Identification of a movement protein of rice yellow stunt rhabdovirus

Rice yellow stunt rhabdovirus (RYSV) encodes seven genes in its negative-sense RNA genome in the order 3'-N-P-3-M-G-6-L-5'. The existence of gene 3 in the RYSV genome and an analogous gene(s) of other plant rhabdoviruses positioned between the P and M genes constitutes a unique feature for plant rhabdoviruses that is distinct from animal-infecting rhabdoviruses in which the P and M genes are directly linked. However, little is known about the function of these extra plant rhabdovirus genes. Here we provide evidence showing that the protein product encoded by gene 3 of RYSV, P3, possesses several properties related to a viral cell-to-cell movement protein (MP). Analyses of the primary and secondary protein structures suggested that RYSV P3 is a member of the "30K" superfamily of viral MPs. Biolistic bombardment transcomplementation experiments demonstrated that RYSV P3 can support the intercellular movement of a movement-deficient potexvirus mutant in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. In addition, Northwestern blot analysis indicated that the RYSV P3 protein can bind single-stranded RNA in vitro, a common feature of viral MPs. Finally, glutathione S- transferase pull-down assays revealed a specific interaction between the RYSV P3 protein and the N protein which is a main component of the ribonucleocapsid, a subviral structure believed to be involved in the intercellular movement of plant rhabdoviruses. Together, these data suggest that RYSV P3 is likely a MP of RYSV, thus representing the first example of characterized MPs for plant rhabdoviruses.     

Effects of 5' leader and 3' trailer structures on pre-tRNA processing by nuclear RNase P

Eukaryotic transfer RNA precursors (pre-tRNAs) contain a 5' leader preceding the aminoacyl acceptor stem and a 3' trailer extending beyond this stem. An early step in pre-tRNA maturation is removal of the 5' leader by the endoribonuclease, RNase P. Extensive pairing between leader and trailer sequences has previously been demonstrated to block RNase P cleavage, suggesting that the 5' leader and 3' trailer sequences might need to be separated for the substrate to be recognized by the eukaryotic holoenzyme. To address whether the nuclear RNase P holoenzyme recognizes the 5' leader and 3' trailer sequences independently, interactions of RNase P with pre-tRNA(Tyr) containing either the 5' leader, the 3' trailer, or both were examined. Kinetic analysis revealed little effect of the 3' trailer or a long 5' leader on the catalytic rate (k(cat)) for cleavage using the various pre-tRNA derivatives. However, the presence of a 3' trailer that pairs with the 5' leader increases the K(m) of pre-tRNA slightly, in agreement with previous results. Similarly, competition studies demonstrate that removal of a complementary 3' trailer lowers the apparent K(I), consistent with the structure between these two sequences interfering with their interaction with the enzyme. Deletion of both the 5' and 3' extensions to give mature termini resulted in the least effective competitor. Further studies showed that the nuclear holoenzyme, but not the B. subtilis holoenzyme, had a high affinity for single-stranded RNA in the absence of attached tRNA structure. The data suggest that yeast nuclear RNase P contains a minimum of two binding sites involved in substrate recognition, one that interacts with tRNA and one that interacts with the 3' trailer. Furthermore, base pairing between the 5' leader and 3' trailer hinders recognition.     

Long 5' leaders inhibit removal of a 3' trailer from a precursor tRNA by mammalian tRNA 3' processing endoribonuclease.

Mammalian tRNA 3' processing endoribonuclease (3' tRNase) can remove a 3' trailer from various pre-tRNAs without 5' leader nucleotides. To examine how 5[prime] leader sequences affect 3' processing efficiency, we performed in vitro 3' processing reactions with purified pig 3' tRNase and pre-tRNAArgs containing a 13-nt 3' trailer and a 5[prime] leader of various lengths. The 3' processing was slightly stimulated by 5[prime] leaders containing up to 7 nt, whereas leaders of 9 nt or longer severely inhibited the reaction. Structure probing indicated that the 5' leader sequences had little effect on pre-tRNA folding. Similar results were obtained using pre-tRNA(Val)s containing a 5' leader of various lengths. We also investigated whether 3'tRNase can remove 3' trailers that are stably base-paired with 5' leaders to form an extended acceptor stem. Even such small 5' leaders as 3 and 6 nt, when base-paired with a 3' trailer, severely hindered removal of the 3' trailer by 3' tRNase.     

