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Chase O, Javed A, Byrne MJ, Thuenemann EC, Lomonossoff GP, Ranson NA, López-Moya JJ. CryoEM and stability analysis of virus-like particles of potyvirus and ipomovirus infecting a common host. Commun Biol 2023; 6:433. [PMID: 37076658 PMCID: PMC10115852 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04799-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Sweet potato feathery mottle virus (SPFMV) and Sweet potato mild mottle virus (SPMMV) are members of the genera Potyvirus and Ipomovirus, family Potyviridae, sharing Ipomoea batatas as common host, but transmitted, respectively, by aphids and whiteflies. Virions of family members consist of flexuous rods with multiple copies of a single coat protein (CP) surrounding the RNA genome. Here we report the generation of virus-like particles (VLPs) by transient expression of the CPs of SPFMV and SPMMV in the presence of a replicating RNA in Nicotiana benthamiana. Analysis of the purified VLPs by cryo-electron microscopy, gave structures with resolutions of 2.6 and 3.0 Å, respectively, showing a similar left-handed helical arrangement of 8.8 CP subunits per turn with the C-terminus at the inner surface and a binding pocket for the encapsidated ssRNA. Despite their similar architecture, thermal stability studies reveal that SPMMV VLPs are more stable than those of SPFMV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ornela Chase
- Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG, CSIC-IRTA-UAB-UB), 08193, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Abid Javed
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Matthew J Byrne
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
- Electron Bio-Imaging Centre, Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Fermi Ave, Didcot, Oxfordshire, OX11 0DE, UK
| | - Eva C Thuenemann
- Department of Biochemistry and Metabolism, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK
| | - George P Lomonossoff
- Department of Biochemistry and Metabolism, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Neil A Ranson
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Juan José López-Moya
- Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG, CSIC-IRTA-UAB-UB), 08193, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain.
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Abstract
Proteins that self-assemble into polyhedral shell-like structures are useful molecular containers both in nature and in the laboratory. Here we review efforts to repurpose diverse protein cages, including viral capsids, ferritins, bacterial microcompartments, and designed capsules, as vaccines, drug delivery vehicles, targeted imaging agents, nanoreactors, templates for controlled materials synthesis, building blocks for higher-order architectures, and more. A deep understanding of the principles underlying the construction, function, and evolution of natural systems has been key to tailoring selective cargo encapsulation and interactions with both biological systems and synthetic materials through protein engineering and directed evolution. The ability to adapt and design increasingly sophisticated capsid structures and functions stands to benefit the fields of catalysis, materials science, and medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Stephan Tetter
- Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Angela Steinauer
- Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Mao Hori
- Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Donald Hilvert
- Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
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Thuenemann EC, Byrne MJ, Peyret H, Saunders K, Castells-Graells R, Ferriol I, Santoni M, Steele JFC, Ranson NA, Avesani L, Lopez-Moya JJ, Lomonossoff GP. A Replicating Viral Vector Greatly Enhances Accumulation of Helical Virus-Like Particles in Plants. Viruses 2021; 13:885. [PMID: 34064959 PMCID: PMC8150850 DOI: 10.3390/v13050885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The production of plant helical virus-like particles (VLPs) via plant-based expression has been problematic with previous studies suggesting that an RNA scaffold may be necessary for their efficient production. To examine this, we compared the accumulation of VLPs from two potexviruses, papaya mosaic virus and alternanthera mosaic virus (AltMV), when the coat proteins were expressed from a replicating potato virus X- based vector (pEff) and a non-replicating vector (pEAQ-HT). Significantly greater quantities of VLPs could be purified when pEff was used. The pEff system was also very efficient at producing VLPs of helical viruses from different virus families. Examination of the RNA content of AltMV and tobacco mosaic virus VLPs produced from pEff revealed the presence of vector-derived RNA sequences, suggesting that the replicating RNA acts as a scaffold for VLP assembly. Cryo-EM analysis of the AltMV VLPs showed they had a structure very similar to that of authentic potexvirus particles. Thus, we conclude that vectors generating replicating forms of RNA, such as pEff, are very efficient for producing helical VLPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva C. Thuenemann
- John Innes Centre, Department of Biochemistry and Metabolism, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK; (H.P.); (K.S.); (R.C.-G.); (J.F.C.S.)
