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Huang J, Fang Y, Wu R, Xia T, Wang X, Jia J, Wang G. All-trans retinoic acid acts as a dual-purpose inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 infection and inflammation. Comput Biol Med 2024; 169:107942. [PMID: 38183702 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2024.107942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 12/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/01/2024] [Indexed: 01/08/2024]
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was an epidemic that effected human health caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection. All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) has anti-inflammatory capability. In this article, we evaluated the effectiveness and revealed the molecular mechanism of ATRA for treating SARS-CoV-2 using deep learning, in vitro studies, multi-scale molecular modeling, and network pharmacology. The DeepDTA model suggested that ATRA would be effective against COVID-19. In vitro studies confirmed the antiviral activity of ATRA. Subsequently, multi-scale molecular modeling indicated that ATRA could binding to angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), 3C-like protease (3CLpro), RNA dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), helicase, and 3'-to-5' exonuclease by non-covalent interactions. Additionally, network pharmacology suggested that ATRA alleviated inflammatory response by regulating the IL-17 signaling pathway and binding with TNF, PTGS2, and MAPK1 directly. In summary, our findings provide the first evidence that ATRA suppresses the entry and replication of SARS-CoV-2, and regulates inflammatory response of host cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juanjuan Huang
- Department of Pathogen Biology, The Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Chinese Ministry of Education, College of Basic Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China; Department of Computational Mathematics, School of Mathematics, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China
| | - Yabo Fang
- Department of Computational Mathematics, School of Mathematics, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China
| | - Runze Wu
- Department of Probability Statistics and Data Science, School of Mathematics, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China
| | - Tingzheng Xia
- Department of Pathogen Biology, The Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Chinese Ministry of Education, College of Basic Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Xuan Wang
- Department of Pathogen Biology, The Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Chinese Ministry of Education, College of Basic Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China
| | - Jiwei Jia
- Department of Computational Mathematics, School of Mathematics, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China; Jilin National Applied Mathematical Center, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China.
| | - Guoqing Wang
- Department of Pathogen Biology, The Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Chinese Ministry of Education, College of Basic Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China.
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2
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Fang P, Xie C, Pan T, Cheng T, Chen W, Xia S, Ding T, Fang J, Zhou Y, Fang L, Wei D, Xiao S. Unfolding of an RNA G-quadruplex motif in the negative strand genome of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus by host and viral helicases to promote viral replication. Nucleic Acids Res 2023; 51:10752-10767. [PMID: 37739415 PMCID: PMC10602871 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2023] [Revised: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/24/2023] Open
Abstract
G-quadruplex (G4) is a unique secondary structure formed by guanine-rich nucleic acid sequences. Growing studies reported that the genomes of some viruses harbor G4 structures associated with viral replication, opening up a new field to dissect viral infection. Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), a representative member of Arteriviridae, is an economically significant pathogen that has devastated the swine industry worldwide for over 30 years. In this study, we identified a highly conserved G-rich sequence with parallel-type G4 structure (named PRRSV-G4) in the negative strand genome RNA of PRRSV. Pyridostatin (PDS), a well-known G4-binding ligand, stabilized the PRRSV-G4 structure and inhibited viral replication. By screening the proteins interacting with PRRSV-G4 in PRRSV-infected cells and single-molecule magnetic tweezers analysis, we found that two helicases, host DDX18 and viral nsp10, interact with and efficiently unwound the PRRSV-G4 structure, thereby facilitating viral replication. Using a PRRSV reverse genetics system, we confirmed that recombinant PRRSV with a G4-disruptive mutation exhibited resistance to PDS treatment, thereby displaying higher replication than wild-type PRRSV. Collectively, these results demonstrate that the PRRSV-G4 structure plays a crucial regulatory role in viral replication, and targeting this structure represents a promising strategy for antiviral therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Puxian Fang
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
- The Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Congbao Xie
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, and Interdisciplinary Sciences Institute, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
- Shenzhen Institute of Nutrition and Health, Huazhong Agricultural University, Shenzhen 518000, China
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - Ting Pan
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
- The Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Ting Cheng
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
- The Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Wei Chen
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
- The Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Sijin Xia
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
- The Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Tong Ding
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
- The Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Junkang Fang
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, and Interdisciplinary Sciences Institute, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
- Shenzhen Institute of Nutrition and Health, Huazhong Agricultural University, Shenzhen 518000, China
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - Yanrong Zhou
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
- The Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Liurong Fang
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
- The Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Dengguo Wei
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, and Interdisciplinary Sciences Institute, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
- Shenzhen Institute of Nutrition and Health, Huazhong Agricultural University, Shenzhen 518000, China
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - Shaobo Xiao
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
- The Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan 430070, China
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3
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Yu J, Im H, Lee G. Unwinding mechanism of SARS-CoV helicase (nsp13) in the presence of Ca 2+, elucidated by biochemical and single-molecular studies. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2023; 668:35-41. [PMID: 37235917 PMCID: PMC10193821 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2023.05.062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
The recent outbreak of COVID-19 has created a serious health crisis with fatFal infectious viral diseases, such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). The nsp13, a helicase of coronaviruses is an essential element for viral replication that unwinds secondary structures of DNA and RNA, and is thus considered a major therapeutic target for treatment. The replication of coronaviruses and other retroviruses occurs in the cytoplasm of infected cells, in association with viral replication organelles, called virus-induced cytosolic double-membrane vesicles (DMVs). In addition, an increase in cytosolic Ca2+ concentration accelerates viral replication. However, the molecular mechanism of nsp13 in the presence of Ca2+ is not well understood. In this study, we applied biochemical methods and single-molecule techniques to demonstrate how nsp13 achieves its unwinding activity while performing ATP hydrolysis in the presence of Ca2+. Our study found that nsp13 could efficiently unwind double stranded (ds) DNA under physiological concentration of Ca2+ of cytosolic DMVs. These findings provide new insights into the properties of nsp13 in the range of calcium in cytosolic DMVs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeongmin Yu
- School of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, 61005, South Korea
| | - Hyeryeon Im
- School of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, 61005, South Korea
| | - Gwangrog Lee
- School of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, 61005, South Korea.
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4
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Sommers JA, Loftus LN, Jones MP, Lee RA, Haren CE, Dumm AJ, Brosh RM. Biochemical analysis of SARS-CoV-2 Nsp13 helicase implicated in COVID-19 and factors that regulate its catalytic functions. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:102980. [PMID: 36739951 PMCID: PMC9897874 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.102980] [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: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Replication of the 30-kilobase genome of SARS-CoV-2, responsible for COVID-19, is a key step in the coronavirus life cycle that requires a set of virally encoded nonstructural proteins such as the highly conserved Nsp13 helicase. However, the features that contribute to catalytic properties of Nsp13 are not well established. Here, we biochemically characterized the purified recombinant SARS-CoV-2 Nsp13 helicase protein, focusing on its catalytic functions, nucleic acid substrate specificity, nucleotide/metal cofactor requirements, and displacement of proteins from RNA molecules proposed to be important for its proofreading role during coronavirus replication. We determined that Nsp13 preferentially interacts with single-stranded DNA compared with single-stranded RNA to unwind a partial duplex helicase substrate. We present evidence for functional cooperativity as a function of Nsp13 concentration, which suggests that oligomerization is important for optimal activity. In addition, under single-turnover conditions, Nsp13 unwound partial duplex RNA substrates of increasing double-stranded regions (16-30 base pairs) with similar efficiency, suggesting the enzyme unwinds processively in this range. We also show Nsp13-catalyzed RNA unwinding is abolished by a site-specific neutralizing linkage in the sugar-phosphate backbone, demonstrating continuity in the helicase-translocating strand is essential for unwinding the partial duplex substrate. Taken together, we demonstrate for the first time that coronavirus helicase Nsp13 disrupts a high-affinity RNA-protein interaction in a unidirectional and ATP-dependent manner. Furthermore, sensitivity of Nsp13 catalytic functions to Mg2+ concentration suggests a regulatory mechanism for ATP hydrolysis, duplex unwinding, and RNA protein remodeling, processes implicated in SARS-CoV-2 replication and proofreading.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua A Sommers
- Helicases and Genomic Integrity Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, National Institute on Aging, NIH, NIH Biomedical Research Center, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Lorin N Loftus
- Helicases and Genomic Integrity Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, National Institute on Aging, NIH, NIH Biomedical Research Center, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Martin P Jones
- Helicases and Genomic Integrity Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, National Institute on Aging, NIH, NIH Biomedical Research Center, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Rebecca A Lee
- Helicases and Genomic Integrity Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, National Institute on Aging, NIH, NIH Biomedical Research Center, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Caitlin E Haren
- Helicases and Genomic Integrity Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, National Institute on Aging, NIH, NIH Biomedical Research Center, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Adaira J Dumm
- Helicases and Genomic Integrity Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, National Institute on Aging, NIH, NIH Biomedical Research Center, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Robert M Brosh
- Helicases and Genomic Integrity Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, National Institute on Aging, NIH, NIH Biomedical Research Center, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
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5
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Duan X, Lacko LA, Chen S. Druggable targets and therapeutic development for COVID-19. Front Chem 2022; 10:963701. [PMID: 36277347 PMCID: PMC9581228 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2022.963701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), which is caused by SARS-CoV-2, is the biggest challenge to the global public health and economy in recent years. Until now, only limited therapeutic regimens have been available for COVID-19 patients, sparking unprecedented efforts to study coronavirus biology. The genome of SARS-CoV-2 encodes 16 non-structural, four structural, and nine accessory proteins, which mediate the viral life cycle, including viral entry, RNA replication and transcription, virion assembly and release. These processes depend on the interactions between viral polypeptides and host proteins, both of which could be potential therapeutic targets for COVID-19. Here, we will discuss the potential medicinal value of essential proteins of SARS-CoV-2 and key host factors. We summarize the most updated therapeutic interventions for COVID-19 patients, including those approved clinically or in clinical trials.
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6
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Lu L, Peng Y, Yao H, Wang Y, Li J, Yang Y, Lin Z. Punicalagin as an allosteric NSP13 helicase inhibitor potently suppresses SARS-CoV-2 replication in vitro. Antiviral Res 2022; 206:105389. [PMID: 35985407 PMCID: PMC9381947 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2022.105389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Revised: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) helicase NSP13 plays a conserved role in the replication of coronaviruses and has been identified as an ideal target for the development of antiviral drugs against SARS-CoV-2. Here, we identify a novel NSP13 helicase inhibitor punicalagin (PUG) through high-throughput screening. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR)-based analysis and molecular docking calculation reveal that PUG directly binds NSP13 on the interface of domains 1A and 2A, with a KD value of 21.6 nM. Further biochemical and structural analyses suggest that PUG inhibits NSP13 on ATP hydrolysis and prevents it binding to DNA substrates. Finally, the antiviral studies show that PUG effectively suppresses the SARS-CoV-2 replication in A549-ACE2 and Vero cells, with EC50 values of 347 nM and 196 nM, respectively. Our work demonstrates the potential application of PUG in the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and identifies an allosteric inhibition mechanism for future drug design targeting the viral helicases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lian Lu
- College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350108, China
| | - Yun Peng
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Immunity, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Disease, State Key Discipline of Infectious Disease, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, Second Hospital Affiliated to Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Huiqiao Yao
- College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350108, China
| | - Yanqun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510182, China
| | - Jinyu Li
- College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350108, China.
| | - Yang Yang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Immunity, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Disease, State Key Discipline of Infectious Disease, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, Second Hospital Affiliated to Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China.
| | - Zhonghui Lin
- College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350108, China.
