Nonlinear ribosome migration on cauliflower mosaic virus 35S RNA

Multi-regulated GDP-l-galactose phosphorylase calls the tune in ascorbate biosynthesis

Ascorbate is involved in numerous vital processes, in particular in response to abiotic but also biotic stresses whose frequency and amplitude increase with climate change. Ascorbate levels vary greatly depending on species, tissues, or stages of development, but also in response to stress. Since its discovery, the ascorbate biosynthetic pathway has been intensely studied and it appears that GDP-l-galactose phosphorylase (GGP) is the enzyme with the greatest role in the control of ascorbate biosynthesis. Like other enzymes of this pathway, its expression is induced by various environmental and also developmental factors. Although mRNAs encoding it are among the most abundant in the transcriptome, the protein is only present in very small quantities. In fact, GGP translation is repressed by a negative feedback mechanism involving a small open reading frame located upstream of the coding sequence (uORF). Moreover, its activity is inhibited by a PAS/LOV type photoreceptor, the action of which is counteracted by blue light. Consequently, this multi-level regulation of GGP would allow fine control of ascorbate synthesis. Indeed, experiments varying the expression of GGP have shown that it plays a central role in response to stress. This new understanding will be useful for developing varieties adapted to future environmental conditions.

Cacao Swollen Shoot Viruses in Ghana

Cacao swollen shoot virus causes cacao swollen shoot disease of Theobroma cacao (cacao) plants. At least six cacao-infecting Badnavirus species-Cacao swollen shoot Togo A virus, Cacao swollen shoot Togo B virus (previously known as Cacao swollen shoot virus), Cacao swollen shoot CE virus, Cacao swollen shoot Ghana M virus, Cacao swollen shoot Ghana N virus, and Cacao swollen shoot Ghana Q virus-are responsible for the swollen shoot disease of cacao in Ghana. Each of these species consists of a multiplicity of strains. The New Juaben strain, the most virulent cacao swollen shoot virus strain in Ghana, belongs to the Cacao swollen shoot Togo B virus species, and is a commonly used strain in laboratory transmission assays. Infection of cacao trees with multiple strains of the virus is common and new evidence suggests that these coinfections may have resulted in the emergence of recombinant strains of the virus. The impact of these emerging recombinant strains on disease severity is uncertain. This review focuses largely on the discovery of cacao swollen shoot virus in Ghana, diversity of the virus strains, molecular characterization, propagation of virus infection in cacao plants, emergence of recombinant virus strains, vector-mediated transmission of the virus, and the management of the cacao swollen shoot disease in Ghana. It also contains sections on the botany and origin of the cacao tree, its introduction to Ghana, the role of cacao swollen shoot disease in facilitating Ghana's independence from Britain, and a brief history of chocolate.

Translation of SARS-CoV-2 gRNA Is Extremely Efficient and Competitive despite a High Degree of Secondary Structures and the Presence of an uORF

The SARS-CoV-2 infection generates up to nine different sub-genomic mRNAs (sgRNAs), in addition to the genomic RNA (gRNA). The 5'UTR of each viral mRNA shares the first 75 nucleotides (nt.) at their 5'end, called the leader, but differentiates by a variable sequence (0 to 190 nt. long) that follows the leader. As a result, each viral mRNA has its own specific 5'UTR in term of length, RNA structure, uORF and Kozak context; each one of these characteristics could affect mRNA expression. In this study, we have measured and compared translational efficiency of each of the ten viral transcripts. Our data show that most of them are very efficiently translated in all translational systems tested. Surprisingly, the gRNA 5'UTR, which is the longest and the most structured, was also the most efficient to initiate translation. This property is conserved in the 5'UTR of SARS-CoV-1 but not in MERS-CoV strain, mainly due to the regulation imposed by the uORF. Interestingly, the translation initiation mechanism on the SARS-CoV-2 gRNA 5'UTR requires the cap structure and the components of the eIF4F complex but showed no dependence in the presence of the poly(A) tail in vitro. Our data strongly suggest that translation initiation on SARS-CoV-2 mRNAs occurs via an unusual cap-dependent mechanism.

Bi-directional ribosome scanning controls the stringency of start codon selection

The fidelity of start codon recognition by ribosomes is paramount during protein synthesis. The current knowledge of eukaryotic translation initiation implies unidirectional 5'→3' migration of the pre-initiation complex (PIC) along the 5' UTR. In probing translation initiation from ultra-short 5' UTR, we report that an AUG triplet near the 5' end can be selected via PIC backsliding. Bi-directional ribosome scanning is supported by competitive selection of closely spaced AUG codons and recognition of two initiation sites flanking an internal ribosome entry site. Transcriptome-wide PIC profiling reveals footprints with an oscillation pattern near the 5' end and start codons. Depleting the RNA helicase eIF4A leads to reduced PIC oscillations and impaired selection of 5' end start codons. Enhancing the ATPase activity of eIF4A promotes nonlinear PIC scanning and stimulates upstream translation initiation. The helicase-mediated PIC conformational switch may provide an operational mechanism that unifies ribosome recruitment, scanning, and start codon selection.

Cell-free riboswitches

The emerging community of cell-free synthetic biology aspires to build complex biochemical and genetic systems with functions that mimic or even exceed those in living cells. To achieve such functions, cell-free systems must be able to sense and respond to the complex chemical signals within and outside the system. Cell-free riboswitches can detect chemical signals via RNA-ligand interaction and respond by regulating protein synthesis in cell-free protein synthesis systems. In this article, we review synthetic cell-free riboswitches that function in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell-free systems reported to date to provide a current perspective on the state of cell-free riboswitch technologies and their limitations.

Non-Canonical Translation Initiation Mechanisms Employed by Eukaryotic Viral mRNAs

Viruses exploit the translation machinery of an infected cell to synthesize their proteins. Therefore, viral mRNAs have to compete for ribosomes and translation factors with cellular mRNAs. To succeed, eukaryotic viruses adopt multiple strategies. One is to circumvent the need for m7G-cap through alternative instruments for ribosome recruitment. These include internal ribosome entry sites (IRESs), which make translation independent of the free 5' end, or cap-independent translational enhancers (CITEs), which promote initiation at the uncapped 5' end, even if located in 3' untranslated regions (3' UTRs). Even if a virus uses the canonical cap-dependent ribosome recruitment, it can still perturb conventional ribosomal scanning and start codon selection. The pressure for genome compression often gives rise to internal and overlapping open reading frames. Their translation is initiated through specific mechanisms, such as leaky scanning, 43S sliding, shunting, or coupled termination-reinitiation. Deviations from the canonical initiation reduce the dependence of viral mRNAs on translation initiation factors, thereby providing resistance to antiviral mechanisms and cellular stress responses. Moreover, viruses can gain advantage in a competition for the translational machinery by inactivating individual translational factors and/or replacing them with viral counterparts. Certain viruses even create specialized intracellular "translation factories", which spatially isolate the sites of their protein synthesis from cellular antiviral systems, and increase availability of translational components. However, these virus-specific mechanisms may become the Achilles' heel of a viral life cycle. Thus, better understanding of the unconventional mechanisms of viral mRNA translation initiation provides valuable insight for developing new approaches to antiviral therapy.

Unconventional viral gene expression mechanisms as therapeutic targets

Unlike the human genome that comprises mostly noncoding and regulatory sequences, viruses have evolved under the constraints of maintaining a small genome size while expanding the efficiency of their coding and regulatory sequences. As a result, viruses use strategies of transcription and translation in which one or more of the steps in the conventional gene-protein production line are altered. These alternative strategies of viral gene expression (also known as gene recoding) can be uniquely brought about by dedicated viral enzymes or by co-opting host factors (known as host dependencies). Targeting these unique enzymatic activities and host factors exposes vulnerabilities of a virus and provides a paradigm for the design of novel antiviral therapies. In this Review, we describe the types and mechanisms of unconventional gene and protein expression in viruses, and provide a perspective on how future basic mechanistic work could inform translational efforts that are aimed at viral eradication.

