1
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Colón-Santos S, Vázquez-Salazar A, Adams A, Campillo-Balderas JA, Hernández-Morales R, Jácome R, Muñoz-Velasco I, Rodriguez LE, Schaible MJ, Schaible GA, Szeinbaum N, Thweatt JL, Trubl G. Chapter 2: What Is Life? ASTROBIOLOGY 2024; 24:S40-S56. [PMID: 38498820 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2021.0116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
The question "What is life?" has existed since the beginning of recorded history. However, the scientific and philosophical contexts of this question have changed and been refined as advancements in technology have revealed both fine details and broad connections in the network of life on Earth. Understanding the framework of the question "What is life?" is central to formulating other questions such as "Where else could life be?" and "How do we search for life elsewhere?" While many of these questions are addressed throughout the Astrobiology Primer 3.0, this chapter gives historical context for defining life, highlights conceptual characteristics shared by all life on Earth as well as key features used to describe it, discusses why it matters for astrobiology, and explores both challenges and opportunities for finding an informative operational definition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Colón-Santos
- Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Department of Botany, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Alberto Vázquez-Salazar
- Departamento de Biología Evolutiva, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Alyssa Adams
- Department of Botany, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | | | - Ricardo Hernández-Morales
- Departamento de Biología Evolutiva, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Rodrigo Jácome
- Departamento de Biología Evolutiva, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Israel Muñoz-Velasco
- Departamento de Biología Evolutiva, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
- Departamento de Biología Celular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Laura E Rodriguez
- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA
- Lunar and Planetary Institute, Universities Space Research Association, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Micah J Schaible
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - George A Schaible
- School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Nadia Szeinbaum
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana, USA
| | - Jennifer L Thweatt
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Penn State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA. (Former)
| | - Gareth Trubl
- Physical and Life Sciences Directorate, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California, USA
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2
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Carter T, Iqbal M. The Influenza A Virus Replication Cycle: A Comprehensive Review. Viruses 2024; 16:316. [PMID: 38400091 PMCID: PMC10892522 DOI: 10.3390/v16020316] [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: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 02/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Influenza A virus (IAV) is the primary causative agent of influenza, colloquially called the flu. Each year, it infects up to a billion people, resulting in hundreds of thousands of human deaths, and causes devastating avian outbreaks with worldwide losses worth billions of dollars. Always present is the possibility that a highly pathogenic novel subtype capable of direct human-to-human transmission will spill over into humans, causing a pandemic as devastating if not more so than the 1918 influenza pandemic. While antiviral drugs for influenza do exist, they target very few aspects of IAV replication and risk becoming obsolete due to antiviral resistance. Antivirals targeting other areas of IAV replication are needed to overcome this resistance and combat the yearly epidemics, which exact a serious toll worldwide. This review aims to summarise the key steps in the IAV replication cycle, along with highlighting areas of research that need more focus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toby Carter
- The Pirbright Institute, Ash Road, Pirbright, Woking GU24 0NF, UK;
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3
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Kandeel M. An overview of the recent progress in Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) drug discovery. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2023; 18:385-400. [PMID: 36971501 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2023.2192921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) has remained a public health concern since it first emerged in 2012. Although many potential treatments for MERS-CoV have been developed and tested, none have had complete success in stopping the spread of this deadly disease. MERS-CoV replication comprises attachment, entry, fusion and replication steps. Targeting these events may lead to the creation of medications that effectively treat MERS-CoV infection. AREAS COVERED This review updates the research on the development of inhibitors of MERS-CoV. The main topics are MERS-CoV‒related proteins and host cell proteins that are involved in viral protein activation and infection. EXPERT OPINION Research on discovering drugs that can inhibit MERS-CoV started at a slow pace, and although efforts have steadily increased, clinical trials for new drugs specifically targeting MERS-CoV have not been extensive enough. The explosion in efforts to find new medications for the SARS-CoV-2 virus indirectly enhanced the volume of data on MERS-CoV inhibition by including MERS-CoV in drug assays. The appearance of COVID-19 completely transformed the data available on MERS-CoV inhibition. Despite the fact that new infected cases are constantly being diagnosed, there are currently no approved vaccines for or inhibitors of MERS-CoV.
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4
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Deng S. The origin of genetic and metabolic systems: Evolutionary structuralinsights. Heliyon 2023; 9:e14466. [PMID: 36967965 PMCID: PMC10036676 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e14466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Revised: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA is derived from reverse transcription and its origin is related to reverse transcriptase, DNA polymerase and integrase. The gene structure originated from the evolution of the first RNA polymerase. Thus, an explanation of the origin of the genetic system must also explain the evolution of these enzymes. This paper proposes a polymer structure model, termed the stable complex evolution model, which explains the evolution of enzymes and functional molecules. Enzymes evolved their functions by forming locally tightly packed complexes with specific substrates. A metabolic reaction can therefore be considered to be the result of adaptive evolution in this way when a certain essential molecule is lacking in a cell. The evolution of the primitive genetic and metabolic systems was thus coordinated and synchronized. According to the stable complex model, almost all functional molecules establish binding affinity and specific recognition through complementary interactions, and functional molecules therefore have the nature of being auto-reactive. This is thermodynamically favorable and leads to functional duplication and self-organization. Therefore, it can be speculated that biological systems have a certain tendency to maintain functional stability or are influenced by an inherent selective power. The evolution of dormant bacteria may support this hypothesis, and inherent selectivity can be unified with natural selection at the molecular level.
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5
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Singh SR, Murali A. pH modulates the role of SP6 RNA polymerase in transcription process: an in silico study. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2023; 41:11763-11780. [PMID: 36709448 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2023.2170916] [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: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
SP6 RNA polymerase (SP6 RNAP) is an essential enzyme for the transcription process in SP6 bacteriophage. SP6 RNAP plays a vital role in mRNA vaccine designing technology and other translational biotechnology research due to the high specificity towards its promoter. The self-replicating performance also put this polymerase to study extensively. Despite of the reports emphasizing the function of this enzyme, a detailed structural and functional understanding of RNA polymerase is not reported so far. Here, we report the first-ever information about SP6RNAP structure and its effect on promoter binding at different pH environments using molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation (MDS) study. We also report the changes in polymerase conformations in different pH conditions using in-silico approach. The docking study was also performed for SP6 RNAP with SP6 promoter at different pH environments using the in-silico docking tools and conducted the MDS study for complexes. MM/PBSA and per residue energy contribution has been performed at three different pH environments. The structural aspects confirmed that the pH 7.9 state favors the polymerase functional activity in the transcription process which was in the range reported using transcription assay. This polymerase's unique features may play its emerging role as an efficient transcription factor in translational biological research.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ayaluru Murali
- Department of Bioinformatics, Pondicherry University, Puducherry, India
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6
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Sutto-Ortiz P, Eléouët JF, Ferron F, Decroly E. Biochemistry of the Respiratory Syncytial Virus L Protein Embedding RNA Polymerase and Capping Activities. Viruses 2023; 15:v15020341. [PMID: 36851554 PMCID: PMC9960070 DOI: 10.3390/v15020341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a negative-sense, single-stranded RNA virus. It is the major cause of severe acute lower respiratory tract infection in infants, the elderly population, and immunocompromised individuals. There is still no approved vaccine or antiviral treatment against RSV disease, but new monoclonal prophylactic antibodies are yet to be commercialized, and clinical trials are in progress. Hence, urgent efforts are needed to develop efficient therapeutic treatments. RSV RNA synthesis comprises viral transcription and replication that are catalyzed by the large protein (L) in coordination with the phosphoprotein polymerase cofactor (P), the nucleoprotein (N), and the M2-1 transcription factor. The replication/transcription is orchestrated by the L protein, which contains three conserved enzymatic domains: the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), the polyribonucleotidyl transferase (PRNTase or capping), and the methyltransferase (MTase) domain. These activities are essential for the RSV replicative cycle and are thus considered as attractive targets for the development of therapeutic agents. In this review, we summarize recent findings about RSV L domains structure that highlight how the enzymatic activities of RSV L domains are interconnected, discuss the most relevant and recent antivirals developments that target the replication/transcription complex, and conclude with a perspective on identified knowledge gaps that enable new research directions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jean-François Eléouët
- Unité de Virologie et Immunologie Moléculaires, INRAE, Université Paris Saclay, F78350 Jouy en Josas, France
| | - François Ferron
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, AFMB, UMR, 7257 Marseille, France
- European Virus Bioinformatics Center, Leutragraben 1, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Etienne Decroly
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, AFMB, UMR, 7257 Marseille, France
- Correspondence:
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7
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Madariaga-Mazón A, Naveja JJ, Becerra A, Alberto Campillo-Balderas J, Hernández-Morales R, Jácome R, Lazcano A, Martinez-Mayorga K. Subtle structural differences of nucleotide analogs may impact SARS-CoV-2 RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and exoribonuclease activity. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2022; 20:5181-5192. [PMID: 36097553 PMCID: PMC9452397 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2022.08.056] [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: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The rapid spread and public health impact of the novel SARS-CoV-2 variants that cause COVID-19 continue to produce major global impacts and social distress. Several vaccines were developed in record time to prevent and limit the spread of the infection, thus playing a pivotal role in controlling the pandemic. Although the repurposing of available drugs attempts to provide therapies of immediate access against COVID-19, there is still a need for developing specific treatments for this disease. Remdesivir, molnupiravir and Paxlovid remain the only evidence-supported antiviral drugs to treat COVID-19 patients, and only in severe cases. To contribute on the search of potential Covid-19 therapeutic agents, we targeted the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) and the exoribonuclease (ExoN) following two strategies. First, we modeled and analyzed nucleoside analogs sofosbuvir, remdesivir, favipiravir, ribavirin, and molnupiravir at three key binding sites on the RdRp-ExoN complex. Second, we curated and virtually screened a database containing 517 nucleotide analogs in the same binding sites. Finally, we characterized key interactions and pharmacophoric features presumably involved in viral replication halting at multiple sites. Our results highlight structural modifications that might lead to more potent SARS-CoV-2 inhibitors against an expansive range of variants and provide a collection of nucleotide analogs useful for screening campaigns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abraham Madariaga-Mazón