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7
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Corona A, Wycisk K, Talarico C, Manelfi C, Milia J, Cannalire R, Esposito F, Gribbon P, Zaliani A, Iaconis D, Beccari AR, Summa V, Nowotny M, Tramontano E. Natural Compounds Inhibit SARS-CoV-2 nsp13 Unwinding and ATPase Enzyme Activities. ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci 2022; 5:226-239. [PMID: 35434533 PMCID: PMC9003574 DOI: 10.1021/acsptsci.1c00253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
![]()
SARS-CoV-2 infection
is still spreading worldwide, and new antiviral
therapies are an urgent need to complement the approved vaccine preparations.
SARS-CoV-2 nps13 helicase is a validated drug target participating
in the viral replication complex and possessing two associated activities:
RNA unwinding and 5′-triphosphatase. In the search of SARS-CoV-2
direct antiviral agents, we established biochemical assays for both
SARS-CoV-2 nps13-associated enzyme activities and screened both in silico and in vitro a small in-house
library of natural compounds. Myricetin, quercetin, kaempferol, and
flavanone were found to inhibit the SARS-CoV-2 nps13 unwinding activity
at nanomolar concentrations, while licoflavone C was shown to block
both SARS-CoV-2 nps13 activities at micromolar concentrations. Mode
of action studies showed that all compounds are nsp13 noncompetitive
inhibitors versus ATP, while computational studies suggested that
they can bind both nucleotide and 5′-RNA nsp13 binding sites,
with licoflavone C showing a unique pattern of interaction with nsp13
amino acid residues. Overall, we report for the first time natural
flavonoids as selective inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 nps13 helicase with
low micromolar activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Corona
- Dipartimento di Scienze della vita e dell'ambiente, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria di Monserrato, SS-554, 09042 Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Krzysztof Wycisk
- Laboratory of Protein Structure, International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Ks. Trojdena 4, Warsaw 02-109, Poland
| | - Carmine Talarico
- Dompé Farmaceutici SpA, via Campo di Pile, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Candida Manelfi
- Dompé Farmaceutici SpA, via Campo di Pile, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Jessica Milia
- Dipartimento di Scienze della vita e dell'ambiente, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria di Monserrato, SS-554, 09042 Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Rolando Cannalire
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Napoli "Federico II", via D. Montesano 49, Napoli 80131, Italy
| | - Francesca Esposito
- Dipartimento di Scienze della vita e dell'ambiente, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria di Monserrato, SS-554, 09042 Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Philip Gribbon
- Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology (ITMP), Schnackenburgallee 114, 22525 Hamburg, Germany.,Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence for Immune Mediated Diseases (CIMD), Theodor Stern Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Andrea Zaliani
- Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology (ITMP), Schnackenburgallee 114, 22525 Hamburg, Germany.,Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence for Immune Mediated Diseases (CIMD), Theodor Stern Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Daniela Iaconis
- Dompé Farmaceutici SpA, via Campo di Pile, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Andrea R Beccari
- Dompé Farmaceutici SpA, via Campo di Pile, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Summa
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Napoli "Federico II", via D. Montesano 49, Napoli 80131, Italy
| | - Marcin Nowotny
- Laboratory of Protein Structure, International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Ks. Trojdena 4, Warsaw 02-109, Poland
| | - Enzo Tramontano
- Dipartimento di Scienze della vita e dell'ambiente, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria di Monserrato, SS-554, 09042 Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
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8
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Yue K, Yao B, Shi Y, Yang Y, Qian Z, Ci Y, Shi L. The stalk domain of SARS-CoV-2 NSP13 is essential for its helicase activity. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2022; 601:129-136. [PMID: 35245742 PMCID: PMC8864812 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2022.02.068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, has been spreading worldwide for more than two years and has led to immense challenges to human health. Despite the great efforts that have been made, our understanding of SARS-CoV-2 is still limited. The viral helicase, NSP13 is an important enzyme involved in SARS-CoV-2 replication and transcription. Here we highlight the important role of the stalk domain in the enzymatic activity of NSP13. Without the stalk domain, NSP13 loses its dsRNA unwinding ability due to the lack of ATPase activity. The stalk domain of NSP13 also provides a rigid connection between the ZBD and helicase domain. We found that the tight connection between the stalk and helicase is necessary for NSP13-mediated dsRNA unwinding. When a short flexible linker was inserted between the stalk and helicase domains, the helicase activity of NSP13 was impaired, although its ATPase activity remained intact. Further study demonstrated that linker insertion between the stalk and helicase domains attenuated the RNA binding ability and affected the thermal stability of NSP13. In summary, our results suggest the crucial role of the stalk domain in NSP13 enzymatic activity and provide mechanistic insight into dsRNA unwinding by SARS-CoV-2 NSP13.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Yue
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and School of Basic Medicine, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100005, China; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and School of Basic Medicine, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100005, China
| | - Bin Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and School of Basic Medicine, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100005, China; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and School of Basic Medicine, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100005, China
| | - Yingchao Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and School of Basic Medicine, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100005, China; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and School of Basic Medicine, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100005, China
| | - Yang Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and School of Basic Medicine, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100005, China; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and School of Basic Medicine, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100005, China
| | - Zhaohui Qian
- Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100176, China
| | - Yali Ci
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and School of Basic Medicine, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100005, China; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and School of Basic Medicine, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100005, China.
| | - Lei Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and School of Basic Medicine, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100005, China; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and School of Basic Medicine, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100005, China.
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9
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Yan W, Zheng Y, Zeng X, He B, Cheng W. Structural biology of SARS-CoV-2: open the door for novel therapies. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2022; 7:26. [PMID: 35087058 PMCID: PMC8793099 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-022-00884-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 59.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Revised: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative agent of the pandemic disease COVID-19, which is so far without efficacious treatment. The discovery of therapy reagents for treating COVID-19 are urgently needed, and the structures of the potential drug-target proteins in the viral life cycle are particularly important. SARS-CoV-2, a member of the Orthocoronavirinae subfamily containing the largest RNA genome, encodes 29 proteins including nonstructural, structural and accessory proteins which are involved in viral adsorption, entry and uncoating, nucleic acid replication and transcription, assembly and release, etc. These proteins individually act as a partner of the replication machinery or involved in forming the complexes with host cellular factors to participate in the essential physiological activities. This review summarizes the representative structures and typically potential therapy agents that target SARS-CoV-2 or some critical proteins for viral pathogenesis, providing insights into the mechanisms underlying viral infection, prevention of infection, and treatment. Indeed, these studies open the door for COVID therapies, leading to ways to prevent and treat COVID-19, especially, treatment of the disease caused by the viral variants are imperative.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weizhu Yan
- Division of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Respiratory Infection and Intervention Laboratory of Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, 610041, Chengdu, China
| | - Yanhui Zheng
- Division of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Respiratory Infection and Intervention Laboratory of Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, 610041, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiaotao Zeng
- Division of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Respiratory Infection and Intervention Laboratory of Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, 610041, Chengdu, China
| | - Bin He
- Department of Emergency Medicine, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, 610041, Chengdu, China.
- The First People's Hospital of Longquanyi District Chengdu, 610100, Chengdu, China.
| | - Wei Cheng
- Division of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Respiratory Infection and Intervention Laboratory of Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, 610041, Chengdu, China.
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10
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Malone B, Urakova N, Snijder EJ, Campbell EA. Structures and functions of coronavirus replication-transcription complexes and their relevance for SARS-CoV-2 drug design. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2022; 23:21-39. [PMID: 34824452 PMCID: PMC8613731 DOI: 10.1038/s41580-021-00432-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 183] [Impact Index Per Article: 91.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has killed millions of people and continues to cause massive global upheaval. Coronaviruses are positive-strand RNA viruses with an unusually large genome of ~30 kb. They express an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and a cohort of other replication enzymes and supporting factors to transcribe and replicate their genomes. The proteins performing these essential processes are prime antiviral drug targets, but drug discovery is hindered by our incomplete understanding of coronavirus RNA synthesis and processing. In infected cells, the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase must coordinate with other viral and host factors to produce both viral mRNAs and new genomes. Recent research aiming to decipher and contextualize the structures, functions and interplay of the subunits of the SARS-CoV-2 replication and transcription complex proteins has burgeoned. In this Review, we discuss recent advancements in our understanding of the molecular basis and complexity of the coronavirus RNA-synthesizing machinery. Specifically, we outline the mechanisms and regulation of RNA translation, replication and transcription. We also discuss the composition of the replication and transcription complexes and their suitability as targets for antiviral therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandon Malone
- grid.134907.80000 0001 2166 1519Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY USA
| | - Nadya Urakova
- grid.10419.3d0000000089452978Department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Eric J. Snijder
- grid.10419.3d0000000089452978Department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Elizabeth A. Campbell
- grid.134907.80000 0001 2166 1519Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY USA
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11
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Genomic, proteomic and metabolomic profiling of severe acute respiratory syndrome-Coronavirus-2. COMPUTATIONAL APPROACHES FOR NOVEL THERAPEUTIC AND DIAGNOSTIC DESIGNING TO MITIGATE SARS-COV-2 INFECTION 2022. [PMCID: PMC9300679 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-323-91172-6.00019-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome-Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is one of the worst human health problems faced by humanity in recent centuries. An end to this health crisis relies on our ability to monitor viral transmission dynamics to check spread, develop therapeutics and preventatives for treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection and understand the pathophysiology of the disease for better management of the patients. Omics technologies have played a crucial part in understanding the different aspects of COVID-19 disease. While whole-genome sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 isolates from across the globe has aided in the development of molecular diagnostic assays and informed about the viral evolution, knowledge of structure and function of viral proteome fueled the development of small molecule and biologicals therapeutics as well as vaccines. Concurrently, metabolomic profiling of samples from COVID-19 patients experiencing a varying level of disease severity has provided a snapshot of the pathophysiology of the disease helping device effective treatment regimen. This chapter deals with genomic, proteomic, and metabolomic profiling of SRAS-CoV-2.
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12
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Abstract
RNA viruses cause many routine illnesses, such as the common cold and the flu. Recently, more deadly diseases have emerged from this family of viruses. The hepatitis C virus has had a devastating impact worldwide. Despite the cures developed in the U.S. and Europe, economically disadvantaged countries remain afflicted by HCV infection due to the high cost of these medications. More recently, COVID-19 has swept across the world, killing millions and disrupting economies and lifestyles; the virus responsible for this pandemic is a coronavirus. Our understanding of HCV and SARS CoV-2 replication is still in its infancy. Helicases play a critical role in the replication, transcription and translation of viruses. These key enzymes need extensive study not only as an essential player in the viral lifecycle, but also as targets for antiviral therapeutics. In this review, we highlight the current knowledge for RNA helicases of high importance to human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- John C Marecki
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States
| | - Binyam Belachew
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States
| | - Jun Gao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States
| | - Kevin D Raney
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States.
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13
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Abstract
The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has spurred research in the biology of the nidovirus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Much focus has been on the viral RNA synthesis machinery due to its fundamental role in viral propagation. The central and essential enzyme of the RNA synthesis process, the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), functions in conjunction with a coterie of viral-encoded enzymes that mediate crucial nucleic acid transactions. Some of these enzymes share common features with other RNA viruses, while others play roles unique to nidoviruses or CoVs. The RdRps are proven targets for viral pathogens, and many of the other nucleic acid processing enzymes are promising targets. The purpose of this review is to summarize recent advances in our understanding of the mechanisms of RNA synthesis in CoVs. By reflecting on these studies, we hope to emphasize the remaining gaps in our knowledge. The recent onslaught of structural information related to SARS-CoV-2 RNA synthesis, in combination with previous structural, genetic and biochemical studies, have vastly improved our understanding of how CoVs replicate and process their genomic RNA. Structural biology not only provides a blueprint for understanding the function of the enzymes and cofactors in molecular detail, but also provides a basis for drug design and optimization. The concerted efforts of researchers around the world, in combination with the renewed urgency toward understanding this deadly family of viruses, may eventually yield new and improved antivirals that provide relief to the current global devastation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandon Malone
- The Rockefeller University, New York, New York, United States
| | | | - Seth A Darst
- The Rockefeller University, New York, New York, United States.