Mutations in the 5' trailer region of a respiratory syncytial virus minigenome which limit RNA replication to one step

The 3' termini of the genomic and antigenomic RNAs of human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are identical at 10 of the first 11 nucleotide positions and 21 of the first 26 positions. These conserved 3'-terminal sequences are thought to contain the genomic and antigenomic promoters. Furthermore, the complement of each conserved sequence (i.e., the 5' end of the RNA it encodes) might contain an encapsidation signal. Using an RSV minigenome system, we individually mutated each of the last seven nucleotides in the 5' trailer region of the genome. We analyzed effects of these mutations on encapsidation of the T7 polymerase-transcribed negative-sense genome, its ability to function as a template for RSV-driven synthesis of positive-sense antigenome and mRNA, and the ability of this antigenome to be encapsidated and to function as template for the synthesis of more genome. As a technical complication, mutations in the last five nucleotides of the trailer region were found to affect the efficiency of the adjoining T7 promoter over more than a 10-fold range, even though three nonviral G residues had been included between the core promoter and the trailer to maximize the efficiency of promoter activity. This was controlled in all experiments by monitoring the levels of total and encapsidated genome. The efficiency of encapsidation of the T7 polymerase-transcribed genome was not affected by any of the trailer mutations. Furthermore, neither the efficiency of positive-sense RNA synthesis from the genome nor the efficiency of encapsidation of the encoded antigenome was affected by the mutations. However, nucleotide substitution at positions 2, 3, 6, or 7 relative to the 5' end of the trailer blocked the production of progeny genome, whereas substitution at positions 1 and 5 allowed a low level of genome production and substitutions at position 4 were tolerated. Position 4 is the only one of the seven positions examined that is not conserved between the 3' ends of genomic and antigenomic RNA. The mutations that blocked the synthesis of progeny genome thus limited RNA replication to one step, namely, the synthesis and encapsidation of antigenome. Restoration of terminal complementarity for one of the trailer mutants by making a compensatory mutation in the leader region did not restore synthesis of genomic RNA, confirming that its loss was not due to reduced terminal complementarity. Interestingly, this leader mutation appeared to prevent antigenome synthesis with only a slight effect on mRNA synthesis, apparently providing a dissociation between these two synthetic activities. Genomes in which the terminal 24 or 325 nucleotides of the trailer have been deleted were competent for encapsidation and the synthesis of mRNA and antigenomic RNA, further confirming that terminal complementarity was not required for these functions.     

Initiation of Genomic Plus-Strand RNA Synthesis from DNA and RNA Templates by a Viral RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase

In contrast to the synthesis of minus-strand genomic and plus-strand subgenomic RNAs, the requirements for brome mosaic virus (BMV) genomic plus-strand RNA synthesis in vitro have not been previously reported. Therefore, little is known about the biochemical requirements for directing genomic plus-strand synthesis. Using DNA templates to characterize the requirements for RNA-dependent RNA polymerase template recognition, we found that initiation from the 3' end of a template requires one nucleotide 3' of the initiation nucleotide. The addition of a nontemplated nucleotide at the 3' end of minus-strand BMV RNAs led to initiation of genomic plus-strand RNA in vitro. Genomic plus-strand initiation was specific since cucumber mosaic virus minus-strand RNA templates were unable to direct efficient synthesis under the same conditions. In addition, mutational analysis of the minus-strand template revealed that the -1 nontemplated nucleotide, along with the +1 cytidylate and +2 adenylate, is important for RNA-dependent RNA polymerase interaction. Furthermore, genomic plus-strand RNA synthesis is affected by sequences 5' of the initiation site.     

