严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒2膜蛋白对宿主细胞pre-mRNA 3"UTR加工的影响

目的 研究严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒2（SARS-CoV-2）膜蛋白对宿主细胞mRNA前体（pre-mRNA）3"非翻译区（UTR）加工的影响。方法 本研究以人肺上皮细胞系A549为模型,利用瞬时转染在细胞内过表达SARS-CoV-2膜蛋白;利用RNA-Seq测序技术及生物信息学分析方法,系统性描绘宿主细胞选择性多聚腺苷酸化（alternative polyadenylation,APA）事件;Metascape数据库对发生显著APA变化的基因进行功能富集分析;RT-qPCR验证靶基因3"UTR长度变化;蛋白质免疫印迹（Western blot）检测目的蛋白表达水平。结果 SARS-CoV-2膜蛋白外源表达后宿主细胞内共813个基因发生显著APA变化。GO和KEGG分析显示,差异APA基因广泛参与有丝分裂细胞周期、调节细胞应激等生物过程,涉及病毒感染和蛋白质加工等。从中进一步筛选出AKT1基因,在IGV软件中显示3"UTR延长;RT-qPCR验证AKT1基因的3"UTR长度变化趋势;Western blot结果显示AKT1蛋白磷酸化水平增加。结论 SARS-CoV-2膜蛋白潜在影响宿主pre-mRNA的3"UTR加工,其中参与多种病毒性生物过程的AKT1基因 3"UTR延长,且其编码的蛋白质功能在细胞内被激活。

Effects of SARS-CoV-2 Membrane Glycoprotein on Host Pre-mRNA 3" Processing

Objective To investigate the effect of SARS-CoV-2 membrane protein on the processing of the 3" untranslated region (UTR) of the mRNA precursor (pre-mRNA) in host cells.Methods Based on the cell model of human lung epithelial cells A549, over-expression of the SARS-CoV-2 membrane protein was performed. The RNA-Seq high-throughput sequencing technique and bioinformatics methods was employed to analyze the systematic characterization of alternative polyadenylation (APA) events in host cells. Genes with significant APA events were uploaded to the Metascape database for functional enrichment analysis. In addition, alternative 3"UTR length of genes with APA events was verified by RT-qPCR. Then the target protein expression level was detected by Western blot.Results A total of 813 genes that were significant dynamic APA events in host cells that over-expressed SARS-CoV-2 membrane protein. These genes were enriched in cell biologicial processes such as the mitotic cell cycle and regulation of cellular response to stress. We further screened AKT1, which encodes a critical regulator involved in the above biological process, showing a 3"UTR lengthening in IGV software. RT-qPCR verified the trend of 3"UTR length changes of AKT1. Western blot showed the increased level of phosphorylated AKT1 protein in over-expressed group of M protein.Conclusion SARS-CoV-2 membrane protein potentially affects the 3" processing of host pre-mRNAs. AKT1, which is involved in a variety of viral biological processes, with 3"UTR lengthening, and its protein function was activated intracellularly.