RNA-mediated translation regulation in viral genomes: computational advances in the recognition of sequences and structures

RNA structures are widely distributed across all life forms. The global conformation of these structures is defined by a variety of constituent structural units such as helices, hairpin loops, kissing-loop motifs and pseudoknots, which often behave in a modular way. Their ubiquitous distribution is associated with a variety of functions in biological processes. The location of these structures in the genomes of RNA viruses is often coordinated with specific processes in the viral life cycle, where the presence of the structure acts as a checkpoint for deciding the eventual fate of the process. These structures have been found to adopt complex conformations and exert their effects by interacting with ribosomes, multiple host translation factors and small RNA molecules like miRNA. A number of such RNA structures have also been shown to regulate translation in viruses at the level of initiation, elongation or termination. The role of various computational studies in the preliminary identification of such sequences and/or structures and subsequent functional analysis has not been fully appreciated. This review aims to summarize the processes in which viral RNA structures have been found to play an active role in translational regulation, their global conformational features and the bioinformatics/computational tools available for the identification and prediction of these structures.

Phosphorylation and Alternative Translation on Wheat Germ Cell-Free Protein Synthesis of the DHBV Large Envelope Protein

Wheat-germ cell-free protein synthesis (WG-CFPS) is a potent platform for the high-yield production of proteins. It is especially of interest for difficult-to-express eukaryotic proteins, such as toxic and transmembrane proteins, and presents an important tool in high-throughput protein screening. Until recently, an assumed drawback of WG-CFPS was a reduced capacity for post-translational modifications. Meanwhile, phosphorylation has been observed in WG-CFPS; yet, authenticity of the respective phosphorylation sites remained unclear. Here we show that a viral membrane protein, the duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV) large envelope protein (DHBs L), produced by WG-CFPS, is phosphorylated upon translation at the same sites as DHBs L produced during DHBV infection of primary hepatocytes. Furthermore, we show that alternative translation initiation of the L protein, previously identified in virus-producing hepatic cells, occurs on WG-CFPS as well. Together, these findings further strengthen the high potential of WG-CFPS to include the reproduction of specific modifications proteins experience in vivo.

Regulation of Ribosomal Proteins on Viral Infection

Ribosomal proteins (RPs), in conjunction with rRNA, are major components of ribosomes involved in the cellular process of protein biosynthesis, known as "translation". The viruses, as the small infectious pathogens with limited genomes, must recruit a variety of host factors to survive and propagate, including RPs. At present, more and more information is available on the functional relationship between RPs and virus infection. This review focuses on advancements in my own understanding of critical roles of RPs in the life cycle of viruses. Various RPs interact with viral mRNA and proteins to participate in viral protein biosynthesis and regulate the replication and infection of virus in host cells. Most interactions are essential for viral translation and replication, which promote viral infection and accumulation, whereas the minority represents the defense signaling of host cells by activating immune pathway against virus. RPs provide a new platform for antiviral therapy development, however, at present, antiviral therapeutics with RPs involving in virus infection as targets is limited, and exploring antiviral strategy based on RPs will be the guides for further study.

Noncanonical Translation Initiation in Eukaryotes

The vast majority of eukaryotic messenger RNAs (mRNAs) initiate translation through a canonical, cap-dependent mechanism requiring a free 5' end and 5' cap and several initiation factors to form a translationally active ribosome. Stresses such as hypoxia, apoptosis, starvation, and viral infection down-regulate cap-dependent translation during which alternative mechanisms of translation initiation prevail to express proteins required to cope with the stress, or to produce viral proteins. The diversity of noncanonical initiation mechanisms encompasses a broad range of strategies and cellular cofactors. Herein, we provide an overview and, whenever possible, a mechanistic understanding of the various noncanonical mechanisms of initiation used by cells and viruses. Despite many unanswered questions, recent advances have propelled our understanding of the scope, diversity, and mechanisms of alternative initiation.

Unusual dicistronic expression from closely spaced initiation codons in an umbravirus subgenomic RNA

Translation commencing at closely spaced initiation codons is common in RNA viruses with limited genome space. In the subgenomic RNA (sgRNA) of Pea enation mosaic virus 2, two closely spaced, out-of-frame start codons direct synthesis of movement/stability proteins p26 and p27. Efficient translation from AUG26/AUG27 is dependent on three 3'-proximal cap-independent translation enhancers (3'CITEs), whereas translation of the genomic (gRNA) requires only two. Contrary to strictly scanning-dependent initiation at the gRNA, sequence context of AUG26/AUG27 does not conform with Kozak requirements and insertion of efficient upstream AUGs had pronounced effects for AUG26 but only moderate effects for AUG27. Insertion of a hairpin within an extended 5' UTR did not significantly impact translation from AUG26/AUG27. Furthermore, AUG27 repressed translation from upstream AUG26 and this effect was mitigated when inter-codon spacing was reduced. Addition of a stable hairpin to the very 5' end of the sgRNA severely restricted translation, testifying that this 3'CITE-driven initiation is 5' end-dependent. Similar to gRNA, sgRNA reporter transcripts were nearly exclusively associated with light polysomes and 3'CITE-promoted long-distance interaction connecting the sgRNA ends affected the number of templates translated and not the initiation rate. We propose a non-canonical, 3'CITE-driven mechanism for efficient dicistronic expression from umbravirus sgRNAs.

Ribosome Shunting, Polycistronic Translation, and Evasion of Antiviral Defenses in Plant Pararetroviruses and Beyond

Viruses have compact genomes and usually translate more than one protein from polycistronic RNAs using leaky scanning, frameshifting, stop codon suppression or reinitiation mechanisms. Viral (pre-)genomic RNAs often contain long 5′-leader sequences with short upstream open reading frames (uORFs) and secondary structure elements, which control both translation initiation and replication. In plants, viral RNA and DNA are targeted by RNA interference (RNAi) generating small RNAs that silence viral gene expression, while viral proteins are recognized by innate immunity and autophagy that restrict viral infection. In this review we focus on plant pararetroviruses of the family Caulimoviridae and describe the mechanisms of uORF- and secondary structure-driven ribosome shunting, leaky scanning and reinitiation after translation of short and long uORFs. We discuss conservation of these mechanisms in different genera of Caulimoviridae, including host genome-integrated endogenous viral elements, as well as in other viral families, and highlight a multipurpose use of the highly-structured leader sequence of plant pararetroviruses in regulation of translation, splicing, packaging, and reverse transcription of pregenomic RNA (pgRNA), and in evasion of RNAi. Furthermore, we illustrate how targeting of several host factors by a pararetroviral effector protein can lead to transactivation of viral polycistronic translation and concomitant suppression of antiviral defenses. Thus, activation of the plant protein kinase target of rapamycin (TOR) by the Cauliflower mosaic virus transactivator/viroplasmin (TAV) promotes reinitiation of translation after long ORFs on viral pgRNA and blocks antiviral autophagy and innate immunity responses, while interaction of TAV with the plant RNAi machinery interferes with antiviral silencing.

