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Oxidation-reduction sensitive interaction of a cellular 50-kDa protein with an RNA hairpin in the 5' noncoding region of the poliovirus genome.

Genetic and biochemical analyses of the 5' noncoding region of poliovirus have indicated the importance of this region in both translation and amplification of the viral RNA. The role of the cellular machinery required for these events is just beginning to be revealed. Using an RNA gel retention assay, we have identified a cellular 50-kDa protein that forms a specific complex with a stable stem-loop structure present in the viral 5' noncoding region. The formation of the RNA-protein complex is dependent on the availability of free sulfhydryl groups in the protein. The possible involvement of this RNA-protein complex in the regulation of viral gene expression is discussed.

Base Sequence↗

Artificial immune system against viral infection involving antisense RNA targeted to the 5'-terminal noncoding region of coliphage SP RNA.

We previously reported the utilization of antisense RNA in the development of a novel immune system against RNA coliphage SP proliferation (Hirashima et al. [1986] Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S. 83, 7726-7730). We attempted to determine the most effective (i.e., those eliciting antiviral activity) sequences for targeting micRNAs within the 5'-terminal noncoding region of 54 nucleotides (nt). It was found that a 30-nt micRNA against the sequence from base 32 to 61 exhibited nearly complete inhibition of phage production. Upon further dissection of this sequence, it was concluded that the most effective micRNA against phage SP production should contain the sequences complementary to the Shine-Dalgarno (SD) sequence of the first gene and its 13-nt upstream sequence. The addition of downstream sequences had little effect. These results suggest that the micRNA functions by preventing the binding of ribosomes to the SD sequence of the first gene. The addition of further upstream sequences had a significant negative effect on the micRNA function, indicating that the removal of such impeditive sequences from a micRNA is an important strategy for the development of a potent micRNA immune system.

Base Sequence↗

An RNA sequence of hundreds of nucleotides at the 5' end of poliovirus RNA is involved in allowing viral protein synthesis.

Twenty-one mutations were engineered in the 5' noncoding region of poliovirus type 1 RNA, using an infectious cDNA copy of the viral genome. RNA was made from these constructs and used to transfect HeLa cells. Viable virus was recovered from 12 of these transfection experiments, including six strains with a recognizable phenotype, mapping in four different regions. One mutant of each site was studied in more detail. Mutant 5NC-11, having a 4-base insertion at nucleotide 70, was dramatically deficient in RNA synthesis, suggesting that the far 5' end of the genome is primarily involved in one or more steps of RNA replication. Mutants 5NC-13, 5NC-114, and 5NC-116, mapping at nucleotides 224, 270, and 392, respectively, showed a similar behavior; they made very little viral protein, they did not inhibit host cell translation, and they synthesized a significant amount of viral RNA, although with some delay compared with wild type. These three mutants were efficiently complemented by all other poliovirus mutants tested, except those with lesions in protein 2A. Our results imply that these three mutants map in a region (region P) primarily involved in viral protein synthesis and that their inability to shut off host cell translation is secondary to a quantitative defect in protein 2A. The exact function of region P is still to be determined, but our data supports the hypothesis of a single functional module allowing viral protein synthesis and extending over several hundred nucleotides.

Animals↗

Clinical virology of rhinoviruses.

Rhinoviruses cause more infections in humans than any other micro-organism. These acid-sensitive picornaviruses infect epithelial cells following inoculation onto the nasal mucosa and are detected reliably in nasopharyngeal secretions. Rhinovirus colds occur year round, with a peak of illness in the fall. Type-specific serum antibody correlates with protection against infection. The fact that there are at least 100 different immunotypes makes development of an effective vaccine unlikely. Nasopharyngeal secretions must be sampled for detection of rhinovirus by culture or RT-PCR. Efficient isolation of virus requires inoculation into two different types of sensitive cell cultures (i.e., fibroblasts and HeLa cells). RT of conserved sequences in the 5' noncoding region of the viral RNA to produce cDNA for PCR amplification has been coupled with detection of amplimers either by gel electrophoresis after nested PCR or by hybridization with labeled oligonucleotide probes to detect one viral genome in samples. In two studies in which both RT-PCR and cell cultures were used, virtually all of the positives were identified with RT-PCR; culture in two cell lines identified 75-80% of the positives. In year-round surveillance, 50% of colds in adults and children were rhinovirus positive. The symptoms occurring during rhinovirus colds are caused by the host's response to the virus, not by the virus itself. Elaboration of cytokines by infected epithelial cells is central to symptom pathogenesis.