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14
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Chen W, Wang Z, Wang Y, Li Y. Natural Bioactive Molecules as Potential Agents Against SARS-CoV-2. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:702472. [PMID: 34483904 PMCID: PMC8416071 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.702472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
In the past two decades, pandemics of several fatal coronaviruses have posed enormous challenges for public health, including SARS-CoV (2003), MERS-CoV (2012), and SARS-CoV-2 (2019). Among these, SARS-CoV-2 continues to ravage the world today and has lead to millions of deaths and incalculable economic damage. Till now, there is no clinically proven antiviral drug available for SARS-CoV-2. However, the bioactive molecules of natural origin, especially medicinal plants, have been proven to be potential resources in the treatment of SARS-CoV-2, acting at different stages of the viral life cycle and targeting different viral or host proteins, such as PLpro, 3CLpro, RdRp, helicase, spike, ACE2, and TMPRSS2. They provide a viable strategy to develop therapeutic agents. This review presents fundamental biological information on SARS-CoV-2, including the viral biological characteristics and invasion mechanisms. It also summarizes the reported natural bioactive molecules with anti-coronavirus properties, arranged by their different targets in the life cycle of viral infection of human cells, and discusses the prospects of these bioactive molecules for the treatment of COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Chen
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Zhihao Wang
- Biobank, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Yawen Wang
- Biobank, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Yiping Li
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
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15
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Bhavaniramya S, Ramar V, Vishnupriya S, Palaniappan R, Sibiya A, Baskaralingam V. Comprehensive analysis of SARS-COV-2 drug targets and pharmacological aspects in treating the COVID-19. Curr Mol Pharmacol 2021; 15:393-417. [PMID: 34382513 DOI: 10.2174/1874467214666210811120635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Revised: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Corona viruses are enveloped, single-stranded RNA (Ribonucleic acid) viruses and they cause pandemic diseases having a devastating effect on both human healthcare and the global economy. To date, six corona viruses have been identified as pathogenic organisms which are significantly responsible for the infection and also cause severe respiratory diseases. Among them, the novel SARS-CoV-2 (Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) caused a major outbreak of corona virus diseases 2019 (COVID-19). Coronaviridae family members can affects both humans and animals. In human, corona viruses cause severe acute respiratory syndrome with mild to severe outcomes. Several structural and genomics have been investigated, and the genome encodes about 28 proteins most of them with unknown function though it shares remarkable sequence identity with other proteins. There is no potent and licensed vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 and several trials are underway to investigate the possible therapeutic agents against viral infection. However, some of the antiviral drugs that have been investigated against SARS-CoV-2 are under clinical trials. In the current review we comparatively emphasize the emergence and pathogenicity of the SARS-CoV-2 and their infection and discuss the various putative drug targets of both viral and host receptors for developing effective vaccines and therapeutic combinations to overcome the viral outbreak.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sundaresan Bhavaniramya
- Biomaterials and Biotechnology in Animal Health Lab, Department of Animal Health and Management, Alagappa University, Karaikudi 630004, Tamil Nadu. India
| | - Vanajothi Ramar
- Department of Biomedical Science, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, 620024. India
| | - Selvaraju Vishnupriya
- College of Food and Dairy Technology, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chennai 600052. India
| | - Ramasamy Palaniappan
- Research and Development Wing, Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital, Bharath Institute of Higher Education (BIHER), Chennai-600044, Tamilnadu. India
| | - Ashokkumar Sibiya
- Biomaterials and Biotechnology in Animal Health Lab, Department of Animal Health and Management, Alagappa University, Karaikudi 630004, Tamil Nadu. India
| | - Vaseeharan Baskaralingam
- Biomaterials and Biotechnology in Animal Health Lab, Department of Animal Health and Management, Alagappa University, Karaikudi 630004, Tamil Nadu. India
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16
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Identification of an Intramolecular Switch That Controls the Interaction of Helicase nsp10 with Membrane-Associated nsp12 of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus. J Virol 2021; 95:e0051821. [PMID: 34076477 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00518-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
A critical step in replication of positive-stranded RNA viruses is the assembly of replication and transcription complexes (RTC). We have recently mapped the nonstructural protein (nsp) interaction network of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) and provided evidence by truncation mutagenesis that the recruitment of viral core replicase enzymes (nsp9 and nsp10) to membrane proteins (nsp2, nsp3, nsp5, and nsp12) is subject to regulation. Here, we went further to discover an intramolecular switch within the helicase nsp10 that controls its interaction with the membrane-associated protein nsp12. Deletion of nsp10 linker region amino acids 124 to 133, connecting domain 1B to 1A, led to complete relocalization and colocalization in the cells coexpressing nsp12. Moreover, single-amino-acid substitutions (e.g., nsp10 E131A and I132A) were sufficient to enable the nsp10-nsp12 interaction. Further proof came from membrane floatation assays that revealed a clear movement of nsp10 mutants, but not wild-type nsp10, toward the top of sucrose gradients in the presence of nsp12. Interestingly, the same mutations were not able to activate the nsp10-nsp2/3 interaction, suggesting a differential requirement for conformation. Reverse genetics analysis showed that PRRSV mutants carrying the single substitutions were not viable and were defective in subgenomic RNA (sgRNA) accumulation. Together, our results provide strong evidence for a regulated interaction between nsp10 and nsp12 and suggest an essential role for an orchestrated RTC assembly in sgRNA synthesis. IMPORTANCE Assembly of replication and transcription complexes (RTC) is a limiting step for viral RNA synthesis. The PRRSV RTC macromolecular complexes are comprised of mainly viral nonstructural replicase proteins (nsps), but how they come together remains elusive. We previously showed that viral helicase nsp10 interacts nsp12 in a regulated manner by truncation mutagenesis. Here, we revealed that the interaction is controlled by single residues within the domain linker region of nsp10. Moreover, the activation mutations lead to defects in viral sgRNA synthesis. Our results provide important insight into the mechanisms of PRRSV RTC assembly and regulation of viral sgRNA synthesis.
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17
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Xu W, Pei G, Liu H, Ju X, Wang J, Ding Q, Li P. Compartmentalization-aided interaction screening reveals extensive high-order complexes within the SARS-CoV-2 proteome. Cell Rep 2021; 36:109482. [PMID: 34297909 PMCID: PMC8285250 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Revised: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Bearing a relatively large single-stranded RNA genome in nature, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) utilizes sophisticated replication/transcription complexes (RTCs), mainly composed of a network of nonstructural proteins and nucleocapsid protein, to establish efficient infection. In this study, we develop an innovative interaction screening strategy based on phase separation in cellulo, namely compartmentalization of protein-protein interactions in cells (CoPIC). Utilizing CoPIC screening, we map the interaction network among RTC-related viral proteins. We identify a total of 47 binary interactions among 14 proteins governing replication, discontinuous transcription, and translation of coronaviruses. Further exploration via CoPIC leads to the discovery of extensive ternary complexes composed of these components, which infer potential higher-order complexes. Taken together, our results present an efficient and robust interaction screening strategy, and they indicate the existence of a complex interaction network among RTC-related factors, thus opening up opportunities to understand SARS-CoV-2 biology and develop therapeutic interventions for COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weifan Xu
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology & Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, Beijing, China; Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China; School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Gaofeng Pei
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology & Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, Beijing, China; Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China; School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Hongrui Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaohui Ju
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology & Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, Beijing, China; School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology & Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, Beijing, China; Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China; School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Qiang Ding
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology & Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, Beijing, China; School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Pilong Li
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology & Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, Beijing, China; Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China; School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
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18
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Identifying SARS-CoV-2 antiviral compounds by screening for small molecule inhibitors of nsp13 helicase. Biochem J 2021; 478:2405-2423. [PMID: 34198322 PMCID: PMC8286831 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20210201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Revised: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, which is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is a global public health challenge. While the efficacy of vaccines against emerging and future virus variants remains unclear, there is a need for therapeutics. Repurposing existing drugs represents a promising and potentially rapid opportunity to find novel antivirals against SARS-CoV-2. The virus encodes at least nine enzymatic activities that are potential drug targets. Here, we have expressed, purified and developed enzymatic assays for SARS-CoV-2 nsp13 helicase, a viral replication protein that is essential for the coronavirus life cycle. We screened a custom chemical library of over 5000 previously characterized pharmaceuticals for nsp13 inhibitors using a fluorescence resonance energy transfer-based high-throughput screening approach. From this, we have identified FPA-124 and several suramin-related compounds as novel inhibitors of nsp13 helicase activity in vitro. We describe the efficacy of these drugs using assays we developed to monitor SARS-CoV-2 growth in Vero E6 cells.
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19
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Karges J, Cohen SM. Metal Complexes as Antiviral Agents for SARS-CoV-2. Chembiochem 2021; 22:2600-2607. [PMID: 34002456 PMCID: PMC8239769 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202100186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Revised: 05/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The severe acute respiratory syndrome – coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2), the infectious agent responsible for COVID‐19 – has caused more than 2.5 million deaths worldwide and triggered a global pandemic. Even with successful vaccines being delivered, there is an urgent need for novel treatments to combat SARS‐CoV‐2, and other emerging viral diseases. While several organic small molecule drug candidates are in development, some effort has also been devoted towards the application of metal complexes as potential antiviral agents against SARS‐CoV‐2. Herein, the metal complexes that have been reported to show antiviral activity against SARS‐CoV‐2 or one of its target proteins are described and their proposed mechanisms of action are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Karges
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Seth M Cohen
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
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20
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Antiviral Peptides Targeting the Helicase Activity of Enterovirus Nonstructural Protein 2C. J Virol 2021; 95:JVI.02324-20. [PMID: 33789997 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.02324-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Enteroviruses belong to the genus Enterovirus of the family Picornaviridae and include four human enterovirus groups (EV-A to -D): the epidemic of enteroviruses such as human enterovirus A71 (EV-A71) and coxsackievirus A16 (CVA16) is a threat to global public health. Enteroviral protein 2C is the most conserved nonstructural protein among all enteroviruses and possesses RNA helicase activity that plays pivotal roles during enteroviral life cycles, which makes 2C an attractive target for developing antienterovirus drugs. In this study, we designed a peptide, named 2CL, based on the structure of EV-A71 2C. This peptide effectively impaired the oligomerization of EV-A71 2C protein and inhibited the RNA helicase activities of 2C proteins encoded by EV-A71 and CVA16, both of which belong to EV-A, and showed potent antiviral efficacy against EV-A71 and CVA16 in cells. Moreover, the 2CL treatment elicited a strong in vivo protective efficacy against lethal EV-A71 challenge. In addition, the antiviral strategy of targeting the 2C helicase activity can be applied to inhibit the replication of EV-B. Either 2CL or B-2CL, the peptide redesigned based on the 2CL-corresponding sequence of EV-Bs, could exert effective antiviral activity against two important EV-Bs, coxsackievirus B3 and echovirus 11. Together, our findings demonstrated that targeting the helicase activity of 2C with a rationally designed peptide is an efficient antiviral strategy against enteroviruses, and 2CL and B-2CL show promising clinical potential to be further developed as broad-spectrum antienterovirus drugs.IMPORTANCE Enteroviruses are a large group of positive-sense single-stranded RNA viruses and include numerous human pathogens, such as enterovirus A71 (EV-A71), coxsackieviruses, and echoviruses. However, no approved EV antiviral drugs are available. Enteroviral 2C is the most conserved nonstructural protein among all enteroviruses and contains the RNA helicase activity critical for the viral life cycle. Herein, according to the structure of EV-A71 2C, we designed a peptide that effectively inhibited the RNA helicase activities of EV-A71- and coxsackievirus A16 (CVA16)-encoded 2C proteins. Moreover, this peptide exerted potent antiviral effects against EV-A71 and CVA16 in cells and elicited therapeutic efficacy against lethal EV-A71 challenge in vivo Furthermore, we demonstrate that the strategy of targeting the 2C helicase activity can be used for other relevant enteroviruses, including coxsackievirus B3 and echovirus 11. In summary, our findings provide compelling evidence that the designed peptides targeting the helicase activity of 2C could be broad-spectrum antivirals for enteroviruses.
