ORF3蛋白促进猪流行性腹泻病毒在Vero细胞上的增殖

【背景】猪流行性腹泻(Porcine epidemic diarrhea,PED)是由猪流行性腹泻病毒(Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus,PEDV)感染猪而引起的一种急性肠道传染病,常导致病猪水样腹泻、呕吐、脱水。自2010年起,其大规模的暴发给养猪业造成巨大的经济损失。由于对PEDV免疫机理及侵入机制知之甚少,至今仍缺乏有效的PED防治措施。【目的】研究orf3对PEDV体外增殖的影响。【方法】利用基于RNA同源重组的PEDV反向遗传学操作技术拯救一系列携带不同orf3基因及orf3基因缺失的重组PEDV;将获得的重组PEDV以MOI 0.1感染Vero细胞,分别于感染的第8、16、24、32、40、48 h测定其TCID_(50)并绘制病毒生长曲线;分别在感染25 h和36 h利用全自动细胞计数分析仪对6孔板内的细胞进行计数,并于感染后的第12、24、36、48 h用CCK-8试剂盒对其细胞活力进行测定。【结果】RT-PCR结果及细胞病变观察证明成功拯救到了携带不同orf3基因或orf3基因缺失的重组PEDV;进一步的免疫组化分析结果证实PEDV的ORF3蛋白可以在Vero细胞中合成。SPSS软件分析表明携带orf3基因的重组PEDV的滴度(TCID_(50))显著高于缺失orf3基因的重组PEDV的滴度;带有orf3基因的重组PEDV感染Vero细胞25 h和36 h时的活细胞数显著高于缺失orf3基因的重组病毒感染相同时间时的活细胞数;而且重组PEDV感染Vero细胞24 h后,带有orf3基因的重组PEDV的细胞活性显著高于缺失orf3基因的重组病毒。【结论】ORF3蛋白对于PEDV在Vero细胞中的增殖具有促进作用,该作用是通过延缓或减少感染细胞的死亡实现的。本研究为揭示PEDV orf3基因的功能和PEDV复制机制的研究提供理论基础。     

Manipulation of the Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus Genome Using Targeted RNA Recombination

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) causes severe economic losses in the swine industry in China and other Asian countries. Infection usually leads to an acute, often lethal diarrhea in piglets. Despite the impact of the disease, no system is yet available to manipulate the viral genome which has severely hampered research on this virus until today. We have established a reverse genetics system for PEDV based on targeted RNA recombination that allows the modification of the 3′-end of the viral genome, which encodes the structural proteins and the ORF3 protein. Using this system, we deleted the ORF3 gene entirely from the viral genome and showed that the ORF3 protein is not essential for replication of the virus in vitro. In addition, we inserted heterologous genes (i.e. the GFP and Renilla luciferase genes) at two positions in the viral genome, either as an extra expression cassette or as a replacement for the ORF3 gene. We demonstrated the expression of both GFP and Renilla luciferase as well as the application of these viruses by establishing a convenient and rapid virus neutralization assay. The new PEDV reverse genetics system will enable functional studies of the structural proteins and the accessory ORF3 protein and will allow the rational design and development of next generation PEDV vaccines.     

The ORF4a protein of human coronavirus 229E functions as a viroporin that regulates viral production

In addition to a set of canonical genes, coronaviruses encode additional accessory proteins. A locus located between the spike and envelope genes is conserved in all coronaviruses and contains a complete or truncated open reading frame (ORF). Previously, we demonstrated that this locus, which contains the gene for accessory protein 3a from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), encodes a protein that forms ion channels and regulates virus release. In the current study, we explored whether the ORF4a protein of HCoV-229E has similar functions. Our findings revealed that the ORF4a proteins were expressed in infected cells and localized at the endoplasmic reticulum/Golgi intermediate compartment (ERGIC). The ORF4a proteins formed homo-oligomers through disulfide bridges and possessed ion channel activity in both Xenopus oocytes and yeast. Based on the measurement of conductance to different monovalent cations, the ORF4a was suggested to form a non-selective channel for monovalent cations, although Li⁺ partially reduced the inward current. Furthermore, viral production decreased when the ORF4a protein expression was suppressed by siRNA in infected cells. Collectively, this evidence indicates that the HCoV-229E ORF4a protein is functionally analogous to the SARS-CoV 3a protein, which also acts as a viroporin that regulates virus production. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Viral Membrane Proteins — Channels for Cellular Networking.     

