Nucleocapsid Protein Subunits of Simian Virus 5, Newcastle Disease Virus, and Sendai Virus

Helical nucleocapsids of each of the paramyxoviruses simian virus 5 (SV5), Newcastle disease virus (NDV), and Sendai virus have been isolated in two different forms. One form contains larger protein subunits and is obtained from mature virions or infected cells dispersed by ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. The other form possesses smaller subunits and is obtained from infected cells dispersed by trypsin. The estimated molecular weights of the larger subunits in the three viruses are similar: SV5, 61,000; Sendai virus, 60,000; NDV, 56,000. The smaller nucleocapsid subunits are also very similar: SV5, 43,000; Sendai virus, 46,000; NDV, 47,000. The helical nucleocapsid composed of the smaller subunit appears to be less flexible and more stable than that formed by the larger subunit. There is suggestive evidence that conversion of the larger subunit to the smaller by proteolytic cleavage may occur intracellularly. The possibility that such a mechanism could be involved in the accumulation of nucleocapsid in cells persistently infected with paramyxoviruses is discussed.     

Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Virus Antigen Detection Using Monoclonal Antibodies to the Nucleocapsid Protein

Background

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is a tick-borne infectious disease with a high case fatality rate, and is caused by the SFTS virus (SFTSV). SFTS is endemic to China, South Korea, and Japan. The viral RNA level in sera of patients with SFTS is known to be strongly associated with outcomes. Virological SFTS diagnosis with high sensitivity and specificity are required in disease endemic areas.

Methodology/Principal Findings

We generated novel monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against the SFTSV nucleocapsid (N) protein and developed a sandwich antigen (Ag)-capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of N protein of SFTSV using MAb and polyclonal antibody as capture and detection antibodies, respectively. The Ag-capture system was capable of detecting at least 350–1220 TCID₅₀/100 μl/well from the culture supernatants of various SFTSV strains. The efficacy of the Ag-capture ELISA in SFTS diagnosis was evaluated using serum samples collected from patients suspected of having SFTS in Japan. All 24 serum samples (100%) containing high copy numbers of viral RNA (>10⁵ copies/ml) showed a positive reaction in the Ag-capture ELISA, whereas 12 out of 15 serum samples (80%) containing low copy numbers of viral RNA (<10⁵ copies/ml) showed a negative reaction in the Ag-capture ELISA. Among these Ag-capture ELISA-negative 12 samples, 9 (75%) were positive for IgG antibodies against SFTSV.

Conclusions

The newly developed Ag-capture ELISA is useful for SFTS diagnosis in acute phase patients with high levels of viremia.     

Antiviral Compounds Against Nucleocapsid Protein of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus

Porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) is a severe diarrhea disease in swine that is caused by porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV). Nucleocapsid (N) protein is the RNA-binding protein of PEDV, which plays an important role for virus life cycle. The aim of this research was to screen and characterize the compounds that could inhibit the activity of PEDV N protein. The gene encoding PEDV N protein obtained from PEDV Thai isolate was cloned and expressed in E. coli. Its amino acid sequence was employed to generate the three dimensional structure by homology modeling. There were 1,286 compounds of FDA-approved drug database that could virtually bind to the RNA-binding region of N protein. Three compounds, trichlormethiazide, D-(+) biotin, and glutathione successfully bound to the N protein, in vitro, with the IC₅₀ at 8.754?mg/mL, 0.925?mg/mL, and 2.722?mg/mL. Antiviral activity in PEDV-infected Vero cells demonstrated that the effective concentration of trichlormethiazide, D-(+) biotin, and glutathione in inhibiting PEDV replication were 0.094, 0.094 and 1.5?mg/mL. This study demonstrated a strategy applied for discovery of antiviral agents capable of inhibiting PEDV N protein and PEDV replication. The compounds identified here exhibited a potential use as therapeutic agents for controlling PEDV infection.     