Complete Genome Sequence and Genome Analysis of Eggplant mottled dwarf virus‐Iranian Isolate

The full‐length nucleotide sequence of the Iranian isolate of Eggplant mottled dwarf virus (EMDV), a phytorhabdovirus, was determined using the random polymerase chain reaction method (rPCR) followed by PCR with specific primers to fill in the gaps. The negative‐sense RNA genome of the Iranian isolate of EMDV contains 13154 nucleotides and seven open‐reading frames (ORFs) in the order 3′‐leader‐N‐X‐P‐Y‐M‐G‐L‐trailer‐5′. These ORFs encode the nucleocapsid, X protein (of unknown function), phosphoprotein, Y protein (putative movement protein), matrix protein, glycoprotein and RNA‐dependent RNA polymerase, respectively. EMDV has a 199 nt 3′ leader RNA and a 151 nt 5′ trailer, and the ORFs are separated by conserved intergenic sequences. Phylogenetic analyses indicate that EMDV is most closely related to Potato yellow dwarf virus, which has a distinctly different geographical distribution.     

The ORF2 protein of hepatitis E virus binds the 5' region of viral RNA

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a major human pathogen in much of the developing world. It is a plus-strand RNA virus with a 7.2-kb polyadenylated genome consisting of three open reading frames, ORF1, ORF2, and ORF3. Of these, ORF2 encodes the major capsid protein of the virus and ORF3 encodes a small protein of unknown function. Using the yeast three-hybrid system and traditional biochemical techniques, we have studied the RNA binding activities of ORF2 and ORF3, two proteins encoded in the 3' structural part of the genome. Since the genomic RNA from HEV has been postulated to contain secondary structures at the 5' and 3' ends, we used these two terminal regions, besides other regions within the genome, in this study. Experiments were designed to test for interactions between the genomic RNA fusion constructs with ORF2 and ORF3 hybrid proteins in a yeast cellular environment. We show here that the ORF2 protein contains RNA binding activity. The ORF2 protein specifically bound the 5' end of the HEV genome. Deletion analysis of this protein showed that its RNA binding activity was lost when deletions were made beyond the N-terminal 111 amino acids. Finer mapping of the interacting RNA revealed that a 76-nucleotide (nt) region at the 5' end of the HEV genome was responsible for binding the ORF2 protein. This 76-nt region included the 51-nt HEV sequence, conserved across alphaviruses. Our results support the requirement of this conserved sequence for interaction with ORF2 and also indicate an increase in the strength of the RNA-protein interaction when an additional 44 bases downstream of this 76-nt region were included. Secondary-structure predictions and the location of the ORF2 binding region within the HEV genome indicate that this interaction may play a role in viral encapsidation.     

Specific interaction between the classical swine fever virus NS5B protein and the viral genome.

The NS5B protein of the classical swine fever virus (CSFV) is the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase of the virus and is able to catalyze the viral genome replication. The 3' untranslated region is most likely involved in regulation of the Pestivirus genome replication. However, little is known about the interaction between the CSFV NS5B protein and the viral genome. We used different RNA templates derived from the plus-strand viral genome, or the minus-strand viral genome and the CSFV NS5B protein obtained from the Escherichia coli expression system to address this problem. We first showed that the viral NS5B protein formed a complex with the plus-strand genome through the genomic 3' UTR and that the NS5B protein was also able to bind the minus-strand 3' UTR. Moreover, it was found that viral NS5B protein bound the minus-strand 3' UTR more efficiently than the plus-strand 3' UTR. Further, we observed that the plus-strand 3' UTR with deletion of CCCGG or 21 continuous nucleotides at its 3' terminal had no binding activity and also lost the activity for initiation of minus-strand RNA synthesis, which similarly occurred in the minus-strand 3' UTR with CATATGCTC or the 21 nucleotide fragment deleted from the 3' terminal. Therefore, it is indicated that the 3' CCCGG sequence of the plus-strand 3' UTR, and the 3' CATATGCTC fragment of the minus-strand are essential to in vitro synthesis of the minus-strand RNA and the plus-strand RNA, respectively. The same conclusion is also appropriate for the 3' 21 nucleotide terminal site of both the 3' UTRs.     

