Furin Inhibitors Block SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Cleavage to Suppress Virus Production and Cytopathic Effects.

Development of specific antiviral agents is an urgent unmet need for SARS-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. This study focuses on host proteases that proteolytically activate the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, critical for its fusion after binding to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), as antiviral targets. We first validate cleavage at a putative furin substrate motif at SARS-CoV-2 spikes by expressing it in VeroE6 cells and find prominent syncytium formation. Cleavage and the syncytium are abolished by treatment with the furin inhibitors decanoyl-RVKR-chloromethylketone (CMK) and naphthofluorescein, but not by the transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2) inhibitor camostat. CMK and naphthofluorescein show antiviral effects on SARS-CoV-2-infected cells by decreasing virus production and cytopathic effects. Further analysis reveals that, similar to camostat, CMK blocks virus entry, but it further suppresses cleavage of spikes and the syncytium. Naphthofluorescein acts primarily by suppressing viral RNA transcription. Therefore, furin inhibitors may be promising antiviral agents for prevention and treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

ADP-ribosylation factor-like 4A interacts with Robo1 to promote cell migration by regulating Cdc42 activation.

Cell migration is a highly regulated event that is initiated by cell membrane protrusion and actin reorganization. Robo1, a single-pass transmembrane receptor, is crucial for neuronal guidance and cell migration. ADP-ribosylation factor (Arf)-like 4A (Arl4A), an Arf small GTPase, functions in cell morphology, cell migration, and actin cytoskeleton remodeling; however, the molecular mechanisms of Arl4A in cell migration are unclear. Here, we report that the binding of Arl4A to Robo1 modulates cell migration by promoting Cdc42 activation. We found that Arl4A interacts with Robo1 in a GTP-dependent manner and that the Robo1 amino acid residues 1394-1398 are required for this interaction. The Arl4A-Robo1 interaction is essential for Arl4A-induced cell migration and Cdc42 activation but not for the plasma membrane localization of Robo1. In addition, we show that the binding of Arl4A to Robo1 decreases the association of Robo1 with the Cdc42 GTPase-activating protein srGAP1. Furthermore, Slit2/Robo1 binding down-regulates the Arl4A-Robo1 interaction in vivo, thus attenuating Cdc42-mediated cell migration. Therefore, our study reveals a novel mechanism by which Arl4A participates in Slit2/Robo1 signaling to modulate cell motility by regulating Cdc42 activity.

The N-terminus of Vps74p is essential for the retention of glycosyltransferases in the Golgi but not for the modulation of apical polarized growth in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Vps74p is a member of the PtdIns(4)P-binding protein family. Vps74p interacts with Golgi-resident glycosyltransferases and the coat protein COPI complex to modulate Golgi retention of glycosyltransferases and with the PtdIns(4)P phosphatase Sac1p to modulate PtdIns(4)P homeostasis at the Golgi. Genetic analysis has shown that Vps74p is required for the formation of abnormal elongated buds in cdc34-2 cells. The C-terminal region of Vps74p is required for Vps74p multimerization, Golgi localization, and glycosyltransferase interactions; however, the functional significance of the N-terminal region and three putative phosphorylation sites of Vps74p have not been well characterized. In this study, we demonstrate that Vps74p executes multiple cellular functions using different domains. We found that the N-terminal 66 amino acids of Vps74p are dispensable for its Golgi localization and modulation of cell wall integrity but are required for glycosyltransferase retention and glycoprotein processing. Deletion of the N-terminal 90 amino acids, but not the 66 amino acids, of Vps74p impaired its ability to restore the elongated bud phenotype in cdc34-2/vps74Δ cells. Deletion of Sac1p and Arf1p also specifically reduced the abnormal elongated bud phenotype in cdc34-2 cells. Furthermore, we found that three N-terminal phosphorylation sites contribute to rapamycin hypersensitivity, although these phosphorylation residues are not involved in Vps74p localization, ability to modulate glycosyltransferase retention, or elongated bud formation in cdc34-2 cells. Thus, we propose that Vps74p may use different domains to interact with specific effectors thereby differentially modulating a variety of cellular functions.

GTP-binding-defective ARL4D alters mitochondrial morphology and membrane potential.