Sequence-Specific Binding of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Nucleocapsid Protein to Short Oligonucleotides

We have analyzed the binding of recombinant human immunodeficiency virus type 1 nucleocapsid protein (NC) to very short oligonucleotides by using surface plasmon resonance (SPR) technology. Our experiments, which were conducted at a moderate salt concentration (0.15 M NaCl), showed that NC binds more stably to runs of d(G) than to other DNA homopolymers. However, it exhibits far more stable binding with the alternating base sequence d(TG)_n than with any homopolymeric oligodeoxyribonucleotide; thus, it shows a strong sequence preference under our experimental conditions. We found that the minimum length of an alternating d(TG) sequence required for stable binding was five nucleotides. Stable binding to the tetranucleotide d(TG)₂ was observed only under conditions where two tetranucleotide molecules were held in close spatial proximity. The stable, sequence-specific binding to d(TG)_n required that both zinc fingers be present, each in its proper position in the NC protein, and was quite salt resistant, indicating a large hydrophobic contribution to the binding. Limited tests with RNA oligonucleotides indicated that the preferential sequence-specific binding observed with DNA also occurs with RNA. Evidence was also obtained that NC can bind to nucleic acid molecules in at least two distinct modes. The biological significance of the specific binding we have detected is not known; it may reflect the specificity with which the parent Gag polyprotein packages genomic RNA or may relate to the functions of NC after cleavage of the polyprotein, including its role as a nucleic acid chaperone.A single protein species, the Gag polyprotein, is sufficient for assembly of retrovirus particles. Since this process includes the selective encapsidation of viral RNA, this protein is evidently capable of specific interactions with nucleic acids. The nature of these interactions is not well understood as yet. After the virion is released from the cell, the polyprotein is cleaved by the virus-encoded protease; one of the cleavage products, termed the nucleocapsid protein (NC), then binds to the genomic RNA, forming the ribonucleoprotein core of the mature particle (21, 35, 41).The interaction between Gag and the genomic RNA is known to involve the NC domain of the polyprotein, since mutants within this domain of Gag are defective in RNA packaging (e.g., references 2, 16, 17, 24–27, 31, 36, 37, and 39) and since the specificity of encapsidation tends to be determined by the NC domain in chimeric Gag molecules (9, 18, 49). However, NC is a basic protein and has frequently been described as binding to single-stranded DNA or RNA in a sequence-independent manner. Indeed, it is probably capable of binding to any single-stranded nucleic acid under appropriate conditions. This binding activity appears to be crucial at several stages of virus replication (13, 19, 28, 46).In the experiments described here, we have analyzed the binding of recombinant human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) NC to short oligonucleotides. These studies were performed at moderate ionic strengths, at which the nonspecific electrostatic interaction between NC and nucleic acids is minimized. We find that under these conditions, the protein exhibits profound sequence preferences. This sequence-specific binding is dependent upon the zinc fingers of the protein and has a strong hydrophobic component. The biological significance of this sequence specificity is not clear at present, but the results suggest that studies with very short oligonucleotides may provide important insights into NC function and perhaps functions of Gag as well.     

Structure, Function, and Evolution of the Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus Nucleocapsid Protein

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) is an emerging tick-borne virus of the Bunyaviridae family that is responsible for a fatal human disease for which preventative or therapeutic measures do not exist. We solved the crystal structure of the CCHFV strain Baghdad-12 nucleocapsid protein (N), a potential therapeutic target, at a resolution of 2.1 Å. N comprises a large globular domain composed of both N- and C-terminal sequences, likely involved in RNA binding, and a protruding arm domain with a conserved DEVD caspase-3 cleavage site at its apex. Alignment of our structure with that of the recently reported N protein from strain YL04057 shows a close correspondence of all folds but significant transposition of the arm through a rotation of 180 degrees and a translation of 40 Å. These observations suggest a structural flexibility that may provide the basis for switching between alternative N protein conformations during important functions such as RNA binding and oligomerization. Our structure reveals surfaces likely involved in RNA binding and oligomerization, and functionally critical residues within these domains were identified using a minigenome system able to recapitulate CCHFV-specific RNA synthesis in cells. Caspase-3 cleaves the polypeptide chain at the exposed DEVD motif; however, the cleaved N protein remains an intact unit, likely due to the intimate association of N- and C-terminal fragments in the globular domain. Structural alignment with existing N proteins reveals that the closest CCHFV relative is not another bunyavirus but the arenavirus Lassa virus instead, suggesting that current segmented negative-strand RNA virus taxonomy may need revision.     