Common Cold↗

A 2.9-kilobase noncoding nuclear RNA functions in the establishment of persistent Hz-1 viral infection.

Differential viral gene expression during both productive and persistent infections of Hz-1 virus in insect cells was elucidated. Despite more than 100 viral transcripts being expressed during productive viral infection, massive viral gene shutoff was observed during viral persistency, leaving the 2.9-kb persistence-associated transcript 1 (PAT1) as the only detectable viral RNA. Persistence-associated gene 1 (pag1), which encodes PAT1, was cloned and found to contain no significant open reading frames. PAT1 is not associated with the cellular translation machinery and is located exclusively in the nucleus. Further experiments showed that PAT1 is functional in the establishment of persistent Hz-1 viral infection in the cells. All the evidence collectively indicates that PAT1 is a novel nuclear transcript of viral origin. Our results showed that although PAT1 and XIST RNA, a mammalian X-inactive specific transcript, are transcribed by different genes, they have interesting similarities.

Animals↗

Interaction of translation initiation factor eIF4B with the poliovirus internal ribosome entry site.

Poliovirus translation is initiated at the internal ribosome entry site (IRES). Most likely involving the action of standard initiation factors, this highly structured cis element in the 5" noncoding region of the viral RNA guides the ribosome to an internal silent AUG. The actual start codon for viral protein synthesis further downstream is then reached by ribosomal scanning. In this study we show that two of the secondary structure elements of the poliovirus IRES, domain V and, to a minor extent, domain VI, are the determinants for binding of the eukaryotic initiation factor eIF4B. Several mutations in domain V which are known to greatly affect poliovirus growth also seriously impair the binding of eIF4B. The interaction of eIF4B with the IRES is not dependent on the presence of the polypyrimidine tract-binding protein, which also binds to the poliovirus IRES. In contrast to its weak interaction with cellular mRNAs, eIF4B remains tightly associated with the poliovirus IRES during the formation of complete 80S ribosomes. Binding of eIF4B to the IRES is energy dependent, and binding of the small ribosomal subunit to the IRES requires the previous energy-dependent association of initiation factors with the IRES. These results indicate that the interaction of eIF4B with the 3" region of the poliovirus IRES may be directly involved in translation initiation.

5' Untranslated Regions↗

The secondary structure of the 5'-noncoding region of beet necrotic yellow vein virus RNA 3: evidence for a role in viral RNA replication.

Secondary structure-sensitive chemical and enzymatic probes have been used to produce a model for the folding of the first 312 residues of the long 5'-noncoding region of beet necrotic yellow vein virus RNA 3. The structure consists of two major domains, one of which includes long distance base-pairing interactions between two short sequence elements (Box I and Box II) situated between positions 237 and 292 and complementary elements (Box I' and II') near the 5'-terminus. Previous studies have shown that base pairing between these sequence elements (in either the plus-strand or minus-strand RNA) is important for RNA 3 accumulation during infection. RNA 3 transcripts were produced containing mutations which preferentially disrupted Box II-II' base pairing in either the plus- or minus-strand. In infection experiments, transcripts with mutations which disrupted the Box II-II' interaction in the plus-strand structure replicated less efficiently than mutants in which the Box II-II' interaction was disrupted in the minus-strand. These findings indicate that the complex 5'-proximal plus-strand structure to which the Box II-II' interaction contributes comprises at least part of the promoter for plus-strand RNA synthesis.

Base Sequence↗

The complete sequence of the M RNA of snowshoe hare bunyavirus reveals the presence of internal hydrophobic domains in the viral glycoprotein.

The complete sequence of the viral M RNA of snowshoe hare (SSH) bunyavirus has been determined. The RNA is 4527 nucleotides long (mol wt: 1.5 X 10(6), base composition: 27.5% A, 33.5% U, 17.7% G, 21.3% C), and has 3' and 5' terminal sequences that, depending on how they are arranged, are complementary for some 44 residues. The viral RNA codes in its viral-complementary sequence, for a single primary gene product (the viral glycoprotein) that is comprised of 1441 amino acids (162,391 Da), and is rich in cysteine residues but poor in potential asparagine-linked glycosylation sites. Like the SSH S RNA, the M viral-complementary 5' noncoding region is shorter than the 3' noncoding sequence (61 as opposed to 142 nucleotides). The different functions of the M RNA are discussed in relation to those of the S RNA of SSH virus. No other large open reading frames have been identified in either the viral, or viral-complementary, M RNA sequences. Examination of the sequence of the M gene product reveals the presence of an 18 residue amino terminal hydrophobic sequence (putative signal) and a much longer 32 amino acid carboxy proximal hydrophobic region that is followed by a terminal sequence rich in charged amino acids (12 out of 20 residues). The size and constitution of the carboxy end regions are consistent with a transmembranal and anchor function for the glycoprotein in the viral envelope. In addition to these terminal hydrophobic sequences, a localized internal region of the gene product contains several hydrophobic sequences, 15 to 29 amino acids in length. Their possible role in the morphogenesis of bunyaviruses that occurs in the Golgi cisternae of infected cells is discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Specific inhibition of aphthovirus infection by RNAs transcribed from both the 5' and the 3' noncoding regions.

