1
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Kapitonova AA, Perfilova KV, Cooley RB, Sluchanko NN. Phosphorylation code of human nucleophosmin includes four cryptic sites for hierarchical binding of 14-3-3 proteins. J Mol Biol 2024:168592. [PMID: 38702038 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2024.168592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2024] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024]
Abstract
Nucleophosmin (NPM1) is the 46th most abundant human protein with many functions whose dysregulation leads to various cancers. Pentameric NPM1 resides in the nucleolus but can also shuttle to the cytosol. NPM1 is regulated by multisite phosphorylation, yet molecular consequences of site-specific NPM1 phosphorylation remain elusive. Here we identify four 14-3-3 protein binding sites in NPM1 concealed within its oligomerization and α-helical C-terminal domains that are found phosphorylated in vivo. By combining mutagenesis, in-cell phosphorylation and PermaPhos technology for site-directed incorporation of a non-hydrolyzable phosphoserine mimic, we show how phosphorylation promotes NPM1 monomerization and partial unfolding, to recruit 14-3-3 dimers with low-micromolar affinity. Using fluorescence anisotropy we quantified pairwise interactions of all seven human 14-3-3 isoforms with four recombinant NPM1 phosphopeptides and assessed their druggability by fusicoccin. This revealed a complex hierarchy of 14-3-3 affinities toward the primary (S48, S293) and secondary (S106, S260) sites, differentially modulated by the small molecule. As three of these 14-3-3 binding phospho-sites in NPM1 reside within signal sequences, this work suggests a mechanism of NPM1 regulation by which NPM1 phosphorylation can promote 14-3-3 binding to affect NPM1 shuttling between cell compartments. It also provides further evidence that phosphorylation-induced structural rearrangements of globular proteins serve to expose otherwise cryptic 14-3-3-binding sites that are important for cellular function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna A Kapitonova
- A.N. Bach Institute of Biochemistry, Federal Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 119071 Moscow, Russia
| | - Kristina V Perfilova
- A.N. Bach Institute of Biochemistry, Federal Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 119071 Moscow, Russia
| | - Richard B Cooley
- GCE4All Center, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA
| | - Nikolai N Sluchanko
- A.N. Bach Institute of Biochemistry, Federal Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 119071 Moscow, Russia.
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2
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Zhao H, Syed AM, Khalid MM, Nguyen A, Ciling A, Wu D, Yau WM, Srinivasan S, Esposito D, Doudna JA, Piszczek G, Ott M, Schuck P. Assembly of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein with nucleic acid. Nucleic Acids Res 2024:gkae256. [PMID: 38587193 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkae256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024] Open
Abstract
The viral genome of SARS-CoV-2 is packaged by the nucleocapsid (N-)protein into ribonucleoprotein particles (RNPs), 38 ± 10 of which are contained in each virion. Their architecture has remained unclear due to the pleomorphism of RNPs, the high flexibility of N-protein intrinsically disordered regions, and highly multivalent interactions between viral RNA and N-protein binding sites in both N-terminal (NTD) and C-terminal domain (CTD). Here we explore critical interaction motifs of RNPs by applying a combination of biophysical techniques to ancestral and mutant proteins binding different nucleic acids in an in vitro assay for RNP formation, and by examining nucleocapsid protein variants in a viral assembly assay. We find that nucleic acid-bound N-protein dimers oligomerize via a recently described protein-protein interface presented by a transient helix in its long disordered linker region between NTD and CTD. The resulting hexameric complexes are stabilized by multivalent protein-nucleic acid interactions that establish crosslinks between dimeric subunits. Assemblies are stabilized by the dimeric CTD of N-protein offering more than one binding site for stem-loop RNA. Our study suggests a model for RNP assembly where N-protein scaffolding at high density on viral RNA is followed by cooperative multimerization through protein-protein interactions in the disordered linker.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huaying Zhao
- Laboratory of Dynamics of Macromolecular Assembly, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Abdullah M Syed
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Mir M Khalid
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Ai Nguyen
- Laboratory of Dynamics of Macromolecular Assembly, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Alison Ciling
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Di Wu
- Biophysics Core Facility, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Wai-Ming Yau
- Laboratory of Chemical Physics, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Sanjana Srinivasan
- Laboratory of Dynamics of Macromolecular Assembly, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Dominic Esposito
- Protein Expression Laboratory, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Jennifer A Doudna
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- HHMI, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences (QB3), University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Grzegorz Piszczek
- Biophysics Core Facility, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Melanie Ott
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Peter Schuck
- Laboratory of Dynamics of Macromolecular Assembly, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
- Center for Biomedical Engineering Technology Acceleration, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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3
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Muradyan N, Arakelov V, Sargsyan A, Paronyan A, Arakelov G, Nazaryan K. Impact of mutations on the stability of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein structure. Sci Rep 2024; 14:5870. [PMID: 38467657 PMCID: PMC10928099 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-55157-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
The nucleocapsid (N) protein of SARS-CoV-2 is known to participate in various host cellular processes, including interferon inhibition, RNA interference, apoptosis, and regulation of virus life cycles. Additionally, it has potential as a diagnostic antigen and/or immunogen. Our research focuses on examining structural changes caused by mutations in the N protein. We have modeled the complete tertiary structure of native and mutated forms of the N protein using Alphafold2. Notably, the N protein contains 3 disordered regions. The focus was on investigating the impact of mutations on the stability of the protein's dimeric structure based on binding free energy calculations (MM-PB/GB-SA) and RMSD fluctuations after MD simulations. The results demonstrated that 28 mutations out of 37 selected mutations analyzed, compared with wild-type N protein, resulted in a stable dimeric structure, while 9 mutations led to destabilization. Our results are important to understand the tertiary structure of the N protein dimer of SARS-CoV-2 and the effect of mutations on it, their behavior in the host cell, as well as for the research of other viruses belonging to the same genus additionally, to anticipate potential strategies for addressing this viral illness․.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nelli Muradyan
- Laboratory of Computational Modeling of Biological Processes, Institute of Molecular Biology of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia (NAS RA), 0014, Yerevan, Armenia
| | - Vahram Arakelov
- Laboratory of Computational Modeling of Biological Processes, Institute of Molecular Biology of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia (NAS RA), 0014, Yerevan, Armenia
| | - Arsen Sargsyan
- Laboratory of Computational Modeling of Biological Processes, Institute of Molecular Biology of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia (NAS RA), 0014, Yerevan, Armenia
- Russian-Armenian University, 0051, Yerevan, Armenia
| | - Adrine Paronyan
- Laboratory of Computational Modeling of Biological Processes, Institute of Molecular Biology of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia (NAS RA), 0014, Yerevan, Armenia
- Russian-Armenian University, 0051, Yerevan, Armenia
| | - Grigor Arakelov
- Laboratory of Computational Modeling of Biological Processes, Institute of Molecular Biology of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia (NAS RA), 0014, Yerevan, Armenia.
- Russian-Armenian University, 0051, Yerevan, Armenia.
| | - Karen Nazaryan
- Laboratory of Computational Modeling of Biological Processes, Institute of Molecular Biology of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia (NAS RA), 0014, Yerevan, Armenia
- Russian-Armenian University, 0051, Yerevan, Armenia
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4
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Zhou J, Zhou Y, Wei XF, Fan L, Gao X, Li Y, Wu Y, Feng W, Shen X, Liu L, Xu G, Zhang Z. TRIM6 facilitates SARS-CoV-2 proliferation by catalyzing the K29-typed ubiquitination of NP to enhance the ability to bind viral genomes. J Med Virol 2024; 96:e29531. [PMID: 38515377 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.29531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 01/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
The Nucleocapsid Protein (NP) of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is not only the core structural protein required for viral packaging, but also participates in the regulation of viral replication, and its post-translational modifications such as phosphorylation have been shown to be an important strategy for regulating virus proliferation. Our previous work identified NP could be ubiquitinated, as confirmed by two independent studies. But the function of NP ubiquitination is currently unknown. In this study, we first pinpointed TRIM6 as the E3 ubiquitin ligase responsible for NP ubiquitination, binding to NP's CTD via its RING and B-box-CCD domains. TRIM6 promotes the K29-typed polyubiquitination of NP at K102, K347, and K361 residues, increasing its binding to viral genomic RNA. Consistently, functional experiments such as the use of the reverse genetic tool trVLP model and gene knockout of TRIM6 further confirmed that blocking the ubiquitination of NP by TRIM6 significantly inhibited the proliferation of SARS-CoV-2. Notably, the NP of coronavirus is relatively conserved, and the NP of SARS-CoV can also be ubiquitinated by TRIM6, indicating that NP could be a broad-spectrum anti-coronavirus target. These findings shed light on the intricate interaction between SARS-CoV-2 and the host, potentially opening new opportunities for COVID-19 therapeutic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Zhou
- The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Institute for Hepatology, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Disease, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Yuzheng Zhou
- The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Institute for Hepatology, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Disease, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Xia-Fei Wei
- The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Institute for Hepatology, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Disease, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Lujie Fan
- The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Institute for Hepatology, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Disease, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
- Guangzhou Laboratory, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiang Gao
- The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Institute for Hepatology, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Disease, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Yunfei Li
- The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Institute for Hepatology, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Disease, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Yezi Wu
- The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Institute for Hepatology, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Disease, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Wei Feng
- The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Institute for Hepatology, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Disease, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
| | - XiaoTong Shen
- The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Institute for Hepatology, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Disease, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Lei Liu
- The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Institute for Hepatology, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Disease, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Gang Xu
- Department of Microbiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Zheng Zhang
- The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Institute for Hepatology, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Disease, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
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5
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Kapitonova AA, Perfilova KV, Cooley RB, Sluchanko NN. Phosphorylation code of human nucleophosmin includes four cryptic sites for hierarchical binding of 14-3-3 proteins. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.13.580064. [PMID: 38405961 PMCID: PMC10888825 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.13.580064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
Nucleophosmin (NPM1) is the 46th most abundant human protein with many functions whose dysregulation leads to various cancers. Pentameric NPM1 resides in the nucleolus but can also shuttle to the cytosol. NPM1 is regulated by multisite phosphorylation, yet molecular consequences of site-specific NPM1 phosphorylation remain elusive. Here we identify four 14-3-3 protein binding sites in NPM1 concealed within its oligomerization and α-helical C-terminal domains that are found phosphorylated in vivo. By combining mutagenesis, in-cell phosphorylation and PermaPhos technology for site-directed incorporation of a non-hydrolyzable phosphoserine mimic, we show how phosphorylation promotes NPM1 monomerization and partial unfolding, to recruit 14-3-3 dimers with low-micromolar affinity. Using fluorescence anisotropy we quantified pairwise interactions of all seven human 14-3-3 isoforms with four recombinant NPM1 phosphopeptides and assessed their druggability by fusicoccin. This revealed a complex hierarchy of 14-3-3 affinities toward the primary (S48, S293) and secondary (S106, S260) sites, differentially modulated by the small molecule. As three of these 14-3-3 binding phospho-sites in NPM1 reside within signal sequences, this work highlights a key mechanism of NPM1 regulation by which NPM1 phosphorylation promotes 14-3-3 binding to control nucleocytoplasmic shuttling. It also provides further evidence that phosphorylation-induced structural rearrangements of globular proteins serve to expose otherwise cryptic 14-3-3-binding sites that are important for cellular function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna A. Kapitonova
- A.N. Bach Institute of Biochemistry, Federal Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 119071 Moscow, Russia
| | - Kristina V. Perfilova
- A.N. Bach Institute of Biochemistry, Federal Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 119071 Moscow, Russia
| | - Richard B. Cooley
- GCE4All Center, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA
| | - Nikolai N. Sluchanko
- A.N. Bach Institute of Biochemistry, Federal Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 119071 Moscow, Russia
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6
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Zheng G, Qiu G, Qian H, Shu Q, Xu J. Multifaceted role of SARS-CoV-2 structural proteins in lung injury. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1332440. [PMID: 38375473 PMCID: PMC10875085 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1332440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the third human coronavirus to cause acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and contains four structural proteins: spike, envelope, membrane, and nucleocapsid. An increasing number of studies have demonstrated that all four structural proteins of SARS-CoV-2 are capable of causing lung injury, even without the presence of intact virus. Therefore, the topic of SARS-CoV-2 structural protein-evoked lung injury warrants more attention. In the current article, we first synopsize the structural features of SARS-CoV-2 structural proteins. Second, we discuss the mechanisms for structural protein-induced inflammatory responses in vitro. Finally, we list the findings that indicate structural proteins themselves are toxic and sufficient to induce lung injury in vivo. Recognizing mechanisms of lung injury triggered by SARS-CoV-2 structural proteins may facilitate the development of targeted modalities in treating COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Guanguan Qiu
- Shaoxing Second Hospital, Shaoxing, Zhejiang, China
| | - Huifeng Qian
- Shaoxing Second Hospital, Shaoxing, Zhejiang, China
| | - Qiang Shu
- The Children’s Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine and National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jianguo Xu
- Shaoxing Second Hospital, Shaoxing, Zhejiang, China
- The Children’s Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine and National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
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7
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Mladenovic Stokanic M, Simovic A, Jovanovic V, Radomirovic M, Udovicki B, Krstic Ristivojevic M, Djukic T, Vasovic T, Acimovic J, Sabljic L, Lukic I, Kovacevic A, Cujic D, Gnjatovic M, Smiljanic K, Stojadinovic M, Radosavljevic J, Stanic-Vucinic D, Stojanovic M, Rajkovic A, Cirkovic Velickovic T. Sandwich ELISA for the Quantification of Nucleocapsid Protein of SARS-CoV-2 Based on Polyclonal Antibodies from Two Different Species. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 25:333. [PMID: 38203504 PMCID: PMC10778659 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25010333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
In this study, a cost-effective sandwich ELISA test, based on polyclonal antibodies, for routine quantification SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N) protein was developed. The recombinant N protein was produced and used for the production of mice and rabbit antisera. Polyclonal N protein-specific antibodies served as capture and detection antibodies. The prototype ELISA has LOD 0.93 ng/mL and LOQ 5.3 ng/mL, with a linear range of 1.52-48.83 ng/mL. N protein heat pretreatment (56 °C, 1 h) decreased, while pretreatment with 1% Triton X-100 increased analytical ELISA sensitivity. The diagnostic specificity of ELISA was 100% (95% CI, 91.19-100.00%) and sensitivity was 52.94% (95% CI, 35.13-70.22%) compared to rtRT-PCR (Ct < 40). Profoundly higher sensitivity was obtained using patient samples mostly containing Wuhan-similar variants (Wuhan, alpha, and delta), 62.50% (95% CI, 40.59 to 81.20%), in comparison to samples mostly containing Wuhan-distant variants (Omicron) 30.00% (6.67-65.25%). The developed product has relatively high diagnostic sensitivity in relation to its analytical sensitivity due to the usage of polyclonal antibodies from two species, providing a wide repertoire of antibodies against multiple N protein epitopes. Moreover, the fast, simple, and inexpensive production of polyclonal antibodies, as the most expensive assay components, would result in affordable antigen tests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maja Mladenovic Stokanic
- Centre of Excellence for Molecular Food Sciences, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 12-16, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Ana Simovic
- Centre of Excellence for Molecular Food Sciences, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 12-16, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Vesna Jovanovic
- Centre of Excellence for Molecular Food Sciences, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 12-16, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Mirjana Radomirovic
- Centre of Excellence for Molecular Food Sciences, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 12-16, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Bozidar Udovicki
- Department of Food Safety and Quality Management, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Belgrade, Nemanjina 6, Zemun, 11080 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Maja Krstic Ristivojevic
- Centre of Excellence for Molecular Food Sciences, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 12-16, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Teodora Djukic
- Institute of Medical Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Višegradska 26, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Tamara Vasovic
- Centre of Excellence for Molecular Food Sciences, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 12-16, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Jelena Acimovic
- Centre of Excellence for Molecular Food Sciences, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 12-16, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Ljiljana Sabljic
- Institute for the Application of Nuclear Energy—INEP, University of Belgrade, Banatska 31b, Zemun, 11080 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Ivana Lukic
- Institute of Virology, Vaccines, and Sera–TORLAK, Vojvode Stepe 458, 11152 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Ana Kovacevic
- Institute of Virology, Vaccines, and Sera–TORLAK, Vojvode Stepe 458, 11152 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Danica Cujic
- Institute for the Application of Nuclear Energy—INEP, University of Belgrade, Banatska 31b, Zemun, 11080 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Marija Gnjatovic
- Institute for the Application of Nuclear Energy—INEP, University of Belgrade, Banatska 31b, Zemun, 11080 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Katarina Smiljanic
- Centre of Excellence for Molecular Food Sciences, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 12-16, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Marija Stojadinovic
- Centre of Excellence for Molecular Food Sciences, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 12-16, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Jelena Radosavljevic
- Centre of Excellence for Molecular Food Sciences, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 12-16, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Dragana Stanic-Vucinic
- Centre of Excellence for Molecular Food Sciences, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 12-16, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Marijana Stojanovic
- Department of Molecular Biology, Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković”, University of Belgrade, 142 Despot Stefan Blvd., 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Andreja Rajkovic