Translation initiation by cap-dependent ribosome recruitment: Recent insights and open questions

Gene expression universally relies on protein synthesis, where ribosomes recognize and decode the messenger RNA template by cycling through translation initiation, elongation, and termination phases. All aspects of translation have been studied for decades using the tools of biochemistry and molecular biology available at the time. Here, we focus on the mechanism of translation initiation in eukaryotes, which is remarkably more complex than prokaryotic initiation and is the target of multiple types of regulatory intervention. The "consensus" model, featuring cap-dependent ribosome entry and scanning of mRNA leader sequences, represents the predominantly utilized initiation pathway across eukaryotes, although several variations of the model and alternative initiation mechanisms are also known. Recent advances in structural biology techniques have enabled remarkable molecular-level insights into the functional states of eukaryotic ribosomes, including a range of ribosomal complexes with different combinations of translation initiation factors that are thought to represent bona fide intermediates of the initiation process. Similarly, high-throughput sequencing-based ribosome profiling or "footprinting" approaches have allowed much progress in understanding the elongation phase of translation, and variants of them are beginning to reveal the remaining mysteries of initiation, as well as aspects of translation termination and ribosomal recycling. A current view on the eukaryotic initiation mechanism is presented here with an emphasis on how recent structural and footprinting results underpin axioms of the consensus model. Along the way, we further outline some contested mechanistic issues and major open questions still to be addressed. This article is categorized under: Translation > Translation Mechanisms Translation > Translation Regulation RNA Interactions with Proteins and Other Molecules > Protein-RNA Interactions: Functional Implications.

Know Your Enemy: Successful Bioinformatic Approaches to Predict Functional RNA Structures in Viral RNAs

Structured RNA elements may control virus replication, transcription and translation, and their distinct features are being exploited by novel antiviral strategies. Viral RNA elements continue to be discovered using combinations of experimental and computational analyses. However, the wealth of sequence data, notably from deep viral RNA sequencing, viromes, and metagenomes, necessitates computational approaches being used as an essential discovery tool. In this review, we describe practical approaches being used to discover functional RNA elements in viral genomes. In addition to success stories in new and emerging viruses, these approaches have revealed some surprising new features of well-studied viruses e.g., human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis C virus, influenza, and dengue viruses. Some notable discoveries were facilitated by new comparative analyses of diverse viral genome alignments. Importantly, comparative approaches for finding RNA elements embedded in coding and non-coding regions differ. With the exponential growth of computer power we have progressed from stem-loop prediction on single sequences to cutting edge 3D prediction, and from command line to user friendly web interfaces. Despite these advances, many powerful, user friendly prediction tools and resources are underutilized by the virology community.

Badnaviruses: The Current Global Scenario

Badnaviruses (Family: Caulimoviridae; Genus: Badnavirus) are non-enveloped bacilliform DNA viruses with a monopartite genome containing about 7.2 to 9.2 kb of dsDNA with three to seven open reading frames. They are transmitted by mealybugs and a few species by aphids in a semi-persistent manner. They are one of the most important plant virus groups and have emerged as serious pathogens affecting the cultivation of several horticultural crops in the tropics, especially banana, black pepper, cocoa, citrus, sugarcane, taro, and yam. Some badnaviruses are also known as endogenous viruses integrated into their host genomes and a few such endogenous viruses can be awakened, e.g., through abiotic stress, giving rise to infective episomal forms. The presence of endogenous badnaviruses poses a new challenge for the fool-proof diagnosis, taxonomy, and management of the diseases. The present review aims to highlight emerging disease problems, virus characteristics, transmission, and diagnosis of badnaviruses.

An RNA trapping mechanism in Alphavirus mRNA promotes ribosome stalling and translation initiation

During translation initiation, eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF2) delivers the Met-tRNA to the 40S ribosomal subunit to locate the initiation codon (AUG_i) of mRNA during the scanning process. Stress-induced eIF2 phosphorylation leads to a general blockade of translation initiation and represents a key antiviral pathway in mammals. However, some viral mRNAs can initiate translation in the presence of phosphorylated eIF2 via stable RNA stem-loop structures (DLP; Downstream LooP) located in their coding sequence (CDS), which promote 43S preinitiation complex stalling on the initiation codon. We show here that during the scanning process, DLPs of Alphavirus mRNA become trapped in ES6S region (680–914 nt) of 18S rRNA that are projected from the solvent side of 40S subunit. This trapping can lock the progress of the 40S subunit on the mRNA in a way that places the upstream initiator AUG_i on the P site of 40S subunit, obviating the participation of eIF2. Notably, the DLP structure is released from 18S rRNA upon 60S ribosomal subunit joining, suggesting conformational changes in ES6Ss during the initiation process. These novel findings illustrate how viral mRNA is threaded into the 40S subunit during the scanning process, exploiting the topology of the 40S subunit solvent side to enhance its translation in vertebrate hosts.

Cap-dependent, scanning-free translation initiation mechanisms

Eukaryotic translation initiation is an intricate and multi-step process that includes 43S Pre-Initiation Complex (PIC) assembly, attachment of the PIC to the mRNA, scanning, start codon selection and 60S subunit joining. Translation initiation of most mRNAs involves recognition of a 5'end m7G cap and ribosomal scanning in which the 5' UTR is checked for complementarity with the AUG. There is however an increasing number of mRNAs directing translation initiation that deviate from the predominant mechanism. In this review we summarize the canonical translation initiation process and describe non-canonical mechanisms that are cap-dependent but operate without scanning. In particular we focus on several examples of translation initiation driven either by mRNAs with extremely short 5' leaders or by highly complex 5' UTRs that promote ribosome shunting.

Evasion of short interfering RNA-directed antiviral silencing in Musa acuminata persistently infected with six distinct banana streak pararetroviruses

Vegetatively propagated crop plants often suffer from infections with persistent RNA and DNA viruses. Such viruses appear to evade the plant defenses that normally restrict viral replication and spread. The major antiviral defense mechanism is based on RNA silencing generating viral short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) that can potentially repress viral genes posttranscriptionally through RNA cleavage and transcriptionally through DNA cytosine methylation. Here we examined the RNA silencing machinery of banana plants persistently infected with six pararetroviruses after many years of vegetative propagation. Using deep sequencing, we reconstructed consensus master genomes of the viruses and characterized virus-derived and endogenous small RNAs. Consistent with the presence of endogenous siRNAs that can potentially establish and maintain DNA methylation, the banana genomic DNA was extensively methylated in both healthy and virus-infected plants. A novel class of abundant 20-nucleotide (nt) endogenous small RNAs with 5'-terminal guanosine was identified. In all virus-infected plants, 21- to 24-nt viral siRNAs accumulated at relatively high levels (up to 22% of the total small RNA population) and covered the entire circular viral DNA genomes in both orientations. The hotspots of 21-nt and 22-nt siRNAs occurred within open reading frame (ORF) I and II and the 5' portion of ORF III, while 24-nt siRNAs were more evenly distributed along the viral genome. Despite the presence of abundant viral siRNAs of different size classes, the viral DNA was largely free of cytosine methylation. Thus, the virus is able to evade siRNA-directed DNA methylation and thereby avoid transcriptional silencing. This evasion of silencing likely contributes to the persistence of pararetroviruses in banana plants.

IMPORTANCE

We report that DNA pararetroviruses in Musa acuminata banana plants are able to evade DNA cytosine methylation and transcriptional gene silencing, despite being targeted by the host silencing machinery generating abundant 21- to 24-nucleotide short interfering RNAs. At the same time, the banana genomic DNA is extensively methylated in both healthy and virus-infected plants. Our findings shed light on the siRNA-generating gene silencing machinery of banana and provide a possible explanation why episomal pararetroviruses can persist in plants whereas true retroviruses with an obligatory genome-integration step in their replication cycle do not exist in plants.

