section, HIV Dynamics and Replication Program, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Wei-Shau Hu
- Viral Recombination Section, HIV Dynamics and Replication Program, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702, USA.
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14
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Cross- and Co-Packaging of Retroviral RNAs and Their Consequences. Viruses 2016; 8:v8100276. [PMID: 27727192 PMCID: PMC5086612 DOI: 10.3390/v8100276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2016] [Revised: 10/03/2016] [Accepted: 10/03/2016] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Retroviruses belong to the family Retroviridae and are ribonucleoprotein (RNP) particles that contain a dimeric RNA genome. Retroviral particle assembly is a complex process, and how the virus is able to recognize and specifically capture the genomic RNA (gRNA) among millions of other cellular and spliced retroviral RNAs has been the subject of extensive investigation over the last two decades. The specificity towards RNA packaging requires higher order interactions of the retroviral gRNA with the structural Gag proteins. Moreover, several retroviruses have been shown to have the ability to cross-/co-package gRNA from other retroviruses, despite little sequence homology. This review will compare the determinants of gRNA encapsidation among different retroviruses, followed by an examination of our current understanding of the interaction between diverse viral genomes and heterologous proteins, leading to their cross-/co-packaging. Retroviruses are well-known serious animal and human pathogens, and such a cross-/co-packaging phenomenon could result in the generation of novel viral variants with unknown pathogenic potential. At the same time, however, an enhanced understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in these specific interactions makes retroviruses an attractive target for anti-viral drugs, vaccines, and vectors for human gene therapy.
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15
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Orchestrating the Selection and Packaging of Genomic RNA by Retroviruses: An Ensemble of Viral and Host Factors. Viruses 2016; 8:v8090257. [PMID: 27657110 PMCID: PMC5035971 DOI: 10.3390/v8090257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2016] [Revised: 09/09/2016] [Accepted: 09/13/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Infectious retrovirus particles contain two copies of unspliced viral RNA that serve as the viral genome. Unspliced retroviral RNA is transcribed in the nucleus by the host RNA polymerase II and has three potential fates: (1) it can be spliced into subgenomic messenger RNAs (mRNAs) for the translation of viral proteins; or it can remain unspliced to serve as either (2) the mRNA for the translation of Gag and Gag-Pol; or (3) the genomic RNA (gRNA) that is packaged into virions. The Gag structural protein recognizes and binds the unspliced viral RNA to select it as a genome, which is selected in preference to spliced viral RNAs and cellular RNAs. In this review, we summarize the current state of understanding about how retroviral packaging is orchestrated within the cell and explore potential new mechanisms based on recent discoveries in the field. We discuss the cis-acting elements in the unspliced viral RNA and the properties of the Gag protein that are required for their interaction. In addition, we discuss the role of host factors in influencing the fate of the newly transcribed viral RNA, current models for how retroviruses distinguish unspliced viral mRNA from viral genomic RNA, and the possible subcellular sites of genomic RNA dimerization and selection by Gag. Although this review centers primarily on the wealth of data available for the alpharetrovirus Rous sarcoma virus, in which a discrete RNA packaging sequence has been identified, we have also summarized the cis- and trans-acting factors as well as the mechanisms governing gRNA packaging of other retroviruses for comparison.
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Ferrer M, Henriet S, Chamontin C, Lainé S, Mougel M. From Cells to Virus Particles: Quantitative Methods to Monitor RNA Packaging. Viruses 2016; 8:v8080239. [PMID: 27556480 PMCID: PMC4997601 DOI: 10.3390/v8080239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2016] [Revised: 08/16/2016] [Accepted: 08/16/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In cells, positive strand RNA viruses, such as Retroviridae, must selectively recognize their full-length RNA genome among abundant cellular RNAs to assemble and release particles. How viruses coordinate the intracellular trafficking of both RNA and protein components to the assembly sites of infectious particles at the cell surface remains a long-standing question. The mechanisms ensuring packaging of genomic RNA are essential for viral infectivity. Since RNA packaging impacts on several essential functions of retroviral replication such as RNA dimerization, translation and recombination events, there are many studies that require the determination of RNA packaging efficiency and/or RNA packaging ability. Studies of RNA encapsidation rely upon techniques for the identification and quantification of RNA species packaged by the virus. This review focuses on the different approaches available to monitor RNA packaging: Northern blot analysis, ribonuclease protection assay and quantitative reverse transcriptase-coupled polymerase chain reaction as well as the most recent RNA imaging and sequencing technologies. Advantages, disadvantages and limitations of these approaches will be discussed in order to help the investigator to choose the most appropriate technique. Although the review was written with the prototypic simple murine leukemia virus (MLV) and complex human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in mind, the techniques were described in order to benefit to a larger community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mireia Ferrer
- CPBS, CNRS, Université de Montpellier, 1919 Route de Mende, Montpellier 34293, France.
