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Madhugiri R, Nguyen HV, Slanina H, Ziebuhr J. Alpha- and betacoronavirus cis-acting RNA elements. Curr Opin Microbiol 2024; 79:102483. [PMID: 38723345 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2024.102483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2024] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
Coronaviruses have exceptionally large RNA genomes and employ multiprotein replication/transcription complexes to orchestrate specific steps of viral RNA genome replication and expression. Most of these processes involve viral cis-acting RNA elements that are engaged in vital RNA-RNA and/or RNA-protein interactions. Over the past years, a large number of studies provided interesting new insight into the structures and, to a lesser extent, functions of specific RNA elements for representative coronaviruses, and there is evidence to suggest that (a majority of) these RNA elements are conserved across genetically divergent coronavirus genera. It is becoming increasingly clear that at least some of these elements do not function in isolation but operate through complex and highly dynamic RNA-RNA interactions. This article reviews structural and functional aspects of cis-acting RNA elements conserved in alpha- and betacoronavirus 5'- and 3'-terminal genome regions, focusing on their critical roles in viral RNA synthesis and gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramakanth Madhugiri
- Institute of Medical Virology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Hoang Viet Nguyen
- Institute of Medical Virology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Heiko Slanina
- Institute of Medical Virology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - John Ziebuhr
- Institute of Medical Virology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany.
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2
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Kretsch RC, Xu L, Zheludev IN, Zhou X, Huang R, Nye G, Li S, Zhang K, Chiu W, Das R. Tertiary folds of the SL5 RNA from the 5' proximal region of SARS-CoV-2 and related coronaviruses. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2320493121. [PMID: 38427602 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2320493121] [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: 11/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus genomes sequester their start codons within stem-loop 5 (SL5), a structured, 5' genomic RNA element. In most alpha- and betacoronaviruses, the secondary structure of SL5 is predicted to contain a four-way junction of helical stems, some of which are capped with UUYYGU hexaloops. Here, using cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) and computational modeling with biochemically determined secondary structures, we present three-dimensional structures of SL5 from six coronaviruses. The SL5 domain of betacoronavirus severe-acute-respiratory-syndrome-related coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), resolved at 4.7 Å resolution, exhibits a T-shaped structure, with its UUYYGU hexaloops at opposing ends of a coaxial stack, the T's "arms." Further analysis of SL5 domains from SARS-CoV-1 and MERS (7.1 and 6.4 to 6.9 Å resolution, respectively) indicate that the junction geometry and inter-hexaloop distances are conserved features across these human-infecting betacoronaviruses. The MERS SL5 domain displays an additional tertiary interaction, which is also observed in the non-human-infecting betacoronavirus BtCoV-HKU5 (5.9 to 8.0 Å resolution). SL5s from human-infecting alphacoronaviruses, HCoV-229E and HCoV-NL63 (6.5 and 8.4 to 9.0 Å resolution, respectively), exhibit the same coaxial stacks, including the UUYYGU-capped arms, but with a phylogenetically distinct crossing angle, an X-shape. As such, all SL5 domains studied herein fold into stable tertiary structures with cross-genus similarities and notable differences, with implications for potential protein-binding modes and therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lily Xu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Ivan N Zheludev
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Xueting Zhou
- Department of Bioengineering, James H. Clark Center, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Rui Huang
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Grace Nye
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Shanshan Li
- Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
| | - Kaiming Zhang
- Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
| | - Wah Chiu
- Biophysics Program, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
- Department of Bioengineering, James H. Clark Center, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
- CryoEM and Bioimaging Division, Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Stanford University, Menlo Park, CA 94025
| | - Rhiju Das
- Biophysics Program, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
- HHMI, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
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3
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Liao Y, Wang H, Liao H, Sun Y, Tan L, Song C, Qiu X, Ding C. Classification, replication, and transcription of Nidovirales. Front Microbiol 2024; 14:1291761. [PMID: 38328580 PMCID: PMC10847374 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1291761] [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: 09/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Nidovirales is one order of RNA virus, with the largest single-stranded positive sense RNA genome enwrapped with membrane envelope. It comprises four families (Arterividae, Mesoniviridae, Roniviridae, and Coronaviridae) and has been circulating in humans and animals for almost one century, posing great threat to livestock and poultry,as well as to public health. Nidovirales shares similar life cycle: attachment to cell surface, entry, primary translation of replicases, viral RNA replication in cytoplasm, translation of viral proteins, virion assembly, budding, and release. The viral RNA synthesis is the critical step during infection, including genomic RNA (gRNA) replication and subgenomic mRNAs (sg mRNAs) transcription. gRNA replication requires the synthesis of a negative sense full-length RNA intermediate, while the sg mRNAs transcription involves the synthesis of a nested set of negative sense subgenomic intermediates by a discontinuous strategy. This RNA synthesis process is mediated by the viral replication/transcription complex (RTC), which consists of several enzymatic replicases derived from the polyprotein 1a and polyprotein 1ab and several cellular proteins. These replicases and host factors represent the optimal potential therapeutic targets. Hereby, we summarize the Nidovirales classification, associated diseases, "replication organelle," replication and transcription mechanisms, as well as related regulatory factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Liao
- Department of Avian Diseases, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Huan Wang
- Department of Avian Diseases, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Huiyu Liao
- Department of Avian Diseases, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Yingjie Sun
- Department of Avian Diseases, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Lei Tan
- Department of Avian Diseases, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Cuiping Song
- Department of Avian Diseases, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Xusheng Qiu
- Department of Avian Diseases, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Chan Ding
- Department of Avian Diseases, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, China
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, China
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4
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Kretsch RC, Xu L, Zheludev IN, Zhou X, Huang R, Nye G, Li S, Zhang K, Chiu W, Das R. Tertiary folds of the SL5 RNA from the 5' proximal region of SARS-CoV-2 and related coronaviruses. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.22.567964. [PMID: 38076883 PMCID: PMC10705266 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.22.567964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Coronavirus genomes sequester their start codons within stem-loop 5 (SL5), a structured, 5' genomic RNA element. In most alpha- and betacoronaviruses, the secondary structure of SL5 is predicted to contain a four-way junction of helical stems, some of which are capped with UUYYGU hexaloops. Here, using cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) and computational modeling with biochemically-determined secondary structures, we present three-dimensional structures of SL5 from six coronaviruses. The SL5 domain of betacoronavirus SARS-CoV-2, resolved at 4.7 Å resolution, exhibits a T-shaped structure, with its UUYYGU hexaloops at opposing ends of a coaxial stack, the T's "arms." Further analysis of SL5 domains from SARS-CoV-1 and MERS (7.1 and 6.4-6.9 Å resolution, respectively) indicate that the junction geometry and inter-hexaloop distances are conserved features across the studied human-infecting betacoronaviruses. The MERS SL5 domain displays an additional tertiary interaction, which is also observed in the non-human-infecting betacoronavirus BtCoV-HKU5 (5.9-8.0 Å resolution). SL5s from human-infecting alphacoronaviruses, HCoV-229E and HCoV-NL63 (6.5 and 8.4-9.0 Å resolution, respectively), exhibit the same coaxial stacks, including the UUYYGU-capped arms, but with a phylogenetically distinct crossing angle, an X-shape. As such, all SL5 domains studied herein fold into stable tertiary structures with cross-genus similarities, with implications for potential protein-binding modes and therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lily Xu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Ivan N. Zheludev
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Xueting Zhou
- Department of Bioengineering, James H. Clark Center, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Rui Huang
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Grace Nye
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Shanshan Li
- Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
| | - Kaiming Zhang
- Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
| | - Wah Chiu
- Biophysics Program, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, James H. Clark Center, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- CryoEM and Bioimaging Division, Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Stanford University, Menlo Park, CA, USA
| | - Rhiju Das
- Biophysics Program, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford, CA, USA
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Lin CH, Hsieh FC, Chang YC, Yang CY, Hsu HW, Yang CC, Tam HMH, Wu HY. Targeting the conserved coronavirus octamer motif GGAAGAGC is a strategy for the development of coronavirus vaccine. Virol J 2023; 20:267. [PMID: 37968733 PMCID: PMC10652495 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-023-02231-8] [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: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Coronaviruses are pathogens of humans and animals that cause widespread and costly diseases. The development of effective strategies to combat the threat of coronaviruses is therefore a top priority. The conserved coronavirus octamer motif 5'GGAAGAGC3' exists in the 3' untranslated region of all identified coronaviruses. In the current study, we aimed to examine whether targeting the coronavirus octamer motif GGAAGAGC is a promising approach to develop coronavirus vaccine. METHODS Plaque assays were used to determine the titers of mouse hepatitis virus (MHV)-A59 octamer mutant (MHVoctm) and wild-type (wt) MHV-A59 (MHVwt). Western blotting was used for the determination of translation efficiency of MHVoctm and MHVwt. Plaque assays and RT-qPCR were employed to examine whether MHVoctm was more sensitive to interferon treatment than MHVwt. Weight loss, clinical signs, survival rate, viral RNA detection and histopathological examination were used to evaluate whether MHVoctm was a vaccine candidate against MHVwt infection in BALB/c mice. RESULTS In this study, we showed that (i) the MHVoctm with mutation of coronavirus octamer was able to grow to high titers but attenuated in mice, (ii) with the reduced multiplicity of infection (MOI), the difference in gene expression between MHVoctm and MHVwt became more evident in cultured cells, (iii) MHVoctm was more sensitive to interferon treatment than MHVwt and (iv) mice inoculated with MHVoctm were protected from MHVwt infection. CONCLUSIONS Based on the results obtained from cultured cells, it was suggested that the synergistic effects of octamer mutation, multiplicity of infection and immune response may be a mechanism explaining the distinct phenotypes of octamer-mutated coronavirus in cell culture and mice. In addition, targeting the conserved coronavirus octamer motif is a strategy for development of coronavirus vaccine. Since the conserved octamer exists in all coronaviruses, this strategy of targeting the conserved octamer motif can also be applied to other human and animal coronaviruses for the development of coronavirus vaccines, especially the emergence of novel coronaviruses such as SARS-CoV-2, saving time and cost for vaccine development and disease control.
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Grants
- 109-2313-B-005 -013 -MY3, 110-2327-B-005 -003, 111-2327-B-005 -003 and 112-2313-B-005-041 National Science and Technology Council, Taiwan, R.O.C.
- 109-2313-B-005 -013 -MY3, 110-2327-B-005 -003, 111-2327-B-005 -003 and 112-2313-B-005-041 National Science and Technology Council, Taiwan, R.O.C.
- 109-2313-B-005 -013 -MY3, 110-2327-B-005 -003, 111-2327-B-005 -003 and 112-2313-B-005-041 National Science and Technology Council, Taiwan, R.O.C.
- 109-2313-B-005 -013 -MY3, 110-2327-B-005 -003, 111-2327-B-005 -003 and 112-2313-B-005-041 National Science and Technology Council, Taiwan, R.O.C.
- 109-2313-B-005 -013 -MY3, 110-2327-B-005 -003, 111-2327-B-005 -003 and 112-2313-B-005-041 National Science and Technology Council, Taiwan, R.O.C.
- 109-2313-B-005 -013 -MY3, 110-2327-B-005 -003, 111-2327-B-005 -003 and 112-2313-B-005-041 National Science and Technology Council, Taiwan, R.O.C.
