Regulation of Influenza A Virus Nucleoprotein Oligomerization by Phosphorylation

In the influenza virus ribonucleoprotein complex, the oligomerization of the nucleoprotein is mediated by an interaction between the tail-loop of one molecule and the groove of the neighboring molecule. In this study, we show that phosphorylation of a serine residue (S165) within the groove of influenza A virus nucleoprotein inhibits oligomerization and, consequently, ribonucleoprotein activity and viral growth. We propose that nucleoprotein oligomerization in infected cells is regulated by reversible phosphorylation.     

Specific Nucleoprotein Residues Affect Influenza Virus Morphology

Influenza virus strains are often pleiomorphic, a characteristic that is largely attributed to specific residues in matrix protein 1 (M1). Although the mechanism by which M1 controls virion morphology has not yet been defined, it is suggested that the M1 interaction with other viral proteins plays an important role. In this study, we rescued recombinant virus WSN-AichiM1 containing the spherical A/WSN/33 (WSN) backbone and the M1 protein from A/Aichi/2/68 (Aichi). Aichi M1 differs from WSN M1 by 7 amino acids but includes those identified to be responsible for filamentous virion formation. Interestingly, Aichi virus produced spherical virions, while WSN-AichiM1 exhibited a long filamentous morphology, as detected by immunofluorescence and electron microscopy. Additional incorporation of Aichi nucleoprotein (NP) but not the hemagglutinin (HA), neuraminidase (NA), or M2 gene to WSN-AichiM1 abrogated filamentous virion formation, suggesting that specific M1-NP interactions affect virion morphology. Further characterization of viruses containing WSN/Aichi chimeric NPs identified residues 214, 217, and 253 of Aichi NP as necessary and sufficient for the formation of spherical virions. NP residues 214 and 217 localize at the minor groove between the two opposite-polarity NP helical strands of viral ribonucleocapsids, and residue 253 also localizes near the surface of the groove. These findings indicate that NP plays a critical role in influenza virus morphology, possibly through its interaction with the M1 layer during virus budding.     

Influenza Nucleoprotein Delivered with Aluminium Salts Protects Mice from an Influenza A Virus That Expresses an Altered Nucleoprotein Sequence

Influenza virus poses a difficult challenge for protective immunity. This virus is adept at altering its surface proteins, the proteins that are the targets of neutralizing antibody. Consequently, each year a new vaccine must be developed to combat the current recirculating strains. A universal influenza vaccine that primes specific memory cells that recognise conserved parts of the virus could prove to be effective against both annual influenza variants and newly emergent potentially pandemic strains. Such a vaccine will have to contain a safe and effective adjuvant that can be used in individuals of all ages. We examine protection from viral challenge in mice vaccinated with the nucleoprotein from the PR8 strain of influenza A, a protein that is highly conserved across viral subtypes. Vaccination with nucleoprotein delivered with a universally used and safe adjuvant, composed of insoluble aluminium salts, provides protection against viruses that either express the same or an altered version of nucleoprotein. This protection correlated with the presence of nucleoprotein specific CD8 T cells in the lungs of infected animals at early time points after infection. In contrast, immunization with NP delivered with alum and the detoxified LPS adjuvant, monophosphoryl lipid A, provided some protection to the homologous viral strain but no protection against infection by influenza expressing a variant nucleoprotein. Together, these data point towards a vaccine solution for all influenza A subtypes.     

Co-immunoprecipitation of the Mouse Mx1 Protein with the Influenza A Virus Nucleoprotein