ARL4D, ARL4A, and ARL4C are closely related members of the ADP-ribosylation factor/ARF-like protein (ARF/ARL) family of GTPases. All three ARL4 proteins contain nuclear localization signals (NLSs) at their C-termini and are primarily found at the plasma membrane, but they are also present in the nucleus and cytoplasm. ARF function and localization depends on their controlled binding and hydrolysis of GTP. Here we show that GTP-binding-defective ARL4D is targeted to the mitochondria, where it affects mitochondrial morphology and function. We found that a portion of endogenous ARL4D and the GTP-binding-defective ARL4D mutant ARL4D(T35N) reside in the mitochondria. The N-terminal myristoylation of ARL4D(T35N) was required for its localization to mitochondria. The localization of ARL4D(T35N) to the mitochondria reduced the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) and caused mitochondrial fragmentation. Furthermore, the C-terminal NLS region of ARL4D(T35N) was required for its effect on the mitochondria. This study is the first to demonstrate that the dysfunctional GTP-binding-defective ARL4D is targeted to mitochondria, where it subsequently alters mitochondrial morphology and membrane potential.

ARL4A acts with GCC185 to modulate Golgi complex organization.

ADP-ribosylation factor-like protein 4A (ARL4A) is a developmentally regulated member of the ARF/ARL GTPase family. The primary structure of ARL4A is very similar to that of other ARF/ARL molecules, but its function remains unclear. The trans-Golgi network golgin GCC185 is required for maintenance of Golgi structure and distinct endosome-to-Golgi transport. We show here that GCC185 acts as a new effector for ARL4 to modulate Golgi organization. ARL4A directly interacts with GCC185 in a GTP-dependent manner. Sub-coiled-coil regions of the CC2 domain of GCC185 are required for the interaction between GCC185 and ARL4A. Depletion of ARL4A reproduces the GCC185-depleted phenotype, causing fragmentation of the Golgi compartment and defects in endosome-to-Golgi transport. GCC185 and ARL4A localize to the Golgi independently of each other. Deletion of the ARL4A-interacting region of GCC185 results in inability to maintain Golgi structure. Depletion of ARL4A impairs the interaction between GCC185 and cytoplasmic linker-associated proteins 1 and 2 (CLASP1 and CLASP2, hereafter CLASPs) in vivo, and abolishes the GCC185-mediated Golgi recruitment of these CLASPs, which is crucial for the maintenance of Golgi structure. In summary, we suggest that ARL4A alters the integrity of the Golgi structure by facilitating the interaction of GCC185 with CLASPs.

Determinants of Rbp1p localization in specific cytoplasmic mRNA-processing foci, P-bodies.

Rbp1p, a yeast RNA-binding protein, decreases the level of mitochondrial porin mRNA by enhancing its degradation, but the intracellular location of the Rbp1p-mediated degradation complex remains unknown. We show here that Rbp1p in xrn1Delta mutant yeast localizes in specific cytoplasmic foci that are known as P-bodies. The N-terminal and RNA recognition motif (RRM) 1 domains of Rbp1p are necessary but not sufficient for its localization in P bodies. Rbp1p forms oligomers through its C-terminal domain in vivo; N-terminal-delete, or RRM1-mutated Rbp1p can be more efficiently recruited to P-bodies in an xrn1Delta strain, expressing a full-length Rbp1p. Although POR1 mRNA is localized to P bodies in an xrn1Delta strain, this localization does not depend on Rbp1p. Decapping activator Dhh1p directly interacts with Rbp1p. However, the recruitment of Rbp1p to P-bodies does not require Dhh1p or Ccr4p. In wild-type cells, Rbp1p can localize to P-bodies under glucose deprivation or treatment with KCl. In addition, Rbp1p-mediated porin mRNA decay is elicited by Xrn1p, a 5 ' to 3 ' exonuclease. These results provide new insight into the mechanism of Rbp1p function.

The yeast RNA-binding protein Rbp1p modifies the stability of mitochondrial porin mRNA.

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae RNA-binding protein Rbp1p was initially identified as a negative growth regulator; however, its function is still obscure. Here, we show that Rbp1p in cells is associated with structures that sediment at 10,000 as well as 100,000 x g. It appears microscopically as punctate signals partially localized to the perinuclear region. Over-expression of Rbp1p in yeast resulted in growth defects on nonfermentable carbon sources, suggesting a function for Rbp1p in mitochondrial biogenesis. Absence of Rbp1p increased the level of mitochondrial porin, whereas over-expression of Rbp1p, but not an N-terminally truncated form, decreased porin levels. Over-expression of Rbp1p also decreased the level of mitochondrial porin mRNA by enhancing its degradation, an effect that was dependent on all three of the Rbp1p RNA recognition motifs. In cells, the porin mRNA is associated with Rbp1p.RNP (ribonucleoprotein) complexes. In vitro binding assays showed that Rbp1p most likely interacts with a (C/G)U-rich element in the porin mRNA 3'-UTR. Based on these observations, we infer that Rbp1p has a role in negatively regulating mitochondrial porin expression post-transcriptionally.