The 5'-end sequence of the murine coronavirus genome: implications for multiple fusion sites in leader-primed transcription

High-Resolution Analysis of Coronavirus Gene Expression by RNA Sequencing and Ribosome Profiling

Members of the family Coronaviridae have the largest genomes of all RNA viruses, typically in the region of 30 kilobases. Several coronaviruses, such as Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and Middle East respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus (MERS-CoV), are of medical importance, with high mortality rates and, in the case of SARS-CoV, significant pandemic potential. Other coronaviruses, such as Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus and Avian coronavirus, are important livestock pathogens. Ribosome profiling is a technique which exploits the capacity of the translating ribosome to protect around 30 nucleotides of mRNA from ribonuclease digestion. Ribosome-protected mRNA fragments are purified, subjected to deep sequencing and mapped back to the transcriptome to give a global "snap-shot" of translation. Parallel RNA sequencing allows normalization by transcript abundance. Here we apply ribosome profiling to cells infected with Murine coronavirus, mouse hepatitis virus, strain A59 (MHV-A59), a model coronavirus in the same genus as SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV. The data obtained allowed us to study the kinetics of virus transcription and translation with exquisite precision. We studied the timecourse of positive and negative-sense genomic and subgenomic viral RNA production and the relative translation efficiencies of the different virus ORFs. Virus mRNAs were not found to be translated more efficiently than host mRNAs; rather, virus translation dominates host translation at later time points due to high levels of virus transcripts. Triplet phasing of the profiling data allowed precise determination of translated reading frames and revealed several translated short open reading frames upstream of, or embedded within, known virus protein-coding regions. Ribosome pause sites were identified in the virus replicase polyprotein pp1a ORF and investigated experimentally. Contrary to expectations, ribosomes were not found to pause at the ribosomal frameshift site. To our knowledge this is the first application of ribosome profiling to an RNA virus.

Group-specific structural features of the 5'-proximal sequences of coronavirus genomic RNAs

Global predictions of the secondary structure of coronavirus (CoV) 5′ untranslated regions and adjacent coding sequences revealed the presence of conserved structural elements. Stem loops (SL) 1, 2, 4, and 5 were predicted in all CoVs, while the core leader transcription-regulating sequence (L-TRS) forms SL3 in only some CoVs. SL5 in group I and II CoVs, with the exception of group IIa CoVs, is characterized by the presence of a large sequence insertion capable of forming hairpins with the conserved 5′-UUYCGU-3′ loop sequence. Structure probing confirmed the existence of these hairpins in the group I Human coronavirus-229E and the group II Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV). In general, the pattern of the 5′ cis-acting elements is highly related to the lineage of CoVs, including features of the conserved hairpins in SL5. The function of these conserved hairpins as a putative packaging signal is discussed.

Sequence of the nucleoprotein gene from a virulent British field isolate of transmissible gastroenteritis virus and its expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Subgenomic mRNA from a virulent isolate of porcine transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) was used to produce cDNA which was sequenced. Two non‐overlapping open reading frames (ORFs) were identified. The largest, encoding a polypeptide of 382 amino acids (relative molecular mass (M_r) 43 483), was shown to be the viral nucleoprotein gene. The second ORF, found 3’to the larger ORF, encodes a polypeptide of 78 amino acids (M_r 9068) which has yet to be assigned to a viral product. The nucleoprotein gene was expressed in yeast cells under the control of two types of yeast promoters: the constitutive PGK promoter, and the inducible GAL1 promoter. Yeast cells containing recombinant plasmids, with the nucleoprotein gene in the correct orientation, produced a polypeptide of M, 47000, identical to the viral product, that reacted with a specific monoclonal antibody.

Coronavirus pathogenesis and the emerging pathogen severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus

Coronaviruses are a family of enveloped, single-stranded, positive-strand RNA viruses classified within the Nidovirales order. This coronavirus family consists of pathogens of many animal species and of humans, including the recently isolated severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV). This review is divided into two main parts; the first concerns the animal coronaviruses and their pathogenesis, with an emphasis on the functions of individual viral genes, and the second discusses the newly described human emerging pathogen, SARS-CoV. The coronavirus part covers (i) a description of a group of coronaviruses and the diseases they cause, including the prototype coronavirus, murine hepatitis virus, which is one of the recognized animal models for multiple sclerosis, as well as viruses of veterinary importance that infect the pig, chicken, and cat and a summary of the human viruses; (ii) a short summary of the replication cycle of coronaviruses in cell culture; (iii) the development and application of reverse genetics systems; and (iv) the roles of individual coronavirus proteins in replication and pathogenesis. The SARS-CoV part covers the pathogenesis of SARS, the developing animal models for infection, and the progress in vaccine development and antiviral therapies. The data gathered on the animal coronaviruses continue to be helpful in understanding SARS-CoV.

Effect of mutations in the mouse hepatitis virus 3'(+)42 protein binding element on RNA replication

The mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) genome's 3' untranslated region contains cis-acting sequences necessary for replication. Studies of MHV and other coronaviruses have indicated a role for RNA secondary and tertiary elements in replication. Previous work in our laboratory has identified four proteins which form ribonucleoprotein complexes with the 3'-terminal 42 nucleotides [3'(+)42] of the MHV genome. Defective interfering (DI) RNA replication assays have demonstrated a role for the 3'(+)42 host protein binding element in the MHV life cycle. Using gel mobility shift RNase T1 protection assays and secondary structure modeling, we have characterized a possible role for RNA secondary structure in host protein binding to the 3'-terminal 42-nucleotide element. Additionally we have identified a role for the 3'-terminal 42-nucleotide host protein binding element in RNA replication and transcription using DI RNA replication assays and targeted recombination and by directly constructing mutants in this protein binding element using a recently described MHV reverse genetic system. DI RNA replication assays demonstrated that mutations in the 3'(+)42 host protein binding element had a deleterious effect on the accumulation of DI RNA. When the identical mutations were directly inserted into the MHV genome, most mutant genomes were viable but formed smaller plaques than the wild-type parent virus. One mutant was not viable. This mutant directed the synthesis of genome-sized negative-sense RNA approximately as efficiently as the wild type did but had a defect in subgenomic mRNA synthesis. These results point to a potential role for sequences at the extreme 3' end of the MHV genome in subgenomic RNA synthesis.

Coronavirus pathogenesis and the emerging pathogen severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus

Coronaviruses are a family of enveloped, single-stranded, positive-strand RNA viruses classified within the Nidovirales order. This coronavirus family consists of pathogens of many animal species and of humans, including the recently isolated severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV). This review is divided into two main parts; the first concerns the animal coronaviruses and their pathogenesis, with an emphasis on the functions of individual viral genes, and the second discusses the newly described human emerging pathogen, SARS-CoV. The coronavirus part covers (i) a description of a group of coronaviruses and the diseases they cause, including the prototype coronavirus, murine hepatitis virus, which is one of the recognized animal models for multiple sclerosis, as well as viruses of veterinary importance that infect the pig, chicken, and cat and a summary of the human viruses; (ii) a short summary of the replication cycle of coronaviruses in cell culture; (iii) the development and application of reverse genetics systems; and (iv) the roles of individual coronavirus proteins in replication and pathogenesis. The SARS-CoV part covers the pathogenesis of SARS, the developing animal models for infection, and the progress in vaccine development and antiviral therapies. The data gathered on the animal coronaviruses continue to be helpful in understanding SARS-CoV.

Coronavirus reverse genetics and development of vectors for gene expression

Knowledge of coronavirus replication, transcription, and virus-host interaction has been recently improved by engineering of coronavirus infectious cDNAs. With the transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) genome the efficient (>40 microg per 106 cells) and stable (>20 passages) expression of the foreign genes has been shown. Knowledge of the transcription mechanism in coronaviruses has been significantly increased, making possible the fine regulation of foreign gene expression. A new family of vectors based on single coronavirus genomes, in which essential genes have been deleted, has emerged including replication-competent, propagation-deficient vectors. Vector biosafety is being increased by relocating the RNA packaging signal to the position previously occupied by deleted essential genes, to prevent the rescue of fully competent viruses that might arise from recombination events with wild-type field coronaviruses. The large cloning capacity of coronaviruses (>5 kb) and the possibility of engineering the tissue and species tropism to target expression to different organs and animal species, including humans, has increased the potential of coronaviruses as vectors for vaccine development and, possibly, gene therapy.