- Instituto de Química Unidad Mérida, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Carretera Mérida-Tetiz Km. 4.5, Ucú, Yucatán, Mexico.,Instituto de Investigaciones en Matemáticas Aplicadas y en Sistemas Unidad Mérida, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Sierra Papacál Mérida, Yucatán 97302, Mexico
| | - José J Naveja
- Instituto de Química Unidad Mérida, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Carretera Mérida-Tetiz Km. 4.5, Ucú, Yucatán, Mexico.,Institute for Molecular Biology and University Cancer Center (UCT) Mainz, Germany
| | - Arturo Becerra
- Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | | | | | - Rodrigo Jácome
- Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Antonio Lazcano
- Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico.,El Colegio Nacional, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Karina Martinez-Mayorga
- Instituto de Química Unidad Mérida, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Carretera Mérida-Tetiz Km. 4.5, Ucú, Yucatán, Mexico.,Instituto de Investigaciones en Matemáticas Aplicadas y en Sistemas Unidad Mérida, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Sierra Papacál Mérida, Yucatán 97302, Mexico
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8
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Sadiq S, Chen YM, Zhang YZ, Holmes EC. Resolving Deep Evolutionary Relationships within the RNA Virus Phylum Lenarviricota. Virus Evol 2022; 8:veac055. [PMID: 35795296 PMCID: PMC9252102 DOI: 10.1093/ve/veac055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Revised: 05/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The RNA virus phylum Lenarviricota is composed of the fungi-associated families Narnaviridae and Mitoviridae, the RNA bacteriophage Leviviridae, and the plant and fungi-associated Botourmiaviridae. Members of the Lenarviricota are abundant in most environments and boast remarkable phylogenetic and genomic diversity. As this phylum includes both RNA bacteriophage and fungi- and plant-associated species, the Lenarviricota likely mark a major evolutionary transition between those RNA viruses associated with prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Despite the remarkable expansion of this phylum following metagenomic studies, the phylogenetic relationships among the families within the Lenarviricota remain uncertain. Utilising a large data set of relevant viral sequences, we performed phylogenetic and genomic analyses to resolve the complex evolutionary history within this phylum and identify patterns in the evolution of virus genome organisation. Despite limitations reflecting very high levels of sequence diversity, our phylogenetic analyses suggest that the Leviviridae comprise the basal lineage within the Lenarviricota. Our phylogenetic results also support the construction of a new virus family—the Narliviridae—comprising a set of diverse and phylogenetically distinct species, including a number of uniquely encapsidated viruses. We propose a taxonomic restructuring within the Lenarviricota to better reflect the phylogenetic relationships documented here, with the Botourmiaviridae and Narliviridae combined into the order Ourlivirales, the Narnaviridae remaining in the order Wolframvirales, and these orders combined into the single class, the Amabiliviricetes. In sum, this study provides insights into the complex evolutionary relationships among the diverse families that make up the Lenarviricota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Sadiq
- Sydney Institute for Infectious Diseases, School of Life and Environmental Sciences and School of Medical Sciences, The University of Sydney , Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Yan-Mei Chen
- Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences and Human Phenome Institute, Fudan University , Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Yong-Zhen Zhang
- Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences and Human Phenome Institute, Fudan University , Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Edward C Holmes
- Sydney Institute for Infectious Diseases, School of Life and Environmental Sciences and School of Medical Sciences, The University of Sydney , Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
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9
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Jácome R, Campillo-Balderas JA, Becerra A, Lazcano A. Structural Analysis of Monomeric RNA-Dependent Polymerases Revisited. J Mol Evol 2022; 90:283-295. [PMID: 35639164 PMCID: PMC9153872 DOI: 10.1007/s00239-022-10059-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
In the past few years, our understanding of the RNA virosphere has changed dramatically due to the growth and spurt of metagenomics, exponentially increasing the number of RNA viral sequences, and providing a better understanding of their range of potential hosts. As of today, the only conserved protein among RNA viruses appears to be the monomeric RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. This enzyme belongs to the right-hand DNA-and RNA polymerases, which also includes reverse transcriptases and eukaryotic replicative DNA polymerases. The ubiquity of this protein in RNA viruses makes it a unique evolutionary marker and an appealing broad-spectrum antiviral target. In this work pairwise structural comparisons of viral RdRps and RTs were performed, including tertiary structures that have been obtained in the last few years. The resulting phylogenetic tree shows that the RdRps from (+)ss- and dsRNA viruses might have been recruited several times throughout the evolution of mobile genetic elements. RTs also display multiple evolutionary routes. We have identified a structural core comprising the entire palm, a large moiety of the fingers and the N-terminal helices of the thumb domain, comprising over 300 conserved residues, including two regions that we have named the “knuckles” and the “hypothenar eminence”. The conservation of an helix bundle in the region preceding the polymerase domain confirms that (−)ss and dsRNA Reoviruses’ polymerases share a recent ancestor. Finally, the inclusion of DNA polymerases into our structural analyses suggests that monomeric RNA-dependent polymerases might have diverged from B-family polymerases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo Jácome
- Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico, Mexico
| | | | - Arturo Becerra
- Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico, Mexico
| | - Antonio Lazcano
- Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico, Mexico.
- Miembro de El Colegio Nacional, Mexico, Mexico.
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10
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Alamri MA, Mirza MU, Adeel MM, Ashfaq UA, Tahir ul Qamar M, Shahid F, Ahmad S, Alatawi EA, Albalawi GM, Allemailem KS, Almatroudi A. Structural Elucidation of Rift Valley Fever Virus L Protein towards the Discovery of Its Potential Inhibitors. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:ph15060659. [PMID: 35745579 PMCID: PMC9228520 DOI: 10.3390/ph15060659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2022] [Revised: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Rift valley fever virus (RVFV) is the causative agent of a viral zoonosis that causes a significant clinical burden in domestic and wild ruminants. Major outbreaks of the virus occur in livestock, and contaminated animal products or arthropod vectors can transmit the virus to humans. The viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp; L protein) of the RVFV is responsible for viral replication and is thus an appealing drug target because no effective and specific vaccine against this virus is available. The current study reported the structural elucidation of the RVFV-L protein by in-depth homology modeling since no crystal structure is available yet. The inhibitory binding modes of known potent L protein inhibitors were analyzed. Based on the results, further molecular docking-based virtual screening of Selleckchem Nucleoside Analogue Library (156 compounds) was performed to find potential new inhibitors against the RVFV L protein. ADME (Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, and Excretion) and toxicity analysis of these compounds was also performed. Besides, the binding mechanism and stability of identified compounds were confirmed by a 50 ns molecular dynamic (MD) simulation followed by MM/PBSA binding free energy calculations. Homology modeling determined a stable multi-domain structure of L protein. An analysis of known L protein inhibitors, including Monensin, Mycophenolic acid, and Ribavirin, provide insights into the binding mechanism and reveals key residues of the L protein binding pocket. The screening results revealed that the top three compounds, A-317491, Khasianine, and VER155008, exhibited a high affinity at the L protein binding pocket. ADME analysis revealed good pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetic profiles of these compounds. Furthermore, MD simulation and binding free energy analysis endorsed the binding stability of potential compounds with L protein. In a nutshell, the present study determined potential compounds that may aid in the rational design of novel inhibitors of the RVFV L protein as anti-RVFV drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mubarak A. Alamri
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj 16273, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Muhammad Usman Mirza
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON N9B 3P4, Canada;
| | - Muhammad Muzammal Adeel
- 3D Genomics Research Center, College of Informatics, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China;
| | - Usman Ali Ashfaq
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, Government College University Faisalabad, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan; (U.A.A.); (F.S.)
| | - Muhammad Tahir ul Qamar
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, Government College University Faisalabad, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan; (U.A.A.); (F.S.)
- Correspondence: (M.T.u.Q.); (K.S.A.)
| | - Farah Shahid
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, Government College University Faisalabad, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan; (U.A.A.); (F.S.)
| | - Sajjad Ahmad
- Department of Health and Biological Sciences, Abasyn University, Peshawar 25000, Pakistan;
| | - Eid A. Alatawi
- Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Tabuk, Tabuk 71491, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Ghadah M. Albalawi
- Department of Medical Laboratories, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Saudi Arabia; (G.M.A.); (A.A.)
- Department of Laboratory and Blood Bank, King Fahd Specialist Hospital, Tabuk 47717, Saudi Arabia
| | - Khaled S. Allemailem
- Department of Medical Laboratories, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Saudi Arabia; (G.M.A.); (A.A.)
- Correspondence: (M.T.u.Q.); (K.S.A.)
| | - Ahmad Almatroudi
- Department of Medical Laboratories, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Saudi Arabia; (G.M.A.); (A.A.)
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11
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Estrada A, Suárez-Díaz E, Becerra A. Reconstructing the Last Common Ancestor: Epistemological and Empirical Challenges. Acta Biotheor 2022; 70:15. [PMID: 35575816 DOI: 10.1007/s10441-022-09439-1] [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: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Reconstructing the genetic traits of the Last Common Ancestor (LCA) and the Tree of Life (TOL) are two examples of the reaches of contemporary molecular phylogenetics. Nevertheless, the whole enterprise has led to paradoxical results. The presence of Lateral Gene Transfer poses epistemic and empirical challenges to meet these goals; the discussion around this subject has been enriched by arguments from philosophers and historians of science. At the same time, a few but influential research groups have aimed to reconstruct the LCA with rich-in-detail hypotheses and high-resolution gene catalogs and metabolic traits. We argue that LGT poses insurmountable challenges for detailed and rich in details reconstructions and propose, instead, a middle-ground position with the reconstruction of a slim LCA based on traits under strong pressures of Negative Natural Selection, and for the need of consilience with evidence from organismal biology and geochemistry. We defend a cautionary perspective that goes beyond the statistical analysis of gene similarities and assumes the broader consequences of evolving empirical data and epistemic pluralism in the reconstruction of early life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amadeo Estrada
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Coyoacán, Mexico
| | - Edna Suárez-Díaz
- Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito Exterior Ciudad Universitaria, 04510, Coyoacán, DF, Mexico
| | - Arturo Becerra
- Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito Exterior Ciudad Universitaria, 04510, Coyoacán, DF, Mexico.