| | - Matthew J. Byrne
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK; (M.J.B.); (N.A.R.)
| | - Hadrien Peyret
- John Innes Centre, Department of Biochemistry and Metabolism, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK; (H.P.); (K.S.); (R.C.-G.); (J.F.C.S.)
| | - Keith Saunders
- John Innes Centre, Department of Biochemistry and Metabolism, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK; (H.P.); (K.S.); (R.C.-G.); (J.F.C.S.)
| | - Roger Castells-Graells
- John Innes Centre, Department of Biochemistry and Metabolism, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK; (H.P.); (K.S.); (R.C.-G.); (J.F.C.S.)
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Inmaculada Ferriol
- Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG, CSIC-IRTA-UAB-UB), 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain; (I.F.); (J.J.L.-M.)
- Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mattia Santoni
- Diamante srl. Strada Le Grazie, 15, 37134 Verona, Italy;
| | - John F. C. Steele
- John Innes Centre, Department of Biochemistry and Metabolism, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK; (H.P.); (K.S.); (R.C.-G.); (J.F.C.S.)
- Piramal Healthcare UK Ltd., Piramal Pharma Solutions, Earls Road, Grangemouth, Stirlingshire FK3 8XG, UK
| | - Neil A. Ranson
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK; (M.J.B.); (N.A.R.)
| | - Linda Avesani
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Strada Le Grazie, 15, 37134 Verona, Italy;
| | - Juan Jose Lopez-Moya
- Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG, CSIC-IRTA-UAB-UB), 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain; (I.F.); (J.J.L.-M.)
- Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - George P. Lomonossoff
- John Innes Centre, Department of Biochemistry and Metabolism, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK; (H.P.); (K.S.); (R.C.-G.); (J.F.C.S.)
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Abstract
The side effects of chemotherapy can be reduced by targeting tumor cells with an enzyme (or the corresponding gene) that converts a nontoxic prodrug into a toxic drug inside the tumor cells, also killing the surrounding tumor cells via the bystander effect. Viruses are the most efficient gene delivery vehicles because they have evolved to transfer their own nucleic acids into cells, but their efficiency must be balanced against the risks of infection, the immunogenicity of nucleic acids, and the potential for genomic integration. We therefore tested the effectiveness of genome-free virus-like particles (VLPs) for the delivery of Herpes simplex virus 1 thymidine kinase (HSV1-TK), the most common enzyme used in prodrug conversion therapy. HSV1-TK is typically delivered as a gene, but in the context of VLPs, it must be delivered as a protein. We constructed VLPs and smaller core-like particles (CLPs) based on Bluetongue virus, with HSV1-TK fused to the inner capsid protein VP3. TK-CLPs and TK-VLPs could be produced in large quantities in plants. The TK-VLPs killed human glioblastoma cells efficiently in the presence of ganciclovir, with an IC50 value of 14.8 μM. Conversely, CLPs were ineffective because they remained trapped in the endosomal compartment, in common with many synthetic nanoparticles. VLPs are advantageous because they can escape from endosomes and therefore allow HSV1-TK to access the cytosolic adenosine triphosphate (ATP) required for the phosphorylation of ganciclovir. The VLP delivery strategy of TK protein therefore offers a promising new modality for the treatment of cancer with systemic prodrugs such as ganciclovir.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva C Thuenemann
- Department of Biological Chemistry, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, NR4 7UH Colney, United Kingdom
| | - Duc H T Le
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, United States.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513 (STO 3.25), 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands.,Department of Biochemistry, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (RIMLS), Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein 28, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - George P Lomonossoff
- Department of Biological Chemistry, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, NR4 7UH Colney, United Kingdom
| | - Nicole F Steinmetz
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, United States
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