| | - Simon Henriet
- Sars International Centre for Marine Molecular Biology, University of Bergen, Bergen 5018, Norway.
| | - Célia Chamontin
- CPBS, CNRS, Université de Montpellier, 1919 Route de Mende, Montpellier 34293, France.
| | - Sébastien Lainé
- CPBS, CNRS, Université de Montpellier, 1919 Route de Mende, Montpellier 34293, France.
| | - Marylène Mougel
- CPBS, CNRS, Université de Montpellier, 1919 Route de Mende, Montpellier 34293, France.
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Kalloush RM, Vivet-Boudou V, Ali LM, Mustafa F, Marquet R, Rizvi TA. Packaging of Mason-Pfizer monkey virus (MPMV) genomic RNA depends upon conserved long-range interactions (LRIs) between U5 and gag sequences. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2016; 22:905-919. [PMID: 27095024 PMCID: PMC4878616 DOI: 10.1261/rna.055731.115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2015] [Accepted: 03/09/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
MPMV has great potential for development as a vector for gene therapy. In this respect, precisely defining the sequences and structural motifs that are important for dimerization and packaging of its genomic RNA (gRNA) are of utmost importance. A distinguishing feature of the MPMV gRNA packaging signal is two phylogenetically conserved long-range interactions (LRIs) between U5 and gag complementary sequences, LRI-I and LRI-II. To test their biological significance in the MPMV life cycle, we introduced mutations into these structural motifs and tested their effects on MPMV gRNA packaging and propagation. Furthermore, we probed the structure of key mutants using SHAPE (selective 2'hydroxyl acylation analyzed by primer extension). Disrupting base-pairing of the LRIs affected gRNA packaging and propagation, demonstrating their significance to the MPMV life cycle. A double mutant restoring a heterologous LRI-I was fully functional, whereas a similar LRI-II mutant failed to restore gRNA packaging and propagation. These results demonstrate that while LRI-I acts at the structural level, maintaining base-pairing is not sufficient for LRI-II function. In addition, in vitro RNA dimerization assays indicated that the loss of RNA packaging in LRI mutants could not be attributed to the defects in dimerization. Our findings suggest that U5-gag LRIs play an important architectural role in maintaining the structure of the 5' region of the MPMV gRNA, expanding the crucial role of LRIs to the nonlentiviral group of retroviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rawan M Kalloush
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Valérie Vivet-Boudou
- Architecture et Réactivité de l'ARN, CNRS, IBMC, Université de Strasbourg, 67084 Strasbourg cedex, France
| | - Lizna M Ali
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Farah Mustafa
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Roland Marquet
- Architecture et Réactivité de l'ARN, CNRS, IBMC, Université de Strasbourg, 67084 Strasbourg cedex, France
| | - Tahir A Rizvi
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
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18
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Aktar SJ, Vivet-Boudou V, Ali LM, Jabeen A, Kalloush RM, Richer D, Mustafa F, Marquet R, Rizvi TA. Structural basis of genomic RNA (gRNA) dimerization and packaging determinants of mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV). Retrovirology 2014; 11:96. [PMID: 25394412 PMCID: PMC4264320 DOI: 10.1186/s12977-014-0096-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2014] [Accepted: 10/23/2014] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background One of the hallmarks of retroviral life cycle is the efficient and specific packaging of two copies of retroviral gRNA in the form of a non-covalent RNA dimer by the assembling virions. It is becoming increasingly clear that the process of dimerization is closely linked with gRNA packaging, and in some retroviruses, the latter depends on the former. Earlier mutational analysis of the 5’ end of the MMTV genome indicated that MMTV gRNA packaging determinants comprise sequences both within the 5’ untranslated region (5’ UTR) and the beginning of gag. Results The RNA secondary structure of MMTV gRNA packaging sequences was elucidated employing selective 2’hydroxyl acylation analyzed by primer extension (SHAPE). SHAPE analyses revealed the presence of a U5/Gag long-range interaction (U5/Gag LRI), not predicted by minimum free-energy structure predictions that potentially stabilizes the global structure of this region. Structure conservation along with base-pair covariations between different strains of MMTV further supported the SHAPE-validated model. The 5’ region of the MMTV gRNA contains multiple palindromic (pal) sequences that could initiate intermolecular interaction during RNA dimerization. In vitro RNA dimerization, SHAPE analysis, and structure prediction approaches on a series of pal mutants revealed that MMTV RNA utilizes a palindromic point of contact to initiate intermolecular interactions between two gRNAs, leading to dimerization. This contact point resides within pal II (5’ CGGCCG 3’) at the 5’ UTR and contains a canonical “GC” dyad and therefore likely constitutes the MMTV RNA dimerization initiation site (DIS). Further analyses of these pal mutants employing in vivo genetic approaches indicate that pal II, as well as pal sequences located in the primer binding site (PBS) are both required for efficient MMTV gRNA packaging. Conclusions Employing structural prediction, biochemical, and genetic approaches, we show that pal II functions as a primary point of contact between two MMTV RNAs, leading to gRNA dimerization and its subsequent encapsidation into the assembling virus particles. The results presented here enhance our understanding of the MMTV gRNA dimerization and packaging processes and the role of structural motifs with respect to RNA-RNA and possibly RNA-protein interactions that might be taking place during MMTV life cycle. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12977-014-0096-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suriya J Aktar
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, P.O. Box 17666, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.