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12
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Pathania S, Rawal RK, Singh PK. RdRp (RNA-dependent RNA polymerase): A key target providing anti-virals for the management of various viral diseases. J Mol Struct 2022; 1250:131756. [PMID: 34690363 PMCID: PMC8520695 DOI: 10.1016/j.molstruc.2021.131756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Revised: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
With the arrival of the Covid-19 pandemic, anti-viral agents have regained center stage in the arena of medicine. Out of the various drug targets involved in managing RNA-viral infections, the one that dominates almost all RNA viruses is RdRp (RNA-dependent RNA polymerase). RdRp are proteins that are involved in the replication of RNA-based viruses. Inhibition of RdRps has been an integral approach for managing various viral infections such as dengue, influenza, HCV (Hepatitis), BVDV, etc. Inhibition of the coronavirus RdRp is currently rigorously explored for the treatment of Covid-19 related complications. So, keeping in view the importance and current relevance of this drug target, we have discussed the importance of RdRp in developing anti-viral agents against various viral diseases. Different reported inhibitors have also been discussed, and emphasis has been laid on highlighting the inhibitor's pharmacophoric features and SAR profile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shelly Pathania
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, ISF College of Pharmacy, Moga-142001, Punjab, India
| | - Ravindra K. Rawal
- Department of Chemistry, Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to be University), Mullana-133207, Haryana, India,CSIR-North East Institute of Science and Technology, Jorhat-785006, Assam, India,Corresponding authors
| | - Pankaj Kumar Singh
- Faculty of Medicine, Integrative Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Turku, FI-20014, Finland,Corresponding authors
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13
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Nucleosides and emerging viruses: a new story. Drug Discov Today 2022; 27:1945-1953. [PMID: 35189369 PMCID: PMC8856764 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2022.02.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Revised: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
With several US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drugs and high barriers to resistance, nucleoside and nucleotide analogs remain the cornerstone of antiviral therapies for not only herpesviruses, but also HIV and hepatitis viruses (B and C); however, with the exception of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), for which vaccines have been developed at unprecedented speed, there are no vaccines or small antivirals yet available for (re)emerging viruses, which are primarily RNA viruses. Thus, herein, we present an overview of ribonucleoside analogs recently developed and acting as inhibitors of the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp). They are new lead structures that will be exploited for the discovery of new antiviral nucleosides.
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14
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Duran N, Polat MF, Aktas DA, Alagoz MA, Ay E, Cimen F, Tek E, Anil B, Burmaoglu S, Algul O. New chalcone derivatives as effective against SARS-CoV-2 agent. Int J Clin Pract 2021; 75:e14846. [PMID: 34519118 PMCID: PMC8646589 DOI: 10.1111/ijcp.14846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Revised: 08/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
AIMS Flavonoids and related compounds, such as quercetin-based antiviral drug Gene-Eden-VIR/Novirin, inhibit the protease of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The alkylated chalcones isolated from Angelica keiskei inhibit SARS-CoV proteases. In this study, we aimed to compare the anti-SARS CoV-2 activities of both newly synthesized chalcone derivatives and these two drugs. METHODS Determination of the potent antiviral activity of newly synthesized chalcone derivatives against SARS-CoV-2 by calculating the RT-PCR cycling threshold (Ct ) values. RESULTS Antiviral activities of the compounds varied because of being dose dependent. Compound 6, 7, 9, and 16 were highly effective against SARS-CoV-2 at the concentration of 1.60 µg/mL. Structure-based virtual screening was carried out against the most important druggable SARS-CoV-2 targets, viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, to identify putative inhibitors that could facilitate the development of potential anti-coronavirus disease-2019 drug candidates. CONCLUSIONS Computational analyses identified eight compounds inhibiting each target, with binding affinity scores ranging from -4.370 to -2.748 kcal/mol along with their toxicological, ADME, and drug-like properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nizami Duran
- Department of Medical MicrobiologyMedical FacultyMustafa Kemal UniversityAntakyaTurkey
| | - M. Fatih Polat
- Department of Pharmaceutical Basic SciencesFaculty of PharmacyErzincan Binali Yildirim UniversityErzincanTurkey
| | - Derya Anil Aktas
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Process TechnologiesErzurum Vocational High SchoolAtatürk UniversityErzurumTurkey
| | - M. Abdullah Alagoz
- Department of Pharmaceutical ChemistryFaculty of PharmacyInonu UniversityMalatyaTurkey
| | - Emrah Ay
- Department of Medical MicrobiologyMedical FacultyMustafa Kemal UniversityAntakyaTurkey
| | - Funda Cimen
- Department of Medical MicrobiologyMedical FacultyMustafa Kemal UniversityAntakyaTurkey
| | - Erhan Tek
- Department of Medical MicrobiologyMedical FacultyMustafa Kemal UniversityAntakyaTurkey
| | - Baris Anil
- Department of ChemistryFaculty of ScienceAtatürk UniversityErzurumTurkey
| | - Serdar Burmaoglu
- Department of ChemistryFaculty of ScienceAtatürk UniversityErzurumTurkey
| | - Oztekin Algul
- Department of Pharmaceutical ChemistryFaculty of PharmacyMersin UniversityMersinTurkey
- Department of Pharmaceutical ChemistryFaculty of PharmacyErzincan Binali Yildirim UniversityErzincanTurkey
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15
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Abstract
Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) belongs to the order Bunyavirales and is the type species of genus Phlebovirus, which accounts for over 50% of family Phenuiviridae species. RVFV is mosquito-borne and causes severe diseases in both humans and livestock, and consists of three segments (S, M, L) in the genome. The L segment encodes an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp, L protein) that is responsible for facilitating the replication and transcription of the virus. It is essential for the virus and has multiple drug targets. Here, we established an expression system and purification procedures for full-length L protein, which is composed of an endonuclease domain, RdRp domain, and cap-binding domain. A cryo-EM L protein structure was reported at 3.6 Å resolution. In this first L protein structure of genus Phlebovirus, the priming loop of RVFV L protein is distinctly different from those of other L proteins and undergoes large movements related to its replication role. Structural and biochemical analyses indicate that a single template can induce initiation of RNA synthesis, which is notably enhanced by 5' viral RNA. These findings help advance our understanding of the mechanism of RNA synthesis and provide an important basis for developing antiviral inhibitors. Importance The zoonosis RVF virus (RVFV) is one of the most serious arbovirus threats to both human and animal health. RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) is a multifunctional enzyme catalyzing genome replication as well as viral transcription, so the RdRp is essential for studying the virus and has multiple drug targets. In our study, we report the structure of RVFV L protein at 3.6 Å resolution by cryo-EM. This is the first L protein structure of genus Phlebovirus. Strikingly, a single template can initiate RNA replication. The structure and assays provide a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of the catalytic and substrate recognition mechanism of RdRp.
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16
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Ebenezer O, Damoyi N, Shapi M. Predicting New Anti-Norovirus Inhibitor With the Help of Machine Learning Algorithms and Molecular Dynamics Simulation-Based Model. Front Chem 2021; 9:753427. [PMID: 34869204 PMCID: PMC8636098 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2021.753427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) inhibitors are essential in the treatment of human norovirus (HuNoV). This study aimed to map out HCV NS5B RNA-dependent RNA polymerase inhibitors that could potentially be responsible for the inhibitory activity of HuNoV RdRp. It is necessary to develop robust machine learning and in silico methods to predict HuNoV RdRp compounds. In this study, Naïve Bayesian and random forest models were built to categorize norovirus RdRp inhibitors from the non-inhibitors using their molecular descriptors and PubChem fingerprints. The best model observed had accuracy, specificity, and sensitivity values of 98.40%, 97.62%, and 97.62%, respectively. Meanwhile, an external test set was used to validate model performance before applicability to the screened HCV compounds database. As a result, 775 compounds were predicted as NoV RdRp inhibitors. The pharmacokinetics calculations were used to filter out the inhibitors that lack drug-likeness properties. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation investigated the inhibitors' binding modes and residues critical for the HuNoV RdRp receptor. The most active compound, CHEMBL167790, closely binds to the binding pocket of the RdRp enzyme and depicted stable binding with RMSD 0.8-3.2 Å, and the RMSF profile peak was between 1.0-4.0 Å, and the conformational fluctuations were at 450-460 residues. Moreover, the dynamic residue cross-correlation plot also showed the pairwise correlation between the binding residues 300-510 of the HuNoV RdRp receptor and CHEMBL167790. The principal component analysis depicted the enhanced movement of protein atoms. Moreover, additional residues such as Glu510 and Asn505 interacted with CHEMBL167790 via water bridge and established H-bond interactions after the simulation. http://zinc15.docking.org/substances/ZINC000013589565.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oluwakemi Ebenezer
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Science, Mangosuthu University of Technology, Durban, South Africa
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17
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Jukič M, Janežič D, Bren U. Potential Novel Thioether-Amide or Guanidine-Linker Class of SARS-CoV-2 Virus RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase Inhibitors Identified by High-Throughput Virtual Screening Coupled to Free-Energy Calculations. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:11143. [PMID: 34681802 PMCID: PMC8540652 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222011143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Revised: 10/10/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2, or severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, represents a new pathogen from the family of Coronaviridae that caused a global pandemic of COVID-19 disease. In the absence of effective antiviral drugs, research of novel therapeutic targets such as SARS-CoV-2 RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) becomes essential. This viral protein is without a human counterpart and thus represents a unique prospective drug target. However, in vitro biological evaluation testing on RdRp remains difficult and is not widely available. Therefore, we prepared a database of commercial small-molecule compounds and performed an in silico high-throughput virtual screening on the active site of the SARS-CoV-2 RdRp using ensemble docking. We identified a novel thioether-amide or guanidine-linker class of potential RdRp inhibitors and calculated favorable binding free energies of representative hits by molecular dynamics simulations coupled with Linear Interaction Energy calculations. This innovative procedure maximized the respective phase-space sampling and yielded non-covalent inhibitors representing small optimizable molecules that are synthetically readily accessible, commercially available as well as suitable for further biological evaluation and mode of action studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marko Jukič
- Laboratory of Physical Chemistry and Chemical Thermodynamics, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Maribor, Smetanova 17, SI-2000 Maribor, Slovenia;
- Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies, University of Primorska, Glagoljaška 8, SI-6000 Koper, Slovenia
| | - Dušanka Janežič
- Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies, University of Primorska, Glagoljaška 8, SI-6000 Koper, Slovenia
| | - Urban Bren
- Laboratory of Physical Chemistry and Chemical Thermodynamics, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Maribor, Smetanova 17, SI-2000 Maribor, Slovenia;
- Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies, University of Primorska, Glagoljaška 8, SI-6000 Koper, Slovenia
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18
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Chikungunya nsP4 homology modeling reveals a common motif with Zika and Dengue RNA polymerases as a potential therapeutic target. J Mol Model 2021; 27:247. [PMID: 34386905 DOI: 10.1007/s00894-021-04868-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Among the diseases transmitted by vectors, there are those caused by viruses named arboviruses (arthropod-borne viruses). In past years, viruses transmitted by mosquitoes have been of relevance in global health, such as Chikungunya (CHIKV), Dengue (DENV), and Zika (ZIKV), which have Aedes aegypti as a common vector, thus raising the possibility of multi-infection. Previous reports have described the general structure of RNA-dependent RNA polymerases termed right-hand fold, which is conserved in positive single-stranded RNA viruses. Here, we report a comparison between sequences and the computational structure of RNA-dependent RNA polymerases from CHIKV, DENV, and ZIKV and the conserved sites to be considered for the design of an antiviral drug against the three viruses. We show that the sequential identity between consensus sequences from CHIKV and DENV is 8.1% and the similarity is 15.1%; the identity between CHIKV and ZIKV is 9.3%, and the similarity is 16.6%; and the identity between DENV and ZIKV is 68.6%, and the similarity is 79.2%. Nevertheless, the structural alignment shows that the root-mean-square deviation (RMSD) measurement value in general structure comparison between CHIKV RdRp and ZIKV RdRp was 1.248 Å, RMSD between CHIKV RdRp and DENV RdRp was 1.070 Å, and RMSD between ZIKV RdRp and DENV RdRp was 1.106 Å. Despite the low identity and similarity of CHIKV sequence with DENV and ZIKV, we show that A, B, C, and E motifs are structurally well conserved. These structural similarities offer a window into drug design against these arboviruses giving clues about critical target sites.