鸭肠炎病毒核衣壳蛋白基因的克隆与原核表达

目的：对DEV贵州分离株NP基因进行克隆与序列分析,构建NP基因的原核表达载体,分析NP基因原核表达产物的免疫反应性。方法：根据GeneBank登载的DENNP基因序列设计引物,对DEV贵州分离株进行PCR扩增、克隆和测序,采用生物信息学软件程序分析NP蛋白的氨基酸序列;将该基因插入到原核表达载体pET32a上进行原核表达和Western Blotting分析。结果：DEV贵州分离株NP基因全长759bp,核苷酸序列与参考株一致;NP基因编码蛋白相对分子量为27．1kDa,理论pI为5．89,肽链上第10．15、88．92和182．186区段及其附近区域可能是B细胞表位优势区;构建得到的重组质粒pET32-NP可表达出一条大小约为48kDa的蛋白,且能与兔抗DEN-IgG发生特异性结合。结论：NP基因在DEN基因组中高度保守,其原核表达产物具有良好的免疫反应性。     

Electroporation-Mediated Delivery of Nucleolar Targeting Sequences from Semliki Forest Virus Nucleocapsid Protein

Abstract

Electroporation was used as a powerful and simple method to probe to the intracellular distribution and trafficking of signal sequences. By coupling synthetic peptides to carrier reporter groups, specific amino acid sequences responsible for nucleolar targeting of Semliki Forest virus (SFV) Core (C) protein were found out. In the N-terminal part of the C protein the sequences ⁶⁶KPKKKKTTKPKPKTQPKK^{83 92}KKKDKQADKKKKP¹⁰⁵ are able to situate BSA or KLH as reporter proteins in the nucleolus, suggesting that SFV C protein contains at least two independent nucleolar targeting sequences.     

云南省昆明地区番茄斑萎病毒核衣壳蛋白和运动蛋白变异分析

为了明确对番茄斑萎病毒(tomato spotted wilt virus,TSWV)免疫的番茄YNAU335自交系表现出TSWV感病症状(抗性被打破)的原因,在排除YNAU335自交系不纯和或混杂其它感病番茄材料的因素外,选取96172I(感病)和YNAU335(抗性被打破)自交系感病植株,进行TSWV核衣壳蛋白(nucleocapsid protein,NP)和运动蛋白(movement protein,MP)基因的RT-PCR检测,并对阳性克隆进行基因测序分析。结果表明:(1)2个自交系中均克隆出TSWV的NP和MP基因,共获得5条NP(登录号:MK628735～MK628739)和3条MP(登录号:MK883723、MK883724和MK887284)多态性基因序列。(2)96172I感病材料中克隆出以上所有基因序列,YNAU335感病材料中克隆出其中的3条NP和1条MP基因序列。(3)对YNAU335中TSWV特有的NP和MP氨基酸突变位点进行分析,结果发现4个特异突变位点可能与打破YNAU335抗性有关,4个突变位点分别为:NP 18位氨基酸G突变为V,36位T突变为I,39位L突变为R,MP 274位E突变为K。(4)系统发育分析显示,5条NP和3条MP与云南省已登记的NP和MP聚类在不同的分支,表明云南省昆明地区TSWV存在丰富的遗传多样性。     

犬瘟热病毒N基因在昆虫杆状病毒表达系统中的表达及应用

目的:为检测犬瘟热抗体提供诊断抗原,应用Bac-to-Bac杆状病毒表达系统表达犬瘟热病毒(canine distemper virus,CDV)N蛋白。方法:采用RT-PCR克隆CDV-N基因,构建重组杆粒BacmidCDV-N,并将其转染Sf9昆虫细胞。通过Western blot和间接免疫荧光检测N蛋白的表达。以表达的CDV N蛋白为包被抗原,建立了检测犬瘟热抗体的间接ELISA方法。结果:成功表达了CDV N蛋白。间接ELISA(iELISA)方法中,犬血清最佳稀释度1∶80,N蛋白稀释度1∶40(6.3μg/100μl)。应用该方法共检测了36份犬血清,与中和试验检测方法相比较,其特异性为81.8%,灵敏度为96.0%,符合率为91.7%。结论:表达的CDV-N蛋白具有良好反应原性,建立了快速检测CDV阳性血清的iELISA方法。     