Regulation of relative abundance of arterivirus subgenomic mRNAs

The subgenomic (sg) mRNAs of arteriviruses (order Nidovirales) form a 5'- and 3'-coterminal nested set with the viral genome. Their 5' common leader sequence is derived from the genomic 5'-proximal region. Fusion of sg RNA leader and "body" segments involves a discontinuous transcription step. Presumably during minus-strand synthesis, the nascent RNA strand is transferred from one site in the genomic template to another, a process guided by conserved transcription-regulating sequences (TRSs) at these template sites. Subgenomic RNA species are produced in different but constant molar ratios, with the smallest RNAs usually being most abundant. Factors thought to influence sg RNA synthesis are size differences between sg RNA species, differences in sequence context between body TRSs, and the mutual influence (or competition) between strand transfer reactions occurring at different body TRSs. Using an Equine arteritis virus infectious cDNA clone, we investigated how body TRS activity affected sg RNA synthesis from neighboring body TRSs. Flanking sequences were standardized by head-to-tail insertion of several copies of an RNA7 body TRS cassette. A perfect gradient of sg RNA abundance, progressively favoring smaller RNA species, was observed. Disruption of body TRS function by mutagenesis did not have a significant effect on the activity of other TRSs. However, deletion of body TRS-containing regions enhanced synthesis of sg RNAs from upstream TRSs but not of those produced from downstream TRSs. The results of this study provide considerable support for the proposed discontinuous extension of minus-strand RNA synthesis as a crucial step in sg RNA synthesis.

Secondary structure and function of the 5'-proximal region of the equine arteritis virus RNA genome

Nidoviruses produce an extensive 3'-coterminal nested set of subgenomic mRNAs, which are used to express their structural proteins. In addition, arterivirus and coronavirus mRNAs contain a common 5' leader sequence, derived from the genomic 5' end. The joining of this leader sequence to different segments (mRNA bodies) from the genomic 3'-proximal region presumably involves a unique mechanism of discontinuous minus-strand RNA synthesis. Key elements in this process are the so-called transcription-regulating sequences (TRSs), which determine a base-pairing interaction between sense and antisense viral RNA that is essential for leader-to-body joining. To identify RNA structures in the 5'-proximal region of the equine arteritis virus genome that may be involved in subgenomic mRNA synthesis, a detailed secondary RNA structure model was established using bioinformatics, phylogenetic analysis, and RNA structure probing. According to this structure model, the leader TRS is located in the loop of a prominent hairpin (leader TRS hairpin; LTH). The importance of the LTH was supported by the results of a mutagenesis study using an EAV molecular clone. Besides evidence for a direct role of the LTH in subgenomic RNA synthesis, indications for a role of the LTH region in genome replication and/or translation were obtained. Similar LTH structures could be predicted for the 5'-proximal region of all arterivirus genomes and, interestingly, also for most coronaviruses. Thus, we postulate that the LTH is a key structural element in the discontinuous subgenomic RNA synthesis and is likely critical for leader TRS function.

The stability of the duplex between sense and antisense transcription-regulating sequences is a crucial factor in arterivirus subgenomic mRNA synthesis

Subgenomic mRNAs of nidoviruses (arteriviruses and coronaviruses) are composed of a common leader sequence and a "body" part of variable size, which are derived from the 5'- and 3'-proximal part of the genome, respectively. Leader-to-body joining has been proposed to occur during minus-strand RNA synthesis and to involve transfer of the nascent RNA strand from one site in the template to another. This discontinuous step in subgenomic RNA synthesis is guided by short transcription-regulating sequences (TRSs) that are present at both these template sites (leader TRS and body TRS). Sense-antisense base pairing between the leader TRS in the plus strand and the body TRS complement in the minus strand is crucial for strand transfer. Here we show that extending the leader TRS-body TRS duplex beyond its wild-type length dramatically enhanced the subgenomic mRNA synthesis of the arterivirus Equine arteritis virus (EAV). Generally, the relative amount of a subgenomic mRNA correlated with the calculated stability of the corresponding leader TRS-body TRS duplex. In addition, various leader TRS mutations induced the generation of minor subgenomic RNA species that were not detected upon infection with wild-type EAV. The synthesis of these RNA species involved leader-body junction events at sites that bear only limited resemblance to the canonical TRS. However, with the mutant leader TRS, but not with the wild-type leader TRS, these sequences could form a duplex that was stable enough to direct subgenomic RNA synthesis, again demonstrating that the stability of the leader TRS-body TRS duplex is a crucial factor in arterivirus subgenomic mRNA synthesis.

Recombination and Coronavirus Defective Interfering RNAs

Naturally occurring defective interfering RNAs have been found in 4 of 14 coronavirus species. They range in size from 2.2 kb to approximately 25 kb, or 80% of the 30-kb parent virus genome. The large DI RNAs do not in all cases appear to require helper virus for intracellular replication and it has been postulated that they may on their own function as agents of disease. Coronavirus DI RNAs appear to arise by internal deletions (through nonhomologous recombination events) on the virus genome or on DI RNAs of larger size by a polymerase strand-switching (copy-choice) mechanism. In addition to their use in the study of virus RNA replication and virus assembly, coronavirus DI RNAs are being used in a major way to study the mechanism of a high-frequency, site-specific RNA recombination event that leads to leader acquisition during virus replication (i.e., the leader fusion event that occurs during synthesis of subgenomic mRNAs, and the leader-switching event that can occur during DI RNA replication), a distinguishing feature of coronaviruses (and arteriviruses). Coronavirus DI RNAs are also being engineered as vehicles for the generation of targeted recombinants of the parent virus genome.

Transcription regulatory sequences and mRNA expression levels in the coronavirus transmissible gastroenteritis virus

The transcription regulatory sequences (TRSs) of the coronavirus transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) have been characterized by using a helper virus-dependent expression system based on coronavirus-derived minigenomes to study the synthesis of subgenomic mRNAs. The TRSs are located at the 5' end of TGEV genes and include a highly conserved core sequence (CS), 5'-CUAAAC-3', that is essential for mediating a 100- to 1,000-fold increase in mRNA synthesis when it is located in the appropriate context. The relevant sequences contributing to TRS activity have been studied by extending the CS 5' upstream and 3' downstream. Sequences from virus genes flanking the CS influenced transcription levels from moderate (10- to 20-fold variation) to complete mRNA synthesis silencing, as shown for a canonical CS at nucleotide (nt) 120 from the initiation codon of the S gene that did not lead to the production of the corresponding mRNA. An optimized TRS has been designed comprising 88 nt from the N gene TRS, the CS, and 3 nt 3' to the M gene CS. Further extension of the 5'-flanking nucleotides (i.e., by 176 nt) decreased subgenomic RNA levels. The expression of a reporter gene (beta-glucuronidase) by using the selected TRS led to the production of 2 to 8 microg of protein per 10(6) cells. The presence of an appropriate Kozak context led to a higher level of protein expression. Virus protein levels were shown to be dependent on transcription and translation regulation.

Coronavirus derived expression systems

Both helper dependent expression systems, based on two components, and single genomes constructed by targeted recombination, or by using infectious cDNA clones, have been developed. The sequences that regulate transcription have been characterized mainly using helper dependent expression systems and it will now be possible to validate them using single genomes. The genome of coronaviruses has been engineered by modification of the infectious cDNA leading to an efficient (>20 microg ml(-1)) and stable (>20 passages) expression of the foreign gene. The possibility of engineering the tissue and species tropism to target expression to different organs and animal species, including humans, increases the potential of coronaviruses as vectors. Thus, coronaviruses are promising virus vectors for vaccine development and, possibly, for gene therapy.

