RESUMEN
High-throughput RNA sequencing offers broad opportunities to explore the Earth RNA virome. Mining 5,150 diverse metatranscriptomes uncovered >2.5 million RNA virus contigs. Analysis of >330,000 RNA-dependent RNA polymerases (RdRPs) shows that this expansion corresponds to a 5-fold increase of the known RNA virus diversity. Gene content analysis revealed multiple protein domains previously not found in RNA viruses and implicated in virus-host interactions. Extended RdRP phylogeny supports the monophyly of the five established phyla and reveals two putative additional bacteriophage phyla and numerous putative additional classes and orders. The dramatically expanded phylum Lenarviricota, consisting of bacterial and related eukaryotic viruses, now accounts for a third of the RNA virome. Identification of CRISPR spacer matches and bacteriolytic proteins suggests that subsets of picobirnaviruses and partitiviruses, previously associated with eukaryotes, infect prokaryotic hosts.
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Bacteriófagos , Virus ARN , Bacteriófagos/genética , ARN Polimerasas Dirigidas por ADN/genética , Genoma Viral , Filogenia , ARN , Virus ARN/genética , ARN Polimerasa Dependiente del ARN/genética , ViromaRESUMEN
Cancer cells are featured with uncontrollable activation of cell cycle, and microRNA deficiency drives tumorigenesis. The RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RDR) is essential for small-RNA-mediated immune response in plants but is absent in vertebrates. Here, we show that ectopic expression of plant RDR1 can generally inhibit cancer cell proliferation. In many human primary tumors, abnormal microRNA isoforms with 1-nt-shorter 3' ends are widely accumulated. RDR1 with nucleotidyltransferase activity can recognize and modify the problematic AGO2-free microRNA duplexes with mononucleotides to restore their 2 nt overhang structure, which eventually rescues AGO2-loading efficiency and elevates global miRNA expression to inhibit cancer cell-cycle specifically. The broad antitumor effects of RDR1, which can be delivered by an adeno-associated virus, are visualized in multiple xenograft tumor models in vivo. Altogether, we reveal the widespread accumulation of aberrant microRNA isoforms in tumors and develop a plant RDR1-mediated antitumor stratagem by editing and repairing defective microRNAs.
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MicroARNs , Animales , Humanos , Inmunidad , MicroARNs/química , Proteínas de Plantas , Plantas/genética , ARN Polimerasa Dependiente del ARNRESUMEN
Influenza polymerase uses unique mechanisms to synthesize capped and polyadenylated mRNAs from the genomic viral RNA (vRNA) template, which is packaged inside ribonucleoprotein particles (vRNPs). Here, we visualize by cryoelectron microscopy the conformational dynamics of the polymerase during the complete transcription cycle from pre-initiation to termination, focusing on the template trajectory. After exiting the active site cavity, the template 3' extremity rebinds into a specific site on the polymerase surface. Here, it remains sequestered during all subsequent transcription steps, forcing the template to loop out as it further translocates. At termination, the strained connection between the bound template 5' end and the active site results in polyadenylation by stuttering at uridine 17. Upon product dissociation, further conformational changes release the trapped template, allowing recycling back into the pre-initiation state. Influenza polymerase thus performs transcription while tightly binding to and protecting both template ends, allowing efficient production of multiple mRNAs from a single vRNP.
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Virus de la Influenza A/genética , Transcripción Genética/genética , Replicación Viral/genética , Dominio Catalítico , Simulación por Computador , Microscopía por Crioelectrón/métodos , Genoma Viral/genética , Humanos , Virus de la Influenza A/metabolismo , Gripe Humana/genética , Gripe Humana/virología , Nucleotidiltransferasas/metabolismo , ARN Mensajero/metabolismo , ARN Viral/metabolismo , ARN Polimerasa Dependiente del ARN/genética , ARN Polimerasa Dependiente del ARN/metabolismo , Relación Estructura-ActividadRESUMEN
Remdesivir is a nucleoside analog approved by the US FDA for treatment of COVID-19. Here, we present a 3.9-Å-resolution cryo-EM reconstruction of a remdesivir-stalled RNA-dependent RNA polymerase complex, revealing full incorporation of 3 copies of remdesivir monophosphate (RMP) and a partially incorporated fourth RMP in the active site. The structure reveals that RMP blocks RNA translocation after incorporation of 3 bases following RMP, resulting in delayed chain termination, which can guide the rational design of improved antiviral drugs.