Studying the interaction between proteins is key in understanding their function(s). A very powerful method that is frequently used to study interactions of proteins with other macromolecules in a complex sample is called co-immunoprecipitation. The described co-immunoprecipitation protocol allows to demonstrate and further investigate the interaction between the antiviral myxovirus resistance protein 1 (Mx1) and one of its viral targets, the influenza A virus nucleoprotein (NP). The protocol starts with transfected mammalian cells, but it is also possible to use influenza A virus infected cells as starting material. After cell lysis, the viral NP protein is pulled-down with a specific antibody and the resulting immune-complexes are precipitated with protein G beads. The successful pull-down of NP and the co-immunoprecipitation of the antiviral Mx1 protein are subsequently revealed by western blotting. A prerequisite for successful co-immunoprecipitation of Mx1 with NP is the presence of N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) in the cell lysis buffer. NEM alkylates free thiol groups. Presumably this reaction stabilizes the weak and/or transient NP–Mx1 interaction by preserving a specific conformation of Mx1, its viral target or an unknown third component. An important limitation of co-immunoprecipitation experiments is the inadvertent pull-down of contaminating proteins, caused by nonspecific binding of proteins to the protein G beads or antibodies. Therefore, it is very important to include control settings to exclude false positive results. The described co-immunoprecipitation protocol can be used to study the interaction of Mx proteins from different vertebrate species with viral proteins, any pair of proteins, or of a protein with other macromolecules. The beneficial role of NEM to stabilize weak and/or transient interactions needs to be tested for each interaction pair individually.     

HMGB1 Protein Binds to Influenza Virus Nucleoprotein and Promotes Viral Replication

Influenza virus has evolved replication strategies that hijack host cell pathways. To uncover interactions between viral macromolecules and host proteins, we applied a phage display strategy. A library of human cDNA expression products displayed on filamentous phages was submitted to affinity selection for influenza viral ribonucleoproteins (vRNPs). High-mobility-group box (HMGB) proteins were found to bind to the nucleoprotein (NP) component of vRNPs. HMGB1 and HMGB2 bind directly to the purified NP in the absence of viral RNA, and the HMG box A domain is sufficient to bind the NP. We show that HMGB1 associates with the viral NP in the nuclei of infected cells, promotes viral growth, and enhances the activity of the viral polymerase. The presence of a functional HMGB1 DNA-binding site is required to enhance influenza virus replication. Glycyrrhizin, which reduces HMGB1 binding to DNA, inhibits influenza virus polymerase activity. Our data show that the HMGB1 protein can play a significant role in intranuclear replication of influenza viruses, thus extending previous findings on the bornavirus and on a number of DNA viruses.     

H5N1型禽流感病毒核蛋白C端缺失削弱核蛋白间的相互作用

目的：克隆H5N1型禽流感病毒的核蛋白（NP）基因,将其定向插入双分子荧光载体,在细胞水平验证NP-NP的相互作用,进而确定NP-NP相互作用的关键区域。方法：根据双分子荧光互补（BiFC）实验的载体和NP基因序列设计引物,将NP的结构基因定向克隆到荧光载体上,得到重组荧光载体pBiFC-YC155-NP、pBiFC-YN155-NP、pBiFC-YC173-NP和pB-iFC-YN173-NP,瞬时转染293FT细胞,研究NP-NP相互作用;进一步对NP的C端进行缺失突变,然后定向克隆到pBiFC-YN173载体,令其分别与pBiFC-YC155-NP共转染293FT细胞,确定NP的C端在NP-NP相互作用过程中的地位。结果：构建了NP基因的BiFC载体pBiFC-YC155-NP、pBiFC-YN155-NP、pBiFC-YC173-NP和pBiFC-YN173-NP;将pBiFC-YC155-NP和pBiFC-YN173-NP、pBiFC-YC173-NP和pBiFC-YN173-NP共转染293FT细胞后出现了荧光;缺失实验表明,NP的C端是NP在体内相互作用形成寡聚体所必需的。结论：验证了H5N1型禽流感病毒NP在体内的相互作用,并初步证明NP的C端是NP形成寡聚体的必需片段,为进一步研究NP的作用奠定了基础。     

An Anti-Influenza Virus Antibody Inhibits Viral Infection by Reducing Nucleus Entry of Influenza Nucleoprotein

To date, four main mechanisms mediating inhibition of influenza infection by anti-hemagglutinin antibodies have been reported. Anti-globular-head-domain antibodies block either influenza virus receptor binding to the host cell or progeny virion release from the host cell. Anti-stem region antibodies hinder the membrane fusion process or induce antibody-dependent cytotoxicity to infected cells. In this study we identified a human monoclonal IgG₁ antibody (CT302), which does not inhibit both the receptor binding and the membrane fusion process but efficiently reduced the nucleus entry of viral nucleoprotein suggesting a novel inhibition mechanism of viral infection by antibody. This antibody binds to the subtype-H3 hemagglutinin globular head domain of group-2 influenza viruses circulating throughout the population between 1997 and 2007.     