Gill-associated virus of Penaeus monodon prawns: an invertebrate virus with ORF1a and ORF1b genes related to arteri- and coronaviruses

A 20089 nucleotide (nt) sequence was determined for the 5' end of the (+)-ssRNA genome of gill-associated virus (GAV), a yellow head-like virus infecting Penaeus monodon prawns. Clones were generated from a approximately 22 kb dsRNA purified from lymphoid organ total RNA of GAV-infected prawns. The region contains a single gene comprising two long overlapping open reading frames, ORF1a and ORF1b, of 4060 and 2646 amino acids, respectively. The ORFs are structurally related to the ORF1a and ORF1ab polyproteins of coronaviruses and arteriviruses. The 99 nt overlap between ORF1a and ORF1b contains a putative AAAUUUU 'slippery' sequence associated with -1 ribosomal frameshifting. A 131 nt stem-loop with the potential to form a complex pseudoknot resides 3 nt downstream of this sequence. Although different to the G/UUUAAAC frameshift sites and 'H-type' pseudoknots of nidoviruses, in vitro transcription/translation analysis demonstrated that the GAV element also facilitates read-through of the ORF1a/1b junction. As in coronaviruses, GAV ORF1a encodes a 3C-like cysteine protease domain located between two hydrophobic regions. However, its sequence suggests some structural relationship to the chymotrypsin-like serine proteases of arteriviruses. ORF1b encodes homologues of the 'SDD' polymerase, which among (+)-RNA viruses is unique to nidoviruses, as well as metal-ion-binding and helicase domains. The presence of a dsRNA replicative intermediate and ORF1a and ORF1ab polyproteins translated by a-1 frameshift suggests that GAV represents the first invertebrate member of the Order NIDOVIRALES:

High affinity interaction between nucleocapsid protein and leader/intergenic sequence of mouse hepatitis virus RNA

The nucleocapsid (N) protein of mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) is the major virion structural protein. It associates with both viral genomic RNA and subgenomic mRNAs and has structural and non-structural roles in replication including viral RNA-dependent RNA transcription, genome replication, encapsidation and translation. These processes all involve RNA-protein interactions between the N protein and viral RNAs. To better understand the RNA-binding properties of this multifunctional protein, the N protein was expressed in Escherichia coli as a chimeric protein fused to glutathione-S-transferase (GST). Biochemical analyses of RNA-binding properties were performed on full-length and partial N protein segments to define the RNA-binding domain. The full-length N protein and the GST-N protein fusion product had similar binding activities with a dissociation constant (K(d)) of 14 nM when the MHV 5'-leader sequence was used as ligand. The smallest N protein fragment which retained RNA-binding activity was a 55 aa segment containing residues 177-231 which bound viral RNA with a K(d) of 32 nM. A consensus viral sequence recognized by the N protein was inferred from these studies; AAUCYAAAC was identified to be the potential minimum ligand for the N protein. Although the core UCYAA sequence is often tandemly repeated in viral genomes, ligands containing one or more repeats of UCYAA showed no difference in binding to the N protein. Together these data demonstrate a high-affinity, specific interaction between the N protein and a conserved RNA sequence present at the 5'-ends of MHV mRNA.

Formation of a ribonucleoprotein complex of mouse hepatitis virus involving heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A1 and transcription-regulatory elements of viral RNA

The heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A1 (hnRNP A1) specifically binds to two transcription-regulatory elements, i.e., the leader and intergenic sequence, of the negative-strand (template-strand) RNA of mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) and may play a role in viral RNA transcription. Previous studies based on the defective-interfering RNAs of MHV suggested that these two RNA elements may interact with each other during transcription, although they do not have complementary sequences. In this study, we showed by an in vitro reconstitution assay that hnRNP A1 could mediate the formation of an RNP complex involving these two RNA elements. Both the RNA-binding domains and protein-interacting domain of hnRNP A1 contributed to the efficient formation of the RNP complex; however, the presence of the two RNA-binding domains alone, without the protein-interacting domain, also resulted in some RNP formation. Omission of hnRNP A1 in the reconstitution reaction abolished the RNP formation, and mutations of the IG sequences significantly inhibited the RNP formation. These findings suggest that the two cis-acting transcription-regulatory sequences of MHV RNA can interact with each other through the formation of an RNP complex involving a cellular protein hnRNP A1. This RNP complex may participate in MHV RNA transcription.

Polypyrimidine tract-binding protein binds to the leader RNA of mouse hepatitis virus and serves as a regulator of viral transcription

A cellular protein, previously described as p55, binds specifically to the plus strand of the mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) leader RNA. We have purified this protein and determined by partial peptide sequencing that it is polypyrimidine tract-binding protein (PTB) (also known as heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein [hnRNP] I), a nuclear protein which shuttles between the nucleus and cytoplasm. PTB plays a role in the regulation of alternative splicing of pre-mRNAs in normal cells and translation of several viruses. By UV cross-linking and immunoprecipitation studies using cellular extracts and a recombinant PTB, we have established that PTB binds to the MHV plus-strand leader RNA specifically. Deletion analyses of the leader RNA mapped the PTB-binding site to the UCUAA pentanucleotide repeats. Using a defective-interfering RNA reporter system, we have further shown that the PTB-binding site in the leader RNA is critical for MHV RNA synthesis. This and our previous study (H.-P. Li, X. Zhang, R. Duncan, L. Comai, and M. M. C. Lai, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 94:9544-9549, 1997) combined thus show that two cellular hnRNPs, PTB and hnRNP A1, bind to the transcription-regulatory sequences of MHV RNA and may participate in its transcription.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus comparison: divergent evolution on two continents

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is a recently described arterivirus responsible for disease in swine worldwide. Comparative sequence analysis of 3'-terminal structural genes of the single-stranded RNA viral genome revealed the presence of two genotypic classes of PRRSV, represented by the prototype North American and European strains, VR-2332 and Lelystad virus (LV), respectively. To better understand the evolution and pathogenicity of PRRSV, we obtained the 12,066-base 5'-terminal nucleotide sequence of VR-2332, encoding the viral replication activities, and compared it to those of LV and other arteriviruses. VR-2332 and LV differ markedly in the 5' leader and sections of the open reading frame (ORF) 1a region. The ORF 1b sequence was nearly colinear but varied in similarity of proteins encoded in identified regions. Furthermore, molecular and biochemical analysis of subgenomic mRNA (sgmRNA) processing revealed extensive variation in the number of sgmRNAs which may be generated during infection and in the lengths of noncoding sequence between leader-body junctions and the translation-initiating codon AUG. In addition, VR-2332 and LV select different leader-body junction sites from a pool of similar candidate sites to produce sgmRNA 7, encoding the viral nucleocapsid protein. The presence of substantial variations across the entire genome and in sgmRNA processing indicates that PRRSV has evolved independently on separate continents. The near-simultaneous global emergence of a new swine disease caused by divergently evolved viruses suggests that changes in swine husbandry and management may have contributed to the emergence of PRRS.

Coronavirus transcription early in infection

We studied the accumulation kinetics of murine coronavirus mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) RNAs early in infection by using cloned MHV defective interfering (DI) RNA that contained an intergenic sequence from which subgenomic DI RNA is synthesized in MHV-infected cells. Genomic DI RNA and subgenomic DI RNA accumulated at a constant ratio from 3 to 11 h postinfection (p.i.) in the cells infected with MHV-containing DI particles. Earlier, at 1 h p.i., this ratio was not constant; only genomic DI RNA accumulated, indicating that MHV RNA replication, but not MHV RNA transcription, was active during the first hour of MHV infection. Negative-strand genomic DI RNA and negative-strand subgenomic DI RNA were first detectable at 1 and 3 h p.i., respectively, and the amounts of both RNAs increased gradually until 6 h p.i. These data showed that at 2 h p.i., subgenomic DI RNA was undergoing synthesis in the cells in which negative-strand subgenomic DI RNA was undetectable. These data, therefore, signify that negative-strand genomic DI RNA, but not negative-strand subgenomic DI RNA, was an active template for subgenomic DI RNA synthesis early in infection.