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21
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Malone B, Chen J, Wang Q, Llewellyn E, Choi YJ, Olinares PDB, Cao X, Hernandez C, Eng ET, Chait BT, Shaw DE, Landick R, Darst SA, Campbell EA. Structural basis for backtracking by the SARS-CoV-2 replication-transcription complex. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:e2102516118. [PMID: 33883267 PMCID: PMC8126829 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2102516118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Backtracking, the reverse motion of the transcriptase enzyme on the nucleic acid template, is a universal regulatory feature of transcription in cellular organisms but its role in viruses is not established. Here we present evidence that backtracking extends into the viral realm, where backtracking by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) may aid viral transcription and replication. Structures of SARS-CoV-2 RdRp bound to the essential nsp13 helicase and RNA suggested the helicase facilitates backtracking. We use cryo-electron microscopy, RNA-protein cross-linking, and unbiased molecular dynamics simulations to characterize SARS-CoV-2 RdRp backtracking. The results establish that the single-stranded 3' segment of the product RNA generated by backtracking extrudes through the RdRp nucleoside triphosphate (NTP) entry tunnel, that a mismatched nucleotide at the product RNA 3' end frays and enters the NTP entry tunnel to initiate backtracking, and that nsp13 stimulates RdRp backtracking. Backtracking may aid proofreading, a crucial process for SARS-CoV-2 resistance against antivirals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandon Malone
- Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065
| | - James Chen
- Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065
| | - Qi Wang
- D. E. Shaw Research, New York, NY 10036
| | - Eliza Llewellyn
- Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065
| | - Young Joo Choi
- Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065
| | - Paul Dominic B Olinares
- Laboratory of Mass Spectrometry and Gaseous Ion Chemistry, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, 10065
| | - Xinyun Cao
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706
| | - Carolina Hernandez
- The National Resource for Automated Molecular Microscopy, Simons Electron Microscopy Center, New York Structural Biology Center, New York, NY 10027
| | - Edward T Eng
- The National Resource for Automated Molecular Microscopy, Simons Electron Microscopy Center, New York Structural Biology Center, New York, NY 10027
| | - Brian T Chait
- Laboratory of Mass Spectrometry and Gaseous Ion Chemistry, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, 10065
| | - David E Shaw
- D. E. Shaw Research, New York, NY 10036
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032
| | - Robert Landick
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706
| | - Seth A Darst
- Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065;
| | - Elizabeth A Campbell
- Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065;
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22
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Spratt AN, Gallazzi F, Quinn TP, Lorson CL, Sönnerborg A, Singh K. Coronavirus helicases: attractive and unique targets of antiviral drug-development and therapeutic patents. Expert Opin Ther Pat 2021; 31:339-350. [PMID: 33593200 PMCID: PMC8074651 DOI: 10.1080/13543776.2021.1884224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: Coronaviruses encode a helicase that is essential for viral replication and represents an excellent antiviral target. However, only a few coronavirus helicase inhibitors have been patented. These patents include drug-like compound SSYA10-001, aryl diketo acids (ADK), and dihydroxychromones. Additionally, adamantane-derived bananins, natural flavonoids, one acrylamide derivative [(E)-3-(furan-2-yl)-N-(4-sulfamoylphenyl)acrylamide], a purine derivative (7-ethyl-8-mercapto-3-methyl-3,7-dihydro-1 H-purine-2,6-dione), and a few bismuth complexes. The IC50 of patented inhibitors ranges between 0.82 μM and 8.95 μM, depending upon the assays used. Considering the urgency of clinical interventions against Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19), it is important to consider developing antiviral portfolios consisting of small molecules. Areas covered: This review examines coronavirus helicases as antiviral targets, and the potential of previously patented and experimental compounds to inhibit the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) helicase. Expert opinion: Small molecule coronavirus helicase inhibitors represent attractive pharmacological modalities for the treatment of coronaviruses such as SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2. Rightfully so, the current emphasis is focused upon the development of vaccines. However, vaccines may not work for everyone and broad-based adoption of vaccinations is an increasingly challenging societal endeavor. Therefore, it is important to develop additional pharmacological antivirals against the highly conserved coronavirus helicases to broadly protect against this and subsequent coronavirus epidemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Austin N Spratt
- Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Fabio Gallazzi
- Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.,Department of Chemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Thomas P Quinn
- cDepartment of Biochemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Christian L Lorson
- Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.,dDepartment of Veterinary Pathobiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Anders Sönnerborg
- eDivision of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden.,fDepartment of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Kamal Singh
- Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.,Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.,Division of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden.,gSanctum Therapeutics Corporation, Sunnyvale, CA, USA
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23
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Helicase-like functions in phosphate loop containing beta-alpha polypeptides. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2016131118. [PMID: 33846247 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2016131118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The P-loop Walker A motif underlies hundreds of essential enzyme families that bind nucleotide triphosphates (NTPs) and mediate phosphoryl transfer (P-loop NTPases), including the earliest DNA/RNA helicases, translocases, and recombinases. What were the primordial precursors of these enzymes? Could these large and complex proteins emerge from simple polypeptides? Previously, we showed that P-loops embedded in simple βα repeat proteins bind NTPs but also, unexpectedly so, ssDNA and RNA. Here, we extend beyond the purely biophysical function of ligand binding to demonstrate rudimentary helicase-like activities. We further constructed simple 40-residue polypeptides comprising just one β-(P-loop)-α element. Despite their simplicity, these P-loop prototypes confer functions such as strand separation and exchange. Foremost, these polypeptides unwind dsDNA, and upon addition of NTPs, or inorganic polyphosphates, release the bound ssDNA strands to allow reformation of dsDNA. Binding kinetics and low-resolution structural analyses indicate that activity is mediated by oligomeric forms spanning from dimers to high-order assemblies. The latter are reminiscent of extant P-loop recombinases such as RecA. Overall, these P-loop prototypes compose a plausible description of the sequence, structure, and function of the earliest P-loop NTPases. They also indicate that multifunctionality and dynamic assembly were key in endowing short polypeptides with elaborate, evolutionarily relevant functions.
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24
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Woo H, Pyo S, Jeong Y. Analysis of Nucleoside Triphosphate Hydrolysis by Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Helicase. B KOREAN CHEM SOC 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/bkcs.12229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hye‐Min Woo
- School of Applied Chemistry, Kookmin University Seoul 02707 Republic of Korea
- Division of Emerging Infectious Disease and Vector Research Korea National Institute of Health Cheongju 28159 Republic of Korea
| | - So‐Hee Pyo
- School of Applied Chemistry, Kookmin University Seoul 02707 Republic of Korea
| | - Yong‐Joo Jeong
- School of Applied Chemistry, Kookmin University Seoul 02707 Republic of Korea
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25
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Vicenti I, Zazzi M, Saladini F. SARS-CoV-2 RNA-dependent RNA polymerase as a therapeutic target for COVID-19. Expert Opin Ther Pat 2021; 31:325-337. [PMID: 33475441 PMCID: PMC7938656 DOI: 10.1080/13543776.2021.1880568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Introduction: The current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic urgently demands for both prevention and treatment strategies. RNA-dependent RNA-polymerase (RdRp), which has no counterpart in human cells, is an excellent target for drug development. Given the time-consuming process of drug development, repurposing drugs approved for other indications or at least successfully tested in terms of safety and tolerability, is an attractive strategy to rapidly provide an effective medication for severe COVID-19 cases.Areas covered: The currently available data and upcominSg studies on RdRp which can be repurposed to halt SARS-CoV-2 replication, are reviewed.Expert opinion: Drug repurposing and design of novel compounds are proceeding in parallel to provide a quick response and new specific drugs, respectively. Notably, the proofreading SARS-CoV-2 exonuclease activity could limit the potential for drugs designed as immediate chain terminators and favor the development of compounds acting through delayed termination. While vaccination is awaited to curb the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic, even partially effective drugs from repurposing strategies can be of help to treat severe cases of disease. Considering the high conservation of RdRp among coronaviruses, an improved knowledge of its activity in vitro can provide useful information for drug development or drug repurposing to combat SARS-CoV-2 as well as future pandemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilaria Vicenti
- Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Maurizio Zazzi
- Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Francesco Saladini
- Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
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26
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Ji D, Juhas M, Tsang CM, Kwok CK, Li Y, Zhang Y. Discovery of G-quadruplex-forming sequences in SARS-CoV-2. Brief Bioinform 2021; 22:1150-1160. [PMID: 32484220 PMCID: PMC7314185 DOI: 10.1093/bib/bbaa114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2020] [Revised: 05/10/2020] [Accepted: 05/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The outbreak caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has been declared a global health emergency. G-quadruplex structures in genomes have long been considered essential for regulating a number of biological processes in a plethora of organisms. We have analyzed and identified 25 four contiguous GG runs (G2NxG2NyG2NzG2) in the SARS-CoV-2 RNA genome, suggesting putative G-quadruplex-forming sequences (PQSs). Detailed analysis of SARS-CoV-2 PQSs revealed their locations in the open reading frames of ORF1 ab, spike (S), ORF3a, membrane (M) and nucleocapsid (N) genes. Identical PQSs were also found in the other members of the Coronaviridae family. The top-ranked PQSs at positions 13385 and 24268 were confirmed to form RNA G-quadruplex structures in vitro by multiple spectroscopic assays. Furthermore, their direct interactions with viral helicase (nsp13) were determined by microscale thermophoresis. Molecular docking model suggests that nsp13 distorts the G-quadruplex structure by allowing the guanine bases to be flipped away from the guanine quartet planes. Targeting viral helicase and G-quadruplex structure represents an attractive approach for potentially inhibiting the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danyang Ji
- Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, China
| | - Mario Juhas
- universities of Oxford, Cambridge and Zurich. Currently, he works at the University of Fribourg. His work spans microbiology and synthetic biology
| | - Chi Man Tsang
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, China
| | - Chun Kit Kwok
- Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, China, and Shenzhen Research Institute of City University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yongshu Li
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology at The Chinese University of Hong Kong
| | - Yang Zhang
- College of Science, Harbin Institute of Technology Shenzhen
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27
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Malone B, Chen J, Wang Q, Llewellyn E, Choi YJ, Olinares PDB, Cao X, Hernandez C, Eng ET, Chait BT, Shaw DE, Landick R, Darst SA, Campbell EA. Structural basis for backtracking by the SARS-CoV-2 replication-transcription complex. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2021:2021.03.13.435256. [PMID: 33758867 PMCID: PMC7987028 DOI: 10.1101/2021.03.13.435256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Backtracking, the reverse motion of the transcriptase enzyme on the nucleic acid template, is a universal regulatory feature of transcription in cellular organisms but its role in viruses is not established. Here we present evidence that backtracking extends into the viral realm, where backtracking by the SARS-CoV-2 RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) may aid viral transcription and replication. Structures of SARS-CoV-2 RdRp bound to the essential nsp13 helicase and RNA suggested the helicase facilitates backtracking. We use cryo-electron microscopy, RNA-protein crosslinking, and unbiased molecular dynamics simulations to characterize SARS-CoV-2 RdRp backtracking. The results establish that the single-stranded 3'-segment of the product-RNA generated by backtracking extrudes through the RdRp NTP-entry tunnel, that a mismatched nucleotide at the product-RNA 3'-end frays and enters the NTP-entry tunnel to initiate backtracking, and that nsp13 stimulates RdRp backtracking. Backtracking may aid proofreading, a crucial process for SARS-CoV-2 resistance against antivirals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandon Malone
- Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, 10065 USA
- These authors contributed equally: Brandon Malone, James Chen
| | - James Chen
- Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, 10065 USA
- These authors contributed equally: Brandon Malone, James Chen
| | - Qi Wang
- D. E. Shaw Research, New York, NY 10036 USA
| | - Eliza Llewellyn
- Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, 10065 USA
| | - Young Joo Choi
- Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, 10065 USA
| | - Paul Dominic B. Olinares
- Laboratory of Mass Spectrometry and Gaseous Ion Chemistry, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, 10065 USA
| | - Xinyun Cao
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706 USA
| | - Carolina Hernandez
- The National Resource for Automated Molecular Microscopy, Simons Electron Microscopy Center, New York Structural Biology Center, New York, NY, 10027 USA
| | - Edward T. Eng
- The National Resource for Automated Molecular Microscopy, Simons Electron Microscopy Center, New York Structural Biology Center, New York, NY, 10027 USA
| | - Brian T. Chait
- Laboratory of Mass Spectrometry and Gaseous Ion Chemistry, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, 10065 USA
| | - David E. Shaw
- D. E. Shaw Research, New York, NY 10036 USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032 USA
| | - Robert Landick
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706 USA
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706 USA
| | - Seth A. Darst
- Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, 10065 USA
| | - Elizabeth A. Campbell
- Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, 10065 USA
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28
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Jin Z, Wang H, Duan Y, Yang H. The main protease and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase are two prime targets for SARS-CoV-2. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2021; 538:63-71. [PMID: 33288200 PMCID: PMC7680044 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2020.10.091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), poses an unprecedented global health crisis. It is particularly urgent to develop clinically effective therapies to contain the pandemic. The main protease (Mpro) and the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP), which are responsible for the viral polyprotein proteolytic process and viral genome replication and transcription, respectively, are two attractive drug targets for SARS-CoV-2. This review summarizes up-to-date progress in the structural and pharmacological aspects of those two key targets above. Different classes of inhibitors individually targeting Mpro and RdRP are discussed, which could promote drug development to treat SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenming Jin
- Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China,School of Life Sciences and School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Haofeng Wang
- Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China,School of Life Sciences, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China,Corresponding author. Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yinkai Duan
- Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Haitao Yang
- Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China,Corresponding author
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29
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Solnier J, Fladerer JP. Flavonoids: A complementary approach to conventional therapy of COVID-19? PHYTOCHEMISTRY REVIEWS : PROCEEDINGS OF THE PHYTOCHEMICAL SOCIETY OF EUROPE 2021; 20:773-795. [PMID: 32982616 PMCID: PMC7500502 DOI: 10.1007/s11101-020-09720-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2020] [Accepted: 08/29/2020] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
COVID-19, the highly contagious novel disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, has become a major international concern as it has spread quickly all over the globe. However, scientific knowledge and therapeutic treatment options for this new coronavirus remain limited. Although previous outbreaks of human coronaviruses (CoVs) such as SARS and MERS stimulated research, there are, to date, no antiviral therapeutics available that specifically target these kinds of viruses. Natural compounds with a great diversity of chemical structures may provide an alternative approach for the discovery of new antivirals. In fact, numerous flavonoids were found to have antiviral effects against SARS-and MERS-CoV by mainly inhibiting the enzymes 3-chymotrypsin-like protease (3CLpro) and papain-like protease (PLpro). In this review, we specifically focused on the search for flavonoids, polyphenolic compounds, which are proven to be effective against human CoVs. We therefore summarized and analyzed the latest progress in research to identify flavonoids for antiviral therapy and proposed strategies for future work on medicinal plants against coronaviruses such as SARS-CoV-2. We discovered quercetin, herbacetin, and isobavachalcone as the most promising flavonoids with anti-CoV potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Solnier
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmacognosy, University of Graz, Universitätsplatz 4, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Johannes-Paul Fladerer
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmacognosy, University of Graz, Universitätsplatz 4, 8010 Graz, Austria
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30
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Xu C, Ke Z, Liu C, Wang Z, Liu D, Zhang L, Wang J, He W, Xu Z, Li Y, Yang Y, Huang Z, Lv P, Wang X, Han D, Li Y, Qiao N, Liu B. Systemic In Silico Screening in Drug Discovery for Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) with an Online Interactive Web Server. J Chem Inf Model 2020; 60:5735-5745. [PMID: 32786695 PMCID: PMC7460831 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.0c00821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
The emergence of the new coronavirus (nCoV-19) has impacted human health on a global scale, while the interaction between the virus and the host is the foundation of the disease. The viral genome codes a cluster of proteins, each with a unique function in the event of host invasion or viral development. Under the current adverse situation, we employ virtual screening tools in searching for drugs and natural products which have been already deposited in DrugBank in an attempt to accelerate the drug discovery process. This study provides an initial evaluation of current drug candidates from various reports using our systemic in silico drug screening based on structures of viral proteins and human ACE2 receptor. Additionally, we have built an interactive online platform (https://shennongproject.ai/) for browsing these results with the visual display of a small molecule docked on its potential target protein, without installing any specialized structural software. With continuous maintenance and incorporation of data from laboratory work, it may serve not only as the assessment tool for the new drug discovery but also an educational web site for the public.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi Xu
- Laboratory of Health Intelligence,
Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd,
Shenzhen 518100, China
| | - Zunhui Ke
- Wuhan Children’s Hospital,
Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science
& Technology, Wuhan 430000,
China
| | - Chuandong Liu
- Key Laboratory of Genomic and Precision
Medicine, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy
of Sciences, Beijing 100101,
China
- College of Future Technology,
Sino-Danish College, University of Chinese Academy of
Sciences, Beijing, 100049
China
| | - Zhihao Wang
- BioBank, The First
Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong
University, Shaanxi 710061,
China
- MRC Centre for Molecular Bacteriology and
Infection, Imperial College London, London
SW7 2AZ, U.K.
| | - Denghui Liu
- Laboratory of Health Intelligence,
Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd,
Shenzhen 518100, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Laboratory of Health Intelligence,
Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd,
Shenzhen 518100, China
| | - Jingning Wang
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School
of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong
University of Science and Technology, Wuhan
430030, China
| | - Wenjun He
- Laboratory of Health Intelligence,
Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd,
Shenzhen 518100, China
| | - Zhimeng Xu
- Laboratory of Health Intelligence,
Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd,
Shenzhen 518100, China
| | - Yanqing Li
- BioBank, The First
Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong
University, Shaanxi 710061,
China
| | - Yanan Yang
- BioBank, The First
Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong
University, Shaanxi 710061,
China
| | - Zhaowei Huang
- Laboratory of Health Intelligence,
Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd,
Shenzhen 518100, China
| | - Panjing Lv
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School
of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong
University of Science and Technology, Wuhan
430030, China
| | - Xin Wang
- BioBank, The First
Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong
University, Shaanxi 710061,
China
| | - Dali Han
- Key Laboratory of Genomic and Precision
Medicine, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy
of Sciences, Beijing 100101,
China
- College of Future Technology,
Sino-Danish College, University of Chinese Academy of
Sciences, Beijing, 100049
China
- Institute for
Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of
Sciences, Beijing 100101,
China
- China National Center for
Bioinformation, Beijing 100101,
China
| | - Yan Li
- Department of Pathogen Biology, School
of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong
University of Science and Technology, Wuhan
430030, China
- Department of Pediatrics, Tongji
Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of
Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030,
China
| | - Nan Qiao
- Laboratory of Health Intelligence,
Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd,
Shenzhen 518100, China
| | - Bing Liu
- BioBank, The First
Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong
University, Shaanxi 710061,
China
- MRC Centre for Molecular Bacteriology and
Infection, Imperial College London, London
SW7 2AZ, U.K.
- Instrument Analysis
Centre, of Xi’an Jiaotong University,
Shaanxi 710049, China
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31
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Mickolajczyk KJ, Shelton PMM, Grasso M, Cao X, Warrington SE, Aher A, Liu S, Kapoor TM. Force-dependent stimulation of RNA unwinding by SARS-CoV-2 nsp13 helicase. Biophys J 2020; 120:1020-1030. [PMID: 33340543 PMCID: PMC7837305 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2020.11.2276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Revised: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 11/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The superfamily 1 helicase nonstructural protein 13 (nsp13) is required for SARS-CoV-2 replication. The mechanism and regulation of nsp13 has not been explored at the single-molecule level. Specifically, force-dependent unwinding experiments have yet to be performed for any coronavirus helicase. Here, using optical tweezers, we find that nsp13 unwinding frequency, processivity, and velocity increase substantially when a destabilizing force is applied to the RNA substrate. These results, along with bulk assays, depict nsp13 as an intrinsically weak helicase that can be activated >50-fold by piconewton forces. Such force-dependent behavior contrasts the known behavior of other viral monomeric helicases, such as hepatitis C virus NS3, and instead draws stronger parallels to ring-shaped helicases. Our findings suggest that mechanoregulation, which may be provided by a directly bound RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, enables on-demand helicase activity on the relevant polynucleotide substrate during viral replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keith J Mickolajczyk
- Laboratory of Chemistry and Cell Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York
| | - Patrick M M Shelton
- Laboratory of Chemistry and Cell Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York
| | - Michael Grasso
- Laboratory of Chemistry and Cell Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York
| | - Xiaocong Cao
- Laboratory of Nanoscale Biophysics and Biochemistry, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York; Laboratory of Structural Immunology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Sara E Warrington
- Laboratory of Chemistry and Cell Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York
| | - Amol Aher
- Laboratory of Chemistry and Cell Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York
| | - Shixin Liu
- Laboratory of Nanoscale Biophysics and Biochemistry, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York.
| | - Tarun M Kapoor
- Laboratory of Chemistry and Cell Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York.