Up to four distinct polypeptides are produced from the γ34.5 open reading frame of herpes simplex virus 2

The herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) ICP34.5 protein strongly influences neurovirulence and regulates several cellular antiviral responses. Despite the clinical importance of HSV-2, relatively little is known about its ICP34.5 ortholog. We found that HSV-2 produces up to four distinct forms of ICP34.5 in infected cells: a full-length protein, one shorter form sharing the N terminus, and two shorter forms sharing the C terminus. These forms appeared with similar kinetics and accumulated in cells over much of the replication cycle. We confirmed that the N-terminal form is translated from the primary unspliced transcript to a stop codon within the intron unique to HSV-2 γ34.5. We found that the N-terminal form was produced in a variety of cell types and by 9 of 10 clinical isolates. ICP27 influenced but was not required for expression of the N-terminal form. Western blotting and reverse transcription-PCR indicated the C-terminal forms did not contain the N terminus and were not products of alternative splicing or internal transcript initiation. Expression plasmids encoding methionine at amino acids 56 and 70 generated products that comigrated in SDS-PAGE with the C1 and C2 forms, respectively, and mutation of these sites abolished C1 and C2. Using a recombinant HSV-2 encoding hemagglutinin (HA)-tagged ICP34.5, we demonstrated that the C-terminal forms were also produced during infection of many human and mouse cell types but were not detectable in mouse primary neurons. The protein diversity generated from the HSV-2 γ34.5 open reading frame implies additional layers of cellular regulation through potential independent activities associated with the various forms of ICP34.5.

IMPORTANCE

The herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) protein ICP34.5, encoded by the γ34.5 gene, interferes with several host defense mechanisms by binding cellular proteins that would otherwise stimulate the cell's autophagic, translational-arrest, and type I interferon responses to virus infection. ICP34.5 also plays a crucial role in determining the severity of nervous system infections with HSV-1 and HSV-2. The HSV-2 γ34.5 gene contains an intron not present in HSV-1 γ34.5. A shorter N-terminal form of HSV-2 ICP34.5 can be translated from the unspliced γ34.5 mRNA. Here, we show that two additional forms consisting of the C-terminal portion of ICP34.5 are generated in infected cells. Production of these N- and C-terminal forms is highly conserved among HSV-2 strains, including many clinical isolates, and they are broadly expressed in several cell types, but not mouse primary neurons. Multiple ICP34.5 polypeptides add additional complexity to potential functional interactions influencing HSV-2 neurovirulence.

Two alternative ways of start site selection in human norovirus reinitiation of translation

The calicivirus minor capsid protein VP2 is expressed via termination/reinitiation. This process depends on an upstream sequence element denoted termination upstream ribosomal binding site (TURBS). We have shown for feline calicivirus and rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus that the TURBS contains three sequence motifs essential for reinitiation. Motif 1 is conserved among caliciviruses and is complementary to a sequence in the 18 S rRNA leading to the model that hybridization between motif 1 and 18 S rRNA tethers the post-termination ribosome to the mRNA. Motif 2 and motif 2* are proposed to establish a secondary structure positioning the ribosome relative to the start site of the terminal ORF. Here, we analyzed human norovirus (huNV) sequences for the presence and importance of these motifs. The three motifs were identified by sequence analyses in the region upstream of the VP2 start site, and we showed that these motifs are essential for reinitiation of huNV VP2 translation. More detailed analyses revealed that the site of reinitiation is not fixed to a single codon and does not need to be an AUG, even though this codon is clearly preferred. Interestingly, we were able to show that reinitiation can occur at AUG codons downstream of the canonical start/stop site in huNV and feline calicivirus but not in rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus. Although reinitiation at the original start site is independent of the Kozak context, downstream initiation exhibits requirements for start site sequence context known for linear scanning. These analyses on start codon recognition give a more detailed insight into this fascinating mechanism of gene expression.

Reinitiation after translation of two upstream open reading frames (ORF) governs expression of the ORF35-37 Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus polycistronic mRNA

The Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) ORF36 protein kinase is translated as a downstream gene from the ORF35-37 polycistronic mRNA via a unique mechanism involving short upstream open reading frames (uORFs) located in the 5' untranslated region. Here, we confirm that ORF35-37 is functionally dicistronic during infection and demonstrate that mutation of the dominant uORF restricts KSHV replication. Leaky scanning past the uORFs facilitates ORF35 expression, while a reinitiation mechanism after translation of the uORFs enables ORF36 expression.

Regulation of plant translation by upstream open reading frames

We review the evidence that upstream open reading frames (uORFs) function as RNA sequence elements for post-transcriptional control of gene expression, specifically translation. uORFs are highly abundant in the genomes of angiosperms. Their negative effect on translation is often attenuated by ribosomal translation reinitiation, a process whose molecular biochemistry is still being investigated. Certain uORFs render translation responsive to small molecules, thus offering a path for metabolic control of gene expression in evolution and synthetic biology. In some cases, uORFs form modular logic gates in signal transduction. uORFs thus provide eukaryotes with a functionality analogous to, or comparable to, riboswitches and attenuators in prokaryotes. uORFs exist in many genes regulating development and point toward translational control of development. While many uORFs appear to be poorly conserved, and the number of genes with conserved-peptide uORFs is modest, many mRNAs have a conserved pattern of uORFs. Evolutionarily, the gain and loss of uORFs may be a widespread mechanism that diversifies gene expression patterns. Last but not least, this review includes a dedicated uORF database for Arabidopsis.

Plant pararetroviruses: replication and expression

True retroviruses are not known in plants; however, plant pararetroviruses (caulimoviridae) share many retroviral properties, replicating by transcription in the nucleus followed by reverse transcription in the cytoplasm. Pararetroviruses have circular DNA genomes that do not integrate into the host genome, and display several unique expression strategies. Typical of plant pararetroviral pregenomic RNA is a highly structured leader of about 600nt long that is bypassed by scanning ribosomes. Caulimoviruses and Soymoviruses have a further interesting translation mechanism: at least six of the seven open reading frames are translated via polycistronic translation mediated by a specific transactivator (TAV), which modifies the translation complex. TAV also forms large intracellular inclusion bodies, which are the site of translation and virus assembly.

Translational Regulation of Cytoplasmic mRNAs

Translation of the coding potential of a messenger RNA into a protein molecule is a fundamental process in all living cells and consumes a large fraction of metabolites and energy resources in growing cells. Moreover, translation has emerged as an important control point in the regulation of gene expression. At the level of gene regulation, translational control is utilized to support the specific life histories of plants, in particular their responses to the abiotic environment and to metabolites. This review summarizes the diversity of translational control mechanisms in the plant cytoplasm, focusing on specific cases where mechanisms of translational control have evolved to complement or eclipse other levels of gene regulation. We begin by introducing essential features of the translation apparatus. We summarize early evidence for translational control from the pre-Arabidopsis era. Next, we review evidence for translation control in response to stress, to metabolites, and in development. The following section emphasizes RNA sequence elements and biochemical processes that regulate translation. We close with a chapter on the role of signaling pathways that impinge on translation.

Dual short upstream open reading frames control translation of a herpesviral polycistronic mRNA

The Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) protein kinase, encoded by ORF36, functions to phosphorylate cellular and viral targets important in the KSHV lifecycle and to activate the anti-viral prodrug ganciclovir. Unlike the vast majority of mapped KSHV genes, no viral transcript has been identified with ORF36 positioned as the 5′-proximal gene. Here we report that ORF36 is robustly translated as a downstream cistron from the ORF35–37 polycistronic transcript in a cap-dependent manner. We identified two short, upstream open reading frames (uORFs) within the 5′ UTR of the polycistronic mRNA. While both uORFs function as negative regulators of ORF35, unexpectedly, the second allows for the translation of the downstream ORF36 gene by a termination-reinitiation mechanism. Positional conservation of uORFs within a number of related viruses suggests that this may be a common γ-herpesviral adaptation of a host translational regulatory mechanism.

Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is the etiologic agent of multicentric Castleman's disease, primary effusion lymphoma and Kaposi's sarcoma. KSHV expresses a number of transcripts with the potential to generate multiple proteins, yet relies on the cellular translation machinery that is primed to synthesize only one protein per mRNA. Here we report that the viral transcript encompassing ORF35–37 is able to direct synthesis of two proteins and that the translational switch is regulated by two short upstream open reading frames (uORFs) in the native 5′ untranslated region. uORFs are elements commonly found upstream of mammalian genes that function to interfere with unrestrained ribosomal scanning and thus repress translation of the major ORF. The sequence of the viral uORF appears unimportant, and instead functions to position the translation machinery in a location that favors translation of the downstream major ORF, via a reinitiation mechanism. Thus, KSHV uses a host strategy generally reserved to repress translation to instead allow for the expression of an internal gene.

Ribosomal protein S25 dependency reveals a common mechanism for diverse internal ribosome entry sites and ribosome shunting

During viral infection or cellular stress, cap-dependent translation is shut down. Proteins that are synthesized under these conditions use alternative mechanisms to initiate translation. This study demonstrates that at least two alternative translation initiation routes, internal ribosome entry site (IRES) initiation and ribosome shunting, rely on ribosomal protein S25 (RPS25). This suggests that they share a mechanism for initiation that is not employed by cap-dependent translation, since cap-dependent translation is not affected by the loss of RPS25. Furthermore, we demonstrate that viruses that utilize an IRES or a ribosome shunt, such as hepatitis C virus, poliovirus, or adenovirus, have impaired amplification in cells depleted of RPS25. In contrast, viral amplification of a virus that relies solely on cap-dependent translation, herpes simplex virus, is not hindered. We present a model that explains how RPS25 can be a nexus for multiple alternative translation initiation pathways.

Translation initiation is driven by different mechanisms on the HIV-1 and HIV-2 genomic RNAs

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) unspliced full length genomic RNA possesses features of an eukaryotic cellular mRNA as it is capped at its 5' end and polyadenylated at its 3' extremity. This genomic RNA is used both for the production of the viral structural and enzymatic proteins (Gag and Pol, respectively) and as genome for encapsidation in the newly formed viral particle. Although both of these processes are critical for viral replication, they should be controlled in a timely manner for a coherent progression into the viral cycle. Some of this regulation is exerted at the level of translational control and takes place on the viral 5' untranslated region and the beginning of the gag coding region. In this review, we have focused on the different initiation mechanisms (cap- and internal ribosome entry site (IRES)-dependent) that are used by the HIV-1 and HIV-2 genomic RNAs and the cellular and viral factors that can modulate their expression. Interestingly, although HIV-1 and HIV-2 share many similarities in the overall clinical syndrome they produce, in some aspects of their replication cycle, and in the structure of their respective genome, they exhibit some differences in the way that ribosomes are recruited on the gag mRNA to initiate translation and produce the viral proteins; this will be discussed in the light of the literature.

Non-canonical translation in RNA viruses

Viral protein synthesis is completely dependent upon the translational machinery of the host cell. However, many RNA virus transcripts have marked structural differences from cellular mRNAs that preclude canonical translation initiation, such as the absence of a 5′ cap structure or the presence of highly structured 5′UTRs containing replication and/or packaging signals. Furthermore, whilst the great majority of cellular mRNAs are apparently monocistronic, RNA viruses must often express multiple proteins from their mRNAs. In addition, RNA viruses have very compact genomes and are under intense selective pressure to optimize usage of the available sequence space. Together, these features have driven the evolution of a plethora of non-canonical translational mechanisms in RNA viruses that help them to meet these challenges. Here, we review the mechanisms utilized by RNA viruses of eukaryotes, focusing on internal ribosome entry, leaky scanning, non-AUG initiation, ribosome shunting, reinitiation, ribosomal frameshifting and stop-codon readthrough. The review will highlight recently discovered examples of unusual translational strategies, besides revisiting some classical cases.

A new framework for understanding IRES-mediated translation

Studies over the past 5 or so years have indicated that the traditional clustering of mechanisms for translation initiation in eukaryotes into cap-dependent and cap-independent (or IRES-mediated) is far too narrow. From individual studies of a number of mRNAs encoding proteins that are regulatory in nature (i.e. likely to be needed in small amounts such as transcription factors, protein kinases, etc.), it is now evident that mRNAs exist that blur these boundaries. This review seeks to set the basic ground rules for the analysis of different initiation pathways that are associated with these new mRNAs as well as related to the more traditional mechanisms, especially the cap-dependent translational process that is the major route of initiation of mRNAs for housekeeping proteins and thus, the bulk of protein synthesis in most cells. It will become apparent that a mixture of descriptions is likely to become the norm in the near future (i.e. m(7)G-assisted internal initiation).

Short ORF-dependent ribosome shunting operates in an RNA picorna-like virus and a DNA pararetrovirus that cause rice tungro disease

Rice tungro disease is caused by synergistic interaction of an RNA picorna-like virus Rice tungro spherical virus (RTSV) and a DNA pararetrovirus Rice tungro bacilliform virus (RTBV). It is spread by insects owing to an RTSV-encoded transmission factor. RTBV has evolved a ribosome shunt mechanism to initiate translation of its pregenomic RNA having a long and highly structured leader. We found that a long leader of RTSV genomic RNA remarkably resembles the RTBV leader: both contain several short ORFs (sORFs) and potentially fold into a large stem-loop structure with the first sORF terminating in front of the stem basal helix. Using translation assays in rice protoplasts and wheat germ extracts, we show that, like in RTBV, both initiation and proper termination of the first sORF translation in front of the stem are required for shunt-mediated translation of a reporter ORF placed downstream of the RTSV leader. The base pairing that forms the basal helix is required for shunting, but its sequence can be varied. Shunt efficiency in RTSV is lower than in RTBV. But in addition to shunting the RTSV leader sequence allows relatively efficient linear ribosome migration, which also contributes to translation initiation downstream of the leader. We conclude that RTSV and RTBV have developed a similar, sORF-dependent shunt mechanism possibly to adapt to the host translation system and/or coordinate their life cycles. Given that sORF-dependent shunting also operates in a pararetrovirus Cauliflower mosaic virus and likely in other pararetroviruses that possess a conserved shunt configuration in their leaders it is tempting to propose that RTSV may have acquired shunt cis-elements from RTBV during their co-existence.

Ribosome shunting, first discovered in plant pararetroviruses, is a translation initiation mechanism that combines 5′ end-dependent scanning and internal initiation and allows a bypass of highly-structured leaders of certain viral and cellular mRNAs. Here we demonstrate that a similar shunt mechanism has been developed by the RNA picorna-like virus RTSV and the DNA pararetrovirus RTBV that form a disease complex in rice. Leader sequences of the RTSV genomic RNA and the RTBV pregenomic RNA possess a conserved shunt configuration with a 5′-proximal short ORF (sORF1) terminating in front of a large stem-loop structure. Like in RTBV and a related pararetrovirus Cauliflower mosaic virus, shunt-mediated translation downstream of the RTSV leader depends on initiation and proper termination of sORF1 translation and on formation of the basal helix of the downstream secondary structure. Given that RTBV-like shunt elements with identical sequence motifs are present in all RTSV isolates but absent in related picorna-like viruses, it is likely that RTSV could have acquired these elements after its encounter with RTBV. Alternatively, the RTSV shunt elements could have evolved independently to adapt to the rice translation machinery. Our study highlights on-going genetic exchange and co-adaptation to the host in emerging viral disease complexes.