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19
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García-Trejo JJ, Ortega R, Zarco-Zavala M. Putative Repurposing of Lamivudine, a Nucleoside/Nucleotide Analogue and Antiretroviral to Improve the Outcome of Cancer and COVID-19 Patients. Front Oncol 2021; 11:664794. [PMID: 34367956 PMCID: PMC8335563 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.664794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Lamivudine, also widely known as 3TC belongs to a family of nucleotide/nucleoside analogues of cytidine or cytosine that inhibits the Reverse Transcriptase (RT) of retroviruses such as HIV. Lamivudine is currently indicated in combination with other antiretroviral agents for the treatment of HIV-1 infection or for chronic Hepatitis B (HBV) virus infection associated with evidence of hepatitis B viral replication and active liver inflammation. HBV reactivation in patients with HBV infections who receive anticancer chemotherapy can be a life-threatening complication during and after the completion of chemotherapy. Lamivudine is used, as well as other antiretrovirals, to prevent the reactivation of the Hepatitis B virus during and after chemotherapy. In addition, Lamivudine has been shown to sensitize cancer cells to chemotherapy. Lamivudine and other similar analogues also have direct positive effects in the prevention of cancer in hepatitis B or HIV positive patients, independently of chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Recently, it has been proposed that Lamivudine might be also repurposed against SARS-CoV-2 in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this review we first examine recent reports on the re-usage of Lamivudine or 3TC against the SARS-CoV-2, and we present docking evidence carried out in silico suggesting that Lamivudine may bind and possibly work as an inhibitor of the SARS-CoV-2 RdRp RNA polymerase. We also evaluate and propose assessment of repurposing Lamivudine as anti-SARS-CoV-2 and anti-COVID-19 antiviral. Secondly, we summarize the published literature on the use of Lamivudine or (3TC) before or during chemotherapy to prevent reactivation of HBV, and examine reports of enhanced effectiveness of radiotherapy in combination with Lamivudine treatment against the cancerous cells or tissues. We show that the anti-cancer properties of Lamivudine are well established, whereas its putative anti-COVID effect is under investigation. The side effects of lamivudine and the appearance of resistance to 3TC are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- José J García-Trejo
- Department of Biology, Laboratory of Bioenergetics, Chemistry Faculty and School, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Raquel Ortega
- Department of Biology, Laboratory of Bioenergetics, Chemistry Faculty and School, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Mariel Zarco-Zavala
- Department of Biology, Laboratory of Bioenergetics, Chemistry Faculty and School, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), Mexico City, Mexico
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20
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Pereira Dos Santos Junior A, José MV, Torres de Farias S. From RNA to DNA: Insights about the transition of informational molecule in the biological systems based on the structural proximity between the polymerases. Biosystems 2021; 206:104442. [PMID: 33984392 DOI: 10.1016/j.biosystems.2021.104442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Revised: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Structural relations in an evolutionary context of polymerases is crucial to gain insights into the transition from an RNA world to a Ribonucleoprotein world. Herein, we present a structural proximity tree for the polymerases, from which we observe that the enzymes that have RNA as substrate are more homogeneous than the group with DNA as substrate. The homogeneity observed in enzymes with RNA as a substrate, may be because they performed all steps in information processing. In this sense, the emergence of the DNA molecule posed new challenges to the biological systems, where several parts of the informational flow were individualized by the emergence of enzymes for each step. From the data presented, we propose a polymerase diversification model, in which we have RNA-dependent RNA polymerases as an ancestor and all other polymerases diverged directly from this group by a radiation process.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marco V José
- Theoretical Biology Group, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, C.P. 04510, Mexico.
| | - Sávio Torres de Farias
- Departamento de Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, João Pessoa, 58051-900, Brazil; Network of Researchers on the Chemical Evolution of Life (NoRCEL), Leeds, LS7 3RB, UK.
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21
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Cruz-González A, Muñoz-Velasco I, Cottom-Salas W, Becerra A, Campillo-Balderas JA, Hernández-Morales R, Vázquez-Salazar A, Jácome R, Lazcano A. Structural analysis of viral ExoN domains reveals polyphyletic hijacking events. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0246981. [PMID: 33730017 PMCID: PMC7968707 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0246981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Nidoviruses and arenaviruses are the only known RNA viruses encoding a 3’-5’ exonuclease domain (ExoN). The proofreading activity of the ExoN domain has played a key role in the growth of nidoviral genomes, while in arenaviruses this domain partakes in the suppression of the host innate immune signaling. Sequence and structural homology analyses suggest that these proteins have been hijacked from cellular hosts many times. Analysis of the available nidoviral ExoN sequences reveals a high conservation level comparable to that of the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerases (RdRp), which are the most conserved viral proteins. Two highly preserved zinc fingers are present in all nidoviral exonucleases, while in the arenaviral protein only one zinc finger can be identified. This is in sharp contrast with the reported lack of zinc fingers in cellular ExoNs, and opens the possibility of therapeutic strategies in the struggle against COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrián Cruz-González
- Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México City, México
| | - Israel Muñoz-Velasco
- Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México City, México
| | - Wolfgang Cottom-Salas
- Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México City, México
- Escuela Nacional Preparatoria, Plantel 8 Miguel E. Schulz, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México City, México
| | - Arturo Becerra
- Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México City, México
| | | | | | - Alberto Vázquez-Salazar
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Rodrigo Jácome
- Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México City, México
- * E-mail: (AL); (RJ)
| | - Antonio Lazcano
- Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México City, México
- El Colegio Nacional, México City, México
- * E-mail: (AL); (RJ)
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22
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Sadeghi M, Tomaru Y, Ahola T. RNA Viruses in Aquatic Unicellular Eukaryotes. Viruses 2021; 13:v13030362. [PMID: 33668994 PMCID: PMC7996518 DOI: 10.3390/v13030362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Revised: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Increasing sequence information indicates that RNA viruses constitute a major fraction of marine virus assemblages. However, only 12 RNA virus species have been described, infecting known host species of marine single-celled eukaryotes. Eight of these use diatoms as hosts, while four are resident in dinoflagellate, raphidophyte, thraustochytrid, or prasinophyte species. Most of these belong to the order Picornavirales, while two are divergent and fall into the families Alvernaviridae and Reoviridae. However, a very recent study has suggested that there is extraordinary diversity in aquatic RNA viromes, describing thousands of viruses, many of which likely use protist hosts. Thus, RNA viruses are expected to play a major ecological role for marine unicellular eukaryotic hosts. In this review, we describe in detail what has to date been discovered concerning viruses with RNA genomes that infect aquatic unicellular eukaryotes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammadreza Sadeghi
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
- Correspondence: (M.S.); (T.A.)
| | - Yuji Tomaru
- Environment and Fisheries Applied Techniques Research Department, Fisheries Technology Institute, Fisheries Research and Education Agency, Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima 739-0452, Japan;
| | - Tero Ahola
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
- Correspondence: (M.S.); (T.A.)
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23
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Structure Unveils Relationships between RNA Virus Polymerases. Viruses 2021; 13:v13020313. [PMID: 33671332 PMCID: PMC7922027 DOI: 10.3390/v13020313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Revised: 02/14/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA viruses are the fastest evolving known biological entities. Consequently, the sequence similarity between homologous viral proteins disappears quickly, limiting the usability of traditional sequence-based phylogenetic methods in the reconstruction of relationships and evolutionary history among RNA viruses. Protein structures, however, typically evolve more slowly than sequences, and structural similarity can still be evident, when no sequence similarity can be detected. Here, we used an automated structural comparison method, homologous structure finder, for comprehensive comparisons of viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerases (RdRps). We identified a common structural core of 231 residues for all the structurally characterized viral RdRps, covering segmented and non-segmented negative-sense, positive-sense, and double-stranded RNA viruses infecting both prokaryotic and eukaryotic hosts. The grouping and branching of the viral RdRps in the structure-based phylogenetic tree follow their functional differentiation. The RdRps using protein primer, RNA primer, or self-priming mechanisms have evolved independently of each other, and the RdRps cluster into two large branches based on the used transcription mechanism. The structure-based distance tree presented here follows the recently established RdRp-based RNA virus classification at genus, subfamily, family, order, class and subphylum ranks. However, the topology of our phylogenetic tree suggests an alternative phylum level organization.
