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Xie W, Liu W, Wang L, Zhu B, Zhao C, Liao Z, Li Y, Jiang X, Liu J, Ren C. Roles of THEM4 in the Akt pathway: a double-edged sword. J Zhejiang Univ Sci B 2024; 25:541-556. [PMID: 39011675 PMCID: PMC11254685 DOI: 10.1631/jzus.b2300457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/17/2024]
Abstract
The protein kinase B (Akt) pathway can regulate the growth, proliferation, and metabolism of tumor cells and stem cells through the activation of multiple downstream target genes, thus affecting the development and treatment of a range of diseases. Thioesterase superfamily member 4 (THEM4), a member of the thioesterase superfamily, is one of the Akt kinase-binding proteins. Some studies on the mechanism of cancers and other diseases have shown that THEM4 binds to Akt to regulate its phosphorylation. Initially, THEM4 was considered an endogenous inhibitor of Akt, which can inhibit the phosphorylation of Akt in diseases such as lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, and liver cancer, but subsequently, THEM4 was shown to promote the proliferation of tumor cells by positively regulating Akt activity in breast cancer and nasopharyngeal carcinoma, which contradicts previous findings. Considering these two distinct views, this review summarizes the important roles of THEM4 in the Akt pathway, focusing on THEM4 as an Akt-binding protein and its regulatory relationship with Akt phosphorylation in various diseases, especially cancer. This work provides a better understanding of the roles of THEM4 combined with Akt in the treatment of diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen Xie
- NHC Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis, Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China
- The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha 410078, China
| | - Weidong Liu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis, Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China
- The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha 410078, China
| | - Lei Wang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis, Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China
- The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha 410078, China
| | - Bin Zhu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis, Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China
- The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha 410078, China
| | - Cong Zhao
- NHC Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis, Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China
- The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha 410078, China
| | - Ziling Liao
- NHC Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis, Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China
- The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha 410078, China
| | - Yihan Li
- NHC Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis, Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China
- The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha 410078, China
| | - Xingjun Jiang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis, Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China
| | - Jie Liu
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Hainan Hospital of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Hainan Province Clinical Medical Center, Sanya 572013, China. ,
| | - Caiping Ren
- NHC Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis, Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China.
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China.
- The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha 410078, China.
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Peterson L, Yacoub MH, Ayares D, Yamada K, Eisenson D, Griffith BP, Mohiuddin MM, Eyestone W, Venter JC, Smolenski RT, Rothblatt M. Physiological basis for xenotransplantation from genetically modified pigs to humans. Physiol Rev 2024; 104:1409-1459. [PMID: 38517040 DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00041.2023] [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: 10/26/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
The collective efforts of scientists over multiple decades have led to advancements in molecular and cellular biology-based technologies including genetic engineering and animal cloning that are now being harnessed to enhance the suitability of pig organs for xenotransplantation into humans. Using organs sourced from pigs with multiple gene deletions and human transgene insertions, investigators have overcome formidable immunological and physiological barriers in pig-to-nonhuman primate (NHP) xenotransplantation and achieved prolonged pig xenograft survival. These studies informed the design of Revivicor's (Revivicor Inc, Blacksburg, VA) genetically engineered pigs with 10 genetic modifications (10 GE) (including the inactivation of 4 endogenous porcine genes and insertion of 6 human transgenes), whose hearts and kidneys have now been studied in preclinical human xenotransplantation models with brain-dead recipients. Additionally, the first two clinical cases of pig-to-human heart xenotransplantation were recently performed with hearts from this 10 GE pig at the University of Maryland. Although this review focuses on xenotransplantation of hearts and kidneys, multiple organs, tissues, and cell types from genetically engineered pigs will provide much-needed therapeutic interventions in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leigh Peterson
- United Therapeutics Corporation, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States
| | | | - David Ayares
- United Therapeutics Corporation, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States
| | - Kazuhiko Yamada
- Department of Surgery, Division of Transplantation, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
| | - Daniel Eisenson
- Department of Surgery, Division of Transplantation, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
| | - Bartley P Griffith
- University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
| | | | - Willard Eyestone
- United Therapeutics Corporation, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States
| | - J Craig Venter
- J. Craig Venter Institute, Rockville, Maryland, United States
| | | | - Martine Rothblatt
- United Therapeutics Corporation, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States