Molecular characterization of Banana streak virus isolate from Musa Acuminata in China

Banana streak virus (BSV), a member of genus Badnavirus, is a causal agent of banana streak disease throughout the world. The genetic diversity of BSVs from different regions of banana plantations has previously been investigated, but there are relatively few reports of the genetic characteristic of episomal (non-integrated) BSV genomes isolated from China. Here, the complete genome, a total of 7722bp (GenBank accession number DQ092436), of an isolate of Banana streak virus (BSV) on cultivar Cavendish (BSAcYNV) in Yunnan, China was determined. The genome organises in the typical manner of badnaviruses. The intergenic region of genomic DNA contains a large stem-loop, which may contribute to the ribosome shift into the following open reading frames (ORFs). The coding region of BSAcYNV consists of three overlapping ORFs, ORF1 with a non-AUG start codon and ORF2 encoding two small proteins are individually involved in viral movement and ORF3 encodes a polyprotein. Besides the complete genome, a defective genome lacking the whole RNA leader region and a majority of ORF1 and which encompasses 6525bp was also isolated and sequenced from this BSV DNA reservoir in infected banana plants. Sequence analyses showed that BSAcYNV has closest similarity in terms of genome organization and the coding assignments with an BSV isolate from Vietnam (BSAcVNV). The corresponding coding regions shared identities of 88% and -95% at nucleotide and amino acid levels, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis also indicated BSAcYNV shared the closest geographical evolutionary relationship to BSAcVNV among sequenced banana streak badnaviruses.

Top 10 plant viruses in molecular plant pathology

Many scientists, if not all, feel that their particular plant virus should appear in any list of the most important plant viruses. However, to our knowledge, no such list exists. The aim of this review was to survey all plant virologists with an association with Molecular Plant Pathology and ask them to nominate which plant viruses they would place in a 'Top 10' based on scientific/economic importance. The survey generated more than 250 votes from the international community, and allowed the generation of a Top 10 plant virus list for Molecular Plant Pathology. The Top 10 list includes, in rank order, (1) Tobacco mosaic virus, (2) Tomato spotted wilt virus, (3) Tomato yellow leaf curl virus, (4) Cucumber mosaic virus, (5) Potato virus Y, (6) Cauliflower mosaic virus, (7) African cassava mosaic virus, (8) Plum pox virus, (9) Brome mosaic virus and (10) Potato virus X, with honourable mentions for viruses just missing out on the Top 10, including Citrus tristeza virus, Barley yellow dwarf virus, Potato leafroll virus and Tomato bushy stunt virus. This review article presents a short review on each virus of the Top 10 list and its importance, with the intent of initiating discussion and debate amongst the plant virology community, as well as laying down a benchmark, as it will be interesting to see in future years how perceptions change and which viruses enter and leave the Top 10.

An alternative -1/+2 open reading frame exists within viral N(pro)(1-19) region of bovine viral diarrhea virus SD-1

We previously reported the engineering of an N(pro)-disrupted bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV), BSD1-N(pro)/eGFP2A (Fan and Bird, 2008a). Here, we report that BSD1-N(pro)/eGFP2A survives a single nucleotide missing in its C-terminal eGFP region. By using our established reverse genetics system for BVDV, we confirm that the viral mutant is rescued through a -1/+2 ORF initiated in the N(pro)(1-19)/eGFP region of the mutant viral genome. We furthermore uncover that this event occurs in the N(pro)(1-19) region of BVDV strain SD-1. The rescued viral mutant showed dramatic reductions in levels of both viral RNA and viral protein in host cells. Although the mutant is similar to the native strain in viral kinetics, the peak yield of the mutant is decreased dramatically. These findings reveal the existence of an alternative -1/+2 ORF in the N(pro)(1-19) region during the replication of BVDV and open a new avenue to understand the life cycle and pathogenesis of pestiviruses.

The large intergenic region of Rice tungro bacilliform virus evolved differentially among geographically distinguished isolates

Rice tungro bacilliform virus (RTBV) is a plant pararetrovirus. The large intergenic region (LIGR) of RTBV having a single transcriptional promoter produces more than genome length pregenomic RNA (pgRNA) which directs synthesis of circular double-stranded viral DNA and serves as a polycistronic mRNA. By computer-aided analysis of LIGR, the 11 RTBV isolates sequenced so far were compared with respect to structural organization of promoter and pgRNA 5'-leader. The results revealed only 74.90% identity at LIGR between 'Southeast Asian' (SEA) and 'South Asian' (SA) isolates of RTBV indicating considerable variation between two groups which was also reflected during analysis of promoter and leader sequence. The predicted promoter region of SA isolates exhibited major variations in terms of transcription start site and consensus sequences of cis motifs expecting further exploitation of promoter region of SA isolates. The reduced length of leader sequence along with less numbers and different arrangements of small open reading frames (sORFs) in case of SA isolates might have some alterations in the control of expression of ORF II and III between the two groups. In spite of these variations, the leader sequence of both SEA and SA type isolates showed formation of stable secondary or stem-loop structure having identical features for efficient translation. The conservation of sORF1 at seven nucleotides upstream of stable stem-loop, CU-rich sequence following the sORF1 stop codon and AU-rich shunt landing sequence immediately downstream of the secondary structure suggested conservation of ribosomal shunt mechanism in all RTBV isolates irrespective of their geographical distribution.

Bioinformatics analysis of a Saccharomyces cerevisiae N-terminal proteome provides evidence of alternative translation initiation and post-translational N-terminal acetylation

Initiation of protein translation is a well-studied fundamental process, albeit high-throughput and more comprehensive determination of the exact translation initiation sites (TIS) was only recently made possible following the introduction of positional proteomics techniques that target protein N-termini. Precise translation initiation is of crucial importance, as truncated or extended proteins might fold, function, and locate erroneously. Still, as already shown for some proteins, alternative translation initiation can also serve as a regulatory mechanism. By applying N-terminal COFRADIC (combined fractional diagonal chromatography), we here isolated N-terminal peptides of a Saccharomyces cerevisiae proteome and analyzed both annotated and alternative TIS. We analyzed this N-terminome of S. cerevisiae which resulted in the identification of 650 unique N-terminal peptides corresponding to database annotated TIS. Furthermore, 56 unique N(α)-acetylated peptides were identified that suggest alternative TIS (MS/MS-based), while MS-based evidence of N(α)-acetylation led to an additional 33 such peptides. To improve the overall sensitivity of the analysis, we also included the 5' UTR (untranslated region) in-frame translations together with the yeast protein sequences in UniProtKB/Swiss-Prot. To ensure the quality of the individual peptide identifications, peptide-to-spectrum matches were only accepted at a 99% probability threshold and were subsequently analyzed in detail by the Peptizer tool to automatically ascertain their compliance with several expert criteria. Furthermore, we have also identified 60 MS/MS-based and 117 MS-based N(α)-acetylated peptides that point to N(α)-acetylation as a post-translational modification since these peptides did not start nor were preceded (in their corresponding protein sequence) by a methionine residue. Next, we evaluated consensus sequence features of nucleic acids and amino acids across each of these groups of peptides and evaluated the results in the context of publicly available data. Taken together, we present a list of 706 annotated and alternative TIS for yeast proteins and found that under normal growth conditions alternative TIS might (co)occur in S. cerevisiae in roughly one tenth of all proteins. Furthermore, we found that the nucleic acid and amino acid features proximate to these alternative TIS favor either guanine or adenine nucleotides following the start codon or acidic amino acids following the initiator methionine. Finally, we also observed an unexpected high number of N(α)-acetylated peptides that could not be related to TIS and therefore suggest events of post-translational N(α)-acetylation.