The inhibitory effect of the autoantigen La on in vitro 3' processing of mammalian precursor tRNAs

Mammalian tRNA 3' processing endoribonuclease (3' tRNase) can remove a 3' trailer from various precursor (pre)-tRNAs. We investigated what effect the autoantigen La has on 3' processing, since the La protein is known to bind to a 3'-terminal uridine tract of pre-tRNAs. We tested sixteen different pre-tRNA(Arg) substrates containing various 3' trailers with or without a 5' leader sequence for in vitro processing by pig 3' tRNase, and for gel-retardation in the presence or absence of human La protein. The R-TUUU series consists of four pre-tRNAs containing 6, 8, 11 and 15 nt 3' trailers ending with UUU and no 5' leader, while the R-TAGC series consists of the same four pre-tRNAs as R-TUUU except that the terminal sequence is AGC. The R-6LTUUU and R-6LTAGC series are derived from R-TUUU and R-TAGC, respectively, by adding a 6 nt 5' leader. La differentially inhibited their processing and bound to the pre-tRNAs; the 50 % inhibitory concentrations for the R-TUUU, R-TAGC, R-6LTUUU, and R-6LTAGC series were 82 to >850, >850, 2 to 292 and 573 to 785 nM, respectively, and the dissociation constants were 10 to 840, >850, 3 to 203 and 155 to 520 nM, respectively. These results indicate that both the terminal sequence UUU and the 5' leader contribute to more severe inhibition of 3' processing via tighter interaction with La. With respect to the R-TUUU and R-6LTUUU series, on the whole, the La inhibition was enhanced as the 3' trailer lengths decreased. Taken together, our results suggest that the La protein sterically hinders 3' tRNase from binding a pre-tRNA molecule probably near the cleavage site.     

简化cDNA末端快速扩增技术测定基因Ⅲ、Ⅵb和Ⅶ d型新城疫病毒基因组末端序列及分析

[目的]简化cDNA末端快速扩增技术(Rapid amplification of cDNA ends,fLAcE)流程,测定基因Ⅲ、VIb)和VIId型新城疫病毒(Newcastle disease virus,NDV)基因组两侧末端序列,并对NDV的leader和trailer进行分析.[方法]利用T4 RNA连接酶将特定寡聚核苷酸片段的连接于病毒基因组RNA和eDNA,再利用RT-PCR或PCR方法对病毒基因组的末端进行快速的扩增.[结果]建立一套操作简单、低成本、可重复性高的RACE方法,测定了三种基因型5株NDV 3'末端leader和5'末端trailer序列比对分析.[结论]本实验测定的鹅源VII型毒株JS/7/05/Ch基因组的15,184 nt由一个T变为了C,5'端trailer与3'端leader的连续互补序列由8 nt变为12 nt,而其它4株基因Ⅲ型和VI型NDV均未发现该突变.通过RNA的二级结构分析,NDV基因组和反向基因组RNA的3'末端形成一个发卡结构.JS/7/05/Ch等3株NDV U→C(T→C)的突变位于发卡环上,不影响二级结构的形成,发卡环的RNA序列突变为3'-UCUC-5',与基因组3'端发卡环的3'-UCUUA-5'相似,推测可能影响了基因组RNA的复制速度.     

Sequences in the 5′ Nontranslated Region of Hepatitis C Virus Required for RNA Replication

Sequences in the 5' and 3' termini of plus-strand RNA viruses harbor cis-acting elements important for efficient translation and replication. In case of the hepatitis C virus (HCV), a plus-strand RNA virus of the family Flaviviridae, a 341-nucleotide-long nontranslated region (NTR) is located at the 5' end of the genome. This sequence contains an internal ribosome entry site (IRES) that is located downstream of an about 40-nucleotide-long sequence of unknown function. By using our recently developed HCV replicon system, we mapped and characterized the sequences in the 5' NTR required for RNA replication. We show that deletions introduced into the 5' terminal 40 nucleotides abolished RNA replication but only moderately affected translation. By generating a series of replicons with HCV-poliovirus (PV) chimeric 5' NTRs, we could show that the first 125 nucleotides of the HCV genome are essential and sufficient for RNA replication. However, the efficiency could be tremendously increased upon the addition of the complete HCV 5' NTR. These data show that (i) sequences upstream of the HCV IRES are essential for RNA replication, (ii) the first 125 nucleotides of the HCV 5' NTR are sufficient for RNA replication, but such replicon molecules are severely impaired for multiplication, and (iii) high-level HCV replication requires sequences located within the IRES. These data provide the first identification of signals in the 5' NTR of HCV RNA essential for replication of this virus.