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Adenosina Monofosfato/análogos & derivados , Alanina/análogos & derivados , Antivirales/química , ARN Viral/química , ARN Polimerasa Dependiente del ARN/química , SARS-CoV-2/fisiología , Replicación Viral , Adenosina Monofosfato/química , Adenosina Monofosfato/uso terapéutico , Alanina/química , Alanina/uso terapéutico , Antivirales/uso terapéutico , Dominio Catalítico , Humanos , Proteínas ViralesRESUMEN
Viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerases (RdRps) are a target for broad-spectrum antiviral therapeutic agents. Recently, we demonstrated that incorporation of the T-1106 triphosphate, a pyrazine-carboxamide ribonucleotide, into nascent RNA increases pausing and backtracking by the poliovirus RdRp. Here, by monitoring enterovirus A-71 RdRp dynamics during RNA synthesis using magnetic tweezers, we identify the "backtracked" state as an intermediate used by the RdRp for copy-back RNA synthesis and homologous recombination. Cell-based assays and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) experiments further demonstrate that the pyrazine-carboxamide ribonucleotide stimulates these processes during infection. These results suggest that pyrazine-carboxamide ribonucleotides do not induce lethal mutagenesis or chain termination but function by promoting template switching and formation of defective viral genomes. We conclude that RdRp-catalyzed intra- and intermolecular template switching can be induced by pyrazine-carboxamide ribonucleotides, defining an additional mechanistic class of antiviral ribonucleotides with potential for broad-spectrum activity.
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Pirazinas/química , Virus ARN/genética , ARN Viral/genética , ARN Polimerasa Dependiente del ARN/genética , Recombinación Genética , Ribonucleótidos/química , Animales , Antivirales , Catálisis , Células Cultivadas , Técnicas Genéticas , Genoma , Genoma Viral , Recombinación Homóloga , Humanos , Cinética , Ratones , Ratones Transgénicos , Simulación de Dinámica Molecular , Mutagénesis , Nucleótidos/genética , Conformación Proteica , ARN/química , ARN Polimerasa Dependiente del ARN/metabolismo , RNA-Seq , Transgenes , VirulenciaRESUMEN
In eukaryotes with multiple small RNA pathways, the mechanisms that channel RNAs within specific pathways are unclear. Here, we reveal the reactions that account for channeling in the small interfering RNA (siRNA) biogenesis phase of the Arabidopsis RNA-directed DNA methylation pathway. The process begins with template DNA transcription by NUCLEAR RNA POLYMERASE IV (Pol IV), whose atypical termination mechanism, induced by nontemplate DNA base-pairing, channels transcripts to the associated RNA-dependent RNA polymerase RDR2. RDR2 converts Pol IV transcripts into double-stranded RNAs and then typically adds an extra untemplated 3' terminal nucleotide to the second strands. The dicer endonuclease DCL3 cuts resulting duplexes to generate 24- and 23-nt siRNAs. The 23-nt RNAs bear the untemplated terminal nucleotide of the RDR2 strand and are underrepresented among ARGONAUTE4-associated siRNAs. Collectively, our results provide mechanistic insights into Pol IV termination, Pol IV-RDR2 coupling, and RNA channeling, from template DNA transcription to siRNA strand discrimination.
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Proteínas de Arabidopsis/genética , ARN Polimerasas Dirigidas por ADN/genética , ARN Polimerasa Dependiente del ARN/genética , Ribonucleasa III/genética , Transcripción Genética , Arabidopsis/genética , Proteínas Argonautas/genética , Metilación de ADN/genética , ADN de Plantas/genética , Regulación de la Expresión Génica de las Plantas/genética , Silenciador del Gen , ARN Bicatenario/genética , ARN Interferente Pequeño/genética , Transducción de SeñalRESUMEN
In a recent characterization of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variability present in 30 diagnostic samples from patients of the first COVID-19 pandemic wave, 41 amino acid substitutions were documented in the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) nsp12. Eight substitutions were selected in this work to determine whether they had an impact on the RdRp activity of the SARS-CoV-2 nsp12-nsp8-nsp7 replication complex. Three of these substitutions were found around the polymerase central cavity, in the template entry channel (D499G and M668V), and within the motif B (V560A), and they showed polymerization rates similar to the wild type RdRp. The remaining five mutations (P323L, L372F, L372P, V373A, and L527H) were placed near the nsp12-nsp8F contact surface; residues L372, V373, and L527 participated in a large hydrophobic cluster involving contacts between two helices in the nsp12 fingers and the long α-helix of nsp8F. The presence of any of these five amino acid substitutions resulted in important alterations in the RNA polymerization activity. Comparative primer elongation assays showed different behavior depending on the hydrophobicity of their side chains. The substitution of L by the bulkier F side chain at position 372 slightly promoted RdRp activity. However, this activity was dramatically reduced with the L372P, and L527H mutations, and to a lesser extent with V373A, all of which weaken the hydrophobic interactions within the cluster. Additional mutations, specifically designed to disrupt the nsp12-nsp8F interactions (nsp12-V330S, nsp12-V341S, and nsp8-R111A/D112A), also resulted in an impaired RdRp activity, further illustrating the importance of this contact interface in the regulation of RNA synthesis.