- Department of Food Safety and Quality Management, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Belgrade, Nemanjina 6, Zemun, 11080 Belgrade, Serbia
- Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, geb. A, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Tanja Cirkovic Velickovic
- Centre of Excellence for Molecular Food Sciences, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 12-16, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
- Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, geb. A, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
- Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Kneza Mihaila 35, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
- Global Campus, Ghent University, 119-5 Songdomunwha-ro, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon 21985, Republic of Korea
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8
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Michon M, Müller-Schiffmann A, Lingappa AF, Yu SF, Du L, Deiter F, Broce S, Mallesh S, Crabtree J, Lingappa UF, Macieik A, Müller L, Ostermann PN, Andrée M, Adams O, Schaal H, Hogan RJ, Tripp RA, Appaiah U, Anand SK, Campi TW, Ford MJ, Reed JC, Lin J, Akintunde O, Copeland K, Nichols C, Petrouski E, Moreira AR, Jiang IT, DeYarman N, Brown I, Lau S, Segal I, Goldsmith D, Hong S, Asundi V, Briggs EM, Phyo NS, Froehlich M, Onisko B, Matlack K, Dey D, Lingappa JR, Prasad MD, Kitaygorodskyy A, Solas D, Boushey H, Greenland J, Pillai S, Lo MK, Montgomery JM, Spiropoulou CF, Korth C, Selvarajah S, Paulvannan K, Lingappa VR. A Pan-Respiratory Antiviral Chemotype Targeting a Host Multi-Protein Complex. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2021.01.17.426875. [PMID: 34931190 PMCID: PMC8687465 DOI: 10.1101/2021.01.17.426875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
We present a novel small molecule antiviral chemotype that was identified by an unconventional cell-free protein synthesis and assembly-based phenotypic screen for modulation of viral capsid assembly. Activity of PAV-431, a representative compound from the series, has been validated against infectious virus in multiple cell culture models for all six families of viruses causing most respiratory disease in humans. In animals this chemotype has been demonstrated efficacious for Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus (a coronavirus) and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (a paramyxovirus). PAV-431 is shown to bind to the protein 14-3-3, a known allosteric modulator. However, it only appears to target the small subset of 14-3-3 which is present in a dynamic multi-protein complex whose components include proteins implicated in viral lifecycles and in innate immunity. The composition of this target multi-protein complex appears to be modified upon viral infection and largely restored by PAV-431 treatment. Our findings suggest a new paradigm for understanding, and drugging, the host-virus interface, which leads to a new clinical therapeutic strategy for treatment of respiratory viral disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maya Michon
- Prosetta Biosciences, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Li Du
- Vitalant Research Institute, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Fred Deiter
- Veterans Administration Medical Center, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Sean Broce
- Prosetta Biosciences, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | | | - Jackelyn Crabtree
- University of Georgia, Animal Health Research Center, Athens, GA, USA
| | | | | | - Lisa Müller
- Institute of Virology, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | | | - Marcel Andrée
- Institute of Virology, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Ortwin Adams
- Institute of Virology, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Heiner Schaal
- Institute of Virology, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Robert J. Hogan
- University of Georgia, Animal Health Research Center, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Ralph A. Tripp
- University of Georgia, Animal Health Research Center, Athens, GA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Jonathan C. Reed
- Dept. of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jim Lin
- Prosetta Biosciences, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Ian Brown
- Prosetta Biosciences, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Sharon Lau
- Prosetta Biosciences, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Ilana Segal
- Prosetta Biosciences, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | | | - Shi Hong
- Prosetta Biosciences, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - John Greenland
- Veterans Administration Medical Center, San Francisco, CA, USA
- University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Satish Pillai
- Vitalant Research Institute, San Francisco, CA, USA
- University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Michael K. Lo
- Viral Special Pathogens Branch, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Joel M. Montgomery
- Viral Special Pathogens Branch, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | | | - Carsten Korth
- Institute of Neuropathology, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | | | | | - Vishwanath R. Lingappa
- Prosetta Biosciences, San Francisco, CA, USA
- University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
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9
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Schuck P, Zhao H. Diversity of short linear interaction motifs in SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein. mBio 2023; 14:e0238823. [PMID: 38018991 PMCID: PMC10746173 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02388-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Short linear motifs (SLiMs) are 3-10 amino acid long binding motifs in intrinsically disordered protein regions (IDRs) that serve as ubiquitous protein-protein interaction modules in eukaryotic cells. Through molecular mimicry, viruses hijack these sequence motifs to control host cellular processes. It is thought that the small size of SLiMs and the high mutation frequencies of viral IDRs allow rapid host adaptation. However, a salient characteristic of RNA viruses, due to high replication errors, is their obligate existence as mutant swarms. Taking advantage of the uniquely large genomic database of SARS-CoV-2, here, we analyze the role of sequence diversity in the presentation of SLiMs, focusing on the highly abundant, multi-functional nucleocapsid protein. We find that motif mimicry is a highly dynamic process that produces an abundance of motifs transiently present in subsets of mutant species. This diversity allows the virus to efficiently explore eukaryotic motifs and evolve the host-virus interface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Schuck
- Laboratory of Dynamics of Macromolecular Assembly, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Huaying Zhao
- Laboratory of Dynamics of Macromolecular Assembly, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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10
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Pham NT, Phan LT, Seo J, Kim Y, Song M, Lee S, Jeon YJ, Manavalan B. Advancing the accuracy of SARS-CoV-2 phosphorylation site detection via meta-learning approach. Brief Bioinform 2023; 25:bbad433. [PMID: 38058187 PMCID: PMC10753650 DOI: 10.1093/bib/bbad433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The worldwide appearance of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has generated significant concern and posed a considerable challenge to global health. Phosphorylation is a common post-translational modification that affects many vital cellular functions and is closely associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Precise identification of phosphorylation sites could provide more in-depth insight into the processes underlying SARS-CoV-2 infection and help alleviate the continuing COVID-19 crisis. Currently, available computational tools for predicting these sites lack accuracy and effectiveness. In this study, we designed an innovative meta-learning model, Meta-Learning for Serine/Threonine Phosphorylation (MeL-STPhos), to precisely identify protein phosphorylation sites. We initially performed a comprehensive assessment of 29 unique sequence-derived features, establishing prediction models for each using 14 renowned machine learning methods, ranging from traditional classifiers to advanced deep learning algorithms. We then selected the most effective model for each feature by integrating the predicted values. Rigorous feature selection strategies were employed to identify the optimal base models and classifier(s) for each cell-specific dataset. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to report two cell-specific models and a generic model for phosphorylation site prediction by utilizing an extensive range of sequence-derived features and machine learning algorithms. Extensive cross-validation and independent testing revealed that MeL-STPhos surpasses existing state-of-the-art tools for phosphorylation site prediction. We also developed a publicly accessible platform at https://balalab-skku.org/MeL-STPhos. We believe that MeL-STPhos will serve as a valuable tool for accelerating the discovery of serine/threonine phosphorylation sites and elucidating their role in post-translational regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nhat Truong Pham
- Department of Integrative Biotechnology and of Biopharmaceutical Convergence, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Le Thi Phan
- Department of Integrative Biotechnology and of Biopharmaceutical Convergence, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Jimin Seo
- Department of Integrative Biotechnology and of Biopharmaceutical Convergence, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Yeonwoo Kim
- Department of Integrative Biotechnology and of Biopharmaceutical Convergence, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Minkyung Song
- Department of Integrative Biotechnology and of Biopharmaceutical Convergence, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Sukchan Lee
- Department of Integrative Biotechnology and of Biopharmaceutical Convergence, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Young-Jun Jeon
- Department of Integrative Biotechnology and of Biopharmaceutical Convergence, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Balachandran Manavalan
- Department of Integrative Biotechnology and of Biopharmaceutical Convergence, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
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11
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Zorina AA, Novikova GV, Gusev NB, Leusenko AV, Los DA, Klychnikov OI. SpkH (Sll0005) from Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 is an active Mn 2+-dependent Ser kinase. Biochimie 2023; 213:114-122. [PMID: 37209809 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2023.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Revised: 04/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Twelve genes for the potential serine-threonine protein kinases (STPKs) have been annotated in the genome of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. Based on similarities and distinctive domain organization, they were divided into two clusters: serine/threonine-protein N2-like kinases (PKN2-type) and "activity of bc1 complex" kinases (ABC1-type). While the activity of the PKN2-type kinases have been demonstrated, no ABC1-type kinases activity have hitherto been reported. In this study, a recombinant protein previously annotated as a potential STPK of ABC1-type (SpkH, Sll0005) was expressed and purified to homogeneity. We demonstrated SpkH phosphorylating activity and substrate preference for casein in in vitro assays using [γ-32P]ATP. Detailed analyses of activity showed that Mn2+ had the strongest activation effect. The activity of SpkH was significantly inhibited by heparin and spermine, but not by staurosporine. By means of semi-quantitative mass-spectrometric detection of phosphopeptides, we identified a consensus motif recognized by this kinase - X1X2pSX3E. Thus, we first report here that SpkH of Synechocystis represents a true active serine protein kinase, which shares the properties of casein kinases according to its substrate specificity and sensitivity to some activity effectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- A A Zorina
- K.A. Timiryazev Institute of Plant Physiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Botanicheskaya Street 35, Moscow, 127276, Russia.
| | - G V Novikova
- K.A. Timiryazev Institute of Plant Physiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Botanicheskaya Street 35, Moscow, 127276, Russia
| | - N B Gusev
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Biology, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991, Moscow, Russia
| | - A V Leusenko
- K.A. Timiryazev Institute of Plant Physiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Botanicheskaya Street 35, Moscow, 127276, Russia
| | - D A Los
- K.A. Timiryazev Institute of Plant Physiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Botanicheskaya Street 35, Moscow, 127276, Russia
| | - O I Klychnikov
- K.A. Timiryazev Institute of Plant Physiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Botanicheskaya Street 35, Moscow, 127276, Russia; Department of Biochemistry, School of Biology, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991, Moscow, Russia
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12
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Schuck P, Zhao H. Diversity of Short Linear Interaction Motifs in SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid Protein. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.08.01.551467. [PMID: 37790474 PMCID: PMC10542142 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.01.551467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
Molecular mimicry of short linear interaction motifs has emerged as a key mechanism for viral proteins binding host domains and hijacking host cell processes. Here, we examine the role of RNA-virus sequence diversity in the dynamics of the virus-host interface, by analyzing the uniquely vast sequence record of viable SARS-CoV-2 species with focus on the multi-functional nucleocapsid protein. We observe the abundant presentation of motifs encoding several essential host protein interactions, alongside a majority of possibly non-functional and randomly occurring motif sequences absent in subsets of viable virus species. A large number of motifs emerge ex nihilo through transient mutations relative to the ancestral consensus sequence. The observed mutational landscape implies an accessible motif space that spans at least 25% of known eukaryotic motifs. This reveals motif mimicry as a highly dynamic process with the capacity to broadly explore host motifs, allowing the virus to rapidly evolve the virus-host interface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Schuck
- Laboratory of Dynamics of Macromolecular Assembly, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Huaying Zhao
- Laboratory of Dynamics of Macromolecular Assembly, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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13
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Zhang G, Tang Q, Feng P, Chen W. IPs-GRUAtt: An attention-based bidirectional gated recurrent unit network for predicting phosphorylation sites of SARS-CoV-2 infection. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2023; 32:28-35. [PMID: 36908648 PMCID: PMC9968446 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2023.02.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 02/27/2023]
Abstract
The global pandemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection has generated tremendous concern and poses a serious threat to international public health. Phosphorylation is a common post-translational modification affecting many essential cellular processes and is inextricably linked to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Hence, accurate identification of phosphorylation sites will be helpful to understand the mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 infection and mitigate the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. In the present study, an attention-based bidirectional gated recurrent unit network, called IPs-GRUAtt, was proposed to identify phosphorylation sites in SARS-CoV-2-infected host cells. Comparative results demonstrated that IPs-GRUAtt surpassed both state-of-the-art machine-learning methods and existing models for identifying phosphorylation sites. Moreover, the attention mechanism made IPs-GRUAtt able to extract the key features from protein sequences. These results demonstrated that the IPs-GRUAtt is a powerful tool for identifying phosphorylation sites. For facilitating its academic use, a freely available online web server for IPs-GRUAtt is provided at http://cbcb.cdutcm.edu.cn/phosphory/.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guiyang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Innovative Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China
| | - Qiang Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Innovative Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China
| | - Pengmian Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Basic Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China
| | - Wei Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Innovative Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China.,State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Basic Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China
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14
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Li Z, Huang X, Li M, Chen YE, Wang Z, Liu L. A ubiquitination-mediated degradation system to target 14-3-3-binding phosphoproteins. Heliyon 2023; 9:e16318. [PMID: 37251884 PMCID: PMC10213371 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e16318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2022] [Revised: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023] Open
Abstract
The phosphorylation of 14-3-3 binding motif is involved in many cellular processes. A strategy that enables targeted degradation of 14-3-3-binding phosphoproteins (14-3-3-BPPs) for studying their functions is highly desirable for basic research. Here, we report a phosphorylation-induced, ubiquitin-proteasome-system-mediated targeted protein degradation (TPD) strategy that allows specific degradation of 14-3-3-BPPs. Specifically, by ligating a modified von Hippel-Lindau E3-ligase with an engineered 14-3-3 bait, we generated a protein chimera referred to as Targeted Degradation of 14-3-3-binding PhosphoProtein (TDPP). TDPP can serve as a universal degrader for 14-3-3-BPPs based on the specific recognition of the phosphorylation in 14-3-3 binding motifs. TDPP shows high efficiency and specificity to a difopein-EGFP reporter, general and specific 14-3-3-BPPs. TDPP can also be applied for the validation of 14-3-3-BPPs. These results strongly support TDPP as a powerful tool for 14-3-3 related research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaokai Li
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Cardiovascular Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Department of Emergency Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Xiaoqiang Huang
- Center for Advanced Models for Translational Sciences and Therapeutics, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Mohan Li
- Department of Geriatrics, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing 100730, China
| | - Y. Eugene Chen
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Cardiovascular Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Center for Advanced Models for Translational Sciences and Therapeutics, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Zhong Wang
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Cardiovascular Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Liu Liu
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Cardiovascular Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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15
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Zhu P, Stanisheuski S, Franklin R, Vogel A, Vesely CH, Reardon P, Sluchanko NN, Beckman JS, Karplus PA, Mehl RA, Cooley RB. Autonomous Synthesis of Functional, Permanently Phosphorylated Proteins for Defining the Interactome of Monomeric 14-3-3ζ. ACS CENTRAL SCIENCE 2023; 9:816-835. [PMID: 37122473 PMCID: PMC10141581 DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.3c00191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
14-3-3 proteins are dimeric hubs that bind hundreds of phosphorylated "clients" to regulate their function. Installing stable, functional mimics of phosphorylated amino acids into proteins offers a powerful strategy to study 14-3-3 function in cellular-like environments, but a previous genetic code expansion (GCE) system to translationally install nonhydrolyzable phosphoserine (nhpSer), with the γ-oxygen replaced with CH2, site-specifically into proteins has seen limited usage. Here, we achieve a 40-fold improvement in this system by engineering into Escherichia coli a six-step biosynthetic pathway that produces nhpSer from phosphoenolpyruvate. Using this autonomous "PermaPhos" expression system, we produce three biologically relevant proteins with nhpSer and confirm that nhpSer mimics the effects of phosphoserine for activating GSK3β phosphorylation of the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein, promoting 14-3-3/client complexation, and monomerizing 14-3-3 dimers. Then, to understand the biological function of these phosphorylated 14-3-3ζ monomers (containing nhpSer at Ser58), we isolate its interactome from HEK293T lysates and compare it with that of wild-type 14-3-3ζ. These data identify two new subsets of 14-3-3 client proteins: (i) those that selectively bind dimeric 14-3-3ζ and (ii) those that selectively bind monomeric 14-3-3ζ. We discover that monomeric-but not dimeric-14-3-3ζ interacts with cereblon, an E3 ubiquitin-ligase adaptor protein of pharmacological interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phillip Zhu
- Department
of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Oregon State
University, 2011 Agricultural and Life Sciences, Corvallis, Oregon 97331, United States
| | - Stanislau Stanisheuski
- Department
of Chemistry, Oregon State University, 153 Gilbert Hall, Corvallis, Oregon 97331, United States
| | - Rachel Franklin
- Department
of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Oregon State
University, 2011 Agricultural and Life Sciences, Corvallis, Oregon 97331, United States
| | - Amber Vogel
- Department
of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Oregon State
University, 2011 Agricultural and Life Sciences, Corvallis, Oregon 97331, United States
| | - Cat Hoang Vesely
- Department
of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Oregon State
University, 2011 Agricultural and Life Sciences, Corvallis, Oregon 97331, United States
| | - Patrick Reardon
- Department
of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Oregon State
University, 2011 Agricultural and Life Sciences, Corvallis, Oregon 97331, United States
| | - Nikolai N. Sluchanko
- A.N.