The ion channel activity of the SARS-coronavirus 3a protein is linked to its pro-apoptotic function

The severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus (SARS-CoV) caused an outbreak of atypical pneumonia in 2003. The SARS-CoV viral genome encodes several proteins which have no homology to proteins in any other coronaviruses, and a number of these proteins have been implicated in viral cytopathies. One such protein is 3a, which is also known as X1, ORF3 and U274. 3a expression is detected in both SARS-CoV infected cultured cells and patients. Among the different functions identified, 3a is a capable of inducing apoptosis. We previously showed that caspase pathways are involved in 3a-induced apoptosis. In this study, we attempted to find out protein domains on 3a that are essential for its pro-apoptotic function. Protein sequence analysis reveals that 3a possesses three major protein signatures, the cysteine-rich, Yxx and diacidic domains. We showed that 3a proteins carrying respective mutations in these protein domains exhibit reduced pro-apoptotic activities, indicating the importance of these domains on 3a's pro-apoptotic function. It was previously reported that 3a possesses potassium ion channel activity. We further demonstrated that the blockade of 3a's potassium channel activity abolished caspase-dependent apoptosis. This report provides the first evidence that ion channel activity of 3a is required for its pro-apoptotic function. As ion channel activity has been reported to regulate apoptosis in different pathologic conditions, finding ways to modulate the ion channel activity may offer a new direction toward the inhibition of apoptosis triggered by SARS-CoV.     

猪流行性腹泻病毒经其附属蛋白抑制细胞凋亡

【背景】orf3位于猪流行性腹泻病毒(porcine epidemic diarrhea virus,PEDV) s基因与e基因之间,是目前发现的PEDV唯一一个附属基因,编码附属蛋白(ORF3蛋白)。我们前期研究初步发现ORF3蛋白对PEDV诱导的细胞凋亡有影响。【目的】研究ORF3蛋白在PEDV侵染复制过程中的毒力作用机制。【方法】实验用3种PEDV:rDR13att-?ORF3 (orf3基因全部敲除)、DR13-ORF3att (携带有C端截短orf3)、rDR13att-ORF3wt(携带全长orf3基因)感染Vero细胞,观察病变情况,再用活细胞成像仪、流式细胞仪、 DNA断裂的原位末端标记法[terminaldeoxynucleotidyltransferase(TDT)-mediated dUTP nick end labeling,TUNEL]等方法检测不同感染时间点的细胞凋亡情况,然后用蛋白质印迹方法分析PEDV感染宿主细胞中主要凋亡相关蛋白(如Caspase-3)的活化或裂解,最后进行转录组测序研究病毒感染细胞中差异基因的表达情况,再用荧光定量PCR验证转录组结果。【结果】rDR13att-?ORF3引起较多的细胞病变,活细胞成像仪的动态观察结果显示,3种病毒侵染的细胞凋亡水平随着时间的延长均高于正常阴性细胞,但敲除orf3的病毒感染细胞后细胞凋亡率比其他两种病毒更高;敲除orf3病毒感染细胞凋亡率显著高于其他两种病毒;病毒rDR13att-?ORF3感染细胞后TUNEL阳性细胞数比DR13-ORF3att和rDR13att-ORF3wt更多;表达ORF3蛋白的重组PEDV可以抑制Caspase-3的活化;ORF3蛋白对受感染细胞Heat shock 70 kD protein 1B (HSP70)基因转录有促进作用,荧光定量PCR结果表明rDR13att-ORF3wt感染细胞的HSP70表达量高于rDR13att-?ORF3感染细胞。【结论】PEDV通过ORF3蛋白抑制细胞凋亡,而且这种作用可能是通过抑制Caspase-3的活化或增加HSP70的产生来完成的。     

与猪流行性腹泻病毒M蛋白互作的宿主蛋白的鉴定

【背景】猪流行性腹泻病毒(Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus,PEDV)膜蛋白(M)在病毒粒子的组装、膜融合和病毒复制等方面具有重要的作用,但M蛋白与宿主细胞的互作机制尚不清楚。【目的】利用免疫沉淀技术和液质联用技术筛选细胞内与PEDVM蛋白相互作用的蛋白,为揭示M蛋白在病毒增殖过程中发挥的功能提供研究基础。【方法】将MOI=0.1的PEDV DR13疫苗株接种于长成单层的Vero细胞,感染36 h后,收集细胞并进行裂解。利用抗M的单克隆抗体沉淀与M相互作用蛋白复合物,通过液相色谱串联质谱(LC-MS/MS)进行鉴定并利用细胞功能富集分析(Gene ontology,GO)对感染组鉴定到的细胞蛋白进行分析,确定两个细胞内源性蛋白为候选蛋白,进行免疫共沉淀(Co-IP)验证和共定位分析。【结果】基于鉴定蛋白的肽段数的方法分析显示,感染组与对照组相比,鉴定了218个与M蛋白相互作用的细胞内源性蛋白,分别与蛋白质合成、代谢、细胞信号通路转导等密切相关,选择细胞分裂周期蛋白42 (Cell division cycle 42,CDC42)、真核翻译起始因子3亚基L蛋白(eIF3L)为候选蛋白进行Co-IP(Co-immunoprecipitation)验证和共定位分析,结果证实CDC42、eIF3L蛋白分别与M蛋白在细胞内存在相互作用。【结论】鉴定出PEDV M蛋白能够与宿主细胞CDC42和eIF3L蛋白相互作用,并鉴定出其他可能与M蛋白发生相互作用的宿主蛋白60个,为开展PEDV与宿主细胞蛋白相互作用研究提供了重要理论依据。     