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32
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Krishnamoorthy S, Swain B, Verma RS, Gunthe SS. SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and 2019-nCoV viruses: an overview of origin, evolution, and genetic variations. Virusdisease 2020; 31:411-423. [PMID: 33102628 PMCID: PMC7567416 DOI: 10.1007/s13337-020-00632-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/24/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Coronaviruses are single stranded RNA viruses usually present in bats (reservoir hosts), and are generally lethal, highly transmissible, and pathogenic viruses causing sever morbidity and mortality rates in human. Several animals including civets, camels, etc. have been identified as intermediate hosts enabling effective recombination of these viruses to emerge as new virulent and pathogenic strains. Among the seven known human coronaviruses SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2 (2019-nCoV) have evolved as severe pathogenic forms infecting the human respiratory tract. About 8096 cases and 774 deaths were reported worldwide with the SARS-CoV infection during year 2002; 2229 cases and 791 deaths were reported for the MERS-CoV that emerged during 2012. Recently ~ 33,849,737 cases and 1,012,742 deaths (data as on 30 Sep 2020) were reported from the recent evolver SARS-CoV-2 infection. Studies on epidemiology and pathogenicity have shown that the viral spread was potentially caused by the contact route especially through the droplets, aerosols, and contaminated fomites. Genomic studies have confirmed the role of the viral spike protein in virulence and pathogenicity. They target the respiratory tract of the human causing severe progressive pneumonia affecting other organs like central nervous system in case of SARS-CoV, severe renal failure in MERS-CoV, and multi-organ failure in SARS-CoV-2. Herein, with respect to current awareness and role of coronaviruses in global public health, we review the various factors involving the origin, evolution, and transmission including the genetic variations observed, epidemiology, and pathogenicity of the three potential coronaviruses variants SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and 2019-nCoV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarayu Krishnamoorthy
- EWRE Division, Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, 600 036 India
| | - Basudev Swain
- EWRE Division, Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, 600 036 India
| | - R. S. Verma
- Bhupat and Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences, Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, 600 036 India
| | - Sachin S. Gunthe
- EWRE Division, Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, 600 036 India
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33
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Choudhry N, Zhao X, Xu D, Zanin M, Chen W, Yang Z, Chen J. Chinese Therapeutic Strategy for Fighting COVID-19 and Potential Small-Molecule Inhibitors against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). J Med Chem 2020; 63:13205-13227. [PMID: 32845145 PMCID: PMC7489051 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c00626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has led to more than 20 million people infected worldwide with an average mortality rate of 3.6%. This virus poses major challenges to public health, as it not only is highly contagious but also can be transmitted by asymptomatic infected individuals. COVID-19 is clinically difficult to manage due to a lack of specific antiviral drugs or vaccines. In this article, Chinese therapy strategies for treating COVID-19 patients, including current applications of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), are comprehensively reviewed. Furthermore, 72 small molecules from natural products and TCM with reported antiviral activity against human coronaviruses (CoVs) are identified from published literature, and their potential applications in combating SARS-CoV-2 are discussed. Among these, the clinical efficacies of some accessible drugs such as remdesivir (RDV) and favipiravir (FPV) for COVID-19 are emphatically summarized. We hope this review provides a foundation for managing the worsening pandemic and developing antivirals against SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Namrta Choudhry
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of
Veterinary Pharmaceutics Development and Safety Evaluation, Guangdong
Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, College of Veterinary
Medicine, South China Agricultural
University, Guangzhou 510642,
China
| | - Xin Zhao
- Guangdong Institute of
Analysis (China National Analytical Center,
Guangzhou), Guangzhou 510070,
China
| | - Dan Xu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of
Veterinary Pharmaceutics Development and Safety Evaluation, Guangdong
Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, College of Veterinary
Medicine, South China Agricultural
University, Guangzhou 510642,
China
| | - Mark Zanin
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory
Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease,
Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, First
Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical
University, Guangzhou 510120,
China
- School of Public Health,
The University of Hong Kong, 7
Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, SAR, China
| | - Weisan Chen
- Department of Biochemistry and
Genetics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La
Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria 3086,
Australia
| | - Zifeng Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory
Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease,
Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, First
Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical
University, Guangzhou 510120,
China
| | - Jianxin Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of
Veterinary Pharmaceutics Development and Safety Evaluation, Guangdong
Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, College of Veterinary
Medicine, South China Agricultural
University, Guangzhou 510642,
China
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34
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Olinares PDB, Kang JY, Llewellyn E, Chiu C, Chen J, Malone B, Saecker RM, Campbell EA, Darst SA, Chait BT. Native Mass Spectrometry-Based Screening for Optimal Sample Preparation in Single-Particle Cryo-EM. Structure 2020; 29:186-195.e6. [PMID: 33217329 PMCID: PMC7867593 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2020.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2020] [Revised: 09/26/2020] [Accepted: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Recent advances in single-particle cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) have enabled the structural determination of numerous protein assemblies at high resolution, yielding unprecedented insights into their function. However, despite its extraordinary capabilities, cryo-EM remains time-consuming and resource-intensive. It is therefore beneficial to have a means for rapidly assessing and optimizing the quality of samples prior to lengthy cryo-EM analyses. To do this, we have developed a native mass spectrometry (nMS) platform that provides rapid feedback on sample quality and highly streamlined biochemical screening. Because nMS enables accurate mass analysis of protein complexes, it is well suited to routine evaluation of the composition, integrity, and homogeneity of samples prior to their plunge-freezing on EM grids. We demonstrate the utility of our nMS-based platform for facilitating cryo-EM studies using structural characterizations of exemplar bacterial transcription complexes as well as the replication-transcription assembly from the SARS-CoV-2 virus that is responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Dominic B Olinares
- Laboratory of Mass Spectrometry and Gaseous Ion Chemistry, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA.
| | - Jin Young Kang
- Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Eliza Llewellyn
- Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Courtney Chiu
- Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - James Chen
- Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Brandon Malone
- Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Ruth M Saecker
- Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Campbell
- Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Seth A Darst
- Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Brian T Chait
- Laboratory of Mass Spectrometry and Gaseous Ion Chemistry, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA.
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35
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Abstract
RNA virus encodes a helicase essential for viral RNA transcription and replication when the genome size is larger than 7 kb. Coronavirus (CoV) has an exceptionally large RNA genome (~30 kb) and it encodes an essential replicase, the nonstructural protein 13 (nsp13), a member of superfamily 1 helicases. Nsp13 is among the evolutionary most conserved proteins not only in CoVs but also in nidovirales. Thus, it is considered as an important drug target. However, the high-resolution structure of CoV nsp13 remained unavailable even until more than a decade after the outbreak of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) in 2003, which hindered the structure-based drug design. This is in part due to the intrinsic flexibility of nsp13. Here, we describe protocols of deducing the crystal structure of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) helicase in detail, which include protein expression, purification, crystallization, enzymatic characterization, and structure determination. With these methods, catalytically active recombinant MERS-CoV nsp13 protein can be prepared and crystallized and the crystal structure can be solved.
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36
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Chen J, Malone B, Llewellyn E, Grasso M, Shelton PM, Olinares PDB, Maruthi K, Eng ET, Vatandaslar H, Chait BT, Kapoor TM, Darst SA, Campbell EA. Structural Basis for Helicase-Polymerase Coupling in the SARS-CoV-2 Replication-Transcription Complex. Cell 2020; 182:1560-1573.e13. [PMID: 32783916 PMCID: PMC7386476 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2020.07.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 298] [Impact Index Per Article: 74.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Revised: 07/10/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 is the causative agent of the 2019-2020 pandemic. The SARS-CoV-2 genome is replicated and transcribed by the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase holoenzyme (subunits nsp7/nsp82/nsp12) along with a cast of accessory factors. One of these factors is the nsp13 helicase. Both the holo-RdRp and nsp13 are essential for viral replication and are targets for treating the disease COVID-19. Here we present cryoelectron microscopic structures of the SARS-CoV-2 holo-RdRp with an RNA template product in complex with two molecules of the nsp13 helicase. The Nidovirales order-specific N-terminal domains of each nsp13 interact with the N-terminal extension of each copy of nsp8. One nsp13 also contacts the nsp12 thumb. The structure places the nucleic acid-binding ATPase domains of the helicase directly in front of the replicating-transcribing holo-RdRp, constraining models for nsp13 function. We also observe ADP-Mg2+ bound in the nsp12 N-terminal nidovirus RdRp-associated nucleotidyltransferase domain, detailing a new pocket for anti-viral therapy development.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Chen
- Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Brandon Malone
- Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Eliza Llewellyn
- Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Michael Grasso
- Laboratory of Chemistry and Cell Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Patrick M.M. Shelton
- Laboratory of Chemistry and Cell Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Paul Dominic B. Olinares
- Laboratory of Mass Spectrometry and Gaseous Ion Chemistry, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Kashyap Maruthi
- The National Resource for Automated Molecular Microscopy, Simons Electron Microscopy Center, New York Structural Biology Center, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Edward T. Eng
- The National Resource for Automated Molecular Microscopy, Simons Electron Microscopy Center, New York Structural Biology Center, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Hasan Vatandaslar
- Institute of Molecular Health Sciences, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Brian T. Chait
- Laboratory of Mass Spectrometry and Gaseous Ion Chemistry, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Tarun M. Kapoor
- Laboratory of Chemistry and Cell Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Seth A. Darst
- Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA,Corresponding author
| | - Elizabeth A. Campbell
- Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA,Corresponding author
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Piccolella S, Crescente G, Faramarzi S, Formato M, Pecoraro MT, Pacifico S. Polyphenols vs. Coronaviruses: How Far Has Research Moved Forward? Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25184103. [PMID: 32911757 PMCID: PMC7570460 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25184103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2020] [Revised: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 09/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The epidemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2 at the beginning of 2020, led us to a serious change in our lifestyle that for about three months has confined us to our homes, far from our laboratory routine. In this period, the belief that the work of a researcher should never stop has been the driving force in writing the present paper. It aims at reviewing the recent scientific knowledge about in vitro experimental data that focused on the antiviral role of phenols and polyphenols against different species of coronaviruses (CoVs), pointing up the viral targets potentially involved. In the current literature scenario, the papain-like and the 3-chymotrypsin-like proteases seem to be the most deeply investigated and a number of isolated natural (poly)phenols has been screened for their efficacy.
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38
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Structural basis for the multimerization of nonstructural protein nsp9 from SARS-CoV-2. MOLECULAR BIOMEDICINE 2020; 1:5. [PMID: 34765992 PMCID: PMC7438161 DOI: 10.1186/s43556-020-00005-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2020] [Accepted: 08/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of a potentially fatal disease named coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has raised significant public health concerns globally. To date, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused millions of people to be infected with SARS-CoV-2 worldwide. It has been known since the 2003 SARS epidemic that coronaviruses (CoVs) have large RNA genomes, the replication of which requires an RNA-dependent RNA replication/transcription complex. CoV nonstructural proteins (Nsps) play pivotal roles in the assembly of this complex and associated enzymatic functions in virus genomic replication. Several smaller nonenzymatic Nsps assist with RNA-dependent RNA polymerase function. In this study, we determined the structure of SARS-CoV-2 nonstructural protein 9 (nsp9), an RNA-binding protein that is essential for CoV replication. Its homotetrameric structure with two stable dimeric interfaces provids a structural basis for understanding the mechanisms of RNA-binding protein self-assembly, which may be essential for the regulation of viral RNA replication and transcription.
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39
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Mickolajczyk KJ, Shelton PMM, Grasso M, Cao X, Warrington SR, Aher A, Liu S, Kapoor TM. Force-dependent stimulation of RNA unwinding by SARS-CoV-2 nsp13 helicase. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2020. [PMID: 32766580 DOI: 10.1101/2020.07.31.231274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The superfamily-1 helicase non-structural protein 13 (nsp13) is required for SARS-CoV-2 replication, making it an important antiviral therapeutic target. The mechanism and regulation of nsp13 has not been explored at the single-molecule level. Specifically, force-dependent unwinding experiments have yet to be performed for any coronavirus helicase. Here, using optical tweezers, we find that nsp13 unwinding frequency, processivity, and velocity increase substantially when a destabilizing force is applied to the dsRNA, suggesting a passive unwinding mechanism. These results, along with bulk assays, depict nsp13 as an intrinsically weak helicase that can be potently activated by picoNewton forces. Such force-dependent behavior contrasts the known behavior of other viral monomeric helicases, drawing stronger parallels to ring-shaped helicases. Our findings suggest that mechanoregulation, which may be provided by a directly bound RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, enables on-demand helicase activity on the relevant polynucleotide substrate during viral replication.