Bach Institute of Biochemistry, Federal Research Center of Biotechnology
of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 119071 Moscow, Russia
| | - Joseph S. Beckman
- Department
of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Oregon State
University, 2011 Agricultural and Life Sciences, Corvallis, Oregon 97331, United States
- e-MSion
Inc., 2121 NE Jack London
St., Corvallis, Oregon 97330, United States
| | - P. Andrew Karplus
- Department
of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Oregon State
University, 2011 Agricultural and Life Sciences, Corvallis, Oregon 97331, United States
| | - Ryan A. Mehl
- Department
of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Oregon State
University, 2011 Agricultural and Life Sciences, Corvallis, Oregon 97331, United States
| | - Richard B. Cooley
- Department
of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Oregon State
University, 2011 Agricultural and Life Sciences, Corvallis, Oregon 97331, United States
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16
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Zhao H, Wu D, Hassan SA, Nguyen A, Chen J, Piszczek G, Schuck P. A conserved oligomerization domain in the disordered linker of coronavirus nucleocapsid proteins. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadg6473. [PMID: 37018390 PMCID: PMC10075959 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adg6473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
The nucleocapsid (N-)protein of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has a key role in viral assembly and scaffolding of the viral RNA. It promotes liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS), forming dense droplets that support the assembly of ribonucleoprotein particles with as-of-yet unknown macromolecular architecture. Combining biophysical experiments, molecular dynamics simulations, and analysis of the mutational landscape, we describe a heretofore unknown oligomerization site that contributes to LLPS, is required for the assembly of higher-order protein-nucleic acid complexes, and is coupled to large-scale conformational changes of N-protein upon nucleic acid binding. The self-association interface is located in a leucine-rich sequence of the intrinsically disordered linker between N-protein folded domains and formed by transient helices assembling into trimeric coiled-coils. Critical residues stabilizing hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions between adjacent helices are highly protected against mutations in viable SARS-CoV-2 genomes, and the oligomerization motif is conserved across related coronaviruses, thus presenting a target for antiviral therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huaying Zhao
- Laboratory of Dynamics of Macromolecular Assembly, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Di Wu
- Biophysics Core Facility, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Sergio A. Hassan
- Bioinformatics and Computational Biosciences Branch, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Ai Nguyen
- Laboratory of Dynamics of Macromolecular Assembly, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Jiji Chen
- Advanced Imaging and Microscopy Resource, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Grzegorz Piszczek
- Biophysics Core Facility, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Peter Schuck
- Laboratory of Dynamics of Macromolecular Assembly, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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17
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Lee E, Redzic JS, Saviola AJ, Li X, Ebmeier CC, Kutateladze T, Hansen KC, Zhao R, Ahn N, Sluchanko NN, Eisenmesser E. Molecular insight into the specific interactions of the SARS-Coronavirus-2 nucleocapsid with RNA and host protein. Protein Sci 2023; 32:e4603. [PMID: 36807437 PMCID: PMC10019451 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023]
Abstract
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) nucleocapsid protein is the most abundantly expressed viral protein during infection where it targets both RNA and host proteins. However, identifying how a single viral protein interacts with so many different targets remains a challenge, providing the impetus here for identifying the interaction sites through multiple methods. Through a combination of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), electron microscopy, and biochemical methods, we have characterized nucleocapsid interactions with RNA and with three host proteins, which include human cyclophilin-A, Pin1, and 14-3-3τ. Regarding RNA interactions, the nucleocapsid protein N-terminal folded domain preferentially interacts with smaller RNA fragments relative to the C-terminal region, suggesting an initial RNA engagement is largely dictated by this N-terminal region followed by weaker interactions to the C-terminal region. The nucleocapsid protein forms 10 nm ribonuclear complexes with larger RNA fragments that include 200 and 354 nucleic acids, revealing its potential diversity in sequestering different viral genomic regions during viral packaging. Regarding host protein interactions, while the nucleocapsid targets all three host proteins through its serine-arginine-rich region, unstructured termini of the nucleocapsid protein also engage host cyclophilin-A and host 14-3-3τ. Considering these host proteins play roles in innate immunity, the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein may block the host response by competing interactions. Finally, phosphorylation of the nucleocapsid protein quenches an inherent dynamic exchange process within its serine-arginine-rich region. Our studies identify many of the diverse interactions that may be important for SARS-CoV-2 pathology during infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eunjeong Lee
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, School of MedicineUniversity of Colorado DenverAuroraColoradoUSA
| | - Jasmina S. Redzic
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, School of MedicineUniversity of Colorado DenverAuroraColoradoUSA
| | - Anthony J. Saviola
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, School of MedicineUniversity of Colorado DenverAuroraColoradoUSA
| | - Xueni Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, School of MedicineUniversity of Colorado DenverAuroraColoradoUSA
| | | | - Tatiana Kutateladze
- Department of PharmacologySchool of Medicine, University of Colorado DenverAuroraColoradoUSA
| | - Kirk Charles Hansen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, School of MedicineUniversity of Colorado DenverAuroraColoradoUSA
| | - Rui Zhao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, School of MedicineUniversity of Colorado DenverAuroraColoradoUSA
| | - Natalie Ahn
- Department of BiochemistryUniversity of Colorado BoulderBoulderColoradoUSA
| | - Nikolai N. Sluchanko
- A.N. Bach Institute of Biochemistry, Federal Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of SciencesMoscowRussia
| | - Elan Eisenmesser
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, School of MedicineUniversity of Colorado DenverAuroraColoradoUSA
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18
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Intragenomic rearrangements involving 5'-untranslated region segments in SARS-CoV-2, other betacoronaviruses, and alphacoronaviruses. Virol J 2023; 20:36. [PMID: 36829234 PMCID: PMC9957694 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-023-01998-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Variation of the betacoronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has been the bane of COVID-19 control. Documented variation includes point mutations, deletions, insertions, and recombination among closely or distantly related coronaviruses. Here, we describe yet another aspect of genome variation by beta- and alphacoronaviruses that was first documented in an infectious isolate of the betacoronavirus SARS-CoV-2, obtained from 3 patients in Hong Kong that had a 5'-untranslated region segment at the end of the ORF6 gene that in its new location translated into an ORF6 protein with a predicted modified carboxyl terminus. While comparing the amino acid sequences of translated ORF8 genes in the GenBank database, we found a subsegment of the same 5'-UTR-derived amino acid sequence modifying the distal end of ORF8 of an isolate from the United States and decided to carry out a systematic search. METHODS Using the nucleotide and in the case of SARS-CoV-2 also the translated amino acid sequence in three reading frames of the genomic termini of coronaviruses as query sequences, we searched for 5'-UTR sequences in regions other than the 5'-UTR in SARS-CoV-2 and reference strains of alpha-, beta-, gamma-, and delta-coronaviruses. RESULTS We here report numerous genomic insertions of 5'-untranslated region sequences into coding regions of SARS-CoV-2, other betacoronaviruses, and alphacoronaviruses, but not delta- or gammacoronaviruses. To our knowledge this is the first systematic description of such insertions. In many cases, these insertions would change viral protein sequences and further foster genomic flexibility and viral adaptability through insertion of transcription regulatory sequences in novel positions within the genome. Among human Embecorivus betacoronaviruses, for instance, from 65% to all of the surveyed sequences in publicly available databases contain inserted 5'-UTR sequences. CONCLUSION The intragenomic rearrangements involving 5'-untranslated region sequences described here, which in several cases affect highly conserved genes with a low propensity for recombination, may underlie the generation of variants homotypic with those of concern or interest and with potentially differing pathogenic profiles. Intragenomic rearrangements thus add to our appreciation of how variants of SARS-CoV-2 and other beta- and alphacoronaviruses may arise.
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19
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Tugaeva KV, Sysoev AA, Kapitonova AA, Smith JLR, Zhu P, Cooley RB, Antson AA, Sluchanko NN. Human 14-3-3 Proteins Site-selectively Bind the Mutational Hotspot Region of SARS-CoV-2 Nucleoprotein Modulating its Phosphoregulation. J Mol Biol 2023; 435:167891. [PMID: 36427566 PMCID: PMC9683861 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2022.167891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Revised: 11/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Phosphorylation of SARS-CoV-2 nucleoprotein recruits human cytosolic 14-3-3 proteins playing a well-recognized role in replication of many viruses. Here we use genetic code expansion to demonstrate that 14-3-3 binding is triggered by phosphorylation of SARS-CoV-2 nucleoprotein at either of two pseudo-repeats centered at Ser197 and Thr205. According to fluorescence anisotropy measurements, the pT205-motif,presentin SARS-CoV-2 but not in SARS-CoV, is preferred over the pS197-motif by all seven human 14-3-3 isoforms, which collectively display an unforeseen pT205/pS197 peptide binding selectivity hierarchy. Crystal structures demonstrate that pS197 and pT205 are mutually exclusive 14-3-3-binding sites, whereas SAXS and biochemical data obtained on the full protein-protein complex indicate that 14-3-3 binding occludes the Ser/Arg-rich region of the nucleoprotein, inhibiting its dephosphorylation. This Ser/Arg-rich region is highly prone to mutations, as exemplified by the Omicron and Delta variants, with our data suggesting that the strength of 14-3-3/nucleoprotein interaction can be linked with the replicative fitness of the virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina V Tugaeva
- A.N. Bach Institute of Biochemistry, Federal Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 119071 Moscow, Russia
| | - Andrey A Sysoev
- A.N. Bach Institute of Biochemistry, Federal Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 119071 Moscow, Russia
| | - Anna A Kapitonova
- A.N. Bach Institute of Biochemistry, Federal Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 119071 Moscow, Russia
| | - Jake L R Smith
- York Structural Biology Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of York, York YO10 5DD, United Kingdom
| | - Phillip Zhu
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Richard B Cooley
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Alfred A Antson
- York Structural Biology Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of York, York YO10 5DD, United Kingdom
| | - Nikolai N Sluchanko
- A.N. Bach Institute of Biochemistry, Federal Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 119071 Moscow, Russia.