Inhibitory effects of modified oligonucleotides complementary to the leader RNA on the multiplication of mouse hepatitis virus

Phosphorothioate oligonucleotides (PS-oligo) and PS-oligos with cholesterol conjugates (ChPS-oligo) complementary to the leader RNA of strain JHM of mouse hepatitis virus (JHMV) were more effective inhibitors of viral multiplication than natural oligodeoxynucleotides (PO-oligo) in JHMV-infected DBT cells. PS- and ChPS-oligos were 1,000 times more potent than unmodified PO-oligo. No significant difference was observed in the inhibitory efficiency between PS-oligo and ChPS-oligo. Sequence-dependent inhibition of viral multiplication was shown at low concentrations (0.001-0.1 M) of antisense PS-oligo and ChPS-oligo. Phosphorothioate oligodeoxycytidine, PS-(dC)20, and PS-(dC)20 with cholesterol conjugates, and PS- and ChPS-oligo which have no significant homology to the JHMV sequences, showed inhibitory effects on JHMV multiplication at concentrations higher than 0.5 M. These results showed that PS-oligo and ChPS-oligo were more potent than PO-oligo in the inhibition of JHMV multiplication, and that PS-oligo and ChPS-oligo may inhibit JHMV multiplication by two different mechanisms, that is by sequence-dependent and sequence-independent manners.

Equine arteritis virus subgenomic mRNA synthesis: analysis of leader-body junctions and replicative-form RNAs

In addition to the genomic RNA, a 3' coterminal nested set of six subgenomic mRNAs is produced in equine arteritis virus (EAV)-infected cells. The seven viral RNAs are also 5' coterminal, since they all contain a 206-nucleotide common leader sequence which is identical to the 5' end of the genome. A conserved penta-nucleotide sequence motif, 5' UCAAC 3', was shown to be present at the junctions between the leader and body sequences in each of the mRNAs. In addition, two alternative junction sites were detected for mRNA 3. Seven replicative-form (RF) RNAs (RFs I to VII), corresponding to the genomic RNA and each of the subgenomic EAV mRNAs, could be prepared from lysates of infected cells. The minus-strand RNA contents of these RF RNAs were analyzed by using an RNase protection assay with an RNA probe containing the mRNA 2 leader-body junction. It was established that RF II contained a negative-stranded copy of mRNA 2, including a complementary leader sequence. The presence of subgenomic minus-strand RNA in RFs is indicative of a function as a transcription template during the production of EAV subgenomic mRNAs.

The UCUAAAC promoter motif is not required for high-frequency leader recombination in bovine coronavirus defective interfering RNA

The 65-nucleotide leader on the cloned bovine coronavirus defective interfering (DI) RNA, when marked by mutations, has been shown to rapidly convert to the wild-type leader of the helper virus following DI RNA transfection into helper virus-infected cells. A model of leader-primed transcription in which free leader supplied in trans by the helper virus interacts by way of its flanking 5'UCUAAAC3' sequence element with the 3'-proximal 3'AGAUUUG5' promoter on the DI RNA minus strand to prime RNA replication has been used to explain this phenomenon. To test this model, the UCUAAAC element which occurs only once in the BCV 5' untranslated region was either deleted or completely substituted in input DI RNA template, and evidence of leader conversion was sought. In both cases, leader conversion occurred rapidly, indicating that this element is not required on input RNA for the conversion event. Substitution mutations mapped the crossover region to a 24-nucleotide segment that begins within the UCUAAAC sequence and extends downstream. Although structure probing of the bovine coronavirus 5' untranslated region indicated that the UCUAAAC element is in the loop of a prominent stem and thus theoretically available for base pair-directed priming, no evidence of an unattached leader early in infection that might have served as a primer for transcription was found by RNase protection studies. These results together suggest that leader conversion on the DI RNA 5' terminus is not guided by the UCUAAAC element and might arise instead from a high-frequency, region-specific, homologous recombination event perhaps during minus-strand synthesis rather than by leader priming during plus-strand synthesis.

A 5'-proximal RNA sequence of murine coronavirus as a potential initiation site for genomic-length mRNA transcription

Coronavirus transcription is a discontinuous process, involving interactions between a trans-acting leader and the intergenic transcription initiation sequences. A 9-nucleotide (nt) sequence (UUUAUAAAC), which is located immediately downstream of the leader at the 5' terminus of the mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) genomic RNA, contains a sequence resembling the consensus intergenic sequence (UCUAAAC). It has been shown previously that the presence of the 9-nt sequence facilitates leader RNA switching and may enhance subgenomic mRNA transcription. It is unclear how the 9-nt sequence exerts these functions. In this study, we inserted the 9-nt sequence into a defective interfering (DI) RNA reporter system and demonstrated that mRNA transcription could be initiated from the 9-nt sequence almost as efficiently as from the intergenic sequence between genes 6 and 7. Sequence analysis of the mRNAs showed that the 9-nt sequence served as a site of fusion between the leaders and mRNA. The transcription initiation function of the 9-nt sequence could not be substituted by other 5'-terminal sequences. When the entire 5'-terminal sequence, including four copies of the UCUAA sequence plus the 9-nt sequence, was present, transcription could be initiated from any of the UCUAA copies or the 9-nt sequence, resulting in different copy numbers of the UCUAA sequence and the deletion of the 9-nt sequence in some mRNAs. All of these heterogeneous RNA species were also detected from the 5'-terminal region of the viral genomic-length RNA in MHV-infected cells. These results thus suggest tha the heterogeneity of the copy number of UCUAA sequences at the 5' end, the deletion of the 9-nt sequence in viral and DI RNAs, and the leader RNA switching are the results of transcriptional initiation from the 9-nt site. They also show that an mRNA species (mRNA 1) that lacks the 9-nt sequence can be synthesized during MHV infection. Therefore, MHV genomic RNA replication and mRNA 1 transcription may be distinguishable.

Regulation of coronavirus mRNA transcription

Coronaviruses synthesize a nested set of six to eight subgenomic (sg) mRNAs in infected cells. These mRNAs are produced in different, but constant, molar ratios. It is unclear which factors control the different levels of sg mRNAs. To determine whether the intergenic sequence (IS) involved in sg mRNA synthesis could affect the transcription efficiencies of other ISs and in this way regulate transcription levels, we inserted multiple ISs at different positions into a mouse hepatitis virus defective interfering RNA. Quantitation of the sg RNAs produced by identical ISs in different sequence contexts led to the following conclusions: (i) transcription efficiency depends on the location of the IS in the defective interfering virus genome, (ii) downstream ISs have a negative effect on transcription levels from upstream ISs, and (iii) upstream ISs have little or no effect on downstream ISs. The observation that a downstream IS downregulates the amounts of sg RNA produced by an upstream IS explains why the smaller sg RNAs are, in general, produced in larger quantities than the larger sg RNAs. Our data are consistent with coronavirus transcription models in which ISs attenuate transcription. In these models, larger sg RNAs are synthesized in smaller amounts because they encounter more attenuating ISs during their synthesis.

Investigation of the control of coronavirus subgenomic mRNA transcription by using T7-generated negative-sense RNA transcripts

The subgenomic mRNAs of the coronavirus transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) are not produced in equimolar amounts. We have developed a reporter gene system to investigate the control of this differential subgenomic mRNA synthesis. Transcription of mRNAs by the TGEV polymerase was obtained from negative-sense RNA templates generated in situ from DNA containing a T7 promoter. A series of gene cassettes was produced; these cassettes comprised the reporter chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) gene downstream of transcription-associated sequences (TASs) (also referred to as intergenic sequences and promoters) believed to be involved in the synthesis of TGEV subgenomic mRNAs 6 and 7. The gene cassettes were designed so that negative-sense RNA copies of the CAT gene with sequences complementary to the TGEV TASs, or modified versions, at the 3' end would be synthesized in situ by T7 RNA polymerase. Using this system, we have demonstrated that CAT was expressed from mRNAs derived from the T7-generated negative-sense RNA transcripts only in TGEV-infected cells and only from transcripts possessing a TGEV negative-sense TAS. Analysis of the CAT mRNAs showed the presence of the TGEV leader RNA sequence at the 5' end, in keeping with observations that all coronavirus mRNAs have a 5' leader sequence corresponding to the 5' end of the genomic RNA. Our results indicated that the CAT mRNAs were transcribed from the in situ-synthesized negative-sense RNA templates without the requirement of TGEV genomic 5' or 3' sequences on the T7-generated negative-sense transcripts (3'-TAS-CAT-5'). Modification of the TGEV TASs indicated (i) that the degree of potential base pairing between the 3' end of the leader RNA and the TGEV negative-sense TAS was not the sole determinant of the amount of subgenomic mRNA transcribed and (ii) that other factors, including nucleotides flanking the TAS, are involved in the regulation of transcription of TGEV subgenomic mRNAs.