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3
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Ye T, Zhou J, Guo C, Zhang K, Wang Y, Liu Y, Zhou J, Xie Y, Li E, Gong R, Zhang J, Chuai X, Chiu S. Polyvalent mpox mRNA vaccines elicit robust immune responses and confer potent protection against vaccinia virus. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114269. [PMID: 38787725 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114269] [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: 11/22/2023] [Revised: 04/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The 2022 mpox outbreak led the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare it a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC). There is a need to develop more effective and safer mpox virus (MPXV)-specific vaccines in response to the mpox epidemic. The mRNA vaccine is a promising platform to protect against MPXV infection. In this study, we construct two bivalent MPXV mRNA vaccines, designated LBA (B6R-A29L) and LAM (A35R-M1R), and a quadrivalent mRNA vaccine, LBAAM (B6R-A35R-A29L-M1R). The immunogenicity and protective efficacy of these vaccines alone or in combination were evaluated in a lethal mouse model. All mRNA vaccine candidates could elicit potential antigen-specific humoral and cellular immune responses and provide protection against vaccinia virus (VACV) infection. The protective effect of the combination of two bivalent mRNA vaccines and the quadrivalent vaccine was superior to that of the individual bivalent mRNA vaccine. Our study provides valuable insights for the development of more efficient and safer mRNA vaccines against mpox.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianxi Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei 430207, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jinge Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei 430207, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Chen Guo
- Guangzhou Henovcom Bioscience Co., Ltd., Guangzhou, Guangdong 510700, China
| | - Kaiyue Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei 430207, China
| | - Yuping Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei 430207, China
| | - Yanhui Liu
- Guangzhou Henovcom Bioscience Co., Ltd., Guangzhou, Guangdong 510700, China
| | - Junhui Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei 430207, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yalin Xie
- Guangzhou Henovcom Bioscience Co., Ltd., Guangzhou, Guangdong 510700, China
| | - Entao Li
- Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China; Key Laboratory of Anhui Province for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China
| | - Rui Gong
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; CAS Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens and Biosafety, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei 430207, China; Hubei Jiangxia Laboratory, Wuhan, Hubei 430200, China.
| | - Jiancun Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Science, Guangzhou 510530, China.
| | - Xia Chuai
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei 430207, China.
| | - Sandra Chiu
- Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China; Key Laboratory of Anhui Province for Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases, Hefei, Anhui 230027, China.
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Renz C, Asimaki E, Meister C, Albanèse V, Petriukov K, Krapoth NC, Wegmann S, Wollscheid HP, Wong RP, Fulzele A, Chen JX, Léon S, Ulrich HD. Ubiquiton-An inducible, linkage-specific polyubiquitylation tool. Mol Cell 2024; 84:386-400.e11. [PMID: 38103558 PMCID: PMC10804999 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2023.11.016] [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: 04/07/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
The posttranslational modifier ubiquitin regulates most cellular processes. Its ability to form polymeric chains of distinct linkages is key to its diverse functionality. Yet, we still lack the experimental tools to induce linkage-specific polyubiquitylation of a protein of interest in cells. Here, we introduce a set of engineered ubiquitin protein ligases and matching ubiquitin acceptor tags for the rapid, inducible linear (M1-), K48-, or K63-linked polyubiquitylation of proteins in yeast and mammalian cells. By applying the so-called "Ubiquiton" system to proteasomal targeting and the endocytic pathway, we validate this tool for soluble cytoplasmic and nuclear as well as chromatin-associated and integral membrane proteins and demonstrate how it can be used to control the localization and stability of its targets. We expect that the Ubiquiton system will serve as a versatile, broadly applicable research tool to explore the signaling functions of polyubiquitin chains in many biological contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Renz
- Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB) gGmbH, Ackermannweg 4, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Evrydiki Asimaki
- Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB) gGmbH, Ackermannweg 4, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Cindy Meister
- Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB) gGmbH, Ackermannweg 4, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | | | - Kirill Petriukov
- Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB) gGmbH, Ackermannweg 4, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Nils C Krapoth
- Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB) gGmbH, Ackermannweg 4, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Sabrina Wegmann
- Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB) gGmbH, Ackermannweg 4, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | | | - Ronald P Wong
- Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB) gGmbH, Ackermannweg 4, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Amitkumar Fulzele
- Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB) gGmbH, Ackermannweg 4, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Jia-Xuan Chen
- Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB) gGmbH, Ackermannweg 4, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Sébastien Léon
- Université de Paris, CNRS, Institut Jacques Monod, 75013 Paris, France
| | - Helle D Ulrich
- Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB) gGmbH, Ackermannweg 4, 55128 Mainz, Germany.