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Mutación Puntual , ARN Viral , SARS-CoV-2 , Proteínas no Estructurales Virales , SARS-CoV-2/genética , SARS-CoV-2/metabolismo , Proteínas no Estructurales Virales/genética , Proteínas no Estructurales Virales/metabolismo , Proteínas no Estructurales Virales/química , ARN Viral/genética , ARN Viral/metabolismo , Humanos , ARN Polimerasa Dependiente de ARN de Coronavirus/genética , ARN Polimerasa Dependiente de ARN de Coronavirus/metabolismo , Polimerizacion , COVID-19/virología , Sustitución de Aminoácidos , ARN Polimerasa Dependiente del ARN/genética , ARN Polimerasa Dependiente del ARN/metabolismo , Modelos MolecularesRESUMEN
Altered global miRNA abundance is closely related to the occurrence of cancer. Recently, Qi et al. discovered that abnormal 1-nucleotide (nt)-shorter miRNA isoforms are widely accumulated in different human tumors. Ectopic expression of the plant immune protein RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RDR)-1 can achieve a broad-spectrum antitumor effect by rescuing miRNA defects in cancer cells.
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MicroARNs , Neoplasias , Humanos , Proteínas de Plantas/genética , Proteínas de Plantas/metabolismo , ARN Polimerasa Dependiente del ARN , MicroARNs/genéticaRESUMEN
SARS-CoV-2, the causative virus of the COVID-19 pandemic, follows SARS and MERS as recent zoonotic coronaviruses causing severe respiratory illness and death in humans. The recurrent impact of zoonotic coronaviruses demands a better understanding of their fundamental molecular biochemistry. Nucleoside modifications, which modulate many steps of the RNA life cycle, have been found in SARS-CoV-2 RNA, although whether they confer a pro- or antiviral effect is unknown. Regardless, the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase will encounter these modifications as it transcribes through the viral genomic RNA. We investigated the functional consequences of nucleoside modification on the pre-steady state kinetics of SARS-CoV-2 RNA-dependent RNA transcription using an in vitro reconstituted transcription system with modified RNA templates. Our findings show that N 6-methyladenosine and 2'-O-methyladenosine modifications slow the rate of viral transcription at magnitudes specific to each modification, which has the potential to impact SARS-CoV-2 genome maintenance.
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Adenosina , ARN Viral , SARS-CoV-2 , SARS-CoV-2/genética , SARS-CoV-2/metabolismo , Adenosina/análogos & derivados , Adenosina/metabolismo , ARN Viral/genética , ARN Viral/metabolismo , Humanos , Transcripción Viral/genética , COVID-19/virología , COVID-19/genética , Transcripción Genética , Genoma Viral , ARN Polimerasa Dependiente del ARN/metabolismo , ARN Polimerasa Dependiente del ARN/genéticaRESUMEN
De novo viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerases (RdRPs) utilize their priming element (PE) to facilitate accurate initiation. Upon transition to elongation, the PE has to retreat from the active site to give room to the template-product RNA duplex. However, PE conformational change upon this transition and the role of PE at elongation both remain elusive. Here, we report crystal structures of RdRP elongation complex (EC) from dengue virus serotype 2 (DENV2), demonstrating a dramatic refolding of PE that allows establishment of interactions with the RNA duplex backbone approved to be essential for EC stability. Enzymology data from both DENV2 and hepatitis C virus (HCV) RdRPs suggest that critical transition of the refolding likely occurs after synthesis of a 4- to 5-nucleotide (nt) product together providing a key basis in understanding viral RdRP transition from initiation to elongation.
