Inhibition of aldolase A blocks biogenesis of ATP and attenuates Japanese encephalitis virus production

Viral replication depends on host proteins to supply energy and replication accessories for the sufficient production of viral progeny. In this study, we identified fructose-bisphosphate aldolase A as a binding partner of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) untranslated regions (UTRs) on the antigenome via RNA affinity capture and mass spectrometry. Direct interaction of aldolase A with JEV RNAs was confirmed by gel mobility shift assay and colocalization with active replication of double-stranded RNA in JEV-infected cells. Infection of JEV caused an increase in aldolase A expression of up to 33%. Knocking down aldolase A reduced viral translation, genome replication, and viral production significantly. Furthermore, JEV infection consumed 50% of cellular ATP, and the ATP level decreased by 70% in the aldolase A-knockdown cells. Overexpression of aldolase A in aldolase A-knockdown cells increased ATP levels significantly. Taken together, these results indicate that JEV replication requires aldolase A and consumes ATP. This is the first report of direct involvement of a host metabolic enzyme, aldolase A protein, in JEV replication.     

RNA-protein interactions: involvement of NS3, NS5, and 3' noncoding regions of Japanese encephalitis virus genomic RNA.

The mechanism of replication of the flavivirus Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is not well known. The structures at the 3' end of the viral genome are highly conserved among divergent flaviviruses, suggesting that they may function as cis-acting signals for RNA replication and, as such, might specifically bind to cellular or viral proteins. UV cross-linking experiments were performed to identify the proteins that bind with the JEV plus-strand 3' noncoding region (NCR). Two proteins, p71 and p110, from JEV-infected but not from uninfected cell extracts were shown to bind specifically to the plus-strand 3' NCR. The quantities of these binding proteins increased during the course of JEV infection and correlated with the levels of JEV RNA synthesis in cell extracts. UV cross-linking coupled with Western blot and immunoprecipitation analysis showed that the p110 and p71 proteins were JEV NS5 and NS3, respectively, which are proposed as components of the RNA replicase. The putative stem-loop structure present within the plus-strand 3' NCR was required for the binding of these proteins. Furthermore, both proteins could interact with each other and form a protein-protein complex in vivo. These findings suggest that the 3' NCR of JEV genomic RNA may form a replication complex together with NS3 and NS5; this complex may be involved in JEV minus-strand RNA synthesis.     

Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) interaction with 3' ends of Japanese encephalitis virus RNA and colocalization with the viral NS5 protein

Replication of the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) genome depends on host factors for successfully completing their life cycles; to do this, host factors have been recruited and/or relocated to the site of viral replication. Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), a cellular metabolic protein, was found to colocalize with viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (NS5) in JEV-infected cells. Subcellular fractionation further indicated that GAPDH remained relatively constant in the cytosol, while increasing at 12 to 24 hours postinfection (hpi) and decreasing at 36 hpi in the nuclear fraction of infected cells. In contrast, the redistribution patterns of GAPDH were not observed in the uninfected cells. Co-immunoprecipitation of GAPDH and JEV NS5 protein revealed no direct protein-protein interaction; instead, GAPDH binds to the 3'' termini of plus- and minus-strand RNAs of JEV by electrophoretic mobility shift assays. Accordingly, GAPDH binds to the minus strand more efficiently than to the plus strand of JEV RNAs. This study highlights the findings that infection of JEV changes subcellular localization of GAPDH suggesting that this metabolic enzyme may play a role in JEV replication.     

SYNCRIP, a member of the heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein family, is involved in mouse hepatitis virus RNA synthesis

Several cellular proteins, including several heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins (hnRNPs), have been shown to function as regulatory factors for mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) RNA synthesis as a result of their binding to the 5' and 3' untranslated regions (UTRs) of the viral RNA. Here, we identified another cellular protein, p70, which has been shown by UV cross-linking to bind both the positive- and negative-strand UTRs of MHV RNA specifically. We purified p70 with a a one-step RNA affinity purification procedure with the biotin-labeled 5'-UTR. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI)-mass spectrometry identified it as synaptotagmin-binding cytoplasmic RNA-interacting protein (SYNCRIP). SYNCRIP is a member of the hnRNP family and localizes largely in the cytoplasm. The p70 was cross-linked to the MHV positive- or negative-strand UTR in vitro and in vivo. The bacterially expressed SYNCRIP was also able to bind to the 5'-UTR of both strands. The SYNCRIP-binding site was mapped to the leader sequence of the 5'-UTR, requiring the UCUAA repeat sequence. To investigate the functional significance of SYNCRIP in MHV replication, we expressed a full-length or a C-terminally truncated form of SYNCRIP in mammalian cells expressing the MHV receptor. The overexpression of either form of SYNCRIP inhibited syncytium formation induced by MHV infection. Furthermore, downregulation of the endogenous SYNCRIP with a specific short interfering RNA delayed MHV RNA synthesis; in contrast, overexpression or downregulation of SYNCRIP did not affect MHV translation. These results suggest that SYNCRIP may be directly involved in MHV RNA replication as a positive regulator. This study identified an additional cellular hnRNP as an MHV RNA-binding protein potentially involved in viral RNA synthesis.     