| | - Valérie Vivet-Boudou
- Architecture et Réactivité de l'ARN, CNRS, IBMC, Université de Strasbourg, 15 rue René Descartes, 67084, Strasbourg cedex, France.
| | - Lizna M Ali
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, P.O. Box 17666, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.
| | - Ayesha Jabeen
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, P.O. Box 17666, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.
| | - Rawan M Kalloush
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, P.O. Box 17666, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.
| | - Delphine Richer
- Architecture et Réactivité de l'ARN, CNRS, IBMC, Université de Strasbourg, 15 rue René Descartes, 67084, Strasbourg cedex, France.
| | - Farah Mustafa
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.
| | - Roland Marquet
- Architecture et Réactivité de l'ARN, CNRS, IBMC, Université de Strasbourg, 15 rue René Descartes, 67084, Strasbourg cedex, France.
| | - Tahir A Rizvi
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, P.O. Box 17666, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.
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Bann DV, Beyer AR, Parent LJ. A murine retrovirus co-Opts YB-1, a translational regulator and stress granule-associated protein, to facilitate virus assembly. J Virol 2014; 88:4434-50. [PMID: 24501406 PMCID: PMC3993753 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.02607-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2013] [Accepted: 01/28/2014] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED The Gag protein of the murine retrovirus mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) orchestrates the assembly of immature virus particles in the cytoplasm which are subsequently transported to the plasma membrane for release from the cell. The morphogenetic pathway of MMTV assembly is similar to that of Saccharomyces cerevisiae retrotransposons Ty1 and Ty3, which assemble virus-like particles (VLPs) in intracytoplasmic ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes. Assembly of Ty1 and Ty3 VLPs depends upon cellular mRNA processing factors, prompting us to examine whether MMTV utilizes a similar set of host proteins to facilitate viral capsid assembly. Our data revealed that MMTV Gag colocalized with YB-1, a translational regulator found in stress granules and P bodies, in intracytoplasmic foci. The association of MMTV Gag and YB-1 in cytoplasmic granules was not disrupted by cycloheximide treatment, suggesting that these sites were not typical stress granules. However, the association of MMTV Gag and YB-1 was RNA dependent, and an MMTV RNA reporter construct colocalized with Gag and YB-1 in cytoplasmic RNP complexes. Knockdown of YB-1 resulted in a significant decrease in MMTV particle production, indicating that YB-1 plays a role in MMTV capsid formation. Analysis by live-cell imaging with fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) revealed that the population of Gag proteins localized within YB-1 complexes was relatively immobile, suggesting that Gag forms stable complexes in association with YB-1. Together, our data imply that the formation of intracytoplasmic Gag-RNA complexes is facilitated by YB-1, which promotes MMTV virus assembly. IMPORTANCE Cellular mRNA processing factors regulate the posttranscriptional fates of mRNAs, affecting localization and utilization of mRNAs under normal conditions and in response to stress. RNA viruses such as retroviruses interact with cellular mRNA processing factors that accumulate in ribonucleoprotein complexes known as P bodies and stress granules. This report shows for the first time that mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV), a mammalian retrovirus that assembles intracytoplasmic virus particles, commandeers the cellular factor YB-1, a key regulator of translation involved in the cellular stress response. YB-1 is essential for the efficient production of MMTV particles, a process directed by the viral Gag protein. We found that Gag and YB-1 localize together in cytoplasmic granules. Functional studies of Gag/YB-1 granules suggest that they may be sites where virus particles assemble. These studies provide significant insights into the interplay between mRNA processing factors and retroviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darrin V. Bann
- Department of Medicine, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Andrea R. Beyer
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Leslie J. Parent
- Department of Medicine, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
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