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40
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Chen J, Malone B, Llewellyn E, Grasso M, Shelton PMM, Olinares PDB, Maruthi K, Eng E, Vatandaslar H, Chait BT, Kapoor T, Darst SA, Campbell EA. Structural basis for helicase-polymerase coupling in the SARS-CoV-2 replication-transcription complex. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2020. [PMID: 32676607 PMCID: PMC7359531 DOI: 10.1101/2020.07.08.194084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 is the causative agent of the 2019-2020 pandemic. The SARS-CoV-2 genome is replicated-transcribed by the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase holoenzyme (subunits nsp7/nsp82/nsp12) along with a cast of accessory factors. One of these factors is the nsp13 helicase. Both the holo-RdRp and nsp13 are essential for viral replication and are targets for treating the disease COVID-19. Here we present cryo-electron microscopic structures of the SARS-CoV-2 holo-RdRp with an RNA template-product in complex with two molecules of the nsp13 helicase. The Nidovirus-order-specific N-terminal domains of each nsp13 interact with the N-terminal extension of each copy of nsp8. One nsp13 also contacts the nsp12-thumb. The structure places the nucleic acid-binding ATPase domains of the helicase directly in front of the replicating-transcribing holo-RdRp, constraining models for nsp13 function. We also observe ADP-Mg2+ bound in the nsp12 N-terminal nidovirus RdRp-associated nucleotidyltransferase domain, detailing a new pocket for anti-viral therapeutic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Chen
- Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, 10065 USA
| | - Brandon Malone
- Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, 10065 USA
| | - Eliza Llewellyn
- Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, 10065 USA
| | - Michael Grasso
- Laboratory of Chemistry and Cell Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, 10065 USA
| | - Patrick M M Shelton
- Laboratory of Chemistry and Cell Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, 10065 USA
| | - Paul Dominic B Olinares
- Laboratory of Mass Spectrometry and Gaseous Ion Chemistry, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, 10065 USA
| | - Kashyap Maruthi
- The National Resource for Automated Molecular Microscopy, Simons Electron Microscopy Center, New York Structural Biology Center, New York, NY, 10027 USA
| | - Ed Eng
- The National Resource for Automated Molecular Microscopy, Simons Electron Microscopy Center, New York Structural Biology Center, New York, NY, 10027 USA
| | - Hasan Vatandaslar
- Institute of Molecular Health Sciences, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Brian T Chait
- Laboratory of Mass Spectrometry and Gaseous Ion Chemistry, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, 10065 USA
| | - Tarun Kapoor
- Laboratory of Chemistry and Cell Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, 10065 USA
| | - Seth A Darst
- Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, 10065 USA
| | - Elizabeth A Campbell
- Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, 10065 USA
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41
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Jang KJ, Jeong S, Kang DY, Sp N, Yang YM, Kim DE. A high ATP concentration enhances the cooperative translocation of the SARS coronavirus helicase nsP13 in the unwinding of duplex RNA. Sci Rep 2020; 10:4481. [PMID: 32161317 PMCID: PMC7066239 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-61432-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2019] [Accepted: 02/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus nonstructural protein 13 (SCV nsP13), a superfamily 1 helicase, plays a central role in viral RNA replication through the unwinding of duplex RNA and DNA with a 5' single-stranded tail in a 5' to 3' direction. Despite its putative role in viral RNA replication, nsP13 readily unwinds duplex DNA by cooperative translocation. Herein, nsP13 exhibited different characteristics in duplex RNA unwinding than that in duplex DNA. nsP13 showed very poor processivity on duplex RNA compared with that on duplex DNA. More importantly, nsP13 inefficiently unwinds duplex RNA by increasing the 5'-ss tail length. As the concentration of nsP13 increased, the amount of unwound duplex DNA increased and that of unwound duplex RNA decreased. The accumulation of duplex RNA/nsP13 complexes increased as the concentration of nsP13 increased. An increased ATP concentration in the unwinding of duplex RNA relieved the decrease in duplex RNA unwinding. Thus, nsP13 has a strong affinity for duplex RNA as a substrate for the unwinding reaction, which requires increased ATPs to processively unwind duplex RNA. Our results suggest that duplex RNA is a preferred substrate for the helicase activity of nsP13 than duplex DNA at high ATP concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyoung-Jin Jang
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Konkuk University, Seoul, 05029, Republic of Korea.,Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Science and Technology (IBST), Konkuk University, Seoul, 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Seonghwan Jeong
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Konkuk University, Seoul, 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong Young Kang
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Science and Technology (IBST), Konkuk University, Seoul, 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Nipin Sp
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Science and Technology (IBST), Konkuk University, Seoul, 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Young Mok Yang
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Science and Technology (IBST), Konkuk University, Seoul, 05029, Republic of Korea.
| | - Dong-Eun Kim
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Konkuk University, Seoul, 05029, Republic of Korea.
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42
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Shu T, Gan T, Bai P, Wang X, Qian Q, Zhou H, Cheng Q, Qiu Y, Yin L, Zhong J, Zhou X. Ebola virus VP35 has novel NTPase and helicase-like activities. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 47:5837-5851. [PMID: 31066445 PMCID: PMC6582406 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkz340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2018] [Revised: 04/21/2019] [Accepted: 04/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Ebola virus (EBOV) is a non-segmented, negative-sense RNA virus (NNSV) in the family Filoviridae, and is recognized as one of the most lethal pathogens in the planet. For RNA viruses, cellular or virus-encoded RNA helicases play pivotal roles in viral life cycles by remodelling viral RNA structures and/or unwinding viral dsRNA produced during replication. However, no helicase or helicase-like activity has ever been found to associate with any NNSV-encoded proteins, and it is unknown whether the replication of NNSVs requires the participation of any viral or cellular helicase. Here, we show that despite of containing no conserved NTPase/helicase motifs, EBOV VP35 possesses the NTPase and helicase-like activities that can hydrolyse all types of NTPs and unwind RNA helices in an NTP-dependent manner, respectively. Moreover, guanidine hydrochloride, an FDA-approved compound and inhibitor of certain viral helicases, inhibited the NTPase and helicase-like activities of VP35 as well as the replication/transcription of an EBOV minigenome replicon in cells, highlighting the importance of VP35 helicase-like activity during EBOV life cycle. Together, our findings provide the first demonstration of the NTPase/helicase-like activity encoded by EBOV, and would foster our understanding of EBOV and NNSVs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Shu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430072, China
| | - Tianyu Gan
- Unit of Viral Hepatitis, CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, CAS, Shanghai 200031, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Peng Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430072, China
| | - Xiaotong Wang
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.,State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Wuhan, Hubei 430071, China.,Wuhan National Biosafety Laboratory, Mega-Science Center for Bio-Safety Research, CAS, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, China
| | - Qi Qian
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430072, China.,State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Wuhan, Hubei 430071, China.,Wuhan National Biosafety Laboratory, Mega-Science Center for Bio-Safety Research, CAS, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, China
| | - Hui Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430072, China.,State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Wuhan, Hubei 430071, China.,Wuhan National Biosafety Laboratory, Mega-Science Center for Bio-Safety Research, CAS, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, China
| | - Qi Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430072, China
| | - Yang Qiu
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.,State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Wuhan, Hubei 430071, China.,Wuhan National Biosafety Laboratory, Mega-Science Center for Bio-Safety Research, CAS, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, China
| | - Lei Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430072, China
| | - Jin Zhong
- Unit of Viral Hepatitis, CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, CAS, Shanghai 200031, China.,Wuhan National Biosafety Laboratory, Mega-Science Center for Bio-Safety Research, CAS, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, China
| | - Xi Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430072, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.,State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Wuhan, Hubei 430071, China.,Wuhan National Biosafety Laboratory, Mega-Science Center for Bio-Safety Research, CAS, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, China
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43
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Han KR, Lee JH, Kotiguda GG, Jung KH, Chung MS, Kang S, Hwang S, Kim KH. Nucleotide triphosphatase and RNA chaperone activities of murine norovirus NS3. J Gen Virol 2018; 99:1482-1493. [PMID: 30265237 DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.001151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Modulation of RNA structure is essential in the life cycle of RNA viruses. Immediate replication upon infection requires RNA unwinding to ensure that RNA templates are not in intra- or intermolecular duplex forms. The calicivirus NS3, one of the highly conserved nonstructural (NS) proteins, has conserved motifs common to helicase superfamily 3 among six genogroups. However, its biological functions are not fully understood. In this study we report the oligomeric state and the nucleotide triphosphatase (NTPase) and RNA chaperone activities of the recombinant full-length NS3 derived from murine norovirus (MNV). The MNV NS3 has an Mg2+-dependent NTPase activity, and site-directed mutagenesis of the conserved NTPase motifs blocked enzyme activity and viral replication in cells. Further, the NS3 was found via fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based assays to destabilize double-stranded RNA in the presence of Mg2+ or Mn2+ in an NTP-independent manner. However, the RNA destabilization activity was not affected by mutagenesis of the conserved motifs of NTPase. These results reveal that the MNV NS3 has an NTPase-independent RNA chaperone-like activity, and that a FRET-based RNA destabilization assay has the potential to identify new antiviral drugs targeting NS3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kang Rok Han
- 1Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Korea University, Sejong 339-700, Republic of Korea.,†Present address: Konkuk University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji-Hye Lee
- 1Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Korea University, Sejong 339-700, Republic of Korea
| | - Giri Gowda Kotiguda
- 1Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Korea University, Sejong 339-700, Republic of Korea.,‡Present address: Department of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India
| | - Kyoung Ho Jung
- 1Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Korea University, Sejong 339-700, Republic of Korea
| | - Mi Sook Chung
- 2Department of Food and Nutrition, Duksung Women's University, Seoul 132-714, Republic of Korea
| | - Soowon Kang
- 3Department of Pathology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Seungmin Hwang
- 3Department of Pathology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Kyung Hyun Kim
- 1Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Korea University, Sejong 339-700, Republic of Korea
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44
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Cheng W, Chen G, Jia H, He X, Jing Z. DDX5 RNA Helicases: Emerging Roles in Viral Infection. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19041122. [PMID: 29642538 PMCID: PMC5979547 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19041122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2018] [Revised: 03/29/2018] [Accepted: 04/02/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Asp-Glu-Ala-Asp (DEAD)-box polypeptide 5 (DDX5), also called p68, is a prototypical member of the large ATP-dependent RNA helicases family and is known to participate in all aspects of RNA metabolism ranging from transcription to translation, RNA decay, and miRNA processing. The roles of DDX5 in cell cycle regulation, tumorigenesis, apoptosis, cancer development, adipogenesis, Wnt-β-catenin signaling, and viral infection have been established. Several RNA viruses have been reported to hijack DDX5 to facilitate various steps of their replication cycles. Furthermore, DDX5 can be bounded by the viral proteins of some viruses with unknown functions. Interestingly, an antiviral function of DDX5 has been reported during hepatitis B virus and myxoma virus infection. Thus, the precise roles of this apparently multifaceted protein remain largely obscure. Here, we provide a rapid and critical overview of the structure and functions of DDX5 with a particular emphasis on its role during virus infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenyu Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health of Agriculture Ministry, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730046, Gansu, China.
| | - Guohua Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health of Agriculture Ministry, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730046, Gansu, China.
| | - Huaijie Jia
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health of Agriculture Ministry, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730046, Gansu, China.
| | - Xiaobing He
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health of Agriculture Ministry, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730046, Gansu, China.
| | - Zhizhong Jing
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health of Agriculture Ministry, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730046, Gansu, China.
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45
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Human Norovirus NS3 Has RNA Helicase and Chaperoning Activities. J Virol 2018; 92:JVI.01606-17. [PMID: 29237842 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01606-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2017] [Accepted: 12/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA-remodeling proteins, including RNA helicases and chaperones, act to remodel RNA structures and/or protein-RNA interactions and are required for all processes involving RNAs. Although many viruses encode RNA helicases and chaperones, their in vitro activities and their roles in infected cells largely remain elusive. Noroviruses are a diverse group of positive-strand RNA viruses in the family Caliciviridae and constitute a significant and potentially fatal threat to human health. Here, we report that the protein NS3 encoded by human norovirus has both ATP-dependent RNA helicase activity that unwinds RNA helices and ATP-independent RNA-chaperoning activity that can remodel structured RNAs and facilitate strand annealing. Moreover, NS3 can facilitate viral RNA synthesis in vitro by norovirus polymerase. NS3 may therefore play an important role in norovirus RNA replication. Lastly, we demonstrate that the RNA-remodeling activity of NS3 is inhibited by guanidine hydrochloride, an FDA-approved compound, and, more importantly, that it reduces the replication of the norovirus replicon in cultured human cells. Altogether, these findings are the first to demonstrate the presence of RNA-remodeling activities encoded by Caliciviridae and highlight the functional significance of NS3 in the noroviral life cycle.IMPORTANCE Noroviruses are a diverse group of positive-strand RNA viruses, which annually cause hundreds of millions of human infections and over 200,000 deaths worldwide. For RNA viruses, cellular or virus-encoded RNA helicases and/or chaperones have long been considered to play pivotal roles in viral life cycles. However, neither RNA helicase nor chaperoning activity has been demonstrated to be associated with any norovirus-encoded proteins, and it is also unknown whether norovirus replication requires the participation of any viral or cellular RNA helicases/chaperones. We found that a norovirus protein, NS3, not only has ATP-dependent helicase activity, but also acts as an ATP-independent RNA chaperone. Also, NS3 can facilitate in vitro viral RNA synthesis, suggesting the important role of NS3 in norovirus replication. Moreover, NS3 activities can be inhibited by an FDA-approved compound, which also suppresses norovirus replicon replication in human cells, raising the possibility that NS3 could be a target for antinoroviral drug development.