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.     

Cap-independent translational enhancement of turnip crinkle virus genomic and subgenomic RNAs

The presence of translational control elements and cap structures has not been carefully investigated for members of the Carmovirus genus, a group of small icosahedral plant viruses with positive-sense RNA genomes. In this study, we examined both the 5' and 3' untranslated regions (UTRs) of the turnip crinkle carmovirus (TCV) genomic RNA (4 kb) as well as the 5' UTR of the coat protein subgenomic RNA (1.45 kb) for their roles in translational regulation. All three UTRs enhanced translation of the firefly luciferase reporter gene to different extents. Optimal translational efficiency was achieved when mRNAs contained both 5' and 3' UTRs. The synergistic effect due to the 5'-3' cooperation was at least fourfold greater than the sum of the contributions of the individual UTRs. The observed translational enhancement of TCV mRNAs occurred in a cap-independent manner, a result consistent with the demonstration, using a cap-specific antibody, that the 5' end of the TCV genomic RNA was uncapped. Finally, the translational enhancement activity within the 5' UTR of 1.45-kb subgenomic RNA was shown to be important for the translation of coat protein in protoplasts and for virulent infection in Arabidopsis plants.     

Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A2 participates in the replication of Japanese encephalitis virus through an interaction with viral proteins and RNA

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus that is kept in a zoonotic transmission cycle between pigs and mosquitoes. JEV causes infection of the central nervous system with a high mortality rate in dead-end hosts, including humans. Many studies have suggested that the flavivirus core protein is not only a component of nucleocapsids but also an important pathogenic determinant. In this study, we identified heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A2 (hnRNP A2) as a binding partner of the JEV core protein by pulldown purification and mass spectrometry. Reciprocal coimmunoprecipitation analyses in transfected and infected cells confirmed a specific interaction between the JEV core protein and hnRNP A2. Expression of the JEV core protein induced cytoplasmic retention of hnRNP A2 in JEV subgenomic replicon cells. Small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated knockdown of hnRNP A2 resulted in a 90% reduction of viral RNA replication in cells infected with JEV, and the reduction was cancelled by the expression of an siRNA-resistant hnRNP A2 mutant. In addition to the core protein, hnRNP A2 also associated with JEV nonstructural protein 5, which has both methyltransferase and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase activities, and with the 5'-untranslated region of the negative-sense JEV RNA. During one-step growth, synthesis of both positive- and negative-strand JEV RNAs was delayed by the knockdown of hnRNP A2. These results suggest that hnRNP A2 plays an important role in the replication of JEV RNA through the interaction with viral proteins and RNA.     

The FUSE binding protein is a cellular factor required for efficient replication of hepatitis C virus

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is the leading cause of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma and one of the primary indications for liver transplantation. The molecular mechanisms underlying the actions of host factors in HCV replication remain poorly defined. FUSE (far upstream element of the c-myc proto-oncogene) binding protein (FBP) is a cellular factor that we have identified as a binder of HCV 3' nontranslated region (3'NTR). Mapping of the binding site showed that FBP specifically interacts with the poly(U) tract within the poly(U/UC) region of the 3'NTR. Silencing of FBP expression by small interfering RNA in cells carrying HCV subgenomic replicons severely reduced viral replication, while overexpression of FBP significantly enhanced viral replication. We confirmed these observations by an in vitro HCV replication assay in the cell-free replicative lysate, which suggested that there is a direct correlation between the cellular FBP level and HCV replication. FBP immunoprecipitation coprecipitated HCV nonstructural protein 5A (NS5A), indicating that FBP interacts with HCV NS5A, which is known to function as a link between HCV translation and replication. Although FBP is mainly localized in the nucleus, we found that in MH14 cells a significant level of this protein is colocalized with NS5A in the cytosol, a site of HCV replication. While the mechanism of FBP involvement in HCV replication is yet to be delineated, our findings suggest that it may be an important regulatory component that is essential for efficient replication of HCV.     