- 109-2313-B-005 -013 -MY3, 110-2327-B-005 -003, 111-2327-B-005 -003 and 112-2313-B-005-041 National Science and Technology Council, Taiwan, R.O.C.
- 109-2313-B-005 -013 -MY3, 110-2327-B-005 -003, 111-2327-B-005 -003 and 112-2313-B-005-041 National Science and Technology Council, Taiwan, R.O.C.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ching-Hung Lin
- Graduate Institute of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, 40227, Taiwan
| | - Feng-Cheng Hsieh
- Graduate Institute of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, 40227, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Chia Chang
- Graduate Institute of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, 40227, Taiwan
| | - Cheng-Yao Yang
- Graduate Institute of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, 40227, Taiwan
| | - Hsuan-Wei Hsu
- Graduate Institute of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, 40227, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Chun Yang
- Graduate Institute of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, 40227, Taiwan
| | - Hon-Man-Herman Tam
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, 40227, Taiwan
| | - Hung-Yi Wu
- Graduate Institute of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, 40227, Taiwan.
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Khan D, Terenzi F, Liu G, Ghosh PK, Ye F, Nguyen K, China A, Ramachandiran I, Chakraborty S, Stefan J, Khan K, Vasu K, Dong F, Willard B, Karn J, Gack MU, Fox PL. A viral pan-end RNA element and host complex define a SARS-CoV-2 regulon. Nat Commun 2023; 14:3385. [PMID: 37296097 PMCID: PMC10250186 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39091-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of COVID-19, generates multiple protein-coding, subgenomic RNAs (sgRNAs) from a longer genomic RNA, all bearing identical termini with poorly understood roles in regulating viral gene expression. Insulin and interferon-gamma, two host-derived, stress-related agents, and virus spike protein, induce binding of glutamyl-prolyl-tRNA synthetase (EPRS1), within an unconventional, tetra-aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase complex, to the sgRNA 3'-end thereby enhancing sgRNA expression. We identify an EPRS1-binding sarbecoviral pan-end activating RNA (SPEAR) element in the 3'-end of viral RNAs driving agonist-induction. Translation of another co-terminal 3'-end feature, ORF10, is necessary for SPEAR-mediated induction, independent of Orf10 protein expression. The SPEAR element enhances viral programmed ribosomal frameshifting, thereby expanding its functionality. By co-opting noncanonical activities of a family of essential host proteins, the virus establishes a post-transcriptional regulon stimulating global viral RNA translation. A SPEAR-targeting strategy markedly reduces SARS-CoV-2 titer, suggesting a pan-sarbecoviral therapeutic modality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debjit Khan
- Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Fulvia Terenzi
- Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - GuanQun Liu
- Florida Research and Innovation Center, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Port St. Lucie, FL, 34987, USA
| | - Prabar K Ghosh
- Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Fengchun Ye
- Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
| | - Kien Nguyen
- Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
| | - Arnab China
- Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Iyappan Ramachandiran
- Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Shruti Chakraborty
- Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Jennifer Stefan
- Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Krishnendu Khan
- Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Kommireddy Vasu
- Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Franklin Dong
- Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Belinda Willard
- Lerner Research Institute Proteomics and Metabolomics Core, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Jonathan Karn
- Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
| | - Michaela U Gack
- Florida Research and Innovation Center, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Port St. Lucie, FL, 34987, USA
| | - Paul L Fox
- Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA.
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7
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Korn SM, Dhamotharan K, Jeffries CM, Schlundt A. The preference signature of the SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid NTD for its 5'-genomic RNA elements. Nat Commun 2023; 14:3331. [PMID: 37286558 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38882-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The nucleocapsid protein (N) of SARS-CoV-2 plays a pivotal role during the viral life cycle. It is involved in RNA transcription and accounts for packaging of the large genome into virus particles. N manages the enigmatic balance of bulk RNA-coating versus precise RNA-binding to designated cis-regulatory elements. Numerous studies report the involvement of its disordered segments in non-selective RNA-recognition, but how N organizes the inevitable recognition of specific motifs remains unanswered. We here use NMR spectroscopy to systematically analyze the interactions of N's N-terminal RNA-binding domain (NTD) with individual cis RNA elements clustering in the SARS-CoV-2 regulatory 5'-genomic end. Supported by broad solution-based biophysical data, we unravel the NTD RNA-binding preferences in the natural genome context. We show that the domain's flexible regions read the intrinsic signature of preferred RNA elements for selective and stable complex formation within the large pool of available motifs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Marianne Korn
- Institute for Molecular Biosciences, Goethe University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 9, 60438, Frankfurt/M., Germany
- Center for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Goethe University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 7, 60438, Frankfurt/M., Germany
| | - Karthikeyan Dhamotharan
- Institute for Molecular Biosciences, Goethe University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 9, 60438, Frankfurt/M., Germany
- Center for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Goethe University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 7, 60438, Frankfurt/M., Germany
| | - Cy M Jeffries
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) Hamburg Site, c/o Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron, Notkestr. 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Andreas Schlundt
- Institute for Molecular Biosciences, Goethe University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 9, 60438, Frankfurt/M., Germany.
- Center for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Goethe University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 7, 60438, Frankfurt/M., Germany.
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8
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Spangenberg J, Zu Siederdissen CH, Žarković M, Triebel S, Rose R, Christophersen CM, Paltzow L, Hegab MM, Wansorra A, Srivastava A, Krumbholz A, Marz M. Magnipore: Prediction of differential single nucleotide changes in the Oxford Nanopore Technologies sequencing signal of SARS-CoV-2 samples. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.17.533105. [PMID: 36993667 PMCID: PMC10055291 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.17.533105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) allows direct sequencing of ribonucleic acids (RNA) and, in addition, detection of possible RNA modifications due to deviations from the expected ONT signal. The software available so far for this purpose can only detect a small number of modifications. Alternatively, two samples can be compared for different RNA modifications. We present Magnipore, a novel tool to search for significant signal shifts between samples of Oxford Nanopore data from similar or related species. Magnipore classifies them into mutations and potential modifications. We use Magnipore to compare SARS-CoV-2 samples. Included were representatives of the early 2020s Pango lineages (n=6), samples from Pango lineages B.1.1.7 (n=2, Alpha), B.1.617.2 (n=1, Delta), and B.1.529 (n=7, Omicron). Magnipore utilizes position-wise Gaussian distribution models and a comprehensible significance threshold to find differential signals. In the case of Alpha and Delta, Magnipore identifies 55 detected mutations and 15 sites that hint at differential modifications. We predicted potential virus-variant and variant-group-specific differential modifications. Magnipore contributes to advancing RNA modification analysis in the context of viruses and virus variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jannes Spangenberg
- RNA Bioinformatics and High-Throughput Analysis, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Leutragraben 1, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | | | - Milena Žarković
- RNA Bioinformatics and High-Throughput Analysis, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Leutragraben 1, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Sandra Triebel
- RNA Bioinformatics and High-Throughput Analysis, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Leutragraben 1, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Ruben Rose
- Institute for Infection Medicine, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel and University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Brunswiker Straße 4, 24105 Kiel, Germany
| | | | - Lea Paltzow
- Labor Dr. Krause und Kollegen MVZ GmbH, Steenbeker Weg 23, 24106 Kiel, Germany
| | - Mohsen M Hegab
- Labor Dr. Krause und Kollegen MVZ GmbH, Steenbeker Weg 23, 24106 Kiel, Germany
| | - Anna Wansorra
- Labor Dr. Krause und Kollegen MVZ GmbH, Steenbeker Weg 23, 24106 Kiel, Germany
| | - Akash Srivastava
- RNA Bioinformatics and High-Throughput Analysis, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Leutragraben 1, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Andi Krumbholz
- Institute for Infection Medicine, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel and University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Brunswiker Straße 4, 24105 Kiel, Germany
- Labor Dr. Krause und Kollegen MVZ GmbH, Steenbeker Weg 23, 24106 Kiel, Germany
| | - Manja Marz
- RNA Bioinformatics and High-Throughput Analysis, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Leutragraben 1, 07743 Jena, Germany
- European Virus Bioinformatics Center 2, Leutragraben 1, 07743 Jena, Germany
- FLI Leibniz Institute for Age Research, Beutenbergstraße 11, 07745 Jena, Germany
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9
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Arai Y, Yamanaka I, Okamoto T, Isobe A, Nakai N, Kamimura N, Suzuki T, Daidoji T, Ono T, Nakaya T, Matsumoto K, Okuzaki D, Watanabe Y. Stimulation of interferon-β responses by aberrant SARS-CoV-2 small viral RNAs acting as retinoic acid-inducible gene-I agonists. iScience 2023; 26:105742. [PMID: 36507221 PMCID: PMC9726650 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.105742] [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: 05/27/2022] [Revised: 07/03/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Patients with severe COVID-19 exhibit a cytokine storm characterized by greatly elevated levels of cytokines. Despite this, the interferon (IFN) response is delayed, contributing to disease progression. Here, we report that SARS-CoV-2 excessively generates small viral RNAs (svRNAs) encoding exact 5' ends of positive-sense genes in human cells in vitro and ex vivo, whereas endemic human coronaviruses (OC43 and 229E) produce significantly fewer similar svRNAs. SARS-CoV-2 5' end svRNAs are RIG-I agonists and induce the IFN-β response in the later stages of infection. The first 60-nt ends bearing duplex structures and 5'-triphosphates are responsible for immune-stimulation. We propose that RIG-I activation by accumulated SARS-CoV-2 5' end svRNAs may contribute to later drive over-exuberant IFN production. Additionally, the differences in the amounts of svRNAs produced and the corresponding IFN response among CoV strains suggest that lower svRNA production during replication may correlate with the weaker immune response seen in less pathogenic CoVs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasuha Arai
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto 602-8566, Japan
| | - Itaru Yamanaka
- Genome Information Research Center, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Toru Okamoto
- Institute for Advanced Co-Creation Studies, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Ayana Isobe
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto 602-8566, Japan
| | - Naomi Nakai
- Genome Information Research Center, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Naoko Kamimura
- Genome Information Research Center, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Tatsuya Suzuki
- Institute for Advanced Co-Creation Studies, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Tomo Daidoji
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto 602-8566, Japan
| | - Takao Ono
- SANKEN, Osaka University, Osaka 567-0047, Japan
| | - Takaaki Nakaya
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto 602-8566, Japan
| | | | - Daisuke Okuzaki
- Genome Information Research Center, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan,Single Cell Genomics, Human Immunology, WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Yohei Watanabe
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto 602-8566, Japan,Corresponding author
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Lamkiewicz K, Esquivel Gomez LR, Kühnert D, Marz M. Genome Structure, Life Cycle, and Taxonomy of Coronaviruses and the Evolution of SARS-CoV-2. Curr Top Microbiol Immunol 2023; 439:305-339. [PMID: 36592250 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-15640-3_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Coronaviruses have a broad host range and exhibit high zoonotic potential. In this chapter, we describe their genomic organization in terms of encoded proteins and provide an introduction to the peculiar discontinuous transcription mechanism. Further, we present evolutionary conserved genomic RNA secondary structure features, which are involved in the complex replication mechanism. With a focus on computational methods, we review the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 starting with the 2019 strains. In that context, we also discuss the debated hypothesis of whether SARS-CoV-2 was created in a laboratory. We focus on the molecular evolution and the epidemiological dynamics of this recently emerged pathogen and we explain how variants of concern are detected and characterised. COVID-19, the disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, can spread through different transmission routes and also depends on a number of risk factors. We describe how current computational models of viral epidemiology, or more specifically, phylodynamics, have facilitated and will continue to enable a better understanding of the epidemic dynamics of SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Lamkiewicz
- RNA Bioinformatics and High-Throughput Analysis, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Leutragraben 1, 07743, Jena, Germany
- European Virus Bioinformatics Center, Leutragraben 1, 07743, Jena, Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Puschstr. 4, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Luis Roger Esquivel Gomez
- Transmission, Infection, Diversification and Evolution Group, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, Kahlaische Straße 10, 07745, Jena, Germany
| | - Denise Kühnert
- Transmission, Infection, Diversification and Evolution Group, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, Kahlaische Straße 10, 07745, Jena, Germany
- European Virus Bioinformatics Center, Leutragraben 1, 07743, Jena, Germany
| | - Manja Marz
- RNA Bioinformatics and High-Throughput Analysis, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Leutragraben 1, 07743, Jena, Germany.