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ARN Polimerasa Dependiente del ARN , ARN , ARN Polimerasa Dependiente del ARN/metabolismo , Hepacivirus/metabolismo , Dominio Catalítico , Nucleótidos , ARN Viral/genéticaRESUMEN
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections are causing significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Furthermore, over 1 million cases of newly emerging or re-emerging viral infections, specifically dengue virus (DENV), are known to occur annually. Because no virus-specific and fully effective treatments against these or many other viruses have been approved, there is an urgent need for novel, effective therapeutic agents. Here, we identified 2-thiouridine (s2U) as a broad-spectrum antiviral ribonucleoside analogue that exhibited antiviral activity against several positive-sense single-stranded RNA (ssRNA+) viruses, such as DENV, SARS-CoV-2, and its variants of concern, including the currently circulating Omicron subvariants. s2U inhibits RNA synthesis catalyzed by viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, thereby reducing viral RNA replication, which improved the survival rate of mice infected with DENV2 or SARS-CoV-2 in our animal models. Our findings demonstrate that s2U is a potential broad-spectrum antiviral agent not only against DENV and SARS-CoV-2 but other ssRNA+ viruses.
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Nucleósidos , Virus ARN Monocatenarios Positivos , Animales , Ratones , Nucleósidos/farmacología , Antivirales/farmacología , SARS-CoV-2 , Replicación Viral , ARNRESUMEN
With sizes <50 kb, viral RNA genomes are at the crossroads of genetic, biophysical, and biochemical stability in their host cell. Here, we analyze the enzymatic assets accompanying large RNA genome viruses, mostly based on recent scientific advances in Coronaviridae. We argue that, in addition to the presence of an RNA exonuclease (ExoN), two markers for the large size of viral RNA genomes are (i) the presence of one or more RNA methyltransferases (MTases) and (ii) a specific architecture of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase active site. We propose that RNA genome expansion and maintenance are driven by an evolutionary ménage-à-trois made of fast and processive RNA polymerases, RNA repair ExoNs, and RNA MTases that relates to the transition between RNA- to DNA-based life.
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Virus ARN , Secuencia de Aminoácidos , Tamaño del Genoma , Metiltransferasas , Virus ARN/genética , ARN Viral/genéticaRESUMEN
The development of safe and effective broad-spectrum antivirals that target the replication machinery of respiratory viruses is of high priority in pandemic preparedness programs. Here, we studied the mechanism of action of a newly discovered nucleotide analog against diverse RNA-dependent RNA polymerases (RdRps) of prototypic respiratory viruses. GS-646939 is the active 5'-triphosphate metabolite of a 4'-cyano modified C-adenosine analog phosphoramidate prodrug GS-7682. Enzyme kinetics show that the RdRps of human rhinovirus type 16 (HRV-16) and enterovirus 71 incorporate GS-646939 with unprecedented selectivity; GS-646939 is incorporated 20-50-fold more efficiently than its natural ATP counterpart. The RdRp complex of respiratory syncytial virus and human metapneumovirus incorporate GS-646939 and ATP with similar efficiency. In contrast, influenza B RdRp shows a clear preference for ATP and human mitochondrial RNA polymerase does not show significant incorporation of GS-646939. Once incorporated into the nascent RNA strand, GS-646939 acts as a chain terminator although higher NTP concentrations can partially overcome inhibition for some polymerases. Modeling and biochemical data suggest that the 4'-modification inhibits RdRp translocation. Comparative studies with GS-443902, the active triphosphate form of the 1'-cyano modified prodrugs remdesivir and obeldesivir, reveal not only different mechanisms of inhibition, but also differences in the spectrum of inhibition of viral polymerases. In conclusion, 1'-cyano and 4'-cyano modifications of nucleotide analogs provide complementary strategies to target the polymerase of several families of respiratory RNA viruses.
RESUMEN
The Mononegavirales, or non-segmented negative-sense RNA viruses (nsNSVs), includes significant human pathogens, such as respiratory syncytial virus, parainfluenza virus, measles virus, Ebola virus, and rabies virus. Although these viruses differ widely in their pathogenic properties, they are united by each having a genome consisting of a single strand of negative-sense RNA. Consistent with their shared genome structure, the nsNSVs have evolved similar ways to transcribe their genome into mRNAs and replicate it to produce new genomes. Importantly, both mRNA transcription and genome replication are performed by a single virus-encoded polymerase. A fundamental and intriguing question is: how does the nsNSV polymerase commit to being either an mRNA transcriptase or a replicase? The polymerase must become committed to one process or the other either before it interacts with the genome template or in its initial interactions with the promoter sequence at the 3´ end of the genomic RNA. This review examines the biochemical, molecular biology, and structural biology data regarding the first steps of transcription and RNA replication that have been gathered over several decades for different families of nsNSVs. These findings are discussed in relation to possible models that could explain how an nsNSV polymerase initiates and commits to either transcription or genome replication.