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Hao W, Wojdyla JA, Zhao R, Han R, Das R, Zlatev I, Manoharan M, Wang M, Cui S. Crystal structure of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus helicase. PLoS Pathog 2017. [PMID: 28651017 PMCID: PMC5501694 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1006474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) remains a threat to public health worldwide; however, effective vaccine or drug against CoVs remains unavailable. CoV helicase is one of the three evolutionary most conserved proteins in nidoviruses, thus making it an important target for drug development. We report here the first structure of full-length coronavirus helicase, MERS-CoV nsp13. MERS-CoV helicase has multiple domains, including an N-terminal Cys/His rich domain (CH) with three zinc atoms, a beta-barrel domain and a C-terminal SF1 helicase core with two RecA-like subdomains. Our structural analyses show that while the domain organization of nsp13 is conserved throughout nidoviruses, the individual domains of nsp13 are closely related to the equivalent eukaryotic domains of Upf1 helicases. The most distinctive feature differentiating CoV helicases from eukaryotic Upf1 helicases is the interaction between CH domain and helicase core. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) caused global pandemics in 2003 and 2012 with the fatality rates of 10–35%. Outbreak of MERS-CoV in the Republic of Korea in 2015 highlighted that the newly emerged CoVs remain a concern for the public health. Nevertheless, effective vaccine and drug against CoVs are still missing. Among CoV-encoded nonstructural proteins (nsps), nsp13 helicase is considered one of the most important drug targets. Nsp13 is a highly conserved protein in CoVs and nidovirales and one of the two central components of the membrane associated replication-transcription complex, which performs viral RNA synthesis. However, despite decades of structural characterization of CoV-encoded proteins, the structure of nsp13 remained unavailable. In this study, we determined the first crystal structure of the full-length MERS-CoV nsp13. MERS-CoV helicase has an N-terminal Cys/His rich domain (CH) with three zincs, a beta-barrel domain and a C-terminal SF1 helicase core. While the domain organization of nsp13 is similar to arterivirus nsp10, the individual domains of nsp13 are closely related to their equivalent domains of eukaryotic Upf1 helicases. Our findings provide novel structural information essential for structure-based drug design against CoV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Hao
- MOH key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, No.9 Dong Dan San Tiao, Beijing, China
| | | | - Rong Zhao
- MOH key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, No.9 Dong Dan San Tiao, Beijing, China
| | - Ruiyun Han
- MOH key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, No.9 Dong Dan San Tiao, Beijing, China
| | - Rajat Das
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge, MA, United States of America
| | - Ivan Zlatev
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge, MA, United States of America
| | | | - Meitian Wang
- Swiss Light Source at Paul Scherrer Institute, Villigen, Switzerland
| | - Sheng Cui
- MOH key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, No.9 Dong Dan San Tiao, Beijing, China
- * E-mail:
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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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Xia H, Wang P, Wang GC, Yang J, Sun X, Wu W, Qiu Y, Shu T, Zhao X, Yin L, Qin CF, Hu Y, Zhou X. Human Enterovirus Nonstructural Protein 2CATPase Functions as Both an RNA Helicase and ATP-Independent RNA Chaperone. PLoS Pathog 2015. [PMID: 26218680 PMCID: PMC4517893 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1005067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA helicases and chaperones are the two major classes of RNA remodeling proteins, which function to remodel RNA structures and/or RNA-protein interactions, and are required for all aspects of RNA metabolism. Although some virus-encoded RNA helicases/chaperones have been predicted or identified, their RNA remodeling activities in vitro and functions in the viral life cycle remain largely elusive. Enteroviruses are a large group of positive-stranded RNA viruses in the Picornaviridae family, which includes numerous important human pathogens. Herein, we report that the nonstructural protein 2CATPase of enterovirus 71 (EV71), which is the major causative pathogen of hand-foot-and-mouth disease and has been regarded as the most important neurotropic enterovirus after poliovirus eradication, functions not only as an RNA helicase that 3′-to-5′ unwinds RNA helices in an adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-dependent manner, but also as an RNA chaperone that destabilizes helices bidirectionally and facilitates strand annealing and complex RNA structure formation independently of ATP. We also determined that the helicase activity is based on the EV71 2CATPase middle domain, whereas the C-terminus is indispensable for its RNA chaperoning activity. By promoting RNA template recycling, 2CATPase facilitated EV71 RNA synthesis in vitro; when 2CATPase helicase activity was impaired, EV71 RNA replication and virion production were mostly abolished in cells, indicating that 2CATPase-mediated RNA remodeling plays a critical role in the enteroviral life cycle. Furthermore, the RNA helicase and chaperoning activities of 2CATPase are also conserved in coxsackie A virus 16 (CAV16), another important enterovirus. Altogether, our findings are the first to demonstrate the RNA helicase and chaperoning activities associated with enterovirus 2CATPase, and our study provides both in vitro and cellular evidence for their potential roles during viral RNA replication. These findings increase our understanding of enteroviruses and the two types of RNA remodeling activities. Enteroviruses contain a large number of closely related human pathogens, including poliovirus, EV71, and coxsackie viruses, and cause ~3 billion infections annually. Among the nonstructural proteins of enteroviruses or picornaviruses, protein 2CATPase is the most conserved and complex but the least understood. On the basis of sequence analyses, this protein has been predicted as a putative superfamily 3 (SF3) helicase that supposedly plays a pivotal role in enteroviral RNA replication. However, attempts to determine the helicase activity associated with 2CATPase have been unsuccessful. We found that eukaryotically expressed EV71 or CAV16 2CATPase does possess an ATP-dependent RNA helicase activity that 3′→5′ unwinds RNA helices like other SF3 helicases; surprisingly, it also functions as an RNA chaperone that remodels RNA structures in an ATP-independent manner. Moreover, we determined the domain requirements for these two RNA remodeling activities associated with 2CATPase and provide both in vitro and cellular evidence of their potential roles during viral RNA replication. Additionally, our study provides the first evidence that RNA helicase and chaperoning activities can be integrated within one protein, thereby introducing an extended view of RNA remodeling proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongjie Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Peipei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Guang-Chuan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Jie Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Xianlin Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Wenzhe Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Yang Qiu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Ting Shu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Xiaolu Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Lei Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Cheng-Feng Qin
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing, China
| | - Yuanyang Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Xi Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- * E-mail:
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Lehmann KC, Snijder EJ, Posthuma CC, Gorbalenya AE. What we know but do not understand about nidovirus helicases. Virus Res 2014; 202:12-32. [PMID: 25497126 PMCID: PMC7114383 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2014.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2014] [Revised: 11/28/2014] [Accepted: 12/01/2014] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
The ubiquitous nidovirus helicase is a multi-functional enzyme of superfamily 1. Its unique N-terminal domain is most similar to the Upf1 multinuclear zinc-binding domain. It has been implicated in replication, transcription, virion biogenesis, translation and post-transcriptional viral RNA processing. Four different classes of antiviral compounds targeting the helicase have been identified.
Helicases are versatile NTP-dependent motor proteins of monophyletic origin that are found in all kingdoms of life. Their functions range from nucleic acid duplex unwinding to protein displacement and double-strand translocation. This explains their participation in virtually every metabolic process that involves nucleic acids, including DNA replication, recombination and repair, transcription, translation, as well as RNA processing. Helicases are encoded by all plant and animal viruses with a positive-sense RNA genome that is larger than 7 kb, indicating a link to genome size evolution in this virus class. Viral helicases belong to three out of the six currently recognized superfamilies, SF1, SF2, and SF3. Despite being omnipresent, highly conserved and essential, only a few viral helicases, mostly from SF2, have been studied extensively. In general, their specific roles in the viral replication cycle remain poorly understood at present. The SF1 helicase protein of viruses classified in the order Nidovirales is encoded in replicase open reading frame 1b (ORF1b), which is translated to give rise to a large polyprotein following a ribosomal frameshift from the upstream ORF1a. Proteolytic processing of the replicase polyprotein yields a dozen or so mature proteins, one of which includes a helicase. Its hallmark is the presence of an N-terminal multi-nuclear zinc-binding domain, the nidoviral genetic marker and one of the most conserved domains across members of the order. This review summarizes biochemical, structural, and genetic data, including drug development studies, obtained using helicases originating from several mammalian nidoviruses, along with the results of the genomics characterization of a much larger number of (putative) helicases of vertebrate and invertebrate nidoviruses. In the context of our knowledge of related helicases of cellular and viral origin, it discusses the implications of these results for the protein's emerging critical function(s) in nidovirus evolution, genome replication and expression, virion biogenesis, and possibly also post-transcriptional processing of viral RNAs. Using our accumulated knowledge and highlighting gaps in our data, concepts and approaches, it concludes with a perspective on future research aimed at elucidating the role of helicases in the nidovirus replication cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen C Lehmann
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Eric J Snijder
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Clara C Posthuma
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Alexander E Gorbalenya
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands; Faculty of Bioengineering and Bioinformatics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Russia.
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50
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Sevajol M, Subissi L, Decroly E, Canard B, Imbert I. Insights into RNA synthesis, capping, and proofreading mechanisms of SARS-coronavirus. Virus Res 2014; 194:90-9. [PMID: 25451065 PMCID: PMC7114481 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2014.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 151] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2014] [Revised: 10/06/2014] [Accepted: 10/06/2014] [Indexed: 10/30/2022]
Abstract
The successive emergence of highly pathogenic coronaviruses (CoVs) such as the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV) in 2003 and the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in 2012 has stimulated a number of studies on the molecular biology. This research has provided significant new insight into functions and activities of the replication/transcription multi-protein complex. The latter directs both continuous and discontinuous RNA synthesis to replicate and transcribe the large coronavirus genome made of a single-stranded, positive-sense RNA of ∼30 kb. In this review, we summarize our current understanding of SARS-CoV enzymes involved in RNA biochemistry, such as the in vitro characterization of a highly active and processive RNA polymerase complex which can associate with methyltransferase and 3'-5' exoribonuclease activities involved in RNA capping, and RNA proofreading, respectively. The recent discoveries reveal fascinating RNA-synthesizing machinery, highlighting the unique position of coronaviruses in the RNA virus world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marion Sevajol
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Aix-Marseille Université, UMR 7257, AFMB, 163 Avenue de Luminy, 13288 Marseille, France
| | - Lorenzo Subissi
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Aix-Marseille Université, UMR 7257, AFMB, 163 Avenue de Luminy, 13288 Marseille, France
| | - Etienne Decroly
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Aix-Marseille Université, UMR 7257, AFMB, 163 Avenue de Luminy, 13288 Marseille, France
| | - Bruno Canard
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Aix-Marseille Université, UMR 7257, AFMB, 163 Avenue de Luminy, 13288 Marseille, France
| | - Isabelle Imbert
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Aix-Marseille Université, UMR 7257, AFMB, 163 Avenue de Luminy, 13288 Marseille, France.
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