- European Virus Bioinformatics Center, Leutragraben 1, 07743, Jena, Germany.
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Puschstr. 4, 04103, Leipzig, Germany.
- FLI Leibniz Institute for Age Research, Beutenbergstraße 11, 07745, Jena, Germany.
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Hufsky F, Abecasis A, Agudelo-Romero P, Bletsa M, Brown K, Claus C, Deinhardt-Emmer S, Deng L, Friedel CC, Gismondi MI, Kostaki EG, Kühnert D, Kulkarni-Kale U, Metzner KJ, Meyer IM, Miozzi L, Nishimura L, Paraskevopoulou S, Pérez-Cataluña A, Rahlff J, Thomson E, Tumescheit C, van der Hoek L, Van Espen L, Vandamme AM, Zaheri M, Zuckerman N, Marz M. Women in the European Virus Bioinformatics Center. Viruses 2022; 14:1522. [PMID: 35891501 PMCID: PMC9319252 DOI: 10.3390/v14071522] [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: 06/16/2022] [Revised: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Viruses are the cause of a considerable burden to human, animal and plant health, while on the other hand playing an important role in regulating entire ecosystems. The power of new sequencing technologies combined with new tools for processing "Big Data" offers unprecedented opportunities to answer fundamental questions in virology. Virologists have an urgent need for virus-specific bioinformatics tools. These developments have led to the formation of the European Virus Bioinformatics Center, a network of experts in virology and bioinformatics who are joining forces to enable extensive exchange and collaboration between these research areas. The EVBC strives to provide talented researchers with a supportive environment free of gender bias, but the gender gap in science, especially in math-intensive fields such as computer science, persists. To bring more talented women into research and keep them there, we need to highlight role models to spark their interest, and we need to ensure that female scientists are not kept at lower levels but are given the opportunity to lead the field. Here we showcase the work of the EVBC and highlight the achievements of some outstanding women experts in virology and viral bioinformatics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska Hufsky
- European Virus Bioinformatics Center, 07743 Jena, Germany; (A.A.); (P.A.-R.); (M.B.); (K.B.); (C.C.); (S.D.-E.); (L.D.); (C.C.F.); (M.I.G.); (E.G.K.); (D.K.); (U.K.-K.); (K.J.M.); (I.M.M.); (L.M.); (L.N.); (S.P.); (A.P.-C.); (J.R.); (E.T.); (C.T.); (L.v.d.H.); (L.V.E.); (A.-M.V.); (M.Z.); (N.Z.)
- RNA Bioinformatics and High-Throughput Analysis, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Ana Abecasis
- European Virus Bioinformatics Center, 07743 Jena, Germany; (A.A.); (P.A.-R.); (M.B.); (K.B.); (C.C.); (S.D.-E.); (L.D.); (C.C.F.); (M.I.G.); (E.G.K.); (D.K.); (U.K.-K.); (K.J.M.); (I.M.M.); (L.M.); (L.N.); (S.P.); (A.P.-C.); (J.R.); (E.T.); (C.T.); (L.v.d.H.); (L.V.E.); (A.-M.V.); (M.Z.); (N.Z.)
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, New University of Lisbon, 1349-008 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Patricia Agudelo-Romero
- European Virus Bioinformatics Center, 07743 Jena, Germany; (A.A.); (P.A.-R.); (M.B.); (K.B.); (C.C.); (S.D.-E.); (L.D.); (C.C.F.); (M.I.G.); (E.G.K.); (D.K.); (U.K.-K.); (K.J.M.); (I.M.M.); (L.M.); (L.N.); (S.P.); (A.P.-C.); (J.R.); (E.T.); (C.T.); (L.v.d.H.); (L.V.E.); (A.-M.V.); (M.Z.); (N.Z.)
- Wal-Yan Respiratory Research Centre, Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Magda Bletsa
- European Virus Bioinformatics Center, 07743 Jena, Germany; (A.A.); (P.A.-R.); (M.B.); (K.B.); (C.C.); (S.D.-E.); (L.D.); (C.C.F.); (M.I.G.); (E.G.K.); (D.K.); (U.K.-K.); (K.J.M.); (I.M.M.); (L.M.); (L.N.); (S.P.); (A.P.-C.); (J.R.); (E.T.); (C.T.); (L.v.d.H.); (L.V.E.); (A.-M.V.); (M.Z.); (N.Z.)
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 115 27 Athens, Greece
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Katherine Brown
- European Virus Bioinformatics Center, 07743 Jena, Germany; (A.A.); (P.A.-R.); (M.B.); (K.B.); (C.C.); (S.D.-E.); (L.D.); (C.C.F.); (M.I.G.); (E.G.K.); (D.K.); (U.K.-K.); (K.J.M.); (I.M.M.); (L.M.); (L.N.); (S.P.); (A.P.-C.); (J.R.); (E.T.); (C.T.); (L.v.d.H.); (L.V.E.); (A.-M.V.); (M.Z.); (N.Z.)
- Division of Virology, Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1TN, UK
| | - Claudia Claus
- European Virus Bioinformatics Center, 07743 Jena, Germany; (A.A.); (P.A.-R.); (M.B.); (K.B.); (C.C.); (S.D.-E.); (L.D.); (C.C.F.); (M.I.G.); (E.G.K.); (D.K.); (U.K.-K.); (K.J.M.); (I.M.M.); (L.M.); (L.N.); (S.P.); (A.P.-C.); (J.R.); (E.T.); (C.T.); (L.v.d.H.); (L.V.E.); (A.-M.V.); (M.Z.); (N.Z.)
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Virology, Medical Faculty, Leipzig University, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Stefanie Deinhardt-Emmer
- European Virus Bioinformatics Center, 07743 Jena, Germany; (A.A.); (P.A.-R.); (M.B.); (K.B.); (C.C.); (S.D.-E.); (L.D.); (C.C.F.); (M.I.G.); (E.G.K.); (D.K.); (U.K.-K.); (K.J.M.); (I.M.M.); (L.M.); (L.N.); (S.P.); (A.P.-C.); (J.R.); (E.T.); (C.T.); (L.v.d.H.); (L.V.E.); (A.-M.V.); (M.Z.); (N.Z.)
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Jena University Hospital, 07747 Jena, Germany
| | - Li Deng
- European Virus Bioinformatics Center, 07743 Jena, Germany; (A.A.); (P.A.-R.); (M.B.); (K.B.); (C.C.); (S.D.-E.); (L.D.); (C.C.F.); (M.I.G.); (E.G.K.); (D.K.); (U.K.-K.); (K.J.M.); (I.M.M.); (L.M.); (L.N.); (S.P.); (A.P.-C.); (J.R.); (E.T.); (C.T.); (L.v.d.H.); (L.V.E.); (A.-M.V.); (M.Z.); (N.Z.)
- Institute of Virology, Helmholtz Centre Munich-German Research Center for Environmental Health, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
- Microbial Disease Prevention, School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, 85354 Freising, Germany
| | - Caroline C. Friedel
- European Virus Bioinformatics Center, 07743 Jena, Germany; (A.A.); (P.A.-R.); (M.B.); (K.B.); (C.C.); (S.D.-E.); (L.D.); (C.C.F.); (M.I.G.); (E.G.K.); (D.K.); (U.K.-K.); (K.J.M.); (I.M.M.); (L.M.); (L.N.); (S.P.); (A.P.-C.); (J.R.); (E.T.); (C.T.); (L.v.d.H.); (L.V.E.); (A.-M.V.); (M.Z.); (N.Z.)
- Institute of Informatics, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 80333 Munich, Germany
| | - María Inés Gismondi
- European Virus Bioinformatics Center, 07743 Jena, Germany; (A.A.); (P.A.-R.); (M.B.); (K.B.); (C.C.); (S.D.-E.); (L.D.); (C.C.F.); (M.I.G.); (E.G.K.); (D.K.); (U.K.-K.); (K.J.M.); (I.M.M.); (L.M.); (L.N.); (S.P.); (A.P.-C.); (J.R.); (E.T.); (C.T.); (L.v.d.H.); (L.V.E.); (A.-M.V.); (M.Z.); (N.Z.)
- Institute of Agrobiotechnology and Molecular Biology (IABIMO), National Institute for Agriculture Technology (INTA), National Research Council (CONICET), Hurlingham B1686IGC, Argentina
- Department of Basic Sciences, National University of Luján, Luján B6702MZP, Argentina
| | - Evangelia Georgia Kostaki
- European Virus Bioinformatics Center, 07743 Jena, Germany; (A.A.); (P.A.-R.); (M.B.); (K.B.); (C.C.); (S.D.-E.); (L.D.); (C.C.F.); (M.I.G.); (E.G.K.); (D.K.); (U.K.-K.); (K.J.M.); (I.M.M.); (L.M.); (L.N.); (S.P.); (A.P.-C.); (J.R.); (E.T.); (C.T.); (L.v.d.H.); (L.V.E.); (A.-M.V.); (M.Z.); (N.Z.)
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 115 27 Athens, Greece
| | - Denise Kühnert
- European Virus Bioinformatics Center, 07743 Jena, Germany; (A.A.); (P.A.-R.); (M.B.); (K.B.); (C.C.); (S.D.-E.); (L.D.); (C.C.F.); (M.I.G.); (E.G.K.); (D.K.); (U.K.-K.); (K.J.M.); (I.M.M.); (L.M.); (L.N.); (S.P.); (A.P.-C.); (J.R.); (E.T.); (C.T.); (L.v.d.H.); (L.V.E.); (A.-M.V.); (M.Z.); (N.Z.)
- Transmission, Infection, Diversification and Evolution Group, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Urmila Kulkarni-Kale
- European Virus Bioinformatics Center, 07743 Jena, Germany; (A.A.); (P.A.-R.); (M.B.); (K.B.); (C.C.); (S.D.-E.); (L.D.); (C.C.F.); (M.I.G.); (E.G.K.); (D.K.); (U.K.-K.); (K.J.M.); (I.M.M.); (L.M.); (L.N.); (S.P.); (A.P.-C.); (J.R.); (E.T.); (C.T.); (L.v.d.H.); (L.V.E.); (A.-M.V.); (M.Z.); (N.Z.)