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24
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Borrego B, Brun A. A Hyper-Attenuated Variant of Rift Valley Fever Virus Generated by a Mutagenic Drug (Favipiravir) Unveils Potential Virulence Markers. Front Microbiol 2021; 11:621463. [PMID: 33633696 PMCID: PMC7900410 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.621463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is a mosquito-borne bunyavirus that causes Rift Valley fever (RVF), a zoonotic disease of wild and domestic ruminants, causing serious economic losses and a threat to human health that could be controlled by vaccination. Though RVF vaccines are available for livestock, no RVF vaccines have been licensed for veterinary use in non-endemic countries nor for human populations in RVF risk areas. In a recent work, we showed that favipiravir, a promising drug with antiviral activity against a number of RNA viruses, led to the extinction of RVFV from infected cell cultures. Nevertheless, certain drug concentrations allowed the recovery of a virus variant showing increased resistance to favipiravir. In this work, we characterized this novel resistant variant both at genomic and phenotypic level in vitro and in vivo. Interestingly, the resistant virus displayed reduced growth rates in C6/36 insect cells but not in mammalian cell lines, and was highly attenuated but still immunogenic in vivo. Some amino acid substitutions were identified in the viral RNA-dependent RNA-polymerase (RdRp) gene and in the virus encoded type I-interferon (IFN-I) antagonist NSs gene, in catalytic core motifs and nuclear localization associated positions, respectively. These data may help to characterize novel potential virulence markers, offering additional strategies for further safety improvements of RVF live attenuated vaccine candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alejandro Brun
- Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal (CISA), Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA), Madrid, Spain
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25
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Cisneros-Martínez AM, Becerra A, Lazcano A. Ancient gene duplications in RNA viruses revealed by protein tertiary structure comparisons. Virus Evol 2021; 7:veab019. [PMID: 33758672 PMCID: PMC7967035 DOI: 10.1093/ve/veab019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
To date only a handful of duplicated genes have been described in RNA viruses. This shortage can be attributed to different factors, including the RNA viruses with high mutation rate that would make a large genome more prone to acquire deleterious mutations. This may explain why sequence-based approaches have only found duplications in their most recent evolutionary history. To detect earlier duplications, we performed protein tertiary structure comparisons for every RNA virus family represented in the Protein Data Bank. We present a list of thirty pairs of possible paralogs with <30 per cent sequence identity. It is argued that these pairs are the outcome of six duplication events. These include the α and β subunits of the fungal toxin KP6 present in the dsRNA Ustilago maydis virus (family Totiviridae), the SARS-CoV (Coronaviridae) nsp3 domains SUD-N, SUD-M and X-domain, the Picornavirales (families Picornaviridae, Dicistroviridae, Iflaviridae and Secoviridae) capsid proteins VP1, VP2 and VP3, and the Enterovirus (family Picornaviridae) 3C and 2A cysteine-proteases. Protein tertiary structure comparisons may reveal more duplication events as more three-dimensional protein structures are determined and suggests that, although still rare, gene duplications may be more frequent in RNA viruses than previously thought. Keywords: gene duplications; RNA viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Arturo Becerra
- Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Antonio Lazcano
- Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
- El Colegio Nacional, Donceles 104, Centro Histórico, Mexico City, Mexico
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26
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Sali S, Shabani S, Tavakolpour S. Sofosbuvir for the Treatment of COVID-19 Patients: Is It a Promising Therapeutic Medicine for the Inhibition of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2? AVICENNA JOURNAL OF MEDICAL BIOCHEMISTRY 2020. [DOI: 10.34172/ajmb.2020.19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Shahnaz Sali
- Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Shiva Shabani
- Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Soheil Tavakolpour
- Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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27
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Vijayakumar BG, Ramesh D, Joji A, Jayachandra prakasan J, Kannan T. In silico pharmacokinetic and molecular docking studies of natural flavonoids and synthetic indole chalcones against essential proteins of SARS-CoV-2. Eur J Pharmacol 2020; 886:173448. [PMID: 32768503 PMCID: PMC7406432 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2020.173448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2020] [Revised: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 07/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is distinctly infective and there is an ongoing effort to find a cure for this pandemic. Flavonoids exist in many diets as well as in traditional medicine, and their modern subset, indole-chalcones, are effective in fighting various diseases. Hence, these flavonoids and structurally similar indole chalcones derivatives were studied in silico for their pharmacokinetic properties including absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, toxicity (ADMET) and anti-SARS-CoV-2 properties against their proteins, namely, RNA dependent RNA polymerase (rdrp), main protease (Mpro) and Spike (S) protein via homology modelling and docking. Interactions were studied with respect to biology and function of SARS-CoV-2 proteins for activity. Functional/structural roles of amino acid residues of SARS-CoV-2 proteins and, the effect of flavonoid and indole chalcone interactions which may cause disease suppression are discussed. The results reveal that out of 23 natural flavonoids and 25 synthetic indole chalcones, 30 compounds are capable of Mpro deactivation as well as potentially lowering the efficiency of Mpro function. Cyanidin may inhibit RNA polymerase function and, Quercetin is found to block interaction sites on the viral spike. These results suggest flavonoids and their modern pharmaceutical cousins, indole chalcones are capable of fighting SARS-CoV-2. The in vitro anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity of these 30 compounds needs to be studied further for complete understanding and confirmation of their inhibitory potential.
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28
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Gibbs A. Binomial nomenclature for virus species: a long view. Arch Virol 2020; 165:3079-3083. [PMID: 33025196 DOI: 10.1007/s00705-020-04828-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2020] [Accepted: 08/31/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
On several occasions over the past century it has been proposed that Latinized (Linnaean) binomial names (LBs) should be used for the formal names of virus species, and the opinions expressed in the early debates are still valid. The use of LBs would be sensible for the current Taxonomy if confined to the names of the specific and generic taxa of viruses of which some basic biological properties are known (e.g. ecology, hosts and virions); there is no advantage in filling the literature with formal names for partly described viruses or virus-like gene sequences. The ICTV should support the time-honoured convention that LBs are only used with biological (phylogenetic) classifications. Recent changes have left the ICTV Taxonomy and its Code uncoordinated, and its aims and audience uncertain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian Gibbs
- Emeritus Faculty, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
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29
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Coggins SA, Mahboubi B, Schinazi RF, Kim B. Mechanistic cross-talk between DNA/RNA polymerase enzyme kinetics and nucleotide substrate availability in cells: Implications for polymerase inhibitor discovery. J Biol Chem 2020; 295:13432-13443. [PMID: 32737197 PMCID: PMC7521635 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.rev120.013746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2020] [Revised: 07/31/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Enzyme kinetic analysis reveals a dynamic relationship between enzymes and their substrates. Overall enzyme activity can be controlled by both protein expression and various cellular regulatory systems. Interestingly, the availability and concentrations of intracellular substrates can constantly change, depending on conditions and cell types. Here, we review previously reported enzyme kinetic parameters of cellular and viral DNA and RNA polymerases with respect to cellular levels of their nucleotide substrates. This broad perspective exposes a remarkable co-evolution scenario of DNA polymerase enzyme kinetics with dNTP levels that can vastly change, depending on cell proliferation profiles. Similarly, RNA polymerases display much higher Km values than DNA polymerases, possibly due to millimolar range rNTP concentrations found in cells (compared with micromolar range dNTP levels). Polymerases are commonly targeted by nucleotide analog inhibitors for the treatments of various human diseases, such as cancers and viral pathogens. Because these inhibitors compete against natural cellular nucleotides, the efficacy of each inhibitor can be affected by varying cellular nucleotide levels in their target cells. Overall, both kinetic discrepancy between DNA and RNA polymerases and cellular concentration discrepancy between dNTPs and rNTPs present pharmacological and mechanistic considerations for therapeutic discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Si'Ana A Coggins
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Bijan Mahboubi
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Raymond F Schinazi
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Baek Kim
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Center for Drug Discovery, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
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30
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Ramesh D, Vijayakumar BG, Kannan T. Therapeutic potential of uracil and its derivatives in countering pathogenic and physiological disorders. Eur J Med Chem 2020; 207:112801. [PMID: 32927231 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2020.112801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2020] [Revised: 08/21/2020] [Accepted: 08/27/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Uracil is one of the most notable pharmacophores in medicinal chemistry as the pyrimidine nucleobase forms an integral part of many commercial drugs. Though the name uracil is usually associated with cancer drugs, there are many uracil-based compounds which can treat different diseases when they are employed. So far, there has been no in-depth review concerning uracil drugs in the market, or in the different stages of clinical trials, including those approved or discontinued. The current work focuses on the importance of uracil and its derivatives in treating different diseases. The use of uracil compounds in treating viral infections, cancer, diabetic, thyroid and autosomal recessive disorders are discussed in the review. The mechanism of action of each uracil drug with emphasis on their structure and properties are discussed in detail. The targeted action of these drugs on sites or on the different stages of a disorder/pathogenic life cycle are also discussed. This review encompasses uracil drugs approved as well as those in development from the 1950's onwards. The utility of uracil in drug discovery and its association with a wide range of diseases is brought forth within this review to demonstrate its potential to a wider audience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepthi Ramesh
- Department of Chemistry, Pondicherry University, Kalapet, Puducherry, 605014, India
| | | | - Tharanikkarasu Kannan
- Department of Chemistry, Pondicherry University, Kalapet, Puducherry, 605014, India.