Molecular Dynamics Simulations Reveal the HIV-1 Vpu Transmembrane Protein to Form Stable Pentamers

The human immunodeficiency virus type I (HIV-1) Vpu protein is 81 residues long and has two cytoplasmic and one transmembrane (TM) helical domains. The TM domain oligomerizes to form a monovalent cation selective ion channel and facilitates viral release from host cells. Exactly how many TM domains oligomerize to form the pore is still not understood, with experimental studies indicating the existence of a variety of oligomerization states. In this study, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were performed to investigate the propensity of the Vpu TM domain to exist in tetrameric, pentameric, and hexameric forms. Starting with an idealized α-helical representation of the TM domain, a thorough search for the possible orientations of the monomer units within each oligomeric form was carried out using replica-exchange MD simulations in an implicit membrane environment. Extensive simulations in a fully hydrated lipid bilayer environment on representative structures obtained from the above approach showed the pentamer to be the most stable oligomeric state, with interhelical van der Waals interactions being critical for stability of the pentamer. Atomic details of the factors responsible for stable pentamer structures are presented. The structural features of the pentamer models are consistent with existing experimental information on the ion channel activity, existence of a kink around the Ile17, and the location of tetherin binding residues. Ser23 is proposed to play an important role in ion channel activity of Vpu and possibly in virus propagation.     

Redundant control of adenovirus late gene expression by early region 4.

A series of human adenovirus type 5 derivatives carrying deletion mutations in early region 4 (E4) were constructed and characterized with respect to viral late protein synthesis, viral cytoplasmic late message accumulation, viral DNA accumulation, and plaquing ability. Viral late protein synthesis was essentially normal in cells infected by mutants expected to produce either the E4 open reading frame (ORF) 3 product or the E4 ORF 6 product. In cells infected by mutants lacking both ORF 3 and ORF 6, late protein synthesis was dramatically reduced. The basis for this reduction appears to be a concomitant reduction in cytoplasmic late message levels. Our results suggest that the products of ORFs 3 and 6 are redundant, since they are individually able to satisfy the requirement for E4 in late gene expression. Two of the mutants examined were defective for viral late protein synthesis but showed no measurable defect in viral DNA accumulation. The defect in late gene expression is not, therefore, a reflection of a primary defect in viral DNA synthesis. Finally, mutants expected to express ORF 3 or ORF 6 formed plaques with normal or only modestly reduced efficiency, whereas mutants expected to express neither ORF formed plaques with an efficiency less than 10(-6) that of wild-type virus. Thus, plaque-forming ability reflected late protein synthetic ability, suggesting that among these mutants late protein synthetic proficiency is the principle determinant of plaquing efficiency.     

猪流行性腹泻病毒反向遗传操作技术及其应用

猪流行性腹泻病毒(PEDV)是引起猪(特别是新生仔猪)急性、高度传染性消化道疾病的主要病原之一;2010年底以来,猪流行性腹泻(PED)的再次暴发给我国乃至全球养猪业造成了巨大经济损失。最近,研究者已先后建立了基于靶向RNA重组技术、细菌人工染色体(BAC)载体系统和体外连接技术的PEDV反向遗传学操作技术,为PEDV编码的蛋白质的功能、致病机制以及新型疫苗的研发开辟了新的思路。本文对PEDV反向遗传操作技术的研究进展及其在PEDV胰酶依赖性、S蛋白和ORF3蛋白的功能以及新一代疫苗研制等方面的应用现状进行了综述与展望。     

Identification of a 68-kilodalton nuclear ATP-binding phosphoprotein encoded by bovine papillomavirus type 1.