Identification and characterization of a serine-like proteinase of the murine coronavirus MHV-A59

Gene 1 of the murine coronavirus, MHV-A59, encodes approximately 800 kDa of protein products within two overlapping open reading frames (ORFs 1a and 1b). The gene is expressed as a polyprotein that is processed into individual proteins, presumably by virus-encoded proteinases. ORF 1a has been predicted to encode proteins with similarity to viral and cellular proteinases, such as papain, and to the 3C proteinases of the picornaviruses (A. E. Gorbalenya, A. P. Donchenko, V. M. Blinov, and E. V. Koonin, FEBS Lett. 243:103-114, 1989; A. E. Gorbalenya, E. V. Koonin, A. P. Donchenko, and V. M. Blinov, Nucleic Acids Res. 17:4847-4861, 1989). We have cloned into a T7 transcription vector a cDNA fragment containing the putative 3C-like proteinase domain of MHV-A59, along with portions of the flanking hydrophobic domains. The construct was used to express a polypeptide in a combined in vitro transcription-translation system. Major polypeptides with molecular masses of 38 and 33 kDa were detected at early times, whereas polypeptides with molecular masses of 32 and 27 kDa were predominant after 30 to 45 min and appeared to be products of specific proteolysis of larger precursors. Mutations at the putative catalytic histidine and cysteine residues abolished the processing of the 27-kDa protein. Translation products of the pGpro construct were able to cleave the 27-kDa protein in trans from polypeptides expressed from the noncleaving histidine or cysteine mutants. The amino-terminal cleavage of the 27-kDa protein occurred at a glutamine-serine dipeptide as previously predicted. This study provides experimental confirmation that the coronaviruses express an active proteinase within the 3C-like proteinase domain of gene 1 ORF 1a and that this proteinase utilizes at least one canonical QS dipeptide as a cleavage site in vitro.

Quantification of individual subgenomic mRNA species during replication of the coronavirus transmissible gastroenteritis virus

A biotinylated-oligonucleotide-based method was used to isolate the subgenomic mRNAs of the coronavirus transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) to investigate the amounts of the mRNAs produced at early, middle and late times in the replication cycle. TGEV mRNA 6, which encodes the N protein, was observed to be the most abundant species throughout the replication cycle. The ratios of mRNA 6 to the other mRNAs were 1:0.11 (mRNA 2), 1:0.16 (mRNAs 3 and 4) and 1:0.37 (mRNA 5) at 12 h post-infection. All the mRNA species were differentially regulated throughout the replication cycle, although the rate of accumulation of mRNAs 4, 5 and 6, but not mRNA 3, increased markedly towards the end of the replication cycle. mRNA 7 was not detected in the system used. There was no observable correlation between the amounts of each mRNA synthesised and the potential degree of base pairing between the 3' end of the leader sequence and the transcription associated sequences on the genomic RNA at any time during the replication cycle. This indicates that the extent of base pairing was not the only factor involved in the control of subgenomic mRNA synthesis.

Interactions between the cytoplasmic proteins and the intergenic (promoter) sequence of mouse hepatitis virus RNA: correlation with the amounts of subgenomic mRNA transcribed

Previous studies suggested that coronavirus RNA transcription involves interaction between leader RNA and the intergenic (IG) sequences, probably via protein-RNA interactions (X. M. Zhang, C.-L. Liao, and M. M. C. Lai, J. Virol., 68:4738-4746, 1994; X. M. Zhang and M. M. C. Lai, J. Virol., 68:6626-6633, 1994). To determine whether cellular proteins are involved in this process, we performed UV cross-linking experiments using cytoplasmic extracts of uninfected cells and the IG (promoter) sequence between genes 6 and 7 (IG7) and the 5' untranslational region of mouse hepatitis virus genomic RNA. We demonstrated that three different cellular proteins (p70, p48, and p35/38) bound to the promoter sequence of the template RNA. Deletion analyses of the template RNA mapped the binding site of p35/38 at the consensus transcription initiation signal. In contrast, the binding of p70 and p48 was less specific. p35/38 is the same protein as the one previously identified to bind to the complementary strand of the leader RNA; its binding affinity to the leader was approximately 15 times stronger than that to IG7. Site-directed mutagenesis of the IG sequence revealed that mutations in the consensus sequence of IG7 (UCUAAUCUAAAC to UCGAAAC and GCUAAAG), which resulted in reduced subgenomic mRNA transcription, also caused correspondingly reduced levels of p35/38 binding. These results demonstrated that the extent of protein binding to the IG sequences correlated with the amounts of subgenomic mRNAs transcribed from the IG site. These studies suggest that these RNA-binding proteins are involved in coronavirus RNA transcription and may represent transcription factors.

The effect of two closely inserted transcription consensus sequences on coronavirus transcription

Insertion of an intergenic region from the murine coronavirus mouse hepatitis virus into a mouse hepatitis virus defective interfering (DI) RNA led to transcription of subgenomic DI RNA in helper virus-infected cells. Using this system, we studied how two intergenic regions in close proximity affected subgenomic RNA synthesis. When two intergenic regions were separated by more than 100 nucleotides, slightly less of the larger subgenomic DI RNA (synthesized from the upstream intergenic region) was made; this difference was significant when the intergenic region separation was less than about 35 nucleotides. Deletion of sequences flanking the two intergenic regions inserted in close proximity did not affect transcription. No significant change in the ratio of the two subgenomic DI RNAs was observed when the sequence between the two intergenic regions was altered. Removal of the downstream intergenic region restored transcription of the larger subgenomic DI RNA. The UCUAAAC consensus sequence was needed for efficient suppression of the larger subgenomic DI RNA synthesis. These results demonstrated that the downstream intergenic sequence was suppressing subgenomic DI RNA synthesis from the upstream intergenic region. We discuss possible mechanisms to account for the regulation of this suppression of subgenomic DI RNA synthesis and the ways in which they relate to the general regulation of coronavirus transcription.

Regulation of coronavirus RNA transcription is likely mediated by protein-RNA interactions

Coronavirus mRNA transcription was thought to be regulated by the interaction between the leader RNA and the intergenic (IG) sequence, probably involving direct RNA-RNA interactions between complementary sequences. In this study, we found that a 9-nucleotide sequence immediately downstream of the leader RNA up-regulated mRNA transcription and that a particular strain of mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) lacking this 9-nucleotide transcribed subgenomic mRNA species containing unusually heterogeneous leader-fusion sites. These results suggest that the sequence complementarity between the leader and IG is not necessarily required for mRNA transcription. UV cross-linking experiments using cytoplasmic extracts of uninfected cells and the IG sequence showed that three different cellular proteins bound to IG of the template RNA. Deletion analyses and site-directed mutagenesis of IG further demonstrated a correlation between protein-binding and transcription efficiency, suggesting that these RNA-binding proteins are involved in the regulation of coronavirus mRNA transcription. We propose that coronavirus transcription is regulated by RNA-protein and protein-protein interactions.

Analysis of coronavirus transcription regulation

Insertion of an intergenic region from murine coronavirus mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) into an MHV defective interfering (DI) RNA led to transcription of subgenomic DI RNA in helper virus-infected cells. Using this system we studied how two intergenic regions positioned in close proximity affected subgenomic RNA synthesis. When two intergenic regions were separated by more than 100 nt, slightly less of the larger subgenomic DI RNA (synthesized from the upstream intergenic region) was made; this difference was significant when the intergenic region separation was less than about 35 nucleotides. Deletion of sequences flanking the two intergenic regions inserted in close proximity did not affect transcription. No significant change in the ratio of the two subgenomic DI RNAs was observed when the sequence between the two intergenic regions was altered. Removal of the downstream intergenic region restored transcription of the larger subgenomic DI RNA. These results demonstrated the downstream intergenic sequence was suppressing subgenomic DI RNA synthesis from the upstream intergenic region.