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31
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Abid N, Pietrucci D, Salemi M, Chillemi G. New Insights into the Effect of Residue Mutations on the Rotavirus VP1 Function Using Molecular Dynamic Simulations. J Chem Inf Model 2020; 60:5011-5025. [PMID: 32786703 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.0c00475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Rotavirus group A remains a major cause of diarrhea in infants and young children worldwide. The permanent emergence of new genotypes puts the potential effectiveness of vaccines under serious questions. Thirteen VP1 structures with mutations mapping to the RNA entry site were analyzed using molecular dynamics simulations, and the results were combined with the experimental findings reported previously. The results revealed structural fluctuations in the protein-protein recognition sites and in the bottleneck of the RNA entry site that may affect the interaction of different proteins and delay the initiation of the viral replication, respectively. Altogether, the structural analysis of VP1 in the region crucial for the initiation of the viral replication, mainly the bottleneck site, may boost efforts to develop antivirals, as they might complement the available vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nabil Abid
- Laboratory of Transmissible Diseases and Biological Active Substances LR99ES27, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Monastir, Rue Ibn Sina, 5000 Monastir, Tunisia.,High Institute of Biotechnology of Sidi Thabet, Department of Biotechnology, University Manouba, BP-66, 2020 Ariana-Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Daniele Pietrucci
- Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Salemi
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine, Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, P.O. Box 100009, Gainesville, Florida 32610-3633, United States
| | - Giovanni Chillemi
- Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-Food and Forest Systems, DIBAF, University of Tuscia, Via S. Camillo de Lellis s.n.c., 01100 Viterbo, Italy.,Institute of Biomembranes, Bioenergetics and Molecular Biotechnologies, IBIOM, CNR, Via Giovanni Amendola, 122/O, 70126 Bari, Italy
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32
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Gervasoni S, Vistoli G, Talarico C, Manelfi C, Beccari AR, Studer G, Tauriello G, Waterhouse AM, Schwede T, Pedretti A. A Comprehensive Mapping of the Druggable Cavities within the SARS-CoV-2 Therapeutically Relevant Proteins by Combining Pocket and Docking Searches as Implemented in Pockets 2.0. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21145152. [PMID: 32708196 PMCID: PMC7403965 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21145152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Revised: 07/10/2020] [Accepted: 07/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: Virtual screening studies on the therapeutically relevant proteins of the severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) require a detailed characterization of their druggable binding sites, and, more generally, a convenient pocket mapping represents a key step for structure-based in silico studies; (2) Methods: Along with a careful literature search on SARS-CoV-2 protein targets, the study presents a novel strategy for pocket mapping based on the combination of pocket (as performed by the well-known FPocket tool) and docking searches (as performed by PLANTS or AutoDock/Vina engines); such an approach is implemented by the Pockets 2.0 plug-in for the VEGA ZZ suite of programs; (3) Results: The literature analysis allowed the identification of 16 promising binding cavities within the SARS-CoV-2 proteins and the here proposed approach was able to recognize them showing performances clearly better than those reached by the sole pocket detection; and (4) Conclusions: Even though the presented strategy should require more extended validations, this proved successful in precisely characterizing a set of SARS-CoV-2 druggable binding pockets including both orthosteric and allosteric sites, which are clearly amenable for virtual screening campaigns and drug repurposing studies. All results generated by the study and the Pockets 2.0 plug-in are available for download.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Gervasoni
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Mangiagalli, 25, I-20133 Milano, Italy; (S.G.); (G.V.)
| | - Giulio Vistoli
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Mangiagalli, 25, I-20133 Milano, Italy; (S.G.); (G.V.)
| | - Carmine Talarico
- Dompé Farmaceutici SpA, Via Campo di Pile, I-67100 L’Aquila, Italy; (C.T.); (C.M.); (A.R.B.)
| | - Candida Manelfi
- Dompé Farmaceutici SpA, Via Campo di Pile, I-67100 L’Aquila, Italy; (C.T.); (C.M.); (A.R.B.)
| | - Andrea R. Beccari
- Dompé Farmaceutici SpA, Via Campo di Pile, I-67100 L’Aquila, Italy; (C.T.); (C.M.); (A.R.B.)
| | - Gabriel Studer
- Biozentrum, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 50-70, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland; (G.S.); (G.T.); (A.M.W.); (T.S.)
- SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Biozentrum, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 50-70, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Gerardo Tauriello
- Biozentrum, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 50-70, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland; (G.S.); (G.T.); (A.M.W.); (T.S.)
- SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Biozentrum, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 50-70, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Andrew Mark Waterhouse
- Biozentrum, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 50-70, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland; (G.S.); (G.T.); (A.M.W.); (T.S.)
- SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Biozentrum, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 50-70, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Torsten Schwede
- Biozentrum, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 50-70, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland; (G.S.); (G.T.); (A.M.W.); (T.S.)
- SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Biozentrum, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 50-70, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Alessandro Pedretti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Mangiagalli, 25, I-20133 Milano, Italy; (S.G.); (G.V.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-02-503-19332
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33
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Wang Y, Anirudhan V, Du R, Cui Q, Rong L. RNA-dependent RNA polymerase of SARS-CoV-2 as a therapeutic target. J Med Virol 2020; 93:300-310. [PMID: 32633831 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.26264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2020] [Revised: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 07/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The global pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), named coronavirus disease 2019, has infected more than 8.9 million people worldwide. This calls for urgent effective therapeutic measures. RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) activity in viral transcription and replication has been recognized as an attractive target to design novel antiviral strategies. Although SARS-CoV-2 shares less genetic similarity with SARS-CoV (~79%) and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (~50%), the respective RdRps of the three coronaviruses are highly conserved, suggesting that RdRp is a good broad-spectrum antiviral target for coronaviruses. In this review, we discuss the antiviral potential of RdRp inhibitors (mainly nucleoside analogs) with an aim to provide a comprehensive account of drug discovery on SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanyan Wang
- College of Pharmacy, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Varada Anirudhan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Ruikun Du
- College of Pharmacy, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China.,Shandong Provincial Collaborative Innovation Center for Antiviral Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China.,Qingdao Academy of Chinese Medicinal Sciences, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Qingdao, China
| | - Qinghua Cui
- College of Pharmacy, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China.,Shandong Provincial Collaborative Innovation Center for Antiviral Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China.,Qingdao Academy of Chinese Medicinal Sciences, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Qingdao, China
| | - Lijun Rong
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
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34
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Sofosbuvir as a potential alternative to treat the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic. Sci Rep 2020; 10:9294. [PMID: 32518317 PMCID: PMC7283245 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-66440-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2020] [Accepted: 05/19/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
As of today, there is no antiviral for the treatment of the SARS-CoV-2 infection, and the development of a vaccine might take several months or even years. The structural superposition of the hepatitis C virus polymerase bound to sofosbuvir, a nucleoside analog antiviral approved for hepatitis C virus infections, with the SARS-CoV polymerase shows that the residues that bind to the drug are present in the latter. Moreover, a multiple alignment of several SARS-CoV-2, SARS and MERS-related coronaviruses polymerases shows that these residues are conserved in all these viruses, opening the possibility to use sofosbuvir against these highly infectious pathogens.
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35
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Buonaguro L, Buonaguro FM. Knowledge-based repositioning of the anti-HCV direct antiviral agent Sofosbuvir as SARS-CoV-2 treatment. Infect Agent Cancer 2020; 15:32. [PMID: 32419838 PMCID: PMC7215134 DOI: 10.1186/s13027-020-00302-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Accepted: 05/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The new human coronavirus named SARS-CoV-2 is a positive-sense RNA virus for which no specific drugs are currently available. A knowledge-based analysis strongly suggests a possible repositioning of the anti-HCV direct antiviral agent (DAA) Sofosbuvir as treatment for SARS-CoV-2. Indeed, the RNA-dependent RNA-polymerases (RdRp) of the two viruses show high sequence and structural homology, supporting the likelihood of binding the Sofosbuvir molecule with similar efficiency. Such a repositioning would allow the containment of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and limit the progression of disease to potentially deadly COVID19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luigi Buonaguro
- Laboratory of Innovative Immunological Models, Istituto Nazionale per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori, “Fondazione Pascale” – IRCCS, Via Mariano Semmola, 1, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Franco M. Buonaguro
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Viral Oncology, Istituto Nazionale per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori, “Fondazione Pascale” – IRCCS, Via Mariano Semmola 52, 80131 Naples, Italy
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36
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Buonaguro L, Tagliamonte M, Tornesello ML, Buonaguro FM. SARS-CoV-2 RNA polymerase as target for antiviral therapy. J Transl Med 2020; 18:185. [PMID: 32370758 PMCID: PMC7200052 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-020-02355-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2020] [Accepted: 04/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
A new human coronavirus named SARS-CoV-2 was identified in several cases of acute respiratory syndrome in Wuhan, China in December 2019. On March 11 2020, WHO declared the SARS-CoV-2 infection to be a pandemic, based on the involvement of 169 nations. Specific drugs for SARS-CoV-2 are obviously not available. Currently, drugs originally developed for other viruses or parasites are currently in clinical trials based on empiric data. In the quest of an effective antiviral drug, the most specific target for an RNA virus is the RNA-dependent RNA-polymerase (RdRp) which shows significant differences between positive-sense and negative-sense RNA viruses. An accurate evaluation of RdRps from different viruses may guide the development of new drugs or the repositioning of already approved antiviral drugs as treatment of SARS-CoV-2. This can accelerate the containment of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and, hopefully, of future pandemics due to other emerging zoonotic RNA viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luigi Buonaguro
- Innovative Immunological Models, Istituto Nazionale per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori, "Fondazione Pascale"-IRCCS, Via Mariano Semmola, 52, 80131, Naples, Italy.