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Genoma Viral , ARN Viral , Replicación Viral , Humanos , ARN Viral/genética , ARN Viral/metabolismo , Transcripción Viral/genética , Virus ARN de Sentido Negativo/genética , Virus ARN de Sentido Negativo/metabolismo , Transcripción Genética , Proteínas Virales/metabolismo , Proteínas Virales/genética , ARN Polimerasa Dependiente del ARN/metabolismo , ARN Polimerasa Dependiente del ARN/genéticaRESUMEN
Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is an arthropod-borne, plus-strand flavivirus causing viral encephalitis in humans with a high case fatality rate. The JEV non-structural protein 5 (NS5) with the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase activity interacts with the viral and host proteins to constitute the replication complex. We have identified the multifunctional protein Nucleolin (NCL) as one of the several NS5-interacting host proteins. We demonstrate the interaction and colocalization of JEV NS5 with NCL in the virus-infected HeLa cells. The siRNA-mediated knockdown of NCL indicated that it was required for efficient viral replication. Importantly, JEV grew to higher titers in cells over-expressing exogenous NCL, demonstrating its pro-viral role. We demonstrated that NS5 interacted with the RRM and GAR domains of NCL. We show that the NCL-binding aptamer AS1411 containing the G-quadruplex (GQ) structure and the GQ ligand BRACO-19 caused significant inhibition of JEV replication. The antiviral effect of AS1411 and BRACO-19 could be overcome in HeLa cells by the overexpression of exogenous NCL. We demonstrated that the synthetic RNAs derived from the 3'-NCR of JEV genomic RNA containing the GQ sequence could bind NCL in vitro. The replication complex binding to the 3'-NCR is required for the viral RNA synthesis. It is likely that NCL present in the replication complex destabilizes the GQ structures in the genomic RNA, thus facilitating the movement of the replication complex resulting in efficient virus replication.IMPORTANCEJapanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is endemic in most parts of South-East Asia and the Western Pacific region, causing epidemics of encephalitis with a high case fatality rate. While a tissue culture-derived JEV vaccine is available, no antiviral therapy exists. The JEV NS5 protein has RNA-dependent RNA polymerase activity. Together with several host and viral proteins, it constitutes the replication complex necessary for virus replication. Understanding the interaction of NS5 with the host proteins could help design novel antivirals. We identified Nucleolin (NCL) as a crucial host protein interactor of JEV NS5 having a pro-viral role in virus replication. The NS5-interacting NCL binds to the G-quadruplex (GQ) structure sequence in the 3'-NCR of JEV RNA. This may smoothen the movement of the replication complex along the genomic RNA, thereby facilitating the virus replication. This study is the first report on how NCL, a host protein, helps in JEV replication through GQ-binding.
Asunto(s)
Virus de la Encefalitis Japonesa (Especie) , Nucleolina , Fosfoproteínas , Proteínas de Unión al ARN , Proteínas no Estructurales Virales , Replicación Viral , Humanos , Virus de la Encefalitis Japonesa (Especie)/fisiología , Virus de la Encefalitis Japonesa (Especie)/metabolismo , Proteínas de Unión al ARN/metabolismo , Proteínas de Unión al ARN/genética , Proteínas no Estructurales Virales/metabolismo , Proteínas no Estructurales Virales/genética , Fosfoproteínas/metabolismo , Fosfoproteínas/genética , Células HeLa , Unión Proteica , Encefalitis Japonesa/virología , Encefalitis Japonesa/metabolismo , Interacciones Huésped-Patógeno , G-Cuádruplex , AnimalesRESUMEN
Bacterial group II intron reverse transcriptases (RTs) function in both intron mobility and RNA splicing and are evolutionary predecessors of retrotransposon, telomerase, and retroviral RTs as well as the spliceosomal protein Prp8 in eukaryotes. Here we determined a crystal structure of a full-length thermostable group II intron RT in complex with an RNA template-DNA primer duplex and incoming deoxynucleotide triphosphate (dNTP) at 3.0-Å resolution. We find that the binding of template-primer and key aspects of the RT active site are surprisingly different from retroviral RTs but remarkably similar to viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerases. The structure reveals a host of features not seen previously in RTs that may contribute to distinctive biochemical properties of group II intron RTs, and it provides a prototype for many related bacterial and eukaryotic non-LTR retroelement RTs. It also reveals how protein structural features used for reverse transcription evolved to promote the splicing of both group II and spliceosomal introns.