- Bioinformatics Centre, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune 411007, India
| | - Karin J. Metzner
- European Virus Bioinformatics Center, 07743 Jena, Germany; (A.A.); (P.A.-R.); (M.B.); (K.B.); (C.C.); (S.D.-E.); (L.D.); (C.C.F.); (M.I.G.); (E.G.K.); (D.K.); (U.K.-K.); (K.J.M.); (I.M.M.); (L.M.); (L.N.); (S.P.); (A.P.-C.); (J.R.); (E.T.); (C.T.); (L.v.d.H.); (L.V.E.); (A.-M.V.); (M.Z.); (N.Z.)
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
- Institute of Medical Virology, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Irmtraud M. Meyer
- European Virus Bioinformatics Center, 07743 Jena, Germany; (A.A.); (P.A.-R.); (M.B.); (K.B.); (C.C.); (S.D.-E.); (L.D.); (C.C.F.); (M.I.G.); (E.G.K.); (D.K.); (U.K.-K.); (K.J.M.); (I.M.M.); (L.M.); (L.N.); (S.P.); (A.P.-C.); (J.R.); (E.T.); (C.T.); (L.v.d.H.); (L.V.E.); (A.-M.V.); (M.Z.); (N.Z.)
- Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, 10115 Berlin, Germany
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Department of Biology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany
- Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Laura Miozzi
- European Virus Bioinformatics Center, 07743 Jena, Germany; (A.A.); (P.A.-R.); (M.B.); (K.B.); (C.C.); (S.D.-E.); (L.D.); (C.C.F.); (M.I.G.); (E.G.K.); (D.K.); (U.K.-K.); (K.J.M.); (I.M.M.); (L.M.); (L.N.); (S.P.); (A.P.-C.); (J.R.); (E.T.); (C.T.); (L.v.d.H.); (L.V.E.); (A.-M.V.); (M.Z.); (N.Z.)
- Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection, National Research Council of Italy, 10135 Torino, Italy
| | - Luca Nishimura
- European Virus Bioinformatics Center, 07743 Jena, Germany; (A.A.); (P.A.-R.); (M.B.); (K.B.); (C.C.); (S.D.-E.); (L.D.); (C.C.F.); (M.I.G.); (E.G.K.); (D.K.); (U.K.-K.); (K.J.M.); (I.M.M.); (L.M.); (L.N.); (S.P.); (A.P.-C.); (J.R.); (E.T.); (C.T.); (L.v.d.H.); (L.V.E.); (A.-M.V.); (M.Z.); (N.Z.)
- Department of Genetics, School of Life Science, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies (SOKENDAI), Mishima 411-8540, Japan
- Human Genetics Laboratory, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima 411-8540, Japan
| | - Sofia Paraskevopoulou
- European Virus Bioinformatics Center, 07743 Jena, Germany; (A.A.); (P.A.-R.); (M.B.); (K.B.); (C.C.); (S.D.-E.); (L.D.); (C.C.F.); (M.I.G.); (E.G.K.); (D.K.); (U.K.-K.); (K.J.M.); (I.M.M.); (L.M.); (L.N.); (S.P.); (A.P.-C.); (J.R.); (E.T.); (C.T.); (L.v.d.H.); (L.V.E.); (A.-M.V.); (M.Z.); (N.Z.)
- Methods Development and Research Infrastructure, Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, Robert Koch Institute, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Alba Pérez-Cataluña
- European Virus Bioinformatics Center, 07743 Jena, Germany; (A.A.); (P.A.-R.); (M.B.); (K.B.); (C.C.); (S.D.-E.); (L.D.); (C.C.F.); (M.I.G.); (E.G.K.); (D.K.); (U.K.-K.); (K.J.M.); (I.M.M.); (L.M.); (L.N.); (S.P.); (A.P.-C.); (J.R.); (E.T.); (C.T.); (L.v.d.H.); (L.V.E.); (A.-M.V.); (M.Z.); (N.Z.)
- VISAFELab, Department of Preservation and Food Safety Technologies, Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology, IATA-CSIC, 46980 Valencia, Spain
| | - Janina Rahlff
- European Virus Bioinformatics Center, 07743 Jena, Germany; (A.A.); (P.A.-R.); (M.B.); (K.B.); (C.C.); (S.D.-E.); (L.D.); (C.C.F.); (M.I.G.); (E.G.K.); (D.K.); (U.K.-K.); (K.J.M.); (I.M.M.); (L.M.); (L.N.); (S.P.); (A.P.-C.); (J.R.); (E.T.); (C.T.); (L.v.d.H.); (L.V.E.); (A.-M.V.); (M.Z.); (N.Z.)
- Centre for Ecology and Evolution in Microbial Model Systems (EEMiS), Department of Biology and Environmental Science, Linneaus University, 391 82 Kalmar, Sweden
| | - Emma Thomson
- European Virus Bioinformatics Center, 07743 Jena, Germany; (A.A.); (P.A.-R.); (M.B.); (K.B.); (C.C.); (S.D.-E.); (L.D.); (C.C.F.); (M.I.G.); (E.G.K.); (D.K.); (U.K.-K.); (K.J.M.); (I.M.M.); (L.M.); (L.N.); (S.P.); (A.P.-C.); (J.R.); (E.T.); (C.T.); (L.v.d.H.); (L.V.E.); (A.-M.V.); (M.Z.); (N.Z.)
- Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Glasgow G51 4TF, UK
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK
| | - Charlotte Tumescheit
- European Virus Bioinformatics Center, 07743 Jena, Germany; (A.A.); (P.A.-R.); (M.B.); (K.B.); (C.C.); (S.D.-E.); (L.D.); (C.C.F.); (M.I.G.); (E.G.K.); (D.K.); (U.K.-K.); (K.J.M.); (I.M.M.); (L.M.); (L.N.); (S.P.); (A.P.-C.); (J.R.); (E.T.); (C.T.); (L.v.d.H.); (L.V.E.); (A.-M.V.); (M.Z.); (N.Z.)
- School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Lia van der Hoek
- European Virus Bioinformatics Center, 07743 Jena, Germany; (A.A.); (P.A.-R.); (M.B.); (K.B.); (C.C.); (S.D.-E.); (L.D.); (C.C.F.); (M.I.G.); (E.G.K.); (D.K.); (U.K.-K.); (K.J.M.); (I.M.M.); (L.M.); (L.N.); (S.P.); (A.P.-C.); (J.R.); (E.T.); (C.T.); (L.v.d.H.); (L.V.E.); (A.-M.V.); (M.Z.); (N.Z.)
- Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, 1012 WX Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute for Infection and Immunity, 1100 DD Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Lore Van Espen
- European Virus Bioinformatics Center, 07743 Jena, Germany; (A.A.); (P.A.-R.); (M.B.); (K.B.); (C.C.); (S.D.-E.); (L.D.); (C.C.F.); (M.I.G.); (E.G.K.); (D.K.); (U.K.-K.); (K.J.M.); (I.M.M.); (L.M.); (L.N.); (S.P.); (A.P.-C.); (J.R.); (E.T.); (C.T.); (L.v.d.H.); (L.V.E.); (A.-M.V.); (M.Z.); (N.Z.)
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Anne-Mieke Vandamme
- European Virus Bioinformatics Center, 07743 Jena, Germany; (A.A.); (P.A.-R.); (M.B.); (K.B.); (C.C.); (S.D.-E.); (L.D.); (C.C.F.); (M.I.G.); (E.G.K.); (D.K.); (U.K.-K.); (K.J.M.); (I.M.M.); (L.M.); (L.N.); (S.P.); (A.P.-C.); (J.R.); (E.T.); (C.T.); (L.v.d.H.); (L.V.E.); (A.-M.V.); (M.Z.); (N.Z.)
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 1349-008 Lisbon, Portugal
- Institute for the Future, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Maryam Zaheri
- European Virus Bioinformatics Center, 07743 Jena, Germany; (A.A.); (P.A.-R.); (M.B.); (K.B.); (C.C.); (S.D.-E.); (L.D.); (C.C.F.); (M.I.G.); (E.G.K.); (D.K.); (U.K.-K.); (K.J.M.); (I.M.M.); (L.M.); (L.N.); (S.P.); (A.P.-C.); (J.R.); (E.T.); (C.T.); (L.v.d.H.); (L.V.E.); (A.-M.V.); (M.Z.); (N.Z.)
- Institute of Medical Virology, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Neta Zuckerman
- European Virus Bioinformatics Center, 07743 Jena, Germany; (A.A.); (P.A.-R.); (M.B.); (K.B.); (C.C.); (S.D.-E.); (L.D.); (C.C.F.); (M.I.G.); (E.G.K.); (D.K.); (U.K.-K.); (K.J.M.); (I.M.M.); (L.M.); (L.N.); (S.P.); (A.P.-C.); (J.R.); (E.T.); (C.T.); (L.v.d.H.); (L.V.E.); (A.-M.V.); (M.Z.); (N.Z.)
- Central Virology Laboratory, Public Health Services, Ministry of Health and Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan 52621, Israel
| | - Manja Marz
- European Virus Bioinformatics Center, 07743 Jena, Germany; (A.A.); (P.A.-R.); (M.B.); (K.B.); (C.C.); (S.D.-E.); (L.D.); (C.C.F.); (M.I.G.); (E.G.K.); (D.K.); (U.K.-K.); (K.J.M.); (I.M.M.); (L.M.); (L.N.); (S.P.); (A.P.-C.); (J.R.); (E.T.); (C.T.); (L.v.d.H.); (L.V.E.); (A.-M.V.); (M.Z.); (N.Z.)