| | - Maria Tagliamonte
- Innovative Immunological Models, Istituto Nazionale per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori, "Fondazione Pascale"-IRCCS, Via Mariano Semmola, 52, 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Maria Lina Tornesello
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Viral Oncology, Istituto Nazionale per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori, "Fondazione Pascale"-IRCCS, 80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Franco M Buonaguro
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Viral Oncology, Istituto Nazionale per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori, "Fondazione Pascale"-IRCCS, 80131, Naples, Italy
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37
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Abstract
The Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS CoV), also termed camel flu, is a new viral infection that first reported in the year 2012 in the Middle East region and further spread during the last seven years. MERS CoV is characterized by its high mortality rate among different human coronaviruses. MERS CoV polymerase shares more than 20% sequence identity with the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Non-structural 5b (NS5b) RNA dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp). Despite the low sequence identity, the active site is conserved between the two proteins, with two consecutive aspartates that are crucial in the nucleotide transfer reaction. In this study, seven nucleotide inhibitors have been tested against MERS CoV RdRp using molecular modeling and docking simulations, from which four are novel compounds. Molecular Dynamics Simulation for 260 nanoseconds is performed on the MERS CoV RdRp model to test the effect of protein dynamics on the binding affinities to the tested nucleotide inhibitors. Results support the hypothesis of using the anti-polymerases (Anti-HCV drugs) against MERS CoV RdRp as a potent candidates. Besides four novel compounds are suggested as a seed for high performance inhibitors against MERS CoV RdRp.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdo A Elfiky
- Biophysics Department, Faculty of Sciences, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
| | - Eman B Azzam
- Biophysics Section of Physics Department, Faculty of Sciences, Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt
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38
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Reznik SE, Tiwari AK, Ashby CR. Potential Use of Sofosbuvir in the Prophylaxis for Rabies. Front Pharmacol 2020; 11:472. [PMID: 32322214 PMCID: PMC7156619 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2020.00472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2019] [Accepted: 03/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Sandra E Reznik
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St. John's University, Queens, NY, United States.,Departments of Pathology and Obstetrics and Gynecology and Women's Health, Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States
| | - Amit K Tiwari
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, United States
| | - Charles R Ashby
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St. John's University, Queens, NY, United States
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39
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Ng WM, Stelfox AJ, Bowden TA. Unraveling virus relationships by structure-based phylogenetic classification. Virus Evol 2020; 6:veaa003. [PMID: 32064119 PMCID: PMC7015158 DOI: 10.1093/ve/veaa003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Delineation of the intricacies of protein function from macromolecular structure constitutes a continual obstacle in the study of cell and pathogen biology. Structure-based phylogenetic analysis has emerged as a powerful tool for addressing this challenge, allowing the detection and quantification of conserved architectural properties between proteins, including those with low or no detectable sequence homology. With a focus on viral protein structure, we highlight how a number of investigations have utilized this powerful method to infer common functionality and ancestry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weng M Ng
- Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK
| | - Alice J Stelfox
- Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK
| | - Thomas A Bowden
- Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK
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40
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Structure of RdRps Within a Transcribing dsRNA Virus Provides Insights Into the Mechanisms of RNA Synthesis. J Mol Biol 2020; 432:358-366. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2019.09.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2019] [Revised: 09/11/2019] [Accepted: 09/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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41
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Gilman MSA, Liu C, Fung A, Behera I, Jordan P, Rigaux P, Ysebaert N, Tcherniuk S, Sourimant J, Eléouët JF, Sutto-Ortiz P, Decroly E, Roymans D, Jin Z, McLellan JS. Structure of the Respiratory Syncytial Virus Polymerase Complex. Cell 2019; 179:193-204.e14. [PMID: 31495574 PMCID: PMC7111336 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2019.08.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2019] [Revised: 08/03/2019] [Accepted: 08/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Numerous interventions are in clinical development for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection, including small molecules that target viral transcription and replication. These processes are catalyzed by a complex comprising the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (L) and the tetrameric phosphoprotein (P). RSV P recruits multiple proteins to the polymerase complex and, with the exception of its oligomerization domain, is thought to be intrinsically disordered. Despite their critical roles in RSV transcription and replication, structures of L and P have remained elusive. Here, we describe the 3.2-Å cryo-EM structure of RSV L bound to tetrameric P. The structure reveals a striking tentacular arrangement of P, with each of the four monomers adopting a distinct conformation. The structure also rationalizes inhibitor escape mutants and mutations observed in live-attenuated vaccine candidates. These results provide a framework for determining the molecular underpinnings of RSV replication and transcription and should facilitate the design of effective RSV inhibitors. Cryo-EM structure of RSV L bound by tetrameric RSV P solved to 3.2 Å P tetramer adopts an asymmetric tentacular arrangement when bound to L L priming loop adopts elongation-compatible state without PRNTase-RdRp separation Structure rationalizes escape from small-molecule antivirals
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgan S A Gilman
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Cheng Liu
- Janssen BioPharma, Inc., Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Amy Fung
- Janssen BioPharma, Inc., Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Ishani Behera
- Janssen BioPharma, Inc., Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Paul Jordan
- Janssen BioPharma, Inc., Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Peter Rigaux
- Janssen Infectious Diseases and Vaccines, 2340 Beerse, Belgium
| | - Nina Ysebaert
- Janssen Infectious Diseases and Vaccines, 2340 Beerse, Belgium
| | - Sergey Tcherniuk
- Unité de Virologie et Immunologie Moléculaires, INRA, Université Paris Saclay, 78350 Jouy en Josas, France
| | - Julien Sourimant
- Unité de Virologie et Immunologie Moléculaires, INRA, Université Paris Saclay, 78350 Jouy en Josas, France
| | - Jean-François Eléouët
- Unité de Virologie et Immunologie Moléculaires, INRA, Université Paris Saclay, 78350 Jouy en Josas, France
| | | | - Etienne Decroly
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, AFMB UMR 7257, Marseille, France
| | - Dirk Roymans
- Janssen Infectious Diseases and Vaccines, 2340 Beerse, Belgium
| | - Zhinan Jin
- Janssen BioPharma, Inc., Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Jason S McLellan
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA.
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Ding K, Celma CC, Zhang X, Chang T, Shen W, Atanasov I, Roy P, Zhou ZH. In situ structures of rotavirus polymerase in action and mechanism of mRNA transcription and release. Nat Commun 2019; 10:2216. [PMID: 31101900 PMCID: PMC6525196 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-10236-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2019] [Accepted: 04/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Transcribing and replicating a double-stranded genome require protein modules to unwind, transcribe/replicate nucleic acid substrates, and release products. Here we present in situ cryo-electron microscopy structures of rotavirus dsRNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) in two states pertaining to transcription. In addition to the previously discovered universal "hand-shaped" polymerase core domain shared by DNA polymerases and telomerases, our results show the function of N- and C-terminal domains of RdRp: the former opens the genome duplex to isolate the template strand; the latter splits the emerging template-transcript hybrid, guides genome reannealing to form a transcription bubble, and opens a capsid shell protein (CSP) to release the transcript. These two "helicase" domains also extensively interact with CSP, which has a switchable N-terminal helix that, like cellular transcriptional factors, either inhibits or promotes RdRp activity. The in situ structures of RdRp, CSP, and RNA in action inform mechanisms of not only transcription, but also replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Ding
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- California NanoSystems Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Cristina C Celma
- Department of Pathogen Molecular Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Xing Zhang
- California NanoSystems Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Thomas Chang
- California NanoSystems Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Wesley Shen
- California NanoSystems Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Ivo Atanasov
- California NanoSystems Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Polly Roy
- Department of Pathogen Molecular Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, WC1E 7HT, UK.
| | - Z Hong Zhou
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
- California NanoSystems Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
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In silico structural elucidation of RNA-dependent RNA polymerase towards the identification of potential Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus inhibitors. Sci Rep 2019; 9:6809. [PMID: 31048746 PMCID: PMC6497722 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-43129-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2018] [Accepted: 04/17/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever virus (CCHFV) is a segmented negative single-stranded RNA virus (-ssRNA) which causes severe hemorrhagic fever in humans with a mortality rate of ~50%. To date, no vaccine has been approved. Treatment is limited to supportive care with few investigational drugs in practice. Previous studies have identified viral RNA dependent RNA Polymerase (RdRp) as a potential drug target due to its significant role in viral replication and transcription. Since no crystal structure is available yet, we report the structural elucidation of CCHFV-RdRp by in-depth homology modeling. Even with low sequence identity, the generated model suggests a similar overall structure as previously reported RdRps. More specifically, the model suggests the presence of structural/functional conserved RdRp motifs for polymerase function, the configuration of uniform spatial arrangement of core RdRp sub-domains, and predicted positively charged entry/exit tunnels, as seen in sNSV polymerases. Extensive pharmacophore modeling based on per-residue energy contribution with investigational drugs allowed the concise mapping of pharmacophoric features and identified potential hits. The combination of pharmacophoric features with interaction energy analysis revealed functionally important residues in the conserved motifs together with in silico predicted common inhibitory binding modes with highly potent reference compounds.
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Hernández-Morales R, Becerra A, Lazcano A. Alarmones as Vestiges of a Bygone RNA World. J Mol Evol 2019; 87:37-51. [PMID: 30604017 DOI: 10.1007/s00239-018-9883-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2018] [Accepted: 12/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
All known alarmones are ribonucleotides or ribonucleotide derivatives that are synthesized when cells are under stress conditions, triggering a stringent response that affects major processes such as replication, gene expression, and metabolism. The ample phylogenetic distribution of alarmones (e.g., cAMP, Ap(n)A, cGMP, AICAR, and ZTP) suggests that they are very ancient molecules that may have already been present in cellular systems prior to the evolutionary divergence of the Archaea, Bacteria, and Eukarya domains. Their chemical structure, wide biological distribution, and functional role in highly conserved cellular processes support the possibility that these modified nucleotides are molecular fossils of an epoch in the evolution of chemical signaling and metabolite sensing during which RNA molecules played a much more conspicuous role in biological catalysis and genetic information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Hernández-Morales
- Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cd. Universitaria, 04510, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Arturo Becerra
- Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cd. Universitaria, 04510, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Antonio Lazcano
- Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cd. Universitaria, 04510, Mexico City, Mexico. .,Miembro de El Colegio Nacional, Donceles 104, Centro Histórico, 06000, Mexico City, Mexico.