Unusual heterogeneity of leader-mRNA fusion in a murine coronavirus: implications for the mechanism of RNA transcription and recombination

Coronavirus mRNA transcription was thought to be regulated by the interaction between the leader RNA and the intergenic sequence (IS), probably involving direct RNA-RNA interactions between complementary sequences. In this study, we found that a particular strain of mouse hepatitis virus, JHM2c, which has a deletion of a 9-nucleotide (nt) sequence (UUUAUAAAC) immediately downstream of the leader RNA, transcribed subgenomic mRNA species containing a whole array of heterogeneous leader fusion sites. Using a transfected defective interfering RNA which contains an IS and a reporter (chloramphenicol acetyltransferase) gene and JHM2c as a helper virus, we demonstrated that subgenomic mRNAs transcribed from the defective interfering RNAs were extremely heterogeneous. The leader-mRNA fusion sites in this virus can be grouped into five types. In type I, the leader is fused with the consensus IS of the template RNA at a site within the UCUAA repeats, consistent with the classical model of discontinuous transcription. In type II, the leader is fused with the consensus IS as in type I, but the leader of mRNA contains some nucleotide substitutions within the UCUAA repeats. In type III, the leader is fused with mRNAs at a site either upstream or downstream of the consensus IS. The sequences around the fusion sites bear little or no homology to the leader. As a result, mRNAs contain sequences complementary to the template sequences upstream of the IS or have sequence deletions downstream of the IS. In type IV, the leader is fused to the IS at the 9-nt sequence immediately downstream of the UCUAA repeats. In type V, the leader-mRNA fusion site contains a duplication of a portion of the leader sequence or an insertion of nontemplated sequences which are not present in either leader or template RNA. These patterns of leader-mRNA fusion resemble the aberrant homologous recombination frequently seen in other RNA viruses. The degree of heterogeneity of leader fusion sites is dependent on the sequences of both the leader RNA and IS. These results suggest that leader-mRNA fusion in coronavirus transcription does not require direct RNA-RNA interaction between complementary sequences. A modified model of RNA transcription and recombination based on protein-RNA and protein-protein interactions is proposed. This study also provides a paradigm for aberrant homologous recombination.

Coronavirus leader RNA regulates and initiates subgenomic mRNA transcription both in trans and in cis

Mouse hepatitis virus (MHV), a coronavirus, utilizes a discontinuous transcription mechanism for subgenomic mRNA synthesis. Previous studies (C.-L. Liao and M. C. C. Lai, J. Virol. 68:4727-4737, 1994) have demonstrated that an upstream cis-acting leader sequence serves as a transcriptional enhancer, but the mechanism of transcriptional regulation is not clear. In this study, we constructed a series of defective interfering (DI) RNAs containing the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) gene behind a differentially expressed transcription initiation (intergenic) sequence (for mRNA2-1). These DI RNAs had different copy numbers of the UCUAA pentanucleotide sequence at the 3' end of the leader. Transfection of these DI RNA constructs into cells infected with a helper MHV, which contains either two or three UCUAA copies at the 3' end of the leader, resulted in differential expression of CAT activities. We demonstrated that the copy number of UCUAA repeats in the leaders of both helper viral and DI RNAs affected the level of CAT activity, suggesting that MHV leader RNA could regulate both in trans and in cis the transcription of subgenomic mRNAs. The leader RNA of subgenomic mRNAs was derived from either the trans- or the cis-acting leader. Furthermore, insertion of a UA-rich sequence (UUUAUAAAC) immediately downstream of the leader in DI RNA, to match the sequence of helper viral RNA, enhanced the CAT activity by threefold, suggesting that this nine-nucleotide sequence is a cis-acting element. Interestingly, when the nine-nucleotide sequence was absent in DI RNA, the leaders of subgenomic mRNAs were exclusively derived from the helper virus. In contrast, when the nine-nucleotide sequence was present in DI RNA, the leaders were derived from both helper viral and DI RNAs. These results suggest that the nine-nucleotide sequence either is required for the leader RNA to initiate mRNA synthesis or, alternatively, serves as a transcription terminator for the leader RNA synthesis. However, when a constitutively expressed intergenic sequence (for mRNA7) was used, no difference in transcription efficiency was noted, regardless of the copy number of UCUAA in the DI RNA and helper virus. This study thus indicates that MHV subgenomic RNA transcription requires the interaction among the intergenic (promoter) sequence, a trans-acting leader, and a cis-acting leader sequence. A novel model of transcriptional regulation of coronavirus subgenomic mRNAs is presented.

Subgenomic RNA synthesis directed by a synthetic defective interfering RNA of mouse hepatitis virus: a study of coronavirus transcription initiation

We have used a full-length cDNA clone of a mouse hepatitis virus strain A59 defective interfering (DI) RNA, pMIDI-C, and cassette mutagenesis to study the mechanism of coronavirus subgenomic mRNA synthesis. Promoter sequences closely resembling those of subgenomic mRNAs 3 and 7 were inserted into MIDI-C. Both subgenomic RNA promoters gave rise to the synthesis of a subgenomic DI RNA in virus-infected and DI RNA-transfected cells. From a mutagenic analysis of the promoters we concluded the following. (i) The extent of base pairing between the leader RNA and the intergenic promoter sequence does not control subgenomic RNA abundance. (ii) Promoter recognition does not rely on base pairing only. Presumably, transcription initiation requires recognition of the promoter sequence by the transcriptase. (iii) Fusion of leader and body sequences takes place at multiple--possibly random--sites within the intergenic promoter sequence. A model is presented in which, prior to elongation, the leader RNA is trimmed by a processive 3'-->5' nuclease.

Inhibition of mouse hepatitis virus multiplication by antisense oligonucleotide, antisense RNA, sense RNA and ribozyme

Antisense nucleic acids against specific sequences of mouse hepatitis virus (MHV)-RNAs were tested for their inhibitory effects on viral multiplication in mouse DBT cells. An antisense oligonucleotide containing a sequence complementary to leader RNA was synthesized and shown to induce a significant inhibitory effect on the multiplication of MHV-JHM. A vector which expressed the antisense or sense mRNA7 of MHV was transfected into DBT cells. A decreased multiplication of MHV was observed in both cell lines. The transfected cell line which expressed ribozyme against the 5'-end of the MHV genome was established. The rate of inhibition of MHV-multiplication and the quantity of synthesized virus-specific mRNAs in this transfected cell line were the same for both antisense and sense RNA. These results show that antisense nucleic acids might be eligible for use as antiviral agents against MHV multiplication.

A translation-attenuating intraleader open reading frame is selected on coronavirus mRNAs during persistent infection

Short open reading frames within the 5' leader of some eukaryotic mRNAs are known to regulate the rate of translation initiation on the downstream open reading frame. By employing the polymerase chain reaction, we learned that the 5'-terminal 5 nt on the common leader sequence of bovine coronavirus subgenomic mRNAs were heterogeneous and hypervariable throughout early infection in cell culture and that as a persistent infection became established, termini giving rise to a common 33-nt intraleader open reading frame were selected. Since the common leader is derived from the genomic 5' end during transcription, a common focus of origin for the heterogeneity is expected. The intraleader open reading frame was shown by in vitro translation studies to attenuate translation of downstream open reading frames in a cloned bovine coronavirus mRNA molecule. Selection of an intraleader open reading frame resulting in a general attenuation of mRNA translation and a consequent attenuation of virus replication may, therefore, be a mechanism by which coronaviruses and possibly other RNA viruses with a similar transcriptional strategy maintain a persistent infection.

Three different cellular proteins bind to complementary sites on the 5'-end-positive and 3'-end-negative strands of mouse hepatitis virus RNA

The termini of viral genomic RNA and its complementary strand are important in the initiation of viral RNA replication, which probably involves both viral and cellular proteins. To detect the possible cellular proteins involved in the replication of mouse hepatitis virus RNA, we performed RNA-protein binding studies with RNAs representing both the 5' and 3' ends of the viral genomic RNA and the 3' end of the negative-strand complementary RNA. Gel-retardation assays showed that both the 5'-end-positive- and 3'-end-negative-strand RNA formed an RNA-protein complex with cellular proteins from the uninfected cells. UV cross-linking experiments further identified a 55-kDa protein bound to the 5' end of the positive-strand viral genomic RNA and two proteins 35 and 38 kDa in size bound to the 3' end of the negative-strand cRNA. The results of the competition assay confirmed the specificity of this RNA-protein binding. No proteins were found to bind to the 3' end of the viral genomic RNA under the same conditions. The binding site of the 55-kDa protein was mapped within the 56-nucleotide region from nucleotides 56 to 112 from the 5' end of the positive-strand RNA, and the 35- and 38-kDa proteins bound to the complementary region on the negative-strand RNA. The 38-kDa protein was detected only in DBT cells but was not detected in HeLa or COS cells, while the 35-kDa protein was found in all three cell types. The juxtaposition of the different cellular proteins on the complementary sites near the ends of the positive- and negative-strand RNAs suggests that these proteins may interact with each other and play a role in mouse hepatitis virus RNA replication.