Autophagy is involved in the early step of Japanese encephalitis virus infection

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), an enveloped Flavivirus with a positive-sense RNA genome, causes acute encephalitis with high mortality in humans. We used a virulent (RP-9) and an attenuated (RP-2ms) JEV strain to assess the role of autophagy in JEV infection. By monitoring the levels of lipidated LC3, we found that autophagy was induced in human NT-2 cells infected with RP-2ms, especially at the late stage, and to a lesser extent with RP-9. The induction of autophagy by rapamycin increased viral production, whereas the inhibition of autophagy by 3-methyladenine reduced viral yields for both RP-9 and RP-2ms. The viral replication of RP-9 and RP-2ms was also reduced in cells with downregulated ATG5 or Beclin 1 expression, suggesting a proviral role of autophagy in JEV replication. To determine the step of JEV life cycle affected by autophagy, we used an mCherry-LC3 fusion protein as the autophagosome marker. Little of no colocalization of LC3 puncta with dsRNA was noted, whereas the input JEV particles were targeted to autophagosomes stained positive for early endosome marker. Overall, we show for the first time that the cellular autophagy process is involved in JEV infection and the inoculated viral particles traffic to autophagosomes for subsequent steps of viral infection.     

Anti-Japanese-encephalitis-viral effects of kaempferol and daidzin and their RNA-binding characteristics

Background

New therapeutic tools and molecular targets are needed for treatment of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) infections. JEV requires an α-1 translational frameshift to synthesize the NS1'' protein required for viral neuroinvasiveness. Several flavonoids have been shown to possess antiviral activity in vitro against a wide spectrum of viruses. To date, the antiviral activities of flavonol kaempferol (Kae) and isoflavonoid daidzin (Dai) against JEV have not been described.

Methodology/Principal Findings

The 50% cytotoxic concentration (CC₅₀) and 50% effective concentration (EC₅₀) against JEV were investigated in BHK21 cells by MTS reduction. Activity against viral genomic RNA and proteins was measured by real-time RT-PCR and western blotting. The frameshift site RNA-binding characterization was also determined by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, isothermal titration calorimetry and autodocking analysis. EC₅₀ values of Kae and Dai were 12.6 and 25.9 µM against JEV in cells pretreated before infection, whereas in cells infected before treatment, EC₅₀ was 21.5 and 40.4 µM, respectively. Kae exhibited more potent activity against JEV and RNA binding in cells following internalization through direct inhibition of viral replication and protein expression, indicating that its antiviral activity was principally due to direct virucidal effects. The JEV frameshift site RNA (fsRNA) was selected as a target for assaying Kae and Dai. ITC of fsRNA revealed an apparent K_b value for Kae that was nine fold stronger than that for Dai. This binding was confirmed and localized to the RNA using ESI-MS and autodock analysis. Kae could form non-covalent complexes with fsRNA more easily than Dai could.

Conclusions/Significance

Kae demonstrates more potent antiviral activity against JEV than does Dai. The mode of action of Kae as an anti-JEV agent seems to be related to its ability to inactivate virus by binding with JEV fsRNA.     

Control of translation by the 5'- and 3'-terminal regions of the dengue virus genome

The genomic RNAs of flaviviruses such as dengue virus (DEN) have a 5' m7GpppN cap like those of cellular mRNAs but lack a 3' poly(A) tail. We have studied the contributions to translational expression of 5'- and 3'-terminal regions of the DEN serotype 2 genome by using luciferase reporter mRNAs transfected into Vero cells. DCLD RNA contained the entire DEN 5' and 3' untranslated regions (UTRs), as well as the first 36 codons of the capsid coding region fused to the luciferase reporter gene. Capped DCLD RNA was as efficiently translated in Vero cells as capped GLGpA RNA, a reporter with UTRs from the highly expressed alpha-globin mRNA and a 72-residue poly(A) tail. Analogous reporter RNAs with regulatory sequences from West Nile and Sindbis viruses were also strongly expressed. Although capped DCLD RNA was expressed much more efficiently than its uncapped form, uncapped DCLD RNA was translated 6 to 12 times more efficiently than uncapped RNAs with UTRs from globin mRNA. The 5' cap and DEN 3' UTR were the main sources of the translational efficiency of DCLD RNA, and they acted synergistically in enhancing translation. The DEN 3' UTR increased mRNA stability, although this effect was considerably weaker than the enhancement of translational efficiency. The DEN 3' UTR thus has translational regulatory properties similar to those of a poly(A) tail. Its translation-enhancing effect was observed for RNAs with globin or DEN 5' sequences, indicating no codependency between viral 5' and 3' sequences. Deletion studies showed that translational enhancement provided by the DEN 3' UTR is attributable to the cumulative contributions of several conserved elements, as well as a nonconserved domain adjacent to the stop codon. One of the conserved elements was the conserved sequence (CS) CS1 that is complementary to cCS1 present in the 5' end of the DEN polyprotein open reading frame. Complementarity between CS1 and cCS1 was not required for efficient translation.     