RNA elements directing translation of the duck hepatitis B Virus polymerase via ribosomal shunting

The duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV) reverse transcriptase (P) is translated from the downstream position on a bicistronic mRNA, called the pregenomic RNA, through a poorly characterized ribosomal shunt. Here, the positions of the discontinuous ribosomal transfer during shunting were mapped, and RNA elements important for shunting were identified as a prelude to dissecting the shunting mechanism. Mutations were introduced into the DHBV genome, genomic expression vectors were transfected into cells which support reverse transcription, and P translation efficiency was defined as the ratio of P/mRNA. Five observations were made. First, ribosomes departed from sequences that comprise the RNA stem-loop called ε that is key to viral replication, but the known elements of ε were not needed for shunting. Second, at least two landing sites for ribosomes were found on the mRNA. Third, all sequences upstream of ε, most sequences between the cap and the P AUG, and sequences within the P-coding region were dispensable for shunting. Fourth, elements on the mRNA involved in reverse transcription or predicted to be involved in shunting on the basis of mechanisms documented in other viruses, including short open reading frames near the departure site, were not essential for shunting. Finally, two RNA elements in the 5' portion of the mRNA were found to assist shunting. These observations are most consistent with shunting being directed by signals that act through an uncharacterized RNA secondary structure. Together, these data indicate that DHBV employs either a novel shunting mechanism or a major variation on one of the characterized mechanisms.

Massive production of small RNAs from a non-coding region of Cauliflower mosaic virus in plant defense and viral counter-defense

To successfully infect plants, viruses must counteract small RNA-based host defense responses. During infection of Arabidopsis, Cauliflower mosaic pararetrovirus (CaMV) is transcribed into pregenomic 35S and subgenomic 19S RNAs. The 35S RNA is both reverse transcribed and also used as an mRNA with highly structured 600 nt leader. We found that this leader region is transcribed into long sense- and antisense-RNAs and spawns a massive quantity of 21, 22 and 24 nt viral small RNAs (vsRNAs), comparable to the entire complement of host-encoded small-interfering RNAs and microRNAs. Leader-derived vsRNAs were detected bound to the Argonaute 1 (AGO1) effector protein, unlike vsRNAs from other viral regions. Only negligible amounts of leader-derived vsRNAs were bound to AGO4. Genetic evidence showed that all four Dicer-like (DCL) proteins mediate vsRNA biogenesis, whereas the RNA polymerases Pol IV, Pol V, RDR1, RDR2 and RDR6 are not required for this process. Surprisingly, CaMV titers were not increased in dcl1/2/3/4 quadruple mutants that accumulate only residual amounts of vsRNAs. Ectopic expression of CaMV leader vsRNAs from an attenuated geminivirus led to increased accumulation of this chimeric virus. Thus, massive production of leader-derived vsRNAs does not restrict viral replication but may serve as a decoy diverting the silencing machinery from viral promoter and coding regions.

Translation initiation of viral mRNAs

Viruses depend on cells for their replication but have evolved mechanisms to achieve this in an efficient and, in some instances, a cell‐type‐specific manner. The expression of viral proteins is frequently subject to translational control. The dominant target of such control is the initiation step of protein synthesis. Indeed, during the early stages of infection, viral mRNAs must compete with their host counterparts for the protein synthetic machinery, especially for the limited pool of eukaryotic translation initiation factors (eIFs) that mediate the recruitment of ribosomes to both viral and cellular mRNAs. To circumvent this competition viruses use diverse strategies so that ribosomes can be recruited selectively to viral mRNAs. In this review we focus on the initiation of protein synthesis and outline some of the strategies used by viruses to ensure efficient translation initiation of their mRNAs. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Facilitated leaky scanning and atypical ribosome shunting direct downstream translation initiation on the tricistronic S1 mRNA of avian reovirus

The S1 mRNA of avian reovirus is functionally tricistronic, encoding three unrelated proteins, p10, p17 and σC, from three sequential, partially overlapping open reading frames (ORFs). The mechanism of translation initiation at the 3'-proximal σC ORF is currently unknown. Transient RNA transfections using Renilla luciferase reporter constructs revealed only a modest reduction in reporter expression upon optimization of either the p10 or p17 start sites. Insertion of multiple upstream AUG (uAUG) codons in a preferred start codon sequence context resulted in a substantial retention of downstream translation initiation on the S1 mRNA, but not on a heterologous mRNA. The S1 mRNA therefore facilitates leaky scanning to promote ribosome access to the σC start codon. Evidence also indicates that σC translation is mediated by a second scanning-independent mechanism capable of bypassing upstream ORFs. This alternate mechanism is cap-dependent and requires a sequence-dependent translation enhancer element that is complementary to 18S rRNA. Downstream translation initiation of the tricistronic S1 mRNA is therefore made possible by two alternate mechanisms, facilitated leaky scanning and an atypical form of ribosome shunting. This dual mechanism of downstream translation initiation ensures sufficient expression of the σC cell attachment protein that is essential for infectious progeny virus production.

Translational control of eukaryotic gene expression

Translational control mechanisms are, besides transcriptional control and mRNA stability, the most determining for final protein levels. A large number of accessory factors that assist the ribosome during initiation, elongation, and termination of translation are required for protein synthesis. Cap-dependent translational control occurs mainly during the initiation step, involving eukaryotic initiation factors (eIFs) and accessory proteins. Initiation is affected by various stimuli that influence the phosphorylation status of both eIF4E and eIF2 and through binding of 4E-binding proteins to eIF4E, which finally inhibits cap- dependent translation. Under conditions where cap-dependent translation is hampered, translation of transcripts containing an internal ribosome entry site can still be supported in a cap-independent manner. An interesting example of translational control is the switch between cap-independent and cap-dependent translation during the eukaryotic cell cycle. At the G1-to-S transition, translation occurs predominantly in a cap-dependent manner, while during the G2-to-M transition, cap-dependent translation is inhibited and transcripts are predominantly translated through a cap-independent mechanism.

Molecular dissection of the prototype foamy virus (PFV) RNA 5'-UTR identifies essential elements of a ribosomal shunt

The prototype foamy virus (PFV) is a nonpathogenic retrovirus that shows promise as a vector for gene transfer. The PFV (pre)genomic RNA starts with a long complex leader that can be folded into an elongated hairpin, suggesting an alternative strategy to cap-dependent linear scanning for translation initiation of the downstream GAG open reading frame (ORF). We found that the PFV leader carries several short ORFs (sORFs), with the three 5′-proximal sORFs located upstream of a structural element. Scanning-inhibitory hairpin insertion analysis suggested a ribosomal shunt mechanism, whereby ribosomes start scanning at the leader 5′-end and initiate at the downstream ORF via bypass of the central leader regions, which are inhibitory for scanning. We show that the efficiency of shunting depends strongly on the stability of the structural element located downstream of either sORFs A/A′ or sORF B, and on the translation event at the corresponding 5′-proximal sORF. The PFV shunting strategy mirrors that of Cauliflower mosaic virus in plants; however, in mammals shunting can operate in the presence of a less stable structural element, although it is greatly improved by increasing the number of base pairings. At least one shunt configuration was found in primate FV (pre)genomic RNAs.

Coupled termination/reinitiation for translation of the downstream open reading frame B of the prototypic hypovirus CHV1-EP713

Cryphonectria hypovirus 1 (CHV1), associated with the picorna-like superfamily, infects the chestnut blight fungus and attenuates the virulence of the host fungus. The genomic RNA of the virus has two continuous open reading frames, A and B, separated by the pentanucleotide UAAUG. We present here evidence suggesting that ORF B is translated from genome-sized virus mRNA by a coupled termination/reinitiation mechanism mediated by the pentamer. In the coupled translation, the overlapping UAA and AUG triplets serve as the stop codon of ORF A and the initiator of ORF B, respectively. This was established by the use of a luciferase assay with a basic construct containing the ORF A sequence and the firefly luciferase gene while retaining the pentamer between the two coding sequences. The proportion of ribosomes reinitiating translation after terminating was determined to be 2.5–4.4% by three independent assay systems in fungal and insect cells. Use of a series of mutant constructs identified two sequence elements, the pentamer and the p40 sequence, that affect the efficiency of coupled translation and virus replication. Together, these results provide the first example of coupled translation facilitated by the pentanucleotide UAAUG in the kingdom Fungi. The mechanism by which the preceding p40-coding sequence promotes reinitiation is discussed.