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20
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Cheng N, Liu M, Li W, Sun B, Liu D, Wang G, Shi J, Li L. Protein post-translational modification in SARS-CoV-2 and host interaction. Front Immunol 2023; 13:1068449. [PMID: 36713387 PMCID: PMC9880545 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1068449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 can cause lung diseases, such as pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome, and multi-system dysfunction. Post-translational modifications (PTMs) related to SARS-CoV-2 are conservative and pathogenic, and the common PTMs are glycosylation, phosphorylation, and acylation. The glycosylation of SARS-CoV-2 mainly occurs on spike (S) protein, which mediates the entry of the virus into cells through interaction with angiotensin-converting enzyme 2. SARS-CoV-2 utilizes glycans to cover its epitopes and evade the immune response through glycosylation of S protein. Phosphorylation of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N) protein improves its selective binding to viral RNA and promotes viral replication and transcription, thereby increasing the load of the virus in the host. Succinylated N and membrane(M) proteins of SARS-CoV-2 synergistically affect virus particle assembly. N protein regulates its affinity for other proteins and the viral genome through acetylation. The acetylated envelope (E) protein of SARS-CoV-2 interacts with bromodomain-containing protein 2/4 to influence the host immune response. Both palmitoylation and myristoylation sites on S protein can affect the virus infectivity. Papain-like protease is a domain of NSP3 that dysregulates host inflammation by deubiquitination and impinges host IFN-I antiviral immune responses by deISGylation. Ubiquitination of ORF7a inhibits host IFN-α signaling by blocking STAT2 phosphorylation. The methylation of N protein can inhibit the formation of host stress granules and promote the binding of N protein to viral RNA, thereby promoting the production of virus particles. NSP3 macrodomain can reverse the ADP-ribosylation of host proteins, and inhibit the cascade immune response with IFN as the core, thereby promoting the intracellular replication of SARS-CoV-2. On the whole, PTMs have fundamental roles in virus entry, replication, particle assembly, and host immune response. Mutations in various SARS-CoV-2 variants, which lead to changes in PTMs at corresponding sites, cause different biological effects. In this paper, we mainly reviewed the effects of PTMs on SARS-CoV-2 and host cells, whose application is to inform the strategies for inhibiting viral infection and facilitating antiviral treatment and vaccine development for COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nana Cheng
- China-Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China
- The Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China
| | - Mingzhu Liu
- China-Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China
| | - Wanting Li
- China-Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China
| | - BingYue Sun
- First Affiliated Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Dandan Liu
- First Affiliated Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Guoqing Wang
- Department of Pathogenobiology, The Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Chinese Ministry of Education, College of Basic Medical Science, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Jingwei Shi
- China-Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China
| | - Lisha Li
- The Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China
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21
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Wu W, Cheng Y, Zhou H, Sun C, Zhang S. The SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein: its role in the viral life cycle, structure and functions, and use as a potential target in the development of vaccines and diagnostics. Virol J 2023; 20:6. [PMID: 36627683 PMCID: PMC9831023 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-023-01968-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) continues to take a heavy toll on personal health, healthcare systems, and economies around the globe. Scientists are expending tremendous effort to develop diagnostic technologies for detecting positive infections within the shortest possible time, and vaccines and drugs specifically for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 disease. At the same time, emerging novel variants have raised serious concerns about vaccine efficacy. The SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N) protein plays an important role in the coronavirus life cycle, and participates in various vital activities after virus invasion. It has attracted a large amount of attention for vaccine and drug development. Here, we summarize the latest research of the N protein, including its role in the SARS-CoV-2 life cycle, structure and function, and post-translational modifications in addition to its involvement in liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) and use as a basis for the development of vaccines and diagnostic techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenbing Wu
- grid.410578.f0000 0001 1114 4286Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000 China
| | - Ying Cheng
- grid.410578.f0000 0001 1114 4286Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000 China
| | - Hong Zhou
- grid.410578.f0000 0001 1114 4286Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000 China
| | - Changzhen Sun
- grid.410578.f0000 0001 1114 4286Drug Research Center of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000 China
| | - Shujun Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China.
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22
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Chechetkin VR, Lobzin VV. Evolving ribonucleocapsid assembly/packaging signals in the genomes of the human and animal coronaviruses: targeting, transmission and evolution. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2022; 40:11239-11263. [PMID: 34338591 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2021.1958061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
A world-wide COVID-19 pandemic intensified strongly the studies of molecular mechanisms related to the coronaviruses. The origin of coronaviruses and the risks of human-to-human, animal-to-human and human-to-animal transmission of coronaviral infections can be understood only on a broader evolutionary level by detailed comparative studies. In this paper, we studied ribonucleocapsid assembly-packaging signals (RNAPS) in the genomes of all seven known pathogenic human coronaviruses, SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2, MERS-CoV, HCoV-OC43, HCoV-HKU1, HCoV-229E and HCoV-NL63 and compared them with RNAPS in the genomes of the related animal coronaviruses including SARS-Bat-CoV, MERS-Camel-CoV, MHV, Bat-CoV MOP1, TGEV and one of camel alphacoronaviruses. RNAPS in the genomes of coronaviruses were evolved due to weakly specific interactions between genomic RNA and N proteins in helical nucleocapsids. Combining transitional genome mapping and Jaccard correlation coefficients allows us to perform the analysis directly in terms of underlying motifs distributed over the genome. In all coronaviruses, RNAPS were distributed quasi-periodically over the genome with the period about 54 nt biased to 57 nt and to 51 nt for the genomes longer and shorter than that of SARS-CoV, respectively. The comparison with the experimentally verified packaging signals for MERS-CoV, MHV and TGEV proved that the distribution of particular motifs is strongly correlated with the packaging signals. We also found that many motifs were highly conserved in both characters and positioning on the genomes throughout the lineages that make them promising therapeutic targets. The mechanisms of encapsidation can affect the recombination and co-infection as well.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladimir R Chechetkin
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology of Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Vasily V Lobzin
- School of Physics, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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23
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Stocks BB, Thibeault MP, L’Abbé D, Stuible M, Durocher Y, Melanson JE. Production and Characterization of a SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid Protein Reference Material. ACS MEASUREMENT SCIENCE AU 2022; 2:620-628. [PMID: 36785774 PMCID: PMC9662649 DOI: 10.1021/acsmeasuresciau.2c00050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Revised: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Rapid antigen tests have become a widely used COVID-19 diagnostic tool with demand accelerating in response to the highly contagious SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant. Hundreds of such test kits are approved for use worldwide, predominantly reporting on the presence of the viral nucleocapsid (N) protein, yet the comparability among manufacturers remains unclear and the need for reference standards is recognized. To address this lack of standardization, the National Research Council Canada has developed a SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein reference material solution, NCAP-1. Reference value determination for N protein content was realized by amino acid analysis (AAA) via double isotope dilution liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ID-MS/MS) following acid hydrolysis of the protein, in conjunction with UV spectrophotometry based on tryptophan and tyrosine absorbance at 280 nm. The homogeneity of the material was established through spectrophotometric absorbance readings at 280 nm. The molar concentration of the N protein in NCAP-1 was 10.0 ± 1.9 μmol L-1 (k = 2, 95% confidence interval). Reference mass concentration and mass fraction values were subsequently calculated using the protein molecular weight and density of the NCAP-1 solution. Changes to protein higher-order structure, probed by size-exclusion liquid chromatography (LC-SEC) with UV detection, were used to evaluate transportation and storage stabilities. LC-SEC revealed nearly 90% of the N protein in the material is present as a mixture of hexamers and tetramers. The remaining low molecular weight species (<30 kDa) were interrogated by top-down mass spectrometry and determined to be autolysis products homologous to those previously documented for N protein of the original SARS-CoV [Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun.2008t, 377, 429-433].
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Affiliation(s)
- Bradley B. Stocks
- Metrology, National Research Council Canada, 1200 Montreal Road, Ottawa, ON K1A
0R6, Canada
| | - Marie-Pier Thibeault
- Metrology, National Research Council Canada, 1200 Montreal Road, Ottawa, ON K1A
0R6, Canada
| | - Denis L’Abbé
- Human
Health Therapeutics, National Research Council
Canada, 6100 Royalmount
Avenue, Montreal, QC H4P 2R2, Canada
| | - Matthew Stuible
- Human
Health Therapeutics, National Research Council
Canada, 6100 Royalmount
Avenue, Montreal, QC H4P 2R2, Canada
| | - Yves Durocher
- Human
Health Therapeutics, National Research Council
Canada, 6100 Royalmount
Avenue, Montreal, QC H4P 2R2, Canada
| | - Jeremy E. Melanson
- Metrology, National Research Council Canada, 1200 Montreal Road, Ottawa, ON K1A
0R6, Canada
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24
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Li H, Ernst C, Kolonko-Adamska M, Greb-Markiewicz B, Man J, Parissi V, Ng BWL. Phase separation in viral infections. Trends Microbiol 2022; 30:1217-1231. [PMID: 35902318 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2022.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2022] [Revised: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Viruses rely on the reprogramming of cellular processes to enable efficient viral replication; this often requires subcompartmentalization within the host cell. Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) has emerged as a fundamental principle to organize and subdivide cellular processes, and plays an important role in viral life cycles. Despite substantial advances in the field, elucidating the exact organization and function of these organelles remains a major challenge. In this review, we summarize the biochemical basis of condensate formation, the role of LLPS during viral infection, and interplay of LLPS with innate immune responses. Finally, we discuss possible strategies and molecules to modulate LLPS during viral infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haohua Li
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Christina Ernst
- School of Life Sciences, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Marta Kolonko-Adamska
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemistry, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeze Wyspianskiego 27, 50-370 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Beata Greb-Markiewicz
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemistry, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeze Wyspianskiego 27, 50-370 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Jackie Man
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College, London, UK
| | - Vincent Parissi
- Microbiologie Fondamentale et Pathogénicité Laboratory (MPF), UMR 5234, « Mobility of pathogenic genomes and chromatin dynamics » team (MobilVIR), CNRS-University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Billy Wai-Lung Ng
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
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25
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Hassan SS, Kodakandla V, Redwan EM, Lundstrom K, Choudhury PP, Serrano-Aroca Á, Azad GK, Aljabali AAA, Palu G, Abd El-Aziz TM, Barh D, Uhal BD, Adadi P, Takayama K, Bazan NG, Tambuwala M, Sherchan SP, Lal A, Chauhan G, Baetas-da-Cruz W, Uversky VN. Non-uniform aspects of the SARS-CoV-2 intraspecies evolution reopen question of its origin. Int J Biol Macromol 2022; 222:972-993. [PMID: 36174872 PMCID: PMC9511875 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.09.184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Revised: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Several hypotheses have been presented on the origin of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) from its identification as the agent causing the current coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic. So far, no solid evidence has been found to support any hypothesis on the origin of this virus, and the issue continue to resurface over and over again. Here we have unfolded a pattern of distribution of several mutations in the SARS-CoV-2 proteins in 24 geo-locations across different continents. The results showed an evenly uneven distribution of the unique protein variants, distinct mutations, unique frequency of common conserved residues, and mutational residues across these 24 geo-locations. Furthermore, ample mutations were identified in the evolutionarily conserved invariant regions in the SARS-CoV-2 proteins across almost all geo-locations studied. This pattern of mutations potentially breaches the law of evolutionary conserved functional units of the beta-coronavirus genus. These mutations may lead to several novel SARS-CoV-2 variants with a high degree of transmissibility and virulence. A thorough investigation on the origin and characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 needs to be conducted in the interest of science and for the preparation of meeting the challenges of potential future pandemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sk Sarif Hassan
- Department of Mathematics, Pingla Thana Mahavidyalaya, Maligram, Paschim Medinipur, 721140, West Bengal, India.
| | - Vaishnavi Kodakandla
- Department of Life sciences, Sophia College For Women, University of Mumbai, Bhulabhai Desai Road, Mumbai 400026, India
| | - Elrashdy M Redwan
- Biological Science Department, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; Therapeutic and Protective Proteins Laboratory, Protein Research Department, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute, City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications, New Borg EL-Arab 21934, Alexandria, Egypt.
| | | | - Pabitra Pal Choudhury
- Indian Statistical Institute, Applied Statistics Unit, 203 B T Road, Kolkata 700108, India
| | - Ángel Serrano-Aroca
- Biomaterials and Bioengineering Lab, Centro de Investigacion Traslacional San Alberto Magno, Universidad Cat'olica de Valencia San Vicente Martir, c/Guillem de Castro, 94, 46001 Valencia, Valencia, Spain.
| | | | - Alaa A A Aljabali
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Yarmouk University, Faculty of Pharmacy, Irbid 566, Jordan.
| | - Giorgio Palu
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Via Gabelli 63, 35121 Padova, Italy.
| | - Tarek Mohamed Abd El-Aziz
- Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Minia University, El-Minia 61519, Egypt; Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229-3900, USA.
| | - Debmalya Barh
- Centre for Genomics and Applied Gene Technology, Institute of Integrative Omics and Applied Biotechnology (IIOAB), Nonakuri, Purba Medinipur, WB, India; Departamento de Geńetica, Ecologia e Evolucao, Instituto de Cíencias Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Bruce D Uhal
- Department of Physiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Parise Adadi
- Department of Food Science, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
| | - Kazuo Takayama
- Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, Kyoto University, Kyoto 6068507, Japan.
| | - Nicolas G Bazan
- Neuroscience Center of Excellence, School of Medicine, LSU Health New Orleans, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA.
| | - Murtaza Tambuwala
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Science, Ulster University, Coleraine BT52 1SA, Northern Ireland, UK.
| | - Samendra P Sherchan
- Lincoln Medical School, University of Lincoln, Brayford Pool Campus, Lincoln LN6 7TS, UK.
| | - Amos Lal
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Gaurav Chauhan
- School of Engineering and Sciences, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Av. Eugenio Garza Sada 2501 Sur, 64849 Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico.
| | - Wagner Baetas-da-Cruz
- Translational Laboratory in Molecular Physiology, Centre for Experimental Surgery, College of Medicine, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Vladimir N Uversky
- Department of Molecular Medicineand USF Health Byrd Alzheimer's Institute, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA; Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Institutskiy pereulok, 9, Dolgoprudny 141700, Russia.