- RNA Bioinformatics and High-Throughput Analysis, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, 07743 Jena, Germany
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Mertinkus KR, Grün JT, Altincekic N, Bains JK, Ceylan B, Ferner JP, Frydman L, Fürtig B, Hengesbach M, Hohmann KF, Hymon D, Kim J, Knezic B, Novakovic M, Oxenfarth A, Peter SA, Qureshi NS, Richter C, Scherf T, Schlundt A, Schnieders R, Schwalbe H, Stirnal E, Sudakov A, Vögele J, Wacker A, Weigand JE, Wirmer-Bartoschek J, Martin MAW, Wöhnert J. 1H, 13C and 15N chemical shift assignment of the stem-loops 5b + c from the 5'-UTR of SARS-CoV-2. BIOMOLECULAR NMR ASSIGNMENTS 2022; 16:17-25. [PMID: 35178672 PMCID: PMC8853908 DOI: 10.1007/s12104-021-10053-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 10/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The ongoing pandemic of the respiratory disease COVID-19 is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 (SCoV2) virus. SCoV2 is a member of the Betacoronavirus genus. The 30 kb positive sense, single stranded RNA genome of SCoV2 features 5'- and 3'-genomic ends that are highly conserved among Betacoronaviruses. These genomic ends contain structured cis-acting RNA elements, which are involved in the regulation of viral replication and translation. Structural information about these potential antiviral drug targets supports the development of novel classes of therapeutics against COVID-19. The highly conserved branched stem-loop 5 (SL5) found within the 5'-untranslated region (5'-UTR) consists of a basal stem and three stem-loops, namely SL5a, SL5b and SL5c. Both, SL5a and SL5b feature a 5'-UUUCGU-3' hexaloop that is also found among Alphacoronaviruses. Here, we report the extensive 1H, 13C and 15N resonance assignment of the 37 nucleotides (nts) long sequence spanning SL5b and SL5c (SL5b + c), as basis for further in-depth structural studies by solution NMR spectroscopy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Klara R Mertinkus
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 7, 60438, Frankfurt, Germany
- Center for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 7, 60438, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - J Tassilo Grün
- Department of Chemical and Biological Physics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Herzl St. 234, 760001, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Nadide Altincekic
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 7, 60438, Frankfurt, Germany
- Center for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 7, 60438, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Jasleen Kaur Bains
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 7, 60438, Frankfurt, Germany
- Center for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 7, 60438, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Betül Ceylan
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 7, 60438, Frankfurt, Germany
- Center for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 7, 60438, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Jan-Peter Ferner
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 7, 60438, Frankfurt, Germany
- Center for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 7, 60438, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Lucio Frydman
- Department of Chemical and Biological Physics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Herzl St. 234, 760001, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Boris Fürtig
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 7, 60438, Frankfurt, Germany
- Center for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 7, 60438, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Martin Hengesbach
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 7, 60438, Frankfurt, Germany
- Center for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 7, 60438, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Katharina F Hohmann
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 7, 60438, Frankfurt, Germany
- Center for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 7, 60438, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Daniel Hymon
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 7, 60438, Frankfurt, Germany
- Center for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 7, 60438, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Jihyun Kim
- Department of Chemical and Biological Physics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Herzl St. 234, 760001, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Božana Knezic
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 7, 60438, Frankfurt, Germany
- Center for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 7, 60438, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Mihajlo Novakovic
- Department of Chemical and Biological Physics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Herzl St. 234, 760001, Rehovot, Israel
- Institute for Biochemistry, ETH Zürich, Hönggerbergring 64, 8093, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Andreas Oxenfarth
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 7, 60438, Frankfurt, Germany
- Center for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 7, 60438, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Stephen A Peter
- Department of Biology, Technical University of Darmstadt, Schnittspahnstr. 10, 64287, Darmstadt, Germany
| | | | - Christian Richter
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 7, 60438, Frankfurt, Germany
- Center for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 7, 60438, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Tali Scherf
- Department of Chemical Research Support, Weizmann Institute of Science, Herzl St. 234, 760001, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Andreas Schlundt
- Institute for Molecular Biosciences, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 7, 60438, Frankfurt, Germany
- Center for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 7, 60438, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Robbin Schnieders
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 7, 60438, Frankfurt, Germany
- Center for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 7, 60438, Frankfurt, Germany
- Deutero GmbH, Am Ring 29, 56288, Kastellaun, Germany
| | - Harald Schwalbe
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 7, 60438, Frankfurt, Germany.
- Center for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 7, 60438, Frankfurt, Germany.
| | - Elke Stirnal
- Institute for Molecular Biosciences, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 7, 60438, Frankfurt, Germany
- Center for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 7, 60438, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Alexey Sudakov
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 7, 60438, Frankfurt, Germany
- Center for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 7, 60438, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Jennifer Vögele
- Institute for Molecular Biosciences, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 7, 60438, Frankfurt, Germany
- Center for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 7, 60438, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Anna Wacker
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 7, 60438, Frankfurt, Germany
- Center for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 7, 60438, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Julia E Weigand
- Department of Biology, Technical University of Darmstadt, Schnittspahnstr. 10, 64287, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Julia Wirmer-Bartoschek
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 7, 60438, Frankfurt, Germany
- Center for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 7, 60438, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Maria A Wirtz Martin
- Institute for Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 7, 60438, Frankfurt, Germany
- Center for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 7, 60438, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Jens Wöhnert
- Institute for Molecular Biosciences, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 7, 60438, Frankfurt, Germany
- Center for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Str. 7, 60438, Frankfurt, Germany
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13
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Li C, Callahan AJ, Phadke KS, Bellaire B, Farquhar CE, Zhang G, Schissel CK, Mijalis AJ, Hartrampf N, Loas A, Verhoeven DE, Pentelute BL. Automated Flow Synthesis of Peptide-PNA Conjugates. ACS CENTRAL SCIENCE 2022; 8:205-213. [PMID: 35233452 PMCID: PMC8874765 DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.1c01019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Antisense peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) have yet to translate to the clinic because of poor cellular uptake, limited solubility, and rapid elimination. Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) covalently attached to PNAs may facilitate clinical development by improving uptake into cells. We report an efficient technology that utilizes a fully automated fast-flow instrument to manufacture CPP-conjugated PNAs (PPNAs) in a single shot. The machine is rapid, with each amide bond being formed in 10 s. Anti-IVS2-654 PPNA synthesized with this instrument presented threefold activity compared to transfected PNA in a splice-correction assay. We demonstrated the utility of this approach by chemically synthesizing eight anti-SARS-CoV-2 PPNAs in 1 day. A PPNA targeting the 5' untranslated region of SARS-CoV-2 genomic RNA reduced the viral titer by over 95% in a live virus infection assay (IC50 = 0.8 μM). Our technology can deliver PPNA candidates to further investigate their potential as antiviral agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengxi Li
- Department
of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of
Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Alex J. Callahan
- Department
of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of
Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Kruttika S. Phadke
- Department
of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary
Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011 United States
| | - Bryan Bellaire
- Department
of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary
Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011 United States
| | - Charlotte E. Farquhar
- Department
of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of
Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Genwei Zhang
- Department
of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of
Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Carly K. Schissel
- Department
of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of
Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Alexander J. Mijalis
- Department
of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of
Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Nina Hartrampf
- Department
of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of
Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Andrei Loas
- Department
of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of
Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - David E. Verhoeven
- Department
of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary
Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011 United States
| | - Bradley L. Pentelute
- Department
of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of
Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- The
Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 500 Main Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
- Center
for Environmental Health Sciences, Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Broad Institute
of MIT and Harvard, 415
Main Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
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14
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D’Souza AR, Buckingham AB, Salasc F, Ingemarsdotter CK, Iaconis G, Jarvis I, Groom HCT, Kenyon JC, Lever AML. Duplex formation between the template and the nascent strand in the transcription-regulating sequences is associated with the site of template switching in SARS - CoV-2. RNA Biol 2021; 18:148-156. [PMID: 34541994 PMCID: PMC8459930 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2021.1975388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Recently published transcriptomic data of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus show that there is a large variation in the frequency and steady state levels of subgenomic mRNA sequences. This variation is derived from discontinuous subgenomic RNA synthesis, where the polymerase switches template from a 3' proximal genome body sequence to a 5' untranslated leader sequence. This leads to a fusion between the common 5' leader sequence and a 3' proximal body sequence in the RNA product. This process revolves around a common core sequence (CS) that is present at both the template sites that make up the fusion junction. Base-pairing between the leader CS and the nascent complementary minus strand body CS, and flanking regions (together called the transcription regulating sequence, TRS) is vital for this template switching event. However, various factors can influence the site of template switching within the same TRS duplex. Here, we model the duplexes formed between the leader and complementary body TRS regions, hypothesizing the role of the stability of the TRS duplex in determining the major sites of template switching for the most abundant mRNAs. We indicate that the stability of secondary structures and the speed of transcription play key roles in determining the probability of template switching in the production of subgenomic RNAs. We speculate on the effect of reported variant nucleotide substitutions on our models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron R. D’Souza
- Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Fanny Salasc
- Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Gennaro Iaconis
- Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Isobel Jarvis
- Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Julia C. Kenyon
- Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Homerton College, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Andrew M. L. Lever
- Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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15
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Brant AC, Tian W, Majerciak V, Yang W, Zheng ZM. SARS-CoV-2: from its discovery to genome structure, transcription, and replication. Cell Biosci 2021; 11:136. [PMID: 34281608 PMCID: PMC8287290 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-021-00643-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 122] [Impact Index Per Article: 40.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 is an extremely contagious respiratory virus causing adult atypical pneumonia COVID-19 with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). SARS-CoV-2 has a single-stranded, positive-sense RNA (+RNA) genome of ~ 29.9 kb and exhibits significant genetic shift from different isolates. After entering the susceptible cells expressing both ACE2 and TMPRSS2, the SARS-CoV-2 genome directly functions as an mRNA to translate two polyproteins from the ORF1a and ORF1b region, which are cleaved by two viral proteases into sixteen non-structural proteins (nsp1-16) to initiate viral genome replication and transcription. The SARS-CoV-2 genome also encodes four structural (S, E, M and N) and up to six accessory (3a, 6, 7a, 7b, 8, and 9b) proteins, but their translation requires newly synthesized individual subgenomic RNAs (sgRNA) in the infected cells. Synthesis of the full-length viral genomic RNA (gRNA) and sgRNAs are conducted inside double-membrane vesicles (DMVs) by the viral replication and transcription complex (RTC), which comprises nsp7, nsp8, nsp9, nsp12, nsp13 and a short RNA primer. To produce sgRNAs, RTC starts RNA synthesis from the highly structured gRNA 3' end and switches template at various transcription regulatory sequence (TRSB) sites along the gRNA body probably mediated by a long-distance RNA-RNA interaction. The TRS motif in the gRNA 5' leader (TRSL) is responsible for the RNA-RNA interaction with the TRSB upstream of each ORF and skipping of the viral genome in between them to produce individual sgRNAs. Abundance of individual sgRNAs and viral gRNA synthesized in the infected cells depend on the location and read-through efficiency of each TRSB. Although more studies are needed, the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic has taught the world a painful lesson that is to invest and proactively prepare future emergence of other types of coronaviruses and any other possible biological horrors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayslan Castro Brant
- Tumor Virus RNA Biology Section, HIV DRP, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Wei Tian
- Mechanism of DNA Repair, Replication, and Recombination Section, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, NIDDK, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Vladimir Majerciak
- Tumor Virus RNA Biology Section, HIV DRP, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Wei Yang
- Mechanism of DNA Repair, Replication, and Recombination Section, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, NIDDK, Bethesda, MD, USA.
| | - Zhi-Ming Zheng
- Tumor Virus RNA Biology Section, HIV DRP, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Frederick, MD, USA.