E1 is the largest open reading frame (ORF) of bovine papillomavirus type 1 (BPV-1) and is highly conserved among all papillomaviruses, maintaining its size, amino acid composition, and location in the viral genome with respect to other early genes. Multiple viral replication functions have been mapped to the E1 ORF of BPV-1, and evidence suggested that more than one protein was encoded by this ORF. We previously identified a small protein (M) whose gene consists of two exons, one encoded by the 5' end of the E1 ORF. We show here that a 68-kilodalton (kDa) phosphoprotein made from the E1 ORF can be detected in BPV-1-transformed cells, and we present evidence that this protein is encoded by sequences colinear with the entire E1 ORF. The full-length E1 protein immunoprecipitated from virally transformed cells and identified by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis comigrates with a protein expressed from a recombinant DNA construct capable of producing only the complete E1 protein. In addition, two different antisera directed against polypeptides encoded from either the 3' or the 5' end of the E1 ORF both recognize the full-length E1 product. A mutation converting the first methionine codon in the ORF to an isoleucine codon abolishes BPV-1 plasmid replication and E1 protein production. Consistent with the notion that this methionine codon is the start site for E1, a mutant with a termination codon placed after the splice donor at nucleotide 1235 in E1 produces a truncated protein with the molecular mass predicted from the primary sequence as well as the previously identified M protein. When visualized by immunostaining, the E1 protein expressed in COS cells is localized to the cell nucleus. A high degree of similarity exists between the BPV-1 E1 protein and polyomavirus and simian virus 40 large-T antigens in regions of the T antigens that bind ATP. We show by ATP affinity labeling that the E1 protein produced in COS cells binds ATP and that this activity is abolished by a point mutation which converts the codon for proline 434 to serine. Furthermore, this mutation renders the viral genome defective for DNA replication, suggesting that the ATP-binding activity of E1 is necessary for its putative role in viral DNA replication.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Expression and function of the equine herpesvirus 1 virion-associated host shutoff homolog.

The ability of herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and HSV-2, respectively) to repress host cell protein synthesis early in infection has been studied extensively and found to involve the activities of the UL41 gene product, the virion-associated host shutoff (vhs) protein. To date, UL41 homologs have been identified in the genomes of three other alphaherpesviruses: equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1), varicella-zoster virus, and pseudorabies virus, but very little is known about the putative products of these homologous genes. Our earlier observations that no rapid early host protein shutoff occurred in EHV-1-infected cells led us to test EHV-1 vhs activity more thoroughly and to examine the expression and function of the EHV-1 UL41 homolog, ORF19. In the present study, the effects of EHV-1 and HSV-1 infections on cellular protein synthesis and mRNA degradation were compared at various multiplicities of infection in several cell types under an actinomycin D block. No virion-associated inhibition of cellular protein synthesis or vhs-induced cellular mRNA degradation was detected in cells infected with any of three EHV-1 strains (Ab4, KyA, and KyD) at multiplicities of infection at which HSV-1 strain F exhibited maximal vhs activity. However, further analyses revealed that (i) the EHV-1 vhs homolog gene, ORF19, was transcribed and translated into a 58-kDa protein in infected cells; (ii) the ORF19 protein was packaged into viral particles in amounts detectable in Western blots (immunoblots) with monoclonal antibodies; (iii) in cotransfection vhs activity assays, transiently-expressed ORF19 protein had intrinsic vhs activity comparable to that of wild-type HSV-1 vhs; and (iv) this intrinsic vhs activity was ablated by in vitro site-directed mutations in which either the functionally inactive HSV-1 vhs1 UL41 mutation (Thr at position 214 replaced by Ile [Thr-214-->Ile]) was recreated within ORF19 or two conserved residues within the putative poly(A) binding region of the ORF19 sequence were altered (Tyr-190, 192-->Phe). From these results we conclude that EHV-1's low vhs activity in infected cells is not a reflection of the ORF19 protein's intrinsic vhs activity but may be due instead to the amount of ORF19 protein associated with viral particles or to modulation of ORF19 protein's intrinsic activity by another viral component(s).     

The ORF7b protein of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) is expressed in virus-infected cells and incorporated into SARS-CoV particles

Coronavirus replication is facilitated by a number of highly conserved viral proteins. The viruses also encode accessory genes, which are virus group specific and believed to play roles in virus replication and pathogenesis in vivo. Of the eight putative accessory proteins encoded by the severe acute respiratory distress syndrome associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV), only two-open reading frame 3a (ORF3a) and ORF7a-have been identified in virus-infected cells to date. The ORF7b protein is a putative viral accessory protein encoded on subgenomic (sg) RNA 7. The ORF7b initiation codon overlaps the ORF7a stop codon in a -1 shifted ORF. We demonstrate that the ORF7b protein is expressed in virus-infected cell lysates and from a cDNA encoding the gene 7 coding region, indicating that the sgRNA7 is bicistronic. The translation of ORF7b appears to be mediated by ribosome leaky scanning, and the protein has biochemical properties consistent with that of an integral membrane protein. ORF7b localizes to the Golgi compartment and is incorporated into SARS-CoV particles. We therefore conclude that the ORF7b protein is not only an accessory protein but a structural component of the SARS-CoV virion.