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26
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Adams C, Boonen K, Laukens K, Bittremieux W. Open Modification Searching of SARS-CoV-2-Human Protein Interaction Data Reveals Novel Viral Modification Sites. Mol Cell Proteomics 2022; 21:100425. [PMID: 36241021 PMCID: PMC9554009 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcpro.2022.100425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Revised: 09/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The outbreak of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of the coronavirus 2019 disease, has led to an ongoing global pandemic since 2019. Mass spectrometry can be used to understand the molecular mechanisms of viral infection by SARS-CoV-2, for example, by determining virus-host protein-protein interactions through which SARS-CoV-2 hijacks its human hosts during infection, and to study the role of post-translational modifications. We have reanalyzed public affinity purification-mass spectrometry data using open modification searching to investigate the presence of post-translational modifications in the context of the SARS-CoV-2 virus-host protein-protein interaction network. Based on an over twofold increase in identified spectra, our detected protein interactions show a high overlap with independent mass spectrometry-based SARS-CoV-2 studies and virus-host interactions for alternative viruses, as well as previously unknown protein interactions. In addition, we identified several novel modification sites on SARS-CoV-2 proteins that we investigated in relation to their interactions with host proteins. A detailed analysis of relevant modifications, including phosphorylation, ubiquitination, and S-nitrosylation, provides important hypotheses about the functional role of these modifications during viral infection by SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Adams
- Department of Computer Science, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium,Centre for Proteomics (CFP), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Kurt Boonen
- Centre for Proteomics (CFP), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium,Sustainable Health Department, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Kris Laukens
- Department of Computer Science, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Wout Bittremieux
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA,For correspondence: Wout Bittremieux
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27
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Lachén-Montes M, Mendizuri N, Ausín K, Echaide M, Blanco E, Chocarro L, de Toro M, Escors D, Fernández-Irigoyen J, Kochan G, Santamaría E. Metabolic dyshomeostasis induced by SARS-CoV-2 structural proteins reveals immunological insights into viral olfactory interactions. Front Immunol 2022; 13:866564. [PMID: 36159830 PMCID: PMC9492993 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.866564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the most common symptoms in COVID-19 is a sudden loss of smell. SARS-CoV-2 has been detected in the olfactory bulb (OB) from animal models and sporadically in COVID-19 patients. To decipher the specific role over the SARS-CoV-2 proteome at olfactory level, we characterized the in-depth molecular imbalance induced by the expression of GFP-tagged SARS-CoV-2 structural proteins (M, N, E, S) on mouse OB cells. Transcriptomic and proteomic trajectories uncovered a widespread metabolic remodeling commonly converging in extracellular matrix organization, lipid metabolism and signaling by receptor tyrosine kinases. The molecular singularities and specific interactome expression modules were also characterized for each viral structural factor. The intracellular molecular imbalance induced by each SARS-CoV-2 structural protein was accompanied by differential activation dynamics in survival and immunological routes in parallel with a differentiated secretion profile of chemokines in OB cells. Machine learning through a proteotranscriptomic data integration uncovered TGF-beta signaling as a confluent activation node by the SARS-CoV-2 structural proteome. Taken together, these data provide important avenues for understanding the multifunctional immunomodulatory properties of SARS-CoV-2 M, N, S and E proteins beyond their intrinsic role in virion formation, deciphering mechanistic clues to the olfactory inflammation observed in COVID-19 patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mercedes Lachén-Montes
- Clinical Neuroproteomics Unit, Navarrabiomed, Hospital Universitario de Navarra (HUN), Universidad Pública de Navarra (UPNA), Pamplona, Spain
- IdiSNA. Navarra Institute for Health Research, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Naroa Mendizuri
- Clinical Neuroproteomics Unit, Navarrabiomed, Hospital Universitario de Navarra (HUN), Universidad Pública de Navarra (UPNA), Pamplona, Spain
- IdiSNA. Navarra Institute for Health Research, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Karina Ausín
- IdiSNA. Navarra Institute for Health Research, Pamplona, Spain
- Proteomics Platform, Navarrabiomed, Hospital Universitario de Navarra (HUN), Universidad Pública de Navarra (UPNA), Pamplona, Spain
| | - Miriam Echaide
- IdiSNA. Navarra Institute for Health Research, Pamplona, Spain
- Oncoimmunology Unit, Navarrabiomed, Hospital Universitario de Navarra (HUN), Universidad Pública de Navarra (UPNA), Pamplona, Spain
| | - Ester Blanco
- IdiSNA. Navarra Institute for Health Research, Pamplona, Spain
- Oncoimmunology Unit, Navarrabiomed, Hospital Universitario de Navarra (HUN), Universidad Pública de Navarra (UPNA), Pamplona, Spain
| | - Luisa Chocarro
- IdiSNA. Navarra Institute for Health Research, Pamplona, Spain
- Oncoimmunology Unit, Navarrabiomed, Hospital Universitario de Navarra (HUN), Universidad Pública de Navarra (UPNA), Pamplona, Spain
| | - María de Toro
- Genomics and Bioinformatics Platform, Centro de Investigación Biomédica de La Rioja (CIBIR), Logroño, Spain
| | - David Escors
- IdiSNA. Navarra Institute for Health Research, Pamplona, Spain
- Oncoimmunology Unit, Navarrabiomed, Hospital Universitario de Navarra (HUN), Universidad Pública de Navarra (UPNA), Pamplona, Spain
| | - Joaquín Fernández-Irigoyen
- IdiSNA. Navarra Institute for Health Research, Pamplona, Spain
- Proteomics Platform, Navarrabiomed, Hospital Universitario de Navarra (HUN), Universidad Pública de Navarra (UPNA), Pamplona, Spain
| | - Grazyna Kochan
- IdiSNA. Navarra Institute for Health Research, Pamplona, Spain
- Oncoimmunology Unit, Navarrabiomed, Hospital Universitario de Navarra (HUN), Universidad Pública de Navarra (UPNA), Pamplona, Spain
| | - Enrique Santamaría
- Clinical Neuroproteomics Unit, Navarrabiomed, Hospital Universitario de Navarra (HUN), Universidad Pública de Navarra (UPNA), Pamplona, Spain
- IdiSNA. Navarra Institute for Health Research, Pamplona, Spain
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28
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Chen M, Ma Y, Chang W. SARS-CoV-2 and the Nucleus. Int J Biol Sci 2022; 18:4731-4743. [PMID: 35874947 PMCID: PMC9305274 DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.72482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is caused by an RNA virus, SARS-CoV-2. The genome of SARS-CoV-2 lacks a nuclear phase in its life cycle and is replicated in the cytoplasm. However, interfering with nuclear trafficking using pharmacological inhibitors greatly reduces virus infection and virus replication of other coronaviruses is blocked in enucleated cells, suggesting a critical role of the nucleus in virus infection. Here, we summarize the alternations of nuclear pathways caused by SARS-CoV-2, including nuclear translocation pathways, innate immune responses, mRNA metabolism, epigenetic mechanisms, DNA damage response, cytoskeleton regulation, and nuclear rupture. We consider how these alternations contribute to virus replication and discuss therapeutic treatments that target these pathways, focusing on small molecule drugs that are being used in clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengqi Chen
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau, China
| | - Yue Ma
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau, China
| | - Wakam Chang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau, China
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29
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Wang W, Chen J, Yu X, Lan HY. Signaling mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid protein in viral infection, cell death and inflammation. Int J Biol Sci 2022; 18:4704-4713. [PMID: 35874957 PMCID: PMC9305276 DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.72663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
COVID-19 which is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has posed a worldwide pandemic and a major global public health threat. SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid (N) protein plays a critical role in multiple steps of the viral life cycle and participates in viral replication, transcription, and assembly. The primary roles of N protein are to assemble with genomic RNA into the viral RNA-protein (vRNP) complex and to localize to the replication transcription complexes (RTCs) to enhance viral replication and transcription. N protein can also undergo liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) with viral genome RNA and inhibit stress granules to facilitate viral replication and assembly. Besides the function in viral life cycle, N protein can bind GSDMD to antagonize pyroptosis but promotes cell death via the Smad3-dependent G1 cell cycle arrest mechanism. In innate immune system, N protein inhibits IFN-β production and RNAi pathway for virus survival. However, it can induce expression of proinflammatory cytokines by activating NF-κB signaling and NLRP3 inflammasome, resulting in cytokine storms. In this review article, we are focusing on the signaling mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 N protein in viral replication, cell death and inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenbiao Wang
- Medical Research Center and Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for Immunity and Genetics of Chronic Kidney Disease, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Junzhe Chen
- Department of Nephrology, The Third Affiliated hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.,Departments of Medicine & Therapeutics, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, and Lui Che Woo Institute of Innovative Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Xueqing Yu
- Medical Research Center and Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for Immunity and Genetics of Chronic Kidney Disease, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hui-Yao Lan
- Departments of Medicine & Therapeutics, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, and Lui Che Woo Institute of Innovative Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,The Chinese University of Hong Kong-Guangdong Academy of Sciences/Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital Joint Research Laboratory on Immunological and Genetic Kidney Diseases, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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30
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Zhang B, Xie Y, Lan Z, Li D, Tian J, Zhang Q, Tian H, Yang J, Zhou X, Qiu S, Lu K, Liu Y. SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid Protein Has DNA-Melting and Strand-Annealing Activities With Different Properties From SARS-CoV-2 Nsp13. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:851202. [PMID: 35935242 PMCID: PMC9354549 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.851202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Since December 2019, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has spread throughout the world and has had a devastating impact on health and economy. The biochemical characterization of SARS-CoV-2 proteins is important for drug design and development. In this study, we discovered that the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein can melt double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) in the 5′-3′ direction, similar to SARS-CoV-2 nonstructural protein 13. However, the unwinding activity of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein was found to be more than 22 times weaker than that of SARS-CoV-2 nonstructural protein 13, and the melting process was independent of nucleoside triphosphates and Mg2+. Interestingly, at low concentrations, the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein exhibited a stronger annealing activity than SARS-CoV-2 nonstructural protein 13; however, at high concentrations, it promoted the melting of dsDNA. These findings have deepened our understanding of the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein and will help provide novel insights into antiviral drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Zhang
- College of Basic Medicine, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
- Bo Zhang,
| | - Yan Xie
- School of Public Health, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
| | - Zhaoling Lan
- College of Basic Medicine, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
| | - Dayu Li
- College of Basic Medicine, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
| | - Junjie Tian
- College of Basic Medicine, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
| | - Qintao Zhang
- College of Basic Medicine, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
| | - Hongji Tian
- College of Basic Medicine, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
| | - Jiali Yang
- College of Basic Medicine, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
| | - Xinnan Zhou
- College of Basic Medicine, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
| | - Shuyi Qiu
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resource Conservation and Germplasm Innovation in Mountainous Region (Ministry of Education), College of Life Sciences/Institute of Agro-bioengineering, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
| | - Keyu Lu
- College of Basic Medicine, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
- Keyu Lu,
| | - Yang Liu
- School of Public Health, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resource Conservation and Germplasm Innovation in Mountainous Region (Ministry of Education), College of Life Sciences/Institute of Agro-bioengineering, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
- *Correspondence: Yang Liu,
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31
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Farooq M, Khan AW, Ahmad B, Kim MS, Choi S. Therapeutic Targeting of Innate Immune Receptors Against SARS-CoV-2 Infection. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:915565. [PMID: 35847031 PMCID: PMC9280161 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.915565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The innate immune system is the first line of host's defense against invading pathogens. Multiple cellular sensors that detect viral components can induce innate antiviral immune responses. As a result, interferons and pro-inflammatory cytokines are produced which help in the elimination of invading viruses. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) belongs to Coronaviridae family, and has a single-stranded, positive-sense RNA genome. It can infect multiple hosts; in humans, it is responsible for the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Successful, timely, and appropriate detection of SARS-CoV-2 can be very important for the early generation of the immune response. Several drugs that target the innate immune receptors as well as other signaling molecules generated during the innate immune response are currently being investigated in clinical trials. In this review, we summarized the current knowledge of the mechanisms underlying host sensing and innate immune responses against SARS-CoV-2 infection, as well as the role of innate immune receptors in terms of their therapeutic potential against SARS-CoV-2. Moreover, we discussed the drugs undergoing clinical trials and the FDA approved drugs against SARS-CoV-2. This review will help in understanding the interactions between SARS-CoV-2 and innate immune receptors and thus will point towards new dimensions for the development of new therapeutics, which can be beneficial in the current pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariya Farooq
- Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University, Suwon, South Korea
- S&K Therapeutics, Ajou University, Suwon, South Korea
| | - Abdul Waheed Khan
- Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University, Suwon, South Korea
| | - Bilal Ahmad
- Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University, Suwon, South Korea
- S&K Therapeutics, Ajou University, Suwon, South Korea
| | - Moon Suk Kim
- Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University, Suwon, South Korea
| | - Sangdun Choi
- Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University, Suwon, South Korea
- S&K Therapeutics, Ajou University, Suwon, South Korea
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32
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Structural basis for SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N) protein recognition by 14-3-3 proteins. J Struct Biol 2022; 214:107879. [PMID: 35781025 PMCID: PMC9245327 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsb.2022.107879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Revised: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
14-3-3 proteins are important dimeric scaffolds that regulate the function of hundreds of proteins in a phosphorylation-dependent manner. The SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N) protein forms a complex with human 14-3-3 proteins upon phosphorylation, which has also been described for other coronaviruses. Here, we report a high-resolution crystal structure of 14-3-3 bound to an N phosphopeptide bearing the phosphoserine 197 in the middle. The structure revealed two copies of the N phosphopeptide bound, each in the central binding groove of each 14-3-3 monomer. A complex network of hydrogen bonds and water bridges between the peptide and 14-3-3 was observed explaining the high affinity of the N protein for 14-3-3 proteins.