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Proteínas Bacterianas/química , Evolución Molecular , Empalme del ARN , ADN Polimerasa Dirigida por ARN/química , Temperatura , Transcripción Genética , Proteínas Bacterianas/genética , Proteínas Bacterianas/metabolismo , Sitios de Unión , Estabilidad de Enzimas , Intrones , Modelos Moleculares , Conformación de Ácido Nucleico , Ácidos Nucleicos Heterodúplex/química , Ácidos Nucleicos Heterodúplex/genética , Ácidos Nucleicos Heterodúplex/metabolismo , Unión Proteica , Desnaturalización Proteica , Dominios y Motivos de Interacción de Proteínas , ARN/química , ARN/genética , ARN/metabolismo , ADN Polimerasa Dirigida por ARN/genética , ADN Polimerasa Dirigida por ARN/metabolismo , Retroelementos , Empalmosomas/química , Empalmosomas/enzimología , Empalmosomas/genética , Relación Estructura-ActividadRESUMEN
Mammalian reovirus (reovirus) is a multilayered, turreted member of Reoviridae characterized by transcription of dsRNA genome within the innermost capsid shell. Here, we present high-resolution in situ structures of reovirus transcriptase complex in an intact double-layered virion, and in the uncoated single-layered core particles in the unloaded, reloaded, pre-elongation, and elongation states, respectively, obtained by cryo-electron microscopy and sub-particle reconstructions. At the template entry of RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), the RNA-loading region gets flexible after uncoating resulting in the unloading of terminal genomic RNA and inactivity of transcription. However, upon adding transcriptional substrates, the RNA-loading region is recovered leading the RNAs loaded again. The priming loop in RdRp was found to play a critical role in regulating transcription, which hinders the elongation of transcript in virion and triggers the rearrangement of RdRp C-terminal domain (CTD) during elongation, resulting in splitting of template-transcript hybrid and opening of transcript exit. With the integration of these structures, a transcriptional model of reovirus with five states is proposed. Our structures illuminate the RdRp activation and regulation of the multilayered turreted reovirus.
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ARN Viral , Reoviridae , Animales , Microscopía por Crioelectrón , ARN Viral/genética , Reoviridae/genética , ARN Polimerasa Dependiente del ARN/genética , Cápside , Mamíferos/genéticaRESUMEN
Tomato torrado virus (ToTV) is a type member of the Torradovirus genus in the Secoviridae family known to cause severe necrosis in susceptible tomato varieties. ToTV also infects other Solanaceae plants, including Nicotiana benthamiana, where it induces distinctive disease symptoms: plant growth drop with the emergence of spoon-like malformed systemic leaves. Virus-induced post-transcriptional gene silencing (PTGS) is significant among plant defense mechanisms activated upon virus invasion. The PTGS, however, can be counteracted by suppressors of RNA silencing commonly found in viruses, which efficiently disrupt the antiviral defense of their host. Here, we addressed the question of PTGS antiviral activity and its suppression in N. benthamiana during ToTV infection-a phenomenon not described for any representative from the Torradovirus genus so far. First, we showed that neither the Vp26-a necrosis-inducing pathogenicity determinant of ToTV-nor other structural viral proteins limited the locally induced PTGS similar to p19, a well-characterized potent suppressor of RNA silencing of tombusviruses. Moreover, by employing wild-type and transgenic lines of N. benthamiana with suppressed Dicer-like 2 (DCL2), Dicer-like 4 (DCL4), Argonaute 2 and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase 6 (RDR6) proteins, we proved their involvement in anti-ToTV defense. Additionally, we identified DCL4 as the major processor of ToTV-derived siRNA. More importantly, our results indicate the essential role of the Suppressor of Gene Silencing 3 (SGS3)/RDR6 pathway in anti-ToTV defense. Finally, we conclude that ToTV might not require a potent RNA silencing suppressor during infection of the model plant N. benthamiana.