Modulation of Nuclear Localization of the Influenza Virus Nucleoprotein through Interaction with Actin Filaments

The influenza virus genome is transcribed in the nuclei of infected cells but assembled into progeny virions in the cytoplasm. This is reflected in the cellular distribution of the virus nucleoprotein (NP), a protein which encapsidates genomic RNA to form ribonucleoprotein structures. At early times postinfection NP is found in the nucleus, but at later times it is found predominantly in the cytoplasm. NP contains several sequences proposed to act as nuclear localization signals (NLSs), and it is not clear how these are overridden to allow cytoplasmic accumulation of the protein. We find that NP binds tightly to filamentous actin in vitro and have identified a cluster of residues in NP essential for the interaction. Complexes containing RNA, NP, and actin could be formed, suggesting that viral ribonucleoproteins also bind actin. In cells, exogenously expressed NP when expressed at a high level partitioned to the cytoplasm, where it associated with F-actin stress fibers. In contrast, mutants unable to bind F-actin efficiently were imported into the nucleus even under conditions of high-level expression. Similarly, nuclear import of NLS-deficient NP molecules was restored by concomitant disruption of F-actin binding. We propose that the interaction of NP with F-actin causes the cytoplasmic retention of influenza virus ribonucleoproteins.     

miR-769-3p 对甲型 H1N1流感病毒核蛋白表达的调控

目的:预测靶向甲型流感病毒核蛋白(NP)基的微小 RNA(miRNA),并检测其对 NP 表达的影响.方法:从miRBase 数据库中获取人成熟 miRNA 序列,利用 miRanda 软件预测潜在靶向流感病毒 A/FM/1/47(H1N1) NP 基的人 miRNA;通过双萤光素酶报告基系统及 Western 印迹验证所预测的 miRNA 对 NP 表达的影响.结果:用 miRanda软件在流感病毒 A/FM/1/47(H1N1) NP 基上预测得到分值及最小结合自由能均较好的 miR-769-3p;双萤光素酶报告基结果显示 miR-769-3p 能显著降低报告基载体萤光素酶的表达;Western 印迹结果显示 miR-769-3p 能明显抑制 NP 的表达,但突变 NP 基上的 miR-769-3p 结合位点后,miR-769-3p 不能抑制 NP 的表达.结论:miR-769-3p 可靶向流感病毒 A/FM/1/47(H1N1) NP 基并抑制 NP 的表达,为抗甲型流感病毒的 miRNA 药物研发提供了据和潜在药物靶标.     

甲型流感病毒核蛋白在大肠杆菌中的可溶性高效表达与纯化

为了在大肠杆菌中高效表达甲型流感病毒A/京科/30/95(H3N2)核蛋白NP,以便对原核表达的NP蛋白进行免疫原性研究,本研究通过密码子优化及全基因合成等方法,将3种形式的NP基因:与6×His标签融合的NP基因NP(His)、非融合的野生型NP基因NPwt及非融合的按大肠杆菌优势密码子改造的基因NP(O)分别插入原核表达载体pET-30a,构建了表达3种形式NP基因的3种原核表达质粒并研究不同质粒中NP蛋白的表达形式、条件、纯化工艺及抗原性。限制性酶切反应与测序表明,三种形式的NP基因均正确插入原核表达质粒pET-30a;SDS-PAGE凝胶电泳显示,三种形式的NP基因均能在大肠杆菌中表达,NP(O)基因的表达量最高;在不同温度诱导条件下,NP蛋白呈现可溶性表达,NP(O)基因可溶性高效表达的条件为:T=25℃,t=10 h;经阴离子交换和凝胶过滤层析两步纯化,可溶性表达的NP蛋白纯度可达90%;Western blot检测显示,纯化的NP能与流感病毒A/PR/8/34(H1N1)株感染小鼠的血清发生特异性结合。这些结果表明,非融合表达的密码子优化甲型流感病毒NP蛋白能在大肠杆菌中高效表达和纯化,同时保持良好的免疫反应活性。