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16
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Wang D, Jiang A, Feng J, Li G, Guo D, Sajid M, Wu K, Zhang Q, Ponty Y, Will S, Liu F, Yu X, Li S, Liu Q, Yang XL, Guo M, Li X, Chen M, Shi ZL, Lan K, Chen Y, Zhou Y. The SARS-CoV-2 subgenome landscape and its novel regulatory features. Mol Cell 2021; 81:2135-2147.e5. [PMID: 33713597 PMCID: PMC7927579 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2021.02.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2020] [Revised: 10/28/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is currently a global pandemic. CoVs are known to generate negative subgenomes (subgenomic RNAs [sgRNAs]) through transcription-regulating sequence (TRS)-dependent template switching, but the global dynamic landscapes of coronaviral subgenomes and regulatory rules remain unclear. Here, using next-generation sequencing (NGS) short-read and Nanopore long-read poly(A) RNA sequencing in two cell types at multiple time points after infection with SARS-CoV-2, we identified hundreds of template switches and constructed the dynamic landscapes of SARS-CoV-2 subgenomes. Interestingly, template switching could occur in a bidirectional manner, with diverse SARS-CoV-2 subgenomes generated from successive template-switching events. The majority of template switches result from RNA-RNA interactions, including seed and compensatory modes, with terminal pairing status as a key determinant. Two TRS-independent template switch modes are also responsible for subgenome biogenesis. Our findings reveal the subgenome landscape of SARS-CoV-2 and its regulatory features, providing a molecular basis for understanding subgenome biogenesis and developing novel anti-viral strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dehe Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Modern Virology Research Center, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China; Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Ao Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Modern Virology Research Center, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jiangpeng Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Modern Virology Research Center, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Guangnan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Modern Virology Research Center, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China; Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Dong Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Modern Virology Research Center, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Muhammad Sajid
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Modern Virology Research Center, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Kai Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Modern Virology Research Center, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China; Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Qiuhan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Modern Virology Research Center, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yann Ponty
- CNRS UMR 7161 LIX, Ecole Polytechnique, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Sebastian Will
- CNRS UMR 7161 LIX, Ecole Polytechnique, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Feiyan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Modern Virology Research Center, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China; Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xinghai Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Modern Virology Research Center, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China; Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Shaopeng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Modern Virology Research Center, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China; Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Qianyun Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Modern Virology Research Center, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xing-Lou Yang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Ming Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Modern Virology Research Center, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xingqiao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Modern Virology Research Center, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China; Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Mingzhou Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Modern Virology Research Center, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Zheng-Li Shi
- CAS Key Laboratory of Special Pathogens, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Ke Lan
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Modern Virology Research Center, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China; Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
| | - Yu Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Modern Virology Research Center, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
| | - Yu Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Modern Virology Research Center, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China; Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
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17
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Ryder SP, Morgan BR, Coskun P, Antkowiak K, Massi F. Analysis of Emerging Variants in Structured Regions of the SARS-CoV-2 Genome. Evol Bioinform Online 2021; 17:11769343211014167. [PMID: 34017166 PMCID: PMC8114311 DOI: 10.1177/11769343211014167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has motivated a widespread effort to understand its epidemiology and pathogenic mechanisms. Modern high-throughput sequencing technology has led to the deposition of vast numbers of SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences in curated repositories, which have been useful in mapping the spread of the virus around the globe. They also provide a unique opportunity to observe virus evolution in real time. Here, we evaluate two sets of SARS-CoV-2 genomic sequences to identify emerging variants within structured cis-regulatory elements of the SARS-CoV-2 genome. Overall, 20 variants are present at a minor allele frequency of at least 0.5%. Several enhance the stability of Stem Loop 1 in the 5' untranslated region (UTR), including a group of co-occurring variants that extend its length. One appears to modulate the stability of the frameshifting pseudoknot between ORF1a and ORF1b, and another perturbs a bi-ss molecular switch in the 3'UTR. Finally, 5 variants destabilize structured elements within the 3'UTR hypervariable region, including the S2M (stem loop 2 m) selfish genetic element, raising questions as to the functional relevance of these structures in viral replication. Two of the most abundant variants appear to be caused by RNA editing, suggesting host-viral defense contributes to SARS-CoV-2 genome heterogeneity. Our analysis has implications for the development of therapeutics that target viral cis-regulatory RNA structures or sequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean P Ryder
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Brittany R Morgan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Peren Coskun
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Katianna Antkowiak
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Francesca Massi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
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18
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Manfredonia I, Incarnato D. Structure and regulation of coronavirus genomes: state-of-the-art and novel insights from SARS-CoV-2 studies. Biochem Soc Trans 2021; 49:341-352. [PMID: 33367597 PMCID: PMC7925004 DOI: 10.1042/bst20200670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2020] [Revised: 12/08/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Coronaviruses (CoV) are positive-sense single-stranded RNA viruses, harboring the largest viral RNA genomes known to date. Apart from the primary sequence encoding for all the viral proteins needed for the generation of new viral particles, certain regions of CoV genomes are known to fold into stable structures, controlling several aspects of CoV life cycle, from the regulation of the discontinuous transcription of subgenomic mRNAs, to the packaging of the genome into new virions. Here we review the current knowledge on CoV RNA structures, discussing it in light of the most recent discoveries made possible by analyses of the SARS-CoV-2 genome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilaria Manfredonia
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute (GBB), University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Danny Incarnato
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute (GBB), University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands
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19
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Justo Arevalo S, Zapata Sifuentes D, Huallpa CJ, Landa Bianchi G, Castillo Chávez A, Garavito-Salini Casas R, Uceda-Campos G, Pineda Chavarria R. Global Geographic and Temporal Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 Haplotypes Normalized by COVID-19 Cases During the Pandemic. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:612432. [PMID: 33746914 PMCID: PMC7971176 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.612432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Since the identification of SARS-CoV-2, a large number of genomes have been sequenced with unprecedented speed around the world. This marks a unique opportunity to analyze virus spreading and evolution in a worldwide context. Currently, there is not a useful haplotype description to help to track important and globally scattered mutations. Also, differences in the number of sequenced genomes between countries and/or months make it difficult to identify the emergence of haplotypes in regions where few genomes are sequenced but a large number of cases are reported. We propose an approach based on the normalization by COVID-19 cases of relative frequencies of mutations using all the available data to identify major haplotypes. Furthermore, we can use a similar normalization approach to tracking the temporal and geographic distribution of haplotypes in the world. Using 171,461 genomes, we identify five major haplotypes or operational taxonomic units (OTUs) based on nine high-frequency mutations. OTU_3 characterized by mutations R203K and G204R is currently the most frequent haplotype circulating in four of the six continents analyzed (South America, North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Oceania). On the other hand, during almost all months analyzed, OTU_5 characterized by the mutation T85I in nsp2 is the most frequent in North America. Recently (since September), OTU_2 has been established as the most frequent in Europe. OTU_1, the ancestor haplotype, is near to extinction showed by its low number of isolations since May. Also, we analyzed whether age, gender, or patient status is more related to a specific OTU. We did not find OTU's preference for any age group, gender, or patient status. Finally, we discuss structural and functional hypotheses in the most frequently identified mutations, none of those mutations show a clear effect on the transmissibility or pathogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santiago Justo Arevalo
- Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Ricardo Palma, Lima, Peru
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - César J. Huallpa
- Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina, Lima, Peru
| | | | | | | | - Guillermo Uceda-Campos
- Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Pedro Ruiz Gallo, Lambayeque, Peru
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20
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Abstract
Inhibiting eukaryotic protein translation with small molecules is emerging as a powerful therapeutic strategy. The advantage of targeting cellular translational machinery is that it is required for the highly proliferative state of many neoplastic cells, replication of certain viruses, and ultimately the expression of a wide variety of protein targets. Although, this approach has been exploited to develop clinical agents, such as homoharringtonine (HHT, 1), used to treat chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), inhibiting components of the translational machinery is often associated with cytotoxic phenotypes. However, recent studies have demonstrated that certain small molecules can inhibit the translation of specific subsets of proteins, leading to lower cytotoxicity, and opening-up therapeutic opportunities for translation inhibitors to be deployed in indications beyond oncology and infectious disease. This review summarizes efforts to develop inhibitors of the eukaryotic translational machinery as therapeutic agents and highlights emerging opportunities for translation inhibitors in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Fan
- Department of Discovery Chemistry, Merck & Co., Inc., South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Phillip P Sharp
- Department of Discovery Chemistry, Merck & Co., Inc., South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
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21
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Kalvari I, Nawrocki EP, Ontiveros-Palacios N, Argasinska J, Lamkiewicz K, Marz M, Griffiths-Jones S, Toffano-Nioche C, Gautheret D, Weinberg Z, Rivas E, Eddy SR, Finn RD, Bateman A, Petrov AI. Rfam 14: expanded coverage of metagenomic, viral and microRNA families. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:D192-D200. [PMID: 33211869 PMCID: PMC7779021 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaa1047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 386] [Impact Index Per Article: 128.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2020] [Revised: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Rfam is a database of RNA families where each of the 3444 families is represented by a multiple sequence alignment of known RNA sequences and a covariance model that can be used to search for additional members of the family. Recent developments have involved expert collaborations to improve the quality and coverage of Rfam data, focusing on microRNAs, viral and bacterial RNAs. We have completed the first phase of synchronising microRNA families in Rfam and miRBase, creating 356 new Rfam families and updating 40. We established a procedure for comprehensive annotation of viral RNA families starting with Flavivirus and Coronaviridae RNAs. We have also increased the coverage of bacterial and metagenome-based RNA families from the ZWD database. These developments have enabled a significant growth of the database, with the addition of 759 new families in Rfam 14. To facilitate further community contribution to Rfam, expert users are now able to build and submit new families using the newly developed Rfam Cloud family curation system. New Rfam website features include a new sequence similarity search powered by RNAcentral, as well as search and visualisation of families with pseudoknots. Rfam is freely available at https://rfam.org.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioanna Kalvari
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SD, UK
| | - Eric P Nawrocki
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA
| | - Nancy Ontiveros-Palacios
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SD, UK
| | - Joanna Argasinska
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SD, UK
| | - Kevin Lamkiewicz
- RNA Bioinformatics and High-Throughput Analysis, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Leutragraben 1, 07743 Jena, Germany.,European Virus Bioinformatics Center, Leutragraben 1, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Manja Marz
- RNA Bioinformatics and High-Throughput Analysis, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Leutragraben 1, 07743 Jena, Germany.,European Virus Bioinformatics Center, Leutragraben 1, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Sam Griffiths-Jones
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK
| | - Claire Toffano-Nioche
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), 91198, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Daniel Gautheret
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), 91198, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Zasha Weinberg
- Bioinformatics Group, Department of Computer Science and Interdisciplinary Centre for Bioinformatics, Leipzig University, 04107 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Elena Rivas
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Sean R Eddy
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.,John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Robert D Finn
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SD, UK
| | - Alex Bateman
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SD, UK
| | - Anton I Petrov
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SD, UK
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22
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Rangan R, Zheludev IN, Hagey RJ, Pham EA, Wayment-Steele HK, Glenn JS, Das R. RNA genome conservation and secondary structure in SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-related viruses: a first look. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2020; 26:937-959. [PMID: 32398273 PMCID: PMC7373990 DOI: 10.1261/rna.076141.120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 173] [Impact Index Per Article: 43.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Accepted: 05/11/2020] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
As the COVID-19 outbreak spreads, there is a growing need for a compilation of conserved RNA genome regions in the SARS-CoV-2 virus along with their structural propensities to guide development of antivirals and diagnostics. Here we present a first look at RNA sequence conservation and structural propensities in the SARS-CoV-2 genome. Using sequence alignments spanning a range of betacoronaviruses, we rank genomic regions by RNA sequence conservation, identifying 79 regions of length at least 15 nt as exactly conserved over SARS-related complete genome sequences available near the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak. We then confirm the conservation of the majority of these genome regions across 739 SARS-CoV-2 sequences subsequently reported from the COVID-19 outbreak, and we present a curated list of 30 "SARS-related-conserved" regions. We find that known RNA structured elements curated as Rfam families and in prior literature are enriched in these conserved genome regions, and we predict additional conserved, stable secondary structures across the viral genome. We provide 106 "SARS-CoV-2-conserved-structured" regions as potential targets for antivirals that bind to structured RNA. We further provide detailed secondary structure models for the extended 5' UTR, frameshifting stimulation element, and 3' UTR. Lastly, we predict regions of the SARS-CoV-2 viral genome that have low propensity for RNA secondary structure and are conserved within SARS-CoV-2 strains. These 59 "SARS-CoV-2-conserved-unstructured" genomic regions may be most easily accessible by hybridization in primer-based diagnostic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramya Rangan
- Biophysics Program, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA
| | - Ivan N Zheludev
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA
| | - Rachel J Hagey
- Departments of Medicine (Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology) and Microbiology & Immunology, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA
| | - Edward A Pham
- Departments of Medicine (Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology) and Microbiology & Immunology, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA
| | | | - Jeffrey S Glenn
- Departments of Medicine (Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology) and Microbiology & Immunology, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA
- Palo Alto Veterans Administration, Palo Alto, California 94304, USA
| | - Rhiju Das
- Biophysics Program, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA
- Department of Physics, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA
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23
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Abstract
Aim: The aim of this study was to computationally predict conserved RNA sequences and structures known as cis-acting RNA elements (CREs) in the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) genome. Materials & methods: Bioinformatics tools were used to analyze and predict CREs by obtaining viral sequences from available databases. Results: Computational analysis revealed the presence of RNA stem-loop structures within the 3′ end of the ORF1ab region analogous to previously identified SARS-CoV genomic packaging signals. Alignment-based RNA secondary structure predictions of the 5′ end of the SARS-CoV-2 genome also identified conserved CREs. Conclusion: These CREs may be potential vaccine and/or antiviral therapeutic targets; however, further studies are warranted to confirm their roles in the SARS-CoV-2 life cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bader Y Alhatlani
- Department of Medical Applied Sciences, Unayzah Community College, Qassim University, Unayzah, Saudi Arabia
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24
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Ryder SP, Morgan BR, Massi F. Analysis of Rapidly Emerging Variants in Structured Regions of the SARS-CoV-2 Genome. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2020. [PMID: 32577650 DOI: 10.1101/2020.05.27.120105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has motivated a widespread effort to understand its epidemiology and pathogenic mechanisms. Modern high-throughput sequencing technology has led to the deposition of vast numbers of SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences in curated repositories, which have been useful in mapping the spread of the virus around the globe. They also provide a unique opportunity to observe virus evolution in real time. Here, we evaluate two cohorts of SARS-CoV-2 genomic sequences to identify rapidly emerging variants within structured cis-regulatory elements of the SARS-CoV-2 genome. Overall, twenty variants are present at a minor allele frequency of at least 0.5%. Several enhance the stability of Stem Loop 1 in the 5'UTR, including a set of co-occurring variants that extend its length. One appears to modulate the stability of the frameshifting pseudoknot between ORF1a and ORF1b, and another perturbs a bi-stable molecular switch in the 3'UTR. Finally, five variants destabilize structured elements within the 3'UTR hypervariable region, including the S2M stem loop, raising questions as to the functional relevance of these structures in viral replication. Two of the most abundant variants appear to be caused by RNA editing, suggesting host-viral defense contributes to SARS-CoV-2 genome heterogeneity. This analysis has implications for the development of therapeutics that target viral cis-regulatory RNA structures or sequences, as rapidly emerging variations in these regions could lead to drug resistance.