A potential mechanism for selective control of cap-independent translation by a viral RNA sequence in cis and in trans.

Highly efficient cap-independent translation initiation at the 5'-proximal AUG is facilitated by the 3' translation enhancer sequence (3'TE) located near the 3' end of barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) genomic RNA. The role of the 3'TE in regulating viral translation was examined. The 3'TE is required for translation and thus replication of the genomic RNA that lacks a 5' cap (Allen et al., 1999, Virology253:139-144). Here we show that the 3'TE also mediates translation of uncapped viral subgenomic mRNAs (sgRNA1 and sgRNA2). A 109-nt viral sequence is sufficient for 3'TE activity in vitro, but additional viral sequence is necessary for cap-independent translation in vivo. The 5' extremity of the sequence required in the 3' untranslated region (UTR) for cap-independent translation in vivo coincides with the 5' end of sgRNA2. Thus, sgRNA2 has the 3'TE in its 5' UTR. Competition studies using physiological ratios of viral RNAs showed that, in trans, the 109-nt 3'TE alone, or in the context of 869-nt sgRNA2, inhibited translation of genomic RNA much more than it inhibited translation of sgRNA1. The divergent 5' UTRs of genomic RNA and sgRNA1 contribute to this differential susceptibility to inhibition. We propose that sgRNA2 serves as a novel regulatory RNA to carry out the switch from early to late gene expression. Thus, this new mechanism for temporal control of translation control involves a sequence that stimulates translation in cis and acts in trans to selectively inhibit translation of viral mRNA.     

Interactome analysis of the EV71 5′ untranslated region in differentiated neuronal cells SH‐SY5Y and regulatory role of FBP3 in viral replication

Enterovirus 71 (EV71), a single‐stranded RNA virus, is one of the most serious neurotropic pathogens in the Asia‐Pacific region. Through interactions with host proteins, the 5′ untranslated region (5′UTR) of EV71 is important for viral replication. To gain a protein profile that interact with the EV71 5′UTR in neuronal cells, we performed a biotinylated RNA‐protein pull‐down assay in conjunction with LC–MS/MS analysis. A total of 109 proteins were detected and subjected to Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery (DAVID) analyses. These proteins were found to be highly correlated with biological processes including RNA processing/splicing, epidermal cell differentiation, and protein folding. A protein–protein interaction network was constructed using the STRING online database to illustrate the interactions of those proteins that are mainly involved in RNA processing/splicing or protein folding. Moreover, we confirmed that the far‐upstream element binding protein 3 (FBP3) was able to bind to the EV71 5′UTR. The redistribution of FBP3 in subcellular compartments was observed after EV71 infection, and the decreased expression of FBP3 in host neuronal cells markedly inhibited viral replication. Our results reveal various host proteins that potentially interact with the EV71 5′UTR in neuronal cells, and we found that FBP3 could serve as a positive regulator in host cells.     

Characterization of homologous defective interfering RNA during persistent infection of Vero cells with Japanese encephalitis virus

It has been suggested that defective interfering (DI) RNA contributes to the persistence of Japanese en-cephalitis virus (JEV). In this study, we characterized molecular and biological aspects of the DI RNA and its relation to viral persistence. We identified a homolo-gous DI virus intimately associated with JEV persis-tence in Vero cells. The production of DI RNA during undiluted serial passages of JEV coincided with the appearance of cells refractory to acute infection with JEV. We also established a Vero cell clone with a per-sistent JEV infection in which the DI RNA co-replicated efficiently at the expense of helper virus. The infectious virus yield of the clone fluctuated dur-ing its growth depending upon the amount of DI RNA accumulated in the previous replication cycle. Identifi-cation of the corresponding negative-sense RNA of the DI RNA indicated that the DI RNA functioned as a replication unit. Most of the DI RNA molecules re-tained their open reading frames despite a large dele-tion, encompassing most of the prM, the entire E, and the 5' half of the NS1 gene. Taken together, these ob-servations suggest that the generation of homologous DI RNA during successive JEV acute infections in Vero cells probably participates actively in persistent JEV infection.     