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33
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Colton H, Hodgson D, Hornsby H, Brown R, Mckenzie J, Bradley KL, James C, Lindsey BB, Birch S, Marsh L, Wood S, Bayley M, Dickson G, James DC, Nicklin MJ, Sayers JR, Zafred D, Rowland-Jones SL, Kudesia G, Kucharski A, Darton TC, de Silva TI, Collini PJ. Risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence following the first pandemic wave in UK healthcare workers in a large NHS Foundation Trust. Wellcome Open Res 2022; 6:220. [PMID: 35600250 PMCID: PMC9091808 DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.17143.3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: We aimed to measure SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in a cohort of healthcare workers (HCWs) during the first UK wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, explore risk factors associated with infection, and investigate the impact of antibody titres on assay sensitivity. Methods: HCWs at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust were prospectively enrolled and sampled at two time points. We developed an in-house ELISA for testing participant serum for SARS-CoV-2 IgG and IgA reactivity against Spike and Nucleoprotein. Data were analysed using three statistical models: a seroprevalence model, an antibody kinetics model, and a heterogeneous sensitivity model. Results: Our in-house assay had a sensitivity of 99·47% and specificity of 99·56%. We found that 24·4% (n=311/1275) of HCWs were seropositive as of 12th June 2020. Of these, 39·2% (n=122/311) were asymptomatic. The highest adjusted seroprevalence was measured in HCWs on the Acute Medical Unit (41·1%, 95% CrI 30·0-52·9) and in Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists (39·2%, 95% CrI 24·4-56·5). Older age groups showed overall higher median antibody titres. Further modelling suggests that, for a serological assay with an overall sensitivity of 80%, antibody titres may be markedly affected by differences in age, with sensitivity estimates of 89% in those over 60 years but 61% in those ≤30 years. Conclusions: HCWs in acute medical units and those working closely with COVID-19 patients were at highest risk of infection, though whether these are infections acquired from patients or other staff is unknown. Current serological assays may underestimate seroprevalence in younger age groups if validated using sera from older and/or more severe COVID-19 cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hayley Colton
- South Yorkshire Regional Department of Infection and Tropical Medicine, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Nhs Foundation Trust, Sheffield, S10 2JF, UK
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - David Hodgson
- Centre for Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Hailey Hornsby
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Rebecca Brown
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Joanne Mckenzie
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Kirsty L. Bradley
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Cameron James
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Benjamin B. Lindsey
- South Yorkshire Regional Department of Infection and Tropical Medicine, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Nhs Foundation Trust, Sheffield, S10 2JF, UK
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Sarah Birch
- Academic Directorate of Communicable Diseases and Specialised Medicine, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Nhs Foundation Trust, Sheffield, S10 2JF, UK
| | - Louise Marsh
- Academic Directorate of Communicable Diseases and Specialised Medicine, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Nhs Foundation Trust, Sheffield, S10 2JF, UK
| | - Steven Wood
- Department of Scientific Computing and Informatics, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Nhs Foundation Trust, Sheffield, S10 2JF, UK
| | - Martin Bayley
- Department of Scientific Computing and Informatics, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Nhs Foundation Trust, Sheffield, S10 2JF, UK
| | - Gary Dickson
- Department of Scientific Computing and Informatics, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Nhs Foundation Trust, Sheffield, S10 2JF, UK
| | - David C. James
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Martin J. Nicklin
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Jon R. Sayers
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
- The Florey Institute for Host-Pathogen Interactions, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
- Sheffield Institute for Nucleic Acids, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Domen Zafred
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Sarah L. Rowland-Jones
- South Yorkshire Regional Department of Infection and Tropical Medicine, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Nhs Foundation Trust, Sheffield, S10 2JF, UK
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
- The Florey Institute for Host-Pathogen Interactions, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Goura Kudesia
- Department of Virology, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Nhs Foundation Trust, Sheffield, S5 7AU, UK
| | - Adam Kucharski
- Centre for Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - CMMID COVID-19 Working Group
- South Yorkshire Regional Department of Infection and Tropical Medicine, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Nhs Foundation Trust, Sheffield, S10 2JF, UK
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
- Centre for Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
- Academic Directorate of Communicable Diseases and Specialised Medicine, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Nhs Foundation Trust, Sheffield, S10 2JF, UK
- Department of Scientific Computing and Informatics, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Nhs Foundation Trust, Sheffield, S10 2JF, UK
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
- The Florey Institute for Host-Pathogen Interactions, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
- Sheffield Institute for Nucleic Acids, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
- Department of Virology, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Nhs Foundation Trust, Sheffield, S5 7AU, UK
| | - Thomas C. Darton
- South Yorkshire Regional Department of Infection and Tropical Medicine, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Nhs Foundation Trust, Sheffield, S10 2JF, UK
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
- The Florey Institute for Host-Pathogen Interactions, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Thushan I. de Silva
- South Yorkshire Regional Department of Infection and Tropical Medicine, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Nhs Foundation Trust, Sheffield, S10 2JF, UK
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
- The Florey Institute for Host-Pathogen Interactions, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Paul J. Collini
- South Yorkshire Regional Department of Infection and Tropical Medicine, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Nhs Foundation Trust, Sheffield, S10 2JF, UK
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
- The Florey Institute for Host-Pathogen Interactions, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
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34
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Johnson BA, Zhou Y, Lokugamage KG, Vu MN, Bopp N, Crocquet-Valdes PA, Kalveram B, Schindewolf C, Liu Y, Scharton D, Plante JA, Xie X, Aguilar P, Weaver SC, Shi PY, Walker DH, Routh AL, Plante KS, Menachery VD. Nucleocapsid mutations in SARS-CoV-2 augment replication and pathogenesis. PLoS Pathog 2022; 18:e1010627. [PMID: 35728038 PMCID: PMC9275689 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Revised: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
While SARS-CoV-2 continues to adapt for human infection and transmission, genetic variation outside of the spike gene remains largely unexplored. This study investigates a highly variable region at residues 203-205 in the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein. Recreating a mutation found in the alpha and omicron variants in an early pandemic (WA-1) background, we find that the R203K+G204R mutation is sufficient to enhance replication, fitness, and pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2. The R203K+G204R mutant corresponds with increased viral RNA and protein both in vitro and in vivo. Importantly, the R203K+G204R mutation increases nucleocapsid phosphorylation and confers resistance to inhibition of the GSK-3 kinase, providing a molecular basis for increased virus replication. Notably, analogous alanine substitutions at positions 203+204 also increase SARS-CoV-2 replication and augment phosphorylation, suggesting that infection is enhanced through ablation of the ancestral 'RG' motif. Overall, these results demonstrate that variant mutations outside spike are key components in SARS-CoV-2's continued adaptation to human infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryan A Johnson
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Yiyang Zhou
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Kumari G Lokugamage
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Michelle N Vu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Nathen Bopp
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | | | - Birte Kalveram
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Craig Schindewolf
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Yang Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Dionna Scharton
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- World Reference Center of Emerging Viruses and Arboviruses, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Jessica A Plante
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- World Reference Center of Emerging Viruses and Arboviruses, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Xuping Xie
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Patricia Aguilar
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Scott C Weaver
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- World Reference Center of Emerging Viruses and Arboviruses, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- Institute for Human Infection and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Pei-Yong Shi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- World Reference Center of Emerging Viruses and Arboviruses, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- Institute for Human Infection and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- Institute for Drug Discovery, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - David H Walker
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Andrew L Routh
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- Institute for Human Infection and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Kenneth S Plante
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- World Reference Center of Emerging Viruses and Arboviruses, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Vineet D Menachery
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- World Reference Center of Emerging Viruses and Arboviruses, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
- Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, United States of America
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35
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Zhao H, Nguyen A, Wu D, Li Y, Hassan SA, Chen J, Shroff H, Piszczek G, Schuck P. Plasticity in structure and assembly of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein. PNAS NEXUS 2022; 1:pgac049. [PMID: 35783502 PMCID: PMC9235412 DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgac049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Worldwide SARS-CoV-2 sequencing efforts track emerging mutations in its spike protein, as well as characteristic mutations in other viral proteins. Besides their epidemiological importance, the observed SARS-CoV-2 sequences present an ensemble of viable protein variants, and thereby a source of information on viral protein structure and function. Charting the mutational landscape of the nucleocapsid (N) protein that facilitates viral assembly, we observe variability exceeding that of the spike protein, with more than 86% of residues that can be substituted, on average by three to four different amino acids. However, mutations exhibit an uneven distribution that tracks known structural features but also reveals highly protected stretches of unknown function. One of these conserved regions is in the central disordered linker proximal to the N-G215C mutation that has become dominant in the Delta variant, outcompeting G215 variants without further spike or N-protein substitutions. Structural models suggest that the G215C mutation stabilizes conserved transient helices in the disordered linker serving as protein-protein interaction interfaces. Comparing Delta variant N-protein to its ancestral version in biophysical experiments, we find a significantly more compact and less disordered structure. N-G215C exhibits substantially stronger self-association, shifting the unliganded protein from a dimeric to a tetrameric oligomeric state, which leads to enhanced coassembly with nucleic acids. This suggests that the sequence variability of N-protein is mirrored by high plasticity of N-protein biophysical properties, which we hypothesize can be exploited by SARS-CoV-2 to achieve greater efficiency of viral assembly, and thereby enhanced infectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huaying Zhao
- Laboratory of Dynamics of Macromolecular Assembly, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Ai Nguyen
- Laboratory of Dynamics of Macromolecular Assembly, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Di Wu
- Biophysics Core Facility, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Yan Li
- Proteomics Core Facility, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Sergio A Hassan
- Bioinformatics and Computational Biosciences Branch, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Jiji Chen
- Advanced Imaging and Microscopy Resource, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Hari Shroff
- Advanced Imaging and Microscopy Resource, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
- Laboratory of High Resolution Optical Imaging, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Grzegorz Piszczek
- Biophysics Core Facility, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Peter Schuck
- Laboratory of Dynamics of Macromolecular Assembly, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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36
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Colton H, Hodgson D, Hornsby H, Brown R, Mckenzie J, Bradley KL, James C, Lindsey BB, Birch S, Marsh L, Wood S, Bayley M, Dickson G, James DC, Nicklin MJ, Sayers JR, Zafred D, Rowland-Jones SL, Kudesia G, Kucharski A, Darton TC, de Silva TI, Collini PJ. Risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence following the first pandemic wave in UK healthcare workers in a large NHS Foundation Trust. Wellcome Open Res 2022; 6:220. [PMID: 35600250 PMCID: PMC9091808 DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.17143.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: We aimed to measure SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in a cohort of healthcare workers (HCWs) during the first UK wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, explore risk factors associated with infection, and investigate the impact of antibody titres on assay sensitivity. Methods: HCWs at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust were prospectively enrolled and sampled at two time points. We developed an in-house ELISA for testing participant serum for SARS-CoV-2 IgG and IgA reactivity against Spike and Nucleoprotein. Data were analysed using three statistical models: a seroprevalence model, an antibody kinetics model, and a heterogeneous sensitivity model. Results: Our in-house assay had a sensitivity of 99·47% and specificity of 99·56%. We found that 24·4% (n=311/1275) of HCWs were seropositive as of 12th June 2020. Of these, 39·2% (n=122/311) were asymptomatic. The highest adjusted seroprevalence was measured in HCWs on the Acute Medical Unit (41·1%, 95% CrI 30·0-52·9) and in Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists (39·2%, 95% CrI 24·4-56·5). Older age groups showed overall higher median antibody titres. Further modelling suggests that, for a serological assay with an overall sensitivity of 80%, antibody titres may be markedly affected by differences in age, with sensitivity estimates of 89% in those over 60 years but 61% in those ≤30 years. Conclusions: HCWs in acute medical units and those working closely with COVID-19 patients were at highest risk of infection, though whether these are infections acquired from patients or other staff is unknown. Current serological assays may underestimate seroprevalence in younger age groups if validated using sera from older and/or more severe COVID-19 cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hayley Colton
- South Yorkshire Regional Department of Infection and Tropical Medicine, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Nhs Foundation Trust, Sheffield, S10 2JF, UK
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - David Hodgson
- Centre for Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Hailey Hornsby
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Rebecca Brown
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Joanne Mckenzie
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Kirsty L. Bradley
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Cameron James
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Benjamin B. Lindsey
- South Yorkshire Regional Department of Infection and Tropical Medicine, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Nhs Foundation Trust, Sheffield, S10 2JF, UK
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Sarah Birch
- Academic Directorate of Communicable Diseases and Specialised Medicine, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Nhs Foundation Trust, Sheffield, S10 2JF, UK
| | - Louise Marsh
- Academic Directorate of Communicable Diseases and Specialised Medicine, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Nhs Foundation Trust, Sheffield, S10 2JF, UK
| | - Steven Wood
- Department of Scientific Computing and Informatics, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Nhs Foundation Trust, Sheffield, S10 2JF, UK
| | - Martin Bayley
- Department of Scientific Computing and Informatics, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Nhs Foundation Trust, Sheffield, S10 2JF, UK
| | - Gary Dickson
- Department of Scientific Computing and Informatics, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Nhs Foundation Trust, Sheffield, S10 2JF, UK
| | - David C. James
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Martin J. Nicklin
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Jon R. Sayers
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
- The Florey Institute for Host-Pathogen Interactions, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
- Sheffield Institute for Nucleic Acids, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Domen Zafred
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Sarah L. Rowland-Jones
- South Yorkshire Regional Department of Infection and Tropical Medicine, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Nhs Foundation Trust, Sheffield, S10 2JF, UK
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
- The Florey Institute for Host-Pathogen Interactions, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Goura Kudesia
- Department of Virology, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Nhs Foundation Trust, Sheffield, S5 7AU, UK
| | - Adam Kucharski
- Centre for Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - CMMID COVID-19 Working Group
- South Yorkshire Regional Department of Infection and Tropical Medicine, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Nhs Foundation Trust, Sheffield, S10 2JF, UK
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
- Centre for Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
- Academic Directorate of Communicable Diseases and Specialised Medicine, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Nhs Foundation Trust, Sheffield, S10 2JF, UK
- Department of Scientific Computing and Informatics, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Nhs Foundation Trust, Sheffield, S10 2JF, UK
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
- The Florey Institute for Host-Pathogen Interactions, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
- Sheffield Institute for Nucleic Acids, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
- Department of Virology, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Nhs Foundation Trust, Sheffield, S5 7AU, UK
| | - Thomas C. Darton
- South Yorkshire Regional Department of Infection and Tropical Medicine, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Nhs Foundation Trust, Sheffield, S10 2JF, UK
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
- The Florey Institute for Host-Pathogen Interactions, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Thushan I. de Silva
- South Yorkshire Regional Department of Infection and Tropical Medicine, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Nhs Foundation Trust, Sheffield, S10 2JF, UK
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
- The Florey Institute for Host-Pathogen Interactions, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Paul J. Collini
- South Yorkshire Regional Department of Infection and Tropical Medicine, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Nhs Foundation Trust, Sheffield, S10 2JF, UK
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
- The Florey Institute for Host-Pathogen Interactions, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
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Abstract
The 14-3-3 family proteins are vital scaffold proteins that ubiquitously expressed in various tissues. They interact with numerous protein targets and mediate many cellular signaling pathways. The 14-3-3 binding motifs are often embedded in intrinsically disordered regions which are closely associated with liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS). In the past ten years, LLPS has been observed for a variety of proteins and biological processes, indicating that LLPS plays a fundamental role in the formation of membraneless organelles and cellular condensates. While extensive investigations have been performed on 14-3-3 proteins, its involvement in LLPS is overlooked. To date, 14-3-3 proteins have not been reported to undergo LLPS alone or regulate LLPS of their binding partners. To reveal the potential involvement of 14-3-3 proteins in LLPS, in this review, we summarized the LLPS propensity of 14-3-3 binding partners and found that about one half of them may undergo LLPS spontaneously. We further analyzed the phase separation behavior of representative 14-3-3 binders and discussed how 14-3-3 proteins may be involved. By modulating the conformation and valence of interactions and recruiting other molecules, we speculate that 14-3-3 proteins can efficiently regulate the functions of their targets in the context of LLPS. Considering the critical roles of 14-3-3 proteins, there is an urgent need for investigating the involvement of 14-3-3 proteins in the phase separation process of their targets and the underling mechanisms.
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Zhao H, Nguyen A, Wu D, Li Y, Hassan SA, Chen J, Shroff H, Piszczek G, Schuck P. Plasticity in structure and assembly of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2022:2022.02.08.479556. [PMID: 35169797 PMCID: PMC8845419 DOI: 10.1101/2022.02.08.479556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Worldwide SARS-CoV-2 sequencing efforts track emerging mutations in its spike protein, as well as characteristic mutations in other viral proteins. Besides their epidemiological importance, the observed SARS-CoV-2 sequences present an ensemble of viable protein variants, and thereby a source of information on viral protein structure and function. Charting the mutational landscape of the nucleocapsid (N) protein that facilitates viral assembly, we observe variability exceeding that of the spike protein, with more than 86% of residues that can be substituted, on average by 3-4 different amino acids. However, mutations exhibit an uneven distribution that tracks known structural features but also reveals highly protected stretches of unknown function. One of these conserved regions is in the central disordered linker proximal to the N-G215C mutation that has become dominant in the Delta variant, outcompeting G215 variants without further spike or N-protein substitutions. Structural models suggest that the G215C mutation stabilizes conserved transient helices in the disordered linker serving as protein-protein interaction interfaces. Comparing Delta variant N-protein to its ancestral version in biophysical experiments, we find a significantly more compact and less disordered structure. N-G215C exhibits substantially stronger self-association, shifting the unliganded protein from a dimeric to a tetrameric oligomeric state, which leads to enhanced co-assembly with nucleic acids. This suggests that the sequence variability of N-protein is mirrored by high plasticity of N-protein biophysical properties, which we hypothesize can be exploited by SARS-CoV-2 to achieve greater efficiency of viral assembly, and thereby enhanced infectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huaying Zhao
- Laboratory of Dynamics of Macromolecular Assembly, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Ai Nguyen
- Laboratory of Dynamics of Macromolecular Assembly, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Di Wu
- Biophysics Core Facility, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Yan Li
- Proteomics Core Facility, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Sergio A. Hassan
- Bioinformatics and Computational Biosciences Branch, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Jiji Chen
- Advanced Imaging and Microscopy Resource, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Hari Shroff
- Advanced Imaging and Microscopy Resource, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
- Laboratory of High Resolution Optical Imaging, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Grzegorz Piszczek
- Biophysics Core Facility, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Peter Schuck
- Laboratory of Dynamics of Macromolecular Assembly, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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Active site prediction of phosphorylated SARS-CoV-2 N-Protein using molecular simulation. INFORMATICS IN MEDICINE UNLOCKED 2022; 29:100889. [PMID: 35224174 PMCID: PMC8860464 DOI: 10.1016/j.imu.2022.100889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Revised: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) nucleocapsid protein (N-protein) is responsible for viral replication by assisting in viral RNA synthesis and attaching the viral genome to the replicase-transcriptase complex (RTC). Numerous studies suggested the N-protein as a drug target. However, the specific N-protein active sites for SARS-CoV-2 drug treatments are yet to be discovered. The purpose of this study was to determine active sites of the SARS-CoV-2 N-protein by identifying torsion angle classifiers for N-protein structural changes that correlated with the respective angle differences between the active and inactive N-protein. In the study, classifiers with a minimum accuracy of 80% determined from molecular simulation data were analyzed by Principal Component Analysis and cross-validated by Logistic Regression, Support Vector Machine, and Random Forest Classification. The ability of torsion angles ψ252 and φ375 to differentiate between phosphorylated and unphosphorylated structures suggested that residues 252 and 375 in the RNA binding domain might be important in N-protein activation. Furthermore, the φ and ψ angles of residue S189 correlated to a 90.7% structural determination accuracy. The key residues involved in the structural changes identified here might suggest possible important functional sites on the N-protein that could be the focus of further study to understand their potential as drug targets.