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25
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Rangan R, Zheludev IN, Das R. RNA genome conservation and secondary structure in SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-related viruses. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2020:2020.03.27.012906. [PMID: 32511306 PMCID: PMC7217285 DOI: 10.1101/2020.03.27.012906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
As the COVID-19 outbreak spreads, there is a growing need for a compilation of conserved RNA genome regions in the SARS-CoV-2 virus along with their structural propensities to guide development of antivirals and diagnostics. Using sequence alignments spanning a range of betacoronaviruses, we rank genomic regions by RNA sequence conservation, identifying 79 regions of length at least 15 nucleotides as exactly conserved over SARS-related complete genome sequences available near the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak. We then confirm the conservation of the majority of these genome regions across 739 SARS-CoV-2 sequences reported to date from the current COVID-19 outbreak, and we present a curated list of 30 'SARS-related-conserved' regions. We find that known RNA structured elements curated as Rfam families and in prior literature are enriched in these conserved genome regions, and we predict additional conserved, stable secondary structures across the viral genome. We provide 106 'SARS-CoV-2-conserved-structured' regions as potential targets for antivirals that bind to structured RNA. We further provide detailed secondary structure models for the 5´ UTR, frame-shifting element, and 3´ UTR. Last, we predict regions of the SARS-CoV-2 viral genome have low propensity for RNA secondary structure and are conserved within SARS-CoV-2 strains. These 59 'SARS-CoV-2-conserved-unstructured' genomic regions may be most easily targeted in primer-based diagnostic and oligonucleotide-based therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramya Rangan
- Biophysics Program, Stanford University, Stanford CA 94305
| | - Ivan N. Zheludev
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford CA 94305
| | - Rhiju Das
- Biophysics Program, Stanford University, Stanford CA 94305
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford CA 94305
- Department of Physics, Stanford University, Stanford CA 94305
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26
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Han Y, Du J, Su H, Zhang J, Zhu G, Zhang S, Wu Z, Jin Q. Identification of Diverse Bat Alphacoronaviruses and Betacoronaviruses in China Provides New Insights Into the Evolution and Origin of Coronavirus-Related Diseases. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:1900. [PMID: 31474969 PMCID: PMC6702311 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.01900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2019] [Accepted: 07/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Outbreaks of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 2002, Middle East respiratory syndrome in 2012 and fatal swine acute diarrhea syndrome in 2017 caused serious infectious diseases in humans and in livestock, resulting in serious public health threats and huge economic losses. All such coronaviruses (CoVs) were confirmed to originate from bats. To continuously monitor the epidemic-related CoVs in bats, virome analysis was used to classify CoVs from 831 bats of 15 species in Yunnan, Guangxi, and Sichuan Provinces between August 2016 and May 2017. We identified 11 CoV strains from 22 individual samples of four bat species. Identification of four alpha-CoVs from Scotophilus kuhlii in Guangxi, which was closely related to a previously reported bat CoV and porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV), revealed a bat-swine lineage under the genus Alphacoronavirus. A recombinant CoV showed that the PEDV probably originated from the CoV of S. kuhlii. Another alpha-CoV, α-YN2018, from Rhinolophus sinicus in Yunnan, suggested that this alpha-CoV lineage had multiple host origins, and α-YN2018 had recombined with CoVs of other bat species over time. We identified five SARS-related CoVs (SARSr-CoVs) in Rhinolophus bats from Sichuan and Yunnan and confirmed that angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 usable SARSr-CoVs were continuously circulating in Rhinolophus spp. in Yunnan. The other beta-CoV, strain β-GX2018, found in Cynopterus sphinx of Guangxi, represented an independently evolved lineage different from known CoVs of Rousettus and Eonycteris bats. The identification of diverse CoVs here provides new genetic data for understanding the distribution and source of pathogenic CoVs in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yelin Han
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Jiang Du
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Haoxiang Su
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Junpeng Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis of Liaoning Province, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
| | | | - Shuyi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis of Liaoning Province, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
| | - Zhiqiang Wu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Qi Jin
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
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27
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Tsai TL, Su CC, Hsieh CC, Lin CN, Chang HW, Lo CY, Lin CH, Wu HY. Gene Variations in Cis-Acting Elements between the Taiwan and Prototype Strains of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus Alter Viral Gene Expression. Genes (Basel) 2018; 9:E591. [PMID: 30501108 PMCID: PMC6316102 DOI: 10.3390/genes9120591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2018] [Revised: 11/20/2018] [Accepted: 11/26/2018] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
In 2013, the outbreak of porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) in Taiwan caused serious economic losses. In this study, we examined whether the variations of the cis-acting elements between the porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) Taiwan (TW) strain and the prototype strain CV777 alter gene expression. For this aim, we analyzed the variations of the cis-acting elements in the 5' and 3' untranslated regions (UTRs) between the PEDV TW, CV777, and other reference strains. We also determined the previously unidentified transcription regulatory sequence (TRS), a sequence motif required for coronavirus transcription, and found that a nucleotide deletion in the TW strain, in comparison with CV777 strain, immediately downstream of the leader core sequence alters the identity between the leader TRS and the body TRS. Functional analyses using coronavirus defective interfering (DI) RNA revealed that such variations in cis-acting elements for the TW strain compared with the CV777 strain have an influence on the efficiency of gene expression. The current data show for the first time the evolution of PEDV in terms of cis-acting elements and their effects on gene expression, and thus may contribute to our understanding of recent PED outbreaks worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsung-Lin Tsai
- Graduate Institute of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 40227, Taiwan.
| | - Chen-Chang Su
- Graduate Institute of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 40227, Taiwan.
| | - Ching-Chi Hsieh
- Division of Chest Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Bing Show Chwan Memorial Hospital, Changhua 505, Taiwan.
| | - Chao-Nan Lin
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Neipu, Pingtung 91201, Taiwan.
| | - Hui-Wen Chang
- Graduate Institute of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan.
| | - Chen-Yu Lo
- Graduate Institute of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 40227, Taiwan.
| | - Ching-Houng Lin
- Graduate Institute of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 40227, Taiwan.
| | - Hung-Yi Wu
- Graduate Institute of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 40227, Taiwan.