RNA molecules containing the 3' terminal region of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) RNA in both antisense and sense orientations were able to inhibit viral FMDV translation and infective particle formation in BHK-21 cells following comicroinjection or cotransfection with infectious viral RNA. Antisense, but not sense, transcripts from the 5' noncoding region including the proximal element of the internal ribosome entry site and the two functional initiation AUGs were also inhibitory, both in in vitro translation and in vivo in comicroinjected or cotransfected BHK-21 cells. This effect was not observed with nonrelated RNA transcripts from lambda phage. The inhibitions found were permanent, sequence specific, and dose dependent; an inverse correlation between the length of the transcript and the extent of the antiviral effect was seen. In all cases, the extent of inhibition increased when viral RNAs and transcripts were allowed to reanneal before transfection, concomitant with a decrease in the doses required. The antiviral effect was specific for FMDV, since transcripts failed to inhibit infective particle formation by other picornavirus, such as encephalomyocarditis virus. These results indicate that the ability of RNA transcripts to inhibit viral multiplication depends on their efficient hybridization with target regions on the viral genome. Furthermore, cells transfected with the 5'1as transcript, which is complementary to the 5' noncoding region, showed a significant reduction of plaque-forming ability during the course of a natural infection. RNA 5'1as was able to inhibit FMDV RNA translation in vitro, suggesting that the inhibitions observed are mediated by a blockage of the viral translation initiation. Conversely, hybridization of short sequences of both sense and antisense transcripts from the 3' end induces distortion of predicted highly ordered structural motifs, which could be required for the synthesis of negative-stranded viral RNA, and correlates with inhibition of viral propagation.

Animals↗

Temporal and spatial analysis of Sin Nombre virus quasispecies in naturally infected rodents.

Sin Nombre virus (SNV) is thought to establish a persistent infection in its natural reservoir, the deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus), despite a strong host immune response. SNV-specific neutralizing antibodies were routinely detected in deer mice which maintained virus RNA in the blood and lungs. To determine whether viral diversity played a role in SNV persistence and immune escape in deer mice, we measured the prevalence of virus quasispecies in infected rodents over time in a natural setting. Mark-recapture studies provided serial blood samples from naturally infected deer mice, which were sequentially analyzed for SNV diversity. Viral RNA was detected over a period of months in these rodents in the presence of circulating antibodies specific for SNV. Nucleotide and amino acid substitutions were observed in viral clones from all time points analyzed, including changes in the immunodominant domain of glycoprotein 1 and the 3' small segment noncoding region of the genome. Viral RNA was also detected in seven different organs of sacrificed deer mice. Analysis of organ-specific viral clones revealed major disparities in the level of viral diversity between organs, specifically between the spleen (high diversity) and the lung and liver (low diversity). These results demonstrate the ability of SNV to mutate and generate quasispecies in vivo, which may have implications for viral persistence and possible escape from the host immune system.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Encephalomyocarditis virus 3C protease: efficient cell-free expression from clones which link viral 5' noncoding sequences to the P3 region.

All picornaviral peptides are derived by progressive posttranslational cleavage of a giant precursor polyprotein. Translation of encephalomyocarditis virus (EMC) RNA in rabbit reticulocyte extracts produces active viral peptides, including protease 3C, which is responsible for many cleavage reactions within the processing cascade. DNA plasmids containing 5' noncoding sequences of EMC linked to other portions of the viral genome were constructed and transcribed into RNA. Like virion RNA, the clone-derived transcripts directed efficient protein translation in vitro. The 5'-linked constructions may represent examples of a general method for cell-free expression of any cloned gene segment. One construction produced a self-cleaving P3 region precursor, which contained active 3C protease. A genetically engineered insertion within the 3C sequences eliminated endogenous self-cleavage activity without altering the ability of the P3 peptide to serve as substrate in bimolecular reactions with added 3C. Another plasmid encoding the L-VP0 portion of the capsid region was used to demonstrate that scission between the leader peptide (L) and capsid protein VP0 can be catalyzed by 3C. The enzyme responsible for this step was previously unidentified. A rapid purification scheme for isolation of 3C from EMC-infected HeLa cells is also presented.