Effect of intergenic consensus sequence flanking sequences on coronavirus transcription

Insertion of a region, including the 18-nucleotide-long intergenic sequence between genes 6 and 7 of mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) genomic RNA, into an MHV defective interfering (DI) RNA leads to transcription of subgenomic DI RNA in helper virus-infected cells (S. Makino, M. Joo, and J. K. Makino, J. Virol. 66:6031-6041, 1991). In this study, the subgenomic DI RNA system was used to determine how sequences flanking the intergenic region affect MHV RNA transcription and to identify the minimum intergenic sequence required for MHV transcription. DI cDNAs containing the intergenic region between genes 6 and 7, but with different lengths of upstream or downstream flanking sequences, were constructed. All DI cDNAs had an 18-nucleotide-long intergenic region that was identical to the 3' region of the genomic leader sequence, which contains two UCUAA repeat sequences. These constructs included 0 to 1,440 nucleotides of upstream flanking sequence and 0 to 1,671 nucleotides of downstream flanking sequence. An analysis of intracellular genomic DI RNA and subgenomic DI RNA species revealed that there were no significant differences in the ratios of subgenomic to genomic DI RNA for any of the DI RNA constructs. DI cDNAs which lacked the intergenic region flanking sequences and contained a series of deletions within the 18-nucleotide-long intergenic sequence were constructed to determine the minimum sequence necessary for subgenomic DI RNA transcription. Small amounts of subgenomic DI RNA were synthesized from genomic DI RNAs with the intergenic consensus sequences UCUAAAC and GCUAAAC, whereas no subgenomic DI RNA transcription was observed from DI RNAs containing UCUAAAG and GCTAAAG sequences. These analyses demonstrated that the sequences flanking the intergenic sequence between genes 6 and 7 did not play a role in subgenomic DI RNA transcription regulation and that the UCUAAAC consensus sequence was sufficient for subgenomic DI RNA transcription.

Mutagenic analysis of the coronavirus intergenic consensus sequence

Previously, a system in which an intergenic region from mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) inserted into an MHV defective interfering (DI) RNA led to transcription of a subgenomic DI RNA in helper virus-infected cells was established. In the present study, a DI cDNA containing one UCUAAAC consensus sequence in the middle of the 0.3-kb-long intergenic region located between genes 6 and 7 was constructed. From this DI cDNA clone, 21 mutant DI RNAs were constructed so that each of the seven consensus sequence nucleotides was changed individually to the three alternative bases. These mutants were used to define how changes in the integrity of MHV transcription consensus sequence UCUAAAC affected mRNA transcription. Except for two mutants with the sequences UGUAAAC and UCGAAAC, all of the mutants supported efficient subgenomic DI RNA transcription. This indicated that MHV transcription regulation was sufficiently flexible to recognize altered consensus sequences. Next, these and other mutants were used to examine the leader-body fusion site on the subgenomic DI RNAs. Sequence analysis demonstrated that all subgenomic DI RNAs analyzed contained two pentanucleotide sequences; the first sequence seemed to be contributed by the leader, and the leader-body fusion most likely took place at either the first or the second nucleotide of the second sequence. This observation was not consistent with the proposed coronavirus transcription model (S. C. Baker and M. M. C. Lai, EMBO J. 9:4173-4179, 1990) which states that nucleotide mismatch can be corrected by RNA polymerase proofreading activity.

Coronavirus mRNA transcription: UV light transcriptional mapping studies suggest an early requirement for a genomic-length template

Mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) synthesizes seven to eight mRNAs, each of which contains a leader RNA derived from the 5' end of the genome. To understand the mechanism of synthesis of these mRNAs, we studied how the synthesis of each mRNA was affected by UV irradiation at different time points after infection. When MHV-infected cells were UV irradiated at a late time in infection (5 h postinfection), the syntheses of the various mRNAs were inhibited to different extents in proportion to the sizes of the mRNAs. Analysis of the UV inactivation kinetics revealed that the UV target size of each mRNA was equivalent to its own physical size. In contrast, when cells were irradiated at 2.5 or 3 h postinfection, there appeared to be two different kinetics of inhibition of mRNA synthesis: the synthesis of every mRNA was inhibited to the same extent by a small UV dose, but the remaining mRNA synthesis was inhibited by additional UV doses at different rates for different mRNAs in proportion to RNA size. The analysis of the UV inactivation kinetics indicated that the UV target sizes for the majority of mRNAs were equivalent to that of the genomic-size RNA early in the infection. These results suggest that MHV mRNA synthesis requires the presence of a genomic-length RNA template at least early in the infection. In contrast, later in the infection, the sizes of the templates used for mRNA synthesis were equivalent to the physical sizes of each mRNA. The possibility that the genomic-length RNA required early in the infection was used only for the synthesis of a polymerase rather than as a template for mRNA synthesis was ruled out by examining the UV sensitivity of a defective interfering (DI) RNA. We found that the UV target size for the DI RNA early in infection was much smaller than that for mRNAs 6 and 7, which are approximately equal to or smaller in size than the DI RNA. This result indicates that even though DI RNA and viral mRNAs are synthesized by the same polymerase, mRNAs are synthesized from a larger (genomic-length) template. We conclude that a genomic-length RNA template is required for MHV subgenomic mRNA synthesis at least early in infection. Several transcription models are proposed.

Mechanism of coronavirus transcription: duration of primary transcription initiation activity and effects of subgenomic RNA transcription on RNA replication

Previously, we established a system whereby an intergenic region from mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) inserted into an MHV defective interfering (DI) RNA led to transcription of a subgenomic DI RNA in helper virus-infected cells. By using this system, the duration of a primary transcription initiation activity which transcribes subgenomic-size RNAs from the genomic-size RNA template in MHV-infected cells was examined. Efficient DI genomic and subgenomic RNA synthesis was observed when the DI RNA was transfected at 1, 3, 3.5, 5, and 6 h postinfection, indicating that all activities which are necessary for MHV RNA synthesis are present continuously during the first 6 h of infection. The effect of subgenomic DI RNA synthesis on DI genomic RNA replication was then examined. Replication efficiency of the DI genomic RNA which synthesized the subgenomic RNA was approximately 70% lower than that of DI genomic RNA which did not synthesize the subgenomic DI RNA in MHV-infected cells. Cotransfection of two different-size DI RNAs demonstrated that replication of the larger DI RNA was strongly inhibited by replication of the smaller genomic DI RNA. Cotransfection of two DI RNA species of the same length into MHV-infected cells demonstrated that reduced replication of the genomic DI RNA which synthesizes the subgenomic RNA did not affect the replication of cotransfected DI RNA, demonstrating that the reduction in DI genomic RNA replication works only in cis, not in trans. Therefore, the previously proposed hypothesis that coronavirus, subgenomic RNA synthesis may inhibit the replication of genomic RNA by competing for a limited amount of virus-derived factors seems unlikely. Possible mechanisms of coronavirus transcription are discussed.