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45
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Ansari MY, Singh PK, Rajagopalan D, Shanmugam P, Bellur A, Shaila MS. The large protein 'L' of Peste-des-petits-ruminants virus exhibits RNA triphosphatase activity, the first enzyme in mRNA capping pathway. Virus Genes 2018; 55:68-75. [PMID: 30511208 PMCID: PMC6373323 DOI: 10.1007/s11262-018-1617-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2018] [Accepted: 11/15/2018] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Abstract
Peste-des-petits-ruminants is a highly contagious and fatal disease of goats and sheep caused by non-segmented, negative strand RNA virus belonging to the Morbillivirus genus-Peste-des-petits-ruminants virus (PPRV) which is evolutionarily closely related to Rinderpest virus (RPV). The large protein 'L' of the members of this genus is a multifunctional catalytic protein, which transcribes and replicates the viral genomic RNA as well as possesses mRNA capping, methylation and polyadenylation activities; however, the detailed mechanism of mRNA capping by PPRV L protein has not been studied. We have found earlier that the L protein of RPV has RNA triphosphatase (RTPase), guanylyltransferase (GTase) and methyltransferase activities, and unlike vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), follows the conventional pathway of mRNA capping. In the present work, using a 5'-end labelled viral RNA as substrate, we demonstrate that PPRV L protein has RTPase activity when present in the ribonucleoprotein complex of purified virus as well as recombinant L-P complex expressed in insect cells. Further, a minimal domain in the C-terminal region (aa1640-1840) of the L protein has been expressed in E. coli and shown to exhibit RTPase activity. The RTPase activity of PPRV L protein is metal-dependent and functions with a divalent cation, either magnesium or manganese. In addition, RTPase associated nucleotide triphosphatase activity (NTPase) of PPRV L protein is also demonstrated. This work provides the first detailed study of RTPase activity and identifies the RTPase domain of PPRV L protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Yunus Ansari
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 560012, India.,Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH, 44272, USA
| | - Piyush Kumar Singh
- Department of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 560012, India.,Division of Veterinary Biotechnology, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, UP, 243122, India
| | - Deepa Rajagopalan
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 560012, India
| | - Purnima Shanmugam
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 560012, India
| | - Asutosh Bellur
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 560012, India
| | - Melkote Subbarao Shaila
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 560012, India.
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Reznik SE, Tiwari AK, Ashby CR. Sofosbuvir: A Potential Treatment for Ebola. Front Pharmacol 2018; 9:1139. [PMID: 30364245 PMCID: PMC6192451 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2018.01139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2018] [Accepted: 09/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Sandra E Reznik
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St. John's University, Queens, NY, United States.,Departments of Pathology and Obstetrics and Gynecology and Women's Health, Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States
| | - Amit K Tiwari
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, United States
| | - Charles R Ashby
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St. John's University, Queens, NY, United States
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Russo AG, Eden JS, Enosi Tuipulotu D, Shi M, Selechnik D, Shine R, Rollins LA, Holmes EC, White PA. Viral Discovery in the Invasive Australian Cane Toad ( Rhinella marina) Using Metatranscriptomic and Genomic Approaches. J Virol 2018; 92:JVI.00768-18. [PMID: 29899109 PMCID: PMC6096826 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00768-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2018] [Accepted: 06/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Cane toads are poisonous amphibians that were introduced to Australia in 1935 for insect control. Since then, their population has increased dramatically, and they now threaten many native Australian species. One potential method to control the population is to release a cane toad virus with high mortality rates, yet few cane toad viruses have been characterized. This study samples cane toads from different Australian locations and uses an RNA sequencing and computational approach to find new viruses. We report novel complete picornavirus and retrovirus sequences that were genetically similar to viruses infecting frogs, reptiles, and fish. Using data generated in other studies, we show that these viral sequences are present in cane toads from distinct Australian locations. Three sequences related to circoviruses were also found in the toad genome. The identification of new viral sequences will aid future studies that investigate their prevalence and potential as agents for biocontrol. Cane toads are a notorious invasive species, inhabiting over 1.2 million km2 of Australia and threatening native biodiversity. The release of pathogenic cane toad viruses is one possible biocontrol strategy yet is currently hindered by the poorly described cane toad virome. Metatranscriptomic analysis of 16 cane toad livers revealed the presence of a novel and full-length picornavirus, Rhimavirus A (RhiV-A), a member of a reptile- and amphibian-specific cluster of the Picornaviridae basal to the Kobuvirus-like group. In the combined liver transcriptome, we also identified a complete genome sequence of a distinct epsilonretrovirus, Rhinella marina endogenous retrovirus (RMERV). The recently sequenced cane toad genome contains 8 complete RMERV proviruses as well as 21 additional truncated insertions. The oldest full-length RMERV provirus was estimated to have inserted 1.9 million years ago (MYA). To screen for these viral sequences in additional toads, we analyzed publicly available transcriptomes from six diverse Australian locations. RhiV-A transcripts were identified in toads sampled from three locations across 1,000 km of Australia, stretching to the current Western Australia (WA) invasion front, while RMERV transcripts were observed at all six sites. Finally, we scanned the cane toad genome for nonretroviral endogenous viral elements, finding three sequences related to small DNA viruses in the family Circoviridae. This shows ancestral circoviral infection with subsequent genomic integration. The identification of these current and past viral infections enriches our knowledge of the cane toad virome, an understanding of which will facilitate future work on infection and disease in this important invasive species. IMPORTANCE Cane toads are poisonous amphibians that were introduced to Australia in 1935 for insect control. Since then, their population has increased dramatically, and they now threaten many native Australian species. One potential method to control the population is to release a cane toad virus with high mortality rates, yet few cane toad viruses have been characterized. This study samples cane toads from different Australian locations and uses an RNA sequencing and computational approach to find new viruses. We report novel complete picornavirus and retrovirus sequences that were genetically similar to viruses infecting frogs, reptiles, and fish. Using data generated in other studies, we show that these viral sequences are present in cane toads from distinct Australian locations. Three sequences related to circoviruses were also found in the toad genome. The identification of new viral sequences will aid future studies that investigate their prevalence and potential as agents for biocontrol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice G. Russo
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - John-Sebastian Eden
- Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, School of Life and Environmental Sciences and Sydney Medical School, Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- The Westmead Institute of Medical Research, Centre for Virus Research, Westmead, NSW, Australia
| | - Daniel Enosi Tuipulotu
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Mang Shi
- Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, School of Life and Environmental Sciences and Sydney Medical School, Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Daniel Selechnik
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Richard Shine
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Lee Ann Rollins
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Edward C. Holmes
- Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Disease and Biosecurity, School of Life and Environmental Sciences and Sydney Medical School, Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Peter A. White
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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Elfiky AA, Ismail AM. Molecular docking revealed the binding of nucleotide/side inhibitors to Zika viral polymerase solved structures. SAR AND QSAR IN ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2018; 29:409-418. [PMID: 29652194 DOI: 10.1080/1062936x.2018.1454981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
A new Zika virus (ZIKV) outbreak started in 2015. According to the World Health Organization, 84 countries confirmed ZIKV infection. RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) was an appealing target for drug designers during the last two decades. Through molecular docking, we screened 16 nucleotide/side inhibitors against ZIKV RdRp. While the mode of interaction with ZIKV is different from that in the hepatitis C virus (HCV), nucleotide/side inhibitors in this study (mostly anti-HCV) showed promising binding affinities (-6.2 to -9.7 kcal/mol calculated by AutoDock Vina) to ZIKV RdRp. Setrobuvir, YAK and, to a lesser extent, IDX-184 reveal promising results compared to other inhibitors in terms of binding ZIKV RdRp. These candidates would be powerful anti-ZIKV drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- A A Elfiky
- a Biophysics Department, Faculty of Sciences , Cairo University , Giza , Egypt
- b Quantitative Life Science Department, The Abdus Salam International Center for Theoretical Physics , Strada Costiera , Trieste , Italy
- c Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences , University of Alberta , Edmonton , AB , Canada
| | - A M Ismail
- a Biophysics Department, Faculty of Sciences , Cairo University , Giza , Egypt
- d Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry , University of Alberta , Edmonton , AB , Canada
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Evolutionary convergence in the biosyntheses of the imidazole moieties of histidine and purines. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0196349. [PMID: 29698445 PMCID: PMC5919458 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0196349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2018] [Accepted: 04/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The imidazole group is an ubiquitous chemical motif present in several key types of biomolecules. It is a structural moiety of purines, and plays a central role in biological catalysis as part of the side-chain of histidine, the amino acid most frequently found in the catalytic site of enzymes. Histidine biosynthesis starts with both ATP and the pentose phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate (PRPP), which is also the precursor for the de novo synthesis of purines. These two anabolic pathways are also connected by the imidazole intermediate 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribotide (AICAR), which is synthesized in both routes but used only in purine biosynthesis. Rather surprisingly, the imidazole moieties of histidine and purines are synthesized by different, non-homologous enzymes. As discussed here, this phenomenon can be understood as a case of functional molecular convergence. Results In this work, we analyze these polyphyletic processes and argue that the independent origin of the corresponding enzymes is best explained by the differences in the function of each of the molecules to which the imidazole moiety is attached. Since the imidazole present in histidine is a catalytic moiety, its chemical arrangement allows it to act as an acid or a base. On the contrary, the de novo biosynthesis of purines starts with an activated ribose and all the successive intermediates are ribotides, with the key β-glycosidic bondage joining the ribose and the imidazole moiety. This prevents purine ribonucleotides to exhibit any imidazole-dependent catalytic activity, and may have been the critical trait for the evolution of two separate imidazole-synthesizing-enzymes. We also suggest that, in evolutionary terms, the biosynthesis of purines predated that of histidine. Conclusions As reviewed here, other biosynthetic routes for imidazole molecules are also found in extant metabolism, including the autocatalytic cyclization that occurs during the formation of creatinine from creatine phosphate, as well as the internal cyclization of the Ala-Ser-Gly motif of some members of the ammonia-lyase and aminomutase families, that lead to the MIO cofactor. The diversity of imidazole-synthesizing pathways highlights the biological significance of this key chemical group, whose biosyntheses evolved independently several times.
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Recombinant RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase Complex of Ebola Virus. Sci Rep 2018; 8:3970. [PMID: 29507309 PMCID: PMC5838098 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-22328-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2017] [Accepted: 02/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Here we report on the expression, purification and characterization of recombinant ebola virus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (EBOV RdRp). Active protein complexes composed of the large L protein and viral protein VP35 were isolated from insect cells and analyzed using a short primer/template substrate that allowed benchmarking against related enzymes. RNA synthesis by multiprotein complexes of EBOV, influenza B, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and monomeric enzymes of hepatitis C and Zika (ZIKV) viruses required a 5′-phosporylated primer. The minimum length of the primer varied between two and three nucleotides in this system. The EBOV enzyme utilizes Mg2+ as a co-factor and the D742A substitution provides an active site mutant that likely affects binding of the catalytic metal ions. Selectivity measurements with nucleotide analogues translate our assay into quantitative terms and facilitate drug discovery efforts. The related EBOV and RSV enzymes are not able to efficiently discriminate against ara-cytidine-5′-triphosphate. We demonstrate that this compound acts like a non-obligate chain-terminator.
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