Interactions of viral protein 3CD and poly(rC) binding protein with the 5' untranslated region of the poliovirus genome

The poly(rC) binding protein (PCBP) is a cellular protein required for poliovirus replication. PCBP specifically interacts with two domains of the poliovirus 5' untranslated region (5'UTR), the 5' cloverleaf structure, and the stem-loop IV of the internal ribosome entry site (IRES). Using footprinting analysis and site-directed mutagenesis, we have mapped the RNA binding site for this cellular protein within the stem-loop IV domain. A C-rich sequence in a loop at the top of this large domain is required for PCBP binding and is crucial for viral translation. PCBP binds to stem-loop IV RNA with six-times-higher affinity than to the 5' cloverleaf structure. However, the binding of the viral protein 3CD (precursor of the viral protease 3C and the viral polymerase 3D) to the cloverleaf RNA dramatically increases the affinity of PCBP for this RNA element. The viral protein 3CD binds to the cloverleaf RNA but does not interact directly with stem-loop IV nor with other RNA elements of the viral IRES. Our results indicate that the interactions of PCBP with the poliovirus 5'UTR are modulated by the viral protein 3CD.     

trans regulation of cap-independent translation by a viral subgenomic RNA

Many positive-strand RNA viruses generate 3'-coterminal subgenomic mRNAs to allow translation of 5'-distal open reading frames. It is unclear how viral genomic and subgenomic mRNAs compete with each other for the cellular translation machinery. Translation of the uncapped Barley yellow dwarf virus genomic RNA (gRNA) and subgenomic RNA1 (sgRNA1) is driven by the powerful cap-independent translation element (BTE) in their 3' untranslated regions (UTRs). The BTE forms a kissing stem-loop interaction with the 5' UTR to mediate translation initiation at the 5' end. Here, using reporter mRNAs that mimic gRNA and sgRNA1, we show that the abundant sgRNA2 inhibits translation of gRNA, but not sgRNA1, in vitro and in vivo. This trans inhibition requires the functional BTE in the 5' UTR of sgRNA2, but no translation of sgRNA2 itself is detectable. The efficiency of translation of the viral mRNAs in the presence of sgRNA2 is determined by proximity to the mRNA 5' end of the stem-loop that kisses the 3' BTE. Thus, the gRNA and sgRNA1 have "tuned" their expression efficiencies via the site in the 5' UTR to which the 3' BTE base pairs. We conclude that sgRNA2 is a riboregulator that switches off translation of replication genes from gRNA while permitting translation of structural genes from sgRNA1. These results reveal (i) a new level of control of subgenomic-RNA gene expression, (ii) a new role for a viral subgenomic RNA, and (iii) a new mechanism for RNA-mediated regulation of translation.     

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus nsp1 Facilitates Efficient Propagation in Cells through a Specific Translational Shutoff of Host mRNA

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus (SCoV) is an enveloped virus containing a single-stranded, positive-sense RNA genome. Nine mRNAs carrying a set of common 5' and 3' untranslated regions (UTR) are synthesized from the incoming viral genomic RNA in cells infected with SCoV. A nonstructural SCoV nsp1 protein causes a severe translational shutoff by binding to the 40S ribosomal subunits. The nsp1-40S ribosome complex further induces an endonucleolytic cleavage near the 5'UTR of host mRNA. However, the mechanism by which SCoV viral proteins are efficiently produced in infected cells in which host protein synthesis is impaired by nsp1 is unknown. In this study, we investigated the role of the viral UTRs in evasion of the nsp1-mediated shutoff. Luciferase activities were significantly suppressed in cells expressing nsp1 together with the mRNA carrying a luciferase gene, while nsp1 failed to suppress luciferase activities of the mRNA flanked by the 5'UTR of SCoV. An RNA-protein binding assay and RNA decay assay revealed that nsp1 bound to stem-loop 1 (SL1) in the 5'UTR of SCoV RNA and that the specific interaction with nsp1 stabilized the mRNA carrying SL1. Furthermore, experiments using an SCoV replicon system showed that the specific interaction enhanced the SCoV replication. The specific interaction of nsp1 with SL1 is an important strategy to facilitate efficient viral gene expression in infected cells, in which nsp1 suppresses host gene expression. Our data indicate a novel mechanism of viral gene expression control by nsp1 and give new insight into understanding the pathogenesis of SARS.