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40
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Kolesov DE, Sinegubova MV, Safenkova IV, Vorobiev II, Orlova NA. Antigenic properties of the SARS-CoV-2 nucleoprotein are altered by the RNA admixture. PeerJ 2022; 10:e12751. [PMID: 35036106 PMCID: PMC8744485 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.12751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Determining the presence of antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2 antigens is the best way to identify infected people, regardless of the development of symptoms of COVID-19. The nucleoprotein (NP) of the SARS-CoV-2 is an immunodominant antigen of the virus; anti-NP antibodies are detected in persons previously infected with the virus with the highest titers. Many test systems for detecting antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 contain NP or its fragments as antigen. The sensitivity and specificity of such test systems differ significantly, which can be explained by variations in the antigenic properties of NP caused by differences in the methods of its cultivation, isolation and purification. We investigated this effect for the Escherichia coli-derived SARS-CoV-2 NP, obtained from the cytoplasm in the soluble form. We hypothesized that co-purified nucleic acids that form a strong complex with NP might negatively affect NP's antigenic properties. Therefore, we have established the NP purification method, which completely eliminates the RNA in the NP preparation. Two stages of RNA removal were used: treatment of the crude lysate of E. coli with RNase A and subsequent selective RNA elution with 2 M NaCl solution. The resulting NP without RNA has a significantly better signal-to-noise ratio when used as an ELISA antigen and tested with a control panel of serum samples with antibodies to SARS-CoV-2; therefore, it is preferable for in vitro diagnostic use. The same increase of the signal-to-noise ratio was detected for the free N-terminal domain of the NP. Complete removal of RNA complexed with NP during purification will significantly improve its antigenic properties, and the absence of RNA in NP preparations should be controlled during the production of this antigen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denis E. Kolesov
- Laboratory of Mammalian Cell Bioengineering, Institute of Bioengineering, Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Maria V. Sinegubova
- Laboratory of Mammalian Cell Bioengineering, Institute of Bioengineering, Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Irina V. Safenkova
- Laboratory of Immunobiochemistry, Institute of Biochemistry, Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia, Moscow, Russia
| | - Ivan I. Vorobiev
- Laboratory of Mammalian Cell Bioengineering, Institute of Bioengineering, Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Nadezhda A. Orlova
- Laboratory of Mammalian Cell Bioengineering, Institute of Bioengineering, Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
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41
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Lam AHY, Cai JP, Leung KY, Zhang RR, Liu D, Fan Y, Tam AR, Cheng VCC, To KKW, Yuen KY, Hung IFN, Chan KH. In-House Immunofluorescence Assay for Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Antigens in Cells from Nasopharyngeal Swabs as a Diagnostic Method for COVID-19. Diagnostics (Basel) 2021; 11:diagnostics11122346. [PMID: 34943583 PMCID: PMC8700487 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics11122346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Revised: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunofluorescence is a traditional diagnostic method for respiratory viruses, allowing rapid, simple and accurate diagnosis, with specific benefits of direct visualization of antigens-of-interest and quality assessment. This study aims to evaluate the potential of indirect immunofluorescence as an in-house diagnostic method for SARS-CoV-2 antigens from nasopharyngeal swabs (NPS). Three primary antibodies raised from mice were used for immunofluorescence staining, including monoclonal antibody against SARS-CoV nucleocapsid protein, and polyclonal antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein and receptor-binding domain of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Smears of cells from NPS of 29 COVID-19 patients and 20 non-infected individuals, and cells from viral culture were stained by the three antibodies. Immunofluorescence microscopy was used to identify respiratory epithelial cells with positive signals. Polyclonal antibody against SARS-CoV-2 N protein had the highest sensitivity and specificity among the three antibodies tested, detecting 17 out of 29 RT-PCR-confirmed COVID-19 cases and demonstrating no cross-reactivity with other tested viruses except SARS-CoV. Detection of virus-infected cells targeting SARS-CoV-2 N protein allow identification of infected individuals, although accuracy is limited by sample quality and number of respiratory epithelial cells. The potential of immunofluorescence as a simple diagnostic method was demonstrated, which could be applied by incorporating antibodies targeting SARS-CoV-2 into multiplex immunofluorescence panels used clinically, such as for respiratory viruses, thus allowing additional routine testing for diagnosis and surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 even after the epidemic has ended with low prevalence of COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Athene Hoi-Ying Lam
- Department of Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; (A.H.-Y.L.); (R.-R.Z.); (D.L.); (Y.F.)
| | - Jian-Piao Cai
- Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; (J.-P.C.); (K.-Y.L.); (K.K.-W.T.); (K.-Y.Y.)
| | - Ka-Yi Leung
- Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; (J.-P.C.); (K.-Y.L.); (K.K.-W.T.); (K.-Y.Y.)
| | - Ricky-Ruiqi Zhang
- Department of Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; (A.H.-Y.L.); (R.-R.Z.); (D.L.); (Y.F.)
| | - Danlei Liu
- Department of Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; (A.H.-Y.L.); (R.-R.Z.); (D.L.); (Y.F.)
| | - Yujing Fan
- Department of Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; (A.H.-Y.L.); (R.-R.Z.); (D.L.); (Y.F.)
| | | | | | - Kelvin Kai-Wang To
- Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; (J.-P.C.); (K.-Y.L.); (K.K.-W.T.); (K.-Y.Y.)
- State Key Laboratory for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Kwok-Yung Yuen
- Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; (J.-P.C.); (K.-Y.L.); (K.K.-W.T.); (K.-Y.Y.)
- Department of Microbiology, Queen Mary Hospital, Hospital Authority, Hong Kong, China;
- State Key Laboratory for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ivan Fan-Ngai Hung
- Department of Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; (A.H.-Y.L.); (R.-R.Z.); (D.L.); (Y.F.)
- Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, China;
- State Key Laboratory for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Correspondence: (I.F.-N.H.); (K.-H.C.)
| | - Kwok-Hung Chan
- Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; (J.-P.C.); (K.-Y.L.); (K.K.-W.T.); (K.-Y.Y.)
- State Key Laboratory for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Carol Yu Centre for Infection, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Correspondence: (I.F.-N.H.); (K.-H.C.)
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Dynamic, but Not Necessarily Disordered, Human-Virus Interactions Mediated through SLiMs in Viral Proteins. Viruses 2021; 13:v13122369. [PMID: 34960638 PMCID: PMC8703344 DOI: 10.3390/v13122369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2021] [Revised: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Most viruses have small genomes that encode proteins needed to perform essential enzymatic functions. Across virus families, primary enzyme functions are under functional constraint; however, secondary functions mediated by exposed protein surfaces that promote interactions with the host proteins may be less constrained. Viruses often form transient interactions with host proteins through conformationally flexible interfaces. Exposed flexible amino acid residues are known to evolve rapidly suggesting that secondary functions may generate diverse interaction potentials between viruses within the same viral family. One mechanism of interaction is viral mimicry through short linear motifs (SLiMs) that act as functional signatures in host proteins. Viral SLiMs display specific patterns of adjacent amino acids that resemble their host SLiMs and may occur by chance numerous times in viral proteins due to mutational and selective processes. Through mimicry of SLiMs in the host cell proteome, viruses can interfere with the protein interaction network of the host and utilize the host-cell machinery to their benefit. The overlap between rapidly evolving protein regions and the location of functionally critical SLiMs suggest that these motifs and their functional potential may be rapidly rewired causing variation in pathogenicity, infectivity, and virulence of related viruses. The following review provides an overview of known viral SLiMs with select examples of their role in the life cycle of a virus, and a discussion of the structural properties of experimentally validated SLiMs highlighting that a large portion of known viral SLiMs are devoid of predicted intrinsic disorder based on the viral SLiMs from the ELM database.
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43
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The role of dancing duplexes in biology and disease. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2021. [PMID: 34656330 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2021.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
Across species, a common protein assembly arises: proteins containing structured domains separated by long intrinsically disordered regions, and dimerized through a self-association domain or through strong protein interactions. These systems are termed "IDP duplexes." These flexible dimers have roles in diverse pathologies including development of cancer, viral infections, and neurodegenerative disease. Here we discuss the role of disorder in IDP duplexes with similar domain architectures that bind hub protein, LC8. LC8-binding IDP duplexes are categorized into three groups: IDP duplexes that contain a self-association domain that is extended by LC8 binding, IDP duplexes that have no self-association domain and are dimerized through binding several copies of LC8, and multivalent LC8-binders that also have a self-association domain. Additionally, we discuss non-LC8-binding IDP duplexes with similar domain organizations, including the Nucleocapsid protein of SARS-CoV-2. We propose that IDP duplexes have structural features that are essential in many biological processes and that improved understanding of their structure function relationship will provide new therapeutic opportunities.
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44
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Johnson BA, Zhou Y, Lokugamage KG, Vu MN, Bopp N, Crocquet-Valdes PA, Schindewolf C, Liu Y, Scharton D, Plante JA, Xie X, Aguilar P, Weaver SC, Shi PY, Walker DH, Routh AL, Plante KS, Menachery VD. Nucleocapsid mutations in SARS-CoV-2 augment replication and pathogenesis. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2021. [PMID: 34671771 PMCID: PMC8528077 DOI: 10.1101/2021.10.14.464390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
While SARS-CoV-2 continues to adapt for human infection and transmission, genetic variation outside of the spike gene remains largely unexplored. This study investigates a highly variable region at residues 203–205 in the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein. Recreating a mutation found in the alpha and omicron variants in an early pandemic (WA-1) background, we find that the R203K+G204R mutation is sufficient to enhance replication, fitness, and pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2. The R203K+G204R mutant corresponds with increased viral RNA and protein both in vitro and in vivo. Importantly, the R203K+G204R mutation increases nucleocapsid phosphorylation and confers resistance to inhibition of the GSK-3 kinase, providing a molecular basis for increased virus replication. Notably, analogous alanine substitutions at positions 203+204 also increase SARS-CoV-2 replication and augment phosphorylation, suggesting that infection is enhanced through ablation of the ancestral ‘RG’ motif. Overall, these results demonstrate that variant mutations outside spike are key components in SARS-CoV-2’s continued adaptation to human infection.
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45
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Del Veliz S, Rivera L, Bustos DM, Uhart M. Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid phosphoprotein N variations in the binding site to human 14-3-3 proteins. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2021; 569:154-160. [PMID: 34246830 PMCID: PMC8249750 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2021.06.100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 N protein binds several cell host proteins including 14-3-3γ, a well-characterized regulatory protein. However, the biological function of this interaction is not completely understood. We analyzed the variability of ∼90 000 sequences of the SARS-CoV-2 N protein, particularly, its mutations in disordered regions containing binding motifs for 14-3-3 proteins. We studied how these mutations affect the binding energy to 14-3-3γ and found that changes positively affecting the predicted interaction with 14-3-3γ are the most successfully spread, with the highest prevalence in the phylogenetic tree. Although most residues are highly conserved within the 14-3-3 binding site, compensatory mutations to maintain the interaction energy of N-14-3-3γ were found, including half of the current variants of concern and interest. Our results suggest that binding of N to 14-3-3γ is beneficial for the virus, thus targeting this viral-host protein-protein interaction seems an attractive approach to explore antiviral strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samanta Del Veliz
- Laboratorio de Integración de Señales Celulares, IHEM, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, CONICET, Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Lautaro Rivera
- Laboratorio de Integración de Señales Celulares, IHEM, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, CONICET, Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Diego M. Bustos
- Laboratorio de Integración de Señales Celulares, IHEM, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, CONICET, Mendoza, Argentina,Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Marina Uhart
- Laboratorio de Integración de Señales Celulares, IHEM, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, CONICET, Mendoza, Argentina,Corresponding author. IHEM, U.N.Cuyo-CONICET, Av. Libertador 80, 5500, Mendoza, Argentina
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Colton H, Hodgson D, Hornsby H, Brown R, Mckenzie J, Bradley KL, James C, Lindsey BB, Birch S, Marsh L, Wood S, Bayley M, Dickson G, James DC, Nicklin MJ, Sayers JR, Zafred D, Rowland-Jones SL, Kudesia G, Kucharski A, Darton TC, de Silva TI, Collini PJ. Risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence following the first pandemic wave in UK healthcare workers in a large NHS Foundation Trust. Wellcome Open Res 2021; 6:220. [PMID: 35600250 PMCID: PMC9091808 DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.17143.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: We aimed to measure SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in a cohort of healthcare workers (HCWs) during the first UK wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, explore risk factors associated with infection, and investigate the impact of antibody titres on assay sensitivity. Methods: HCWs at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust were prospectively enrolled and sampled at two time points. SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were tested using an in-house assay for IgG and IgA reactivity against Spike and Nucleoprotein (sensitivity 99·47%, specificity 99·56%). Data were analysed using three statistical models: a seroprevalence model, an antibody kinetics model, and a heterogeneous sensitivity model. Results: As of 12th June 2020, 24·4% (n=311/1275) of HCWs were seropositive. Of these, 39·2% (n=122/311) were asymptomatic. The highest adjusted seroprevalence was measured in HCWs on the Acute Medical Unit (41·1%, 95% CrI 30·0-52·9) and in Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists (39·2%, 95% CrI 24·4-56·5). Older age groups showed overall higher median antibody titres. Further modelling suggests that, for a serological assay with an overall sensitivity of 80%, antibody titres may be markedly affected by differences in age, with sensitivity estimates of 89% in those over 60 years but 61% in those ≤30 years. Conclusions: HCWs in acute medical units working closely with COVID-19 patients were at highest risk of infection, though whether these are infections acquired from patients or other staff is unknown. Current serological assays may underestimate seroprevalence in younger age groups if validated using sera from older and/or more symptomatic individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hayley Colton
- South Yorkshire Regional Department of Infection and Tropical Medicine, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Nhs Foundation Trust, Sheffield, S10 2JF, UK
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - David Hodgson
- Centre for Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Hailey Hornsby
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Rebecca Brown
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Joanne Mckenzie
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Kirsty L. Bradley
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Cameron James
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Benjamin B. Lindsey
- South Yorkshire Regional Department of Infection and Tropical Medicine, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Nhs Foundation Trust, Sheffield, S10 2JF, UK
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Sarah Birch
- Academic Directorate of Communicable Diseases and Specialised Medicine, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Nhs Foundation Trust, Sheffield, S10 2JF, UK
| | - Louise Marsh
- Academic Directorate of Communicable Diseases and Specialised Medicine, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Nhs Foundation Trust, Sheffield, S10 2JF, UK
| | - Steven Wood
- Department of Scientific Computing and Informatics, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Nhs Foundation Trust, Sheffield, S10 2JF, UK
| | - Martin Bayley
- Department of Scientific Computing and Informatics, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Nhs Foundation Trust, Sheffield, S10 2JF, UK
| | - Gary Dickson
- Department of Scientific Computing and Informatics, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Nhs Foundation Trust, Sheffield, S10 2JF, UK
| | - David C. James
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Martin J. Nicklin
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Jon R. Sayers
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
- The Florey Institute for Host-Pathogen Interactions, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
- Sheffield Institute for Nucleic Acids, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Domen Zafred
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Sarah L. Rowland-Jones
- South Yorkshire Regional Department of Infection and Tropical Medicine, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Nhs Foundation Trust, Sheffield, S10 2JF, UK
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
- The Florey Institute for Host-Pathogen Interactions, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Goura Kudesia
- Department of Virology, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Nhs Foundation Trust, Sheffield, S5 7AU, UK
| | - Adam Kucharski
- Centre for Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - CMMID COVID-19 Working Group
- South Yorkshire Regional Department of Infection and Tropical Medicine, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Nhs Foundation Trust, Sheffield, S10 2JF, UK
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
- Centre for Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, WC1E 7HT, UK
- Academic Directorate of Communicable Diseases and Specialised Medicine, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Nhs Foundation Trust, Sheffield, S10 2JF, UK
- Department of Scientific Computing and Informatics, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Nhs Foundation Trust, Sheffield, S10 2JF, UK
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
- The Florey Institute for Host-Pathogen Interactions, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
- Sheffield Institute for Nucleic Acids, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
- Department of Virology, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Nhs Foundation Trust, Sheffield, S5 7AU, UK
| | - Thomas C. Darton
- South Yorkshire Regional Department of Infection and Tropical Medicine, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Nhs Foundation Trust, Sheffield, S10 2JF, UK
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
- The Florey Institute for Host-Pathogen Interactions, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Thushan I. de Silva
- South Yorkshire Regional Department of Infection and Tropical Medicine, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Nhs Foundation Trust, Sheffield, S10 2JF, UK
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
- The Florey Institute for Host-Pathogen Interactions, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Paul J. Collini
- South Yorkshire Regional Department of Infection and Tropical Medicine, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Nhs Foundation Trust, Sheffield, S10 2JF, UK
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
- The Florey Institute for Host-Pathogen Interactions, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
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The method utilized to purify the SARS-CoV-2 N protein can affect its molecular properties. Int J Biol Macromol 2021; 188:391-403. [PMID: 34371045 PMCID: PMC8343380 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2021.08.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2021] [Revised: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
One of the main structural proteins of Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the nucleocapsid protein (N). The basic function of this protein is to bind genomic RNA and to form a protective nucleocapsid in the mature virion. The intrinsic ability of the N protein to interact with nucleic acids makes its purification very challenging. Therefore, typically employed purification methods appear to be insufficient for removing nucleic acid contamination. In this study, we present a novel purification protocol that enables the N protein to be prepared without any bound nucleic acids. We also performed comparative structural analysis of the N protein contaminated with nucleic acids and free of contamination and showed significant differences in the structural and phase separation properties of the protein. These results indicate that nucleic-acid contamination may severely affect molecular properties of the purified N protein. In addition, the notable ability of the N protein to form condensates whose morphology and behaviour suggest more ordered forms resembling gel-like or solid structures is described.