Base Sequence↗

Specific interaction between the hepatitis C virus NS5B RNA polymerase and the 3' end of the viral RNA.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS5B protein is the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase capable of directing RNA synthesis. In this study, an electrophoretic mobility shift assay demonstrated the interaction between a partially purified recombinant NS5B protein and a 3' viral genomic RNA with or without the conserved 98-nucleotide tail. The NS5B-RNA complexes were specifically competed away by the unlabeled homologous RNA but not by the viral 5' noncoding region and very poorly by the 3' conserved 98-nucleotide tail. A 3' coding region with conserved stem-loop structures rather than the 3' noncoding region of the HCV genome is critical for the specific binding of NS5B. Nevertheless, no direct interaction between the 3' coding region and the HCV NS5A protein was detected. Furthermore, two independent RNA-binding domains (RBDs) of NS5B were identified, RBD1, from amino acid residues 83 to 194, and RBD2, from residues 196 to 298. Interestingly, the conserved motifs of RNA-dependent RNA polymerase for putative RNA binding (220-DxxxxD-225) and template/primer position (282-S/TGxxxTxxxNS/T-292) are present in the RBD2. Nevertheless, the RNA-binding activity of RBD2 was abolished when it was linked to the carboxy-terminal half of the NS5B. These results provide some clues to understanding the initiation of HCV replication.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Use of conserved sequences from hepatitis C virus for the detection of viral RNA in infected sera by polymerase chain reaction.

Three oligonucleotide primer combinations selected from the 5' noncoding, the nucleocapsid and the putative nonstructural regions of the hepatitis C virus genome were compared in a nested polymerase chain reaction assay with respect to sensitivity and specificity for the detection of viral RNA in chimpanzee-infected and human-infected sera. Sera from both the acute and the chronic phase of the infection were obtained from 13 animals inoculated with five different non-A, non-B hepatitis strains and from seven cardiac surgery patients who had non-A, non-B hepatitis develop after transfusion and who had been tested in parallel for the presence of hepatitis C virus RNA and anti-C 100-3. A total of 90% of the acute-phase and 100% of the chronic-phase sera tested positive for hepatitis C virus RNA when the 5' noncoding-derived or the nucleocapsid-derived combinations were used; only 58% and 56%, respectively, gave positive results with the putative nonstructural primers, whereas 33% and 71%, respectively, scored positive for C100-3. Thus polymerase chain reaction primers selected from either the highly conserved 5' noncoding or nucleocapsid-regions appear to provide the sensitivity and the specificity necessary to detect low levels of hepatitis C virus RNA in both chimpanzee-infected and human-infected sera.

Animals↗

The deletion of 41 proximal nucleotides reverts a poliovirus mutant containing a temperature-sensitive lesion in the 5' noncoding region of genomic RNA.

We generated a number of small deletions and insertions in the 5' noncoding region of an infectious cDNA copy of the poliovirus RNA genome. Transfection of these mutated cDNAs into COS-1 cells produced the following phenotypic categories: (i) wild-type mutations, (ii) lethal mutations, (iii) mutations exhibiting slow growth or low-titer properties, and (iv) temperature-sensitive (ts) mutations. The deletion of nucleotides 221 to 224 produced a ts virus, 220D1. Mutant 220D1 was found to have a dramatic reduction in growth, virus-specific protein and RNA synthesis, and the shutoff of host cell protein synthesis at 37 or 39 degrees C compared with 33 degrees C. Temperature shift experiments showed that the mutant viral RNA is not an effective template for protein or RNA synthesis at 39 degrees C and suggested a decreased stability of the 220D1 RNA at 39 degrees C. Selection for a non-ts revertant of 220D1 yielded the virus R2, which was no longer ts for growth or viral protein and RNA synthesis. Sequencing the 5' noncoding region of the genomic RNA from R2 revealed the deletion of 41 proximal nucleotides for an overall deletion of nucleotides 184 to 228. These data suggest that the deleted sequences are nonessential to the poliovirus life cycle during growth in HeLa cells. According to computer-predicted RNA secondary structures of the 5' noncoding region of poliovirus RNA, the R2 revertant virus has deleted an entire predicted stem-loop structure.

Animals↗

Analysis of sequences involved in cowpea mosaic virus RNA replication using site-specific mutants.