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28
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Rasmussen TB, Boniotti MB, Papetti A, Grasland B, Frossard JP, Dastjerdi A, Hulst M, Hanke D, Pohlmann A, Blome S, van der Poel WHM, Steinbach F, Blanchard Y, Lavazza A, Bøtner A, Belsham GJ. Full-length genome sequences of porcine epidemic diarrhoea virus strain CV777; Use of NGS to analyse genomic and sub-genomic RNAs. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0193682. [PMID: 29494671 PMCID: PMC5832266 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0193682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2018] [Accepted: 02/15/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Porcine epidemic diarrhoea virus, strain CV777, was initially characterized in 1978 as the causative agent of a disease first identified in the UK in 1971. This coronavirus has been widely distributed among laboratories and has been passaged both within pigs and in cell culture. To determine the variability between different stocks of the PEDV strain CV777, sequencing of the full-length genome (ca. 28kb) has been performed in 6 different laboratories, using different protocols. Not surprisingly, each of the different full genome sequences were distinct from each other and from the reference sequence (Accession number AF353511) but they are >99% identical. Unique and shared differences between sequences were identified. The coding region for the surface-exposed spike protein showed the highest proportion of variability including both point mutations and small deletions. The predicted expression of the ORF3 gene product was more dramatically affected in three different variants of this virus through either loss of the initiation codon or gain of a premature termination codon. The genome of one isolate had a substantially rearranged 5´-terminal sequence. This rearrangement was validated through the analysis of sub-genomic mRNAs from infected cells. It is clearly important to know the features of the specific sample of CV777 being used for experimental studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Bruun Rasmussen
- DTU National Veterinary Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Lindholm, Kalvehave, Denmark
| | - Maria Beatrice Boniotti
- IZSLER, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna “Bruno Ubertini”, Brescia, Italy
| | - Alice Papetti
- IZSLER, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna “Bruno Ubertini”, Brescia, Italy
| | - Béatrice Grasland
- ANSES–Laboratory of Ploufragan-Plouzané –BP 53, Ploufragan, France
- Université Bretagne Loire, Rennes, France
| | - Jean-Pierre Frossard
- Animal and Plant Health Agency, Department of Virology, Weybridge, Addlestone, Surrey, United Kingdom
| | - Akbar Dastjerdi
- Animal and Plant Health Agency, Department of Virology, Weybridge, Addlestone, Surrey, United Kingdom
| | - Marcel Hulst
- Wageningen BioVeterinary Research, Department of Virology, Lelystad, The Netherlands
| | - Dennis Hanke
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald—Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Anne Pohlmann
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald—Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Sandra Blome
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald—Insel Riems, Germany
| | | | - Falko Steinbach
- Animal and Plant Health Agency, Department of Virology, Weybridge, Addlestone, Surrey, United Kingdom
| | - Yannick Blanchard
- ANSES–Laboratory of Ploufragan-Plouzané –BP 53, Ploufragan, France
- Université Bretagne Loire, Rennes, France
| | - Antonio Lavazza
- IZSLER, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna “Bruno Ubertini”, Brescia, Italy
| | - Anette Bøtner
- DTU National Veterinary Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Lindholm, Kalvehave, Denmark
| | - Graham J. Belsham
- DTU National Veterinary Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Lindholm, Kalvehave, Denmark
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29
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Madhugiri R, Karl N, Petersen D, Lamkiewicz K, Fricke M, Wend U, Scheuer R, Marz M, Ziebuhr J. Structural and functional conservation of cis-acting RNA elements in coronavirus 5'-terminal genome regions. Virology 2017; 517:44-55. [PMID: 29223446 PMCID: PMC7112051 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2017.11.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2017] [Revised: 11/28/2017] [Accepted: 11/29/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Structure predictions suggest a partial conservation of RNA structure elements in coronavirus terminal genome regions. Here, we determined the structures of stem-loops (SL) 1 and 2 of two alphacoronaviruses, human coronavirus (HCoV) 229E and NL63, by RNA structure probing and studied the functional relevance of these putative cis-acting elements. HCoV-229E SL1 and SL2 mutants generated by reverse genetics were used to study the effects on viral replication of single-nucleotide substitutions predicted to destabilize the SL1 and SL2 structures. The data provide conclusive evidence for the critical role of SL1 and SL2 in HCoV-229E replication and, in some cases, revealed parallels with previously characterized betacoronavirus SL1 and SL2 elements. Also, we were able to rescue viable HCoV-229E mutants carrying replacements of SL2 with equivalent betacoronavirus structural elements. The data obtained in this study reveal a remarkable degree of structural and functional conservation of 5′-terminal RNA structural elements across coronavirus genus boundaries. Conservation of 5'-terminal SL1 and SL2 elements in alpha- and betacoronaviruses. HCoV-229E reverse genetics data suggest critical role for SL1/2 in viral replication. Replacement of SL2 in HCoV-229E with betacoronavirus equivalents is tolerated.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nadja Karl
- Institute of Medical Virology, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Daniel Petersen
- Institute of Medical Virology, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Kevin Lamkiewicz
- Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany; European Virus Bioinformatics Center, Jena, Germany
| | - Markus Fricke
- Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany; European Virus Bioinformatics Center, Jena, Germany
| | - Ulrike Wend
- Institute of Medical Virology, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Robina Scheuer
- Institute of Medical Virology, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Manja Marz
- Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany; FLI Leibniz Institute for Age Research, Jena, Germany; European Virus Bioinformatics Center, Jena, Germany
| | - John Ziebuhr
- Institute of Medical Virology, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany; European Virus Bioinformatics Center, Jena, Germany.
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30
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Abstract
Computer-assisted technologies of the genomic structure, biological function, and evolution of viruses remain a largely neglected area of research. The attention of bioinformaticians to this challenging field is currently unsatisfying in respect to its medical and biological importance. The power of new genome sequencing technologies, associated with new tools to handle "big data", provides unprecedented opportunities to address fundamental questions in virology. Here, we present an overview of the current technologies, challenges, and advantages of Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) in relation to the field of virology. We present how viral sequences can be detected de novo out of current short-read NGS data. Furthermore, we discuss the challenges and applications of viral quasispecies and how secondary structures, commonly shaped by RNA viruses, can be computationally predicted. The phylogenetic analysis of viruses, as another ubiquitous field in virology, forms an essential element of describing viral epidemics and challenges current algorithms. Recently, the first specialized virus-bioinformatic organizations have been established. We need to bring together virologists and bioinformaticians and provide a platform for the implementation of interdisciplinary collaborative projects at local and international scales. Above all, there is an urgent need for dedicated software tools to tackle various challenges in virology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Hölzer
- RNA Bioinformatics and High Throughput Analysis, Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany; European Virus Bioinformatics Center (EVBC), Jena, Germany
| | - Manja Marz
- RNA Bioinformatics and High Throughput Analysis, Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany; European Virus Bioinformatics Center (EVBC), Jena, Germany; FLI Leibniz Institute for Age Research, Jena, Germany.
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31
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Abstract
Coronaviruses are animal and human pathogens that can cause lethal zoonotic infections like SARS and MERS. They have polycistronic plus-stranded RNA genomes and belong to the order Nidovirales, a diverse group of viruses for which common ancestry was inferred from the common principles underlying their genome organization and expression, and from the conservation of an array of core replicase domains, including key RNA-synthesizing enzymes. Coronavirus genomes (~ 26–32 kilobases) are the largest RNA genomes known to date and their expansion was likely enabled by acquiring enzyme functions that counter the commonly high error frequency of viral RNA polymerases. The primary functions that direct coronavirus RNA synthesis and processing reside in nonstructural protein (nsp) 7 to nsp16, which are cleavage products of two large replicase polyproteins translated from the coronavirus genome. Significant progress has now been made regarding their structural and functional characterization, stimulated by technical advances like improved methods for bioinformatics and structural biology, in vitro enzyme characterization, and site-directed mutagenesis of coronavirus genomes. Coronavirus replicase functions include more or less universal activities of plus-stranded RNA viruses, like an RNA polymerase (nsp12) and helicase (nsp13), but also a number of rare or even unique domains involved in mRNA capping (nsp14, nsp16) and fidelity control (nsp14). Several smaller subunits (nsp7–nsp10) act as crucial cofactors of these enzymes and contribute to the emerging “nsp interactome.” Understanding the structure, function, and interactions of the RNA-synthesizing machinery of coronaviruses will be key to rationalizing their evolutionary success and the development of improved control strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- E J Snijder
- Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
| | - E Decroly
- Aix-Marseille Université, AFMB UMR 7257, Marseille, France; CNRS, AFMB UMR 7257, Marseille, France
| | - J Ziebuhr
- Institute of Medical Virology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany.
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32
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Abstract
Coronaviruses have exceptionally large RNA genomes of approximately 30 kilobases. Genome replication and transcription is mediated by a multisubunit protein complex comprised of more than a dozen virus-encoded proteins. The protein complex is thought to bind specific cis-acting RNA elements primarily located in the 5′- and 3′-terminal genome regions and upstream of the open reading frames located in the 3′-proximal one-third of the genome. Here, we review our current understanding of coronavirus cis-acting RNA elements, focusing on elements required for genome replication and packaging. Recent bioinformatic, biochemical, and genetic studies suggest a previously unknown level of conservation of cis-acting RNA structures among different coronavirus genera and, in some cases, even beyond genus boundaries. Also, there is increasing evidence to suggest that individual cis-acting elements may be part of higher-order RNA structures involving long-range and dynamic RNA–RNA interactions between RNA structural elements separated by thousands of nucleotides in the viral genome. We discuss the structural and functional features of these cis-acting RNA elements and their specific functions in coronavirus RNA synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Madhugiri
- Institute of Medical Virology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - M Fricke
- Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - M Marz
- Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany; FLI Leibniz Institute for Age Research, Jena, Germany
| | - J Ziebuhr
- Institute of Medical Virology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany.
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33
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Abstract
Replication of the coronavirus genome requires continuous RNA synthesis, whereas transcription is a discontinuous process unique among RNA viruses. Transcription includes a template switch during the synthesis of subgenomic negative-strand RNAs to add a copy of the leader sequence. Coronavirus transcription is regulated by multiple factors, including the extent of base-pairing between transcription-regulating sequences of positive and negative polarity, viral and cell protein-RNA binding, and high-order RNA-RNA interactions. Coronavirus RNA synthesis is performed by a replication-transcription complex that includes viral and cell proteins that recognize cis-acting RNA elements mainly located in the highly structured 5' and 3' untranslated regions. In addition to many viral nonstructural proteins, the presence of cell nuclear proteins and the viral nucleocapsid protein increases virus amplification efficacy. Coronavirus RNA synthesis is connected with the formation of double-membrane vesicles and convoluted membranes. Coronaviruses encode proofreading machinery, unique in the RNA virus world, to ensure the maintenance of their large genome size.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Sola
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CNB-CSIC), 28049 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Fernando Almazán
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CNB-CSIC), 28049 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Sonia Zúñiga
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CNB-CSIC), 28049 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Luis Enjuanes
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CNB-CSIC), 28049 Madrid, Spain;
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34
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Dissection of amino-terminal functional domains of murine coronavirus nonstructural protein 3. J Virol 2015; 89:6033-47. [PMID: 25810552 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00197-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2015] [Accepted: 03/19/2015] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED Coronaviruses, the largest RNA viruses, have a complex program of RNA synthesis that entails genome replication and transcription of subgenomic mRNAs. RNA synthesis by the prototype coronavirus mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) is carried out by a replicase-transcriptase composed of 16 nonstructural protein (nsp) subunits. Among these, nsp3 is the largest and the first to be inserted into the endoplasmic reticulum. nsp3 comprises multiple structural domains, including two papain-like proteases (PLPs) and a highly conserved ADP-ribose-1″-phosphatase (ADRP) macrodomain. We have previously shown that the ubiquitin-like domain at the amino terminus of nsp3 is essential and participates in a critical interaction with the viral nucleocapsid protein early in infection. In the current study, we exploited atypical expression schemes to uncouple PLP1 from the processing of nsp1 and nsp2 in order to investigate the requirements of nsp3 domains for viral RNA synthesis. In the first strategy, a mutant was created in which replicase polyprotein translation initiated with nsp3, thereby establishing that complete elimination of nsp1 and nsp2 does not abolish MHV viability. In the second strategy, a picornavirus autoprocessing element was used to separate a truncated nsp1 from nsp3. This provided a platform for further dissection of amino-terminal domains of nsp3. From this, we found that catalytic mutation of PLP1 or complete deletion of PLP1 and the adjacent ADRP domain was tolerated by the virus. These results showed that neither the PLP1 domain nor the ADRP domain of nsp3 provides integral activities essential for coronavirus genomic or subgenomic RNA synthesis. IMPORTANCE The largest component of the coronavirus replicase-transcriptase complex, nsp3, contains multiple modules, many of which do not have clearly defined functions in genome replication or transcription. These domains may play direct roles in RNA synthesis, or they may have evolved for other purposes, such as to combat host innate immunity. We initiated a dissection of MHV nsp3 aimed at identifying those activities or structures in this huge molecule that are essential to replicase activity. We found that both PLP1 and ADRP could be entirely deleted, provided that the requirement for proteolytic processing by PLP1 was offset by an alternative mechanism. This demonstrated that neither PLP1 nor ADRP plays an essential role in coronavirus RNA synthesis.
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