A system for study of coronavirus mRNA synthesis: a regulated, expressed subgenomic defective interfering RNA results from intergenic site insertion

A system that exploits defective interfering (DI) RNAs of mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) for deciphering the mechanisms of coronavirus mRNA transcription was developed. A complete cDNA clone of MHV DI RNA containing an inserted intergenic region, derived from the area of genomic RNA between genes 6 and 7, was constructed. After transfection of the in vitro-synthesized DI RNA into MHV-infected cells, replication of genomic DI RNA as well as transcription of the subgenomic DI RNA was observed. S1 nuclease protection experiments, sequence analysis, and Northern (RNA) blotting analysis revealed that the subgenomic DI RNA contained the leader sequence at its 5' end and that the body of the subgenomic DI RNA started from the inserted intergenic sequence. Two subgenomic DI RNAs were synthesized after inserting two intergenic sites into the MHV DI RNA. Metabolic labeling of virus-specific protein in DI RNA replicating cells demonstrated that a protein was translated from the subgenomic DI RNA, which can therefore be considered a functional mRNA. Transfection study of gel-purified genomic DI RNA and subgenomic DI RNA revealed that the introduction of the genomic DI RNA, but not subgenomic DI RNA, into MHV-infected cells was required for synthesis of the subgenomic DI RNA. A series of deletion mutations in the intergenic site demonstrated that the sequence flanking the consensus sequence of UCUAAAC affected the efficiency of subgenomic DI RNA transcription and that the consensus sequence was necessary but not sufficient for the synthesis of the subgenomic DI RNA.

Alteration of the pH dependence of coronavirus-induced cell fusion: effect of mutations in the spike glycoprotein

Infection of susceptible murine cells with the coronavirus mouse hepatitis virus type 4 (MHV4) results in extensive cell-cell fusion at pHs from 5.5 to 8.5. The endosomotropic weak bases chloroquine and ammonium chloride do not prevent MHV4 infection. In marked contrast, we have selected variants from a neural cell line persistently infected with MHV4 which are entirely dependent on acid pH to fuse host cells and are strongly inhibited by endosomotropic weak bases. Wild-type and variant viruses were compared at the level of the fusion-active surface (S) glycoprotein gene. Cloning and sequencing of each 4,131-base open reading frame predicted a total of eight amino acid differences which fell into three distinct clusters. Each S glycoprotein, when expressed from cDNA, was synthesized in equivalent amounts, and similar proportions were transported to the cell surface. Wild-type S induced cell-cell fusion at neutral pH, whereas variant S required prolonged exposure to acidic pH to induce fusion. Expression of hybrid S genes prepared by exchange of restriction fragments between wild-type and variant cDNAs revealed that elimination of neutral pH fusion was solely dependent on amino acid alterations at positions 1067 (Q to H), 1094 (Q to H), and 1114 (L to R). These changes lie within a predicted heptad repeat region of the transmembrane cleavage fragment of S (S2). These findings demonstrate that the pH dependence of coronavirus fusion is highly variable and that this variability can be determined by as few as three amino acid residues.

The complete sequence (22 kilobases) of murine coronavirus gene 1 encoding the putative proteases and RNA polymerase

The 5'-most gene, gene 1, of the genome of murine coronavirus, mouse hepatitis virus (MHV), is presumed to encode the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. We have determined the complete sequence of this gene of the JHM strain by cDNA cloning and sequencing. The total length of this gene is 21,798 nucleotides long, which includes two overlapping, large open reading frames. The first open reading frame, ORF 1a, is 4488 amino acids long. The second open reading frame, ORF 1b, overlaps ORF 1a for 75 nucleotides, and is 2731 amino acids long. The overlapping region may fold into a pseudoknot RNA structure, similar to the corresponding region of the RNA of avian coronavirus, infectious bronchitis virus (IBV). The in vitro transcription and translation studies of this region indicated that these two ORFs were most likely translated into one polyprotein by a ribosomal frameshifting mechanism. Thus, the predicted molecular weight of the gene 1 product is more than 800,000 Da. The sequence of ORF 1b is very similar to the corresponding ORF of IBV. In contrast, the ORF 1a of these two viruses differ in size and have a high degree of divergence. The amino acid sequence analysis suggested that ORF 1a contains several functional domains, including two hydrophobic, membrane-anchoring domains, and three cysteine-rich domains. It also contains a picornaviral 3C-like protease domain and two papain-like protease domains. The presence of these protease domains suggests that the polyprotein is most likely processed into multiple protein products. In contrast, the ORF 1b contains polymerase, helicase, and zinc-finger motifs. These sequence studies suggested that the MHV gene 1 product is involved in RNA synthesis, and that this product is processed autoproteolytically after translation. This study completes the sequence of the MHV genome, which is 31 kb long, and constitutes the largest viral RNA known.

An in vitro system for the leader-primed transcription of coronavirus mRNAs

We have developed an in vitro transcription system which can utilize exogenous leader RNA for mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) 'leader-primed' mRNA transcription. Cytoplasmic extracts containing viral proteins and template RNA were prepared by lysolecithin permeabilization of MHV-infected cells. Synthetic leader RNA which differed in sequence from the endogenous leader RNA was added to the extracts and demonstrated to be incorporated into MHV mRNAs. Irrespective of the size of leader RNAs added, the exogenous leader RNA was joined to the endogenous mRNA at the same site, which corresponds to a UCUAA pentanucleotide repeat region. Only leader RNAs containing the pentanucleotide sequences could be utilized for transcription. Mismatches between the intergenic site and the exogenous leader sequence within the pentanucleotide repeat region were corrected in the in vitro system. This in vitro system thus established a novel mechanism of leader-primed transcription using exogenous RNA in trans, and suggests the involvement of a specific ribonuclease activity during coronavirus mRNA synthesis.

Sequence analysis of the leader RNA of two porcine coronaviruses: transmissible gastroenteritis virus and porcine respiratory coronavirus

The leader RNA sequence was determined for two pig coronaviruses, transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV), and porcine respiratory coronavirus (PRCV). Primer extension, of a synthetic oligonucleotide complementary to the 5' end of the nucleoprotein gene of TGEV was used to produce a single-stranded DNA copy of the leader RNA from the nucleoprotein mRNA species from TGEV and PRCV, the sequences of which were determined by Maxam and Gilbert cleavage. Northern blot analysis, using a synthetic oligonucleotide complementary to the leader RNA, showed that the leader RNA sequence was present on all of the subgenomic mRNA species. The porcine coronavirus leader RNA sequences were compared to each other and to published coronavirus leader RNA sequences. Sequence homologies and secondary structure similarities were identified that may play a role in the biological function of these RNA sequences.

Analysis of efficiently packaged defective interfering RNAs of murine coronavirus: localization of a possible RNA-packaging signal

We have previously shown that most of the defective interfering (DI) RNA of mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) are not packaged into virions. We have now identified, after 21 serial undiluted passages of MHV, a small DI RNA, DIssF, which is efficiently packaged into virions. The DIssF RNA replicated at a high efficiency on its transfection into the helper virus-infected cells. The virus released from the transfected cells interfered strongly with mRNA synthesis and growth of helper virus. cDNA cloning and sequence analysis of DIssF RNA revealed that it is 3.6 kb and consists of sequences derived from five discontinuous regions of the genome of the nondefective virus. The first four regions (domains I to IV) from the 5' end are derived from gene 1, which presumably encodes the RNA polymerase of the nondefective virus. The entire domain I (859 nucleotides) and the first 750 nucleotides of domain II are also present in a previously characterized DI RNA, DIssE, which is not efficiently packaged into virions. Furthermore, the junction between these two domains is identical between the two DI RNAs. The remaining 77 nucleotides at the 3' end of domain II and all of domains III (655 nucleotides) and IV (770 nucleotides) are not present in DIssE RNA. These four domains are derived from gene 1. In contrast, the 3'-most domain (domain V, 447 nucleotides) is derived from the 3' end of the genomic RNA and is also present in DIssE. The comparison of primary sequences and packaging properties between DIsse and DIssF RNAs suggested that domains III and IV and part of the 3' end of domain II contain the packaging signal for MHV RNA. This conclusion was confirmed by inserting these DIssF-unique sequences into a DIssE cDNA construct; the in vitro-transcribed RNA from this hybrid construct was efficiently packaged into virion particles. DIssF RNA also contains an open reading frame, which begins from domain I and ends at the 5'-end 20 bases of domain III. In vitro translation of DIssF RNA and metabolic labeling of the virus-infected cells showed that this open reading frame is indeed translated into a 75-kDa protein. The structures of both DIssE and DIssF RNAs suggest that a protein-encoding capability is a common characteristic of MHV DI RNA.