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Karlin DG. WIV, a protein domain found in a wide number of arthropod viruses, which probably facilitates infection. J Gen Virol 2024; 105. [PMID: 38193819 DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.001948] [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] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
The most powerful approach to detect distant homologues of a protein is based on structure prediction and comparison. Yet this approach is still inapplicable to many viral proteins. Therefore, we applied a powerful sequence-based procedure to identify distant homologues of viral proteins. It relies on three principles: (1) traces of sequence similarity can persist beyond the significance cutoff of homology detection programmes; (2) candidate homologues can be identified among proteins with weak sequence similarity to the query by using 'contextual' information, e.g. taxonomy or type of host infected; (3) these candidate homologues can be validated using highly sensitive profile-profile comparison. As a test case, this approach was applied to a protein without known homologues, encoded by ORF4 of Lake Sinai viruses (which infect bees). We discovered that the ORF4 protein contains a domain that has homologues in proteins from >20 taxa of viruses infecting arthropods. We called this domain 'widespread, intriguing, versatile' (WIV), because it is found in proteins with a wide variety of functions and within varied domain contexts. For example, WIV is found in the NSs protein of tospoviruses, a global threat to food security, which infect plants as well as their arthropod vectors; in the RNA2 ORF1-encoded protein of chronic bee paralysis virus, a widespread virus of bees; and in various proteins of cypoviruses, which infect the silkworm Bombyx mori. Structural modelling with AlphaFold indicated that the WIV domain has a previously unknown fold, and bibliographical evidence suggests that it facilitates infection of arthropods.
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Affiliation(s)
- David G Karlin
- Division Phytomedicine, Thaer-Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Lentzeallee 55/57, D-14195 Berlin, Germany
- Independent Researcher, Marseille, France
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6
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Ren Y, Lin Q, Berro J. 2A peptide from ERBV-1 efficiently separates endogenous protein domains in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. MICROPUBLICATION BIOLOGY 2023; 2023:10.17912/micropub.biology.000941. [PMID: 37767365 PMCID: PMC10520729 DOI: 10.17912/micropub.biology.000941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
2A peptides are widely used for polycistronic gene expression from vectors. In contrast, the separation of endogenous genes via 2A peptides has been largely unexplored. We show that in fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe , the "cleaving" efficiency of the 2A peptide from ERBV-1 (Equine rhinitis B virus 1) range from ~70% to ~99% for End4 at different insertion sites. Our results suggest a high "cleaving" efficiency as well as considerable variation for using 2A peptide to separate endogenous protein domains in fission yeast. Verification of the "cleaving" efficiency of 2A peptides is advised for its application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Ren
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States
- Nanobiology Institute, Yale University, West Haven, Connecticut, United States
| | - Qun Lin
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States
- Nanobiology Institute, Yale University, West Haven, Connecticut, United States
| | - Julien Berro
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States
- Nanobiology Institute, Yale University, West Haven, Connecticut, United States
- Department of Cell Biology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States
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Saito K, Shimasaki K, Fukasawa M, Suzuki R, Okemoto-Nakamura Y, Katoh K, Takasaki T, Hanada K. Establishment of Vero cell lines persistently harboring a yellow fever virus 17D subgenomic replicon. Virus Res 2022; 322:198935. [PMID: 36152929 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2022.198935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2022] [Revised: 09/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Yellow fever virus (YFV), a member of the genus Flavivirus, family Flaviviridae, is the etiological agent for an acute viral hemorrhagic disease, yellow fever. Although effective live attenuated vaccines based on the strain YFV 17D are currently available, no specific antiviral drug is available, and the disease remains a major public health concern. Hence, the discovery and development of antiviral drugs should lead to great benefits in controlling the disease. To provide a screening platform for antiviral agents targeting YFV RNA translation/replication, we have established and characterized two Vero cell lines that persistently harbor a subgenomic replicon derived from YFV 17D-204 (referred to as replicon cells). The replicon carries YFV nucleotides (1 - 176 and 2382-10,862) and a green fluorescent protein (GFP)-Zeocin resistance fusion gene as a selection marker and indicator of persistent replication. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed that both replicon cells and YFV 17D-infected cells showed similar distribution patterns of viral NS4B protein and replication intermediate, double-stranded RNA. Sequencing analysis of persistent replicons from the two replicon cell lines suggested that their nucleotide sequences did not vary greatly following multiple passages. We examined the effect of five agents, the antiviral cytokines interferon-β and -γ, the nucleoside analog ribavirin, the squalene synthase inhibitor zaragozic acid A, and the antibiotic rifapentine, a recently reported entry and replication inhibitor against YFV, on the persistent replication in the two replicon cell lines. These agents were selected because they inhibited both production of YFV 17D and transient replication of a luciferase-expressing replicon in Vero cells, without greatly affecting cell viability. We found that each of the agents decreased GFP fluorescence in the replicon cells, albeit to varying degrees. The agents other than rifapentine also showed a decrease in viral RNA levels in the replicon cells comparable to that seen for GFP fluorescence. These results indicate that persistent replication is susceptible to each of these five agents, although their mechanisms of action may differ. Taken together, these results provide evidence that translation/replication of the replicon in the replicon cells mimics that of the viral genome upon YFV 17D infection, indicating that the replicon cell lines can serve as a useful tool for high-throughput antiviral drug screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyoko Saito
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Kentaro Shimasaki
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masayoshi Fukasawa
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ryosuke Suzuki
- Department of Virology II, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Musashimurayama-shi, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yuko Okemoto-Nakamura
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kaoru Katoh
- Biomedical Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba-shi, Ibaragi, Japan; AIRC, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Koto-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tomohiko Takasaki
- Kanagawa Prefectural Institute of Public Health, Chigasaki-shi, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Kentaro Hanada
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan; Department of Quality Assurance, Radiation Safety, and Information System, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
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8
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Warsaba R, Salcedo-Porras N, Flibotte S, Jan E. Expansion of viral genomes with viral protein genome linked copies. Virology 2022; 577:174-184. [PMID: 36395539 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2022.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Virus protein-linked genome (VPg) proteins are required for replication. VPgs are duplicated in a subset of RNA viruses however their roles are not fully understood and the extent of viral genomes containing VPg copies has not been investigated in detail. Here, we generated a novel bioinformatics approach to identify VPg sequences in viral genomes using hidden Markov models (HMM) based on alignments of dicistrovirus VPg sequences. From metagenomic datasets of dicistrovirus genomes, we identified 717 dicistrovirus genomes containing VPgs ranging from a single copy to 8 tandem copies. The VPgs are classified into nine distinct types based on their sequence and length. The VPg types but not VPg numbers per viral genome followed specific virus clades, thus suggesting VPgs co-evolved with viral genomes. We also identified VPg duplications in aquamavirus and mosavirus genomes. This study greatly expands the number of viral genomes that contain VPg copies and indicates that duplicated viral sequences are more widespread than anticipated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reid Warsaba
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada; Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Nicolas Salcedo-Porras
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada; Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Stephane Flibotte
- Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada; UBC/LSI Bioinformatics Facility, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Eric Jan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada; Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada.
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