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Nicotiana , Secoviridae , Nicotiana/genética , ARN Polimerasa Dependiente del ARN/genética , ARN Polimerasa Dependiente del ARN/metabolismo , Plantas/metabolismo , Secoviridae/metabolismo , Interferencia de ARN , Necrosis/genética , Antivirales , Enfermedades de las PlantasRESUMEN
Arboviruses such as chikungunya virus (CHIKV) and dengue virus (DENV) collectively afflict millions of individuals worldwide particularly in endemic countries like India, leading to substantial morbidity and mortality. With the lack of effective vaccines for both CHIKV and DENV in India, the search for antiviral compounds becomes paramount to control these viral infections. In line with this, our investigation was focused on screening natural compounds for their potential antiviral activity against CHIKV and DENV. Using different assays, including plaque assay, immunofluorescence, and reverse transcription-quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), out of 109 natural compounds tested, we confirmed lycorine's in vitro antiviral activity against CHIKV and DENV at low micromolar concentrations in different cell types. Time of addition assays indicated that lycorine does not impede viral entry. Additionally, qRT-PCR results along with time of addition assay suggested that lycorine interferes with the synthesis of negative strand viral RNA. Molecular docking analysis was done to understand the mode of inhibition of viral replication. The results revealed that the most likely binding site with the highest binding affinity of lycorine, was at the palm and finger domains, in the vicinity of the catalytic site of CHIKV and DENV RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp). Collectively, our data underscores the potential of lycorine to be developed as a direct acting inhibitor for DENV and CHIKV, addressing the critical need of requirement of an antiviral in regions where these viruses pose significant public health threats.
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Alcaloides de Amaryllidaceae , Antivirales , Virus Chikungunya , Virus del Dengue , Fenantridinas , Replicación de ARN , ARN Viral , Animales , Humanos , Alcaloides de Amaryllidaceae/farmacología , Alcaloides de Amaryllidaceae/química , Antivirales/farmacología , Antivirales/química , Línea Celular , Virus Chikungunya/efectos de los fármacos , Virus Chikungunya/genética , Chlorocebus aethiops , Simulación por Computador , Virus del Dengue/efectos de los fármacos , Virus del Dengue/genética , Simulación del Acoplamiento Molecular , Fenantridinas/farmacología , Fenantridinas/química , Replicación de ARN/efectos de los fármacos , ARN Viral/genética , ARN Viral/metabolismoRESUMEN
The phospho- (P) protein, the co-factor of the RNA polymerase large (L) protein, of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV, a prototype of nonsegmented negative-strand RNA viruses) plays pivotal roles in transcription and replication. However, the precise mechanism underlying the transcriptional transactivation by the P protein has remained elusive. Here, using an in vitro transcription system and a series of deletion mutants of the P protein, we mapped a region encompassing residues 51-104 as a transactivation domain (TAD) that is critical for terminal de novo initiation, the initial step of synthesis of the leader RNA and anti-genome/genome, with the L protein. Site-directed mutagenesis revealed that conserved amino acid residues in three discontinuous L-binding sites within the TAD are essential for the transactivation activity of the P protein or important for maintaining its full activity. Importantly, relative inhibitory effects of TAD point mutations on synthesis of the full-length leader RNA and mRNAs from the 3'-terminal leader region and internal genes, respectively, of the genome were similar to those on terminal de novo initiation. Furthermore, any of the examined TAD mutations did not alter the gradient pattern of mRNAs synthesized from internal genes, nor did they induce the production of readthrough transcripts. These results suggest that these TAD mutations impact mainly terminal de novo initiation but rarely other steps (e.g., elongation, termination, internal initiation) of single-entry stop-start transcription. Consistently, the mutations of the essential or important amino acid residues within the P TAD were lethal or deleterious to VSV replication in host cells. IMPORTANCE RNA-dependent RNA polymerase L proteins of nonsegmented negative-strand RNA viruses belonging to the Mononegavirales order require their cognate co-factor P proteins or their counterparts for genome transcription and replication. However, exact roles of these co-factor proteins in modulating functions of L proteins during transcription and replication remain unknown. In this study, we revealed that three discrete L-binding motifs within a transactivation domain of the P protein of vesicular stomatitis virus, a prototypic nonsegmented negative-strand RNA virus, are required for terminal de novo initiation mediated by the L protein, which is the first step of synthesis of the leader RNA as well as genome/anti-genome.