人源抗汉坦病毒核衣壳蛋白T7噬菌体抗体库的构建

构建人源T7噬菌体单链抗体(scFv)库筛选抗汉坦病毒核衣壳蛋白(NP)抗体。从肾综合征出血热恢复期患者外周血淋巴细胞中提取总RNA,反转录合成cDNA第一条链,PCR分别扩增抗体重链可变区基因(VH)和轻链可变区基因(VL),经重叠延伸拼接(SOE)PCR组成scFv基因,并将其与T7噬菌体载体的2个臂相连接。体外包装后,在宿主菌BLT5403中,扩增重组噬菌体抗体库。以基因工程表达NP进行4轮“吸附-洗脱-扩增”的筛选,酶免疫实验检测抗体活性。所建抗体库库容为1.35×107,扩增后初级库滴度为2.12×1010pfu/mL。以NP抗原筛选后抗体出现特异性富集,经酶免疫实验鉴定,得到2株与NP抗原特异结合的噬菌体抗体。结果表明,研究成功构建了人源抗NP蛋白T7噬菌体抗体库。     

A Spatio-Temporal Analysis of Matrix Protein and Nucleocapsid Trafficking during Vesicular Stomatitis Virus Uncoating

To study VSV entry and the fate of incoming matrix (M) protein during virus uncoating we used recombinant viruses encoding M proteins with a C-terminal tetracysteine tag that could be fluorescently labeled using biarsenical (Lumio) compounds. We found that uncoating occurs early in the endocytic pathway and is inhibited by expression of dominant-negative (DN) Rab5, but is not inhibited by DN-Rab7 or DN-Rab11. Uncoating, as defined by the separation of nucleocapsids from M protein, occurred between 15 and 20 minutes post-entry and did not require microtubules or an intact actin cytoskeleton. Unexpectedly, the bulk of M protein remained associated with endosomal membranes after uncoating and was eventually trafficked to recycling endosomes. Another small, but significant fraction of M distributed to nuclear pore complexes, which was also not dependent on microtubules or polymerized actin. Quantification of fluorescence from high-resolution confocal micrographs indicated that after membrane fusion, M protein diffuses across the endosomal membrane with a concomitant increase in fluorescence from the Lumio label which occurred soon after the release of RNPs into the cytoplasm. These data support a new model for VSV uncoating in which RNPs are released from M which remains bound to the endosomal membrane rather than the dissociation of M protein from RNPs after release of the complex into the cytoplasm following membrane fusion.     

Alteration of Sendai Virus Morphogenesis and Nucleocapsid Incorporation due to Mutation of Cysteine Residues of the Matrix Protein

The matrix (M) protein of Sendai virus (SeV) has five cysteine residues, at positions 83, 106, 158, 251, and 295. To determine the roles of the cysteine residues in viral assembly, we generated mutant M cDNA possessing a substitution to serine at one of the cysteine residues or at all of the cysteine residues. Some mutant M proteins were unstable when expressed in cultured cells, suggesting that cysteine residues affect protein stability, probably by disrupting the proper conformation. In an attempt to generate virus from cDNA, SeV M-C(83)S, SeV M-C(106)S, and SeV M-C(295)S were successfully recovered from cDNA, while recombinant SeVs possessing other mutations were not. SeV M-C(83)S and SeV M-C(106)S had smaller virus particles than did the wild-type SeV, whereas SeV M-C(295)S had larger and heterogeneously sized particles. Furthermore, SeV M-C(106)S had a significant amount of empty particles lacking nucleocapsids. These results indicate that a single-point mutation at a cysteine residue of the M protein affects virus morphology and nucleocapsid incorporation, showing direct involvement of the M protein in SeV assembly. Cysteine-dependent conformation of the M protein was not due to disulfide bond formation, since the cysteines were shown to be free throughout the viral life cycle.