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Panagiotopoulos A, Tseliou M, Karakasiliotis I, Kotzampasi D, Daskalakis V, Kesesidis N, Notas G, Lionis C, Kampa M, Pirintsos S, Sourvinos G, Castanas E. p-cymene impairs SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza A (H1N1) viral replication: In silico predicted interaction with SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein and H1N1 nucleoprotein. Pharmacol Res Perspect 2021; 9:e00798. [PMID: 34128351 PMCID: PMC8204097 DOI: 10.1002/prp2.798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2021] [Revised: 04/10/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Therapeutic regimens for the COVID-19 pandemics remain unmet. In this line, repurposing of existing drugs against known or predicted SARS-CoV-2 protein actions have been advanced, while natural products have also been tested. Here, we propose that p-cymene, a natural monoterpene, can act as a potential novel agent for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2-induced COVID-19 and other RNA-virus-induced diseases (influenza, rabies, Ebola). We show by extensive molecular simulations that SARS-CoV-2 C-terminal structured domain contains a nuclear localization signal (NLS), like SARS-CoV, on which p-cymene binds with low micromolar affinity, impairing nuclear translocation of this protein and inhibiting viral replication, as verified by preliminary in vitro experiments. A similar mechanism may occur in other RNA-viruses (influenza, rabies and Ebola), also verified in vitro for influenza, by interaction of p-cymene with viral nucleoproteins, and structural modification of their NLS site, weakening its interaction with importin A. This common mechanism of action renders therefore p-cymene as a possible antiviral, alone, or in combination with other agents, in a broad spectrum of RNA viruses, from SARS-CoV-2 to influenza A infections.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Melpomeni Tseliou
- Laboratory of Clinical VirologySchool of MedicineUniversity of CreteHeraklionGreece
| | - Ioannis Karakasiliotis
- Laboratory of BiologySchool of MedicineDemocritus University of ThraceAlexandroupolisGreece
| | - Danai‐Maria Kotzampasi
- Laboratory of Experimental EndocrinologySchool of MedicineUniversity of CreteHeraklionGreece
| | - Vangelis Daskalakis
- Department of Chemical EngineeringCyprus University of TechnologyLimassolCyprus
| | - Nikolaos Kesesidis
- Laboratory of BiologySchool of MedicineDemocritus University of ThraceAlexandroupolisGreece
| | - George Notas
- Laboratory of Experimental EndocrinologySchool of MedicineUniversity of CreteHeraklionGreece
| | - Christos Lionis
- Clinic of Social and Family MedicineSchool of MedicineUniversity of CreteHeraklionGreece
- Nature Crete PharmaceuticalsHeraklionGreece
| | - Marilena Kampa
- Laboratory of Experimental EndocrinologySchool of MedicineUniversity of CreteHeraklionGreece
- Nature Crete PharmaceuticalsHeraklionGreece
| | - Stergios Pirintsos
- Nature Crete PharmaceuticalsHeraklionGreece
- Department of BiologyUniversity of CreteHeraklionGreece
- Botanical GardenUniversity of CreteRethymnonGreece
| | - George Sourvinos
- Laboratory of Clinical VirologySchool of MedicineUniversity of CreteHeraklionGreece
- Nature Crete PharmaceuticalsHeraklionGreece
| | - Elias Castanas
- Laboratory of Experimental EndocrinologySchool of MedicineUniversity of CreteHeraklionGreece
- Nature Crete PharmaceuticalsHeraklionGreece
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49
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Hodgson D, Colton H, Hornsby H, Brown R, Mckenzie J, Bradley KL, James C, Lindsey BB, Birch S, Marsh L, Wood S, Bayley M, Dickson G, James DC, Nicklin MJH, Sayers JR, Zafred D, Rowland-Jones SL, Kudesia G, Kucharski A, Darton TC, de Silva TI, Collini PJ. Risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence following the first pandemic wave in UK healthcare workers in a large NHS Foundation Trust. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2021:2021.07.07.21260151. [PMID: 34268521 PMCID: PMC8282110 DOI: 10.1101/2021.07.07.21260151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND We aimed to measure SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in a cohort of healthcare workers (HCWs) during the first UK wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, explore risk factors associated with infection, and investigate the impact of antibody titres on assay sensitivity. METHODS HCWs at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (STH) were prospectively enrolled and sampled at two time points. SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were tested using an in-house assay for IgG and IgA reactivity against Spike and Nucleoprotein (sensitivity 99·47%, specificity 99·56%). Data were analysed using three statistical models: a seroprevalence model, an antibody kinetics model, and a heterogeneous sensitivity model. FINDINGS As of 12th June 2020, 24·4% (n=311/1275) HCWs were seropositive. Of these, 39·2% (n=122/311) were asymptomatic. The highest adjusted seroprevalence was measured in HCWs on the Acute Medical Unit (41·1%, 95% CrI 30·0-52·9) and in Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists (39·2%, 95% CrI 24·4-56·5). Older age groups showed overall higher median antibody titres. Further modelling suggests that, for a serological assay with an overall sensitivity of 80%, antibody titres may be markedly affected by differences in age, with sensitivity estimates of 89% in those over 60 years but 61% in those ≤30 years. INTERPRETATION HCWs in acute medical units working closely with COVID-19 patients were at highest risk of infection, though whether these are infections acquired from patients or other staff is unknown. Current serological assays may underestimate seroprevalence in younger age groups if validated using sera from older and/or more symptomatic individuals. RESEARCH IN CONTEXT Evidence before this study: We searched PubMed for studies published up to March 6th 2021, using the terms "COVID", "SARS-CoV-2", "seroprevalence", and "healthcare workers", and in addition for articles of antibody titres in different age groups against coronaviruses using "coronavirus", "SARS-CoV-2, "antibody", "antibody tires", "COVID" and "age". We included studies that used serology to estimate prevalence in healthcare workers. SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence has been shown to be greater in healthcare workers working on acute medical units or within domestic services. Antibody levels against seasonal coronaviruses, SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 were found to be higher in older adults, and patients who were hospitalised.Added value of this study: In this healthcare worker seroprevalence modelling study at a large NHS foundation trust, we confirm that those working on acute medical units, COVID-19 "Red Zones" and within domestic services are most likely to be seropositive. Furthermore, we show that physiotherapists and occupational therapists have an increased risk of COVID-19 infection. We also confirm that antibody titres are greater in older individuals, even in the context of non-hospitalised cases. Importantly, we demonstrate that this can result in age-specific sensitivity in serological assays, where lower antibody titres in younger individuals results in lower assay sensitivity.Implications of all the available evidence: There are distinct occupational roles and locations in hospitals where the risk of COVID-19 infection to healthcare workers is greatest, and this knowledge should be used to prioritise infection prevention control and other measures to protect healthcare workers. Serological assays may have different sensitivity profiles across different age groups, especially if assay validation was undertaken using samples from older and/or hospitalised patients, who tend to have higher antibody titres. Future seroprevalence studies should consider adjusting for age-specific assay sensitivities to estimate true seroprevalence rates. AUTHOR CONTRIBUTIONS
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Affiliation(s)
- David Hodgson
- Centre for Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK
| | - Hayley Colton
- South Yorkshire Regional Department of Infection and Tropical Medicine, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, UK
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, UK
| | - Hailey Hornsby
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, UK
| | - Rebecca Brown
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, UK
| | - Joanne Mckenzie
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, UK
| | - Kirsty L Bradley
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, UK
| | - Cameron James
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, UK
| | - Benjamin B Lindsey
- South Yorkshire Regional Department of Infection and Tropical Medicine, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, UK
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, UK
| | - Sarah Birch
- Academic Directorate of Communicable Diseases and Specialised Medicine, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, UK
| | - Louise Marsh
- Academic Directorate of Communicable Diseases and Specialised Medicine, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, UK
| | - Steven Wood
- Department of Scientific Computing and Informatics, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, UK
| | - Martin Bayley
- Department of Scientific Computing and Informatics, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, UK
| | - Gary Dickson
- Department of Scientific Computing and Informatics, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, UK
| | - David C James
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Sheffield, UK
| | - Martin J H Nicklin
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, UK
| | - Jon R Sayers
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, UK
- The Florey Institute for Host-Pathogen Interactions, University of Sheffield, UK
- Sheffield Institute for Nucleic Acids, University of Sheffield, UK
| | - Domen Zafred
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, UK
| | - Sarah L Rowland-Jones
- South Yorkshire Regional Department of Infection and Tropical Medicine, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, UK
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, UK
- The Florey Institute for Host-Pathogen Interactions, University of Sheffield, UK
| | - Goura Kudesia
- Department of Virology, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, UK
| | - Adam Kucharski
- Centre for Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK
| | - Thomas C Darton
- South Yorkshire Regional Department of Infection and Tropical Medicine, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, UK
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, UK
- The Florey Institute for Host-Pathogen Interactions, University of Sheffield, UK
| | - Thushan I de Silva
- South Yorkshire Regional Department of Infection and Tropical Medicine, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, UK
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, UK
- The Florey Institute for Host-Pathogen Interactions, University of Sheffield, UK
| | - Paul J Collini
- South Yorkshire Regional Department of Infection and Tropical Medicine, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, UK
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, UK
- The Florey Institute for Host-Pathogen Interactions, University of Sheffield, UK
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50
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Cai T, Yu Z, Wang Z, Liang C, Richard S. Arginine methylation of SARS-Cov-2 nucleocapsid protein regulates RNA binding, its ability to suppress stress granule formation, and viral replication. J Biol Chem 2021; 297:100821. [PMID: 34029587 PMCID: PMC8141346 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.100821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Revised: 05/13/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Viral proteins are known to be methylated by host protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs) necessary for the viral life cycle, but it remains unknown whether severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) proteins are methylated. Herein, we show that PRMT1 methylates SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N) protein at residues R95 and R177 within RGG/RG motifs, preferred PRMT target sequences. We confirmed arginine methylation of N protein by immunoblotting viral proteins extracted from SARS-CoV-2 virions isolated from cell culture. Type I PRMT inhibitor (MS023) or substitution of R95 or R177 with lysine inhibited interaction of N protein with the 5'-UTR of SARS-CoV-2 genomic RNA, a property required for viral packaging. We also defined the N protein interactome in HEK293 cells, which identified PRMT1 and many of its RGG/RG substrates, including the known interacting protein G3BP1 as well as other components of stress granules (SGs), which are part of the host antiviral response. Methylation of R95 regulated the ability of N protein to suppress the formation of SGs, as R95K substitution or MS023 treatment blocked N-mediated suppression of SGs. Also, the coexpression of methylarginine reader Tudor domain-containing protein 3 quenched N protein-mediated suppression of SGs in a dose-dependent manner. Finally, pretreatment of VeroE6 cells with MS023 significantly reduced SARS-CoV-2 replication. Because type I PRMT inhibitors are already undergoing clinical trials for cancer treatment, inhibiting arginine methylation to target the later stages of the viral life cycle such as viral genome packaging and assembly of virions may represent an additional therapeutic application of these drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Cai
- Segal Cancer Center, Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research and Gerald Bronfman Department of Oncology and Departments of Biochemistry, Human Genetics and Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Zhenbao Yu
- Segal Cancer Center, Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research and Gerald Bronfman Department of Oncology and Departments of Biochemistry, Human Genetics and Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Zhen Wang
- McGill Centre for Viral Diseases, Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research and Department of Medicine, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Chen Liang
- McGill Centre for Viral Diseases, Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research and Department of Medicine, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Stéphane Richard
- Segal Cancer Center, Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research and Gerald Bronfman Department of Oncology and Departments of Biochemistry, Human Genetics and Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
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