Pre-P is a secreted glycoprotein encoded as an N-terminal extension of the duck hepatitis B virus polymerase gene

The duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV) pregenomic RNA is a bicistronic mRNA encoding the core and polymerase proteins. Thirteen AUGs (C2 to C14) and 10 stop codons (S1 to S10) are located between the C1 AUG for the core protein and the P1 AUG that initiates polymerase translation. We previously found that the translation of the DHBV polymerase is initiated by ribosomal shunting. Here, we assessed the biosynthetic events after shunting. Translation of the polymerase open reading frame was found to initiate at the C13, C14, and P1 AUGs. Initiation at the C13 AUG occurred through ribosomal shunting because translation from this codon was cap dependent but was insensitive to blocking ribosomal scanning internally in the message. C13 and C14 are in frame with P1, and translation from these upstream start codons led to the production of larger isoforms of P. We named these isoforms "pre-P" by analogy to the pre-C and pre-S regions of the core and surface antigen open reading frames. Pre-P was produced in DHBV16 and AusDHBV-infected duck liver and was predicted to exist in 80% of avian hepadnavirus strains. Pre-P was not encapsidated into DHBV core particles, and the viable strain DHBV3 cannot make pre-P, so it is not essential for viral replication. Surprisingly, we found that pre-P is an N-linked glycoprotein that is secreted into the medium of cultured cells. These data indicate that DHBV produces an additional protein that has not been previously reported. Identifying the role of pre-P may improve our understanding of the biology of DHBV infection.

Monocistronic mRNAs containing defective hepatitis C virus-like picornavirus internal ribosome entry site elements in their 5' untranslated regions are efficiently translated in cells by a cap-dependent mechanism

The initiation of protein synthesis on mRNAs within eukaryotic cells is achieved either by a 5' cap-dependent mechanism or through internal initiation directed by an internal ribosome entry site (IRES). Picornavirus IRES elements, located in the 5' untranslated region (5'UTR), contain extensive secondary structure and multiple upstream AUG codons. These features can be expected to inhibit cap-dependent initiation of translation. However, we have now shown that certain mutant hepatitis C virus-like picornavirus IRES elements (from porcine teschovirus-1 and avian encephalomyelitis virus), which are unable to direct internal initiation, are not significant barriers to efficient translation of capped monocistronic mRNAs that contain these defective elements within their 5'UTRs. Moreover, the translation of these mRNAs is highly sensitive to the expression of an enterovirus 2A protease (which induces cleavage of eIF4G) and is also inhibited by hippuristanol, a specific inhibitor of eIF4A function, in contrast to their parental wild-type IRES elements. These results provide a possible basis for the evolution of viral IRES elements within the context of functional mRNAs that are translated by a cap-dependent mechanism.

Cross-species functionality of pararetroviral elements driving ribosome shunting

BACKGROUND

Cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) and Rice tungro bacilliform virus (RTBV) belong to distinct genera of pararetroviruses infecting dicot and monocot plants, respectively. In both viruses, polycistronic translation of pregenomic (pg) RNA is initiated by shunting ribosomes that bypass a large region of the pgRNA leader with several short (s)ORFs and a stable stem-loop structure. The shunt requires translation of a 5'-proximal sORF terminating near the stem. In CaMV, mutations knocking out this sORF nearly abolish shunting and virus viability.

METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS

Here we show that two distant regions of the CaMV leader that form a minimal shunt configuration comprising the sORF, a bottom part of the stem, and a shunt landing sequence can be replaced by heterologous sequences that form a structurally similar configuration in RTBV without any dramatic effect on shunt-mediated translation and CaMV infectivity. The CaMV-RTBV chimeric leader sequence was largely stable over five viral passages in turnip plants: a few alterations that did eventually occur in the virus progenies are indicative of fine tuning of the chimeric sequence during adaptation to a new host.

CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE

Our findings demonstrate cross-species functionality of pararetroviral cis-elements driving ribosome shunting and evolutionary conservation of the shunt mechanism. We are grateful to Matthias Müller and Sandra Pauli for technical assistance. This work was initiated at Friedrich Miescher Institute (Basel, Switzerland). We thank Prof. Thomas Boller for hosting the group at the Institute of Botany.

Translation of cIAP2 mRNA is mediated exclusively by a stress-modulated ribosome shunt

During cellular stress, translation persists or increases for a number of stress-responsive proteins, including cellular inhibitor of apoptosis 2 (cIAP2). The cIAP2 transcript includes a very long (2.78-kb) 5' untranslated region (UTR) with an unusually high number of upstream AUGs (uAUGs), i.e., 64, and a stable predicted secondary structure (DeltaG congruent with -620 kcal/mol) that should completely block conventional scanning-dependent translation initiation. This region did not facilitate internal ribosome entry in vitro or when RNA reporter transcripts were transfected into cells. However, several structural features within the cIAP2 5' UTR were observed to be nearly identical to those required for ribosome shunting in cauliflower mosaic virus RNA and are well conserved in cIAP2 orthologs. Selective mutation revealed that the cIAP2 mRNA mediates translation exclusively via ribosome shunting that bypasses 62 uAUGs. In addition, shunting efficiency was altered by stress and was greatly facilitated by a conserved RNA folding domain (1,470 to 1,877 nucleotides upstream) in a region not scanned by shunting ribosomes. This arrangement suggests that regulation of cIAP2 shunting may involve recruitment of RNA binding proteins to modulate the efficiency of translation initiation.

Leaky scanning and scanning-independent ribosome migration on the tricistronic S1 mRNA of avian reovirus

The S1 genome segments of avian and Nelson Bay reovirus encode tricistronic mRNAs containing three sequential partially overlapping open reading frames (ORFs). The translation start site of the 3'-proximal ORF encoding the sigmaC protein lies downstream of two ORFs encoding the unrelated p10 and p17 proteins and more than 600 nucleotides distal from the 5'-end of the mRNA. It is unclear how translation of this remarkable tricistronic mRNA is regulated. We now show that the p10 and p17 ORFs are coordinately expressed by leaky scanning. Translation initiation events at these 5'-proximal ORFs, however, have little to no effect on translation of the 3'-proximal sigmaC ORF. Northern blotting, insertion of upstream stop codons or optimized translation start sites, 5'-truncation analysis, and poliovirus 2A protease-mediated cleavage of eIF4G indicated sigmaC translation derives from a full-length tricistronic mRNA using a mechanism that is eIF4G-dependent but leaky scanning- and translation reinitiation-independent. Further analysis of artificial bicistronic mRNAs failed to provide any evidence that sigmaC translation derives from an internal ribosome entry site. Additional features of the S1 mRNA and the mechanism of sigmaC translation also differ from current models of ribosomal shunting. Translation of the tricistronic reovirus S1 mRNA, therefore, is dependent both on leaky scanning and on a novel scanning-independent mechanism that allows translation initiation complexes to efficiently bypass two functional upstream ORFs.

Alternatively spliced isoforms of the human elk-1 mRNA within the 5' UTR: implications for ELK-1 expression

The expression of cellular proteins that play central roles in the regulation of cell growth and differentiation is frequently tightly controlled at the level of translation initiation. In this article, we provide evidence that the ETS domain transcription factor ELK-1 forms part of this class of genes. Its mRNA 5′ UTR is composed of a complexed mosaic of elements, including uAUGs, uORFs and RNA structure, that interplay to modulate ribosomal access to the ELK-1 AUG start codon. Superimposed upon this is the generation of two different 5′ UTRs via alternative splicing. The two spliced isoforms show altered cellular and tissue distributions and behave differently in polysomal recruitment assays in the presence of the drug rapamycin. We propose that repression is therefore the sum of a series of interplaying negative elements within the 5′ UTRs, a situation which may reflect the need for tight translational control of ELK-1 in different tissues and under changing physiological conditions.