Using a full-length cDNA clone of cowpea mosaic virus (CPMV) B-RNA from which infectious transcripts can be generated, we examined the influence of a sequence of 11 nucleotides, UUUUAUUAAAA, comprising the nucleotides 5883 to 5893 in the 3' noncoding region of B-RNA, on viral RNA replication. This sequence is not only present in B-RNA but also in M-RNA and represents the 7 nucleotides preceding the poly(A) tail and the first four A residues of the poly(A) tail. Replication of B-RNA transcripts derived from a series of mutants in this region was tested in cowpea plants and protoplasts. Only mutant transcripts with minor modifications appeared able to replicate, which indicates that the region has a function in viral RNA replication. In addition, the results suggest the existence of a hairpin loop in this region. Those transcripts with deletions which disturb the putative hairpin structure have decreased specific infectivities. Mutant transcripts reversed stepwise to the wild-type sequence during replication in plants. This observation strengthens the idea that the sequence of 11 nucleotides has a function in viral RNA replication.

Base Sequence↗

Biochemical and genetic evidence for a pseudoknot structure at the 3' terminus of the poliovirus RNA genome and its role in viral RNA amplification.

The sequences in the plus-stranded poliovirus RNA genome that dictate the specific amplification of viral RNA in infected cells remain unknown. We have analyzed the structure of the 3' noncoding region of the viral genome by thermodynamic-based structure calculation and by chemical and enzymatic probing of in vitro-synthesized RNAs and provide evidence for the existence of an RNA pseudoknot structure in this region. To explore the functional significance of this structure, revertants of a mutant bearing a lesion in the proposed pseudoknot and exhibiting a temperature-sensitive defect in viral RNA synthesis were isolated and mapped. The results of this genetic analysis established a correlation between the structure of the 3' terminus of the viral RNA and its function in vivo in RNA amplification. Furthermore, phylogenetic analysis indicated that a similar structure could be formed in coxsackievirus B1, a related enterovirus, which further supports a role for the pseudoknot structure in viral RNA amplification in infected cells.

Base Sequence↗

Cell-free replication of the hepatitis C virus subgenomic replicon.

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) contains a plus-strand RNA genome. The 5' noncoding region (NCR) of the viral genome functions as an internal ribosome entry site, and its unique 3' NCR is required for the assembly of the replication complex during initiation of HCV RNA replication. Lohmann et al. (V. Lohmann, F. Korner, J.-O. Koch, U. Herian, L. Theilman, and R. Batenschlager, Science 285:110-113, 1999) developed a subgenomic HCV replicon system, which represents an important tool in studying HCV replication in cultured cells. In this study, we describe a cell-free replication system that utilizes cytoplasmic lysates prepared from Huh-7 cells harboring the HCV subgenomic replicons. These lysates, which contain ribonucleoprotein complexes associated with cellular membranes, were capable of incorporating [alpha(32)P]CTP into newly synthesized RNA from subgenomic replicons in vitro. Replicative forms (RFs) and replicative intermediates (RIs) were synthesized from the endogenous HCV RNA templates. Consistent with previous observations, RFs were found to be resistant to RNase A digestion, whereas RIs were sensitive to RNase treatment. The radiolabeled HCV RF-RI complexes contained both minus and plus strands and were specific to the lysates derived from replicon-expressing cells. The availability of a cell-free replication system offers opportunities to probe the mechanism(s) of HCV replication. It also provides a novel assay for potential therapeutic agents.

Cell Line↗

Elongation activity of poliovirus RNA polymerase derived from Sabin type 1 sequence is not temperature sensitive.

Determinants of attenuation in the Sabin type 1 strain of poliovirus are located in the 5' noncoding region, the capsid coding region and the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (3Dpol) coding region. These mutations also contribute to a temperature sensitive pheno-type of virus replication. We have cloned and expressed the Sabin 1 virus 3Dpol) protein which contains three amino acid differences from the wild-type (Mahoney) sequence, as well as a wild- type polymerase containing only a single Sabin amino acid substitution at nt 6203. These enzymes have been examined and compared for temperature sensitive polymerase activity. Wild-type and mutated polymerases demonstrated identical specific activities at 30, 35 and 39 degrees C. All three showed the same kinetics of heat inactivation after pre-incubation at elevated temperatures. Thus the contribution of Sabin 3Dpol sequences to the inability of the virus to grow at elevated temperatures must lie in a function or activity of the enzyme other than RNA polymerization. A likely reaction is the initiation step of RNA chain synthesis.

Cloning, Molecular↗